"I keep telling you, I bumped into them this morning and they refused to let me go."
"And they initiated you into their cult?"
"What?"
"You brought two people that looked older than you, Jack. Sure you're not telling me everything?"
"I told you, everything mom. And it's not because of a cult!"
After Newt and Sharina left, Callee had stopped her work in the kitchen and slunk into the couch beside her son. A minute didn't fully go by before her intense questioning began.
"Explain the pendant then," she said, her eyes observing it. "They may have tried to hide it, but I know they also had it on."
"She is truly a glorious woman," Zeus praised from his head. "As much as I would love to embrace your mother and show her things your young mind cannot comprehend, it would be best if you kept this from her."
Jack brought one hand up to his amulet, fidgeting with it, before tucking it inside his shirt. "Alright, alright," he faked surrender, his head trying to sieve out a lie good enough to deceive his mother and throw her off completely.
"We actually met at Harrison's, fought a flock of birds with knives for feathers, learned instant teleportation, were transported to this massive throne room that we can apparently only access in our minds, sat in one, met a giant deformed man, and now we're here."
Callee sighed in defeat. "I'm hoping there's a better reason for lying to me Jack. But I hope you met decent people."
"You need to stop blurting out the truth like that," Zeus rumbled. "Although it has worked for you so far."
Jack put an arm around his mother. He wanted to tell her and possibly show her what he had gotten into, but he was scared. When Noel had gotten between Newt and himself, that stupid bird almost ripped him to shreds. After the vision Sharina showed him of his fear, he became increasingly worried.
"I'll tell you soon," he assured her. "It's more of a surprise than a secret cult."
Sighing again, she sat up. "I'll finish making dinner."
Rubbing her son's head, she stood up and walked into the kitchen, her face swirling with both worry and fear.
"She's a perfect ten," Zeus commented, forcing Jack's eyes to monitor her departure.
Scrunching up his face in disgust, Jack forced his head away. "She's my mother for God's sake."
"Yes yes, but we are not the same person."
"You're sick and horny, and I'm normal."
"Or you're sad and lonely, and I am magnificent," he gloated.
Jack rolled his eyes. "Just keep those disturbing thoughts out of my head."
"I thought kids your age liked these kinds of fantasies nowadays?"
"What the hell?"
"Upon my return, I was able to gather intel on how your world works. Do not look surprised, I'm exceptional like that," Zeus bragged.
Jack hoped it wasn't going where he thought it was going.
"Through my 'downloaded' information, I saw a reference of a mother stuck in her kitchen sink, Gaia knows how, and her son-"
"Stepson," Jack muttered. "And come on, you can hit on any woman, just leave her out of your fantasies."
"Even if she reminds me of a huntress I once slept with?"
Jack frowned. "Huntress?"
"A follower of Artemis, a fine woman, strong and hard to trick into my arms. So I shape-shifted into my daughter and lured her in."
"That's messed up," Jack gagged. "Like how did you-. You know what, I don't even want to know."
"Diving into the details is indeed boring and inappropriate," Zeus said. "But in the end, Callisto was turned into a bear and killed."
Freezing, Jack replayed his words in his head again. Before he could fully process it, his mum came in again, two bowls in hand.
"Pasta's ready," she called, dropping a hot bowl on Jack's lap before taking her seat beside him.
"Ow!" he yelped, dropping it on the hand of the chair.
Chuckling, his mother twirled her fork into her food and began eating.
"So how was work?" he asked her, blowing softly on his food. The aroma left his stomach rumbling and his eyes watery, but eating his food hot would have left his mouth scorched. His mother on the other hand, slurped her food with ease. Almost like she had some sort of cooler in her mouth.
"You know, the usual," she shrugged.
His mom worked as a teacher at a junior high nearly an hour away. She loved her job, but Jack could tell she didn't like where she worked. There were months when she'd complain of a delay in her pay, or at times months without. Unfortunately, there was no telling her to leave and find somewhere else. Even when Jack tried to get a part-time job, she forbade it and reassured him they'd be fine.
"They still haven't paid, huh."
"It's barely two days Jack. Give it a week."
"Till what?" Jack dropped his bowl. "Mom, there are so many other places you can-"
"Just drop it," his mom waved it off. "I'll be fine."
Clenching his fists, Jack bit his tongue to keep him from screaming at her. The same thing happened every single time. All for a stupid reason Jack adhered to for years.
"Calm down mortal," Zeus warned.
Confused, Jack released his fists and took a shaky breath. As he did so, he felt pressure lessen around his head.
"You must learn to quell your anger, child. Any outburst will trigger my abilities and deal unimaginable damage to whoever your anger is directed to."
Opening his eyes, he picked up his food and stood up.
"Jack..."
"I'll be in my room," he said, walking off.
Upon entering his room he slammed the door shut and slid down it in frustration.
"She carries a heavy burden, your mother," Zeus lamented. In the current situation, Jack still had a feeling Zeus was referring to something completely off-topic. "She reminds me of Callisto."
Then Jack remembered.
"That's her name."
"What?"
"You said your consciousness survived all those years ago?" he questioned the god.
"Yes, I did."
"So you could have inhabited a mortal body temporarily?"
"Where are you going with this boy?" Zeus asked, with increasing agitation.
Taking in a deep breath, Jack answered his question with a question of his own.
"Are you my father?"