Echoes of Olympus; The Return of the Forgotten Gods

Chapter 11

Dorian's POV

I made my way through the desolate streets, the echoes of my footsteps the only sound in the early morning quiet. The weight of the mission on my shoulders was heavy, but it was the gnawing sense of unease that truly troubled me. Something felt off, a foreboding that clung to me like a shadow.

As the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, I reached Zephyr's house. The building stood like a weary sentinel, its weathered wooden door a testament to years of hardship. I hesitated for a moment before knocking gently. The sound echoed faintly, a stark contrast to the stillness around me. Taking a step back, I waited.

The door swung open abruptly, revealing Zephyr. His eyes, wide with hope, quickly shifted to disappointment when he saw me. His shoulders slumped slightly, his expression flattening.

"Not who you were expecting?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at the sudden change in Zephyr's demeanor.

Zephyr's face shifted into a mask of nonchalance, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Ah, Dorian," he drawled, leaning against the doorframe. "I see you're not Lucian, unless he's undergone a rather drastic makeover."

I chuckled, not taking the snarky remark personally. I was used to Zephyr's cunning and tricky personality by now. "Good to see you too, Zephyr. Can I come in?"

Zephyr stepped aside with a flourish, gesturing for me to enter. "By all means, enter my humble abode. Just watch out for the trapdoors and hidden pitfalls."

Rolling my eyes good-naturedly, I stepped inside. The interior of Zephyr's house was as chaotic as ever, a mix of clutter and oddities that reflected Zephyr's unpredictable nature. Despite the mess, there was a certain warmth to the place, a sense of home that was hard to find in our dystopian world.

"So, what brings you here at this ungodly hour?" Zephyr asked, closing the door and leaning against it, his eyes narrowing with curiosity.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to gather my thoughts. "I needed to talk to you. Things have been... complicated. Seraphina and I are in a bit of trouble, and we needed a place to regroup." I paused for a moment before asking, "By the way, where's Lucian?"

Zephyr's smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Lucian's gone." His voice was low, barely above a whisper.

"Lucian's gone? What do you mean?" I asked, my concern deepening.

"I haven't seen him in two days," Zephyr explained, running a hand through his hair. "Didn't even say where he was going. I woke up and noticed him gone."

"Don't you even have an idea of where he'd go?" I asked, trying to hide my frustration. Zephyr rolled his eyes and pulled out a chair to sit on.

"If I knew where he'd go, I would've found him by now, dumbass," Zephyr said irritably, then shifted his tone. "So, what's the reason you're here?"

"We need to straighten up. We've made a name for a group that's supposed to be seen as heroes, yet we are just five teenagers that can't even stop bickering for more than five seconds. I had to find you. We need to become those heroes we portray ourselves as," I said, expressing my concern.

Zephyr nodded slowly, processing the information. "Well, you found me. What's the plan?"

"First, we need to find Lucian," I said firmly, my resolve hardening. "We can't do this without him."

Zephyr's smirk returned, but there was a hint of warmth in his eyes. "Of course. Now, let's figure out where our wayward brother has wandered off to, shall we? He has a knack for getting into trouble, and I'd hate to miss out on the fun." as i stood up i asked "Let's get started. Any leads on where we should look first?"