Crazy God
The sudden seriousness and directness of Aeolus frightened her for a second. And did her really have to address her in that way with that title? Why not the daughter of (Y/N)?
"How rude," mused Hector.
Jason flipped to turn at her with an incredulous look. "Bellona? Like the goddess and embodiment of Rome?"
"So that's who your other godly parent is!" said Piper.
"Uhh, who's Bellona?" asked Leo, looking confused.
"She's the Roman goddess of war," started Kassandra, "She handles foreign conflict and policy of the empire, best Roman goddess there is."
"Who's her Greek form? You know, like Hephaestus and Vulcan."
"She doesn't have one. Strictly Roman," replied Jason eagerly, as if he remembered this from class.
"Yes, she is a feisty one," said Aeolus, "I met both your parents at their wedding, wonderful people, especially your father. He served well on numerous occasions. But that's besides the point, that's not why your here now, is it?"
The king of the winds looked into blankness for a moment, recollecting his thoughts. Then his face darkened and his suit too, the lapels flashing with lightning.
"You know... I remember now. Almost seemed like a voice was telling me to give that order, to kill all the demi-gods. A little cold tingle on the back of my neck and not the good type."
"A... um, voice in your head, sir?" asked Jason.
"Yes. How odd. Mellie, should we kill them?"
"No, sir," she said patiently. "They just brought us the storm spirits, which makes everything all right."
"Of course." Aeolus laughed. "Sorry. Mellie, let's send the demigods something nice. A box of chocolates, perhaps."
"A box of chocolates to every demigod in the world, sir?"
"No, too expensive. Never mind. Wait, it's time! I'm on!"
Aeolus flew off toward the blue screen as newscast music started to play.Jason looked at them, the three just as confused as he was. Maybe Aeolus forgot he was a god and money wasn't an issue to him. He and Mellie reminded her of an elderly man and his caretaker.
"Mellie," Jason said, "is he... always like that?"
She smiled sheepishly. "Well, you know what they say. If you don't like his mood, wait five minutes. That expression'whichever way the wind blows'- that was based on him."
"And that thing about the sea monster," Jason said. "Was I here before?"
Mellie blushed. "I'm sorry, I don't remember. I'm Mr.Aeolus's new assistant. I've been with him longer than most,but still- not that long."
"How long do his assistants usually last?" Piper asked.
"Oh..." Mellie thought for a moment. "I've been doing this for... twelve hours?"
"Twelve hours-" started Kassandra, but she was too late.
A voice blared from floating speakers: "And now, weather every twelve minutes! Here's your forecaster for Olympian Weather- the OW! channel- Aeolus!"
Lights blazed on Aeolus, who was now standing in front of the blue screen. His smile was unnaturally white, and he looked like he'd had so much caffeine his face was about to explode.
"Hello, Olympus! Aeolus, master of the winds here, with weather every twelve! We'll have a low-pressure system moving over Florida today, so expect milder temperatures since Demeter wishes to spare the citrus farmers!"
He gestured at the blue screen, and when Kassandra checked the monitors, she saw that a digital image was being projected behind Aeolus, so it looked like he was standing in front of a U.S. map with animated smiley suns and frowny storm clouds. This really did bring back old memories.
"Along the eastern seaboard- oh, hold on." He tapped his earpiece. "Sorry, folks! Poseidon is angry with Miami today, so it looks like that Florida freeze is back on! Sorry, Demeter.Over in the Midwest, I'm not sure what St. Louis did to offend Zeus, but you can expect winter storms! Boreas himself is being called down to punish the area with ice. Bad news,Missouri! No, wait. Hephaestus feels sorry for central Missouri,so you all will have much more moderate temperatures and sunny skies."
Aeolus kept going like that- forecasting each area of the country and changing his prediction two or three times as he got messages over his earpiece- the gods apparently putting in orders for various winds and weather. She was pretty sure her pater had put in an order once, something about a rainbow showing up over Long Island.
"This can't be right," Jason whispered. "Weather isn't this random."
Mellie smirked. "And how often are the mortal weathermen right? They talk about fronts and air pressure and moisture, but the weather surprises them all the time. At least Aeolus tells us why it's so unpredictable. Very hard job, trying to appease all the gods at once. It's enough to drive anyone..."
She trailed off, but it was obvious what she meant. Mad.Aeolus was completely mad.
"And that's the weather," Aeolus concluded. "See you in twelve minutes, because I'm sure it'll change!"
The lights shut off, the video monitors went back to random coverage, and just for a moment, Aeolus's face sagged with weariness. Then he seemed to remember he had guests, and he put a smile back on.
"So, you brought me some rogue storm spirits," Aeolus said. "I suppose... thanks! And did you want something else? I assume so. Demigods always do. "
Mellie said, "Um, sir, this is Zeus's son."
"Yes, yes. I know that. I said I remembered him from before."
"But, sir, they're here from Olympus."Aeolus looked stunned.
Then he laughed abruptly.
"You mean you're hereon behalf of your father this time? Finally! I knew they would send someone to renegotiate my contract!"
"Um, what?" Jason asked.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Aeolus sighed with relief. "It's been what, three thousand years since Zeus made me master of the winds. Not that I'm ungrateful, of course! But really, my contract is so vague. Obviously I'm immortal, but 'master of the winds.' What does that mean? Am I a nature spirit? A demigod? A god? I want to be the god of the winds, because the benefits are so much better. Can we start with that?"
Jason looked at his friends, mystified. Aeolus wasn't a god? Kassandra had no idea, she had always just assumed that the man was a god since he had so much power and control over the mortal realm and other gods. That really did put things in a new light.
"Dude," Leo said, "you think we're here to promote you?"
"You are, then?"
Aeolus grinned. His business suit turned completely blue- not a cloud in the fabric. "Marvellous! I mean,I think I've shown quite a bit of initiative with the weather channel, eh? And of course I'm in the press all the time. So many books have been written about me: Into Thin Air, Up in the Air, Gone with the Wind-"
"Er, I don't think those are about you," Jason said, before Mellie started shaking her head.
"Nonsense," Aeolus said. "Mellie, they're biographies of me, aren't they?"
"Absolutely, sir," she squeaked.
"There, you see? I don't read. Who has time? But obviously the mortals love me. So, we'll change my official title to god of the winds. Then, about salary and staff-"
Sir," Jason said, "we're not from Olympus."
Aeolus blinked. "But-"
"I'm the son of Zeus, yes," Jason said, "but we're not hereto negotiate your contract. We're on a quest and we need your help."
Aeolus's expression hardened. "Like last time? Like every hero who comes here? Demigods! It's always about you, isn't it?"
"Actually my Lord," said Kassandra, butting in before Aeolus could get any more irritated, "I am here on behalf of Olympus. To renegotiate your contract that is."
He brightened back up again in an instant. "Perfect!" he beamed, "When she we begin?"
"Well first, I was wondering if you could help these demi-gods out," she grinned, putting on her best marketing performance.
The idea of being promoted was clearly enticing to Aeolus, a few clouds wandering back onto his suit but it stayed mostly blue. Happy skies, happy skies.
"So, what is it that you need?" he asked.
"We just want information," Piper said in her most calming voice. "We hear you know everything."
Aeolus straightened his lapels. "Well... that's true, of course. For instance, I know that this business here"-he waggled his fingers at the three of them- "this harebrained scheme of Juno's to bring you all together is likely to end in bloodshed. As for you, Piper McLean, I know your father is in serious trouble."
He held out his hand, and a scrap of paper fluttered into his grasp. It was a photo of Piper with a guy who must've been her dad.
Piper took the photo. Her hands were shaking.
"This- this is from his wallet."
"Yes," Aeolus said. "All things lost in the wind eventually come to me. The photo blew away when the Earthborn captured him."
"The what?" Piper asked.
Aeolus waved aside the question and narrowed his eye sat Leo.
"Now, you, son of Hephaestus... yes, I see your future."Another paper fell into the wind god's hands- an old tattered drawing done in crayons. Leo took it as if it might be coated in poison. He staggered backward.
"Leo?" Jason said. "What is it?"
"Something I- I drew when I was a kid."
He folded it quickly and put it in his coat.
"It's... yeah, it's nothing."
Aeolus laughed, a deep laugh that sounded like the gusts of wind. "Really? Just the key to your success! Now, where were we? Ah, yes, you wanted information. Are you sure about that? Sometimes information can be dangerous."
Aeolus laughed. "Really? Just the key to your success!Now, where were we? Ah, yes, you wanted information. Are you sure about that? Sometimes information can be dangerous."
He smiled at Jason like he was issuing a challenge.Behind, Mellie shook her head in warning.
"But a powerful tool in the hands of a capable hero," remarked Kassandra.
"Yeah," Jason said. "We need to find the lair of Enceladus."
Aeolus's smile melted. "The giant? Why would you want to go there? He's horrible! He doesn't even watch my program!"
Piper held up the photo. "Aeolus, he's got my father. We need to rescue him and find out where Hera is being held captive."
"Now, that's impossible," Aeolus said. "Even I can't see that, and believe me, I've tried. There's a veil of magic over Hera's location- very strong, impossible to locate."
"She's at a place called the Wolf House," Jason said.
"Hold on!" Aeolus put a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes. "I'm getting something! Yes, she's at a place called the Wolf House! Sadly, I don't know where that is."
"Enceladus does," Piper persisted. "If you help us find him, we could get the location of the goddess-"
"Yeah," Leo said, catching on. "And if we save her, she'd be really grateful to you-"
"And I might be able to get you an even better deal," Kassandra finished.
Aeolus's eyebrows crept up. "An even better deal than godhood- and all you want from me is the giant's location?"
"Well, if you could get us there, too," Jason amended, "that would be great."
Mellie clapped her hands in excitement. "Oh, he could do that! He often sends helpful winds-"
"Mellie, quiet!" Aeolus snapped. "I have half a mind to fire you for letting these people in under false pretences."
Her face paled. "Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
"It wasn't her fault," Jason said. "But about that help..."
Aeolus tilted his head as if thinking. Then Kassandra looked around to see that the wind lord was listening to voices in his earpiece. Then he locked eyes with Kassandra for the second time before throwing another ear piece at her from one of his pockets.
"They want to speak with you."
"Uhh, who does?"
"The Olympians."
The daughter of Rome's eyes bulged from her head. All of them? She had interacted with Hermes and Artemis, had a vague vision from Aphrodite, but this seemed so sudden.
"Of course, I'll just..."
She slipped the pod into her ear and tapped on it a couple times before sharing a look with the others. A good luck.
"Testing, testing," she muttered to herself.
"Receiving you loud and clear little niece," came through a cheery voice.
"Hermes?"
A chuckle came back, and she winced at how loud her honorary uncle was. He sounded so much more healthy and full now, as if being in the mortal world had drained him.
"How are things dear? Hope that quest's going well-"
"Hermes!" yelled a voice, even louder and more commanding. She had heard it few times, it radiated authority. There was a brief static before the line became clear again.
"Lord Zeus?" she asked meekly.
"Yes," boomed back voice loud enough to deafen any mortal. "Just who do you think you are to be promising godhood to someone without my permission?"
Kassandra winced again. She had hoped to just buy time with Aeolus and get one of the Olympians to sort of fix it up, but that plan was now out of the window.
"Well, I uhh, it was just a temporary fix to a necessary issue," she laughed nervously, looking at the others with a look that read 'I'm going to get smited'.
"You are fated for many things young one, but giving out the position of godhood is not one of them," the king of the gods huffed, "Be thankful you have a more prominent role in all of this to play. If it weren't for your parents I'd be in the mind to give you some private time in Tartarus."
"Well, thank you my Lord, that means a lot," she said, stumbling over her words. She only wished Aeolus couldn't hear the conversation. "So what should I do about..." Her gaze fluttered over to Aeolus, who beamed brightly at her, his white teeth almost glistening. Across the line, Zeus sighed.
"We have a big party planned, but I guess I can slot something in at some point. Just tell him I'll schedule a meeting in a week or so. But I don't want to hear any more of this business from you young lady, understand?"
"Yes sir," she said, straightening herself up as if they were talking in person. The line went fuzzy as the call disconnected. She popped the thing out of her ear and tossed it back to the master of the winds.
"So? What did he say?" grinned the news presenter.
"He... he said that you've been doing so well recently he wants to meet you in person for a more formal meeting," she nodded.
Rainbows grew on his suit as Aeolus' smile covered the better half of his face.
"Well that is great! I can't thank you enough my dear."
"You could start by assisting these three demi-gods on their quest," she suggested.
"What's up, guys?" Came a voice from behind them. Hedge trotted over. "Wow, nice place.Oh! Sod squares."
"Coach, you just ate," Jason said. "And we're using the sod as a floor. This is, ah, Melli-"
"An aura." Hedge smiled winningly. "Beautiful as a summer breeze."
Mellie blushed.
"And Aeolus here was just about to help us," Kassandra said.
"Yes," the wind lord muttered. "It seems so. You'll find Enceladus on Mount Diablo."
"Devil Mountain?" Leo asked. "That doesn't sound good."
"I remember that place!" Piper said. "I went there once with my dad. It's just east of San Francisco Bay."
"The Bay Area again?" The coach shook his head. "Not good. Not good at all."
"Now..." Aeolus began to smile. "As to getting you there-"
Suddenly his face went slack. He bent over and tapped his earpiece as if it were malfunctioning. When he straightened again, his eyes were wild. Despite the makeup, he looked like an old man-an old, very frightened man.
"She hasn't spoke tome for centuries. I can't- yes, yes I understand."He swallowed, regarding them as if they had suddenly turned into a band of slugs. "I'm sorry, son of Jupiter. New orders. You all have to die."
Mellie squeaked. "But- but, sir! Zeus said to help them-"
"Mellie!" Aeolus snapped. "Your job is already on the line.Besides, there are some orders that transcend even the wishes of the gods, especially when it comes to the forces of nature."
"Whose orders?" Jason said. "Zeus will fire you if you don't help us!"
"I doubt it." Aeolus flicked his wrist, and far below them, a cell door opened in the pit. Down below they could hear storm spirits screaming out of it, spiralling up toward them, howling for blood.
"Even Zeus understands the order of things," Aeolus said."And if she is waking- by all the gods- she cannot be denied. Good-bye, heroes. I'm terribly sorry, but I'll have to make this quick. I'm back on the air in four minutes."
Jason summoned his sword. Coach Hedge pulled out his club. Kassandra snatched out her dagger. Mellie the aura yelled, "No!"
And as all the chaos began, all the windows of the throne room simultaneously shattered.
The sudden seriousness and directness of Aeolus frightened her for a second. And did her really have to address her in that way with that title? Why not the daughter of (Y/N)?
"How rude," mused Hector.
Jason flipped to turn at her with an incredulous look. "Bellona? Like the goddess and embodiment of Rome?"
"So that's who your other godly parent is!" said Piper.
"Uhh, who's Bellona?" asked Leo, looking confused.
"She's the Roman goddess of war," started Kassandra, "She handles foreign conflict and policy of the empire, best Roman goddess there is."
"Who's her Greek form? You know, like Hephaestus and Vulcan."
"She doesn't have one. Strictly Roman," replied Jason eagerly, as if he remembered this from class.
"Yes, she is a feisty one," said Aeolus, "I met both your parents at their wedding, wonderful people, especially your father. He served well on numerous occasions. But that's besides the point, that's not why your here now, is it?"
The king of the winds looked into blankness for a moment, recollecting his thoughts. Then his face darkened and his suit too, the lapels flashing with lightning.
"You know... I remember now. Almost seemed like a voice was telling me to give that order, to kill all the demi-gods. A little cold tingle on the back of my neck and not the good type."
"A... um, voice in your head, sir?" asked Jason.
"Yes. How odd. Mellie, should we kill them?"
"No, sir," she said patiently. "They just brought us the storm spirits, which makes everything all right."
"Of course." Aeolus laughed. "Sorry. Mellie, let's send the demigods something nice. A box of chocolates, perhaps."
"A box of chocolates to every demigod in the world, sir?"
"No, too expensive. Never mind. Wait, it's time! I'm on!"
Aeolus flew off toward the blue screen as newscast music started to play.Jason looked at them, the three just as confused as he was. Maybe Aeolus forgot he was a god and money wasn't an issue to him. He and Mellie reminded her of an elderly man and his caretaker.
"Mellie," Jason said, "is he... always like that?"
She smiled sheepishly. "Well, you know what they say. If you don't like his mood, wait five minutes. That expression'whichever way the wind blows'- that was based on him."
"And that thing about the sea monster," Jason said. "Was I here before?"
Mellie blushed. "I'm sorry, I don't remember. I'm Mr.Aeolus's new assistant. I've been with him longer than most,but still- not that long."
"How long do his assistants usually last?" Piper asked.
"Oh..." Mellie thought for a moment. "I've been doing this for... twelve hours?"
"Twelve hours-" started Kassandra, but she was too late.
A voice blared from floating speakers: "And now, weather every twelve minutes! Here's your forecaster for Olympian Weather- the OW! channel- Aeolus!"
Lights blazed on Aeolus, who was now standing in front of the blue screen. His smile was unnaturally white, and he looked like he'd had so much caffeine his face was about to explode.
"Hello, Olympus! Aeolus, master of the winds here, with weather every twelve! We'll have a low-pressure system moving over Florida today, so expect milder temperatures since Demeter wishes to spare the citrus farmers!"
He gestured at the blue screen, and when Kassandra checked the monitors, she saw that a digital image was being projected behind Aeolus, so it looked like he was standing in front of a U.S. map with animated smiley suns and frowny storm clouds. This really did bring back old memories.
"Along the eastern seaboard- oh, hold on." He tapped his earpiece. "Sorry, folks! Poseidon is angry with Miami today, so it looks like that Florida freeze is back on! Sorry, Demeter.Over in the Midwest, I'm not sure what St. Louis did to offend Zeus, but you can expect winter storms! Boreas himself is being called down to punish the area with ice. Bad news,Missouri! No, wait. Hephaestus feels sorry for central Missouri,so you all will have much more moderate temperatures and sunny skies."
Aeolus kept going like that- forecasting each area of the country and changing his prediction two or three times as he got messages over his earpiece- the gods apparently putting in orders for various winds and weather. She was pretty sure her pater had put in an order once, something about a rainbow showing up over Long Island.
"This can't be right," Jason whispered. "Weather isn't this random."
Mellie smirked. "And how often are the mortal weathermen right? They talk about fronts and air pressure and moisture, but the weather surprises them all the time. At least Aeolus tells us why it's so unpredictable. Very hard job, trying to appease all the gods at once. It's enough to drive anyone..."
She trailed off, but it was obvious what she meant. Mad.Aeolus was completely mad.
"And that's the weather," Aeolus concluded. "See you in twelve minutes, because I'm sure it'll change!"
The lights shut off, the video monitors went back to random coverage, and just for a moment, Aeolus's face sagged with weariness. Then he seemed to remember he had guests, and he put a smile back on.
"So, you brought me some rogue storm spirits," Aeolus said. "I suppose... thanks! And did you want something else? I assume so. Demigods always do. "
Mellie said, "Um, sir, this is Zeus's son."
"Yes, yes. I know that. I said I remembered him from before."
"But, sir, they're here from Olympus."Aeolus looked stunned.
Then he laughed abruptly.
"You mean you're hereon behalf of your father this time? Finally! I knew they would send someone to renegotiate my contract!"
"Um, what?" Jason asked.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Aeolus sighed with relief. "It's been what, three thousand years since Zeus made me master of the winds. Not that I'm ungrateful, of course! But really, my contract is so vague. Obviously I'm immortal, but 'master of the winds.' What does that mean? Am I a nature spirit? A demigod? A god? I want to be the god of the winds, because the benefits are so much better. Can we start with that?"
Jason looked at his friends, mystified. Aeolus wasn't a god? Kassandra had no idea, she had always just assumed that the man was a god since he had so much power and control over the mortal realm and other gods. That really did put things in a new light.
"Dude," Leo said, "you think we're here to promote you?"
"You are, then?"
Aeolus grinned. His business suit turned completely blue- not a cloud in the fabric. "Marvellous! I mean,I think I've shown quite a bit of initiative with the weather channel, eh? And of course I'm in the press all the time. So many books have been written about me: Into Thin Air, Up in the Air, Gone with the Wind-"
"Er, I don't think those are about you," Jason said, before Mellie started shaking her head.
"Nonsense," Aeolus said. "Mellie, they're biographies of me, aren't they?"
"Absolutely, sir," she squeaked.
"There, you see? I don't read. Who has time? But obviously the mortals love me. So, we'll change my official title to god of the winds. Then, about salary and staff-"
Sir," Jason said, "we're not from Olympus."
Aeolus blinked. "But-"
"I'm the son of Zeus, yes," Jason said, "but we're not hereto negotiate your contract. We're on a quest and we need your help."
Aeolus's expression hardened. "Like last time? Like every hero who comes here? Demigods! It's always about you, isn't it?"
"Actually my Lord," said Kassandra, butting in before Aeolus could get any more irritated, "I am here on behalf of Olympus. To renegotiate your contract that is."
He brightened back up again in an instant. "Perfect!" he beamed, "When she we begin?"
"Well first, I was wondering if you could help these demi-gods out," she grinned, putting on her best marketing performance.
The idea of being promoted was clearly enticing to Aeolus, a few clouds wandering back onto his suit but it stayed mostly blue. Happy skies, happy skies.
"So, what is it that you need?" he asked.
"We just want information," Piper said in her most calming voice. "We hear you know everything."
Aeolus straightened his lapels. "Well... that's true, of course. For instance, I know that this business here"-he waggled his fingers at the three of them- "this harebrained scheme of Juno's to bring you all together is likely to end in bloodshed. As for you, Piper McLean, I know your father is in serious trouble."
He held out his hand, and a scrap of paper fluttered into his grasp. It was a photo of Piper with a guy who must've been her dad.
Piper took the photo. Her hands were shaking.
"This- this is from his wallet."
"Yes," Aeolus said. "All things lost in the wind eventually come to me. The photo blew away when the Earthborn captured him."
"The what?" Piper asked.
Aeolus waved aside the question and narrowed his eye sat Leo.
"Now, you, son of Hephaestus... yes, I see your future."Another paper fell into the wind god's hands- an old tattered drawing done in crayons. Leo took it as if it might be coated in poison. He staggered backward.
"Leo?" Jason said. "What is it?"
"Something I- I drew when I was a kid."
He folded it quickly and put it in his coat.
"It's... yeah, it's nothing."
Aeolus laughed, a deep laugh that sounded like the gusts of wind. "Really? Just the key to your success! Now, where were we? Ah, yes, you wanted information. Are you sure about that? Sometimes information can be dangerous."
Aeolus laughed. "Really? Just the key to your success!Now, where were we? Ah, yes, you wanted information. Are you sure about that? Sometimes information can be dangerous."
He smiled at Jason like he was issuing a challenge.Behind, Mellie shook her head in warning.
"But a powerful tool in the hands of a capable hero," remarked Kassandra.
"Yeah," Jason said. "We need to find the lair of Enceladus."
Aeolus's smile melted. "The giant? Why would you want to go there? He's horrible! He doesn't even watch my program!"
Piper held up the photo. "Aeolus, he's got my father. We need to rescue him and find out where Hera is being held captive."
"Now, that's impossible," Aeolus said. "Even I can't see that, and believe me, I've tried. There's a veil of magic over Hera's location- very strong, impossible to locate."
"She's at a place called the Wolf House," Jason said.
"Hold on!" Aeolus put a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes. "I'm getting something! Yes, she's at a place called the Wolf House! Sadly, I don't know where that is."
"Enceladus does," Piper persisted. "If you help us find him, we could get the location of the goddess-"
"Yeah," Leo said, catching on. "And if we save her, she'd be really grateful to you-"
"And I might be able to get you an even better deal," Kassandra finished.
Aeolus's eyebrows crept up. "An even better deal than godhood- and all you want from me is the giant's location?"
"Well, if you could get us there, too," Jason amended, "that would be great."
Mellie clapped her hands in excitement. "Oh, he could do that! He often sends helpful winds-"
"Mellie, quiet!" Aeolus snapped. "I have half a mind to fire you for letting these people in under false pretences."
Her face paled. "Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
"It wasn't her fault," Jason said. "But about that help..."
Aeolus tilted his head as if thinking. Then Kassandra looked around to see that the wind lord was listening to voices in his earpiece. Then he locked eyes with Kassandra for the second time before throwing another ear piece at her from one of his pockets.
"They want to speak with you."
"Uhh, who does?"
"The Olympians."
The daughter of Rome's eyes bulged from her head. All of them? She had interacted with Hermes and Artemis, had a vague vision from Aphrodite, but this seemed so sudden.
"Of course, I'll just..."
She slipped the pod into her ear and tapped on it a couple times before sharing a look with the others. A good luck.
"Testing, testing," she muttered to herself.
"Receiving you loud and clear little niece," came through a cheery voice.
"Hermes?"
A chuckle came back, and she winced at how loud her honorary uncle was. He sounded so much more healthy and full now, as if being in the mortal world had drained him.
"How are things dear? Hope that quest's going well-"
"Hermes!" yelled a voice, even louder and more commanding. She had heard it few times, it radiated authority. There was a brief static before the line became clear again.
"Lord Zeus?" she asked meekly.
"Yes," boomed back voice loud enough to deafen any mortal. "Just who do you think you are to be promising godhood to someone without my permission?"
Kassandra winced again. She had hoped to just buy time with Aeolus and get one of the Olympians to sort of fix it up, but that plan was now out of the window.
"Well, I uhh, it was just a temporary fix to a necessary issue," she laughed nervously, looking at the others with a look that read 'I'm going to get smited'.
"You are fated for many things young one, but giving out the position of godhood is not one of them," the king of the gods huffed, "Be thankful you have a more prominent role in all of this to play. If it weren't for your parents I'd be in the mind to give you some private time in Tartarus."
"Well, thank you my Lord, that means a lot," she said, stumbling over her words. She only wished Aeolus couldn't hear the conversation. "So what should I do about..." Her gaze fluttered over to Aeolus, who beamed brightly at her, his white teeth almost glistening. Across the line, Zeus sighed.
"We have a big party planned, but I guess I can slot something in at some point. Just tell him I'll schedule a meeting in a week or so. But I don't want to hear any more of this business from you young lady, understand?"
"Yes sir," she said, straightening herself up as if they were talking in person. The line went fuzzy as the call disconnected. She popped the thing out of her ear and tossed it back to the master of the winds.
"So? What did he say?" grinned the news presenter.
"He... he said that you've been doing so well recently he wants to meet you in person for a more formal meeting," she nodded.
Rainbows grew on his suit as Aeolus' smile covered the better half of his face.
"Well that is great! I can't thank you enough my dear."
"You could start by assisting these three demi-gods on their quest," she suggested.
"What's up, guys?" Came a voice from behind them. Hedge trotted over. "Wow, nice place.Oh! Sod squares."
"Coach, you just ate," Jason said. "And we're using the sod as a floor. This is, ah, Melli-"
"An aura." Hedge smiled winningly. "Beautiful as a summer breeze."
Mellie blushed.
"And Aeolus here was just about to help us," Kassandra said.
"Yes," the wind lord muttered. "It seems so. You'll find Enceladus on Mount Diablo."
"Devil Mountain?" Leo asked. "That doesn't sound good."
"I remember that place!" Piper said. "I went there once with my dad. It's just east of San Francisco Bay."
"The Bay Area again?" The coach shook his head. "Not good. Not good at all."
"Now..." Aeolus began to smile. "As to getting you there-"
Suddenly his face went slack. He bent over and tapped his earpiece as if it were malfunctioning. When he straightened again, his eyes were wild. Despite the makeup, he looked like an old man-an old, very frightened man.
"She hasn't spoke tome for centuries. I can't- yes, yes I understand."He swallowed, regarding them as if they had suddenly turned into a band of slugs. "I'm sorry, son of Jupiter. New orders. You all have to die."
Mellie squeaked. "But- but, sir! Zeus said to help them-"
"Mellie!" Aeolus snapped. "Your job is already on the line.Besides, there are some orders that transcend even the wishes of the gods, especially when it comes to the forces of nature."
"Whose orders?" Jason said. "Zeus will fire you if you don't help us!"
"I doubt it." Aeolus flicked his wrist, and far below them, a cell door opened in the pit. Down below they could hear storm spirits screaming out of it, spiralling up toward them, howling for blood.
"Even Zeus understands the order of things," Aeolus said."And if she is waking- by all the gods- she cannot be denied. Good-bye, heroes. I'm terribly sorry, but I'll have to make this quick. I'm back on the air in four minutes."
Jason summoned his sword. Coach Hedge pulled out his club. Kassandra snatched out her dagger. Mellie the aura yelled, "No!"
And as all the chaos began, all the windows of the throne room simultaneously shattered.