Alex sat at the end of a wooden pier, feet dangling in the water and Euryale’s head resting on his shoulder. For the past year they’d spent the end of each day this way, and as far as he was concerned, they could spend the end of the next thousand the same.
“What do you want to do tomorrow?” she asked.
“Odysseus wants to try and get that new hydra,” he replied. “I think I’ll pass, though. Thought we could slip out and see your dad. It’s been a bit.”
“He’d like that.” Euryale snuggled into him further. “I would, too.”
“Still have some jerky for Cerberus? We’ll need to bribe him as usual.”
Euryale laughed. She put a hand over her mouth and tried to stop, but was unsuccessful.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Alex turned to his wife. “What? C’mon, tell me.”
“Heroes can leave whenever they want,” she said. “It’s just sort of a joke played on the newcomers, see how long it takes them to figure it out.”
“No…”
“Yes.”
“But Heracles, Achilles, Perseus—”
“Are never always around when you go looking for them, are they?” Euryale interjected with a smile.
“Well, it’s a big island…” Alex shook his head before he laughed and hit the pier with the bottom of his fist. “Son of a bitch. We can really go whenever we like?”
“Pretty much, as long as we keep things lowkey.”
“Well, I’m really, really glad to hear that,” said a familiar voice from behind.
Alex twisted in place to see Jessica standing a few paces away. Her hair, pulled back in a ponytail, looked like it hadn’t been washed in a week. Dirt clung to portions of her skin, and a few bruises showed as well. Her tank top, khaki shorts and hiking boots had all seen better days, too. Despite all this, Alex leapt to his feet and ran over to her. “Jessica! It’s so great to see you! How have you been?”
“Never better,” she said. “Got home last year and became rich and famous with all those pictures I’d taken. People are still trying to wrap their heads around the gods showing up, but getting in on the action from the start has been lucrative, to say the least. A wee bit dangerous, too, I might add.”
Alex’s shoulders fell, and he cursed. “Oh damn. You’re dead, aren’t you?”
“No,” she said, laughing. “I’m not quite dead, yet. Got a little spell of protection from all things gorgon cast on me courtesy of The Old Man. That said, I need help from the both of you—if you’re up to it.”
Alex glanced back at his smiling wife who gave an encouraging nod. “I hope this doesn’t involve us going to war with Ares.”
“Nope. But by the time this is over, you might wish we were.”