Arriving Home

ARRIVING HOME

(This is going to take place four years into the escape to Corcordia. Lilith was on a mission to the remains of CHB, and found migrants there. After fighting off a suprise attack from the Titans and Egyptains, Lilith took the new campers to the new sanctuary.)

Weeping campers, and medics were washed ashore on the only safe place for the half bloods. Corcordia. Lilith got off the boat covered in dirt, grime and cuts. Her hair was a mess and her clothes were torn. Looking into a fire lit on the beach, she saw a glimpse of Hades, her father pointing to a Gothic style mansion in the distance. “Thanks.” she said, and began to walk towards it, with her last bit of strength.

She was completely worn out. Thirsty, and hungry, Lilith didn’t know if she would reach the house. However she got to the door, and opened it. The house seemed empty, and she headed for the kitchen to grab a drink.

It was a lovely modern kitchen, with a bright feel to it. This made the girl smile, as she opened the fridge and helped herself to a bottle of strawberry flavoured water. She had no idea what was going to happen now. Lilith leant on the counter, her back facing the door. Slamming a fist on the granite worktop, tear spilled from her eyes. “Damn them! I will never forgive them for what they have done.” she growled to herself, feeling hopeless. She had last a friend to a Titan that was the child of Ares. Anger and sadness filled her eyes, but she had no time to think as she heard footsteps approaching.

credit: Rach. Graphic: ;;IN MY VEINS | tag: @accaila @aimery | words: 232

Melanie walked through the doors of her suite's bedroom, checking everything over one last time to make sure that it was in place. She didn't have time very often to do small things like this, and wouldn't have had it at all if the relocation team hadn't missed it's mark sending back up to the ruins of Camp Half-Blood. Initially, she had been furious about being pulled out of deep cover to serve as back-up whenever the other garrison members could easily have handled the situation. Things had changed drastically whenever she had been informed that the reinforcements were being sent to her sister. By the time they had landed, everyone was already gone and on their way back to Concordia, and they ordered her to return to the island as well. Upon further interrogation, she found that the initial communications had been disrupted and instead had lead them to Camp Jupiter. She had been assured that Lilith had made it out, which she had never doubted. However, mistakes like that could have been lethal to anyone weaker than her sister.

It still surprised her, however, when the candle she had lit in her small living room flared up and turned an unnatural shade of garnet. It was a warning symbol from her father, but of what she wasn't sure. He had taken to doing things like this after the Damien incident, knowing that she wouldn't want to see him but still wanting to keep an eye out for her and her siblings. She had heard on occasion that Lilith and Aimery had seen him, but this was the only way that he could force himself in to her  life. Still, she wouldn't ignore a warning when it came. It would have been foolish and naive to do otherwise.

With her knife sheathed at her back, where it remained from earlier in the day, Melanie took to scoping the house that should have been empty. The crews and staff had vacated it the day before, leaving it to Aimery and herself to place their personal belongings. For his part, Aimery had returned to work and had promised to call her if he heard anything on their missing sister and demanding for her to do the same should the occasion arise.

While her training told her to maintain the higher ground, her gut told her to go lower and the past four years of working in the field had taught her to listen to both. She silently made her way down the grand staircase and towards the kitchen area, where she could hear someone moving. Unexpectedly, the intruder made their way briefly in to view, long enough for her to see a familiar form. Realizing that the intruder wasn't an intruder that all, Melanie relaxed even though she wasn't quite sure how Lilith had known the house was ready.

Standing at the entrance of the kitchen, far enough out of reach and aware enough to dodge any pointy flying objects that may occur should she startle her sister(again), Melanie decided to at least greet her, even if her niceties were generally rebuffed by one of the only two people who ever received them.

"Welcome home Lilith."

The good thing about being an established merchant was that he was able to hire assistance and workers to take care of the business for him.  They were trusted people, of course, people who were humble in temperament--not to mention people who wouldn't dare do anything fishy to get themselves fired.  He payed them handsomely, after all.  He payed them handsomely to show off just how well he took care his employees and because he wanted to hold them on a tight rein.  There was also something about him being a son of Hades that somewhat scared them into not messing up, too.  Although, honestly, his only power was invisibility, but he prudently didn't talk about that.  Really though, an invisible adversary was quite dangerous, too.

Aimery usually stayed at his shop during the ours it was open, though.  He wasn't bored of it.  He enjoyed getting a good look of his beautiful stock, and he honestly wasn't a person who went around places for leisure.  He was a person who didn't have a lot of hobbies other than playing the piano.  Getting rich was what he lived for, though, so he was content to stay in the jewelry shop and watch how things went.  However, today he was having a hard time getting his thoughts and feelings straight.  He was concerned for Lilith, who was outside of Concordia.  She was facing all of the dangers out there and could be doing anything for all he knew.  He really did care about his sisters more than he let on.  They were the children of his father, who he thought were equal to him.  They had lost Damien, their brother--he didn't want to lose any more.

He couldn't stay in the shop any longer.  He was too anxious.  He needed to go back to the House of Hades where he currently resided with Melanie and grab some food.  Aimery hated the Food Court.  They served average-quality food that was not fitting for someone like him.  The kitchen back home, however, was stocked with quality food and ingredients that were costly, but definitely worth it.

Therefore, Aimery had shadow-traveled back to the ever so extravagant House of Hades.  Upon entering through the huge doors and closing them behind him, he walked past the stairs and immediately to where the kitchen was.  The kitchen, besides Mel's room, was probably the only part of the mansion that wasn't decorated in a Gothic fashion.  It was modern, but fashionably modern.  They needed a modern kitchen anyway, because it provided a faster way of cooking food as opposed to Victorian age methods, obviously.

However, he noticed that the door to the kitchens as open and Melanie was standing in front of it.  What was his sister doing, standing there and doing nothing? With an arched eyebrow, he approached his sister's side to see what was up. 

Once he stood beside her, he followed the direction of her gaze and his eyes landed on a person who he hadn't been expecting to see just yet.  Lilith.  His eyes widened slightly.  Lilith had come home already? Well, that was good.  He had been worrying for her safety and now he didn't have to worry about that anymore.  For the meantime, at least.  Really, they ought to stop working for the Garrison and focus on enjoying the wealth that they had accumulated on this accursed island more.  What was the point of working for the Garrison when a bunch of peasants were already at it? Children of Hades deserved better than to fight like those brainless children of Ares who acted like primates more than civilized humans.

But, anyway, Lilith had come home.  He immediately changed his expression to nonchalant one again, even if he was internally pleased.  That was just the way he usually appeared.  Lilith looked distraught, judging by how she was crying.  He wasn't surprised--going on those missions were definitely stressful, what with all she had to witness.

He blinked.  "Lilith...so, you're home," he said.  A slight smirk formed on his lips.  "It looks like you didn't have that much fun, now, didn't you?"  He wasn't afraid to make a jab at her job.  Seriously, he disapproved of it.  Mel and Lilith were getting into risks that weren't even worth the taking.     

ARRIVING HOME

(Private RP)
Lilith turned around, open wounds on her face and her eyes bloodshot with tears. However, anger was plastered all over her face. She was furious, and it showed. “Hello.” she said, taking off her ripped jacket and tossing it into the bin. She let her eyes fall on her stuck up brother, who she acknowledged as a coward. “So hows the hero and the coward doing?” she asked, the term coward directed at Aimery. There were many times she wanted to run him through with her scythe . She just glared at her brother, and walked past him, shoving him hard in the shoulder.

Lilith went to the library, to research this Sceptre of Osiris. She flicked through book after book, until she came across a chapter all about it. “The Sceptre of Osiris is only gifted to one of the Sun God’s offspring. It is believed to grant the wielder power beyond reckoning, and can even destroy the Gods themselves.” it was a lot to process. So that what they were on about, when the Titans were raiding the Poseidon Cabin. They must need it really bad, but according to her readings, the Sceptre had been locked away since ancient times. It had to be buried somewhere. A Pyramid was far to obvious. Books clattered on the desks, as Lilith began to figure out what in the name of Zeus was going on.

Three hours passed, and Lilith emerged from the library, papers in hand. “Aimery, Mel.. Living room now!” she called. She began talking as soon as she heard footsteps. “When I was at Camp Half Blood, the Titans and the Egyptians were on about a powerful artefact, known as the Sceptre of Osiris. Its powerful enough to kill gods, hence why Osiris locked it away a millennia ago to keep his children safe, fearing what it might do in the wrong hands. Now, I may have figured where its hidden.” she explained. Lilith then cast her gaze on her older brother. “And Aimery, for once in your pitiful life, you will pull your weight on this mission, or so help me I will make sure there is a place reserved for you in Tarturus.” she said. Lilith wasn’t one for empty threats, and she knew her siblings knew that after an incident with a child of Athena. “However, we need some stuff off dad first. Leave the talking to me, because I know Aimery will just screw it up.” the youngest sibling said, and headed for the Hades Shrine.

credit: Rach. Graphic: ;;IN MY VEINS | tag: @accaila @aimery | words: 422

"not cool Aimery." she scolded before walking off in search of something else to mess with. Lilith wouldn't want her around and Aimery was already in a mood, ready to lecture them both if they got ahold of one another. She was rearranging the furniture when she heard lilith call out. She quickly made her way to her sister's location, nodding at Aimery as they met up in the hallway.

Melanie listened silently while Lilith spoke, absorbing and cataloging the information. Of course she had heard of the sceptre of Osiris. It was legendary, and everyone had looked for it at some point. Most people believed that it was just a myth, but how they could believe that at the end of the day. If she was right, they would need to move fast. They would need normal supplies in addition to whatever it was Lilith would be calling Hades for. As the younger girl began walking away, Melanie shot her brother a glance, hoping he would be smart enough to go along with Lilith's plan. This wasn't the time for conflict, but Aimery wasn't one for taking orders.

"I'll grab the gear and meet you down there.Let me know if we need transport or a back up and I'll call for it." She said, taking off towards the direction of the small cabinet they had thrown the emergency bags in to. Of course, they had more weapons and gear than that, but the bags were there for things such as this. She and Lilith had to be ready to go whenever the Commander called, and with the tense state everyone lived in, they had prepared one for Aimery as well. He would need it for sure.

All three of them were children of Hades, but it could be said that they were equally just as different.  Melanie was the mature and sisterly one, Aimery was the cold and greedy brother--and, as he just proved, insensitive, and Lilith was the emotional and expressive one.  They shared one gigantic roof and had each others backs, but they didn't act all that sweet with each other.  Especially not Aimery.

He continued to look with an icy impassiveness at his sister.  He was annoyed by the raw emotion she displayed, for some reason.  Maybe if she didn't go running off to play hero she wouldn't need to see things that would cause her to cry.  And maybe Aimery preferred if Lilith learn how to be just as controlled as he was, too.  But people were different and humans were naturally emotional beings.  It was just Aimery that was the odd one out. 

He was internally scoffing when she called him a coward.  A coward he may seem, but Aimery was no coward.  He was someone who knew what he wanted in life and wasn't afraid to defend it with all he had.  He knew he was capable of being brave when it served his best interests.  Fighting for the Garrison wasn't the only brave there could be that existed in the world.  Just because he wasn't loyal to the Garrison didn't mean that he was afraid of anything.  In fact, the opposite was true.  He was ruthless when he needed to be, but in a more...subtle way.

Of course, he didn't show his annoyance.  It wouldn't be him to express that emotion openly.  "The coward is doing fine, thank you," he bantered back.  "Especially since he's not sobbing his eyes blind."  Unlike someone.

He followed her with his eyes as she pushed past him.  Well, how civil of her, he thought sarcastically.  But he did understand that she was still emotional, even if he couldn't understand the feeling for himself.  And anyway, he thought that time alone for herself was best for her to cool down.  Not to mention, who wouldn't react to his sarcasm? He had been rather rude, too, so it was understandable if she was iffy with him.  At least he was decent enough to acknowledge that.

He looked at Mel when his older sister scolded him.  Yeah, it probably wasn't cool, but he wouldn't have taken it back either way.  He merely shrugged and walked away from the kitchen, heading up the stairs to go to his study where he would calm his nerves down by playing some classical songs on his beloved grand piano.

---

Three hours later, Aimery had long ago finished with playing the piano.  He had been reading in his study and then looking over the finances of his shop.  He was always making a profit more than anything, but there were more complex factors to the financial stuff of a business than met the eye.  Afterwards when he was done, he decided to take a walk out in the grounds to calm his restlessness.

Aimery had exited his study and was making his way to the main floor so he could exit out of the manner, and to the grounds.  But, just when he passed the library, Lilith appeared out of it with papers in her hand.  She was barking orders for Aimery and Mel, wherever Mel was, to go to the living room.  Inside of his mind, he was rolling his eyes.  As the queen commands, he thought as he turned around from the direction where was originally going and headed to the living room.  He didn't like the way she was yelling at them, but he was also curious about what she had to say in the living room.  Therefore, he didn't challenge her.

Once in the living room, Aimery sat down on one of the couches with this arms crossed, one leg across the other.  He was giving his sister a gaze that could be burning or icy at the same time--it was both impassive but at the time, it was like he was probing into her soul, wondering what was going on inside that mind.  What was she needing to tell them that was so urgent?

After she was done talking, Aimery blinked.  Well...that was interesting.  Such an object like that sounded dangerous and powerful, and indeed, if it got into the wrong hands, all would be ruined.  He was willing to give it consideration because it had to do with his wealth.  If the Greek gods were destroyed and Hades was no more, he probably wouldn't be alive as well and all he had worked for would be no more. 

But, not for the first time, he didn't like the way that Lilith was speaking to him.  What made her think that she could do what she wanted with him--and that he was vulnerable to her wrath? He, too, was a child of Hades.  If anything, their power was equivalent.  "As if I would stand by and do nothing if you tried something on me," he countered calmly.  "You and I both know that we are equal matches for one another.  After all, we both are the offspring of our father."  He paused for a moment before continuing, "You may also be assured that I mean to play along with this mission of yours, for  it has to do with the fate of us as demigods as a whole--let alone the fortune we have acquired for ourselves."

"By the contrary, actually.  Father and I understand each another well," he said aloofly in regards to her saying he would mess up the talking with their father.  Again, Lilith was making statements that he had ready arguments for.  Whenever he talked to Hades, he conducted himself in a noble, cautious, and respectful manner that you could expect from a royal, and which did his father proud.  If Hades was proud of Lilith and Melanie for their fighting achievements, then Hades was most likely as proud of Aimery for his cunning and wealth.  After all, he was the god of wealth.

After Lilith left, he still sat still on the couch without moving.  However, his eyes darted to Melanie, who was reaching for the cabinet.  He had seen the way she glanced at him, entreating him to comply to their willful and grouchy sister.  "You know, Mel, I knew you were worried that I would balk," he said.  "But alas, I actually have the common sense to know what concerns me, and what does not."  He shrugged and glanced at the ceiling.  "I may not be fond of the way she barks at us, but I know that our little sister does speak the truth."           

ARRIVING HOME

(Private RP)
Lilith breathed in deeply, opened her locket and let the flames of the Underworld engulf her. She arrived in the entrance hall to the Obsidian Castle. A hellhound bounded to her, knocking her over and licking her repeatedly. Lilith laughed, and pushed the dog off. “Alright, down boy.” she chuckled, hugging the animal. “DAD!” Lilith called, swinging her Jack Skellington bag over her shoulder. The hound nudged her to follow him, and she did.

Persephone was walking down the hallway. “Hi Persephone.” Lilith greeted. Persephone smiled at her and hugged her tightly. “What do you need?” Hades’ wife asked. Taking in another deep breath, Lilith opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Hades calling for Persephone. Both Lilith and Persephone rolled their eyes and went into the living room together.

Hades’ eyes fell onto his daughter when she entered. “Well, you have grown to be just as beautiful and dangerous as your mother.” he grinned. Lilith crossed her arms, and put her weight on one leg. “Yeah, sure. My siblings and I are going on a little quest.” she said. Hades’ smile grew even more sinister. “I was watching when you were having your little discussion.” he said, standing up and walking over to Lilith, putting an arm around her shoulders. “Your brother should know better than to piss you off.” he added in a whisper. Lilith smiled at this, and the God of the Underworld took her to his armoury.

When they got there, Lilith was stunned. “Woah!” she said in surprise. “Take what you need. You may keep them as well. Call them early birthday gifts.” Hades said, standing in the doorway with his arms folded. Lilith took a scythe off a stand, and compared it with the one she already had. She strapped it to her back and collected a sword, and four knives for Mel and Aimery. She said goodbye to Hades and left for home.

“I’m back!” Lilith called. She walked into the hallway, and there was a note from the Apollo Cabin. “I have more important things to do than band practice.” she muttered. She rushed upstairs and knocked on Aimery’s room, opened the door without even waiting for a ‘Come in’ and tossed the sword on his bed. Yeah, she may act like she hated her brother, but honestly she loved him… Even if he could be a bit of a toss pot at times. She repeated the process with Mel’s knives, then went to her own room.

Surprisingly the scythe was a lot lighter than her usual one. This would be easier to use with her powers. She heard a knock at her door. “If that’s Aimery, you can get lost. You’re a stuck up brat who needs to start thinking of others instead of themselves.” she called. Harsh but true.

credit: Rach. Graphic: ;;IN MY VEINS | tag: @accaila @aimery | words: 471

Melanie smiled to herself as she rummaged through the cabinet, making a mental note of what they might need. Of course, they were mostly packed and ready, but she hadn't checked Lilith's bag in a while to ensure that it hadn't been used. They hadn't had an actual emergency yet, but the job tended to call the two of them away quickly and without notice. She found a small dagger and sheath in the miscellaneous supplies left in the cabinet and slipped it into Lilith's bag and another for Aimery. They weren't her sibling's weapons of choice, but even they couldn't argue that the small knives came in handy when one was attempting to be subtle. With Lilith and Melanie's umbrakenesis and Aimery's invisibility, subtle was practically the family name when it came to close combat.

"I know Aimery. I wasn't worried that you would balk. You aren't the coward that our sister thinks you are. Sometimes I think that you forget I was with you back at camp. I know who you are, even if no one else seems to. However, taking orders from anyone but father isn't your strong point, and even then you only do it because your slightly afraid that he wouldn't let you leave again if he disobeyed." she reasoned, referring to an incident directly after they had moved to Concordia. Hades had locked Aimery in the underworld for at least  a week to prove his point. Though Aimery had been annoyed, he knew she had a point when she observed that at least he had been able to spend the week with Damien, who Hades had forbidden her from visiting until she met the true death herself.

After placing the bag in her brother's lap, she returned to her room to find her preferred secondary weapon as well as to leave a message for the Commander should someone come looking. Of course, she wouldn't leave an actual note. Instead, she moved a few pieces of paperwork into a particular formation that would let someone privy to the information know that she and her family had left the safety of the island without putting anyone in danger. She heard the door to her suite open and close, leaving the study to find a handsome set of knives lying on the bed. upon further inspection, she realized that these must have been part of what Lilith had left for. Placing two of them in the bag she had slung across her shoulder and the remaining ones into their hiding places on her person, she left in search of the younger sister in question.

Their rooms were a fair distance apart, with several spare rooms separating them. Of course, Aimery had elected to move his room to one end of the house with Lilith choosing to be as far away from him as humanly possible. She of course had taken the room in the center, placing herself eternally between the warring siblings. As soon as she reached Lilith's door, she knocked, hoping that allowing her a semblance of privacy would be a peace offering of sorts.

"Nope. It's the other one. The sibling you seek likely hasn't left the living room yet, though I can fetch him if you would prefer." She said through the door, waiting to see if the younger girl would grant her access to the room.

Aimery couldn't help but smile slightly; his older sister's insight was rather impeccable.  She had summarized him spot on and even proved her point by reminding him that she had been with him during that horrid time, and he appreciated that.  Sometimes he felt that he and Lilith were being too hard on Mel, squabbling while she tried to be the level-headed peacekeeper.  She played the role of a mature older sister well.  Aimery liked to think that he was mature, and he was, in a way--however, he was too self-serving.  Mel was selfless.

He chuckled when he remembered being locked away in the Underworld for a week.  Aimery respected and feared their father, but back in the days he still had more of a mind of his own, and Hades' solution to that taught him to be more obedient.  The case had been that Aimery wasn't interested in something that his father had wanted him to do that tore him away from profiting himself.  Yeah, back then Aimery actually had the audacity to reject what his father wanted, but the thing was, he had said it respectfully and in a tactful manner--well, at least he tried to.  His greed was too much for him.  But Hades didn't care whether he was rude or polite and taught him not to say no.  That had disgruntled Aimery, for staying in the Underworld meant that he couldn't do anything.  It had been rather pleasant, though, at the same time, because the Underworld had a certain charm to him when he was in it.  After all, it was his father's domain so he would feel strongest there.  He also got to spend time with Damien, hence why he knew that Damien was safe and sound and really did not need to be avenged.  The boy was happy as is, and nothing could get Aimery to think otherwise.

"I'd do it again just to spend more time there," he quipped.  "But then again, Father isn't a fool."  No, if Aimery proved to be stubborn again, he figured that his father would do something worse this time to truly tame him.  He wasn't going to risk that.

Aimery glanced at the bag that his sister had placed on his lap.  He took it in his hands and got up from the couch and began to depart the living room for his own room.  He decided that a nice nap might do the trick for him.  After all, being awake hadn't really helped his nerves.  But then again, nothing helped his nerves, it seemed.  Oh well, he just needed some rest right now.

Once in his room, Aimery tossed the bag to a random regal looking char in his room, and, kicking off his shoes, he lay down on his bed and drew the sheets and blankets over him.  He lay there awake for a while before he slowly drifted off to sleep.  However, later, when Lilith opened the door, he snapped his eyes open and lifted his head up to see who was at the door; even if he had been enjoying his sleep, Aimery was quick-witted and alert.  She threw something into the room that landed on the end of the vast bed and not that close to where he was laying.  He stared at it for a moment, taking in its essence.  A weapon from the Underworld.  Father must have given this to Lilith to give to him in turn.

Shrugging, he lowered his head on his pillow and fell back asleep.  He would deal with this later when he decided to wake up.