AN: A special thank you to Lesdlani for saving my book to a reading list! Here's the next update!
•LAST TIME....•
•A WEEK LATER....•
•(She's 5 years and 7 months old. It's December 11th.)•
•Fred & George are about 8-9 years old.•
•Hadrian is about 6-7 years old.•
• "Thalia!" Luke yells as she's cornered by a monster. Suddenly a semi-truck slams into the monster from the side. Thalia instinctually stabs it with her spear. Luke pulls Thalia to him as someone gets out of the semi. •
• "That is the last time you drive!" a boy's voice yells.•
• "Oh please, you've been saying that for a week. Besides, the monster's dead. An I think we just helped a demigod," a girl's voice calmly replies. •
• "This is the 3rd truck you've crashed!" he scolds the girl. •
• "I'm too short for it anyway. Now stop complaining and help me down." They hear a sigh before they hear walking. The unknown pair come around the truck. •
• "Bloody hell, her eyes are like your left when you cause thunderstorms," the boy says. •
• "Duh. I'm a child of Zeus through blessing. Old wing feet told us we'd run into another of my siblings." The girl rolls her eyes at the boy. She smiles at the young couple. •
• "Sorry about him, he's a bit of an idiot." •
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• CURRENTLY....•
•(She's 5 years and 7 months old. It's December 11th.)•
•Fred & George are about 8-9 years old.•
•Hadrian is about 6-7 years old.•
"I'm Cherish Potter-Black, he's my older brother, Hadrian Potter. You must be Thalia."
"How do you know that?" Luke asks, golf club in hand. Cherish raises a eyebrow at the very.... Unique choice of weapon.
"She's been having dreams of Thalia for weeks. Only reason we're in this bloody country," Hadrian says with a huff.
"This country? Where are you from?" Thalia asks, curious.
"England," they reply in unison.
"How'd you get to America?" Luke asks, shocked.
"Magic. We're Core Users," Hadrian answers.
"I think most Greeks call us Hecate's Blessed," Cherish explains.
"Hecate?" Hadrian asks.
"1) We're starting mythology lessens again." He groans, throwing his head back.
"2) She's the Greek Goddess of Magic, among other things. She gave Core Users their magic core." Cherish looks at the demigod pair.
"Think of it like a 2nd heart but to use magic. It doesn't keep us alive, only let's us use magic."
"Weird," Thalia comments. Cherish raises her eyebrow.
"You're a child of Zeus. You can throw lightning with a thought once you learn control. Your blood is half Ichor, literal gold. You're hunted by monsters and they magically turn to dust when killed. An you think a magic core weird?" Thalia blinks a few times.
"That's fair." Cherish turns to Hadrian.
"Grab our stuff, I'll scout. I don't see any cars near us so we're on foot for now."
"Got it." He gets back in the truck. He comes back with 2 over the shoulder bags. He puts 1 on and Cherish goes through hers. Luke and Thalia's eyes go wide as Cherish sticks her entire arm in.
"I know they're in here somewhere." Her head and shoulder go in the bag.
"Ah! There they are." She comes out, holding 2 similar bags. She hands 1 to each demigod.
"They have extension and feather light spells on them. It expands the space inside and makes them very light."
"You made these?" Thalia asks.
"No, I bought them."
"Pick pocket," Hadrian says between fake coughing.
"It's a useful skill."
"Not moral?"
"Says the boy who prays to Hermes for help stealing yet still gets caught." He blushes and looks away.
"He likes you better."
"He likes mischief and pranks. Besides, I returned something of his."
"How did you even find that snake before I did?"
"No clue." Somehow the 4 end up walking through the woods together.
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•NEARLY 5 MONTHS LATER....•
•(She's 6 years and 0 months old. It's May 4th, her birthday.)•
•Fred & George are about 9-10 years old.•
•Hadrian is about 7-8 years old.•
"Goat."
"What?" Luke asks Hadrian.
"There's a goat." They look and see a goat.
"It's not normal." They look at Cherish.
"Monster?" Thalia asks, grabbing her spear.
"No but it was touched by something devine." They all think and Luke realizes what it is.
"It's The goat of Amalfia. It's from Zeus, it has to be." They look at him and he explains the story.
"Our shared father is really fucking weird," Cherish tells Thalia. They ignore the thunder rolling over head.
"You don't mind that?" Luke asks Hadrian as the girls talk.
"Mind what?"
"Her having like a dozen parents and other siblings?"
"It just means I have more siblings." They start following the goat of Amalfia. They end up in a mansion and meet a older man. This man turns out to be Halcyon Green aka Hal, Son of Apollo. He explains his punishment and curse. As well as the monster, Lucrati. Cherish and Hadrian end up separated from the older trio. The trio pass the door to the basement only for Hadrian to get thrown through it. He hits the wall and struggles to get up. Something is clearly wrong with his leg. Luke holds him up.
"There's a bloody Hydra in the basement," Hadrian states weakly.
"Not anymore." They look at the door. They see Cherish walk out, covered in what seems like slime.
"It's safe for now."
"What?" Hal asks, shocked.
"It's dying, now come on. It's presence will hide us until it's dead." They follow her to the basement. They see 1 of the 6 heads as its throat slashed open. It's not cut off, just cut open.
"You got swallowed," Hal realizes.
"Not the 1st time. 1st time it was some sort of bird thing... Not even sure if that was a monster or not to be honest."
"How is it dying?" Thalia asks.
"Poison from the snakes on Medusa's head."
"Hold up, when did you run into stone eyes?" Hadrian asks.
"I didn't. I traded for the poison from Rosy, daughter of Athena before she died."
"She died?"
"Yeah, suicide after her soul mate died. Anyway, the poison paralyzes before killing. So let's get your leg braced before I skin it." Luke sets Hadrian down and Cherish looks at his leg.
"It's just jammed." She grabs his ankle and yanks it. He cries out in pain before sighing in relief.
"There, all better. It'll just be sore for a while." Cherish skins the Hydra and puts the skins in her bag. Then she continues. She takes organs, teeth, claws, anything it has to offer. She even makes a small fire and starts cooking some of the meet.
"She's... Different," Hal comments.
"You can say weird, it's fine," Cherish says.
"It's not necessarily a bad thing," he adds.
"We're demigods, we're all weird in some way."
"Hey! Clear sighted guy here!" Hadrian snaps playfully.
"Oh please, you're a legacy and we both know it.... I just don't know who we descend from yet." He huffs and rolls his eyes. She hands him Hydra meat on a stick.
"Tastes kinda like chicken and turkey mixed together." The older trio is unsure but try it.
"This is actually pretty good," Hal comments, surprised.
"It'd be better if Hadrian cooked it. He's a amazing cook, I'm not that good to be honest." After some rest and debate on cooking the rest of the uncollected Hydra turns to dust. They take that as the signal to leave.
"It's blocking the stairs," Hal says after peaking around a corner.
"I'll draw it away." They look at Cherish.
"No, not happening!" Thalia almost yells. Cherish looks at her calmly.
"I'm the fastest of us. I'm also the best at dodging and actually escaping. There's gotta be some sort of weapon in that safe if it's taken this long for a Demi to get."
"Demi?" Hal asks.
"Short for demigod," Hadrian explains. It takes some arguing but Thalia finally let's Cherish go. She calmly walks around the corner and throws a knife at the Lucrati. It turns to her and she runs down a hall near it. It chases after her. The rest rush up the stairs. Cherish uses a wall as a spring board to flip over the monster. She twists mid air and lands facing the opposite direction. She runs down the hall and grabs a pillar to help her turn. She continues running, making random turns. She ducks into a room and quietly closes the door. The Lucrati passes and she sighs before hearing hissing behind her. She turns only to see a large serpent.
"Python," she mutters, recognizing the Greek monster.
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•A FEW HOURS LATER....•
•(She's 6 years and 0 months old. It's May 4th, her birthday.)•
•Fred & George are about 9-10 years old.•
•Hadrian is about 7-8 years old.•
"Oi!" Hadrian sighs in relief while Luke and Thalia turn around in shock. Cherish is there, at the end if the alleyway. She's covered in blood, bruises, burns, cuts, dirt, and scratches.
"What the hell happened to you?" Thalia asks, rushing over.
"Not here. The areas bound to fill with monsters with the 1 I just killed."
"How bad?" Hadrian asks.
"1 of the sons of Mother Earth."
"Shit. Monster or...."
"Monster." She sighs, knowing it's best to tell them.
"The serpent. He hunted the Devine twins on the Queen's orders." Their eyes widen.
"Yep, time to go," Luke says. Luke finds a car and steals it. He drives while Cherish takes a nap in the back. Thalia pets her hair, clearly worried.
"She'll be alright Thalia, she's the strongest person I've ever met." Thalia glances at Hadrian, who's in the passenger seat.
"It could've bit her."
"It did, on her leg." Thalia looks and sees the bite. However, she also sees slash marks all around it.
"Those cuts are from her. She cut herself after she was bit to drain the poison. It's why she's so tired." They find a place to hang out and rest. Hadrian helps Cherish clean up in a public restroom. When they come out they find a new demigod has joined them. They get introduced and Cherish pulls Luke aside.
"You think Hal ment for you to fight the gods and their whims, don't you?"
"How'd you know?"
"Your fatal flaw is wrath."
"How-"
"Your anger, I've met other demigods with it... Come sit with me," she requests, sitting by a river. He sits next to her.
"You know the tale of Orpheus, yes?"
"Son of Apollo."
"Wrong." He looks at her confused.
"He wasn't the son of Lord Apollo. He was the son of Lord Morpheus, better known as Dream Of The Endless."
"Who?" She sighs.
"A story for another time but the Endless are ancient. They're even older than the Titians. They're the children of Lady Night and Lord Time. The eldest is Destiny, he reads the paths we can take. Then came Death, she is their before we're born and when we die. Lord Thanatos may be a god of death but he will eventually fade. Death Of The Endless will not. Next came Dream, the ruler of Dreams, Nightmares, and Stories. After Dream came Destruction, now known as Prodigal. After him came the twins, Desire and Despair. Last came Delirium, formerly named Delight. They will exist long after even the gods are gone... I trust I don't need to explain they have enemies worse then the Titians?"
"No, I get that."
"Well, Orpheus was the son of Dream. Dream was unable to help him."
"He could've!"
"And have him suffer a worse fate?"
"What?" Luke asks, shocked and confused.
"Christianity, Roman mythology, Norse mythology, Hindi mythology, it's all real. Dream often fights off those such as Lucifer. Had he interfered those enemies would target Orpheus." Luke frowns.
"He could've protected him."
"Only by trapping Orpheus in The Dreaming, Lord Dream's domain. Outside of it Lord Dream is very limited. It's like asking Hephaestus to forge in the ocean. It's possible but very limiting. Dreams, nightmares, and stories are Lord Dream's domain. The subconscious and unconscious mind. The Waking World, when we're awake, is not his to control. An the Endless are bound by rules just as the gods are. It isn't that Hermes doesn't wish to see you Luke. I've felt him trying to subtly guide and help us many times. It was no coincidence that I crashed thay truck right where you needed me to. He led Hadrian and I to you and Thalia. Just as Zeus led us to Hal. Just as Lady Athena led Annabeth to us."
"You have faith in them."
"Not fully no. I'm giving them a chance. I know they can't directly interfere do to the laws of ol'. So I tell them how they can help indirectly. Like the goat. It wasn't direct and took thought but it led us to a shield. Hal is free from his punishment. I'm not sure why the gods wanted the girl dead but I know they had reason. Perhaps they punished him so the Fates wouldn't. They are far more cruel then the gods. An punishing him in life saved him from their wrath. He died sacrifice himself for others, as a hero. He will be treated as a hero in death because of it. Yes, he died. Yes, it's sad. Yes, I'm upset about it. Yes, I'm upset he was punished. However, he was old and didn't have to fight monsters constantly. So he wasn't in fighting shape. Say we freed him from that house, what would happen?" Luke thinks and frowns again.
"He'd be killed by monsters."
"And 1 or all of us could've died trying to protect him." He clenches his fists.
"I'm just so angry."
"Then use that anger." He looks at her.
"How?"
"Channel it into protecting those around you. Focus it on monsters as a whole. I'm not saying to fight for the gods. I'm saying fight for your loved ones. It's what I do... Once we find a safe place use that wrath as fuel. Train, become stronger, smarter, faster, wiser. Become so strong that Hermes won't feel the need to shield you." He looks confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Many demigods I've met were on copy quests. Like the golden apple quest.... Actually, I don't think anyone but Hercules got that," she says after a few moments of thought. She shakes her head.
"Doesn't matter. The gods do that because they know that there child can handle it. Or at least survive if they fail. An at least for a while, it'll cool off the need for battle. Yes, it's absolutely stupid but they have a reason."
"And what would that be?" She gives him a sad smile.
"They're tired of watching their children die." His eyes widen before they soften. Most of his built up anger seeming to fade away. He pulls something out of his pocket, a dagger that looks like a mini sword.
"Hal gave this to me, said to give it to you if you survived." He hands it to her.
"It's like the dagger I gave Annabeth. It'll protect its user but this dagger was unique. He didn't explain how or why but he said you'd be able to use it." She nods and thanks him, putting it in her boot.
"Let's head back to the others." They get up and head to the other 3.
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•2 MONTHS LATER....•
•(She's 6 years and 2 months old. It's July 4th.)•
•Fred & George are about 9-10 years old.•
•Hadrian is about 7-8 years old.•
"We'll scout the area," Cherish tells Luke as they near his mother's house.
"What's wrong?" Thalia asks her, seeing she's on edge.
"I sense something. It's incredibly strong but doesn't feel like a monster. Hadrian."
"Right," he says with a nod. The Potter siblings split from the group, running into the small forest. They scale up the trees and disappear into the branches.
"I don't like Chase," Hadrian tells Cherish as they move across the beaches.
"I don't either. I don't trust her at all."
"Can you tell why?"
"Not clearly but something's shifting. The darkness I felt building in Luke is fading. It seems like its moving into her instead."
"What do you think it means?"
"You said Hal looked into his future and became scared."
"Yeah, said he'd face betrayal and sacrifice."
"What if we're changing that?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if we're changing the path he's on?"
"That isn't possible. The Fates have sown his string, haven't they?"
"Not necessarily. They do sow with the strings or threads of life... But that's to aid Lord Time in keeping order. Then Destiny reads the path they've sown. What if we've changed who acts in Luke's place? Instead of him facing betrayal and sacrifice, someone else does?"
"That's possible?"
"Only time will tell. Half bear brothers at 2 o'clock." They turn as they each pull out a celestial bronze dagger. They ambush the monsters, slitting their throats with ease thanks to it. They turn back and find the others' trail. They follow them only to find them facing a man. Luke is clearly pissed at the man. Cherish drops down and walks over. Hadrian follows a foot or 2 behind her.
"Luke, take a minute." Luke storms off.
"Go with him," she orders, turning her head towards Hadrian slightly. He instantly runs after Luke.
"Lord Hermes I'm guessing."
"Cherish," he greets with a nod.
"You heard what Hadrian and I spoke of while we traveled, didn't you?" He raises a eyebrow and his eyes glow slightly. His tense shoulders relax.
"I hope you're right about it."
"It's only a theory." She holds out her hand. He puts his hand under hers. She drops a folded cloth in his hand. Luke and Hadrian return as Hermes unfolds the cloth.
"The shrunken wings of a harpy blessed by Hera. Cleansed with the ashes of a Phoenix and the tears of a gold hawk eagle." He folds the cloth. He looks at Cherish, amused but impressed.
"I heard you passed a test of hers but I wasn't expecting the harpies. What do you want?"
"Safe passage to wherever we're supposed to go, as much as you can grant." The cloth disappears.
"Done. Head west, I can't direct you more than that." She nods and the demigods leave.
"You planned for us to meet him," Luke claims.
"No, but I was prepared to offer them the next time we set up camp."
"The gods don't care about us," Annabeth grumbles under her breath. The rest hear it but just barely. Cherish glances at her before sharing a look with Hadrian. Luke and Thalia also share a look.
"Let's try to cover some ground before nightfall," Thalia says. They pick up the pace.
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•11 MONTHS LATER....•
•(She's 7 years and 1 month(s) old. It's June 4th.)•
•Fred & George are about 10-11 years old.•
•Hadrian is about 8-9 years old.•
"Hadrian." He looks at his now awake sister. They're in the underdeck of a ship.
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(Chater 1 Edited: 10/11/23.
Chapter 2 Edited: 10/19/23.
Chapter 3 Edited: 10/31/23.
Chapter 4 Edited: 11/01/23.
Chapter 5 Edited: 11/09/23.
Word Count: 3,217.)
