Found

Chapter 1

Damon

"Where the hell are we?" Freya shouted as we stood in the foyer of what I can only imagine was a medieval castle. Every piece of furniture, decoration and fixtures screamed antiquated.

I snapped my fingers and lit every candle in our space. "It's not like we can take on the forces of darkness in our evening wear".

I had a nagging feeling in the back of my brain. I was only going along with this because I didn't completely trust Cosimo with Freya. And I could already see she was becoming attached to him, well his ideas. I didn't want another person to take advantage of her.

So here we were.

"Where did you send Cecilia?" I asked coming up behind Freya and taking her hand. She smiled at me with a warmth I had never seen before.

"Back to her Beloved. This is only a pit stop we'll change and go. I know I have extra clothes for you but ... Freya, you may have to do a little more digging".

"I'm good with boy clothes. Whatever gets us to Keno quicker", She stated.

"Come on then".

The cold damp air wrapped around me like a heavy coat of chain mail as we followed Cosimo up the tight spiral staircase. "Where are we?"

"A domain made specifically for demigods in the early part of the medieval period. Without an invitation no one without Divine blood can't even into this place let alone find it. I've been calling it home for the better part of a century", Cosimo explained.

"Fancy", Freya grinned.

"Very. My mother would tell me stories of places like these. You had demigod from all walks of life, with different types of interest working together to make a better the world, in secret of course", Cosimo said as if he was reading a story to us.

Freya hung on ever word,"Secret from humans?"

"Everyone, humans, Gifted even the gods sometimes. The demigods that walk these halls cured diseases, made art that even the Gods had to appreciate, free oppressed people, went on some of the most harrowing journey ever put the paper all started in places like these. In their heyday I could only imagine their grandeur. I'll have to show you around when we get time", I had never heard of such places from the Brotherhood.

"And now you're squatting in it", Freya said abruptly. I both loved and hated that Freya had no filter.

"I like to think restoring", We reached the fourth level I made our way down a gray stone hallway plush with expensive carpeting and paintings that had to be originals from a time forgotten. We stopped in front of a wooden arched door,"There should be some clothes in there that'll fit..." Freya threw back the doors and paused,"You'll have to forgive the mess. I never thought I'd have guest".

The suite was a generously sized room situated in the oldest and most historic areas of the Castle with a king-size, four-post canopy bed. The room had a private bath with a free-standing shower in addition to a tub in bath area. The suite offered a large desk with a telephone and data processing line and a working wood fireplace. The sheer amount of cluttered boxes, trunks moth-eaten clothes turned this stately room into a hoarder's paradise. "Its perfect!"

Carefully Freya tried to move through the room not to trip on any of Cosimo's memorabilia. " I'll be back with weapons and healing runes".

He quickly shut the door leaving Freya and I alone. I made my way over to Freya who was rummaging through one of the side dressers. Grabbed her wrist I pulled her onto the balcony,"Hey! What---"

We need to talk.

"Then talk".

Below us the trees surrounded the caste like great armies defending their citadel. Their armoured trunks reached out in the air protectively. This great expanse of green enhanced the castles eerieness and buety as its porticullos made out of hard iron guarded the passage. The trees are veiled in the lightest of mists, their trunks sombre brown with sable cracks that gnarl the bark. As my eye travels to the edge of the woodland they become silhouettes against a blanket of white, as if it is only daylight where I stand, as if I am encircled by twilight.

Privately.

What's up? Who are we keeping secrets from?

I'm going to be blunt about this. You just met Cosimo you have no idea what his true intentions are. You're dealing with a man who's over a century-old who's pandering to you.

He's family.

So are Roman and I that doesn't give me any comfort.

That doesn't make me question his motives any less. You are my heart and the other half of my soul. I love that no matter what you try to see the good in people but painted in another color it's called naivety. You trusted Hades and he lied. You know firsthand the abuse people are capable of; I don't want to see you get hurt.

I'm not naive because I want to take an action.

I'm not saying you are. I'm saying even a blind man could see how desperate you are to take action. You want to rise up and take on the task. But you have little to no training in the field. You don't know how to work in a unit. And you should be more than a little worried about the danger you're about to walk into. Do you even know how to repair the Veil?

All I know is Demigods blood will seal the Veil.

So you're going to bleed on?!

If it works it works.

And if it dosen't?

I'll figure it out. The big thing is just making it there.

Then let Cosimo and I go. You proved your point we need to take action. I swear on our bond I will do everything in my power to seal the Veil.

I sent a private prayer to the gods that Freya would not fight me on this. If Cosimo turn out to be a snake I had a better chance of fighting him off then she did. I couldn't save her from Poseidon, I was useless in the Underworld and I was clueless about Hades I wasn't going to fail Freya again. And my instincts told me Cosimo is not to be trusted at least not this quickly.

You don't think its unfair that I get to sit around and do nothing? Because I can help---.

It's not unfair if I'm offering.

I held my breath as I saw hesitation in her eyes followed quickly by defeat.

I don't think this is right.

Fuck.

But, I don't want to slow you guys down.

O?

I'll stay behind.

I exhaled a sigh of relief.

Knock! Knock!

"Are we decent in there?" Cosimo called out.

Freya and I both returned back into the room. Surprisingly, that was easier than expected.

"Almost", Freya shouted back going to the door only cracking it a bit. I quickly grabbed whatever clothes I could and changed into soft black leather riding pants and and a grey long sleeve tee shirt.

"I was serious about not fighting the forces of darkness our evening wear".

"You know I kind of thought about it and you guys don't need me. I'd probably slow you down and that's the last thing we need to be doing right now. Damon said he's more than willing to go---"

Cosmo cut her off as I came to the door and opened it wide,"You wouldn't be slowing us down. We need you. You're the only God killer that can seal the Veil. Unless you have something you want to share", Cosimo said directing his attention to me.

"No", I stated placing one of my hands around Freya's hip to pull her closer to me,"If all it takes is demigod blood, you and I can handle that".

"So we could if we were trying to rip it more. Only demigods can open the veil it takes a god-killer to seal it", Cosimo grinned with a smug smile.

Of fucking course it dose.