A/N: Hey guys! Welcome to this story! It's my first story that I'll actively dedicate myself to. Hope you'll enjoy it! It's just a bunch of ideas meshed into one in this PJO fanfic, so I apologize for it being cringe and/or rushed. This takes place in an AU between the events of The Last Olympian and the Lost Hero. So all the stuff that happened previously is canon and still matters!
It's probably going to be cringey, as it is one of my first ever stories on this website.
Disclaimer: I don't own the right to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, only my OC, sadly enough. I'd be very rich tho.
Btw, this is a complete rewrite of the first chapter.
Chapter 1: Shadows of the Past
The night was draped in shadows as I faced off against the hellhound, its red eyes gleaming with malice. My sword swung through the air with a deadly arc, a dance of death that I was accustomed to. As the monstrous mutt lunged at me, teeth bared, I sidestepped with a grim determination, feeling the rush of hot breath against my cheek. I couldn't help but smirk morbidly, my gaze absently tracing the tiny scar on the left corner of my mouth—a memento from a previous encounter with a hellhound. Funny how things come full circle.
"Sebastian Oluwabamigbe Isibor," I introduced myself to the beast, my voice dripping with a morbid sarcasm that echoed through the desolate area near the Lotus Hotel and Casino. "Son of Hades, at your service." The hellhound growled in response, seemingly unimpressed by my humor. It circled me, a predatory glint in its eyes, and I sighed theatrically. "You really need a better sense of humor," I muttered, my mind momentarily wandering over the scar on my mouth, a token of the first time I faced a creature from the underworld. The hellhound lunged again, and with effortless grace, I dodged its attack, utilizing the shadows that clung to my every step to create several tendrils to impale the ugly creature. I could feel the scar on my mouth twitching as I dodged another attack. It was like my own personal reminder that I was never truly alone.
With a quick, practiced motion, I struck, aiming for the hellhound's flank. The creature howled, its form flickering as the shadows cut through it. A grin played on my lips as it dissolved into golden dust. I grinned, watching the dust scatter in the wind. "Nice try, Fido, but another one bites the dust" I quipped to no one in particular, surveying the now empty and eerily quiet surroundings, and brushing off my hands. The shadows retreated, leaving me alone in the alley. With a last glance at the spot where the hellhound had met its end, I turned and walked away. Deciding that a night of peaceful sleep was long overdue, I headed towards a nearby hotel, deliberately avoiding the infamous Lotus Hotel—I had spent enough time there already.
Exhaustion hung heavy on my shoulders, but I knew sleep wouldn't bring peace. Dreams were never kind to me, especially not after everything that happened. The hotel room, though a temporary respite, couldn't keep the nightmares at bay. I collapsed onto the bed, darkness swallowing me as the dreams began. At first, it was a slideshow of my life—my mother's smile, the abuse, the moment I discovered my powers. But then, like a twisted carousel, the images morphed into eldritch nightmares. I relived my mother's death in agonizing detail, each loop more tormenting than the last. It felt like mental torture, and I fought against the suffocating memories until I was jolted awake. Sweat covered my forehead, and my breaths came in ragged gasps. I woke up in a cold sweat, the echoes of her death still ringing in my ears. I needed to clear my mind, to calm the storm within me. Shaking off the haunting dreams, I decided to go on a lovely midnight stroll through the busy streets of Las Vegas.
The night air was cool as I wandered aimlessly, neon lights casting long shadows. Eventually, my feet led me to an arid, desolate landscape that seemed to stretch on forever. That's when I sensed her—an otherworldly presence that sent shivers down my spine. Hecate, the goddess of magic, stood before me, a figure of ethereal beauty that captivated my senses. My heart skipped a beat and despite my dark skin, I could feel a blush creeping onto my face. "Was she really that beautiful", I wondered. "Sebastian Isibor," she spoke, her voice carrying the weight of ancient wisdom.
I stood there, silent for a few seconds, unable to speak out of pure awe and amazement. "Why are you here?" I blurted out, my words stumbling over each other in my haste. She regarded me with an enigmatic gaze, and for a moment, silence hung in the air. "I sense turmoil in you, child of Hades," Hecate finally spoke. Her voice was like a melody, and I found myself captivated by it. Her eyes bore into mine, and I felt a chill run down my spine. "Your mind and heart aren't walking the same path," she continued, leaving me contemplative. Before I could form a coherent question, she interrupted my thoughts.
"Why?" I asked, a bit impulsively. Hecate's response was cryptic, a riddle that left me more confused than enlightened. "Go on a journey, young one. Seek yourself, for your mind and heart must align. Soul-searching, as mortals call it." As she spoke, she offered tips on manipulating the Mist—an ability I knew little about but was eager to explore, advice I knew would come in handy. With a final, cryptic farewell, Hecate vanished, leaving me alone in the arid landscape.
Back in the hotel, I pondered her words. What did she mean? Was it about the unresolved issues with my father, the nightmares that haunted me, or something else entirely? With a sigh, I decided to take her advice. I needed to find myself, whatever that hotel called me back, not for rest but for something I truly needed—golden drachmas. In the room, I gathered what I deemed necessary, the essentials: a plastic card with unlimited money (received from the cashier in that dreaded time jail), food, water, drinks, medicine, and a pouch filled with golden drachmas.
As I stuffed my loot into a big brown backpack stolen from someone at the Lotus Hotel and Casino, I overlooked a silver rose pendant hidden amongst my loot—a detail that would prove significant later. With my makeshift arsenal secured, I set my sights on leaving Las Vegas. Celestial bronze weapons were straight trash, although they were useful to fight; I never felt connected to them and those things couldn't channel my powers. I needed something else, something that resonated with me.
Leaving Las Vegas behind, I wandered towards Barstow, or at least I hoped it was east. I cursed myself for not having a map of the USA. What could possibly go wrong? Barstow greeted me with an unfamiliar face, a woman holding a strange device. As I was eyeing the device in her hand suspiciously, my curiosity got the better of me, and I approached her on the street. "What's that?" I pointed at the small rectangle she held. She looked at me with a deadpan expression. "It's a phone, kid. You seriously don't know what a phone is?" I returned the favor by giving her a deep stare.
"Your eyes are so dark for a kid who looks eleven," she remarked, breaking the tension. In my attempt to comprehend her explanation, I accidentally pressed the call button before hastily canceling the call, sensing something ominous—an unsettling energy that lingered in the air. A massive dust cloud loomed on the horizon, accompanied by hellhounds and dracaenae. What have I stumbled upon?
Pushing the woman away, I sprinted as fast as I could. Panic set in, and I decided to head back to Vegas. The monsters closed in, but I saw a shadow close to a tree. Without a second thought, I leaped into it, reappearing through another shadow. Panting heavily, I looked around, initially confused before sighing in relief. "I really need to get a map," I muttered to myself, realizing that my journey was just beginning. Deciding to test my newfound ability, I attempted to shadow travel again. Denver, this time. The shadows embraced me, and I collapsed from exhaustion as I emerged in a new city.
As I lay there, panting and disoriented, I couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead on this unplanned journey. I had no map, no clear destination, just the road stretching out before me. But I was determined to find answers, to align my mind and heart on this quest of self-discovery.
So, that marks the end of the first chapter, or well, the rewrite of said chapter. My scheldule's quite hectic nowadays, so I can't promise that I'll post frequent updates. Please read and review, it would really help me out as I'm still figuring out how to write all of this stuff in a cohesive way. I'd appreciate every bit of critisicm, thank you :)