Demi-God

The streets of Thrace teemed with life as Lucian wove through the crowd, his eyes darting from side to side. He was on a mission, searching for the perfect vessel to carry out his reconnaissance. A cat would do nicely – agile, inconspicuous, and able to slip into the tightest of spaces.

As if summoned by his thoughts, a scrawny tabby appeared from an alleyway, its tail held high as it sauntered across his path. This was his chance.

He lunged forward, but the cat was quicker. It darted between the legs of a startled merchant, sending clay pots crashing to the ground. Lucian mumbled an apology as he vaulted over the wreckage, hot on the feline's tail.

The chase led him through a maze of market stalls. The cat leapt over baskets of fish, scattering angry fishmongers in its wake. Lucian followed, feet slipping on scales and brine. He ducked under hanging tapestries and dodged around bewildered shoppers, never letting the cat out of his sight.

"Stop that animal!" he shouted, drawing confused stares from the crowd.

The cat zagged left, then right, its lithe body easily navigating the chaos it had created. Lucian was not so fortunate. He stumbled over a crate of apples, sending the fruit rolling across the street. Curses followed him as he scrambled to his feet, refusing to give up the chase.

Finally, after what felt like hours but was likely only minutes, Lucian cornered his quarry. The cat cowered against a wall, its fur standing on end as it hissed at its pursuer. Lucian's lips curved into a triumphant grin. He crouched low, muscles tensing for the final pounce.

"Got you now," he muttered.

He launched himself forward, arms outstretched to grab the elusive creature. But the cat had one last trick up its sleeve. It sprang upward at the last second, using Lucian's shoulder as a springboard to freedom.

Lucian's momentum carried him forward, unable to stop and crashed headlong into a food stall, sending platters of olives, cheeses, and bread flying. He landed in a heap, covered in olive oil and crumbs, the pungent smell of garlic filling his nostrils.

As he lay there, dazed and sticky, a familiar voice cut through his embarrassment.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Lucian looked up to see Mira standing over him, her arms crossed and one eyebrow raised.

Before he could stammer out a response, another voice boomed from behind the ruined stall.

"You! You'll pay for this, you clumsy oaf!"

The stall owner, a portly man with a bushy mustache, emerged from the wreckage. His face was red with rage, bits of feta cheese clinging to his beard.

Lucian scrambled to his feet, slipping on the oil-slicked ground. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"Sorry won't replace my goods!" the man bellowed, advancing with clenched fists.

He backed away, hands raised in a placating gesture. "I'll pay for the damages, I swear. Just let me—"

But the man was beyond reason. He lunged at Lucian, who barely managed to sidestep the attack.

"Time to go," he muttered, turned and ran, pushing through the gathered crowd.

"Hey! Get back here!" Mira called after him, but Lucian didn't slow down.

He could hear Mira's footsteps behind him as he fled, weaving through the marketplace once more. This time, instead of chasing, he was the one being pursued. The irony wasn't lost on him as he ducked into a narrow alley, hoping to lose both Mira and the angry stall owner in the streets.

Lucian risked a glance over his shoulder, seeing Mira and the enraged seller hot on his heels.

"Gods, give me strength," he muttered, rounding a corner.

Suddenly, a familiar off-key melody assaulted his ears. There, lounging against a wall, were Drakon and Stephanos, arms slung around each other's shoulders as they swayed drunk beyond reason.

"Lucian, my boy!" Drakon slurred, raising his wine cup. "Come join us in song!"

"Not now!" He called back, ducking past them.

Stephanos hiccupped. "But we've just reached the chorus!"

Ignoring their drunken protests, Lucian veered left, his eyes darting for an escape route.

His foot caught on something—a loose stone?—and felt himself falling.

Time seemed to slow as he toppled forward, crashing into a woman bent over a washbasin. They went down in a tangle of limbs and soapy water.

"You clumsy fool!" the woman shouted, struggling to her feet. "Look what you've done to my washing!"

Lucian scrambled up, his tunic soaked and clinging to his skin. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean—"

But the woman was already advancing on him, brandishing a wet cloth like a weapon. Behind her, he could see Mira and the seller rounding the corner.

"Oh, come on," he groaned, taking off once more. Now he had three angry pursuers on his tail.

His eyes landed on an open window of a nearby house. Without thinking, he dove through it, tumbling into a room. He quickly shut the window behind him and pressed his back against the wall, trying to catch his breath.

"That was close," he whispered to himself. "Now, I just need to—"

A small gasp made him whirl around. There, frozen in shock, stood a young woman in a state of undress, her hand clutching her gown to her chest.

Lucian's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize—please, don't scream!"

But it was too late. The girl's face contorted, and she let out a piercing shriek. "Pervert! Father! Father, help!"

"No, no, no," Lucian pleaded, holding up his hands. "I swear, this isn't what it looks like!"

Heavy footsteps thundered outside the room. The door burst open, revealing a hulking man wielding a sword, his face twisted in anger. "What?! Where—you cheeky bastard!"

Lucian's survival instincts kicked in. Without a second thought, he turned and leaped out the window, hitting the ground running.

"I really need to work on my escape plans," he panted as he sprinted away, the sound of angry shouts fading behind him.

Suddenly, the imposing facade of Zeus's temple loomed before him. The sanctuary might offer protection, but entering could also anger the gods. He glanced over his shoulder, checking for his pursuers; they’re still there. Time was running out. He had to make a choice: risk the wrath of Zeus or face the angry mob.

"Fuck it," he muttered, veering towards the sacred building. "Even the gods owe me one at this point."

He slipped inside, pressing himself against a cool marble column. Sweat trickled down his brow as he held his breath, watching the temple entrance. One by one, his pursuers rushed past - Mira, the irate seller, the indignant washer woman, and the enraged father.

As their footsteps faded, Lucian exhaled deeply.

"That was too close," he whispered, sagging against the column. "I swear, if I ever see that cat again-"

His words died in his throat as he turned around. There, dangling playfully from the hem of the priestess's robe, was the very feline that had caused all this chaos.

Lucian's eyes narrowed. "You've got to be kidding me."

The priestess, a tall woman with graying hair, raised her arms skyward. Her voice rang out, clear and strong:

"O mighty Zeus, ruler of Olympus, hear our prayer!"

The assembled worshippers, about two dozen in number, responded in unison: "We beseech thee, great Thunderer!"

Lucian pressed himself further against the column, trying to blend in. He watched as the priestess continued:

"Grant us your divine wisdom and strength!"

"Guide us, Lord of the Sky!" the worshippers chanted back.

Lucian stood at the crossroads of indecision and weighed his options: Does he go for the grab or not? The logical part of his mind screamed at him to walk away, to focus on another animal. There will be other cats out there, this one is not worth it.

"That’s right. There will be others," he muttered under his breath. "It's not worth the risk."

The priestess's voice rose again: "Protect us from harm and bestow upon us your blessings!"

"Shield us, Aegis-bearer!" came the fervent response.

He turned to leave, but something tugged at him, an invisible force pulling him back at this one. What’s happening? Why is he feeling this overwhelming need to take this particular cat? It wasn't just thievery anymore; it had become a personal challenge, an itch he couldn't scratch away.

The priestess raised a golden goblet. "Accept our offering, King of the Gods!"

"Receive our tribute, Cloud-gatherer!" the worshippers cried out.

"Damn it all," Lucian growled. "I can’t believe I’m doing this."

Without thinking, he crouched low, inching towards the unsuspecting priestess. 'Just grab the cat and go,' he thought. 'Quick and easy.'

In one fluid motion, he lunged forward, arms outstretched. But the cat, with feline grace, leapt away at the last second. Lucian's fingers, instead of grasping fur, closed around fabric. With a sickening rip, the priestess's gown tore away, leaving her exposed.

Time seemed to freeze as Lucian sprawled on the ground, the torn gown in his hands. He looked up, meeting the priestess's shocked gaze, acutely aware of the horrified gasps from the temple-goers around them.

'This is bad,' he thought, panic rising in his chest. 'This is very, very bad.'

The priestess's shock quickly morphed into outrage. "Pervert!" she yelled. "Guards, there’s a pervert here in the temple! Seize him!"

Lucian scrambled to his feet, already hearing the clanking of approaching guards.'This is not how I planned my day,' he thought, dodging between startled worshippers.

"There he is!" a gruff voice shouted.

He glanced back to see two guards barreling towards him. "Oh shit!"

"Stop right there, you scoundrel!" one guard bellowed, his spear raised.

'Exit, exit, where's the damn exit?' He spotted a narrow corridor to his left and made a sharp turn, nearly losing his footing.

"He's heading for the west wing!" the other guard yelled. "Cut him off at the courtyard!"

'Not if I can help it,' Lucian thought, gritting his teeth. He vaulted over a low altar, scattering offering bowls in his wake. The crash of metal on stone rang out behind him.

"You won't escape, blasphemer!" one guard shouted.

"Fuck! This is all because of that damn cat!" he shouted, sprinting towards the exit.

His mind raced, desperately seeking a way out of this escalating nightmare. 'Think, you idiot, think!' he berated himself, weaving through the crowd.

He darted down an alleyway, hoping to lose his pursuers, but as he rounded the corner onto another street, his stomach dropped. There, in the midst of the market, stood Mira, the lady washer, the angry father, and the seller - all of whom he'd wronged earlier that day, shouted at him. "There he is!" "Get him!" "Don't let him escape!"

'No, no, no!' Lucian's thoughts screamed as he saw them begin to move towards him. He spun on his heel, only to see the two guards from the temple closing in from the other direction.

Lucian's breath came in ragged gasps as he searched for an escape route. 'This is completely out of control,' he thought. 'How did a simple errand turn into this madness?'

He spotted a narrow gap between two buildings and made a desperate dash for it, praying it wouldn't be a dead end. The sound of pounding footsteps and angry voices grew closer, spurring him on.

'I'm so screwed,' he thought, his sides aching as he ran. 'If I get out of this, I swear I'll never...'

Lucian's thoughts were cut short as he burst out of the narrow passage, his momentum carrying him forward. Before he could regain his balance, he slammed into something solid and foul-smelling.

"Oof!" he grunted, finding himself sprawled in a wagon full of horse manure. The stench invaded his nostrils, making him gag.

A startled slave man, who had been pulling the wagon, stared at him with wide eyes. "By the gods, what are you doing, kid?"

He struggled to sit up, his clothes and skin now caked in the foul substance. He heard his pursuers approaching, their footsteps slowing as they encountered the putrid odor.

"Ugh, what is that smell?" one of them retched.

'At least it's slowing them down,' Lucian thought, a small spark of hope igniting in his chest.

But before he could formulate an escape plan, a blur of fur launched itself at his face. Sharp claws dug into his scalp as the very cat he'd been chasing all day finally caught up with him.

"You mangy little demon!" Lucian sputtered, grabbing the feline by the scruff of its neck. He held it at arm's length, glaring into its unrepentant yellow eyes. "Listen here, you furry menace," he hissed through gritted teeth. "When I finish this gods-forsaken mission, I swear I'm going to cook you and eat you myself!"

The cat merely blinked at him, unimpressed by the threat. "Meow."

'Great,' Lucian thought. 'I'm covered in shit, being chased by half the city, and now threatening to eat a cat. This day couldn't possibly get any worse.'