Amadeus awoke to a peculiar sound screeching right outside of his tiny, one- room house. He opened his eyes and looked around skeptically.

"Ποιος φτιάχνει στιφάδο γάτας?" he questioned. He sat up and stretched, pulling his clothes on, humming as he did. Today, he was going to a job interview. In ancient Greek times, jobs that paid livable wages were hard to come by. His house was very generic; there were at least a dozen of houses just like his lining the road. The inside of the house wasn't much better; a wooden table with one chair, a wooden framed bed. He ate a quick breakfast of bread and wine, then proceeded to get dresses for the day. He strapped his favorite weapons to his sides in a pair of custom-made sheaths; a pair of Chinese butterfly swords. They held a special meaning to him; he's had them since he can remember. As far as he knew, they were a gift from his father, whom he had never met. He stepped out of his little sandstone house, taking in a deep breath.

"Good morning Athens!!" he yelled happily. An old merchant scoffed as he rolled his cart by.

"Everybody's a critic." Amadeus grumbled. He was dressed in the normal 8th century clothing; a himation over top of a doric chiton, and a worn pair of sandals. He began walking down the dusty trail that was the street, heading towards the center of town. As he got nearer the town, the road turned to a white stone, and all of the buildings followed suit. Men, women and children were walking all around to various little shops set up all along the road. Fruit stands, blacksmiths, and others were screaming and yelling about their sales being the 'best in Athens', or the 'Greatest in all of Greece.' Amadeus ignored them as he headed to a specific building, one that could be seen from anywhere in the town; The Parthenon, temple of Athena. He briskly walked through the crowd, and headed around the back of the building. Behind it was a tiny stone building, not unlike his own house. Hidden behind the greatness of the temple, it could have easily been missed. But Amadeus knew exactly where he was going. This was his meeting place, this was where he would get his...customers. If someone had a supernatural problem, and no other hero would help, for the right price, some of Amadeus' "business contacts" would make sure the person was telling the truth, then send them there to meet him. He knocked on the door 3 rhythmic times, and heard footsteps inside. His hand instinctively went to one one of his blades. But when the door was opened, he was met by the face of a scared face of a girl who couldn't be past 25. She had lightly tanned olive skin, long, sleek, black hair, and deep blue eyes. She was wearing similar clothing to his own, and looked like she hadn't slept in days. She just stood in the middle of the room with Amadeus, eyeing him up and down, but trying not to make it obvious. Amadeus was quite the interesting young man to say the least. He was 5'8", and at 15 years old that wasn't really normal. He was very built for his age, with the body of a runner; lean thin muscle adorning his tall frame. He looked to be about 130 pounds. His hair was thin, straight, and honey blonde. His skin was almost the same as hers, a slightly darker olive tan. His face was more diamond shaped, but the most interesting thing about his appearance was his eyes. They were a glowing golden color that looked as shiny as a new drachma. After a few moments, Amadeus coughed lightly, and the girl looked up.

"Um, I take it you're my client?" Amadeus asked cautiously. The girl looked at him with curiosity and shock in her eyes.

"You...you're the..."

"Hitman for hire?" He chuckled. "Yeah... that's me." He answered. He pulled out one of his swords, and started spinning it, leaning against the wooden table.

"So... I heard that you," He said, a sly smile plastered on his face as he gestured at her with his sword.

"Are having a little bit of a problem." He finished. She gulped and nodded. Amadeus pulled out a chair and plopped himself down, putting his feet on the table as he continued spinning his blade. The girl stood awkwardly in place, shuffling her feet. Amadeus rolled his eyes and gestured to the other seat. She timidly took a seat, caressing the wrinkles out of her clothes.

"Yes, well... um ... it's about my brother." She began, stealing a glance at Amadeus, who was twiddling his sword and humming. When she stopped talking, he looked up, arching an eyebrow.

"I'm listening!" he insisted, the smirk returning. She swallowed and continued.

"Well, it all started about 2 years ago. Damon had this... 'friend', who was doing things he ought not do. He and Damon started spending quite a bit of time together, and I was getting worried. I... I told Damon that he should stop spending so much time around him, Damon wouldn't listen. One day, Damon and his friend were out later than usual, and I went to look for them where they usually spent the evening, but they weren't there. I looked all night and... nothing." She stuttered, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Amadeus looked up at her, the sly smirk melting into a sympathetic smile. "That was a week ago." She finished.

"...And you want me to go find him?" Amadeus asked. The girl nodded slowly.

"But this isn't just a search and find, is it?" He questioned. He looked her right in the eye, digging through her very soul trying to find the truth.

"There's something you're not telling me. I can only work for an employer who is willing to tell me the truth. The WHOLE truth." He finished seriously. She looked at him like he had just riffled through her diary. He looked back equally as serious. After a brief moment, she sighed.

"His friend, Conon... he was in... in a cult." She said quietly. Amadeus put his feet down, and his blade back into its sheath, leaning his elbows onto the table.

"What kind of... cult?" He asked seriously, a glint of excitement in his eyes. The girl looked at the wall to her left refusing to make eye contact with him.

"The... the Συνδικάτο. He was in with the Syndikato." She whispered. Amadeus sat back, leaning into his hands.

"The Syndikato... intriguing." He said enthusiastically. The girl looked at him like he was insane. His voice sounded completely normal on the surface; calm, even, level. But if you listened close enough, you could hear it. The slightest tinge of insanity and absolute disconnect from reality; a man with not a care in the world, least of all his own safety. As the girl sat there thinking about this kid's sanity, Amadeus sat back, deep in thought. Finally, he stood up.

"Ok." he said resolutely. The girl's head shot up like she had just been electrocuted, Her eyes met with his, Amadeus' ever-so-classic sly smirk.

"Ok? You'll... you'll still try and find him?" She asked hopefully. Amadeus stood up and stretched, his joints popping as he did.

"Sure, I'll find him." He yawned, cracking his neck. The girl stared at him, trying to figure him out.

"Wait... so where's your team?" She asked looking around. Amadeus looked at her like she had just grown another head.

"Team? This isn't the Olympics, lady." He explained. She looked at him like he truly was crazy

"You don't... It's just you?!?" She asked in astonishment.

"Nope. Just me." he said resolutely. He walked over to the door, as though their business was already finished. The girl stood up with him, more confused than when she had first entered.

"But... but you're one man." She tried. He bent over to fix his sandal.

"Yep." He affirmed.

"They... They're an army! How is one boy going to face them alone?" she asked flabbergasted. He stood up and turned to face her jerkily, looking off into the distance, as though he had just thought of that. He pulled out his sword mindlessly and began to twirl it once again.

"Hmmmm... I don't rightfully know." He admitted.

"You're telling me that you...just you... are going to go out and start hunting the most dangerous cult Greece had ever known..without a plan?" She asked, waiting for him to tell her this was all some big joke, and to call in the rest of his team. She had heard the rumors of what this 'mysterious mercenary' could do; the tales of how he had fought and bested the Minotaur and the Hydra, how he was the only hero to have ever made it through the Labyrinth alone... maybe that's why he seemed a bit... off. But she had always chalked it up to rumors, and assumed that this 'lone merc' had to actually be a team of hitmen. But Amadeus just smiled and raised his eyebrows.

"Exciting isn't it?" He raved. He stepped out the door, closing it loudly, leaving her all alone in the dark room. A few seconds later, the door opened, and he stepped back inside the room. He stuck out his hand abruptly.

"Can't exactly work for someone when I don't even know their name." he explained. She laughed nervously and took his hand.

"Astraea. My name's Astraea." She said timidly.

"Amadeus, at your service... though you'd best not tell anyone you've hired me. My services... well... let's just say they aren't exactly smiled upon." He explained. He walked back over to the door once more.

"I'll have one of my contacts send for you once I've found and retrieved your brother. We'll discuss payment once my job is done."

"Wh.. how will I know if you didn't make it?" She asked just before he left. He paused, as though giving it some thought,

"If I'm dead?" He questioned quietly, a serious look on his face. Then, he smiled smugly and shrugged.

"You'll know. Because if that happens, the Underworld is gonna freeze over." He chuckled.

"Bye!!" He called behind him as he closed the door. The girl stood still for a moment, before shaking her head in disbelief.

"This guy's crazy! What am I doing?" She asked herself, before leaving the house herself.