Chapter Text
She wears strength and darkness
equally well,
the girl has always been half goddess
half hell.
~ Nikita Gill
~ * ~
Endings, Alya found, were rather anti-climactic. Not because they were boring, or disappointing, or dull in any way, but because they were never truly the end.
Take now, for example. Tom Riddle’s body lay, lifeless and deformed, in the middle of an empty street in London, with his greatest enemy the only witness to his fall.
The war was over.
There should have been cheering, crying, perhaps even a few fireworks. And yet… nothing had changed.
Alya could still hear the low rumble of muggle London, the buzz of hundreds of voices, the hum of traffic in the distance.
The war was over, and yet the earth kept spinning.
It left Alya feeling off-kilter. Her entire life had revolved around Voldemort and the Wizarding War. It had been prophesised, before she was even born, that she would be the one to defeat the Dark Lord. And she’d done that. She’d fought, she’d died, and she’d won. She’d fulfilled her destiny.
So, what was she supposed to do now? She had no plans, no qualifications. She could leave the Wizarding World and live life as a muggle, but where would she go?
Would it not have been better if she’d just… stayed dead?
Alya closed her eyes, the faces of all the friends she’d lost, flashing before her eyes.
Fred. He died in an explosion, in the first Battle of Hogwarts.
Remus and Tonks. They were also killed in that battle, leaving their new-born son, Teddy, orphaned.
Lavender. She was killed in the second Battle of Hogwarts, her throat ripped out by Fenrir Greyback.
Severus Snape died in a raid. It took a dozen dark curses to take him down and, though Alya would never like him, he died saving her life.
Xenophilius died in the Battle of Diagon Alley, protecting his daughter, Luna, from a killing curse.
Lucius Malfoy was killed attempting to get his wife and son away from Voldemort. He was successful, but it cost him his life. Narcissa was killed a few months later, during an attack on St Mungo’s hospital. She’d been there, helping the healers, and had been murdered by her own sister.
Andromeda died a few weeks after that, likely from heartbreak. This left Teddy in Alya’s sole care. Draco, though still grieving from the loss of his parents, helped out when he could, caring for his baby cousin whenever Alya left for a raid.
Hermione’s death was probably the worst. She was captured and killed by Death Eaters, her body strung up in the street to send a message to the Light. Ron had gone almost catatonic, seeing the lifeless body of his girlfriend, and when he came to, he was angry and hateful, no longer the kind boy Alya had considered her friend. Alya herself turned her grief into action, hunting down and slaughtering over half of the active Death Eaters, including Antonin Dolohov and Bellatrix Lestrange.
All these people, her friends and family… Alya could have been with them. If only she’d stayed dead when Voldemort killed her, she could have reunited with her loved ones, and finally been at peace.
Alya opened her eyes.
She couldn’t afford to think like that.
She had Teddy to look after. And Luna, and Draco. They were her family now, and she wouldn’t abandon them as everyone else had abandoned her.
With a deep sigh, the victorious witch turned away from Tom Riddle’s body. Before she could apparate, however, a wave of darkness enveloped her and she came face to face with a man.
He was handsome. With sharp features, long white hair, and solid gold eyes, he looked almost ethereal. A pair of feathery, white wings completed the image. They protruded from his back, so large that the tips brushed along the floor as he walked.
Alya probably should have been scared. Instead, she was star-struck.
“You… are insanely attractive.” She blurted out, unable to help herself. She immediately slapped a hand to her mouth, her cheeks blazing with embarrassment.
The man chuckled.
“Why, thank you, Master,” he said, his voice soft and soothing. “I usually get a very different response, but… I suppose you’ve always been different.”
Alya tilted her head, confused.
“Master?”
“Indeed,” the man replied. “You did collect my Hallows, did you not?”
Alya blinked.
“You’re Death.”
“I am. Though, please, call me Thanatos.”
“So, the story is true?”
Thanatos hummed, as though amused by the question.
“Not quite.” He said, “the Hallows did, indeed, trigger your ascension, allowing you to become the Master of Death, however… such an ascension is only possible for those of the Peverell bloodline.”
Alya nodded. She was too numb – too tired, too worn – to be shocked by any of this. The war had made her extremely adaptable, and her brain had already accepted the new situation. Now she just needed to work out what it meant for her and her family.
“As my Master,” Thanatos continued, as though reading her mind, “you receive a substantial power boost – though you were, admittedly, very powerful to begin with – and gain authority over my domain. You are also free to call on me at any time, whether that is for help, or just for a chat.” He smirked. “The dead talk, and I do quite like a gossip.”
Alya chuckled under her breath.
“There is, however, another thing.” The god grew serious. “First, you should know… the Old Gods are fading. Once so important to humanity, they are now forgotten and ignored. Their temples have crumbled, their names lost in the sea of time.”
His eyes were sad, misty with memories of the past.
“As the Old Gods fade, their power grows weak, and yet their roles and realms must still be managed. They can no longer do it themselves. They are mere months away from fading completely. So… they need someone to take over their titles.” – Thanatos paused, letting the witch process his words – “That, is where you come in.”
“Me?”
“Yes. As the Master of Death, you hold more power than you realise. Already, your blood is starting to transition to ichor, your magic strengthening your body to withstand fatal blows. As it is, you are the only one capable of taking on the greatest of the gods’ powers.”
Alya furrowed her eyebrows. She was tired, magically drained, and so hungry she could eat a hippogriff. Whatever Thanatos was trying to say, her brain was not computing.
“I’m going to need you to explain.” She sighed, rubbing at her temple. Thanatos nodded.
“In the process of passing on their titles and domains, many of the gods will need to find new Vessels for their powers,” he began. “These Vessels can be human – magic or muggle – or any race of supernatural creature. Most gods will take their time in finding the correct Vessel, but there are three, arguably the most powerful, that cannot wait that long. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. They need a powerful host as soon as possible, and youare their best and only option.”
Alya closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. She’d really though that, after all of her adventures, her life couldn’t get any crazier.
Turns out she was wrong.
“Okay, okay,” she said, “Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades want me to be their Vessel, or whatever, but why as soon as possible? Why can’t they take their time, like the other gods? Are they fading faster?”
A shiver passed through Thanatos’s wings, and his eyes dimmed.
“Not exactly,” he replied. “You see, while the gods are fading, their enemies are not.”
“Of course,” Alya mumbled, bitterly.
“Usually, even when weakened, the Old Gods could handle any attack against Olympus, but… there is an event – one that only occurs once every seven thousand years – that will cause chaos across the multiverse. It is the gods’ responsibility, during this time, to maintain the order and balance of reality, but without their full strength…”
He didn’t finish, but Alya got the gist. Without their full strength, the Old Gods would fail and chaos would reign across the multiverse. Great.
“That is why,” Thanatos continued, “the oldest Gods need you to be their Vessel. They need you to accept their power, and their thrones, so that you can gather the rest of the New Gods. The Council of Olympus must be united within the year, or… well… Olympus will fall.”
“Typical,” Alya muttered, glaring at her feet, “I finish one war, and I’m immediately being thrown into the next.”
“I wouldn’t call it a war, Master.” The Death god argued, gently, “The Convergence will last only a day. After that, you are free to do as you please until the next one rolls around.”
The witch sighed.
“Alright, alright. I’ll be the Vessel.” She narrowed her eyes at Thanatos. “But you better stick around to help.”
“Of course, Master.”
“And what about my family? What about Teddy? I’m all he’s got now. I can’t just leave him.”
“There are no rules to how you do this, Master. Becoming a Vessel, a goddess in your own right, does not bar you from your mortal companions. As long as the New Gods are gathered, and the Convergence is handled, you may do what you wish.”
“Right.” Alya nodded, relieved but still feeling completely out of her depth. “Okay then. Uh… when do I receive this godly power?”
Thanatos smirked and snapped his fingers.
Darkness enveloped Alya again. This time, however, she could feel something else seeping into her body.
Her nerves were on fire, her blood boiling in her veins. Her skin felt like it was melting and freezing at the same time. There was pain, so much pain, as her body shifted and changed to accommodate the new and foreign magic.
Everything felt too much, too much.
She couldn’t focus.
It burned. It burned. It burned.
And then everything went black.
~ * ~
The desire
before the desire,
the lick of beginning you don’t know.
If life is a stage,
that is the show.
~ Anne Carson
All harmony of instrument or verse,
All prophecy, all medicine, is mine,
All light of art or nature; - to my song
Victory and praise in its own right belong.
~ Percy Bysshe Shelley
There is something moon soaked
And dawn flavoured about her.
Something kissed by the wild
And loved by lightning.
~ Nikita Gill
~ * ~
Alya woke up in bed.
How she’d gotten there, she wasn’t sure, but it was definitely her bed, in her room at Resistance Headquarters. The familiar smell of antiseptic and coffee filled her nose, and she turned her head, spotting Draco sitting in the chair beside her. Luna stood by the doorway.
“What happened?” She whispered, catching their attention.
“Alya.” Draco murmured, relief clear in his voice. He shuffled closer, looked her over with a critical eye. “Are you okay? Any pain? Nausea?”
“I’m fine, Dray.” He helped her sit up. “How did I get here?”
“We don’t know,” Luna said, moving to sit on the bed with her. “We all got back here after the battle, but we couldn’t find you anywhere. Neville and Seamus were about to go out looking for you, but then you just… appeared, in your bed.”
Alya groaned, quietly, as memories flooded her brain. Killing Tom. Meeting Thanatos. Receiving the power of the gods. A normal Tuesday.
Seriously. How weird was her life?
She climbed out of bed, quickly, ignoring Draco’s scolding, and stepped over to the mirror. She didn’t look all that different, though there was definitely a new glow to her skin that she hadn’t seen since before the war started. Her eyes, too, seemed a little brighter, and her hair a little silkier.
She turned back to her friends.
“I have a lot to tell you guys.”
An hour or so later, the trio were sat on Alya’s bed in shocked silence. Draco was staring at her with a deadpan expression, likely questioning how the hell she got herself into these situations (Alya had been asking the same question for the past ten years), and Luna was blinking repeatedly at the floor. The fact that Luna, of all people, was surprised said exactly how weird this situation was.
“So… you’re a goddess now?” Draco asked, for clarification.
“I think so,” Alya replied.
“There’s definitely something different about you,” Luna confirmed, staring at her intently, “your aura is much brighter than usual.”
“And you look healthier,” Draco added, squinting slightly. “You’ve gained a bit of weight back and your skin is flushed.”
Alya blushed at his assessment but knew he was right. Over the course of the war, she’d lost a lot of weight, the stress and fear preventing her from eating (though she always claimed it was their low food supplies that led her to give her shares to other people), and her skin had been dull and grey-tinged, broadcasting her grief and exhaustion to all who bothered to notice. Draco and Luna had the same look about them now, thin, almost sickly, and she felt the familiar sting of guilt – she knew the war wasn’t her fault, not really, but the blame had been placed on her shoulders so many times that she felt responsible all the same.
“So,” Draco’s voice broke her from her thoughts, “what do we do now?”
“Well, I’m not staying here, that’s for sure.” Alya said, “I can’t stay in Britain, not after everything that’s happened. And I can’t afford for people to realise I’m not ageing. They’ll accuse me of being the next Dark Lady or something ridiculous.” – her two friends grimaced in agreement – “I’ll take Teddy and move away. Maybe America. Or Australia. Just somewhere I can lay low while I figure out how to gather the rest of the New Gods…”
“We’re coming with you,” Draco replied, without hesitation.
“Of course,” Luna nodded.
“Are you sure? I doubt I’ll ever be coming back, and things might get… difficult, with the whole godly Convergence thing.”
“We’re sure,” they said, in unison.
“There’s nothing left for us here,” Draco continued.
“And you and Teddy are the only family we have left,” Luna added. “Where you go, we go.”
Alya smiled, sadly, grateful for the loyalty of her friends (family) but also grieved by the reminder of all they’d lost.
“Alright then,” she said, softly, “I quess we’re going on another adventure. We should probably—”
She was cut off as a bright light filled the room. It was blinding white, and the trio had to cover their eyes. When it finally dissipated, they were left to stare in shock at the new person standing in the room: a man – a very familiar man – with shoulder-length dark hair, stormy grey eyes, and a smile that promised trouble
“Sirius?” Alya whispered, looking at her previously dead godfather with wide eyes.
“Hey pup,” Sirius Black replied, giving her a watery smile.
That was all it took for Alya to launch herself into his arms, and the two fell to the floor in a hug.
There was a lot of tears, and many ‘I love you’s exchanged before they finally calmed down enough to figure out what was going on.
“I was sent by Hades,” Sirius explained, his arms still wrapped tightly around his goddaughter. “When I fell through the Veil, I didn’t actually die. I was just in some kind of limbo. Hades pulled me out and explained the situation, and then he sent me here,” – he paused, looking down at the girl clinging to him – “I hear you’re a goddess now, pup.”
“Apparently” Alya giggled.
“Well, that’s good. Because I’m a god now too.”
She had never sat up so fast.
“Are you serious?!”
“I’m always Sirius.”
Alya chose to ignore the pun.
“Which god gave you their power?”
“Dionysus. God of wine and insanity. I think it suits me well.”
Draco and Alya snorted, and Luna giggled.
“Indeed it does, Uncle,” Draco said, and Sirius grinned.
“I can see your aura,” Luna added, tilting her head, “it’s much brighter now, like Alya’s, but yours is tinged purple.”
“Well, at least I won’t be alone forever,” Alya sighed, feeling both excited and sad at the same time (so much to gain, so much to lose).
“You will never be alone, my child.” An unknown voice filled the room and everyone’s heads snapped up. Before they could question it, however, Draco and Luna doubled over in pain. Their bodies began to glow golden and silver, respectively, and a few minutes later, it was over.
“Did you just--?” Alya questioned, staring at her best friends hopefully.
“I think so,” Draco nodded, still a little dazed.
“Who?” Sirius asked.
“Artemis,” Luna replied, smiling beatifically.
“And Apollo,” Draco finished.
“The twins,” Alya grinned, looking between the two and picking up on their similarities – the white-blonde hair, the aristocratic features, the arch of their eyebrows. Even their eyes, despite being different colours – Draco’s steel grey, Luna’s sky blue – were the same shape.
“Welcome to the Court of Olympus,” Sirius said, opening his arms dramatically, and they all laughed – in disbelief, in amazement, in relief. Alya would not be alone in her eternity. Luna and Draco would not have to leave her for any reason. Sirius was back from the dead and here to stay. It was all so strange, and new, and they probably should have felt a little scared but… they felt strong.
They felt whole.
As though they’d been gods all along, their powers bound in mortal bodies until the day they’d ascend again.
Everything they’d done had led them to this point – in a room together, having just accepted their godly duties, with a promise of being together for eternity – and it felt right.
“Well then,” Alya said, still smiling – an expression that still felt strange on her face after fighting a war for so long. “Let’s pack up, grab Teddy, and get the hell out of this place. We have a whole world to see, new domains to manage, and an Immortal Court to gather. I say we get started.”
They all nodded and a few hours later, they were ready to go.
Their time in the Wizarding World had come to an end…
…and their eternity as gods was just beginning.
~ * ~
It turned out that the old gods’ power and consciousnesses spanned across worlds – across galaxies, across universes – meaning that the future Vessels of their power could be on any one of them. Thanatos informed the New Gods that travel between worlds would become possible, easy even, for them once they had settled into their new power, but for now, their main concern should be managing their respective domains and making Olympus their home.
Olympus itself was a pocket dimension. It was accessible from any world and was the one place in which the gods could be entirely themselves, unrestrained by mortal conventions or weaknesses. With a sprawling palace, beautiful gardens, crystal oceans and magical waterfalls, Olympus was easily the most wondrous place the New Gods had ever seen. Everything was surrounded by marble white pillars and glass-domed ceilings, giving the impression that one was never truly inside or outside, but simultaneously both. The family of five settled in quite nicely there.
As for their powers and domains…
Sirius quickly discovered his ability to turn water into wine, and spent the next few weeks claiming to be Jesus reborn. He only stopped when Thanatos informed him that Jesus had, in fact, existed, and did not have such an ability, despite what the stories claimed. Sirius was appeased, however, when he discovered his ability to inflict pleasure on others. How he figured it out, Alya did not want to know, so she decided to simply leave him to it.
While exploring her own powers, Luna realised that her Seer abilities had been amplified. It seemed that Apollo’s domain of prophecy had transferred to her, instead of Draco, likely due to her previous proficiency in divination. She also discovered that, despite not being an animagus, she could transform into a number of wild animals – doe, wolf, hare, hawk, and many others. Every day, she would transform into something new and go out to explore the endless forests of Olympus, returning home with leaves in her hair and a new animal companion in tow.
Draco’s abilities first manifested in the form of healing – something he’d gotten pretty good at during the war. He could also manipulate light and sound, and soon realised that, whenever someone asked him a question, knowledge would pop into his head regarding whatever the conversation revolved around, helping him to answer. This combined with his new ability to discern when someone was lying to him made it increasingly difficult for Teddy and Sirius to get away with their mischief, much to their disappointment (until they realised that as long as they involved Draco in the planning, they could still prank everyone else).
Alya’s powers were easily the most impressive… and the hardest to control. With authority over three largest domains – sky, sea, and the dead – Alya’s power was immense and, on multiple occasions, she’d accidentally caused all sorts of natural disasters when upset. Thanatos had been a great help in getting a handle on her abilities though, and within just a few weeks of ascending to godhood, Alya had mastered the basics. She could summon lightning, control water, manipulate the weather, and utilise shadows to get from one place to another. She had also discovered that she could shapeshift (through a rather embarrassing incident involving two squirrels and a swan) but had yet to develop that particular power.
A month passed in this peaceful manner. The small family were happy, and Teddy, while still young, had grown enough to understand that his biological parents were dead and not coming back. With this, very rudimentary, understanding came the decion for Alya to blood-adopt Teddy. Not only would it ensure that the young boy had godly blood in his system, thereby keeping him safe, but it also meant (in Teddy’s mind, at least) that he could finally call his godmother ‘Mum’.
Draco became Uncle Dray. Luna became Auntie Lou. And Sirius became Grandpa Pads.
He wasn’t too happy about that, claiming it made him feel old, but Teddy was insistent, and no one could say “no” to his perfect puppy eyes.
It was soon after this that Thanatos decreed them settled enough in their domains to be able to world-jump. They had just under a year before the Convergence took place, and they needed to start gathering together the rest of the Court of Olympus.
And so, the New Gods descended from Olympus once again, intent on travelling the multi-verse in search of the Vessels that would soon become family.
~ * ~
Deathless Aphrodite, throned in flowers,
Daughter of Zeus, O terrible enchantress.
~ Sappho
~ * ~
1864
Mystic Falls
Earth-52
Katherine Pierce, also known as Katerina Petrova, had just left the Salvatore brothers dead in the road. Their own Father had shot them, but Katherine wasn’t worried. They both had her blood in their system, therefore, they would wake up in transition and later become vampires.
Not that Katherine would stick around to see it. She had to run and, as mildly disappointed as she was to have to leave Stefan behind, her own life would always come first.
Before she could get too far, however, a bright flash of light appeared before her. Katherine froze, a spike of fear shooting through her at the possibility that he had found her. But as the light died down, she realised it wasn’t him.
In front of her, having seemingly appeared out of nowhere, were two of the most beautiful women she had ever laid eyes on, and Katherine couldn’t help the spike of jealousy she felt as she stared at them.
The first woman had hair so white it shone silver in the light of the moon, and her pale blue eyes were fixed on Katherine knowingly. She was small, dainty, faery-like, dressed in a floaty grey dress that seemed to shimmer like liquid moonlight. She wore no jewellery, spare for a strange set of rings that seemed to cover the inside of her forefingers.
The second woman was a stark opposite of the first, with silky, jet-black hair, high cheekbones, and startling emerald eyes that seemed to shift colour the longer Katherine looked at them. She was dressed in black trousers – something Katherine had never seen on women before – a white blouse, and a shapely black blazer over the top. A single silver necklace hung around her neck, coming to rest between her breasts, and her hands were adorned with silver rings.
Katherine was used to being the loveliest girl in the room and yet, next to these women, she could not compare.
“Katerina Petrova,” the blonde said, her voice high and dream-like.
Katherine should have run then. She should have escaped before they could hurt her, trap her, drag her to whoever they worked for… but she did not. Some part of her didn’t want to. It was as though the Fates were whispering in her ear, telling her that her destiny started here.
The blonde continued speaking.
“Are you ready to ascend?”
As though these words were a trigger, Katherine doubled over, pain shooting through her body. She could feel something happening to her, something changing. It felt like… magic, but stronger. So much stronger.
And then she heard two small voices in her head.
‘You are our Vessel,’ the first said, her voice soft and alluring.
‘You now hold our power in your hands, to be used however you see fit,’ the second voice continued, much scratchier and darker than the first.
‘You will join the Court of the New Gods, as our replacement.’
‘You will continue our legacy throughout the multi-verse.’
‘You are the Vessel of Eris and Aphrodite. The New Goddess of Love and Strife.’
Just as the voices stopped, a rush of knowledge flooded Katherine’s mind, and she understood.
She was a goddess now, the chosen Vessel of Eris and Aphrodite, part of the new Court of Olympus. She had a family now, a place in the world, a place in the universe.
The pain faded and she straightened up. Strength surged through her limbs, immense power warming her chest. She stared into the eyes of the woman she now knew to be Alya Black, First and Greatest of the New Gods and Mistress of Death.
“Welcome to the family,” she said, smiling.
Katherine smirked.
“It’s good to be home.”
~ * ~
A warrior with a cause
Is the most dangerous soldier of all.
~ Michael Scott
~ * ~
1948
Philadelphia
Earth-39
Jasper Whitlock was depressed.
For years he had struggled with his vampirism and his empath gifts. Being a blood-sucking monster did not mix well with the ability to feel the terror and pain of his victims. It had left him feeling hopeless. Feeding was torturous, and her tried to avoid it as much as possible, but… the thirst was worse. He was starving all the time, and he could barely control himself around humans.
Jasper hated not having control.
He also hated himself for everything he’d done.
But what was he supposed to do?
Sitting in the corner of the diner, Jasper tried not to think about the blood pumping through the humans’ veins, calling out to him like wine to an alcoholic. Instead, he focussed on the book in front of him. He needed to feed, yes, but he wanted to choose a target carefully. He needed someone that wouldn’t be missed, someone that he wouldn’t feel quite so guilty removing from the world.
Before he could make his decision on who to have for dinner, however, the bell above the diner door rang cheerfully and two people walked in. Jasper guessed them to be twins, with their matching silver hair and porcelain features, but when they turned, he saw their eyes shone different colours. The male had eyes of steel grey, sharp and dangerous as he surveyed the diner. The female, on the other hand, had eyes of crystal blue, and they softened to something warm as her gaze met his.
Something warm flooded Jasper’s chest.
The twins made their way over to him, casually settling into his booth as though he’d invited them there. He expected to hear their hearts racing, hear the pumping of their blood in his veins and feel venom pooling in his mouth but, for the first time since he’d turned, his bloodlust had entirely faded.
“Hello there,” the blue-eyed girl said, blinking up at him, “my name’s Luna. What’s yours?”
“Jasper Whitlock, ma’am,” he replied, tilting his head slightly in greeting. The girl’s eyes sparkled, and Jasper got the distinct feeling that she had already known his name and had only asked to be polite. How she knew it, however, was a mystery.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jasper,” she continued. “You’re going to make an excellent addition to our family.”
Such a statement should have worried Jasper – it was oddly ominous to hear from a stranger – but instead, the warmth in his chest spread to encompass his entire body. It grew warmer, hotter, it burned, oh it burned! Like wildfire, it blazed through his system, destroying him, remaking him.
And then he heard a voice in his head, a deep voice that somehow screamed fire and destruction.
‘You will be my Vessel,’ it said. ‘You will wield my power and join the New Court of Olympus. You will rule my domain and continue the legacy of Ares!’
Fire flared before Jasper’s eyes but no one else seemed bothered by it, so maybe it wasn’t real.
‘Welcome to Godhood, kid. You are the New God of War.’
And then, just as the pain (burning, scorching, searing) died down, knowledge suddenly filled the gaps in Jasper’s mind: everything he needed to know about what he was, what he could do, and the new family he would be a part of.
Sitting up, Jasper scanned the New Gods before him.
His initial guess that they were twins was proven correct, as he realised that he was face-to-face with the Vessels of Apollo and Artemis.
Draco. The New God of the Sun, Knowledge, Healing, and Plague.
And Luna. New Goddess of the Moon, Hunting, Prophecy, and the Wild.
“Welcome to the Court of the New Gods,” Draco said, with a wink in his direction.
“You’ll meet the others once we return to Olympus,” Luna added. “They are all eager to meet you.”
“I feel… at peace,” Jasper replied, awe and relief warring within him.
There was no bloodlust. No guilt, no fear. His mind was quiet, and everything else seemed to just fall into place. His body felt alive in a way it hadn’t for eighty-five years, yet the strength remained.
This was what he was made for. His entire life, every choice, every action, had led to this.
“We’re your family now,” Luna replied, her voice like chimes in the wind. “You will always feel at peace with us.”
And when the Archer Twins and their newly acquired God arrived back on Olympus, Jasper couldn’t help but think:
Yes, this was where he belonged. This was home.
~ * ~
It was just an hour later that a vampire named Alice – previously known as Mary Alice Brandon – entered the diner in Philadelphia. She looked to the corner, expecting to see the honey-haired vampire she’d seen in her visions, but…
He wasn’t there.
Alice frowned. Her visions had never been wrong before. She’d seen him! Jasper Whitlock. She’d seen herself meeting him in this very diner, at this exact moment in time. They were supposed to travel together, learn together, grow together. They were supposed to join a coven of Vegetarian Vampires, find a family, find peace.
But Jasper was nowhere to be seen, and Alice could no longer see his future.
With a sigh, she left the diner, Jasper’s face still floating in her mind.
Where on earth could he be?
~ * ~
Victorious warriors win first
And then go to war.
~ Sun Tzu
~ * ~
2011
Beacon Hills
Earth-43
The face in the mirror was both familiar, and entirely unfamiliar. It was him, but it wasn’t him. It had the same features, the same smile, the same eyes, and yet… everything was somehow off.
Void had been defeated two weeks ago, but Stiles could still feel him in his mind, could still see him in the glazed (dead-empty-dark) eyes he saw in the mirror.
He was tired, so tired. He couldn’t sleep, memories of being imprisoned in his own head haunting his dreams. He didn’t want to stay awake either, not when being awake meant facing the glares, the snide remarks, the avoidance of his best friend and pack.
Scott was angry. Losing Allison had broken something in him, which had, in turn, broken something in their friendship. Stiles knew he could never forgive himself for what happened, but he’d thought (hoped) that Scott wouldn’t blame him at least. Not good, noble Scott – the True Alpha.
But he was wrong.
Scott hated him. Or, at least, that’s how it appeared. The Alpha hadn’t spoken to Stiles since Void was defeated. Allison had been his first love, the first girl he’d truly, completely fallen for. And Stiles understood that Scott probably just needed space, needed time to come to terms with everything. It still hurt, it hurt a lot, but he could accept that.
Unfortunately, that left Stiles alone to deal with his own grief, guilt, and self-hatred.
He didn’t want to be alone. He hated being alone.
With a deep sigh, Stiles turned away from the mirror, moving to re-enter his bedroom. He collapsed on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to think of anything other than the mischievous spirit that had hurt so many.
Just as Stiles had settled on counting through the times-tables to occupy his mind, a bright light lit up his room. It had barely dissipated before Stiles felt a wave of pain surge through him. He curled in on himself, gritting his teeth. It hurt, it ached, it burned.
“Fuck.” A voice came from above him. It was female, but unfamiliar.
“Looks like we arrived just in time.” Another voice said, also female.
Just in time for what?, Stiles thought.
‘Just in time for this…’ A voice in his mind spoke up. It was feminine, strong and sure.
‘You already possess wisdom far beyond that of other mortals,’ the voice said, ‘so I believe you will do well as my Vessel. You will wield my power in the new world, working alongside the New Gods to make the universe your own’.
Stiles didn’t know what was happening, but he felt stronger. Even through the pain, he could feel power flooding his veins, his body transforming into something more.
‘You shall be the Vessel of Athena. The New God of Wisdom and Battle Strategy. Good luck, my child.’
The pain faded and, a moment later, knowledge consumed his mind. He knew everything he needed to know, was now aware of his place in the universe, and so he uncurled, standing to face the three women that had appeared in his room.
“Hey there,” Katerina, Goddess of Love and Strife, said.
“Hi,” Stiles replied, still a little off-balance but suddenly much more sure of himself.
“You ready to meet the others?” Alya, Queen of the Gods and Mistress of Death, asked, and Luna, Goddess of the Moon, smiled brightly beside her.
Stiles nodded. He could already feel a bond settling – the bond between him and the rest of the New Gods, his family. He knew that Olympus was his home now, that the realm of mortals would never be his home again. And he felt good.
His mind was his own. He knew his own worth. He had a place to belong.
“I’m ready,” he said, “but first… we might need to speak to my Dad.”
Katerina blinked, and Luna giggled.
“Of course,” Alya replied, with a smile, “let’s go explain things to him. You’re the first of us to have a parent still alive, so this will be a first…”
~ * ~
It can bring winter in all its fury,
Or summer in all its purity.
~ Nikita Gill
~ * ~
Unknown year
Unknown location
Earth-17
Newt couldn’t remember a time when his body didn’t hurt. He couldn’t remember ever feeling good, ever feeling strong, ever feeling whole. All he knew was hunger, and aches, and hardship. First in the Maze, then in the Scorch. Now in the burning city, as the Flare ravaged his body and fractured his mind.
He was dying – this he knew for sure – but he wasn’t scared.
He hoped (as he’d hoped all those years ago, when he’d thrown himself from the Maze walls) that death would bring him peace, that it would put an end to the pain. Maybe he’d see Alby again, in the great beyond. Maybe he’d see Winston, and Jeff, and Zart, and Ben.
Maybe he’d see Chuck.
Or maybe he’d be alone. Maybe there would be nothing. Maybe the end was truly just that: The End.
Either way, Newt was looking forward to it. So long as he never became a Crank, a feral beast that would hurt any and everyone if given the chance, then he would be happy.
The one thing he hadn’t expected, however, was to live.
And yet, the voice in his head seemed to be suggesting just that.
It was feminine, warm, almost husky, and it whispered in his mind like the wind through the Glade.
‘You have suffered greatly, my child’, it said, ‘but now you will get the chance at life you deserve.’
Strength rushed through his limbs, melting away the aches and washing away the pain.
‘You will be my Vessel – the Vessel of Demeter. You will have family, and love, and a home. There will be no more pain or grief.’
There was a golden flash somewhere above him, followed by the sound of footsteps.
“Has it started already?” A male voice questioned.
“Yes.” This voice was female, soft and musical. “He will join us momentarily.”
The voice in his head returned, and Newt finally felt his mind clear. The damage done by the Flare had been completely reversed, and for the first time in weeks, he could think.
‘Go, my child. Join your brethren in the Olympian Court as the New God of the Harvest, Plants, and Agriculture.’
And with that, the voice faded away and knowledge took its place. Newt had never believed in gods – he’d never had reason to; religion wasn’t a thing in the Glade – but now to find out he was one, that he had a place in the world, a duty, a domain, a family…
The last of his mortal aches disappeared as pure joy warmed his chest.
He could see them now. The New Gods that had come to welcome him into their Court.
Luna, the silver-haired Goddess of the Moon, stood to his right, looking radiant under the light of the stars.
Stiles, the whiskey-eyed God of Wisdom, stood to his left, lips tilted up in a kind but mischievous smirk.
And finally, Alya, the Queen of three Kingdoms and leader of the Olympian Court. She stood directly in front of him, her glowing green-blue eyes fixed on his.
“Alright?” He asked, almost instinctively.
Alya’s eyes twinkled with amusement.
“Shouldn’t we be asking you that?” She replied, and he shrugged, pushing himself to his feet.
“So,” he glanced at the other two, eyes lingering slightly longer on the God of Wisdom, “we’re all godly people now, are we?”
Stiles snorted.
“That’s one way of putting it.”
“Right then,” Alya said, clapping her hands together, “let’s get back to Olympus. I believe Sirius is trying his hand at making Coq au Vin—” (Newt had no idea what that was) “—so there should be a wonderful welcoming dinner waiting for us.”
“That’s if he doesn’t burn it again,” Luna piped up, and Alya tilted her head in agreement.
“Hence why Stiles and I made a batch of burgers and falafel earlier.” She winked at Stiles, and he laughed. “Just in case.”
Newt grinned.
He was still reeling from how quickly his fate had changed, going from near-dead-crank to powerful-immortal-god, but somehow it all felt so natural. As though this was the reason he’d survived the Maze trials, the Scorch, and WICKED. Every trial, every loss, every challenge he’d faced had been leading to his ascension.
And now, here he was, with a family, a home, a whole future ahead of him, and he wondered…
How could he ever have wished for death, when he’d been made for eternity?
~ * ~
Darkness is not death, does not obliterate,
Will not bury you or take your breath away.
~Alice Fogel
~ * ~
1914
New Orleans
Earth-52
“And you’re sure he’s here?” Draco asked, as he, Luna, Alya, and Katherine walked down the streets of New Orleans.
“Positive,” Luna replied, resplendent in her navy-blue gown. “I haven’t been able to sense him for some time, but… he’s here now, and soon he’ll be one of us.”
Katherine, who was dressed to the nines in a daring blood-red gown that didn’t at all blend in with the current fashion, huffed angrily.
“Did it have to be a Mikaelson?” She whined, much to the others’ amusement, “why couldn’t we get a Bennett? Or, hell, even one of the Salvatores? Why did it have to be one of this cursed family?”
“Come on, Katerina,” Alya replied, linking their arms together, “you know better than anyone, we can’t choose our family.”
“We’re gods,” Katherine argued, “we should be able to do whatever we like!”
The group came to a halt outside one of the mansions. They could hear music inside, and the chattering of a hundred people.
“The Mikaelson Christmas Party,” Katherine sighed, pout still prominently on display. “I hate you for making me do this.”
Draco chuckled and led them all inside.
The party was already in full swing, and no one paid any attention to the arrival of four strangers. Not that the gods expected them to – they had twisted their magic to render them unnoticeable. They were here for their newest family member after all, not to cause drama (that would come later).
Alya snagged a drink from the nearest table, raising the glass to her lips as she scanned the room.
“Nine o’clock,” Katherine said, sidling up next to her, “the blonde with the blue eyes. That’s Klaus.”
Alya took him in, noting the smug expression of his face as he called for the crowd to quiet and began his speech. She didn’t listen to a word of it, entirely uninterested in what he had to say. Instead, she followed Katherine’s gaze to another man, this one with a darker countenance – brown hair and dark eyes.
“Elijah,” the Love Goddess said, her voice one of longing and bitterness.
Alya knew what the Mikaelson brothers had done to her beloved sister. They had protected her, pretended to love her, all with the intention of eventually sacrificing her for their own gain. Death was one thing, and the Queen of the Gods couldn’t exactly fault people for murder when her own hands were stained with blood, but such deception, playing on Katerina’s need for love and kindness… that was something Alya couldn’t forgive.
After all, it’s what Dumbledore had done to her. He’d offered her sanctuary, showed her kindness, given her attention above all others, but it had all been with the intention of manipulating her into doing what he believed was right.
Bastard.
Katherine continued speaking, shaking away her long-dead love as she gestured to a blonde girl in the crowd.
“That’s Rebekah.” She took a sip of her drink and rolled her eyes. “A spoiled brat and a bitch.”
Alya smirked.
“A bit like you then…”
Katherine gasped, outraged.
“She wishes she was half as amazing as me,” she hissed, tossing her perfect curls over one shoulder, “and besides, I’m a Goddess. What is she besides an unloved little girl?”
With a flick of her manicured hand, a waiter suddenly tripped, tipping an entire tray of drinks over Rebekah’s dress. The blonde shrieked in anger, causing Klaus’s speech to falter, and Alya had a feeling the waiter wouldn’t survive the evening.
Draco approached them, staring at the mess Katherine had caused. He looked at Alya.
“We should have expected this.”
“Probably,” she replied with a delicate shrug, “but at least it’s entertaining.”
Katherine growled at them, clearly still annoyed, but Luna hurried over, cutting her off before she could speak.
“There,” she said, pointing to a man that was now rushing towards the stairs, “that’s our newest member.”
The New Gods suddenly grew focussed, their collective gaze assessing the man destined to become a part of their family.
“Kol Mikaelson?!” Katherine muttered, “the Happy Homicidal Maniac?!”
“That’s what they call him?” Draco questioned.
“Oh, I love him already,” Alya replied.
The group watched in growing anger, as Elijah grabbed Kol and held him in place as Klaus drove a dagger into his heart. His body turned grey, his skin ashen and veiny. Rebekah, still wet from her impromptu shower, stood at the base of the stairs with a savagely satisfied expression.
The New Gods were furious. How dare these ignorant creatures harm one of their own? How dare these horrid siblings turn on their own flesh and blood?
They would get Kol back of course – there was no doubt about it, he was made for Olympus – but to anger the gods was a dire mistake, and the Mikaelsons would pay for it.
Danger and misfortune would haunt their every step. Their greatest strengths would fail them in their times of greatest need. The bonds of family – which they’d apparently forgotten when they stabbed their brother through the heart – would prove to never be enough in the face of their enemies, and the Mikaelsons would fall apart.
So was the will of the gods and, in every universe, their will was absolute.
~ * ~
Kol woke up with a start. He leapt out of the coffin (his coffin – how depressing was that?), trying to get his bearings. How long had he been daggered? What year was it? Where was Klaus?
Kol wanted to tear him limb from limb! Klaus and Elijah. They would pay for what they did to him!
However, before he could speed out of wherever his brother had stashed him, in search of both his brothers and a snack, his eyes landed on a group of, possibly, the most beautiful beings he had ever seen.
The first was a man, with silver hair and sharp features, steel-grey eyes peering out from beneath white-blonde lashes.
The second and third were both women, complete opposites of one another. One had silver hair, like the man, and bright blue eyes that sparkled as she stared at him. She wore a blue gown that flowed down her body like water but didn’t particularly highlight any of her womanly features. In contrast, the second woman wore a red dress so tight that it left very little to the imagination, and her curly brown hair bounced teasingly over her shoulders and the tops of her breasts.
The final woman was, in Kol’s humble opinion, the most beautiful of them all – but that may have had something to do with the mischief he saw swirling in her blue-green eyes. He had always been attracted to women who could keep up with his chaos. She wore a plain black gown with golden details, and golden jewellery adorned her neck and arms. She was elegant and poised as she walked towards him, and Kol reached out to take her hand.
Before he could press a kiss to her skin, as a gentleman should, he was enveloped by a wave of pain. He fell to his knees, a scream tearing from his throat. But then, power, power he hadn’t felt in so so long, surged through his body, flooding through his veins. His scream transformed into a maniacal laugh as he felt magic re-enter his body for the first time in almost a thousand years.
‘Hello Kol,’ a voice spoke in his mind, husky and female. ‘You know, I was quite angry when your mother stole your magic from you. You were always destined to be a great witch, and now you will be the best. You will be my Vessel – the Vessel of Hecate. You will have magic and power beyond anything any of those jealous nature witches could dream of. You will join the Court of Olympus as the New God of Magic, Ghosts, and Crossroads.’
Kol grinned.
‘Good luck, my child.’
And as quickly as it came, the pain disappeared, and knowledge filled his brain. He knew who he was. He knew where he belonged. He knew, for the first time in his very long existence, that he had a family that would support him. A family that would be there for him and love him the way he deserved.
He looked up, locking eyes with Alya, the Queen of Olympus. Behind her, Draco, Luna, and Katherine (the same Katherine that escaped his brothers, so he liked her for that alone) smiled at him, a silent welcome in their gaze.
Kol stood up, relishing in the power he now felt buzzing beneath his skin.
“Well,” he said, “this is going to be fun.”
The New Gods chuckled.
“Welcome to the family,” Draco grinned.
“And as long as you’re nothing like your older brothers,” Katherine added, “we’ll get on fine.”
“I find it an insult to be compared to them,” Kol assured her, with his signature smirk. He hadn’t expected, however, for Katherine to turn to Alya, pointing an accusatory finger.
“See!” She said, “I told you it was insulting!”
Both Alya and Draco rolled their eyes, and Luna giggled behind her hand.
“Come on,” Alya sighed, turning to walk away, “let’s get back to Olympus. I’m in need of a proper drink.”
Kol followed after them, his grin never falling from his face. He felt good. He felt powerful. And as he listened to his new family bickering up ahead, he realised…
He felt right at home.
~ * ~
A son of many shifts, blandly cunning,
A robber, bringer of dreams,
A watcher by night,
A thief at the gates.
~ Homeric Hymn
~ * ~
2012
Unknown Location
Earth-55
Loki paced around his cell onboard the SHIELD Helicarrier, not at all worried about his captivity. After all, he was a god (was he?). He had a plan (was it his plan?), and everything would work out in the end (for who, exactly?).
Loki would finally get the crown he deserved. He would no longer be in the shadow of his brother, no longer have to accept the disappointment of his father—adopted father. He would rule mankind with fear and an iron fist! It was what he’d always wanted (was it?).
He flinched, slightly, as memories of Thanos’s torture flashed before his eyes. Dark thoughts swirled through his mind - thoughts of destruction, thoughts of balance, thoughts of… the tesseract. But were they his thoughts? Loki didn’t think so. In the privacy of his mind, he questioned his every action, even tried to stop himself from committing such atrocities in the outside world. He didn’t care for the mortals, but he still did not wish to see them hurt, not when there was no true reason behind it.
But then that voice in his mind would whisper. It would tell him that this was the only way, that he deserved to rule, that he was above them.
At first, the voice had sounded like his own, and he hadn’t even thought to question it. But now, the longer he was on earth, the longer he was away from Thanos and his minions… that voice had twisted. It now sounded more like the being that tortured him, using immense pain to gradually break his mental walls and slip inside, taking control from within.
It had taken a while for Loki to notice the difference, to realise that maybe his mind wasn’t his own… but it was too late now. The plan was already in motion, the tesseract was likely already in New York, being prepared to open another doorway to space through which the Chitauri would enter.
It was too late.
Suddenly, alarms began ringing throughout the ship. Loki looked up. It was too early… his men weren’t supposed to arrive for another few hours at least. So, what was going on?
Before he could question it further, he was blinded by a bright flash, and only when it disappeared and he could blink the dots from his eyes did he see that a group of people had arrived in his cell.
There were three of them – one woman and two men.
“How—” he began, curious and, admittedly, a little afraid, but the woman cut him off.
“Hello Loki,” she said, soft blue eyes staring at him with sympathy, “don’t worry, it will all make sense soon.”
The men stepped forward, and Loki couldn’t help but take a step back.
“Sorry about this,” a violet-eyed man said, “removing a monster from someone’s head is always a little painful.”
The other man, this one brunette with sharp brown eyes, held out a hand and Loki felt himself freeze. He couldn’t move. His limbs were stiff at his side.
The first man pressed his hands either side of Loki’s head, and then…
Pain shot through him, like nothing he’d ever experienced. It felt like someone was digging through his brain with a jagged knife, scraping away the rot and returning it, raw and vulnerable, back into his head. His eyes watered and, he couldn’t see it but, the electric-blue leaked from his irises as they returned to their typical green shade.
At some point, the pain shifted, moving from his brain to his body and he groaned.
‘Hey there, Loki!’ A voice in his mind said, sounding neither like himself nor his torturer, ‘I’m Hermes and you, my lucky fellow, will be my Vessel. You already have a knack for mischief, I see, so I feel you would do well with my power.’
Loki had no idea what was going on.
‘You will be a god – a real god, mind you, not whatever you silly Asgardians think you are.’ The voice, Hermes, continued, ‘You will be the New God of Travel, Messengers, and Mischief. Enjoy!’
The pain finally faded, and knowledge came rushing in. Loki just lay on the ground, staring up at the ceiling of his cell in utter confusion. He understood what Hermes had been telling him now – he was a God, the Vessel of Hermes, and a member of the New Olympian Court – but still…
“That was so weird,” he grumbled, and the trio chuckled above him.
“It always is,” Sirius, the God of Madness and Wine, replied, grinning at him, “but now that you’re one of us, I really suggest we get out of here before the humans arrive.”
Loki suddenly realised the alarms were still blaring, and the booming sound of footsteps was getting closer.
“Or,” Kol, the God of Magic, began, “we could stick around and have a little fun. I have all sorts of tricks I want to try, and I bet these funny little mortals wouldn’t know real magic if it slapped them in the face.”
Sirius looked like he was considering it for a moment, but then Luna stepped forward.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “We need to get Loki back to Olympus and give his mind time to recover from his ordeal. Besides, Alya will have your heads if you get into any more trouble. She’s still pissed off about the mongoose incident.”
Loki had no idea what that meant… and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
“Fine, fine,” Sirius sighed, “let’s go.”
And with that, the New Gods (including their newest member) flashed out of the cell, just in time for one Nick Fury to enter the room, swearing profusely when he noticed his prisoner had disappeared.
~ * ~
Here let him stand
On broken swords, hacked bodies, bloody ground
Here is your Victory, carved out of man, not stone.
~ Arthur Kramer
~ * ~
2008
New York
Earth-29
Alec Lightwood was out walking on the streets of New York when everything changed. The war with Valentine and Johnathon was over, everyone was at peace, and he… didn’t know what to do with himself.
Jace, Isabelle, and Max were safe and happy. As were Clary and Simon. Relations between Shadowhunters and Downworlders were better than ever, and the New York Institute was thriving in this new, peaceful world.
Alec was happy. Really, he was. But… for some reason, everything felt wrong.
He didn’t know how to describe it. It was almost like, while everyone else was still vibrating on the same frequency, something had happened to Alec, and now he was always out of step.
Even with Magnus, who Alec really truly loved, nothing ever felt quite right. And the worst part was, Magnus had noticed. He’d suggested, much to Alec’s dismay (and silent relief) that they take a break from their relationship, work on themselves for a while, and when (if) they both felt better, they could rekindle the love between them.
It was a good idea, no matter how much Alec hated it. He needed to work out what was wrong with him, why the world suddenly didn’t make sense anymore, before he could be the boyfriend Magnus deserved.
And so, here he was, walking the streets of New York in an attempt to clear his head.
He had just turned a corner when the pain hit him. He fell to his knees, gritting his teeth as his entire body was wracked with agonising tremors. He was so distracted by the ache of his muscles, the boiling of his blood, that he didn’t notice the bright flash of light heralding the arrival of his future family.
“We’re late,” someone said, a female voice Alec didn’t recognise.
“Don’t look at me,” another voice snapped back, this one male. “Perfection takes time, you know!”
“Sirius, you spend more time on your hair than Katherine and Kol, combined!”
The sound of someone blowing a raspberry followed soon after, along with a distinct slapping sound, but then the pain increased, and Alec stopped listening.
He could feel something, winding its way through his body, seeping into his limbs, fusing into his very bones. And then a voice – two voices, actually – began speaking in his mind.
‘Hello Alec.’ The first voice was masculine but light, the sound of wind through a city block. ‘I am Aeolus, and you shall be my Vessel.’
‘But he’s going to have to share,’ another voice piped up, this one loud and female, ‘because I’ve chosen you as my Vessel, as well!’
Alec was sure he heard Aeolus sigh, but then they both continued.
‘You do not belong in this world, my child,’ Aeolus explained. ‘You were made for something bigger.’
‘You will have power beyond your imagination,’ the female voice said, ‘and a place among the most powerful beings in the universe.’
‘You will be the Vessel of Aeolus and Nike,’ they said together, ‘the New God of Victory and Master of the Winds.’
With that, the voices – and the pain – retreated, and knowledge took their place.
Alec finally understood why he’d been out of step with the people around him, why he’d felt so wrong in a world that used to feel so right.
He’d evolved. No. He’d ascended.
He no longer belonged in the mortal world.
He stood up, his gaze scanning over the gods that had come to greet him.
Alya, Goddess of the Sky, the Sea, and the Dead. Queen of Olympus.
Luna. Goddess of the Moon, the Wild, and Prophecy. Olympus’s best tracker.
And Sirius, God of Madness and Wine. The man who spent far too much time on his hair.
They were his family now, and Alec couldn’t help but think of the family he’d be leaving behind.
“Hello, love,” Alya said, her smile kind and welcoming. “Are you ready to join the Court of Olympus?”
Alec thought about it. He thought about the Institute, about Jace, and Isabelle, and Max. He thought about Magnus, about the love they’d shared, and the possibility of a future with him.
And then he thought about himself, about the power that now burned in his veins, and the whispers he heard on the wind. He hadn’t felt this good-right-whole for a long time.
And so, he made his choice.
“I’m ready,” he said, walking forward to take Alya’s offered hand.
“Well then,” Luna smiled, “let’s get you home.”
Home.
Alec liked the sound of that.
~ * ~
So, they can create their own paths,
Can fight their own demons,
So, they too can stand up
For themselves.
~ Sarah Cabrera
~ * ~
2014
Washington D.C.
Earth-55
The Winter Soldier—
“Bucky?”
The Winter Soldier—
“—til the end of the line.”
The Winter Soldier—
James ‘Buchanan’ Barnes.
Soldat—Bucky—James didn’t know who he was.
He knew what he was. He was The Asset, a weapon, pointed and fired by his Handlers.
But that didn’t answer who he was.
The man – Steve, Captain America, Punk – he’d saved from the burning wreckage in the river… he knew who he was.
He’d called him Bucky.
But was he Bucky? That might have been his name, once upon a time, but did it still belong to him? Was he still that man?
Memories, images, faces flickered through his mind. They were blurry, incomplete, fractured, but they were the only clue he had to his identity – to the identity of the man he once was.
He didn’t want to go back to HYDRA. He didn’t want to go back to being a what instead of a who.
He needed- he needed to hide, to keep a low profile. He needed time and space to work out what to do, how to survive, and who to be now that he was free to choose. He needed to disappear, for the Winter Soldier to be considered lost, gone for good. He needed to—
Bucky-Soldat-Bucky suddenly grew tense, as three people emerged from the woods. He hadn’t heard their footsteps, hadn’t noticed their approach until they were already upon him.
How had he missed them?
“Hello,” one of them said, his honey-gold hair gleaming in the speckled sunlight seeping through the trees.
“Who are you?” Bucky (he was Bucky!) asked, already reaching for the knife at his belt. He didn’t feel scared, or even wary, in the presence of these strangers, but he had a feeling he was supposed to be, so he prepared himself for a fight.
“I think the real question is,” the second man said, grey-purple eyes soft with an emotion Bucky couldn’t recognise, “who are you?”
Those words must have triggered something, as Bucky immediately doubled over in pain. His skin itched and something burned, deep inside his chest, but nothing was worse than his head. It throbbed, like a hammer was being taken to his skull, again and again and again.
‘Hello son,’ a gruff voice spoke in his mind, ‘let’s get this awful mind control out of your system.’
There was a strange drilling sound, and the distant clanging of metal on metal, but then… it stopped, and Bucky was able to think clearly for the first time in years. He could remember everything – his life before the war, his time as a soldier, his fall from the train. He could remember every agonising moment of his time with HYDRA, and he could remember what he did. It sickened him to think of the blood on his hands, the blood of innocents whose only crime was to stand in HYDRA’s way.
Oh god, what had he done?
‘Don’t worry,’ the voice came back, kind and warm but not soft in any way. It was rough, as though the speaker had inhaled too much smoke. ‘You’ll be able to make up for it. You’ve been used, far too long, as a force of death and destruction, but now, I will give you the chance to create, to build instead of tear down. You will be my Vessel in the new age. You will help to build a better universe!’
Bucky wanted to cry. He wanted this chance, more than anything, but after everything he’d done… did he really deserve it?
‘Deserve it?’ The voice said, ‘son, you were made for it! This has always been your destiny. It’s just that, sometimes, we have to fall before we can rise. I am Hephaestus, and it’s about time you took my place in the Court of the New Gods. You will be the God of Fire, Volcanoes, and Blacksmiths. Have fun, kid.’
And just like that, the pain faded, and knowledge took its place. He understood now. He knew exactly who he was.
Not The Asset. Not Soldat.
Not even Bucky.
He was James Barnes, newest God of the Olympian Court.
Feeling stronger than ever, James stood up straight again, smiling (somewhat robotically, as he wasn’t used to making such an expression) at the fellow gods around him.
“Feeling better now?” Jasper, the God of War, asked, gently.
“Yeah,” James replied, “I feel… great.”
His eyes scanned his new companions – Jasper, Luna, and Sirius – and he felt something click into place.
This was his family now. And Olympus was his home.
He hadn’t belonged in the mortal world for seventy years. HYDRA might have found his body, taken control of his mind, and used him as a weapon against their enemies, but Bucky Barnes was dead. The world had no place for a dead man.
Olympus, however, had a place for James. It was where he belonged.
Taking a step forward, James joined the other gods, and they teleported away from the riverside. They reappeared on Olympus – where Katherine was bickering with Draco; Stiles and Loki were causing chaos; Kol was brewing potions; Newt and Alya were playing with Teddy; and Alec was entirely fed up with all of them – and James immediately felt at peace.
~ * ~
The wind is rustling the leaves of the trees
And the birds are singing along
As I walk through the forest listening to nature’s song.
~ Christy Ann Martine
And you mortals are prideful creatures
You ask for more than what you need.
So, I must keep the balance
By ending those corrupted by greed.
~ Nadia McGhee
~ * ~
2006
Forks, Washington
Earth-39
Seth and Leah Clearwater were standing alongside Jacob and the rest of the wolves, as the Volturi fled the field. No battle had taken place, and no violence had occurred (aside from the bleach-blonde King killing Irina, but Leah didn’t particularly care about that). The confrontation had been resolved somewhat peacefully, and Renesmee (of course bloody Bella would call her daughter such a thing!) was safe.
Hopefully, this meant everything could return to normal. The red-eyed bloodsuckers would leave, the packs could continue their patrols, and everything would be right with the world.
All across the field, the winning side were celebrating, embracing their loved ones and finally relaxing after a long and stressful few months.
Leah looked over at Seth.
“You doing alright?” She asked, nudging him gently with her nose.
“I’m great,” he replied, “but can we go home now? I’m hungry.”
Both Leah and Jacob laughed over the pack link, and Seth gave them a wolfy grin. He was glad they’d won and all, but he really did want something to eat. They’d been standing in the snow-covered field for hours now, and his stomach was grumbling loudly.
“We’ll have a celebratory meal when we get back,” Jacob said, “I think we’ve deserved it.”
Before any of them could start the journey home, however, a bright flash of light caught their attention, and a group of people seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Everyone became alert once more, readying themselves to fight if necessary, and they all turned to scan the newcomers.
There were three men and two women. They didn’t smell like bloodsuckers, but… they didn’t exactly smell human either. Both Seth and Leah tilted their heads, a strange tugging feeling in their chest urging them to get closer. They didn’t move though. Until they knew if these new beings were a threat, they couldn’t risk it.
There was silence for a moment, the only sound being the gentle fall of snow, but then Alice spoke.
“You!” She said, stepping forward and staring at one of the strangers – the honey-blonde man, “I know you. Jasper Whitlock. I was supposed to meet you in Philadelphia years ago. I saw you. We were supposed to travel together, but then… I could never find you.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the man, Jasper, replied, his voice a low southern drawl, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He stepped a little closer to the faery-like girl beside him, and Alice scowled. The other vampires and wolves were on edge now, wondering what Alice was talking about.
“Don’t worry,” the faery girl said, “we’re not here to harm you. We’re here for those among you that will join us.”
Join them? That sounded kind of cult-ish to Seth, but he still couldn’t help the warm feeling in his chest as the strangers looked at him and his sister.
Jacob growled.
“Um, why are they looking at us?” Leah asked, Seth repeating the question in his own thoughts.
Before anyone could answer, however, both Clearwaters whined as pain surged through their bodies. The other wolves leapt forward to try and help them, growling accusingly at the strangers, but neither Seth nor Leah could focus on that. All they could focus on was the aching-itching-burning… and the strange voices in their heads.
In Seth’s mind, the voice was male, warm and spirited. The soothing tones made him relax slightly, making the pain easier to bear.
‘Hello Seth. My, my, you are such a warm spirit,’ it said, ‘You will fit perfectly in the new Court of Olympus, and I know you will use my power well. I am Pan, and you will be my Vessel. You will the New God of Nature and the Wild. Take care of my Kingdom!’
The voices – two voices – in Leah’s mind were very different. One was male, low and seductive, while the other was female, dark and twisted. Their words echoed in the she-wolf’s mind, and she shook her head as though to push them out.
It didn’t work.
‘Don’t be silly, girl,’ the female voice said, ‘you can’t get rid of us! We are your destiny, and you are our Chosen.’
‘We believe you will be the best… fit, for our combined power,’ the male voice added, and Leah could hear the smile in his voice. ‘You are so consumed by love and jealousy, rage and bitterness… you will be the perfect Vessel for us both.’
‘I am Nemesis,’
‘And I am Eros,’
‘And you,’ they said together, ‘will take our place in the Court of the New Gods. You will be the Goddess of Balance and Desire, Sex and Revenge. Make us proud!’
The voices disappeared, and the pain followed soon after. It was barely a second later that both Seth and Leah felt the knowledge rush in, and they were finally able to understand what had occurred.
They straightened up, naturally shifting from wolf-form to human. They didn’t particularly care about their nakedness, but Draco snapped his fingers and they were suddenly fully dressed (something Leah was particularly grateful for).
“Hi,” Seth greeted his fellow gods with a wide smile, and they all grinned back.
“Welcome to the family,” Katherine said, and even Leah smiled at that.
Unfortunately, their bonding was cut short as Edward spoke up.
“Family?” He questioned, “Seth? Leah? What is she talking about?”
They looked at him, confused, and then realised that he could no longer read their minds.
Tilting her head, Leah thought up every insult she could in regard to Bella, but Edward didn’t even twitch.
Ha! Take that Eddie-boy! No more mind-raping for you!
“It’s kind of hard to explain,” Seth answered, always the kind one between them, “but these guys are our family. They’ve come to collect us, to take us home.”
Okay, now it definitely sounded Cult-ish. Oops.
Jacob and Sam sprinted into the woods, reappearing moments later in human form (with shorts on).
“Guys,” Jacob yelled, “these people aren’t your family! They just appeared out of nowhere! Did they do something to you?”
“What? No!” Leah replied, though she did understand where he was coming from, “look, it’s none of your business, okay? But we have to go.”
“Seth. Leah.” Sam’s dour voice was loud, but the Clearwaters were no longer his to command, so it had little effect. “You can’t leave La Push. We are your Pack. Your place is here.”
Leah scowled, but it was Seth that answered.
“We’re not Pack anymore,” he said, shuffling towards their fellow gods, “I’m sorry Sam, Jacob, but we need to leave. We don’t belong here anymore.”
“What?!”
“Seth!”
“I AM SO CONFUSED!”
That last voice was definitely Emmett, and Leah heard Draco and Loki snickering in the background.
“We’ll come to visit,” Seth assured them, grabbing Leah’s hand as they hurried towards the New Gods, “I promise!”
“Tell our mom we love her,” Leah added, feeling guilty to leave her mother when their father had died so recently, but… neither she nor her brother could stay any longer. They would visit, definitely, and they could explain things to her, but right now they had to leave. Olympus was waiting for them, along with their new immortal family.
The wolves growled, and some of the Cullens tried speeding forwards only to be frozen in place by Luna.
“Ready to go?” Loki asked, quietly, and both Leah and Seth nodded.
“Then let’s get out of here,” Draco said, “Newt was trying his hand at weed brownies when we left, and I really want to try one.”
Katherine laughed, and Seth bounced excitedly.
“Ooo, I’ve always wanted to try weed brownies,” he said. Leah shook her head.
“Absolutely not.”
“I’m a God now, sis. You can’t stop me!”
“I’m a Goddess now too, dipshit, so I think you’ll find I can!”
The other gods chuckled at their continued bickering and, as one, they flashed away, leaving a very confused (and angry) group of vampires and shapeshifters behind.
~ * ~
To be fully known—and truly loved is,
Well, a lot like being
Loved by God.
~ Timothy Keller
~ * ~
2010
Mystic Falls
Earth-52
“And we’re back on Earth-52,” Draco sighed, as the New Gods flashed into being on the road leading into Mystic Falls.
“Hey, I know this place,” Kol said, looking around.
“You and me both,” Katherine agreed. She then turned to Draco. “What year is it?”
“2010, I believe.”
“Huh, I wonder if my pet Salvatores are still kicking about.”
Alya snorted.
“If they decided to stick around in a town as small and supernaturally chaotic as this one,” she said, “then they’re fools.”
“I never said they were smart,” Katherine shrugged, and Alya laughed.
“So,” Newt said, quickly changing the topic, “where’s our newest member?”
Luna tilted her head, her eyes glowing silver in the dark. She hummed, swaying slightly, as she tracked the energy of the future Vessel.
“This way,” she said, finally, melting into the trees as she followed the silent calling.
The New Gods scrambled to follow her, hurrying through the woods on silent feet, until they eventually came across a clearing. It appeared to be an abandoned quarry, but people had obviously been there recently. Three large circles were burnt into the grass, and the bodies of three women littered the ground.
“It looks like a ritual,” Draco said, scrunching his nose at the scent of Blood Magic that still lingered in the air.
“Yes, and it’s a ritual I recognise,” Kol agreed. “It’s the ritual my brother needed to unlock his werewolf half—” he glanced around, “—and it looks like he succeeded.”
“Great, so now Klaus is a hybrid?” Katherine questioned, with wide eyes.
“It would seem so.”
Alya eyed her sister, lips twitching in amusement.
“Kitty Kat, honey,” she teased, “need I remind you you’re a goddess. You have nothing to fear from a blood-sucking mongrel.”
Katherine rolled her eyes, but the tension in her shoulders eased. It was hard, having been on the run for so much of her life, to remember that she was free now, that she was powerful. If anything, Klaus should fear her, not the other way round.
“Come on,” Luna said, reminding them of their reason for being there, “she’s over here.”
The Moon Goddess led them to the body of a strawberry blonde woman, with a stake in her heart. She looked a little older than most of them, maybe in her late-twenties/early-thirties, and Luna had told them that her name was Jenna Sommers.
“We need to heal her,” Draco said, already assessing her body for wounds. “That should kick-start the ascension process and wake her up.”
Kol kneeled to help Draco, and Alya and Newt hovered protectively near Jenna’s head. They felt a connection to her – the same connection they felt to each other – and they both knew who Jenna would become a Vessel of.
It took a few minutes, but Jenna’s heart began beating again, and her eyelids fluttered.
“Any minute now…” Luna whispered.
~ * ~
Jenna didn’t know what was happening – which seemed to be a common theme in her life.
First, she’d had life-changing knowledge thrust upon her by her niece and nephew, after her boyfriend – or ex-boyfriend, now – got possessed by an evil vampire.
Then, she’d been fed blood by said evil vampire, had her neck snapped, and then forced to drink human blood, completing the transition into a vampire.
Next, she’d been trapped in a fiery circle of doom, only to be grabbed and killed all over again, right in front of her niece.
And now… now she was awake. Which made absolutely no sense whatsoever, but hey, what did she know?
“Any minute now…” a female voice whispered above her, and Jenna tried to focus on it. She didn’t recognise the voice, but if they were helping her, that was good, right? Unless they weren’t helping her, in which case… Jenna really didn’t know, but it would probably be bad.
Before she could overthink it, a wave of pain distracted her, and she almost wished she could go back to being dead.
‘Hello, my dear,’ a regal voice spoke in her mind, ‘you need not be afraid.’
‘You have been so brave,’ another voice spoke, softer and warmer than the first, ‘we will not be adding to your suffering.’
Jenna was still confused, and the pain was definitely addling her mind, but she let herself relax slightly.
‘We have brought you back to life,’ the first voice continued, ‘so that you may become our Vessel and join the Court of Olympus.’
‘You will be strong, and powerful, and never have to suffer again,’ the second voice added.
‘You will be the Vessel of Hera and Hestia,’ they said together, ‘the New Goddess of Marriage, Family, and the Hearth.’
And with the pain faded, the voices disappeared, and knowledge filled her brain.
She had to admit, she was still incredibly confused, but at least was alive again, and she had people she knew she could count on – people that would actually tell her things, instead of keeping her in the dark.
Jenna opened her eyes, coming face to face with two eager pairs of eyes.
Newt and Alya. The brother and sister of another life. Between the three of them, they embodied the eldest gods, and so their bond was already well-formed.
Behind them, Jenna could also see the twins, Draco and Luna, along with Kol, the Vessel of Hecate, and Katherine, the Vessel of Aphrodite and Eris.
Her family.
“Welcome back to the land of the living,” Newt said, offering a hand to help her up.
“Thank you,” she replied, a little wobbly on her feet, but otherwise feeling stronger than she ever had before.
“Are you ready to join the Court of Olympus?” Alya asked.
Jenna glanced around.
“Well, there’s no place for me here anymore. Though I think my niece might freak if my body suddenly goes missing.”
The New Gods laughed.
“Ah, let her worry,” Katherine suggested, lips twisted in a wicked smile, “consequences aren’t really a thing for us gods, so we might as well have a bit of fun.”
Jenna considered that, and then nodded happily in agreement. She loved her niece, really, but she did think Elena deserved a little stress after leaving Jenna in the dark for so long (and inadvertently getting her killed).
“Great!” Kol clapped his hands, “though I do think we should buy a house here at some point. We need a base in the mortal world, and Mystic Falls is as good a place as any to look out for signs of the Convergence.”
“Agreed,” Draco said, “but I think we should build the house from scratch. None of these mortal dwellings would be good enough for all of us.”
“We can get Stiles to design it,” Alya added.
“And make sure we get lots of land for forests and crops,” Luna continued.
“I want a walk-in wardrobe,” Katherine decreed.
“We need a training room,” Kol said.
“What? So, you can get your ass beat by Jasper again?”
“We’re definitely going to need an infirmary,” Draco rolled his eyes.
Newt laughed, linking his arm with Jenna’s.
“Welcome to the family,” he said, and Jenna grinned.
The bickering continued, much to her amusement, even as they flashed away, and, as they reappeared on Olympus, the other Gods joined the argument.
“We’re definitely going to need a library.”
“And a pool.”
“Can we have a cinema?”
“And a wine cellar, obviously.”
“You can turn water into wine! You don’t need a cellar! Me, on the other hand, I’d quite like a workshop.”
“Don’t need a cellar?! Are you mad?”
Yes, Jenna thought, observing them all, this is where I belong. This is where we all belong. For we are the New Gods, the Court of Olympus, Rulers of the Universe, but first and foremost… we’re Family. And that’s what really matters.