AN: Well If you don't want to be bored you can scroll on down to the notes (Which help, yes?)
Um...This idea was spawned as me and my Sister (from another Mister lol) and I had a Cherik chat at he beach XD She brought up a fic we've both read, where Charles says Erik has the body of a "Greek God" and then...this was spawned XD She owns the idea, I just...evaluated it :P
NOTES: This has some Greek Mythology in it. Me and Jaz, my sister, BIIIIIG mythology nerds. STILL, I tweaked some things for this story. it is an AU, afterall. So here's this little note: Athena: goddess of wisdom and arts; Apollo: god of prophesy, music and healing; Hephaestus: god of fire and crafts; Hades is the god of the underworld, nymphs where sometimes spirits or lesser-gods with the power of their element (water nymphs, earth nymphs, etc.) and FINALLY Kharites are three sisters that goddess grace, beauty, etc. and Tisiphone is the Erinyes (or Fury) known as the Avenger
**Takes deep breath** Done!
If I must, I'll put up a note for more info on the characters! For now, Enjoy~ (BTW Im a little sad about not having Erik, but he's all over the next chapter, and Baby Charles? He makes up for that, too :3 )
The leaves beneath the sandals crunch under the weight of her step. Thin ribbons of gold hold the sandals to her feet and wrap around her ankles in shiny bands. Her long, defined legs lead up to a short, billowy white shirt that is held together by a golden broach on her shoulder. Her long, flowing brown hair flows in long, untamed strands behind her. Sharp eyes watch the small bundle of faded blue that sits rolled up only a few yards away. She walks with careful steps, wary of the strange object that lays over a bed of brown and orange leaves.
"What a strange thing to find in this place," Athena speaks to herself, resting on her bent legs in order to see better. Her outrageously tall physique, she nearly towered over 8'6'', completely shrouds the bundle in darkness. She picks up the bundle of powder blue and carefully peels back the layers of cloth before revealing the infant within. She stares for a moment before gasping in surprise.
The little baby gazes at her hazily.
"He has the heavens in his eyes" She breaths. A snapping branch shifts the goddess into a defensive pose, muscles tensing. Athena turns quickly, holding the baby protectively against her bosom, as she practically forms a long sword out of thin air. Twin eyes of equal intense amber meet in a heated gaze and, slowly but surely, the sword turned to dust. Athena didn't speak a word as she passed her brother, bumping shoulders as she curtly continues.
Apollo catches the goddess by the wrist and turns around, a stern look on his face.
"You promised you wouldn't come through here. You've been continuously forbidden from entering the 'in between'." Apollo growls. "You know what they can do to you if they find out," Apollo glares at the bundle in her arms. "And what they'll do to what you find."
"If he's stuck in this realm then perhaps there is a reason I have found him." Athena says gently, shifting the baby in her arm. Apollo glares at the baby and she turns, dead set on leaving.
"She died. Aquataine, that water nymph?" Apollo says slowly, almost unsure. His words, however, seem to strike a nerve with Athena and she stopped. "The one that was bearing my child. She died and the Kharites-those three ditzy sisters, have her as we speak. I came to fetch you so we could go to M'Lord and have her ritualized but if you come bearing the child he will not be pleased."
Athena pauses because, in her mind, she knows he's right. "Then I will claim him as my child..." she hesitates. "I will go to the fates, you with your child as well. At least then, he will have a chance"
"That's foolish!" Apollo shouts, stepping forward "You will both be cast out of Olympus!" His face is the epitome of rage, though his eyes are shining with worry.
"But brother, the child is special! He shan't remain in the In-Between, and once we see his fate then I will deliver him to the mortals. Until then he is ours" Athena's strict tone leaves nothing to debate. Apollo glares heatedly and continues to walk past his sister. "You will not utter a single breath of this." Athena turns, nerves on end. "Apollo!" She shouts in exasperation.
"I will not speak of this, dearest sister." Apollo says over his shoulder, voice laced with sarcasm. "We will meet once more when you have calmed your temper at the Fates' dwelling. I shall bring my daughter along, as well." He waves a hand and then disappears. Athena lets out a breath, her muscles relaxing. Still, she knows, this is hardly the beginning, and with any luck the child will be cleared for going into the mortal world.
"Sleep and dream my lovely child. I'll give you the city of Alexandria in sugar" Athena gently sings. Her voice, ever gentle, echoes in the silence of the In-Between. The trees begin to groan and a symphony of crunches and snaps follow in the wake of her steps. "All of Cairo in rice. And rich Constantinople. And there you shall reign for three years." She begins to hum, rocking the child in her arms. "Perhaps when you're born you will be a great hero, all are son of god, but you shall reign the greatest." She hums once more, and disappears within the darkness of the canopy of the native woods.
Apollo had walked into the darkness of the woods and came out to the light of Helios, who laid lazily amongst the clouds. Walking carefully, trying to make himself aware of each individual, Apollo let out a relaxed sigh and began to walk towards a not far-off lake. Once there, the god let go of the animal hides he had been wearing, threw off the heavy gold gauntlets and carefully removed his laurels. Apollo walked into the lake, stepping into the cool water, pondering everything that had transpired up to that moment.
"Athena better know what she's doing..." he mumbles to himself, floating through the water. The pristine, crystallized water made even the floor visible, and he kept his gaze on the shining minerals on the lake floor. He submerged himself completely for a few seconds and rose, taking a few cleansing breaths. "No sense in delaying the inevitable." He says with tired conviction. He starts off on his long and tiring swsim deeper into the lake before what seemed like a thick line on the horizon becomes a small island only yards away. A soft singing and giggling reaches Apollo's ears before he steps foot on the island.
"Sleep and dream my lovely child," The first sister sand, her long blonde hair following her light steps.
"I'll give you the city of Alexandria in sugar" The second sister hummed, her hands moving fluidly like liquid.
"All of Cairo in rice; and rich Constantinople. And there you shall reign for three years!" The final sister sang, laying on her stomach in the grass. In front of her was a small baby girl, skin dusted a rich indigo blue. "Just like her mother's" Apollo thinks sadly, walking ever closer to the trio. His steps falter as the trio lay on the grass beside his darling baby girl.
"Oh! It's Lord Apollo!" The first sister shouts and jumps, pale cheeks tinged a light pink. Her large violet eyes shine as he awkwardly offers a 'hello'. "Come to retrieve your daughter, I suppose?" She asks with a lightness in her tone. The second sister jumps to her feet, fiery hair bouncing even after she remains standing.
"No, not little Mystique!" She squeals. Her two sisters break into loud laughter at the blatant show of attachment. "She's already become a part of us!" She squeaks in embarrassment. Apollo quirks a small smile as he kneels before the baby-his baby- and gingerly picks her up.
"Thank you." He whispers, eyes not leaving the snoozing infant. "Really, all of you..."
The third, and youngest, of the three sisters looks up at him from under raven bangs, her violet eyes darkened by the veil of hair. "We blessed her." She says, though her voice seems to be carried in the wind. "She's blessed with beauty, both inner and through out, but her form will take the shape of whomever she wants. And in song she will heal, and remain youthful through the years. It is not much, but it's this strength that we blessed her with." The sister says and the faint remnants of a smile plays on her lips.
Apollo bows, a ritual for the gods to thank those that have bestowed a power of some sort to their kin. The three sisters grasp hands and bow as well, the myriad of colors of their hair blurring as they stood and took off in a blur of giggles and humming, of skipping and dancing. Apollo watches them for a moment more before turning his head, keeping his gaze leveled away from the baby within his arms.
Athena sits upon a large stone just outside the mouth of the Fates' cavern. Her attention is entirely focused on the baby in her arms, and she can't help but feel entranced in the deep pools of aqua that gaze up at her, unwavering and full of curiosity. Many questions flit through her mind at high velocities; how did the baby get in the In-Between? Who did the baby belong to, and did he possess any powers of his own? Lost deep in thoughts, Athena missed the wide, gum-showing smile that the baby made as he giggled.
Apollo walked onto the clearing before the land have way to the rocks and then the crashing waves. He took his time to carefully step down from the slight rise he had landed in down to the rockier, more unstable grounds below. Afraid to jostle the sleeping girl, Apollo summoned some of his power to leap to the flattest rock that protruded a few feet ahead and some yards below. Landing safely, Apollo turned and saw that he was, indeed, a tad early as Athena hadn't yet arrived. He sighed and sat beside a large stone and decided to wait.
Athena watches, eyes alight in delight, as the baby boy tipped his head back and looked around with those impossibly big, round blue eyes. A few small wisps of thin, wavy brown hair came out of the tight blanket and fell on his forehead. Her lips quirked into a smile as the baby made a small little noise of amazement, his eyes falling on the side of the rock. She laughed and dipped her arms, making the baby giggle before raising him up and hugging him to her chest. The baby blinked twice before yawning and settling in a calm, far-off look to it's blushing face.
"Sister? How long have you-?" Apollo starts, clearly surprised. His voice startles the goddess and she turns, nearly stumbling off the rock.
"Ah, er-well you... I've been here all along, and you...?" She speaks, obviously confounded at how close they had been yet not seen each other.
"Ah, pay it no mind. Let us enter?" Apollo gets up and fixes the infant in his arms, waving his free arm before him to let her pass. Athena scoffs and enters, bowing her head slightly in order to enter through the small opening. Her brother, whom towers over nine feet, has more trouble than her. Once they enter, their sight is lost to the darkness. They walk on in pure instinct, listening for any creature that may enter.
Somewhere within the dark alcove they found the hazy glow of a candle as they walked on, followed by another until they finally reached a grand, chiseled domed room. In the center, surrounded by a multitude of candles that threw a faint light around the three sisters that stood in the center, destroying the darkness that seemed to crawl around the light.
Clotho, the spinner of the thread of life, was standing the tallest, with a long white robe and pearly hood pulled over her outrageously long, tangled blonde hair. The long, golden thread then hung into Lachesis' hands, the sister that measures, with untidy, boyish brown hair. Lastly was Atropos, who sat on a flat stone with a pair of shears in one hand and the golden thread in another. This sister, however, had fiery orangey-red hair that stopped only past her breast, contrasting greatly against her robe, tied only at the throat and hanging on desperately to her smaller form.
These were the Fates, those who controlled the life of man; in good and evil, in life or death.
"Who comes into our humble abode?" Clotho asks, her back turning to those that had entered.
"Dear sister, 'tis none other than Lord Apollo and Mistress Athena." Lachesis clarifies, her voice sweet yet bitter. She looks up with a glance at the duo that walk closer still, sapphire eyes narrowing.
"But they come with new life." Atropos smiles gingerly, shifting her legs and nearly revealing her flawless body. "Bring them here, you wish for us to read their threads, am I not right?" Her hazel eyes hold a sadistic gleam of humor that makes Athena want to shudder. The youngest sister puts down the sheers and reaches for the first child, Apollo's baby, and gently presses her thumb against the blue cheek.
"What a darling, her string shines a most beautiful silver!" Clotho exclaims, her hands and feet working on the spinner as more golden thread is weaved. "She is of pure heart, and will be such in her life." Clotho's brown eyes study the child once more before returning to the task at hand. The second sister's blue eyes haven't moved from the bundle of blankets (and, coincidentally, the infant within). Lachesis returns the baby to Apollo who holds her close to his chest. Athena makes to move the baby but suddenly Lachesis is up and grabbing him, prying the baby away from the goddess.
"Wait-"
A hand covers Athena's mouth and she gazes into her brother's glare. She should know better than to raise her voice to a Fate, but the strange action had caught her off guard.
Lachesis is standing before Atropos, speaking in hushed whispers and pressing her thumb against the baby's cheeks, up to his temple and then to the center of his forehead, brushing the loose strands of curls there. Athena's heart is racing as the Fates whisper amongst themselves in almost intelligible whispers. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lachesis hands the baby back to Athena who takes him gently against her bosom once more. Lachesis eyes remain on the baby's, and it seems as if though she's speaking but no words are being uttered. The baby's clear eyes are staring right back, and suddenly the tension that surged breaks and the Fates sits down and continues to measure the golden thread.
"He will live a long, good life." Atropos says, her hazel eyes downcast. "and die at an old age, happy and carefree." Athena releases her breath and smiles to herself. She turns to Apollo and nods, and the two bow before leaving from where they had entered. As their footsteps die away, the Fates give a long and meaningful glance to eachother.
"I wonder," Clothos speaks aloud," Why the child bared no thread?" The question hangs in the air, heavy and unanswered.
None of them know.
"Do you suppose he is an immortal?" Lachesis asks, changing the thread into a brilliant silver.
"No." Atropos answers simply, shaking her head. "But lying to a Goddess, perhaps it wasn't the best. If he has no thread, he has no life to live. And those eyes..." Atropos trails off.
"He bares the heavens in those eyes. There is no mistaking it, that child is special. He has the right to chose on his own whether he be good or evil, and he bares the burden of being from neither this world or the other." Lachesis sighs and hands the silver thread to Atropos.
"Perhaps he wasn't meant to be born at all?" Atropos proposes.
She cuts the thread.
"Go forth and fetch her, the last descendent of Tisiphone 'The Avenger' and bring her here. Hades has had his eyes on her for a moment too long and I fear for her." The voice is strong and powerful, leaving no room for protest.
"M'Lord, and my child?"
"She shall be sent along with that of Athena's." There it is again; that absolute control. There is no choice.
"Yes. I have only one wish, may I present it?"
"Of course."
"Cast them to the mortals together."
A pause, hesitation; a smoldering silence stretches on longer than necesary.
"Then it shall be. Go now and recover a woman by the name of Emmanuel Eisenhardt and bring her here; she is an asset we must protect from Hades. He is planning something, my son, and I know it."
There's another moment of lingering silence and finally, Zeus speaks once more.
"What name has been given to the boy? At least this way the father may name him accordingly." There's a light undertone to his words, something along the lines of humor but marked by cynicism. "And the girl?"
"My daughter is to be named Raven." A pause. "Her mother's favorite animal." He silence is unnerving, and he feels himself wanting to break it by any means necessary.
"The boy?" Zeus presses on.
"My sister has decided," Apollo hesitates, but only for a moment. "His name is Charles."