Horatio sat on the beach just watching the waves roll onto the sand. The cool evening breeze blew gently across him. It was a beautiful evening. The sun was setting and the sky was a clear blue, which faded into shades of pink and orange. He sighed and lifted his iced tea to his mouth.

A small jingle made it's way to his ears. He looked over to his left. A large white dog was trotting over to him. The dog stopped next to him and sat down. A silver collar was fastened around its neck. There was a tag on it. Horatio leaned forward in his chair to read it. Svetiuy.

"What an odd name. Where did you come from?" He asked no one, scratching the dog behind it's ears.

The dog barked and raised its head to the sky. It barked again. Horation looked too. Grey clouds were darkening the sky, seemingly coming from nowhere. The dog barked again and stood. It walked to the waters edge. Lightning flashed brightly as the clouds continued to darken. Horatio jumped back as a sudden pillar of flame shot down from the sky and into the water.

"What the-"

As quickly as the flames came, they left. Something new was happening. The dog started barking like mad. He watched, unsure of what to do or what was happening, as a body fell from the clouds and plummeted into the water. The dog ran out to the body. Horation froze. The dog was running across the water.

Thinking the dog wouldn't be able to drag a body back to shore, he ran down the beach to his small dock where his boat was tied. He hurried into it and turned it on. The engine kicked on loudly then hummed as he pushed it forward. He followed the dog out to where the body had fallen. He slowed as he approached. His breath formed into a small cloud as he breathed.

The body was laying on a thick sheet of ice. He looked over the side of the boat. The ice seemed to be going on till it touched the oceanbed. A sharp bark from the dog brought his attention back to the body. It was the body of a young man. He was covered in what looked like white bandages that bound his body, wrapping all around him. Over the bandages were thick black chains. Horatio could see a heavy lock. The key didn't look like and shape of key he knew.

He reached over the side of the boat and did his best to pull himself closer. Thankful for the still waters, he climbed onto the ice. He examined the young man. There was no blood, and Horatio could see no wounds. He felt the side of the man's throat. A pulse. Surprised, Horation looked at the dog, which was wagged it's tail.

"Were you waiting for him?"

The dog kicked a front paw in the air and barked again. It walked over to the boat and jumped in. Getting the message, Horatio picked the mysterious arrival up and carried him over to the boat. He set him against the side and turned the boat around. He sped back to his house and docked the boat. He looked back to the young man. The white dog had lain across his lap.

Horatio leaned down and picked the young man up. As he did, he noticed a black mark underneath his dark brunette hair. Horatio smoothed the hair away to get a better look. It was a letter. A spikey black letter M. Confused on what it could mean, he stepped off the boat.

"Who am I kidding? I don't know what the hell just happened, let alone what this tattoo is."

"It's not a tattoo."

Horatio whirled around. The woman who stood behind him smiled. She swept back her golden hair.

"Who-"

She held up her hand. "There is no time for questions, Horation Caine. I am sorry to have dumped him in your lap like this, but this was a desperate situation. His name is Mars. He is a god. The God of war. This knowledge is lost to you mortals, but there are gods everywhere. Some are weak, and some are incredibly powerful. Some liver here in the mortal world, while others live in our world.

My name is Lima, and I am the Goddess of thresholds. I open the portals from world to world. I helped Mars to escape from ours. He is being accused of a crime he did not commit. Our leader, his father, wants him dead. We cannot let that happen. You must not let it happen."

"What am I supposed to do against a bunch of gods?"

"Even gods have weaknesses. And even gods can be killed. I'm sure if you have more questions, Mars will answer them. I must go for now. But I will return. Seek out Minerva. She will know what is going on."

With those parting words, Lima was gone, leaving Horatio with an armful of chaotic God.