Incarnates Of Olympus

Probationary Godhood

Evening had just fallen by the time Corey returned home on his motorbike, still reeling from the fight with the Hydra and his first encounter with Hades. The latter event left Corey shaken and he wanted nothing more than to return and relax and maybe attempt to get his homework done. At least now he wasn't alone in his newfound quest to find Pandora's Box. Brad Hendry of all people was the Incarnate of Ares, and he proved instrumental in helping to defeat the Hydra. It felt like a great relief for Corey to have help for a change. All that remained was to find the other Incarnates, assuming there were any to be found.

But that notion had to wait as Corey approached the front door of his home. He found Maggie sitting on an elevated couch in the front porch, kicking her legs up into the air. An uneasy feeling washed over Corey, and for once it had nothing to do with some random monster of the week. Then again, Maggie was something of a little monsters in her right. Bracing himself for certain doom by way of annoying little sister, Corey reached the porch and stopped just short of the door. He looked at Maggie, who had a wry little smirk on her face.

"What's with the stupid grin, Maggie?"

Pressing her lips together, Maggie replied in a slight singing tone, "You're in trouble."

Corey could feel the blood drain from his face. "Dad's waiting for me, isn't he?"

"Yep, and Mom too," Maggie said, and Corey willed himself to walk through the front to his fate. "Dead brother walking."

Corey didn't respond and just walked into the house. His pace was slow and deliberate, methodical and measured. He was trying to brainstorm some ideas, or rather excuses, to feed to his parents. Unfortunately, Corey knew they wouldn't buy any excuse he presented them, especially his father. He had to face the music. Corey entered the living room and sure enough, his parents were there waiting for him. John in particular was sitting in his favorite chair, leaning forward and with his hands folded together like the otherwise benevolent patriarchal ruler of a kingdom. Patricia stood at the side of the chair like John beautiful queen. Neither of them were particularly happy with Corey at the moment. No more running or delaying. It was time for Corey to face the potential parental scalding.

"Hey Mom, Dad. How was your day?" Corey instantly cringed at the weak choice of words.

"Take a seat, Corey," John said, his tone stern and commanding, and Corey reluctantly sat on the couch nearby. "Where were you, son?"

Corey needed an excuse and he needed it now. "I was just going through town, talking to some friends from school."

"There was another attack by some kind of monster today, Corey. You could've been killed and we wouldn't know about it until it was too late." Patricia said.

"I wasn't, and those guys in the armor; they showed up to take that thing down, so it's good and I'm still alive." Corey tried to explain while concealing the fact that he was talking about himself and Brad.

"That's not the point, Corey," John bellowed as he stood right up out of his seat. "I was there too, doing my job as a police officer, but I was also there doing my job as a father. If I'd found your dead body today, what do you think I would've had to tell your mother and sister? How do you expect they would've reacted to the news that their son and brother wasn't ever coming home again?"

"Okay, Dad, I get it," Corey proclaimed, although he inwardly regretted the tone of his voice. "Look, I'm fine and I'm home. You don't have to worry about me now."

"We worry about you every day, Corey, every single day. That's our responsibly as parents, to ensure the protection of our children." Patricia said with rare authority in her tone.

By the point, Corey had to concede. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to worry either one of you."

John took a hold of Corey's shoulder and held him tightly. "We're not trying to ruin your life, son. We're trying to make sure you still have one because one day, we're both going to be gone. You and your sister are going to have to learn to live without us when that day comes."