Twenty Two
After weeks of very intensive training, Seth takes our group to Compton in order to show us around. We arrive after sunset on Friday. Dennis permitted me to drive everyone.
For now, I don’t have much to worry about. I made it through four weeks without watching Carmen have another breakdown or having to survive a knife jabbed in my gut. It’s been too long since I’ve had this much peace.
This time was beneficial for Carmen too. She’s learning a bit about confidence.
Since we started training, she’s been more willing to leave my side. Instead of sticking with Dennis as my backup, she often drifts to Seth, Richard, and Jamie, but only when all three are together.
Jamie still doesn’t say more than a word or two per day, but she refuses to speak to the others. Strangely, she has an attachment to me. I still want to get her to talk more openly. I plan to find some alone time with her today. I don’t know how, but I’ll manage.
We’re at the cross street of Alondra and Atlantic. Cars zip by as we sit outside of a two-story yellow building, Dale’s Doughnut. A large and dirty stone doughnut rests on top of the structure. There’s a huge piece missing from the upper right corner as though a Titan took a bite of it.
As we wait for our treats to be brought to us on the street tables, I read the history displayed over the clerk’s head inside of the building. Supposedly, the gigantic doughnut is the original one from the twentieth century. Though most of the land was destroyed during the GAW, they salvaged the massive design and decided to place it back up without changing a thing.
As the hot treats are brought to our table, Seth does something surprising, he gestures for Jamie to take the first one. Richard does the same for both women, which I would expect. But even when Seth’s taking the proper amount of sips, he’s not that courteous.
Jamie bites into the glazed doughnut and her eyes sparkle.
“You like it?” I ask.
“Umm hmm.” Though her face is still expressionless, I can tell she’s enthused. Seth smiles at her before taking one of his own.
“Do you like it?” I ask Seth while motioning towards Jamie. He understands my gesture and turns red.
Still chewing, he fumbles, “The doughnuts are great. Try one.”
“Sure that’s what I meant. No need to avoid the actual topic at hand.”
Richard swallows two doughnuts within seconds. He taps his fingers on the table nervously. When he notices that we’re all watching him, he turns to Carmen and admits, “I’m still slow.”
“You’re getting better.”
Simultaneously, Seth and I contest, “No he’s not.”
“Don’t say that,” she whines. “He’s not improving in timing, but he has better balance and coordination.”
That’s true. “But you’re still damn slow,” Seth adds to complete my thought. I agree non-verbally.
I hand Richard another doughnut. “We’ll start helping. She’s good at strengthening your core, Seth knows how to make you light on your feet, and I’m the master of beating the hell out of people. I think we can get this to work if we all join in.”
Seth teases, “Then we can all hold hands and sing spirituals with Kay playing the guitar.” I throw a crumb at Seth and everyone laughs. “Seriously though Kay, if you make the training any harder I’ll die.”
“Then die.”
I definitely managed to get under his skin again. Jamie even notices with a mouth full of a chocolate doughnut. She looks to her left to see Seth fight his anger.
“Why would you say that?”
“If you’re not going to push yourself to be more than a drunk, die. But if you want everyone to know that you are better than Leonardo, stop bitching.”
A tour bus pulls up behind us. It’s red and looks a lot like the trams that travel around our school.
“Where does that go?” Carmen asks as Seth fixes his face on mine. “Hey Seth, where does the tour go?”
Finally noticing that she’s talking to him, he replies, “All around the local shops and a few attractions down by Watts.”
“I want to go,” she shouts while standing. “Come on you guys. We rarely get out of the school; I want to do something fun.”
Richard and Seth stand up and walk on her side of the table. Jamie undresses the final doughnut with her eyes.
“Kay,” Carmen says sweetly.
“I’m staying. I need to check out a place called The Darke Lord before I leave.”
“The weird hat shop?” Seth asks sounding confused.
“I think it’s a bar as well, but I need to speak with the guy that used to give me cigars.”
Carmen readily interjects, “But Hayley said you couldn’t have anymore.” The expression on her face says she’s not going without me and she hates that I want to stay.
“You three go. Call me when you’re done and we’ll meet at the arcade. You all can get embarrassed when a blind guy beats the hell out of you. And Seth, don’t trying bragging because Antonio’s been training me in all of your favorite games. You really pissed him off three months ago so don’t look confused either.”
He motions to say something with his finger raised, but it looks as though he remembered calling Antonio his “digital whore” before passing out on the couch and leaving a mess for the nanobots to clean up.
Carmen tries sitting back down at the table, but I grab her butt and lift her into Richard’s arms. He carries her to the tour bus kicking and screaming, “Well at least send Jamie!”
With a mouth full of the final glazed doughnut she says, “I’d prefer to stay with Kay.”
Carmen flops into her seat on the bus. It stays on the curb. I decide not to leave until they take off. I don’t want to motivate her escape attempt. It’s not like she’d get far. Richard has her trapped at the window seat. She’s definitely not moving him out of the way.
Two minutes tick by with Carmen whining to Richard about leaving Jamie alone with me. When the bus finally takes off, he claps loudly and playfully screams, “Yeah!”
The vehicle passes a group of business professionals and their slave. They progressively march towards Jamie and me. There are two men wearing platinum god rings on their index fingers. One demigoddess walks a step behind them while trying to keep up with their “witty” conversation.
I thought the gods were different out here, but I was obviously wrong. Though each of the gods and the demigoddess are dressed nicely in black suits and ties, their slave isn’t so privileged. She’s wearing a simple black jumpsuit and a gold mask that only covers her mouth.
A tall, arrogant man with brown hair and disgustingly large eyes commands the slave, “Get us two dozen variations for the office.”
The slave points to herself. I guess that’s her way of asking for one. The demigoddess snickers under her breath and finds a seat two tables away from us. The man rolls his eyes and sits next to the snobbish woman.
The slave takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. Under the mask she spitefully mumbles, “Selfish dick.” Then, she spins around and walks away.
When she crosses our table I ask, “Hey. Is that the Mask of Stability?” The slave nods and avoids eye contact, not that my eyes are open. “You can talk directly to me. I can hear you.”
She lowers her head. “No one can hear me with it on.”
“Then take it off.” Her eyes widen as she briefly glances at Jamie and me. “You’ll still be a slave to that dick, but at least you’ll be able to talk.”
“I’ll be weak,” she renounces.
The big eyed dick raises his hand as though I were his server. “Hey kid. Need something? My slave is a bit busy, but maybe I can assist you.”
The mildly attractive woman under the mask bounces up and down nervously. Her feet move while staying in one place. “I need to go sir. If you don’t need anything, I’ll be on my way.”
Ignoring both Dick and the slave’s business, I drag out my words when asking, “Is he your brother?”
She sh
akes her head. “He was my boyfriend before I wore this. Hmph. I guess an Ape can’t really have a god for a boyfriend.”
“You gave up your life for power? Now what? You take orders for doughnuts. With that mask, you’d probably be a really strong gladiator. Dying in a match would still be better than this.”
Dick’s group stands up and walks over to us. The slave raises her hands nervously as the idiots tower over me.
“I can kill him for you and you’d be free. How’s that?”
“Excuse me,” Dick interrupts.
The slave shakes her head and rushes into the shop. Shrugging, I grab the pink box that Richard and Jamie practically slaughtered on their own.
“Who the hell are you threatening to kill?” Dick asks angrily. I ignore him once more and try walking away, but he grabs my arm. Though he’s not a gladiator, all gods have some level of power. I wouldn’t be shocked if he were presently stronger than me. “Hey kid. I’m talking to you. Don’t you know I’m a—”
Both Dick and I take a step back from each other as his blood leaks from his hand to the ground. Why is he bleeding?
The other two grab Dick and advise him to put pressure on the very deep wound. Jamie stands next to me. Coldly, she articulates, “Watch where you put your hands.” Then, she turns to face me. I’m not sure what she did or how she did it, but I’m all for blood.
I throw away the box and begin our journey through Compton. Jamie follows at her own pace. She’s not lagging behind me, just walking slowly. I allow her to catch up and adjust my speed to hers.
“Are you happy?”
“Very,” she replies as though she couldn’t be more bored.
“Do you like Compton?”
“It is beautiful.” Several seconds tick by and she mumbles, “Different.”
“There’s something. Why is it different?”
Jamie stops in the middle of the sidewalk, “Because it is.”
“Give me something to work with Jamie. Where are you from, who are your parents, and why do you hate talking?”
“Compton. They are nice people, but deceased. And I love talking and this conversation.”
“Let’s run a test. Could you smile for me?” Her face doesn’t move. “Great. Could you look angry.” Again, it stays the same. “Now, show me bored.” I scrutinize her final expression. “You followed all of my instructions, right?”
“Obviously.”
“Thought so.” Another short moment of silence passes between us, but I don’t want to lose the momentum of this damn slow conversation. “How are you from Compton with a British accent?
“I spent centuries in Tartarus with the others, though my entire body was trapped there. Don’t you remember? Most of Tartarus’ victims are from England. I just picked up their accent I guess. Funny. They never picked up mine.” She releases a sound that must be a laugh for her.
Two cars crash right next to us. Jamie stops to look inside of both. Once she notices that they’re alright, she continues walking with me.
“Jamie, I don’t remember anything about my dreams in Tartarus. Actually, I thought they were dreams.”
“I wondered why you ignored me. You always flirted with me in there, but once I made it out, you never said a word. It was depressing.” She takes three fast steps to tap me on the shoulder. “Is Carmen really your type?”
“You don’t think so?”
“I thought I was, but maybe not. You need someone...”
“What?”
“With bigger balls.”
“You think I’m gay?”
“No. Metaphorically.”
“Say that next time. She’s sweet though.”
“Sweet doesn’t work well with you.”
“True. So how’d you get out of Tartarus?”
“You and sis—” Jamie directs her head at the ground and briefly clenches her eyes. It takes time for the tension to leave her face, but she eventually returns to her normal, boring demeanor. “You and Shiva killed him.”
Wrapping my arm around Jamie, I ask, “Why can’t I hear anything under your clothes, specifically your back?”
“Because I hide it from you, like you hide your mind from me.”
“What’s back there?”
“Access to your weapon of course.”
“Shiva’s on my arm.”
Jamie touches my wristband, which is hanging over her right shoulder. Sparks fly against her face. I try removing my hand so she’s not shocked, but she holds my arm steadily.
“Why are you trying to move away already? You never show me this affection anymore and you’re suddenly ready to depart.”
“I don’t understand. You just made Shiva react. That’s impossible.”
“I was asking for permission to speak freely with you. Sister says that you already know about her spirit, you were just a bit unsure of the host.”
“You’re Shiva’s data? They’re supposed to be liminal beings. Oh. You shape shifted.”
“No. Spirits or data—whatever you prefer—can take many forms. I am human, an old human, but I am one.”
“How old?”
“The start of World War T.”
With those words, we arrive in front of The Darke Lord. Like the rest of the buildings, it’s under five stories high. There are only three levels and it’s relatively small, but there are plenty of customers packed on the inside.
“You were tortured for that long? I’m sorry.” I lower my head. “I didn’t know.”
“No worries. It was my decision.”
“Why?”
“To help you, of course.”
“Excuse me for sounding like an idiot—which is rare—but seeing how you were frozen in time, you couldn’t have known about me.”
“We had pretty advanced technology that your society underestimates today. We are the innovators of the barcode steroid.”
“We?”
“Adrenaline’s team. You wouldn’t know much about him. History books leave him out of the debate. He’s an insignificant human.” Her words have fire to them now and her speech sounds less formal. I notice more life behind her, but not much. If it weren’t for her current passion, I wouldn’t have realized how she’s drastically opened up in the past few minutes. “He’s the one that started the war; Eve’s ancestor.”
“So now you’re telling me I’m a part of some prophesy? You guys tiptoe around this lightly, but I’m waiting on one of you to admit it. I don’t play that I have a destiny crap.”
“If you have such a fate, it is one we created. We made our own destiny by deciding that we’d do something about the way the world works. I am the only one that will see how you carry this through. But when you’re ready, I will be here, by your side.”
Flirting a bit too much, I croon, “That’s obviously your way of saying I have a new girlfriend.”
“Actually, I think I like Seth, but you are still cute, and I still really care for you.”
Removing my hand from her shoulder, I turn around and walk backwards to the red brick building. “I had to get turned down eventually.”
“And Kode?”
“What’s up?”
“I am unsure of what type of girl you will choose.” Her sentence trails off as she welds her eyes to her shoes. “And I am only allowed to fight with your permission, but if you accept Carmen, I will kill her.”
“Maybe I’ll train her to see the fight carried through.”
“Think about this: of all the people in the world, I am your weapon. She is as good as dead.” This time, I fully notice the smirk before the emotionless weapon returns.
“You’re not coming in?”
“I am happy simply to be here.”
I try pulling the door open to the building, but it’s locked. I shake the handles a few times. Nothing. I decide to take another approach by speaking to a guy on the other side of the black glass. “Excuse me kind sir, open the damn door.”
Looking around wildly, he stands from his seat. “Who?
??s saying that? Where’s your voice coming from?”
“Right in front of you.”
“Sound cannot travel from this side to the next and you’re a mere human. There’s no way you could...” his words begin breaking up as his bottom lip quivers. “Dear Writer. Could it be?”
The tall and feminine man in a pink suit runs around frantically until he gets his tablet.
When he presses a button, the glass sucks me in and I fall on the floor. “Next time, send a warning. Something like, watch your step, is actually simple enough.”
“My apologies. Please,” he says while helping me up. “Place your finger on this and you’ll have access to speak with the other gods. Who are you here to see particularly?”
“Hades.”
“Oh. He talks about you non-stop.”
I place my finger on the tablet. Nothing happens. I’m worried that he’ll think I’m a phony, but the slender guy loudly shouts, “Oh this stupid thing.”
He sticks his thumb on it and firmly says, “Anicetus.” He repeats the process three more times. Finally, the tablet signs his name into the guest book. “Worthless technology created by Zeus. Honestly, he’s just trying to compete with his host, but everyone finds it hilarious. He wasn’t made to innovate technology. Geez. Who does he think he is?”
Anicetus grabs my hand and slaps it on the tablet. “It works faster this way. Not really, but when I show my brother he’ll be so jealous.”
With all the fake god’s names being thrown around, I decide to jest, “And where is Alexiares? Guarding the back door?”
“Ugh. Yes. And his gate leads to the Olympus chambers. I get to do guest work for Hades.” He sarcastically drones, “Hooray for me. And it’s all because,” he rips my hand from the tablet, “I hit on Phobus when I was drunk.” Okodemah appears in the guest book, but he doesn’t notice. “He goes around screaming like a little girl. Just because being a bit grabby-grabby with guys isn’t in anymore, they get all high and mighty on me.”
“Look! I’m sorry about your deathly boring drama, but I think that’s my name.” I point to the tablet after a few seconds of silence.
“By the gods,” he mouths. “It really is you!”
Hades bursts out of the door overhead. Then, he rushes down the black and red steps yelling, “Thank you Anicetus.” He wraps his huge hand around my shoulder while dragging me up the stairs. “Goodness Okodemah. If you mentioned that you were dropping by, I would have thrown Alexiares at the door. How long did he hold you?”
“Too long.”
Hades’ laugh rumbles the walls while he pulls me into a bar. When I step inside of the room, cigars drop from mouths, music stops, and the few people that are dancing sexually with each other do also. The most noticeable shocked face is a guy with all white hair and a very neatly shaped beard. He advances towards me, and steps off the dance floor next to a table full of powerful looking businessmen. Gramps was grinding with someone that I imagine wasn’t his wife. She’s much younger and that wedding band on his finger is not quite as new.
Before I can take another step, everyone in the bar rushes towards me.
Hades points out various names and faces and I record each one into my data. These don’t look like the type of people that would be happy if I forgot. Names include Shango, Chantico, Loa, Uluru, Morrigan, Sun Wukong, Eros, Indra, Akuma, and the list goes on.
My host pushes me to the back of a large and dark nook. The only lights in the room come from candles on tables and a few glowing cigars. Raven’s playing with a glass of barcode ink, causing it to radiate by waving his hand over it.
Hades throws me into his VIP section, which is basically a booth with leather seats. He’s protecting me from the big and powerful by a half-closed curtain.
He turns around and waves at a small man, nearly the same size as me. Hades takes a seat as the man walks into the curtained area. He graciously extends his hand.
“Okodemah, I’d like you to meet Ra. He’s wanted to see you—well face-to-face—for so long. And you don’t have to worry, he’s not like us. I’m not much of a gentleman to you, but this man watches you constantly.”
“Oh please,” the dark-skinned man appears neat and sounds easy. The two words flowed from his lips with elegance and he sits with a crown of honor. “I do not deserve such an introduction. I’m just thrilled to meet the man whose eyes will rival my own.”
“So I can open them?”
“I’ve seen them plenty. Have no fear.”
I blink a few times to help process the vivid colors surrounding me. I haven’t opened my eyes all day. Cracking them open now feels like I’m just waking up. “If you’re impressed by mine, you should see my spirit’s.”
“I have,” Ra replies quickly. “But the universe is visible through a telescope. Infinitely traveling data exists nowhere, but with you.”
“So Hades,” I say as he offers me a cigar. When I decline, he scrunches his face. I remove my last lollipop and shove it in my mouth. “I think you know a lot about what’s happening to me and I’m willing to listen now. What’s going on?”
“Are you also willing to accept that we are gods and not hosts?”
“Immortals, or all-seeing deities that watch over people and answer prayers?”
Hades holds up his massive hands, shaking them swiftly. “Oh no. I’ll accept the first one. I can hardly keep up with my own business. You can give Ra the second.”
“Then, I’m willing to believe you, but for all I care, Ra is a guy named Ramon with some awesome eyes.”
Ra’s pupils and iris are a solid red. I think he has them activated. They must be some other color when they’re not. Then again, mine are always activated, unless I’m bleeding to death.
Neither man says a word for a few seconds. Simultaneously, they break into a roaring laughter. White Beard storms into the room, interrupting their good time. If I were to guess, I’d say he hates me.
“What’s up Gramps?”
“Boy!” He stomps towards me with a solid red face, but Ra waves his finger. This guy just stopped someone three times bigger with his index.
I love Ra. I want to be Ra.
I mimic his finger movement while he smoothly threatens, “Zeus. You know better than to interrupt my conversations in this room. Now, exit calmly.”
Hades sputters, “Please don’t start another fight bro. Please. You know what happened last time you pissed off Tezcatlipoca. I can’t pay for damages like that again.” Hades snickers, “Unless you bet against Okodemah the way you did last time.”
Zeus blares, “Hades!”
“Gentlemen. I’ve waited some time to speak with this young man and I am in no mood for games. He is on a delicate path,” the small man turns to me before continuing, “and in the presence of trouble. You may remain in the room Zeus, but listen without speaking a word or I swear on your name, I will drag you to the underworld myself.”
Hades regains his composure. If Ra really is the Egyptian god, their power must be the real thing. He’s silencing the immortal White Beard.
I snap my fingers and point to everyone in the room. “Who has something they want to say to me? I’ve got trouble coming my way. Why?”
Ra turns to Hades, “May I?”
“By all means. You know way more than me. I just put my money on black and let it ride.”
“Thank you. You are Karma’s son.”
I narrow my eyes while analyzing Ra’s face. He’s serious. “Karma?”
“Essentially, yes. As her son, you have the power to further offset balance, which is what this world needs.”
“Explain.”
“Good and evil are not balanced and haven’t been since I’ve been praised. But it was Zeus that lost control of Karma.”
Zeus clutches his fist and I’m sure that somewhere in the world, children are dying because of it. His hand seems mightier than I ever imagined mine could be.
“So Gramps had Karma?”
“Yes. I passed her
along when I lost my authority over the world, but it is not all his fault. My kings ruled mercilessly. They created entire systems that enslaved their people. But it was Zeus’ followers that mastered the art of enslaving minds. Once Karma lost her control, Buddha was furious.” Ra chuckles lightly. “He tried with all his might to restore her, but she wasn’t the same.”
Remembering some of the history lessons I learned from Takashi, I say, “When she was lost, the worlds broke out into more war. Not the physical kind, but the mental. People were plagued, hell bent on killing each other and not stopping the ones responsible for their sufferings.”
“Yes.”
“An example is Michelle Smith. There was a time when things that happened to her were widespread.”
“Correct. Though they are prevalent now, it was dominant in society then. But it’s during times like these that heroes rise.”
“Was it Adrenaline?”
“You recently learned of him. Yes, Kairo Bevel. He died fighting the systems set in the world and started the greatest war known to man. Because of him, people refused to be ignored and manipulated. They did more than simply fight each other; they went after governments with all their might.”
“If I’m supposed to further offset the corruption and war, isn’t that a bad thing?” Ra doesn’t respond. He shows no emotion or reaction to my words. “Are you saying I’m good or evil?”
“You tell us,” Hades charges so powerfully that I feel as though I’m back under the pressure of massive waves in the ocean.
Ra concludes, “You are an option. Spencer was as well. He chose his fate. We’ll see what you do with yours.” As he stands up, Ra hands me an ancient necklace. It has gray pearls linked by a simple looking rope. “You seem to push the others for finals, but you’ll have to fight.”
Gramps storms out of the room and the other two gods wave as they exit. I remember hearing Dennis tell my enemy/friend that he had a choice when he woke up. His was simple: the darkness or the light. Strangely, I feel as though people are actually pointing me to the darkness.