Chapter 1 Back to Heliopolis

(Refer to Vol 1 on my profile)

Markus was standing by the carriages, waiting for Celeste. He saw her approaching, and his heart leapt in his chest. When she reached him, he took her hands in his, and they stood there, just looking at each other, lost in the moment. But then, the sound of hooves on cobblestones broke the spell, and they turned to see Mrs. Blackwood riding towards them.

Mrs. Blackwood was not happy to see them. "What are you doing, standing around like that?" she snapped. "We have things to do. We don't have time for this." The words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the moment between Celeste and Markus. They released each other's hands, and Celeste's face fell. She knew that Mrs. Blackwood would never approve of her feelings for Markus. But in that moment, she didn't care. All she wanted was to be with him, even if it meant defying Mrs. Blackwood.

As Mrs. Blackwood's words hung in the air, the moment was shattered. The warmth between Celeste and Markus faded, and they both stepped back, a gulf opening between them. The magic of their reunion had vanished, replaced by the cold reality of Mrs. Blackwood's presence.

"We really must be going," Mrs. Blackwood said, her voice still sharp. "Celeste, I expect you to be ready to leave within the hour." Celeste nodded, her eyes downcast, and Mrs. Blackwood turned on her heel, stalking away. As she disappeared around the corner, the silence hung heavy.

From the shadows, Mr. Blackwood watched the scene unfold. He had been watching the pair for some time, and he knew that they had feelings for each other. And he also knew that Mrs. Blackwood would never allow such a thing. So when he saw her arrive, he knew exactly what would happen. And he couldn't help but smile to himself, knowing that his plan was working.

As Mrs. Blackwood approached, she stared at Markus with a steely gaze. "What is the purpose of our next journey?" she asked, her voice as cold as ice.

"We are traveling to Heliopolis to meet with King Aiden," Markus replied, his voice wavering slightly under Mrs. Blackwood's scrutiny. "I believe he may be willing to offer his resources in exchange for an alliance."

Mrs. Blackwood remained silent, her eyes fixed on Markus, assessing his every word and gesture. The tension in the air was palpable.

"Thank goodness we're not going to that dirty slum we visited last time," Mrs. Blackwood said, a note of disdain in her voice.

Markus blushed as she spoke, recalling the unpleasant conditions of the last city they had visited. He knew that Mrs. Blackwood thought him unworthy of the title of god of war, and that stung.

Celeste, ever the diplomat, stepped in to smooth things over. "Mother, we did gain an important alliance with the demigod last time. Perhaps this journey will prove equally fruitful?"

"That slumdog Nicklaus Fastfingers is beneath you, Markus," Mrs. Blackwood said, her lip curling in disgust. "You are a god of war, and he is little more than a petty thief."

Markus felt a rush of anger, but he bit his tongue. Mrs. Blackwood was notoriously stubborn, and there was no use arguing with her. But the insult to Nicklaus rankled, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the young demigod.

Markus cleared his throat. "Mother, perhaps we could consider using the dragons this time? They are much faster, and we could save a great deal of time."

Mrs. Blackwood fixed him with a withering glare. "Absolutely not! I will not risk our lives by using those infernal beasts. The carriages are more than sufficient for our journey."

Her tone left no room for argument, and Markus felt his spirits sink. He wanted nothing more than to fly with the dragons.

"Mother, Markus has a point besides you wanted us to hurry up, didn't you?"

Mrs. Blackwood considered Celeste's words, but her expression remained stony. "I still think it is too dangerous to use the dragons," she said, her tone brooking no argument. "We will travel by carriage, as planned."

Celeste turned to Markus, her eyes conveying her sympathy. She knew how much he longed to fly with the dragons, but she also knew it was not worth arguing with Mrs. Blackwood.

With a sigh, Markus turned and began to ready the horses for their journey. He knew it would be a long and arduous trip.

Markus felt his heart sink. He knew that arguing with Mrs. Blackwood was futile, but he couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. The dragons would have made the journey much easier. But he knew that it was not his place to question Mrs. Blackwood's decisions.

Celeste placed a hand on his arm, giving him a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Markus."

Mrs. Blackwood's hatred for Nicklaus was fueled not only by his thieving ways, but also by his connection to Darius, the man who had wronged her in the past. Darius had stolen her heart, her fortune, and her dignity, and now she was determined to prevent Celeste from making the same mistakes. But in her zealousness, she was also preventing Celeste from finding true love.

The irony was not lost on Markus. He could see that Celeste was smitten with him, but Mrs. Blackwood's interference was making it impossible for them to be together. He felt a surge of frustration, and he knew that something had to change. But how could he convince Mrs. Blackwood to let Celeste follow her heart? He racked his brain for a solution, but it seemed that no matter what he did, he would be fighting an uphill battle.

Markus sighed as he turned to his dragon, Scales. "I'm sorry, girl. Looks like you'll have to stay home today."

Scales tilted her head and looked at him quizzically, as if to say, "Why?"

"I'll be traveling by carriage," he explained. "And I can't very well take you with me. You'd never fit!"

Scales let out a huff of disappointment, and Markus couldn't help but chuckle. He knew she would have loved to come along, but it just wasn't possible. He reached out to pat her on the head, and she nuzzled against his hand affectionately. "I know you're disappointed, Scales," he said gently. "But I promise to make it up to you when I get back."

Scales let out another huff, this time sounding a bit more resigned. It was clear that she understood that this was not the day for dragon adventures, but she would be there for him when he returned. And that was enough for her.

Markus smiled and patted her one last time before turning to leave. As he walked away, he could hear Scales let out a soft sigh, as if to say, "I'll be here when you get back."

And with that, Markus made his way to the carriage, knowing that no matter where his journey took him, he would always have Scales waiting for him when he returned. It was a comforting thought, and one that filled him with gratitude for the bond they shared.

Markus climbed into the carriage, hoping to sit next to Celeste. But when he got there, he found Mr. Blackwood already sitting in the seat beside her. The old man gave him a smug smile, as if to say, "Beat you to it."

Feeling a bit dejected, Markus turned his gaze to the sky. And that's when he saw it - a massive griffin, with a man riding on its back. The man looked down at the carriage and waved. It was Nicklaus, the demigod. He had been waiting for them to leave so he could follow.

"I see you, Fastfingers."

Nicklaus waved back, a cocky grin on his face. "Took you long enough to notice me!" he called down. "Thought you might have forgotten all about me."

Markus rolled his eyes. "Not likely," he said. "You're kind of hard to forget."

"Well, I'll take that as a compliment!" Nicklaus said, clearly pleased with himself. "But seriously, do you mind if I tag along? I've got a bit of a score to settle with your dear old mother-in-law."

"I figured as much," Markus said, an amused smile on his face. "But I'm not sure that's such a good idea. Mrs. Blackwood isn't exactly known for her forgiving nature."

"But I'm not planning on asking for forgiveness," Nicklaus said with a sly grin. "I'm more in the mood for a little payback."

"That's exactly why I'm telling you it's not a good idea," Markus said, shaking his head. "I don't want you to get yourself into trouble."

"Oh, come on, where's your sense of adventure?" Nicklaus asked, feigning hurt.

Mrs. Blackwood stood at the front of the carriage, her hands on her hips. "Markus, it's either us or that filthy slumdog you're hanging around with!" she shouted. "You can't have it both ways!"

Markus hesitated, torn between his loyalty to the Blackwoods and his newfound friendship with Nicklaus. He knew that if he chose to go with Nicklaus, he would likely lose the Blackwoods' favor forever. But something about Nicklaus drew him in, and he found himself unable to resist the temptation of adventure.

As if sensing his dilemma, Nicklaus swooped down on his griffin, Valor, and held out a hand. "Come with me, Markus," he called. "We'll have the time of our lives!"

Markus looked at Mrs. Blackwood, who was fuming with rage. And then he looked at Nicklaus, who was grinning like a madman. Something inside him snapped, and he knew what he had to do.