Legend

Chapter 4: How Strong

Aurora Crow

Despite what you may have been told, I am not usually violent. Only when people are asking for it, which is a perfectly good reason, if you ask me that is. Also, I am not over-controlling. Etrius just makes me talk all the time because he really doesn't like most people. That kind of included me. I'm not really sure what he was to me. I guess he was my kind of friend? I didn't know much about friendship, so I wouldn't be able to tell you whatever we have going on is called.

Etrius was kind of a long story. I was on the run from... well, stuff, and he was on the run from... other stuff... and we almost tried to kill each other when we first met... But never mind that. That's not the point. The point is, I'd been travelling around with the guy for who knows how long and yet I still didn't know if we were friends. I mean, I wanted to bash his face in half the time; the other half the time I was stubbornly ignoring him or vice versa. So yeah; I don't really want to get into all that shit right now.

Anyway, yeah, I'm Aurora. Obviously. And my dad's an evil titan, fair warning. Not that he gives a shit about what happens to me; I just inherited a lot of his powers. And I have invincible wings. So, I think I'm pretty cool. That and my amazing taste in music which Etrius, for some reason, doesn't understand. I hate that dickhead. No, I'm just kidding. We just went through this, didn't we?

So a bit about myself first, yeah?

Okay. Basically my dad raped my mom and killed her when she refused to give me up as a baby. He took me away from the burned house and her burned, lifeless body and held me captive, more or less. I mean, he gave me food and my wings, but other than that, he was a world-class asshole. He vigorously trained me, dawn until dusk and then on into the night. Eventually, I became so skilled with my twin, Imperial gold scythes that I was able to escape from his clutches. I never looked back. He didn't deserve any more of my time. Time... ha. I have all the time in the world and beyond.

So after I gave him the slip, I was on my own, on the streets. The streets didn't need to toughen me up though, as hell had already done the job. After all, any girl that survives with the life I lead is bound to be a fighter. On the run, doing my own thing, and I run into this demigod kid. I don't really mind most of them (demigods, I mean), as they're pretty much just like us demititans (Etrius doesn't agree, but who cares what he thinks?). But I didn't like this one at all. Cocky little son of a bitch. Challenged me to a fight. Hey, guess who won? Uh-huh. Moi.

The kid smirked though, as if he had won, and took me back to his freak-show mother-ship. He turned out to be my link into the Alliance. They insisted I join with them, never even really gave me the choice. They said anyone who could fight like I could would be a very valuable asset to the team. Flattery doesn't work on me though. But they had a plan two, where they explained about honorary members and who exactly I'd be in the Alliance: the on call assassin, defender of the weak and all that jazz. Whatever; just don't glorify it. But the way they phrased it did sound pretty badass and I really had nothing better to do, so, yeah. That's how the first demititan got in with a band of half-bloods and a few nymphs and satyrs.

I met Etrius on August 29th, which was about five months after selling my soul to a bunch of demigods and their blonde, demonic leader. We were both out on the streets, but I was the one literally running. From a drakon. Because those bastards are fucking huge. And they breathe fire. So don't judge me. Anyway, Mr. Bravado just had to step in and save the fucking day with his fucking powers of destruction. Great. I hated owing people. Especially if they were named Etrius and liked to argue with me all day every day and nearly drive me over the line that divided regular old crazy and totally fucking insane.

We stuck together after that, even though we almost killed each other (sometimes it was accidental) on several occasions. I made him sign with the Alliance, because he was bound to find out why I was sneaking away for days at a time with no substantial excuse. After that, we just sort of roamed around, always on call for a mission from the uptight boss neither of us really liked.

Then there was Vic. I didn't hate him the way I say I hate Etrius, because with Etrius, I know at the end of the day we're fine. But with Vic, well, there was just something about him... Something about him telling me that I needed to run him through with something pointy and preferably shiny. I'm sorry, but I just naturally didn't like him. Sometimes he was fine, but mostly he kind of freaked me out. He obviously was hiding something; I just didn't know what. And so that made me cautious, which made me paranoid, which made me defensive, which made me find him annoying, which made me not like him. See? Simple.

But anyway, enough about me.

Whenever we visited the Alliance, we tended to hang around, mainly because there was always so much stuff going on in the Alliance and so many other people to talk to who weren't the other. You can only talk to one other person for some many months before you get in line for the Cuckoo Express.

The headquarters was in the center of the camp, which was invisible to anyone not in the Alliance. In front of that, there was a mini clearing, which had a bunch of round tables with wooden chairs: the common. Around the common like a barrier were the tents. The tents were arranged in a circle, two people to a tent, even though most days the people who had cabins at Camp Half-Blood would go back to them. But thank whoever that those tents were big. And then in the middle of the ring was the campfire where we sang the Campfire Song Song and threw half-melted marshmallows at each other in the evenings when there was nothing better to do. The fire wasn't magical like that big one that everyone in Camp Half-Blood used.

I never really strayed out of the forests of Camp Half-Blood before, but mainly because I didn't see reason too. The few times I had, I'd done so because I was simply curious. After all, I'd never been to a regular summer camp, let alone one for demigods. But I wasn't a demigod, so why should I care? There was no camp for demititans, as far as I knew. Whatever.

So back to what I was saying about the tents, there were always some empty ones set aside for the honorary members. Etrius and I had to share one when the Hunt and Nico and Grover and everyone else was staying in the Alliance overnight. But when they weren't, we had the leisure of each getting our own. That was good. I didn't like being around Etrius while at the Alliance's base (even if he didn't really talk to any of the others) because, honestly, I just needed a break from him every once and a while, and I'm sure he'd tell you the same.

I was lying down on the floor of the tent I was renting out, even if there was a perfectly fine wooden bunk-bed next to me, staring up at the flimsy ceiling. Don't ask me why. You should have already figured this out by now: I'm weird. Alright? Jeez, give me a break. And that was how I fell asleep too: with my eyes open, and still laying on the floor.

You know how demigods have dreams? Yeah? Well, so do demititans. And believe me, if you know anything of nightmares, they aren't exactly the highlight of my night. My nightmares usually consist of flashbacks. But sometimes... sometimes, they were worse than the horrible memories that I don't want to relive.

Like messages from my so called 'father.' I'm sure you've probably figured out who he is, if not, here's a hint: my eyes are pure gold. I can almost see the wheels turning, the gasps from the audience. Yeah? So what if my dad is Kronos? Get over yourselves. That doesn't mean I'm anything like him. He was the lousiest 'dad' ever. Like, ever. I hate him. Actually, I don't just hate him; I want to kill him myself. I know he's immortal, but I swear, I fill find a way to destroy him permanently. Forever.

So anyway, the message.

The dreams only ever took place by the pit of Tartarus, or in a shadowed room with his shadow sitting on his golden throne. This time, it was the throne room. I never actually saw him in these dreams; I only heard his voice, chilling and ancient and powerful. I also usually never spoke; I didn't want to give him that satisfaction. But this time, he didn't talk. In fact, I was almost certain I was alone until fire shot from the ceiling to the floor not a foot in front of me. I jumped back. But the fire was enchanted fire, and began spelling out words, not actually burning the floor. Leaving me a message from the person I hated most.

You will serve your father,

That wasn't anything new. He'd been trying to get me to do that since the day he killed my mom.

Or be a slave to your king.

Wow. Love you too, dear father.

Heed my warning, I will rise,

You can try...

Find it before then,

... Unfortunately, I knew what 'it' was.

Before the last canary ceases to sing.

And the last line basically meant 'do what I want, or I kill everyone.' Talk about cheesy.

Wouldn't he be just perfect for parent career day at school?