Kate Winters, meet... Bianca di Angelo
"Hey, look at this Milo..." I showed my almost two-year-old son one of the many jewel flowers that was laying around the Underworld. True, we didn't have any butterflies, but I'd never trade this for the world, no matter how many times I have to reassure Henry about it.
"Pwetty!" Milo beamed at me, taking the flower in his little and chubby hands. I smiled at the image of my son growing up like any other kid, in a place surrounded by love and affection that he deserve "Mommy pwetty!" he took my hand in his and gave me the flower back, making me smile again.
"Why, that's very nice of you... Thank you, honey" I kissed loudly his cheek, earning a few giggles and chuckles from him "Do not worry, Daddy won't be late this time or he knows that Mommy will make him sleep in the stables with Uncle Philip..." I teased around, knowing he'd laugh about it. It was the day I was suppose to pay a visit to Kronos, and Henry had insisted on having some sort of picnic before it. But, of course, Henry had been held back with Council's businesses. Businesses that, even though he tells me later, the Council believes I have no right to know.
"Unca Flip?" Milo asked me, tilting his head to the side, slightly confused. I smiled again, realizing I do that a lot.
"Yeah, that's right..."
"That's a beautiful kid you have there" I heard behind me. I immediately turned around, ready for anything, but the sight of a twelve-year-old girl surprises me. And, looks like I surprised her too "Sorry! Didn't mean to scare you..." she apologized. I sighed, picking up Milo from the floor and into my arms.
"It's alright..." I took one good look to the girl. She was young, as said before, with his black hair braided to the side, away from his olive-skin face. She was wearing some silver clothes from head to toe and her eyes, even though they were as black as obsidian, were gentle and curious about me "What's your name?"
"Bianca, my name is Bianca" she replied, with a sad smile on her "And, I'm sorry..."
"For what? You didn't do anything..." I assured her, surprised that she had apologized again.
"Yeah, well... But, it must be awful to be with your kid here..." she was rubbing the back of her neck, nervously, making no sense to me "How did it happened?"
"How did it happened what?" I wondered, the wariness of my voice starting to show.
"I realize that it's a very sensitive topic... Not a lot of people want to talk about it, but I can make sure my father gives you a better place to be..." she kept talking and I was even more confused by her words. She talked as if I had no other choice but to be here, but yet she also talks like she knew this place before and, somehow, had power over it. And, since only one type of people can be here, leaves me even more confused.
"I'm not dead... I live here" That simple phrase stopped her in her tracks, looking at me in a very intense way.
"How can you wanna live here? The Underworld is no place for the living, only the dead can live here!" By now, even Milo sensed this girl was strange, so he decided to hide in my chest, gripping my dress tightly with his little hands.
"I'm not dead... But I'm not alive as well..." I recognized honestly, making Bianca frown even more at me.
"Who are you?" she ended up asking me, more in an accusatory way than anything.
"I'm Kate Winters, Queen of the Underworld" Bianca stares at me, confusion written all over her face.
"You're married to my father?! What about Persephone?! Not that I like her, but since gods don't do divorces and I'm surprised Demeter would even consider this, it's kind of absurb!" she ranted away, but I stopped listening to her after the first sentence. Did she said I was married to her father?! No, Henry wouldn't lie about something like this... Or, would he? No, he would never lie to me...
"Henry can't be your father" I manage to snap out of my trance, saying those words. This was all a big set up! Something to make us fight over nothing... That has to be!
"Since when does he call himself Henry?" Bianca questioned me, trying not to lose her patience "Father hates those kind of names and Tartarus forbids that he gets more stylish..." she mocked at the end. But, before I could question her more, I heard ruffle from the grass and Henry, with all his glory, showed up in the middle of the way. He seemed tired and frustrated, his eyes gave him away. But the smile in his lips was genuine as he saw us.
"I apologize for the delay, Kate..." he began saying, but he noticed that my eyes weren't on him but behind him. Turning around, Henry faced Bianca, who was looking at us, confused "Who are you?"
"This is what you wanted for Mother?" Bianca asked back, not offering a reply to his answer "Hiding in the Underworld like we have no right to be here?"
"I'm afraid I don't understand you..." Henry confessed, taking his place right besides me. The minute Milo saw him, he wanted him to hold him, which Henry complied. Bianca looked even more lost and broken at us, at me, as if she had been living a fantasy or some kind of weird dream. I sensed she wanted to run away from us, but I had manage to learn my powers and I caught up with her before she could take a step away.
"Why don't you stay with us?" I offered her, gently. Whatever was her story, it was obvious she was confused "That way you can explain to us..."
"OK..." she agreed, softly. Nodding, I guided her towards our little picnic. I'm sure we'll be hearing quite a story...
I introduce to you all my new story, Character: Meet... Character. Like the plot of the story says, I'll be making all your favorite PJO/HoO character to meet characters from other popular books... I haven't read them all (the books, I mean), but I have a few already picked up... Here's the list!
Kate Winters (this chapter) from The Goddess Test
Sadie Kane from The Kane Chronicles (it was too obvious to place it first)
Joffrey Baratheon from Song of Ice and Fire
Fred and George Weasley from Harry Potter
Susan Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia
Lena Duchane from Beautiful Creatures
Eragon Brommson from Inheritance Cycle
Tris Prior from the Divergent saga
Alice Cullen from The Twilight Saga
I have a few more, but those come at the top of my head now... Also, go check my other new story Mate?! Ain't Australian, Buddy! that I'll be updating from now on... This means I beg for your patience as sometimes I won't be able to update everything together the same weekend...
I hope you have a great weekend and an amazing 4th of July!