Hey everyone! I got a new chapter for you all! I hope you all enjoy it.
"Leaving already?" Sirius asked Percy, coming up behind him on the hill.
"What?" Percy asked, jumping slightly. He turned around. "Oh, Sirius." Percy immediately relaxed. "I guess I am."
Since Percy had arrived at Camp Half-Blood, he and Sirius had been spending a lot of time together. Most of the campers avoided Sirius for being a son of Thanatos, and since Percy had been claimed by Poseidon, people had been treating the younger demigod like a pariah as well.
"Have you been on a quest before?" Percy asked. His voice had a slight nervous waver to it.
Sirius looked over his shoulder at Annabeth and Grover before turning back to Percy.
"Does going into Manhattan to give Chiron a letter from my dad count?" he asked, grinning slightly. Percy almost laughed. "No," Sirius sighed. "I haven't. And, I must admit, I don't envy you in the slightest."
"Thanks," Percy grumbled, nudging Sirius' side with his shoulder. "Big help you are."
"I do try," Sirius said, biting his lip to keep from laughing. "Anyway, you have a weapon or do you need one?"
"Chiron gave me a sword," Percy said. He pulled a bronze pen from his pocket and uncapped it. Sirius' eyes widened as the pen elongated into a three-foot long celestial bronze sword.
"Nice," Sirius grinned. His hand went to the sword the hung from his belt, a stygian iron beauty his father had gifted him. "You like it?"
"It's great," Percy agreed. He capped the pen. "I'm scared, Sirius," he said, speaking in a more hushed tone. "What if we fail."
"First of all," Sirius said, throwing in arm around Percy's shoulders, "it's bad luck to talk like that." Sirius squeezed Percy's shoulder and dropped his arm. He shoved his fists into his pockets awkwardly. "And if you need anything," he said, shuffling his feet, "you can always IM me. I'll do my best to get you some help."
"Thanks a lot, Sirius," Percy said, a huge smile lighting up his face. "That means a lot to me."
"Yeah," Sirius grinned. He clapped Percy on the back. "Now go get 'em kid," he said. Percy ran off.
Day one without Percy was pretty bad as far as Sirius was concerned. The day went normally, but it was like something was missing. It was kind of like at Hogwarts on the days after the full moon when Remus wasn't there. Everything was the same, but something was missing.
"You alright, Sirius," Silena asked, sitting next to Sirius on the beach. Beckendorf sat down on the other side of her.
"Fine," Sirius said. "Just kind of bored, you know."
"No," Beckendorf said, looking at Sirius curiously. "I don't."
"Well, you're you," Sirius grumbled. He leaned back on the sand and put his hands under his head, closing his eyes against the bright sun. "You both are cool and have tons of friends. People don't stare at you like you're a freak. I'm just the creepy son of Thanatos."
"Screw them," Silena grumbled, tossing her long hair irritatedly over her shoulder. "You've got me, Charlie, Clarisse, Luke, Chris, Travis, and Connor. So what if the rest of Camp doesn't talk to you. They're shallow dirt bags."
"Dirt bags?" Sirius asked, cracking a bit of a smile.
"Shut up," Silena grumbled, smacking her hand lightly against Sirius' chest. Sirius and Beckendorf both broke out in laughter.
Sirius sighed as he looked around the dusty room. As the days went on he was becoming even more bored. It had gotten so bad Chiron had sent him up to the attic to clean. All the walls of the room was a bunch of old trophies from quests long passed. The other wall was blank except for a stool. A dried up old mummy sat atop it.
The Oracle, Luke had warned Sirius. Aside from Percy, he was the only other demigod who still went to Camp Half-Blood that had seen the mummified woman. Sirius was almost shocked by the mummy's looks. When Luke had told him about her, Sirius had pictured a humanoid figure wrapped in bandages like in the old movie The Mummy. Instead, the Oracle looked like an old hippy woman who had been freeze-dried for a few years now. Dust had collected on her body. Sirius shuddered as he turned away from there. Being the son of the god of death did not make the mummy any less horrifying to look at.
Sirius tried to focus on the task at hand. He had dusted an entire shelf before he gave in and turned back to face the mummy. He could almost feel her watching him. Even with the feel of eyes of his back, though, Sirius was not prepared for the glowing green eyes that were staring directly at him when he turned; nor, was he prepared for the green smoke that spewed from the mummy's mouth or the raspy voice.
Prince of Death, the voice hissed, and the smoke twisted into a raven, flying to Sirius' shoulder. He shivered violently at the heat seeping through the thin cloth of his tee shirt. Have you come to seek your destiny?
"No," Sirius said vehemently, shaking his head, letting his curls fly. "No destiny, just cleaning. See." Sirius held up the rag he had been using to dust, and the voice let out a raspy laugh.
Yes, the voice said, but I can feel you. Feel your curiosity and wonder. You wonder why the campers avoid you. Why is it they cower when you walk by? You even wonder why your father had you in the first place. He couldn't possibly have actually loved your mother, could he have?
"How do you know all this?" Sirius demanded. He took a step back from the mummy, and the smoke raven flew from his shoulder.
The raven grew, changing from a bird to a beautiful woman in a Greek chiton.
Prince of Death, you have come to the Oracle's domain. Approach seeker, and ask.
Sirius' feet took on a mind of their own and they approached the woman made of smoke. Sirius found himself kneeling at her feet, head bowed.
"What is my purpose in this world?" Sirius asked, not even bothering to wonder how he knew the words to say.
To end the pain of those who suffer, child, the voice said, the raspiness clearing into something more soothing. You have been brought to this world to help your father send on those in pain to the Underworld.
"Why me?" Sirius found himself asking, gazing up intently at the smoke woman's face. "Why not another sibling of mine? My father has had to have children before me!"
You are the Prince of Death.
"You keep calling me that," Sirius grumbled, "but I don't even know what that means!"
Sirius Black, your fate was carved out many years ago. Few know the prophecy of the Prince of Death, child. You will be strong. The strongest one of all the the children of Death. You will do well.
The mist dissipated, and the glowing eyes of the mummy went out. Sirius jumped to his feet instantly. He didn't hesitate more than a second before running from the room.
Sirius didn't stop running until he reached the edge of the forest. He didn't notice his father standing behind him until the god spoke.
"You have spoken with the Oracle, Sirius," the god said. Sirius jumped and turned around.
"Can you not do that?!" Sirius whisper yelled. "It's bad enough the creepy mummy lady already freaked me out! Do you have to do it too?"
"I apologize, my son," Thanatos said in that deep voice of his. "I did not mean to frighten you."
"Whatever," Sirius grumbled, crossing his arms in front of him. "It doesn't matter. I have questions."
"Do you?" Thanatos asked with a raised brow.
"Yeah," Sirius said, glaring at his father. He could practically feel the man's silent laughter. "What did she mean when she said I was the strongest out of all your kids?"
"That's quite simple, my boy," Thanatos said, smiling almost smugly. "You are the most powerful demigod I have ever sired. You control all aspects of my domain, death and the darkness that surrounds it."
"You've got to be kidding me," Sirius groaned. "Can't I just have a normal freaking life!"
"That's not a part of the deal with being a demigod."
"I never signed up to be one," Sirius scowled, glaring at his father. "I was perfectly content with being a wizard."
"Sometimes we cannot choose our destinies, Sirius," Thanatos sighed. "I suppose it is time to start your training."
Reviews:
DarkKitsuneFluffy: I hoped you liked the fluff in this chapter too! Next chapter, there will be a little darkness.
DaughteroftheHuntress: Thanks! There will be Percabeth. Sirius and Annabeth will just be friends. At first, Sirius will be paired with Marlene McKinnon, but in the sequel, things will be...well, you'll just have to keep reading. ;)