A/N: Hey guys, back with another chapter! Just want to say a big thankyou to everyone to everyone who's taken the time to read this story. As of writing this Henosis has gotten over 380 views! Thank you, guys, so much! I really appreciate it, and I hope everyone who celebrates it enjoyed their Thanksgiving! Quick note this chapter won't be the best edited since I had to rush it out, but I hope it's still enjoyable.
With Samson, Winter 1965
They say time heals all wounds, that everything gets better if you wait it out. I suppose it has wisdom in a naive sense, it's just a shame no one talks about the mean time. That there's no respect for what someone has to go through while they wait to get better.
Two of my four brothers died only a few months ago, according to my peers in camp I should have moved on already. To them two dead demigods is just another part of life.
To me it has more meaning than anything else, to me the pain is still just as fresh as it was when I cradled their bodies, it's just as painful when I was dragged away from them by Nymph's and forced back to camp on the back of a fire breathing horse.
Robert and Thomas, bless their hearts, held nothing against me when I came back sans two brothers. Robert never raised a voice or a hand to me and gave me nothing but support and acceptance, he would always tell me four words when the days became too gloomy, 'it's not your fault'.
Thomas always had a hard time displaying emotion and empathizing with humans, he seemed the most unaffected by Steven and William's untimely passing, but I know otherwise. He loved them just as much as I did, I knew this even without using my powers. He gave me a beautiful portrait of them one day, the surrealism and the deep coloring made me weep. Most people are disturbed by his use of blood, but I understand why now.
Blood is a representation of life, and by painting William and Steven he has given their image life again in a twisted and surreal way.
I couldn't ask for better brothers.
We all were fucked up in some ways, but we have each other. The bonds between the three of us has only become stronger, as have we.
Life in camp has been improving over the past few weeks. The air has turned cold, the leaves have fallen, and the wood nymphs have begun their hibernation as frost coats their bark.
Winter has arrived.
As thankful as I am for the wards that prevent proper weather conditions from entering the camp, I wish we could get snow. Snow is beautiful and a staple of the winter months, oh well.
"Nickel for your thoughts?" I'm shaken from my thoughts as a rusty Nickel is shoved in my face.
I chuckle at my friend's antics. Moroiaca, or Mori as she prefers, is the eldest Hecate camper. She's pale as snow with blonde hair that's almost white and always tied in a long wavy pony tail. Her eyes are a startling emerald green and many people seem mesmerized when looking into them, might be a natural slight charm speaking.
She's about my height and is a fan of wearing trench coats no matter the temperature. When I asked her about it she simply responded aesthetic. She comes from Iceland but grew up here in America, so her speech is almost indistinguishable. Though if you get her flustered or mad enough she'll get her accent back as she throws fireballs or other magic spells at you.
Despite being a Hecate child she's very nice, bubbly even, and very kind. She's the least likely camper to curse someone, but she still will singe your clothes off if pushed far enough. Better than being turned into a rabbit or a hamster I suppose.
I take the Nickel and shove it in my pocket, "Just missing the snow, I haven't been able to properly enjoy Winter since before I came here."
She bumps my shoulder with hers as we sit in the empty amphitheater. "I could try and summon some if you want? Can't promise it won't be fire or acid, I'm not so good with gentle elemental stuff."
I snort, "No thanks, I can't imagine Chiron being happy we melted the amphitheater or burned it down."
She just chuckles and pulls out a book from her coat and starts to read through it. She reads for a few minutes, but glances at my every so often. I can tell she wants to ask me something, but she's always been a nervous person.
"Hey, Samson?" I look over at her, "How's, you know, everything I guess?"
I hum, I can understand her concern. I haven't been in the best state of mind until recently, and Mori's being a good friend asking. I don't tell her, but I really appreciate it.
"I've been better, but also worse. I'm getting better now, thank you though." She smiles and starts reading her book again.
"So, still want me to teach you about magic? It's a handy skill, and that amulet of yours really makes the difference in terms of learning."
I nod, learning proper magic will be an amazing asset for finishing the two remaining pieces. Yes, I still plan on finishing them, two lives were sacrificed to make the glasses and I won't let their sacrifice be for an unfinished project. I'll do this for them!
"Oh, absolutely! I only have used my amulet for enchanting my works and learning proper spells will incredibly useful in the future."
She looks away and starts chewing her lip, "Are you sure you want to finish this 'special project' you've been working on? I don't know, you lost your brothers on the first quest. Is it really worth it? You said you're not even half finished yet!"
I look down to my feet while Mori's looks at me expectantly. "I can't say if it's worth it or not, but I can't stop now! I've spent so long preparing for this, I can't let their sacrifice be in vain." I meet her eyes with determination, "I will succeed, and I'll do it for them."
Mori sighs and looks away, tucking the book back into her coat. She stands up and asks if I want to go visit Max. I reach into my bag and pull out my special magic hand mirror I enchanted last month as confirmation and stand with her and offer my arm. The mirror is an old fashioned six pointed silver hand mirror, and it's one of my most favorite tools I've invented so far.
She wraps her arm around mine and I focus my thoughts into the mirror. Suddenly everything around us spins as our bodies feel like they're being stretched and compressed and our vision becomes blurred as distorted shapes and images pass through our eyes for a few seconds until the spinning stops and the world becomes normal.
As we come back to our senses we're now in an entirely new place, it looks like a fancy guest bedroom based on the size. The magic mirror I just used is one of the more useful creations I've made. It actually functions as a means of teleporting and communicating through mirrors of any kind. My hand mirror essentially lets us travel by teleporting through a mirror closest to the destination intended, which is really the only drawback.
Thankfully the hand mirror also travels with you, it would be inconvenient if you could only travel one way after all. It took some time, but I found a name I think fits quite well for it, The Looking Glass.
Those books were always a favorite of mine when I was young, so I suppose I named it in honor of my childhood memories.
Mori punches my shoulder and gives me a look. I blush and look away in embarrassment, I get lost in my thoughts a lot. She laughs and starts walking towards the door of the fancy modern style mirror we teleported too.
Max's home is very nice, it was built only a few years before he was born. Though calling it a home is too modest since it's closer to a mansion than anything else. Max lives in Boston with His father Kolbe Strife and a few nice enough maids. His father is a wealthy and successful… someone. I'm not exactly sure what he does but money isn't something Max has ever had much to worry about.
Well, at least not physically. Kolbe is a… punctilious person, and his love is a hard thing to earn, even for his son. Max has assured me, over the past few months Mori and I have been hanging out with him, that Kolbe is a loving father.
I have my doubts, but I keep my thoughts to myself.
I've yet to meet the man, but his home leaves an impression on me. It's another power I've developed recently, the ability to divine feelings from places, not just people anymore. Kolbe's presence in his home is angry and dominating, he has control of everything and it's almost suffocating. I keep my power dull in his home, I begin to feel sick otherwise.
Thankfully Max's father is almost never home, only the few maids and Max himself regularly occupy it, so we almost never need to sneak around.
We exit the room and make our way through the hallway, we pass by a chunky maid, Aurora if I remember, and she tells us Max is in the dining room. Mori thanks her and we start heading downstairs. The maids and us have an agreement of sorts, we keep Max company and they don't tell Kolbe. That and a few crispy dollar bills as well.
Max was nose deep in thick textbooks when we found him at the table in his fancy dining room. I peek at the covers and see most have varying titles referring to 'Law'. He's been very busy preparing himself for college since I last met with him.
Well, perhaps Kolbe is preparing him, but Max seems enthusiastic regardless. Months ago, I mentioned a lawyer as a potential career path and he seems to have taken my suggestion to heart. I'm proud in a strange way, I figured he could be a good lawyer and at age sixteen he's already begun large steps down that path.
"Hey, Max." I call out to him and he flinches hard, it seems like he had no idea we were here. He turns around and rubs his tired eyes before smiling. "Sam, Mori, what's up, guys?!"
He half yells us over and we sit across from him on the table. "How've you guys been? Probably busy at the uh, camp, right?"
Not long ago we told him all about the world of demigods and monsters, and surprisingly he took the news very well. He told me that he's seen some weird stuff before Cacus raided Bennington and almost burned it down.
He was quite thankful when he learned that almost every single monster leaves mortals alone, even clear-sighted ones. The Laestrygonians are one of the few exceptions, but they almost never gather in large numbers and mortal police usually shoot them dead, mistaking them as psycho murderers if a demigod doesn't kill them.
I nod in affirmation, "I've been preparing myself for the next coming quest, making new equipment and what not." He gives me a warry look.
"Sure, you're all good? I mean, the last one was…" He trails off, it's an uncomfortable subject. I raise my hand in placation.
"I won't be going anytime soon, not until after my birthday next year. I'm just giving myself proper time for training." He sighs in relief and possibly annoyance, "If you say so…"
Mori does a weird hand waving gesture and draws our attention to her. "Enough with the gloom, lighten up a little! Max, how've you been? I see you're brown nosing into some chunky book, tell me about that."
"These? Just law study books, boring stuff ya' know? I'm gettin' a head start on all this junk, everyone is telling me about how hard it's gonna be so I figured why not spend some time now."
He leans back in his chair and his back cracks very loudly. How long has he been hunched over like this? Mori just gives him a skeptical look. "Dude, you're sixteen, live a little! You don't have to kill yourself in work now, that's what being old is for."
He just waves her off and yawns, "Nah, I'll rest when I'm dead! And as far as I can tell, I'm still breathin'!"
"It's a good attitude to have, son." I flinch a little and turn around to see a tall man with dark hair and piercing green eyes. He's an older man, in his late thirties somewhere, but his body is well defined in the business suit he's wearing.
How the hell did we not hear him sneak up on us?
While he has a smile on his face, his eyes are hollow, like there's no joy in them. His hair is styled into a crew cut and his face is stony and hard. Replace the dark grey suit with military fatigues and he'd be indistinguishable from a drill sergeant.
Max freezes up when he sees the man, but quickly adjusts his posture so he's no longer slouching over the table. It doesn't take long to figure out who this man is, the air of authority and the command of subservience is a clear give away.
I don't like it, but this man is Max's father.
"Father, you're home early! Was it a slow day today?" Max has become significantly more formal, his accent lessens, and he sounds closer to a New Yorker than someone from Boston. His personality almost flips completely, before he acted like an average Joe and now he almost sounds like a high-class heir to a business mogul's empire.
Looking back on it, Max potentially might be.
Kolbe tsks in disapprovement and begins to walk over to our table, his heavy shoes thudding across the floor with far more weight than there should be.
He stands over us and leers down like we're sheep and he is the wolf. Max seems ready to bolt, but Mori and I remain unfazed and stoic. As strong as this man presents himself, we're much stronger than him in many ways.
Kolbe seems agitated that we give him bored looks, but he doesn't otherwise comment. He leers over at Mori and something akin to approval gleams in his eyes as he starts to talk, "So, this is the girlfriend I've heard so much about."
Mori almost chokes when he says girlfriend. Something about how he said it seems off, like there's a message behind it only Max and his father quickly cuts in before Mori, who's pretty red-faced in anger can lash out, "She's just a friend who happens to be a girl. We're not -we're not you know…"
Kolbe's eyes change from a bastardization of happiness to disappointment as his smile is replaced with a frown. "A pity, still you have the time to make it work out. She seems healthy enough, decent figure and pretty eyes, she'd be an excellent wife."
I almost want to throw up and Mori and Max seem so too, gods this fucker is old fashioned! Max quickly jumps up and slams his hands down on the table before any of us can say anything, "Father! That's my friend, you can't just disrespect her like that it's disgusting!"
Kolbe's face becomes thunderous and Max quickly backs down back in his chair, avoiding eye contact with him. Kolbe's breathes in deeply and his face becomes relaxed and calm as he exhales.
"Maximillian." His voice is cold and distant yet commanding and powerful despite being spoken evenly and calm. "Meet me in the study. As for you two –" He turns to us. "-get out of my house."
We look at Max, but he keeps his head low as he shuffles out and around the corner. Kolbe gives us a pointed glare and begins to escort us to the front door like we're convicts in prison.
We're quickly pushed outside into the streets of Boston and the door slams shut behind us, locks clicking in a clear message that says, 'you're not welcome here.'
Mori and I share a concerned look, but there's nothing we're going to do without Max saying so. This is his life and his family, but we'll butt in immediately when he calls for it; he's our friend, and this is what we'll do for each other.
I reach into my pack and pull my mirror out again and offer my arm to Mori. She takes it, and we're off back to Camp Half-Blood.
A few weeks have gone by and now the Winter Solstice has begun. Normally this day only has value to the Olympians, but it's much more important to me now because for this Solstice, a select group of Olympian Demigods have been chosen to visit their parents on Mount Olympus, and I am one of them.
I should be happy but I'm closer to anger and fear than I am happiness. I'm angry at mother for her failure to mention the Laestrygonian's we'd encounter, but I'm also fearful of what will happen when we actually talk.
I haven't spoken with mother since before my first quest, so I have no idea how she's going to act towards me since two of my brothers died on that quest. Will she be furious at me, is she going to turn me into an owl as punishment for failing my brothers?
Oculus is safely packed away in my bag, I can only hope presenting it to her could be some form of appeasement. Show her that I succeeded in completing the quest, just that it came with a high cost.
I'm sweating a little as myself and the six other campers pile into the hippie van with Argus and Chiron, the later in his wheel chair in the back compartment, and I silently pray that everything goes well today.
The Solstice was an unbelievably boring event. The Olympians were busy with their meeting which sounded more like a childish argument than it did important business based on the muffled screaming we could hear through the thick stone walls of the breakroom we were forced into.
After a couple hour Chiron came back after abandoning us in this boring room, which thankfully had a couple snacks and refreshments available to us, and begun to lead everyone away towards what I believe Mr. D calls the 'party hall'.
We walked for a few minutes and we all, sans Chiron, took the time to appreciate the stonework and the architecture of the Olympian central palace. This place is absolutely beautiful and gigantic, though I wonder how the rioting in the city is going? I look through the pillars and sure enough I can still see black smoke against the night sky, guess they haven't worked that out yet.
The Party Hall as we arrive is just a massive mostly empty hall, easily the size of a football stadium just by looking at it, with a couple ratty foldable tables spread about which thankfully are well stocked with foods and snacks.
All the Olympians, whom thankfully are human sized since last time Poseidon accidentally squished an Aphrodite camper when they all were in their giant forms, were waiting for us, each of them donned in a beautiful and colorful Chiton.
Zeus made a quick speech about honor and parental bonding and what not until for several minutes until Hera elbowed him in the ribs to shut him up.
He clears his throat and we all just look at each other awkwardly for a few moments until Artemis steps forward and motions to the food. We all race past our parents, I think Apollo even got trampled by the Demeter and Ares councilors, and begin to tear into the delicious food set out for us.
They all give us strange looks, but we ignore them for the most part since we haven't eaten anything since breakfast back at camp.
The party was a little boring entertainment wise, but still pretty fun for the most part. They only let the cabin councilors up on Olympus during the Winter Solstice to talk freely with our parents so this day is always popular and meaningful to the few that are able to come.
I'm currently talking with Artemis whom thankfully isn't mad I lost two of the silver jackets she gave to me and my brothers. She was quite pleased when I offered her the scale of the Drakon I killed a few months ago as a gift and thanks for her help.
We didn't talk for very long since she had to go pry a very drunk Apollo off a pillar as he refused to let go for some reason and started yelling at everyone.
I'm not sure how, but I eventually ended up deep in conversation with Poseidon about fishing in rivers versus in the ocean. He's actually a very nice man, and I'm pretty glad he doesn't hold a grudge against me since him and mother are rivals for some weird reason.
At one point he accidentally bumped into the Aphrodite camper and she nearly burst into tears when she saw it was him. Thankfully Allison, the Aphrodite camper, didn't die when she was squashed last year but has had a fear of anything sea based since then.
Aphrodite herself glared at Poseidon and he sheepishly backed away with his hands raised and went to mingle with Hades whom removed himself to a dark corner to read a novel of some kind.
Aphrodite and Allison moved away somewhere else and I was left alone with a cup of punch as Gods and Demigods mingled around me. A hand on my shoulder got my attention and I turn around to see the person I love the most but also wanted to see the least; my mother, Athena.
She has a warm smile and her eyes are full of genuine mirth, but still I'm completely nervous. I have no idea what she actually feels about me right not. Mother guides us away from the small crowd and into the space between two pillars to give us decent privacy.
"Samson, -" I stand at attention, oh gods here we go! "-I understand you've completed the first of the three special quests we've planned. I would like to give you my thanks and congratulations for a job well done."
Anger rises in my chest, but I try and push it down. I grit out in strained politeness, "Thank you, mother. It was an, interesting quest for lack of a better term. I met more goddesses than I thought possible and earned some interesting items along the way."
She nods in approval, "I see you've begun preparations for the second quest, this is good, Samson. Take the experiences of the first so you may better prepare yourself for the next. Perhaps this next one will be less… eventful than the last."
I can feel myself getting angry again which mother takes note of with a bemused raised eyebrow, "You've something you wish to say?"
Fuck, I can't take it anymore, "Mother, Steven and William are dead. They were murdered by Cacus, what about them?" I almost shout but Athena remains stoic and completely unfazed.
"What about them, Samson? They've passed on towards Elysium now, holding onto your emotions and attachments will only be detrimental for you."
I almost scream, but I hold back with only a raised and angered voice, "They're dead, they're your children! My brothers! Is that all we are, just convenient things that you'll forget as soon as we die!"
She starts getting angry too and gives me a warning tone, "Watch how you speak to me, son. I am your mother and you will show me proper respect."
Unfortunately, I'm far too angry to back down, otherwise I wouldn't have ever said these next few words. "Why should I? You're a shitty mom anyways!"
Pain erupts across my cheek as my head if forced to look somewhere else. I cup my stinging cheek and it takes a moment to realize that she just slapped me hard. I can already feel a bruise forming when she suddenly grabs my wrist and starts pulling me away and out of the hall.
Fuck she's squeezing so hard! Gods her grip is worse than the thralls of Lamia, and it feels like my wrist might snap!
A few of the other gods and demigods notice our precarious state as Athena half drags me out but they don't say anything when they see the fury etched across her face.
Something pops in my wrist and stinging pain erupts up the length of my arm, I think she just broke my wrist!
Mother drags me out into an empty pavilion and practically throws me in front of her. I clutch my wrist with my good hand as the air around me feels heavy and grim, like a terrible accident is about to occur. I suppose it might actually, fear and dread course through my body and I curse myself mentally for letting my anger explode like that!
Her voice is thinly controlled anger as she practically spits out my name, "You have no idea how close you were to death Samson! You should count yourself luck you're my favorite, so I'll choose to forget your little tantrum."
She's practically towering over me as I try and stand properly, "I'll be taking your fancy mirror as punishment for your disrespect, if I'm feeling generous than maybe I'll return it at the end of your next quest!"
She spins around and struts back inside and after a minute or so the suffocating presence of her anger vanishes and suddenly it feels like I can breathe again.
I walk over to a bench and nearly throw myself onto it as I try and calm down my damn near hyperventilating body. Sweat and tears stream down my face and guilt rises in my gut, I shouldn't have said that, I almost died!
I'm not sure how long I stayed out here alone in the darkness when golden light filled the pavilion. I look up and see Apollo staring down at me with pity in his eyes. I look way in shame, gods I'm such an embarrassment! I let my brothers down as well as my mother, and now I'm just a pitiful demigod crying over death like some coward!
Apollo kneels down and moves my sleeve up to reveal the dark purple band of flesh around my wrist. I want to hurl at the ugliness of it, but Apollo touches it with his hand and a gentle feeling of remedy overpowers the pain.
When he removes his hand, my wrist is completely healed, and the stinging pain is long gone. I nearly blurt out my thanks as my voice croaks from the strain of crying, "Thank you, Lord Apollo."
I'm not sure what else to say, everything just feels wrong right now and I'm having a hard time trying to think. Thankfully Apollo doesn't mind, and even though he acted completely drunk minutes ago he's completely clear with his words, "It's no big deal. Hey, so I heard your conversation with Athena back there. She does care, you know? We all do, demigods dying will always be hard on us. Athena has a hard time showing her grief, to her emotion is weakness. But she still grieves, just in private."
He sits on the bench next to me. "I can't agree with how she handled your… incident. But I suppose her reaction was pretty tame, I mean she turned someone into a spider monster when she got challenged to a knitting contest!"
I smile a little and laugh with Apollo, mother can be a bit over-reactive sometimes.
"Look, you're a good kid with some parent issues, most demigods have them. Gods are horrible role models, but we do love you, okay? Here, I'll send you home, how's that sound?"
I don't say anything but I just nod. Apollo smiles and suddenly everything is taken over by blinding alabaster light. When my vision clears I see someone I thought I never would again. "Joseph!?"