Part 5: Adoring Enigmas (All The Colors That I Saw)

___________________________________

So this is where you fell

And I am left to sell

The path to Heaven runs through miles of clouded Hell right to the top

Don't look back

Turning to rags and giving the commodities a rain check

___________________________________

Svarog ran for the door and answered it.

"Dan?!" Arin was surprised. "What brought-"

"Look, we have no time to chat," Said the visitor. "Heard shit's about to get crazy!"

"What?!"

"What's going on?" Mapulon joined the conversation.

"Ah, Kevin!" Then continuing, "let's get outta here."

"Wha-where?" Asked the Slavic God.

"Australia! We have to get away from the war as much as possible." Dan replied. "Now hurry up and let's go!"

"Fuck, I forgot about the trip!" Arin exclaimed as Kevin facepalmed, knowing he forgot too. Hemera's condition was apparently that much of a problem.

Convenient now that you think about it, seeing as the trip gave the friends time to hide from the war.

"But what about Hemera?" Kevin asked.

Arin gasped and ran back in to get her.

Kevin looked behind Dan to see a vehicle. "Are you sure we can make it to the airport in time?"

"Not until ARIN HURRIES THE FUCK UP!" Dan yelled into the household.

"Nyx's shadows have been chasing me for who knows how long, and I'm scared those things will catch up to us." He turned to Mapulon. "Let's get in."

So Dan headed for the car. Kevin was about to until Arin came, carrying an unconscious Suzy.

The Philippine God assisted the Slavic God who was carrying the Greek Goddess.

They loaded themselves into the car, and Dan floored it immediately after they settled.

"Anyone else heading there?" Arin asked.

"Barry." He said. "And my human friend too."

"You're bringing Brian there?"

"We haven't hung out in a while." He replied. "This period's the only time he's free from his teaching job at that university in-what's that? London. Yeah, in that Harvard place."

"Is he gonna be fine with us all...you know?" Kevin asked.

Svarog and his clique of friends blended with human society. Dan, who was part of this clique, had met Brian before the rest did. Eventually, Brian joined the clique, but he had no idea about who his friends truly were.

This Brian is different from Abellio, who went by Brian.

This Brian is Dr. Wecht, for those who didn't know.

"Let's just not use our...abilities in front of him. Even if he isn't gonna believe it, a destroyed worldview is probably the last thing he needs." Dan said, in response to Kevin's question.

Arin held in his amusement. "A destroyed worldview?"

"I can't just be like, 'Yo, I'm a god! I've been alive way longer than you have! Hey, why don't we start over, huh?'"

Laughing, "'I'm Cupid! You might know me as the sexiest god in existence,'" Svarog began to mimic Dan. Cue laughter from the conscious people in the vehicle.

"'Sorry I was lying to you about being an orphan and all!'"

"You told him you were an orphan?" Kevin asked, all giggly.

"Shh Kevin," Cupid said sensually. "It's to keep him from asking more questions."

"Yeah, like how you said so only nearly a decade ago." Svarog said mockingly, which caused them all to laugh.

___________________________________

Hey, you got all the money, honey

Your eyes are looking runny and red

Hey, you think all your friends are funny

But all your friends are way overfed

If you've gotta go, I won't stop you

You'll hear me singing you,

"Glory! Glory! Hallelujah... you've made it easy for the both of us."

___________________________________

"Would you like some?" Apollo asked, taking his fill of food on the table.

"I've already eaten." Joshua responded, reading some article or post on his phone.

"I bet Tiff would like some."

"I ate with her. Although, it's better to ask if she wants as well." He then got up to get a glass of water.

Bryce then looked at the living area, seeing Aphrodite rearranging some of the tables and chairs.

"Hey Tiff,"

She turned to him. "Hey, Bryce!"

Raising his bowl, "You want some?"

"Hmm," She paused. "Make me half of what you have."

"Where should I leave it?"

"On the table where you're at."

"Got it." He then took in his last few spoons.

When Apollo got up, Joshua put his phone down, just after getting a glass of water. "I can help you prepare the food-"

"No need. You already prepared mine without telling me."

"Alright," he then drank from the glass, took his phone and dialed a number.

____________________________________

Cause I can't sit, oh I cant talk

I gotta leave this town and run to you

Curse these nights that speak your name

I gotta leave this town and come to you

Break this curse

Ha ha ha

Break this curse

____________________________________

"C'mon," Brian said, waiting for a response from Dan on his phone.

"I hope nothing bad hasn't happened to them."

"There better not," Brian sighed in response. "Damn it, Barry; the last thing I want is my friends dead."

"Would you rather have all your friends dead or your worldview eternally damaged?" Barry asked.

Brian raised a brow. Since when was Barry all deep and crap?

"Doesn't matter, since dead friends equal my worldview broken." He responded. "What's with the question, by the way?"

"I just...I dunno." For Barry, also secretly Thoth, blending in meant repressing extra knowledge. Sometimes his thoughts could only be let out.

"You alright, Barry?"

"I'm fine. Just stressed out about the others." He responded.

Brian still had his phone ready, and finally got an answer.

"Brian?"

"Where are you guys? The flight's in an hour!"

"I know, I know,"

"You got Arin and the others?"

"Uh, yeah." After some anxious humming, Dan said, "is there perhaps a hospital near the airport?"

"What happened?"

"It's Suzy," This time Arin answered. "She's really sick."

"I know, but she should be better by now, right?"

Dan said, "Brian, see...it's kinda-"

"Brian, she's unconscious and we don't know where to go."

Brian turned to Barry, cupping his phone. "Something's up with Suzy!"

"Why?"

"Arin said she's unconscious or something."

"Unconscious?" He already knew, but he had to play along for Brian. Brian knew Suzy was sick a few weeks before, but he didn't know it would be that bad of a "sickness".

"Send her to the hospital. The airport is the last place she needs to be in right now!"

"Who's taking care of her then?" Brian protested. "Maybe there's more hospitals in the place anyway."

Returning to the call, "Guys, just hurry up."

"But Suzy's-"

"We can deal with her once we arrive at the place," He said sternly.

"Brian-"

He hung up.

"I don't think this action is, well, wise," Barry said, since he paid attention to what he said at the rest of the party.

"It isn't," Brian kept his phone.

"Do me a favor and take care of my stuff."

"Wha-why? Where are you going?"

"Buying extra health kits at the nearest drugstore."

"We could just go with what we hav-Brian!" Brian was already a distance away.

Running to him, "C'mon, man! This isn't exactly the best thing to do!"

Pushing him aside, "Have you ever heard of the word 'compromise', because that's the best thing we need to do, right now. "

The question rang in Thoth's head.

Are we, Gods, even willing to compromise?

____________________________________

If you love somebody

Better tell them while they're here 'cause

They just may run away from you

You'll never know quite when, well

Then again it just depends on

How long of time is left for you

I've had the highest mountains

I've had the deepest rivers

You can have it all but life keeps moving

I take it in but don't look down

____________________________________

"What happened?" Svarog asked, concerned about the events that had just taken place.

Cupid groaned. "Can't believe he hung up on me!"

He took a left turn as he kept his phone.

"What did he say?" Mapulon asked.

"He said we should take care of Suzy once we're there," then he sighed. "If only he knew..."

"I'm surprised he wasn't questioning why Suzy was coming in the first place."

"I booked the flight before this crap even began, Kevin." Arin replied.

"It's not like anyone of us knew something bad would happen to her days before we would go." He finished sadly, everything quiet after.

"Guys," Dan broke the silence. "Should we finally tell Brian the truth?"

"I thought you said he wouldn't believe it," Arin sai-

"He has his reasons, Arin." Dan replied.

"Well, wouldn't proving ourselves to him be enough to convince him?" Kevin asked.

"That will only make him ask more questions." The Roman God replied. "He's a man of Science; faith isn't something he'll give his time to."

"We can persuade him," Suggested the Slavic God.

"Persuade?" The Philippine God was curious.

"Y'know, influence his mind and stuff."

"Directly?" Asked Dan.

"Yeah. Like, what humans call mind-control."

Cupid was unsure. "I'm not using those arrows again."

"It'll be easier for us," Svarog said. "At least Brian won't be much of a problem."

"I'll...I'll think about it."

Seeing the road, "I think we're almost there, guys."

"We've got 50 minutes," Mapulon adds.

Before Svarog could speak, Dan's phone rang again.

Blindly picking it up, "Hey, what else do you want, Brian."

"My name isn't Brian, Dan-"

"Oh! Sorry!" Dan chuckled at his mistake. "What's up, Je-OSHUA! J-Joshua! Yeah -- totally didn't butcher your name!"

Chuckling, "Are friends with you?"

"Yeah, and we might end up late if we don't speed up."

"Careful on the road, though."

"Don't worry, we'll be-"

"RIGHT, DAN! RIGHT!" Extreme screaming!!!

And Dan did a right.

"You almost got us hurt, man!"

"I-I'm sorry!" Dan told the Slavic God. "Won't happen again."

"Just be careful," Arin replied in concern. "At least wrap up that call."

Sighing with eyes stuck on the road, "Hey, why'd ya call me?"

"I heard you're heading to Australia, right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Y'know, uh, Apollo's here with me where I'm at -- how he is here is a long story. He told me he's been hanging with your friend; the Slav right?"

"Oh, you mean-"

"Arin...hm, yeah him. Thing is that Apollo's been staying with Arin for sometime and by now, he won't have anywhere else to go but to him."

"Our flight's in less than an hour; how's he supposed to catch up?"

"I think he's trying to figure that out. But he did confirm that he'll meet your friend once you guys are at your destination."

I can't believe that bi-cultural idiot would go through all this effort. "Uh, well, what am I supposed to do?"

"Just to -- well, expect him. Bless your trip." And he hung up.

Cupid kept his phone, and put the rest of his concentration to driving.

In a few minutes, they finally arrived at the airport.

____________________________________

Woman, help me

You turn my head in circles

Mama, blessed me

With magnet eyes for purple

Oh, so let me show you something good

____________________________________

Knocks came on the door.

Footsteps rushed towards it.

It was opened.

"Thank goodness you're here," He said in relief.

"I was scared that the guys already arrived; guess not." She told him, walking in. "Now help me before they actually do!"

"Yeah, gotcha." He closed the door, and proceeded to assist her.

Friends from the States were coming over, and they could arrive anytime within the hour.

As they were setting up the place, she broke the silence of their concentration, "Can I tell you something Ross?"

"Sure, what's up?"

She hesitated.

"Go on ahead, Holly."

"It's just..." She finished her last action. "Is everything alright?"

"Of course! Why are ya worried?"

"You've been really tense since we flew here," She said. "It's been weeks. What's wrong?"

Ross paused. "I-it's nothing to be too concerned about,"

"Really?" Holly crossed her arms. "I don't want the others to see you so stressed out."

If only you knew, Holly. "I'm gonna be fine. Don't worry about it."

Holly tried to speak, but restrained her words as the sounds of a vehicle echoed from outside.

____________________________________

Wait, all this time that I have spent away

Makes me think that I might be okay,

The kiss of death will have to wait

My head, is holding on to all those things you said

You taught me to be strong and get through it--the mist of darkness

In my head

____________________________________

Bryce went his way, as quickly as he could.

He thought about Joshua's words.

Contemplation consumed him.

He was already in the airport.

He hoped he wouldn't surprise Svarog.

He knew he was best friends with Cupid, the counterpart of his best friend Eros.

It pleased him knowing neither of the two decided to even fight each other.

The thing was both Aphrodite and Joshua knew Cupid.

He was suspicious about that.

Maybe it's a thing for Love Gods, he thought to himself.

He asked Joshua to contact Svarog's party before he left Aphrodite's house, considering Arin only messaged him about his flight just as he rode into Cupid's car.

Then he questioned whether or not Joshua was truly a Love God.

Judging from what he was told, he affirmed it.

He decided to go to the restroom and refresh himself with a splash of water to the face, but he bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry!"

"Oh no, it's okay," The someone looked like he was in his early 20's (the look Apollo chose to keep) and was very rugged-looking.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I'm fine. Don't worry about it," He replied.

"Alright," Bryce then went on hi-

"Can't believe Ryan's still like this,"

"Excuse me?" The man's exclamation got Apollo's attention.

Apparently the man was willing to share story. "Sorry, it's just about my best friend Ryan."

"Y'know, I had a best friend with that same name."

"Yeah, 'Ryan' is a common ass name." He went on. "He's still so God damn mopey."

"Erm, why?"

"Well, Ryan and I actually do comedy skits, and uh, he used to them with this other guy. The guy's name was Daniel."

"Did something bad happen to Daniel?"

"He's dead, and ever since Ryan's been so sad about it."

"I'm so sorry. Is there anything I could do to help you?"

"No, it's fine." He replied. "I pray to the Gods that he'll feel better."

"May they help him," Apollo responded slightly softly, internally happy that some people recognize him and his brethren.

"Also, the name's Matt. Matt Watson."

They shook. "Bryce McQuaid. Good meeting you, Matt."

"Same," letting go, Matt paused. "If you're interested in the skits and other stuff though, you can check out SuperMega. It would help us both."

"I'll try to find the time," Bryce replied, both going their ways.

____________________________________

If only for a second

Let me have you

Tell me all your secrets

Let me know you

Paint me all your pictures

Hang them on my wall

Show me all your colors

Show me all

____________________________________

Tense was the mood in the house.

If I could use "very" without embarrassing myself, then it was very tense.

At that moment, Brian excused himself from the "joyful" conversation.

He felt that something was up, and he knew he spotted fake happiness very well.

Although not the reason, as mentioned he had left everyone.

He went for the bathroom, passing by a hall then the kitchen.

He found Ross's lover Holly preparing extra snacks for all of them. They previously run out and volunteered to make some more.

"You want help, Holly?"

"No, no, it's okay." She was done preparing. "I don't want anyone ruining these perfectly good snacks anyway."

Brian took that in with a spoonful of sass. "Fine then. I'll go to where I was supposed to go."

As he was about to go in, "By the way, bathroom's at your right. Going left will lead outside."

"Thanks Holly." Goddammit Ross.

She then watched Brian head to most likely the bathroom as she picked up the extra snacks she prepared.

"Yay, snacks!" Barry exclaimed, his joy carrying to everyone else.

Well, except for Suzy. She regained her consciousness at arrival, but even then she wasn't herself. If anything, she remained entirely silent, acting as if in solitude.

With that, they left her be.

"These are just microwaved; no need to celebrate too much!" She replied jovially, placing the snacks down. "Well, unless they're better than Ross's."

"Hey!" Ross defended his snacks that were served first. "I put all my love and care into my snacks!"

"So did I," Holly sassed.

"With a microwave-"

"Cut it, Ross," Dan cut him off. "We all know your small cakes had no 'love', or even 'care'."

"I told you guys not to eat them," Holly said.

"And Brian and Suzy were the only ones who listened," Kevin added, apparently still weak from Ross's small cakes."

"What's that crap even made of, Ross?! It's -- damn it! I don't even wanna know." Arin raged.

"Like I said, chef's secrets," was Ross's reply. "Also,"

Ross then stood, "I'm gonna go check on Brian, just because he's taking awfully long."

Then Ross left, Holly taking his seat.

"Just so you guys know," she got everyone's attention. "Those cakes are stuffed with habaneros. Vernon gave us all his spare jars of them before our stay here."

"Habaneros?!" Everyone exclaimed.

"There aren't any in your snacks, right Holly?" Barry asked.

"Don't worry, you can trust me." She said. "Don't tell Ross that I spoiled his secret."

"You have our word," Dan spoke for everyone else.

"Holly," Ross called out from the kitchen. "Can you come over? I can't find Brian!"

"This isn't another goof, right Ross?"

"Uh,"

"You just came from the bathroom and got too lazy to find him?"

"Damn it."

"Just come over; I'll go after him."

So he came and she left.

As Ross sat down, he reclined himself. "That should leave us to talk about more important matters."

"You sure Holly isn't a eavesdropper?" Arin asked.

"She always minds her own business, so we'll be fine." But she's observant though... I hope she doesn't end up figuring this all out.

"You sure, Ross?" Barry asked. "It's likely that a lot our friends will become suspicious of our behavior."

"Brian couldn't stop asking me shit," Arin said, briefly glancing at a quiet and unresponsive Suzy. "'You sure she's okay? When did this happen?'"

They sighed.

____________________________________

I've been around the world and never in my wildest dreams

Would I come running home to you?

I've told a million lies but now I tell a single truth

There's you in everything I do

Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me

Remember when I broke you down to tears

I know I took the path that you would never want for me

I gave you hell through all the years

____________________________________

Holly looked around, and decided to head upstairs.

Then she heard something drop near the balcony area.

This was Ross's...other house. He would come here whenever he wants to.

And Holly knew this place very well.

She came and saw Brian, his eyes focused on a set of unusual items.

"Brian?"

He was startled. "Holly!"

"What are you doing here? You're gonna miss out."

"I know," He said, then looked at the items. "I just found these laying around, and you know, these wouldn't be safe."

She stepped onto the balcony where Brian was standing.

"These aren't yours, right?"

"They're too legit to be mine," She picked it up.

"A set of swords," Brian stated the obvious.

"That's a lot of swords, and it's surprisingly light."

"Yeah,"

"And look at those engravings," She took a close look at one blade. "It's got some cool ancient writing."

"But those aren't yours,"

"No."

"Not even Ross's?"

"Nope."

He then asked, "What do we do with these?"

"I'll...no -- you take care of them. I'll let you keep it in my room. Don't want Ross playing around with these."

So they kept it in Holly's room.

After persuasion from Brian, they walked themselves back to the balcony.

As they entered, Brian spoke up. "It's amusing to see you treat your possible husband like a child."

"I bet your wife's doing what I'm doing,"

"Oh, are you-"

"I am." She smirked. "You're quite a mess. Well, from what I heard."

"You're boyfriend's a mess." He was jokingly.

She chuckled. "We're just gonna be sassing each other or what?"

He shook his head, a friendly smile across his face marking the beginning of a brief silence.

"Do you think something weird's going on, Brian?" Holly broke it.

"With what? Or is it whom?"

"Um," She tensed up. "With Ross."

"I've been feeling fishy with the others too." He replied. "Really! I mean, they were already before, but it rose up to eleven when we were preparing for the trip."

"You think they're hiding something?"

"I asked other friends about it -- Matt and Ryan, Vernon, Jack, Brent -- they were already suspicious of the others' behavior."

"Should we confront them about it?"

"Not now," He raised his voice. "Maybe a little later."

"Are you-" She suddenly stopped, her face getting into a pained expression.

At that same moment, Brian felt a pang at his back, but brushed it off.

"Holly?" If anything, his concern for his friend's lover let him overcome the pain.

She groaned from the pain, then in a few seconds, straightened up.

"We should just leave them alone." She said.

"Wait, are you even okay?"

From there, Brian found the truth in the peculiar happenings within his friends.

____________________________________

Cause everybody sees things differently

And everybody says things rationally

So open up your heart, open up your mind

Speak, speak, speak, speak to me

Let it go

____________________________________

Apollo thought that he could've gotten all the seats in his column, no I mean aisle -- forget it.

Anyway, it did not turn out that way for him.

Just right before take-off came this guy with skin colored like spoiled milk.

He straight up looked dead, but acted as lively as everyone else.

He was a brunette with his hair edging out white tips. Oddly enough, he looked around his early 20's.

"Hey there!" He greeted Bryce as he sat down after setting his bag.

"Oh, hello," he greeted back.

He looked closely at Bryce, trying to find something off about him. "Why ya heading over down under?"

"I'm...I'm heading over to meet with friends."

He chuckled to himself. "You think we'll make it?"

Bryce raised a brow. "Why?"

"A plane's crashing soon," He simply said.

"Last flight to Australia? Crashing?!" He raised slightly his voice.

"Wait, this is the last flight?" The stranger then facepalmed.

"Fuck, this is the wrong flight!"

"What do you mean?" Bryce asked.

"I was supposed to get shit from the plane before this one..." He muttered to himself. "Hades is going to kill me..."

"Hades?" He looked straight at the stranger.

The stranger realized his mistake. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"Too late," Apollo replied. "Why are you here?"

"I'm..." He hesitated. "I'm doing someone's job. I got it and gotta deal with it."

"Whose job?"

He tried to speak. "Wait, why am I telling you this?"

"Because a God sits before you."

"Who are you? And do you have any relations with the Celtic Apple God? Or even the Night God?"

"This...this is Apollo, and I have no relations with either. Who are you?"

The stranger was fearful, but then he sighed. "Call me Smitty. I'm the new God of Death."

"What?!" Confusion. "Wait, what happened to-"

"Anthony? Haven't heard the news?"

"I know but...but how did you take his place?"

"Hades requested for a random soul to run as a temporary for Thanatos. That way, the deaths can still be regulated."

"And you were chosen?"

Smitty nodded. "I actually like this...having power and all,"

"You do realize you're getting people to die, right? Doesn't it scare you?"

"I've done worse...and seen worse," He replied.

"What's worse than death?"

"Hell." He muttered.

"You don't want-"

"Hades to hear? He hates his job; how can you lessen the torment in such a state?"

"It's impossible."

"Exactly." He sighed. "I'm better off bringing hell anyway. I kept doing that alive, so what more now that I'm dead."

"You don't have to be bound by hell. Death doesn't mean hell. It's heaven to someone."

"I guess."

And the two remained quiet.

"I never knew it was possible for a mortal to take a deity's place." Apollo said.

"It is. It's even possible for a mortal to withstand a god's authority over him."

"Have you done that?"

"I overcame Revenge, but I got overcome by Wisdom."

"Wisdom?" Apollo doubted Smitty's wisdom.

"Don't question my wisdom. It's subjective."

"Why do you say so?"

"Because the truth is subjective. Even as gods, who is to say that this is the truth? Or that is? Our only choice is to agree on one, but look where that has led us -- fighting for our personal truths, some of which aren't truths at all."

"What is wisdom?"

"My connotation, or what it is in a dictionary?"

"Connotation."

"Well, wisdom is the proper execution of believing in a worldview, based upon one's personal ideas of...righteous understanding and knowledge. And well, truth is something within the realm of knowledge..."

Apollo nodded, showing that he understood.

"Seems to be that you only give praise to things you agree with." Remarked the false Thanatos.

Apollo felt...violated. "How do you know?"

"I've spoken with dead gods, learnt from them even! From what I've gathered, you've always been acting like Ryan's personal-"

"Shut up," He got defensive, sending a sudden fear to the false god. "So what if I believe in Eros? Have you come to challenge my agreement with it?"

"Eros is great, with a belief worth agreeing with, but he's blind. Formerly with his lovely affairs and then with zeal for his conquest of the planet. Believe in him however you like, but don't get too zealous. Too much of such a beautiful thing will corrupt you still. The true Death was corrupted by despair, while the Night was ruined by Hell..."

"Hell isn't evil."

"The state of being in Hell is. An absence of love is an uncommon name for Hell."

"Wouldn't that be called War?"

"War and Hell, well personally, are identical. The only difference is that War exists merely on this physical planet and between more than one individual, while Hell can go to places beyond those things."

Apollo then looked at Smitty. "Do you believe love will be the last thing that'll exist?"

"Yes."

"But, you chose to follow a way against it-"

"Because not everyone has the capability to love. Being...uh, what's that -- love-conquered doesn't mean being able to love; it means surrendering to it. After all, War isn't the master of conquest-"

"It's Love."

He nodded.

Thinking, "you believe that...War and Hell are identical. You think Hades and Ares are identical then?"

"It's a mystery," He brushed up his hair. "And I love mysteries."

____________________________________

Good morning, my love

It's been a while since we have talked

And you have grown

Your eyes are older than the tallest tree you see

'Cause thirty lives can be extraordinarily long

Lay me down

Lay me down

Again my friend

I know it's been a while since I could look you in the eyes

'Cause I am foolish and I am sorry

But sorry never made it feel alright

Alright

____________________________________

"I'm fine Brian." She simply said, turning around to leave the balcony area.

"You looked like you got hurt there. Are you sure?"

"Just...forget that ever happened. We're better off ignoring that."

"What?" He went after her. "No! I think I felt...something too. I can take it but-"

"Then you can take it..." She then walked back to the balcony area.

However, Brian just stared at her for a seconds and then he proceeded downstairs, where everyone else was.

"What was that?"

"He should be done right? But why then-"

"It's Brian. Something's wrong."

"I think Cupid fucked this up."

"That's impossible! Those are no ordinary arrows!"

"I beg to differ, considering what seemed to have happened."

Brian paused in the kitchen, getting himself a glass of water.

He knew he had to get answers.

He then walked back as he drank some.

"Look who's back," remarked Ross, an awkward smirk across his face.

"Dude, your feet are loud as fuck." Arin said.

"Geez, okay!" He said, sitting down.

Looking around, "What happened to Dan?"

"He went outside. Dunno why." Ross replied. "What happened to Holly?"

"You need to check her out yourself," Brian reclined himself. "She was acting weird."

"Also," He went on, "there's like a random bunch of swords upstairs."

"Oh, those are mine," Ross said.

"Holly said otherwise."

"I didn't show her those beforehand."

Brian paused. "How long have you had them?"

Glaring at him, "Why do you want to know?"

"Yeah Brian," Arin joined in. "You've been asking a lot of questions lately."

"Why, I do have a right to them, correct?" Brian raised his voice. "None of them are personal. If anything, from all the answers I've been getting, you fucks are hiding something!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Are you -- Suzy's been sick for an incredible amount of time, Holly might've felt some pain to which she suddenly brushes off, and Dan wondered off outside doing God knows what! I don't know about you guys, but that's awfully odd behavior."

"Brian, this isn't your business." Barry said.

"Not if it's affecting me." He said coldly.

"Then why?" Barry kept going with Brian. "Why are you so affected?"

"Because I can't seem to trust you guys." He held in his want to cry, hearing light footsteps from upstairs. "And without that trust, I don't believe you deserve to be called friends at all!"

The four looked at Brian, then at each other, then right behind the mortal.

Brian turned around to see Dan aiming a crossbow towards him.

Silence enveloped the house.

"What are you afraid of, Dan?" Brian asked, with a spoonful of heartbreak.

He still had his aim, but it was shaky. Fear was on his face indeed.

"No more tricks," Brian added, with a little anger.

Dan looked at the other gods, who didn't know what to do.

They didn't want this to happen.

Dan dropped his crossbow. "I'm...sorry."

"For what?" There was that pain in Brian's throat.

"I shouldn't have lied to you on the first day." Dan's arms were still shaking. "We shouldn't have."

"Then...tell me the truth." Brian tried to sound calm.

Sighing, "will you accept it?"

Brian felt afraid suddenly. He couldn't answer.

Dan saw the fear in his friend's eyes. "You wouldn't-"

"Just tell me!" He shouted.

"I'm..." Dan didn't want to say anything. "I'm a being of higher authority."

Looking at the others, "so are they."

Brian glanced back at them, all with fearful expressions.

"And yeah,"

Brian looked back at Dan.

"So you guys are like-"

"Gods." Barry finished for Brian.

"Right..." Brian felt like a weight was lifted off of him.

"I don't want this fact to end our friendship," Dan said.

"Dan-"

KNOCK KNOCK!

"Who the hell is that?" Ross asked everyone.

"Ah shit, not again!" Arin put his hands on his head.

"You forgot to tell Ross what I told you, didn't you?" Dan asked.

"What?!" Ross turned to Arin.

"I'm sorry," He tried to explain himself. "It's just...a friend of mine decided to fucking find me."

"Do we know him?" Ross asked.

"Apollo."

"Well then." Ross said. "You guys are better off here. I'm gonna make sure the visitor's a nice fella."

Then, disappearing in a glow, Ross walked out the front door.

Brian took Dan aside as the others sat down.

"Dan,"

"What?"

"I," Brian tried to chose his words carefully. "I'm not gonna stop being friends just because you're a so-called being of high authority."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, but promise me this," He rubbed his eyes from under the glasses. "Don't use that power on me. Or on my family."

Looking at the rest, "Or on each other. On us friends."

"I promise." Dan said. "You have my word for it."

Adjusting his glasses, "Thank you. This means much to me."

____________________________________

Every little bit goes a little of a long way

Life gets hard and I'm headed for the highway home, home

Caught up in the middle of a headache and a heartbreak

Just when I thought I was clear of the mistakes,

No, no oh oh

____________________________________

Bryce swore his mind was playing tricks on him.

The moment he stepped within what could be the right compound, the environment he saw became magical in the stereotypical way.

Like lots of sparkles and lights magical.

"Is this the house of Gwydion? The friend of Svarog?"

A bird descended near him out of nowhere.

He looked to see a glowing cockati-never mind, it's-

"Prove yourself!" This response made the Greek God jump.

"Prove myself?" This is guy that either owns this house or guards it. He's a shapeshifter...perhaps a guard then.

By then it revealed a human figure, with eyes ablaze and fists filled with energy.

"Svarog told me to expect you." Then he muttered, "at late notice..."

"And I'm here! Where is he?"

"You're not getting answers until I know you truly are who you say you are." He crossed his arms.

"How are you to do that?"

He chuckled. "With a few classic tests of mine."

Apollo gulped.

"No one's survived, but then again, we will see if you do." He said. "If you do, I'll know you're a god like I am. If not, well, welcome to death, dipshit."

Finishing, "You can choose to bail, by the way."

"I'll accept your challenge."

He laughed. "Time for some fun!"

____________________________________

I'll try hard to make this right
I'll try hard to win this fight
"One step at a time", they say
"One trip, and you're back that way"

I don't recognize these eyes
I don't recognize these hands
Please believe me when I tell you
That this is not who I am

____________________________________

She didn't like the solitude.

She knew that if she fell victim for it, her darker side would take over.

She feared oh so much.

The Night did something so impossible and so wrong.

This sent her into the state of Hell.

She walked around the Underworld. She roamed the place not knowing how long it had been.

Right then she faced Hades, willing to converse with him.

He had curled horns floating above him and was spectacled with thick-rimmed glasses.

His hair was a pale ginger color tipped with white.

His eyes were amaranthine, although it could just be the glasses that turned his truly cerulean eyes into that color.

His skin was pale and he was cloaked in raggedy but awfully modern clothing.

He wore a cape made of dust, dripping with smoke and mist.

On his head was a crown made of white gold with engravings from a language more dead than the language she spoke in.

"Why are you here?" He asked her.

"It's Nyx's work." She replied.

He tensed up. "What a shame..."

She sighed.

He sighed after her.

"What happened to you?"

He shook his head.

"I told you why I'm here," She took his hand, making him feel a warmth he remembered so well. "You might as well tell me your story."

"Hemera,"

"Yes?"

"Make sure this doesn't reach Ares."

Her attention was directed to the story. "What does he have to do with this?"

With bloody tears flowing down his face, "Everything."

"Everything?"

He nodded, and used his powers to conjure a picture of Ares.

Looking at the picture, "I only tell the truth to those who asked and have shown me mercy. I never knew that the Day would go approach Hell."

"Solitude is my enemy. I would go with Hell if it means companionship."

"Hell and War are identical." He faced her. "And if there's anything both can do, it's that it tears relationships apart. Some call it a permanent separation."

His face was downcast, "And I don't deserve this."

Whispering, "I'm not even the real deal."

Hemera raised a brow in confusion. "How is it possible?"

"I ask the same question," He replied.

"He took me--HE FUCKING TOOK ME!" He raised his voice, all the sorrow within him showing. "And he bothered to threaten me!"

She backed away from him to give him space.

"But my power to go against him is gone." He said sadly. "I'm already bound and there's nothing I could do."

"Who did this?" She asked.

"Ares! Well, the Ares you know. If anything, he isn't even the true one!" His hands curled into fists.

"There was never a God of War. There was never an Ares. War was just a thing Hell became to be able to go past its prison."

The false god was steaming. He didn't want to be a victim anymore.

"Save me," He turned to her in desperation. "Stop Ares and set me free."

"I can't do that alone," She replied. "I don't know if I could get out of here."

They both sighed.

"He cares much for the Night," He said. "He would do anything to keep him alive."

Thinking, "How did he bring you here?"

"He stole my time. Some sort of avarice must've overtook him."

"The hell of Day is the loss of time to spend with company..."

"You've figured it out."

"With this power, it's easy." He paused. "You're quite similar to Nyx."

"What do you mean?"

"You both fear loneliness," He replied. "But how that affects you both makes you both different."

She nodded.

Then she heard things.

Things she somehow managed to hear.

"Do you hear that?" She asked the false god.

"What is it?"

"Breaking glass," She then began to glow.

He looked at her. "He's been put to sleep."

"And that means...that means I can finally wake up!"

____________________________________

And the cries from the strangers out at night

They don't keep us up at night

We have the curtains drawn and closed

We all are living in a dream,
But life ain't what it seems
Oh everything's a mess
And all these sorrows I have seen
They lead me to believe
That everything's a mess

But I wanna dream
I wanna dream
Leave me to dream

I know all your reasons
To keep me from seeing
Everything is actually a mess
But now I am leaving
All of us were only dreaming
Everything is actually a mess