"What?!" was my immediate thought. I nearly fainted at the name. I knew the woman was unquestionably more powerful than Poseidon, but this? I never expected a primordial within my vicinity, let alone at my front door, begging to care for their child. She was the embodiment of night itself. Glancing at Poseidon, I saw his eyes peer outside worriedly as a slight rumble ran out after her name.
"I masked my essence, Poseidon. Your brother will not know of this meeting," said Nyx, catching his glance.
Poseidon gave her a slight nod in acknowledgment.
"I've been watching you, Sally. For about a week now, even after Father led me here, I wanted to be sure. I've been following your every move. I've seen all of it when you go to work, how long you watch television, and when you feed Percy." said Nyx, looking at me, her eyes still damp. I glanced at Poseidon awkwardly, remembering our rendezvous from a couple of days ago. He avoided my glance.
"I did not watch that," said Nyx with a smirk.
"What I did witness was reassurance. Sally, you are what every motherhood deity in all pantheons would gloat over and be smug to know that you are under their domain," said Nyx, looking at me, her eyes staring into my soul, which they probably were.
Nyx becomes blurred in my vision as soft tears form what she said. All those moments where I've sat and sobbed as Percy kept screaming, no matter what I did. Coming home from light grocery shopping and almost dropping him while walking up our steep New York stairs, trying to juggle groceries in one arm and him in the other, my foot slipped from underneath me While midstep, making me almost fall into what seemed like slow motion at that time. I had to decide whether to drop the bags of groceries that were the last $20 in my name or possibly drop Percy. I drop the bags, my heart breaking. Hearing each item made hard thuds as it hit every step on the way down. Just to clutch my terrified, screaming baby as I, his mother, almost dropped him. Just because I was too tired to strap him in his carrier. His terrified screams from being jarred awake by my almost fall. I just sat on the stairs, cradling him, whispering reassurance until he calmed down. When I got back to the apartment and put him to bed, I cried for I don't know how long that night. The groceries forgotten.
The few days in the beginning when Percy wouldn't latch, and his cries of hunger penetrated my soul—making me doubt if I could provide for him or even be a mother. The constant tension and fear of looking over my shoulder to ensure no eyes were on us. Even though I know he doesn't have a scent yet, I didn't realize how much I needed just reassurance. Just someone to say I was doing good until she said that.
My tears now ran freely from my eyes as those memories flashed. I felt Poseidon's hand move in reassuring circles along my lower back. Nyx was silent as she waited for me to respond.
"Thank you, truly," I say, my voice heavy as I brush my tears away.
"You're welcome, and I meant it, Sally. I see why Father sent me to you," she said earnestly.
We stood silently for a moment, each of us too lost in our thoughts to say anything. "How could I even care for one powerful demigod, let alone two?" I asked myself. Percy was only 3 months old, but I could tell he was a fighter and stubborn. His grip and stern, cute face as he concentrated on trying to hold his toys told me that. His gaze falling on that dagger so much already scares the hades out of me. My baby keeps growing, and I realize with time and age, it becomes both easier and more challenging to raise him and keep him safe. But it is not like a normal kid where I have to worry about him breaking an arm on a jungle gym or going through the dreaded preteen years. No, I have to deal with literal mythological monsters coming after him. And that right there terrifies me. I vowed to give him as normal a life as possible, but I knew that would be futile. His father told me he would have extreme ADHD and dyslexia as he grew up. I wasn't surprised by that; I was just worried; he's hardwired for ancient Greece, not 21st-century New York. Besides that, I am barely scraping by as is with waitressing, having to live by tips, and praying that it'll be enough to cover my bills for that month. It would be easier if I could work full-time, but finding affordable childcare is a nightmare, and I'm all alone. Right now, my babysitter is the daughter of one of my coworkers, and I have to make excuses for not paying her that day. I am too embarrassed to admit I don't have the money. I eventually get the money, but sometimes it comes down to sacrificing meals for myself or paying her her money.
On the other hand, a literal primordial is at my door, pleading with me to take her daughter. I want to say No. I want to slam the door in her face and forget about all this. I want to lie in bed reading as Percy sleeps beside me. Maybe even with a glass of cheap wine next to me. That's what I want more than anything. But I can't have that; I can't slam the door in her face besides the obvious of angering a god. I can't read my book and drink my cheap wine in bed. I can't go back to only worrying about my prior stresses. I can't leave a mother like this, completely alone and desperate, with only one wish. Blake doesn't deserve a life without parents. No child does, especially with what befalls demigod children. I also know that I would do the same with Percy. No matter how painful it would be. No matter how much I want to deny her of this plea, I will not and cannot. I just need more questions answered and stipulations. There is no way at this point I could raise another child under my current conditions. I let out a deep sigh as I made my mind up. At this, both sets of eyes look at me, one set being the color of the ocean and the other the same shade as the endless night sky.
"I will raise Blake," I say to Nyx, her eyes elated at the news.
"Sa-"
"Poseidon, no, I will not argue with you on this. I will take this baby and raise it as my own. I still have questions and stipulations, but I will take her," I say sternly, staring into his stormy eyes. He sighs and runs his hand down his face in frustration.
"Thank you, Sally, truly. I will answer your remaining questions and help in whatever way the ancient laws allow me." Said Nyx, her voice and demeanor now filled with subtle joy. She still held the regalness, but the joy was impossible to unsee.
"How could you avoid the ancient laws for so long? From what I understand, the ancient laws forbid direct involvement as soon as a demigod is born. Blake looks around the same age as Percy, and he's 3 months old."
"The ancient laws aren't as stringent with primordials due to the conception of them not genuinely concerning us. It was more so a leash on the Titans and Olympians. The last primordial demigod was during the early days of humanity. If I recall correctly, I believe it was a child of Pontus, and Prometheus had brought the first flame to humans only a generation before. She said, her face screwed up as she tried to remember.
"What about your last demigod child?" I asked. At this, her eyes and face darkened. "His name was Aloros, which means ram of light. He was born around the same time as Kronos ate Hestia. He died early in childhood. His powers manifested when a rival tribe raided his village. After he killed off half their men, they took him and killed him," said Nyx, her voice tight.
"I'm sorry," I whisper to her. Not knowing what else to say.
"It's alright, Sally. It's been quite literally ancient history for a long time," she said in a layered tone." Now, what are your other questions?"
"What about her safety? Is there anything you can do to help both her and Percy? You said that your husband turned your own hounds against you. If he did that once, how can you ensure he won't be able to do it again? I won't have my son be in harm's way as well." I let out in a rush, thankful for the out she gave me after talking about her son. Her face strewed into a sinister smirk as she responded to my question.
"You do not have to worry about my husband interfering or my hounds. I became lax in my domains when I was with Blake's father. That's the only reason he was able to control them. My husband has been dealt with. However, Most of my essence returned to the pit and battled him; hes closer to fading than living. Tartarus himself held me back before I could finish him. To be fair, it was long overdue. The last time I did it, I had caught him in bed with Gaia. That was shortly after Ouranus had been sliced by his sons."
Poseidon and I look at each other in alarm.
"Wait, is that why Hades panicked to the council over his domain shaking and the pit rumbling?"
"Yes, that would've been me."
"That's terrifying," Poseidon mumbled under his breath.
"Once your husband is healed, will he continue going after her? I ask.
"No, he may try indirectly, but he will not actively try to harm her."
At this, I take a deep sigh out of pure relief.
"For safety other than my husband, now that I'm attentive towards my domains again, my hellhounds will be her and your proctors. As my daughter, one of her powers will be controlling them. They will know she is their princess in a sense."
"Will they look as scary as they sound? I ask hesitantly. At this, Nyx chuckled a little. "No, Sally, they will not. I will mask their appearance and aura so not even the gods will know. The ones I'll mask will be forever loyal to your family and Blake."
She lifts her right arm, showing her defined muscles as her eyes cloud with grey mist. I feel Poseidon tense at her gesture, still on edge. She chants something I can't even fathom understanding. Grey mist swirls from her hand as she continues her chant. Falling to the floor in eerie waves, the fog starts to funnel once it reaches the hallway carpet. I gasp in fright and see two sets of red haunting eyes form from the mist. Nyx finishes her chant, her eyes going back to the inky black. The fog rolled slowly back into her hand, leaving the biggest brindled English mastiff I'd ever seen and a….pomeranian? In its wake. Both dogs have those chilling red eyes as before. I look at the pure white, fluffy Pomeranian in confusion.
"Do you not like the Pomeranian? If you want, I could change it," Nyx said, seeing my expression.
"No, it's fine, but why a pomeranian?"
"Well, I can't have my baby cuddling the mastiff when she sleeps. Also, I hear that these are more terrifying among mortals than the mastiff." I look at Poseidon; he shakes his head and shrugs at me. Not knowing what to think either. Nyx looks between us with a furrowed brow.
"So I'm assuming these are the hounds meant to protect us?"
"Yes, they are. These are made from my essence. Making them some of the most powerful hellhounds since the old days."
I looked at the mastiff. Its head was almost the size of a basketball, coming up to my belly button, and I was 5'8 "tall. It was a gorgeous dog with a sleek brown and black brindled coat. Its size alone made it bigger than most miniature ponies. I could see the kids using it as one when they were older. The mastiff was already softly nudging and sniffing Blake. On the other hand, the Pomeranian looked like it was about ready to bite off Poseidon's toe.
"Will the hounds have the same needs as a dog? Walks, dog food, potty breaks? I decided to move too. I might have issues finding a landlord to take them in."
"Do not worry about those frivolous issues with my pups, Sally. They do need food; however, they'll find it by themselves. I don't know how, but mortal dog food would not satisfy them. Those landlords will not be an issue. Hellhounds can shadow travel. They will disappear if need be. If it's still an issue, you only need to pray to me, and I'll manipulate the mist around them."
Luckily, this building allows dogs anyway, so I don't have to worry.
"Nyx, if these monsters even lay a scratch on my son or Sally, I will obliterate them," said Poseidon, mostly eyeing the Pomeranian while baring its teeth at his words. The mastiff merely peered at him.
"Fish boy, you have my promise that my hounds will not harm your family."
Poseidon just snorted and rolled his eyes at her comment.
I look down and start fidgeting with my sweater out of embarrassment with my next question.
"I'll need money to help with Blake and preferably child care. I'm already struggling just between Percy and I." Poseidon grabbed my arm, twisting me towards him. "Sally, Why didn't you tell me? I may be limited in most ways, but I could've done something to help with money." His dreamy eyes looked into mine with concern.
"I was too embarrassed; I wanted to figure it out myself; I didn't wanna feel like a failure," I mumbled the last part.
The white cotton ball trotted to my leg, leaning against me reassuringly. I look at Nyx silently, asking if I could pick it up. She nods her head. I pick her? Up and cradle her like I do Percy. She seemingly liked it, resting her head on my chest. Posiedon eyed her warily. While she just glared at him. The mastiff had laid down at this point. Poseidon raised an open palm, and with a quick flash of green, a giant South Sea pearl was in his hand. The pearl was already utterly round with no blemishes. The rose overtone of it made it light up within the dim hallway. I was speechless. The size of this pearl took up his whole palm!
He looked at Nyx. "Sally will no longer need financial help."
"You think? Show off," she mumbled in the last part. Hearing Nyx and slowly getting over my shock. I realized that we had still been in the hallway this whole time. We were so consumed with the conversation that we didn't even know it. "Why don't we all come inside? We've been standing for so long, and we all need comfort. Posidon grumbled his disapproval as he stepped aside to let Nyx in. The mastiff stretched before walking behind her. Keeping an eye on Blake as the giant walked into the small living room, he sniffed the air and turned towards my room, where Percy was asleep—almost knocking over a lamp. "Do you want to see him? I ask the hound, its red eyes pointed at me. It shook its head yes. Startling me, I look at Nyx, who sits on my recliner with Blake still in her arms. Posiedon was staring bullets at her as her hound wanted to see our son. "As I said, these hounds are now yours and Blake's. They are under your command, Sally, and only wish to protect yourself and your family."
At this, I became reassured. I put the Pomeranian on the ground, who happily trotted to the recliner. The giant cotton ball kept peering up at Blake until Nyx picked her up and settled her next to the baby. I open the bedroom door, telling the mastiff to stay, still somewhat apprehensive. At the same time, I picked Percy up from his bassinet. Percy was still asleep, drool coming from his open mouth. I leave the bedroom and into the small living room, sitting beside Poseidon on my old blue couch. The mastiff walked up to Percy and I. Poseidon's aura increased as a warning to the hound. The giant sat down and did the same with Percy as he did Blake. Softly nudging him and getting his scent. Afterward, he just laid back down. I breathed a sigh of relief, as did Poseidon.
"Now, Sally, have all your questions been answered? I don't know how long I can stay in this state." At this, my lover immediately tensed up again.
"No, it's not. What are her powers going to be? Or might it be? I somewhat know what Percy's will is, but I do not know about her."
"Honestly, I have no idea besides the control over hellhounds. I've had only five demigod children, including Blake, and sadly, none of them have lived long enough to manifest their powers fully." She said, her eyes steely.
Poseidon lurched up from the couch suddenly. His hands rubbed his face. "No, I can't do this, and I can't allow this. I have heard you out of respect for Sally. I greatly appreciate the hounds. I feel sympathy for you, I truly do, this existence does nothing but fuck up the ones we love and ourselves, but I can't let Sally raise your daughter" She snapped her fingers. A pure black Gothic bassinet appeared next to her. Where she calmly got up and put Blake in.
I've never felt as much fear as I did at this moment. I quickly stand up, clutching Percy to my chest. I walk swiftly over to Blake's bassinet. When I reached her, she still sleeping as soundly as Percy. Her bassinet had just enough room to squeeze Percy in next to her. I softly moved Blake as fast as possible and sneaked Percy next to her. My hands trembled as I adjusted the blanket, and the auras of the two dietes next to me kept getting stronger.
"What do you mean you won't allow this sea mongrel?" Nyx said Tensley
"That's exactly what I said. I will not allow this. Your daughter will put too much risk on her and my son. I listened to you as I said and tried to reason with the request, but I ultimately can't allow this."
"What risk? When his scent starts to show, Sally and your son will already be a target for any monster within a 5-mile radius of them. From what I've witnessed so far, I'm actually offering protection! You left her with only a dagger to protect one of the most powerful demigods of this generation! I have given her two hellhounds created with primordial essence, bound to protect this family with their very being! You claimed not to have even been aware of your lover's poverty." Nyx said, finishing with a growl. Her eyes were now a milky white as her power flared around her.
As they argued, both hounds came to stand by me. The Pomeranian had morphed into its proper form, no longer a large cotton ball. It stood 6 feet tall, its body just as long as my sofa. All its fur had gone away, leaving only its black, sleek skin. The mastiff kept its concealed form but grew to the same height as the other hellhound, so its proper form must have been too big for the space. Their backs were towards me, their body tensed and coiled, ready to strike. I couldn't see their face, but I could only imagine the low, menacing warning growl from both of them. I stood in front of the babies, my body tense as well, my entire body trembling from fear.
At Nyx's truthful words, Poseidon's trident reappeared this time. Its aura was infinitely more potent than when it first appeared. His eyes had darkened to the point where there was no longer blue, only the darkest green. His face held a sneer so intense I didn't even know it could contort in that way. Nyx was just as tense, and at the appearance of his trident, she conjured her own weapon, a sword so dark that it seemed it was made of shadows but had the sharpest glint. Its aura was the same as his trident, but even I knew she was holding back.
"YOU DARE INSULT ME?! I AM PROTECTING MY SON AND HIS MOTHER FROM YOUR ABOMINATION OF A DAUGHTER!" He said, his voice thundering off the walls. His eyes were steely and incensed.
"You even dare to utter another word about my daughter. I will leave the oceans and seas without a god, you idiot child!" Nyx growled lowly, her eyes bright white and also incensed.
A thunderous pop had come from the kitchen, directing all our eyes to it. A forest green haze emitted from the kitchen, rolling across the carpet in haunting waves. Three Elderly women emerged from the haze. They were in black cloaks covering most of their face; One had a spindle in hand. She appeared the youngest with the least wrinkles around her mouth, and the second held the string from the spindle, seeming slightly older. The third woman was the oldest, her mouth riddled with wrinkles, holding a pair of silver scissors where she cut a string, and the process continued again between the 3.
"These were the 3 fates!" I thought in awe. The fear of the situation was still raddling me, but the shock of them was on par with it.
"Mother," said the first one
"Clothos, Lachesis, Atropos, it has been a long time since I have seen you daughters. While I am aware enough to be happy to see my children, may I ask why you are here?" Nyx said tersely. After her initial shock at their entrance, her steely gaze returned to Poseidon, and his gaze was just as steely.
"We are here with a message, mother, for both of you. Fate does not dictate that two gods fight tonight. That child," said the middle one, pointing at the bassinet. It is meant to stay with this family. Their destinies are intermingled; one can not fulfill the other's destiny without the other." She finished, putting her bony finger down.
"To interfere with this will be defying fate itself; we do not want the consequences of this, do we," said the third sister, her voice grave as she stared at Poseidon.
He looked at them and put his head down, his body trembling with anger. "If this is the will of the fates, then I will not interfere, " he said, his voice laced with anger and menace.
"You will not harm this child, for if you will, you will be hurting your son as well, sea god," said the second one, eyeing him.
"As I said, I will not interfere," he said with a sneer. He turned away from them and marched towards me, his gait that of a panther ready to strike. Nyx stood in front of him, the hounds directly to her back. "I am not going to harm your child. Did you not hear your other children? I can not harm your child for fear of hurting my own. I only wish to see Sally and Percy."
"I will come to you instead," I say cautiously, grabbing Percy from the bassinet; I pat the hounds to let me through and nod towards Nyx as I pass her. When I get to him, his eyes are slightly softened at the sight of the two of us. He gingerly pulls me forward into an embrace, grabs the nape of my head, and holds it close to his chest. "Sally, this will be our last time seeing each other for some time. I shouldn't have even come after Percy's birth, but I couldn't help myself. My love for you is what I haven't felt in centuries, and to know our son will be raised and nurtured for you brings me more joy than I can put into words." He pulls my head up into a tender kiss, and I feel light tears run down his face. "Thank you," he whispers lowly after the kiss, and before I open my eyes back up, I already know hes gone.
The fates, realizing the situation had been resolved, slowly fade away, going back to wherever they typically reside. "Goodbye, Mother, until we see each other again," they say in unison before they completely fade away along with their haze. The larger hellhound had turned back into its concealed form of the Pomeranian. The mastiff just shrunk a couple of feet.
Both hounds walked away, turning to sniff out the apartment in the wake of the frightening situation. Nyx Turned towards me and the babies. "This was not my intention; I hope you know that. I wanted this to go smoothly. I expected hiccups, just not this, " she said, furrowing her eyebrows with a long sigh.
"Sally, I'm sorry, but I will not be able to answer your questions at this moment. I may be able to in a prayer, but remember when I said I didn't have long with my sanity?" I nod hesitantly. "Well, that spat with Poseidon sped up the process, and I fear I now have minimal time," she said frustratingly. My mind was still a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions after everything, and the only response I was capable of was head nods, too shocked to do anything else. Nyx walked past me, reached into the bassinet, and cradled Blake for what I think was the last time. She snapped her fingers, and Blake groggily opened her eyes for the first time during this whole time. Her eyes were the same shade as her mother's endless black pools, but when she saw her mother, her sleepy gaze went away, and instead, her eyes became alert and happy. She gave the sweetest giggle at the sight of her mother and reached out her tiny arms to be closer to her. I know this must have broken Nyx more, knowing this was goodbye. Nyx held her daughter in the tightest of embraces for a few minutes.
She bent her head down, leaving a long, loving kiss on Blake's forehead before nuzzling their noses together just for a delighted squeal to come from the baby. Nyx lifted her head, her eyes completely red; fat tears ran down her regal face as she lovingly looked at her daughter and uttered her last words. "Blake, you and your father were the light to my darkness. You were my love, and I want you to always know you were born from it." She said, looking at me, I nodded my head, my eyes tearing up the exchange. "You are the most precious thing to me, my dear, and always will be. I may be too broken most of the time to know it, but you will and must. I love you, my dear daughter." At this, she gave her one last chaste kiss and handed her over to me. I had to reposition Percy in order to hold both of them. Nyx looked at her daughter one last time, heartbroken, muttering another "I love you" before she walked back into the shadows. Leaving me with two babies and two hounds alone as I was a few hours ago.