Read the first chapter of The Hidden Oracle below
Many punches in the face
I wanted to decimate all
Be deadly, that bag!
MY NAME IS APOLLO. I was a god.
In my 4612 years did a lot of things. punished with a plague that the Greeks besieged Troy. Babe Ruth blessed with three home runs in the fourth game of the World 1926. I poured my anger against Britney Spears Video Music Awards 2007.
But in my immortal life, I had never made a hard landing in
a dumpster.
Not sure how it happened.
I only know that when I woke up was falling. Skyscrapers turned, appearing and disappearing from my view. Flames came out of my body. I tried to fly. I tried to turn cloud, teleport me to another place, making thousands of other things that should be easy for me, but I just kept falling. I fell in a narrow space between two buildings and BAM!
Is there anything sadder than the sound of a god crashing against a
pile of plastic bags filled with trash?
I was there moaning and suffering. My nostrils burned with the stench of spoiled bologna and used diapers. My ribs seemed broken,
though it should not be possible.
My mind was restless and confused, but a memory came to light - the voice of my father, Zeus: YOUR FAULT. YOUR PUNISHMENT
Only then I understand what happened to me. And I cried in despair.
If I, who am the god of poetry, was not able to describe what I felt
at that time, as you mere mortals could understand? Imagine having
his clothes torn and being hit by a jet of water in front of a crowd laughing. Imagine freezing water filling his mouth and his
lungs, hurting the skin, turning his knuckles in an amorphous mass.
Imagine feeling helpless, embarrassed, completely vulnerable, naked public and brutally everything that makes you be you. My humiliation was worse than that.
YOUR FAULT, resounded the voice of Zeus in my head.
- No! - I cried, heartbroken. - Is not true! Please!
Silence. Around me, rusted fire escapes zigzagged
facade above, covered by gray winter sky and pitiless.
I tried to remember the details of my sentence. My father went on to say how long this punishment would last? What should I do to fall again in thanks of it?
My memory was complete chaos. I could hardly remember what
It was the appearance of Zeus, much less why he decided to dump me on Earth. There was a war with the Giants, something. The gods were caught unawares, they were humiliated and almost defeated.
But one thing I was sure: my out unjust punishment. Zeus needed to blame someone, and of course choose the most beautiful god,
talented and popular of the Pantheon: I.
I lay in the trash, looking at the label on the inside of the bucket:
FOR COLLECTING, CALL 1-555-STINK.
Zeus will reconsider, I told myself. He's just trying to give me a
scare. At any time, you will take me back to Olympus and get me out, not before giving me a moral lesson.
- It's ... - My voice sounded empty and desperate. - And that's it.
I tried to get up. I wanted to be standing when Zeus appeared to ask
apologies. My ribs throbbed. My stomach tightened. held the edge of the bucket and managed to drag me out. I fell on top one shoulder, which hit the asphalt with a bang.
- Ouuch. - I whimpered in pain. - Get up. Get up.
Standing was not easy. My head was spinning. I almost fainted
with the effort. I looked around and saw that I was in a dead end.
Literally. The fifteen meters, was a street with dirty windows that
housed the office of a bail agent and a pawnshop. I was somewhere in the west of Manhattan, assumed, or perhaps in Crown Heights,
Brooklyn. Zeus should even be very angry with me.
I inspected my new body. I appeared to be a caucasian teenager
male, wearing sneakers, jeans and a green polo shirt. Much not funny. I felt nauseous, weak and so, so human.
I'll never understand how you mortals, tolerate it. You go through life all trapped in a sack of meat, unable to enjoy the pleasures more simple as turning into a hummingbird or dissolve into pure light. And now, heaven help me, I was one of you, just a bag
meat in the universe.
Rummaged in his pockets, hoping to still be with the key to my
chariot of the sun. Nothing. I found a cheap nylon wallet with hundred dollars (money for my first lunch as mortal, perhaps) and
a provisional driver's license in the state of New York with a picture of a goofy teenager curly hair that no way could be me,named Lester Papadopoulos. The cruelty of Zeus knew no bounds!
I looked inside the bucket, hoping that my bow, my quiver and my
lyre had fallen to earth with me. I would be already happy just with my harmonica.There was nothing.
I took a deep breath. Cheer up, I told myself. I have kept some of
my divine skills. Things could be worse.
A hoarse voice shouted:
- Hey, Cade, take a look at that sucker!
There were two young people blocking the alley exit: a stocky with platinum blonde hair, the other tall and red-haired. Both wore sweatshirts and baggy pants. To complete, had his neck covered in tattoos. All that remained was the word OFFENDER written in bold letters on the forehead of each.
The redhead stuck looking at the wallet that was in my hand.
- Take it easy, Mikey. The guy here looks pretty nice. - He smiled and pulled one belt hunting knife. - In fact, I bet he wants to give all
his money for us, isn't it?
* * *
I blame my bewilderment at what happened next.
I knew my immortality had been taken from me, but I still considered the mighty Apollo! It is impossible to change the way of thinking with ease with which one can say, become a Snow Leopard.
Moreover, in previous times when Zeus punished me making me
mortal (yes, it has happened twice more), I kept my strength
outsized and at least part of my divine powers. I assumed that this timealso it would be.
I would not allow two deadly ruffians would lead to Lester Papadopoulos' wallet.
So I straightened all and hoped that Cade and Mikey stay
intimidated before my actual stance and divine beauty (qualities that never could be taken from me, regardless of what the photo showed in driver's license). I ignored the hot slurry from the hopper, which ran down my neck.
- I am Apollo - announced. - You mortals have three choices: you can make a tribute to me, run away or can be destroyed.
I wanted my words echoed through the alley, shake off the New York buildings and do the heavens rained smoking disgrace. None of this happened. When I uttered the word destroyed, my voice failed.
Cade, the red-haired boy grinned even wider. I thought about how it would be fun if I could do the tattoos snake around his neck
to life and strangle him to death.
- What do you think, Mikey? - He asked his friend. - We must
honor this guy?
Mikey scowled. With ruffled blond hair, small and cruel eyes and the body stocky, he remembered the monster that terrorized nut
Calydon in the good old days.
- I'm not much to do homage today, Cade. - His voice sounded like someone who ate lit cigarettes. - What were the other options
same?
- To run away? - Cade said.
- No - replied Mikey.
- To be destroyed?
Mikey laughed with derision.
- How about we destroy him, then?
Cade threw the knife into the air and grabbed the cord.
- I like that idea. Come on?
I put my wallet in my back pocket. I raised fists. I did not think it would be fine butchering mortals to turn meatloaf, but he was sure that it would not be a problem for me. Even in my weakened state, I would much stronger than any human.
- I told you - I said. - My powers are beyond the understanding of
you.
Mikey snapped his fingers.
- Yup.
He jumped forward.
When I was close, I advanced. I put all my anger that punch. It should have been enough to vaporize Mikey and leave a mark in the form of delinquent on asphalt.
But he bent down, which was very annoying.
I staggered forward. Let's agree that when Prometheus prepared
you humans using clay, made a working pig. Deadly legs are
ungainly. I tried to compensate and use my endless reserves of agility, but Mikey gave me a kick in the back. I fell and hit my divine face on the ground.
My nostrils flared as if they were air bags. My ears popped. A coppery taste flooded my mouth. I rolled over, grunting, and saw the two offenders fogged looking at me.
- Mikey - Cade said - you are realizing the power of this guy?
- No - he replied Mikey. - I'm not understanding.
- Fools! - I groaned. - I will destroy you!
- Oh, of course it will. - Cade threw the knife away. - But I think before we end up with you.
The boy raised his boot well above my face, and the world went black.
Do not waste time, buy and read this book to find out more about "The Trials of Apollo."
Published by Wes
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