The fall of Goliath (open)

[Victor Nikolai]

XXWarmth seared Victor’s brain, wrapping it in a silky cotton that made it impossible to concentrate. The pinks and orange sunset moved through his mind, taking over every thought. It was peaceful and relaxing, making him wish that this feeling would last. For some reason, he knew that it wouldn’t. It never lasted. That was when he realized, in some working part of his mind, that he had felt like this before. He used to crave this perfect feeling. But he didn’t anymore. Victor couldn’t figure out why.
XXA constant beeping noise was the first thing to break through his nirvana. The sound was annoying, urging him to wake from the state he was in. The warmth began to slip away even though he attempted to hold onto it with both hands. Cold settled into his limbs, a temperature that left him shivering almost uncontrollably. He turned his head into the pillow under him, trying to hold onto some of the warmth that might be left from his body. That was when he smelled the distinct antiseptic odour that alerted him to his location. He had no idea why he would be in a hospital. His body felt heavy, but relatively alright. With a still fuzzy mind, he attempted to focus on something that might tell him how he got there. He last remembered walking around in a new town. He didn’t remember how he got there, but knew that it was important to make it safe for someone. Maybe he passed out drunk again. It would explain the feeling he felt just before waking up. He should have told the babysitter that he was going to be out late.
XXThat thought brought back everything that had happened in the past few years. He remembered the woman he had a one night stand with, and the man who showed up at his doorstep holding a baby. He remembered when he realized that the baby was his and he had to protect her. The town he was now in was supposed to be a safe place for those of his kind and hopefully will ignore Angie’s dangerous abilities. He knew that the people of the town could cause problems for both of them, but hoped that his decision would prove good for both of them. Everything would be all right as long as no one knew his abilities.
XXAnother spark connected in his mind. He had recently decided to explore more to get a feel for the town. He had a bad feeling that something was going to happen and didn’t want his daughter to get hurt. He hired a goddess of children or something to watch Angie. He couldn’t think of exactly what her title was, but he made sure she was credible. He only wished that she watched over Angie even though he was late. After walking for a while, he decided to check out some of the bars, in order to see who was there. Of course that was the thing that started all this.
XXSomeone must have known him from his old life because the next thing he knew he was being challenged to an impossible contest. Not only did he lose the fight, but the pain he got from losing struck him unconscious. That was the reason he was in the hospital now. Groaning to himself, Victor sat up to look around the room. He hoped that no one noticed that he had to do what he was challenged to do. That was what he wanted to keep secret. If they all knew, than he might have to move again. He just hoped that Angie was still safe.

[Daphne Maia Antonopoulos]

Daphne took some time on her break to see her father. It had advantages to work as a nurse, whenever her father was doing chemotherapy, she didn't have to walk very far to get to his room. Right now, the man was sleeping. This invasive treatment sure left its mark on him. Daphne remembered a man full of life, a smile always plastered on his face. Historians could be boring, but not her father. When he talked of Greece and its history, it was always with such passion, he communicated it to you. For Daphne, those gods have always been part of an ancient culture, some old folklore good now only for fairy tales and Hollywood movies. For her father, it was his life. It was those gods that led the man to leave everything behind and come live in this town. Because of the rumors claiming Greek gods built it, that they walked around normal people here, they were even having children! For Daphne, it was all a farce. But what could she do, the man was stubborn. And when he grew ill, she decided to come to This town, this new Athens, to help him to the best of her capacities.

The town was a rather nice place, she was forced to admit. She wasn't too much for the Dionysus' Square but it was a nice place to live. The park was beautiful, all the necessities could be found and the hospital was both big and modern. The best place for a man with a cancer to receive his treatment. Leukemia really wasn't tender on her father. He was a shadow of the man he once was. He lost a lot of weight, he had big bags under his eyes and his smile wasn't as true and shiny as before. Yes, Aaron Antonopoulos was dying. But he had his daughter by his side to watch over him.

Every time she was seeing her father like this, so fragile, it was as if a giant clamp was squeezing her heart. It hurt beyond what she believed. Probably because he was the only left in her life. Her mother was dead and she had no husband, lover, not even a pet! And seeing his slowly leaving her like this, it was painful beyond measure. She remembered his running around everywhere, not afraid to get dirty as he explored the ground. Many younger ones were not as courageous as he was when it came to go down a hole or exploring a cave. But he would do it, for history's sake, to learn more about ancient civilizations. And now, what was left of the great archaeologist? A few articles, pictures with his daughter in old magazines, a reference of him in classes. The archaeologist would remain but not the man. Daphne, though, was not looking at the historian but the man and she didn't want him to go.

After a moment watching the man, Daphne left. It was just too much. When he was there, sleeping, it felt he was so close of the tomb. And she couldn't deal with that. She exited the room and wandered in the white corridors, sighing every now and then. She rested her back against the wall after a moment. She needed to get back some composure. She still several hours before leaving the hospital and she would be useless if she did not calm down. She nodded to some nurses that walked past her but remained here. They all knew what it was about when she was silent like this and they knew better than to talk to her. She heard a groan inside the room but didn't turn to look. She was in a hospital, people groaned, moaned, screamed sometimes. You were not exactly coming here if you were in good shape after all.

[Victor Nikolai]

XXThe room was cold and impersonal, a colourless void that seemed to trap people until they died. Vic knew about human hospitals. He tried to limit the number of times he was in one. He didn’t really need them very often because he didn’t get mortal diseases but he did get hurt sometimes. He knew of some humans who overdosed during a party and needed to be rushed to the hospital. When those times came, people ran away, not wanting to be involved in an investigation. Victor didn’t really pay attention to human life back then. Humans were just people who were born and died within a blink of an eye. They got what came to them and shouldn’t be doing drugs in the first place. He never cared who he hurt, helped or took to bed. He loved women’s bodies but didn’t care about the person inside. He didn’t want commitment to anything or anyone besides his few friends. They had a kind of understanding that they never broke, but it didn’t compare to friendship humans have. They often hurt each other and played pranks. If it got them ahead then it was acceptable. Long life got boring and therefore a little pain never bothered them. They couldn’t do anything that would cause long time damage, however, nor cause them problems with bigger gods.
XXThat all changed when Dion, son of Dionysus, decided to play one last trick of the year. He had a god of fertility bless a woman and then poked a hole in the condom. He thought it was hilarious and only told Vic after months. He didn’t know who the woman was and obviously didn’t pay much attention to it, figuring that the woman could take care of whatever offspring they made, since she wasn’t human either. It wasn’t until 9 months after the incedent that Vic found a baby in his arms who was orphaned when it’s mother died. Victor at first didn’t want the baby. He didn’t know how to take care of one and knew that he didn’t think that the baby would be much better with him than alone. But the girl’s little face looked up to him, her blue eyes holding unconditional love that only babies could muster. He knew then that he had to protect this little girl from everything that could possible hurt her. From that point on, he stopped hanging out with his friends and moved away. He didn’t think that she would be safe in a town filled with partying.
XXAnd now she could be in danger. Victor didn’t know if the sitter stayed, or if she left. He didn’t know how long he had been passed out for. He didn’t know if Angie was scared and crying out for her daddy. Victor couldn’t take the image. He got up off the bed, his head spinning with the after effects from his loss. He didn’t know if he could make it back to his place and wondered where his stuff was. If he could find his cellphone, he might be able to call the babysitter and check on Angie. He needed to know she was alright. He could basically hear her cries in his head. Without knowing where his stuff was, his next best bet was to find a nurse.
XXJust as he was having that thought he noticed a woman standing in the hallway, just outside the door. He couldn’t see much of her but could tell by her outfit that she was a nurse. He might be able to get her attention. “Excuse me, nurse? I need my stuff, or a phone or something.. Please! It’s an emergency.” He knew that most things were probably emergencies in hospitals but his daughter was at stake and nothing would keep him from helping her

[Daphne Maia Antonopoulos]

Daphne was lost in her thoughts when her job came right back at her and brought her back into reality. She barely understood what the man said and probably wouldn't have realized he talked to her had he not been inside the room next to her. She turned to face the man and tried to focus on him and recall what he said. It was somewhere on the back of his mind. She could recall certain sounds, now she just had to match those sounds to words. She managed to get back the words 'phone' and 'emergency'. If the last one didn't cause a reaction on her, after all what but emergencies do you have in a hospital, she frowned about the phone. There was one at the end of the hall but a quick look at the man made her believe he might not be able to reach for it.

She went looking for the sheet of paper on the clipboard. No name written. Must have been passed out when they got him. And apparently, they did not feel the need to look through his stuff to write it down. When she read where they found the guy, she immediately made her own opinion out of the man. Rather handsome she gave him that, but if they got him from a bar he either ended up in a brawl or completely drunk. And since he didn't seem all beat up, the latter was the winner.

After finding this much about him, she went to the small table on wheels where his things were sitting and rolled it up to the bed. She gave him another quick look. Yes, he was very handsome. Too bad Dionysus' Square was his kind of place. Then again, she sometimes felt she was the only one not going there. "You can make a quick call. If you don't have a cellphone, you can use the one at the end of the hall," she said of her soft yet professional voice tone, pointing with her hand at the door and beyond it. You couldn't see it from here but the corridor was going straight ahead, a simple look and you'd notice it for sure.

Daphne decided that since he was awake and rather in good shape, though perhaps a little groggy, he should be going. But before, just to make sure he didn't have anything bad, she did a quick checkup on him, not letting the man the time to say a thing about it. Anyway, even if he did, she would've told him to remain calm and wait until she signed the papers allowing him to go. Once done, she took back the file and passed over it one last time, checking the name of whoever looked on him at his arrival. She looked at her watch to write down the time. "Can I have your name?" she asked so she could write it down. She could have looked through his things, but since he was awake, perhaps it was best to simply ask him. She made a step backward which had her knock the table a little. She held his stuff so they wouldn't fall, had a rather sheepish smile as she mouthed a sorry and waited for him to answer her.

[Victor Nikolai]

XXThe terror that seized him as he thought about his daughter in trouble. He couldn’t really think straight through the fear. When the nurse came in, he barely looked at her. He knew it was a female but beyond that, he didn’t bother noticing. He didn’t care what she looked like, or who she might be. His only thoughts revolved around his daughter and if she was alright. Angie was his life and nothing else mattered. He never thought about finding a mother-figure for Angie, although he once tried to figure out if someone else might be better suited to take care of his daughter. He knew now that no one would love her as he does. If anything ever happened to her, or if someone tried to harm her he would hunt them down and kill them. He didn’t usually think about hurting someone but everything was different when it came to his beloved daughter. Gods forbid that a boy try to date Angie when she gets older. He didn’t know how he would react to that.
XX He noticed when the nurse rolled his stuff closer to him. He ignored her question about his name. It didn’t matter as much as finding out if Angie was alright. He didn’t feel bad for being rude, because his daughter was the most important thing in his life. He smiled in understanding when she almost knocked his stuff over, but even that didn’t really matter. He quickly grabbed his phone and dialled the number for his place. The phone rang 3 terrifying times before he heard a voice on the other end. He was relieved to hear the voice of the woman he picked to watch his daughter. “Hi.. yes, I know that I didn’t come home when I said I would... no, it wasn’t my fault... Just shut up for a moment and tell me that Angie is alright!... she is? Oh thank gods... I realize that it seems like I was being irresponsible but I was doing the responsible thing! You have no idea why I want out! You don’t know why I didn’t come home! I’m in the effing hospital! I didn’t plan on that! No! Thank you for staying and I’m going to pay you double for staying... No! You can’t leave! She’s only 2! You can’t leave her on her own! The neighbour is there? Which one?.. oh.. okay, I guess. Can I talk to Angie?”Victor took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He was so glad that Angie was alright, and wanted to talk to her.
XXWhen he heard her wonderful childish voice, Vic couldn’t help but smile. “Hi sweety, are you alright?... Oh, that’s good... You drew me a picture? I’m sure it’s lovely. What did you have to eat?... oh, that’s good. Yeah, the girl from next door is going to stay with you until I can get there. Angie, can I talk to her?... Thanks, hon. I love you, darling.” He said before making a kissing noise that always made Angie laugh. He couldn’t help but laugh with her. She was so adorable and he thanked the gods every day that he could be there to watch her grow up. When he heard the voice of the girl next door, he opened his eyes again. He needed to thank you. “Hi, yes, I know that you’re going to stay with her. Thank you so much... Oh you can’t stay? I don’t know when I’m getting out of here. Can you drop her off at the hospital on your way to work?.. Oh, thank you so much. Yes, bye!”
XXWhen he hung up the phone, he finally looked up at the nurse. He was so relieved that Angie was alright. He noticed the woman looked about his age, even though he was much older. He could tell she was human based on the fact that she wasn’t giving off the energy of a god. She was quite beautiful, with her dark hair and beautiful eyes. He felt a little bad about ignoring her like he did, but he needed to find out about his daughter, she would always come first. “Sorry about that. I told you it was an emergency. My name is Victor Nikolai. Anything else you need to know?” he asked her.

[Daphne Maia Antonopoulos]

Daphne raised an eyebrow out of impatience as he did not answer her. She could hear all of his phone call for she was still right there in the room. Apparently, he didn't exactly care whether or not people could hear him. She frowned as he heard him tell whoever was on the other side to shut up. She never liked people without proper manners. But as he asked if Angie was alright, he supposed it was worries that forced him to talk this way. How many times had she seen this already. She was almost glad he simply said 'effing' and not the real word but still disapprove its usage. When she heard him almost beg the person to stay because she was only two, he head raised quickly from the sheet she pretended to read. Oh my, it was his girl! And the babysitter was leaving apparently. In a way, she understood her (or him?) to do so, but to leave a child alone for the stupidities of her father was an action she could not condone. It was just as irresponsible as what this man did. Daphne almost sighed of relief when he was told the neighbor was there. At least this little one was not alone.

Daphne couldn't help it, she was almost going soft on and around kids. She knew she would have made a great mother but the occasion had yet appeared. She thought it had a little while ago, after being for over two years with someone. But he left. Daphne didn't exactly worry about it though, she was still young, she'd have other occasions. She smiled at the man once he sighed of relief. She felt the same for him and his girl. She tried not to listen too much of his conversation as he finally got his daughter on the phone. She immediately noticed the change of tone, all soft and happy. At least he loved his precious little girl. His attitude might not have proved it last night but he seemed to have made up for it now. She did her best not to chuckle at the kissing he gave the girl. That was sweet. Daphne wasn't expecting a man who passed out on Dionysus' Square to act this good. It was not enough to have her review her judgment of the place but she did see him in another way.

The call was not over though and another bad news came as he heard the new babysitter couldn't stay. Now he had no choice but to have his girl brought up to the hospital. She could understand how upsetting it was, but she was not responsible for it. She made note of it in her mind so she'd warn the girls at the reception to send the girl and this Angie up to his room whenever they'd arrive.

Daphne nodded to the guy when he apologize. "I understand and I'm glad your daughter is fine," she replied to him. She only assumed it was his daughter. Two... Yeah that was fitting the man's age. If he really was as old as he looked of course. She wrote down his name on the sheet. "I'll get a doctor to check on you and you might be able to go. I will also make sure to direct them to your room if they arrive. Do you need anything? Some aspirin?" she asked. This man, this victor, seemed to have sobered up after talking to his girl but she knew it might come back now that the stress left him. It was her job to make sure he was feeling as good as possible. Besides, she didn't want this little girl to see her father with a hangover.

[Victor Nikolai]

XXHe thought about the girl who lived next door. Victor didn’t know much about her and wondered if she was really the best person to look after his daughter. She was young, probably too young to have children of her own and wouldn’t know how to deal with a cranky two year old. She could say basic things and say what she needed but she hadn’t potty-trained yet and therefore would need diaper changes. He knew that she was only bringing the child here, but he still needed to deal with her. He wondered if she was really as nice as she looked. She might have wanted Angie for something else. Maybe she figured out her abilities and someone convinced her to kidnap her. He would track her down and probably kill her if she did anything of the sort. His worry was so consuming that he was lost in the idea of them. He took a deep breath so that he might be able to calm down. He thought that the girl was probably safe. His instincts hadn’t gone off when he met her the first time. He assumed that his instincts were right and needed to do whatever he could to ensure that he could get out of the hospital.
XX “I’m glad she is alright too.” He said although he knew that it was an obvious understatement. He would have died or killed if his daughter wasn’t alright. He didn’t know what would come over him but he was sure that it was sure to impact the town badly. He might level the place in order to find her or find the people who hurt her. He would kill without remorse, which he hadn’t ever done before. He took another calming breath. It hadn’t happened yet. Everything was fine. He knew that Angie was alright and she would stay that way. She would be here soon and he would get to hug her. He hadn’t been away from her this long since she was born. He spent most of his time taking care of Angie and would never tired of being around her. He didn’t know what he was going to do when she grew up and moved out.
XX “How long do you think before I can go? I’m going to need to take my daughter back home because I’m sure that she won’t have all her stuff. I also think she deserves a present for being good while I was gone.” He knew that the doctor would probably have questions for him. He knew that the doctors were human and wouldn’t understand the things in his blood. They would wonder why it was so hard to get the needle in his skin and why his skin healed as quickly. They probably would also wonder why he was passed out. They first think it is alcohol but would wonder later why there was no alcohol in his system. There were never drugs and Victor always got questioned. He usually told them that he had a condition that made all of his nerves shout about pain when there wasn’t any and that the fake pain made him pass out. But here where there were gods and goddesses he could claim about spells or something.
XX”No, I don’t need asprin, I’m fine.” He said, knowing that mortal drugs usually didn’t work on him anyways. He wondered how long until the questions were brought about. He knew that it was only a matter of time and hoped that it was the doctor who asked him, he didn’t like the idea of lying to an innocent nurse. She probably thought he was an alcoholic party boy. He didn’t like that thought. She seemed really nice.

[Daphne Maia Antonopoulos]

Daphne was almost happy to see Victor care this much for his daughter, to be so scared he was hyperventilating. In a way, she felt he deserved it, perhaps it would teach him better than roaming bars. Especially if there was not someone he could trust would stay all night to watch for her. The babysitter apparently did, so Daphne assumed it was some sort of nanny more than the usual fifteen-year-old teenage girl people take when leaving for two or three hours long. Still, it was no excuse to leave your girl in the arms of a stranger. Maybe it was because from the age of seven til she went to college she was brought all around the world and raised by all sorts of people while her father wandered the mysteries of the past that she was so angry toward those who made children and did not take full responsibility.

"It will depend on the doctor. I'm sorry I can't just let you go like this until he examined you. It is a simple procedure, only to make sure you have nothing that might send you back here in an ambulance. And don't worry for your girl, we have everything here shall you need something," she assured him with her professional voice tone. They did have everything, in the maternity service, it wouldn't take very long to get there and pick a diaper or find food for her.

Once he told he needed nothing, Daphne excused herself and left the room in search of a doctor. She found one at the reception filling a file like the one she had in her hands. She gave her file to him and explained the patient wanted to go. The doctor asked her to wait, he had more important business to attend to first. Daphne placed the file on the reception desk and started to talk with the nurse there. They knew each other well, as coworkers, and she often talked of her father and his condition. Everyone in the hospital knew about her father. But then again, Daphne noticed it was quite hard to keep anything secret in such establishment.

A woman eventually arrived with a young girl. Daphne assumed it was the so-called Angie with the next door neighbor who nicely accepted to bring the toddler to her father. Daphne smiled, this little Angie was so cute. She couldn't believe shew as still falling for kids but she did and directed the two to the right room. She knocked against the door frame to get Victor's attention. "The doctor shall come in a moment," she said before letting the girl enter with Angie.

[Victor Nikolai]

XXVictor nodded to her, understanding the procedures of the hospital. He knew for a fact that he would be fine. This wasn’t the first time he failed to come out victorious. He had times when women decided that they would try to make him commit to them because they knew that he had to try. He resented them, but they didn’t care. They wanted him to be the perfect boyfriend and knew his weakness. Eventually he because fed up and walked away, causing the pain. Doctors always wondered why something like this would happen to him. He always made up and excuse that would appease them for the time being and then left quickly so that they couldn’t run tests. He always regretted when he let himself get used and tried to make it so that he was never in that position. Evidently, that didn’t work out so well. Before his only responsibility was for himself and if he was hurt or used, it didn’t really matter. But now he knew that he couldn’t let that happen again.
XX It was really difficult for him to make sure that he wasn’t in that situation. He didn’t know who knew and who didn’t. He didn’t know which person would try to trap him. He couldn’t become a hermit and avoid all contact, because Angie would need contact in the future. He needed to get her supplies and take her for walks and let her play in the park. It hurt him that he had a weakness that could affect his daughter. He supposed that he could find someone he absolutely trusted to make sure that they were there for Angie, but he didn’t know if he could trust anyone that much. At any time they could find out about his abilities or those of his child and decide to use them against him. That was usually the way of the gods and he wasn’t sure that he could trust that someone wouldn’t do that when the situation arose. He didn’t want to let anyone have that much power over his daughter.
XX “I can assure you that I am fine and won’t be back here because of being let out early. I understand you have to do this but it isn’t the first time, so I know what’s going on. Thank you for agreeing to show Angie in here though.” He told her before she walked out. He sat there for a few minutes waiting for his little girl to show up. He was getting more worried as time passed. What if something happened on the way here? What if the girl decided to take Angie? He couldn’t believe all the questions passing through his head. All the possibilities of danger. He wished he could pace the room but he knew he was still too weak. He needed to get up and do something but he just sat there, thinking up bad things that could happen.
XX The moment that Angie walked through the door, Victor was completely lost to his relief. He smile to her as she ran to him in order to show him her picture. He knew that she wasn’t steady on her legs yet and her picture was basically coloured scribbles but none of that mattered. He picked her up, hating that her slight weight caused such a strain on his protesting muscles. He didn’t like being weak. That feeling paled in comparison to the happiness he always felt in the face of his daughter. She was perfect and innocent and completely happy. Her smile was completely devoid of any pain. She never knew fear of pain or anything that is bad. He hugged her tightly, making sure that he didn’t crush her, and kissed the top of her head. Her little giggle made him smile. “I love you, sweetheart. I’m sorry that I didn’t come home when I promised,” he told her, feeling reassured by the baby smell that still came off of her. He didn’t know why that made him happy but it was something that Victor only related to his child.

[Daphne Maia Antonopoulos]

At least Victor seemed to accept the fact he had to wait here and deal with the doctor. He said he had done that before and he was fine, he was sure of it. But Daphne was not gonna let him go because he was sure of it. If he was to come back to the hospital because of something they did not find before, she'd be the one penalized for letting him go. And Daphne didn't want to lose her job for someone, no matter how handsome he was. And so she left him with whatever thoughts was on his mind. She sure had her own worries.

Lately, her father's chemotherapy was not showing as good results as before. It stagnated. Still, it was better than getting worse, but Daphne didn't want to see it. She wanted her father to get over the cancer. Because the thought of losing him, the last thread linked to her, was too painful. All of this though was put at the back of her mind as she directed the girl and Victor's daughter to the man's room.

This little Angie was very cute, a beautiful little girl. And she seemed to genuinely love her father, the unconditional love only a child can feel. Daphne got glimpses of the drawing she had in her hands. Just like everyone, she believed it was only scribbles. But when it was your child, she assumed this thing, this weird mix of colors was the most beautiful scribbles ever made in memory of men.

Daphne noticed the man's difficulty to pick up his girl. He was still a bit weak. Again, she thought it would teach him not to do it ever again. She was certain he got the lesson, at least for now, just by the way he looked at his daughter. Daphne decided to leave them alone. She was uncomfortable watching people like this. She had no problem asking a complete stranger to pull down their pants, it was part of her duty. But those moments were for the family only and she didn't want to feel like a peeping tom.

She found the doctor again in the corridor and asked once more if he had time for a quick check up on someone. If Victor Nikolai was fine, she saw no reason to keep him any longer. He was taking a room someone else might need. Well, for now, he seemed to need it, he was a bit weak. But once strength would come back over his body, which she assumed wouldn't take long if he just walked a little, he should go. The doctor looked at his watch, debating whether he should do it now or not before asking Daphne for the file once again and heading to the room, the nurse not far behind.

[Victor Nikolai]

XXVictor smiled at his daughter and released her. He took the picture from her and held it out. “Oh, this looks, beautiful, Angie! Do you want to tell me about it?” He asked, having learned his lesson the last time he assumed a picture was of a certain thing. Angie had just laughed, but he didn’t want to offend her. She laughed now and nodded, saying things that were normal words mixed with gibberish. She knew what words are and could talk, but she also liked to make words up that he couldn’t figure out what they meant. He smiled and nodded at the appropriate times, adoring her little picture. “Oh, yes.. I see it. Why am I wearing a cowboy hat?” he asked, a laugh threatening to emerge. He listened as she went over part of her story again and ended up telling him that he decided to go surfing. He didn’t think she knew what surfing was, but that was alright. He used to surf all the time, back before the little precious girl took up a lot of his time.
XX He smiled to her, still holding the picture in one hand and her in the other. She was sitting on one knee oblivious to anything that could be wrong. She didn’t realize that they were in a place of sickness or that he was still considered a patient. He turned to the girl from next door, who was sitting there watching carefully, a smile on her face. “Thank you for watching her and taking her here. I’m sorry for all the trouble you went through, I will pay you when I get home. I’m sorry to take up so much of your time.” He didn’t want her to be late to work but needed to thank her again. He was so relieved that his little girl was alright. He looked at her happy face again. He would do anything to make sure that she never lost that sweet innocent look. Children should never have to deal with the hard part of life. He knew that his daughter would be ignorant and spoiled but that was just how he wanted her to stay. He never wanted her to grow up, but he knew that she was going to. He wished, like most parents, that he could give her a pill that kept her in this stage forever. He wouldn’t mind taking care of her forever. He wasn’t going to get too old to chase her in the park.
XX He didn’t notice the girl leaving the room. He knew that she needed to work. He didn’t really know her but was happy that his initial opinion was correct. She seemed like a good little girl. He knew that she couldn’t be old enough to have graduated highschool. She must be old enough to be in senior year. He use to be able to tell people’s ages when he was partying. He wanted to know who was drinking around him and doing drugs. He didn’t stop them because if he had, they probably would have only gone and done it somewhere else. He thought about it differently now. His daughter would be that age before he knew it and he didn’t want anything
XX.When the doctor entered with the nurse from before, Victor moved Angie to the chair beside the bed. He kissed her on the head and told her to stay there while the doctor looked him over. “I know what happened, Doctor. I have this problem where my nerves fire all at once and cause me pain, so I black out...” he started telling the lie. It came easily and he was not really lying. His body did cause him pain that made him black out. The lie was that it happened randomly. He couldn’t tell them what actually happened.

[Daphne Maia Antonopoulos]

Daphne could not refrain a smile when she saw Victor kissing the little girl's head as he placed her on the chair. She preferred that side of him, surely better than the 'pass out next to a bar' one. Daphne frowned when he talked of his problem, some form of epilepsy from the way he said it. She looked over his file. No such thing was mentioned. And the doctors certainly went through his papers to see if he had an allergy or something. They should have noticed it. Apparently not.

The doctor was just as skeptical as she was. He asked why it wasn't written anywhere in the file. Daphne explained the people at the emergency service didn't go looking if they had any papers about the man. She pointed the address where they found him to explain such decision. The doctor mumbled something before reading through everything. "Why isn't there any report about the content of his stomach?" he asked rather angrily. Daphne left immediately, saying on the softest of tone that she'll get the paper. As soon as she was out of the room though, she sighed out of annoyance. Doctors really thought they were gods sometimes. but if they were, logically that made nurses angels. She doubted God spoke like this to His messengers.

She went looking for the report through the pile of papers behind the reception desk. She even asked the other nurses if they had found it. When she got the darn paper, she wanted to run to the room before the doctor ever lose patience. But as she walked there, she suddenly stopped, out of confusion and shock. There found no trace of drugs in his organism! And barely no alcohol, nothing that could explain the state he was in. Either his stomach and liver had some kind of superpowers that get rid of the alcohol in some record time, or the man really passed out due to a cerebral problem.

When she came back in the room, you could see a certain surprise and definitely embarrassment in her face. She misjudged the man apparently. And she went thinking he deserved to fear for his girl as a lesson. Now she felt cheap, certain the man noticed her attitude. She gave the paper to the doctor. "No trace of drug or alcohol found," she said softly. With this new information in hands, both looked at Victor in a new way. The doctor cleared his throat and started talking about the problem he described them and how they had several treatments to help deal with it and have a regular everyday life. Daphne was now more than ready to help the man. She was thinking of his little girl, sitting on the chair and listening to them, certainly not understanding a thing they were saying. Surely he would like something to help avoid missing moments in his girl's life. "We can run some tests to see what is the cause of those blackouts and how to deal with it," was about the only thing Daphne really heard from the long speech the doctor told Victor. She was too busy being ashamed of herself and feeling bad for both the father and daughter.

[Victor Nikolai]

XXVictor knew what people thought about people who passed out in bars. He used to be part of that crowd. He watched people pass out frequently. They were gross creatures now that he looked back at it. They were usually sloppy and fornicating all over the place. He couldn’t get diseases but that didn’t mean that he couldn’t get germs on him. At the time, when he was partying himself, he didn’t mind all the mess. He didn’t care that people were messy and dirty. He didn’t mind that people were getting drunk and throwing up all over the place. He hardly cared when they died. At the time he was doing as many drugs as possible to get a high. Usually he mixed alcohol with Ambrosia , which could affect gods. He wanted to do the latest thing, feel the latest buzz. He couldn’t die easily and therefore some of the thrill-seeking things didn’t always affect him.
XX Victor didn’t like those things anymore. He saw stupid people who were wasting their time. They were slowly dying inside and taking everyone with them. He could picture his daughter doing the things those girls he partied with did. They were disgraced as people and he hated the picture he saw in his mind. He really hated those people who got innocent people into doing some of those things. People shouldn’t be muddying their blood and body with the things that are in those drugs and alcohol. He wanted the best for his daughter and all the children of her time. He could see a little bit of her in all of those people. That’s not to say that he would give them the benefit of the doubt if they came into a position of possible persuasion on his daughter. He wouldn’t let anyone turn her into her mother. He didn’t know the woman but knew that she was not a good person.
XXWhen the nurse came back, he could tell that things had changed. She heard him tell about his problem and noticed that she had looked at his stomach readouts. Even if he had drunk some alcohol, it wouldn’t be in his blood. The alcohol was taken from his body quickly, as was most objects that were not natural. He couldn’t get a piercing because the body would reject the metal and try to close. He tried to get a tattoo but the ink came out. Only the Ambrosia worked. He didn’t drink though so it worked in his favour. He nodded to the nurse, an acceptance and forgiveness for her assumption. He understood it and didn’t fault her or the doctor for it.
XX “I already had tests done and tried to take things. I want this gone, and know how to avoid it, but sometimes I can’t. There is no point going for the tests, Doc. I’m sorry for taking up your time or having you run tests, but I do thank you both for helping me. Do you think I could leave now? If you want, I’ll come back to get tests.. or you could call to see if I’m alright, or something? Whatever is convenient to you.” He said and smiled a little. He could tell that the nurse was a little upset about something and should have noticed it before now, but he was scared for his daughter. He wondered what was wrong.

[Daphne Maia Antonopoulos]

Daphne felt the man knew what she thought about him. Hard not to, everyone would have thought the same. get a man and have him pass out next to a bar and you'd think he drank too much as well, or had an o.d. of whatever drugs was cool at the moment. If she followed one thing from the Greek, it was their saying 'my body is my temple'. No drug ever entered her body, nor cigarette. She never drank much and besides coffee, she was taking nothing really damageable. She knew some of the nurses were picking some pills out of the pharmacy every now and then. To help them keep on during their day of work, they said. Although she disapproved, Daphne wasn't saying anything. If they ever was to get caught, well it would be their problem.

As she looked at Victor, he head still low, only her eyes raising to face him, she noticed him nodding at her. At least he seemed to understand and not mind whatever she believed in. It relaxed her some. It was embarrassing to say the least when you argue with a patient to find out he was right. She was supposed to be the one knowing what she was doing.

She listened as he explained how he passed tests already. Funny, she didn't find anything about it. It must have been done in another hospital. The doctor apparently thought the same. He paused a moment to see what to do. The doctor finally told Victor that he could leave, signing the sheet to let him go and passing it to Daphne, the nurse in charge, to sign it as well, when another nurse came knocking at the door. "Daphne, he's awake and wants to see you." she said before leaving. Daphne knew who she was talking about: her father. She gasped very softly before signing the paper. She didn't look at Victor, she took the file and left the room in haste, handing the papers over at the reception desk before walking to her father's room.

The man was awake indeed. Still quite weak, he smiled at his daughter nonetheless and Daphne sat on the chair next to the bed. Every time he smiled, she recalled his digs throughout Italy and Greece, even Egypt sometimes. Her father tried to prove the twelve labors of Hercules were true. He managed to find, with the help of other archaeologists as passionate as he was, some jewels mixed with weapons. He claimed this was from the Amazons. There was come controversy yet in the end, people were forced to admit those artifacts were found at a place that fit, they were dated of the right era and they obviously were meant for women. There were now proves of the Amazon's existence.

But this was a long time ago. Not much remained of the man today. Frail and sick, dying of a cancer that was just as stubborn as the man himself. She hoped her father would be the strongest but even his smile was slowly fading away. They talked a little together, of everything and nothing. Her father wanted her to go to a temple and pray for him. She didn't believe in those gods, she believed in no god at all but the man wanted her to pray for him and ask for good health. He told her which one to go to and what to bring as an offering. At least it wasn't a lamb to slaughter like back in the days. She finally promised him to go and ask the gods to help him with his cancer. She was ready to do anything if that could please her father. He went back to sleep and Daphne remained there at his side. She didn't feel like leaving. The hospital, the people working, those waiting to be taken care of, all of this meant nothing to her at the moment. Perhaps she should be praying to a god, anyone. Perhaps it would do some good to talk her heart out. Even if she doubted they could do anything.

[Victor Nikolai]

XXVictor kept an eye on his daughter while he answered the questions from the doctor. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t really want to tell them about his problem, because he knew that he couldn’t trust them. Instead he hoped that they would just drop it. It looked like he was going to get his way. He just wanted to get the few things he needed and then go home and relax. His head really hurt and his body was stiff. He felt like the men look after they have passed out drunk. They always looked like crap and Victor could only assume that he looked that way too. He didn’t want his daughter thinking he looked like those fuckups.
XX Of course he also didn’t want anyone else to think that he looked that way either. He wasn’t very vain and had never been but that didn’t mean that he didn’t want to give a good impression. He didn’t want his daughter to believe the worst in him. He didn’t want others to assume that he was a bad father. Once someone, in a different town decided that he, as a single father, wasn’t capable of raising a girl baby. They called child services which placed Victor a lot of trouble. Not only was did they think the most of the report, but there wasn’t any evidence of his birth, because he was born thousands of years ago.
XXHe ended up needed to leave town. It wasn’t so hard for a demigod to pack up everything and leave without anyone knowing. His daughter’s name wasn’t in any system, he checked, so there wouldn’t be a problem if someone looked her up. He knew he was perfectly capable of taking care of her and would do whatever he needed to ensure that she had a good upbringing. He looked at her little smiling face as she played with the Velcro on her shoes. She didn’t seem to be listening to the things going on with the adults. He wasn’t naive enough to think that she was ignorant to it though. He was always surprised when she came to him later and repeated what they said asking what it meant. He knew that people who are that old are usually curious, but he always thought his baby was very smart.
XXVictor noticed that the nurse was upset when the woman mentioned someone waiting for her. He hoped that nothing was wrong. She seemed like a really nice woman and he knew that her mistake was unintentional. Most people who are found in bars are usually drunks. He understood that anyone could make that mistake. He waited until the woman was out before looking towards the doctor. “Is something wrong? She seemed upset.” He really wanted to know the answer. He stood up with care before moving to get Angie, still waiting for the answer. He didn’t know if the doctor would answer him, but he was the only one here for him to ask. He intended to leave as soon as he knew the answer, or if the doctor refused answer.