When Darkness Met Her

Party Crashers

Hermes was still considered a young god even though he had been one of the first generation of offspring to come from the Big Six. Tall, lanky, and blonde, he had been the messenger to the pantheon for centuries, but even after all this time he still got the rush from giving important news to the king of the gods. 

Olympus Inc. was the tallest building in the city, some even saying the world although Zeus would never proclaim it out loud in front of the other god kings. Here in the offices and cubicles the mortals all worked under the ruler of the gods, running everything for him from the major electricity companies that were wired throughout the country to the management of the other gods corporations that now ruled this world of theirs. Needless to say, Zeus still had his fingers in many pies.

But Hermes had his job security. Only the gods trusted him to relay information between them all, and on his office days, he was taking requests from mortals to give to the big guy himself. Hermes knew everyone's secrets, and he kept them close to his chest, never revealing damning information to anyone.

That is, anyone outside his field.

There was one person the young god could trust, someone he could confide in no matter what. The type of person that would know how serious the Caucasian Eagle feather was, and it's significance in the grand scheme of things. He had to tell her, for fear he would tell everyone else.

Sending a quick text, the messenger of the gods stood in a windowed breeze way that was built to connect Olympus Inc. to it's sister tower Peacock Productions. This was their usual meeting place, a quiet spot that nobody would use since the two towers rarely coincided with each other's business. It was a rocky marriage after all, which means the ties to the businesses reflected the actual relationship.

Hermes waited until he heard the automated doors open with a hiss and turned with a big smile. He wouldn't be ashamed to admit he loved talking to his counterpart, the petite young woman coming into the breezeway, her long  hair trailing behind her in every shade of color imaginable. 

"Hey Iris" Hermes said casually as his friend came up beside him with a expectant stare from those deep gray eyes. 

"What was so urgent? I was just running back from Hestia's office when I got your text and had to scoot down here real quick. Hera will be expecting me in fifteen" she said one hand on the hip. 

"This" he said holding up the feather that materialized in his hands.

"Oh no" Iris said, her eyes wide as she stared down at the stark white feather that nearly shimmered in the daylight.

"Oh yea" Hermes said "It was just found in Hades's gardens."

"Just found?" Iris said "Then that means the Eagle is still alive."

"That and who knows what else" Hermes said with a grimace "First the Lion, then the Hydra, and now the Eagle."

"Echidna is alive" Iris nearly whispered "That can only be the rational explanation. Hermes this is huge."

"Tell me about it" he sighed "And now I have to go convince the king of the gods that we might be at the brink of another war."

Iris felt for her friend and placed a hand on his shoulder "Do you want backup? I can have something come up and be your support in there?"

Hermes would have jumped on the chance to spend a little more time with Iris, and would be more than pleased to have her there in front of his boss, but he knew this was a for your eyes only situation. Bringing Iris into it meant more trouble, and he wouldn't place her in any kind of danger if he could help it.