Chapter 1: The Messenger
"Hurry Crispin breakfast is ready" Maria called. "Right here mom" a young teenager boy replied. "Mmm smells great." Crispin said as he took his seat across from his mom. Maria smiled at her son. "I figured I would take a break from sculpting and make them for us." She told him. Crispin smiled. "Thanks mom, you're the best." He said as he took a big bite.
"Have you spoken to your dad lately?" Maria asked. Crispin nodded as he replied. "I spoke to him on the phone a few days ago." "That's nice. How's he doing?" Asked Maria. Swallowing the bite he'd just taken, Crispin replied. "He's good. he was in the states, Florida I think. He said he was going to visit soon." Maria smiled, "That would be nice, it's been awhile since he was able to visit."
"These are really great." Crispin complimented as he took another bite of his waffles. "There's plenty more if you'd like." Maria told him. "Yes please!" He replied, eagerly grabbing two more waffles off the in front of him. "He mom can you pass the syrup please?" Asked Crispin, holding out his hand. "Mom" He repeated when she didn't respond. Looking up he was startled to find his mom's seat was empty. Thinking perhaps she'd gone into the kitchen for more coffee, Crispin got up to go check. "Hey mom can you grab me a..." he stopped seeing she wasn't in there. "Where'd she go to?" he wondered out loud.
Walking to his mom's room he knocked on the door. "Hey mom you in there?" He called out.
Receiving no answer he glanced down the hallway towards the bathroom. The door was open and the light were out. His mom wasn't in there either. Beginning to worry, he figured he'd go check out in her Art studio, hoping she'd simply wandered back out there to work on her newest project. He headed out the patio door and walked over to a small building. Opening the door he stepped inside. As soon as he entered the room he quickly saw she wasn't there. However, next to her most recent creation, (A statue of what appeared to be Apollo as a child holding a baby Mercury in his arms) there stood a man around twenty or so.
"Mercury?" Crispin asked, surprised to see the god there. Mercury who'd been admiring the statue Turned to face Crispin. "You won't find her here." He said. "What? what do you mean? where's my mom!?" Crispin demanded. The young god looking at him sadly. "I do not know where she is, only that she is not here." Mercury replied. Looking confused Crispin asked "What do you mean? Did someone take her? Did something happen to my mom?" Mercury walked toward the door. "Follow me." He told Crispin. "We have much to discuss."
Walking back into the house, Mercury led them into the living room. Taking a seat upon the chair, he motivated for Crispin towards the love seat next to him. Taking a seat, Crispin asked "Okay so what's happened to my mom?" Looking worried, Mercury replied, "It's not just your mom." "What do you mean? What's going on?" Crispin asked anxiously. Leaning back in the chair the Messenger god replied, "It appears that humans all over the world have been vanishing." Crispin was wide-eyed as he nervously asked, "Everyone, all humans?" Shaking his head Mercury replied, "Demi-Gods do not seem to be effected." Crispin thought for a moment then asked. "Then why my mom taken? She's the granddaughter of Minerva. Wouldn't that mean she has godly blood? Mercury looked at him and Crispin could see the sadness in his eyes. "Yes, technically your mom does have godly blood. Unfortunately luminaries such as your mom, have been vanishing as well. We think it's due to their bloodlines having been weakened."
Crispin stood up and starte pacing around the room. "Why is this happening?" He asked. "The other gods and I are uncertain as to why this has happened. Jupiter has all of us Roman and Greek both searching for answers. So far it remains a mystery." The Messenger god told him, a tone of worry and urgency in his voice. "This sounds really bad." Crispin said, once more Taking a seat. Mercury nodded. "I'm afraid it is." He told Crispin. "However there is hope." Snapping his fingers a slightly burnt scroll appeared in his hands "Read this" He said handing Crispin the scroll. Carefully unrolling it he began to read.
Mortal souls vanish near and far.
Along with the child of the brightest star.
Siblings with minds and wise,
search for the legacy of the vines..
Descendant of the wine
Gather the memories and restore the.
mind
Crispin read the scroll again to himself; absorbing the words in the his mind, He looked up at the god. "Is this... A prophecy?" Mercury nodded, "The Infinity Prophecy to be specific." he replied. Crispin glanced at the scroll again and asked "What exactly is the Infinity prophecy?" Mercury sat back in the chair; drumming his fingers on the Arm. He appeared to be considering his next words. Which for a god who probably has a thousand thoughts in the blink of an eye was rather strange. Finally he spoke. "Mind you most of what I'm relay here is only what I've been told by others. You know the story of Prometheus and how he created the first humans right?" Crispin shrugged.
"Sure everyone knows that story. He created the first humans from clay." The god nodded. "And of Course you would know the story of the flood." Raising an eyebrow Crispin replied. "You mean like noah and the boat?" Mercury snorted. "No as in Deucalion and the chest." Chewing his lower lip, Crispin thought for a moment. "Oh yeah, I remember now. The legend is that him and his wife survived in a wooden chest; and something about rocks." The god nodded. "Yes the bones of their mother." "What does all that have to do with me though?" Asked Crispin. Mercury smiled. "Like you Deucalion was Child of Prometheus. Only Children of Prometheus can create humans.We also
have another problem." Crispin glanced at the god. "It's worse?" He asked. Mercury nodded, The scroll I just showed you, well it only contains half of the prophecy and unfortunately the only one who knows the full prophecy is missing as well." Crispin sat there for a moment going over the information I his mind. "Alright where do I need to start." Grimming Mercury replied. "We start with finding your sister." Looking at the god in surprise Crispin responded.
"I didn't even know I had a sister." Mercury nodded. "You do. She's 12 and live in the Unite States. "Do you know her name?" Crispin asked the god. Raising an eyebrow the Messenger god replied, "Of course, I know everyone's name. Her name is Blaze Gordon. As Children of Prometheus you and she both have key roles in helping us fix this." Standing up Crispin turned to the god. "I'm ready when you are." he said. Mercury snapped his fingers and Crispin's bag appeared in his hand. Standing up he held out his free hand. "Alright kid grab hold and remember to keep your eyes closed." Quirking an eyebrow Crispin asked, "Why will my eyes pop out or something?" Laughing the Messenger god replied. "No but I'd rather not be puked on."
Smiling he pulled Crispin to him. next thing Crispin heard was the sound of a thousand birds talking flight at once.
Seconds later all was quietly.
Letter go Crispin stumbled and immediately threw up. "You peaked didn't you?" Mercury said smirking. Standing up Crispin replied. "Eh, maybe just a little." Looking around he saw that they had landed on the sidewalk in front of a small but rather nice cottage style house. "Where exactly are we?" he asked. "All small town in Florida know as temple terrace." Mercury replied. "This is where your sister lives" he told Crispin nodded towards the House. Crispin looked toward the cottage and asked,"What do I need to do?" "Knock on the door and tell them who you are." The god replied. Crispin looked bewildered. "Just like that. How do I explain all this?" Mercury put a hand on his shoulder and replied. "Everything you need is in the bag. Now you must hurry we,re almost at zero time." With that the god was gone. As he flew out Crispin could have sworn he'd heard the god say "I must warn Bacchus.