Enemy Of The Mind

The Jackson Legacy

Part One Point Five

Hope Chronicle

This is an exclusive preview. The final short story will be posted somewhere in 2012...or maybe earlier than that. The story takes place between the events of "Nameless Finder" and "Thousand Enemies". The story's protagonist is none other than Leo "Flamingo" Valdez. It revolves around the livelihood of the adult demigods, and the operation of the Esperanza and other organizations. It is also where the "Greek Red Mark" curse is explained, along with Leo's darkest secret...

'''“Uh-oh, guys. Look who just came out from''' the shop in this time of the hour,” Travis Stoll squinted, gesturing the others to come. The guests of the Red House quickly scrambled out of their seats and crammed around the room’s windows. They made sure that their faces were concealed by the curtains, careful that they wouldn’t be seen.

Travis took out his binoculars from his pocket and placed them on his eyes. “Yep, it’s him alright,” he announced. “It’s our mighty leader coming out of his auto shop, looking worn out and angry…my best guess that he’s angry to himself. Or the gods.”

Everyone nodded and continued watching said mighty leader. Leo Valdez was busy closing the shutters of his auto shop in the middle of the night, murmuring to himself. After that, he kicked the shutters, called his automaton wolves from his hidden backyard and marched away from view. Everyone in the living room groaned in disappointment and went back to their seats.

“It’s probably one of those nights,” Connor said, standing at Travis’s side. “He must be having a bad dream that’s been triggered by his curse.”

“I really wonder what it is…but I know it has something to do with his deep, dark secret he’s been hiding from us all this years,” Travis said darkly. “I’m getting the feeling it has something to do with his love life or something.”

There was a moment of silence before everyone in the room burst in laughter. “Yeah, right! The mighty Dragon from the South, malfunctions because of love? Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me! There has to be something else!”

But then the laughter died down quickly when they had reached same conclusion in their minds.

“No, that’s impossible,” Chris Rodriguez shook his head. “Valdez doesn’t look like he’s interested in getting someone since…since he graduated flight school. And that was eleven years ago.”

“Love curses don’t exist.” The majority of the guests nodded in agreement. “That’ll be like cheating.”

“And besides! I think he plans to stay single,” said another guest. “I mean, ten years straight is a record!”

“At the same time, that’s very unlikely of him,” A tall man replied. “I may not know him long like some of you, but I know that he usually likes to be around women when he was around Laura’s age. He was somehow close to a womanizer.”

They all cringed, even the mortal guests and helpers of the building.

“I’m pretty sure it isn’t about love. I know it’s something worse than that.”

<p style="text-align: justify;">“Worse than love?” they all gasped dramatically. Travis placed a hand on his face.

<p style="text-align: justify;">“No, you idiots. Ah, never mind. Let’s just drop this discussion. It’s already bad we’rve been talking behind Flamingo’s back. I don’t want rumors to spread out.”

<p style="text-align: justify;">Silence again. The caretakers of the house came inside the living room, bringing them their midnight snacks, and placed them on the coffee tables. One of them looked indignantly at them.

<p style="text-align: justify;">“Look, you gossiping geese,” she said. “If you all are planning to stay in this building, then you better do housework. That means repainting the walls, retiling the floors, building new doors, and daily household chores--”

<p style="text-align: justify;">The men inside the room groaned. The girl simply shook her head. “Look, at least Mr. Valdez gave you a place to stay for a while until you get real jobs. You should all be thankful he took you in. You are all in no position to gossip about him, make fun of him and other things like that.”

<p style="text-align: justify;">“Who are you, our mother?” retorted one of the adults. Most of the guests laughed.

<p style="text-align: justify;">“Show the man some respect!” the girl said, looking frustrated. “Demigods! Will they ever grow up?”

<p style="text-align: justify;">That very statement silenced the visitors. The girl pursed her lips and sighed.

<p style="text-align: justify;">“Everyone’s just tired. I’ll go get the cots, okay?” She left the living room and ran up to the stairs.

<p style="text-align: justify;">“Hey,” someone started. “I’ve heard that demigod dreams aren’t normal, and it’s supposed to signify something, right? Well, when’s the usual time Leo would go out because of a dream?”

<p style="text-align: justify;">They all shrugged. Then, slowly, they came to realize that they didn’t know their leader very well. Leo was an open guy to everyone. He even gave away his real name whenever newcomers were to come here in the city. He was a carefree guy who likes to joke around, and he wasn’t picky and was willing to help anyone. But that was pretty much about it. They had heard a lot of things about Leo, but some of them didn’t match his current description lately.

<p style="text-align: justify;">They heard a loud knock on the front door, and someone at the hallway shouted. “Laura, could you get that?”

<p style="text-align: justify;">Minutes later, two people came inside the living room, taking off their jackets and greeting the guests.

<p style="text-align: justify;">“Frank, Hazel, what brings you here?” said Travis, grinning at them.

<p style="text-align: justify;">Both of them smiled back. “We decided to stop by here for a while,” Hazel said, marching to an available window. “Is Leo…?”

<p style="text-align: justify;">Travis shook his head. “No, he went out.”

<p style="text-align: justify;">“I see,” Hazel looked at Frank, who nodded grimly. “We have a message for him. We couldn’t bring ourselves to send it via telegraphy, or Iris-message or hawk-messaging or whatever distant communication. He has to hear this, personally.”

<p style="text-align: justify;">“But maybe…” Frank said. “Maybe he shouldn’t hear about this today. It’s about his friends. Well, a particular one.”

<p style="text-align: justify;">Everyone looked at each other. A particular one. Leo had many friends, so they couldn’t pinpoint anyone special, unless…

<p style="text-align: justify;">“Let’s not tell him about it. Maybe it’s for his sake.” Hazel sat down on a couch and gestured Frank to do the same. “He’ll have to find out for himself. Frank, call Nico for me. She might come tomorrow and confront Leo. He might need some back-up.”

<p style="text-align: justify;">A She. The guests’ fears have been confirmed. She’s coming into the city, whether it was for the good of the Esperanza, or trouble. They had heard stories of her and her adventures from the children of Leo’s neighborhood. If the girl in the story was really her…

<p style="text-align: justify;">“Let’s just hope she doesn’t know where Leo lives,” Frank said, taking a drachma, the Greeks’ currency, and was making his way to the bathroom, which was across the hallway. “She’s a dangerous woman. I may not know her as much as Leo does, but k now she’s going to give the Dragon a heart attack.”

<p style="text-align: justify;">To be continued...