Umbra

Chapter 1

A/N: Hi all! This OC has existed for yearsss since I wrote The Other Castellan probably, and I never had the motivation to write her a story 'til now. I don't think I'll write any other PJO/HoO fics after this; this is the only one of my OCs I'm truly passionate about and I also don't want to rewrite TOC (I think it was cringey but I don't know how to make it better, really). I'll include pictures of my OC at the start of Chapter 2. I look forward to writing this fic and appreciate comments :)

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Camp Half-Blood, Summer 2009

She arrived at the Big House in chains.

Her feet dragged as they pulled her into the Recreation Room, a place so utterly unserious she had to sneer. A ping pong table was visible out of the corner of her eye as the demigods holding onto her deposited her in front of the table filled with scrutinizing faces.

Eleven demigods– children– and a centaur would decide her fate. She almost wanted to laugh because it was so stupid. They might as well pass the sentence and kill her now. How could anyone here show an ounce of mercy after what she'd done?

They're all beneath you, Kronos would have said. He remained a lingering shadow over her shoulder, his voice carrying even though he was gone, existing in her conscience though he was so fractured he'd never speak again. Her mind filled in the blanks, imagined what he would have told her. Their power is nothing compared to yours. Without those chains, you could bend them all to your will, you could crush them. You wanted revenge when you joined me, now take revenge for me...

"We're all here," said Chiron, beckoning the demigods holding her to lower her into a chair opposite the head of the table. "This council has met many times in the past week to decide the fate of the surviving demigods who sided with the titan Kronos in the Battle of Manhattan. As we await the restoration of Olympus and prepare for the influx of newly claimed demigods, we will assess those we have now and determine the best course of action."

"Just kill me," the girl muttered under her breath.

While the demigods looked amongst each other with unspoken resignation, Chiron stared at her, smiling warmly. "My dear, that does not seem a wise solution to me. Many among your ranks have told us their reasoning, they've been shown a new path and have seized it happily."

Weaklings! He'd have thundered. They were pawns that you brought to me, I should have known they'd break under pressure. But you, you're not like them, you are stronger and you will die a warrior in my name rather than live a coward, servant to the gods.

She laughed, so hollow the other demigods shifted uncomfortably. She couldn't control it; Kronos still willed her to feel as he did, even though there came a chill down her spine that told her he wasn't safe. Something about this room, this place, these people, it was warmth. "They're fools. Their anger was delicious but temporary, fleeting. No, I see the way you all look at me. Spare me a lecture. Be done with it. I know Olympus has no love for me or my mother, and it will have no love for me."

"And who is your mother?"

The demigods stared at her, examining her shining black eyes, a cold smile forming that made her resemble a serial killer. She felt remorse but her expression couldn't reflect that. To them, her glare made it seem as if this was all a game for her. Inside, she knew she was better off dead. She was a danger to everyone present. She'd already hurt them and she'd continue to hurt them, that's what Kronos said she would do. "Eris, Goddess of Discord: daughter of Nyx, niece of Gaia and Tartarus, granddaughter of Chaos."

The others at the table shared concerned looks, but Chiron didn't falter. "We're giving the same chance to all," he said. "You were deceived by the Lord Kronos and manipulated into serving in his army. We wish to help you. We wish to give you an opportunity for a new beginning. You were misled and we blame you for nothing, none of the things that happened are your fault."