Let's see its kind of difficult to remember how I got here, I'm sitting in my house, in my study and sipping some damn fine Pappy Van Winkle 25. Oh yeah right when I got home I went down and grabbed as much of this shit as I could carry, grabbed a glass, and here we are. I blinked slowly staring at the near empty bottle and glanced at the other bottles around me and the empty ones that littered the floor.
I turned my chair and propped my feet up just staring at both my gun and my jacket, why did I agree to this? Why in gods name did I meet with Amos?! I don't have time for this shit! I have to baby proof the house, build the crib, make sure we have baby clothes and food. I sort of rocked back in forth as I took another sip of this really fucking smooth bourbon whiskey, that shit is top notch!
I sighed heavily before I heard the door open "Sam! I'm home!" I heard my wife shout, I lazily raised my hand not even looking behind me knowing she would see me. I heard the clattering of glass rolling across the floor "It smells like a brewery in here! Have you been drinking?!" she asked.
Okay I am extremely drunk and can barely form complete sentences but I can do this, I turned and looked at my blurry wife. Okay I managed to turn without blacking out now I just need to calmly and eloquently explain to her that I am in fact inebriated due to serious reasons that I would very much like her input on.
"Prossy." I muttered, okay not my best job word wise, Hylla walked over and took the whiskey from my hand and put it on the desk. She then sat on the edge of it right in front of me, her eyes were a beautiful dark you could never tell what she was thinking as she stared into your soul.
"You hardly ever drink Sam, this is an insane amount even for a son of Bacchus. What's going on?" she asked softly, alright I failed the last time I spoke but I'm thinking much clearly now, I just need to explain that I have a lot on my shoulders and that Amos is in dire need of both of our help!
"Frezzle." holy fuck! Okay just shut the fuck up Sam! Just shut the fuck up!
"Let's get you to bed, we can talk in the morning." Hylla said as she grabbed my arm and helped me move. I almost tripped over my own feet, and multiple bottles as she led me out of the study and up to our bed. I didn't even change I simply dropped onto the bed and I was out like a fucking light.
The dreams that followed...well let's just say I wished I was blackout drunk and couldn't recall it.
I saw a chubby guy with a weird looking beard, he was wearing purple robes and two massive Goliaths of men were flanking him as he paced a large room. Why did this guy look so familiar? I swear I had seen him before, but where? Suddenly the large door at the end of the room flew open and a man walked in, I couldn't see his face under his helmet but my god was that helmet terrifying. The helmet was one of a snarling wolf, it covered his entire face except for his eyes which were a piercing amber color. I was frozen in fear staring at the wolf helmet, why in gods name did it have to be a wolf! Why not a bear?! Or a tiger?! Or a fucking Gorgon?! Why a wolf!?
"Ah you are back! How goes the extermination?" the chubby man asked, the warrior gave a series of hand gestures and the man nodded in understanding. After a few minutes of this he raised his hand "So the boy king still has power? Interesting, how can this be? He has no support of the generals anymore." he pondered loudly.
The warrior sighed deeply before he walked over to the desk in the room and quickly scribbled something on paper and handed it to the man.
His ascension to king was the last order of the previous king. You cannot overturn the last order of a previous king, they would see it as dishonorable. The reason they are not outright killing him is because not only is it an insult to the king it is an insult to the previous ruling line as well. A line that ruled for generations, they would be summarily executed immediately. Let the boy remain in power for a little longer, I will take care of him myself.
The robed man grunted in annoyance "They hold honor that closely? They have betrayed their king, allied with us, and plan to usurp him where is the honor in that?" he asked curiously.
The man grabbed another piece of paper and wrote on it before handing it over.
Honor and loyalty are two very different things. Sometimes loyalty to your own beliefs justifies betrayal to your king. Loyalty is about trust, honor on the other hand is respecting the hierarchy and knowing what you are doing still follows the rules you stand by.
The man chuckled "You know all about loyalty and betrayal don't you?" he asked and the warriors gaze hardened. In less than a second the bodyguards were on the ground bleeding and warrior had a razor sharp gladius against the mans throat. The man gulped as he eyed the sword that had already started to dig into his neck "Now now, no need for violence here. I understand your anger, but attacking me gets you nowhere. You are a smart boy, I know you are otherwise you wouldn't have earned my respect. I assure you I will not betray you, between us loyalty and honor are, in fact, the same thing." he said slowly as sweat started to build on his neck.
The man stayed still before drawing the sword back and sheathing it. He grabbed another piece of paper and wrote before handing it over.
Our deal still stands yes? When the factions fall our deal remains?
The man smiled as he rubbed his neck "Of course, fear not when this is over you will be king. The rightful king might I add." he said and the warriors eyes softened almost like he was smiling. He gave another series of hand gestures and the robed man nodded as he walked behind his desk "Yes, meet with General Langdon. He should be in Philadelphia, his soldiers are the most well trained, make sure he understands that his soldiers are now mine." he ordered and the warrior nodded before turning and walking out the door.
The man sat down and leaned back, he glanced at his injured bodyguards and scoffed "The rightful king...sickening." he muttered.
My eyes snapped open and the first thing that hit me was the brain murdering head ache and the extremely bright light flooding in through the window! I rolled over and groaned loudly trying to get the headache to leave but it wouldn't. I looked up and saw a large pitcher of water by the nightstand, I grabbed it and down the entire thing without taking a breath.
When I was done I felt a little better, I looked around and saw Hylla wasn't with me but I smelled bacon. She must be making breakfast, I quickly got cleaned up and dressed and made my way downstairs. The second I entered the kitchen I groaned loudly in annoyance.
"Well someone is grumpy this morning." came the voice of one Annabeth Chase who was eating breakfast while an older man was helping my wife make the rest of it. I poured a cup of coffee and sat down at the table and glared at the daughter of Athena but me being so tired and hungover I doubt it looked at all scary.
"I'm just going to skip right past the how and just go with the why?" I asked tiredly wiping the last remnants of sleep out of my eyes. I sipped my coffee as Hylla and the man, who could only have been Frederick Chase, sat down and we all started eating.
"We are looking for my cousin Magnus, he vanished a few years ago and I'm worried about him. Hylla said it was alright if we stayed here while we looked for him." Annabeth explained. I glared at my wife and she glared right back but I was too disoriented from my dreams to win the fight and I just sighed and nodded.
As we all ate Frederick was staring intently at me, I frowned in confusion before he spoke "Have we met? I'm sorry but I swear I have seen you somewhere before." he asked, he looked like he was really struggling to recall. I was about to tell him that I'd never met his sorry ass before when I suddenly had a small flashback.
Me, ordering a legion of monsters up Mt. Tam, Luke falling to his death, Atlas being trapped under the sky, and a blonde haired man in a functional Sopwith Camel trying to gun me down. I felt my palms sweat, if this dude remembered where he saw me he might not be as good natured as he appeared now. I had arranged for his daughter to be kidnapped and tortured! That isn't exactly something someone forgives!
Annabeth must have realized it too because she glanced between the two of us "Sam is actually from here dad. Same as you, maybe you knew his dad or happened to see him at the museums when he was younger." Annabeth said quickly. Fuck she is really good and quick at lying I'm fucking impressed!
"Oh very true, from here you say? Which part? I was born in Dorchester." he said smiling and I couldn't help but give a small smile.
"Roxbury, though I moved to this neighborhood when I was just a toddler." I responded and Frederick nodded before glancing around and gasping behind me. I turned to what he was looking at and you could see the den from here and multiple military outfits lined the walls in cases. Remnants of wars my family had been in...or caused the jury is still out on whether or not my mom started Vietnam or if it was Ares.
"My god! May I look at those?" he asked like an excited toddler. I glanced at Hylla but she gave me a look that said "Your family your choice but I'm not taking care of him." so I looked back at Frederick and nodded. He was out of his seat in a second and ran into the den, I took one last bite of my bagel before following him.
I stopped and looked at Hylla "We have to talk later, sorry about last night. I promise I will explain everything later." I said softly and she nodded with a grateful smile. We kissed before I walked into the den to find Frederick with his face literally squished against the glass practically licking it.
"Such detail! The craftsmanship is amazing! Is this really from the American Revolution?!" he asked excitedly as he stared at a patriot uniform in awe. I nodded as I sat down and Frederick, keeping his eyes on all the outfits, sat down across from me. He finally tore his gaze away and looked at me "Thank you again for letting us into your home. I hope we won't be an inconvenience." he said with a kind smile.
I smiled too, he reminded me of my immortal aunt Eleos the goddess of compassion and mercy. When she smiled you felt loved and comforted, the same thing applied with this dude here.
"Everything inconveniences me, its how I'm wired. Don't worry though, go Celtics right?" I said and Frederick gave a large grin.
"I'm more a fan of the Red Sox."
"Get out." I said and we both chuckled at the small joke, I glanced at the outfits and I could vaguely hear Annabeth and Hylla talking excitedly about Hyllas pregnancy. I looked at Frederick "How do you know when you're ready to be a father?" I asked him and his eyebrows shot up at the sudden question.
"Oh well...I suppose you never truly are. At the very least I wasn't, I was beside myself with worry wondering how I would ever be able to accomplish something as complicated as a child but..." he glanced over to where Annabeth was laughing with my wife and smiled "But the second you hold your child...the second you see their eyes...the amount of love that fills you cannot be explained...you simply know in your heart how you will give your child the best life it deserves. It's as simple as that, the day your child is born you will know what to do. Trust me." he said with such confidence and emotion I truly believed him.
I glanced over at Hylla and she turned her head and looked at me, my heart raced as I saw her smile, the way her hair fell along her shoulders, the way she made me feel was something that cannot be put into words it was love. Pure simple love.
"So tell me how do you know Annabeth?" Frederick asked me.
I tore my gaze away from Hylla "Oh...I actually went to camp with her for a while. I'm the son of Eris, goddess of conflict. Hylla is a daughter of Bellona the Roman war goddess." I explained and the man nodded.
"Interesting, will your child be a demigod as well or something else?" he asked curiously.
"A legacy, usually they will have some powers at least and they are just as strong as demigods. I don't think their godly power diminishes over generations. Like take this jerk I knew named Octavian he was actually a legacy and was the son of Apollo. He was actually the descendant of Augustus Caesar the first Roman emperor." I explained.
Frederick nodded taking it all in, it was sometimes amazing how well some people can handle this stuff. Frederick glanced at all the outfits again before he looked back at me.
"I'm glad you aren't the man you were on Mt. Tam." he said softly.
My breath hitched, he knew?! My foot started tapping out of nerves as he leaned back "Yes, I knew who you were the second I saw you. Your eyes, they are very unique, so unique that the only type of people with natural red irises are albino. You most certainly are not and neither was the boy that attempted to shoot my daughter and her friends that day." he explained I couldn't make out what his tone was; Collected? Cold? Calm? Murderous?!
I gulped hard as I stuttered trying to get a response out "Sir...that was...back then I...I was..." I tried but no words could fully form. This was what I never wanted out of my new life, to have my past come back to kick my ass once again. Now here it is ready to beat the shit out of me in the form of a middle aged man who's daughter I kidnapped.
Frederick locked eyes with me his expression completely blank "Back then? You were young, impressionable, vulnerable. By the way you reacted when I said I recognized you and that my daughter actually feels safe staying in your home I hold no grudge or qualms against you. Clearly you have put your past in the past and wish to have a better life, a family even." he said calmly.
I nodded as I started to breathe again, that could have gone a number of ways holy shit thank god other people understand mercy! I was never one to give it but goddamn does it feel nice to be given it!
"Think nothing of it young man. Everything is okay." he said and I nodded but, that wasn't true. Nothing was okay, I stood up and felt the slip of paper in my pocket. I glanced at Hylla and Annabeth who were just finishing up and started washing the dishes.
I walked over to the threshold to the kitchen "Hylla?" I asked loudly and she turned. I nodded my head towards the study and she understood, she dropped her towel and we walked into the room. She shut the door and locked it as I grabbed all the empty whiskey bottles and threw them in the trash. The scent of whiskey still lingered and it made me want to vomit, Hylla and I sat down on the couch that was against the window of the room.
"You ready to explain?" she asked and remained silent as I handed her the paper, she frowned as she read over the passwords "What's this?" she asked looking back at me.
I sighed and explained everything to her, even showing her the note Amos sent me. After that I told her about my dream, the robed man who I recognized but couldn't remember, the wolf warrior who seemed to want to exterminate all factions against them, even about the Gargarean General Langdon. When I was done she was clearly lost in thought, after about five minutes she finally spoke again.
"So that's why you were drinking?" she asked softly, I stared at her amazed is that seriously her biggest takeaway here?! Not the most horrible thing that has been brought up in the last ten minutes! Hylla glanced at the paper in front of her before walking over to my desk and pulling out her Amazon laptop. Technology was kind of a no no for demigods but honestly at this point who is going to fuck with me and my wife in this fortress of a house?!
"Okay Sam...I'll run these through and find what I can about the Gargareans...in the meantime I want you to go to camp and inform Chiron and the others about this. They need to be warned, you said that this wolf guy wanted to eliminate all factions right? That includes both of the camps. After he's done with the Gargareans he will either turn on the Amazons or the camps and both will have a very bad outcome if we aren't prepared." she explained.
I nodded in agreement as she started typing then she glanced at me still sitting there. After a few minutes she stopped entirely and glared at me, I shifted in my seat.
"Oh you meant now?"
"No in ten years, YES! NOW!" she ordered and I held my hands up in surrender before walking behind her and staring at my rifle hanging on the wall. I gave a shaky breath before I reached up and grabbed it off the stand, it felt cool to the touch but still looked as new as the day it was given to me. I glanced to my right at my jacket, god the adventures and horrors that jacket has witnessed with me, I grabbed it and shoved my arms through the sleeves. I sighed, there was a time when I would not have hesitated to go in guns blazing wearing this jacket and blowing the heads off of monsters.
Now? Now I just wanted...I just wanted peace. I wanted a nice life with my family, I sighed again as I slung Discord on my back and started for the door.
"Wait!" Hylla shouted and I turned only to be suddenly pressed against the door and her lips smashed against mine. I grabbed her head and returned the kiss, the amount of emotion and love she poured into that kiss told me everything. She was scared, she pulled away from me and hugged me tightly.
"Come back to me." she whispered softly and I had to fight back tears as my breath became ragged.
"Always." I whispered back before we parted and I opened the door. I glanced down the hall where Frederick was checking out some old war registry my dad bought at an auction and Annabeth was moving her bags to the guestroom upstairs. I gulped hard before I grabbed the door handle and walked outside.
I climbed into my jeep and started down the road not really paying attention to anything in particular. Everything around me just felt...numb, bland, old. I was on autopilot as I picked up speed down the highway in the direction of New York. I didn't get the same happy feeling I usually got when I was on my way to camp, I was excited to see my siblings sure but even that was dulled by the wave of dread that washed over me.
I just want...peace.