Daughter of Poseidon

Nereus' Smell and Hermes

Didn't upload properly last time.

The sky was clear and starry. It didn't make sense - this was New York  with the air-pollution that usually turned sunset into a brilliant orange haze. The smell of smoke hung in the air.

But it was also camp-half blood, the refuge of the demi-gods, and where the gods lived in among humans through their children. A select few, chosen children, of course.

I caught myself staring at the constellations: Sagittarius, Hercules, Corona Borealis. It had been so long . . .

"Beautiful, aren't they?"  Said a voice from behind me.

I jumped and instantly whipped Perseis out. 

The man jumped, and glided a few feet across the wet sand. He was wearing nylon running shorts and a New York City Marathon T-shirt. A sly smile coloured his face, similar to how Luke always looked, and he was slim and fit, with salt-and-pepper hair. I think the gliding should've alerted me, but I was mostly just annoyed that I wasn't alone.

"Funny that. You kids of Poseidon always had a penchant for dramatic gestures." His tone turned wry. "I mean, that mountain. You'd have no idea how much mist that took to conceal. Great job on that."

"Why thank you, kind, kind sir." I said, sweeping into a mocking bow. "My brother was just as nice to me a few seconds before."

"Ah, sibling rivalry. There's nothing like it. I spoke to him a while ago, nice enough guy . . . seemed to have a better relationship with your dad than you."

"So, who are you?" I asked, a little confused, a little offended. This man, even though he was rather obviously not human, had a unnervingly good understanding of things. "I'm allowed to talk to strangers, you know."

"I thought you'd guessed. After all, you used to be on good terms with my son. Emphasis on the used."

"Ah, Hermes." I said.

"Very polite of you." He smiled, with an indulgent expression. "Normally, that's not the first way people introduce me. It's mostly god of thieves; god of messengers and travelers, if they wish to be kind."

He pulled out a smart phone, which glowed bright blue. The case was a design of writhing snakes - green snakes, no bigger than earthworms. It took me a moment to realise that they were actually moving.

He tapped for a few moments, then, realizing I was there, slid it back into a pocket.

"Sorry, terrible habit - but overnight delivery is becoming one of the only options now. We can't compete with Amazon during the day." Hermes smiled. "Would you like to hear a story?"

"I'm not five." I complained

"I knew a boy once . . . oh, younger than you by far. A mere baby, really." Hermes continued, paying no attention my my protests.

"Cool." I said. "That sounds enthralling." 

"Of course it is." Said Hermes, ignoring the sarcasm. "One night, when this boy's mother wasn't watching, he sneaked out of their cave and stole some cattle that belonged to Apollo." 

"Did he get blasted to tiny pieces?" I asked. 

"Hmm ... no. Actually, everything turned out quite well. To make up for his theft, the boy gave Apollo an instrument he'd invented - a lyre. Apollo was so enchanted with the music that he forgot all about being angry." 

"Well that's boring. Is there a moral to this?" 

"The moral?" Hermes asked. "Goodness, you act like it's a fable. It's a true story. Does truth have a moral?"