The Modern Gods

by C M Thorne

  She clapped her hand over her mouth and listened to the hall. Again, doing the weird thing where she reached out to track the girls. Neither of them had noticed her delirium. Reagan was setting the grill up on the patio and Chris was ripping through a head of lettuce. Thea sighed and grabbed her conditioner, squeezing out a palmful and setting to work on her long hair. She twisted her hair up on top of her head to let it sit for a few minutes and grabbed her razor. She lifted her leg up and froze as she ran her other hand along her legs, energy crackling and sparkling between her fingertips and leg. “Probably best to not add metal to this mess,” she thought out loud, setting her razor down. “Hairy it is.”

  She danced around a little to a fast paced pop song that had been her and Chris’s favorite in their freshman year of high school. Thea could feel Chris dancing along in the kitchen to the muffled song through the walls. She wasn’t sure how she could feel all of this, but it made her smile as leaned back and let the water run through her hair. She raised her arms and looked at the crackling sparks, which died down as less direct water hit her skin. She had cried the first time it happened, just wishing it would stop. Now she couldn’t help but feel like it was cool. Maybe not practical, but a little fun nonetheless. She imagined the sparks being at her control, dancing around her hand and weaving in and out of her fingers. Thea gasped as the sparks seemed to listen to her will, moving up to her hands and doing just as she imagined.

  Stumbling back, her butt hit the nozzle, turning the water off. Her outstretched hands let go of the sparks and they flew at the wall of the shower, scorching the white plastic slightly. She gasped again and looked down at herself, at the sparks dying away as the water dripped down her body.

  “What the hell just happened?” Thea wondered and reached up to check her hair. The conditioner was washed out so she could step out of the shower at least. It was a good thing, because she wasn’t sure she wanted to step back into running water.

  She wrapped her powdery blue towel around her body and stepped over to the fogged up mirror, swiping at it to look at herself. She image was distorted, but something caught her off guard. She leaned forward and yelped a little as her grey eyes seemed to flash with silvery light. She lost her balance and slammed back into the bathroom door, sliding down to the ground. Before she could even move, Chris had shot down the hallway and was at the door.

  “Are you alright? Thea!” Her voice strained with concern.

  Thea reached up and unlocked the door, opening it as she heaved herself up. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she groaned, adjusting her towel around her body. “I was just dancing and slipped.” She tried to laugh it off a little and saw Chris’s concern melt slightly as her brow unfurrowed. “Not the first time I’ve done something like that,” Thea reminded her friend with a laugh.

  Chris stood there, worry knitting her perfectly shaped thick brows. She was wearing a burgundy top, thick grey cable knit cardigan, and a long black hippie skirt, which Chris absolutely adored and wore whenever she could. Her best friend grinned and shook her head, “You remember when I broke my arm in the seventh grade. Shower dancing can be dangerous!” She chortled and sauntered back down the hallway, half dancing to the music still pulsing from the speakers in the shower.

  Leaving the door open, Thea turned back to the mirror and looked at herself tentatively. Nothing was out of place now. She sighed and grabbed an oil she used for her curls from the mirrored medicine cabinet. She danced a little as she worked the oil from her scalp down the length of her hair before grabbing a boar bristle brush and setting to work. Her red hair was thick and difficult due to its curly nature. She didn’t dare wash her hair every day and had to do some serious work to it one days when it was frizzy mess like it had been. The fog cleared up as she brushed, passively watching herself in the wet mirror. She would need to wipe the mirror down so as to avoid water spots.

  She set the brush down and moved down the hall for some paper towels and her favorite cleaner. She nearly ran into Reagan, who was rushing back to her room or the bathroom. It caught her off guard. Thea had not realized that she had stopped subconsciously tracking her roommates. The thought of cleaning must have taken over. “Oof!” Thea moved out of the hall. “Sorry.”

  Reagan shook her head with a laugh, her relaxed black, coiled hair swaying back and forth. “No problem, sweets.” Her dark brown eyes looked her over and she smiled, clearly satisfied with the fact that Thea seemed to be doing well. She was wearing a tight grey turtleneck and high-waisted light wash jeans. Her cool brown skin was paler from the winter, but Thea noticed, slightly jealous, that her roommate had not gained any winter weight. That was, of course, despite the fact that Reagan ate twice as much as Thea and Chris combined. The girl only did yoga to stay to shape too. “Some things are just genetic,” Thea mused to herself.

  Reagan moved down the hall to her room and Thea continued to the kitchen. “What are you doing?” Chris turned away from the carrots she was shaving strips from.

  “Oh, I swiped the mirror and it’s going to get water spots,” Thea replied, trying to sound relaxed.

  Chris shook her head and tossed her black hair over her shoulders. “Give them to me,” she held her hands out. “You go get dressed. I’ll do it.” Thea rolled her eyes but gave the squirt bottle and fistful of towels to her best friend. Chris smiled her perky smile and added, “Why don’t you put some music on the speaker out here, too. I’m liking the blasts from past you have going on.”

  Thea grinned as Chris pranced down to the bathroom. She looked around at the mess Chris had wrought while slicing and dicing for the salad. She knew that Chris would clean it, so she walked down to her room, pausing to grab her phone from the bathroom counter. She flipped her hair around a little as she toweled off and then threw her towel back onto the rack on her door. Thea grabbed her deodorant from her toiletry shelves by her closet and debated whether she need some lotion. She ran her hands over her skin and noticed that she felt oddly smooth and silky. Shrugging, she pulled open her top drawer and quickly slipped into a bra and underwear that didn’t match, but coordinated enough to satisfy her inner control freak.

  Thea yanked open the door to her closet and frowned at the color-coordinated contents. She stood there and debated for a while, finally settled on a pair of dark skinny jeans and a tight, long-sleeved plum colored shirt. She pulled on some socks and grabbed a light-weight, pale grey waterfall style cardigan. She slipped it on over her shirt as she breezed out of the room. She reached out with her mind as she moved, checking on her roommates.

  Chris had returned to the kitchen, and Thea felt Reagan back out on the patio. She stopped to deftly twist her hair up onto the back of her head, securing it with a multi-toothed comb. A quick glance in the mirror affirmed that she looked alright before she went to join her roommates. She sidled up to one of the barstools and plopped down. “Anything I can do?” she asked, already knowing that neither of them would let her help, since they were both still concerned for her.

  “Just that music,” Chris answered, still grooving along to the loud, slightly muffled music streaming down the hall from the shower.

  “Right, right,” Thea nodded and pulled her phone out. She disconnected from the shower speakers and hopped onto the speakers set up in the living room and the one out on the patio. “This song alright?” Thea asked as she picked up the song that had been playing.

  “Yeah!” Chris danced along, picking up a cutting board and dropping in their deep sink. “What playlist is this?”

  She smiled, “Just one I made a couple of weeks ago. Bunch of stuff from middle school through now.” She bobbed her head a little, “Some old music from routines.”

  Chris laughed as she recognized the song from a jazz routine they had done as juniors. Ballet may have been her passion, but she did enjoy duets with Chris is nearly any style. “We did pretty well with this one,” Chris recalled, dancing around the kitchen a little. “You remember more than me though, I’m sure.” She stopped after
a moment, shooting Thea a look and turning the sink on to wash the cutting board.

  “Eh,” she shrugged. “We had quite a few dances over the years.” Chris laughed but said nothing else.

  Reagan came in not long after with the perfectly grilled and seasoned chicken. Thea’s stomach clenched and rumbled at the smell of the food. She was starving, she realized, not remembering what she had eaten last. She watched her roommates with hungry impatience as Chris carried out things to their little patio table and Reagan plated everything. She followed her roommate out to their second story patio, who expertly carried all three plates out in a careful balancing act. She would have insisted on taking one, but knew that Reagan was more than capable.

  Everything was set down and Thea slipped into a seat as Chris came back with a glass pitcher full of a deep red drink. “What’s that?” she asked, licking her lips as her stomach practically growling.

  “Blackberry pomegranate lemon-limeade that I made at the restaurant,” Reagan sighed as she sat down. “We ended up making a ton and chef didn’t want it. I swear, that man,” she grumbled, “Just comes in and decides to redesign the whole spring menu.” She looked upward and shook her head. “We all took some home.” She poured them each a glass and Thea took a deep drink.

  It was tangy, but sweet, the flavors rolling across her tongue as she savored it for half a second before nearly draining the glass. “Like it?” Chris laughed. Thea nodded as she stabbed the raspberry vinaigrette coated salad and stuffed it into her mouth.

  “Good,” Reagan took a bite of her chicken. “There’s still a ton at work. I’ll bring more home tonight.”

  Thea cut off a large bite of chicken and popped it into her mouth. It was perfectly seasoned and juicy. Rosemary, pepper, and garlic coming through and perfectly complimenting the salad. She moaned a little as she cut off more and ate it with a mouthful of salad. The girls laughed and Chris moved to place a hand on Thea’s. Before her fingertips could make contact however, Chris’s plate flew off the table, fork flying off and hitting her in the face.

  Chris and Reagan screamed as Thea pushed herself back and tried to stumble out of her chair. Before she could fully get up, the table upended, flying towards the girls. Thea was knocked back, frantically grabbing at the rail, but failing to find purchase on the painted metal. She flipped over the railing and fell to the ground. She hit the earth with a loud thud, vision going blurry as her head smacked the pavement of the walkway below. She groaned as her roommates faces peered over the balcony railing. Chris was screaming and Reagan was trying to say something, but the words didn’t make sense to Thea.

  She tried to move, rocking to her side as a woman came up and peered at her. She had vibrant blue eyes and her wavy golden red hair, which fell down perfectly around her face. Thea tried to say something, tried to move, but her vision just blurred further. She groaned and felt her stomach lurch, forcing her to slump back onto her back. As her tunnel closed in around her, she swore she saw great golden wings spread out behind the woman as she reached down and gathered Thea in her arms.

  CHAPTER 8: A BRAND NEW SISTER

  IT WAS UNDENIABLE. Zeus was a part of this girl. Adella watched as Evelyn lowered her onto the deep-set, fawn colored couch. The girl’s red hair curled over the jewel-tone pillows. They had all felt her divine presence spark to life while in Olympus, just days prior. The signature had grown faint, and Adella had sent her sister and cousin out to find whoever it was. This person belonged to their blood, and their power had called out to them. The power that ran in them alongside their divine blood. There was a family member in need. Someone they did not yet know.

  Someone new.

  Evelyn smoothed out her pale pink chiffon top as she straightened up, and folded in her great golden wings, causing them to disappear into her body. As she settled, Diane stepped into existence next to her. The silence stretched as the three of them looked at the girl on the couch, and outside, the birds sang. The massive townhouse backed up directly to a bird sanctuary, which was one of the reasons Adella had been drawn to the location. The house itself felt like a sanctuary, nestled in the Hampstead Garden suburb and perfectly hidden from the city. Adella had installed wards to keep the energy and sounds of the city away. It was a home for Adella, Diane, Evelyn, and Apollo.

  At least, it had been. Apollo was gone now, and Adella could not bring herself to even open the door to his room. The empty halls hardly felt like a sanctuary, any more.

  Adella shook herself, and frowned down at the sleeping figure. “This is the one?” Her stomach tied itself in knots at the thought of it all. Her father’s death. This new blood. This secret, protected by his power, which had obviously come undone with his death. Most likely, this child had been his.

  “If it’s not her, the girl is packing some serious power,” Evelyn mused humorlessly, her voice always soft and melodious.

  Diane stepped forward, shrugging off her brown leather jacket and rolling up the sleeves of her forest green knit top. “Sister.” She glanced up to Adella. “Her blood calls to ours. I tested it myself.” She reached out and brushed a stray flame-red curl out of the girl’s unblemished face. “She is our sister,” Diane breathed out.

  Adella wondered how this would shift the playing field between herself and Poseidon. Since her father’s death, everything had changed. They had returned to Olympus, where Adella and her uncle had broken out into a great confrontation. It had gone on until Hera raged at the two of them, her wrath cracking the throne of Zeus down the back, fury and power demanding silence. Things could not continue as they had been. All was soon to change.

  Adella and Poseidon were dismissed to settle the matter on earth, amongst themselves. Hera would not tolerate their battle within the celestial halls. Poseidon had left quickly, taking with him those who immediately moved to support him.

  “What’s her name?” Adella asked, pulling herself back to the moment.

  “Thea,” Evelyn replied with a smile. “Thea Matthews.”

  Diane looked down at the sleeping girl. “A fitting name, do you not think, sister?”

  Adella nodded, mind wandering once more. Her sister, Diane, stood by her without question. Several other deities had made themselves known after leaving Olympus. Her cousin Evelyn knelt to her, as did her half-brother Harry and some of their many cousins. Many had come to Adella to pledge fealty, loyalty, and support. Her father’s winged enforcers were first to speak up while still in the heavens, kneeling before her. They were a large blow to Poseidon’s cause, to his false claim to the throne. The children of Styx were a great power. Many looked to them.

  Adella contemplated reaching out to her half-brother Ares and his brood of their sisters and his children. They did not see eye to eye often, but he had shared a special hatred of Poseidon for over a millennium after an argument over the use of the seas had cost him a war. His support would be a beacon, one that would show others the validity of her claim. It may even force those who would remain on the sidelines into the game, so to speak.

  She was most concerned with those that permanently resided in the heavens. Those who remained undeclared, unaffiliated, or worse, neutral like her aunt Hestia.

  Adella ran her finger along the bottom of her chin as she looked the unconscious girl over. “Let’s wake her, then,” Adella spoke firmly, waving her hand out as her sister went to protest. She reached out with her power, willing the girl on the couch to wake.

  The girl shot up in response to Adella’s urging, sucking in a deep breath and then groaning. Her eyes burned silvery grey, banishing any whispers of Adella’s doubt as the girl scrambled back against the couch and looked around at them in fear.

  “Wh-, who are, where a-, am, what is going on?” She looked around frantically, tugging at her grey cardigan and blinking furiously.

  “My name is Adella Panagos,” Adella stepped forward, keeping her voice soft and low. “You are in my home. You-” She paused, looking to her cousin.

  “Oh,” Evelyn�
�s eyes widened and she looked to Thea, “well, you fell. And I, more or less, saved you.”

  “More or less?” The girl looked at Evelyn, raising one eyebrow as she reached up and rubbed her head slowly. The color drained from her face, hollowing as Evelyn’s words sunk in. Her eyes widened in terror, body going rigid. Her voice came out soft, almost weak and full of worry, “What are you going to do to me then?”

  Diane laughed lightly and Thea’s head whipped to look at her perched at the end of the long couch she was defensively tucked up against. “Nothing, my dear.” Her voice was velvety and warm from her laughter as she flipped her dark brown hair over her shoulder. “We wouldn’t hurt family.”

  “Family,” Thea squeaked out.

  Adella nodded slowly. “Yes, family indeed. No denying it.” She watched the girl’s eyes flash silver, revealing her divinity beneath the human shield that had been guarding her. “We only recently learned of you, dear.” She knelt down to make eye contact, trying to convey her sincerity to the girl. “Actually, we are quite confused as to exactly how you came to be. Our father must have gone to great lengths to conceal you and your power.”

  “Power?” Thea asked, looking down as her hands. Adella could tell that the girl had clearly tasted her own power since their father’s death. Thea’s stormy grey eyes darted over her skin, as if waiting for something to happen.

  “Indeed,” Adella answered her. She glanced to Diane, sharing a look with her sister to tell her that she would move forward now. Adella would throw Thea into the proverbial deep end. “We are immortals, dear sister.”

  Thea choked on her breath, sputtering as her eyes widened. She laughed a little and shook her head, “Oh, okay then.” She drew her words out as she climbed over the back of the couch with a feline quickness. “I’m just going to go then.” Thea eyed the glass patio doors, which were still open. “I’ll just be leaving now. Thanks for helping me, I guess.” She laughed uncomfortably, turning and trying to walk outside. Adella flicked her fingers outward, causing the doors to slam shut before the girl reached them. Thea whirled around, looking like a cornered animal as she half crouched and moved back against the closed doors.