CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIFTY

New York's Newest Alpha, Part 1

Tyche, the Olympian Goddess of Fortune, appreciates your assistance in her winning bet! 1,000 Golden Drachma have been deposited into your account.

Look at that, Tyche’s being generous… that’s a rarer sight to see than a unicorn popping out of the Nymph’s Forest. She must have won at least ten times that amount, Chiron guffawed.

“This isn’t a joking matter, master… I don’t have alpha-level powers and people are going to figure that out quickly enough,” Sam hissed under his breath.

While Malarkey left him alone so that the warden captain could check the results of Sam’s assessment with his peers, the guests on the observation decks hadn’t left their seats and were continuing to stare intently down at Sam as if he were an exotic creature on display at the zoo. On the other hand, Marie Shepard had left the room the moment Malarkey confirmed the authenticity of the phoenix feather Mother Mel had given Sam—and Sam wasn’t sure how he felt about her leaving without even a hello or a goodbye.

Poseidon, God of the Sea, is satisfied with his investment in you. 500 Golden Drachma and 100 fame points are awarded. The Lord of the Deeps would also like to remind you of the favor you owe him. He expects you to retrieve the Trident of Atlantis before the arrival of the Winter Solstice.

Would you look at that, you’re rolling in the dough, kid… Just in time too. Don’t you have a huge bill to settle with Mr. Moonday for that new suit you asked him to make?

“Master… I’m being serious here,” Sam whispered urgently. “What if—”

Stop panicking, lame-brain! Chiron chided. I told you, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Even if things didn’t go exactly according to plan — not my fault, by the way, because how was I supposed to know they wouldn’t use the scales Triple-A and I jerry-rigged—

Master!

I’m saying things worked out anyway… Tyche’s priestess looked into your potential worth, and not just your current semi-useful self.

Sam glanced skeptically at the empty air above his left shoulder which was where he imagined a chibi Chiron sat on like that story of the devil hanging on one’s shoulder. “I get it now… you won your bet too, didn’t you?”

…Was I that obvious?

“I can hear the glee dripping off your usual sarcasm… So, how much?”

Enough for the downpayment of the Champion’s Stone that I just ordered from Ms. Mercuriusday. Damn hag’s overpricing her trinkets again.

“Ms. Mercuriusday… the alchemist?”

Who else can make me a genuine champion’s stone?

Your patron, Apollo, God of the Sun, is ecstatic to learn the results of your hero assessment. He claims he didn’t doubt you for one second. Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, points out that Apollo lost a huge wager betting against you. Dionysus, God of Revelry, is laughing at Apollo’s expense. You have received 500 Golden Drachma and 100 Fame Points along with a personal message from Dionysus: the rewards are your cut for Dionysus winning his bet with Apollo. Apollo asks you not to believe the lies currently being spread about him. He believes in you…

You’ve got an interesting god for a patron, kid…

“Interesting’s not the word I’d use…”

Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, congratulates you on becoming an alpha. The Mistress of Battle Strategy hopes you will use this momentum to one day reach the peak of heroism. You have been awarded 100 Fame Points. [otal fame: [Olympian: 4,000] [Norse: 800]

“Peak of heroism…?”

That’s another way of saying she wants you to reach demigod status. In other words—

“To become an omega-level hero,” Sam finished for Chiron. His throat went dry at the thought of breaking through that unbreakable wall that only four gifted have achieved in his lifetime. “Is that even possible for me?”

Omega-level’s a state close enough to godhood that it isn’t something you can achieve with just your gift and Triple-A’s help, Chiron explained. There are a bunch of factors involved. Among them is an extremely high approval rating from the pantheon you serve.

“Like South Korea’s Pink Star?”

Sam recalled the story of the seventeen-year-old k-pop star who’d magically risen from gamma-level to omega-level during the ‘Falling Meteor Crisis’ that hit Seoul two years ago.

Pink Star’s ‘Comet’ gift had been instrumental in destroying the sizeable chunk of meteorite that was about to crash into her city. She saved Seoul but it also cost Pink Star her life. It was a sacrifice that earned her the respect of the Norse pantheon she served, and Odin himself resurrected the teenage girl while gifting Pink Star with power beyond that of mortal men.

To go beyond even the extraordinary and become super in a moment of ultimate sacrifice—that’s the bare minimum of what it takes to become an omega, kid, Chiron reminded Sam.

The God of Strength who has hidden his name from you asks that the hero remember Chiron’s first lesson.

Believe in me, huh… Sam glanced down at the phoenix feather in his hand—a symbol of fire, strength, and rebirth—and he grinned. “Yeah, I can do this. Maybe.”

“You can do what?” Warden Malarkey asked.

The warden captain returned to Sam’s side with a tablet tucked underneath his arm.

“Um, nothing,” Sam replied. “So, is there anything else you need from me, sir?”

“I’ll need you to sign this.” Reluctantly, Warden Malarkey handed Sam the tablet. “It’s to certify your assessment.”

As soon as he finished signing the digital dotted line, Sam heard a spattering of applause from above. It was applause that began slowly but gradually grew in volume and enthusiasm until Sam was met by a sight that he thought he’d never see—a standing ovation from people who’d given him the stink-eye not ten minutes ago. Even Warden Malarkey was clapping his hands. Albeit in a rather hesitant manner.

“Congratulations,” he said begrudgingly. “I hope you don’t waste the goodwill you’re receiving now, Herculean.”

Sam noticed that Malarkey didn’t mention his actual name this time. Almost like the warden captain had no choice but to play nice with the new alpha. “Thanks. I guess.”

The blonde receptionist who’d welcomed Sam into the assessment hall arrived next to Warden Malarkey and he introduced her as Sophie Salinger, a Wardens trainee who also doubled as a publicist for the Wardens’ Manhattan office. “She’ll be explaining the details of your new role as an alpha-level hero…” He said that last bit as if he’d just swallowed bile first.

Sophie Salinger had a pleasant mid-western face with freckles on her cheeks. She was tall, but not as tall as Thunder or Bethany. Although her body was of a similar type to theirs; lean and well-toned and ready for a rumble if the need arose. Her blonde hair was braided on one side similar to the style of a shieldmaiden from the days of the old Norse Vikings.

“Congratulations on your new status.” She shook Sam’s hand more enthusiastically than when she’d first greeted him earlier.

“Thanks,” Sam replied. “So, what happens next?”

“Well, there’s a lot to do now that your assessment’s done.” Sophie took the tablet back from Sam and then flipped over to a digital document containing a list that she began explaining in further detail. “There’s a press conference later that’ll announce you as New York’s seventh alpha-level hero, which is when we’ll officially add your name to the Registry.”

“Are we talking press conference?” Sam’s brow creased at the thought of going another round with the press so soon after the previous debacle. “Can’t we skip that?”

“No, we can’t” Sophie replied genially. “You’ll also be getting a star of your own on Temple Island’s Walk of Heroes—”

“Seriously?” Sam’s mood suddenly brightened.

He remembered that both his mother and father had their hero stars side by side on the walkway near Apollo’s temple on Temple Isle. Neither of them had been alphas, but the two beta heroes had achieved so many accolades in their careers that they’d been given stars posthumously. Sam hadn’t attended the ceremony because he was still grieving at the time, but now he was wondering if there was space to squeeze his star between theirs.

“Perks of being a rising star, Herculean,” Sophie nodded approvingly. “That’s not all though. You’re also receiving a bronze automaton made in your likeness that’ll be commissioned for Central Park’s Hero Statuary Gardens…”

She jotted down a note on her tablet.

“We’ll have to schedule your first meeting with the sculptor. The higher-ups usually ask Michelangelo the 4th for the commission but there’s a rumor that Leonardo Da Vinci’s resurfaced in New Jersey. So, maybe we can get him to do it,” she winked at Sam.

Sam couldn’t believe his good fortune. Not only was he getting a star on the Walk of Heroes, but they were even giving him a statue, and Sophie was even talking about asking the immortal painter and inventor to make it for him. Seriously?!

I can put in a good word with Da Vinci if you want, Chiron suggested. He may be a recluse to everyone else but I’ve got that old vampire on speed dial.

“Also, per tradition, Robin and Robbins will want to name a new flavor of ice cream after you. Soo~~o let me know if you prefer vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry as a base, okay?” Sophie chirped.

I’ve got one of those too… Chiron’s Chunky Choco-tastic-berry — a treat made especially for the gods, the centaur boasted.

“Your own ice cream flavor, that’s the mark of a true alpha.” Sophie winked.

Sam’s giddiness deflated suddenly because he realized that all these awesome freebies heaped upon him were rewards based on a lie. Even if he had the potential for it, Sam wasn’t an alpha yet. Moreover, this potential only existed thanks to Triple-A’s assistance. That meant Sam wasn’t just a liar, he was also a big fat cheat, wasn’t he? And if so, how could Sam become humanity’s symbol of hope when he wasn’t worthy of the trust that was just given to him?