Chapter 55.5

After a few more minutes of bathing, Jason dragged both kids out and dried their bodies' with a spell before encouraging them to brush by enchanting their toothbrushes to chase them. Once their hair was completely dry and they had begrudgingly brushed their teeth, he lifted each one in his arm and walked them to Alice's room. Placing each of them gently in the bed, he tucked them in and brushed their head but Alice grabbed his hand with sparkling eyes.

"Can you tell us a story, daddy?" Alice asked pleadingly with doe eyes.

"Sure," Jason answered as he sat down on the corner of the bed. He thought about a story for a second then took a deep breath. "Once upon a time, there was a princess and a prince. They got together due to a political marriage and lived happily ever after. Well, happily for about a day - maybe a night. The end."

"That's a terrible story," Maple said after being stunned for a moment.

"No, it's not. It's a short and wholesomely realistic story," Jason answered and Alice pouted.

"It sucked," she said and Maple nodded.

"Hey, no S words, remember?"

". . . Then no sorrys either?" Alice asked cheekily.

"Heh, always outsmarting me," Jason muttered with a shake of his head before rubbing Alice's head. "Oh, alright. I'll tell another story. How bout . . . Jason and the Argonauts?"

"Another Jason?" Alice asked with wide eyes.

"Better. The first Jason, the original one! Whom I'm named after," Jason added sheepishly with a wink. He then cleared his throat and began narrating his story in a low, deep voice.

"Long ago, there was a region in Greek wherein a kingdom lay, called Aeolia. It was a great kingdom, known for raising heroes and having friendly relations with mythical races, such as the Centaurs and the Myrmidons.

"It was ruled by a king, named Aeson. He was a wise ruler who managed his kingdom with both mercy and strictness. Yet he was mired with naivety, as he failed to realize that his brother, Pelias, was drowning in ambition and jealousy. Jealousy that soon became hatred. Hatred that soon gave way to desire. 

"Eventually, Pelias - with the power of his father, Poseidon himself - overthrew Aeson and locked him deep within a dungeon where the light of day never saw."

Maple gasped and Alice's eyes widened as they both listened intently, their eyes glued to Jason who wet his parched mouth with a sip of water before continuing.

"And thus, Jason - the son of Aeson, prince and heir to the throne - was forced to flee the region. Abandoning his father to his fate, his mother to her death, and . . . his older sister, Helen, to a life of imprisonment. He fled, with the aid of Hera, running and running without looking back, till he met Chiron, the ancestor and God to Centaurs."

"God? The Centaurs had a God?" Alice asked.

"Oh, yes. Chiron was once a Thesssalian God. He was capitulated by the other Gods, the Greek Pantheons and forced to join them. Unfortunately, his appearance as a half-man half-horse reminded the Pantheons of a beast, like his fellow brethren amongst the Devils and Monsters. He then became a mere Centaurian servant to Apollo, the God of Light."

"Devils?" Maple asked. "And Monsters?"

"The Pantheons are much like humans. The righteous were deemed as Pantheons while the evil ones were known as Devils," Jason explained patiently. "Of course, between these two factions existed another, the Monsters. But I digress.

"Chiron, despite being a slave, had the wisdom and knowledge of a God. He was a peaceful and kind Centaur, and this humble humility allowed him to become the teacher to many a great heroes in the Greek world. From Perseus flying atop his Pegasus, to Herakles the son of Zeus himself who could crush a boulder into powder, to finally . . . a lost child named Jason.

"Chiron took pity on Jason and trained him in many of his arts; he was trained in archery, medicine, even music. And the latter was so gifted, he picked up these skills in a matter of years and drew the attention of the Pantheon, such as Artemis and Apollo; Pantheons who were known for skill with the bow and medicine. But his most shocking talent wasn't with a bow or a potion, it was with the sword. In fact, what Chiron didn't know was that Jason was secretly receiving training from one of the most fearsome of Pantheon: Ares. The God of War, who resembled the Devils, taught Jason not for appreciation, but merely to sow the seeds for chaos and destruction. Athena noticed his schemes and, to subvert Ares expectations, taught Jason the wisdom of battle. Yet it could not allay the damage done, and Jason left Chiron's peaceful tutelage to become a fearsome mercenary.

"Years passed, and as Jason grew, Aeolia's prosperity stagnated, despite the success that followed his uncle, King Pelias. The new king was fearful, in part due to Hera's dislike of him, and in part of inheriting the throne through ill means, and his fears began to turn into a paranoia. A paranoia that he would be usurped one day, not unlike how he had done. And so, he set off in search of an Oracle and made his way to Delphi, where the Pythia resided."

"Ooh. What's a python?" Maple asked curiously.

"Pythia," Jason corrected patiently with a smile. "It's the title, uh, title for the head oracle of Apollo. She is the most famous and known Oracle, despite occasionally being described as . . . not being infallible."

"What does that mean?" Alice asked with scrunched eyebrows; Jason's choice of words were too complicated for her.

"Means she wasn't always accurate," Jason replied, a mocking smile on his face. "The Gods are as fickle as mortals. Why would they maintain their words and not lie?"

"That's so confusing," Alice muttered and Maple nodded. "I don't get it."

"Stories reflect mankind's nature, especially stories like these," Jason stated, his eyes flashing as he thought of the many sins he had committed. "You'll find the life of grownups just as complicated."

"Then I don't ever wanna grow up!" Alice declared and Jason chuckled.

"So the bad king went to the pythons," Maple summarized with glowing eyes. "What happened next?"

"The Pythia gave a prophecy to King Pelias. 'Beware of the man wearing a single sandal. For he is the beginning of your reckoning . . . and your doom.'"

"The man with one sandal . . . that's Jason, right?" Alice excitedly asked but Jason didn't answer and only smiled.

Seeing his cunning smile, Alice had an inkling as to what would happen next and she groaned when it came true.

"We'll find out next time. In the meantime, it's time to go to sleep."

"Awww."

Both Alice and Maple were disgruntled and groaned with impatience, but Jason didn't bulge in his decision. Instead, he checked to make sure they were tucked in comfortably before preparing to turn off the lights. However, a hand quickly reached out and grasped the hem of his shirt.

"Wait, daddy . . ." Alice called it timidly. "Can you keep the lights on?"

Seeing the distress in Alice's eyes caused a sharp pain in Jason's chest. It only worsened when he saw the discomfort on Maple's face as well; though they played and acted normal, it was clear that they were traumatized by the incident in the orphanage. 

Gently, Jason bent down and stroked Alice's hair and cheeks before doing the same to Maple.

"Sweetie, I'm so sorry," Jason said to Alice. He looked down at the bed, considering if he should stay the night with them but realized that the bed was two too small. 

"How bout we all sleep on my bed together?" He finally suggested. Alice's eyes widened but she said nothing; she was filled with delight that Jason understood her feelings of not wanting to be alone, yet trepidation prevented her from asking him to stay.

With a shy nod, Alice agreed and Jason gently picked up both her and Maple before walking to his bedroom. Alice and Maple laid down next to each other and Jason could see their linked hands as they curled up. 

They're both still scared, Jason thought. He also laid down next to Alice and prompted himself up with an elbow before turning to the two kids. But they feel stronger together.

Jason frowned, wondering what he could do to help comfort them when he recalled the song Elizabeth would occasionally sing to him. He hummed a slow time before opening his mouth.

"Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme

Remember me to one who lives there

She once was a true love of mine."

Jason sang quietly, his deep voice low and gravelly, yet mesmerizing none the less. Alice and Maple closed their eyes, finding comfort in the reverberating voice that echoed through the mattress and into their chests. They both felt warm and safe as a large hand brushed their head alternately, patting them both gently and lovingly.

"Tell her to make me a cambric shirt

Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme

Without no seams nor needle work

Then she'll be a true love of mine,"

Even as Jason sang, he closed his eyes. He could vividly recall the night Elizabeth first sang this, the warmth as he snuggled in her chest, the sound of her voice rumbling from between her bosom, and the scent of roses that lingered in his nose every time he breathed. It was a strange sensation that was completely foreign to him: he had never been held before, much less hugged. And that moment, that event, changed him fundamentally; he finally realized why people craved warmth and love, and what he truly lacked.

"Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme

Remember me to one who lives there

She once was a true love of mine,"

Jason came to and looked down at Alice then Maple. Both were sleeping soundly, deep breaths of comfort billowed out from both and he smiled before leaning forward to Alice.

"I love you, kid," he murmured before kissing her forehead and Alice smiled sweetly: it was as though she heard him in her dreams.

Turning off the lights, Jason laid back down after putting both hands behind his head and closed his eyes, drifting into a dreamless sleep.