Ahead of the Game

Night Wolf

Epilogue

Jeff turned over and looked at the clock, “Shit! I overslept,” he yelled, as he leaped out of bed. The sixteen-year-old raced to the bathroom for his shower as he mumbled under his breath. Jeff couldn’t believe it, the game was finally over, and he had won. When Zeus sent him back to Diana’s village, Jeff had been surprised. He’d never expected to see his friends again.

Stepping out of the shower, Jeff began getting dressed, thinking back to the game. At the end, it didn’t feel very much like a game; he’d lost someone who had been both a mentor and a friend. Even though he’d gotten a little revenge, it didn’t make up for losing his red-headed teacher.

As he finished getting dressed, Jeff wiped the dust from his shoes before heading to the church, with no time to spare. When he swung the oak doors open, Jeff could see Aphrodite standing at the front of the church. Rushing to join her, Jeff took his place beside Diana, to wait for the wedding to begin. Glancing at his ‘best man’, Jeff smiled, ready to get it over with.

As soon as the music started, Jeff looked toward the back and saw Michelle and then Cassandra coming in. Jeff had been surprised when he learned they would be the brides’ maids. What really surprised him was the maid of honor, it was Leandra! Jeff couldn’t wait to ask her what had happened.

When the music changed to “The Bridal March” Jeff smiled as he once again looked toward the back. Marching arm-in-arm toward him were Sara and Holly. Their faces lit up by huge smiles. When they got to the front, Sara stood on Jeff’s left while Holly took her place to the right of him. Giving each of them a quick kiss, Jeff looked up to Aphrodite, who would be officiating.

“Dearly beloved, the three people standing in front of me have chosen to join together in marriage. If anyone has any objections to this, speak now or forever hold your peace. Hmm, nobody? Good, I wouldn’t have stopped anyway. These young people have been through a lot together, and should be able to live out their lives together,” Aphrodite said, smiling at everyone.

“Jeff, do you take Sara and Holly as your wives, to protect and love for the rest of your lives?” asked the goddess.

“I do,” Jeff answered, smiling at both of them.

“Now, Sara and Holly, do you take Jeff to be your husband, to comfort and love for the rest of your lives?” Aphrodite asked.

“I do,” they said in unison.

“With the power of love, I pronounce you married. You may kiss your brides. Love each other,” she told the trio, smiling at them all. Jeff took the goddess at her word, kissing each of his brides thoroughly.

As they kissed, a cheer went up, causing the newlyweds to blush. When Jeff was finished kissing his brides, he glanced over to Leandra. When he did, she ran to him, nearly launching herself into his arms.

“How 3;how did you 3; I thought you were dead,” Jeff finally got out.

“Zeus said nobody dies in the game. When he sent you back to Diana’s village, he brought me back to life. I understand you were blaming yourself for my death. It wasn’t your fault. I should have known Ares would do something like that. I’m so proud of you, nobody has ever won before. You are going to be considered a god from now on,” she told him.

“Ha, me, a god? Not likely, it’s not like I’m going to live forever,” he answered.

“That’s where you’re wrong. Remember when you visited me and ate and drank with me?” said a voice behind them. Turning around, Jeff saw Hades standing there.

“Uh 3;yeah, when I visited your home,” Jeff replied.

“Well, that was ambrosia. It makes you immortal. I didn’t know if Zeus would bring you back or not and I didn’t want to see you die, lad,” Hades told him. Shocked, Jeff just stared at the god. Nobody had told him about that.

“But what about Holly and Sara, I won’t want to live without them,” Jeff asked.

“My boy, if you can gain immortality by eating ambrosia, what makes you think they can’t too?” Hades told him, laughing at the expression on Jeff’s face. Relaxing then, Jeff decided being immortal might be kind of nice.

“Jeff, here’s your prize,” Growled a voice from behind.

“You can do better than that. You could at least be a little more gracious about it,” Hera told her spouse.

“Okay, okay. Congratulations, here is your reward for winning,” Zeus told Jeff, holding a box out to him. Looking inside, Jeff saw a laurel wreath inside. Disappointed, Jeff couldn’t believe all he got for winning Zeus’ game was a laurel wreath.

“Go ahead, tell him the rest,” Hera told Zeus, poking him in the ribs.

“As winner of the game, you are also entitled to live on Mount Olympus with the rest of us, as are the rest of your family. I don’t think we can afford to have the game anymore or we might start getting a little crowded there,” Zeus said, growling at the last.

“What about the rest of them, Leandra and the rest of them?” Jeff asked.

“They’re already living there. Well, except for Diana, but since she is carrying your son, she will be considered as part of your family,” Zeus told them.
“A son? Diana is having a boy? That’s great, how about the rest of them?” Jeff asked.

“Well, Sara will be giving you a daughter and Holly is carrying two daughters for you,” Zeus replied. Stunned, Jeff just looked at the mothers of his children, excited at the prospect of fatherhood.

“I will tell you one thing, though. Take good care of them. They will be going through trials of their own, but not of our making. The mortals will cause this problem. I can’t tell you what it will be, but your children are going to be very important then,” Zeus warned.

Jeff wasn’t sure what Zeus meant by that, but he would guard his family with his life. It hadn’t been too long ago that Jeff wondered what he would be doing with his life, but now he could truly say, he was ahead of the game.