Amara-eternally beautiful

Amara has the guts to do what no one else does, openly curse the gods. She doesn't just speak ill of them, but many mortals, heroes, and half bloods. To make matters worse, she'll tell you to your face because she believes there's too little honesty in the world. The world, of course, doesn't see it this way.

It sees a ten year old girl who's beauty rivals that of a certain goddess with her long elegant black curls and soft lavender eyes. Amara smiles little, but has been told they out shine the sun and her laugh a melody of pure joy. Her talents refuse to halt at her appearance though, for she is the most intelligent on her island and her singing is vocal honey that all bees desire to hear. But her specialty, a gift few people admire in women, is natural magic. Because of this and her status on her island, she's often seen as stuck up or a deity no one should disturb. That was fine with Amara, who knows she's no better nor worse than the island's fellow inhabitants.

Amara sighs as looks over her books, in search of something unknown. She hears horrified squealing in the distance, and the light sound of foot falls on the sand.

"I know you are there mother."

The woman scoffs and plants herself next to Amara. Her black hair is held back unlike Amara's and her green eyes spark with possibilities. Amara knows this woman is where she received her desire to advance in her magical studies and become almost addicted to perfection. She smiles, which is nothing like her own because it's become a staple, and looks at her studies.

"Sometimes I wonder if it would kill you to relax."

Amara scrunches her brows and studies a particular passage. "Well, anything can kill me and I'd rather not ponder about it. But, someone like you can think about death without a care."

The staple reappears. "A perk of being a minor goddess, is having a daughter live with you without the wrath of ancient laws."

Amara rolls her eyes, then they light up. "Found it!"

Her mother looks at the page in question and looks terrified. She snatches the book away. "Amara, where did you find this?"

She ignores her mother's anger and worry. "Your collection, which you let me enter years ago if you happen to forget. Now, can you please-"

"No." Her voice is hard like celestial bronze. "This is dark magic, and it always comes with a curse or sacrifice of sorts."

She crosses her arms. "You do it all the time."

Her face softens just a bit. "As an immortal, it does not effect me. You are a half blood and when your older you'll understand."

Amara's face gets red and her voices turns from annoyed to bitter. "Yes, on my death bed I'll understand why you stopped me from creating immortality-"

"Amara, listen to-"

"When I look back and see a lonely and pathetic life-"

"Young lady I swear-"

"Filled with things I could never do and the broken dream of fo-"

"That's enough!" Amara closes her mouth. "Go to your room this instant and don't you dare speak about your naive quest for immortality."

Amara backs away from her mother before she can see the heart break in Amara's eyes. All she wants is to be with her mother and help her run the sorceress school long past mortal barriers. Clearly, her mother didn't understand those wishes or just doesn't care.

Anger and rebellion flow through her when she gets to her chamber. Amara heads over to her supplies and starts a potion fire.

"I will not speak of it, but that doesn't stop me from doing it."

She works from sunset to sunset for days on end, mixing and chanting over her creation. On the sixth moon rise, the potion is done. She doesn't utter the name of her work, but silently declares it liquid immortality. She's about to down it when a voice speaks to her.

"Not so fast granddaughter."

Amara turns to see Hecate who holds her torches with pride. She stands there frozen before kneeling before the mother of all magic.

"None of that Amara, I came here because Circe is right when it comes to black magic. You must sacrifice one of three things and stick to your word if you wish to live forever."

Amara gulps. "I am prepared to do so."

Hecate nods and a vision appears of her crawling and running around like a madman. "You can give up your mind." A second vision appears where she is lame like the god of fire and having trouble holding a simple coin. "You can give up your body." The final vision appears with her alone in a place filled with couples. "Or You can give up your heart. But be warned, if you try to regain what you've given up or it is bestowed upon you, death will come when you know and accept what has happened."

"And if I don't accept it?"

Hecate smiles. "You lose the other two, then die in massive pain."

Amara looks at the three options. She would keep her mind, because she had invested far too much in it for all her years of knowledge to be lost. She would also keep her body, because she needed to do basic things or else she could never make potions. That left her heart, and after years of seeing people broken by love, dangerous lust, and her mother's lack of it, she felt like she was gaining far more than losing.

"I give up my heart."

"Swear it on the river."

"I swear on the River Styx to give up my heart in exchange for immortality." Thunder sounded in approval and Hecate had vanished. Amara picked up the potion and sipped every last drop. She felt stronger, more powerful.

Amara grabbed a small bag and put everything inside to take with her. After all, her mother wouldn't let her stay after defying her wishes. She headed down to the beach and looked upon the open ocean.

She slowly walked into the water until it was at her neck. Amara closed her eyes and hopes that she has the power to change her form. She opens her eyes and smiles a smile no sees as she stares beneath her. Amara dives under and decides to find a place under the sea for herself where she can practice her magic, so she starts her journey with a flick of her tail.

The great thing about immortality is that time doesn't affect Amara like the rest of the mortal world. She took all the time she needed to master her lavender tail, advance her magic skills even further, find a permanent cave, collect items, and so on. Yet, she has aged to eighteen and stopped, because that's where she feels most comfortable.

The only downside is that she has a reputation for not only being the best witch in the sea, but as a cold hearted beauty. It's not Amara's fault mermen and gods alike fall for her, and she doesn't want to hurt them but she also doesn't want to die. Thankfully, people stop asking for her hand after sixty years, or was it seventy?

So, her life goes on as she helps people out with their problems for a fair price agreed on by both parties. The only thing Amara refuses to do is mess with someone's love life because that could alter fate a bit too much.

Today, Amara is finishing a potion to repair a torn fin when someone disturbs her. A bur of black, skin, and sea green jets into her cave into one of her shelves. Amara raises her hand and sends the bottles back to the shelf before they can be broken. She then glares at the figure about her age in appearance rubbing his messy black hair with confusion in his sea green eyes.

"Can I help you with something?"

The figure looks up at her, then gapes and blushes. "Um sorry, I was looking for the sea-witch."

Amara face-palms. "That's me, you idiot."

Sadly, he still looks confused. "But you've been here over a century. Shouldn't you have grey hair or something?"

Amara looks annoyed. "I can look anyway I want half blood of Poseidon."

The boy laughs. "No, he's my grandfather, I'm Triton's son."

Amara rolls her eyes and bottles her finished potion. "Could have fooled me, and I'm guessing Poseidon sent you to me."

The boy nods and follows her to a sitting area. "I asked him to make me human-"

Amara doesn't mean to, but she laughs. "Why would you want to be human? The lifespan is half of that of a merman."

"Really?" He doesn't look as concerned as she thought he would be. "That's probably why he refused to make me human. He said you could do it though."

"Again, why do you want to do this? It's a very complicated and permanent potion for a non magic user. You would never be able to see your home again and you'd be trapped in a world you don't understand. So why?"

He awkwardly rubs the back of his neck and his tail starts nervously flicking. "There's this girl-"

The word leaves her mouth like a reflex. "No."

He freezes before a minute and then looks Amara in the eyes with a certain twinkle. She sees that he needs this and wants this more than anything. The mere thought of losing this girl, and confirmation of this, will destroy him. Then the fear and hurt turns to anger.

"Why not! I journeyed months to find you and sold everything but my soul to get here!"

Amara refused to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry for your troubles and I could help you-"

"Yes, you very much could help me but you refuse to do so. Maybe your not so great a witch after all."

Amara glared at him, but held her tongue. He's just tired, disappointed, and frustrated from his travels. His ranting continues past lunch, but time is no limit to her. Finally, he concludes his angry lecture.

"You just like my grandfather, you act like you care about me but you don't."

Amara crosses her arms. "Feel any better now?"

His tail keeps flicking as he catches his breath. "No, because I'm worse off than when I started. At this rate, I'll never be with Rakel."

Amara understands his longing, for she felt the same way about immortality. "Do you...love Rakel?"

He looks at his tail. "I care deeply for her, though we've only met a few times and she doesn't know I'm a merman. If given the chance and time, I'm sure I'll love her with all my heart."

Well, his honesty is refreshing. Amara sighs and hopes she isn't making the worst decision ever. "I'll help you." His head snaps and he swims over to hug the life out of her. She can hear him saying "thank you" over and over again into her hair. "But you have to help me get the ingredients and in exchange for that, I'll explain how humans live. If it doesn't work out half blood, I'll just make you a helper for three years."

He removes his head from her hair and smiles down upon her with such thanks it could warm her empty heart. "Thank you so much sea-witch."

She can't help but laugh as she looks into his eyes. "Please, call me Amara."

"Well Amara, I'm Pericles."

It took months to get all the supplies and it's taken months to train Pericles in the ways of humans. Amara has never felt happier helping anyone or had a closer friend. Maybe that's why she's sad he's leaving tomorrow to ask Rakel for her hand. Because, while they will still be friends hopefully, it won't just be the two of them doing stuff together due to his soon to be wife.

Amara sighs as she watches the waves caress the sand of the beach. She hears Pericles walk over to her, because he will never quite master tip toeing without making noise, and calmly sits down next to her. She rests her head on his shoulder, he wraps an arm around her waist, and the two of them watch the waves.

They're both too stubborn to confess their doubts and insecurities about what will occur at sunrise. Amara herself has all these feelings she doesn't understand and can't hope to find the words for. As the first light of the sun appears, Amara clutches Pericles in the tightest hug she's ever given and he whispers into her hair words that she wishes weren't real.

He lifts her up from the cool sand and carries her to the ocean in his warm arms. Amara places her head to his chest and hears his heartbeat that matches her own. He wades them out to where she can safely transform, because they both agreed long ago he needed to make the journey alone.

His head turns and his eyes bring her back to the day they first met. This time, Pericles's eyes are much bright and hold so much more sadness to them. Amara feels like the world is on her chest and she doesn't know why.

Pericles lowers her fully and she shifts into a mermaid, something she hasn't down in months so Pericles wouldn't grieve over losing his family forever. They still hold each other and the sun is half way in the sky.

His voice cracks as he speaks to her. "Promise you'll visit me."

Amara knew there were unsaid words he wanted to say, but she didn't have the courage to tell him this. "I promise."

The two hug for what will be the last time in who knows how long, before they silently let the other slip away in the opposite direction.

It took Amara longer than expected, and wanted, to reach Rakel's city by the shore. In fact, what should have been a week's worth of strolling had taken so much time she had lost track.

On the first day, Amara couldn't feel her right fin. By the end of day two, she couldn't use it at all. This kept happening until she could only swim at random, and very short distances. Because of this, she couldn't eat properly and started to see things. Actually, the only thing she saw was Pericles who she would always swim towards until he would disappear in her grasp.

So when she finally reached the city, she had no idea how to feel. Amara was in the form a human, just sitting on the surf because she didn't have the strength to go farther. Eventually, a male toddler, maybe four, with frizzy brown hair and sea green eyes finds her there.

He sits in front of her, ruining his expense clothes, with a bright smile that looks so close to the one that has been haunting her.

"Why are you all alone miss?"

Amara feels something inside her snap and tears start falling like rain in a storm. The little boy is taken a back and hugs her.

"Please don't cry miss."

Amara holds the little boy in her arms tight as the tears get smaller. Strangely, he doesn't protest as she strokes his hair and sings in a raspy voice about her father, who left her mother to return to his faithful wife. She realizes that the first time she heard this story is when she stopped believing in love. Because if love is real why did a man not stay true to his wife and leave her there with her mother.

"Maceo! Maceo where are you!"

Her eyes fully open and any proof of crying is gone like magic. Amara knows that voice, though it's far off, and looks down at the little boy in her arms. Those eyes and the smile, gods she's an idiot.

She tilts his face up to look at her. "I need you to go home Maceo."

"But my father-"

"I need to talk to him about something, and from the looks of it, I should have told him years ago."

The boy looks troubled by this. "You won't take him away from me and mother."

Amara fixes the boy's hair and holds in the fact the his mother took Pericles from her. "I can't take him away, and he can't come with me."

"Maceo!"

The voice is nearer, probably just behind the bend and whispers one command to the boy. "Go." He dashes off making sand go everywhere, but at least he's off the beach.

"Mac-Amara?"

She turns to see him there, older by years from when they parted and starting to grow a beard. She tries to smile, but it turns into a wince when she tries to get up. Pericles gets the message and runs like his son to her side. He touches her face, as if she might be a mirage.

He picks her up just like that day and Amara can feel that their hearts still beat the same. Pericles looks at her full of concern and worry.

"I thought you broke your promise."

Amara uses her good hand to hold his face. "It's only been like five years."

"And a few months. Gods, what happened to you Amara?"

Amara feels like lightning has struck with knowledge because she finally knows why this is happening but wishes it had a different ending. "When I was ten, I made myself immortal." She feels Pericles almost drop her, but he recovers.

"That's why you're still the same."

She nods. "But I had to give something up in return and if by some reason I got it back, I would die."

He holds her tighter. "Maybe not, we could-"

"I swore on Styx Pericles, and if I didn't accept it, I would lose control of my mind and body."

She feels something wet hit her head and she knows he's crying. Amara tries to wipe them away, but her hand starts to feel numb.

"What did you give up Amara?"

Amara pulls his lips down to hers and kisses him with all the love that shouldn't be in her veins. He kisses her back and cups her face so she doesn't waste strength. When they pull apart, their eyes lock.

"I love you Pericles."

She feels so tired and starts to drift away from the mortal world.

"Don't leave me Amara, I love you too."

"Someday Pericles, we'll be together and I'll never leave you with or for another."

Amara tries to shift into a mermaid, but never makes it there. She dies in the form of sea foam hearing a man crying for his love and a boy screaming.

Nina moves her head to the right and hurls salt water from her body, not caring where it came from, and proceeds to begin sobbing.

Amara didn't deserve that, and if she ever met Aphrodite she'd tell the goddess she was a cold hearted selfish b-witch. The weird thing was Nina knew they wouldn't have met if Amara hadn't became immortal, which led to her death. She had to die though, because a relationship with a mortal and a god doesn't end with vows.

Still, Nina knew the face of Pericles. Though it was a lot younger and had different eyes, it was Peter. Holy Styx, Peter was her soulmate! Nina blushes at her the thought because he's her best friend and secret crush.

Nina suddenly feels tired so she rests her head. Her eyes close to the smell of blood and screams.

Rakel-Rachel

Pericles-Percy

I've been looking forward to this life for a while. Everyone here knows the drill and I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween. Also, the life count is wrong and since I can't fix the last two I'm just going to say now that Lia is 6, Mneme is 7, and Amara is the real 8. Snack bar? Snack bar.