Warnings: This story will contain characters created by me, they will not be the focus but they will have some important roles, if that is not your cup of tea than please click the 'back' button. Thanks for clicking on my story anyways! :)
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Chapter One:
Demigods
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The first time Harry met someone else that could explain his strange abilities and why monsters wanted to kill him, he was nine years old and running for his life.
He'd been on his own on the streets for three years and had quickly learned it was a bad idea to stay in one place for too long. At first it hadn't seemed like there would be any trouble, it'd been a long day and he hadn't slept much the night before due to the cold and the rash of monster attacks that seemed to be happening a lot more in the last couple of weeks. He was better at avoiding them do to the strange ability he'd mastered to step into a source of water and let it whisk him away to safety. The downside was that it disoriented him and made him too tired do anything but sleep for hours afterwards.
The hope that there was a viable source of water near was what kept his eyes scanning his surroundings as the monster nipped at his heels as he twisted through alleyways in an effort to loose it or at the very least slow it down.
The Monster was one Harry had never seen before, with bat like wings, a shriveled body and a screeching voice.
He didn't pay attention to anything it said.
Monsters were very good at lying and tricking you into to doing exactly what they wanted before they killed you.
He had learned that the hard way.
He dove forward into a roll as he felt the monster's claws graze his back, he sucked in a breath desperately trying to regulate his breathing and find some semblance of calm so he could come up with a plan, because so far there were no convenient puddles of water in the alleys of whatever city he was currently in.
Unfortunately however as he turned the next corner he found himself at a dead end.
Harry hissed out a breath, because wasn't that just typical.
He drew his knife from his pocket and flipped the blade out knowing that it wouldn't do much more than annoy the monster but he wasn't going down easy.
It flew forward cackling gleefully, a whip that looked to be made of lava held in one clawed hand, "Lord Hades will be so pleased as to have you in his realm at last! Get ready to die little god-"
The monsters voice cut off and Harry caught sight of a golden arrow sticking out of it's throat before it exploded into dust.
Letting out a sharp breath of relief, Harry looked up and into the eyes of his unexpected savior.
Sharp, blue eyes in a pretty, tanned face stared back.
The girl was taller than him, with a certain gauntness that harry was familiar with (it spoke of too many missed meals and not enough sleep) and was dressed in the same kind of dirty rags he sported. The only difference between the two street kids was that she was female and had a shining gold bow with a quiver full of similar colored arrows slung over her shoulder. The tense silence stretched out for a few minutes before the girl said in a scratchy voice, "Well, kid, looks like you're in need of some help. First question, what do you know about monsters?"
Harry relaxed and took a tentative step forward, "Only that they seem dead set on eating me."
That surprised a harsh bark of laughter from the girl, "A good start. If you stick with me though I can teach you some more." She bared her teeth in a parody of a grin looking more like a sharks smile in the low light of the alley. Then she held out a hand her blue eyes, wary but encouraging.
Harry bared his teeth right back and took it.
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Her name turned out to be Kate ("Kate. Not Katie not Kat. No last name 'neither, so don't go asking."), she was prickly, impatient, terribly paranoid and had zero tolerance for stupid questions. It was through her, though, that Harry learned the truth of his existence. He was a demigod, son of someone powerful, was Kate's guess what with the monster interest he garnered. Kate herself was a daughter of Apollo, but she rarely spoke of it, mouth always twisted as if she'd eaten something especially bitter when it was mentioned.
Harry hardly cared who his godly parent was either way, whoever they were, they obviously cared little for him, and according to Kate it was relatively normal.
"The gods don't care, Harry." She had said bluntly as they crouched together in the corner of an alley, huddling as close as they could for warmth. "We're all mistakes, and the only time they acknowledge us is when they need us to do their dirty work. They dress it up as some heroic honor, but they don't give any fucks when we die on their 'quests'."
The two of them quickly became inseparable, relying on each other more and more, and becoming quite accomplished at killing any monster in their way. It was much easier when Kate gave him his matching pair of celestial bronze daggers that he wielded like he'd been doing it his whole life.
(He only asked her once where she got them. Her eyes went distance and her face pale. "A friend." was all she would say. Harry never asked again.)
Harry was ten, when they first started hearing whispers about an army of demigods, minor gods and monsters led by a titan that was coming together to dethrone the gods.
Kate was thrilled with the idea and honestly Harry could see the appeal even though he was much too paranoid to even consider trusting anyone besides himself or Kate.
"I think they have a chance! A chance to make it so no other demigod is left to fend for themselves like we are." Kate had an almost manic glow in her eyes whenever they discussed it. "Something needs to change, Harry, it just has too. Perhaps this isn't the right way for them to go about it, but at least they're trying!"
Harry didn't think following the whims of a mad titan was the wisest decision but he agreed that something had to change, so kids like him and Kate be something other than monster food, cannon fodder and errand boys for the gods.
Kate laughed and pulled him into a hug, "Who knows, maybe we'll find a home because of all this."
Harry rather doubted it, but smiled anyways.
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This was supposed to be longer, but well the story wanted this chapter to end here so it shall.
Thanks so much for reading!
Tandy
