1. Elusive Demigod: Alex

CHAPTER 1

ELUSIVE DEMIGOD

ALEX

T he chill of an autumn evening seeped through Alex Knight's leather jacket as he paced back and forth along the winding path in Central Park. Fallen leaves crunched beneath his boots, a symphony of reds and golds illuminated by the dim glow of nearby street lamps. He checked his watch for the third time in as many minutes, jaw clenched in frustration.

"Where the hell are they?" he muttered, scanning the shadowy landscape for any sign of his team. The park was eerily quiet at this hour, save for the distant hum of traffic and the occasional rustle of wind through the trees. Alex's hand instinctively moved to the concealed weapon at his hip, his senses on high alert.

This meeting was too crucial to screw up. The Order had been one step ahead of them for months, and the Shadowguards desperately needed the intel their informant promised.

A twig snapped nearby, pulling Alex from his reverie. He whirled around, hand flying to his weapon. He relaxed marginally as he recognized the approaching figures.

"About damn time," Alex growled, his relief masked by irritation. "What took you so long? "

Eryx Ross, his partner and the vessel of Apollo's soul, stepped forward. "Sorry, Alex. We had to make sure we weren't followed." His eyes, glowing faintly with divine power, scanned their surroundings warily.

Gabe Reed, the team's resident witch and strategist, held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Yeah, boss. You know how Marcus gets when he has to move at normal-people speed."

As if on cue, the rest of the team emerged from the shadows. Marcus King, son of Hermes and the team's speedster, looked like he was about to vibrate out of his skin with pent-up energy. Beside him, Dr. Finn Sloan, their medic, was adjusting the strap of his ever-present medical bag. Bringing up the rear were Emma Lock, their enchanter, and Olivia Santiago, the fire mage.

Alex's posture softened almost imperceptibly. His team was here. Now they could get to work.

"Alright, listen up," he said, his voice low but commanding. "Our target is Erika Wu. Daughter of Athena, which means she's smart as hell and can bend light to turn invisible at will. She's got information we need on the Order's latest schemes, but she's notoriously difficult to pin down."

Eryx frowned, a hint of concern in his voice. "Is this person reliable? We can't afford to be led on a wild goose chase."

Alex met his partner's gaze, understanding the weight behind the question. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Reliable isn't exactly the word I'd use. Erika's a little more complicated."

"Care to elaborate?" Gabe asked, raising an eyebrow.

Alex nodded, knowing his team deserved the full picture. "I've known Erika for years, even before I left the Underworld. She's Athena's daughter, born about three decades ago. Inherited her mother's brains and then some. But she also got a gift that's rare even among demigods – the ability to bend light around herself, effectively turning invisible."

"Sounds useful," Marcus chimed in, looking intrigued.

"It is," Alex agreed. "It's also what made her a pain in the ass for years. When I first met her, she was using her powers to pull off high-stakes heists. Art museums, banks, you name it. Took me months to track her down and convince her to use her talents for something more constructive."

Eryx's brow furrowed. "And now she's our informant? That's quite a career change."

Alex shrugged. "She's been in and out of our orbit for years. Never fully committed to our cause, but never fully against us either. She's got her own agenda, but right now, that agenda aligns with ours. She's come through for us before, providing intel that's saved lives. But she's also disappeared on us when things got too hot."

"So why trust her now?" Olivia asked, skepticism clear in her voice.

"Because she reached out to us," Alex replied. "Erika doesn't ask for help unless she's truly scared. And anything that scares her is something we need to know about. Plus, her connection to Athena means she often hears things before anyone else does."

He looked around at his team, meeting each of their eyes in turn. "I know it's a risk. But right now, she's our best shot at getting ahead of whatever the Order is planning. We need what she knows."

There was a moment of silence as the team processed this information. Then Eryx nodded, a look of determination crossing his face. "Alright. So what's the plan?"

Alex felt a surge of gratitude for his partner's trust. "Marcus, I want you to do a quick sweep of the park. See if you can spot any distortions that might give her away, but keep your distance. We don't want to spook her."

Marcus nodded, barely containing his excitement at finally being able to move.

"Emma, you're up next. Cast a detection spell, something that can sense her unique energy signature without being too obvious."

Emma nodded, her fingers already tracing intricate patterns in the air. A soft, purple glow emanated from her hands, spreading outward in an invisible wave.

"Olivia, I want you on overwatch," Alex continued. "Find a good vantage point and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. The Order might have caught wind of this meeting."

The fire mage grinned, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "You got it, boss. I'll light 'em up if they show their faces."

Alex fixed her with a stern look. "No unnecessary pyrotechnics. We're trying to avoid attention, remember?"

Olivia's grin faded slightly, but she nodded in understanding.

"Finn, stay close. If things go sideways, we might need your healing skills." The doctor gave a somber nod, his hand tightening on the strap of his medical bag.

"What about us?" Gabe asked, gesturing to himself and Eryx.

Alex considered for a moment. "You're both with me. Gabe, your magical senses might pick up on something I miss. And if we need a quick spell, you're our best bet." He turned to Eryx. "Your connection to Apollo might give us an edge if Erika tries any tricks. Plus, having a god on our side never hurts in negotiations."

With roles assigned, the team spread out. Olivia scaled a nearby tree with catlike grace, settling into a position with a clear view of the surrounding area. Marcus took off in a blur, beginning his search pattern. Emma continued to channel her detection spell, her eyes closed in concentration.

Alex, Eryx, and Gabe moved deeper into the park, alert for any sign of their elusive informant. The witch's eyes darted from shadow to shadow, occasionally muttering under his breath as he sensed the ebb and flow of magical energies around them.

"You seem tense," Gabe observed after a few minutes of silence. "More than usual, I mean."

Alex shot him a sidelong glance. "We're meeting a skittish demigod with a complicated past in a public park to get information that could make or break our fight against a centuries-old evil organization. Why wouldn't I be tense? "

Eryx placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, a gesture that would have earned anyone else a swift rebuke. But Eryx was different. He was the one person who could penetrate the walls Alex had built around himself over millennia.

"We've faced worse odds before," Eryx said softly. "Whatever Erika tells us, we'll handle it. Together."

For a long moment, Alex said nothing. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, tinged with a weariness that seemed to go beyond mere physical exhaustion.

"The Order, they're getting bolder. More aggressive. We've lost three safe houses in the past month alone. Good people have died. And for what? Because we don't have enough information to stay ahead of them."

He paused, his gaze sweeping the darkened landscape. "I'm responsible for this team. For all the supernatural beings under our protection. If we can't turn the tide soon..."

Gabe and Eryx exchanged a concerned glance. It wasn't often that Alex let his guard down like this, revealing the weight of responsibility he carried.

"We'll figure it out," Gabe said firmly. "We always do. And hey, maybe this time Erika will give us the breakthrough we need."

Eryx nodded in agreement. "Gabe's right. And you're not alone in this, Alex. We're all in it together."

Before Alex could respond, Emma's voice crackled through their earpieces. "I've got something. Faint energy signature, about two hundred meters northeast of your position. It's... flickering. Like she's phasing in and out of invisibility."

Alex's head snapped up, his eyes scanning the darkened park with renewed intensity. There, just at the edge of his vision, a telltale shimmer distorted the air. It was barely perceptible, like heat rising from sun-baked asphalt, but to Alex's trained eye, it was unmistakable. Erika was here, cloaking herself in manipulated light.

His heart rate spiked, adrenaline flooding his system. Alex tapped his earpiece, voice low and urgent. "Team, converge on my position. Now. She's here."

As the words left his mouth, Alex was already moving. His boots made no sound on the damp grass as he advanced, every muscle coiled and ready. He sensed rather than saw his team responding, closing in from all sides with practiced efficiency.

Gabe materialized at his right elbow, voice barely above a whisper. "How do you want to play this, boss?"

Alex's mind raced, weighing their options. Erika was notoriously skittish, prone to vanishing at the slightest provocation. But her information was too vital to risk losing. They needed a delicate touch.

"Carefully," Alex muttered, his eyes never leaving the shimmering distortion. "We spook her, we lose her. And we can't afford that, not with what's at stake."

Eryx's voice came through the comm, tense but controlled. "Direct confrontation is out, then. What if we-"

"No," Alex cut him off, perhaps more sharply than intended. He took a breath, forcing his tone to soften. "No elaborate plans. We keep this simple. I'll make the approach. I've got the best chance of getting through to her."

There was a moment of silence, thick with unspoken concern. Then, one by one, the team voiced their agreement.

Alex squared his shoulders, steeling himself for what came next. He'd faced down gods and monsters, ruled the realm of the dead for millennia. Yet somehow, dealing with one unpredictable demigod made his palms sweat.

He took a step forward, then another. His voice, when it came, was gentle but firm. "Erika. It's okay. We're here to talk, nothing more. You can come out now."

Suddenly, a lilting laugh echoed through the park, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Oh, Alex," Erika's disembodied voice teased, "still so serious after all these years. Don't you know it's rude to sneak up on a lady? "

Alex gritted his teeth, fighting back a growl of frustration. "Dammit, Erika, we don't have time for games."

"On the contrary," her voice replied, now seemingly from behind him, "I think a little game is exactly what we need. Catch me if you can, Lord of the Underworld."

A flash of movement caught Alex's eye, and he spun to see Erika's form shimmer into view for just a moment before vanishing again. She was toying with them, using her light-bending abilities to appear and disappear at will.

"Spread out," Alex barked into his comm. "Don't let her slip away."

The team fanned out, eyes scanning for any hint of Erika's presence. Gabe muttered incantations under his breath, trying to dispel her invisibility, while Emma's hands glowed with detection magic.

Alex stalked through the park, every sense on high alert. He'd played this game with Erika before, but the stakes had never been this high. "You contacted us, remember?" he called out, trying to keep his voice level. "Whatever you know, it was important enough to risk meeting. So why don't we skip the chase and talk like adults?"

Another laugh, this time from somewhere to his left. "Where's the fun in that? Besides, I need to know if you've gotten rusty. The fate of the world's at stake, after all. Can't have a slow team trying to save it."

Eryx's voice crackled through the comm. "Alex, I've got movement by the fountain. Moving to intercept."

"Negative," Alex replied, already changing course. "She's baiting us. Stick to your sector."

He rounded a cluster of trees, and there she was. Erika stood atop the park's central fountain, balanced precariously on the statue's outstretched arm. Moonlight glinted off the water droplets surrounding her, creating a shimmering halo effect.

"Not bad," she grinned, giving a mocking little wave. "But you'll have to do better than that. "

Alex took a step forward, hands raised in a placating gesture. "Okay, you've made your point. We're not rusty. Now can we please-"

But Erika was already moving, leaping from the statue in a graceful arc. As she fell, her body seemed to scatter like mist, reforming behind Alex. He whirled, but she danced out of reach, her laughter echoing through the night.

"Come on, team," she taunted. "Show me what you've got!"

What followed was a dizzying game of cat and mouse. Erika led them on a merry chase through the park, appearing just long enough to draw them in before vanishing again. She ran across the surface of the pond, her feet barely touching the water. She swung from tree branches like an acrobat, always one step ahead.

Alex felt his frustration mounting with each near miss. Part of him admired Erika's skill, the way she pushed her abilities to the limit. But a larger part wanted to throttle her for wasting precious time.

Finally, Alex spotted an opening. Erika had reappeared atop a small hillock, bow ing theatrically to her pursuers. But in her showmanship, she'd failed to notice Gabe circling behind her, hands glowing with a binding spell.

Alex locked eyes with his teammate and gave a subtle nod. Then, he charged forward, drawing Erika's attention. "Enough!" he roared, letting a hint of his divine power leak into his voice.

Erika's eyes widened, more in excitement than fear. "Ooh, bringing out the big guns, are we? I'm flattered, truly."

But as she prepared to vanish again, Gabe's spell took hold. Glowing chains of energy wrapped around her, pinning her arms to her sides. Erika's eyes widened in genuine surprise as she lost her balance, tumbling down the hill.

Alex lunged forward, catching her before she hit the ground. For a moment, they stayed like that, Alex's arms around her, both breathing heavily from the chase .

"Got you," Alex said, unable to keep a hint of smugness from his voice.

Erika looked up at him, a mixture of annoyance and respect in her eyes. "So you did. Well played, Lord Hades. Maybe you're not as rusty as I thought."

Alex set her on her feet but kept a firm grip on her arm. The rest of the team converged around them, all looking various degrees of winded and exasperated.

"Now that playtime's over," Alex said, his voice stern but not unkind, "are you ready to talk? Whatever you know, it must be important for you to risk contacting us."

Erika's features were a striking blend of her Greek and Asian heritage. High cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes spoke of her Chinese ancestry, while the classical nose and full lips hinted at her divine Greek lineage. Her jet-black hair was pulled back in a severe ponytail, emphasizing the sharp angles of her face. She was beautiful in the way a finely honed blade was beautiful - sleek, deadly, and not to be underestimated.

Alex heard his team's collective exhale of relief, felt some of the tension bleed out of his own shoulders. They'd made contact. But as he met Erika's wary gaze, he knew the real challenge lay ahead. Getting her to divulge what she knew would make their careful approach look like child's play.

As he regarded the tense demigod before him, Alex's thoughts strayed momentarily to the larger picture. The Order's shadowy machinations, their seemingly unstoppable growth in power and influence. Whatever Erika knew, it could be the key to finally gaining the upper hand, to stopping whatever nefarious plan the Order was setting in motion. The weight of that knowledge, of the countless lives that hung in the balance, settled heavily on Alex's shoulders.

He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the immediate task at hand. When he spoke, his voice was calm, almost casual. "Thanks for meeting us, Erika. I know it can't have been easy to arrange this. "

Erika's eyes narrowed, her posture remaining rigid. "Don't thank me yet, Knight. I haven't decided if I'm staying."

Alex spread his hands in a placating gesture. "Fair enough. But you're here, which means you've got something to say. Something important enough to risk contacting us."

"Maybe. Or maybe I just got sloppy, let you catch up to me."

"We both know that's not true," Alex said, allowing a hint of his former godly authority to color his tone. "You're too good for that. So why don't we skip the dance and get to why you really called this meeting?"

Erika's jaw clenched, her gaze flicking between Alex and the rest of the team. "It's not that simple. What I know is dangerous. For all of us."

Gabe stepped forward, his usually jovial face serious. "More dangerous than letting the Order continue unchecked? Because from where we're standing, that's the alternative."

"You don't understand," Erika snapped, her composure cracking. "The Order, they're-" She cut herself off, shaking her head. "I shouldn't be here. This was a mistake."

Alex could see her preparing to vanish again, could almost feel the buildup of energy as she gathered her power. He had to act fast.

"We're scared too, Erika," he said softly, the admission costing him more than he cared to admit. "The Order's growing stronger every day. We've lost people, good people. Whatever you know, however bad it is, I promise you we can handle it. But we need your help."

Erika hesitated, her form flickering slightly as she wavered between flight and disclosure.

Eryx seized the opening. "Your mother," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "What would Athena say if she knew you had information that could save lives, but chose to keep it to yourself?"

It was a low blow, and Alex shot his partner a warning look. But he couldn't deny its effectiveness. Erika's shoulders slumped, the fight seeming to drain out of her.

"You have no idea what you're asking," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The things I've seen, what the Order is planning... it's bigger than anything we've faced before."

Alex took a careful step closer, his voice low and intense. "Then help us stop it. Whatever it is, we face it together. You don't have to carry this burden alone."

For a long moment, Erika said nothing. Then, with a shaky exhale, she nodded. "Okay. Okay, I'll tell you what I know. But not here. It's too exposed."

Relief flooded through Alex, though he kept his expression neutral. "Agreed. We have a safe house nearby. Warded, off the grid. We can talk there."

Erika's eyes widened slightly. "You'd take me to one of your safe houses? Just like that?"

"Trust goes both ways," Alex said with a shrug. "We're asking you to put your faith in us. Seems only fair we do the same."

The demigod studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Lead the way, then."