The sun rose over the city, bright and warm as always. Tyler stayed and watched the sun rise from where he sat on the roof even though the Night God had disappeared. He spun the feather in his hands, watching the warm sunlight glint off it's dark silky sides.
He supposed that Evan's sadness was natural. Who wouldn't be a bit sad if their existence was limited to the night? The city came alive around him as the sun rose higher into the sky. People strolled down the streets and cars and buses took commuters to their jobs. Tyler had always loved summer despite the heat that normally drove most people inside. More wars were better fought in the summer, not frozen by the cold. More than that, Tyler liked how peaceful it could be but he wouldn't admit that he did.
It was near mid morning when the God of War finally rose from the side of the roof and headed back down the fire escape, climbing through the window into the lounge.
"Did Nyx find you?" Brock yawned from where he laid on the couch. He pressed his face into the soft pillow, his right hand hanging off the side where an empty wine bottle had tipped over onto the carpeted floor. Tyler hoped that it hadn't stained.
"I did." Tyler collapsed into one of the soft arm chairs, feeling exhaustion coming over him. He didn't have to sleep but he had gotten used to pretending that he had to.
"You warned him...right?" Brock could feel it too. He could feel all kinds of energy emitting from every living thing. He knew when things were right and when they were wrong. "I know that Evan should have felt it too but he's so wrapped up in his own melancholy that he must have ignored it unless you told him."
"I did." Tyler repeated, his eyes drifting shut.
"Weren't you supposed to meet Athena this morning?" Tyler's eyes shot open, a curse escaping his lips. He pushed himself up, pulling his suit jacket off the back of the couch.
"You have to remind me about these things, Brock!" He snapped, pulling his jacket on. "Do I smell drunk?"
"I'm not smelling you." Brock snapped, waving Tyler away. He rolled his eyes and headed downstairs into the now quiet and empty club. He pushed open the door and stepped out onto the bright, sunny street.
There was a strange energy that ran through the streets and wrapped around every building. It put Tyler on edge. He hadn't felt like this since the Roman Gods came into power and the Greeks had wanted to declare war. He reassured himself that Athena would know what to do. She always did.
He made his way downtown, getting a chill in the dark shadows created by the towering buildings. He turned onto a quieter street, hurrying towards the cafe that he always met the Goddess at. She 'worked' in the busy buildings that were home to massive corporations and she listened. She heard about everything. Nothing happened in L.A. without Athena hearing about it.
He cursed Brock again for not getting him from the roof. He could blame Evan for making him stay up so late but he owed his friend. The war sometimes needed the dark and if Evan got just a taste of the day, then he was happy to help. It was Evan's weakness and Tyler had a feeling that it would get him in trouble one day.
The cafe smelled of strong coffee and freshly baked pastries. With it's rustic decor, it reminded Tyler of the cafes where revolution was born. Sitting by the window, her blonde hair pulled back in a stiff bun, her red nails tapping against a black mug, Athena glared at Tyler as he entered the cafe.
"You're late." She commented, taking a sip from her coffee.
"Not my fault."
"Was it Nyx again? I thought I heard fireworks. Such a romantic he is. Bit of a shame though. All that primordial power, going to waste." Athena sighed, disappointment heavy in her tone.
"I didn't think that we were meeting to gossip about Evan this time." Tyler tapped his finger impatiently on the wood table, watching the cars pass by on the busy street outside.
"No...But you need to watch him. He could be very easily played. There is talk among the Gods of taking the world back." She leaned forward, glancing around the cafe to make sure that no one was listening. There wouldn't be for they were the only deities there but they were still cautious. Some Gods had human pets.
"The Gods have been talking about that since humans were created, Athena." Tyler scoffed.
"Here's your muffin, Kelly!" A smiling waitress set the plate down in front of the Goddess. She left the two Gods who watched her as she walked away.
"Kelly is such a cute name. I can never get over that." Tyler laughed. She had chosen the name in the fifties. Tyler didn't know why, only that one day she started demanding that around humans, he was to use that name.
"You've felt it, haven't you Tyler? There is a feeling for war in the air, isn't there?" She pulled a piece off her muffin and bit into it, her intense gaze on Ares.
"There always is...but it has been amplified. I thought maybe the rising amount of human aggression was having an affect on the Gods...Or does it have to do with the new Gods in town?"
"They are Celtic. They have apparently inspired a bit of a rebellion. We've gotten used to normal life in hiding from the humans. We pretend to be human. They don't want to pretend anymore. They are reaching out to other Gods in an attempt to get them on their side. They have threatened to kill if they don't." Kelly explained, pulling another piece off her muffin. Tyler laughed.
"It's impossible to kill a God!" He was met with her dark gaze. "Isn't it…?"
"It is possible. Incredibly hard but possible. They claim to have the weapons to do it. They got in touch with Ehecatl...I don't know if he is on our side but you should go talk to him. Ask him what he knows about these Celtic Gods and their plan."
"The Aztec God of Wind? Where would I even find him?" Tyler cried. He had never talked to the God before and had heard little about him. Some had said that he reminded them of a young boy. It seemed like the only thing that people would say about him.
"I think you'll find him on the pier. We need all the information we can get before we decide on going to war." Kelly said softly, glancing out the window. "You must protect Evan, Tyler. If they get their disgusting hands on a Primordial god, we are done for. They will destroy this world."
"Evan can take care of himself." Tyler pushed his chair back, getting up to leave. The cafe suddenly went silent, a ripple of powerful energy surging through the room. Athena's hand curled suddenly around his wrist, her nails leaving scratches.
"Protect him, Ares." She snarled. Silence hung heavy over the cafe. Tyler finally nodded and life came back into the restaurant. She let go of his hand and sat back in his chair, dismissing him. Tyler left the cafe in a hurry. Athena was not someone to be messed with. He would make sure to keep his promise.
He headed back to the club, finding Evan's black car parked out front. He had to bring it back to the beach for him anyways. Using the spare key he kept in his jacket, he got in and started the car. He smiled at Evan's choice of music, M83's Midnight City playing through the speakers as he sped down the street, heading towards the highway.
He kept thinking about Athena's warning. He often wondered if she could see into the future and if in this case, he had to stop something horrible from happening. Her warnings had proved right in the past and when listened to, catastrophe was avoided. He couldn't jump to assumptions so he pushed the thoughts from his mind, watching the traffic around him as he got onto the highway.
He wondered what the Aztec God would be like. He had only met the Moon Goddess, Coyolxauhqui, that liked to go by the name 'Berenice. She was the kindest person that Tyler had ever met. Maybe this boy-like Ehecatl would be like her.
It didn't take long to get to the pier. The bright sunlight sparkled on the waves that crashed onto the sandy beach. He had taken a picture once of the beach like this for Evan who had smiled the rest of the night after he saw it but Tyler had a feeling it just made Evan sadder.
Once he parked the car, he headed up to the pier, having to pull his suit jacket off and loosen his tie due to heat. He strolled around the pier, not sure who he was looking for. He was sure that he would feel the strong energy of the God when he got near. All he could do till then was wait.
Leaning against the railing, he watched the mortal humans go by, amazed by how oblivious they were to the strong energy of unrest that filled the city. He didn't like the idea of Gods getting aggressive with each other but he loved aggressive humans. The more aggressive humans got, the more aggressive Tyler got. He would be itching to hit, itching to fire a gun and to taste blood on his lips. War came as natural to these mortals who couldn't decide what was right or wrong and Tyler feed off it like a starved man at a royal feast.
A sudden gust of wind caught the flags and banners, pulling at them as if to set them free from their hooks and let them fly over the sea. Hats flew off unsuspecting tourist's heads and they scrambled to get them. Tyler could feel the sudden burst of energy, the wind pulling at his tie as he turned.
"Popcorn?" A young man stood in front of him, dressed in a red jacket and shorts. He held a bag of popcorn in one hand, the other stuffing a handful of popcorn into his mouth. The sides of his head had been shaved, leaving long black hair on top that had been pulled back into a sleek bun. He smiled at Tyler and held the bag out towards him. Maybe it was his short height or maybe it was the pitch of his voice but Tyler could see why people thought that he was a boy.
"No thanks."
"Have some fun, old man."
"I'm not here for fun, Ehecatl." Tyler crossed his arms, watching the younger God intently. He had been created long after Tyler had been replaced and he couldn't help but feel a little bit bitter about it.
"Please...Call me Lui." The Wind God insisted. There was a large black owl feather tucked into his collar like a souvenir.
"You can call me Tyler...I'm sure you know who I actually am." Tyler said calmly, trying to make sure that this young God knew who had more power. Lui glanced at him with a smirk and nodded. "I heard that these Celtic Gods are trying to raise the Underworld spoke to you...What did they want?"
"They aren't trying to raise the Underworld...They just want to take this world back. They believe that this world rightfully belongs to us Gods. Not these humans. It doesn't matter what civilization we come from...It belongs to us." Lui explained. "They want to unit the Gods. I don't see anything wrong with that. I mean...You Greek Gods still hate the Romans. Why not fix it?"
"They are threatening to kill those who don't agree with them. How is that fixing it?" Tyler demanded, narrowing his eyes. Lui simply shrugged.
"They are useless Gods if they don't see how this is the right thing to do."
"So you agree with them?" Tyler stepped away from the railing, his hands curling into fists. He hadn't been prepared for this. He had thought that Ehecatl had remained neutral but it was clear now that he wasn't.
"Wouldn't you?" The question caught Tyler off guard. He had had his fair share of owning a world and feeling the almighty power that came with it. He couldn't answer the young God. "Every God does...deep down you want it. I know you weren't one of the firsts but I know you know one. I bet they want it even more. They've seen the world from the start. They had the world in their hands once and now they can have it back. They want it back. I want that. All of us want it. Come on, Ares."
"You're young and foolish. You don't know what you are talking about." Tyler started to walk away from him. A sudden strong wind stopped Tyler. It knocked over signs and blew away the small little things that people hadn't thought to hold on to.
"Yes I do. I might not be as old as you but I've seen it all. I've seen what humans do to each other and I've seen what the Gods do to each other! We could stop all the pain. No more conflicts." Lui cried, dropping the popcorn bag. It spilled across the wooden pier and crunched under the God's red converse.
"You're talking to the wrong person. I'm all about war, baby." Tyler laughed as he spun back around. "Us oldies ain't going to give up the lives we've established for uniting with you. That has never happened and it never will. Give up your stupid dream before it crushes you." Tyler had had enough of this. He started to walk away again, intent on ignoring Lui.
"We can give you what you always wanted!" The words floated through the air like a black feather. They didn't work on Tyler but he knew who they would work on. "If you don't listen, we can find someone else who will!"
Ignoring the side of him that wanted to keep walking, he turned back around, storming back to Lui. The humans near by either shrunk away or suddenly got aggressive, yelling at whoever was closest. Anger washed over the pier like a tsunami, unforgiving and merciless.
"You stay away from me and you stay away from Nyx." Tyler plucked the black feather from Lui's collar and smiled. The young God tried to get away from the War God but found himself unable to move. "Or you will find yourself in a war that you cannot win." With that, Tyler walked away as a fight broke out on the pier. He watched it for a moment, two police officers pushing past him to break it up. He made his way back to the car as calmly as he could, pulling open the door and slumping inside as he slammed the door behind him. "Fuck!" He hit the wheel, anger spilling from him like tears. "Fuck! Fuck!" He shouldn't have told that God Evan's name. He shouldn't have given him the idea to go near him. They obviously wanted the conflict. A threat would only encourage them more. They weren't afraid to kill. He should have kept walking. He knew he had to stop that God before he got to Evan and he was losing daylight.
He started the car and sped out of the parking lot, the tyres screeching on the pavement. He severed through traffic, trying to keep calm. He should have kept walking. Why didn't he keep walking? Why did he turn around and say that? He knew Athena would be furious with him once she found out what he had done. And to use his power in a public place too? He hit the wheel again and stepped on the gas, ignoring the angry sound of horns from the cars he passed.
The club was quiet when he parked in front of it. The sun had reached it's highest point and was starting to begin its descent towards the horizon. Tyler ran inside, and up the stairs where Brock was fast asleep on the couch where he had left him. "Get up! Get the fuck up!" Tyler yelled. Brock's eyes snapped open as he sat up, fighting back a yawn.
"What? What's going on?" He let out a yawn, watching Tyler pace the room. He stopped by the window, looking out onto the quiet street with worry.
"I need to find Nemesis. Where is he?"
"Jonathan? What's going on, Tyler?" Brock cried as he got to his feet.
"I fucked up and these fucking Celtic Gods and their friends are to go after Evan tonight. I need to stop them before the sun sets and it's too fucking late!" Tyler couldn't breathe. He couldn't think about anything but wanting to crush the Wind God's skull in like the popcorn that had been crushed underfoot when it spilled. He could only think about blood and the need to hit something.
"Slow down! Breathe, Tyler." Brock grabbed Tyler's hand tightly, a gentle calming energy flowing through the room. "Tell me what happened...slowly."
"Athena...she sent me to go talk to this Aztec God, Ehecatl...There are Gods that want to take back the world...Make it for the Gods again. And it turns out that he is on their side. He didn't know Evan's name and I told it to him...And now he is going to go find him and he and those Gods could trick Evan into joining them...they could brainwash him. I have to get rid of Ehecatl before he gets to Evan...before the other Gods get to him." Tyler explained taking a deep breath between the words.
"You don't even know who those other Gods are? How do you plan on stopping them?" Brock let go of Tyler's hand, walking towards the small bar and poured a strong drink that he offered to Tyler who took it gratefully.
"I won't have to. Killing Ehecatl should be enough to scare them off this stupid idea."
"What if it isn't?" Brock said quietly. Tyler ignored him.
"Have you seen Nemesis around?"
"Last I heard…He has an apartment a few blocks from here. He should help you...He's obsessed with Evan apparently." Brock was always full of gossip about the other Gods. He wrote down the address on a napkin and handed it to Tyler. "You had better hope your plan works." Tyler didn't respond as he finished his drink, setting the empty glass down harshly on the table where it rocked back and forth, threatening to fall and shatter before settling on the table. "Don't go anywhere. We can't lose you to them." He warned as he left the lounge, heading downstairs into the club. Outside, the late afternoon sun hung heavy in the sky, the Californian heat becoming unbearable.
As he walked, glancing up at the low sun, Tyler cursed the day. The night seemed to last forever but the day was never long enough. Tyler's thoughts went back to Evan and the threat that faced him. He didn't know if these Gods would try to get Evan on their side and brainwash him like they had with Lui or if they would kill him in an attempt to prove that they are a force in this world. Either way, he didn't want to know what they had planned; he just wanted them gone.
He found the apartment building, a faint neon people glow coming from it's sign. He pressed the buzzer, fanning himself with the small napkin as he waited.
"What?" Jonathan sounded annoyed. Tyler supposed that he wasn't one for guests.
"We need to talk."
"Why?"
"It's about Evan." There was silence before the door unlocked and Jonathan told Tyler to come up. He smiled, pulling open the door and stepped into the building, thankful to be out of the heat. He found Jonathan's apartment on the third floor, knocking politely on the door that swung open almost immediately.
"What's wrong with Evan?" Nemesis demanded, not moving from the door to let Tyler in.
"I made a mistake and I need your help to fix it before Nyx and Athena find out. Can you let me in? I'm not talking out here." Tyler pushed past Jonathan, stepping into the dark apartment. A fan was running, the windows covered with dark blinds to block out the heat and the light. There were old take out boxes on the kitchen counter and weapons on the table. Jonathan looked tired, his hair as messy as the bedsheets on the small bed in corner of the apartment.
"You want me to help you because you fucked up? I don't do that kind of work, Ares." Jonathan sighed.
"I'm sure you must have felt the energy in the city. It's heavy and it doesn't bode well. There are these Gods...Celtic ones from across the Pacific. They are in the city and they are going to all the Gods around here wanting to get them on their side. They want to take back the world for the Gods. They'll kill for it. They've threatened to do it. I met one of them...His name is Ehecatl. Aztec. He goes by the name of Lui. He's going to go after Evan once night falls. I don't know if he's going to have him killed or if they are going to force him to join them. I know they will use his weakness against him. We'll lose him if he joins them!" Tyler cried, desperate to convince Jonathan who listened with a curious expression on his face.
"Is there really something wrong with the world belonging to the Gods again?" Jonathan wondered. Tyler tensed, fearing that they had gotten to Jonathan too. "Not that I agree. I quite like the life I have now. I wouldn't want to change that." Tyler breathed a sigh of relief. "So you want me to deal with this Ehecatl before he gets to Evan tonight? Shouldn't be a problem. Where can I find him?"
"Last I saw him was at the Pier. I don't know where he could have gone from there."
"I don't have much time, Ares. I need to know or this will take much longer." Jonathan snapped, the use of Tyler's real name putting him on edge.
"Just try the pier! You need to kill him, Jonathan! For Evan." Jonathan stared at Tyler who realised that he probably shouldn't have said the last part. He felt like Jonathan knew about the promise Tyler made to Athena and how he had failed within the day to keep it. He looked away, not wanting him to see the guilt on his face.
"Why don't you deal him yourself? I mean...this was your mistake." Jonathan said as he walked towards the table, choosing which weapon he would need.
"I don't fight anymore. You know that." Tyler remembered the last war and shook his head. He was done with it.
"If it feels like a war is coming...then you'll have to. There won't be a choice, Ares." Jonathan filled his backpack with what he would need, turning back to look at Tyler who stayed close to the door. "I won't do this again. Next mistake you make is yours to clean up." Jonathan pushed past him into the hallway. When Tyler didn't move, he narrowed his eyes. "You aren't fuckin staying here." Tyler stepped awkwardly into the hallway as Jonathan locked the door and they headed towards the stairs.
"Thank you." Tyler said quietly.
"I'm not doing this for you. You don't deserve this kind of help. I'm doing this for Evan." Jonathan pushed open the door to the stairs, not holding it for Tyler who stumbled back when the heavy door swung towards him. "He only sees what goes on at night and not much happens then. It isn't fair. He'll never know about the dangers of the day and how they are trying to hurt him until it's too late. It isn't fair that you did this to him." Jonathan reached the bottom of the stairs, turning suddenly to look at Tyler.
"I didn't know this would happen! Don't blame me, Nemesis." Tyler watched as Jonathan pulled his mask over his face and headed towards the front doors. Tyler had no choice but follow him outside in the late, hot afternoon. A sudden police car sped down the street, sirens wailing. A strong energy drifted down the street. It was angry and full of pain. Jonathan had started walking in the opposite direction but stopped when he saw that Tyler wasn't moving.
"What is it?"
"Do you feel that?" Tyler whispered. He knew that Jonathan couldn't. Most Gods couldn't feel the energy that he could feel. He could feel when conflict, when war, was coming. This feeling terrified him.
"No...What is it?"
"Something terrible has happened." Tyler followed the police car, forcing Jonathan to run to keep up with him. They followed the car for a few blocks, watching it turn onto a quiet street and come to a stop where people had gathered behind yellow police tape.
"Who is he?"
"This looks ritualistic!"
The worried voices echoed in Tyler's ears as he pushed his way through the small crowd to the tape. Jonathan had pushed his mask up, hiding it in his hoodie as he followed Tyler. The street seemed eerily silent. The War God's eyes lowered to the bloody body on the street and took in the symbols drawn in blood on the brick walls.
"Fuck…" Jonathan breathed, his hand curling around the police tape as if he meant to tear it apart. It was Hypnos, the God of Sleep whose throat had been slit brutally. Tyler had liked the sleepy God who went by the name 'Cody'. A disturbing chill lingered on the street despite the hot afternoon. "They kept their word. They said they would kill." Jonathan looked around the small crowd nervously. The God that did this could still be around.
"Come on...Let's get outta here." Tyler felt tense. The world was on the brink of war. He knew the feeling well. Not only would this anger the Gods who didn't believe in taking back the world, but it would also anger the Greeks would see this as an opportunity to attack the Romans. One of their own is dead and the idea of talking this out would not be on anyone's mind.
The sun continued it's path towards the horizon as the sky began to darken, bringing with the promise of a troubled night.