Strange Love 94 Orders To Kill

Athens, Greece 1563 the Parthenon

"This has gone on long enough! How long must we endure that beast and its b.i.t.c.h of a creator's wrath?! I for one, have had an emperors fortune sank to the bottom of the seas by that beast!" Francis Draco DeMarco yelled lividly from the stands along with several other sailors and merchants that's businesses had been bested by a beast worse than themselves. The others chimed in loudly in agreement and DeMarco stood back, a snide smile covering his handsome face as he crossed his arms over his chest. Yes, it was true, the beast had sunk several of his s.h.i.+ps, but his true goal was to best the beast himself and add it to his collection... dead or alive...

Theseus held up his large hand to quiet the group. "We acknowledge the creature in question has caused some loss to each of you- "

"LOSS?! The beast has sent more men to meet Davy Jones than can possibly be counted at this point, many of my men included!" One of the men in the crowd yelled out, interrupting Theseus.

Theseus glared down at the men but before he could reply Prometheus chimed in. "Then consider your men fortunate, because trust me, there are far worse fates than death." He waved off any attempt at a reb.u.t.tal. "This is all of the matter we will hear today. Return in a fortnight for our judgments." He glared down at the lone man among the crowd that was no longer yelling or upset, instead, he was smiling wickedly to himself. "Hed my warnings, all of you, any man who sets out against this beast will be consumed by it and lose much... for the 'beast' is not what it seems..."

All the men except the one smiling DeMarco began to yell again in outrage and fear, but before anyone else on the council could speak again Selena stood and waved a single, dainty hand out over the room. The crowd before them vanished leaving only the council members within the room. She then let out a heavy sigh and turned toward her colleges. "Prometheus, you seem to already know the fate of this matter... what do you advise?" She crossed her arms and held the t.i.tian's unnerving gaze.

He nodded, acknowledging the truth of her words. "I have seen the outcome of this, that is true... but... though we were all hand-chosen by the G.o.ds to make judgments in their sted, this shall only be decided by the G.o.ds themselves as their past wrongs were the cause..."

Isha let out a sarcastically huffed laugh. "Well that should be fun, I'll not be the one to tell the G.o.ds I'm incapable of doing the job they bestode me. 'It was your f.u.c.k up, here deal with it yourself.'

Nope, not me!" She threw her hands up in defeat as she leaned back in her chair crossing her short, thick calf over her even thicker thigh.

"I agree with Isha, the G.o.ds are rarely understanding of these things. They will be angered, and we the recipients of their wrath." Pavato sighed as he struggled to maintain his human form, the blue energy emitting from his body continuously s.h.i.+fting various areas of his static-like form.

"They will accept this role." Prometheus said matter-of-factly.

Theseus nodded and stod. "Then it's settled. We will present this case to the G.o.ds and allow them to make the decision themselves. Does anyone oppose this?"

Thetis raised her hand, "Has anyone thought to speak with Calypso about all this first?" She shrugged as everyone turned questioning gazes toward her. "I mean she did birth the creature..."

Isha spat out a wet 'spush', "Are you crazy? Have you seen Calypso since she was ordered to release Odysseus?!" When Thetis shook her head in surprised Isha added, "Yeah, that's what I thought! How you think it's gonna go bringing up one of their children?"

Thetis's eyes widened, "The monster in question is a demi-G.o.d then???"

Prometheus nodded, "It is and that is why it must be the G.o.ds to decide it's fate." He looked around to the other members. "It must be their rule."

"Is that the wish of you all?" Selena asked as she looked around to all the faces of the council, waiting as each nodded in agreement. "Very well then..." She waved her small hand once again sending the group of council members directly to the courts of Olympus.

Isha growled under her breath as she looked around the airy golden palace, "Ah s.h.i.+t... well I guess it's too late now." She inched her way to the back of the group as her eyes continued to travel around the intricately formed furnis.h.i.+ngs.

"Ouch!" Nagini tried to m.u.f.fle her cry with her hands as Isha stepped on her tale. "Watch where you're going." She hissed from her barely parted hands as she blinked back the tears filling her snakelike eyes.

Isha held up her hands as she back away from the half-snake G.o.ddess. Aside from herself, there were only two other council members that weren't powerful G.o.dly creatures. There was Marcus the vampire and Theseus a king who the G.o.ds had taken a liking to for his strength and heroic acts over the years. Many rumors circulated of him being a grandson of Posideon and that was why he was so well-liked by the G.o.ds, but no one seemed to know for sure. When a bombing voice reverberated around the ma.s.sive room Isha grabbed hold of the nearest arm to her and buried her face in the thick fabric there.

Marcus patted her head before letting his cold hand rest on hers that held his bicep in a deathgrip. "It shall be fine. If Prometheus said they well accept this then they shall." He said in a soothing heavy accent.

"Yeah, he said they would accept it... he didn't say they wouldn't be p.i.s.sed!" She whispered barely peeking out from behind his arm.

"You in the back, have you something to say? Say it aloud then, if you deem it more important than what I say." Zeus's loud bombing voice roared through the room, his eyes burning into Isha as the others parted to reveal her.

"s.h.i.+t..." Her hand quickly flew to her mouth as the word slipped out. "No... no Sir... I have nothing to oppose you, great G.o.d of G.o.ds, son of Cronos, only that we should not be bothering your greatness with these problems... as your chosen lot, we should deal with these matters on our own... and leave you be... to your many other more important tasks..." She stumbled through her ramblings as she focused her gaze on his enormous feet.

He nodded, pleased with her praising and intrigued by her beauty. "Yes well, that is true enough. Now, why are you here then?" His intimidating gaze fell on the group.

Prometheus stepped forward, refusing to show any signs of intimidation. "G.o.d Zeus..." He looked around the three G.o.ds seated on the thrones before them. "G.o.d Posideon, G.o.ddess Athena... As I am able to see into the future and know the possible outcomes of this matter, the reason you granted me this position, oh great Zeus, I know the best outcome for this matter is to let you judge the matter yourselves."

"And what is this matter you speak of?" Athena asked, her curiosity spiked.

"The unnamed daughter of Calypso and Odysseus, my G.o.ddess. She has become a burden on the people, preying on men and s.h.i.+ps..." He looked pointedly at Posideon as he continued, "Whether it is the creatures nature or a curse of pour circ.u.mstance, I feel that the G.o.ds would be better suited to determine her fate... after all, she started life an innocent enough child, thrown to the sea by a disgruntled, grieving woman only moments after she was forced set loss her only love."

Zeus nodded in understanding. "I see..." He ran his ma.s.sive hand through his long white beard. "We will deliberate this matter amongst ourselves and send word to you once it is decided." With a flip of

his wrist, the council was returned to their courts inside the Parthenon.

Isha let out a long breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Dang, I figured at least one of us would lose a head or some bit of something..."

***

"Clearly this is the result of your doing, Brother." Zeus declared as he sized up Posideon. "Had you not sought to feed your own need for vengeance against our beloved Odysseus, this creature in question wouldn't be in existence... or encouraged by a spiteful G.o.ddess such as Calypso in the first place."

Posideon shrugged. "He deserved it. You'd done the same had it been one of your sons."

Zeus narrowed his eyes, "Is that how you see me, brother? Petty like you?" He ran his fingers through his long beard, "My decision has been made. Since this started because your son fell short against beloved Odysseus, then it shall be settled by one of your sons against this creature. If he shall be bested then it is a simple failing of your seed... if not then consider your vendetta against our beloved Odysseus to be over, a child for a child. I will let you chose which son to send." He then turned to Athena. "Dear daughter send for Hermes. Have him deliver my decision to the council and have him bring with him back whichever of Posideon's sons that is chosen.

Posideon stood. "Never mind that. I shall go to my son and bring him before you myself." With that Posideon slammed his trident onto the ground and he and it both dissolved into water. He materialized moments later in a stream that had been polluted with thick inklike blood. "Ha... Well, this is disgusting..." He held out his free hand as he watched the murky waters drip from his body. Snarling his nose he glanced around him. He let out a long sigh as his gaze settled on the strongest of his sons. Glancing back down at the ink-stained waters surrounding him he chuckled, "I suppose I should expect as much when seeking out Orion." He watched patiently as his son took down the creature he was battling. When it was over and Orion was the obvious victor he stood and applauded. "Good work as always, son."

"Father? What are you doing here?" Orion asked more than a little surprised.

"I have a job for you... and I need you to win, understand?" Posideon said as he glided closer to his son. "You may need to call on your brother Areion as well, but do not let him be seen by the heavens out of stallion form. I am only to send one son, my strongest..." He placed a hand on Orion's well-sculpted shoulder. "But I can't risk your injury or death... You are never to be seen at the same time understand? And if ever you are asked to review the events that are to come, you are not to mention his involvement... if it's unavoidable then make it seem spontaneous, do you hear? It can never be linked to this mission or it will more than likely be the death of you both." He released Orion's shoulder and stepped back. "Report to Olympus riding your mighty stallion in three days hence." He lifted his trident but froze when Orion yelled out.

"Wait! Then why us, father?" Orion asked in confusion. "And are you saying to ride... my brother?! Are the G.o.ds not going to recognize him?"

"Because if you ride him they will not suspect, and because together you are mighty and will be able to best any beast." With that Posideon slammed down his trident again and dissolved into the waters.