Plight Of Olympus

SIX: SEEKING ANSWERS (II).

Her eyes warmed up and she let out a small chuckle. Dusting down her hands, she took off the apron and stared up at me, the fine lines around her eyes indicating years of laughter. “You look tired.” Her silvery voice held warmness and compassion, so much that it made me sigh.

Her parents choose the right name for her. She radiated massive amounts of positive energy that made you feel better about the world. I realized, almost unconsciously.

   “I found your website, and the article you wrote a year ago. It has my painting… well, more like a painting that looks like me on it. How do you know my name? Do you know of a woman named Jane Parker? She told me to follow the mist of Iris, and find you. That you could tell me what’s going on. You said in your post that our fate is tied, does that mean…”

“I’m sure you have a lot of questions…” she cut in with an audible laugh, and added in a friendly tone “Unless you want us to sit cross-legged on the street and talk about prophecies and Greek history, I suggest you come with me. Zach is probably wondering what’s taking me so long. He’s going to flip when he sees you. Come on…”

    Before I could protest, she dragged me along with her across the street and into the restaurant. Did I get weaker, or is she just stronger? I asked my subconscious mind.

The restaurant smelled heavenly. My senses picked up the scent of freshly baked pie, and my stomach growled audibly, causing Silver to chuckle. “Let’s get you something to eat.” She decided, and gestured for me to follow her around the back.

   I sat in silence, eating uncomfortably. The pie was delicious, but the two pairs of eyes staring at me made it hard for me to enjoy it. Silver and the older male version of her whom she introduced as Zach were both staring at me unblinkingly.

   “Did I grow an extra eye on my forehead?” I finally found the courage to ask and they both burst out in fits of laughter.

“She’s hilarious!” Zach joked, cupping his face in his hands and looking at me like I was a cat that had developed the ability to c***k jokes.

   “Don’t take him too seriously. He always makes dumb statements when he’s nervous.” Silver taunted, jabbing her elbow playfully into the side of his stomach.

“Ow! The pain!” he lamented over-dramatically and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, a small smile appearing on my lips due to their exchange.

   “On a more serious note though Caterisa…” Silver began before I interjected “Call me Cali.”

It felt weird to hear a different name addressed towards me. I always taught my name was weird, but I felt way more comfortable being called Cali than Cata… whatever.

     “Okay, Cali…” Silver tried again, slowly. “I don’t know how to start this, but I’ll start from wherever I can, and I’ll try my best to clear your questions. First of all, are you familiar with Greek mythology?”

“Yes…” I answered, my voice wavering, and Zach smiled at me for support.

  “Well, it’s not a myth. It’s real. Yes, some of the stories are fabricated lies and most of the facts have morphed into fiction. But the idea of Greek myth is still real. I know it’s bizarre, and I might seem like a crazy person explaining this to you. But you have to trust that I’m telling you the truth…” she paused so the information can sink in, before continuing. “The gods and goddesses in the stories aren’t actually gods and goddesses. They were just human beings with certain powers and abilities. But of course, the dwellers of Greece back then didn’t know what they were, and witnessing their powers, they worshiped them instead.”

“Idiots.” Zach added, still grinning at me, and I didn’t know what to do so I slowly nodded.

    “The Greek super humans weren’t immortal. But whatever it is that gave them those abilities, gave them a very long lifespan. Long enough to exist throughout eras and generations…” Silver explained.

“What sort of abilities do you mean?” I asked wearily.

    “Like, Poseidon was able to water bend. Zeus could influence the weather… that’s where the thunderbolt myth came from, and Hades had a thing for molten lava. Other powers ranged from magic to super speed, to influencing plant growth, to having a super brain as in the case of Athena who was dubbed the goddess of wisdom.”

I nodded again.

     “As for this generation, no one knows where the super humans are. But their children have been a huge influence in the developments of the 21st century. Take Albert Einstein for example. He was the son of Athena and inherited her super brain. Nostradamus was the son of Apollo, who could predict quite accurately, the future. Apart from that, a few know of the truth of Greek history. Like, Rick Riordan, the author of Percy Jackson and The Olympians…”

“Wait, that book is just a work of fiction…” I murmured.

   “No, that’s what Troll wants people to believe… but we know better.” Zach answered. Noticing my confused expression, he added “Troll is what the fans of his work call him.”

“Oh…”

   Silver rolled her eyes and kept on going “Honestly, there’s a lot to learn, but apparently, something destructive is happening in Olympus, the hometown of the super humans. And prophecy has it that it will invade the human world soon, unless you stop it.”

“Me? What? But why me?” I exclaimed, my eyes darting from Zach to silver.

     “Probably because you’re the daughter of Zeus, and the prophecy is tied to you.” Silver answered with a shrug.

I snorted, looking at both of them. I was waiting for the part where they tell me they were joking about everything, but they just stared back at me.

 “How am I even supposed to believe you?” I croaked out, my throat suddenly dry.

     Silver gestured to Zach, and he got up, disappearing to what I presumed was the restroom. A few seconds later, he emerged with a huge, ancient-looking bowl. It had all sort of symbols carved into it, and it was filled to the brim with water.

“Maybe this will help…” Silver voiced out.

“Oh, and sorry.” She apologized, before dunking my head underwater.