Chapter One
A red sunset in Greece was truly a thing of beauty, something that should be one of the Wonders of the World. The warmth of the spring air, the smell of the plants as they gathered the last of the days light, and the light scent of olive oil from the nights meal made the whole scene almost magical. It was something Jason Mitchell had wanted to see for so long and his wish had been finally granted. Yet that almost magical evening sunset had been shattered quicker than he ever thought possible.
The brilliant sun had been hidden behind massive and dense black storm clouds and the smell of beautiful plants had been washed away by the scent of a heavy and strong rain. The memory of a light and tasty Greek dinner had all but soured in his mind now. Blue-ish white lightning streaked across the sky and thunder savagely beat down on the world, shaking buildings for miles.
No, wait... it wasn't the thunder shaking the ground like that. Earthquakes had come with this powerful storm. With each powerful tremor the foundation of the hotel shook and teetered, threatening to fall in on itself and crush everyone who had sought out shelter within its walls. It was a truly frightening situation, but Jason tried to not let it bother him. For he didn't plan to stay within the safety of the hotel.
He was already running up the stairs from the cement lined basement when another powerful tremor rocked the area and he was tossed into the wall, smashing his ribs painfully into the metal handrail. He gasped in agony as he gripped his side with his free hand and forced himself to keep moving. He couldn't allow himself to get bogged down here.
It was the cell-phone in his hand that kept him moving. His sister had called him, the sound of tears in her voice, calling out to him for help. Apparently she and her friend had gotten trapped outside of the hotel when the storm started and they couldn't move. With the tremors still rocking the city and the heavy rain threatening to floor the whole area, Jason had no choice but to leave the safety of shelter and go in search of his normally mean and bossy sister. She wasn't even supposed to be here.
Two months earlier.
"Please!" Jason begged his mother, clasping his hands together and getting down on his knees like a priest offering thanks to God.
It was pretty embarrassing for a sixteen year old boy to have to beg on his knees like this, but Jason was left with no other choice. He wanted to go on this trip so bad. The only thing that stood in his way was his mother; his extremely over-protective and over-bearing mother who treated him like a child no matter how old he was.
"I've told you once and I will tell you a hundred times, I am not letting you go to some far off country alone!" his mother answered coldly as she dried some lettuce for a salad she was making to go along with dinner.
Jason's mother, Alana, was a beautiful young woman that one wouldn't think she had two teenage children. In fact she looked so young that she could easily pass for their older sister rather than their mother. The main reason for this was because she had been only a teenager when she had them, and even though she raised them on her own she never seemed to get grey hair or wrinkles from stress or worry. Which was something she did a lot; worrying that was. Mostly about Jason.
"But I won't be alone! It's a school trip! There'll be teachers and other students there! Please, mom!" he begged once more, trying his best to look as pathetic as he could. His pride could take a hit if it meant he succeeded.
"No, and I don't want to hear anymore about it! I don't care if there are teachers there. They will only look after everyone as a whole, whereas I would feel much better if you had someone specifically watching over you and you alone. So no means no! Now go wash up for dinner and set the table. Your sister should be home soon."
Jason didn't move at first; he just stood there and stared at his strict mother and tried to squeeze tears from his eyes. When he couldn't manage it he growled in the back of his throat and stalked off, doing the task he had been asked to do with little regard to how well he did it.
Dinner that night started out as a sour affair. Jason refused to look his mother in the eye and only answered her questions with simple and quick answers. He was mad at her and for good reason. However that all changed when his older sister, Susan, asked a very interesting question that caught Jason's attention completely.
"Mom," she started out with a cold tone, a normal sound when she spoke directly to their mother, "I've changed my mind. I want to go on that school trip."
Jason stared at his sister in surprise, trying to read her face to see if this was just another one of her nasty pranks on him. But he couldn't sense a lie in her eyes. Jason and Susan were twins, Susan being born only minutes before Jason. This was a fact she never let him forget. Their entire life she had always been the aggressive one, pulling pranks or hurting his feelings just because she could. To say they had a rocky relationship would be an understatement. It was more like she hated him and he could never figure out why. But as he looked at her then he couldn't help but feel thankful. She knew the condition of her going on this trip and she was willing to accept it, even if she didn't really like it.
"No you haven't," their mother said in a sweet manner. The glint in her eyes however was not sweet and Jason felt like another fight between the two of them could break out at any moment. "What could have possibly changed your mind so suddenly? Didn't you tell me a week ago that you wouldn't go on this trip with your brother even if someone paid you a million dollars?"
"I did," Susan answered and stared their mother directly in the eye, "but I have really changed my mind."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Tell me why. Or I won't consider what you say to be the truth."
"Because Amy is going and I think it would be fun if we could spend some time on a sandy beach somewhere. Regardless of my reason the fact that I want to go remains. That should be enough. Right?"
Their mother regarded her daughter thoughtfully for a moment and Jason feared the answer would still be no. Usually it would take an act of God for her to let Jason go anywhere if she wasn't there and here they were talking about travelling halfway across the world without her.
"And you agree to the conditions? That you will not let your brother out of your sight even for a moment and make sure he is kept safe and sound? Because without agreeing to that then the answer will always be no."
"I agree. If you want you can chain your precious little son to my wrist if it will make you happy."
"Fine. I will sign the permission slips and get a bank draft for both of you by Monday. Now eat up before the food gets cold. Especially you, Jason."
The further Jason travelled into the city of Athens the greater the destruction seemed to be. Buildings that had stood for hundreds of years had toppled, power-lines crackled and hissed on the ground like electrical snakes, and small European cars and scooters sat abandoned on the roads. It was like a warzone in the middle of one of the oldest cities on the planet.
The heavy rain had drenched him down to the bone and a cold shiver ran down his spine, but he wondered if it was caused by the rain or his fear. His sister was all alone out there, trapped somewhere and scared for her life. Even if they never got along he couldn't abandon his twin sister during a terrible catastrophe like this. He needed to find her and he needed to do it fast. It looked like this horrible storm was only getting worse as time passed.
His cell-phone was no use anymore. It seemed like the closer he got to the center of the city the worse his connection got. It was to the point that he couldn't even connect anymore and the device had become useless. If only Susan had told him exactly where she was hiding at, that way he wouldn't need to run through the rain and earthquakes yelling out her name in some foreign country like this. He needed a miracle. He needed the divine intervention of God if he ever hoped to find his sister in this storm. But after seeing the destruction all around him and the sound of strange sounding ambulances mixed with horrified cries for help in Greek in the air, Jason had trouble believing that that God would help him out.
"SUSAN!" he yelled at the top of his lungs once more as he turned down a narrow cobblestone alleyway. The sound of the rain was so loud though he didn't dare hope that his voice travelled more than half a block at most.
However a voice called back. Maybe not to him, but a voice had definitely called out. It was loud and thunderous, like a thunderclap was actually speaking. The sound of the voice sent chills throughout Jason's entire body and he fell to his knees, tears filling his eyes as some powerful and unexplained emotion gripped hold of his body. It was fear and awe. Supreme fear that accompanied a person when they were about to die, and amazing awe that one would only get from something beyond this world. He couldn't help but shiver as he cried on the ground.
"DIE!!"
One word. Three letters. It was all it took for Jason to collapse onto his chest and his eyes to blur. How could a word cause so much pain in his body? It felt like he had been lit on fire and even the cold rain falling on him had suddenly started to feel like drops of acid against his sensitive skin. He could feel his heart beginning to slow down and he knew that he was dying. He knew that it was a single word that was killing him. It reverberated through his skull like a tennis ball and every time he heard it internally he could feel more of his life get snipped away. Just what in the hell was going on?
'Am I really going to die here? In a puddle in some foreign alley?' he thought to himself. A cloud of darkness deeper than any ocean clouded his mind and he could no longer see his surroundings, but he knew he was face down in a deep puddle in the middle of a ruined alley as earthquakes and lightning crashed and roared around him. Laying there it almost felt like he was in the middle of some kind of war.
No. He couldn't allow himself to die there. He didn't know why, he just knew that he had to keep living. Even if his mother treated him like a baby. Even if his sister treated him like trash. Even if he ate lunch every day at school by himself in the classroom. None of that mattered. There was still something he had to do. He just didn't know what it was.
With all the strength in his weakened body he pushed himself off the dirty ground and onto his hands and knees. Cold rainwater dripped through his hair and stung his tired eyes, but he forced them to remain open. He was afraid that if he blinked it would be over for him. His nails dug painfully into the pavement and a defiant roar ripped through his lungs and into the noise polluted air as he suddenly flung himself up, coming unsteadily to his feet. With all the balance and strength he could muster he took one small step forward. And then another. And another. After that it wasn't long until he was running through the streets once more.
The fear was still in his blood and bones but he knew that if he gave into it he would die a horrible and lonely death. So he pushed those thoughts from his mind and pressed on, not sure where he was going. He didn't know the landscape and had trouble reading the few street signs that still stood. Still, he knew that even if he had no clue as to where he was going he was still headed in the right direction. Whether that be towards his sister or something else entirely.
Powerful thunder rumbled in the sky and sheet lightning rippled above, cascading the dark city with a meager amount of light that lasted only a fraction of a second. The moment the light faded back into darkness the ground rumbled once more and Jason was tossed into the side of an abandoned car hard. Suddenly a sharp pain flared in his left wrist and he cried out in pain so terrible that he felt like he was about to pass out.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself he looked down and couldn't suppress the cry of fear that passed over his lips. His wrist was bright with the color of crimson blood and a long and wide gash had slashed his pale skin deep. Every time his heart beat he could visibly see the blood spill out more and his entire arm had gone both numb and cold. He knew enough about anatomy and had seen many drama's to know that this would kill him if he didn't stop the bleeding. It was a popular way to commit suicide after all.
Jason ripped off a strip from his drenched shirt and wrapped it tightly around his wrist, gritting his teeth through the pain. Instantly the white clothe was stained with blood and the sight made him queasy. He couldn't look at it anymore. So he put it down at his side and gripped around his elbow tightly, hoping to slow the blood down and buy him some more time. He knew he needed to find a doctor or paramedic fast, but the strange sensation of his destination calling out to him was pulling at his mind and he couldn't continue to ignore it. He was compelled. He needed to get there and it needed to be fast.
He limped down the street as the world around him continued to crumble into oblivion. Ancient monuments that had once held his interest lay in ruins and he didn't give them another thought. Even a statue of Athena, the patron God of Athens that had once captivated him lay on the ground in pieces and he simply stepped over them. He was close. Very close and it could feel a sense of both dread and excitement rise up within his belly. He knew that he was probably walking to his death, but he had to keep going no matter what. He was being called. Not by any person, or anything tangible. It was just something he knew deep down in his soul.
"You pathetic fool! You think you can defeat me so easily?!" the thunder like voice rang through the air once more and, just like last time, Jason fell to his knees and covered his ears against the horrible noise. Fresh tears stained his cheeks now and he visibly shook as he sat in the middle of a wide street with shopping centers on either side.
The greatest damage had been done here. Entire buildings had been crushed and the red tinge of blood from unknown victims mingled with and was diluted by the rain water. Cars too had been crushed, almost like something had stepped on or fallen on them. Some had small fires while others were barely recognizable. The sights and smell of this street were so powerful that Jason couldn't help but vomit into a puddle, the horrible taste staining his tongue and making him want to throw up all over again.
"You are done! Accept your fate and kneel before me!" another terrible voice called out. This voice was unlike the first. While it was loud and horrible it was also filled entirely with rage and glee. It almost sounded psychotic and it frightened Jason more than the first.
Just when he thought things couldn't get worse they suddenly did. A horrible and loud sound like an explosion ripped through the street and a projectile crashed into a still mostly standing building twenty feet away. Ruined clothes that had once been expensive garments flew into the air as the store imploded, a cloud of dust exploding into the air. The shock of the strike was so powerful that Jason suddenly found himself laying on his back, his head killing him and a dull ringing in his ears.
"What... the hell?" Jason mumbled as he pulled himself up.
Looking out at where the store had once stood all he could see was a crater. Rubble littered the street and some still rained down from the heavens, smashing into and crushing cars, windows, and even other buildings. Jason really had no idea what was going on but he did know that he was right where he was supposed to be. This is where his body and mind had been leading him and he still didn't know why. He was almost killed. Yet he still couldn't bring himself to run away. All thoughts of trying to find his sister had fled his mind.
As Jason continued to stare at the crater he was surprised to find movement among the cloud of wet dust that clung to the electricity filled air. The smell of burnt ozone permeated every inch of the street and for some reason Jason knew it was coming from whatever it was that was moving. He desperately wanted to see the form of this thing and he didn't have to wait long. A few seconds later a man crawled out of the rubble and out onto the street.
No, it wasn't a man. Even though he looked like one, Jason knew he was looking at something entirely different. The man probably stood around six and a half feet tall and was covered in muscle. He had long grey hair and a long grey beard that smoked in places, like someone had taken a lighter to it. The clothes he wore looked horribly out of date and would usually only be seen in movies. It was a long and billowing white robe trimmed in gold thread with a small eagle on the right shoulder. Even though it appeared to be simple cloth Jason had trouble believing that. He had just been thrown into a building and there wasn't so much as a cut in the robe. In fact it looked brand new and never worn.
"Stay down, you old fool!" the second voice laughed manically from down the street and Jason's eyes switched to the newcomer. What he saw in this fellow was even more disturbing than the first.
While the first person looked like a man approaching seventy, the new person wasn't a person at all. Not even in appearance. He stood on two... paws? Yes, those were definitely giant paws. His entire body was covered in thick and coarse looking black fur and he had the head of a lion. On top of his head he wore some kind of odd crown that was adorned with four tail feathers from some kind of exotic bird. His mouth was filled with rows of razor sharp teeth and drool covered his black haired chin, dripping down like some kind of menacing animal. However the most terrifying aspect of this strange creature was the giant black and gold spear he held in his hands. It was easily ten feet long and looked heavier than one could imagine. It glinted in the lightning rippling overhead and a strange aura surrounded it.
"You have not defeated me yet, Anhur!" the old looking man proclaimed and defiantly got to his feet. His fists were balled and Jason couldn't sense even a fraction of fear in his form. He was facing some kind of monster and yet he didn't fear for his life. Actually, it almost seemed like he was enjoying himself.
"Look at yourself, Zeus! You can barely stand! You, the King of Olympus has been beaten to within an inch of his life by me! What say you?"
A strong gust of wind tore through the air and Jason couldn't help but feel that it was coming from these two warriors. They stood toe to toe, staring into the souls of one another with nothing but joy in their hearts and souls. Even if Jason were asked to explain what he was witnessing later he doubted he could ever find the words to use. It was simply amazing. Beyond this world even.
"Lightning, heed your master and smite my enemy! For I am Zeus, ruler of Olympus and chief Deity of these lands!" the man who called himself Zeus roared to the heavens and a powerful and large bolt of lightning ripped through the sky and struck the lion-man with enough explosive power to level nearby buildings in an instant.
The lion-man, Anhur, simply held his spear to the sky and absorbed the bolt of lightning. With a flourish of the massive weapon he sent smaller bolts of electricity flying in all directions like grenades, destroying cars and buildings with little regard. On his face he wore a triumphant smile and his eyes bore holes into Zeus.
"You grow weak, Zeus! Let's end this, shall we?" Anhur snarled and threw his giant black and gold spear directly at him.
In the blink of an eye, too fast for Jason to see what was happening, the spear cut through the air like a bird and struck Zeus directly in the chest and felling him. With a loud thud the tall and muscular man with the grey hair and beard toppled over as the spear struck home. In the very next instant the spear, which was attached to a chain, was pulled free and returned to its masters hands like it had never left.
"You fought bravely to save your lands from my influence, but lost like the dog you truly are! With my presence war will come to this land and I will watch as it is torn asunder. Die knowing that there is nothing you can do to stop this coming disaster, Mighty Zeus!" Anhur proclaimed with a wicked grin and slung his spear over his wide and powerful shoulders.
All Jason could do was sit there in fear and watch on as these two behemoths fought. He was rooted to the spot and his legs refused to move, no matter how hard he struggled. When Zeus fell for the final time he couldn't help but openly weep, and he knew not why. Was he brought here just to witness this event? Was his destiny tied to this one spot where these two titans would face off, with the fate of Greece or even all of Europe on the line? No, he couldn't think that was true. He was here for something else. And the longer he stared at Zeus's prone figure the more he began to realize what it was he needed to do.
"Get up..." he breathed lightly, barely more than a whisper. But it was more than he needed. Both warriors heard his plea even through the distance. "Get up... now!"
"A mortal? Here?" Anhur mused and scratched his chin with a clawed finger with a raised eyebrow. "You are no mere mortal, are you? How did you get through the barrier? I do not sense a soul other than yours residing within your body! Answer me!"
Jason ignored the strange beasts request and focused entirely on the nearly dead man lying in the street. With the meager amount of strength still in his bones he began to crawl towards him. He dragged his knees through the rubble and dirty water as fresh wounds came to his fleshy body. He cared nothing about the pain anymore. He needed to help. He needed to fight.
No. He wanted to fight. The desire was as strong as he had ever felt, and for a meek boy who was always protected he reveled in that sense. He wanted to break his hands smashing that monsters face. He wanted to crack his teeth biting him. He wanted to bloody his shins by kicking him. He wanted to give everything he had and leave nothing on the table. He wanted to feel alive!
"Get up. Get up and fight!" he said through the sound of heavy rain as he neared his target.
"Flee, mortal. I am defeated and cannot protect you," Zeus explained, but Jason continued to move towards him.
"You're not dead yet... and neither am I. Let's fight him, together!"
A profound silence fell on the broken and shattered street and Jason knew, without knowing, that he had just said something important. He could feel it in his blood that his words had just changed everything. That they had just changed the world. Zeus, who had been lying on his back, suddenly stood up with great effort and turned to face the young mortal boy before him with a glimmer of hope in his venerable eyes.
"Do you know what you ask for? If I join my soul to yours, you will die a horrible and very painful death. Not even my blessing can prevent that," Zeus explained. But it was something Jason had already figured out and he nodded. "What is your name, child?"
"Jason... Jason Mitchell."
"Jason, a fine name I have heard before. Jason, son of Aeson and leader of the Argonauts. A comrade to my son, Heracles. So be it, Jason Mitchell. I will tie my soul to yours and together we will vanquish our enemy. I will etch your name into my heart where it will live for the rest of time!"
Zeus approached Jason and for the first time he was able to see the wound left by the spear. A large gaping hole cut through his chest right where his heart should have been and golden blood dripped from it, staining his ever white robes. When he was within reaching distance, Zeus reached out and touched a warm and hard hand to his forehead.
"Jason Mitchell from lands unknown, we will become one. Your service to mankind will not go unknown."
Blinding white hot pain tore though Jason's entire body and his back arched as if he had been touched by electricity. He could see nothing but white and gold as his eyes clouded over and his brain could do nothing but focus on the terrible pain coursing through him. He wanted to cry out, to scream at the top of his lungs, but his body wouldn't respond.
The pain and torment felt like it went on for an eternity, but eventually the peace of unconsciousness seeped into his mind and body and he lost track of everything. But it didn't last. Sounds, flickers of color, and horrible voices assaulted his senses as he remained on the verge of death. There was a fight; a terrible clash. He could sometimes feel his body moving but he didn't know what he was doing. He only knew that one of the terrible voices he was hearing in his ears was his own. It was loud and powerful, like the sound of thunder, and extremely happy. He could feel that joy coursing through his blood and bones and he knew that he was enjoying this fight, even if he didn't know what was happening.
However it didn't last for very long. Soon after he started to feel these things he also realized he had lost them. He fell into the blackness and was swallowed up by it. Time, pain, hope, fear, sadness, and even duty were mere shadows to him now and he knew this was the end. His last thought inevitably turned towards his family. Was his sister alright and how mad would his mother be? After that was nothing. Complete and utter darkness that could never exist in the real world.