Disclaimer: These are completely my characters. Is it still Fanfic?
Author's Note: Welcome to my new story. It's a request by someone very dearly and close to my fanfict writer heart.
The Strings
February 18th, 1927
Today was cold. Nikolai and I were playing in the snow when papa came. I haven't seen him in months. He was his usual happy fisherman demeanor. We played in the snow while mama made lunch.
As usual, papa asked Nikolai and I showed him our powers when we were alone. I made an igloo and Nikolai shook the ground destroying it. I hate my brother sometimes.
We were really careful. Mama doesn't know she is the mother of two powerful demigods and he is the God of the Sea Poseidon. Mama called him Pieter.
Papa told us that we will soon go to Camp to train. It was necessary for us to be with other demigods like us, sons and daughters of the other Gods of Olympus. Before he left, papa gave me thick heavy sword and to Nikolai a really cool one with the named Riptide engraved. His sword becomes a fountain pen. I was so envious. My sword just looks like a cane when mortals are around.
March 21st, 1927
Spring is here, but it's still snowing. Nikolai and I practiced with our swords when mama is not around. She must never know about us. She could never understand. Dad told us that some mortals can't understand our reality.
A Hyperborean giant appeared and he hurt Nikolai throwing him against a tree. He is fine now but he gave a death scare. Maybe papa is right. Monsters are coming more often than before we know we were special.
April 1st, 1927
It's my birthday today. I am just 9 years old now. Hurray! Nikolai is still 7 until November 20th. Mama promised us to take us to the city so I can buy a new dress as a birthday present. Maybe by the end of the month, I hope.
May 5th, 1927
We were today at the city and my brother and I were chased by some kind of human/chickens. I guessed we looked like we were running from stray dogs because once we ran and blasted most of them mama scolded us for playing with dogs.
My mom bought me a beautiful dress. I like it a lot!
We saw papa on the harbor. He waived at us as he was sailing away, but he threw a box for Nikolai to catch: my birthday present. He gave me a pocket watch. Mama was so excited and happy for the gift that she took us and spent a small fortune of getting our picture taken so I could put inside the pocket watch. Now everything I open my pocket watch, I see Nikolai and myself.
June 9th, 1927
Nothing has happened in particular since we went to the city. The weather is warmer as summer is close.
June 28th, 1927
Yesterday, something strange happened. I was on my way back home when I found a filthy lady trying to cross a river. The water felt troubled like it didn't want to be touched by her. The lady asked me to help her. I could easily block the flow and make her cross just like Moses, but something was odd. I agreed and we crossed. The water for the first time fought me. I felt like drowning, but we got to the other side. The lady kissed my forehead and told me that she would give me a gift. Then she vanished. Was she an immortal? What was my gift?
July 2nd, 1927
Maybe I am losing my mind, but today I saw a glimpse of a string tied from my mama's little finger all the way to Nikolai's little finger. The string was pink. I tried to cut it but it was impossible. Mama and Nikolai stared at me surprised. When I tried to explain, they laughed at me. I felt so embarrassed.
July 14th, 1927
Nikolai and I were on the river playing in the water when a naiad stared at us with worry. That was a first. Most of them giggled at us. Some of them even played with us before.
September 20th, 1927
Sorry if I didn't write before, I couldn't find my dairy. It was inside a chest wrapped in a blanket. Nothing really interesting has happened in months. Dad or monsters haven't come. I'm worried. It feels like something huge is coming. I haven't said a thing to Nikolai. I don't want him to worry.
October 1st, 1927
Yesterday, we were coming back from the field when a dragon appeared. I fought it while Nikolai put my mama in a safe place. I ended up with burns and a leg bleeding. I was so far from the river and it hurt a lot. Nikolai and mama dragged me to the river and I am better now, but mama now knows who we are. Nikolai and I told her everything and she cried all night.
October 8th, 1927
A week has passed since the dragon and my mama is still down. She cries when she sees us and she is not eating right. I am worried. Nikolai and I have forced to eat. I prayed for dad for over 3 days and nothing.
October 12th, 1927
Mama looks weaker every day. She cries blaming herself for falling in love with papa. She is so sad. Grandpa and grandma came today. They also tried to make her eat. I heard them outside whispering. They were talking of taking us away if mama died.
October 15th, 1927
Grandpa and grandma are still here. Mama doesn't look good. I went to the sea and prayed to my dad. I swam deep looking for sea nymphs to send a message to him. We need him.
October 20th, 1927
My mom is ill. She has a high fever and she looks so thin. I'm really scared. Nikolai blames himself. He didn't notice when mama sneaked out of him to find me fighting the dragon. I blame my dad because he is not here when we need him the most.
October 21st, 1927
Grandma doesn't say it loud but I know it. Mama is dying and it's my fault. Grandpa when to the woods with Nikolai and brought a big tree. Grandpa said that it's for fire but I know for what it is, a coffin. Mama's fever is too high and she is too weak to make it through the night. She whispers blaming herself because she couldn't protect us of the Gods.
Papa came at midnight when my grandparents and Nikolai were sleeping. I was still awake taking care of my mama's fever. I demanded him to cure her but he said that it's not in his power. I wanted to scream at him but I didn't want everybody to wake up.
Papa kissed my mama and she looked at him. They told each other how much they loved each other. Mama asked papa to take care of us and she died. I couldn't stop crying afterwards waking up Nikolai. Papa hugged us tightly as we cried. He promised us to take us somewhere safe.
He left a dawn.
October 22nd, 1927
Today we buried mama under the favorite tree in the house. As grandpa and grandma were shoveling, I saw the strings again. Nikolai's, grandma's and grandpa's little finger were tied to black strings all the way to the coffin. I saw my hand and there was also the black string attached.
October 30th, 1927
Grandpa and grandma will take us with them to the other town tomorrow. I didn't want to but we are too little to be on our own. It's them or the orphanage. I helped Nikolai to pack today. We don't have much, so it was quick.
October 31st, 1927
We travelled today to the fisher town with our grandparents. We are living now in the attic. There is not much space in their house. Tomorrow, grandma will teach me to work in the docks degutting fish and grandpa will start teaching Nikolai to be a fisherman.
November 19th, 1927
Life with grandpa and grandma is peaceful. This town is more active than ours. We get up early to work on the decks and we return at noon to eat lunch. Tomorrow is Nikolai's birthday. He is not really excited this year. We just lost mama almost a month ago.
November 20th, 1927
Today was Nikolai's 8th birthday. I got him a sweater. His is already torn by the net's hooks. Grandpa got him a pocket knife and grandma knitted him a scarf. We saw dad on the deck today. He waved at us and threw me a present for my brother. It was a pair of new shoes and a note saying 'Get ready to go away soon'
November 27th, 1927
I lost Nikolai. I don't know how it happened. We were on the docks like usual but then he just wasn't by my side anymore. We have looked everywhere. I saw my little finger thinking at him, the string is pink. I still don't know what it means but one thing is sure: black is bad.
November 28th, 1927
I found Nikolai. He came to the house with a girl named Elizabeth and a satyr named Ferdinand. The satyr explained to my grandparents that he was sent by my papa to take us to school in England. I don't know any English, neither Nikolai. My grandparents weren't really convinced but they accepted, so in two days we travel south. Elizabeth seems nice. She is a daughter of Demeter.
November 29th, 1927
This is our first day in the wild. Nikolai and I are travelling with Elizabeth, demigod, and Ferdinand, satyr. We said goodbye earlier to our grandparents and I was sad to leave them but it was better this way.
November 31st, 1927
Since we are 3 powerful demigods, monsters are following us. Ferdinand smells them but we have to move fast. We found another demigod on our way. She was travelling alone. Her name is Sophia, we became good friends thought she is a daughter of Athena.
December 31st, 1927
Sorry, if I didn't write before. I couldn't. We are finally in Oxford. It took us a whole month to make it but at a grand price. Nikolai is gone. We were travelling by sea. As we were travelling to Stockholm, monsters attacked. Nikolai and I fought in the ice but I wasn't fast enough. It was my fault. I was running to him when one monster jumped out of the thick layer of ice just like a seal and ate him.
Sophia said that maybe he was alive but I knew she was wrong. As soon as he was gone, the string that connected us changed color. Every time I think of my dear brother Nikolai, I see a black string wrapped around my little finger. The string no longer goes to another direction. It's just all the string wrapped around my finger.
I told Ferdinand about the strings and he told me that the lady was Aphrodite. She blessed me to see the relationships between people. I don't know why that is a gift.
Every time I am sad, Elizabeth tells me that Nikolai was a hero because he saved her, so he is in Elysium. He could choose to rebirth. I hope he does. I want to see him again. Elizabeth wishes the same thing.
I don't want to tell Elizabeth that my brother and she were linked by a red string. I know what it means. I saw the same between my grandparents: soul mates. I blew up their chance of happiness. If only I had been faster.