Demigods, Dates and Dragons

‘A talisman with a lock of my mother’s hair? They took a talisman which is based on a lock of my mother’s hair?’ Silena is screaming in my ears and I’d love to admit that the piercing pain in my ear drum is my biggest concern right now.
But it isn’t. She has taken hold of my collar and slams me against the wall.
‘You really take things horribly, don’t you?’ I mutter as I see her ready to punch me. Good luck Beckendorf has my back. He stops her and hugs her greatly, giving me some breathing space.
I’m sore all over. When the first hellhound dropped by the kitchen, I killed it by sacrificing some really good pork I needed for a dish of mine. Which is really a waste. Then I grabbed my swords and fought my way up to the roof where I could meet the two lovebirds, to make sure they’re fine.
And what's the response I get? I’m manhandled around my apartment even though I told her to take it calmly. I let Silena throw her hissy feet. Thinking, planning, this is far more important than letting steam out at this moment.
I see the two of them coming over. Silena wears a calmer expression but her hands remain jittery.
‘Explain, Diomedes,’ she snarls. I stand up, cracking my neck, my knuckles and my back. Silena’s jittery hands have turned by now into jittery punches.
‘What’s there to explain? I’m a wizard, thus, I own several artifacts of potential magical power. Someone blasted their way in, murdered viciously my door and took one of them. And now, I need your help to get it back,’ I reply trying to get to the living room.
A hand thick as a timber with muscle appears before me, making me stop cold. Beckendorf’s massive hand is like a railing between me and my living room.
‘Dio,’ he murmurs deep and savage. ‘Explain yourself now. Or I’ll stop being so nice with you.’
The dude is scary. Beckendorf rolls with the whole stoic, introvert thing but in the end he’s a demigod, with muscles on top of muscles and an engineer’s brain. Meaning, he can find so many ways to inflict pain, even I get scared.
My spine shivers.
Plus, Beckendorf and Silena are my friends, so they kind of deserve the truth.
‘Alright,’ I sigh. ‘Here’s how I got a lock of Aphrodite’s hair.’ I press my back against the wall and take a deep breath. All of a sudden I am sweaty. And my throat is dry. Focus Diomedes. I bark mentally to myself. Don’t lose it now. You need to focus on conjuring a plan.
‘When I was thrown out of the Camp, it was kind of hard for me. So I sought the Olympians. I mean, I needed artifacts. I needed a name for myself. And let’s not forget money. For books, ingredients, to make this place.’
I don’t know why my voice comes out like this. Apologetic and mourning. Having the two of them there, talking, seems to take a great deal of my chest. But, then I see their judgmental look of impatience, so I decide to pick it.
‘I was on a work for your mother, Silena. Someone had stolen one of her ointments or balsams or something. I’m not sure what it was. All I know is that it made any imperfection go away.’
I’m on my knees. My voice comes out a thin whisper.
‘I retrieved the item. Before my deadline.’ I cannot help but boast. ‘So, when Aphrodite came, she announced pompously “Name your price!”. And with all due respect, Silena, your mother is kind of—‘
‘Divine? The pinnacle of beauty and love?’ She snaps at me and I want to run away.
‘Yes. I mean I would say a shapeshifter. So in her offer, I saw a chance.’ My mind screams at me to shut up, to stop talking and although I find my tongue heavier that lead, I continue.
‘There was a chance for me to come back,’ I whisper and I thank the Olympians for the sunglasses covering my eyes.
‘I asked for a lock of her hair. And she delivered. So, that’s how I have, or correction, used to have a lock of hair from the goddess of love,’ I mutter. My voice is heavy. Tremors run me and my breathing is so soaked, I might as well be letting rain out of my mouth.
I take a look at them. Their anger does make me want to self-ignite and get this over with. But then Beckendorf kneels by my side and offers me a hand up.
‘How bad is it?’ he whispers.
‘Let’s just say that whoever has the amulet of Aphrodite’s hair can take any appearance they’d like. They can be anyone, under any circumstance and just continue change depending on how they see fit.’ My knees feel too wobbly to stand. My feelings, my tongue, my heart, everything paralyzes as I speak.
‘Beckendrof. Silena. They can become anyone.’ I’m quivering.
I wait for Beckendorf to punch me. Then, to get kicked by Silena. You know beat me up, like a pair with style.
But it never comes. I feel so messed up, so when the two of them help me to my living room’s couch. My legs are wet noodles.
‘Dio. Is there anything we can do?’ Silena’s eyes are assertive, steady. She holds my hand and I really smile. I turn to Beckendorf. I guess he’s smiling but he does look brooding.
‘What is left to do? I count three demigods, an item of divine power and monsters to kill with shiny weapons. So, what do we have?’ I ask, messing with my hair.
‘A quest,’ Beckendorf whispers with a smug smile.
‘The highlight of the evening,’ Silena says with a laugh. ‘It’s hard to admit but I do miss some action.’
‘Yeap. You don’t have a complete date without the slashing, killing and chance to infiltrate wherever we have to go.’ Beckendorf says, hugging the two of us and kissing Silena.

Notes

This one is from Dio's point of view