Page 53 of Flirting with Death

"They are setting up the chessboard with their pieces," I said as realization dawned on me on how large this was. It wasn't only our small group, it was bunches of us, as if each God or Goddess was collecting fighters. This could destroy the mortal world as the pantheons fought each other. "I have to see my father."

"Wait, so I'm a warrior too?" Tyler asked. Excitement tinted his words, and I was pretty sure he was seconds from punching the air in excitement.

"Did your brother bump his head?" Bellamy asked. "Having the Gods meddle in your life is a curse, not a blessing."

"Who knew I'd have things in common with a demon," Lumi said almost to himself, and Brook nudged him, shooting him a look. "Right, filter, still working on that."

"I think we need to focus on saving the muse, like Apollo requested," Samantha said.

I shared a look with Lex. This was so much bigger. If Apollo was involved, that meant that all the Greek pantheon was. With the new information we had now, everything looked different. Our true opponent wasn't the demon that wanted to control the horde, he was just a cog in the whole machine. My father always wanted me to make a name for myself, taking down another God would do that. The elation of earlier waned as the full measure of everything hit me. This was a war we hadn't signed up for.

"Then we can worry about everything else," Sam added.

Agreement in one form or another spread around the room. Before we settled, we would strike at dawn. As silence fell, I pulled Samantha off to the side.

"I have to go see my father," I said again since they had ignored me the first time.

"Tonight?" Her brow crinkled, and I knew she wanted to hold me here just for her own knowledge that I was okay.

"Yes, we know more now. Maybe he will tell me something that will help."

"Okay, but be quick," she said with a smile. "Wouldn't want you to miss the adventure." She pressed a kiss against my lips, and I gave in for a moment before pulling back.

"I'll be back soon."

* * *

My father was lounging on his throne, one of his pets at his feet, when I stormed into the chamber. His face split into a wide smile when he saw me, and he stood up, his arms out for a hug.

"Alastor!" he greeted me. "What have you learned?"

Of course, he would know that was why I was here. I let him hug me. Even though I wasn't in the mood, I knew him, and it would make him more receptive to talking freely. He pulled back his perceptive eyes on my face. I blinked and looked at his massive hellhound that was at least three times larger than Cerberus. The beast sat back on his hunches as he eyed Cer beside me.

"More than you've told me," I replied, taking a step back.

"Well, that makes two of us. Artemis has informed me you have meddled again. She is not happy, that puts me in a really dangerous place. Lex was supposed to take time to heal, as you built defenses. Apollo's muse would have been fine, and the demons wouldn't have gained any ground."

He was still smiling, but it didn't reach his eyes, it poked at something inside of me. Maybe I'd been too eager to make him happy, like Bellamy and Lex accused me of. It was time to think of what I needed and wanted.

"Sounds like you are the one that meddled," I grumbled like a freaking child. All that was missing was kicking my foot on the ground as I did the one thing that was guaranteed to piss dear old dad off.

"You have left me little choice. You can't go around interfering and healing anyone you wish."

"Lex is a demi-god!"

"Yes, and that means he would have healed." He paused, an unreadable look crossed his face before he blinked once and added, "I bind you. You can not heal another until I release the binding."

A constricting feeling gripped my chest as I felt the full impact of his power settle over mine. "This is your answer? Binding my healing powers when you've hand picked me for your war against the Egyptian Pantheon. How could you play with my life like that? I'm your son! I thought that meant something."

"None shall die, or have you not learned of that fate yet?" He gripped his hands behind his back as he turned to pace back to his throne. Damn petunias bloomed in the pots that stood empty with my mother's absence. I snorted at their angry faces as they reflected my feelings. As my father turned, he lifted an eyebrow at the fresh addition. "This is for your own good."

"No, this is for your own good. You don't want to make waves with the golden Gods amid a war with another set, now would you? Knowing your golden siblings, they would back Osiris if they were angry with you and worry about the consequences later."

"I've been patient with your tone since you've arrived, but if you'd like to keep your voice, you will stop using that tone when you address me." He didn't even hide the threat in prose.

"I came to you for information. If we are facing a war for you, wouldn't it benefit you to share what you know?"

"It would, but would it help you achieve the end goal if you knew it all?"

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