Author’s Pov

“I thought I did the right thing.”

Morpheus leaned against the table as all three of his sons had their entire attention on him. They knew it was very personal what their father was about to say and they weren't a least bit ready to hear it.

“She wouldn't shut up asking about her parents so I gave her the truth.” Morpheus gulped the uneasiness he was feeling all of a sudden. “I should’ve known she's too young to understand it.”

He played with the bandage on his hand, left from the IV. He was uncomfortable sharing what he was about to. It was something that he didn't even speak to himself about.

It reminded him just how much he failed as a guardian.

Not just once but twice.

“It was the biggest mistake of my life. Everything changed after that day.” Morpheus ripped the bandage as it was annoying him. “The change didn't come at once. It was gradual. I couldn't even place it when it all started and how she became so… rebellious.”

“The day I told her everything was the first time she cried for people who don't deserve her tears. But she promised she'd never ever cry for you again. She said she doesn't care. She told me how much she loves me for choosing her. She told me how I'm enough for her and that we're the cutest and the most perfect family even if it's just the two of us.” Morpheus smiled to himself.

“I was so happy that it all went so well. I never thought she'd understand everything so maturely. That day I was so proud of how I raised her.” His eyes started to water as he remembered the most hurtful days of his life but he held back the tears.

“But I didn't expect her to be so comfortable with her truth that she would go on telling her classmates about it.” Morpheus exhaled deeply. “It got all over the school and she started getting called a bastard.”

The trio kept looking at their father as if not processing his words would change the reality.

They knew how bad bullying can be because they themselves had experienced it in their middle school. A group of four boys in their class used to constantly call them ‘murderers’ going with the belief that they killed their mother —because she died in childbirth.

But not even a month in, they decided they've had enough and they beat their bullies to the point of bruises, broken nose and a fractured wrists.

They never thought Athena would have any problems. They thought she'd have the most perfect and comfortable life. They never considered that leaving her would ever have an impact on her life except for an absence that their father would fulfill.

“I talked to the principal and her bully got suspended for a week but he came back and did the same thing again. One day she came home crying and asked me what's wrong with her…”

“Nothing's wrong with you, sweetheart.” Morpheus was confused at his granddaughter's question.

“Then why did my parents leave me?” Ten-year-old Athena looked at her grandfather with teary eyes. “I get good grades. I don't watch a lot of TV. I never hurt anyone. I never stay up late. I never say bad words. I’ve even started eating veggies. What did I do wrong?”

“You did nothing wrong, Athena. Some people are bad people and they leave the good ones. It's not your fault that your parents didn't know any better.”

“Jackson calls me a bastard everyday but his parents didn't leave him. He’s so happy, grandpa. You know our school janitor, she's always rude to her husband but she's still happy. Bullies are always happy. They always get what they want.” She started crying and Morpheus engulfed her in a hug, rubbing her back.

“She concluded that being bad is what gets you happiness. And so the next day, she pushed her bully off the stairs. If it wasn't for Tristan she would've given him more than just a dislocated shoulder because she certainly didn't want to stop there.” Morpheus sighed.

“When I was asked to come to her school, she was smiling but there was guilt in her eyes. She kept telling me how good she felt but she also kept asking if a dislocated shoulder is too bad and how long would it take for him to be alright. She cared but she didn't want to show it. She wasn't proud of herself but she kept defending her actions justifying them with false happiness. Even when I tried talking to her, she didn't confess her feelings. That was the first time she lied about how she felt.” Morpheus massaged his temple as a throbbing pain set deeper there. “I don't know if she was ever truthful to me after that day.”

“I didn't realize when she started sneaking out but I caught her for the first time when she was thirteen...”

“This is no age for you to go out to clubs, Athena.” Morpheus banged his fist on the table.

“I'm sorry but…” Athena didn't look into his eyes. “I didn't do anything wrong-”

“Don't you fucking understand how dangerous this is?” It was the first time she heard her grandpa so angry and it really shocked her. “You will now go to your room. Change, and sleep. And don't you dare ever try to sneak out again. Am I understood?” When Athena didn't reply Morpheus raised his voice. “Am I understood?”

“No!” She said, “That's unfair. You let your sons do whatever they want and enjoy their life but now the rules are different for me?”

“I didn't let them do any of those things. They snuck out just like you were going to. And I'm not gonna allow that to happen again.”

“Why can't I enjoy a little bit of life? What has being a good girl ever gotten me? Atleast I'm having fun now.”

“This fun comes with consequences. And I don't want you dealing with any of those. So stop arguing with me and go to your fucking room!” Morpheus yelled.

Athena kept looking at her grandpa for a few seconds as tears started gathering in her eyes. When he didn't show any sign of taking her in his arms, she ran upstairs to her room.

When she left, Morpheus slumped down to the ground and started crying. He was scared that history might repeat itself. He was scared that he'd see Athena ruin her life. He was scared that he'd lose another one of his kids.

“Whenever anything happened after that day, it was somehow connected to the people I wanted her to forget about.” Morpheus popped his knuckles to distract himself from the emotions the memories brought back.

“She didn't stop going out. Sometimes I’d catch her in time and sometimes when she was sneaking back in. Every time she'd refuse to talk to me about it and every time I'd see the same guilt on her face and hoped that she would stop this but she'd repeat it again.” Morpheus rested his head against the wall.

“A few months later, there was five hundred euro in her wallet. She never saved her pocket money nor did I ever give her that much without a reason so it obviously caught my attention…”

“It’s…” Athena tried to think of some excuse but she sucked at lying to the man in front of her.

“The truth, Athena.” Morpheus said seriously.

“I made a new friend. He gave me that because I told him about the dress I asked you to get me…”

Morpheus already knew that it wasn't going to be anything good but he gave her a chance to explain. He didn't want to assume anything.

“And what did he want in return?”

Athena's eyes widened like she wasn't expecting this question. She was hoping to keep it a secret that she earned the money in exchange for letting a man flex her as his girlfriend to his friends.

“He’s a friend grandpa. He gave me that because he knew the dress would get sold out if I didn't buy it in time. I promised him I'd return the money.” She knew Morpheus won't be convinced with the lie and leave the topic so easily so she took a different route. “I wouldn't have to ask him if you didn't give me peanuts for pocket money.”

“I’m giving you enough. You’ll live with the money we have. You won't use our financial situation as an excuse to go out and ask other people for cash.”

“Why can't you just let me get the dress from someone else when you can't buy it for me?” She snapped.

“Don't you dare talk to me like that, Athena.” Morpheus warned.

“Sorry,” She apologized and corrected the pitch of her tone immediately.

She felt guilty talking to her grandpa in such a way when they genuinely didn't have a lot to get by every month —so she thought.

“Every single thing I did was wrong. With you. Or with her.” Disappointment dripped from his voice. “I didn't give her everything she asked for so she wouldn't be spoiled like I had spoiled you. I thought it would make her appreciate the limited resources but I was wrong. Again.”

Trio hated that a major part of their father's disappointment was because of them. But they weren't in any condition to console their father. They didn't have the words.

And they didn't want to interrupt him. They've come a long way in the story and they wouldn't back down now, no matter how uncomfortable all his words sound.

“When she couldn't find peace and happiness in people, my baby tried finding it in material things.” Morpheus took a deep breath before continuing. “I shouldn't have deprived her of what was rightfully hers. Because she found alternative ways to get what she wants.”

“Guess what happened a week after her fourteenth birthday?” Morpheus asked them like they were playing a trivia. “I found cigarettes in her bag, she said it helps her stop thinking but she promised she didn't think about her parents.” Morpheus dry chuckled. “What’s funny is that I never asked what kept her up at night. She said that because she wanted me to believe it was the truth.”

“I hoped she'd move on someday and I really thought it was happening. But it was all just an act. She had put on that smile for me. She hid behind her fierce attitude and rebellious acts and everyone just saw that. Everyone judged her for it, even called her names. But she wasn't what she wanted everyone to see her as.”

Morpheus wiped the tear that tried escaping from his eyes. “She wasn't a spoiled girl who wants to drink and party, she’s just a teenager who thinks she's doing what's best for her. She thinks it doesn't matter to her if her parents abandoned her. She thinks she doesn't want anyone because she can create her own happiness. She thinks this is what life is. She thinks this is who she is. She thinks she's content but she's lying. To me. To Tristan. To herself.”

Ares wanted to ask for Tristan's identification but he didn't stop his father’s monologue. He had already decided to ask one of his men and get information about him because clearly the grandfather and his granddaughter weren't onboard to give a simple answer.

“The reality is, she couldn't accept the truth. It was eating her alive and she lost herself fighting against it. She wanted to forget about it but she started forgetting herself in the process.”

Morpheus finally looked up and connected eyes with Ares. “You were curious how old Tristan is.” He gave him a sad smile. “One of our neighbors once saw her kissing a twenty five year old guy at a pool party...”

“What the hell is wrong with you? Athena please, why are you ruining your life? Don't do this.” Morpheus pleaded. “That guy is eleven years older than you.”

“Grandpa,” Athena grabbed her grandpa's hand. “Trust me it was just… I…”

“Sweetheart, he’s using you.” He said softly so she would understand.

“No, it's… we’ve both agreed to it… he’s not using me…” She said, unsure of her own words.

“Men like him don't love anyone if that's what he's telling you. He’d leave when he's had enough.” That offended her and she left his hand straightening up.

“He’s not like them, grandpa. I never hangout with men like them. Even if… something happened, he wouldn't leave me. Or our baby.”

Morpheus gaped at the fifteen year old girl in front of him. He couldn't understand her logic. She had only one criteria to choose a man and it wasn't even the bare minimum.

“I just want to have fun… Those men, they care about me, especially the older ones, they're always so sweet and gentle. They get me whatever I want, they adore me. Even if I know they’re just doing it for… but they make me feel special.” Athena tried explaining herself. She hoped it would make sense to him. “Let me enjoy my life until I can grandpa. When I'm older even these guys won't wanna hang out anymore. They'll leave me.” She looked at her grandfather pleading with her eyes.

Morpheus closed his eyes as he realized what all of this was about. His granddaughter was finding fatherly affection in pedophiles. She liked the care and love they gave her.

She thought she was doing all this for the monetary incentives but she always liked when men were affectionate to her. She even hung out for free with some if she felt they were nice.

Those who she slept with were always the ones she thought deserved it after the kindness they've shown her.

Even if she thought she was smart enough to understand everything she was slowly falling deeper and deeper into the pit that she's gotten addicted to.

“I beg you, grandpa.”

Morpheus opened his eyes and looked at the girl who looked so small that it disgusted him how a grown man could even think of touching her inappropriately.

Ares' eyes widened. He’d suspected something horrendous but he hoped it was false.

“Tell me he’s dead.” Zyphre said, clenching his hands into fists.

Morpheus laughed. “I'm not like you. No matter how much I want to kill him, I can't. I would rather let him live than leave my Athena alone to fend for herself.”

“Great then. Give me his name.” Hades kept tapping his nails —a habit of his when he's anxious.

“There are many. How many names do you want me to give you?”

Hades took a deep breath hearing that. “All of them.”

“Why?”

“Stop asking ‘why’. Just do it, dad.” Ares closed his eyes. “Please.”

Before Morpheus could say anything, a guard knocked on the door. Everyone straightened up and corrected their posture before Zyphre called him to come in.

“There's a kid named Tristan Anderson at the door. He said he knows some Athena Kostas that's staying here.”

“Bring him here.” Ares said.