"I didn't wander off," charlie stated for the fifth time this hour. her cheeks flamed red, she honestly couldn't be anymore embarrassed. her arms were latched around poseidon's neck, because he insisted that her legs must've been "so" tired that she would soon suffer from painful foot cramps. "i was hungry, i needed food."
poseidon clicked his tongue, rolling his vibrant green eyes as he treaded through the water skillfully. "maybe if you weren't so angry with me about being who i am, I could've brought you food."
"what possibly could you bring me?"
"i dunno," he shrugged. "a mcdonalds happy meal?"
"im vegetarian." she deadpanned.
poseidon chuckled, remembering the fish swimming away with the bleeding side. he figured charlie would give in to the fish, although it could not speak nor give any sign of begging for mercy. one thing he did find out (from one of his many servants) that charlies mom was a veterinarian.
ever since charlie witnessed her dad and brother eating a seagull she nursed to health, she began to despise all meat and anyone eating it.
"a vegan happy meal?" he suggested playfully. "i know you think I'm dangerous and that i belittle you as a mortal, but I don't. i find interest in you, charlotte."
"my name is charlie." she snapped. poseidon rolled his eyes, not getting why the girl wanted to be called a boys name.
truthfully, charlie thought about what he had said. it couldn't have been true, though. all the stories she had heard about the gods and the way they treat the men or women they fall in love with. the humans always fall for the gods charms, and always end up getting knocked up.
as poseidon began to reach the large rock, he sat charlie down on the edge. his green eyes bored into charlie's hazel ones. the sun reflected in her eyes, making them golden rings.
he looked away, flashing his eyes to the crystal water. his hand dipped inside, swirling the water around into a mini whirlpool. he pulled his hand back out, this time, holding a large, green trident. tiny barnacles clung to it, and it glowed with a green light.
charlie stared at it in awe, her mouth open.
"close your mouth," poseidon smirked, "or you'll catch flies."
she closed her mouth, glaring at him. "theres no flies out here." she grumbled. "better you be on your way again, i suppose."
"nonsense. why do you think i summoned my trident?" he remarked. "I'm taking you to olympus. at least until i can find a way for you to come to my kingdom."
charlie tilted her head, watching as he climbed on to the rock and stood, waiting for her to meet his side. she did, eventually.
"i cannot be seen by the gods. they will possibly destroy me." charlie hissed.
poseidon didn't answer to her ridiculous assumption. he had already talked to his brother, sisters, and nieces and nephews about the girl who almost died. of course, it was possibly wrong to rescue just one being and not the others. but he had explained to aphrodite, the goddess of love, how he felt towards the girl.
she held a certain beauty, and a certain strength. everything charlie had within her, poseidon accidentally fell in love with. after he had promised himself he wouldn't break his own heart again by loving a human whom he wasn't allowed to love, he still happened to find charlotte. why was he so captivated by her?
charlie stared in amazement as poseidon began to wave his trident, and water surrounded them like a whirlpool. first, all she could see was water. then, her eyes were greeted by polished marble and a lit fire.
"this is olympus?" she gasped, her eyes wandering around the glowing room.
gods and goddesses gathered in a semi circle, each one sitting in a throne- besides hestia, who was sitting on the floor by the fire. zeus sat in the biggest, and tallest throne, a straight face on while he stared across the room towards the mere human.
"brother," zeus greeted, his blue eyes narrowed. "i thought you'd be here sooner. your er... servant, has been annoying us all for the last few hours."
a girl, who was sitting next to hestia, raised her hand. she looked to be around 18, with light blue eyes and brown hair. she wore a greek dress, with golden sandals on her feet.
"sir, i was only doing as told." she shrugged carelessly.
hestia brushed her hair back behind her shoulder, her golden eyes flickering between the sea god and human. "aline has been pleasuring us with her... humorous modern jokes for hours. i do think its time for her to return home, though."
charlie marveled at hestia's young look. charlie known from the greek myths she had learned in elementary school that artimas and hestia liked to look around the age of 14 or 15 because they believed that was the age of freedom and youngness.
poseidon finally cleared his throat, catching every god or goddesses attention. "charlotte-"
"charlie." she corrected.
poseidon smiled lightly. "charlotte will be staying here for a while, in one of the guest rooms. she'll stay here until i figure out how to get her to my kingdom without her dying."
she glared at him for not saying her name correctly.
zeus smiled at the human, standing from his throne. he strode towards her, sticking his hand out. "you are welcome to stay as long as needed."
charlie rushed to shake his hand, not really caring if he were to zap her or something. she was in front of the gods and goddesses of olympus. she couldn't imagine why the fates had chosen her to have this terrific chance.
then again, the only reason this was happening was because she had no life to return to. perhaps the gods would be willing to restore her life, finding her a different home and a different coast guard job.
"I'm going to take charlotte to her room." poseidon said, placing a hand on charlie's back. he began walking with her to a long hallway, and she looked back to see the gods looking at her with a somewhat curiosity.
she looked up, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "you think i can return home?" she asked. poseidon flashed his eyes down to her, then back to the long hallway they were walking down. "I don't have to go to your kingdom-thanks for the lovely offer. but, although all of them were taken away, i could start over-"
"but it won't be the same." he cut her off, stopping at a door. "I'm giving you the opportunity to live a much better life. the mortal world can't provide that. your parents paid for your college and for your life- if you were to be alone, mortals will expect a lot of money."
charlie hung her head down, her eyes focused on her still bare feet.
i just want to go home.
"i get it." she mumbled-although, she didn't quite understand why poseidon wanted her so much.
he smiled. "i promise you'll like it here. you will see things here that you won't see beyond your wildest dreams."
poseidon opened the door, allowing the girl to go in. she marveled at the beauty, and the cleanness.
the bed was only a king size, with dark blue covers and see-through drapes. the white carpet felt nice between charlie's toes. paintings were hung everywhere on the wall, and the room had all the necessities and more.
"enjoy your stay," he muttered, watching her turn in a full circle. "everyday I'll have hermes bring you the latest news of what i have achieved with finding how to bring you to my kingdom."
charlie really wasn't listening, she was too distracted with the room.
i might like it here.