5. Underworld Issues: Eryx

CHAPTER 5

UNDERWORLD ISSUES

ERYX

E ryx sat behind the wheel, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel just a little too tightly. Beside him, Alex's stoic presence was a steady counterpoint to the nervous energy radiating from the backseat, where Zac fidgeted restlessly.

Eryx caught Zac's eye in the rearview mirror, offering a reassuring smile. "You doing okay back there, kid?"

Zac shrugged, his attempt at nonchalance undermined by the way he couldn't quite meet Eryx's gaze. "Yeah, I guess."

Alex turned in his seat, his voice gentle but firm. "We've been over this, Zac. After everything you've been through, talking to someone can help. It's not a sign of weakness. If anything, it takes real strength to face your demons head-on."

Eryx nodded, feeling Apollo's presence stir within him, a warm glow of approval. "Alex is right. Hell, if I can do it, anyone can. And trust me, I was a tough nut to crack."

A ghost of a smile flickered across Zac's face. "Yeah, I bet. Stubborn as a mule, this one," he said, gesturing at Eryx.

"Hey now," Eryx protested, feigning offense. "I prefer 'determinedly persistent,' thank you very much."

The banter lightened the mood momentarily, but as they neared their destination, the tension crept back in. Eryx's mind wandered to the journey that had brought them here – the battles fought, the sacrifices made, the bonds forged in the crucible of adversity. Zac had been through more in his short life than most people face in a lifetime, and yet here he was, still standing, still fighting.

He's stronger than he knows, Apollo's voice whispered in Eryx's mind. Much like you were, when we first bonded.

Eryx felt a surge of affection for the god who had become such an integral part of him. Maybe, but I had you to guide me. Zac's facing this on his own.

Is he? Apollo's mental tone was tinged with amusement. Look around you, Eryx. He's far from alone.

As they pulled into the parking lot of the nondescript office building that housed Dr. Ethan Rosen's practice, Eryx realized Apollo was right. Zac might be the one stepping into that office, but he had a whole team of supernatural misfits backing him up.

Eryx killed the engine and turned to face Zac. "Hey, before we go in, I want you to remember something. Healing isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. It takes time, and courage, and yeah, sometimes it's going to suck. But you've got this, Zac. And we've got you. Every step of the way."

Zac swallowed hard, nodding. "Thanks, Eryx. I'll try to remember that."

As they climbed out of the car, Eryx felt Apollo's presence surge within him, a wordless wave of pride and support. He placed a hand on Zac's shoulder, guiding him towards the building's entrance. Alex fell into step beside them, his presence solid and reassuring.

The waiting room was a study in calculated comfort. Soft, neutral colors adorned the walls, broken up by tasteful abstract art that invited contemplation without demanding it. Plush chairs were arranged in small groupings, offering the illusion of privacy in the shared space. The air carried the faint scent of lavender, likely from the diffuser humming quietly in the corner .

A receptionist with a kind smile looked up as they entered. "Good afternoon. Do you have an appointment?"

Alex stepped forward, handling the paperwork with practiced ease while Eryx guided Zac to a set of chairs. As they sat, Eryx couldn't help but reflect on his own experiences in therapy. The initial reluctance, the breakthrough moments, the gradual building of trust with Dr. Rosen. It hadn't been an easy journey, but it had been a necessary one.

After a while of waiting, the office door opened, and Dr. Ethan Rosen stepped out. He was a man in his early fifties, with kind eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses and a neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper beard. His presence seemed to fill the room, not with intimidation, but with a sense of calm assurance.

"Zac?" Dr. Rosen called, his voice warm and inviting. "I'm Dr. Rosen. Why don't you come on in?"

Zac stood, hesitating for just a moment. Eryx gave his shoulder a supportive squeeze. "You've got this, kid. We'll be right here when you're done."

As the minutes ticked by, Eryx's mind wandered to the challenges that still lay ahead. It was a lot to bear, and yet, sitting here in this quiet waiting room, Eryx felt a strange sense of peace.

Alex's voice broke through his reverie. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Eryx turned to his partner, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Just thinking about how far we've all come. And how far we still have to go."

Alex nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It's been one hell of a ride, hasn't it? Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I'd never left the Underworld, never met you or formed the Shadowguards."

"Probably a lot more boring," Eryx teased. "No dashing musician to keep you on your toes."

Alex's laugh was low and warm. "True. Though I could do with a little less world-ending catastrophes to deal with. "

The waiting room had lapsed into a comfortable silence, broken only by the soft ticking of a clock and the occasional rustle of pages as Alex flipped through a magazine. Eryx leaned back in his chair, his mind drifting between concern for Zac and the ever-present weight of their ongoing battles against the Order.

You're brooding again, Apollo's voice chimed in, a hint of amusement coloring his mental tone.

Eryx suppressed a smile. I prefer to call it 'strategic contemplation,' thank you very much.

Of course you do, Apollo replied, and Eryx could almost feel the god's ethereal eye-roll.

Their internal banter was abruptly cut short as the air in the waiting room seemed to shift. There was no other way to describe it. One moment, everything was normal. The next, reality itself seemed to ripple, like a stone dropped into a still pond.

Eryx was on his feet before he even registered moving, Apollo's divine energy surging through him in response to the potential threat. Beside him, Alex had also sprung up, his posture tense and ready for action.

And then, as if stepping out of thin air, Zagreus appeared.

The young god of rebirth blinked, taking in his surroundings with a mix of confusion and amusement. "A therapist's office? Well, I suppose there are worse places to accidentally teleport to. Though I have to say, Dad, I didn't peg you for the type to need counseling."

Alex relaxed slightly, though his eyebrows remained furrowed with concern. "Zagreus? What are you doing here? Is everything alright in the Underworld?"

Zagreus waved a hand dismissively, though Eryx caught a flicker of tension beneath his casual demeanor. "Oh, you know, same old chaos and eternal torment. But before we get into that, how's the kid doing? And Mom, how is she doing?"

Eryx felt a surge of warmth at Zagreus's concern for Zac, even as his mind raced with questions about the god's unexpected appearance. "Zac's actually in his first therapy session right now," he said, gesturing towards the closed office door. "It's been... a journey. And Lily's been doing her thing trying to settle things back in the headquarters. Her expertise on divine matters has been invaluable."

Zagreus nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes at the mention of his mother. "Good to hear. Mom's always had a knack for bridging the divine and mortal realms. Guess that's where I get it from." His expression turned more serious as he glanced between Eryx and Alex. "Speaking of which, we've got a situation brewing that's going to need some of that bridge-building expertise."

Alex stepped closer, his voice low and urgent. "What kind of situation? Is that why you're here?"

Zagreus ran a hand through his eternally messy hair, a gesture so reminiscent of Alex that Eryx had to suppress a smile despite the tension. "Yeah, though I didn't exactly mean to pop in on your therapy session. No offense, but I've got enough family drama without adding counseling to the mix."

Eryx felt Apollo's presence sharpen within him, the god's attention laser-focused on Zagreus. "What's going on in the Underworld, Zagreus? It must be serious if you've left your realm."

The young god's usually laid-back demeanor slipped, revealing a weariness that spoke volumes about the weight of his responsibilities. "The barriers between realms are fluctuating. Weakening in ways we've never seen before. I've been trying to keep things stable, but it's like trying to plug a dam with chewing gum."

Eryx leaned forward, his mind racing. "These fluctuations, are they related to the Order's activities? Their plans to free Kronos?"

Zagreus's eyes sharpened, fixing Eryx with an intense stare. "We think so, yeah. But it's more than that. The disturbances they feel purposeful. Like someone's testing the boundaries, looking for weak points."

As Zagreus's words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of cosmic implications, Eryx caught Alex's eye. A silent conversation passed between them, born of years of partnership and shared battles. They didn't need Apollo's divine insight to know what had to be done.

"We'll look into it," Alex said, his voice low and resolute. "Discreetly. The last thing we need is to tip off the Order that we're onto them."

"We can still hold the fort while you take care of things here. Macaria and Melino? are helping out as well." Zagreus said.

The sound of a door opening caught their attention. Dr. Rosen emerged from his office, Zac following close behind. The teenager's eyes were slightly red-rimmed, but there was a new set to his shoulders, a quiet strength that hadn't been there before.

Zagreus, who had been leaning against the wall in a posture of studied nonchalance, straightened up. A warm smile spread across his face, genuine affection lighting up his features. "Hey, kid! Fancy meeting you here."

Zac's eyes widened in surprise, a grin breaking through his post-therapy solemnity. "Zagreus!" He crossed the room in a few quick strides, throwing his arms around the god of rebirth in a tight hug. "What are you doing here? Is everything okay?"

Zagreus returned the hug with equal enthusiasm, ruffling Zac's hair as they parted. "Everything's fine, squirt. Just thought I'd pop in to check on my favorite student. How'd the session go?"

Eryx watched the interaction with a mixture of warmth and amusement. It never ceased to amaze him how easily Zac had taken to the whole "gods are real and some of them are kind of like family now" thing. Then again, when you've been through what Zac had, maybe having a god for a mentor didn't seem so strange .

"It was... intense," Zac admitted, his voice soft but steady. "But good, I think. Dr. Rosen's pretty cool."

Alex stepped forward, placing a supportive hand on Zac's shoulder. "We're proud of you, kid. Taking that first step isn't easy."

Eryx nodded in agreement, feeling a swell of affection for the brave, resilient teenager before him. "Definitely. And hey, I think this calls for a celebration. How about we hit up Dion's for some of those ridiculous milkshakes you like?"

Zac's face lit up at the suggestion, and even Zagreus looked intrigued. "Oh man, those things are like ambrosia in a glass. Count me in!"

The drive to Dion's was filled with easy banter, Zac and Zagreus trading quips while Alex occasionally chimed in with a dry comment that had them all laughing. Eryx found himself content to listen, basking in the warmth of their makeshift family's bond.

Dion's Diner was a hole-in-the-wall joint that had become something of a sanctuary for the Shadowguards. The owner, a jovial man with a perpetual twinkle in his eye that hinted at his divine heritage, had a knack for knowing exactly what his patrons needed, often before they did themselves.

As they slid into their usual booth, the rich aroma of coffee and freshly baked pie enveloped them. The vinyl seats squeaked slightly under their weight, a familiar sound that never failed to make Eryx smile. It was the little things, the mundane details, that grounded him in moments like these.

Dion himself appeared at their table, his apron dusted with flour and a grin splitting his bearded face. "If it isn't my favorite bunch of troublemakers. The usual?"

Zagreus leaned back, an easy smile on his face. "You know it, uncle D. Though I might need two of those strawberry monstrosities. Ruling the Underworld works up an appetite. "

Dion's eyebrows shot up at the sight of Zagreus, but to his credit, he didn't miss a beat. "Coming right up. And for you, young man?" He turned to Zac, his expression softening. "Something tells me you could use a little extra sweetness today."

Zac ducked his head, a mix of shyness and appreciation coloring his cheeks. "Maybe... maybe an extra scoop of ice cream in my shake? If that's okay?"

"For you? Anything's okay," Dion winked, jotting down their orders before disappearing back into the kitchen in a whirlwind of movement and hearty chuckles.

As they settled in, the conversation turned to Zac's therapy session. Eryx watched the teenager carefully, ready to change the subject if it seemed too much. But Zac surprised him, speaking with a quiet thoughtfulness that belied his years.

"It was weird at first," Zac admitted, fiddling with a sugar packet. "Talking to a stranger about... everything. But Dr. Rosen, he didn't push, you know? He just listened. And somehow, that made it easier to open up."

Alex nodded encouragingly. "That's great, Zac. It takes time to build that trust. I remember when I first started therapy, centuries ago. Thought it was a waste of time at first."

Eryx couldn't help but chuckle at the memory. "Oh yeah, I remember those days. Mr. 'I'm-the-former-Lord-of-the-Underworld-I-don't-need-therapy' over here."

"Hey, I came around eventually," Alex protested, but there was a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Zagreus leaned forward, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "You know, kid, it takes a special kind of strength to face your demons head-on like this. Trust me, I know a thing or two about demons."

Zac looked up, meeting Zagreus's gaze. "Yeah? How do you deal with it all? The pressure, the expectations?"

The god of rebirth was quiet for a moment, considering his words carefully. "I guess... I try to remember that it's okay to not have all the answers. That asking for help isn't weakness, it's wisdom. And that at the end of the day, the people who really matter will love you no matter what."

Eryx felt a lump form in his throat at Zagreus's words. He reached out, placing a hand on Zac's arm. "He's right, you know. We're here for you, kid. Always."

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their food – a spread of towering milkshakes, each topped with an impossible array of whipped cream, sprinkles, and in Zac's case, an extra scoop of ice cream perched precariously on top.

As they dug in, the mood lightened. Zac regaled them with stories from his therapy session, imitating Dr. Rosen's soothing voice with surprising accuracy. Alex chimed in with tales of his own therapeutic misadventures, while Zagreus offered increasingly outlandish suggestions for "Underworld-approved" coping mechanisms.

Eryx found himself laughing more than he had in weeks, the weight of their impending investigations temporarily lifted. Looking around the table at the faces of his loved ones – Alex's rare, unguarded smile; Zac's eyes bright with mirth; Zagreus's infectious grin – he felt a surge of fierce protectiveness.

Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever dark forces threatened their world, Eryx knew with bone-deep certainty that they would face it together. They were more than just a team, more than friends. They were family, bound by ties stronger than blood or divinity.

As the evening wore on and the milkshakes dwindled to dregs, Eryx caught Alex's eye across the table. A silent understanding passed between them. The investigation into Zagreus's warnings would begin tomorrow. For now, this moment – this laughter, this love – was what mattered most.