Out of all the Gods and Goddesses Athena knew, she knew no one was more of a predictable God than Hades, a fact she knew solely because Orion was always trying to get the man to ‘live a little’ outside of his job.
The fact he was missing could not bode well.
Athena dialed up Calliope immediately.
“Where the hell have you been? she asked, her voice full of concern.
“With Brian.” Athena did not bother with pleasantries or hiding the truth.
“Mars and I found something,” she said with a heavy sigh.
“What is it?”
“Have you ever seen a diviner?” Calliope asked.
Athena couldn’t recall ever seeing one herself, but she’d heard of them. She’d known several Gods that used the diving crystals to match humans and creatures alike with their ‘soulmates’.
Though she wasn’t certain the rocks actually worked, or if they were all for show.
“No. Magic isn’t really my department.” She heard the sounds of a waking Brian down the hall.
“Well, thing is, it’s one of the only items that can break through a curse by fate.”
Athena could feel the presence of Brian as he entered the room. A part of her knew she should tell the others how much he knew. After all, he was a human and it wasn’t often Goddesses like herself shared such secrets. Humans couldn’t always be trusted with such important information, but she also knew by the tone in Calliope’s voice, something else was wrong. Something she wasn’t saying, and that was more alarming than the fact she’d fallen head over heels for a human.
Brian wrapped his arms around her from behind, planting a kiss on her shoulder and making her insides light up.
Her legs started to feel like jelly again and she took a seat on the open chair she’d been leaning on, whilst Brian went about opening and shutting the fridge and multiple cupboards. The distinct sizzle of butter hitting a skillet made her stomach flip with hunger.
“What aren’t you telling me, Callie?” she asked boldly.
“Mars has to find his mate for the curse to be broken. The easiest way to do that is to find a diviner.”
“So where do we get one?” she asked, not seeing why this was so worrisome. It sounded like a solution to her.
“That’s the problem. There was one in Hell’s Archives, which only a few people have access to, including—”
“Hades.” Athena stilled. Hades was missing, and he was the only person she knew with clearance to Hell’s Archives.
“What about Heaven?” she asked as Brian cracked some eggs into the sizzling skillet.
“The only person capable of getting in up there is your buddy, Orion, and he’s not home either.”
“Orion couldn’t get us into Heaven’s Archives, though. He’s just a bounty hunter. He doesn’t have that kind of clearance.”
“Then unless one magically pops up out of nowhere, Athena... Mars is going to lose his powers and becomehuman.” Her friend’s voice cracked.
“Athena, he’ll... die.”
Calliope’s sob was indistinguishable. Athena felt the weight of her words.
“And Mars? How long does he have?” she asked, pinching the bridge of her nose. She could feel a migraine coming on.
“About a week. He was cursed about a week or so ago. Ryza said one month so... He’s putting on a good front but I think he’s scared. He’s brought a lot of death, but never thought he’d have to face it one day, you know?”
Brian set a plate of fresh cooked eggs and bacon in front of Athena, his eyebrows furrowing.
“I’ve got to go, Cal,” she said softly.
