Today, I present a new chapter in this story of mine. Let's see what happening in the life of our main protagonist. Enjoy.

The area was sealed off to the general public following what was only the second incident in less than three days. Questions were being asked. Anger and confusion were spreading like wildfire. The Dover Police, the Fire Department and Paramedics were on hand to assess the situation. Despite not being in the best possible shape after being discharged from the hospital, John had work to do. He was on hand coordinating efforts to salvage the situation. In the back of his mind though, he was deeply worried about Corey. Where was he?

Almost is if on cue, Corey arrived at the scene trying to remain as casual and uninvolved as possible. The last thing he needed was for anyone to suspect that the man in the silver armor and shooting lightning out of his hands like the superhero Shazam, was actually Corey himself. Corey glanced around; he couldn't see Serena anywhere and could only pray that she'd gone home. But he did find his father on the scene, and he picked up the pace to reach him.

"Dad!" Corey called out, rushing up to the scene despite the officers trying to stop him.

Luckily for Corey, John heard him and rushed to meet his son. "Corey? Corey!"

The father and son embraced each other, and Corey asked, "What're you doing here, Dad? You're supposed to be back home resting."

John suddenly grabbed Corey's shoulder and held on tightly, telling his son, "I came looking for you. Where were you? Your mother and I were worried half to death."

"I... I was leaving the library with a friend when all this happened. Look, I'm fine, okay. I'm alright."

"Captain, heads up." one of the officers on the scene shouted.

There was a sudden hush from the gathered crowd while John and Corey came to see what was happening at that moment. The Nemean Lion, the monster that Corey had himself killed, appeared to be fading away. It seemed to be dissolving at a rapid pace. The flesh was the first to go, then the organs and then the bones. The people were being held back, some of them covering their faces in fear of catching some sort of pandemic. Nothing of the sort came. The Nemean Lion simple faded away like dust in the winds.

Corey was every bit as stunned as the crowd around him, including his father. He caught movement high above the scene and looked upward. The familiar visage of a white owl flew overhead. Corey knew right away that it was Athena surveying the scene, and then she quickly flew away without saying a word. It wasn't as though anyone would've understood her anyway, but Corey was a different case altogether. It made no difference anymore. The officers started ordering the crowd to disperse, and John had taken it as a sign that it was time to go now.

"C'mon, we'd better head home before your mother kills us both."

"Dad, I'm okay, really." Corey claimed.

"Tell that to your mom. In the meanwhile, you can tell me about this girl you mentioned. Serena, wasn't it?" John said with an inquisitive tone.

Corey immediately thought about Serena and wondered where she might be after the ordeal. It must've been by chance that he finally caught sight of her with her chauffeur... along with another woman. This woman was clearly older and dressed in business attire. She stood directly opposite of Serena with only a few inches of space between them... and she appeared to be berating Serena. In response, Serena offered none as the woman directed into another limousine nearby.

The sight of this haughty bitch talking down to Serena the way she did made Corey's blood boil. He wanted to walk straight to that woman's face and tell her off for berating Serena. But he couldn't and knew he couldn't, not unless he wanted to make things worse for Serena. He has his own problems. His father ushered him into the vehicle, know that when they returned home, a certain maternal figure wasn't going to be happy.

Hours passed by after John brought Corey home, and Corey had been laying in bed staring up at the ceiling. His parents were downstairs and, even though it unintelligible, he could tell they were in the middle of an argument. Arguments were rare in the Mercer household, but when they happened, they tended to get ugly. All the while, Corey was unsure of what to do. He couldn't tell them the truth about what had really been happening lately. Corey was the Incarnate of the former King of the Greek Gods, and he couldn't tell his parents. He wanted to and he weighed the best and worst case scenarios; best case, he'd probably be grounded from life, and worst case, he would've been sent to a psyche ward for teenagers.

That last option didn't sound as farfetched as Corey believed. Everything, from the moment he'd met Athena, had been beyond unbelievable. Still, it all happened. It was all real, and Corey couldn't say anything about to his mother or father or even his little sister who ironically would've believe him. Corey was at his wit's end, exhaling loudly in frustration. Then came the familiar taps on glass, and Corey knew right away what that meant. Athena was perched on the outside of his window, and Corey opened the window to greet the white owl.

"You just can't give me one second of peace, can you?" Corey said in annoyance.

"I'm sorry, Corey, but there's an urgent matter I must discuss with you." Athena stated.

Of course you do.

"You're angry with me, aren't you?" Athena surmised.

"Aw no, not at all. I just twice turned into a Greek God and killed two Mythological beasts in the span of less than three days and I can't tell my family without them thinking I'm fucking nuts. Totally not angry, Athena." Corey snapped in a sarcastic tone.

Athena didn't respond at first, instead allowing the setting in of Corey's vent. After a moment, she said to him, "You are right to be angry with me."

"Say what?" Corey said, taken aback by this admission by Athena.

"I appeared to you with a task for which you were unprepared. I thrust a destiny onto you which you didn't want. It was not my right to do so and I apologize." Athena said.

Corey thought about what Athena had said, and he seemed genuinely surprised so he'd offered an equally surprising response. "It's okay. I'm kind of starting to get a sense of everything that's been happening."

"And yet, you still seem unconvinced." Athena said.

"It's not that, Athena," Corey said, and he rose off of his bed and paced around the room like he was gathering his thoughts. "All of this; me turning into Zeus, Pandora's Box, fighting monsters... all the while my family, Mom and Dad and Maggie... I can't tell them."

Athena considered Corey's explanation for some time. She said to him, "Your family is important to you, aren't they?"

Corey sat back on the bed, his back to Athena. "Yeah... especially my father. Wasn't there something you wanted to discuss with me?"

Before Athena could reply, a knock was heard beyond the door to Corey's room. "Corey, are you there?"

Corey looked back toward Athena, who had her feathery back turned to him. She looked back to him and said, "Our discussion can wait."

Athena was already gone by the time Corey had even processed his next reply only to not have a chance to use it. This was for the best and he knew it. Anyone of his family members would've been completely shocked to see a talking white owl in his bedroom. Before Corey could do anything more, the door opened. Maggie slowly walked into the room, arms folded across her chest and her face down. Corey said nothing, instead allowing his little sister to approach him until she was arm's length from him. She raised her face, and Corey saw that Maggie had been crying. Her face was soaked with moisture from the tears that spilled from her eyes. Corey came off the edge of the bed and knelt down in front of Maggie.

"Hey, you okay? What's wrong?"

Maggie tried her hardest to keep more tears from streaming out of her eyes. "I hate when Mom and Dad argue."

Corey looked at Maggie with heartfelt sympathy and understanding, and he quietly replied, "Yeah, me too."

Maggie couldn't hold back anymore, and the tears flowed like a gushing river. She threw herself into her big brothers arms and broke down. She wept, burying her face into Corey's shoulder and shivering almost uncontrollably. Corey pulled her closer and held onto her, almost afraid to let her go. He could hear her weeping sounds and tightened his embrace. Unbeknownst to the sibling, their parents were by the door. Any arguments between them fell to the wayside as soon as they found their children embracing. It wasn't long before Corey noticed his mother and father standing at the doorway. They weren't upset or angry or disappointed in him. They were simply relieved that he was okay. Corey didn't speak, but his lips moved in such away that it seemed as though he'd spoken the words, I'm sorry. In silence, John simply nodded in response.

The weekend was over and it was Monday again, and the students of Dover High School prepared for another otherwise tedious week of studies and academics. But there was a decidedly different atmosphere. Students were gathered in the hallways talking about the recent events of the passed few days. They were all still trying to process what had been going on in their town, about the monsters that had been appearing as though they'd come out of myths and legends. Some students were convinced that they were witnessing the end of days, and others dismissing it all to be nothing but an elaborate hoax.

Corey, as he was walking through the crowded hall, knew better than most. A sly grin seemed to form on his face and he tried to hide it. Upon reaching his locker, Corey unintentionally found himself eavesdropping on a small gathering of female students gossiping about the mystery man in silver armor. One of the girls whispered something about wanting to sleep with the mystery man, and another claimed to want his child. The other girls audibly giggled at the comments, and Corey himself worked to suppress his own chuckle. After a while, the girls walked off. Corey was left alone and opened his locker, setting his backpack inside.

"Corey." a voice said, and Corey spun around to see Damien behind him.

"Damien." Corey replied, and they shared a strong handshake and an embrace between themselves.

They broke the friendly embraced and Damien said, "I heard about your Dad. Is he okay?"

"Uh, yeah, he's fine. He only had a mild concussion and he'd actually returned to work already." Corey said.

Damien had a surprised expression and said, "Seriously? Is your old man crazy or just a stone cold workaholic?"

Corey was taken aback but let it go since this was his best friend talking. With a shrug, he replied, "Jury's still out on that. I'm just glad he's okay."

"Yeah, I guess. But what about you? You seem... well, different." Damien stated.

Corey knew that Damien was right, but he couldn't tell him. He glanced briefly at his hand where the mark of Zeus rested before he replied, "You know what, forget it. Let's just get to class before Mr. Rodriguez chews us out."

Damien watched on as Corey rushed off without another word spoken. Something was different about Corey, Damien could tell. What it was, that idea escaped him. Maybe Corey was still secretly trying to process everything that occurred over the weekend, and he wanted to do it on his own. Whatever the case, Damien had to put his trust in Corey. When Corey was ready, he'd most assuredly tell his best friend.

John returned to Dover Police Department and received a hero's welcome. Officers under his command applauded their Captain, leader and friend, some even embracing him and some shaking his hand. John returned the gesture but retained some semblance of humility. He actively dismissed the adulation from his peers by claiming he was only doing his job. One of his fellow approached John with a slightly less than ecstatic expression on her face. She was actually relieved that John was alright, but she still had a look of concern about her, which in turn worried John.

"Welcome back, Captain Mercer." she said with a handshake.

John naturally accepted the gesture but didn't hide his worry. "Is everything okay, Bennett?"

Bennett let out a labored and slightly aggravated sigh before replying, "Mayor Faulkner is waiting in your office, sir."

John simply and quietly murmured, "Fuck!"

John entered his office and stopped short of his next two steps. Another person was standing at the window just behind the desk. John already knew the person before they turned around to meet his gaze. A woman well into her mid to late 40's stood with a wry, almost condescending smirk on her face, dressed head to toe in a business suit and her dark brown hair tied back. She stood with an air of authority to her, something John secretly believed was undeserving of her. In her hands was a picture frame, and John had to hold back the urge to lunge at the woman just to retrieve the frame.

"Johnathan, it's good to see you back on your feet and back on the job. How're you feeling?"

John hated the use of his full first name, especially from Mayor Faulkner, and he coldly replied, "You can skip over to the part where you tell me why you're here, Elizabeth."

Mayor Faulkner, Elizabeth being her first name, set the picture frame back on the desk, facing John; it was a picture of his wife and children from years ago. "I'll get straight to the point, Captain; I want to know what you're going to do about what's been happening in my town."

Your town? Who's this bitch think she is? John thought. "I don't take your meaning."

"Don't play coy with me, Johnathan. You know I'm speaking of the recent incidents involving that man in the silver outfit, and the damage he caused."

John didn't show sign of being taken aback, and he replied in a calm and measured tone, "First of all, it was silver armor, and secondly, he risked his life to save countless others from that bull monster thing, including mine."

Elizabeth crossed her arms and said in a condescending tone, "You sound as though you know this person."

"He had his back to me, so I couldn't see his face." John said, and there was some truth in his words, but there were other thoughts he was keeping to himself.

"Interesting. I can't help but wonder what would've happened if you had seen his face." Elizabeth mulled, as though she was implying something.

It was then that John had grown agitated and he pointedly asked, "What do you want, Faulkner?"

Elizabeth leaned forward, nonplussed by the uttering of her last name and her hands pressed down firmly on the desktop, and she said, "I want this man arrested. I want him prosecuted. I want him thrown behind bars where he belongs."

"You can't be serious. You want me to catch this guy who can turn into a bolt of lightning, who saved my life and the lives of countless civilians."

"This 'Lightning Man' is a danger and a threat to the people of Dover, my people, and he needs to be held accountable."

"Your people? You waltz over from New York City with way too high an opinion of yourself into my hometown and think the people belong to you. That shit don't fly around here." John said with defiance in his voice.

Now, Elizabeth narrowed her cold gaze while also smirking ever slightly. "I'd watch my tone if I were you, Captain Mercer."

You're not me, you fucking cunt. John thought to himself.

Faulkner continued, "You may be the Captain of the Dover Police Department, but I am the Mayor of the City of Dover. My authority supersedes yours, so I strongly suggest that you do what I tell you. You will find and apprehend this man; I don't care who he is or how you catch him."

Elizabeth Faulkner started toward the office door without a second glance at John and, just as she reached the door, John asked, "And what happens if I don't find this guy?"

Elizabeth looked back at John with a sneering expression and replied, "If you don't apprehend him or more accurately, if you choose not to, I'll bring in someone who will and put you in line for a very early retirement. I hope you strongly consider your options for the sake of your family."

Those last words were enough to set John off, but Elizabeth Faulkner was already gone. John was left alone in his office and with his thoughts racing faster than Secretariat on steroids. It was for a brief moment that anger overwhelmed him, and he threw a random object from his desk straight at the door. The object slammed into the window which did not shatter the glass, not that John would've given a damn either way. He retreated back to his chair and sat down with a thud, rubbing his left temple as he tried to collect himself.

Elizabeth Faulkner was a ruthless and power hungry woman, this much John knew. He'd heard rumors before she'd arrived in Dover from New York roughly a year prior that she'd been involved in some decidedly shady dealings. But there was no proof of such things, just unsubstantiated rumors and hearsay. John had at the time acted on giving her the benefit of the doubt. He'd regretted that decision ever since, and now Faulkner's motives were clear as day. She wanted that man in the silver armor arrested and brought to whatever was her version of justice, and she went as far as indirectly threatening John's family to get her way. What was John to do?

"I fucking hate politicians."

Author's Note: That's puts an end to this chapter, in which Corey is starting to come to terms with his gifts while an antagonistic new character is introduced. I'd love some feedback from everyone who takes the time to read this chapter. Peace.