Galatea stood at the center of the clearing, her blood-red aura flaring like a living armor as it rolled off her body in waves. The illuminated forest trembled under the pressure, animals fled, and the air itself felt thick and sharp.
Her burning eyes scanned the shadows, and then she looked up. She noticed Kainos in the highest tree, perched on a tree branch like a predator waiting to pounce. "I found you, brat," Galatea said, her lips curling into a smile sadistic smile.
High above, Kainos' glowing lavender irises, surrounded by blood-red sclera, just stared at her. His body was relaxed , and ready to pounce, all for the tase of her blood. That's when he made his move and then he dove downward to her.
Galatea launched herself upward at the same time to meet him. Mid-fall, Kainos snapped his hand forward. A ball of fire then appeared in his hand and he hurled the compact sphere downward towards her.
Galatea crossed both wooden swords ready to defend against the it. And then she slashed it.
The fireball split, unraveling into whisps of flames that dispersed against the ground.
When she looked past where the fireball use to be, he was gone. Galatea fell back to the ground and landed lightly. That's when the shadows rippled.
Kainos then emerged behind her and flicked his wrist. Black metal cards shot from the shadows, as they screamed through the air. Galatea was breathed and moved with sharp speed. She twisted her body and began blocking and dodging with smooth, precise movements. One card barely skimmed past other her cheek. As it was embedded in a tree, with her other cheek bleeding.
Kainos then surged forward and landed a punch squarely on her face. But she didn't flinch.
Instead, she smiled more, her canines began showing. "This is getting good, little brother," she said. "But now I'm going to teach you two very important lessons."
But Kainos said nothing. There was no reasoning left in him, only the instinct and bloodlust to devour her blood. He suddenly kicked at her side, but she didn't budge.
"Lesson one," Galatea said calmly as she kicked him away, sending his small body skidding several feet through dirt and roots. " You're supposed to treat ladies delicately, and lesson two. Don't go for my face."
As she wounded up for a attack , She suddenly paused. Then noticed something was missing. One of the sword. She looked closer to see Kainos standing up and holding it.
Galatea laughed softly, amused. "I will admit, that wasn't half bad." Then shadows behind her surged forwards. On trained instinct She ran forward as Kainos rushed head-on, blade raised. Shadow spikes erupted from the ground behind her, barely missing vital points as she met his charge.
Wood struck wood. As the clash echoed through the swamp. Kainos attacked more relentlessly now, every strike she could tell was aimed to kill. He went for the throat, heart, and other arteries. His movements weren't refined, but they were vicious and precise in intent.
Galatea blocked, parried, without taking a step back, to the shadow spikes behind her.
He has no control, only hunger driver attacks, like a wild animal she realized.
She decided to stop defending, and end this before she really hurts him, or he hurts himself. That's when her aura flared more violently. She stopped blocking and began to counter...
Each strike deflected his attacks cleanly. Then her counterblows landed hard. She new any normal demigod would have been broken by the second hit. But Kainos pushed through the pain, and he managed to slip inside her guard and latched onto her torso. His legs locking around her waist.
Galatea froze in shock. "What the hell are you..." Kainos's face rose toward her neck, as he opened his mouth opened. Ready to bite into her neck and drink the power in her veins. His instincts were screaming to do this.
That's when suddenly vines snapped forward from the shadow's, wrapping around his throat and yanking him backward with brutal force. As he skidded to the ground and more vine roots began to restrain him.
Galatea staggered free as Kainos slammed into the dirt."Enough," a calm female voice said.
Galatea turned sharply. From the shadows stepped a woman, but not human. Her skin was mossy green, smooth and glowed faintly. She had long, curly dark-green hair framed her face. Her eyes shimmered with deep iridescence. She wore a dress of water lilies that clung naturally to her petite form.
"Nymph," Galatea said coldly, recognizing her kind. "Who are you, and why are you interfering. This is a matter of the gods?"
"I am Nia," the woman replied evenly. "Leader of the swamp nymphs of this land. So you are in my domain demigod, but what you need to worry about right now is disperse that aura of yours. It's agitating."
Galatea glanced around.
Dozens of tiny Dryads of different colors. Watched from the shadows. Kainos struggled violently as two small dryads restrained him with vines.
"This is sibling business," Galatea snapped. "And what do you mean agitating him?"
Nia looked at Kainos to see the blood dripping from his nose and sighed. "I forgot how bad his sense of direction is. He probably doesn't even know where he is. To think he would he would do that and forget he was in my domain."
She then looked back at Galatea. "He's in a blood lust state probably has been for a few minutes now. Which isn't good, the longer he is in it, the harder it is to calm him down."
Galatea stiffened. "You're saying he's normally like this, with normal mortals?" Nia shook her head. "No. Your blood is different. He's normally fine around regular humans, maybe if there are too it would be a problem. But those with divine essence in their blood are different."
Kainos thrashed, trying to sink into the shadows again. "Dispel your aura, now" Nia said sharply, as she pulled him back against the tree. Away from the shadow's.
Galatea hesitated, then exhaled. Her eyes returned to normal. Then the blood-red aura vanished.
But Kainos did not calm down. Nia's eyes narrowed. "Oh no… did he already taste your blood?"
Galatea remembered the card, and the lick.
"Yes," she said quietly.
Nia raised her hand. "Then I have no choice. I am sorry Kainos." Water surged from the swamp behind, forming a sphere around Kainos's head. Bubbles formed in it as he struggled.
"Sorry, Kainos," Nia said gently. "We need to put you out for a bit." The clear water turned black.
Kainos' body then went limp within seconds.
"What was that?" Galatea asked, her eyes wide with surprise. "A corrupted-water spell," Nia replied. "He has high water affinity. Drowning would take too long. This is… faster."
Galatea frowned. "You drown him to calm him?" Nia winced. "Only when necessary."
She gestured to the dryads. "Heal him."
Dryads moved in, sealing wounds and easing bruised skin, and organs. "Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Nia," she said. "I've known this boy since he wandered into my swamp years ago. I am also a member and friend of his mother and grandmother of the coven he was born into."
She brushed Kainos' head gently. Galatea watched quietly, she was surprised. Normally Nymphs aren't friendly to humans or demigod, but she cares for this boy. Not a normal thing a female led covens, that have males born into them.
"Is it normal for him to try to drink blood?" Galatea asked. Nia shook her head. "No to really. Only with me, his mother, and his grandmother. But he usually listens us, or we subdue him."
Galatea stared at the unconscious boy. What did Mars and Aphrodite create? She then walked over lifted Kainos effortlessly, and slung him over her shoulder, grabbed her sea bag, and turned to leave.
"He's not finished healing," Nia protested. "Good," Galatea said casually. "That's his punishment for cutting my face twice, he's lucky I didn't break his ribs. You never touch a woman's face." She then walked away.
Nia watched her go, troubled. A tree nymph whispered urgently in her ear. Nia's eyes narrowed.
"A god was just here?" She looked around at the forest, then the path Galatea took. How many eyes are on that boy?
Galatea returned to the Moon household a little while later. Samira and Madam Moon waited outside, tea steaming gently between them. "How did it go?" Moon asked.
Galatea smirked. "The boy has talent. Tricks. But he lacks fundamentals. Especially as a child of Ares." They carried Kainos inside and laid him in his bed. Samira kissed his forehead softly. "Good night, honey."
The three women then stepped away. "My father Mars, or as you know him..." Galatea began. Moon cut her off. "I know about the god's personality disorder dear, just continue."
Galatea nodded. "He asked me, or told me is the right set of words. After I got out of service in the military, to come here and train him. Then I will have to decide."
"Decide what?" Samira asked. "If I send him to New Rome, The camp for demi god children and legacy's of the roman gods" Galatea said, "or Camp Half-Blood. The camp for Greek demi god children."
"No," Samira said immediately. "He's not going to be used in the gods' games. He is fine learning everything here." Moon folded her arms. "We can talk about that later, when the time comes. But I have a question dear. You wouldn't be here if this was only your father's request or demand."
Galatea hesitated. "Well dad told m, while grandmom said I had something to gain."
"Grandmom" Moon and Samira said together.
Mars and Aphrodite offered me something," she admitted. "They said you two could finish my magical training, and Madam Moon, could tell Lady Hecate, I was ready."
Moon and Samira both stiffened. "Your magical training. Hecate?" Samira asked. "What are you talking about. "Did you also say Aphrodite was your grandmother?"
Galatea took a sip of tea. "Do you have anything stronger? This will take a while to explain."
Moon nodded. "I have tequila. or do you...."
Galatea smiled. " No thats perfec."
Samira stood. "I'll get the cups."