Chapter Text
Aminta was walking up the steps of the Big House porch when a rustling noise from nearby caught her attention. Immediately she stood tall and stiff, summoning her godly spear into her hand before she could think about it.
It was silent for a few moments before she twirled around and just managed to stop herself from swinging her spear as she caught the sight of a hellhound… but it was no ordinary one.
When the realization hit her she quickly willed her spear back into nonexistence and stood straighter.
After a few moments of awkward silence the h3llhound let out an almost human sigh and was surrounded by shadows before a teenage boy stood in its place. “How’d you know I was here.” The boy immediately demanded.
Aminta met the boys violet eyes steadily and her voice was even. “Daughter of Ares, and don’t demigods all have some kind of… awareness for if something or someone is trying to sneak up to them? At least, that’s what Nikole said.” She pretended to go down a random trail of thoughts but really she was more interested in figuring out why Cyrilla, the Underworld goddess no one has seen in the mortal world for centuries, has a demigod child here at this camp.
“Well… actually yeah we do… but I was really far and calling on the shadows to surround me.” The boy said. “Also, I know you’re not a demigod.” When he said the last part Aminta froze and she felt her shoulders tense.
“Really, and how do you know that?” She said, voice still calm somehow.
“You carry the feeling of an immortal.” The boy said. “And I would know as I’ve been around an immortal since I was a new pup that just emerged from the shadows. You carry that same feeling of my mother, at least before she started getting involved in the mortal world again. You know, faint, only being kept from fading because people still feel your domain.”
Aminta narrowed her eyes at the boy and she was about to snap at him before an annoyed voice sounded behind her.
“Really, it's already been figured out? Should’ve guessed it would be one the hounds children.” Mr. D said as she turned around to look at him. “Now, Lýkos, go back to cabin thirteen where you should be right now before I send the harpies at you.”
The boy yelped and melted into the shadows and disappeared. Aminta sighed and followed the god of madness up the steps of the porch and into the big house sitting room.
“So, Aminta. Why in the name of my father are you here at the camp for demigods.” The god immediately said after they had both sat down.
“I wanted to make sure the place that carries my domain so fiercely is doing well for its supposed safety.” Aminta said calmly, “A part of my power is tied here, just like you tied some of your own power to this camp.”
Dionysus seemed to actually pause at that, then he turned to her and gave her a look she had only seen on the gods face at the few meetings she had been to on Olympus.
“How did you know that.” The god's voice was deadly calm, madness creeping in.
“I hold a domain of protection, and with that I can tell if something is giving protection to a place, including a gods power.” Aminta said calmly.
The camp director's eyes flared into purple flames before the god took a deep breath and sighed. “Fine.” He grumbled. “Now, I understand you wanted to come to see the camp and make sure our protection is fine- which of course it is because I have my power here, the camp border from the tree, the golden fleece from the brats who went on that quest, and of course a stretch of your power. But is that really all?”
Aminta actually froze at that. What the god said was more of an accusing tone rather than questioning, and it made her realize something. “No.” She said, barely above a whisper.
The w!ne god stared at her disappointingly until Aminta finally gave in and spoke. “Fine. I felt like I was losing my power, fading. And… I think maybe coming here and… well, getting to know the demigods and being in the place where my power rests so strongly may… help.” She said eventually, fidgeting with the celestial bronze d@gg3r she had summoned while speaking.
She heard the god in front of her take a long sip of the drink he must’ve summoned while she was trying to get the words out. “Well, I can’t say that’s not what I thought.”
Aminta lifted her head up once the god spoke but he was looking down at the can in his hands. “What?” She breathed out.
“Well, I expected it. When Cyrilla was starting to fade and she knew she should try getting connected to the mortal world… she sent out a few kids of hers.” The w!ne god explained, and then a story unfolded that she had not heard before. “It went… horribly to say the least. She lost on of her daughters, her daughter with Persephone- don’t worry, her children are just born when she loves a being- and she summoned her only demigod daughter back to her… and shut herself off again.”
Aminta sat calmly and she was for once interested in one of the stories an Olympian told, and she summoned a ruby sp3@r tip as the god continued.
“She was mad, anger uncontrolled, and… she sent her children more relentlessly… until Nico managed to do something. The son of Hades was with the sun of Apollo just visiting the Sun god kids mother when a hellhound came. But, instead of attacking, the son of Hades sensed the one attacking wasn’t a monster, but a demigod.” The god of madness waved a platter of grapes into existence and started peeling them as the story grew longer. “So, the boy softened and realized this was a demigod… different and one of a god he hardly knew… but he still helped. He spoke calmly to the demigod who eventually revealed her human form and spilt the story. She called for her mother and… well the goddess listened, it was her most favored demigod child of course. Nico explained that they never meant to cause harm that day, didn’t realize that these beings they constantly fought were children of a goddess, some just uncontained. And… well it was all solved and now Cyrilla is no longer fading, more powerful than most as she gets recognized, she has had more demigod children as well of course… and now they all either stay in Cabin Thirteen with the god of the dead kid or in the cabin designated to her children.”
“So, when a minor goddess, one who hardly shows herself on Olympus at that, came here where demigods rest… I could only assume there was more than just wanting to make sure the brats were protected.” Dionysus wrapped up.
Aminta stayed silent for some time, and when she finally managed to open her mouth she started… crying? Wait, since when could she cry?!
“Yes, yes, of course, you’re welcome, blah blah blah, now go back to the cabin of your father before the brats wake up and see you’re missing.” The camp director waved her off and Aminta got up and willed herself to the bunk she had claimed as hers in Cabin Five and curled up, not sleeping, of course, but letting her thoughts wander.
She had a family now, mortal ones… they all cared for each other and considered her a sister even when she had just come and been claimed by the same father, but there was more for it, they protected and cared for each other more than anything.
She smiled softly as the sun started peaking in through the window next to her bunk and the demigod daughter of Ares grumbled as the sun hit her bunk. Aminta started laughing and she got hit in the head with a pillow which she tossed straight back at the demigod and soon Armand came in and it was three people throwing pillows at each other in early morning.
Maybe, there was more to this camp than just protection.
Chapter Four
Aminta was walking up the steps of the Big House porch when a rustling noise from nearby caught her attention. Immediately she stood tall and stiff, summoning her godly spear into her hand before she could think about it.
It was silent for a few moments before she twirled around and just managed to stop herself from swinging her spear as she caught the sight of a hellhound… but it was no ordinary one.
When the realization hit her she quickly willed her spear back into nonexistence and stood straighter.
After a few moments of awkward silence the h3llhound let out an almost human sigh and was surrounded by shadows before a teenage boy stood in its place. “How’d you know I was here.” The boy immediately demanded.
Aminta met the boys violet eyes steadily and her voice was even. “Daughter of Ares, and don’t demigods all have some kind of… awareness for if something or someone is trying to sneak up to them? At least, that’s what Nikole said.” She pretended to go down a random trail of thoughts but really she was more interested in figuring out why Cyrilla, the Underworld goddess no one has seen in the mortal world for centuries, has a demigod child here at this camp.
“Well… actually yeah we do… but I was really far and calling on the shadows to surround me.” The boy said. “Also, I know you’re not a demigod.” When he said the last part Aminta froze and she felt her shoulders tense.
“Really, and how do you know that?” She said, voice still calm somehow.
“You carry the feeling of an immortal.” The boy said. “And I would know as I’ve been around an immortal since I was a new pup that just emerged from the shadows. You carry that same feeling of my mother, at least before she started getting involved in the mortal world again. You know, faint, only being kept from fading because people still feel your domain.”
Aminta narrowed her eyes at the boy and she was about to snap at him before an annoyed voice sounded behind her.
“Really, it's already been figured out? Should’ve guessed it would be one the hounds children.” Mr. D said as she turned around to look at him. “Now, Lýkos, go back to cabin thirteen where you should be right now before I send the harpies at you.”
The boy yelped and melted into the shadows and disappeared. Aminta sighed and followed the god of madness up the steps of the porch and into the big house sitting room.
“So, Aminta. Why in the name of my father are you here at the camp for demigods.” The god immediately said after they had both sat down.
“I wanted to make sure the place that carries my domain so fiercely is doing well for its supposed safety.” Aminta said calmly, “A part of my power is tied here, just like you tied some of your own power to this camp.”
Dionysus seemed to actually pause at that, then he turned to her and gave her a look she had only seen on the gods face at the few meetings she had been to on Olympus.
“How did you know that.” The god's voice was deadly calm, madness creeping in.
“I hold a domain of protection, and with that I can tell if something is giving protection to a place, including a gods power.” Aminta said calmly.
The camp director's eyes flared into purple flames before the god took a deep breath and sighed. “Fine.” He grumbled. “Now, I understand you wanted to come to see the camp and make sure our protection is fine- which of course it is because I have my power here, the camp border from the tree, the golden fleece from the brats who went on that quest, and of course a stretch of your power. But is that really all?”
Aminta actually froze at that. What the god said was more of an accusing tone rather than questioning, and it made her realize something. “No.” She said, barely above a whisper.
The w!ne god stared at her disappointingly until Aminta finally gave in and spoke. “Fine. I felt like I was losing my power, fading. And… I think maybe coming here and… well, getting to know the demigods and being in the place where my power rests so strongly may… help.” She said eventually, fidgeting with the celestial bronze d@gg3r she had summoned while speaking.
She heard the god in front of her take a long sip of the drink he must’ve summoned while she was trying to get the words out. “Well, I can’t say that’s not what I thought.”
Aminta lifted her head up once the god spoke but he was looking down at the can in his hands. “What?” She breathed out.
“Well, I expected it. When Cyrilla was starting to fade and she knew she should try getting connected to the mortal world… she sent out a few kids of hers.” The w!ne god explained, and then a story unfolded that she had not heard before. “It went… horribly to say the least. She lost on of her daughters, her daughter with Persephone- don’t worry, her children are just born when she loves a being- and she summoned her only demigod daughter back to her… and shut herself off again.”
Aminta sat calmly and she was for once interested in one of the stories an Olympian told, and she summoned a ruby sp3@r tip as the god continued.
“She was mad, anger uncontrolled, and… she sent her children more relentlessly… until Nico managed to do something. The son of Hades was with the sun of Apollo just visiting the Sun god kids mother when a hellhound came. But, instead of attacking, the son of Hades sensed the one attacking wasn’t a monster, but a demigod.” The god of madness waved a platter of grapes into existence and started peeling them as the story grew longer. “So, the boy softened and realized this was a demigod… different and one of a god he hardly knew… but he still helped. He spoke calmly to the demigod who eventually revealed her human form and spilt the story. She called for her mother and… well the goddess listened, it was her most favored demigod child of course. Nico explained that they never meant to cause harm that day, didn’t realize that these beings they constantly fought were children of a goddess, some just uncontained. And… well it was all solved and now Cyrilla is no longer fading, more powerful than most as she gets recognized, she has had more demigod children as well of course… and now they all either stay in Cabin Thirteen with the god of the dead kid or in the cabin designated to her children.”
“So, when a minor goddess, one who hardly shows herself on Olympus at that, came here where demigods rest… I could only assume there was more than just wanting to make sure the brats were protected.” Dionysus wrapped up.
Aminta stayed silent for some time, and when she finally managed to open her mouth she started… crying? Wait, since when could she cry?!
“Yes, yes, of course, you’re welcome, blah blah blah, now go back to the cabin of your father before the brats wake up and see you’re missing.” The camp director waved her off and Aminta got up and willed herself to the bunk she had claimed as hers in Cabin Five and curled up, not sleeping, of course, but letting her thoughts wander.
She had a family now, mortal ones… they all cared for each other and considered her a sister even when she had just come and been claimed by the same father, but there was more for it, they protected and cared for each other more than anything.
She smiled softly as the sun started peaking in through the window next to her bunk and the demigod daughter of Ares grumbled as the sun hit her bunk. Aminta started laughing and she got hit in the head with a pillow which she tossed straight back at the demigod and soon Armand came in and it was three people throwing pillows at each other in early morning.
Maybe, there was more to this camp than just protection.