Here's the rewrite. Not a lot of changes, but I felt the previous wasn't written that well. Was written a lot more like a play, no description. Hopefully this will be more interesting and fun to read.
He was on the run for three days now. Barely any time to rest, living on the little food he could salvage. He shouldn't be using his powers to obtain the little things to survive, but he was forced.
It was all his mother's fault. That whore of a woman. No dignity, no pride, no care for the sacrifices her children made in her name.
But Alabaster had dignity. He wouldn't fall at the gods' feet just because Percy Jackson took pity on them. He wouldn't take pity from the Son of Poseidon who mercilessly killed his brothers and sisters. No. Alabaster would avenge them someday. He hadn't led them to their deaths in vain, to be forgiven by the man that killed them.
That murderer will face the wrong end of his blade and die the death he deserves. No. He will not die. Death will be too easy for him. He will probably achieve Elysium, being the "Saviour of Olympus". Alabaster will find a way to torture him till he begs for death. He would find a way to deprive that bastard the chance to achieve Elysium. Alabaster swore to never set foot in Camp Half-Blood until that happened.
It didn't matter that he had to run from his monstrous half-sister chasing him for gods knows whatever reason. He'd killed the serpent lady five times by now. She just never stayed dead.
Alabaster stuck to the quiet places, where Lamia couldn't twist the Mist to have everyone turn on him. He hadn't mastered that aspect of his magic yet. Seclusion gave him a disadvantage though, since it allowed Lamia to focus more on Alabaster than twisting mortal minds.
His current residence was an abandoned house which he managed to slip inside and enchant to prevent Lamia from finding him. Last night he'd managed to eat and get some rest, recovering for his eventual encounter against his snakey sister.
He looked at the phone number he had noted down. Someone who could help, if his work was anything to go by.
He added an extra enchantment for safety and started dialling the number. Three…Five…Six…
"Hello? Who is this?" a rich, bored voice came from the other end.
"My name's Alabaster. I've been reading your work, Dr. Howard, and felt you could help me out on something that's troubling me. If you have the time, of course".
The man paused for a second.
"Okay, this will be interesting. It's not everyday someone comes looking for my help. What's troubling you?"
Alabaster took a deep breath, "What happens when you can't stop death?"
There was another pause. Claymore definitely took his time talking on the phone.
He answered, voice dripping with amusement, "I believe the answer is quite complicated. It would be best if we could talk about this face-to face… in private".
Alabaster pondered this. Did he trust this Professor enough to actually invite him to his sanctuary? Was he that desperate? What if this guy was a scam?
He gave Claymore the address.
"Very well then. I'll be there by sunset. Stay safe, kid".
Near sunset, Alabaster had a sharp feeling, like something pierced the flesh near his heart. Oh no. She's here. He got up and retrieved all his symbols. The Professor still hasn't arrived. The enchantments were supposed to last a couple more hours. Standing up, he looked towards the entrance. There was no door, the perks of living in an abandoned house.
He heard a sharp hissing voice, but couldn't place where it came from.
"Foolish boy! Did you really believe these spells can hold me off for long? I have honed my sorcery for millenia. You think someone so weak can hold me off?"
"Be gone, Lamia! I have killed you five times over. I can handle you. This is after all, my sanctuary" He sounded much braver than he was feeling. For some reason, Alabaster felt underconfident, despite having bested Lamia multiple times now.
An evil cackle was heard behind him "And what did that give you? A few hours of rest. You cannot run forever, brother. I will have you, and drain you of power. The first step to becoming a queen in a new age! I will return to my glory days, when I ruled over men. My children shall be returned. All with your death".
Alabaster felt himself weaken. He hadn't thought about it yet, but he had been growing weaker. Was Lamia taking my power in every encounter?
He heard her haughty voice, this time from the right side, "I see you understand, boy. With mother no longer protecting you, I can take your pathetic essence as I will. You underestimate me, brother. I am Lamia! I amplify your scent to every being that thirsts for your blood. I killed every demigod child that I could find. You cannot be foolish enough to think you can best me without our dear mother's help".
Now she could be heard from the other side, her voice a smug hiss "You were foolish to turn on her. My mistress would have offered you to join her, but I convinced her to let me have you, let me feast on your essence". I, Lamia, would be more useful to her than a pathetic little boy like you ever could. And I would rule like I used to. I shall be a Queen again"
"So Hera sent you to kill me?"
"What?! That woman took my children. My children with Zeus. I would never join hands with that jealous woman!". Alabaster could see a faint trace in the darkness, his magic working overtime just to maintain the information.
"You are nothing but a whore, Lamia. Zeus would sleep with anyone willing to spread her legs for him. You were nothing but a slut demanding attention" Alabaster kept his eyes where he thought the serpent lady would be.
"How dare you address me in such vulgar fashion, boy!". Lamia fully revealed herself for a second in her outburst. She was exactly where Alabaster expected her to be. He muttered an enchantment, and lunged at her with his sword, Mystic. Unoriginal name, but very effective. He'd enchanted it to confuse opponents, making them guess where the hit was coming from. It also made it easier to play with the Mist, helping him consume less energy.
Lamia took a huge blow and reeled backwards. Alabaster kept pressing. He had to kill her before she could drain him completely. He pushed her against the wall, but a talon found its way to his cheek, and another to his hand. He stumbled backwards, barely managing to keep his grip on his sword.
"I see how it is. You are stronger than I thought, brother. You know I will be back if I die. But I have had enough of you" she was closing in "You are no longer useful to me. Prepare to die, demigod". She lunged at him. A loud bang was heard behind them. Lamia was sent into the walls.
"I see you're in trouble, young man. But I'm here to answer your question". A tall man stood at the non-existent door.
Lamia recovered herself "Arrogant mortal! You dare interfere in things that have nothing to do with you".
The left side of his mouth curled up, "I'm afraid you are wrong, serpent. Death is my expertise. It has everything to do with me" he fired once again. Lamia was sent hurtling backwards again. The bullets were probably specifically designed for monsters, since regular weapons were a mere nuisance to anyone that belonged to the mythological world. Anyone other than demigods that is.
"As for your question, what is death, boy? Death is a permanent imprisonment of the mortal soul. If death does not do what it is intended to, then there have to be other ways to complete the task" his eyes never strayed from the lady.
Alabaster understood the professor. He kept muttering. Another shot. He raised his sword in Lamia's direction. Lamia was trapped, unable to move behind the field he'd created. Hopefully she would remain that way as long as Alabaster was breathing.
The professor approached him. His eyes and posture radiated confidence, no, arrogance. He supposed it was justified enough. Mortals that fought monsters were respectable no matter what they were like otherwise.
"Come with me. You aren't safe here, Torrington. I can take you to someone who can use your talents. Someone willing to provide proper protection. He even said he will give you vengeance, whatever that means"
He even knows my name. But what hope do I have?
"Where are you taking me? And you know of… all this?"
He gave the teen a grin. "Yes kid. I might be a mortal, but I know enough of your world to take what I want from it. Lovely business"
Alabaster thought for a while. The professor didn't answer the real question.
"And who are you taking me to?
"Ever heard of the Beast?"
As I mentioned in the original, this is a character prologue for a ToA AU I'm working on.
To those who find it similar to the Son of Magic by Haley, yes, The fic is based on it. However, I changed both Alabaster and Dr. Claymore because to me they didn't fit as well with everything in HOO. Personally, I think Alabaster is one of the more interesting and complex characters I have thought up while writing.
What do you guys think of it?