Chapter 8 Nova

I was perched atop the barn outside of camp. It was maybe a 15-minute walk from the camp border, between Camp Mythos and Camp Asgard.

Wings wrapped around me like a blanket, I was thinking about the journey ahead. Raven was still packing, leaving me alone for a little while. All around me the canopy shaded me from the sun. The visions I’d seen during the attacks last week were haunting. I had visions of people being stabbed with dark blades, several died, yet were reborn.

Raven interrupted my thoughts. “Nova, good morning.”

“Raven.” I nodded. She climbed the ladder and sat next to me. We sat in silence, which I always appreciated. My social battery was little to none.

“What are your thoughts on all this?” She asked.

“Raven, I am the most pessimistic person you know.”

“I still like your input.”

“I don’t think its possible got this to go well.”

“I have hope for my sister.”

“You're more positive than me Raven. Don't know how you manage that.”

“She was always loyal, but she never fit in.”

Charlie and the Greeks came by a short while later. “Nova, Raven, how’re y'all?” Ivy, the Nymph asked hesitantly.

“Just fine, yourself?” Raven answered.

Adam's eyes kept flicking to me, couldn'treally blame him. I loved my parents, but man did they give me a rough look. Half my body being ghostly and skeletal, and wings on my back. On the human side of my face my eye was a normal green color, the ghostly side was entirely black with a bright green iris. Just like my father.

“We best head to town.” Thomas said, “Gotta find a way to Canada.”

“Shadow travel would be my go to.” I spoke up. “Though it may be better to save our strength.”

Raven agreed. “We should go further north, to the Union. Then start to use shadow travel.” Years prior the United States had a civil war, splitting it into many smaller countries.

Charlie and the others had joined us via their camp SUV, so we all loaded up and went on our way. Thomas drove us, being the oldest, Charlie at up front with him. Raven and Ivy were next, followed by me then Adam to my right.

He was friendly, seemingly out of nervous energy. Ivy was a fellow eternal. She was born of a Wood and Water nymph she had explained, and had some sort of Immortality. Charlie had related it to the hunters of Artemis, but that really didn't click for me. “So, you're just immortal?”

“Well, the hunters are able to die in combat.” Thomas said, looking at me through the mirror.

“Ah, that's essentially what I have. Odd considering I am a child of Death.”

After a few minutes of silence, Adam broke it. “Wait Charlie, I've never asked, both of your parents are gods, how are you still a mortal?”

Raven chuckled, “Well, Loki was a human at the time.”

“Ah okay.” Adam's face flushed.

We passed loads of cattle farms, pastures, processing plants, but the drive was very, very boring. Eventually we stopped for breakfast just outside of Waco.

We were in McLennan County, somewhere Adam said he always wanted to have a reason to visit. We saw the ruins and recently made monument to those who died in the siege some 70 years ago or so. That was 1993, it is now 2063.

“Watched the founders of this place on TV a long time ago.” Raven said as we were eating at Magnolia Table. I had a plate of eggs served with toast and jelly, delicious. Everyone else had something similar, Thomas getting the pancakes and butchering them. Charlie teased him about it, said he ate them like Dwight from some TV show.

Ivy and Adam sat across from each other, Thomas and Charlie as well. Raven and I sat on the end of the booth. Both of us were 5th wheels. Adam's hand brushed against Ivy’s lightly, his face turned pale.

After breakfast, I took the wheel and we headed further north. Being ageless had its perks, mostly years of experience. I’d been driving since the 70s. It was very flat and straight, the entry into Oklahoma was interesting at the least. It was now 1 in the afternoon, lunchtime. The border between the Republic of Texas and Oklahoma was walled on each side. Texas had split off the CSA, forming the Republic of Texas, shortly after the war began. The rest of the south had small borders between states, and as closely knit as Texas was to the rebels, they’d formed a good wall between them, some 8 foot high.

Citizens of the rebel states had free passage into Texas and vice versa. But generally, northern citizens weren't allowed in. As well as unregistered Rebel civilians. When the CSA took over, pretty much everyone lost their citizenship. It was very easy to apply for it, but still many did not. They ended up moving north.

In order to get to Canada, and thus find Boreas, we would have to pass through 4 national borders. The Texas-Oklahoma border would put us in the CSA. The CSA-Heartland barrier was located between Oklahoma and Kansas. After that we’d go through the heartland republic till the Federation of Minnesota and then on to Ontario. That part would be interesting as they were going through a war of their own

As we got to the Texas gates, a soldier approached us. I rolled down the window, hoping he wouldn't see our weapons strewn about.

“Ma’am, how are y’all doing today?” he said with a kind smile and oozing in hospitality.

“Yes sir, we’re doing well. Better than we deserve.” Charlie said across me.

The soldier smiled. He couldn't have been older than Charlie, no doubt hadn’t seen conflict yet. The only hostility we were to find would be up north. Damn Yankees. “Could I take a look at your papers?”

“Of course.” I said, trying to match Charlie’s tone.

We all passed up our citizenship cards, just like a driver's license. You only got one when you learned to drive. We still called them papers. Long ago I’d read a tale of two cities, I suppose the language stuck.

The soldier let us go without question, though he looked at me a little confused. Thankfully Hecate’s mist obscured my face to mortals.

We left through gate 3, of 7. Each had several guards out front checking citizenship and letting people leave.

Each gate was around 30 feet apart, manned by 2 men on the top, and 2 on the ground.

We passed without issue, waving to the guards above. Adam and Ivy continued looking at me funny the entire trip.