Killing Olympia

"Hey, Em," I said shakily. "I know it's been a while, and I've been a pretty shitty friend lately, but I hope you're doing great, because I am…not, to be honest, and I think I'm kinda losing my mind. But enough about me. Listen, call me, please? Or don't. I'd understand why you wouldn't really want to. But, uh, yeah. I hope your siblings are doing fine, and say hi to your mom for me. This is Rylee, by the way. Blondie. The, you know, the superhero." I cut the call that went straight to voicemail and sighed, then hung my head and ran a hand through my hair. "Fuck me."

And here I was thinking my life would get simpler. Ha. Might as well throw it all on red, because I've got a better chance of winning a million bucks than ever getting my life in order. To make this day even better, the sun had decided to stop cowering behind the clouds, leaving the abandoned airfield simmering with the kind of heat that even made the air sting. I sat on the cracked asphalt in the shadow of an empty air hanger, wearing shorts and a t-shirt to fend off the heat. Bianca had left one of her bandanas over at my place, and that's all I had to use to keep wiping the sweat off my brow as it hung around my neck. This blows. I checked the time. And these guys are late.

"Another Arkathian," I muttered, massaging my eyes. "Of course there's more of us here. That's just so great. Maybe Cassie will figure out how to bring dad back from the dead, and then we'll all have a massive party."

A shadow appeared over me, blocking the sun but not the heat. I glanced upward with one eye, and saw mom offering some sun lotion and a pair of sunglasses as she held an umbrella over the both of us. "You're going to start peeling if you're not careful," Veronica said. "And you've always had sensitive eyes. If you weren't partially a superhuman, then you would have probably ended up just like your mom and her rapidly declining eyesight, Ry."

I took the sunglasses, and only took the lotion because she was staring at me. "I already wear 'em," I said, slathering the stuff onto my already red arms and legs. "If I don't pay attention, my eyes have a bad habit of really zooming in on things. It gives me a headache at some point, especially if I'm staring at something for too long."

"It's all those superhero movies I told you to stop staring at all day long when you were younger."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, whatever."

She stood. I kept sitting. A slow wind dragged itself across the light grey tarmac, the heat watery and sitting above it. Neither of us spoke, so when I checked my phone to fill in the silence, I got no bars. Of course. The lacking cell reception meant no news from the city, which I guess was a good thing so I wasn't on my phone all the time. But I needed to know what was going on with Adam, the Olympiad, and everything they were saying about me, because I apparently hurt the government's feelings when I blew open the side of their skyscraper, threw one of their most important prospects around half the city, and left him in a bloody mess at Zeus' feet. A lot more people hated me now more than normal. A lot of the people who used to be on my side said I had gone too far, I'd crossed a line. Superheroes don't fight superheroes, was what they were all saying. Maybe she just got jealous and snapped. Maybe she's not as much of a superhero as we thought she was. Poor Adam. The guy's only ever saved us! And here comes that brat screwing up the city some more as if she hasn't already done that enough now. But that wasn't all.

As days started passing, they'd all started asking the same thing: Where'd she go this time?

And if it wasn't for some chick running an Olympia fan account on social media, then I would've made an account and told the world to bite me—except there weren't any good usernames left, and apparently I couldn't verify that it was actually Olympia trying to create an account. Blows, right? The struggles of being a superhero.

I really should have just copyrighted the name or whatever. I would be mint right now.

"You're not happy," mom said quietly.

"Oh, no, V, I am thrilled." I folded my arms and leaned against the concrete behind me. Birds flapped through the sky. Clouds listlessly floated overhead. "Who wouldn't want to meet a fully grown Arkathian who, by the way, everyone kept hidden from me." I scoffed and started scrolling through my phone. "Doesn't matter I guess. Kinda used to getting lied to or not told the entire truth to from people who seemingly know a lot more than me."

"In all fairness," mom said. "She has been missing for the better part of a decade, and in all honesty, I'm a little surprised you didn't figure it out sooner. She's the only other superhero on the planet with multiple powers."

"I've got enough shit going on over here to start worrying about what's going on across the ocean."

Mom smiled a little. "Fair enough. But she's docile, the kind of person who people love, and—"

"So she's just like dad then," I whispered. Neither of us spoke for a handful of seconds after that. I sighed and switched off my phone, then tapped it against the ground. "Once an Arkathian, always an Arkathian. Rhea and the others were abandoned by the Empire, so they had to change—that, and they owe me. But even then, they're all still in hiding, because Gods know what the world is going to think about Titan's daughter trying to save Earth."

"You should know very well by now that legacy doesn't define who you are," mom said.

"Legacy's one thing," I muttered. "But there's also killing millions of innocent people as you try to take over Earth whether your brother likes it or not. Hell, people still compare me to Zeus, and at this point, I don't think they'll ever really stop. But I also don't care anymore, because I think I deserve enough of my own street cred."

"Then I'm guessing that means you'll give her a chance to talk to you?" mom asked.

"It means I'll listen, but it doesn't mean I'm very willing to co-operate."

"You can't hope to make the world a better place if you approach adversity with stubbornness and a fist," mom said, the wind blowing her hair over her shoulder. "Look, Rylee, we'll always have our differences, we'll always have our arguments—that's just part of being family. But if there's one thing I've learnt, it's that sometimes being able to compromise is the best way to make sure things don't blow up in your face. Sometimes you really do just have to bite the bullet and swallow your feelings. Trust me, if there was any other way to help Bianca, I would have chosen that in a heartbeat. But Cassie wouldn't be too enthusiastic about seeing my face right now, and even though Cleopatra is making my life a little bit more difficult, I also know that this is just one of those times in life when you might not be happy, but you've got to shut up and listen long enough to see how things play out, Ry."

"So…" I said, looking up at her. "Shut up, clap like a seal, and wish on my lucky stars?"

Mom chuckled and tapped a cigarette out of a crumpled packet. She lit it with a match and said, "I really don't know where you got that mouth from, but all I know is that my sister would've been really happy to be your aunt." She blew out, paused, then offered me the thing. Any other day, and I would've refused. But my nerves were shot, and come on, I have smoked before in high school, trying to fit in with the cooler girls who'd hang out behind the bleachers. Except I sucked it in a little too quickly and ended up nearly hacking a lung onto the asphalt. I spat out the taste and batted the air in front of my face as mom laughed and took it back. "You also have a bad habit of taking things to the extreme as a first resort. Start out slow, start out simple, and eventually, things come easier."

I grunted as I stood, then stretched my arms over my head. "I start with extremes because people kinda have a bad habit of punching me first and then starting the conversation from there. I'm a beat 'em up kinda girl."

Mom slowly shook her head as the cigarette hung from her lips. "Or just a really intense lover."

The radio hitched to mom's belt spat out static for several seconds, then came Becca's voice. "ETA in five minutes. They've had to fly low and slow to avoid air patrols. They've got sentry drones up there nowadays. Yanks and showing off their news toys, right? They apologize for all the waiting, but they promised to make it up to us."

I frowned, then took the radio off her belt and spoke into it. "What do you mean 'sentry drones'? And since when does the US Air Force care about a helicopter flying over the bay when Capes do it all the time, anyway?"

"I'm not talking about your typical drones," she said, her voice scratchy. "Aegis Tech made them on a private contract. They're mostly experimental, kinda humanoid looking, too. They've been given pockets around the States to watch over for a couple of months so the government can see if they're really worth those billions."

I paused, thought for a while, and then said, "The night Lucas killed Dennie, those things were there."

She didn't answer. Mom took the cigarette out of her mouth. Finally, the radio crackled, and Becca said, "Are you sure? Because that kind of stuff is pretty air-tight, lest the rest of America's friends find out about them."

"I'm pretty sure I can remember what I saw that night," I muttered. She didn't argue cut-in and argue.

"That's something I'll just have to look into," Becca said. "Can you tell me anything about them?"

"Let's focus on today, just for now," mom said, taking the radio back. "We'll know when they're close, but just keep us in the loop if anything changes. It's already hot enough as it is—we're not all used to being outside." She depressed the button and put it back onto her belt, then flicked her cigarette into a patch of dry weeds. "It's a little sudden," she said, forcing me to look at her. "But I think it's a good idea you start school as soon as possible."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I cocked an eyebrow. "What's that got to do with 'focusing on today'?"

"Have you thought of a major yet? Science and math were always my strong suit, but I'd be putting you through hell by forcing you to do them as well. I spoke to Carly, and you can get in even if we don't have your high school diploma. You've also got a chance to get a sports scholarship if you like. Maybe soccer, or the track team, or if you want to push it, you can try to join the boy's baseball team." She smiled at me. "Or you can go to art school."

For just a second, I forgot about why we were here in the first place as I unfolded my arms and said, "Wait, you're being serious right now." She nodded. I slowly shook my head and smiled. "Art school? Like, actually?"

"Either that, or you join Olympus U's art program. Makes it easier for you to decide to either stay on campus or be coming back home everyday. I figured you should be the one to decide what you'd want to do, Ry."

"You said I should avoid being close to Bianca just last night," I said. "So why bother with Olympus U?"

She shrugged her good shoulder. "I don't know," she muttered, looking into the sky as the distant sound of helicopter blades beat through the air. "I'd like to be a little bit more optimistic. And in all honesty, Rylee, you might not see it, but you're growing up too quickly for someone who's never gotten the chance to really live. Being in school wasn't always easy, but it was also the reason I didn't turn out…worse. Well, worse than I already am. I say you give school a chance, and if it works out, then great. Make friends, learn new things, learn who you really are, and if it doesn't, then I'm always going to leave the porch light on and the front door key under the welcome mat."

I shifted on my feet. "You don't have to make it sound like I never have any fun, you know. I can fly, how many other teenagers can say that? Plus the city kinda needs me. I can't afford to be a kid all the time, too, Ronnie."

"The world is on the shoulders of someone who doesn't even have her license," mom muttered, and yeah, I was just about to say something about that until she cut me off. "But we'll have this talk later. The Capes are here."

All I could do right now was take mom's word and pick this up later, because the helicopter I had been expecting was something smaller, something not so…flashy, and maybe not with Property of US ARMY printed on the large black metal tail as it descended through the sky. The rotors threw dust and heat into our faces, making our hair billow and snap. I helped make sure the umbrella didn't go flying out of mom's hands, but it was pretty hard not to marvel at the freaking thing. It was white, blue and gold, scuffed with soot in some places, but bigger than most other helicopters I've come across. Maybe it was the moment, the sound and the harsh wind and the heat, but the thing almost looked like the size of a school bus as the rotors slowly stopped spinning and the doors slid open.

Cleopatra, who'd been sitting with Becca inside the SUV parked not too far away, walked the distance toward the chopper. I, for one, didn't move a muscle. Suddenly, all too quickly, my fingertips felt a little hotter, my chest a little tighter. Even like this I can feel her. It was like being deep inside a pool to the point where the pressure starts making it feel like it's squeezing your skull, like there's a hand around your chest that won't let you breathe.

I wouldn't have to wait long, though. The rotos slowed and finally stopped, and that meant the woman who came out from the side of the helicopter could get her boots on the ground, and…and… Wow, she's gorgeous. But not in the way Bianca is, but in the way a new pistol looks under dim light. She was a little taller than Kayana, had lush black hair and strong arms laced with spiralling red tattoos. Tight trousers, thick red boots, and a top that showed off her hard midriff was all she had on, if you don't count the silver band on her forehead that kept her wild hair from curling around in the updraft. Two more people followed her: first a guy in a bright yellow jacket with cornrows and dark sunglasses, one earbud still in place as he jumped onto the tarmac. The other was a girl around my age, a sword on her belt and in an outfit that kinda looked like it belonged on a cheerleader, except her red skirt was accented with gold and she wore the same blood-red gauntlets as the first woman had. And just like the first one, she was pretty. Very pretty. Pale blonde hair, brown skin, a soft jaw and eyes too bright for a sword that sharp.

But none of them were her.

None of them felt like a world-ender, like a storm in human-form.

Well, not until the cockpit opened, and out came a woman in a brown pilot's jacket, pulling off leather flying gloves and grinning widely as she slid her aviators into her storm of blonde hair. Her jacket stopped around her stomach, and the scarf she had on flowed in the wind behind her as she walked up toward Cleopatra and the rest.

Her eyes, naturally, were golden. Not just the pupils. Not just the irises.

And that made me want to leave, to put my arm out and stop mom from walking.

It was instinct. It was hammered into me for as long as I could remember. She could shake Kayana's hand and say something that made the others shake their heads and laugh, but come on, the entire world loved Zeus.

I wasn't gonna fall for the bells and whistles twice.

It was one thing coming across a younger Arkathian, like Rhea and the rest.

But it was a whole new ballgame meeting an adult. Gods know how old she even really was. She looked like she was in her thirties, like some European lady who'd fallen in love with dressing like a World War Two pilot and stealing helicopters our government was probably looking for days later. For all I knew, she could be hundreds of years old—so old that maybe that was how she was used to dressing because that's how she always dressed, too.

"I'll only walk when you do, too," mom said quietly.

I breathed out. It was a lot shakier than I would have wanted. "No," I said. "She can come here."

And then she was.

No gusting wind, no sudden impact of air pressure. She just…was.

I had blinked, and she was now standing in front of me, her hand extended, and she felt like too much. It was hard to describe how piercing her eyes felt, how much they glowed in the shadow we all stood in. The airfield was empty according to my ears. I only heard my heartbeat, the blood whining through them, and her strength. It was silent, it was steady, but it was there. My powers might be dampened right now, but hearing her roll her shoulders, hearing as she shifted her feet, sounded like the echo of bridge cables quaking in a thunderstorm. Her entire body was a gun primed and ready, and it was a miracle she didn't split the concrete she was standing on.

"What an honor," Europa said, "to finally meet another Arkathian, and Olympia herself no less."

Her hand still waited between us.

My mouth was too dry for me to swallow. I didn't want to wince in front of her, so I tensed my jaw and felt the roughness of my tongue scrape against my throat. I slowly unfolded my arms, and firmly clasped her hand.

It was almost patronizing how gently she held me, almost exclusively with her fingertips.

"Very calloused hands," she mused, still smiling, her face still bright and her freckles still dancing on her cheeks and nose. "The hands of someone who earns her keep and makes sure the world is as safe as it can be."

"I'm not buying it." The words came out faster than I could think. She stopped shaking my hand.

"I don't think I've come here to sell anything," Europa said, raising an eyebrow. "Unless you're planning on acquiring an Apache helicopter from me, then by all means, take it—I'm sure it'll impress all of your friends. It'll be my gift to you. In fact, I'm even willing to show you how to fly it! It's quite a lot easier than you might think. It's almost like you're grabbing the mane of a cantering horse, except the horse doesn't very much like being touched."

"Cut the act," I said quietly. "I know what you are. How old are you? How long have you been here?"

She booped my nose with her index finger and tsked. "It's rude to ask a woman her age, and as of…" She checked the old silver rolex on her wrist. "Eight minutes ago, I'm in New Olympus. And yes, I'd be surprised if you didn't know what I am. Kayana made sure that everyone was on the same page. It means more time to be efficient. Now come! We're wasting time underneath this harsh American sunlight. You and I have a lot to speak about, no?" Then she slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand. "Where are my manners? Alexandria, Freya, Simon, there's someone I'd like you to meet!" She draped her arms around mom's shoulders and mine, and it didn't really matter if our feet wanted to move, because she dragged us toward the helicopter, anyway, stopping in front of the rest of them. "This is Olympia," she said, shaking my shoulder. "Quite the stud, with those sunglasses on, isn't she?"

Freya, the girl with the sword, spoke to me first. "Don't listen to half of what she says."

"Yeah," the guy with the yellow jacket—Simon—said. "She's a little, you know…spacey."

"That's one way to say she can snap her fingers and make us all deaf," I muttered.

Alexandria, taller than even Europa, waved her hand through the air. "You're concerned, but we've come here to talk, not to test your aptitude for battle. As a matter of fact, the best peace treaties are brokered over lunch."

"No," I said, and everyone looked at me. I shook my head and stepped out of Europa's grasp, then gestured at her and said, "Am I the only person that's freaking out right now! She's an Arkathian. Do you know what she can do right now? I mean, I'm a kid, she probably thinks I'm an infant because she's scratching two-hundred years old for all I freaking know! And if people freak out about what I can do, then oh, man, you guys have no clue what—"

"If you must know," Europa said. "I am extremely loving. I own several small animals, what's the human word for them again?" She snapped her fingers, and it did sound like a small sonic boom that left my ears ringing just enough for me to have to work a finger into them. "Ah yes, panthers. And two tigers as of last week. Such cute animals, and I'm hoping I can leave New Olympus with something else, too. And if I cannot even harm the flies on the flesh of the meat I feed my feline friends, then how can I possibly even think about harming you, Olympia?" She folded her arms and shrugged. "I quite like the smell of the flowers here. Your country is beginning to bloom, and blood, as you probably know the best, has a very bad habit of souring everything it touches. So let's not spill such bitterness for no reason at all. We're allies today, friends tomorrow, and capes-in-arms for several decades to come."

"She's right, Rylee," Cleopatra said softly. "And I wouldn't have introduced you if I thought she was going to be a threat to you. Not ever. We can train you as much as we want, but she knows your body the best of all of us."

"Second best," mom muttered. "Not like I birthed her myself and kept her alive, but whatever."

"Kayana is correct," Europa said. "Besides, she makes an extremely convincing argument for me to be very gentle with those around you, because at the end of the day, if she made Zeus bleed, then she would butcher me."

Freya and Simon suddenly didn't want to stand so close to Cleopatra anymore.

Alexandria simply smiled that little bit more.

"So, Olympia?" she said. "Will you lend me your trust just long enough for us to all eat together?"

They all looked at me. I sighed and folded my arms. "Sure, whatever. But you're not stepping foot inside the city. I know a diner a few miles from here that sells pretty great burgers. Anything closer, and this is a no-no."

"I accept," she said, grinning. "But only on one condition."

I raised an eyebrow. "It depends what you're asking, lady."

"Freya would like your phone number," Europa said, and suddenly the girl with the sword reddened. "She spoke to me on the way here about being very interested in you. I didn't understand why she couldn't do it herself, but if that's what she wished me to do, then it's what I must accomplish—so, would you be willing to share it?"

Wow, the sun is really hot today, huh? Maybe mom was right, I need to get out from under it.

"I'm kinda, well, it's complicated, but there's this girl—"

"No!" Freya said. "Not like that, I meant it in a professional sense." She shot a glare at Europa, who shrugged again. "There aren't many young superheroes we come across, especially back home, so I thought it would be a good idea to keep all of us in contact. We are the next generation, so why not stick together, too?"

"Nice save," Simon said, nudging her. She elbowed him in the ribs, shutting him up.

I scratched the back of my head. "Uh, sure? That makes sense, I guess."

Europa clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! Now, shall we?"

"Let's," Cleopatra agreed. "So we can get onto the matter of saving Bianca Ross."

"But of course," Europa said. "Saving species is what our people do best."