The Grandsons of Hades

Chapter 3: New Arrival

A typical morning for the grandsons of Hades begins in their grand but cozy home, where the sun filters through the large kitchen windows, illuminating the aroma of breakfast.

They live in a house with no parents,but there are still rules and schedules they must follow. They have three nannies,one cooks,the other schedules and the last cleans.

Damian is always the first to wake, his alarm always blaring at dawn. He stretches, glancing at the clock. "I'm up! I'm up!" he mutters to himself, tossing the covers aside. He quickly dresses in his favorite dark hoodie and jeans before making his way downstairs.

In the kitchen, their nanny,Clara, their cook, is already bustling around. "Good morning, Sir! I made your favorite,pancakes and bacon," she says with a warm smile, flipping a pancake on the griddle.

"Thanks, Clara!" Damian replies, grabbing a plate.

Just then, Orion wanders in, his hair tousled and a book clutched under his arm. "Did you really have to wake up this early, Damian?" he groans, rubbing his eyes.

Damian ignores.

Ella, their schedule-keeper, enters next, a clipboard in hand. "Sirs, remember, you have to be in school in 30 minutes," she reminds them, tapping her pen against the board. "And sir Damian,don't forget,you have that project submission tomorrow".

"Right, I'll take care of it, thank you" he replies.

Theo, the last to join, comes in wearing mismatched clothes—an old T-shirt and joggers. "What's for breakfast?" he asks, his voice still heavy with sleep.

"Pancakes!" Damian exclaims, waving his plate in the air.

"Save some for me!" Theo rushes to the table, grabbing a seat. "I need fuel to get through the day."

As they eat, silence fills the room. "You should really start getting ready earlier," Ella quips, glancing at the clock.

After breakfast, the boys head upstairs to finish getting ready. Theo scrambles to find his shoes, while Orion meticulously brushes his hair in front of the mirror.

"Why do you always take so long?" Theo calls out, frustrated.

"Because I don't want to look like you," Orion teases back, causing Damian to laugh.

Finally, with everyone ready, Mr. James, their driver, arrives at the door. "Time to head to school, Sirs!" he announces, holding the car door open for them.

With the engine roaring to life,they set off.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the school grounds as students dispersed in laughter and chatter. Damian, Orion, and Theo,stood together near the entrance, observing the scene. Though the air seemed filled with the usual chaos of students, the three brothers sensed something different. It was subtle, but their heightened instincts always alerted them to shifts in their surroundings.

That day, something, or rather someone, caught their attention.

A girl,5'8", with a slender build and deep brown skin that glows in the sunlight and beautiful dark brown eyes. She has long, waist-length braids, adorned with a few small gold beads.

Shes wearing a fitted white T-shirt tucked into high-waisted jeans, paired with black ankle boots. She immediately stood out against the other students, drawing curious glances as she passed. She seemed unbothered, her eyes scanning the scene with a mixture of caution and determination.

"Who's that?" Theo asked, his voice low but tinged with curiosity.

"No idea," Orion replied, his gaze following her. "But she's definitely not from around here."

They lived in a very small town,which is 99.9% white. Hence the surprise.

The three exchanged brief glances. There was an inexplicable pull they felt toward her, a sensation that hadn't happened with anyone else since their arrival in this school. Even as they stood there, they all watched  Amara disappear into the building, they remained silent.

As the bell rang, signaling the start of class, they reluctantly made their way inside. The hum of their classmates' conversations filled the air as they settled into their seats. Just as the teacher began taking attendance, the door swung open.

The new girl stood at the entrance.

The room seemed to pause. Conversations halted, and all eyes turned toward her.

"Class, we have a new student joining us today," the teacher announced with a smile. "Please welcome Amara, who just moved here from West Africa."

Damian and his cousins exchanged glances, their interest heightened. They leaned forward slightly, eager to learn more about the girl who had already left such an impression.

"Hi, everyone," Amara said, her voice steady though her eyes betrayed a flicker of nervousness. "I'm Amara. I moved here a few weeks ago,from Nigeria.

The students responded with a few nods and polite smiles, though some continued to stare. To the brothers, those stares were familiar,the weight of being different.

"Is there anything you'd like to share about your background, Amara?" the teacher encouraged.

Amara hesitated. "I moved here with my family, and I'm excited to be here and meet new people," she said, her smile not reaching her eyes.

The grandsons listened closely. Her words held more than just a desire to fit in; they carried resilience and the quiet strength that comes from navigating unfamiliar worlds. Damian, Orion, and Theo knew that feeling all too well. It was the same struggle they faced.

As the day wore on, Amara remained at the forefront of their minds.