Let's Kill Caesar

23: Ask and Wine Homie supplies

Endymion didn't bother going home. He snatched up the first cab he could find and ordered them out of the city. The thought of having to face Cato, his father, Cicero, was too much to bear.

Something clung to his skin like phantom spider web, sent crawling shudders down his arms. Endymion pressed his hands to his eyes, nostrils flaring. Why me? Why does shit always happen to me? He could still see that pitiful gleam in Alma's eyes. Endymion gulped, stomach turning. He was starting to believe the Olympians were out to get him. What else could it be?

Endymion set his jaw, looked out the window. He couldn't bring himself to speak, to be polite. The two words he'd called to the driver had sapped the last of his energy. 

The cabbie didn't seem to mind. The scruffy man whistled softly, a lit cigarette hanging between his lips. Lit cigarette in a cab was completely illegal but Endymion wasn't going to be the one to dampen the poor guy's day. It was bad enough the fellow had the chauffeur chumps like Endymion. 

The young senator wiggled in his seat, leaning between the two front seats. "Just pull over here please."

"You sure, snowflake?"

The cabbie's brown eyes narrowed in the rearview mirror. Endymion smiled. "I'm sure."

The car pulled over smoothly. Endymion nodded in thanks and passed over his charge, throwing in an extra tip. He didn't wait for anything, just swung out, shoes crunching on the foliage. Endymion drew in a long breath  and trudged through the gathered trees. 

His shoulders relaxed a little as the head of Bacchus came into view. "Hey. I'm back." 

Endymion fell to the ground, back against one of the ivy laden pillars. He leaned his head back, eyes heavy. "I thought I'd pay you a visit Bacchus. I figured you're the closest thing to someone trustworthy." Endymion twiddled his thumbs. "You know, because you're a god or whatever."

Somewhere in the clouds the gods were having a good laugh. Endymion wrinkled his nose, eyes fixed on the sky, the stone ceiling having vanished decades ago. 

It was embarrassing he'd stood with Valerian here only a few hours before. Or was it a day? He couldn't tell at this point. It didn't matter which; that exchange had certainly gone to shit.

"At least I'm amusing you," Endymion grumbled, eyes fixed on the violet of night flooding the sky. A soft breeze brushed his cheeks, scattering dry leaves amongst his hair. "I'm guessing that's a yes, huh?"

Endymion sat up with a groan. Bacchus has it made. 

The temple was so quiet, undisturbed by the noise humans brought. Every sound was of nature. The grass swayed gently, blades shimmering with chill. Crickets chirped and song birds spread melodies on the wind. 

At this hour Jupiter, Juno and Minerva's temples were crowded with worshippers. Masses would encircle the warm braziers, tossing tributes of five-star coffee, fries and filet mignon to the gods. 

Endymion frowned. "Is that what you want?"

Of course it is you idiot. You're the only one outside of Greece who's been calling out to him. 

Endymion's throat bobbed as he began to gather dry twigs and branches. Once his hands were full he positioned the collection in a neat pile. Endymion slowly leaned each twig up against one another until it was a perfect cone. Endymion nodded curtly. "Now I just need some matches..."

As he began to sift through the tangled pleats of his toga, there came a sharp spark. Before his eyes amber flame rose from the dirt, coiled up the firewood. Endymion blinked. "Well shit. That's impressive."

It didn't take long to find an offering - the greatest gift was literally at Endymion's fingertips. Normally a plump lamb chop or gooey mushroom sauce would suffice, as per tradition. But tonight he needed something more. Only one thing would offer reassurance for divine support. 

Endymion had made blood offerings as a grim recurrence over the past few years. Unorthodox, but it was the most he could give. Especially when it concerned a god as mysterious as Bacchus.

He felt around the mossy rubble searching for something pointy. Gods be good and give me something devoid of bluntness. Last time Endymion sprinkled blood over a fire he'd used a deceptively blunt chuck of rock across a palm.

Endymion sucked in sharply as his fingers pried up a broken piece of marble. He held it up to the light, heart pounding. "Alright. Sacrifice time."

The senator shuffled over to the fire, limbs shaking. Endymion glanced down at his hands. He couldn't afford damaging them. One hand brushed across a scarred ear, stomach in knots. Oh.

"Maybe my knee-"

Sparks spat at him. Endymion flinched, fingers moving back to his ears. The fire crackled softly. His voice cracked, "My ear?"

Total silence. Endymion sighed, fingers tugging on an earlobe. "I guess they can't get mangled more than this. If that's what you really want."

The stillness was all the answer he needed. Endymion swallowed hard, slowly lifting the chunk of marble up to the top of his ear. He knelt down, face almost kissing the flames as Endymion leaned as near as he could without catching alight. Just do it. Be a man - that's what father would say. Endymion's hand shook as he pressed the rock to the edge of his ear. His voice strained as he gasped, "I present this offering to Bacchus, god of wine and transformation! Accept this blood as reverence."

The stone tore a gash in the top of his ear. Endymion tried not to gag as scarlet droplets sizzled in the fire. Blood was sticky on his hand and hot on his neck. 

Endymion staggered back from the flames, pain bursting in his ear. 

"Gods," he cursed, nose wrinkling with hurt. "I hope you appreciate that. It feels like I cut off my fucking ear!"

Endymion dropped on his ass, eyes screwed shut as he held up the cloth of his toga to his cut.

"Don't worry - your ear is still intact."

Endymion swivelled, mouth dropping open as Bastian watched him, back leaning against his car like a hot movie star. Add leather jacket and shades and it would have brought Endymion to his knees.

Bast ran a hand through his hair and crossed his arms. "I didn't think anyone else came here."

Endymion chuckled softly, eyes still wide. "Me neither. I took you for an Apollo man. You've got the whole Hyacinthus thing going on."

Bast rolled his eyes, a smirk flashing on his lips briefly. "I was going to say the same thing about you."

Endymion reddened and scrambled to his feet. His mouth was dry. So fucking dry.

He toed the ground. "So Caesar's back..."

"I don't want to talk about that."

Bast frowned, gaze moving to Endymion's eyes with an intensity that shook the world.