When I woke up it was 10 o'clock in the morning. It's not like I had anything to do, but I like to wake up early and have a lot of time to waste.
Looking at the phone I saw that Basma had already called me so I decided to call her back.
"Cam?"
—Good morning Basma how are you?
"It's Cam! Cam, Igor says to come over."
—Where are you?
"In the dining room, but Igor says we're being watched."
That last sentence woke me up.
—I'm there before the cock crows.
I hung up and got ready. On the other end of the line Basma didn't know what to say.
—What did Cam say?
—He says he's here before the cock crows... What does that mean?
Igor lifted his shoulders.
—That boy says strange things from time to time.
Basma laughed.
—But without that it wouldn't be Cam.
Igor glanced sideways at Basma as he bit into his toast, the truth was that he couldn't agree more.
A moment later the door to one of the elevators opened, and to Igor and Basma's surprise, it wasn't Caelum coming out, it was Hiroki, Sara and Zareb. The three of them approached the table where they were having breakfast.
Igor noticed how several people in fisherman's hats were getting ready in case they had to act, but he was still eating his toast calmly. In front of him Basma gripped a knife tightly.
—I see a couple are missing —Hiroki said as he approached the table.
—One is coming now, and the other is probably playing soccer.
—We came to make you an offer.
—We turned it down, thank you very much.
Igor's response was immediate, and meanwhile, he continued to eat his toast. Igor wanted to be left alone, he and those he had decided to protect.
That attitude got on the nerves of those who had come to talk to him, but Hiroki insisted.
—I think you should at least listen to the offer.
—I wonder what kind of offer it is that there are 3 of you and you need 4 more around us. Let's hear it.
Hiroki knew that knowing who they were in his gang was not strange, after all, they all wear something as plain as a fisherman's cap as a sign of belonging. What caught Hiroki's attention was that only 3 of those in the dining room were wearing hats, they had put a fourth one without a hat and the man infront of him had found out. Then he understood that he was not dealing with someone normal.
—You see, we offer you the chance to join our gang 'The Saviors'. Training among us, the parts are each other's, we don't interfere, and help from a group whenever you want.
Then Igor smiled at Hiroki's words. Not because he liked what he heard as the rest thought, but because it was quite strange. It wasn't necessary to create "a band" to do something like that, Igor's instinct told him that there was something else.
—That's all? There's nothing else?
A bead of cold sweat ran down Hiroki's forehead. The boy thought that maybe the person in front of him knew the target of his gang, but he didn't get that feeling. Then he thought it had been too obvious that there was some secret.
In that moment of doubt the elevator door opened and out came Caelum, who quickly approached the group harassing Igor and Basma.
—Any problem?
Igor picked up the coffee cup and took a sip before answering.
—None. These kind gentlemen had made us an offer that I had politely declined. Would you like to hear it?
Caelum had to hold back his laughter as he watched Igor's performance. Seeing him act that way almost made him laugh in Hiroki's face.
—Well, if you've denied the offer there's no need for me to listen to it myself —Cam followed Igor's lead—. I'll go and have brunch, if you gentlemen will excuse me.
With a small nod Cam left to go to the buffet. Basma, who had been watching the whole situation from his chair not knowing what to say, couldn't hold in his laughter and to avoid trouble he covered his hand with both hands.
The members of the band 'The Saviors' felt insulted. They all wanted to beat up the two who were laughing at them, all except Sara. She too had to hold in her laughter so they wouldn't say anything to her. For a moment Hiroki went to say something in response, but decided to keep quiet.
'Sooner than you expect I will turn this hotel into my empire. Then I'll make you an offer you can't refuse.'
With that thought Hiroki turned around on his way to the elevator followed by Zareb and Sara.
While Cam was choosing what he was going to have for breakfast.
Yesterday I had eggs and today maybe I should have toast. When my gaze stopped on one thing I hadn't noticed. Chocolate cereal. When I had filled a couple of bowls I went back to the table, where Basma was laughing with Igor.
—What happened?
—When the fish hats were gone she started laughing.
Igor pointed to Basma who calmed down and caught his breath.
—I thought something was going to happen at first, but when Igor started acting like that and you went along with it, I couldn't take it anymore.
I smiled.
—The truth is that I almost fell for Igor's theatrics too. Where did you learn that?
—On my own, something I had to learn to deal with people who think they're special.
I laughed. The rest of the morning we were talking and decided to go find Mason who was at a soccer game.
We sat in the bleachers unnoticed and watched him play. They didn't look like they were the best at it, but they seemed to be having a lot of fun. But what surprised me came next.
Kids use skills to play soccer. Skills like sprinting, quick hitting, increased agility.
—This stopped being soccer a long time ago.
At that moment we all received a message and silence reigned during the time we were reading the message.
____________
Hello, it's the hotel manager again.
We will have a meeting on the top floor at 12:30 before lunch. Attendance is mandatory so don't forget.
See you there
____________
Looking at the phone you could see it was 11:30.
—But wasn't there a meeting yesterday?
—And at 12:30? What's the rush?
Complaints could be heard all over the gym when my phone started to vibrate, an unknown number was calling me.
—Hello?
"Hello Caelum, this is Viktor, don't say anything. I need you to hurry up to the second to last floor, we demigods want to make you an offer."
—Yes...
"Thanks, see you now."
And he hung up on me. When I peeled the phone away from my ear I wasn't sure what had just happened. I remembered the short conversation and fell into despair.
—Who was it?
—Someone I can't say no to.
—Who?
Basma looked at us with no idea what was going on.
—Don't worry. I have to go for a moment, stay with Igor.
—Igor, why does Cam seem to be going somewhere dangerous?
Behind me I heard Igor laugh and tell him not to worry, that he was going to a place full of nice, friendly people.
When I got to the second to last floor I was greeted by an entrance and a wooden door. It caught my attention because the door was open and behind it was a table with 7 people seated.
When they became aware of my presence it was Viktor who came to greet me.
—Come, come, don't be afraid.
I laughed. Don't be afraid, he says to me.
I sat in the empty corner, I had Viktor, William and Megan to my left. To my right, along with manager Lidia, two people I didn't recognize. On the other side of the table, a man with neatly combed white hair and beard, Milos.
—Good morning, 739, or do you prefer to be called Caelum?
—As you prefer, sir.
—Well, there are two people you don't know at this table, they are Hermes and Belona.
—Yuju.
—Good morning.
I bowed my head in respect.
—Nice to meet you.
Then the little guy, Hermes, started laughing.
—What did you do to the kid to make him behave like this?
—Let's say a meeting with the Goddess and knowing that we are demigods.
—Oh, so you're afraid, huh?
HOW CAN I NOT BE AFRAID WHEN I'M SURROUNDED BY YOU?!
—Ahem. I think we can talk about this another time now we have to talk to 73, ehem, Caelum, about what we had talked about.
Lidia mediated the conversation, but the **** was going to call me 739 instead of my name. Am I a number to her?
—So Caelum —Milos began as he leaned on the table—, we have an offer to make you. Work for us.
Hehehehe, you're telling me to work for them, for this bunch of psychotics? Hehehehe, come on, not even drunk. But then William caught my attention.
—Of course, this is an offer you can't refuse.
—WHAT?!
All my hope disappeared in a heartbeat.