Chapters

Origin Story, Part 1

Origin Story, Part 2

Save the Girl Save the World, Part 1

Save the Girl Save the World, Part 2

Gods and Monsters and Those Who Train Them, Part 1

Gods and Monsters and Those Who Train Them, Part 2

The Will of Self-Sacrifice, Part 1

The Will of Self-Sacrifice, Part 2

Starting Line, Part 1

Starting Line, Part 2

Powers and Bonds, Part 1

Powers and Bonds, Part 2

Solo Mission, Part 1

Solo Mission, Part 2

Goodwill Hunting, Part 1

Goodwill Hunting, Part 2

Facing Despair, Part 1

Facing Despair, Part 2

Lesson Number Eleven, part 1

Lesson Number Eleven, Part 2

Into the Fire, Part 1

Into the Fire, Part 2

The Brave and the Bold, Part 1

The Brave and the Bold, Part 2

Mr. Moonday, Part 1

Mr. Moonday, Part 2

Suiting Up, Part 1

Suiting Up, Part 2

A Starry Night Infiltration, Part 1

A Starry Night Infiltration, Part 2

Midnight Madness, Part 1

Midnight Madness, Part 2

Going Delta, Part 1

Going Delta, Part 2

The Bow of Heracles, Part 1

The Bow of Heracles, Part 2

A Visit to the Healing Gardens, Part 1

A Visit to the Healing Gardens, Part 2

Broken Prophecies, Part 1

Broken Prophecies, Part 2

Boars and Walls, Part 1

Boars and Walls, Part 2

Blunt Force Trauma, Part 1

Blunt Force Trauma, Part 2

Lesson Number Ten, Part 1

Lesson Number Ten, Part 2

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire, Part 1

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire, Part 2

Lost Girls and bad Dreams, Part 1

Lost Girls and Bad Dreams, Part 2

Rooftop Running Man, Part 1

Rooftop Running Man, Part 2

No Rest for the Wicked or the Heroic, Part 1

No Rest for the Wicked or the Heroic, Part 2

The First Labor, Part 1

The First Labor, Part 2

Love and Thunder, Part 1

Love and Thunder, Part 2

Hero, Part 1

Hero, Part 2

Rebirth: Epilogue

Brave New World, Part 1

Brave New World, Part 2

A Meeting of the World’s Finest

Meet the Crew, Part 1

Meet the Crew, Part 2

The Chime of Liberty, Part 1

The Chime of Liberty, Part 2

Predator, Part 1

Predator, Part 2

Riddles in the Dark, Part 1

Riddles in the Dark, Part 2

A Trial of Water

Oh River, You Heartbreaker, Part 1

Oh River, You Heartbreaker, Part 2

Against Gods and Monsters, Part 1

Against Gods and Monsters, Part 2

Chasing Liberty, Part 1

Chasing Liberty, Part 2

Every Adventure Needs a Sidequest, Part 1

Every Adventure Needs a Sidequest, Part 2

The Second Labor, Part 1

The Second Labor, Part 2

The Light of Memory, Part 1

The Light of Memory, Part 2

Mass Healer, Part 1

Mass Healer, Part 2

The Endless Maze, part 1

The Endless Maze, Part 2

Chimera, Part 1

Chimera, Part 2

Fire and Ice, Part 1

Fire and Ice, Part 2

Sacrificial Play, Part 1

Sacrificial Play, Part 2

Death and Rebirth, Part 1

Death and Rebirth, Part 2

Master and Apprentice, Part 1

Master and Apprentice, Part 2

Overcoming Tribulation, Part 1

Overcoming Tribulation, Part 2

The Unbroken, Part 1

The Unbroken, Part 2

Reunions, Part 1

Reunions, Part 2

The Way Forward, Part 1

The Way Forward, Part 2

Mist and Bone, Part 1

Mist and Bone, Part 2

There Be Dragons Here, Part 1

There Be Dragons Here, Part 2

Inside the Belly of the Beast, Part 1

Inside the Belly of the Beast, Part 2

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

The Golden Fleece, Part 1

The Golden Fleece, Part 2

The Girl That Time Forgot, Part 1

The Girl That Time Forgot, Part 2

The Origins of Tragedy, Part 1

The Origins of Tragedy, Part 2

Pandora's Box Unwrapped, Part 1

Pandora's Box Unwrapped, Part 2

Standoff

Rocket Man

Finding Hope, Part 1

Finding Hope, Part 2

Hopeful Thinking, Part 1

Hopeful Thinking, Part 2

The Fast and the Ferocious, Part 1

The Fast and the Ferocious, Part 2

The Last Heracleidae, Part 1

The Last Heracleidae, Part 2

The Third labor, part 1

The Third labor, part 2

The Hand of Mercy, Part 1

The Hand of Mercy, Part 2

Blessing of the Sea, Part 1

Blessing of the Sea, Part 2

Rising, Part 1

Rising, Part 2

Vigilante No More, Part 1

Vigilante No More, Part 2

Prison Break, Part 1

Prison Break, Part 2

The Return of Crow-Man, Part 1

The Return of Crow-Man, Part 2

Heroes of the Crucible

Healers on a Battlefield Equals Victory

A New Mystery Unfolds, Part 1

A New Mystery Unfolds, Part 2

Assessment Day

Fortune Favors the Bold

New York's Newest Alpha, Part 1

New York's Newest Alpha, Part 2

Heart to Hearth, Part 1

Heart to Hearth, Part 2

New Threads Fit for Demigods, Part 1

New Threads Fit for Demigods, Part 2

Blood and Fyre, Part 1

Blood and Fyre, Part 2

The Trick to Catching Vampires, Part 1

The Trick to Catching Vampires, Part 2

Shadow and Flame, Part 1

Shadow and Flame, Part 2

Marked for Death

Herculean’s First Endorsement

Training Day, Part 1

Training Day, Part 2

Tech Support

Practice Makes Perfect, Part 1

Practice Makes Perfect, Part 2

Love and Training, Part 1

Love and Training, Part 2

A Chariot Fit for Adventure, Part 1

A Chariot Fit for Adventure, Part 2

A Knife in the Dark

Taken, part 1

Taken, Part 2

No Malarkey, Part 1

No Malarkey, Part 2

Death Valley, part 1

Death Valley, part 2

Super Massive Black Hole, Part 1

Super Massive Black Hole, Part 2

Styx, Part 1

Styx, Part 2

Temple of Doom, Part 1

Temple of Doom, Part 2

Monster Envy, Part 1

Monster Envy, Part 2

The Gates of the Damned, Part 1

The Gates of the Damned, Part 2

The Resistance, Part 1

The Resistance, Part 2

Dead Men Walking, Part 1

Dead Men Walking, Part 2

Labyrinthian, Part 1

Labyrinthian, Part 2

Hungry Ghoul, Part 1

Hungry Ghoul, Part 2

Zoom out

Zoom in

Read with Bonus

Lesson Number Eleven, Part 2

It was only three blocks away when Sam came upon a growing crowd of onlookers and first responders who were all looking up at a four-story apartment building whose top two floors were already engulfed in a thick coating of smoke and flames.

“It doesn’t look like a horror’s doing,” Sam said, sounding relieved. “An accident?”

[You won’t learn anything from back here!]

“Right,” Sam agreed.

He slipped into the back of the crowd while frightened whispers reached his ears from all around him.

“I heard there was an explosion,” said a gray-haired, brown-skinned man.

“Place went up in flames so quickly we couldn’t get everyone out of there,” a blonde paramedic commented.

“It’s as hot as the forge of the cyclopes in there,” his partner, a dark-skinned, curly-haired female paramedic, added.

When Sam pushed his way to the front of the crowd, he noticed the NYPD were only just beginning to set up their barricades.

“It looks like this thing just started.”

Even from the other side of the street, Sam could feel the intense heat of the fire graze his skin. The smell was awful too, like gasoline mixed with the stench of burning meat and rubber.

“Gods”—Sam’s gaze drifted to the flames peeking out of a few second-floor windows—“you think there are people still—”

“Where in Hades are those firefighters!” yelled a familiar grumpy voice.

“Oh, no”—Sam’s gaze snapped toward the NYPD officers beyond the police barricade.—“not him.”

A thickset bald man with chocolate-colored skin was glowering at a young, brown-haired, gray-eyed police officer.

“They’re still putting out that big fire over on Brooklyn Bridge, sarge,” Officer Nolan reported.

Police Sergeant Graham then turned his glower on the slanted-eyed, blue-haired girl in the bright blue jumpsuit standing next to Officer Nolan.

“What’s your excuse, Miracle Girl?” he snapped.

“I’m a healer, sarge,” she fired back at him. “You got burn victims in need of healing, I’m your gal. Otherwise, I’m waiting for the water elemental heroes just like everyone else…”

She glanced over her shoulder to where a small line of Queens’ heroes was gathered in a cluster. Famous names such as Captain Awesome, Minute-Man, Barricade Betty, and even Wolf-Woman were on scene. None of them, however, had the power to stop a raging fire. All they could do was standby and be ready in case New York’s finest needed their help differently.

“I know a healer worth less than you who wouldn’t be afraid to jump into that burning building just to save one life,” Sergeant Graham snapped.

Sam’s eyebrows twitched at the sergeant’s words. It sounded like he was talking about Sam, and in an uncommonly nice way too.

“Yeah, why don’t you call this hero over then?” Miracle Girl countered. “I’d love to see the face of a reckless idiot like that.”

This, Sam thought, was the right reaction to what he had done in the Bronx nearly three weeks ago. Funnily enough, he’s gotten even more reckless since that time.

Then, as if on cue, another explosion rocked the apartment, causing flames to explode out of the third-floor windows. The shockwave from the blast made Sam cover his face with his arms while the surrounding crowd was forced to take cover several steps back.

Sam had just enough time to marvel at how sturdy he’d become before he realized he was now standing alone on the other side of the police barricade which made him quite noticeable to observant eyes. Sure enough, a voice yelled his name, and not in a welcoming way.

“Shepard!” Sergeant Graham roared. “What the hell are you doing here, dumbass!?”

The NYPD police sergeant stomped over to where Sam stood. As usual, he was sporting an extra-intense glower he reserved only for Sam.

“Hey, sarge,” Sam said, waving a hand toward the man who didn’t look thrilled to see him despite praising Sam only a minute ago. “How’ve you been?”

“Don’t talk to me like we’re friends, Shepard,” Sergeant Graham snapped. “What are you doing in my active disaster zone?”

Sergeant Graham’s eyes drifted down to Sam’s utility belt. No doubt he could see Cranium Smasher strapped behind it too, and the only conclusion he could draw from Sam’s appearance caused his eyebrow to arch even higher than usual.

“I want to help,” Sam said.

“We don’t need you,” Sergeant Graham replied. “Not a coward who ran away from the job the first time around…”

“But, didn’t you just compliment—”

As unlikely as it sounded, Sergeant Graham’s glower intensified to new heights, driving Sam to shut his mouth.

“I heard you got fired from the Herald,” Sergeant Graham said, with a hint of satisfaction in his voice. “It must be true because you’re not waving your stupid press badge in my face this time.”

“Listen, Sarge, I really can help—”

“And since you’re no longer here in an official capacity, I believe that makes you a civilian,” Sergeant Graham was grinning now. “Unless you can show me proof that you’ve re-registered as a hero with the city’s Wardens Office?”

“Uh…” Somehow, Sam found the sarge’s grin way more unnerving than his glower. “I haven’t gotten around to that yet…”

“And what do we do with civilians who are impeding police business, Officer Nolan?” Sergeant Graham asked.

Fair-faced, gray-eyed, Officer Nolan gave Sam an apologetic look before answering his boss’s question. “We book them for disruption of police business, sarge.”

“That we do.” Sergeant Graham leaned in to whisper into Sam’s ear. “That stunt you pulled in the Bronx got me and my men in trouble, you little shit-stain.”

When he pulled away from Sam, the sarge’s grin was gone. That stoic mask of a lawman about to rain judgment down on the delinquent had already replaced it.

“Turns out you’ve got connections in really high places who don’t like it when you’re put in danger,” Sergeant Graham added.

Sam knew who he was talking about, of course. Marie had probably said something to the city’s police chief in Sam’s favor. That most likely meant he was even more out of favor with the sarge now.

“Officer Nolan”—he waved his sidekick over—“please escort Mr. Shepard here off my active disaster zone. We wouldn’t want him to get hurt on account of his own stupidity. I think he’ll be fine cooling off at the back of the rig.”

“Hades’ bottom,” Sam sighed.

A minute after that altercation and Officer Nolan was dragging Sam toward the back of the crowd. Sam could have resisted, of course. But it didn’t seem like a smart move to antagonize the NYPD. Not yet, at least. Funnily enough, Officer Nolan didn’t bring Sam over to his police car but instead led him into an alleyway adjacent to the street where the burning building stood. That’s where he let Sam go.

“Most people who were there that night were too afraid to watch the battle, but I saw what you did, and I know you’re a hero, Sam,” Officer Nolan said.

“Um…” Sam was speechless. This was the first time anyone of authority had complimented him. “Thanks…”

“Sorry about the sarge. Even though he saw what you did too, he’s not the type to admit he was wrong about someone…not easily.”

Sam shrugged. “I’m used to people looking down on me.”

Officer Nolan chuckled.

“You think you can do it again?” he asked. “Save some more lives?”

“What do you mean?” Sam asked. “Who needs saving?”

Officer Nolan nodded his head toward the burning building.

“There are still people trapped in the upper floors. We couldn’t get to them in time, and the other heroes…they’re waiting on backup…” Officer Nolan’s frown only deepened when he said that last part.

Officer Nolan wasn’t a top-class hero like Thunder, but the light in his eyes shone with such hopeful brilliance that Sam knew he couldn’t let this man down.

Lesson number eleven flitted across the surface of Sam’s mind. “Never lose hope.”

After he turned his back on Officer Nolan, Sam reached into his hoodie’s pocket after he and took out the mask he’d kept there. Sam placed the mask over his face and wasn’t surprised at all that it fit him perfectly. Relics were amazingly intuitive like that.

“It’s alright now”—Sam pulled the hood of his jacket over his head—“I’ll save them.”

And, as he rushed toward the end of the alley, his eyes set on the fire that raged beyond it, Sam heard Officer Nolan whisper a prayer on his behalf, “May Hermes guide your steps toward the right path,” and imagined that the gods might be on his side tonight.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter