Promises

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Uncle Rick!

Leo POV

Hermes didn't exactly fit the description of your everyday all-powerful Olympian. He was dressed in gym shorts and a t-shirt, like a jogger. He was checking messages on his phone, barely acknowledging I was there.

"Um..excuse me...Mr. Lord Hermes Sir?" I asked tentatively.

He glanced up and rolled his eyes, "Hermes is fine." The wings on his sneakers flapped lazily. "I'm only here because I owe Jackson a favor, let's gets this over with quickly, okay?"

"I need your help...getting to Ogygia,"

He sighed,"You wouldn't be the first to want to meet her. Very pretty girl. Very nice. It's easy actually, just get injured, fall out of the sky, somethin like that. You'll end up on her island, she'll heal you and then when you're all done charming her, a raft will come to get you, and bam bucket list complete!"

"No," I said, "I need to go back."

Hermes raised his eyebrows, "It doesn't work that way kid. Ogygia is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Should've taken pictures when you had the chance." He shrugged, and put his phone into his pocket. "Well if that's all you have for me, I have places-"

"She's not some sort of sightseeing attraction! I need to go back, and I know you can help me," I was losing my patience.

"Fine, fine," Hermes groaned. "There is a way," he thought for a moment, "But it's going to cost you." I nodded without hesitation. "I'll show you the way in return for any one favor. Anytime, anywhere"

I knew it was dangerous, but thoughts of her clouded my judgement, "Deal"

Hermes snapped his fingers and a piece of parchment paper appeared in his hands. He handed it to me, a map of sorts. It looked like a regular map, but with hundreds of lines connecting places around the world. "Ley lines. I use them to travel when these babies aren't fast enough," He said, gesturing to his shoes. "Usually demigods would burn into a crisp while using these, but something tells me you won't have a problem with that," he smirked.

"How do I use them though?" I asked. The lines looked like a bunch of vague scribbles. I'm sure the confusion showed on my face, because Hermes let out a laugh,

"You'll find out soon enough, don't you worry," he chuckled. I was about to ask for clarification, but his cellphone started buzzing and Hermes looked exasperated, "I've got a delivery to be making, you have fun with that," He nodded to the map.

I folded the paper up and put in my backpack, and looked up at Hermes, "I owe you one,"

"Don't you ever forget that, boy. Your payment will come," Hermes smiled, and regarded me closely. "This isn't going to be an easy task, Valdez. It will be a painful journey. Remind me why you want this so badly?"

"Because I always keep my promises."