Her yellow eyes met his, widening. “Whatever you want.”
“Skating sounds fun,” said Ariadne. “Have you tried it before?”
Medusa shook her head.
“Then we have to do it,” she said, smiling.
They made their way toward the rink which was near a few pines that had been decorated for the holiday and got their skates.
“Lace them up tight,” Dionysus told Medusa as he finished putting his on. “Then walk around a little. It will help you get a feel for the skates.”
The gorgon glanced at him. “When did you learn to skate?”
“A few years ago,” he said. “I had no choice.”
“You had a choice,” said Ariadne. “And you chose to learn.”
“If by chose you mean I was forced, then yes, exactly.”
Ariadne looked at Medusa as she was helping Acamus into his skates.
“When he says forced, he means he doesn’t like when I can do something he can’t.”
“That is not true. There are plenty of things you do that I can’t.”
Like pole dancing, which he was content to watch.
Ariadne straightened and then sat Acamus on the ground.
“All right, we’re ready,” she said.
Ariadne held Acamus’s hand as they made their way onto the rink while Dionysus waited for Medusa. She held the wall and wobbled on the ice.
“You know it’s okay to fall,” he said.
“That’s easy for you to say,” she replied, watching her feet as she spoke.
He chuckled.
“March,” he said.
“March?”
“Like you did off the rink.”
She did as he instructed. “Now push forward. Good,” he said when she mimicked his instruction.
“Let go,” he said once she’d mastered balance.
“Let go?” she repeated, terror widening her eyes.
“It’s all right,” he assured. “I won’t let you fall.”
She released the wall, marching and gliding.
“You’ve got this,” he said.
That’s when she slipped.
