Defying Fate

Chapter 29-p1

Athena was the first to unfreeze, and she looked down at Odysseus, as he pulled the cannister out of his pocket.

"He's probably looking for this," he said in a small voice. He still couldn't explain to himself why he'd taken it.

Athena's and Diomedes's eyes flashed briefly, and the anger on Athena's face changed to one of concern. Odysseus immediately knew what happened, and felt a pang of jealousy that he hadn't been part of the meeting.

"One of the objects on the list," Athena said, looking at the object in Odysseus's hand but not touching it. "Do you know what this is?"

Odysseus began to shake his head, but stopped and nodded instead. "It was on Zeus's keys. It's... a weapon," he said. "Like your spear or Artemis' bow."

Athena nodded. "Yes, and it's a very powerful one. Perhaps this will teach him not to leave it lying around where mortals can find it."

Odysseus reached out to hand the cannister to the goddess, but she closed his fingers around it.

"Put that away," she said. "Let's see if we can't tempt the fates a little in our direction."

Odysseus put the cannister in his pocket again, and watched with wide eyes as Zeus came tearing down the stairs. His eyes, which had been blue the night before were dark, like storm clouds. Lightning flashed behind them, and Odysseus found himself ducking behind Athena and Diomedes, a frightened child.

"Lose something, dad?" Athena asked. Her calm was like a rock in a storm, and Odysseus clung to it, as Zeus came bearing down upon them.

"I know it was one of your mortals. Who took it? Show me the perpetrator!"

"There are 16 gods in this house, what makes you think it was a mortal?" Diomedes interjected. He stood nearly as tall as Zeus, and his expression was equally thunderous.

"A god would know better," Zeus rumbled, his voice low and menacing, but Athena and Diomedes did not flinch. They formed a near impenetrable wall between Odysseus and Zeus.

"Perhaps it will turn up when you least expect it," Athena said.

"When I find who has taken it..."

"Relax dad, the house has grown quite a bit. I'm sure it will be back before you realize."

Zeus growled, but turned and thundered away, and Diomedes blew out a tense breath.

"We couldn't tempt fate with a god less prone to fits of temper? Like Poseidon maybe? What possessed you to steal from *Zeus*, Odysseus?"

"I—" Odysseus began, fingering the object in his pocket. "I don't know. It felt like my own idea, but, I don't have a good reason..."

"Perhaps you were compelled, like you were last night," Athena offered.

"But why?" Odysseus pulled the little object out of his pocket again, peering at its tiny spark. "I can't use these weapons. I needed your help to draw Artemis' bow. I don't even know what this is?"

"Don't you?"

Odysseus poked at the cannister, and a tiny spark shot out from its interior one, shocking his finger lightly.

"Lightning?" He guessed, and Athena nodded.

"I think that would kill me if I tried to use it."

"That's very likely," Diomedes chuckled. "But there could be any number of reason that this... entity would want you to take these objects." He listed them off on his fingers, holding one up for each reason. "To cause infighting among the gods. To render them less powerful. To deliver them to someone who, potentially, *could* use them, such as your compulsor himself—or herself."

"Are you implying that a goddess could be involved?" Athena teased him.

"I'm keeping the possibilities open," Diomedes replied smoothly. Odysseus found himself at a loss, left out. He'd once been part of the banter, but now, it was all happening over his head, literally.

"Diomedes, why don't you take the boys back outside. I'm going to go track down Hermes. I heard he was working with Hephaestus..."

"Oh yes, I heard, *toys*." Diomedes grinned. "I'm curious to see what they're coming up with myself."

"Please, can I come," Odysseus spoke up, shoving the canister back in his pocket. "I feel so useless just sitting around."

"Odysseus," Diomedes knelt down to look him in the eye again, putting his hands on Odysseus' shoulders."You've got to look out for your friends. Eurylochus, Polites, Cassandra, and Asterion. They're counting on you to be the leader. You are their captain."

Odysseus hated that that comforted him, "But if I go with you, I can bring them news," he tried one more time, feebly.

"I'll report back to you, alright?" Diomedes reasoned. "Go take care of your friends." He pushed gently, and turned Odysseus back toward the living room. Odysseus was out of arguments, and he found himself, albeit gently, deposited back in the living room doorway, standing there, looking at the wide eyes of Eurylochus, Polites, and Cassandra.