30. You Think I’m Weak, But You’re Wrong #3
“If you were ever curious as to what we’re like in our off hours, this is it,” Bianca popped as she stomped on Jackson’s back.
He immediately freed me, as he knew his wife would beat his ass if he didn’t listen.
I crawled out from under him wheezing like an asthmatic, and the sounds I released made laughter fill the room.
“What a couple of morons,” Odysseus chuckled.
“You want this? Huh, buddy?” I taunted as I threw my fists up in a fighting stance.
“I would whoop your ass to kingdom come,” Odysseus scoffed with a wave of his hand.
“Let’s make a bet, right now!”
May slapped down ten dollars this time. “Odysseus: kill him.”
“Wait, wait, wait…” I pleaded as Odysseus stood ominously, his eyes pure gold.
“Alright, that’s enough everyone. Let’s eat!” Alice chimed.
Odysseus giggled at my frazzled expression and pulled me up from the ground so he could peck my temple and guide me to the table.
I was still wary of a sneak attack and kept my defenses up, especially when he pulled me chair out for me and kept his hands on the back as I sat down.
I expected him to wrench it out from underneath me, but in typical Odysseus fashion, he was only waiting to push me in politely.
I smirked to myself at his thoughtful gesture and leaned over to kiss his cheek gratefully when he sat beside me.
Alice handed out dishes of lasagna for us to pass down while Stark dressed the salad with Italian dressing, and Bianca cut up garlic bread. I licked my lips rabidly when Claude set a plate down for me. “Yummy, yummy in Nicodemus’s tummy!”
“You like lasagna that much? I’ve never seen you eat it?” Odysseus questioned as he watched me shovel a forkful in my mouth.
“I like Alice’s cooking, period,” I answered with my mouth full, “but her Italian is some of the best she can do!”
“Oh hush, you,” she giggled out.
“If only he had the table manners to eat it like a normal person,” Bianca scolded.
I brushed her off and reached for the diet soda. “You guys hear anything from Dad’s Shadows yet?”
An eerie silence overcame the table. Seraphine bit her lip as she thought of what to say, while my Shadows all looked at one another sadly. “No, Nick, we haven’t. No one can seem to track them down right now…” Bexley finally admitted.
I nodded solemnly. “I figured.”
Odysseus set his fork down and patted my back gently. “You’re… taking this rather well. Are you sure you’re doing ok?”
I stayed concentrated on my garlic bread. “I’m as good as I’m gonna get.”
“Nick…?” Claude warned.
I let my smile fall slightly, just enough to show a little of my true feelings. “I’m incredibly worried about him. I mean, it’s Gehenna; there’s no way he’s down there picking flowers. I wish they would let me see him, even if just for a moment.”
Seraphine tapped her fingers on the table methodically as she thought of something. Finally, she snapped her fingers. “I wonder if I can cause a distraction long enough for you to sneak in.”
“What do you mean?”
She turned to Akira, who had been begging for table scraps.
“We can use Akira as bait.” He sneezed loudly in defiance, which made us all chuckle.
“Let me explain, little one,” she sang as she slid him some chunks of ground beef.
“Akira can change forms, right? So, what if I ask Peregrine to help me categorize new mythological creatures for Akira to turn into. He would be willing to do anything for Nick’s sake, plus, this would help Akira tremendously. ”
“You think Decimus would let me in there without contest?” I murmured.
“If he doesn’t want to die twice, I would suggest it,” Odysseus hissed.
“You probably have enough to hang over his head to make him do it,” May added.
“I suppose so.” I turned to Odysseus, who was plucking tomatoes out of my salad. “Can you keep watch for me while I go in there?”
“Is that something you need to ask me? Of course I will.”
I patted his head. “What a good boy you are!” He blinked heavily before cracking a devilish smile. I tilted my head at his wicked expression. “What?” I popped.
His smile curled up so wide that it nearly fell right off his face. “I should probably keep it to myself.”
“No, be a man and say it!”
Odysseus gave me a look that said it all: ‘you sure you want to open that can of worms?’
I didn’t back down, though I would soon regret that snarky comment.
He slammed an elbow onto the table and cupped his chin. “Funny, you calling me a good boy. Usually I’m the one calling you-…”
“OK, WOW, THAT’S ENOUGH TALKING FROM YOU SIR!
” I bawled as I slapped a hand over his mouth.
Claude and Jackson pretended to throw up into their plates while the rest of the table laughed at my ferocious blush.
I threw my hood up over my head and whined loudly into the collar of the sweatshirt.
“If you need me, I’ll be hiding in my room until the end of forever! ”
“I don’t know why you’re laughing,” Bianca snorted to Jackson, who stopped immediately at her comment. He tried to cover her mouth but she managed to say, “You want me to call you way worse than a good boy…”
“EWW, BLECH, BLECH! SOMEONE RIP MY EARS OFF!” I screamed.
“See, Phina, you didn’t miss much at all,” Stark teased Seraphine, who was busy giggling into her napkin at the spectacle.