The Demigod Gimmick

 -Zeke, The Demigod-

My book "Zeus Did It Again" stars a kid named Zeke who gains superpowers when he learns he is related to a Greek God. Bet you can't guess which one. The story follows his exploits as a popular kid who's life only becomes more exciting, but also more dangerous. What I want to talk about today are Feats.

In my book, Feats are impossible acts that Zeke can perform as long as he being watched by a mortal person. Feats are literally impossible and nonsensical actions that don't assure a victory, but they always turn the tide of a challenge. So, I want to go over three of my favorite feats in "Zeus Does It Again".

-Flipping The Ocean-

In Chapter 12, Zeke and his friends are taking a beach trip when Zeke is attacked by The Skolopendra. The Skolopendra, in Greek Myth, is described as a giant fish monster, but in other works it's more like a centipede. This is one of those "other works".

So, this giant sea critter attacks Zeke and towards the end of fight-while the beachgoers watch on-Zeke dips his hands into the sand and flips a layer of the ocean in the sky with the monster in the water. "It all stayed in one piece, like layers of a cake-with the worm in the middle". The cube of sand, earth, and ocean crashed down and gave Zeke the opening to finish the monster off.

-Splitting The Centaur-

Chapter 18 takes place over one week where Zeke's new rival Gerron Rivers has shown up in town to challenge both Zeke and the monsters that have been hassling him. One such battle between the Demigods is over the hunt for Agrius, a very fast centaur who the boys chase through a farmer's market.

Zeke gets sick of Gerron goading him and Agrius insulting him, and performs a feat by jumping in front of Agrius and close-lining him. Zeke's outstretched arm splits the centaur into a wild horse and an unconscious man. Just as Zeke covers the now-human Agrius with Miss Chan's quilt, Gerron wraps another quilt around Zeke's head and proceeds to beat the crap out of him, proclaiming, "That's right, little man! I stole this from an old lady!"

-Reviving The Angel-

In Chapter 32, after a difficult fight with a Greek God, Zeke finds one of his new allies seconds from death. Jules is a Faun with the ability to perform feats of her own by playing music on her guitar and singing. However, the strings of the guitar break during their fight and it looks like there's no time to get Jules to a hospital. Or a goat hospital.

Zeke watches as Jules' spirit leaves her body "Tom & Jerry" style. An angelic ghost-halo and wings included-floats out of Jules. Now Zeke? He's stubborn. He doesn't like to lose. And he liked this goat girl. He thinks to himself, "Jules wasn't just half-goat, or half-deer or whatever. She was half-mortal. And I'm half-God. And when mortals see Gods, they witness feats".

Armed with a gun and one remaining bullet made out of the shield of Aegis, Zeke fires and hits Jules' angel wing. This causes the angel to fall out of the sky and land back in Jules' body-reviving her. And when Zeke confirms he just shot her ghost? All Jules can muster is, "Nice shot, Texas".

-The Complete Feat-

"Zeus Did It Again" is full of moments like these. The impossible made possible, the myth become reality, all in reverence to how myths and legends come into being. These stories can't be told if there's nobody there to see it and record it. Zeke is at his best when he knows he's being watched. Which works for him. He loves an audience. If Zeke sounds like a fun character to follow and you want to know more about his adventures, pick up a copy of "Zeus Did It Again". You know, before I finish the sequel.