The woods was the children's favorite place to play outside but inside their favorite place was something they called their Sanctuary. It was a secret room that existed on the end of a narrow stairway behind a small door the most people mistook to be a closet. In that room, Solomon had kept things from his past and items that he had inherited from his relatives. It was a sort of attic however it was so big that someone could easily get lost in it if they were alone and it wasn't really cluttered, there was plenty of room to run around in.
The children discovered it one day when Angel took Vaggie's hair ribbon to tease her with. She chased him and he tripped which made the door creak open. The curious four went up the stairs and became intrigued by the collection of items stored inside. Greek artwork and artifacts, old photo graphs, clothes from various decades, a good number of old books that were either written in English or Latin, toys from when Solomon and his friends were children, antique furniture, blankets and quilts, a few lanterns, a projector that played old movies, and an old piano. All of which were something that a child with a creative mind could turn into a source of amusement.
Solomon was not sure about letting them play up there at first but he eventually concluded that they were old enough to be careful. So when they could no longer go outside they would go in that room and let their imaginations run wild. They played with the toys and also played hiding games, Vaggie taught herself how to read Latin, Alastor and Charlie learned how to play the piano, sometimes they would lay on the quilts and blankets while watching movies on the projector, other times they would dress up in the old clothes and act out stories they've heard. Sometimes it was stories from the books and sometimes it was their own pretend stories.
They called it their sanctuary because it was the only place where they felt that the world's cruelty couldn't reach them. A place where they could create their own world, a world where they could be accepted and go anywhere. A world where they could always smile. A world where they didn't feel like freaks.
"What am I supposed to be again?" Angel asked while wearing an old Greek mask that resembled a pig.
"You're the calydonian boar and I'm Atalanta, the greatest female mortal hunter in the world." Vaggie explained while wearing a helmet and cape that belonged to ancient greek warriors. "Alastor who's Eros, is competing with me to hunt you, Eros thinks he's the best because of his archery skills but Atalanta thinks she's the best because of her tracking skills. We'll see who's better when one of us kills the calydonian boar. Which is you."
"No way! I didn't sign up for this!"
"You know I don't recall this story in any of the mythology books up here." Alastor said holding a bow and arrows while a black mask was worn over his eyes.
"That's because it's not in the books. Charlie made it up." Vaggie said.
"Did she make up the Eros character? Because I haven't read about him." Alastor said.
"No he's in the books." Said Charlie who was wearing a white dress and a circlet of flowers. "You just haven't read his story yet. He's the son of Aphrodite goddess of beauty and love so he can make people fall in love but he's also the son of Ares God of war and bloodshed so in my story he's cursed to have two sides. At night he is a handsome and romantic young man but during the day he is a terrifying and violent monster and he's decided to never fall in love or have friends because he's afraid no one will accept him."
"Interesting change." Alastor said. "But who are you supposed to be Charlie?"
"I'm Psyche. I'm the most beautiful woman in the world but in my story it's only because I'm kind-hearted and willing to help anyone in need. I have psychic powers, I'm Atalanta's best friend and we travel the world together doing heroic deeds. Also I'm the first person to show Eros compassion when he is in his monstrous form."
"You also happen to be the woman Eros falls in love with." Vaggie teased.
Charlie blushed and so did Alastor.
"That's...That's only a coincidence." Charlie said. "It doesn't mean anything."
"Ha!" Angel laughed. "You chose Al to be Eros because then he has to pretend that he's in love with you."
"Did not!"
"Did to!"
"Did not!"
"Did to!"
"Did not!"
"Did to! Anyway there's no need to give him the excuse to pretend, he's already in love with you."
"I am not!" Alastor denied.
"Yes you are."
"Am not!"
"Are to!"
"Am not!"
"Are to!"
"Am not!"
"Alastor and Charlie sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
"Shut up Angel!"
"Why don't you make me?"
"Alright."
With a mischievous grin, Alastor aimed his arrow at Angel.
"Uh-oh! Very poor choice of words!"
For the next five minutes, Angel was being chased around and around the attic by the other kids. Angel was the fastest runner of the bunch but Vaggie managed to catch him by climbing to the top of the shelf and jumping on to him, tackling him to the floor.
"Get off me woman!" Angel demanded.
"Ha! I got him! I'm the better hunter!" Vaggie boasted. "Now what happens next?"
"After Atalanta captures the boar, Eros accepts defeat with grace and the male hunters traveling with her decide to hold a feast in her honor before she presents the boar to the king." Charlie explained. "But Psyche's psychic powers allow her to learn that the other hunters are secretly jealous of Atalanta and that the feast is set up for them to kill her then steal the boar for them to give to the king themselves."
"But obviously they fail right?" Vaggie said.
"I'm getting there. Hold on." Charlie said. "Psyche knows that Atalanta is just as strong as a man but she still cannot fight a group of men by herself, so she goes to Eros and pleads for him to help her. Eros agrees but only because it is an unfair battle. So on the night of the feast Atalanta pretends not to suspect anything, just long enough for Eros to join the group in disguise. Then the three of them attacked the hunters, shooting them and stabbing them. Killing them all."
"I like this story." Alastor said.
"The next morning as Atalanta and Psyche prepare to meet the king, Atalanta notices that the boar has tears in his eyes. She looks into them and feels sympathy for him. Sympathy so great that she decides to free the boar and give him a kiss."
"WHAT?!" Vaggie and Angel shouted.
"Yes and then the calydonian boar changes into Prince Meleager who was transformed into the creature after he angered the goddess Artemis. The only way he could regain human form was if he won the favor of a female hunter that was equal to Artemis herself. After Meleager is freed from the spell, he and Atalanta fall in love and get married."
"Alright now I really like this story." Alastor laughed.
"Ewww!" Vaggie gagged. "I'm not kissing Angel! What if he has rabies?"
"Hey! What just what the hell do you think I am? A dog?"
"You certainly smell like one."
"And you certainly look like one."
Once again, a very poor choice of words on Angel's part because Vaggie started trying to dislocate every bone in his body.
"Ow! Ow! Okay I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Let me go! Uncle! Uncle!"
"Vaggie I think he's had enough." Charlie said.
"Not yet! He's still breathing!" Vaggie said with Angel trapped in a choke hold.
"Alastor do something!" Charlie said.
"Why? This is great entertainment." Alastor smirked.
Charlie rolled eyes and began pulling Vaggie off of him. By the time that was accomplished it had become late and the children realized that it was time for them to turn in. They each went downstairs and hurried to their quarters. Alastor was the last one out but he stopped on the first step when something shiny caught his eye. It no doubt had fallen from it's place during their little chase, and with his curiosity peeked he went to take a closer look at it.
It was an antique locket however when Alastor opened it up, he found no picture inside. Instead it played music.
"Hmm...I wonder where Solomon got this from." He said. "Well if it's up here then he obviously doesn't really care for it. I wonder if-"
"If what man?" Angel asked.
"Ah! Uh nothing!" Alastor was startled by his sudden appearance and he nervously hid the locket behind his back. "Nothing at all!"
"What are you still doing up here?"
"Thought I saw something."
"What's that behind your back?"
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Now let's go to bed. It's late."
"No!" Blitzo said when Solomon informed him of his assignment tonight. "No way! Forget it! Not happening!"
"It's only for one night."
"I don't care! I do not babysit! I'm an agent not a nanny! Get Moxxie and Millie to do it!"
"I can't! They're on a case tonight."
"What about Husk?"
"He's already looking into something for me and I have a very important meeting with our investor. You're the only who's free this evening Blitzo so I'm afraid you'll have to keep an eye on them while I'm gone."
"But Solomon you know I don't like kids. Especially yours. They're little monsters, all of em."
"Calm down Blitzo. They're going to bed now so they'll be asleep the whole time you're watching them. You just have to make sure nothing happens to them."
"But what if they hurt me like last time?"
"Come on Blitzo, it wasn't that bad."
"They pretended to be pagans and tried to sacrifice me to the gods!"
"Well you know the polytheistic gods aren't real and it was just a game."
"A game where they used real spears!"
"Look I'll talk to them before I leave. I'll tell them that they're not to do any sacrificing even if it's pretend. They're to behave, go to sleep, and listen to you."
"You really think they'll listen to me? You know they hate me."
"That's only because they can sense that you hate them. If you try to be nice to them then they'll be nice to you."
"I don't do nice."
"Well learn to. Part of every agent's job here is working with my children. You have to at least be amicable with them."
"You know they're technically not your children. They're just four brats you took in."
"Blitzo! I will not tolerate you ever referring to them in that manner! Now I understand that they are a handful, more so than regular children but they are not brats and they are mine. I gave my solemn oath that I would look after them when no one else would. Biologically speaking, I'm not their father but I am the only parental figure they have. They're my responsibility."
"Forgive me sir." Blitzo said changing his tone. "I didn't mean any insult or disrespect."
"You're forgiven Blitzo. I know it's hard for someone like you to understand my position and theirs. But they are good kids. Just give them a chance."
Blitzo huffed.
"I'll give them a chance but I'm sure that I'll regret it."