Stupid Sisters, Prophecies, and First Borns
Norika and I had grown up in San Francisco, our father unknown. Both of us now sixteen and living on the streets, was not a very good time for us. We both had a golden string around our necks; they were both mysteries of what they were. But we had a problem, every corner we turned we were surrounded by creatures, that could only exist in nightmares. Just the other night Norika and I had faced a life threatening monster with the sharpest teeth, but we had slaughtered it with the fastest way we only knew. By sword, we were different we both knew we were. Our swords were gifts that had dropped at our feet, our ADHD was a problem. We were different…very different. Never had schooling since we were both ten, but we both knew we were much smarter then the children that were kept in those dungeons they called a school.
Where our story begins is in a small village on the shore of the Great Mediterranean Sea, East of the small brook where two creeks joined, to form the great gurgling brook, called Thilo's Point. This particular village was called, Gorge. Gorge inhabited a small amount of people, approximately around 1,000. But this one night the birth of a duo of children was born, a boy named after the river, Thilo and a girl named Norika. The two were identical except for their gender. Thilo grew into a wise and strong boy; he became great friends with the great hero, Perseus. The god, Jupiter was so enthralled by his amazing knowledge that he made him a right handed seat of his favored humans. Norika on the other hand became a beautiful girl; she was the Maid of the Sea as some called her, for her eyes shined like the light of a light blue reef. Finally one day the children's mother perished, but Jupiter was secretly the father of these two amazing children, cried so heavily that night that the god, Neptune created a tsunami so large with the god's tears that it destroyed the children's village. The children themselves died along with the village…or so it seemed.
Thilo and Norika escaped to the shore that following morning, Jupiter and Neptune both thinking they were dead, the waves unsteady. But both children knew if they tried to escape they would be punished by Neptune's wrath if they stepped onto the green ocean. So the children walked all the way till they reached the edge of the continent. They sailed slowly across the ocean, but Neptune could sense them, he watched them. Almost killing them most times, but they always managed to escape. Thilo, the leader of the two protected Norika, and in return Norika managed to calm Neptune to some extent. But then they reached the unknown land, where the tongue of the people was a foreign language. They found a spot where they could finally rest; as they rested a god by the name of Pluto found them.
He tapped a scroll his voice full of power and a dark ancient anger,
"You owe, your uncle the death he wanted. Or you must pay the way I made the other children of your father suffer." His eyes flickered from Thilo to Norika, but they finally landed on Thilo. "You could actually serve me well… I will spare you only because you have sparked my interest. I have a deal that I am willing to make to you. You give me the soul of your pretty sister, and then you can live forever." Thilo became enraged and pierced the god in the heart with his sword.
"You will never take my sister, or her soul." The god, sat up dazed but healed his heart within a second, and then eyed Thilo and Norika.
"Fine you sign this contract, I'll let you both live forever. If you do one thing for me, when you both find love you will do one thing for me. Give me, the first born child. That is all I ask, kill them and give it to me." Thilo and Norika thought… They had never wanted children, but they were willing to give one up for the god. They nodded and both signed the contract, so Thilo and Norika both had children. And every year for the next three millenniums they gave their first born children to Pluto. He let them live until Thilo was struck down by Jupiter, for his irritation to the other gods, and Norika was poisoned by Venus, for bragging about her beauty.
My name is Thilo Leige and this is my sister, Norika. We are the last descendants of Thilo and Norika, the last survivors of Tsunami of Gorge. This now is our story…
The morning was hot and dry like the air of dragon's breath, (and that, is very hot!). Norika snores close to me; I smell the air of cleaning solution, and a man cleaning the tall glass building next to our makeshift camp. I get up quickly we don't have much time, daylight is bad for us it tries to kill us some how or another. Pluto has always had a vendetta against our family. I gave Norika a hard shove, she yelped and leaped up at the ready, sword in hand. But she saw that it was only me. She snarled under her breath,
"You!" She leaped up at me and tackled me to the ground, I and rolled her to the side, then pointed my sword at her. She yelped, and I smirked. Then started to walk down the sunny ally way. She was pissed, I could tell. "Thilo just you wait till we get to shoreline then I'll show you, Neptune is in love with me. It's that simple." Always has been conceited by her beauty, I roll my eyes, didn't she know that was how Grandma was killed? I crept around the deserted corner, the outskirts of San Francisco were so empty on weekdays, mainly for the reason because it was a bar corner. Four bars surrounded us; lately we had been catching glimpses of drunken clients. Norika darted after me, like a highly skilled ninja.
We skirted along the empty streets till our stomachs grew to a famished state. I ushered Norika along, until we finally came to a small fast food place, McDonalds. A woman was screaming in a Spanish tone at underage boy who appeared. The boy was carrying a large bag of trash; he headed for the dumpster, and then dropped it in. I slunk after him, Norika taking her beauty by storm and walking straight into the restaurant. I grabbed a few half eaten hamburgers, a little bit of water left in a cup. Then sat down for breakfast, Norika returned with a bowl of salad.
"My breakfast is better." She muttered, I shot her a look. But Norika ignored me, her mouth chewed in a round motion with her green lettuce. I was disgusted by my sister's eating habits, she was a vegan. But yet she had fine muscled arms and the toned legs of a model. Her blond hair tied into a fierce ponytail. She froze in her eating, and I heard what she had heard. A loud, BOOM! As force of habit, my hand went to my bronze sword. I turned and saw the cement cracking, then it unleashed thick sand, it looked a lot like human flesh. As the creature formed, my mind instantly went into battle mode. I arched my arm just right, so it was facing the now towering monster. It was forming into a large abnormal giant. He was made of sand, and I could tell from the necklace around his neck his mother was Tellus. He roared, Norika moved to my side abandoning her salad.
"You take the back, I'll get the front." She ceased shortly after that, I watched her for a millisecond, and then leaped into action. I thought of weaknesses, and strengths. Tellus's children usually made of dirt were unparalleled to water. But here was the problem, Neptune hated us. I had to think fast, destruction facing me, my sister's fate depending on what move I made. I got the sudden idea, and I knew what I was going to do. I ran to the back of the McDonalds, and then grabbed the fire hose. I spun the wheel and quickly shot down the monster, Norika snatching the heart. Then squeezing it tightly, she shrunk it down to normal size. She held it up to the sky, "Take it father!" She screamed, a sizzling happened, and the heart exploded.
"Nice." I high-fived her, and we began to walk on towards the docks. We heard another crack, then a yelp. We swiveled around and saw three kids lying on the ground, their faces in the dirt. From what I could see there were two boys, and one girl. I walked over to them, and helped the girl up. From what I could see she was beautiful, her eyes flashed all different colors, brown, green, then back to blue. Her long dark brunette hair was braided; her pale skin was complementary to her eyes. The boys lifted their muddy faces from the dirt, a Mexican boy with dark eyes and a dark afro hairdo; he wore a greasy shirt, and torn jeans. The last one was like me, actually a lot of my features. Same tanned skin, same blue eyes, and same blond hair. We were identical, but our personalities couldn't have been more different.
"I'm Jason Grace, this is Piper McLean, Leo Valdez, were here to save you, by order of Chiron." I stared skeptically at the blond haired boy, my lips tipping at the corners. I then brought out my sword, at the sight both the boy, Jason and the girl, Piper brought out sharp blades. The other boy, Leo drew his hand which was now immersed in fire. "Do it. I dare ya." Jason said, his face mirroring my own mocking look. I smirked then threw my sword at him; he laughed and easily dodged it. This boy might actually be my brother. The sword flew back into my hand, as I felt its force penetrating in my hand.
"I don't need saving, and neither does my sister…wait where is she-NORIKA LIRA GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!" I screamed at her, as she flirted with the darker boy. Piper fake coughed,
"Overprotected." I growled at her, and then swiped Norika around my back. So she was behind me, shielded away from both boys.
"You do though; you're the grandson of the late, Norika."
"Maybe, maybe not, so what if I am? It's none of your business. You get out of here now, and I won't murder you like I did with that monster back there." I gestured to the pile of sand they were standing by. Piper scowled at the thick pile of sandy flesh. I stuck my sword into my belt, and then turned around. "Norika, come on were leaving." But Norika stood in her frozen position,
"We need to get off the streets, Thilo. It's the only way to keep you safe, you know because your…well you know." I gave her a look that read, "I know but, it's not good to say it in front of them, so SHUT UP!" But it's pretty hard to get all that in a look. But she seemed to get it, so she closed her mouth.
"You don't have to hide it, Norika even if your brother is too thick headed to realize it. That he even may be putting you in danger." Jason said, I turned around and faced my double.
"You want to say that again? Cause' living on the streets you learn a thing or two. I'm gonna be sure you don't say that again. I'd watch your tongue." I snapped at him. I walked off, who were these idiots? They didn't know what they were getting into with me. But a voice stopped me,
"Thilo, listen to me!" A beautiful powerful voice echoed through the streets, Norika looked at me hopingly. I looked at Piper; the voice had come from her. My whole mind ached to listen to her, but I fought against it. I wouldn't, I wouldn't, do it…Thilo, come on… NO I WON'T! I faced her, then smirked, and yelled right back at her.
"I don't think so." Then walked away, Piper looked dumbfounded. They couldn't convince me, I was Thilo Leige not even Jupiter himself could have stopped me. I walked on, until my mind went black and I felt a cold dark hand on my shoulder.