by Gideon Mills
As I walked through the door, both were standing there. I didn’t even make it a step when they hugged me. Pulled me in close and tight.
“You were so stupid,” Fleur said.
“I know.” Not that I really thought I was stupid, but rather that I did what was needed.
“At least it seemed to work,” Lola said. “You are trending.”
I rolled my eyes. “Trending. That is such a strange thing. The world really is connected in a way I had never expected.”
“So much for Gods seeing all and knowing all,” Fleur said.
I’ve told them before that wasn’t possible, but it was hard to believe sometimes. A lot of things had been written over the years that made it harder for me to explain.
“You aren’t a Paragon,” Fleur said.
I smiled. “How many times have I told you.”
“I’ve lost count,” she admitted. “Even with all the other evidence showing you were Ares, I guess I just didn’t want to believe it.”
That was understandable, and I wasn’t going to get on her about it. Not many people can accept that Gods are real. That the myths they grew up hearing stories about were indeed a reality. That was a lot to accept, and why many fought against me and what I stood for.
“I’m just happy that you are okay,” Lola said.
“Semi-okay.”
I still hurt like no other and needed some sleep. In all my battles with the Titans, the giants, and other monsters of the ancient world I had never experienced this level of discomfort. This much fatigue was foreign to me too. I was ready for several days’ sleep. Or rather a mini-coma.
“You do look like hell,” Fleur said.
“I feel it, that weapon packed a punch.”
Fleur shook her head. “I really thought they took your powers. When you summoned your sword.”
The evidence was still there; she cried and cried. Both before that and after. I felt terrible about what she went through. What I put both of them through today, but it was needed. We had to show the world how bad this was. What they were doing, and show them I was just who I said I was.
“I need to sleep,” I said. “Can you monitor this all? I want to know if this was worth it. And I had a thought about this. Could we talk to Stan?”
Fleur pursed her lips. “You sure he is even still alive?”
I hadn’t thought about that, but I didn’t see why not. “Most likely, if Lola can find him, he might be a good source to talk to. See what he can tell us about your father and his father. Learn something.”
“I’ll try,” Lola said. “But first, you rest, and then we need to talk to this influencer.”
I groaned. “Yes. We will.”
22
Leaving the City
After sleeping for nearly a full day, I woke and felt much better. Parts of my body still hurt, but I would be fine in a day or two. One of the benefits of being a God. I healed faster than any human, Paragon or not. I heard about heroes and villains that could heal almost instantly, but I haven’t seen any in person. Many of the powers here intrigued me, and I wanted to talk to the people that had them. The healing was one of them.
Out in the central area, I joined Fleur and Lola. A few minutes later, McGarrett arrived. In his street clothes. The man was born to wear blue, and seeing him in jeans and a dress shirt just felt wrong to me. He was Captain McGarrett and looked natural in the uniform. It was like that for me with a lot of people I’ve met over the years. They just belonged in the uniform, whether it was chest plates or battle fatigues.
“I can’t believe you did that,” McGarrett said. “Janet was scared out of her mind.”
“Sorry,” I said. I hoped that it didn’t mess up the pregnancy too much. Stress couldn’t be good for a woman that was expecting. “I’m fine, and like I said a million times. Not a Paragon.”
McGarrett nodded. “I know. Anyone hear from Felicity?”
“No,” I said. That was the worst part of all of this. She was out there and not able to contact us. She had to be worried, but Athena was with her and could to tell her I was okay. Seeing the sword should help.
“I wish I could,” Lola said. “But they took no tech, and swore not to contact us until they made contact with Athena’s sources.”
Lola’s phrasing made me burst out laughing. “Even now, you won’t say what or who she is going to see.”
Lola rolled her eyes. “Fine. They are going to see cyclopes and giants, and more, other myths.”
“Until last night,” McGarrett said. “I thought you were just yanking my chain, but now. You’re for real. Crazy.”
“What can I say, I’m too good to be human.”
All three of them laughed. Lasting several minutes, they bent over in pain or joy; I was happy to see them relaxed. It had been sporadic to see my friends and lovers calm and happy.
Eventually, the laughter died. “We have a mission,” Fleur said. “The Third Street Dragons are expecting us.”
It was true, and we didn’t want to miss this window of opportunity. I turned to Lola. “Any luck on Stan?”
She shook her head. “It’s hard to track a homeless man.”
“Keep trying,” I said.
“You guys ready?”
Fleur nodded, and so did McGarrett.
With the help of a few of the low-level members of the gang, we arrived at one of the subway stations. Next, we had to exit and go to a waiting truck that was going to smuggle us out. The gang was actually used to smuggling but in the other direction. Not much of what they did was to remove goods but to bring them in.
This wasn’t the first time they took out supplies, though it was a rarity for the gang. As we exited the subway station we saw the George Washington Bridge, and it was impressive. The horror stories of crossing the thing were legendary. Hours just to go that short distance. It amazed me.
Even back in my time, it didn’t take that long to cover such a short distance. Though when there are this many people in one place it was to be expected. That left me scared half to death to visit some of the other cities across the globe. It was hard to comprehend how congested Shanghai or Mumbai would be.
Letting that thought go, I saw Lincoln leaning next to a small box truck. Riding in the back of that was going to be terrible, but we’d be hidden and out of sight from the eyes of everyone around us.
Lincoln grinned. He hadn’t met Fleur in person until now, and I could tell he thought she was hot. “Eyes only,” I said.
Lincoln shrugged. “You’re the boss.”
That was good to hear but didn’t make me any more comfortable with all this. It wasn’t that I disliked small tight spaces, but they weren’t my favorite. I didn’t feel in control, and that wasn’t my norm.
“Just the three of you?” Lincoln asked.
“That’s it,” Fleur said. “You have an interesting organization.”
The leader of the Third Street Dragons laughed. “You tried to take us out of business, more than once.”
“I’m a hero,” she said. “That’s kind of what we do.”
Lincoln smirked. “I get that. Look at us now.”
“Ares vouches for you, so we trust you,” Fleur said. “But if you step out of line . . .”
“Don’t worry, hot stuff,” he said. “We got this covered, and I want this Fenrir, and the law, gone as much as you do.”
“The enemy of my enemy is my ally,” Fleur said.
“Something like that,” Lincoln said. “Though if you and the God dude are tight, you know I’m trying to be legit. Starting us up as a security firm, and importer.”
“That’s two very different businesses,” Fleur said. “If you are for real, you and I should talk. I know a few things about business.”
Lincoln eyed me. “Her dad is a big-time businessman,” I said. “And she is too. I have a sneaking suspicion she has her hands in pots that might surprise us.”
Fleur laughed. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
&
nbsp; McGarrett looked at us. “I’m with Ares. I have a feeling White Angel has her fingers all over the city.”
“Hey,” Fleur said. “I’m not my father. If any of you ever actually asked what I’m doing for money, and what I own, I would tell you.”
I made a note to ask her later. This was something I secretly wanted to know since she was a brilliant mind in that area.
“Well,” Lincoln said. “I just might ask to pick your brain.”
“Good.” Fleur appeared to be pleased.
It was time to load up and go for the treacherous ride in the box truck out of the city.
23
It smells funny
With the door to the truck closed, it felt stuffy in the back. And smelled of marijuana and body odor. Plus, something I just couldn’t put my finger on. It was a horrid smell and was going to make this trip long.
“Boy,” McGarrett said. “This smells worse than my aunt Melinda’s.”
Fleur eyed him. “If your aunt’s place is anything like this, I’d never visit.”
“I rarely do,” McGarrett admitted. “We have that one family member. Melinda likes to smoke, and she has seven cats.”
“Oh lord,” Fleur said. “Pass.”
“Janet refuses to visit, but I have to. My mother drags me over with her.”
That sounded terrible and made me realize the last stench in the box, urine. “Maybe we should have just risked being seen,” I said.
“No.” Fleur had a tone that said this was the only way. “We can’t let my father know about our plans. Sure your stunt has gotten us some sway in the public’s eyes.”
“That’s an understatement,” McGarrett said. “This morning, I must have gotten two dozen calls. All asking about you. What the NYPD thought of this law, and if we were informed of the military presence in the city, which we weren’t.”
McGarrett didn’t seem pleased with that last bit at all. “Maybe for once, the news in the city will be on our side.”
I hoped he was right, and that they would see they were being played.
“Not likely,” Fleur said. “You forget that my dad owns two of the biggest media outlets in the city.”
That man had his hands in so many pots that it was surprising that he was able to focus enough to get anything done. “I hate him,” McGarrett said.
“Me too,” Fleur said. “He made me grow up in hell. He wanted me to pretend I wasn't a Paragon.”
That was wrong and cruel. He should have embraced that part of his baby girl. I would have, and helped her grow to be an amazing woman. Somehow Fleur managed to do that on her own. Too bad her brother hadn’t been able to figure out that their father was scum.
The truck had been moving at a slow and steady pace, but it stopped. “Must be on the bridge,” McGarrett said.
He had to be right, the rest of the trip was slow going, but eventually, we made it across the bridge and into Jersey. Not that I wanted to be in the state, though it got a bad rap from what I could tell. It wasn’t an armpit like many people like to call it, but I wouldn’t be living here anytime soon.
“Where does this person live?”
“The Jersey shore,” Fleur said.
“Please tell me she wasn’t on the God-awful show,” McGarrett said.
I had no idea what show he might be talking about, but if it was based there, I had a feeling it was something I wouldn’t have liked. A few of the other Gods might, good old Dionysus came to mind. He had a taste for terrible shows and train wrecks.
“No,” Fleur said. “She wasn’t on the show. A model that just happens to live there. Or an Instagram model.”
The world really had changed in the last few years. That we had to mention one wasn’t just a model, but an Instagram one. I wasn’t sure I was going to get used to that. Celebrities were always around and useful, so I shouldn’t judge.
Another thirty minutes later, and the truck stopped. Then the back of it opened, and we were hit with a burst of fresh air. I inhaled deeply. “About time.”
“It isn’t that bad,” Lincoln said. He stood staring with his dark eyes. “I’ve ridden back there a few times.”
“You must have a bad sense of smell,” Fleur said. “It’s terrible in there.’
Lincoln shrugged. “Well, it has been a while. And the last few shipments got held up.”
He leaned in and smelled. “Yeah. Need to clean it.”
“How about you do that,” I said. “While we visit the person we need to see.”
“Sure thing,” Lincoln said. “Have fun.”
24
Influencer
Arriving at the Jersey shore, I was surprised by the sight of it. In all my years on Mount Olympus, I never bothered to take a look here. From the way McGarrett and Fleur had spoken of the place, I had expected a horror show.
For the most part, it was just young people being young. Nothing wrong with that, though sometimes we made mistakes that would follow us for years. That was only thing about being young that sucked. One mistake could shape a person for the rest of their life. That sucked.
“So, where is this person?” I asked.
Fleur pointed to one of the nicer houses on the beach, and to a group of people on the deck of the house. “That’s hers.”
“Joy,” I said. There was no way we wouldn’t be filmed or seen by at least a dozen or more people. “In her pictures, I don’t remember seeing that many people.”
McGarrett laughed. “Having people would take away from her.”
Shrugging, I took in the place. The whole point of sneaking in and out was to be unseen by others. Not just the authorities and Fenrir. This mission just got a whole lot tougher, and I didn’t like that one bit.
“I’ll go talk to her and let her know who wants to see her,” McGarrett said.
“Please,” Fleur said.
I hoped that worked, and we didn’t have to venture into that beehive of people. While I’ve been in worse parties, right now, I wanted that low profile. My body was still sore from the display the other day. I needed to recover and not fight for a few days.
Fleur and I stood there holding hands. “Ares,” she said. “Please don’t do anything stupid.”
I smiled. “I don’t plan on it.”
“You didn’t plan on it when you went to visit the Third Street Dragons, and you did then.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry, I really am. That needed to be done.”
She furrowed her eyebrows and pursed her lips. “So you say.”
This was an argument, if it was that, that I couldn’t win, and I didn’t want to drag it out. “Fleur, I know I hurt you. Hurt Lola and Felicity. Even more people. I was put into a situation, and I did my best. We are fighting a war against not only your dad, but my mother. She has more power and years of knowledge than anyone in the world. Outside of, say, Gaia.”
Fleur shook her head. “Just the thought that all that is real. It’s overwhelming.”
“I know.” It had to be hard to accept and comprehend, but I had been trying my best to get them there. To show them the world was filled with things that people just didn’t understand. That they saw, but that their minds replaced with something they could understand.
“Look.” Fleur pointed to the house, and the woman I’d seen in the pictures appeared on the deck. Suddenly the crowd of people began to leave.
“He did it.”
“No surprise,” Fleur said. “One mention of the Paragon Ares and the girls will drop their panties.” She had a playful tone to her voice and squeezed my hand.
“Ha, ha.” I had no desire to be with that stranger. For once in my life, I was happy with who I had and wanted no more. “I’ll pass.”
“I know,” she said.
“None can compare to you, Lola, and Felicity.”
Fleur smiled. She knew I thought they were the most dazzling women in the world, and no Instagram model or TV star was going to get in the way of that.
Within a few minutes, the deck was
cleared, and at least a half dozen people exited the house. It was the middle of the afternoon, how all these people had time to party was insane. Didn’t they know what was going on with the world? That made me wonder if this was even worth our time.
“Does she even care about Paragons, and what is going on?” I asked.
Fleur nodded. “Lola did a lot of research, and she was one that posted about Paragons a lot, and in good light.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Lola, but the scene that had been in front of us made me question if this was the right path. Another minute passed, and McGarrett strode to us.
“She’s ready,” McGarrett said. The tone in his voice was slightly off and made me wonder what was up. Maybe this person did want me. She would be in for a surprise when I turned her down.
McGarrett led the way to the house and didn’t knock. He just went in, and standing there in a small but stylish living room was the woman in all the pictures. She was an attractive woman but didn’t hold a candle to Fleur, Lola, or Felicity. Just didn’t strike the right chord for me, but I could see why millions of men and women followed her and lusted after her. She had large breasts, that looked natural, and a tiny waist. Along with flat abs that made her almost unnatural in a way. Her short brown hair made her blue eyes stand out even more. Dare I say that she was Godly in a way.
“White Angel,” she squeaked.
Fleur glanced at me. “Hi,” Fleur said.
“I’m Samantha,” she said. “Of course, you already know that. You’re like my favorite Paragon. You’re so badass. I want to be like you.”
This was completely unexpected. “Uh. Thank you,” Fleur said. “I’m glad you like what I’ve been doing.”
“So much,” Samantha said. “You’re even hotter in person. I just want to eat you up.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. So much for me being the one to get what we wanted and needed. Fleur was the one that was going to break her heart, and have to see if she’d help us. Part of me was relieved with that revelation. It was never fun breaking someone’s heart, of crushing their dreams.
