End of the Line

#21 - The Ring of Time

Chapter 21 - The Ring of Time
published: Wednesday, 17 April 2019

"και τους τουριστικούς χώρους?" Leo asked the stall vendor.

The vendor pointed to the right, then to the left. "Τα ερείπια του ναού του Απόλλωνα είναι εκεί, από το μοναστήρ."

Frank rapped his foot impatiently as they exchanged a few more phrases in Greek. It seemed that Leo had told a joke, making the vendor laugh.

"Εύχομαι περισσότεροι τουρίστες ήταν σαν εσένα," the vendor chuckled as he handed Leo a complimentary hot dog.

Leo winked at him. "Ω, δεν υπάρχει κανένας σαν εμένα." He turned around and walked towards Frank.

"Have a nice chat?" Frank frowned.

Leo shrugged. "Sorry, man. Not my fault that you were born a Roman." He held out his hand. "Hot dog?"

Frank rolled his eyes. "What did he say?"

"The ruins of Apollo's temple are that way." Leo gestured as he took a massive bite out of his hot dog.

Frank ran his thumb over the Sight ring that sat on his left ring finger. This was the second ring they were to retrieve for Mnemosyne.

Since the ring had appeared in a place of relevance in Greek mythology, the demigods had begun a journey of all the tourist sites of the Greek islands.

Frank and Leo — the delegated explorers — hiked up the hill under the sweltering heat.

Even Leo, who could withstand unbearably high temperatures, was slightly dizzy from the heat.

"Why does it have to be summer?" Frank grumbled. "Why couldn't Tartarus have decided to attack in spring?"

"And in Maine," Leo groaned. "Or Florida."

"C'mon," Frank said desperately, beckoning half-heartedly for Leo to follow him. He squinted to see the temple ruins against the blinding sunlight. "Almost there."

"Why is there always a hill?" Leo whined as he stumbled after Frank.

Both of them stopped once they reached the summit, panting breathlessly.

Leo sat down on the grass and lay down, spreading his limbs to get the most of the short-lived cool breeze.

Frank scanned the area as he caught his breath. Tourists were milling about, snapping pictures and admiring the remains of Apollo's temple. It was mainly a pile of rocks, with only one wall fully maintained.

"We should start searching inside," Frank said glumly. "Then we can leave."

"Enjoy the view, Frank," Leo insisted. He opened his eyes, raising a hand to block off the sunlight. The temple lay on a barren plain surrounded by the sea. "How often are we going to be on the Greek islands?"

"I'm never coming back," Frank declared. "Every time we come to Greece, someone is trying to take over the world. Whether it's the Earth or a pit of darkness..."

"Frank," Leo said sharply. His gaze had caught on an insect that was crawling down his sleeve.

It had feelers that twitched rapidly, six legs, and a red abdomen that resembled that of a beetle. The weirdest thing was that the insect's beady eyes seemed to be staring at him.

Leo let out a yell of pain as razor-sharp teeth suddenly shot out of the insect's mouth, and sank deep into his arm.

"Ow!" Leo leaped to his feet in horror as he swatted the insect off. "What in the—"