A/N: I am not entirely satisfied with this chapter, but it is what it is...
[Blood Archive Entry]
Isolde noticed the heavy mood inside the car.
She felt awkward and a bit uncomfortable. Especially since it was all due to the unease her own son had caused. But most of all, she felt guilty for feeling like that about Darian. Because she was the one who gave birth to him, knowing exactly what he would become. Though for most of Darian's childhood, she couldn't even remember her decision or the mysterious man who had gifted her, her precious boy, the sole reason for her existence in the last eight years.
Even then, Darian had only awakened his vampiric nature because Isolde herself had gotten hurt. He had protected her. He had brought her back from certain death.
And yet here she was… judging his actions. Not afraid. Not repulsed. Bud judging.
In theory, Darian had done nothing wrong. He had protected them—yet again. He had struck down monsters. Perhaps he was a bit too brutal in doing so, but who could judge him for it?
Certainly not her.
Rebekah's words back in Chicago echoed in her mind.
About how she shouldn't alienate her son. Either through fear or judgment.
Isolde tightened her grip around the wheel. Her brows furrowed.
She eased her grip and turned to drumming her fingers against the steering wheel.
Rebekah noticed her conflicted expression. She tilted her head and studied the woman beside her.
Isolde herself became aware of the vampire's gaze on her. She shook her head and smiled softly.
Taking a deep breath, she turned towards Rebekah. "How about some music?"
"Oh?" Rebekah raised an eyebrow.
Ignoring the grumbles behind her, Isolde spoke up again. "Should make the trip a bit less boring. Don't you think?"
Rebekah shrugged her shoulders. "I don't mind…"
Thalia groaned. Luke and Darian stayed silent.
Annabeth though… she beamed. Her eyes were sparkling. "I want to hear some music." She almost screamed in enthusiasm, eliciting giggles from the two women in the front seats. "Can we also sing?"
"Sure you can," Isolde said.
Thalia groaned and grumbled louder.
"Yay!" Annabeth exclaimed.
Darian and Luke exchanged glances, and the two shrugged simultaneously. Both were turning towards the window and deciding to ignore the rest.
Isolde then turned on the car's radio and fiddled around with it until she found a station with a catchy song playing.
Annabeth immediately started to sing the lyrics clumsily.
Rebekah and Isolde followed along; their voices were surprisingly melodious and rather pleasant.
Eventually, even the grumpy Thalia, with her arms crossed, a scowl on her face, began to ease up. She hummed the tune under her breath and danced faintly to the rhythm of the song.
Luke looked at the girl he liked and smiled warmly, before nudging her with his elbow. And he, too, started to sing.
Thalia narrowed her eyes at him, but still, she sang louder, following his lead.
Now the only one who remained silent in the car was Darian.
He looked around, and a smile made its way across his face. He shook his head amusedly.
He didn't sing, though… Instead, he chose to hum the melody in a low tone, almost imperceptibly.
The only one who could hear him was Rebekah, and she smiled at it. Deciding to sing a bit louder, making Darian's hum even harder to hear to anyone else. A petty display of possessiveness on her part.
The trip continued, now in a cheerier tone. And thus, the hours blurred together, amidst singing and laughing.
Before anyone noticed it, they had already arrived at Long Island.
The pleasant smell of fresh strawberries filled the car, hinting at their proximity to their destination.
As Thalia and Luke had told them, the refuge they were seeking could be located when one arrived at Long Island and followed the scent of strawberries.
When they first said this, Darian, Isolde, and Rebekah were deeply confused, and they wondered if they were chasing a fairy tale, given how ridiculous the 'directions' given by the demigods were.
Now though… Now they understood it. Despite it all seeming quite ludicrous, at least it wasn't a hopeful delusion of a bunch of kids.
Isolde drove to wherever it was that the smell became stronger, and soon enough, they crossed a massive wooden gateway with the inscription 'Camp Half-Blood'.
"A very creative name…" Darian said sarcastically.
"Yeah," Thalia couldn't help but agree.
"Yet this is the only place people like us can be safe," Luke said.
"Is this it?" Annabeth asked.
"Seems like it…" Thalia and Luke said at the same time, causing the little girl to giggle.
Isolde drove for another thirty seconds before the road came to an end. She stopped the car and got out, along with everyone else.
Darian noticed a few cabins in the distance. Each was entirely different, whether in size, grandeur, or the overall scheme. Yet all shared one common detail. All were Greek in their architecture.
Annabeth looked ready to run off, but a sudden arrival made her stop in her tracks.
A man approached. His appearance was unique, to say the least.
He had thinning brown hair, bushy eyebrows, intense brown eyes, and a scruffy beard. He wore a tweed jacket that smelled of fresh coffee. Overall, he had an approachable aura. But from waist down, he had the body of a white stallion, making his appearance somewhat dissonant.
Rebekah raised an eyebrow. "A centaur…" She murmured.
The man came closer, looking warmly at the three demigods, curiously at Darian and Isolde, and warily at Rebekah. He swallowed dryly when he saw the blonde woman standing at the entrance of his camp.
He crossed the remaining distance with careful steps. As if walking the wrong way could cause the world to end.
"Hello… I am Chiron. Keeper and guardian of this place." He announced with a friendly tone. "May I know what brings you to this place, Miss Mikaelson?"
Rebakah raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You know me?" She tilted her head. "Strange… I never interacted with your people before. So why would you know me?"
Chiron raised his hands in a disarming gesture. "You are quite famous, Miss Mikaelson. It is only natural for me to know of you, though I had never had the pleasure before today." His words sounded flirtatious, whether he wanted them to or not, and that drew displeasure from the vampire.
Rebekah's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, I don't care for your explanations anymore." Her tone became a bit unfriendly. "We just escorted these ones," she pointed to the demigod trio, "to a place where they said they would be safe."
'These fucking Greeks are all like that…' she murmured.
Chiron became nervous at the visible displeasure coming from one of the most powerful entities in the mortal world. He cursed his own careless words and the straightforward nature that centaurs were known for.
"Uhm… I thank you for that," he said, trying to appease the situation.
"We didn't do it for your thanks," a young voice said with a cold tone.
Chiron blinked and looked towards the raven-haired, crimson-eyed child. Confused as to why the boy seemed hostile to him.
He wisely decided to remain silent.
Thalia looked at Chiron with somewhat suspicious eyes. Annabeth looked confused. And Luke narrowed his eyes towards Chiron.
The centaur just shook his head.
Rebekah, not wanting to remain in that place anymore, turned to the demigods, saying her farewells and walking back to the car.
Isolde did the same, though she hugged little Annabeth before she took her leave as well.
As the last one left, Darian studied the three demigods. They hadn't spent too much time together, so he couldn't say he considered them his friend. But despite a rocky start with a couple of them, he wished them nothing but the best. And he made that clear as he smiled and extended a hand to Luke.
"Good luck, man." Luke smiled and shook his hand. "See you around," Darian said.
Thalia turned her head to the side. "You are the sole reason we made it here safely… Probably… So, thanks for that red eye."
"No problem, sparky." Darian teased her.
Annabeth looked reluctant. "Will we see you again?" She asked.
"I don't know," Darian answered honestly.
"I see…" Annabeth murmured a bit sadly.
"Farewell, Annabeth." He turned back and left, walking towards the car where Isolde and Rebekah waited for him.
The three demigods watched as they left. The SUV becoming smaller and smaller.