Relics and Runes Anthology

by Heather Marie Adkins

  As she’d grown older, their friendship had evolved and he’d become so much more than a mentor. He was like a brother to her, listening and providing guidance whenever she needed it. She was a great companion and loyal to a fault. So in the end it was really no surprise that Corday was by his side. She had felt more like family than his actual family and for this he felt greatly indebted to her. He would never abandon her. So if that meant facing the Underworld, then so be it.

  “Hey,” Corday said, tapping Ares on this shoulder, “remind you of someone?”

  “My baby sister, actually,” Ares replied. But before they crossed over the barrier to the restaurant, Ares took Corday's hand and ducked into the cereal aisle.

  “We're going to fall behind,” Corday protested.

  “This place is as big as a shoe. I'm sure we'll manage to catch up,” Ares remarked sarcastically.

  “Okay, what's wrong?”

  “How much do you remember before the fall?”

  “Oh, Ares, this isn't a good time to talk about this?”

  “Humor me, please.”

  “Hmmm, that was my prime. I teleported all over the world, but I spent most of it in Greece.”

  “You were in Greece?”

  “Yes.”

  “So was I.”

  She eyed him like he'd lost it. “Good to know, Ares.”

  “Discord, you don't find it odd that we were both in Greece, but we weren't together?”

  “I only find it odd that you insist on calling me Discord after all of these years.” She laughed, smacking him on the arm.

  “When we're old and gray, I will still call you Discord,” he said with pride. “But, seriously.”

  “No, I saw you all the time in Greece.”

  “But did we spend any time together?”

  “No, we were...otherwise occupied.” She drifted off, recalling the cruelty they'd inflicted upon the Greeks.

  “We're best friends and we didn't see one another for—”

  Corday did the math. “A thousand years. How could that have slipped our minds?”

  “Like you said, we were otherwise occupied. And after the fall, too busy running for our lives. We never had a chance to catch our breath and talk.”

  “Ares, this can't be happenstance.”

  “It’s not.”

  “How can you be so certain?”

  “I’m not, but I just have a feeling. I’ve just been thinking a lot about everything that’s happened and our time here on Earth. Certain things aren’t adding up. I don’t know. I just wanted to get your take on things.” He glanced down the aisle at the others. “But we can pick this up later.”

  “Agreed.”

  Ares and Corday tried to sidle up to the group as if they’d never left, but not soon enough because Aphrodite spied Ares.

  “Where did you go?” Aphrodite asked, walking backwards.

  “I thought I saw something suspicious,” Ares answered.

  “And?”

  “Oh, it was just you.”

  Aphrodite turned around in a huff and continued to follow Amber.

  They continued to walk down the aisles, separating rows of tables.

  It was mildly busy. Tables were full of families carrying on with discourse over a quiet meal. They could feel eyes on them as they walked. A waitress glared at them with asperity as she struggled to shimmy by them without dropping a heavy tray of hot food.

  “Well, what are we waiting for?” Corday asked impatiently.

  “Hold your horses,” Amber said. “I think...I think I lost it. It's harder to sense when there's so many of us all in one place.”

  “No offense, Amber, but there’s no one here. We should go, we’re losing daylight,” Corday said.

  “Fine,” Amber said, “let's just go.”

  They all turned around, retracing their steps back to the exit, with Ares at the helm. As Ares crossed the barrier back into the gas station, a door marked restroom swung open nearly knocking him over.

  A young man hurriedly emerged from the lavatory.

  “Caleb?”

  31

  May 23, 2008

  They stared at one another on opposite sides of the barrier.

  “General Ares?” Caleb said, astonished.

  “General Ares?” Amber repeated.

  “Caleb, I...you're...when I…” Ares stumbled over a few false starts equally surprised to see Caleb.

  For years, Ares had worked with Caleb in Agriculture on Cronus, tending the fields. Both worked under the direction of Mathis, Caleb's father. In a way, Mathis was like a father to Ares teaching him the value of hard work and talking things out whenever Ares had problems. He'd been there for Ares and proud when Ares became an Olympian. But Ares wasn't the same after the change and Caleb knew it.

  “You're alive?” Caleb said, seething. “You put my father through hell, which I overlooked because you'd stepped up and gave us all hope against the Quorum. We thought you were dead, but you've been alive this entire time. You-you abandoned us.”

  “No, no he didn't. Caleb, he was held captive,” Aphrodite said, blocking his path toward Ares. “He only recently escaped.”

  “But—” Caleb shook his head in disbelief.

  “He didn't desert you. He made me his second, in his absence, in the event that something like this would arise.”

  Still not convinced, Caleb asked, "How did he—”

  “Stand down, Caleb,” she commanded. “That's an order.”

  He backed off.

  “Ohhhh, that's why she's so bossy, she’s the H.B.I.C.,” Amber said to Eric.

  Eric gave her a disapproving look.

  “Head Bitch in Charge.”

  “I know what it means.”

  “What?” Amber giggled. “She’s been spouting orders ever since we found out she’s Ares’ sister.”

  When Eric didn’t bother to respond, she rolled her eyes. “I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking. Geez, lighten up.”

  Oblivious to their side conversation, Aphrodite asked, “Where have you been?”

  “General,” Caleb said, addressing Aphrodite. He had gone missing about two and a half weeks ago. “I was attacked. I fought back, mostly through evasive maneuvers, and I got the hell out of there."

  “Were you followed?”

  “No, I don't think so.”

  “Did you get a good look at them?”

  “No, it attacked me from behind. I slipped through its grasp, which must have pissed it off, because it smacked me clear across the room."

  “Why do you keep saying it?”

  “I have no other way of describing it. Its hands felt massive and powerful, barely touching me and yet able to fling me across the room like I was nothing.”

  “So, how did you escape?”

  “When it hit me, I landed by an exit and I ran like hell.”

  Ares and Aphrodite exchanged knowing looks.

  “What? Do you know who attacked Caleb?” Amber inquired.

  “Not who…what?" Ares replied. “They're called the Abrogators.”

  “What's an Abrogator?”

  “Behemoth creatures that work for the Quorum. They're strong, too,” Ares explained. “When it grabbed me, in the ether, it dislocated my shoulder with a mere tug. I'd never felt anything like it.”

  Caleb stalked off towards the exit.

  “Caleb, where are you going?” Aphrodite asked.

  “I'm not sticking around for round two with those things.”

  “You should stay with us,” Aphrodite urged, the rest of them hanging back while Aphrodite spoke with Caleb.

  He turned his back, intent on leaving, and said, “I'm fine.”

  “Hey Caleb?”

  He turned to face Aphrodite as she threw a can of soup at him. Instinctively, he caught it through outstretched hands. Wincing, he quickly retracted his arms, favoring his left side.

  “You're not fine. You're ribs may be broken. We need to stick together until we figure this out
.”

  He wavered, still on the fence.

  “Caleb, I've always looked out for you. Now's not any different. Trust me.”

  He nodded and fell back in line with the rest of them.

  They all headed back to their cars to get back on the road. If they hurried, they would probably make it before nightfall.

  “Wait a second,” Aphrodite said, looking at all of them. “It's too many of us now. The guy is a recluse. He'll get the hell out of dodge as soon as he sees us.”

  “Meaning?” Ares asked.

  “Some of us can't go.”

  “I'm going,” Ares said defiantly.

  Aphrodite exhaled heavily through her nostrils and pursed her lips prior to saying, “Amber, Eric, can you take Caleb to the hospital?”

  “Really?” Amber argued.

  “Sure,” Eric agreed, grabbing Amber’s arm and ushering Caleb to their car.

  Ares, Aphrodite, and Corday arrived at the recluse's cabin. They alighted from the hatchback and headed toward the cabin. Ares tapped Aphrodite on the shoulder. “Can I talk to you?”

  Corday stopped.

  “It's okay,” Ares said, “We'll catch up in a bit.”

  Corday nodded and continued up the path.

  “I, um,” he stammered. “You didn't have to do that for me back there. I mean, Caleb was right.”

  “Of course, I did. Ares, you're my baby brother,” she said, squeezing his hand. “No matter what you may think, I love you, and I'll always watch your six.”

  He cleared his throat. “Yeah, well, I guess we should get back to it.”

  “I guess we should,” she replied, following him up to the cabin.

  While hiking up the dirt path, Ares reflected on everything that happened. Ares had known he'd been a horse's ass for how he'd treated Aphrodite. No matter how much he berated her, she always had his back. She’d volunteered as his second, so he wouldn't be ousted as a traitor, and she'd just spared him from humiliation, by covering for him, again. It should have earned her absolution, but he had a hard time forgiving her for being left behind.

  The irony of it all was he'd left his people, committing the very offense he abhorred the most. In actuality, he had no right to perpetuate his feud with her. Aphrodite was kind by not enumerating the reasons why he wasn't justified in doing so.

  Meanwhile, up ahead of them, the door was unlocked. Corday quietly opened it. “Hello. Anyone home?”

  “In here,” called out a male voice from down the hall.

  Corday hesitated, pondering whether or not to proceed.

  “Close the door behind you. You're letting in the insects,” the man instructed.

  She did as she was told and walked down the hallway, leading into the living room.

  “Damn it. I can never get this fireplace to cooperate,” he exclaimed, stoking a nonexistent flame which was already starting to go out.

  “Here,” Corday said, offering a matchbook. “Not exactly roughing it, but desperate times.”

  “Thanks. Corday, is it?”

  “Yes, how did you know?”

  “You may be older, but I never forget a face.”

  She tilted her head ever so slightly.

  “Trying to place my face? Well, good luck. You were all so self-involved; it's a wonder if any of you ever noticed what was going on around you.”

  He looked as if he was in his late thirties to early forties, but he had the uncanny temperament of an elderly man in his twilight years.

  “I don't know what to say. I can't even take offense, because I really don't know who you are." She racked her brain a little more before it occurred to her. "Why can't I sense you?”

  “Now we're talking. Glad to see your observational skills aren't as tenuous as I’d originally thought.”

  “You're not an Olympian?” Corday pressed.

  “Right again.”

  “Then, why did you tell Max you were an Olympian?” Max was one of Aphrodite’s contacts, who’d gotten word to her that an Olympian was hiding out in a cabin.

  “Never said Olympian. His listening skills were lacking, too.”

  “It's been a long day. I'd really appreciate it if you'd dispense with the artful circumlocution.”

  “Was I being elusive? Forgive my manners. As you can imagine, it's been quite a while since I've had company.” Shaking his head in awe, he said, “It's strange. In my day, I was considered inquisitive, simply engaging in light banter to pass the time. Today, I'm — how you would say— a busybody, nosy.”

  Corday nodded her head by way of agreement.

  “Well,” he said, reaching for his thermos as he sat in a recliner, “it's not intentional, just making conversation. It's not every day that I come face to face with someone from Saturn. Let alone, three people.”

  “Wow, it's been a while since I've heard anyone refer to our home as Saturn.”

  “Well, that's what it's called, isn't it? I never understood why everyone felt the need to rename it. It's not as if Cronus founded the planet,” he said evenly.

  “No, but he was among one of the first to ascend.”

  “Hmmm, I suppose,” he said, thumbing through a fishing magazine. The edges curled, no doubt worn from previous use.

  He was beginning to irk her with the current topic of discussion, so she decided to change the subject. “How did you know I didn't come alone?”

  “That's the problem with your generation. Rush, rush, rush. Everything is instant gratification.” He paused to replace the magazine back onto the coffee table and took another sip of his coffee. “You'd be surprised what you're able to take in when you slow down.”

  Instead of responding in kind with a biting remark, she simply responded by crossing her arms. He wasn’t going to goad her into a game of tit for tat. Sometimes silence was the best way to go.

  “Look, I can see you're not much of a conversationalist. As soon as your companions join us, you can put me in the hot seat. How 'bout that? Relax, take a seat.”

  “I'd rather stand.”

  “Suit yourself.” The front door creaked open. “Aww, your friends are here.”

  As Ares and Aphrodite entered the living room, dusk had settled over the room making it much darker than it had appeared thirty minutes earlier. The man began lighting several kerosene lamps situated at different corners of the rustic cabin.

  “Ares, Aphrodite, glad you could join us. I just brewed a pot of coffee. Would you like some?”

  “No, thank you,” they both said in unison.

  “He's not an Olympian, but he sensed us,” Corday blurted out.

  He chuckled. “This one cuts straight to the chase, doesn't she? I guess I've held you in suspense long enough. Why don't you ask me whatever it is you would like to know?”

  “Okay,” Aphrodite said, matching his equanimity, “Who are you?”

  “My name is Prometheus.”

  Corday stared blankly at him.

  “He's a Titan,” Ares explained.

  “I don’t understand,” Corday said, still lost, “if you’re a Titan, then that also means you’re an Elysian. So why can’t I sense you?”

  "Titans are prodigies—the only generation able to ascend prior to puberty. They’ve been able to uncover abilities we haven’t even begun to understand.”

  “Like masking my bliss, making it difficult for you to sense me. But I, on the other hand, could sense the three of you long before your arrival.”

  “He can do that?” Corday asked, obviously unaware of the capabilities of the Titans.

  “You haven’t seen anything yet, darling.”

  “How is this possible? We haven't seen a Titan in over a thousand years,” Aphrodite asked, taking point, again. She was a natural leader.

  “You assumed we were extinct?”

  “Yes, where have you been? Why haven't you returned home?”

  “Just like you, we wanted to see what the universe had to offer. Obviously, I ended up on Earth but I don't know why I never returned ho
me.”

  “What do you mean you don't know?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine, son. I may be capable of many things, but omniscience isn’t a part of the arsenal.”

  Exasperated, Corday said, “This is going nowhere.”

  “Wait a minute. Now, who’s being rude?" Prometheus asked Corday.

  Aphrodite interceded. “Why did you want to see us?”

  “When the Quorum is concerned, it involves all of us.”

  “What do you care? You were well hidden.”

  Prometheus laughed again. “Not even a Titan is beyond the Quorum's reach. I revealed myself, because I will help in any way I can. We're in this mess together.”

  “Great,” Aphrodite said, clapping her hands together, “How can we reach you, Prometheus?”

  “Well, darling, I thought you'd never ask,” he said, scribbling his number on a piece of legal paper.

  32

  May 23, 2008

  With Amber at the wheel, they rode in silence on the drive to the hospital. Amber was still piqued about being benched and given a fool's errand to prevent her from following the others to the shut in's cabin. She tightened her grip around the steering wheel as she replayed the dismissal in her head.

  She had every right to be there, too, but instead she was expected to play the good little soldier and follow orders. Whatever. Pushing the thought to the back of her mind, she exited the interstate and made a left turn onto Lexington Avenue, which led to the hospital. But as she drove down the street, she saw a landmark that she couldn't ignore. Unexpectedly, she parallel parked.

  “Amber, what are you doing?” Eric asked.

  “Look.” Amber pointed past him at the building. It was Charleston Lounge.

  “The guy has broken ribs and you want to do this now,” Eric asked angrily.

  Amber turned her attention to Caleb sitting in the back seat. “Caleb, we're going to take you to the hospital, but,” she reasoned, stroking his shoulder, “your ribs have gone untreated for a couple of weeks now. But you've managed, right?”

  “Yea, it hurts a little but I'm okay.”