Godtown

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Since I was present for my eviction, I didn't have any problems. My reputation was such that no one turned up on my doorstep asking if I need help or if they could have something. With a snap of my fingers, my meager belongings dissipated away until they were small enough to fit into a satchel. The only thing which did give me some amount of trouble was all three of the Cerebrus trio, who could hardly sit still for me to attach all three dog collars.

I closed my apartment door for the last time, with three leashes tugging in three different directions. It took all my strength to keep them in tow. I heard footsteps behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see the welcoming committee of Ares flanked by Nemesis, Timos, and Phoebus.

"You're not going to give us any troubles today, are you sir?" Ares said in a far too polite manner. His crew didn't look quite as comfortable. While they didn't look any worse for wear, they kept their distance. It was pretty wise of them, given our last encounter.

"If I was, what would you do about it?" I asked. I twitched my leash. Cerberus seemed ready to pounce – all three of them growling at the wargod before them. The leash was starting to tighten in my hands as the dogs began to pull away. Ares held his ground. His crew took an extra step back. Ares gave me a bemused grin and then lead me down the hall.

I could feel the chill of eyes running down my body as I walked down the halls. Every now and then a door would open as a god peeked outside to watch my walk of shame, before shutting the door and returning inside. I looked to the side just in time to see Aphrodite peek into the hallway. Her skin gleamed flawlessly except for a patchy red spot mostly obscured by her hair. Hilda must have decked her hard, I surmised. Even the goddess of beauty was having trouble recovering from the Valkyrie's right hook. Aphrodite locked eyes with Ares and then shut her door. I resumed walking until Ares came to a sudden stop. He opened the door to Zeus' office.

Zeus was at his desk, working on paperwork, but he didn't look up. Hera was lying sideways on the couch next to the desk, playing with a necklace. She didn't look up either. Ares walked inside and prepared to shut the door.

"If you are serious about this," I told Ares. "Watch over my brother."

Ares looked at me for a second. Then in a cold voice, he said, "Escort him off the premises."

His crew nodded. Ares shut the door in my face. "You two are made for each other," I said to the door before I continued walking.

I heard the crew's slow and measured footsteps behind me. Nemesis and Tim were about a yard away, treating me like a tiger about to turn around and lunge at them at any moment. Phoebus was a little more confident. He took point, always kicking my heels "by accident". I would turn to see him give me a malignant smile, hands buried deep inside his pocket, chest extended like a proud rooster.

"I'll tell her you said hi," I said.

"Who?" Phoebus said.

"Hilda, the blonde you met earlier," I grinned. Phoebus stopped smiling.

He walked in line with his cautious peers the rest of the way to the lobby.

Only one well-wisher in the lobby waited for me in the lobby, and I was not surprised to see him. What I was surprised to see was Charon crying, the gaunt and almost skeletal figure dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief.

"Take care, boss," He said as he shook my hand. "I'm gonna miss you."

I gave his bony hand an affectionate squeeze. "You're going to have to call Zeus 'boss' now. Otherwise, it'll be weird."

"It's just not the same, man!" Charon said as he threw his arms around me in a sinewy embrace.

Honestly, it was more than a little weird. Being hugged by the tall and emaciated Charon was not the same as being hugged by Vertias, a cute little kid. But the warmth evident in the embrace was the same, and it made me think I needed to be hugged more often.

"You need anything," Charon whispered. "You know where to find me."

"Thanks," I said. "For everything."

I walked toward the revolving door. When I looked back, I saw Nemesis, Tim, and Phoebus forming a wall, barring me forever going back. It was a good thing I remembered everything. I left OlympusTowers. This part of my life was over.

***

To prevent anyone (read: Ares) from doing anything stupid, Charon had parked my sedan on the corner down the street. With Cerberus pulling excitedly against my leash, I headed down the street. I was the one everyone was talking about. I was the god who ratted out Hestia and spirited away Vertias, the goddess of truth. I was the god who sent Mount Olympus tumbling down. I was Hades, the traitor god. The god who defied Zeus himself. Before I had a place within Olympus Towers. Now I was cast out. Now I had nothing. In the eyes of the Olympians, I was nothing.

They would tell stories for ages about me, the boogie-man, the cautionary god. Even Prometheus had better PR, and he was chained to a rock for vultures eating his insides for generations.

I piled the dogs into my car and drove away, leaving Olympus Towers behind. I had nowhere else to go, but I did know a seedy hotel where I might lay my head. And I knew one place I could go for a drink.