Page 85 of Flame and Fury

“Remind me again what the Mares of Diomedes entailed.” I lean forward and grab an apple out of a bowl on the low table in front of the couch.

After we arrived at the safehouse, I’d taken a shower and then we caught the others up on what happened at my grandma’s place. We all sat down and ate dinner together. It was all very domestic. It feels indulgent to eat again, but I’m going to take advantage of the food while I can.

When I settle back against the couch, Atlas's arm is right there, ready to resume its place.

Nico clears his throat and Lark cringes. Atlas is the one who answers. “They're flesh-eating mares.”

I swallow down the piece of fruit, gazing forlornly at the rest of it. My appetite has disappeared. Except I don't waste food, so I suck it up and take another bite.

“How does that clue equal flesh-eating horses?”

“It doesn’t,” Lark interjects. “There are four sisters known as the man eaters of Diomedes. That’s their father. The four women are socialites who run in elite circles. Each one of them is on husband number five, at least. Several of their spouses have died in questionable ways over the years. They must have done something to piss off Zeus.”

On screen, Thaddeus Warton, with his slicked backed hair, and face that has way too few lines for his age, is grinning at us.

“Here we are once again. Down to our last five champions in these Olympus Games. Although, who knows how many will be left when this battle is done.”

Thaddeus looks positively gleeful that someone may die soon. I don't mind if Jade and Preston have a bite taken out of them by a bunch of murderous housewives, but I’d prefer the others avoid any danger. An impossible ask in the Olympus Games.

A girl can dream.

Gods, sitting on this side of the screen might be just as bad as being in the middle of the challenge. No, that's an absolute lie, but it's a different kind of stress watching people you know, people you sort of care about, have their lives in jeopardy.

The champions rush off stage, heading out into the street. The drones capture angles I never anticipated when I was in the games. They don't catch everything. Greer is doing her best to dodge them just to be an asshole, and that makes me smile. Some of the film is grainy and far away. The conversation is often only in snippets. More important than what the champions are saying is what the commentators are narrating as they watch the action.

“Preston is looking in fine form tonight. If I had any money on these games, he’d be my man,” Lucinda croons.

“Gross.” Lark’s face twists in disgust.

“I don’t know. That Greer Rothchild has some pent-up feminine rage in her.”

“Suck a dick, Thaddeus,” I mumble around my apple.

Thaddeus Warton and Lucinda Hinson’s commentary turns brutal in their assessment of the champions. I'd love to see either one of them in the field, putting their lives in danger. If either of them broke a nail I can only imagine the wailing that would take place.

The champions are each on the hunt for one of the sisters. They have to bring them back to the theater to complete the challenge. The women are each protected by a security team so fortified that none of the champions walk away unbloodied. By the time the battle is over, Greer has won and Drake has been injured trying to save Jade. They went after the same sister and faced a barrage of bullets. Drake was shot pushing Jade out of the way.He was injured, and she walked away with one of the women to win the challenge.

I don't know why he bothered. Actually, I do. Drake's a good man and while Jade is a piece of human garbage, he's better than her on every level. He couldn't stand by and watch another person die in the games. His reward is that he’s now out of the games. Is he on his way to the auctions? Is that what always happens when you don’t die in a challenge?

Atlas has been growing more and more tense as the coverage has gone on. Drake is one of his only friends. I can’t imagine how hard it is to watch him get hurt and then disappear like he never existed.

“What a night, Thaddeus. We still have a handful of trials left. Who's favored to win?” Lucinda bats her long lashes at the camera. She's perfectly made up and camera ready from the comfortable studio where they’re safely away from any danger or open elements. Wouldn't want the rain to melt anyone.

“I don't know, Lucinda. We've got a fine crop of champions left.” Thaddeus leans in closer to Lucinda, as though he's sharing a secret and there aren't a million people watching. “I have to say, after this challenge, my money’s on that young buck Preston. I don't pick favorites, but there's something about him that screams champion.”

Lucinda waves her hand in front of her face, like the idea of Preston is so scorching she can't stave off the hot flash.

“Oh, I think all the ladies out there know just what you mean.”

Atlas turns off the TV with a disgusted grunt, leaving that disgusting image seared into my brain.

“We should get some sleep,” he says.

I don't know why, it's not like we have any big plans in the morning. We're literally sitting around waiting for someone to tell us what to do next. But I guess a good night's sleep wouldn't hurt. When we first arrived at the house, Atlas showed me to a room with a bathroom and I’d showered and changed in there. We didn’t discuss sleeping arrangements. Now I’m wondering what’s going through Atlas’s head. Does he have his own room? Does he want to sleep in the same bed?

We sort of skipped over all the normal relationship stuff and dove right into sex first and left the get to know each other part for later. Although, I feel like I’m starting to know the real him.

My thoughts are interrupted by the basement door opening. I’m on my feet and ready to launch myself at whoever is about to walk in. Atlas drops a hand to my waist, and I relax the tiniest bit and sit back down when Kat and–oh great–Savannah walk into the living room.

---