The cab ride took less time than a regular car would have, and within a few hours the group was at Emeris's parents house.
They were greeted with warm smiles. Emeris introduced Harm and Jason to his parents. His mom immediately gave them both hugs, while his step dad stood back laughing and hugging Emeris. 

They were quickly shuffled inside, where the smell of fresh baked cookies hit them like a brick wall. Emeris placed his bags down in the foyer and petted his dog, a small fat basset hound. "This is buddy, he's a fat little guard dog." he said laughing.

He proceeded into the kitchen, and grabbed one of the still steaming cookies. "Ow..hot hot hot.." he took a quick bite.

"Careful, I just got them out of the oven." His mom said to him. 

He sat down at the table, followed by his step dad, "Emeris, we are glad you are home, but why so soon? We weren't expecting a visit for at least three more months."

"Yeah, I meant to call. We are being sent on a delivery for Mr. D. Sorry I can't tell you anymore. It's top secret. We can only stay for about a week, if that's ok with you guy."

"Of course its ok with us hun." His mother said, "I'll go get the guest rooms ready."

His mother left the room and his dad looked to him and lowered his voice, and his tone had changed, "How dangerous is this delivery, Em"

"Why would you ask that?"

"You show up, no call, no message. It's getting late, and you cant stay past a week."

Emeris looked down at the table, "This is my heroic quest, and it's dangerous. Please don't tell mom."

His dad wrapped him in a hug, "I won't, but promise me you will stay safe."

"I will." He promised.

"Have you talked to Him, yet?" He didn't say the name, but Emeris knew who he meant. It wasn't that the two disliked each other, his dad just didn't know how to handle everything. 

"No, I will though before we leave here, or at least I'll try. You know he doesn't always answer." 

At that moment his mom came back into the kitchen, "Ok everyone has their own room. Jason, your room has the bathroom that attaches to Em's room. Harmony, yours is down the hall from them."

Emeris stood up and gave his mom a huge hug, "It's been a long day. I'm going to turn in so I can get an early start tomorrow. I'm sure there are a few chores y'all need help with. Love you."

"Love you too hun, and don't worry about chores, you need to save your energy for travelling, enjoy everything. I know you could take Jason and Harmony down to the river to swim, maybe meet up with some of the guys."

"Yeah we might do that. I'll see you guys in the morning." He left and went up to his room. 

It was just as he left it. Very neat, yet crowded with odds and ends and trinkets. Books, magazines, and musical instruments protruded from everywhere. He laid down on his bed, and stared out of the window, waiting to for everyone to go to bed. 

Around 1 A.M. Emeris climbed out of bed and headed out of his window. He climbed down onto the rood of his porch, them jumped off and landed in a roll. He looked around. The night was clear, and the stars numbered in the trillions. The air was warm and there was a light breeze. Emeris headed in the direction of the pasture down from his house. After walking for about a half a mile he was in the center and he stopped. There was a boulder stilling out of the ground. Huge thing that he climbed up on to. He shouted into the summer night. "Apollo...Father...I call on you." He waited for a few moments. Nothing happened. He knew it was a long shot. The gods didn't always answer their kids. "Please come." He whispered to himself, as he sat down on the rock. 

He waited about 30 minutes, when he heard the shuffle of footsteps behind him. He turned to see a man who looked strikingly similar to himself, just older and more filled out. "Hello, Emeris."

"Hello, father." He stood and turned and walked over to him and stuck out a hand to shake. Apollo looked down at it, and pulled him into a hug.

"I heard you were going on your quest. Helping Telemachus, of all people. What possessed you to do that?"

"He needed help, and I'm a hero. Seemed like the right thing to do."

"What did he ask of you?"

"To take his girlfriend, Ianthe, to Midas's Tomb."

"The bastard actually accepted Midas's gift." He said, mostly to himself. 

"What is the deal with everyone and him?"

"The man is a liar. He ran with Dionysus's crowd years ago, and sought to overthrow him and make himself a god. Dionysus stopped it, and Telemachus disappeared. We heard he was out running scams in different areas of the world, but nothing ever sufficient. Be careful. This is a dangerous quest, but you are on the right path. Just follow your senses, and keep your friends close. My time draws near and I must go, but I am proud of you son. Tell your mother and Travis, I say hello."

"I will, and thanks for talking to me."

With that Apollo turned and left. Within moments Emeris could feel that he was completely alone. He turned and made his way back to his room and turned in for the night.