(Warning: I have mentioned suicide in this chapter.)
IT HAS BEEN A MONTH AT LEAST, SINCE AURORA'S LAST BREAKDOWN and arrival from a godforsaken place also called Hogwarts, and Aurora was candidly tired of her friends walking on eggshells around her.
"Don't blame us!" Victoria said.
"You haven't seen yourself, trying to commit suicide or you wouldn't say that." Jason said.
Like yes she tried to commit suicide but she was here right? And that was the most important right?
"Yes. But really Aurora? I am just worried, we all are." Osiris said in a smoothing tone.
Aurora nodded her head.
It was the small things like offering her to do her cabin inspections (which she was supposed to do, since pretty much every centurion was off to fight monsters, or retrieving half-bloods who hadn't yet made it to Lupa).
Aurora didn't have time for herself because 24/7 she was watched, stalked. By Atty, Alex, Vic, Jace, Rey, Wild.... Pretty much Everyone.
Maybe Aurora did want a time for herself, maybe she wanted to take missions so kindly provided by Khaos, Juno, Nox, Osiris in peace without her brother coming along.
Maybe she wanted to count how many people, monsters, creatures she killed.
Maybe she wanted to read Chiron's letters in peace. Without her brother constantly worrying something bad might occur or Khaos forbid her friends reading them...
She had a few close calls, which she wouldn't like to repeat (Thank you very much)
Atlas shook his head fondly.
"Aurora?" It was Alex, he knocked, "we have a senate meeting."
"After Breakfast." Atlas said like it was vital, which was, to Aurora at least.
Aurora fondly rolled her eyes. She gave me a 'Really?' Look.
There was silence. A dead silence.
"Aurora?" Atlas said now it was evident worry was seeping into his tone.
No, No, No. I won't let it happen. I won't. I just won't.
"Shall we break down the door?" Alex asked Atlas.
"Mimi, we will open the door, now." Alex said.
Dead silence.
Atlas and Alex shoved open her door, which Aurora was going to make them regret. They were greeted with Aurora's new room. There was A bed covered with messy purple silk sheets and not sea green Atlas noted, what she requested. and there was a green-grey teddy bear on one of her bedside table a gift from Osiris to little Aurora.
Osiris smiled at the mention of the bear.
There was also a locked chest in the corner of her room, her weapon's vault and riches as Aurora called it, there was a wardrobe with one door opened. She had a brown wooden desk in one corner and she Atlas's shock apparently had fallen asleep, her head dropping against the wall.
Aurora never fell asleep.... No one knew why but she never did.... Right now she was.... Better asleep than dead.
Atlas and Alex frowned, carefully making their way over her.
There were some aurei and denarii scattered on her desk, there were some pencils and pens, some notes of paper with paragraphs detailing some stuff, as well as one now a sheet of paper that was definitely not Aurora's handwriting, she had a cursive writing style for Latin languages which was terrible for people with Dyslexia, which was pretty much everything around them. They hadn't intended to peer into her business of course, but it was signed:
Ese yuo, Princess
-your, Bro Percy ;)
"My letter?" Percy asked happy.
"Yeah. Which caused us a lot of trouble, cousin." Atlas said.
Realisation hit Atlas as he quickly covered the letter.
Yet, Alex still managed to read some parts of it, at least tried. Because only the the letter was signed in English the rest was in Graeca (Greek).
He stared weirdly at Atlas who chuckled uncomfortably as he pointed at the cover of her notebook which the letter was in.
"DO NOT READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!"
There was
"AND MIND YOUR BLOODY BUSINESS!"
Underneath it.
"Oh. Hey, Mea you gotta wake up." Alex slightly shook her shoulder.
Nothing....
"Meeks sleeps like a dead person we can't wake her." Atlas said to Alex.
"So does Remus." Sirius said happily.
"Guess you are right." He said. "But what shall we do?"
"I have an idea." Atlas said as he closed his eyes and manipulated Aurora's mind into having a dream of what happened while she was asleep.
Aurora immediately raised her head. "I need compensation for my door." She huffed.
Some in the hall laughed.
"That's my sister everyone." Atlas said as he hugged her.
"What the hell?" She asked annoyed as he quickly closed her notebook and put it on her bookshelf.
"We have a senate meeting in, like, half an hour." Alex said.
Panic raised in Aurora's eyes as she quickly got up.
She changed from her black and white shirt to violet dress which she paired with a black shoe which had a little heel she strapped a little dagger on her thigh. The one she always has with her even when she is sleeping.
"She does." Hades said smirking. Aurora rolled her eyes.
"Please, uncle." Atlas begged Hades.
Osiris, Poseidon and the others glared at Hades.
"Alright you lot can go. I shall be fine," Aurora said.
Atlas looked at his sister.
Aurora raised her eyebrows.
"Fine" they said as they reluctantly left the room.
♔ ♕ ♖ ♗ ♘ ♙
The Senate meetings all looked the same in Aurora's mind. Boring as always, nothing special ever happened.
Although she did make a decision to speak with Octavian, yet she was sure she would later regret it.
"I... well I did." Aurora said
Octavian did come to the Principia, alone. Although He took great enjoyment in deliberately looking around the office, staring at the empty chairs that were supposed to belong to Atlas and Alex.
"Are praetors Acheron and Cyrus occupied?" Octavian asked innocently.
"Yes very." Atlas said to Octavian. "Especially me, being the son of Jupiter after all."
Aurora barely held her wheeze while Daemon, Wilder, Apollo and Hermes openly wheezed.
Ariana drummed her fingers on the golden blade of her sword. "Why I don't have you exiled."
Octavian smirked at her. "You tell me."
"Because, I think you are needed in some matters, to my dismay," Aurora drawled. She sat forward and rested her sword on the desk already filled with papers and maps. "What have you seen in your auguries?"
"Ah, so I am only needed in matters called my talents." Octavian shook his head ruefully. "Is this how you treat all your campers? No wonder we've lost so many to the titans."
"You don't know anything, Octavian. And If you don't compose yourself I will have you removed from the grounds, exiled in other part of the World, in Siberia perhaps," Aurora threatened.
Octavian leaned back. "Does that mean you're considering me for praetor?"
Aurora scoffed. "As if." She muttered under her breath.
Octavian covered the cold look on his face with a grin.
"This is about the Sibylline books then."
He had been obsessed with them for years, ever since he became an augur and got a dream of four books with symbols on the cover. It absolutely convinced him that there were more than just three remaining, if those were even the Sibylline books of prophecy, and moreover it was his destiny to find them.
"And that Depends on how you answer my question," Aurora said.
Octavian sighed dramatically. Not content about Aurora's sentence.
"Nothing I have seen is good. The Titan's palace is still reforming. Storms are gathering. That cruise ship you mentioned is gathering more monsters and half-bloods." He rolled his eyes. "Your father Neptune is taking his time with them." He said mockingly. "We could just send a force and call it a day."
"The older sea gods are protecting it," Aurora said again. It was clear since the first day she arrived in Camp Jupiter that
They hated her Father, Neptune, God of the Sea. And Octavian never let Aurora nor anyone else forget that she, was the Daughter of the Moody, Cruel, Ruthless, Relentless Neptune.
Neptune sighed. He didn't want his daughter suffer from the mistakes he did.
"You could aid your father." Octavian said to her.
Aurora sighed as much as she wanted and asked her Father to let her help him. Yet for some unknown Reason. Her father wanted her to stay away from the ancient sea deities as far as she could.
"Why?" Percy asked.
"I thought her being an Aequoreus would attract a lot of attention. Not to mention ancient sea deities hate me." Poseidon said.
"I wonder why." Oceanus muttered. Pontus nudged him
"I heard that." Poseidon said to Oceanus glaring at him.
"Listen to me, son. You do not deserve the throne. You have no Sea Deity as your ancestor. Not to mention what you did to Thalassa and Celeste."
"Why did he do to mum and Thalassa?" Aurora asked.
"He let them die." Oceanus answered her.
Poseidon ducked her head down in shame. He would forever blame himself for their deaths especially Celeste's. If he insisted on staying by her side. This would not happen.
Aurora wouldn't have to grow up astray, Celeste would be alive.
Yet he believed her when she said that she would be fine.
"Besides me we have no other sea deity children, last time I checked. So the matter is in my Father's hands who shall do everything. And even if he did unleash all of his fury, I am afraid New Rome wouldn't exist." Aurora said.
Neptune smirked.
Octavian scoffed. "Maybe you don't look like him on the outside, yet in the inside you are exactly like your father."
"And on the outside who do I look like?" Aurora asked.
"Bellona. Your mother." Octavian answered.
The gods looked at Aurora. She did truly bore resemblance to Bellona. But if those met Celeste or Rhea would understand Aurora actually looks like her mother, and her grandmother.
"And you know this?" Aurora said.
"I have seen them in your auguries they are always by your side, and other two people too." Octavian said to her.
Aurora scoffed. "Your auguries lie then." She wanted to believe him that her parents especially her mother was with her, yet how could she?! From all the years she begged for her mother's assistance she never paid attention to her.
"I gave you my assistance when you asked me. And I also care about you, Marcella." Bellona said to Aurora.
"Are The other two people Celeste and Regulus?" Percy asked his sister.
She nodded her head.
She knew who were the other two people. So she didn't ask him further.
"I know what I saw." Octavian insisted his delusions were right. Aurora knew better not to have false hopes.
"Anything else?" Aurora asked, changing the topic.
"No prophecies, if that's what you mean." Octavian said casually.
Aurora scowled. "I am this close-" her thumb and her index finger actually brushed "-to locking you in Build-A-Bear temple."
To Octavian's surprise Thunder didn't strike in the distance as it usually happens when someone disrespects the King of the Gods. It never seemed to happen when Atlas or Aurora disrespected the mentioned god.
"That is because he knew the consequences." Nyx/Nox said looking at Zeus, Erebus smirked at Zeus.
Zeus shivered
"That was quite a rude thing to say to Jupiter," Octavian noted. "You know, ever since you've come back from Maine you've been irritable."
"I apologise for my antics." Aurora rose. "I suppose the blame goes to my allergy to blue eyed blondes."
Zeus, Apollo, Hermes, Draco and literally everyone who had blue eyes with blonde hair looked at Aurora even I looked at Aurora shocked.
"Feels good not to have blue eyes." Atlas muttered.
I raised my eyebrow at Aurora.
"I didn't mean everyone, alright?"
"I'll go tell Jason that and perhaps your cousin Atlas. Although he has green eyes."
Aurora cracked a smile. "If they are in America, where do you think the Sibylline books are?"
Octavian shrugged. "My first guess would be that the titans have some, but I doubt you'd let me send a force there." He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Try again," Aurora replied.
"Very well. Perhaps somewhere in the east? That could explain why we've never found them."
"Strike two," Aurora told him, crossing her arms. "I would rather look for them, if that's the case. Juno would be more likely to send me over there, anyway."
"Why do you say that?" Octavian asked. "The titan's palace is in San Francisco, in case you've forgotten."
"Olympus is in New York," Aurora said immediately, and I have to go there after every mission."
Octavian seemed to accept that, because he nodded. "Aside from there or Rome-"
"Rome or Istanbul?" Aurora asked sarcastically.
Octavian glared at her, "Perhaps Alaska." Octavian finished. "Or maybe one of those."
"Perhaps. Yet I shan't send at the very least two half-bloods with you, who has no clue where he's going. The East is dangerous perhaps even more than America." Aurora said training her fingers on the Map of the World.
"You have been to Britannia, are there a lot of monsters?" Octavian asked her as far as he knew Aurora and Atlas were the only ones that went to International quests. And have been in a lot of countries like Britain even Rome and if the rumours were true then Graecia.
"We were. Aside from Monster attacks. It was quite alright, I mean we saw Parthenon and other things Britain somehow didn't manage to steal. So it was good." Atlas said. Aurora laughed.
"I can assure you there are a lot of monsters, and creatures you have yet to seen in America in the East." Aurora said to him. Looking at Italy and then Greece on the Map.
Atlas sighed.
Octavian tensed, his cocky demeanor folding like paper crumpled into a ball. Like Aurora was throwing him into trash.
"Aurora, you asked for me. You know how important this is-"
"I do," Aurora agreed. "But I also know you're almost as blind as I am in this. I will not send campers on a suicide mission."
"Aurora-"
"That is my Verdict!" Aurora snapped.
"Must I speak more slowly so that you understand?"
She sat down on her chair lined with purple and crossed one leg over another. Her sword rested across her lap, golden pommel loosely grasped in her hand.
"Find out where these books could be kept," Aurora told him. " Sleep for a while. Then, if you know where they might be, I might consider it, depends on what sort of mood I am."
Octavian set his jaw and pulled back his shoulders. He had a dagger in his belt, but he was no fool to use it. Aurora's lips pulled into a cold smirk at the sight of his hesitation.
"I wonder why you didn't ask Praetors Atlas-Jove and Alexander to join us," Octavian said carefully. The smug look on her face changed to anger in a millisecond.
"You and Atlas-Jove were on a run quite sometime and did many quests together yet you two seemed to despise one another, yet never say it out laud, even though the whole New Rome knows about it. The Rivalry that never seem to go and the tension. And about Alexander? you choose him to be praetor over anyone else in that hall. Even Victoria, Reyna, Wilder or Clove-"
"Your point?" Aurora asked, voice clipped, If Octavian went on she was sure he would be stabbed by one of her daggers.
"I barely survived." Octavian said.
"I am more surprised you survived." Atlas said to Octavian
He held up his hands. "I'm just wondering what changed in a month, praetor. Forgive a little speculation."
Aurora's eyes narrowed in realisation. "What did you see?"
Octavian smirked, because just then the marble principia doors opened, revealing Alexander Cyrus. He was frowning as he looked between the two, his eyebrows creasing. He shook his head gently, as if to shake a nightmare. "Aurora, there are
People at the tunnel to see you and Atlas."
"Names?" Ariana leaned forward, trying to forget everything that had just been said.
Alex shrugged, his hands fiddling with the pommel of his sword. "Didn't say. Just insisted they speak with you two."
Aurora's breath caught. Could it be.... Nico? Perhaps, then again it was a stupid thought how could he? Or how would he even find her? Perhaps Hades/Pluto told him something. But who was the other?
Atlas sighed.
But she stood again, willing her sword back into her ring, though she knew perhaps it was just another monster. "It could be monsters."
Alex shook his head. "No, I saw scars on him. They must've been years old and about the Girl I am not quite sure, but they don't look like monsters."
"On the outside." Atlas muttered.
A monster, at least an usual one, would've died of any injury fatal enough to leave a lasting scar from Aurora's experience. Most monsters in the mortal world didn't live longer than a year before a demigod killed them.
But, still, it couldn't be Nico. He hadn't had any before becoming a demigod, and even though she hoped to hell he hadn't gained any, that was only a month ago.
Aurora nodded. "Alright I shall go to Atlas and personally ask for his presence." She walked around her desk and looked at Alex again. "I'll be out in a minute."
Alex looked at Aurora for a few seconds before slamming the door on his way out and Aurora knew that it was intentional.
she turned to Octavian again. "Look in your auguries for a boy named Nico di Angelo. Black hair and probably an oversized jacket."
Octavian arched his eyebrows. "Is he a threat?"
Aurora's shoulders tensed. "An ally, Octavian. If one strand falls from his hair I will have you executed and I shall personally make sure that you will be tortured in Tartarus, beginning for mercy you will never be granted."
Nico smirked.
He shrugged and then gulped. "I was just looking out for Rome. I didn't have enough information."
"He's hardly thirteen." Aurora frowned when she remembered again. His birthday was just last week and he'd had no one to celebrate with.
"It's fine, really, Mea." Nico reassured his sister.
"Well, how was I supposed to know that?" Octavian asked.
"I said 'a boy' Find him. The second you see anything I want to know." She paused. "And write me a copy of the great prophecy, the one about the child of the eldest gods."
Aurora pushed open the principia doors and faced the light green glares burning into her eyes.
"If you two are upset, you can just say it, you know," Aurora told Atlas and Alex without looking at them as they walked towards the river.
Atlas sighed obviously knowing his sister would catch him. Maybe she wasn't in Physics, Mathematics et cetera yet she was street smart.
While Alex blinked, like he was surprised she caught him, and quickly stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets. "Sorry. I'm not upset, really."
"That's got to be the worst lie I've ever heard."
Atlas nodded his head agreeing.
Alexander muttered something, but shrugged his shoulders. "Fine, I guess I'm upset. But it doesn't matter." He sighed. "I guess I just wish you two'd trust me, especially you Mea y'know? You make me praetor during you go to Juno's quests, and I'm grateful and all don't get me wrong, but it doesn't feel like I'm working with you two. More...more like I'm working after the scraps you two leave."
Aurora and Atlas faltered, slowing their pace for a moment, before quickly pushing onwards. Alex had to jog a moment to keep up with them.
"I swear with their long legs and their large steps it is impossible to keep up with them." Veronica complained.
Aurora scoffed. "You think me and my brother are impossible to keep up with?! Then you have to see Hades, his one step is my 5 at the very least."
"I'm sorry," Aurora said, "but candidly some things are going to have to be secrets. Juno ordered some aspects of her missions to be classified."
"Jupiter did the same." Atlas said
"Even to the other praetor?" Alex asked in disbelief.
"We'd tell you if we could," Aurora lied,
"We promise." Atlas said
So they continued in silence, wading through the little Tiber River, and down the Caldecott tunnel.
The second the sun shone on him, illuminating his pale hair, pale face, pale skin, pale everything, Aurora was lunging, blazing sword at his neck.
There was also a Girl dressed in black standing near the doorframe, her arms folded. And her head leaning against the surface of the Tunnel. Aurora remembered her from somewhere, yet from where she couldn't quite remember. Then she looked at her brother perhaps he knew who the girl was. Apparently he knew because the second he walked in and the second he saw her first went to the direction of the exit the turned around and slightly had an ajar mouth.
Hera looked closely at the screen the girl reminded her of someone.
"You are either very brave or very stupid to come here," Aurora all but snarled.
"I'm desperate," Luke corrected. He had to tilt back head, walking very carefully away from the tip.
"And who is she?" Aurora asked pointing her blade at the girl dressed in all black.
Luke seemed to Pale even more if that's even possible at the mention of his company.
"That is my....associate."
The girl scoffed. "As if." She said walking towards the siblings. She looked at Aurora closely and then turned to shocked Atlas, she scowled at him.
Atlas scoffed.
"Who is she?" Percy asked sort of remembering her.
"My rival." Atlas said.
"I suppose you share history with my cousin." Aurora said to the girl.
"You mean your brother?" She corrected.
Aurora and Atlas started at her dumbfounded.
The girl smirked. "I am Nyx Blackfire."
"What?!" Daemon bellowed.
Aurora and Atlas looked at her more shocked if that's even possible.
"I beg your pardon?" Aurora asked dumbfounded.
Atlas's slightly ajar mouth was fully ajar now staring at Nyx like he saw a ghost.
"You know that song, 'What the Fuck?' Yeah, that song fits this scene so much." Blase said. Wilder nodded his head.
"I don't think I heard you correctly." Atlas said.
"Do you really want me to repeat it?" Nyx asked bored.
"No." Aurora replied. Last time she checked no Blackfire was alive. Yet this girl, Nyx as she calls herself also calls herself a Blackfire.
"No, not really than I would have to hear your obnoxious voice." Atlas said annoyed. The Girl Nyx, he knew from his previous quests she has been in Saturn's/Kronos's (whichever you like they are both the same.) ranks longer than anyone and was his childhood best friend before they fell apart and met on that quest.
Nyx scoffed.
Luke looked between everyone.
"Mea, you have no idea what's going on." He said to her.
Mea's eyes flashed for a second before she took out her dagger and held it on Luke's throat. "Next time call me that name and I shall personally make sure, Kronos/Saturn will not be the only deity you fear."
"She has good threats." Hephaestus said.
"Thank you." Aurora said.
Nyx and Atlas smirked.
"And This is why I Respect her. Luke." Nyx said she had a British accent like Aurora's and Atlas's yet there was something about her accent, like she just learnt it.
"I could finish everything right now. I doubt Kronos, Saturn or any other Titans care about you any more than I care about the ant under my boot."
Aurora kicked him in the chest, right where Thalia scared him a month ago, and Luke nearly tumbled into the traffic he was so weak. He knelt on the concrete for a moment, violently coughing, before pushing himself up with the help of his sword.
"That-that was uncalled for," he said eventually.
Nyx laughed enjoying the scene. Aurora realised Nyx wouldn't even stop Aurora even if she decided on killing him.
"Why?" Annabeth asked.
Aurora and Atlas shrugged.
Aurora shrugged. "Be grateful I aimed for your stomach."
Luke tensed, eying her warily, but seemed to remember why he was there. "Just five minutes. All we want is to talk."
"You came to a dangerous place for a talk," Aurora warned.
"I told you," Luke said again, "I'm desperate. I'll tell you everything. All I need is five minutes."
"Everything?" Nyx questioned.
"Not everything. I shall talk to her about Surrender. And you will talk to Atlas about surrender." Luke said to her.
"I'm already counting down the seconds." Aurora knew she'd be kicking herself for this decision soon. It was stupid, risky. and bound to stir suspicion in the camp.
She was just lucky there were no guards at the tunnel mouth. It was three archers, at least during war time, perched at the top of the hill. They was an arrow a few feet away. Good, they'd followed procedure for a single threat. Something to scare them into stopping while another ran for an official.
"Alright. Atlas. Come." Nyx said as she offered Atlas her hand. Aurora and Atlas looked at it warily.
"Come on. I won't capture you. I swear by river Styx." Nyx said, thunder rumbled.
Atlas knew better than to trust her but he had no other choice as he reluctantly took her hand and then, Nyx teleported Atlas to someplace.
Aurora stared at the place her brother and Nyx once were, then she turned to Luke,
She held out her hand. "Backbiter."
Luke stared blankly at her. "You want me to go into a war camp.....without my weapon?"
"Glad you're catching on. I'm sure it's a first for you," Aurora said. "The alternative is losing both hands."
Luke ended up handing it over.
Backbiter was a meter longer than her own sword.
The sword glinted with an evil bronze-grey-and-gold light where the ordinary steel had been melded with celestial bronze and imperial gold. Aurora could almost feel the blade fighting against itself, like two opposing magnets bound together, and someone was trying to slip a piece of paper between. Aurora didn't know how the sword had been made, but she sensed a tragedy. Someone had died in the process.
Aurora gave it an experimental swing, and something akin to an electric shock roared up her arm, revitalising her whole body. She turned her gladius back into its ring and concentrated as she pointed backbiter away from her, at nothing in particular.
Her fingers tingled, practically glued to the golden pommel, and she opened her eyes as the flames fanned her face.
There was a dead silence in the room. Everyone too occupied to watch the scene.
She controlled the sword of Saturn/Kronos, bent it to her will. She had given it a new ability, one only she would be able to control. Bellona's symbol was a crossed sword and torch, but it was Mea who fused them.
Bellona widened her eyes.
"Mea?" Alex called warily. It worried him, that expression she wore when she swung again, casting dark ember into ongoing traffic. It reminded him too much of his own in those more difficult nights.
She had totally forgotten he was there.
The sword hummed in her grip, a cold feeling, yet a burning rush arched through her veins.
She felt exactly what was necessary: the entire sword, covered in blood and ichor. And Aurora wanted to be the one to spill it.
Mars shook his head, his niece's powers were truly more than he expected.
Luke said nothing, but watched, pale blue eyes wide and petrified.
"Mea," Alex said, more urgent this time.
Mea's vision turned back to normal, the colors and shapes around her became sharp and vivid again. She felt like she was coming out of a trance, trying to connect various dots she couldn't quite place.
She balanced the sword on her knee, one hand tightening on its leather wrapped pommel and the other holding the sword strong enough, she could feel it start to split her skin. The flames that still beamed felt like nothing more than a slow feather.
With a loud bang! the sword snapped jaggedly in half, molten gold, bronze and steel dripping down Aurora's palms.
Everyone widened their eyes.
"Since when can a Bellātor do that?" Hephaestus asked.
"Since forever." Daemon replied unfazed about Aurora's capabilities.
"You're welcome," she told Luke sharply, spinning around on her heel and marching into the Caldecott Tunnel. "Try anything, and I'll just as easily do that to your skull."
Alex couldn't believe he looked at Luke Castellan of all the godforsaken people in the world, for reassurance. The son of Hermes said nothing; and watched her expressionless as her violet cloak billowed behind her, pushed in the slight, uneasy wind. As if the air itself was trying to hold it's breath.
"It was." Ouranos said.
The two, still dripping halves of Backbiter landed loudly on the table, splattering a map of the World in gold.
"You have five minutes," Aurora told him sternly as Alex walked to the doors, the heavy weight closing it almost immediately behind him. Aurora heard the clip of a lock.
Now, Aurora and Luke were alone. An Ally to an Ally.
An Enemy to an enemy.
Aurora sat on her praetor's chair like a throne, holding up her chin with her fist, elbow resting on the curved arm. "Tick, tock, Castellan."
"Castellan?" Luke asked. "Really?"
"Yes, really," Aurora mocked. "We are enemies now."
"You aren't my enemy, Aurora," Luke persisted. "And nor is Atlas."
Aurora let out a small laugh that could've been a scoff.
"Look, Aurora-" he placed his hands on the mahogany table, careful to stay away from the bronze and gold that was dripping off the edge of the table.
Drip, drop.
Aurora's palms were still stained gold.
"-I'm done with the titans, with everyone. I want to run, get as far away from there as possible," Luke breathed. He closed his eyes, waiting for the right moment to drop the guillotine, the last, perfect second to deliver the gambit.
"And I want you to come with me."
"I beg your pardon?" Hades said. Everyone looked shocked.
Following these words was a silence, a dead silence, thirty seconds to be exact. Yes. Aurora counted, Curtsy of Atlas who got Aurora count everything everywhere.
Atlas smiled brightly.
Aurora stared at him, at first not sure if she heard everything correctly. The plan had many flaws. Yet, it was also a naively and stupidly hopeful.
The gods scrunched their eyebrows.
Aurora herself tried many times to flee, she even imagined it how she would do it. She thought of fleeing from her problems. Said fuck you to everyone and leave....
"You did?" Daemon asked not believing.
"I thought about it but never tried it." Aurora replied.
Well, that plan had obvious flaws at Least in Aurora's mind.... Now Luke out of all people suggested something Aurora deep down always wanted, she never said it out loud, not even to Atlas.
"That's.... That is true." Atlas said
"So that's what you want?! For me to flee with you to outside of the continent leave everything, my remaining Family, my patrons, my destiny and just waltz out of here with my middle finger far up in the air."
Set, Hermes, Eris, Ares, Daemon, Apollo, Wilder, Proteus, Theseus, Veronica snorted.
Luke shook his head desperately. "We could just run, Aurora. We'd be safe. The titans wouldn't try to reach us, and the gods won't care. They don't care, not about anyone but themselves. We could just leave. We could go to Alaska, or even somewhere outside the continent, to the land beyond the gods! You've always wanted to go back to Cyprus or Venice."
"Why Cyprus?" Annabeth asked
"That's where our family, my mother lived before they got slaughtered." Aurora answered.
Aurora laughed coldly. He right now touched her Achilles's heel. He was unfortunately right, the first place that came to her mind for a place to hide after she ran away was Cyprus or Venice. Was this an act of caring? Or was it another mind game? Had a spy of some sort told him? No, that wasn't possible. Had he guessed?
For a moment, the former friends stared at each other silently, the only sounds were Aurora's pulse rushing in her ears, Luke's laboured breathing, and the slow dripping of molten metal onto the hardwood floor.
And then Aurora shook her head dismissing her thoughts, the stupid thoughts, she had a job to do, a role to play, the prophecies to fulfil, much to destroy, much to avenge, she couldn't, she just couldn't.
"Yeah. Revenge can't wait." Eris said.
"I am going to have to decline your generous offer, Luke." Aurora said sarcastically
Luke's face crumbled, his nails digging into the table so hard - afraid to let go afraid she'd drag him back to Mount Othrys, afraid she'd tell them every extent of his treason, he was petrified that Aurora would tell everything Nyx Anïas Blackfire the heartless, relentless girl who could rival Their temper and ruthlessness - they were sure to leave marks.
Atlas nodded her head. Nyx Anïas Blackfire was his Nightmare and a lot of others.
"Aurora - Aurora , please," he breathed, "you don't understand...you don't know what he is doing to them what she is doing to them!"
His voice broke. "what he'll do to me, or what that girl will do to me, my associate who is sent here to spy on me."
Aurora's eyes narrowed. "What he's doing to who and what will the girl do to you?"
Luke widened his eyes when he realised what he just said, he divulged almost everything.
Luke quickly recovered.
"He's getting stronger." he was scared to raise his voice above a whisper. He didn't know the principia was covered in enchantments, done for the exact reason that no gods or titans could hear them.
The gods looked shocked.
"He can slow time again.....or quicken it. Sometimes, to the ones who try to desert him, he..." Luke had to cover his mouth
"he slows their heart. And everyone has to watch and you have no idea about the Girl, they never leave me alone, she was sent to spy on me, I am sure she does that now too, she.... You have no idea what she is capable of.... She kills babies, women, men, mortals, demigods, gods everyone who annoys her or try to stop her, not to mention she directly serves him."
Aurora felt all the blood drain from her body, down to her fingers and her toes, in one fell swoop.
"You have no idea what Chaos has planned for you." Luke added
"And you know?" Aurora asked sarcastically scoffing.
"Yes. They told me all about you, and your ancestors. I also know your mother was the daughter of Kronos and Rhea and Atlas's mother a daughter of Kronos." Luke said as she held the Mahogany table more and more tightly with every world.
"What?! How!" Demeter asked.
"Kronos/Saturn wanted to be brought back. That is why he sired my mother and aunt to help him rise. But they did the opposite, a few years ago when Kronos/Saturn was rising. Celeste and Aurelia stopped them they were leading romans and Greeks separately to triumph." Aurora divulged.
Greek and Roman gods looked shocked.
Aurora's eyes widened. The only people who knew that was me and Daemon and her.
"How do you know that?" Aurora asked quickly masking her surprise.
"You know?" Luke asked shocked. He didn't know Aurora knew, yet she knew more than that, curtsy of me and Daemon.
"I know." Aurora answered.
"Then you know how vital you two's presence is. That is why he will stop at nothing until he gets you two." Luke lamented.
"No matter how much you try to convince me to flee with you, you must know that I won't change my mind. It's better than sitting around all day feeling sorry for yourself or plan to kidnap your friends."
Daemon, Khonshu and Set snorted.
"Please Aurora. You can't stop them, yes you might have a great power yet it's still nothing compared to theirs. It's better if we and Atlas ran. Kronos might be killing the demigods," Luke said quietly, "but he's planned a worse fate for me and Atlas. He said me and Atlas would be his stepping stone to the throne of the universe." He swallowed. "I'd rather you kill me and Atlas right here."
Aurora stared at Luke. He certainly hit her Achilles spot, her brother. Kronos's plans regarded Atlas since the beginning.
"He does?!" Zeus exclaimed.
Kronos had an obsession with her and Atlas. Probably because Aurora held a great resemblance to her grandmother Rhea. And Atlas held great resemblance to Kronos his grandfather.
If Kronos wanted him or Atlas as stepping stones that meant they were hosting Kronos, he would have a mortal body before he became a God, a Titan again. And he wanted Atlas because he wanted to look like his youth again.
"What?!" Bellowed the big six.
The demigods looked shocked.
Even Egyptians were shocked.
Aurora's fingers twitched, eager to grab the golden sword hidden in her ring and decapitate Luke's head. She hadn't even bothered to take it out again, that's how harmless she was deeming him - the pathetic mess grovelling at her feet she had once called a friend, an ally.
"I Think I would rather, too," Ariana agreed. She stood, planting both shimmering hands on the edge of her table. "And some part of me wants to grant you a quick, easy, smooth death."
"Don't. He deserves to rot in Tartarus." Daemon said.
Luke sighed, something like relief flooding his face again. "I know I was a weakling, but this - just end this so it's all over. I don't want to be a coward again."
Aurora tisked. She lowered her angle until, when she smiled, Luke would be close enough to see the burning volcanic obsidian threatening to erupt in her eyes.
"Aurora's eyes when she is angry is really scary." Victoria said
"But the better part of me," she continued, tilting her head, "wants to throw you in a burlap sack and drag you to Kronos/Saturn myself as a gift from Rome and Ashfords'."
Luke leaned back, all the relief gone as abruptly as a wolf snuck up a rabbit. Silent, swift, deadly, lethal.
Aurora's family shook their heads fondly.
While Wixen looked scandalised.
"You're pathetic," Aurora hissed. "You will forever be remembered as a weakling. The only sliver of solace you could yearn to gain is that you got the farthest from the gods. But wanting to die-" she scoffed "-coming from you, you're asking for the absolute form of sissiness."
"Saturn backed you into a check." Aurora remarked.
"And This is your checkmate."
With No good possibilities. Nowhere to run. Each step a line into waging fire. A former king foiled by the opposing Queen.
And their checkmate came in the form of Backbiter.
Aurora smiled as she dug the shard of bronze from the bottom of his eye, all the way to his chin.
And the blood spilt once again.
"This was mad!" Blase said.
While other Wixen couldn't believe their eyes.
♔ ♕ ♖ ♗ ♘ ♙
𝕬𝖙𝖑𝖆𝖘'𝖘 𝕻𝖔𝖎𝖓𝖙 𝖔𝖋 𝖁𝖎𝖊𝖜:
Leaving his sister with him, Luke their former friend was not in Atlas's plans.
And then going with his enemy, rival wasn't in his plans either.
"Don't worry I don't bite." Nyx said as she sat down on the bench as she invited Atlas to sit next to him. The rock that were currently on was looking over a sea. Atlas had no idea which sea it was, probably if Aurora was she would know. The air distinctively smelt like sea salt.
"What do you want, Nyx?" Atlas asked bored, he was three when he first had the pleasure to meet Nyx Anïas Blackfire. And five years later he met her again, The girl who made Atlas fail the only one quest.
"Your head on a spike." She remarked
"But here is what I don't understand every girl in the army swoons over you. Yet, you look like something I drew with my left hand when I was five." Nyx said.
Aurora started wheezing.
Atlas rolled his eyes.
"That girl is blind. Atlas is gorgeous." Blase said
Atlas rolled his eyes "Weapons." He said as he took of his ring and tossed into a black box about 100,3 kilometres away from them.
Nyx scoffed, as she tossed her sword. It was rather short for a sword. So it was a Gladius about 60 centimetres same as Aurora's.
"I meant all." Atlas said.
Nyx looked dumbfounded.
"I grew up with Aurora. Nyx, I know better not to trust a woman who carries poisons." Atlas divulged.
Aurora smiled uncomfortably.
Nyx rolled her eyes. "Fine." She said as she reluctantly took it off and tossed it into the black box.
"You know I don't understand why you aren't Kronos/Saturn's right hand. I mean, you were in his forces longer than a lousy Hermes's son." Atlas said mockingly as he sat down next to Nyx.
Nyx glared at him.
"I am truly said even in the XXI century we are still facing gender discrimination." Atlas said frowning.
Nyx glared at him. "Oh come on, Atty. i thought your mother taught you how to speak with women."
Atlas with a great speed took Nyx by her throat as he almost made Nyx's smash into the rock.
"Don't you ever call me that name again, or I am going to reconsider my decision about not killing women and children." Atlas threatened.
"That was hot." Blase said.
Nyx struggled under Atlas's tight grip. Atlas immediately let go when he realised he was chocking Nyx.
She coughed a bit. Atlas felt guilty. But that didn't mean he was going to apologise to her. She did many terrible things. Some things he would never forgive her.
"It's none of your business who is whose right hand. Atlas." She snarled. "Not to mention I serve someone higher than Kronos." Nyx said still choking.
Hera stared at the screen intently, she could swear she reminded her of her lost daughter.
"Good for you." Atlas said.
Nyx smirked. "Did you know with the help of either you or Luke Kronos or Saturn as you call him will have a mortal body, a host, a stepping stone until he becomes a Titan again."
Atlas widened his eyes. "You are lying."
"It's the truth you don't want to face, Atlas I am afraid. Luke also wants to flee and he wants your sister and perhaps you to come." Nyx disclosed
"What?!" Atlas exclaimed
"What you heard."Nyx replied bored as she looked at her nails. "The truth is, Kronos wants his youth Back that is why he wants you to join him and become his mortal body. He thinks you are better than the weakling Luke. But in my eyes you both are the same, that is also why I unfortunately can't kill you." Nyx said sitting down as she held her chin with her fist. Her breath got steady again. "Even though I have fantasies about it."
"So you have fantasies about me?" Atlas asked smirking.
Nyx quickly recovered as she pretended to gag.
Aurora wheezed.
Atlas shook his head. "I still don't understand why you hate me."
Nyx shook her head. "If you don't remember what you did to me, how you hurt me, then there is no point in telling you."
Atlas sighed. "I apologise, if I hurt you, which I did." Still feeling guilty about almost chocking her.
"It's fine. People have done worse things to me," Atlas felt truly guilty and his eyes became sympathetic for a moment, before getting hard again.
Aurora's, Aphrodite/Venus's, Eros/Cupid's eyes narrowed as Atlas uncomfortably coughed.
"just be cautious, Green Eyes, we might see each other soon." Nyx said before taking her weapons and disappearing.
"How delightful would that be, Wildfire." Atlas muttered. Although he was sure Nyx heard him.
A/N: I am not spoiling anything but Atlas and Nyx have enemies to lovers trope.
I will also reveal why these two hate each other and other things.
But it will take a while for these two to first realise their feelings and then tell each other about them. So it will be a while before these two get together.
When I say Nyx/Nox I mean the Goddess when I just say Nyx I mean Nyx Anaïs Blackfire.