Hades, apparently, wanted to flex his wealth.

I'd expected to go to the normal shops that we usually went to downtown, but he took us by the arm and shook his head. "Today, I will treat you, children," he said, and took us to the upper part of town, where the rich roamed in their flouncy skirts and wide, floppy hats.

We looked like street rats compared to them, what with our dull clothes and wide eyes at everything around us.

Honestly, though: how else were we supposed to react?

We've never been to the upper town before, and being surrounded by such wealth was frightening.

Bianca and I clasped our hands and pulled each other close as we walked, apprehensive. Most of the rich people eyed us with something akin to disgust, like, ugh, who brought these things here?

Bianca squeezed my hand in comfort. "It's alright, Callie," she whispered. "Pa will take care of us." I nodded, swallowing. "Uh huh." It didn't stop me from swinging my gaze around nervously, trying to spot any monsters amongst the crowd.

Since I was the only one of my siblings who was aware of what I was, my scent was a lot stronger than theirs — which meant that if there was a monster here, it would probably come after me first.

And wasn't that a cheerful thought, I thought sarcastically. Thanks a lot, brain.

We walked for a bit until we reached the town square. Hades spread his arms grandly. "Go on," he told us. "You may buy whatever you wish."

A long pause.

Hades groaned. Clearly, he had expected a better response than us just standing there awkwardly.

"Di immortales," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Have you children never been shopping before?"

"We have," Bianca said, speaking up. "But never, uh, in the upper town before." She cast a look at her surroundings. Clearly, she was a little intimidated too, despite her attempts to reassure me.

Maybe my paranoid behaviour had started rubbing off on her. Oops.

Hades shook his head. "No children of mine shall be scared of riches," he said, frowning. "It is sacrilege! Go on. I am not tricking you. You really may buy whatever you want."

Shyly, Nico walked to the closest store and peered into the glass window, gazing wide-eyed at the cards that were on display, shimmering in the sunlight. "Mythomagic," he read out, before looking up at me, excited. "It looks like fun!"

I hid a grin behind my hand.

And heeeere we go.

He was not going to be getting rid of that game for a long time.

To our surprise, Hades didn't even wait to ask if Nico wanted the game, he just strode inside and came out a few minutes later, holding the entire display of cards in his hands. He handed them to Nico, who looked like he'd been struck with lightning. He stared at the cards in his hands for a solid minute, almost as if he couldn't believe they were real, before tucking them reverently into his pocket, mouth agape.

He couldn't stop chattering about the game for the entire trip, awed by its colourful designs.

Bolder now that Hades had made good on his promise, we hesitantly began exploring the town. Bianca was spotted ogling a cute green cap, and in a few seconds was wearing it on top of her head. Nico purchased an aviator jacket and wore it happily as they skipped down the street.

Hades looked at me. "And what shall your purchase be, daughter?" His tone made it clear that we wouldn't be leaving until I bought something, which honestly irked me a little – if I didn't want to get anything, that was entirely my business, not his.

I wanted to ask why he was doing this so badly, but I kept quiet for everyone else's sake. All things considered, this trip was going pretty well, and I wasn't about to be the one who ruined everything — even though I felt a horrible sense of trepidation about whatever was coming next.

"Oh, look," Hades pointed to a store that sold embroidered dresses, and I snapped out of my thoughts. "Perhaps you'd like one of those?"

I turned my head to look and immediately winced the moment I spotted the sequins plastered all over the dresses.

Torture in disguise, I couldn't help but think with a shudder. I had no clue how those ladies in the magazines tolerated those things. "No, thanks."

I looked over at the store beside that one, and my eyes widened.

A coat, dark as night, hung down from a display. I quickly looked away before Hades could notice, but I couldn't help but think how similar it looked to the coat that Sherlock Holmes, my favourite book series from this life, wore. I imagined ducking my face into it and pretending I was a detective too, solving mysteries with my twin sister, Bianca, and my assistant, Nico.

I snorted at the silly thought. Don't be stupid. You know better than that.

I wasn't ever going to be able to become a detective — ever.

My life's path had already been chosen, and it was to be hunted by monsters from the moment of my birth to my deathbed.

"She wants the coat," Bianca interrupted my thoughts, pointing to the display. I jerked. "What?" And then I flushed in embarrassment. She had pointed to the very coat I'd been fantasizing about. "How did you know?" I asked, ducking my head to avoid looking like a tomato on two legs.

Bianca snorted. "You've never looked so awestruck before in your entire life."

I folded my arms, but Hades had already disappeared into the shop. He gave it to me, and I sighed in resignation, taking it from him and cautiously shrugging it on.

My sourness disappeared as the soft inside of the coat pressed against my skin, and my shoulders relaxed. It was a rather good coat.

I supposed I should thank Hades for getting it.

"Thank you, Pa," I said awkwardly, giving him a small side-hug. Hades patted my back absent-mindedly, apparently not minding my shortness with him.

Thank the gods — I cast a look at Hades and quickly cut the thought off. Could the gods actually hear me when I said that?

I decided I didn't want to find out.

We wandered around for a bit more before heading back home.

Hades presented Ma with a bouquet of flowers and a beautiful new dress, and then bade us goodbye. Bianca and Nico had been distraught, since they'd thought he'd finally stay, but I knew better. The less Hades interacted with us, the safer we were from the wrath of the other gods.

I only wished I knew what was going on.

Why had Hades shown up so randomly and then left, just like that?

—-

The answer was made clear in a week, when Hades showed up — again.

It was obvious that he wasn't here to take us on another shopping trip.

He pulled Ma aside into the hall and spoke to her in whispers that I could not discern. Ma argued, and Hades argued back, and the bickering continued for a while before Ma gave up and they came back into the room. Hades took a long look at us children before walking away without another word.

I rushed to Ma. "What happened?"

"Bianca, Callie, Nico," Ma started, sighing and sitting down next to the table. My twin and younger brother sensed the seriousness in her voice and inched closer, worried. "You must pack your bags. Tomorrow, we leave for the United States."

Instantly, we erupted in protests.

"The United States?" Nico echoed, frowning. "Why the United States?" His voice became louder, more panicked. "Ma, that's so far away!"

Bianca lay an arm on his shoulder. "One moment, Nico," she said, before furrowing her brow at Ma. Her voice was calm, but I could detect a tremble of fear in it. "Is it because of the war, Ma?"

Ma shot a sharp look at her for speaking about it in front of Nico.

"No, Bianca. There is no war," she said firmly, making sure to have eye contact with me as she spoke, a clear warning in her expression. "Your father simply wishes us to be closer to him, that's all."

Yeah, right. Wasn't the entrance to the Underworld in Los Angeles?

As far as I knew, Ma was taking us to Washington, D.C. It was nowhere near Hades.

(But…maybe that was for the best?)

Bianca looked like she wanted to argue, but I surreptitiously shook my head over the top of Nico's head, and she decided to keep silent, heeding my unspoken message.

(Not here. Not in front of Nico).

"Very well, Ma," she said with a sigh, taking my hand. "We'll go pack."

"Bianca, is there really a war going on?" Nico asked quietly as she led us to our room. My twin sister shook her head, smiling to reassure us. "No, of course not, Nico. I was just being silly."

Nico shot a dubious look over his shoulder at me, and I just smiled at him convincingly. "She's right, piccolo," I admonished gently.

I knew better, of course.

It was the year 1940 now.

World War Two had begun.

We reached Washington, D.C. by boat, and apparently Poseidon was so preoccupied with the world war that he forgot to sink us.

I mean, I definitely wasn't complaining.

The half-year that we spent there was just a flurry of getting used to America.

Compared to Italy, this place was practically an alien world.

We lived in a posh hotel that was only minutes away from the school Bianca, Nico and I had been enrolled in, and slowly, we began to get used to our new lives.

Of course, I should've known it couldn't last.

Hades had left us alone after the whole moving event, but just as we got settled, he showed up again, looking rather harried.

We kids had been playing a few feet away from Ma, but when he'd entered, I'd looked up to see what was going on — and I would've realized, if not for Bianca, who shook her head in warning.

"Don't, Callie," she muttered. "It could be about," she lowered her voice, "you know, the war."

We both cast looks at Nico as she said it. He didn't seem to notice, still chatting to himself as he laid out the Mythomagic cards. I let out a breath, tearing my gaze away. "Very well."

I dutifully tuned them out, but couldn't help but freeze when I heard the words, "Certamente. We will stay together. Zeus is un imbecile."

I shot to my feet, looking like I'd just been tasered. "Callie!" Bianca jerked her head up, surprised, but I was hyperventilating.

Memories from my past life ripped through my head, and I remembered.

A conversation. The lightning bolt. A wall of impenetrable darkness. The charred remains of the hotel.

And my mother, reduced to a blackened spot on the ground.

I managed to tune myself back into reality just in time to hear Ma say, "You will not lose me. Wait for me while I get my purse. Watch the children."

She began to walk away, and I rushed to her, screaming, "Ma, NO!"

She half-turned, confused, before my tiny body slammed into her. Not a second too late, the hotel exploded, a streak of white-hot pain suddenly flaring in my shoulder. My head banged hard against a solid surface, and my vision went black, agony coursing through my veins.

But there was only one thing that I thought of as I sank into unconsciousness, bleak and distraught. I hadn't been able to do it. I couldn't save her.

Ma…

Ma was dead.

Hello, guys! This is actually my first AN on this story, so I wanted to take a moment to thank DaughterofTime14, DannyPhantom619, CrystalAris and pendora59 for reviewing! Your kind words have encouraged me to write further! Thank you so much!

To all the new readers out there, I hope you like my story!

Here's some lore for those interested (skip if you don't want to listen to me rant lol): Callie had been stuck in my head for a very long time, and finally, she's out. There's actually several versions of her that I've written down, one where she's Nico's twin, and another where she's actually a daughter of Apollo. Ultimately, however, the version of her as Bianca's twin sister had been written the most, so I decided to continue this one.

So I just have one question for you guys: should I post the other versions of Callie as well? Would you be interested in that?

Thank you once again for reading, and I'd appreciate your thoughts on this! Constructive criticism is very welcome as long as it's not too harsh :)