Child of The Road - PJO Fanfic

Chapter 3

Tarin Aittenus drives along the long beach road. He's been on it for quite a while now, but he doesn't mind. The sea reminds him of his home. The sun shines on his arm hanging out the window. He has entered the hustle and bustle of urban New York and is close to his destination. He follows where the roads are showing him to go. He doesn't know where his destination is, just that it's where he needs to be.

He has been driving for almost 3 days now. His journey started where his family lives, a secluded area of Cudjoe Key, in the Florida Keys. His grandparents and great grandparents always said they shouldn't have too much interaction with normal people, although they all go to public school for a few years to gain social skills and to learn about people their age. The rest of the time, he has been homeschooled.

You see, Tarin's thirteenth great grandfather, born about 390 years ago, was a demigod, son of the Greek goddess Enodia, the goddess of roads, magical protection, purification, ghosts, cemeteries and cities. She is often associated with Artemis, Hecate and Persephone. Tarin's ancestors found somewhere they could live away from a lot of people, only leaving when absolutely necessary. They trained and grew in number, raising protective barriers around Cudjoe Key. They lived very long and happy lives.

When Tarin's great great great grandfather, Kiolus, went in search for a wife, he found who he thought was 'the one.' A year later, she birthed a set of triplets. Three days after their birth, she was gone. As his children grew up, being nurtured by their father and relatives, their family started to realise they were more powerful than the other children. After the triplets turned 6, their mother visited. Enodia had blessed the family a second time. Therefore, everyone born after Tarin's thrice great grandparents were double legacies of Enodia.

Valis, Tarin's father, went in search for a wife when he came of age, as is tradition in the Aittenus family. All men and women go in search of a partner, although some meet their partners through the family business. This often brings some interesting extra magical ability into the family.

Valis was, and still is, an extremely handsome man and many women of the Keys wanted to be his wife. Once, he was walking along on of the many long beaches in the Keys and without watching where he was going, ran straight into the most beautiful woman he had seen. She radiated such calmness, warmth and strength. They helped each other up, he saw her smile and she saw his loving eyes. They chose each other then and there. Her name was Eliza. She lived with the Aittenus family for a year and a half, learning about their world and way of life. It fascinated her. She wanted to know everything! 

A week after Tarin's birth, she disappeared. Valis was heartbroken, but also understood that most likely, Enodia had visited the family again.

As Tarin grew up, his family trained him in his legacy abilities. He was much more powerful than any of his ancestors, and this to them was more proof of Tarin being both a twice legacy and a demigod of Enodia. His family didn't know if there was a limit to the amount of power a single person could receive from gods, but it seems that the hypothetical limit hadn't been reached yet. Although he waited, his mother never visited. His family continued to encourage him to be patient. She would come when she is ready. As he reached his early teen years, more and more monsters began attacking their home, some even making it through the barrier. Tarin knew he was different, but didn't let that stop him. He had a good childhood with all his cousins and family around.

His power grew even more, until one day, his great grandparents, the heads or elders of the family, decided it was enough. They had a suspicion about Tarin and decided that he must be possessed by a strong and ancient spirit. He was to be cast out of Limen, only able to return if his life depended on it. Valis fought long and hard for his son's freedom, never giving up. Many of his aunts and uncles fought for him too. Tarin, being 17, was almost of age in his family's eyes. So three days ago, he left the only home he knew. He didn't want to cause his family any more pain. He wrote a note to his father and didn't look back.

For three days, Tarin hasn't known where he's going, just how to get there. Before he left, he put protections around the car. He obviously did them well because not a single monster has attacked him. Or maybe he's just lucky. Up ahead, the bitumen road continues down the hill, but the road he's following is leading off the road and into the park. Getting out of the car, he sees he's in a beautiful park next to the East River covered in trees. He gets out of his car and walks up a small hill to a bench. The road finishes at a park bench? He shrugs his shoulders and sits down. There's been stranger places he or his family has been lead to in the past, so the destination doesn't bother him. Besides, despite the city around him, the park has a sort of calmness to it. He resigns himself to fate and waits.

This is the story Tarin tells the three people sitting in front of him. They don't look too surprised, but rather grateful. "Thank you for trusting us and telling us so much about yourself," Sally says with a smile. "We appreciate it."

"I wonder why we never knew about your Limen? We don't go down south often, but we should've heard of it at least in passing." Percy scrunches his face in thought. 

"I wouldn't have a clue. To be fair, we didn't know about Camp Halfblood," Tarin replies, "well, at least I didn't." 

"That's probably something you could ask Chiron, Percy?" Paul suggests. 

"Great idea! It explains why your aura is so strong, though," Percy puts in. "I know quite a few legacies from the Roman camp and some are very powerful. You have two times the same legacy! And you've been training since you were born. I actually can't wait to see what you're capable of!"

This makes Tarin grin. "I've never really met a demigod before, other than my great grandfather, let alone fought one. I'm pretty excited to see what it's like!" Tarin pauses, "wait, there is a Roman camp too? As in, Roman demigods?"

"Yep! Until about a year ago, we didn't know each other existed. The gods made it that way a long time ago for our own safety, or so they say." Thunder rumbles in the distance. He huffs. "You'll most likely meet some Roman demigods soon, but it might be a while till you can actually go to New Rome."

"So the Roman gods are real too?"

Sally, Paul and Percy all nod in sync. It's a bit disconcerting. "I've also met Egyptian demigods and my girlfriend's cousin is a Norse demigod," supplies Percy.

Tarin releases a large breath and leans back in his chair, putting his hands on his head. "I knew the multitude of African and Native pantheons thrive in the South because my family deals with them often. Well, protection from them more like it. We have also delt with a lot of Celtic deities. I shouldn't be too surprised really."

"Damn!" exclaims Percy. "I've never heard of those pantheons being active! I suppose it makes sense!"

Tarin wonders to himself why he'd never heard of The Roman, Norse or Egyptian pantheons interacting with the world. Maybe the gods extended the Greek and Roman split to his family too? It doesn't explain the Norse or Egyptian deities though. Tarin realises how much of an opportunity this could be to learn more about the world. He's always had a deep yearning to learn and better himself. He's really hoping this camp is somewhere he could be for a while.

The conversation continues for a while. Paul excitedly asks a bunch of questions, most of them Percy and Tarin can't answer. Sally gets up and starts clearing the table, saying her brain can't handle much more of the nerdy, history talk and she'll leave that up to her husband. Estelle still refuses to leave Tarin's arms, contentedly bubbling away to herself. 

Later that night, Tarin lies awake on a blow up mattress in Percy's room. He's still a bit taken aback at the Blofis family's willingness to let him into their home. Maybe that's more normal here? Growing up how he did is probably contributing to his surprise as well. Although his family is welcoming, there would be a lot more...... tests, you could say, before they would let someone into Limen. They'd learnt the hard way, the elders say.

After three days alone, he's thankful for Percy's snoring above him which reminds him of home, lulling him off to a dreamless sleep.

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Thanks for reading! It's so appreciated! I am going to leave it here for a bit, just to see if I get some interest in this story. I have a few more chapters written already. 

I also don't have anyone reading and editing this story, so it's all me... screams. I'd appreciate not too harsh criticism! Thanks again!