Calypso

Again

I finish with the lillies, the jasmines, the poppies... As soon as I finish the patch, I sit down for a short break.
I am so sick of this. Soon after Percy left, I saw Hermes. At least, I think I did. Just a reflection of him, in the rock. He didn't say anything; I just got a glimpse of his smirk.
How could they? I have been stuck here for a millennia, tortured and broken again and again and again...
I notice that there are tears streaming down my face, but I make no effort to wipe them away.
How many times will I have to go through this? How long does eternity have to be? Why can't I just die?
I hear a scream, and I hurriedly wipe away my tears. I look up.
Another boy.
Again.
A flush of anger washes through me, and I nearly scream in frustration.
I shove down the anger. It's not this boy's fault that I'm stuck here. He may not even know.
He crash lands in the water. It sprays me even from here, and I rush to grab him. I manage to drag him onto the beach, and he coughs up water. His eyes are a glassy green, and his hair is a muddy brown.
"Are you OK?" I ask quietly. They boy sputters and coughs helplessly for another minute before nodding.
"Who... who are you?" he narrows his eyes.
"I'm..." I hesitate. "Calypso."
He nearly jumps to his feet. "Calypso. You held Odysseus captive."
My face flushes with rage. Of course, that's the story that most are told. I stand. "Actually, that's backwards. That selfish so-called hero stayed for years, making me fall in love with him. Then he left, and told the whole world that I'd held him captive so that he wouldn't have to confess to his girlfriend back home."
The boy backs up a few steps, then winces. "Sorry. That's just what I was told."
The anger drains from my face, and I bite my lip. "Sorry. I shouldn't have exploded at you. It's not your fault."
He nods faintly.
"Is something wrong with your leg? How did you survive that crash?"
"My mom's Keto, goddess of sea monsters. I have a kind of... affinity with the ocean. My leg probably broke in the explosion."
I hesitate. Keto was trouble. Or was that the voice of the Olympians, making me look down on the minor gods and goddesses? I'd never actually met Keto myself, so I can't say anything. "Explosion?"
His grin turns sheepish. "I accidentally blew something up trying to destroy some monsters. No biggie."
I blink. "Biggie?"
He laughs. "No big deal, I mean."
I don't really know how to respond, so I change the subject. "What's your name?"
"Jake. Jake Dean."
"Nice to meet you, Jake. I'm Calypso. I have some medicine for your leg back in my home. Come on."
I help support his weight as we trudge slowly back to my cave.