4

After sitting on the log, staring off into space, Keith got to his feet and slowly made out of the forest.

He started looking around for Mason, but spotted Zeus talking with the other gods, and he raced toward him.

Keith tugged on his arm.

Zeus peered down at him. He excused himself from the other gods, and Keith pulled him over to the side.

"I need to ask you a question about the quest."

Zeus nodded. "I'm listening."

"Um..why'd you pick me? I'm new here, and there are a lot of other kids who are much more experienced than I am." Keith rubbed the back of his neck.

"Why do you think I'm sending Mason with you?"

Keith sighed. "I know, but he said something about Caleb. How he left him, and it's still bothering him."

Zeus massaged his nose. "Ah, yes, Caleb. I forgot about their relationship. I might have to go speak with Mason. Convince him to go." Zeus placed a hand on Keith's shoulder. "As for you, son, you must go to your chambers and get as much rest as possible."

Keith opened his mouth to protest, but Zeus gave him a stern look, and Keith sighed.

"Alright, Alright."

Keith turned away from Zeus and headed toward his bedroom. He opened the door, and Owen was sitting on the floor in front of the TV, playing a racing game.

Owen beamed at him. "Hey, Keith. Are you excited about the quest?"

"Dunno." Keith sat down on his bed and kicked off his shoes.

After Owen crashed his car into a tree, he paused the game and turned towards him with a worried expression on his face. "Is something the matter?"

"I guess I'm worried. I've never done this before. What if I don't even survive? Or if I freeze up and my friends get killed?"

Owen put down the remote and plopped next to Keith on the bed. "You know, a wise person once told me that worrying doesn't solve problems, just gives you gas."

"I don't know what wise person told you that." Keith snorted.

"Look, you'll be ok. Mason's going to be there, right?"

That was the other thing that was bothering him, how Mason just jumped up and left him alone. He hadn't done anything, had he?

Keith shrugged. "I don't know about Mason. But, thanks for the wise advice."

"Anytime, my friend." Owen jumped down from the bed. "If you're going to have trouble falling asleep, I have a friend who can help."

Keith scowled. "It doesn't involve a lullaby, does it?"

"Not at all!" Owen turned toward the door. "I'm gonna go get him."

Before Keith could protest, Owen had already left.

Keith groaned and flopped onto his back, and looked up at the ceiling. He was trying to remember what he did wrong to cause Mason to run off.

He only remembered giving him the necklace. Had he made an expression with his face, perhaps?

His door opened, and Owen had returned with an older kid around 12.

The boy waved. "Hey. My name's Valentino." he looked around the room. "Nice place you got."

"Owen?" Keith hissed.

Owen waved him off. "Don't worry. He's gonna help you fall asleep."

Valentino popped his knuckles and shook out his arms. Then he stood over Keith and placed his fingers on the sides of his head.

"You appear to be worried about someone. You believe you've hurt their feelings?" Valentino raised an eyebrow.

Keith's eyes widen. "What-?

"It's alright. I'm not going to look through all of your thoughts." Valentino murmured. "Relax."

Keith sighed.

"Alright, here goes," Valentino muttered. He placed an index finger on his forehead, and Keith fell into a deep sleep.

He was sitting at the dining room table, scribbling on some paper in Mr. and Mrs. Powell's house, when a knock came at the door.

Trinity was sitting beside him, reading a book.

They both turned toward the door when Mr. Powell went to answer it.

"Can I help you?"

The man muttered something in return, and Mr. Powell glanced back at Keith and Trinity. "Are you sure this is a good idea, sir? He might not believe you."

This time, Keith and Trinity heard the man's response. "It'll be alright, Mr. Powell. He'll be too young to remember this anyhow."

Mrs. Powell exits the kitchen and gives her husband a concerned look. "Sweety, what is it?"

Her husband turned toward her. "It's him."

Keith turned toward Mrs. Powell with a confused look on his face. "Mommy? What's going on? Who is that?"

Mrs. Powell smiled sadly at him. "It'll be alright, honey. It's your biological father. Trinity, come with me."

Trinity gaped at her. "But mum!"

"Now, Trinity. Don't make me repeat myself."

Trinity snatched up her book and followed her mother into the kitchen, slamming the door behind them. When they had gone, Mr. Powell invited the man inside.

He wore a jacket, a dark blue shirt with lightning bolts, jeans, and tennis shoes. His hair was black and pulled back into a slick tail.

Keith looked over at Mr. Powell. "Daddy? Who is that?"

Mr. Powell picked him up from the chair and brought him over to the couch. "He's going to explain everything to you, alright?" he pointed toward the kitchen door. "I'll be in there if you need anything, alright?"

Keith looked up at him with wide eyes. "Don't leave me, daddy!"

"Don't worry, you'll be alright."

Mr. Powell gave his hand a squeeze before scurrying away into the kitchen.

The man sat down on the couch opposite him. "I suppose this is a bit frightening. Apologies if I've frightened you."

Keith said nothing.

"I suppose I should introduce myself. I'm your father, Zeus. And you're my son."

"Mr. Powell is my daddy. I don't know you." Keith replied, folding his arms.

Zeus sighed. "Of course, you wouldn't remember me. Your mother and I had to send you away when you were an infant."

"So, why are you taking an interest in me now?"

"Because, ten years from now, we're going to bring you back home. A great war is coming and you, my son have an important part to play. I don't know why, but you do." Zeus took his coat and pulled it back on. "You won't even remember this conversation, but I needed to tell you."

Keith tried to spit out the remark that was sitting on his tongue, but it wouldn't come.

Zeus gave him a grandfatherly smile. "It was a pleasure to see you."

The dream changed, and Keith was standing behind a pillar in a courtyard.

He saw two giants standing in the middle of it. They appeared to be in a heated argument.

"Have you lost your mind? You'll be going against Kronus's wishes." the giant in bronze armor hissed. "You'll get us both killed."

"Yes, but if we take out this child who's supposedly the only one who can defeat Kronus, we'll be able to defeat the gods and destroy them all." the second giant hissed. He was wearing silver armor.

The first giant shook his head. "I do agree it would help us win the war, but Kronus gave us instructions not to harm the boy yet."

For some reason, Keith got the feeling they were talking about him.

"That doesn't mean we can't try to slow him down on this quest."

The first giant shook his head again. "You know that this is a bad idea. You know your idea of slowing someone down is to kill them, and you know where that'd get us?" the first giant held up his hand. "It'd get us killed by Kronus himself."

"Pah. Kronus would be pleased."

"Suit yourself, but I'm not helping you."

Something moved off in the distance, and Keith squinted his eyes, trying to see who it was.

Caleb was poking his head around another pillar, trying to listen to what the giants were saying. Caleb spotted him and gasped, then covered his mouth.

The first giant turned toward Keith and sneered. "Look, Ephialtes, we have a guest."

Keith's eyes widen, and he looked over for Caleb again, but the boy was gone. He took a shaky step back and ran into another pillar.

Ephialtes turned toward him and raised his fist, bringing it down to crush him.

Keith screamed.

He sat up in his bed drenched in sweat.

Owen and Valentino were n longer in his room. He glanced out the window and saw that it was dark out. Keith wasn't sure how long he'd been sleeping, but he guessed he'd been out for two hours.

He threw off his covers and slipped into his shoes. He opened his door and poked his head out in the hall. Seeing no one, he closed the door behind him and went down to the lobby.

Hestia was sitting in front of the fireplace, flipping through a book. She looked up when Keith entered.

"Hello, Keith. Couldn't sleep?"

Keith shrugged and sat down next to her. "No, I just had a weird dream." he ran his hands through his hair.

After a moment, he told her what he saw and heard, and she frowned slightly.

"That's the fifth time I've heard that dream." she shook her head. "I've been trying to tell your father, but he won't listen, claiming that it's just a nightmare."

"So, was that a real event?"

Hestia nodded. "Yes. But I don't recall anyone seeing Caleb. Those two giants are very dangerous. I ask that you keep an eye out for them. They'll attack when you least expect it."

"I will, Lady Hestia."

Hestia tossed the book onto the coffee table. "I'm going to have a conversation with Zeus."

Keith watched her leave, slamming the door behind her. He sighed, got to his feet, and ran up to his room to grab his sword.

Since he had nothing else to do, he decided to go into the training room and practice the moves Mason taught him.