Pillars of the Earth
Cheyenne, Wyoming, May 31st, 1995
David couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as he watched the clock's minute hand ticked closer and closer to the 12. 'At last,' he thought, 'it would soon be over.' Nine years, for nine long years he put up with it all. The uptight teachers, the idiotic classmates, none of them understood. So what if he couldn't read as well as other kids, so what if he couldn't sit still. That doesn't mean they were better then him. But no, the teachers thought he was a screw up and the students thought he was simple. But after today he was out, no more, he was done with this shit. They can take their judgment and opinions and shove them where the sun didn't shine.
Even at 13 he was imposing, with a tall, athletic build and sand toned skin. He excelled at the sports he participated in. The P.E. teacher once asked him if he might consider going pro, but David refused for such a life was not meant for him. As far as looks go he could be considered handsome, his hair was the colour of wood, and fell in bangs over his forehead, on his right cheek were three distinct scars. His most striking feature was his eyes which were different colours. His right eye was green as an emerald but his left eye was electric blue. This feature led to many kids calling him a freak which led to many fights occurring.
Honestly school life would have been unbearable if not for the person sitting next to him, Eve Stellaris. She was the only friend he had ever manage to make, but he wouldn't trade her for any thousands in the world.
In another life Eve would have been popular. She was a dark beauty with olive skin, high cheekbones, long black hair that she let grow down to her knees and eyes a brilliant shade of violet blue. But she was also quiet and shy only opening up with David. The other girls were jealous of her looks while boys continued hitting on her much to her discomfort.
"Just a minute more," Eve sighed, "and middle school is over."
"We won't have to put up with these talking monkeys, and our higher education shall begin," David finished. After a moment of silence, Eve chuckled softly.
"Something amuse you?" David asked.
Eve leaned her head back, "we're probably look back on this and realize it was the easy part."
They looked at each other and burst out laughing. David scoffed, "between our classmates and the monsters, I think I'll take the monsters. The monsters can at least be silenced."
RIIIIIIIIINNNNGGGG!
The moment the bell rang the pair strapped on their backpacks and headed out. Most students headed out the front door to the buses, but they went out the back which opened up to a large open field that lay between the school and the farm they lived in. But they had their own reason for choosing to cut through an open field.
But as soon as David opened the door he was met with a punch to the face. David staggered holding his jaw and looked up to see three boys waiting for him outside one of them had a baseball bat. David rolled his eyes, "come on Thomas, we've danced this tune too many times."
"I swore to make you pay for what you did to us," Thomas snarled cracking his knuckled.
"Hey, you brought that on yourself," David replied calmly, noting the cotton patch over his left eye and the large gap in his teeth
"You broke my teeth, my father took my allowance then grounded me for the whole summer."
"You should have thought of that before you chose to pick a fight with me," David snarled, "frankly after what you tried to do to that puppy, I think you're getting off easy."
Thomas roared and charged, his bat raised, David dicked the swing aimed at his head ad he raised his fists. Thomas went for another swing but David got in too close for the bat to be effective. He locked Thomas' arm with his own and used his free hand to punch Thomas in the eye with the first joint of his index finger. Them punching him in the nose. Thomas grabbed Davids face with his free hand but one of his fingers found it's way into David's mouth. David bit down hard causing Thomas to scream in pain. David finally released him from the arm lock and Thomas was on his knees clutching his bleeding finger. David then delivered a hard kick to the boy's temple sending him to the ground unconscious.
Eve rushed to help, but one of Tom's friends grabbed her arm. She turned and looked at him with her violet eyes startling him for a moment, long enough for her to flip him on his back. the other one came up and hit her on the back of the neck knocking her to the ground. Eve flipped herself around and kicked him in the private parts with the heel of her boot. Causing him to curl up in pain.
Seeing Eve on the ground David rushed to her and helped her up. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Eve took his hand and nodded rubbing the back if her neck, "it's not bad." Seeing their hands were still together she withdrew with a blush on her face.
David sighed in relief, "come on we better get out of here before-"
"David Roosevelt," a sharp shrill voice called to them. They turned to see the school counselor Ms. Iyra standing their with her arms crossed.
"Ms. Iyra," Eve tried to explain, "they attacked us we were only-"
Ms. Iyra raised her hand to silence her, "follow me please," she said in a tone that left no room for debate. They looked at each other and followed her back inside. As they walked they immediately realized something wasn't right, not just because the middle aged woman smelled funny but the fact that she wasn't heading for the counselor's office. Ms. Iyra had just become the new school counselor at the beginning of the year after the old one retired, so Neither of them really knew much about her.
Eve and David looked at each other, she was nervously fingering her charm bracelet and David gave her a nod as he reached into his pocket his fingers finding a familiar round-point pen. Ms. Iyra opened the door to the gym and gestured them to go inside. The pair entered and cautiously looking around. but turning back they saw Ms. Iyra was gone.
"DAVID ROOSEVELT!" A voice above screeched. The children looked up and saw Ms. Iyra standing over the basketball hoops. "Did you think you could hide forever, Son of Zeus."
The children dropped their backpacks and Eve removed her bracelet which became a meteor hammer on a chain with a dart at the end. "Do you think you can take me on by yourself?" David retorted.
The Fury grinned, "what makes you think I'm alone?" Then behind them four laestrygonians burst in through the opposite doors wielding iron clubs, Eva and David gave each other a nod and took a defensive stance with Eve facing the fury and David focusing on the laestrygonians.
The laestrygonians began hurling fireballs at him. David clasped his hands together and spread them out creating a circular electric barrier in front of him and Eve causing the fireballs to dissipate upon impact.
Once they realized that their fireballs were useless, The laestrygonians raised their clubs and charged. David pulled out his pen clicked it three times rapidly revealing a sword and rushed to them in the center. The giants were wearing leather armour, but this only protected their chest not their legs, so that what David focused on. The fact that they were almost double his height made this much easier. He ducks and slides along the floor slashing the closest one's leg ad he passes cutting it clean off. David got back on his feet whirled around and slashed the legs of his companion to the left. The other two swung at him with their clubs, one caught David in the head sending him into the closed bleachers. Getting up with a groan David raised his free hand and discharged a stream of lightning which connected with the iron in their clubs. The two dropped and started writhing in pain as lighting coursed through their bodies allowing David to come in close and behead them with his sword. He then turned to the two crippled laestrygonians and after cutting off their hands holding the clubs finished them off with a thrust to the heart. As they died they turned to gold dust leaving behind a tooth as a trophy.
As David fought the laestrygonians, the fury was trying to get Eve only to be stopped again and again by the meteor hammer. The girl was using the ball for defense by swinging it in a circular motion above her head and the dart for offense. The fury was momentarily distracted seeing David slay the last of her allies, this was enough for Even to once again hurl the dart forward the this time it his home spearing the Fury in the leg. Now ensnared, Eve pulled as hard as she could, sending the fury crashing to the floor. She started swinging the hammer vertically and brought it down on the fury. First to her left wing and then to her right. Then her legs and finally her arms. Now that she was thoroughly crippled. Eve pulled out a celestial bronze dagger and slit the fury's throat causing her to turn to gold dust leaving one of her talons behind.
After collecting the trophies, they picked up their backpacks ran out as quickly as possible before something else showed up. They burst through the back door and hurried across the field to their neighborhood. Fortunately, no more monsters appeared to harass them and they made it to the farmhouse. The house was a two-story brick building that could house a small family with a kitchen, dining room, living room and pantry downstairs and the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. There was even an attic and basement.
Outside were the farmhands Otis and Ephialtes, both were big, burly men wearing plaid flannel shirts and overalls. Both looked alike with the exception being their hair since Ephialtes' hair was purple while Otis had green hair. Ephialtes was feeding the animals while Otis was chopping wood. They had cattle prods strapped to their backs but anyone who knew could see that they were spears.
As soon as they saw David and Eve they noted their bruised appearance and began looking around, their hands fingering their cattle prods. They turned to David who shook his head. They nodded in understanding and resumed their work.
"Nana, we're home," David called as he entered the house with Eve close behind. "A middle aged woman with brown hair and green eyes swept in from the kitchen and pulled the boy into a tight hug before kissing his cheeks. As she did she noted the bruise on his face and frowned.
"What was it this time?" she asked
"Fury and laestrygonians," David replied.
Her eyes burned with rage as her thumb caressed the bruise, "I'm so sorry David," she said sorrowfully as she looked between Him and Eve' children shouldn't have to go through what you have.
"It's fine Nana," David assured her, It cannot be helped, "I'm honestly more concerned about Eve's well being."
At that moment another women who resembled Eve came into the room, "not again," She gasped as she cupped Eve's face. "Did they hurt you sweetie?"
"I'm fine mother," Eve assured her, "I had David with me."
Ther woman closed her eyes and sighed, "you should have had more time to play not constantly fighting for your life." She shook her head, "at least you won't be harassed by those awful kids anymore."
"Sadly, a greater challenge now awaits them," Nana replied solemnly.
Eve's mother nodded, "I wish we could send Otis and Ephialtes to accompany them."
"You know why we can't Nova," Nana scolded. This journey they must do by themselves., and besides, The twins would attract the attention of the Olympus and we can't allow that.
Nova nodded reluctantly and turned to the children, "make sure you pack your things and wash up for supper tonight. It will be a big day for the both of you tomorrow so you'll need a good night's sleep."
The kids nodded and rushed upstairs. The two women watched them disappear into their rooms. and Nova sighed, "they're growing up so fast."
Nana placed a hand on Nova's shoulder, "we nurtured them as best we could, I fear what comes next will be out of our hands."
After washing up and getting the things they needed for the trip packed, David and Eve came down to dinner. Since this would be their last night together, Nana and Nova cooked their favourites. The children also decided to celebrate the end of school by throwing all their school papers into the fireplace. After that, Eve and David soon went to bed and felt the embrace of Hypnos.
The next morning it was time to leave, the four of them hugged each other and said their final goodbyes.
"Stay safe David," Nana said tearfully to the boy in her embrace."
"I will Nana," David assured her.
As they broke apart nana gave him a present. A platinum coloured flashlight with a second switch at the bottom, David flipped the second switch and the Flashlight opened up into a staff that looked like a cross between a shortsword and a goedendag. David smiled at his new weapon and hugged his nana once more, "Thank you."
"May it serve you well," Nana replied returning the hug
When it came to Nova and David, she pulled the boy close and whispered in his ear. "Look after Eve," Nova said sternly, "or I will make your life an eternal nightmare."
David nodded, "I would burn in Tartarus before I let that happen," he promised.
With that, the two children left the farm side by side, neither knowing what lay in store for either of them.
Nova turned to Nana, "all your plans rest on that boy Gaea, now we shall see if our years of work will pay off."
Gaea nodded, "time will tell Nyx, time will tell."