The missing Auras

Chapter 1

Prologue

A brisk walk through Manhattan is the perfect wake-up call, with the sunshine warming my cheeks and the wind chasing away any last remnants of sleep. It also means that things are at peace with the gods. Or at the very least, Zeus is in a good mood. When you work for the gods, you learn to look at the world in a new perspective. I work for H.E.R.A., Hell and Earth Relations Agency. It's our job to make sure all the gods and monsters in the human realm are behaving themselves. Or at least fill out paperwork and make a report about them in my case.
- Kira, someone yells. I turn around to find...
- Layla. You're a little early today, aren't you, I ask.
- Hey. I'm not always late, you know, Layla says. Layla and I have been friends ever since she started working in my department.
- Was Bruno not around to keep you up all night with one of his new compositions, I ask.
- He left early this morning to prepare for his upcoming event this weekend in Buffalo, Layla says. She's always full of energy, but maybe a little too much sometimes.
- Aren't you worried what trouble four Satyrs might get into without your supervision, I ask.
- He'll be fine. I trust him, Layla says. Let's just say she has a thing for monsters.
- That's what you said last time when you were dating that Kobalos, I mutter.
- Hey, Bruno's different. He's a keeper, Layla says.
- Right, right, I say. Layla and I continue our walk up the street.

As we turn a corner, H.E.R.A. HQ looms in the distance, a perfect blend with the New York cityscape. No one would suspect that this is where all matters of relations between Olympus and Earth are investigated, settled and, ultimately, put to rest.
- So then, he was telling me, the last gig they were at, a bunch of harpies started, Layla says but stops mid sentence and points towards a group of people in suits.
- Kira. Look, Layla says. It's a group of H.E.R.A. field agents on their way out of the building. Each of them is wearing a badge on their belt that represents the god they report to. They pass by us without even making eye contact. I can't help but stare at their backs as they walk off into the distance.
- Wow, did you see that. The one with the beard, he had a lightning bolt badge, Layla says.
- I guess Zeus made them work late into the night to prepare for the summit, I say. One of these days, I'm going to wear one of those badges.
- Oh, wait, that reminds me. Could you help me file the paperwork to get that summit pass for Achilles, Layla asks.
- I'm a little busy today, but I'll see what I can do, I say and smile. Until the day I get that badge, godly paperwork is my job.
- Thanks Kira. You're the best, Layla says.
I give Layla a smile as we enter the building through the revolving doors. As we make our way through the main lobby to the elevator hall, I see a group of people enter an elevator up ahead.
- Layla, we're gonna make that elevator, I say.
- Wait, Kira, Layla shouts.
- Come on. You know how long it takes for these things to come, I say. Just as the doors are about to close, I manage to slot myself into the elevator. Sadly, I seem to have left Layla behind.

The breath of relief catches in my throat as I realize the elevator is not going up, but down towards the underground holding cells.
- Opps. Way to pay attention, I say in my head. Taking a glance around, I turn my expression into something nonchalant. I totally have business down in the cells, for a case. Yes, one of my many non-existent cases.. Someone suddenly scoffs behind me. I turn to find a man with one eyebrow raised.
- Took a wrong turn somewhere. The gift shop's on the first floor, the man says.
- What's with this guy, I ask in my head. Spotting handcuffs and an entourage of armed security guards, something tells me he isn't here for just a visit. I ignore him in favor of nodding to the two guards.
- Good morning, I say. The guards return my greeting with nods of their own. The man remains impassive, though I know he's mocking me.
- Two can play that game, I say in my head. Collecting my cool, I raise my own eyebrow and try to turn away. But there's something about his ice blue eyes that keeps my gaze fixed on him. He returns my stare, eyeing me from top to bottom. He moves his face closer.
- Ah, he's too close, I say in my head.
- You're not bad looking, the man whispers.
- That's enough, Hydra, one of the guards says.
- Hydra. As in the godly monster, I ask in my head. He pulls away and turns to the guard.
- I'm busy, Hydra says.
- Hey. I'd like to let you know that, the guard starts to say. The man called Hydra ignores the guard completely and turns back to me.
- Too bad you're just another one of H.E.R.A.'s dogs, Hydra says. I turn away.
- No need to bother with someone who is clearly a shady character, I say in my head.
As I continue to make my way down along with my fellow passengers, my trail of thought flicks to today's tasks, only to be constantly derailed by the thought of his infuriating smirk.