Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Rick Riordan.
This will follow Hylla's first day of joining the Amazons to a little after she becomes Queen.
"My name is Hylla Ramirez Arellano," the eighteen year old began. She glanced around the room and caught her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes held a hardness in them that had been there ever since her home had been destroyed by pirates. Her black hair was in a ponytail which helped hide how dirty it was.
"Middle name," the woman in front of her questioned. She had on a black jumpsuit. A purple bracelet sat on her wrist. The woman had brown hair and brown eyes.
"I don't have one," Hylla admitted. She looked around at the rest of the office. There was a desk in front of her. Numerous bookshelves lined the wooden walls of the room. A window was eight feet from her location. It would not be hard to get to, but the fall was a few stories.
"May I have your hand?" the woman questioned. Hylla glanced up at her. She read the name tag that the woman had. Jessica.
"Why?" Hylla asked.
"She really does want your hand. We keep them as souvenirs," the girl behind her said. Hylla could hear that she was fighting a smile. The girl behind her had auburn hair and bright, blue eyes. They reminded Hylla of the sky.
"We just need a small blood sample," Jessica replied. She pulled out a bronze knife.
"Fingerprints would be a better alternative," Hylla argued. Her own weapons had been confiscated, but she figured she could take on the two woman. Jessica was the oldest; however, she lacked the movements of a fighter. The other girl did not have a weapon on her.
"It's a special test," the girl behind her explained. She sounded closer than before.
"To see if I am a demigod?" Hylla guessed. She received a nod from Jessica. "I am a demigod. A daughter of Bellona to be exact."
"A war goddess? That's great news," the girl behind Hylla commented.
"It's interesting news," Jessica replied. She gave Hylla a new look. It was one that said Hylla could be a threat. "Hylla, correct? Tell us about your past."
"Where do you want me to begin?" Hylla wondered. She was already forming a lie. Jessica seemed to consider the question.
"Where were you born?" Jessica questioned.
"Puerto Rico," Hylla answered. She considered for a moment if she should elaborate. If she did, she would be forced to tell them about her sister. There was no way to avoid the subject though. "I lived there with my sister and my father."
"What made you come to the United States?" Jessica wondered. "Did your father ship you off. Did you receive a calling? Dreams are the most likely source. Ever get the feeling you should go to a place called the wolf house?"
"No," Hylla answered honestly. "My sister and I left Puerto Rico after my father was murdered."
"How?" Jessica asked. She leaned forward and seemed to study Hylla intently. "Did you take revenge for these murders?"
"No. I have no clue who did it," Hylla lied. "My sister and I were sent out of the house that night. My father told us that he had private business. I decided to sneak back home. What I found was two masked men beating my father."
"When I tried to intervene, one of them hit me hard in the head. I had enough sense to bring up my arms before he could crush my skull with his baseball bat. My father told me to run. I did. As I left the house, I heard a gunshot," Hylla explained.
Hylla was forced to close her eyes as the real memories ran through her head. The fight with her father. Being knocked out. Waking up to her little sister standing in shock and having a panic attack
Reyna had been holding a sword in her hand. Tears were pouring down her face. She had looked at her older sister and started trying to beg for forgiveness. Hylla had just grabbed her and comforted her.
"You came here after that," the girl behind Hylla guessed. It snapped Hylla out of her memories.
"No," Hylla responded. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "I took my little sister, and we boarded a cruise ship."
"Illegally?" Jessica interrupted.
"Illegally," Hylla confirmed. She relaxed in her seat. "The ship ended up sinking. My sister and I took a rescue boat and washed ashore Circe's island."
"The witch Circe?" Jessica asked incredulously.
"She took us under her wing. I was an attendant and excelled. She gave my sister and I magical training. My sister despised it. I didn't," Hylla explained.
Hylla felt anger in her chest. Magic was a reason that her and Reyna had so many fights since they left Circe's island. Her little sister refused to believe that magic could be more than just evil.
"There was two people who came to the island and ruined our lives," Hylla continued. "The boy was turned into a rodent and put with the other pests. The girl refused Circe's generous offer and resisted her magic. She somehow changed all of the men back."
"Who were these men?" Jessica questioned.
"Blackbeard's crew," Hylla responded in a low voice. "I managed to fight a few off until Blackbeard himself stopped me. He knocked me unconscious. I woke as they were dragging us onto the pirate ship."
Hylla fell silent as anger burned in her chest. She remembered how Blackbeard had her sister whipped. It was two things. The first was a message to Hylla that he would do a lot worst if she didn't step in line. The second was a Blackbeard saying if I am going to do this to her for doing nothing, what will I do to you for incompetence?
"We were forced to work as slaves. Blackbeard and his men were twisted by hatred. They wanted revenge for all those years trapped as rodents," Hylla explained. "The pirates took their anger out on everyone."
"One day, I put a stop to it. Two pirates were harassing one of the attendants. She had been crippled since birth. I got tired of it and stood up to the pirate. They beat the crap out of me," Hylla continued.
"I did manage to fight back. Blackbeard saw this. Instead of making me an example of me or killing me, he offered me to be able to prove myself as a pirate."
"You became a pirate?" the girl behind Hylla asked.
"Quit Kinzie," Jessica said. "Let Hylla finish her story."
"I worked hard to be a pirate. My sister proved her worth and was right by my side. We worked together on pirate jobs. I did my best to become everyone's friend. The crew all started to like and respect me," Hylla said.
"Blackbeard saw the coup coming long before I thought of it. He had me called into my office. Blackbeard asked me where I wanted to be dropped off. He feared I would lead the crew in mutiny. I told him that my sister and I would like to be dropped off at the nearest place in the United States," Hylla finished.
"So, he dropped you off here. You came to us. Your sister went where?" Jessica asked. It was clear she knew the answer.
"Camp Jupiter," Hylla said. She crossed her arms like it was no big deal. Jessica silently wrote on a pad. She nodded to Kinzie.
"Welcome to the Amazons Hylla. There are a few ground rules and regulations we need to go through," Jessica said. "First, the owner of the Amazons is actually the queen. The public sees a figurehead, and they have no clue what goes on behind the scenes."
"Second, you are going to work your way up. You will start with training. Inventory is after that. Then, we will put you where we think is best depending on your skills," Jessica explained.
"Now, you will notice that everyone here wears a bracelet," Jessica said. "It is an identifying mark. Purple means that you have a Roman deity as your parent. Orange is Greek. Blue means that something else is your parent."
"Black is mortals who know about demigods. Green means they can also see through the mist. White means they are a mortal who knows nothing about the world of demigods," Kinzie added.
Hylla glanced back. She looked at the bracelet Kinzie had on. It was blue. Hylla spoke, "Who are your parents?"
"My mother is a wind nymph," Kinzie responded. "I assume I will also be your guide."
"You have assumed correctly," Jessica said as she stood. "Kinzie will teach you everything that you will need to know."
Hylla nodded silently. It was a lot to take in. She had accomplished her goal though. The daughter of Bellona grabbed the purple bracelet that was pushed towards her. She quietly put it on.
"Today, you will shadow Kinzie to get a feel of the facility. It will take a long time to memorize every corridor," Jessica warned. "You will room with Kinzie, and she will help you with anything you need. Welcome sister."
"It's a honor to join," Hylla said. Jessica waved a hand to show they were dismissed. Kinzie grabbed Hylla's arm and led her out of the room.
"That wasn't the queen," Hylla guessed. Kinzie laughed like the idea amused her. She looked at Hylla and smirked.
"No. That was the loyal lapdog of someone else. There's a lot you need to learn," Kinzie commented.
"I'm ready to learn," Hylla promised.
"Good. If you're tired, I would take a nap before tonight," Kinzie suggested.
"Why?" Hylla questioned. She looked around the long hallway that she was being led through. There was doors that led to what Hylla assumed was offices.
"Tonight is special. You'll want to be awake at midnight," Kinzie explained. When Hylla shot her a confused look, Kinzie smirked. "You picked a good day to join. Tonight, there is going to be a duel to the death."
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter.