The Demigod's Reckoning

Chapter6: The Demigod's Reckoning

Chapter 6: Unbelievable Encounters

The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the quiet suburban street as Zhariah Grayson stepped out of a taxi, her hood pulled snugly over her dark wavy hair. She adjusted her glasses and smiled warmly at the driver as she handed over the fare.

“Thank you so much. Have a great day!” she said with genuine kindness before turning toward her home.

Her pace was unhurried, her hands tucked into the pockets of her jeans as she hummed softly to herself. She felt the comfort of familiarity as her house came into view—a place that had always been her safe haven. But her steps faltered when her eyes landed on the sleek, black luxury car parked in front of their small, modest home.

Her brow furrowed as she froze mid-step. “What the hell?” she muttered under her breath, quickly ducking behind the row of rose bushes lining the walkway. She crouched low, peeking through the blossoms to get a better look.

“Is this possible? Why is that car here? This isn’t some rich neighborhood!” she whispered to herself, her heart racing.

As she studied the scene, she spotted her mother stepping out of the house, accompanied by two men. One of them, older and casually dressed, seemed to be helping her mother toward the car. The other man, tall, poised, and unmistakably commanding, stood near the car’s passenger side. His tailored coat and piercing gaze screamed wealth and authority.

Zhariah’s stomach dropped. Her eyes widened as recognition hit her like a truck. “Oh…my…God. No. No, no, no,” she stammered, her hands clutching her hood tightly.

“That’s the guy! From earlier!”

Her pulse quickened as a mix of panic and disbelief coursed through her. Without thinking, she bolted toward the house, her sneakers scuffing against the pavement as she sprinted past the rose bushes.

“Hey!” she yelled, her voice sharp with indignation as she neared the small group. “Why are you with my mom?”

Her sudden appearance startled everyone. Devon, standing beside Mrs. Grayson, nearly dropped his car keys. Mrs. Grayson looked equally puzzled as she turned to Zhariah with a faint frown.

“Mrs. Grayson,” Devon blurted out, pointing toward Zhariah with wide eyes. “Don’t tell me…is this your daughter?”

Zhariah crossed her arms, her voice laced with annoyance. “Old man, what’s your problem? Of course, I’m her daughter!”

Her mother gave her an exasperated look, clearly embarrassed by the outburst.

Before Devon could respond, Theo’s voice cut through the air. “Devon,” he called in a low, steady tone from where he stood by the car, “what’s taking so long? Get inside.”

But Theo’s words trailed off as he turned his gaze toward Zhariah. His commanding demeanor faltered for a brief moment as recognition dawned on him. His sharp eyes locked onto hers, and his expression darkened with a strange intensity.

“You…” he murmured, his voice almost a whisper but heavy with meaning.

Zhariah’s mouth fell open. “Wow,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “This is literally insane. You two again?”

Mrs. Grayson looked completely lost. “W-what just happened?” she stammered, glancing between her daughter and Theo.

Zhariah’s shock quickly turned into suspicion. Her jaw tightened as she stepped closer to her mother, her arms protective. “Are you…are you part of some kind of syndicate?” she demanded, her voice rising. “Did you drug my mom?”

Mrs. Grayson gasped, horrified by the accusation, but Theo remained eerily calm. Devon cleared his throat awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.

“Mom, are you okay?” Zhariah asked, placing her hands gently on her mother’s shoulders and scanning her face for any signs of distress.

“Zhariah, stop it,” Mrs. Grayson said, her voice wavering. “He’s my boss.”

“Mom, I don’t care who he is! These guys almost hit me with their stupid car earlier!” Zhariah shot back, glaring at Theo and Devon.

Devon, who had been silently praying for the ground to swallow him, finally spoke up. “Miss, I…uh, I’m really sorry about that,” he stammered, bowing his head.

Theo, however, remained composed, his piercing gaze never leaving Zhariah. There was something about her—her defiance, her energy—that intrigued him more than he cared to admit.

Mrs. Grayson, now visibly upset, cupped Zhariah’s face gently. “Oh, baby, I didn’t know it was you they almost hit. I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice filled with guilt.

Zhariah groaned, stepping back. “Unbelievable. This whole situation is insane. I’m done. I need to rest. Be careful around these two, Mom,” she muttered, casting a wary glance at Theo before turning on her heel and stomping toward the house.

Theo’s eyes followed her retreating figure, his expression unreadable but his mind racing. He wasn’t a man who believed in coincidences, and meeting her twice in one day felt like something far more deliberate.

Mrs. Grayson turned to Theo with an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry for all of this, Mr. Stavros. She’s just…protective of me.”

Theo nodded once, his voice calm and measured. “It’s fine, Mrs. Grayson. I understand.” After a pause, he added, “Expect me to visit again tomorrow. I find your daughter’s behavior…interesting.”

Devon’s eyes widened in disbelief, but he wisely chose to keep his mouth shut.

“Mrs. Grayson, again, we’re very sorry for today’s chaos,” Devon said quickly, backing toward the car. “We’ll take our leave now. Bye!”

Theo gave one last glance toward the house, his gaze lingering on the door Zhariah had just disappeared behind. Without another word, he stepped into the car, his mind already spinning with questions he couldn’t shake.

Mrs. Grayson waved at the car as it pulled away, still feeling a little overwhelmed by everything that had just happened. She sighed and headed inside, wondering how she would explain all this to her daughter.

Inside the car, Devon broke the silence. “Lord Stavros…are you sure about visiting her again?” he asked cautiously.

Theo leaned back in his seat, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “This isn’t a coincidence, Devon. I need to know more about her.”

Devon sighed, muttering under his breath, “This girl is going to be trouble. I can feel it.”

Theo’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “Perhaps. But trouble has always been my specialty.”

And with that, the car disappeared into the distance, leaving behind more questions than answers.