Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Olympians
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The name sent a shiver down my back . I ’ d met the Titan Atlas last winter , and it had not been a happy time . He ’ d tried to kill pretty much everyone I care about .
“ Still ,” I said hesitantly , “ it ’ s not fair to punish you for what your father ’ s done . I knew another daughter of Atlas . Her name was Zoë . She was one of the bravest people I ’ ve ever met .” Calypso studied me for a long time . Her eyes were sad . “ What is it ?” I asked . “ Are — are you healed yet , my brave one ? Do you think you ’ ll be ready to leave soon ?” “ What ? I asked . “ I don ’ t know .” I moved my legs . They were still stiff . I was already getting dizzy from standing up so long . “ You want me to go ?” “ I …” Her voice broke . “ I ’ ll see you in the morning . Sleep well .” She ran off toward the beach . I was too confused to do anything but watch until she disappeared in the dark . *** I don ’ t know exactly how much time passed . Like Calypso said , it was hard to keep track on the island . I knew I should be leaving . At the very least , my friends would be worried . At worst , they could be in serious danger . I didn ’ t even know if Annabeth had made it out of the volcano . I tried to use my empathy link with Grover several times , but I couldn ’ t make contact . I hated not knowing if they were all right .
On the other hand , I really was weak . I couldn ’ t stay on my feet more than a few hours . Whatever I ’ d done in Mount St . Helens had drained me like nothing else I ’ d ever expected .
I didn ’ t feel like a prisoner or anything . I remembered the Lotus Hotel and Casino in Vegas , where I ’ d been lured into this amazing game world until I almost forgot everything I cared about . But the island of Ogygia wasn ’ t like that at all . I thought about Annabeth , Grover , and Tyson constantly . I remembered exactly why I needed to leave . I just … couldn ’ t . and then there was Calypso herself .
She never talked much about herself , but that just made me want to know more . I would sit in the meadow , sipping nectar , and I would try to concentrate on the flowers or the clouds or the reflections on the lake , but I was really staring at Calypso as she worked , the way she brushed her hair over her shoulder , and the little strand that fell in her face whenever she knelt to dig in the garden . Sometimes she would hold out her hand and birds would fly out of the woods to settle on her arm — lorikeets , parrots , doves . She would tell them good morning , ask how it was going back at the nest , and they would chirp for a while , then fly off cheerfully . Calypso ’ s eyes gleamed . She would look at me and we ’ d share a smile , but almost immediately she ’ d get that sad expression again and turn away . I didn ’ t understand what was bothering her .
One night we were eating dinner together at the beach . Invisible servants had set up a table with beef stew and apple cider , which may not sound all that exciting , but that ’ s because you haven ’ t tasted it . I hadn ’ t even noticed the invisible servants when I first got to the island , but that ’ s because you haven ’ t tasted it . I hadn ’ t even noticed the invisible servants when I first got to the island , but after a while I became aware of the beds making themselves , meals cooking on their own , clothes being washed and folded by unseen hands .
Anyway , Calypso and I were sitting at dinner , and she looked beautiful in the candlelight . I was telling her about New York and Camp Half-Blood , and then I started telling her about the time Grover had eaten an apple while we were playing Hacky Sack with it . She laughed , showing off her amazing smile , and our eyes met . Then she dropped her gaze . “ There it is again ,” I said . “ What ?” “ You keep pulling away , like you ’ re trying not to enjoy yourself .” She kept her eyes on her glass of cider . “ As I told you , Percy , I have been punished . Cursed , you might say .” “ How ? Tell me . I want to help .” “ Don ’ t say that . Please don ’ t say that .” “ Tell me what the punishment is .” She covered her half-finished stew with a napkin , and immediately an invisible servant whisked the bowl away . “ Percy , this island , Ogygia , is my home , my birthplace . But it is also my prison . I am under … house arrest , I guess you would call it . I will never visit this Manhattan of yours . Or anywhere else . I am alone here .”