Hercules and the Modern Girl

Visit From Zeus - Part 2

Visit from Zeus - Part 2

Right after school, Zeus returned to his temple, the smug never leaving his current youthful face.

"Hermes," Zeus called for his winged servant and best friend, who appeared instantly on cue.

"How goes second childhood, your splendid-ness?" Hermes asked.

"Aces," Zeus declared with pride, "I showed Hercules, huh?"

Hermes's face contorted, laughing sheepishly, "Uh - ern - technically... Sir - uh - with all due respect, you didn't really satisfy the Herc challenge."

Zeus stopped laughing and raised a brow in confusion, "Come again?"

"Well, the gig was to be a mortal teenager for twenty-four hours, and you used your godly powers," Hermes lowered his sunglasses to look at Zeus's face. Zeus's eyes widened at that logic, before shrugging his shoulders.

"Oh, okay, fine!" Zeus lit his hand up, hovering it throughout his body until he was glowing completely. All his godly powers disappeared in a flash. "There! I'm mortal."

Hermes shook his head in disbelief, "Oh! Whoa! I didn't mean-"

"Now, let's go home!" Zeus declared, walking towards the exit, "I've got that deep, down nectar thirst." Before Zeus could go any further, Hermes flew in his way.

"Ah, well, remember Olympus's immigration policy?" the wing-god asked, the sympathetic smile showed in his face. "Uh, no mortals allowed." Zeus's mouth dropped in horror as Hermes continued, "See? You got that mortal thing happening now. Why not try a Bed and Breakfast? I hear they're fabulous!"

"This is ludicrous!" Zeus ranted, shaking his fists like a child throwing a tantrum, "absurd! It-It-It's unfair!"

"Welcome to your teens."

~000~000~000~

In the Underworld, Nattie was forced to handle Cerberus up close and personal. Hades got her started with the leash and assured her that Cerberus wasn't going to eat her; the advice didn't ease her comfort. Instead of Nattie walking the dog, the three-headed mutt was flying her throughout the caverns. She was screaming, squeezing her eyes and wrapping her legs around the ropes. If she wasn't going to become Cerberus's lunch, then she's going to die by a heart attack.

They passed the imps who were laughing and eating a bowl of worms at the entertaining sight.

"Lookin' good, Nattie!" Pain cried.

"Keep it up! Avoid the 'yellow rain'!" Panic snickered at the thought of Nattie drenched in pee.

"Or Cerberus's fertilizer!" Pain added. Both imps were laughing uncontrollably.

Nattie ignored the two wisecracks in the balcony. She forced to open her eyes when she felt herself coming down. She tried to implant her feet on the ground and leaned her weight back to pull the leash. "Stop! Stop! Come - Ah!" The second her feet touched on rocky land, she tripped and fell onto her back. The three heads hovered over her, growling and snarling drool. She tensed her face, immediately following instinct.

"I'm sorry," she apologized quickly, "Don't heel. Forget that part. Did I say 'stop'? I mean, 'run whatever you like as long as you don't hurt me'!"

The dogs craned their necks, almost like they were considering sparing her life.

"Please?" she whimpered, gripping the leash for dear life. The next thing she knew, Nattie wasn't flying anymore but was now sliding backward on the cold ground. Thankfully, the fabric prevented the rub burns and exposure, but part of her believed no one should jog with a dog in a long skirt. She missed wearing shorts and tank tops.