One of my all time best chapters, especially of my OG stories... enjoy.
"Accept my offering, Oh Moon. Accept my power, Darkest Night. Embrace my oath, Darkness and Shadow." Lowering his talisman of Bone, Aaron placed it in a bowl filled to the brim with his blood. Raising his hands in supplication, he closed his eyes and focused on the magic of the Ghosts he was bound too. "Agnes and the rest of you, who's name I do not yet know, I call to you and beseech your aide. Come to me and accept this offering." Power flooded his body, every cell freezing with the cold might of the Dead. Lowering his hands, he placed his fingers into the bowl, dipping them in the blood, he started his chant,
"Asphodel spirituum, clamavi ad te, per sanguinem et juramento sumus tenetur. Honoratur foedere cum exercitu imbuit facinum saeculorum. Quod praeteritum et praesens, vivos mortuosque pietas me et te. Ex hac lacuna sanguinis mei, est lux lunae in magica mortuorum, os ex inferis vitae essentia. Teneatur unum sine gratia naturali alveo in medium focum."
The air filled with power, as every word spilled from Aaron's lips. A veil of power, Mist and mist, dense and potent filled the air. The Light of the Moon, the magic of Night and the Darkness. The scent of blood, his blood, mixed well with the mist. Shivering in the cold of all of this Underworld magic, Aaron moved his fingers, wrapping them around the cold iron of his talisman. He lifted it, watching as droplets of blood dripped into the bowl, splattering on the altar they were set upon. He raised the talisman skyward, letting it soak up the light of the Moon.
The blood continued to drip, faster and faster, until finally bone was visible once more. Soon only the runes, carved into the bone, were red with his blood. Power pulsed like a living heart, beat...beat...beat... the power of the Dead emanated from the talisman.
It was complete.
Aaron collapsed, falling to the side and just lying there as his vision dimmed. His every cell was drained of energy, every ounce of available lifeforce and magic was added to the spell and only adrenaline and bloodloss had kept him from feeling it's effects for a moment. He shivered horrible, unable to move as cold unnatural mist filled the air, drawn by his necromantic magic.
"Very good." A voice, cold and sweet, echoed in the mist all too solid to be natural. He struggled to look for it's source, knowing it was not possible for that voice to be truly there, for it's source was Agnes and she was in the Fields of Asphodel. However, he could not find the source, for he could not move a muscle. He was limp, cold and utterly drained. He couldn't even call out, or grunt a response. "That spell was quiet advanced, if it wasn't for our power you would never have been able to cast it. Thankfully you understand the basics of magic, faith. Faith that it will work and the drive to make it happen... that alone makes you impressive."
Colder then cold, two hands touched his shoulders, lifting him to a sitting position. Everything cleared in an instant and he saw her, Agnes, only she looked almost alive. "How?" He somehow grunted out, taking every ounce of willpower he had.
She smiled, her brown eyes radiating thick power, her body oozing Mist and Magic. "You, channeling the necromantic power to create your talisman, my power, has given me a greater anchor into his world but only as long as the Moon remains high. I have but a few moments, a thanks is in order and an apology." She gestured in the mist, the Mist actually, and it swirled together to create a mirror. "There is a cost to this magic when you are not of divine blood, look at it."
He obeyed, horror dancing down his eyes as he saw what she was talking about, All color had been drained from his face and a streak of white now colored his hair. He looked exhausted, worn out, close to death. Practically a corpse himself. His lips, naturally a deep red, were almost purple.
"Don't worry, most of it is temporary but the more you cast the more you will look like this. I thought you ought to know." She smirked from behind the mirror, as if his fear gave her pleasure, which it probably did from what he knew of her. "Channeling the power of the Earth, as you do, will battle this but eventually our stronger power will make you look like this. Permanently."
It was all he could do to nod to the scary Ghost women, accepting his fate. If looking a little scary was the big side effect to channeling great power, so be it. It was still worth it...
He hoped.
"As for my thanks..." Agnes said, her tone shifting. " I will teach you how to harm others with your magic, to cause pain to banish those you cannot defeat. There are many ways to accomplish this, with sound and pure power and cruel intentions. I will teach you these tricks. Not now but soon, when you are up to snuff with you Earth magic. Most of your magic cast must come from the Earth for... quite a while, our power must not be used willy nilly but for extreme circumstances or in practice. You will be great with both, I will ensure that. One way or another." She smirked deeply then. "The others will be reaching out to you soon as well, so prepare yourself."
He would have tried to respond, but the weight of his exhaustion was too great and before he knew it, the darkness took him entirely, and he drifted into sleep.
::::
The horrors of the night having faded as dawn broke through the sky, his magic cast to create his potent talisman having faded leaving him weak and needed to recover through meditation and rest, Aaron hurried to the Apollo Cabin just as Meggy strode along side him to visit Beckendorf. He yawned with every step, weakness pervading his mind and body. Having become dependent on magic to some degree, he was incredibly worn from the magic he cast even now. It would take days to recover, three at least.
"Meggy is excited, what do you think Aaron Brother boy? What will Meggy do today with Brother Beckendorf?" The adorable Cyclops was bright eyed and bushy tailed, as if she had a wonderful nights sleep. As if nothing had gone wrong with her sleep, unlike Aaron's piss poor rest.
Shrugging, he smiled tiredly at the girl. " I don't know kiddo, I think he might evaluate what you know and see where you excel. That's what I would do."
"Oh Meggy hopes so, she is so eager to learn forging and stuffs." She practically squealed out, making him cringe at the sound.
They reached the cabins a few moments later, both splitting off after a quick hug to work with their respective buddies. Aaron walked into the Apollo's cabin, where Will Solace was already at work, counting his supplies and what not. The boy must have felt Aaron's presence as he turned around, only to shudder and step back.
" I can feel your necromantic power, it's like pure death. The literal opposite of my power, can you heal with that?"
He nodded. "Technically yes, but I won't for now. I only have access for extreme cases and practice. I will be using my mortal Earth magic,... for now anyway. I can't use anything right this second, I used too much life essence to make my talisman. I am on light magi duty for the next few days, less I damage my soul or shorten my life."
Will nodded, a serious look on his face. "You sure are. I can feel your lifeforce, it is so weak right now. I can't even let you practice my father's hymns and healing magic."
"I know, but I can learn first aid and what not. I can't handle Nectar and Ambrosia, just touching it could be fatal so what do you do besides that?"
Will's smirk was almost as unholy as Agnes'. " Oh you'll see. Let's start with the basics of the the basics. CPR. What do you know about CPR?"
"""
"... And this is my station, as I showed you yesterday. We each have our own specialty. I work mostly with armor and weaponry. Nyssa, my sister over there, is more with sculpture and carving. Jake is more a mechanic and you, Meggy, seem to be more of an Artisan. A crafts women, making jewelry and the like. Still you should know the basics like any of us, and that also means you should be offering sacrifices to our father as this is all under his domain."
Meggy nodded, drinking in the knowledge. "Meggy understand, and it will make Mommy mad which I like."
Everyone flinched.
Beckedorf sighed. "I get your anger, I really do, but you have to be careful. Your mother is still an Olympian, she could kill you on principle, or worse curse you with some horrible fate."
Pouting, Meggy nodded. "Fine, but Meggy doesn't like it."
"You don't have too, and you shouldn't, but just be patient and calm or it will hurt you. Okay?"
"Meggy understands... so, what is Brother Beckendorf doing next?"
The kind boy smiled once more. lifting her spirits. "Well, it is tradition for your first project to be offered a offering to our father. I thought you could work on a project here, to give something to our father to gain his blessing. It will make your stay here easier and honestly, it will give you opportunities should anything happen to Aaron."
"Meggy understands, she wants nothing bad to happen to Aaron but he is mortal so he is always close to death." Meggy noticed everyone seemed surprised at her maturity, they seemed confused that she could manage such ... detachedness. "Meggy is used to being... cold? Is that the right word... detached maybe? She knows she has to be ready and willing to change, she learned that on the streets. She knows that as much as she loves Aaron, he will not live as long as Meggy does, so she has to be ready. It is sad but it is real."
Beckendorf sighed. "Your very nature for three months old."
"Meggy had to be."
"I guess so... so, any ideas for your first project?"
Meggy frowned. "Meggy... Meggy helped to fight the Bad Doggie, she wants to use it's bones to make something that Beckendorf's Daddy would like. Do you have any ideas?"
He smirked a little. "A few... let's see what we have left and let's get started."
"""
Medicine, as it turned out, was harder then magic to Aaron. There was so much he needed to know, especially for Demigods like what bloodlines healed quicker then others, which responded better to normal medicine versus ambrosia and which were totally immune. That healing a girl or guy required different prayers, there were specific prayers used for pregnant demigods and of course different Hymns used for mortals. It was a lot and that was just the magical side. That wasn't including CPR, First aid, How to set a bone or detect a break... it went on and on, leaving him with a headache by the time he left the cabin.
He actually followed the rest of the Apollo Cabin, who had been working on their archery in the Dawn's light until they returned to their cabin to put their stuff away, to get breakfast. Will was at his side as they hurried to get some good food and restore their energy from a few hours hard work. Aaron was starving and eager to really start his day from there, starting with a good long sword session where he would teach Meggy and get her started in combat. He had a feeling she would be a beast in battle, when given the proper materials and training.
He hoped he was right.
Within twenty minutes, they were all settled into the pavilion, with their food served by the nymphs. Chiron, who was next to Aaron at the head table, stood and called out. "To the gods!" And everyone started to make their sacrifices. Aaron realized then that Meggy was sitting with the Hephaestus kids, making quick friends in a heartwarming display.
When Aaron reached the brazier to make his sacrifice, he was lucky enough to have Meggy next to him, beaming a warm smile. In her hand was not just food, but a knife made of solid bone, intricately carved with flame like designs. It was beautiful and ornate and amazing. It was an Athame, he realized.
"Did you make that?"
She nodded. "As an offering to Uncle Hephaestus. " She tossed it into the fire alongside some food. "To Lord Hephaestus from Meggy, may you like the offering of Meggy's first project here at Camp Halfblood. Meggy worked hard on it!"
"I am sure he will love it." The fires consumed the blade entirely, showing the Hephaestus accepted the offering. "See, he took it." He tossed in some food of his own but said his prayer internally. 'To the Spirits I have my bond with, to Lord Hades for allowing it, to Lord Hephaestus for accepting Meggy's sacrifice and to Lord Dionysius for accepting Meggy here..' Smiling once more, he moved back to his table.
Once everyone was finished eating, Dionysius stood. " It is time, once again, to greet a new camper. Hazah and all that. Welcome Madison Mathews... Oh, Meggy Mathews, a Cyclops who has apparently sworn that she is good and all that. She won't eat you lot, a pity really... sigh. Aaron brought her here, hoping to give her a better life and all that, so be nice and whatever."
Aaron rolled his eyes, but said nothing as Meggy stood and waved to everyone. "Meggy says hi to all of the Campers, it is nice to meet you all!"
To his shock, of the few people there ( given it wasn't the summer and there weren't a lot of year rounders) about half waved back and smiled at her. She was just to cute to hate, monster or not.
That made him happy... he hoped this love would continue and his new sister. She deserved it and really, it would make life so much easier if all went well for a while. If a war was brewing, then they wouldn't be having a lot of good days soon enough.
None of them would, regardless of what Zeus thought about the issue.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a lot of fun to write, I am so proud of this story.
Spirits of Asphodel, I call to thee, through blood and oath we are bound. Honor our pact, imbue this talisman with the might of ages. Past and present, Living and Dead, you and me. This pool of my blood, the light of the moon, the magic of the dead, the bone of the Underworld, the essence of life. Bound as one, free of influence, a natural channel, a focus in the in between.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.