"So you can't recall when his delusion first manifested itself?" asked Dr. Leland gently. "It's very important, Miss Droukas."
Clio Droukas sat with her head in her hands in Dr. Leland's office. "No…I'm sorry, I can't," she murmured. "He was always interested in Greek mythology, art, that kinda thing. And then that interest turned into an obsession, and then he turned into…this. At first he would just slip up from time to time, occasionally talk funny and refer to himself in third person as Zeus, but he'd always recover, y'know. I thought it was a joke or a game at first. But then he…stopped recovering. I don't remember when…"
She paused. "Yes, I do," she murmured. "We were at a costume party, and he went as Zeus. He was really into his character, and everyone was really impressed. On the walk home, we got caught in a thunderstorm. I ran under the trees to get out of the rain, but Maxie just stood there, in the middle of the storm, soaking wet, and declaiming some kinda speech about the power of mighty Zeus. I took him home but he kept raving. And he never stopped raving after that."
Dr. Leland nodded. "I'm just wondering what would happen if we created conditions similar to the one in which his madness took hold. Sometimes that can jolt the patient back into reality – like a kinda déjà vu, only the repetition of the experience puts them back on the right track, instead of the wrong one."
"I'm willing to try anything at this point, Dr. Leland," murmured Clio. "I just want Maxie back."
She wiped her eyes. "He…he doesn't recognize me. After all we've been through together, after all we've shared and…there's just emptiness in his eyes when he looks at me."
Dr. Leland patted her gently on the back. "Maybe this time will be different," she murmured. "Are you ready?"
Clio nodded. Dr. Leland pressed the buzzer on her desk. "Can you please bring in Mr. Zeus?"
The guards entered a moment later, escorting Maxie Zeus, dressed in his usual toga. "Why have you summoned me, daughter?" he asked. "I am occupied in planning how best to possess the most beauteous Aphrodite. Tell me not that thou still bears her jealousy for noble Paris judging her more fair than thee by choosing her gift of love over your gift of wisdom?"
"Erm…no," replied Dr. Leland. "I just wanted to let you know that you have a visitor."
She gestured at Clio, who was gazing at Zeus with tears in her eyes. "Maxie?" she whispered, gently. "Remember me?"
Zeus looked at her in confusion. "Of course, worthy Clio, muse of history and proclaimer of stories. What brings thee to Olympus?"
"I…wanted to see you," she said, slowly. "How are you feeling, Maxie?"
He waved his hand. "The king of the gods cannot be bothered with such trivialites as feelings. He has more important matters to deal with. If thou hast nothing more relevant to say, I would ask to be returned to my chambers so that I may further my plans."
"Maxie, please," whispered Clio. "Come back to me. I know you're still inside there somewhere. I don't know why you've retreated into this mad shell, but whatever the reason, I can help you. We can beat this thing together, if you'll just talk to me and trust me, like you used to," she whispered, laying a hand on his.
He snatched it away. "Impudent wretch! How dare a lesser being such as you even think of touching a god?! Dost thou not know I could rain down thunder and lightning upon your head for such insolence?!"
"Maxie, please," she repeated, as her tears rolled down her cheeks. "Please stop this. Please come back."
He raised his hand. "I am done with thee, lesser being. I am at last returned among my brethren where I belong. Here among the gods at Olympus, I will dwell forever, surrounded by my fellow deities. I shall claim beautiful Aphrodite for my own, and we will be happy and carefree, living out our immortal days in paradise eternal. I need have nothing more to do with the realm of mortals, nor any who dwell within it. I bid thee farewell."
Dr. Leland nodded and the guards escorted him from the room. Clio broke down in tears after he left, and Dr. Leland hugged her, trying to comfort her. Her secretary brought a cup of coffee, which Clio drank reluctantly. "I don't know what he means," she whispered at last.
"Neither do I," replied Dr. Leland. "I've been researching Greek mythology, but I'm no expert. He seems to have identified me in his mind with Athena, goddess of wisdom, which is flattering if nothing else."
"And who's this Aphrodite he was talking about?" she murmured.
"She was the goddess of love. Probably just a person he's invented in his head," said Dr. Leland. "It's not unusual for the insane to create imaginary people as a form of coping mechanism. And if Maxie truly does believe this is Olympus, it's only appropriate that his mind would invent gods to keep him company here."
"I'll do anything, Dr. Leland," whispered Clio. "If there is some chance of bringing him back to the way he was, I give it my full consent."
Dr. Leland nodded again, standing up and looking out the window. "Then we need to wait for a storm," she said.
One was about to come sooner than she thought.
