LIGHTNING AND THUNDER

(11) Henry

*Henry*

I had finished looking around the left corner of my house, and I turned and saw my horse and my girlfriend seeming to be good friends. Pegasus had answered to her call, he only came to my call, and I wondered if she had some telepathic ability with animals too. She was stroking his neck and picking burrs out of his mane with all the fraility of a mother to her newborn child. I loved her so much, every time I saw the light in her violet eyes, my heart would melt. Why did she have to be dragged into this, why couldn’t I be a normal teenager with Levi? I would give anything to be normal with her.

I tapped her on the shoulder and she jumped. She grumbled at me with a smile while Pegasus snorted. I wrapped my hands around her waist and hoisted her onto Pegasus. She quickly and frightfully took his mane, as if while he was immobile, there might be a way she'd find a way to fall of if not hold the small strands of hair. I climbed on after her and he took off. Pegasus’ large wings were catching the wind with such grace that my heart ached for my own. I remembered asking my father for wings like the birds on my windowsill, yet he grumbled and brushed off my pleads. I remembered asking Poseidon, yet he did not have the power of flight so because he loved me so much he created Pegasus for me, since he is god of sea and horses. I loved Pegasus, and he loved me, we were inseparable.

We arrived at the Palace in less than a few minutes; Levi had the biggest smile on her beautiful face. She slipped off of Pegasus' back on her own and hugged his neck. He seemed pretty smug about it too. She led the way as we walked in the big doors; I declined wine or food from the small goat men. My father, my uncle and the rest of the council was here. Aphrodite, Demeter, Hermes, all of them. I nearly lost my breath when I saw my other Uncle, Hades. Hardly ever escaping his hell-hole I never saw him in my childhood, only occasionally for Council meetings. His large stance and flaming hair were familiar to my family, yet not me. His frightening scowl was permanently etched into his face.

My father had small tears in his eyes as he said

“We have decided son, you have not completed your training here, and until you do so, you shall not receive any favors from us.”

“I have completed my training father! For ten years I have trained here!” I snarled, my hope and happiness flying out of me as if it had never exsisted. Not even the small childish part of me that was holding on to the small chance that if I pleaded hard enough, then he would agree, could even reignite the small deflated part of me. 

“Son, you have not completed your Twelve Labors. You have trained, and this is your final task.” My father said slowly, as if I was mentally incompetent. My depression stewed and churned into hate. My eyes blazed with contempt for my family. Anger was bubbling and brewing, pulsing in my blood, adrenaline flooded my veins and I was ready to kill.

Hades spoke; I was completely cleansed of any emotion as he spoke. His loud, resonate voice dominated every feeling I held. 

“You shall receive one item of protection from the each of us.” His voice was final, no discussion, this was my fate. Of course it was. This was my fate. Destiny lined up again, I was one of it's dominoes. This was the moment they were falling in order. The Fates really couldn't have held the urge to flick the first dominoe could they?

My family stood awkward, unknowing of who would grant the first item. Of course the boldest, and the most confident stepped forward first. Aphrodite stepped forth and she pulled me into a hug, she was always like a really close aunt. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and she whispered in my ear

“You love her?”

“With every raging spirit on the earth,” My teeth were still clenched in fury, but the desperation settling in my heart leaked through in my voice. She squeezed my forearm in acknowledgment. She bent away from my ear, her 'popular kid' persona consuming her.