| “
|
I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.
|
”
|
They say true heart's content is a fool's quest. Mark Martin never thought much of others' opinions, he made it his life's goal to reach a caliber of bliss that would set his soul free. Ironically, he found happiness in the company of others, so he opened up a clothing store. Eventually, he ended up getting a plethora of visitors, selling hundreds. Unfortunately, he never sold the one thing that would make him truly mad with euphoria. His heart.
After watching him for some time Aglaea decided she'd remedy his longing. She came down to him, guised as an inferno-headed woman, with eyes like emeralds, and the lips of an angel. Aglaea approached him at the counter, her eyes filled with content. She spoke to him in melodic tones that seemed to slither into his ears and make his nerves flare up like fireworks. They went out together, and began dating after that encounter.
Aglaea and Mark continued dating for a month, a little after, they had sex and Aglaea became impregnated. She stayed with him for a few months, but in order to loosen the bonds of love they created, she left.
The ring of a doorbell woke Mark up on a love-filled, February night. He walked up to the door in his night attire, opening it cautiously. To his surprise he saw Aglaea holding a child swaddled in a lilac colored blanket. Aglaea's red hair seemed a bit wild, it ended in tips that curled like flames, and her eyes contained the warmth of a hearth. She handed Mark the child, and spoke her name in a tone that would only be understood by a loving mother. A name of happiness left her lips, then she gave Mark one last kissed, explained Hilary's origins and the precautions he must take, though she wasn't all that worried, knowing her was a son of Psyche, then she bid him farewell.
Mark's life was a bit hollow for a few weeks, but Hilary quickly filled the gap Aglaea left. He sometimes called her by her middle name because he fancied the letter L. Her childhood was about as innocent as ever. Mark liked to see her smile. She became his gem, his one constant, who he had a burning love for.
Primary school was no trouble for her. In fact, school's academics never became a problem in her life. Hilary's mind was capable of wonders, and her brilliant intellect resulted in the exemplary grades; her attitude and communication skills made her popular amongst other students, her seemingly normal life came to a conclusion in the sixth grade, on a cold night's walk home with her father.
Hilary and Mark's relationship was always strong, so their conversations on walks were always soul-to-soul. In this particular conversation, Mark was planning on telling her of her species, though before he was able to tell her, a flock of Stymphalian birds rained down upon them like lead. Her father quickly created a weapon with telekinetic forces and entered combat with the birds, Hilary screaming all the while. After the birds were defeated, he explained her origins to her, and told her she was to begin weapons training with him, since waves of monsters would come frequently now that she new she was a demigod.
Mark decided to have Hilary stay with him instead of sending her to camp, feeling like she was too precious for him to let go. So since she wasn't being sent to Camp, Mark trained her in archery, knife throwing, dart throwing, and gymnastics. She got through middle school, always having a celestial bronze weapon for occasional monster attacks.
It was in high school when Hilary's life reached a turning point. She continued her academic excellency and met two friends who made her into the person she is today. Lilian, a maneater of a woman, who made tremors and craters in the hears who dared to cross paths with her, and Lucian, an older boy, who sunk his teeth into Hilary's heart.
The trio liked to call Hilary by her middle name so that all three of them were called by names that started with the letter L. Lilian became a heavy influence on Hilary. Hilary began dressing more ornately and putting on a bit more makeup than usual. Fashion became her voice, and her new look made her more confident in relationships. She felt powerful, a true queen, who was ready to conquer. Lucian on the other hand, became very attracted to Hilary. It wasn't hard for him to manipulate his way into her heart, though he never felt truly in control.
Hilary continued dating Lucian throughout high school. Their relationship was fairly shallow, though their was a lot of physical forms of loving. Lilian moved away from the town leaving Hilary and Lucian alone. A sure victim for Lucian's loving.
One fateful Friday night, at a football game, a pack of Lycans broke out onto the field. Lucian seemed to have left Hilary's side, and the mortals, who saw nothing more than wild dogs, had all fled the area. Hilary stayed in the bleachers, searching for Lucian. The Lycans seemed to have take to the woods, which lay before the field. She went down the stairs of the bleachers with the slow grace of smoke, and made her way toward the field. The incandescent lights shone down on her as she made her way to the center of the field and called out Lucian's name. Like lightning Lucian broke the silence and it felt as if Hilary's whole earth shook. He came charging at her, and while he charged, he began to slowly transition into a more canine form until he was a full on wolf. He pounced on her and clawed her up, leaving her bloody and bruised. He stopped a few seconds after, when students came back to find Hilary's bloody body in the middle of the field.
After the attack, Hilary never saw Lucian again. She stayed in the hospital for a few days, wondering if the whole incident was some twisted dream. When she got out of the hospital, she continued school and graduated as a junior taking the prize of valedictorian but losing her sanity. She continued to see Lucian in dreams and hallucinations after months and decided she needed to get a away from Manhattan.
Mark accepted her request to go to camp sadly, though to be honest, he felt a bit relieved she was going. The pressure of monster attacks was finally getting to him. He kissed Hilary goodbye and she left for Camp.
Hilary Martin 
