by C. C. Ekeke
Yet a shadow lingered over Quinn’s enjoyment of these past few days.
Only she and Devon remembered being imprisoned by those siphoners.
Annie wasn’t done gushing. “You know what else made this weekend amazing?” Her eyes gleamed as she answered her own question. “You and Dev becoming friends again.” She clapped like an eager kid.
“You dork,” Quinn teased, searching for their gate.
“Hush?” Annie threw back playfully while they walked. “Let me celebrate.”
A smile tugged at Quinn’s lips. Reconnecting with Devon had been wonderful. The problem lay in how they’d reconnected.
A guilty thrill shivered through Quinn, followed by deep shame. The night of the OSA rescue, Devon had caught Quinn at a weak moment, leading to a euphoric mistake.
She would never let that happen again. “Next time we’re back to NOLA, let’s not celebrate so hard, babe.” Quinn changed subjects, glaring at Annie.
“Lightweight.” Annie laughed then winced, cradling her still-sore jaw.
Quinn bit her tongue and kept walking. It was too early in the morning to push her worries further…
“I will say…” Annie went on, frowning. “That first night kicked my ass.” She massaged her forehead, as if trying to pierce through a heavy fog. “Barely remember how we got back to the house.”
Quinn grimaced but pushed out the falsehood again. “You have Dev and me to thank,” she chided, once they stopped by a kiosk for some bottled water and breakfast sandwiches. “You, Moni, Kris, and Katy were doing tequila shots.”
Annie snorted out laughter, brushing aside errant bangs. “Sounds like us.”
Quinn forced on an exasperated smile. Annie and the others couldn’t remember the siphoner abduction, thanks to those OSA telepaths. And everyone seemed to buy Quinn and Devon’s story about them getting blackout drunk. Thankfully, a nearby sign caught her eye. “There’s our gate,” she said, pointing.
They sat in a near-empty row beside their gate. God, Quinn hated lying to Annie. But she hated herself more for agreeing with Devon’s justification. Removing Annie’s and the others’ memories of the abduction was for the best. Sometimes Quinn wished she'd been mindwiped. No nightmares had haunted her sleep, but the experience was burned into her memories.
Quinn pushed down the trauma and pulled out her tablet to get work done.
“By the way,” Annie said, turning on her own tablet. Her eyes were puffy from sleep. “Did Dev admit why things got weird with you guys since junior year?”
Quinn nodded. “Yeah.” No way would she explain that topic. “I’m just happy we’re friends again.” She put a finality in her words to end the discussion.
Annie’s face darkened. “She finally confessed her feelings for you?” she whispered.
Quinn whipped her head around so fast, she almost got whiplash. “Holy moly, what the heck?”
Annie looked at her sideways, as if addressing a moron. “C’mon,” she chided. “A girl as drop-dead beautiful as Devon never has one serious boyfriend during our four years at Brown? Only ‘casual flings.’” Annie air-quoted the last two words.
Quinn struggled to articulate a response, fearing how much Annie knew. Did she suspect anything between Quinn and Devon during the trip? Please, God no. “A lot of kids were like that Brown. I didn’t have a serious relationship until junior year.”
Annie brushed off the rebuttal with a lazy hand chop. “Or how much effort she’d put into your birthday gifts,” she went on. “How bitchy she’d always get whenever you started seriously dating anyone.” Annie stopped to inspect her with an impish smirk. No doubt she saw how hard Quinn was blushing.
“You’ve given this too much thought,” Quinn remarked. She seriously wanted to smack the crap out of her BFF.
Annie’s eyes grew larger. “Oh my God, you didn’t know?” she whisper-yelled, glancing about as more passengers took seats near the gate.
Quinn offered a heavy sigh. No point in playing dumb. “Not until after our fight at homecoming.”
“Ah.” Annie leaned back with the smug nod of being proven right. “Makes sense.”
Quinn recalled Devon’s reply when she’d asked who knew about her sexuality. “I’m guessing Devon didn’t tell you?”
Annie shook her head sadly. “I’m here whenever she’s ready to share.”
Quinn braced herself for more questions.
Yet Annie remained quiet, staring off at nothing.
Quinn exhaled a grateful sigh. She wasn’t interested in discussing Devon’s sexuality, which might prompt questions about her own.
There are no questions, Quinn reminded herself. I'm straight and I had a weak moment.
“Anyway…” She straightened her posture. “I finished my Helena article,” she announced with genuine happiness. Quinn had been up late writing and self-editing her ticket onto SLOCO Daily’s writing staff.
Annie turned and brightened. “Great! What’s it about?”
“A First-Timers Guide to New Orleans,” Quinn said, bouncing in her seat. Was it a fluffy piece? Of course. But writing the article had been a fun reminder of what she’d enjoy about this adventurous trip. Quinn clicked on her writing app, finding the article, then thrust the device at her BFF. “Wanna read?”
Annie scowled. “Does Lady Liberty have big boobs?” She snatched the tablet from Quinn. “Gimme!”
Epilogue
Quinn waited, a bundle of nerves, unbothered by the cold bite of a foggy Wednesday morning. She kept toying with the hem of her short-sleeved frilly blouse while feigning calm.
Helena Madden sat across the round table, glued to her tablet. Her mentor had asked for this breakfast meeting at Cafe Andreini in Arroyo Grande a few hours after Quinn had emailed over her articles.
Now Helena was giving them a reread.
By her fuchsia long-sleeved tee, fancy earrings, and dark jeans, Helena didn't look like the editor-in-chief of the Central Coast’s largest news site.
Quinn was truly humbled that Helena, who had such a packed daily schedule, would offer so much time to guide her career.
“What do you think?” Quinn asked eagerly once Helena finally placed her tablet on the wrought-iron table.
The SLOCO Daily editor-in-chief looked up over her horned-rimmed glasses with that stare, which always preceded criticism. “The first-timer in New Orleans subject is overdone and borderline cliché,” she declared with a dismissive toss of her sleek, blonde bob.
Quinn deflated. “Oh,” she replied in a small voice.
“But…” Helena straightened in her seat, raising a finger. “…your words elevate every part. It felt like I was there with you.” She whistled, her smile full of pride. “Pretty good, QB.”
The compliment buoyed Quinn’s spirits again. “Thanks.” She didn’t mind Helena’s nickname for her. Most people called her QB. Better that than the asinine nickname that Helena’s boyfriend used.
Helena furrowed her brow and tapped her tablet. “As for your second article.” Her eyes bulged. “Holy hell balls, QB!”
Quinn leaned forward in anticipation. “Spur-of-the-moment idea.” The inspiration had come on the flight back to San Miguel. She’d told no one—especially not Devon. “What did you think?” Quinn asked after several seconds.
Helena arched an eyebrow. “Siphoner supers is an inspired choice,” she remarked dryly.
Quinn shrugged to hide her shiver. “I didn’t see too much coverage about them besides some borderline xenophobic pieces.”
Helena adjusted her glasses. “Understandably,” she said. “You know what siphoners can do.”
“Oh yeah,” Quinn remarked, shivering again. What had started off a journal to excise her trauma turned into an investigative piece on the history of siphoner superhumans in America. The good, the bad, and the murderous. Despite her near-death experience, Quinn aimed to present both sides on whether siphoners were menaces to society. She’d avoided any mention of the OSA or Devon or that awful a
bduction, but had found plenty to write on regarding the siphoners.
If Helena had noticed Quinn’s adverse reaction, she made no sign. “I love the dichotomy you presented,” she exclaimed. “You discussed both sides of a siphoner debate devastatingly well.”
Quinn smiled her face off. “How society has othered siphoners versus them feeding off innocent people.” She’d also framed siphoners as an example of what other marginalized communities have endured for historical context. As great as Helena’s praise was, she had to know what these articles meant for her reporting career. “Which one do you like most?”
Helena reclined in her seat with arms folded. “Which one do you like most?”
Quinn blinked, momentarily baffled. “It’s not my opinion that counts.”
The smirk tugging at Helena’s mouth enhanced an already striking face. “If you’re not championing your own work, why should I?”
Quinn racked her brain for the right answer. But Helena wants honesty.
She let the tension leave her shoulders and spoke. “The vacation guide was fun.” Yet Quinn could do that type of writing in her sleep. “But investigative reporting spoke to me.”
Helena’s smile broadened. “It shows.” She inclined in her seat, tapping her tablet again. “The siphoner article is good.” Her stare sharpened. “But it’s missing something.”
Quinn’s belly filled with butterflies. “Like?” she inquired.
“More human interest.”
Quinn swallowed hard. The last thing she wanted to do was add the specific human interest behind the siphoner story. “I have information about siphoners living among regular people, trying hard to integrate,” she recited. “As well as the siphoner serial killer from Greenwich, CT, in 2004.”
“True,” Helena agreed, tracing a finger along her own chin. “But is there a specific story about them or eye witnesses you can source that could really suck the reader in?”
Quinn froze. The easy answer was yes. But the NDA she’d signed hampered a lot of what she could say about her abduction.
You’ll keep this between us, won’t you? Devon’s breathy appeal from their night together was seared into Quinn’s brain.
She had promised Devon to keep quiet about the OSA’s involvement, and Quinn would not break her word just to advance her career.
Putting your career before loved ones is a Rebecca Reyes move. Quinn bristled before replying to her mentor. “I can go back and research that.”
Helena studied her for a few moments, looking mildly disappointed. “Hmmmm.”
Quinn kept her features bland to give no sign of her mounting anxiety. “Does either article meet SLOCO Daily’s standards?”
“Yes,” Helena replied with an enthusiastic nod. “There’s room for improvement. But you’re just scratching the surface of your potential.” Her proud smile returned. “And I’m gonna squeeze every last drop out of you.”
Quinn clapped and shoulder-shimmied. Hearing this made her morning. “I’m game,” she said.
Recognition dawned on Helena’s face. “You know…” Her eyes brightened with possibilities. “The Lifestyles team is looking for a junior staff writer.” She focused again on Quinn. “I’ll talk with the editor today, see if it’s a good fit.”
Quinn was screaming on the inside. Fortunately, she somehow contained herself. “Thank you, Helena.”
Helena waved off the praise. “Please. You wrote the damn articles. I’m just pointing you in the right direction.”
“Still,” Quinn pressed. Her dream job was finally within reach. What a wild couple of days. “I appreciate all your mentorship.” She reached out over the table and clutched her hand.
Helena’s gaze warmed. “Always, QB.” She gave Quinn’s hand a squeeze. “Now,” she continued, pulling back to snatch a plastic menu from the table. “Let’s order some breakfast.”
Quinn’s heart was as full as her belly was empty. “Amen to that.”
The End
Author Notes
The first time the idea for the Pantheon Saga came to me was back in 2005. I was already a comic book fan and enjoyed good superhero dramas on TV and film. But after Googling Astro City and learning of its premise, the idea of superheroes in capes and tights while grounded in a reality-based setting fascinated me. At the time, I hadn’t seen this idea translated into a novel. I got so excited at the thought of writing a superhero fiction book series but had to put the concept on the backburner while I completed my then-work-in-progress manuscript for the Star Brigade series.
Flash forward to 2017. I was getting burnt out on Star Brigade after four books, a hundred or so short stories and five novellas. So I brought that series to a comfortable pause and started working on the Pantheon Saga. By this point, the characters, plot and world were a lot more developed than twelve years ago. My plan was to make this a four-book series, but thanks to a co-worker of mine, I realized how Book 1 had to be split into two novels in order to work. The writing process for Age of Heroes was fun, but I was really nervous given the amount of superhero novels already out there.
Would my book stand out? Could I make it good if not better than other series out there?
Could my books capture what readers love about bother comic books and superhero movies/TV shows?
Thankfully I befriended a fellow superhero fiction author around the time I had finished the Age of Heroes manuscript. His approval as well as his notes on the manuscript made a world of difference and gave me the confidence to continue.
Now I am on Book 7 with plenty of ideas and plots to keep the Patheon Saga going. I can’t wait to share all that with you the reader. That being said, thank you so much for your support on this journey. Without you, the Pantheon Saga would have gone nowhere.
A quick sidebar on Big Trouble in the Big Easy. I was hoping to provide a prequel of sorts that didn’t force too many egregious retcons to the timeline of the Pantheon Saga. A Quinn origin story felt like one of the safest routes. She’s one of my favorite characters and I was curious about showing how she landed her news reporter gig at SLOCO Daily. Plus, what kind of trouble could I get her into where she has no super-friends to come rescue her? And, given her complicated relationship with Devon Strauss, when did she find out that Devon was an OSA agent? Therefore, we have fertile ground for a quick and fun story.
Fun fact, Given the location of Big Trouble in the Big Easy, I had considered making the bad guys in the novella vampires. But after vampires had been the bad guys in Friday Night Frights, it felt redundant.
In regards to the shorts, for “Rupert’s Speech” I wanted to showcase one of the international superheroes in the Pantheon Universe. The Champions are a pastiche of the Fantastic 4, but hailing from England instead. The title is an ode to The King’s Speech, a movie I enjoyed. But given Titan’s dark predilections felt compelled to show there was a good side to him that many of his peers witnessed.
In “Unexpected” I was giving a little more backstory to Jen Thomas, another favorite of mine. In Books 1 and 2 she is basically a wallflower character who is described as nice. But who was she really.? She gets more scenes in Books 3 and beyond, plus a few scenes in Friday Night Frights but you see the beginnings of her friendship with Hugo in this short.
That brings us to “Family Matters.” Spencer is another character who didn’t really shine much until “God’s of Wrath.” This short dives into her secret relationship with Hugo, which started back in Friday Night Frights. But what were they like together behind closed doors? What was it about her that attracted Hugo to Spencer and vice versa? Fun stuff, right?
Now, let’s talk about what’s next in this boxset. An appendix of various superheroes, characters, locations and organizations in the Pantheon Universe up until Generation Next, with some teasers here and there. I always want to add something extra to a boxset beyond the included books and such. I hope you enjoyed the novels and continue of this journey with me in the Pantheon Universe.
Until next time!
CCE
PS. I wanted to thank Emmy, Corine, Wanda, Carlos and everyone else who helped bring this book to life.
PPS. If you want to find out when the next Pantheon Saga book will be release, there are several ways you can stay informed.
Come over to the Facebook Group, CC Ekeke’s Super Cool Readers, and say hi. You get to hang out with other readers and geek out over all things sci-fi and stuff.
Follow me directly on Amazon. Head over to my Amazon author profile and click Follow beneath my picture. Amazon will now notify you whenever I release a new book. All you need afterward is to check your emails. Easy, right?
You can join my newsletter list by clicking here. This way I can stay in touch with you directly, and get notified of all my new releases.
Doing one of all three of these (recommended) will ensure that you hear about each new release in The Pantheon Saga. Go ahead and do one of them. I’ll wait.
Timeline of the Pantheon Saga
Two Strikes (novellette, before Age of Heroes)
Big Trouble in the Big Easy (novella, before Age of Heroes)
Age of Heroes (novel)
Rupert’s Speech (short story, during Age of Heroes)
Monsters Among Men (novel)
Friday Night Frights (novella, during Monsters Among Men)
Unexpected (short story, during Monsters Among Men)
A Learning Experience (short story, in Friday Night Frights, after Monsters Among Men)
New Year’s Evil (novella, 2-3 weeks before Generation Next)
Generation Next (novel)
Best Friends, Bitter Enemies (short story, in New Year’s Evil, during Generation Next)
Family Matters (short story, during Generation Next)
Gods of Wrath (novel)
Absolute Power (novel)
United We Stand (novel)