It had been years since she'd last been so happy. And clearly it was evident to everyone. The marketplace was filled with laughter and yelling, and aromas so strong it masked the sea salt breeze of the nearby docks.

"Madam! Madam!" A vender called to her, raising a beaded necklace to her, "It's pretty, yeah?" He called, "For the pretty lady! Only twenty Denarii!"

She kept waking the spring in her step, her basket swinging by her side and he ruby cloak fluttering behind her. Her smile made the men in the market swoon and one tried to hand her free bread, another with wine.

Her beauty extended far and wide, and yet she only had sights for one man in the town.

She strolled to a stand selling the flowers and herbs from the Kingdom of Demeter. The booth was filled with gossip and yet the girl running the stand recognized her favorite customer immediately.

"Red!" She yelled, "You've got to see these new herbs! I got them just for you!"

She pulled out a bag of careful preserved leaves. "They were infused with magic from a witch in Oz! They are said to teleport a person to whatever location they wish to be!"

"Teleport, Miranda?" The girl in the red cloak laughed, "You can't be serious."

"I swear!" Miranda raised her hand waving the packet, "Three leaves, hun. It's worth the price I swear!"

"I'll take them!" Suddenly she was shoved out of the way by two identical looking boys. They both had sandy blond hair with blue eyes and the younger one leaned on top of the counter winking at Miranda.

"Hey, beautiful," he said as the girl in the red cloak huffed but nothing could really dampen her mood.

"Full price, Stolls. Nothing less." Miranda said, though her cheeks took a light pink color.

They both frowned pouting, "Fine." They handed over the coins.

Miranda smiled accepting the money. The red cloak girl waved bye and headed back into the maze off people. The crowd seemed to have multiple with everyone yelling, screaming in her ears. And yet every step brought a wider smile, a happier aura. Every step brought her closer to the light of her life.

"Oh and Calypso!" Miranda called, behind her.

The girl in the red cloak and basket turned, her eyes sparkling with starstruck love.

"It's good to see you happy."

Calypso grinned. "Yes. Yes it is."

***

She had to pinch herself to get rid of the smile on her face. Once a frown was firmly planted on her lips she stalked up to the shack. Not that it mattered, much. Before the shop owner even turned around, her smile had crept up on her features.

The shack billowed heat right into her face. Grease smeared on just about everything, stray tools, metals and papers rested on every surface possible. The sound of metal on metal brought the shop to life.

She tossed her basket onto the pile of papers, and tapped her foot with mock irritation.

"You're late." She said loudly.

At first there was no reply and the incessant banging added a dull throbbing to the back of her mind. Then the hammer was placed down and the white hot metal dunked in a bucket of water. She could see him, his form hunched over he newest master piece. The steam curled away, dripping sweat down his neck and forearms. He flicked up his wielding mask and looked at her with an all-knowing expression.

"Have you ever thought about just buying a new set of this junk?" Charles Beckendorf asked. "Not that I mind the work, but Seriously, every week, Lady Calypso?"

Her face went a slight red, but it was impossible to see in the sweltering heat and smoke.

Charles sighed. He was a couple years older than her. One of the kindest people she knew who lived with his beautiful wife, Silena, who was a good friend of her family's. They owned the shop and lived not far away. Charles wiped a bit of sweat of his brow.

"LEO!" He called.

A scrawny, short young man skidded around the corner. He had elfish features and curly hair that was almost smoking itself. That was all it took for her to almost completely lose it. He flashed her a grin, but before he could say anything he slid on a lose armor piece and toppled into a stack of Wagon axles.

"I'll clean that up!" He said quickly at Charles' frown.

"I believe you've met my apprentice?" Charles said to Calypso.

"Once or twice." Calypso said as passively as she could. In truth it was more like every day. Leo gave her a nervous grin.

"Lady Calypso," He nodded. Her heart fluttered in her chest. "Is that a new cloak? It looks nice."

"Yes." She said as curtly as possible. She wanted to jump for joy. He'd noticed!

"You're new horse bridle won't be ready until tomorrow. I'll send Leo to deliver it. Will you need anything else?"

"Well, actually..." Calypso gingerly unwrapped her basket pushing away an assortment of breads and fruit she'd already bought and picking out a folded cloth around a small trowel. It was dulled and and slightly bent, like she'd been digging at rocks with it. Which is exactly what she had been doing all yesterday evening in her garden.

Leo whistled softly, "Whoa." He gingerly picked it out of her hands, without even thinking.

Charles gave him a sharp bat in the ear, and a glare. Leo shook back to his senses, turning as red as her new cloak.

"Sorry, Lady Calypso," He said, "May I see this?"

Calypso nodded not trusting herself to speak. Their fingers touched and she felt a spark of excitement burst in her. She swallowed and stood a little straighter, "I need that by tomorrow. If you could deliver it with my bridle, please."

Leo twisted it in his fingers. He looked at her and grinned, "Got some more rocks to dig out?"

"Leo!"

Calypso ran her nails into her palm to keep her face clear of embarrassment. Charles face was livid. He looked about to throttle his apprentice. Manners meant a lot to him, and Leo had about... none. Still for some reason the Beckendorf's had agreed to take him in on an apprenticeship.

Leo didn't seem to mind it though, "As you wish, m'lady."

"We'll have it done by tomorrow." Charles said putting a stiff hand on Leo's shoulder.

Calypso winced internally, realizing she no longer had a reason to stay. She took her basket and headed out, a feeling of sorrow washing away her good mood.

She looked back once, after she was far enough out only able to hear parts of the scolding Leo was getting. Charles back was to her, though he looked furious still. Leo wasn't even paying attention. His eyes were watching her. They locked sights and for a second they both smiled.

But then a peddler strayed out of line and stepped through their contact. By the time he'd pasted, Leo was being dragged deeper into the shop by his ear.

***

Calypso had run out of things to damage. She laid on her bed staring at the elegant bedding overhang. It had been hers since she was little. It often provided entertainment for her younger self, with it's doubly interesting patterns and spreads. But now it could do little to persuade her thoughts.

They had been on one thing since she'd met him.

Leo Valdez.

She couldn't let anyone know. Her brain melted when she saw him and her heart thumped when they got too close.

She knew how it would play out though. Just like it had with that knight Odysseus, and the sailor Percy, Leo would be another one to break her heart yet again. She'd be reduced to yet another watery mess. He wouldn't mean it. But that didn't matter.

When Calypso was little the town shaman decreed she was a special child, blessed with a true heart. When she felt emotions, she felt them completely. When she fell in love she fell deeper than everyone else.

The pain was sharper, colder, heavier set. She isolated herself to protect herself, but it never worked.

But she could feel something different this time. She couldn't explain it. But it was more intense. It hurt when she wasn't around him. When she couldn't see his face or hear his laugh. He was manner less, ignorant, scrawny, constantly covered in scorch marks.

But she loved it all.

His manner less attitude created an aura of freedom, his ignorant smile made her laugh, his scrawny build was misleading- she'd seen him work once; it was amazing. She loved the smell of smoke and sweat he brought with him everywhere, a laborer.

She broke everything she could find to get a reason just to see him every week.

It's not like her family was short on money either. So that wasn't a problem.

The problem happened to be that they were from totally different worlds or there about. She was almost at a status of a princess. He was a mere apprentice. He was the type of person she wasn't suppose to think twice about.

Calypso forced herself up on her arms. She stared at he door to her room. She blinked back tears. She suddenly felt an undeniable urge to find Leo, just to be with him again, to see him. It was wrong, stupid even, she'd just get herself hurt.

And yet she found herself walking out of her room towards the stairs.

"Calypso, where are you going?"

She froze as if just waking up, "Uhhh..."

Her father stood in the hallway. His expensive military uniform was flawless, the king's guard insignia proudly displayed on his left shoulder.

"Calypso, are you sneaking out?" Atlas asked his voice a calm tone, though his eyes were a different matter, "This is not about another boy is it?"

Calypso steeled herself, "Of course not."

"You know that you feel things more than most my daughter, but that does not mean you have to follow silly impulses to embarrass our family." Atlas looked at her hard, "I do not want you to be another mockery to our family."

Calypso felt like he'd just smacked her. Her father often had that effected on her. He played with words, and always held his daughters at arm's length. She was just a legacy, he never wanted her. He wanted a son.

Calypso wished she'd followed Zoe when she went with the Hunters.

"I hold our family's respect to the highest of priorities." She lied, "I am merely going to ride my horse."

He didn't believe her but he did not say anything when she left. She did not feel comforted until she'd closed the front door and shut off the disapproving glare of her father.

She glanced back and stepped forward sure he was about to tell her to come back to the house for a meaningless task that would insure she would never be able to scuff the reputation of the king's most noble solider.

"Whoa!"

Calypso stumbled right into a smaller form.

Immediately her face blushed. How had she forgotten Leo was coming? He carried her horse's new bridle and her freshly repaired trowel. He was also staring at her.

"Leo!" She said, "Oh uh... hi."

He mumbled something she couldn't make out.

"What?"

"I- uh- your hair!" He said finally. With a jolt she realized that she'd forgotten to grab her cloak. He probably thought she looked hideous!

Her heart dropped, and she quickly moved to turn away, "Yeah, I forgot-"

"I think it looks amazing." He interrupted.

She blinked twice blankly. Then finally her brain realized he was complimenting her. Her face was ruby red before she could even think of not being embarrassed.

He gave her a grin. An impish grin, but it made her heart nearly burst with joy. "So, I've brought your stuff. A brand new horse bridle and your rock scraper." He laughed at himself, "Sorry, I mean shovel."

Calypso took them from his hands, their fingers touching briefly. He drew in a sharp breath. She blushed looking downwards.

They said nothing for the longest time, before she looked up and noticed he'd been staring at her. She didn't know what to think. It should've been creepy or awkward, but Calypso couldn't find it in her to shy away.

"Oh!" He said seeing that she noticed, "I, ah, sorry....it's just that...I want to remember you perfectly."

"What?"

He rubbed his neck sheepishly, "You're just so pretty and kind and-"

"Are you going somewhere?" Calypso cut him off.

He looked surprised, "You didn't hear? I assumed with your father being the leader and all he would've told you."

Calypso felt dread crawl up her throat. His tone took a serious turn, his eyes down cast. He fingered a golden necklace around his neck, one she'd never noticed before.

"There's a Dragon in the southwest territory." Leo said dejectedly, "It's been stealing from the counties and they've requested help." He swallowed hard, "...I was slotted to go."

Calypso's bottom lip wavered.

"I didn't want to." Leo continued, looking up into the sky, squinting at the blue vastness, "But you know, no one can back out of a slot. I wasn't the only one, Travis and Connor Stoll were pulled too, and Michael Kale. Plus your father."

"Why?" Calypso choked out.

He looked off to the side where a couple birds had been picking at the grass for worms. They fluttered off suddenly at her cry.

"Why?" He mused, "I guess because I'm a blacksmith. They wanted someone good with fixing weapons or some lousy other excuse." He thought for another moment, "Maybe it was my awesome sense of humor."

She choked back a sob, "Oh really? What are you going to do? Kill it with your horrid jokes?"

His lips ghosted the smile that normally split his face.

He looked at her finally. It seemed like he'd been avoiding her eyes, looking anywhere but at her. "I'll come back." He said.

Calypso wanted to believe him. She could feel tears brimming in her eyes. She really wanted to believe him. But it was a Dragon. He was just a blacksmith. What chance did he have really? No one can slay a Dragon. People have tried but none of them are ever heard from again.

It was like the world wanted her to die as well. Her heart hurt so bad. Worse than when Odysseus pronounced his love for another girl right in front of her, even worse than when Percy had sailed off to sea with important cargo into the biggest thunderstorm ever to hit the island.

"Caly?" Leo whispered.

She didn't realize she'd started crying.

He held her gaze firmly, "I will come back." He said, "I swear."

It didn't consolidate her at all. He fingered his necklace some more and then he plucked it off of his head, and held it out to her. "My mother gave this to me. It means the world to me."

"What happened to her?" Calypso sniffled.

"She died," his voice was quiet, like he was just holding back tears as well, "It was an accident though. But this is all I have left. I'll come back for it."

She tentatively reached out to take it and when her hand touched his he pulled her forward. Calypso let out a yelp. Before she could even think her lips were right up against his.

It was quick. Maybe a little less than perfect. When they pulled apart her hand was holding the necklace and locket tightly. She couldn't believe it actually happened. He stared down at her his warm breath brushing her cheek like a hug.

"I'll come back for that too."

Then he turned away. His eyes squeezed closed, taking the smell of smoke with him.

Calypso's hands shook. She wanted to jump back into his warm embrace but she knew she couldn't. She steeled her nerves again.

"That didn't happen." She said as firmly as possible with her watery tone.

"Huh?" Leo turned back around, confused.

"It was fake." Calypso said, "Come back alive and we can have a real one."

"Real one?" Leo grinned sadly, "I like the sound of that, Lady Calypso. I'll wear my best tunic."

He turned back down the hill towards the town where he probably had attacks of projects all over the shop that he put on hold just for her.

He didn't look back at her but she closed her eyes, trying not to be swallowed by the darkness that was attempting to consume her soul.

"He promised." Calypso reassured herself, but something dark and sinister rested in her stomach as she clasped the necklace around her neck

***

Leo stared at the ground quietly. He rolled a rusted washer between his fingers. Around him Travis and Connor Stoll were exchanging cards in the middle of a game loudly bickering. Michael Kale was firmly set on watch duty leaning on his sword boredly.

Atlas had rode off to scout the path ahead. Leo hadn't said a word since yesterday. Which was strange because he was known for both nervous talking and joke spouting. But Leo wasn't in the mood for jokes, or conversation.

It didn't help that the girl he was hopelessly in love with's dad was stiff, overbearing, and more or less just plain terrifying. Leo got that he was the Kings guard but the way the man glared at him made Leo believe that he knew Leo loved Calypso and didn't like it one bit.

Leo sighed to himself. He slipped the washer into his palm imagining it was a perfect shaped ring for Lady Calypso's finger.

"Hey, what's wrong, man?" Connor-or Travis; Leo couldn't tell- sat down next to him, his sword scraping against the dirt and pebble ground.

Leo didn't even need to look, "Get away from my bag."

The other of the Stolls, pouted and set Leo's bag back down before sliding into the spot on his other side. "Dang. You're no fun at all."

Leo rolled his eyes and got up and walked across the campsite. His curls bounced with every step. He felt sick to his stomach.

"Dude, you really don't look okay." The younger of the Stolls came up on his left, looking concerned.

Leo shrugged him off. He wasn't in the mood to fight off a Dragon. He'd never been in the mood to fight off a Dragon. He wasn't a fighter. He was a tinkerer. A fixer- upper. The blacksmith. Leo's hand trailed up his neck, fingering the ghost feeling of the necklace. He wanted to pretend that was the only thing he was.

"I guess because I'm a blacksmith. They wanted someone good with fixing weapons or some lousy other excuse."

Maybe if he kept repeating that in his head, it would be true.

"It's a girl." the other Stoll said confidentially, "Ten darcharmas Connor, I bet you its a girl."

"Deal!" Connor replied.

"Stay out of my business, Stolls!" Leo snapped.

"See I told you it's a girl!" Travis congratulated himself, "It's that red head, right? Atlas's daughter? From town....whats her name....Cassie? Catherine?"

"Calypso!" Connor suggested. 

"That's it!" Travis sent Leo a crooked grin. It was obvious that he was a thief, both of them. You couldn't miss the way they smirked like they were always one step ahead of you, and their fingers danced way too fine when they weren't doing anything.

"You know I thought about asking her out to dinner." Travis said, "But Connor was right when he said that she would've punched my lights out. But she seems like a perfect fit for you, Valdez."

Leo's glare hardened, "What's that suppose to mean!"

The boys shared an identical look, "Oh nothing," Connor said with a smile, "Just that you like girls with a little....fire...in them."

If it had been physically possible for him to go cold he would've. Michel Kale shifted to his sword, as if sensing the waves of murderous intentions coming from Leo's body.

"How do you know about that?"

The brothers shared a knowing look, their grins no longer harmless. Travis tapped the side of his nose, "The better question is how could we not?"

"It seems so strange that no one else has figured it out yet," Connor continued. "Haven't they seen you work? Does lovely Calypso know?"

Leo stood up, his head buzzing. "There's no dragon out here, is there." He said, eyes flicking everywhere. He should have known. He was such an idiot.

Travis grinned. In the fire light he looked like he had come straight from Hell. His curly hair and blue eyes rang with solid truths. "No," He said, "There's one out here. And I'm standing right in front of it."

Michael Kale drew his sword.

Leo felt the warmth flowing through his body. The pulse of his own blood was a merciless sound in his ears. His senses sharpened, the smell of fire and ash, the taste of soot on the roof of his mouth, the feel of every strand of fabric on his back--the lack of the locket around his throat.

"Leo Valdez!" Michael bellowed, his voice void of emotion, "You have with held information on your birth, endangering the innocent citizens! In accordance with the laws of Ogygia, you have been condemed to death!"

"I didn't withhold anything!" Leo spit, "No one was in danger! I was building things!"

"You're a monster, Valdez!" Connor yelled, his hands each held a dagger made of silver. "All monsters do is destroy!"

Leo felt it in his bones. His eyes glowed the same red of glowing embers, his skin thickening, something alien in his mind, growling inhuman sounds. What did Connor Stoll know about monsters? What did anyone know about Monsters? Leo had seen monsters. He had seen beast with teeth so sharp they cut through your soul, he had seen mouths so wide they ate buildings in one small gulp. Leo Valdez had seen monsters breathe the flames of death across nations, across forests and seas. He'd seen monsters before.

He'd seen humans kill each other, with knives and swords and magic and fire. Because some were different. Because some were powerful and some were weaker. Because the world was a cruel place.

His hand was alight in flames, the brilliant light flushing the shadows of the clearing away.

"These flames were made to build things, Mijo. Great things."

Leo didn't ask to be born a dragonkin. Mother was a fire magician, forced from her small village of farmers because of fear. She wondered for years, so many years by herself and not one person would help her. She was forced into the cavernous mountains to the South, where no one else dared go. The only person who would give her a place to stay was a dragon.

"I destroy?" Leo repeated, "Tell me who I've hurt! Tell me who I killed, Stolls!"

Michel Kale swung his sword out, and Leo dodged it only by the speed of his instincts. Connor leapt as him from the side, but Leo deflected him with a burst of fire just hot enough to scare him. Travis caught him under his gaurd, jamming a jeweled dagger right under Leo's gaurd. He rolled away scattering flames in the dirt and leaves around him. Blood dripped from the knick on his cheek, but her barely felt it.

"It's not who you have already hurt." A deep voice from behind him said. Leo didn't even have time to turn around. His body jerked forward, the pressure slicing through his body, pain and agony wiping away every thought he had been thinking-- the silver tip exploded from his chest.

Atlas, Captain of the King's Gaurd, yanked back his sword, leaving Leo to fall limply to the ground. His voice was gruff with sick satification. "I will not allow a freak of nature like you to taint my name, or to taint my daughter's name!" The soldier slammed his boot down on Leo's undprotected back.

Leo spit out so much blood he couldn't see any other color. The lashed out from every where, his lungs that breathed fire felt like they were inhaling it instead. His brain fogged up, the animal instinct to kill them all strained to break free, but Leo refused. He wouldn't lose control another time. Even if it meant his death.

Michal Kale sheathed his sword. Atlas stepped over Leo as if he was nothing more than the dirt under his boots. Leo coughed weakly, his live draining from his body like a river.

"Good work, you two." The captain told the boys, "You're country thanks you."

Michel nodded, the thanks of a soldier willing to do anything for his country. No remorse in his eyes.

"And the reward?" Travis asked, "We gave you what you needed." He wiped sweat off his brow.

"Of course," Atlas said, his mouth a thin line, "You both are cleared of all charges. I'll let my men know--"

"That's not all of it." Connor broke in, "We gave you Silena and Beckendorf too. You owe us, Atlas."

"We would have figured out them eventually." Atlas said, "You did your duty here, Stolls. I was the one who had to dispose of those traitors."

Leo choked at the sound of the names. His mind flashed desperately to the memories of the older couple, his gracious hosts. Silena with her long black hair and calming smile, Beckendorf of a rough and caloused nature but always with a good heart. They had taken him in when he was starving, cold, and alone. They had reminded him that his fire could build, not only kill. They had risked everything for him.

He willed Atlas to be wrong but he knew in his shallowed breaths it was true. The animal inside him howled, raising fires that burned the blood under his skin. Atlas had killed them.

But the Stolls, who stopped by the shop twice a week since before Leo had even become an apprentice, who Beckendorf had invited over for dinner many times, who had been called mischevious friends by kind Silena--the same Connor and Travis Stolls had sold them all out for their own lives.

"Oh come on, Atlas," Travis said, "We aren't going to ask for much. In fact we only want one thing."

"What is it?"

Leo felt his body wretch in pain one last time. The voices kept cutting in and out as if he was hearing through some type of magic crystal.

Connor Stoll stepped forward, until Leo could see the dirt on the other boy's boots. "I want your daughter's hand in marriage."

Leo felt the rage swallow him whole. His brain bathed the world in desperate illusions. No, he hadn't heard that-- he couldn't have heard that! Calypso was waiting for him. She had his locket, his trust, his future. He had made her a promise!

The smell of her juniper scent, the touch of her silky hair under his fingers, the taste of her lips, he wanted to know what she tasted like when she wasn't crying for him. Her twinkling eyes ever so bright when they looked at him, as if he was more, as if he was human. She didn't know what he was, but Leo had been willing to pretend anything for her just to look at him one more time.

He...he'd made her a promise...

"Kale!" Atlas barked, "Take care of the body. There's a river not too far from here. It leads directly to the sea."

"Yes sir."

The captain turned back to the decietiful brothers, "It seems we have some things to discuss Stolls."

Leo felt him body go limp. The beast inside him drifted out, his power gone. Leo was in too much pain to breathe. Tears fell down his face, his mind still echoing the sweet sounds of a voice he would never hear again. His palm opened one last time, and the washer that might have one day been a ring on Lady Calypso's finger tumbled into the dark unknown.