Alex Rider: Luck of the Goddess

The Guilty Parties

Simon was frantic. He had abandoned Alex when Alex needed his help, but what else was he supposed to do? Alex had been captured inside the Italian Mafia's Villa. Simon would have intervened, but Sandy had started freaking out when she heard the police sirens. Simon's only option—really—was to follow the van Alex was locked inside of.

Simon had no way of figuring out what went wrong in the Villa, but he was pretty sure that Alex wouldn't have been able to contact the French police. For once in his life, Simon wished he had inherited a bit of clairvoyance from his father. Maybe then he would have seen how much chaos was going to go down on the cliff. He would have known Alex would fall into the ocean with a concrete block attached to his leg.

Simon was about to swoop down and intervene, but something stopped him.

His demigod sense stopped him.

Simon had made out the shape of a diver jumping into the water in the distance—the boat a military model. No doubt for the purpose of rescuing Alex Rider. Simon wouldn't be the hero today, not without risking the exposure of an entire otherworldly world.

Simon hoped that the people that were diving to save Alex's life were the good guys.

Simon flew over the boat long enough to make sure Alex had been recovered from the water safely and make sure he was being taken care of. After reassuring himself Alex was fine, Simon landed Sandy on the nearest beach, so she could get some well-deserved rest. Simon was painfully aware he had pushed Sandy incredibly hard over the past couple of days.

Simon was a little disappointed when he realized that he didn't think Alex would contact him again.

He was happy to be proven wrong.

"Simon Shaw."

The water took shape in front of Alex.

Simon's eyes were troubled, his hair tousled, and he was pacing in an unfamiliar room.

"Gods, Alex," he said; Alex noted the tiniest of cracks in his voice. "I'm so sorry I..."

But Alex put a hand up to stop him. "Did you know MI6 agents were tracking me?" It was the only possible reason that Simon hadn't intervened. The possibility that Alex hoped for.

Simon nodded vigorously. Alex was right.

"When the van pulled away from the villa I saw the police cars on their way. It was easier to see when Sandy flew higher up. I figured someone must have been tipped off about what was going on, so I followed the van. I assumed you would figure out a way to escape, so I followed from a distance. I almost went after you in the water, but then I saw the boat and the diver. I figured they had it covered. I didn't want to risk blowing our secret and risk you having to come up with some brilliant lie to cover it up. You also know how bad I am at lying. I didn't know if they were the good guys, but I didn't know what else to do. I'm really, really sorry, Alex if I messed everything up and..."

But Alex stopped him again. It was oddly touching to see someone so concerned for him after a long time, to see someone close to the verge of tears. The only people Alex had ever even considered crying for him were Jack, Tom would've too, Sabina probably, but MI6? His uncle? The world of gods and monsters? None of them would have shed a tear. He'd be a blip among the demigod world, just another casualty, MI6 wouldn't cry, they'd just find someone else to blackmail, and his uncle, Alex didn't think his uncle could cry. At least Alex knew Ian cared.

Simon was a new one, though. Someone who knew both parts of who Alex was and still cared because if his life had proven anything, it was that caring for Alex Rider was a dangerous thing. No matter what happened, there were lives always at risk.