Bianca is eleven and Nico are nine right now...
"Can you fly, are you really powerful, can you fight with more then magic, can I use magic, can Bianca?" Nico's words spit out at hundreds of miles per hour, making Aaron's head swim and Bianca flush with embarrassment.
Unable to stop himself, Aaron held out his hand and used his magic to stop Nico's mouth from moving. "If you give me a second to answer, I will." Nico blushed a little, nodding at him. "In order, no I can't fly. I am not particularly powerful but I am getting stronger so who knows, you can use the magic of your divine parent and maybe regular magic with some training and same with Bianca. Any more questions?"
Nico nodded. "So many more, like why would a pure human stay in our world if it is so dangerous like you say it is?"
Caught by the boy's perceptive wisdom, Aaron was unable to answer for a moment. He had to collect himself before he managed to say anything. " Well, I had no path or power. I had nothing in my life that was worth staying in the human world. so I made the choice to stay in this one. Does that make sense?"
"A little... how does magic work?"
"Well, that's easy." he saw Bianca perk up, looking just as interested. "Most of the time it is just willpower, imagination and a source of energy to draw from but for bigger spells you need a catalyst, a binding agent and a conduit to make the spell work. I have never cast a spell that needs those things as I lack the power and skill to cast those kind of spells but that might change. Your powers will just need the first three things, since your have power and potential in your blood."
Nico settled back, looking satisifed. "Are we powerful?"
"Extremely so, Meggy here could smell your aura past that of the Lotus Casino. " His sister nodded, adding to his statement." That says a whole hell of a lot really."
"Why us?" Bianca's sudden question drew everyone's attention. She looked concerned, pained and afraid. " We aren't anything special, nor have we done anything with these so called powers. So why us, why now?"
Aaron turned to Meggy, both sharing a pained look, before turning back to the kids. "Honestly, I don't know. Your parent just asked me to do this and I obliged. Do I have some ideas of why they are asking me to retrieve you, yes I do but I swore an oath to not say a word so I have to be bound by my word."
Meggy leaned in. " Your divine parents is restricted from contacting or interacting with you due to divine laws. It sucks but that is the way it is I am afraid."
Bianca sighed. "That does suck, why... why would you have kids if you can't take care of them?"
"Because the gods are selfish and cruel, but might is right so they get away with it. Meggy's mother tossed her of Mount Olympus for being born a Cyclops." Aaron shrugged. "Life isn't far for you guys but some of us are trying to make it better for you all. I am one of those people."
A soft light blossomed in Bianca's eyes, maybe it was affection. He wasn't sure. "Thank you for that."
"Not a problem. Now, we need to cover some ground rules. Your parent wants me to teach you somethings, not sure what but we can figure that out later. What I do know is that knowing what you do makes you a target for monsters, and yet your parent does not want you to go to Camp Halfblood, the safe haven for Demigods. That tells me they have a way to mask your scent even longer, maybe through me I am not sure."
"It will be through you." Agnes' voice shuddered through Aaron's skull, riding high on her magic. 'He just contacted us. We are to help you cast a spell to mask their presence. It will not last more then a year but it will allow them to go undetected. You will need a catalyst for this spell, it is time for that level of magic. You will also need a binding agent and a conductor, Meggy's blood will do nicely. She can help you channel the power needed to protect these kids. The spell is runic, I will guide you."
"Who was that?" Bianca asked, Nico nodding next to her. " I could sort of here them, like radio static..."
'Hades' power indeed.' Aaron thought out. "That was Agnes, One of the Spirits of Asphodel, she is one of the sources of my power and my knowledge. She is how I am learning magic, she is my teacher and guide and if you can hear her that only shows how powerful you are." He tried to hide his annoyance. 'It also shows how dangerous you two are, that you can hear this link despite my power over it... that is not good at all. I have secrets now, mainly their identity ...I cannot have them hearing what they ought to not know... '
"""
"Wow, that was a far ride." Nico chirped out as they toddled out of the train, walking onto Washington D.C. Soil.
The rest of the trip had been rather uneventful, not even monsters attacked them, much to Aaron's joy. They had seen some cool sights though, like centaurs outside of the train window and what might have been a Hydra. Bianca almost hyperventilated when she saw it. She was far more resistant to seeing the supernatural then her brother was. It was actually a little concerning at first... and then he heard her laugh.
It was a beautiful sound, rich and warm and full of life that it felt remarkably far from her father's cold aura. "Centaurs are real,.. what else is there?" She had asked him and Meggy, her eyes wide and full of wonder.
And so they told her, and Nico. Tale after tale of monsters and mayhem, of Satyrs and Nymphs, of Witches and Demigods. The kids were amazed, mystified and filled with a wonder Aaron hadn't seen in... far too long. It was heart warming, comforting and so nice that it left his heart fuller then it had been in a long time.
"Yes, it was, but it was worth it." Aaron's eyes roamed over the train station, almost immediately spotting an old lady holding a sign that said his name on it. His full name, and Bianca's and Nico's. He could not help but gap for a second, afraid of what he was going to see or have to fight. Then he realized he recognized the being in question, her ugly face all too familiar to him. "Your ride is here." It was about here that he sensed her aura, the peppery dark twisted energy that only a Fury could manage. w
Bianca froze, following his eyes to where the Old Lady was holding the sign. "Her?"
"A powerful monster, but one loyal to your father. Trust me, you'll be safe with her. Come on." They moved towards the old lady, able to fully see her. She was wearing a suit, looking like a lawyer that served the most wicked of defendants. "Alecto, it's been a while." He said to her as they reached her.
The women cracked a smile. "It has. You did well, My master is quite pleased with you, both of you." She nodded to Meggy before turning to Nico and Bianca. "It is my turn to take you from here, after Aaron masks your scent. The spell is simple enough, and I brought the ingredients so he can cast the spell, but we need to go to safe space. Come with me, I will take you in my van."
They all followed Alecto out of the building and into a grey van before she zoomed away, into and out of traffic. She sped quickly, so they reached their destination, an empty field, in a matter of twenty minutes. It was dark out, the moon was bright but not full. It was a perfect night for magic. The field wasn't entirely empty, as it turned out. There was an altar with a bowl and pestle in it. An Athame glinted in the dark, Aaron could see it the moment they stopped in the field.
Bianca and Nico hesitantly left the van with him, approaching the altar along side Aaron and Meggy. Alecto followed behind, looking oddly pleased. She was in her element in the dark, under the glowing moon. The power of the Dark seemed to fill her, make her potent aura even greater. Or maybe Aaron was just imagining things, he wasn't sure.
"How do we do this? This cloaking spell..." Bianca asked, shivering with her arms wrapped around a still excited Nico.
Aaron walked over to the altar, picking up the knife. It's handle was iron but the blade was pure celestial bronze, so it would cut Meggy easily but was still wieldable by Aaron and his mortal self. " This isn't going to be very hard... I just need to mix some herbs and Meggy's blood, cast a quick spell and place a rune on your necks. It will mask your presence, masking your scent to all for about a year, to give you more time to prepare yourselves I imagine."
Bianca nodded. "Prepare ourselves... sure. Let's do this." Her tone was oddly faint, as if she could sense the dark magic that Aaron would have to draw on to cast the spell.
Without waiting, Aaron got to it. He mixed in the herbs, sage and jasmine and mint, into the bowl and ground it with the pestle. He then turned to his sister, who held out her hand without needing to be told. He grabbed her finger and pricked it, squeezing it so a few drops of blood fell into the herb mixture. Then he grabbed a cup of liquid, milk as it turned out, and poured it into the bowl.
"Alright, time for the spell... Fill me Agnes." Closing his eyes, he pulled from Agnes' power, letting the cold magic fill him. He felt and heard Agnes' near sexual moan, a product of her being able to temporarily share his breathe of life. " Levis atque divina inveneris in universa provincia sua larva sanguis. Levis atque divina inveneris in universa provincia sua larva sanguis. Levis atque divina inveneris in universa provincia sua larva sanguis." The bowl spun faster and faster as the magic built, his power draining more and more as fire danced into the life, burning the mixture until finally the magic halted and the fire evaporated into nothing, the work done. Aaron nearly collapsed, he had to hold onto the altar to for a moment to recover, to catch his breathe. "Wow, that was... anyway, get over here."
The kids approached, both nervous and shaking. He smiled at them, but realized he was probably looking terrifying with the white streak in his hair and his dead eyes. Bianca stepped forward first, in front of her brother. Her protectiveness was as admirable as it was unneeded.
Looking back into the bowl, which was now filled with a third less liquid that was also a deep black, he sighed before dipping his fingers into it. A cold rush of power, the power he poured into it, shot through him like a wave of ice. Pulling them out he reached out and slowly drew a rune on Bianca's neck, one for concealment and one for power. Instantly there was a swelling of power around her, the Mist doubling in strength. Her aura faded to nothing, she even looked less... intense, the features of her father seemingly muted.
She blinked, shivering. "I feel... colder, a little tired, but fine. Why?"
"Your powers have been muted as a result of the magic suppressing your aura, even your basic demgiods powers like enhanced strength, stamina and what not. Nico, your next." Nico approached and Aaron repeated the spell, painting the runes onto his skin, leaving both boys very tired and worn.
Both yawned loudly.
"Very good, I can barely sense their presence... "Alecto came near them, having been quietly standing to the side. She sniffed them both, getting a weird look from Bianca. "You did good work, child. Your actions will not be forgotten. My Master will reward you for this, I assure you. For now, you must be sent back to Camp. My master realizes you are tired and has agreed to send you back personally. Say your farewells."
To Aaron's shock, Bianca hugged him. "Thank you for... well everything. We might have been stuck in that place forever without you. And for masking us so we can have a safe life for a while. We really appreciate it."
He hugged her back. "Not a problem kiddo. Take care of each other." He turned and hugged Nico. " I will find you later, both of you, to start your lessons. Behave yourselves and stay safe, okay?"
"We'll try." Nico said, looking almost smug.
" Of course you will... "
Meggy squished both kids into a warm hug. "Meggy will miss both of you, so much. Your just so cute."
"We'll miss you too, Meggy."
Sighing, Aaron turned to Alecto. "Well, this is it I guess... send us home."
She nodded and waved her hand, and shadow over took him and Meggy. Like going through a roller coaster on a moonless night, they flew through darkness for what felt like an hour before finally they manifested in his room, landing softly on the floor. Aaron had to sit for a few extra moments to get past the wave of dizziness.
"Wow, that sucks."
"Yes, Meggy doesn't like that."
"Yeah... ugh... " He was pretty proud that neither of them puked as much as they wanted to. If nothing else, that was quite the accomplishment. But it left him wondering if he would ever learn to teleport and if so, how? But mostly, Aaron was wondering about Nico and Bianca, hoping all would go well for them and that he would get to see them again... he they did not bond that much but they were nice kids and he hoped they were happy.
They deserved it.
Gather in Mist and mask their divine blood