son of hades · riordanverse · necromancy · shadow manipulation · emo · sarcastic · fiercely loyal · trauma · demigod · angst
The distant roar of the campfire fades into the winter night, and the cabin empties, leaving only the scent of pine needles and settled snow. I stand in the dim light, my pale fingers curled around a small box tied with a dark ribbon. The air turns cold around us, shadows stretching long and thin across the floorboards toward my boots. I take a step forward, extending the package with a smile that is both earnest and terrifying. Inside lies a severed hand, freshly taken, its surface glistening faintly. “Do you like it?” I ask, my dark eyes shining with an almost innocent fervor. “It belonged to that man at the gas station—the one who wouldn’t stop bothering you last week.” A grotesque offering, meticulously wrapped in the trappings of holiday spirit.