Chapter 3 Prometheus
"Dad!" Crispin and Blaze both said. Prometheus smiled at his two children. "It's good to see you
both." Prometheus told them. "Crispin, I'm relieved to see you made it here safely. How was the
flight with Mercury?" He asked as he sat down on the couch. Crispin grinned. "Blurry." Prometheus
chuckled. "You know you're supposed to keep your eyes closed." Crispin walked over to the couch
and sat down next to his dad. "Yeah I know but I couldn't resist taking a peak." he told his dad.
Prometheus smiled replying, "I agree its mesmerizing." Prometheus looked over at Blaze. "How
have you been sweetheart?" He asked her. "Pretty good." She said. "And how is school going?" He
asked. "Boring as usual." Replied Blaze. Prometheus smiled.
"Dad." Crispin spoke up. "What's going on? First mom disappears, then Mercury shows up
saying all kinds of crazy things." Prometheus looked sadly at his son. "We're not certain. All we
know is that mortals seem to be vanishing. There is a prophecy." Crispin took the scroll out of his
bag. "Mercury gave this to me. He said it was only half of it though, and that the other half had
been destroyed." Crispin told him. Prometheus nodded as he replied. "Yes, and the only one who
knows it as disappeared as well." "A mortal?" Blaze asked her face scrunched up in thought.
Prometheus shook his head. "No a Demi-God actually. Which means he was deliberately taken."
"Who is it?" Blaze asked. "He goes by the name Zero. He's a son of Helios." Prometheus told them.
"Helios? You mean as in the sun god?" Asked Crispin. Raising an eyebrow in confusion, Blaze
asked, "Wait I thought Apollo was the sun god?" Prometheus shook his head. "No Apollo is the
driver of the sun chariot. Helios is the actual god of the sun." He explained. "And now his kid's gone missing. Any ideas why?" Crispin asked. Looking worried Prometheus replied, "We don't know all
the details. What we do know is he is needed to help fix what is happening here." Blaze looked at
her dad. "Any ideas on how we find him?" She asked. Prometheus shook his head. "Unfortunately
no. I do however know who you need to find to help you." He told them.
"Bacchus owns a winery out in North Carolina. A town indecently called Bacchus." Snorting
Crispin replied, "He's in a town named after himself, why?" "Hiding or rather hiding someone,"
Prometheus tells them. "Who?" asked Blaze. Wagging a finger Prometheus replies, "Sorry afraid I
can't tell you that. I've been sworn to secrecy. River Styx and all that. I've said as much as I can.
You'll have to find him yourselves to find out the rest." Blaze and Crispin shared a look. "When do
we leave?" Blaze asked. Sighing Prometheus replied "As soon as possible would be best. I suggest
getting some rest tonight and leaving at first light." Blaze and Crispin both nodded. Then Crispin
thought of something. "Uh dad, how are we supposed to get to North Carolina? Not to mention
where ever else we end up getting sent to?" He asked. Prometheus smiled. "Don't worry about it
son, I've got it covered. Now you two, off to bed."
"Mom said she put clean sheets on for you in the guest room." Blaze told Crispin, showing him
the small room next to her own. "Sorry it's not much." "No this is just fine, thank you." Crispin
replied. Blaze looked at her brother for a moment. "Don't worry we'll get them back. You're mom
included." She told him. Crispin nods his head. "I hope so. Goodnight Blaze." He tells her.
"Goodnight brother" She replies as she softly closes the door behind her.
Both Blaze and Crispin were awoken early the next morning by a rather bright light, as though
the sun were rising in their very rooms. No sooner had it started though the light quickly dimmed
and they were left with the normal morning light streaming into the windows. Crispin dressed
quickly and went into the kitchen. Blaze was already there eating breakfast with her mom.
"Good morning Crispin." Marie said. "You're father stepped out for a moment to speak with someone. He should be back in just a moment." "Did he say who he was talking with?" Crispin asked. Marie nodded and took a sip of her coffee. "Yes Apollo. Though he didn't say exactly what about. Coffee's still warm and there's bacon and eggs on the stove." She told him. Crispin nodded and proceeded to make himself a plate and a cup of coffee. "Thank you." He told Marie as he sat down to eat.
They continued to eat in silence. Occasionally getting up to refill a coffee cup or pour more juice. Blaze sighed, "I wonder what's taking so long." Marie patted her daughter's hand. "I'm sure he's fine." She said. After several more minutes they heard the front door open and close, then footfalls coming down the short hallway before Prometheus appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.
"What did he say?" Marie asked. Prometheus went over and poured a cup of coffee then sat down. "He says getting one won't be a problem." Prometheus told her. Marie nodded. "That's good. What about the other issue we discussed?" She asked. Crispin and Blaze looked at each other in confusion. The question clear on their minds, 'Other issue?' Prometheus took a sip of his coffee before replying, "I told him you said you could take a couple of them in. He'll bring them when he returns shortly."
Still looking baffled Blaze asked "Returning with what?" Prometheus looked at his daughter. "Not what, who. Well more like two whose and a what." He told her. Blaze quirked an eyebrow and looked at Crispin. He shrugged his shoulders and then looked at their father. "Uh, unless this is some kind of Dr. Seuss thing we're still confused." Prometheus turned to Marie. "Dr. Seuss?" He asked. Marie grinned. "You know dear 'The Cat In The Hat' 'Red Fish Blue Fish' 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas'' Prometheus smiled, "Ah yes The Whos from Whoville. Amusing fellow if somewhat confusing. Child of Hermes that one is." Prometheus drained the rest of his coffee. "Any how it's not a Dr. Seuss thing. You'll need a reliable way to get around. Apollo has agreed to procure you a vehicle to use." Prometheus told them. Nodding his head Crispin replies. "Okay that explains the what, but what about the who's?" Marie sighed, "That's a little more complicated."
"As you are aware humans have disappeared leaving only gods and Demi-gods." Said Prometheus. "Uh yeah that's pretty much the whole reason for this little trip." Replied Blaze. "Yes but what you may not have considered is that not all the Demi-gods that have been left are old enough to care for themselves or even have anyone left to care for them." Prometheus told them. Blazes eyes widened in surprise. "You mean like babies?" She asked. Marie nodded, replying. "Exactly, babies, toddlers, etc. Pretty much any who would be too young to care for or defend themselves." "So what will happen to them?" Crispin asked. "Well that's part of what I was discussing with Apollo. He and Hermes have been working on locating the children and finding safe houses for them to stay in until this can be fixed. Marie has offered to take in a couple of them." Prometheus told them. Looking worried Blaze asked, "Will they be able to find them all?" Her father nodded "Hermes and Apollo have yet to fail in a mission. If need be they will contact other Pantheons for assistance. I have complete faith in them." He replied as he stood up from the table. "Speaking of Apollo he should be returning soon." A few seconds later they heard a car door shut and a moment later a knock on the door.
"There he is." Said Prometheus heading to go let his fellow god in. He opened the door to find Apollo standing there carrying several bags. Next to him was a small boy about four or five years of age holding a small girl no more than six months old. "Apollo did you really make him carry the baby?" Prometheus asked him. Rolling his eyes Apollo stepped inside the boy following him. "What do you mean make him? He refuses to put her down. Ever since I found them he's had a hold of her." Replied Apollo. Showing them into the living room, Prometheus asked, "Where did you find them at?" Apollo set the bags down then picked the kids up and sat them down on the love seat and replied. "Oh about thirty-five thousand feet in the air." There was a gasp from the doorway.
The two gods turned to see Marie, Blaze and Crispin standing there. "Did you say thirty-five thousand feet in the air?" Blaze asked in surprise. Apollo smiled replying "Yup or rather the plane they were in at the time was." The others still looked confused so he explained. "I was flying my sun car when I noticed a plane below me start to nosedive suddenly. Thinking something had happened to the pilot I scanned the plane. Imagine my shock when the only ones I sensed were these two. I popped over and grabbed them out before the plane went down." Marie went over to where the two small children sat. Both sat quietly the boy watching them intently while the girl slept in his arms. Marie sat down next to them. "Hello, are you hungry?" She asked the boy. "This is my son Anatoli. He only speaks Russian so he may have trouble understanding English." Apollo told her. Marie smiled, "I'm sure we'll figure it out, and what is this little beauty's name?" She asked. Apollo smiled, "This is Merci." Prometheus smirked. "Daughter of Hermes or Mercury?" He asked. Crispin looked at his dad. "How'd you guess that?" He asked. His dad laughed and replied, "Let's just say I remember someone else who refused to put a certain baby down." He said grinning at Apollo. The younger god snorted as he replied, "That's because the little heathen hid my Sacred Cattle. Had I put him down he'd of run off and I'd of never caught him again and that was before the shoes and cap." Apollo laughed. "As to your question Merci here is the daughter of Mercury. He would of brought her himself but he's currently searching for any other demi-gods that may be in need of help. He did say he would come by as soon as he was able." Marie smiled as she replied, "I'm sure we'll be just fine. Tell him not to worry these two will be safe here." Apollo nodded, "Thank you." he told her.
Once they had Anatoli and Merci settled, Prometheus turned to Apollo. "Were you able to secure transportation for the children?" Arching an eyebrow Apollo replied, "Of course. Did you doubt I would be able to?" Smiling Prometheus replied, "Never." Apollo laughed. "Come on I'll show you the car and we can get them set. They'll need to be heading out soon if they are to make it there in time." They followed Apollo outside. Crispin's eyes widened when he saw the silver four door car the god had procured for their journey. "Is that an Aston Martin?" he asked. Apollo grinned "Oh yeah. Fastest four door car around. It belongs to a friend so take care of it." Crispin nodded, "Definitely." he replied. Apollo reached into his pocket and pulled a wallet out. Handing it to Crispin he said, "Take this. It has a several credit cards and extra cash just in case. It also contains ID for you both." Prometheus looked at his children. "Are you both ready? Do you have everything you need?" Blaze looked at her brother who nodded. "I think we have everything." Crispin replied. Apollo opened the driver's side door. He climbed into the seat and proceeded to type coordinates into the GPS system. Climbing back out the god handed a set of keys to Crispin. "The tanks full and I had Hephaestus look her over before I left. Everything's good to go. I put the coordinates to your destination into the GPS so you shouldn't have any trouble finding it." Apollo told them. "Once you get there go to the gardens and wait for Bacchus there." the god told them. "How will we recognize him?" Asked Blaze. Apollo smiled, "He knows you're coming, he'll find you." Suddenly music began to play 'There's a thief in the temple tonight' Pulling out a cellphone Apollo read a text. Typing a quick response he then pocketed the phone again. "I hate to run off like this but Hermes found some more kids and needs my help." The god told them. "Go help Hermes and thank you again." Prometheus told him. "No problem. Call me if you need anything." Apollo replied before he was gone in a flash of light.
Marie handed a cooler bag to Blaze. "I packed you both some snacks for the trip. The less stops you have to make the safer you'll be" Marie told them. Blaze smiled, "Thanks mom." Prometheus opened the trunk and pointed to a large bag. "What's in there?" Crispin asked. Prometheus smiled. "Swords, daggers and various other weapons that may help you if you meet up with any trouble. There's also bags and bottles of Ambrosia and Nectar should you need it." He told his children. He opened a small zipper on the side of the bag. Pulling out a cellphone he handed it to Blaze. "Use this only in emergencies. The numbers you can call are already programed in." He told them. Crispin and Blaze both nodded. "Well I guess that's everything. You're bags are already loaded into the car. Once you meet up with Bacchus he'll inform you where you'll be going to next." Prometheus told them. "You two be careful." Marie told them, giving them both a hug. "We will." they both told her.
With that Crispin got into the driver's seat while Blaze climbed into the passenger's seat next to him. Crispin looked over at his sister. "Ready?" He asked. Blaze smiled "Ready as I'll ever be." She told him. Crispin started the ignition and put the car in gear. "Alright then, let's do this." He replied and they were off.