Chapter 2

[Still Mark's POV]

I was astonished this was like a rerun of Captain Planet except of course I was actually in it.

"You seem stunned Marcus" she said to me in a knowing voice.

"Sorry I come from a Christian family and in our belief…"

she held her hand up

"I am more than aware of it young one but have ever heard on an account in the bible of a mortal being ever seeing the Christian god in the flesh?"

I thought about it of all the stories I heard growing up, only a few people even came close to see the almighty one of those people was Moses and he hadn't actually seen god just manifestation of him.

Since I couldn't think of any accounts myself I nodded silently I still had no idea where this was going.

"However in the ancient societies of Greece, Rome and Scandinavia there a vivid depictions of those gods"

I quickly realize she was right.

"You mean the Greek gods like Zeus and Apollo right?"

Gaia nods at me and smiles

"Marcus my greatest immortals have began to look for other realms to control and both Mount Olympus and Asgard have set their sights on this sphere."

Something struck me as odd

"Lady Gaia what do you mean by other realms"

Gaia's eyes lit up she was truly enjoying interacting with someone so young

"Young one, there are as many alternate realities as there are stars in the night sky; each pantheon controls one reality but if their current becomes too unstable they simply look for another to occupy" the earth goddess explained which I understood to some extent.

"You see I cannot allow this reality to be corrupted by the Asgardians nor the Olympians so I believe it is time for a new pantheon…one far younger then the mainstream"

I wasn't stupid although Brad and Randy had insinuated I was several times in the past; my brain was beginning to put the pieces of this puzzle together.

"Is that…the reason you've shown yourself to me" I inquire hesitantly and this time she didn't just smile she beamed

"Correct young Marcus…In my wisdom I have selected you to become the leading member of this realm's pantheon; you will become Lord of the Sky, Weather and Justice it is neither a request nor an order it is simply your destiny"

I wasn't sure how to take that…I mean how would you react if you learned you were a god

"Now that you know, your immortal powers will begin awakening and I predict the first will be control over the weather so be careful of your mood and emotions and don't worry about assistance my husband will appear to Randall and I shall appear to Bradley. I thank you for your time but I think there are souls waiting for you to awaken"

Then there was a flash of light and I woke up to Brad shaking me

"Huh, what" was my clever response.

"We're here dork" he said to me I look up with glare and just as I thought it was an odd dream a huge clap of thunder sounded although there wasn't a thundercloud in sight.

Brad looked up so fast his head clanged against the roof of the Nomad.

"Brad I hope you didn't dent or your father will have a fit" our mother hollered after hearing the clang.

I found that statement a bit rich since dad did drop a ten-ton I-beam on it.

[Randy's POV]

Brad wasn't the only one to hear the huge thunder clap but the weird thing was there was no sign of a thunderstorm.

As we walk up to the cabin I notice a slight glow to Mark's eyes but thought is quickly pushed out of my mind as I see my sweetheart Lauren walking towards us.

"RANDY!" she shouted when she was in range

and then I was engulfed by a bear hug, who knew such a scrawny girl could be so strong or maybe I was just weak but I'll go with my first guess since I do have some male pride after all.

"Lauren" I greeted her with a huge smile

she then pecked me on the cheek which caused my cheeks to burn with an intense blush and made Mark pretend to gag.

"My friends and I are going boating in about an hour want to come with?" she asked her eyes pleading in the same way they always do when she asks me something,

she does it to make me melt in front of her…I'm just afraid she'll ask for a certain something that I won't be willing give for another few years but she seems down to Earth so I don't think I have to worry about that at least not for a while.

In an hour my brothers and I were on a small boat with Lauren and her friends, Brad was boring one of them with a monologue about Angela while Mark was a little shy so he wasn't talking much.

I was chatting to Lauren about life when my dad came ripping by us in a speedboat which created a wake that capsized our boat which dumped all of us into the lake.

I was a little upset but I could swim ten times better than any of my brothers, Brad was unfazed due to his depression

but Mark was furious the odd thing; the very atmosphere seemed to be mirroring Mark's emotions as clouds were swirling and graying quickly if I didn't know any better I'd say roar of thunder was only seconds away but it never happened.

We swam back to the shore the girl bade us farewell and went to pick all the kelp out of their ears while we three boys went to change out of our very wet clothes.

When we got back to the cabin Brad locked himself in the bathroom while Mark and I changed in the bedroom we shared.

I walk in as Mark is just stripping off his shirt and notice something that should've caught my eye earlier

now I'd seen Mark shirtless before, hell mom used to bathe us together so I know what Mark looks like

and last time I saw his torso he wasn't that well toned but he now had a set of six pack abs and very nicely formed pectoral muscles.

As I shed my shirt I asked as casually as I could

"Um Mark?"

"Hm?"

"If you don't mind me asking…when the hell did this happen?"

I inquire placing my hand against his now firm chest.

Mark flinched however since he was extremely ticklish.

"I don't know… sometime last month…I think?" Mark responds

but I suspect it's a lie but I don't think Mark wants to go into it

I then notice my baby brother holding his wrist, no not holding, he was cradling it.

"Mark, are you hurt!" I ask with concern laced in every word

"Stupid dad and his absent-mindedness" he said coldly.

I knew his relationship with dad wasn't what it used to be

"He could've killed us!" he breathed I then realized that he was venting, all his pent up frustration was coming out at once.

I knew it was best to just let Mark get this off his chest he would feel better afterward.

"He never pays attention, even when what he should do is so obvious Brad can see it" he growled at no one in particular

"and can't he ever fix something without breaking something else"

Wow was the only word in my mind because Mark's statements had so much anger, hurt and what I place as confusion.

I place my hand on my little brother's shoulder to remind him I'm here for him he turns and looks at me with tears in his eyes and once I see that I pull mark into an embrace and hold him close.

I feel his arms wrap around me and feel him press his head into my chest.

After a few moments I feel a few drops slide down my stomach, I then note that he was crying;

society says its wrong for men to cry but crying is one easiest ways to vent emotions and besides Mark is only 13 so it's understandable at his age.

We just stand there for about an hour until I no longer feel tears I look down and noticed Mark had accidently fallen asleep,

I discretely remove his wet shorts and lie him on one of the beds and tuck him in.

Once that's done I look at his face and realize just how exhausted me must be and I don't mean physically I mean emotionally

so I walk out and close door when I turn around I detect something is amiss I see a lot mist which blocking everything from sight but it clears as fast as it came.

I look around and I'm not in the cabin I'm inside an old clock tower.

"Greetings Randall Taylor" says an ancient voice from behind me.

When I wheel around I see a tall but slightly hunched over old man.

He was bald but had a long sliver-white beard, small rectangular glasses and he was wearing long grey robes and was holding a scythe but it's blade facing the opposite direction.

"Who are you…and how do you know my name?"

I ask him and as he chuckles makes me want bow to him in reverence.

"Randall Taylor, I am Uranus; God of Skies and Lord Time you mortals often refer to me as…Father Time.