You Give Liberty a Bad Name (a Percy Jackson AU)

A Chance for Freedom

Virginia: July 10, 1776
     Beckendorf had been waiting for this moment for months. Last November, the royal governor, Lord Dunmore, has promised freedom to any slaves who fought alongside the British. As he walked towards the plantation where his father was enslaved (Beckendorf had been granted a rare visit), he prayed that his plan would go well. He had told no one of it; he was not even going to tell his father.
In fact, he was not really visiting his father; he was running away. He wished he had been given more time or he would have taken the time, but the prospect of freedom was stronger than the affection for a man he hardly knew. He had been closer to his mother, but she had died after delivering a stillborn. She had been worked to death, forced to work right up until labor. The colonists had killed her, Beckendorf thought bitterly.
Beckendorf told himself he would never have children unless he was free. He could not bear the thought of his family being splintered further apart. He hoped his father's heart would lighten when he found out his son was a freedman. It was not as if he knew Beckendorf was supposedly visiting anyways. If he died, well, Beckendorf supposed it was better to die fighting for freedom than to live longer in bondage.
     He was glad it was still daylight and he was carrying a piece of paper that showed he had written permission to go see his father. Beckendorf wished he could read it, but Mr. and Mrs. Di Angelo did not think it was right for slaves to know how to read. Of course, that was just an excuse. They were scared of a salve revolt. They should be, Beckendorf thought, for they complain about the British trying to enslave them while they enslave us.
While he was passing by Mr. Thanatos's plantation, he heard the crack of a whip and felt his stomach churn as he heard his father's cries. Abandoning all caution, Beckendorf burst from behind the underbrush and into the fields to see the supervisor, Charon, lashing his father.
The leaves of the nearby tobacco plants were red with blood and Beckendorf felt as if someone had stoked a forge in his mind. He let his hand connect with Charon's thin face and felt a hint of satisfaction as the supervisor slid to the ground, knocked out cold.
"Son?" Hephaestus said as Beckendorf helped his father to his feet. "What did you do? You'll be punished. We'll never be able to visit again!"
Beckendorf's heart twisted at his father's words. Usually, Hephaestus acted as emotionless as a lump of iron.
"You're right," Beckendorf said. "I can't stay here. You shouldn't have to either. I'm going to win my freedom and fight the British. Come with me."
Hephaestus shook his head and said, "I could never keep up with you with this mangled leg. Thanatos knew it would prevent me from trying to escape again."
"I could help you walk even if you have to limp the entire way," Beckendorf promised. "You shouldn't have to stay here and be punished."
Hephaestus shook his head and said, "I've dealt with this before. It will come to pass. I could not join the army with this leg. Besides, Charis is expecting my child. I love you, son; win your freedom and make your papa proud. Go, run before Charon wakes up!"
Beckendorf ran away with the hope of freedom lightening his footsteps.