International Legends

Chapter 20 - Jasper

I go to Mom with Carmen's hand in my own coming out right of the gate with "I'm in love with Carmen."

My words hung lately in the air and I wasn't sure how to react when Carmen and my mom nearly fall over.

Panicking, I backtrack against my own words saying, "I didn't mean to say that!"

Mom, laughing, says "I think you did."

Genesis kisses me on the cheek. I couldn't tell whether Carmen was wanting to run or scream.

"I mean, I do but..."

"You do?" asks Carmen.

"Can't take it back now son," says Jae. "Hey, I'm Jae."

"I freaking know you Jae, you dingleberry," says Carmen.

"Might as well call you a cougar for trying to date my son."

"I'm 35 Dad!" I yell. "We are practically the same age!"

"Maybe you'll start taking ruling Hell more seriously this time," says Genesis. She puts her hand on Carmen and says, "Yes I'm sure you told her all about rulership. We can discuss this further at dinner sometime. We can get the fine China out someday forged in the fires of soul's melted into volcano lava. The finest of materials."

I was an idiot for thinking this could work just like everyone else she will run and leave. If the grim reaper thing didn't turn her off, I'm sure the idea of living in Hell for eternity did.

"When were you going to discuss this with me exactly?" asks Carmen. "My ex did the whole king of hell thing and it was so not something I'd desire."

"Let's not talk about Bruno right now babe," I say. "It's complicated."

"I know, I know," says Carmen. "We don't talk about Bruno. No, no."

"Mom tries to push ruling hell on me,"I say. "The whole 'You should get married' and "Your father and I would love grandkids.' Really I think beyond the whole ruling of hell thing, what she really wants is grandkids."

"She just wants what's best for you," says Carmen.

The ship should be arriving soon, and soon we are to be getting on. Carmen leans in for a kiss, but we are interrupted by her kids going "Ew gross," and "Mom really?" while we just laugh.

That's when a winged god appears, looking brilliantly light and airy in the sun, none other than Hermes himself.

"Hey Reaper," says Hermes. "Heard you are having lady troubles."

"No, not anymore," I say but Hermes insists and says, "No, no I got you bro. So I edited that whole letter you wrote. About how everyone you love dies, and how you can't open yourself up like that. How you love her but think you'll be better apart."

He hands me the letter, and I refuse to look at the scathing woman next to me with a face reddened from anger. She stomps off and I am left pulling at my hair, while Hermes says "Women, am I right?"

"Whatever man," I say, hardly able to look up at him and angry when he pats my back saying "I'll definitely visit that Bar Midnight of yours another time."

"Yeah, when I drag them all off to Hell," says Jasper, which causes Hermes to laugh and say "That would be the day!"

"Been there man," says Hermes. "You know they love you until you are all I'm an immortal with responsibility am I right?"

Hermes goes off about how he gets the whole wanting to hear the souls stories as he also transports them to the afterlife.

"If you need help with the whole moving souls thing or just want someone to deliver you news from Deorum, give me a buzz. The whole messenger is the gods thing that gets to be kind of a drag."