Triton rejoined Prometheus Academy within two days, and this time it was so much better. Almost every afternoon, the four teens met with Hermes, or Mercury as he preferred to be called in that form, and they would play games, discuss the most interesting things, and all around have a good time. Hermes had the most fascinating stories about the world, and he could entertain them for hours with his stories. And he loved to entertain them.

Every time Hermes met them at the gate, Adonis watched them. Whatever Hermes had said to him, it worked; the prince no longer bothered Hercules or his friends. But there was an intensity in his gaze, almost a longing, and Hercules wondered almost every time what great pain the prince had inside of him. Adonis had taken to listening in on their conversations or having others do it for him. And as little as the prince liked to work, that didn't mean he wasn't smart. And he cornered Hercules in the lunchroom one day, dragging him away from his friends.

"I know that man is Hermes," he said frankly.

Hercules shrugged out of his grip, glaring. "What do you care?"

Adonis licked his lips and glanced around. "I need to speak with him."

The demigod shrugged. "Go to his temple."

"Where is it?" Hercules told him. Adonis gritted his teeth. "What do I… bring him?"

"He'll take anything," Hercules replied.

"Anything? What kind of god doesn't have preferences?"

"Hermes," the demigod said simply. He paused. "Why do you need to talk to him?"

"None of your business, Jerk-ules," Adonis muttered.

That afternoon, Hermes wasn't there, so the teens went to Speedy Pita to hang out. Triton had taken a real liking to 'ground food' as he called it, and he devoured the wrap he'd ordered with great fervor. Hercules couldn't stop thinking about Adonis. He glanced around, noticing the prince wasn't there, then leaned forward.

"Want to go visit Hermes's temple?"

"Why?" Triton said, slurping down a smoothie.

Hercules explained the confrontation with Adonis and asked once again. Cassandra shook her head.

"Can't. Vic and Evelyn want to have dinner tonight."

"I have to go help Dadalus with an invention," Icarus said.

"I gotta get home, Herc," Triton said. "Mom says I have to clean my room."

Hercules sighed and nodded, but he was determined to get to Hermes's temple. So after he'd paid for their food, he went to get Pegasus and headed for the temple. When he landed, he told Pegasus to go and graze in a nearby park. Hercules didn't see any sign of a royal entourage, so he shrugged and headed into the temple. While he was there, he might as well talk to his brother. But when he went in, he froze for a moment then dove behind a column. Adonis was standing there along with Hermes, and they were talking.

"You're a smart boy, Adonis," Hermes said. "Do you think my advice is wrong?"

"Not exactly," Adonis said grimly, his tone dark. "But it's not so easy."

"I get it," Hermes said gently. "I know how hard it can be to talk to him like that. I can't do it. But you should."

'I just… I just can't. He won't listen."

Hermes clicked his tongue. "You don't know that. Things won't get better unless you do something about it. This is your chance, Adonis. Do it now or you might not get another chance." There was a long pause, then Hermes spoke softly. "At least think about it. You have some time left. You're still in high school."

Adonis sighed. "Okay. Thanks. Um, here. Jerk… Hercules said you'd take anything, so…"

Hercules peeked around the column to see Adonis handing over a sack. Hermes opened it and smiled. "Thank you. I know what this means for you. Good luck."

"You won't tell…"

"Hercules? No," Hermes said. Then he looked up and saw his brother. Anger flashed across his face, and Hercules felt his blood chill. Adonis had his eyes on the floor, and Hercules ran for it, praying that the prince wouldn't look up. As he fled the temple, he heard his brother say. "It's not his place to know about this."

He ran to Pegasus and headed for Phil's island. Hercules had never seen that expression on Hermes's face before, and it reminded him that Hermes was a god, powerful in his own right. Hercules knew he couldn't flee from Hermes, but he hoped he had some time to think. Unfortunately, Hermes didn't give him the chance. Pegasus reared and nearly threw his rider when Hermes appeared in front of him.

"Hermes," Hercules said faintly, clutching at Pegasus's neck.

"You purposefully followed him," Hermes said darkly. "You knew where he was going, and you just had to know."

"I… I just…"

"Shut up," Hermes said, his voice low and deadly. "I told you to stay out of it. I told you that it's not your place to know. You're too immature for this. What did you hear?"

"J-just the last part. About talking to… to somebody. It was only a couple of minutes." Hercules swallowed, unable to look away from those dangerous silver eyes. They appraised him. "Hermes, I didn't think he was in there."

"But."

Hercules grimaced. "I did follow him."

"Because."

"Because I wanted to know."

"To."

Hercules blinked. "To?"

Hermes frowned. "You want to have something on him to punish him, Hercules. And I told you that he's in enough pain. You are not to repeat anything you heard to anybody. You aren't allowed to ask me about it. Are we clear?"

The demigod's face was burning with shame. "Yes."

The god looked him over then relaxed. "Alright. Now let's get you back to Phil. You have training."

Hermes flew alongside the winged horse as they headed across the sea to Phil's island. Hercules felt terrible, and he couldn't look at his brother. Hermes didn't speak either, flying slowly, scanning the sea. There was a whistle, and Hermes laughed, waving.

"Hey, doll!" Hermes called. "I'll visit later!"

Hercules glanced down to see a beautiful sea nymph waving up at Hermes. She eyed Hercules with distrust, but the boy looked away, and he heard a splash as she dove under the water. Hermes clicked his tongue again, alighting beside Hercules on the island. Hercules dismounted and turned to tell Phil he was there, but Hermes stopped him.

"Herc," he said softly. The boy looked up, and Hermes removed his glasses. "Just because somebody hurts you, that doesn't give you the right to hurt them back. And if anybody knows this, puts it into practice, it's me. You understand where I'm coming from, right?"

Hercules nodded. "I'm just tired of him bullying us."

"He hasn't been, though."

The demigod paused. "No. He hasn't. Whatever you said to him, it's made him stop."

"And since he is no longer picking on you, you should forgive him and not try and get back at him."

Hercules shuffled his feet. "I guess."

"A hero doesn't need to get revenge for past wrongs."

The boy nodded again, then he smiled. "I guess that makes you one of the best heroes in the world, eh?"

This time, Hermes was the one who blushed, his blue cheeks turning darker. He smiled and stared at the boy.

"You're a good boy, Herc. I just wish you hadn't been born into this mess."

Hercules was about to ask what Hermes meant when Phil's voice carried over to him.

"There ya are, kid! Where've ya been?" Phil marched up then saw Hermes. "Oh, it's you."

"Got distracted," Hermes said smoothly, placing his glasses on. "Sorry about the late thing, Phil."

"Eh, he was with you. I won't go too hard on him."

"Cool," Hermes said. "I gotta go, Herc. Remember what we talked about."

"I will. And… thanks. For not letting me do something stupid."

Hermes smiled, ruffling the boy's red hair. "That's a good boy."

Then he took off, leaving Hercules with Phil. Phil stared after the god then looked at Hercules, who was standing there thoughtfully.

"You okay?" Phil asked.

"Yeah. I like Hermes."

"He's a bit much sometimes," Phil said distastefully. He paused then stepped up beside Hercules. "But he's the best one of the lot."

"I think so, too."

"What about your dad?" Phil asked in surprise.

Hercules grimaced. "Don't we have to get started?"

Phil nodded, scanning his student's face. "Is there something I should know about?"

The demigod shook his head. "It's family stuff, Phil. Please leave it alone."

"Alright, alright. But if you ever need to talk, I'm here."

Hercules smiled. "Yeah. What's on the list for today?"

"Archery."

"Great. Let's get started."