I closed my eyes, relishing the wonders of riding a magic eagle. It was around sunset when we reached Saint Johns. My head was throbbing, and I felt like I was catching the flu.
"How do people not notice a giant eagle?" I ask.
"Who knows, how do giant magic eagles exist?" Alex replies. The eagle lets out a squawk.
"No offence." He adds.
We glide over the water, and I run my fingers through it, and immediately regret it. The salt stings my cut, I yelp in pain. I haven't looked at my arm the whole flight actually, but I'm horrified when I do. The cut is infected, swollen, and puss filled. The skin around the cut is cracking and blister are appearing. I barley touch one of the blisters, and it explodes with green venom, very painful.
"Alex, open the backpack, and take out the small cake looking thing, brake off the tiniest piece and give it to me." I say. I feel him play with the zipper, and finally take out something. He taps on my shoulder, and I open my palm. He gave me a little chunk. I take a small bite,instantly my head ache goes away, and I take another bite, and put the rest away. It tastes rather good, but strange at the same time. I look at my arm, and the blisters slowly disappear, and the cut becomes cleaner. By the time we land in Saint John, its now just a big scab and nothing more. I check the map, but nothing is glowing gold.
"Do we have to find someone?" I say, fishing out some meat and passing it to the eagle.
"I guess, lets just look around." Says Alex.
"Stay here, or fly, but don't go too far, we'll need you." I say rubbing the eagles nose and giving him another piece of meat. I catch up with Alex.
"Saint Johns is huge, how do we know what we need to find?" I ask.
"I think I found something. Look at that sign." He says.
I look over to where he's pointing, a sign. Its written in a language I don't know. The letters shift, and go into English, and I read them.
"Hydra Hydro." I say.
"Not conspicuous at all." Laughs Alex. We walk to the building, and walk in. Inside is a very pretty woman, blonde hair stuck in a bun, her eyes changed colour constantly. She had a bright smile, and she sort of sparkles.
"Hello demi gods! What would like? Perhaps some immortal water, or death water, or health water-"
"No, we need help." Alex says.
"We are-"
"I know who you are, you should be dead." Snaps the woman.
"Your Iris, goddess of rainbows and messages." I say.
"Yes, thank you." She scoffs.
"We need help, my parents said to follow this map, do you know what we need?" I ask.
"Ugh, don't waste my time, you'll die sooner or later, just leave, I have to purify the mortal water."
Alex taps on my shoulder and points at her necklace. Its a rainbow eagle, its eyes move ever so slightly scanning the room.
"Do you like eagles?" I ask her.
"Hm? Why yes I do, noble creatures, Zeus had one, used it as a messenger." She said.
"Yeah, I know, it's mine, want to see him?" I said. Her eyes go wide.
"You own the Eagle of Zeus?" She asks in awe.
"Yes, come I'll show you." I say opening the door.
As I walk outside, I call out to my eagle. He swoops over and lands at the front door.
"Hello there-" I realize I don't have a name for him. I observe him, his copper- gold feathers shimmer.
"May I name you Copernicus?" I ask the bird. It clicks its tongue and bobs his head up and down.
"Ok, Copernicus, meet Iris the rainbow goddess." I say.
The bird bows low before the goddess. She smiles, and bows her head lightly.
"Hello old friend, interesting seeing you again, I had thought that Zeus had forgotten you. What are you doing with these children, you are of much higher standards than to smuggle out these illegal children of the gods." She said.
The eagle doesn't do anything, it just rubs its beak against my arm.
"Thanks Copernicus." I say.
Thunder crashes from above, and a lighting bolt flares. As it hits the ground Zeus appears.
"Vera, good to see you've made it this far. I need you to come over here." He says. I approach him.
"Yes?" I say. He wraps his arm around my shoulder.
"Lets walk. I need to talk to you." He says.
"Hows the eagle?" He asks.
"Fine, he's a good flyer, and doesn't complain." I say.
"What about your arm?" He asks.
"How did you know?" I ask shocked.
"I'm Zeus, I think I know what happens to my own daughter." He says smirking.
"Hows mom?"
"Good, the wind spirits left after they found out you weren't there."
"Ok. Can I go home now then?"
"No, you have a prophecy to complete with Alex."
"Why?"
"Because darkness arises, gorgons are plotting with the wind spirits, and the hell hounds, and all dark creatures, they are all arising to bring down the human race. You must find the third demi god, the one of Poseidon. After that, continue searching for more demi gods, they are scattered all across the map. Find them, build an army and full fill the prophecy. Do not return home, it is being watched at all times. Be careful with Alex, his powers with the dead is dangerous." We return to the group.
"Thanks Iris, for what ever you did, here." I say, passing her one drachma.
"Thanks darlin', throw a drachma in any fountain, and you can send a message to anyone you wish." She says winking.
"Thanks, dad." I say, awkwardly hugging him. He smiles, kisses my forehead, and vanishes.
I smile and turn towards Alex and smile, he smiles but his face contorts into horror.
"Vera, behind you!" I spin around but its too late, she pushes me down on the ground, looks me in the eyes, and everything goes black. I see the flash of an arrow, and shes shoved off me. Then, I am immobile. Frozen in time.
Dead.
