Twelve

Ch 21 Roundabout

"I do not understand what is preventing us from simply giving them the bow and arrows now. We already have them! Or did you forget that I went through the terribly stress-inducing act of retrieving them right from under our sister's nose? I realize you were having a lovely conversation with your twin, but surely you did not forget my task? My incredibly brave task?"

Apollo let out a controlled breath and struggled with the urge to seal his brother's lips. "It is not time yet."

"Yes, and I suppose your precious oracle told you this?"

"Brother, there is no reasonable argument against heeding the words of an oracle. She literally sees the future."

"Perhaps you could present a new argument that doesn't revolve around your blind riddle maker? Something substantial? Anything that has a hint of fact and logic would do."

"Oh shut up."

"I will not. I have made an oath to these children. I refuse to break it just because you put far too much faith in prophecy."

"We have had this ridiculous argument for the last time. It is not the right time to give the zodiacs Artemis's bow and arrows. We will wait."

Apollo's tone would have caused any mortal to fall to their knees in fear.

Hermes raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, I understand. No helping the pitiful, defenseless, and doomed to die zodiacs until your prophet says so."

Apollo buried the frustration that was growing in his chest and changed the subject. "Have you found anyone to help them?"

"All the immortals tend to keep a low profile, you know, to avoid being murdered and such? You went and blacklisted the other gods, so that took out a majority of the pool. The demis are very uninterested in participating in our crusade, although several have asked me to keep them informed, just for fun-"

The frustration that Apollo was so valiantly trying to control was quickly bubbling to the surface. "You could have just said no."

Hermes quirked a brow and titled his head. "But brother, I have found a few willing to help."

Apollo took deep, slow breaths. Hermes was going to kill him before Artemis would even get the chance.

"At first, I was contemplating recruiting some of our several times great-grandchildren, but then I thought 'Hmm, they're not that strong and I don't really want any of them to die', so I put them on the blacklist. You know, the same blacklist where you put all the other useful people? Anyway, Hades said he has noticed all the fake deaths (that's what I call it when their physical bodies die) and he is very tired of it, so he'll help us out. And while I was talking with Hades, Persephone chimed in and said that she met Orion before and he was a total dick so she offered to help us as well-”

“I’m sorry. Did I hear you correctly. Did you just say Hades and Persephone? I am going to murder you.”

Hermes brought a hand up to shield his heart. “I am so very hurt. They offered. And in case you had forgotten, both Hades and Persephone are very powerful.”

“That is not the point, Hermes. What part of the blacklist did you not understand? Other gods knowing about this is dangerous.”

Hermes waved a hand in the air, dismissing his brother. “Yes, yes danger. The only one truly in danger is me. Your sister might get mad at you for a few millennia or something, but she will she stab you? No.Take a guess as to who Artemis will most definitely stab. In case you were unsure, the answer is me.”

Apollo massages his temples. “Thank them for their offers, but tell them we have the situation under control.”

Hermes shot his brother an angelic smile. “I regret that I can do no such thing. You see, I have already told them how much of a dumpster fire disaster this situation is.”

All Apollo could do was breathe out a faint, “Why?”

“They are trustworthy! And I was stressed.”

“Have you found anyone with a lower profile?”

Hermes paused. “Not quite.” Taking his brother's silence as a cue to continue, Hermes said, “Persephone suggested that we recruit great-grandma, or Odysseus.”

“Did you just call Mother Earth, Gaea herself, great-grandma?”

“Is that not what you call her? She loves when I call her GreatGran.”

“After you mentioned The Goddess of all things, Gaea, did you say Odysseus?”

“Yes. He was an outstanding warrior. The kind that was good with a sword, as well as smart.”

“Hermes, Odysseus is dead.”

“Well, yes but so are the zodiacs and Orion.”

“Do you know how to revive him?”

“It can't be too difficult. Just a simple request to see his soul and I guide him back to Earth. Speaking of Earth-”

“We will not ask Gaea.”

Hermes let out a low whistle. “Oh, kouros.”

“Explain.”

Hermes chose his words carefully. “I, may have, disclosed some of our crusade to Gaea already. She's our great-grandmother! She likes to talk!”

Hermes's sudden rise in volume and pitch had been brought about by the ethereal longsword that had materialized in his brother's hands.

The sword moved from Apollo's side to Hermes's neck. “You told the greatest goddess of all time about our very against the rules side-project!”

Hermes gingerly pinched the blade in an attempt to increase the gap between the tip and his throat. “Calm down, Apollo. Just, put the sword down and listen to me.”

Apollo held his ground for a long minute before replacing his sword with a fiery glare.

“Gaea cares about the zodiacs. Mostly Scorpio because, in her words, he is one of her most favored children. Also, she loathes Orion. One time he threatened to kill every living thing  or something along those lines, and Gaea has never let go of that slight against her. Lastly, she won't tell Artemis or any of the Olympians for that matter. She's our great-gran and the original six's grandmother. She answers to no one. And, just to throw it in there, I am her favorite Olympian.”

“These are very convincing points, but there is no way that her help will go unnoticed." Apollo paused and contemplated what he had just declared. "At this point, I am not sure that anyone's help will go unnoticed.”

“Apollo, no.” Fear interlaced with warning colored Herme's words. “Apollo, listen to me.”

Hermes pleas were in vain. Apollo's mind had been made.

“The zodiacs will have to do this alone.”