First Flight

"Both of you, take your seats," the god ordered, limping past them. "I am sure you know which is which."

The trio glanced at one another before turning to Hephaestus. The god had already stopped in his tracks and was swiveling round to face them. Jack could make out heavy bags under his eyes and see the fatigue on his face

"You," he said pointing at Jack. Then he pointed at Newt, "And you. Get up on your thrones." He stared hard at both of them. "That is if you are the hosts of Zeus and Poseidon. Just get up there, they will explain what is to come."

"And what happens to me?" Sharina butt in, lifting her brow quizzically.

He looked at her and turned back around, heading towards two massive golden doors. "Follow me host of Hades. Your throne isn't here."

He shoved the doors open, letting in an immense white light that felt like it could've fried Jack's brain if he didn't look away.

"I'll see you boys later," Sharina said, a hand over her eyes. "Try not to get yourselves killed again."

Giving them a mock salute, she slowly walked after Hephaestus, shielding her eyes till she was out of the throne room. The doors slammed shut on their own behind her, leaving Jack and Newt alone.

"Girl follows the giant man into the light," Newt said, breaking the silence. "Seems like a decent headline on newspapers tomorrow."

"And the both of us?" Jack sneered. "Two teenagers wander into a throne room and crushed by its inhabitants?"

Newt grunted. "Two boys fall to their deaths while trying to climb thirty-foot thrones."

"You're crazy," Jack said, the duo walking towards their two thrones.

"Crazy smart you mean."

Rolling his eyes, Jack approached the massive throne in the far-middle of the room. He stepped on the stars and several galaxies before finally making it to Zeus' throne. Looking up at the gold chair, he wondered how exactly he was going to make it all the way to the top. Glancing back, he was shocked to see Newt already on the throne, eyes shut and trident gleaming in his left hand. Concluding Sharina might have already gotten through whatever she was going through, he clenched his teeth.

"Alright Zeus," he muttered. "I need your help up there."

"You mortals really are retarded," Zeus said. "You take off the amulet, almost get your worthless self get killed and now you have the audacity to ask me for help?"

"Look I said I was sorry okay?"

"Sorry won't cover up the time you so recklessly wasted," the god snapped. "I will make this experience excruciatingly painful for you mortal."

Jack forced back a comment. "So how do I get up?"

"You must fly of course," Zeus curtly replied.

"And how do I fly?"

"It is quite simple, summon the master bolt," the god instructed.

Holding out his hands in front of him, Jack willed the six-foot rod into his two palms. It instantly materialized, shimmering out of nowhere like an apparition. The spear crackled as electricity jumped off it, its glow brighter than before. Jack had missed the warm feeling of the bolt in his hands.

"For now you will have to use the rod to ground my power," Zeus said. "Seeing as you can't fully handle a mere pint of my godly powers yet."

"Okay, how do I fly?" Jack held the staff in his hands, growing restless. The surge of power he was feeding off was exhilarating.

"Your impatience would only lead you to your unfortunate demise," Zeus warned. "If you want to glide to my throne, you must simply gather the winds around your body and propel yourself up."

Jack froze in confusion. "I don't think I understood that."

"Of course your ape brain would not be able to grasp such a simple concept. I will put it neanderthal terms, mortal," he said the word 'mortal' with a slight viciousness. "Breathe in and imagine yourself floating. Then imagine yourself flawlessly gliding towards the thrones' seat."

Still in a state of confusion, but understanding the big picture Jack shut his eyes. He didn't have to worry about a distraction this time, because Zeus was blanking him and he was in a stress-free environment. He squeezed his fingers around the master bolt and tried to 'imagine' himself being picked up by nothing and carried to the seat of the throne.

For what was probably five minutes, nothing happened.

Gather the winds, Jack thought, recalling Zeus' advice. How do you gather air?

Breathing steadily, he decided to draw exaggerated breaths. Inhaling deeply and exhaling violently, Jack pictured himself lifted off his feet. He imagined each breath served as propulsion, each exhales carrying him up into the air.

"I see your maple seed-sized brain managed to pull this simple task off," Zeus noted. "Just keep your eyes closed and focus on the seat."

Feeling light, Jack felt himself ascending diagonally. He let out a shaky breath, leading to a slight drop, but he quickly adjusted his breathing and ignored the fact he was about to fly twenty feet further than he ever had.

In less than thirty seconds, he felt himself descending slowly. Touching his feet down on a twelve-inch wide seat, he ceased his heavy breathing and opened his eyes. Before him were all the other thrones. All in his perfect view. Little wonder Zeus was an arrogant nut in the myths. Feeling the power pump through his legs, Jack could sense the absolute control and command Zeus held. And it felt incredible.

"Sit down," Zeus said, but Jack could swear he heard a light sniffle. "That deformed blacksmith did a good job yet again."

Sitting down, Jack felt like an ant. As he tried to rest his back against the chair, he realized it was similar to him sitting on the ground. His legs lay flat on the seat.

"Now, I can run you through my memories without frying your weak mortal brain."

Jack was relieved, not by the insult, but by the fact, Zeus had resumed his normal slandering.

"Why couldn't you before?" Jack wondered aloud.

"Like my master bolt, the throne also absorbs a great amount of my power before it rips you to shreds. Think of it as a lightning rod. It takes a full electric blast and sends it into the ground, neutralizing whatever devastating effect it could have had."

"Uhun," Jack mumbled, his mind wandering back to a physics class he had years ago on 'electricity'.

If Zeus could roll his eyes or glare, Jack was sure he would, because when the god spoke next, he had irritation latched onto his voice.

"Close your eyes boy. It is about time you learned what you are up against."