.^^ Athenos's Tattoo ^^

— Athenos —

The campus, almost 30 acres of woods, hid a small school complex, consisting of only four buildings, plus the underground gym I could feel, but not see.

"Is this a magical school?" I asked Rafaela.

She nodded. "All the students and teachers are witches. Only one or two Mages, I think. From situations somewhat like ours. But the curriculum is entirely normal, because witches are taught at home."

"What about orphans?" I asked casually.

"Adopted by another witch family, 99% of the time. Why?" She asked suspiciously.

"Just curious, Because 96% of the Geas Problems come from Witches." I shrugged.

She chuckled and walked into the middle building, walking with confidence.

"You've been here often?" I asked.

"Emmanuel was a rather difficult child, and I went here, as well, but they've changed the building, since then." She laughed softly.

She entered the nurses office, and I blinked at the half-assed first-aid, and stomped past her when she stopped to talk to someone I hadn't even bothered to look at.

I bodily moved the under-qualified male nurse out of my way, growling in Greek, and began to heal Gabriel swiftly. Her bones set themselves, then spurs began to grow across the gap, and finally sealed themselves, and the gash above it stitched itself closed, then I tossed the bandages at the nurse. "Go either get me another set of bandages, so I can teach you how to give proper first aid, OR GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!!!" I roared at the smaller man.

He yelled and scampered away, and I growled softly in Greek. "Fucking useless..." I looked at Gabriel, and smiled warmly when I realized she was awake. "How's the little one holding up, Hmm? Took a spill, did we?"

She grinned. "You were very mean to the nurse. You should be nice."

"That nurse doesn't deserve to be a healer, and I'll eat my doctorate if he was ever certified by any board of medical officials." I said dryly.

She giggled, then yawned. "I'm tired now..."

"Yes, I healed your arm using my bodies energy, but your body still produced a lot of new bone and tissue, so you'll be sleepy for a few hours. Just rest, Gabriel." I smiled, and fixed her hair, so the ponytail didn't bunch up under her head, and cause a hairpin headache.

She giggled softly, and fell asleep again.

"She's alright, Axiom?" Rafaela asked softly, placing one hand on my shoulder, then kissing her daughter's forehead.

"She's fine, but that fucking imbecile of a nurse needs to have words with me about his medical skills." I growled.

She smiled and patted my head. "Down, Tiger, He's Just an amateur Apprentice, Not the Nurse. She's dealing with the other one."

"Other one?"

"Yes, the one Gabriel was fighting. She clawed her up pretty damned good." She pointed to the bed on the other side of the room, and the woman mumbling healing spells over a girl.

I walked over, and pulled her back, waving a hand and pushing energy into the wounds, forcing her body to regenerate the Lost blood cells, then create scabs, and start the healing process under them.

"They both need a protein IV, and that'll be all." I said shortly, and snorted at the surprised 'nurse', stomping back over to Gabriel's bed.

"Me~yow!" Rafaela joked, but she looked concerned.

"I hate inadequate and unskilled healers." I grumbled.

"Well excuse me for not being a super-witch with Ancestral magic!" The nurse hissed, hands on her hips.

"POWER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH INADEQUACY IN HEALING, YOU INCOMPETENT HACK-SAW OF A HEALER! Now walk away, simpleton, or I'll CRACK OPEN YOUR SKULL and turn it into a QUARTZ GEODE!" I snapped.

She flinched and scurried away, and I grumbled a few more insults, annoyed by her little hissy fit.

Rafaela patted my hair calmly. "I can sense your hatred of weakling healers is personal, but can you please not alienate all the healers at the school my child attends?"

"I can and will get you better healers before morning." I growled, unappeased.

"If they'll accept the nurses salary, I would be happy to have them... and you are?" The older, tall woman Rafaela had been talking to asked.

"I am Doctor Parthenos, and I will pay them myself for six months, if it means those hacks of yours get the proper medical training and experience. I imagine a witches school often has much worse than a couple of scraped knees." I spat disdainfully, then paused. "Though that is no reason to be rude to you, so I will apologize. My anger is misdirected, methinks."

She smiled. "But from a good place, so I am not offended. True, not many witches in this city are healers. We often deal with our hurts the old-fashioned way."

"What's that, Mosquito Spit and Alligator Urine?" I grumbled, and Rafaela smacked my skull gently.

The older woman laughed. "Not quite that old. Now, Rafi, we must talk about the situation. Both girls were hurt, and quite badly, and that's unacceptable, you know this."

Rafaela nodded. "She will be properly punished, once I know what happened."

"All the scratches on the other girl are left handed." I growled.

Rafaela and the older woman both looked at me. "What's that supposed to mean?" The older woman asked.

"Gabriel's arm was broken first, before she slashed the other girl." I explained.

"Ahh... yes. I had heard something of the same. The other girl, Fluer, she initiated the argument, and when Gabriel gathered magical power to attack, she got her arm broken, then clawed the other girl." She shrugged.

I whistled softly. "Quite the savage scrappers, they are... is it because of the Lunar Eclipse last night?" I asked.

"Yes." Rafaela said simply.

The older woman blinked. "Wow... an acute guess."

"It wasn't a guess, it was an observation. If my emotions, -which I've had under strict control for a very long time,- are heightened, then what about a little girl? Basic deductive reasoning." I shrugged.

"Hmm... you're a member of a Tribe?"

"Mine." Rafaela smiled, hugging my face into her chest.

"I like AIR just a bit more than being smothered by you, darling." I mumbled into her cleavage.

She released me, giggling. "Cute."

"Good god, you two are like newlyweds. The loving aura is going to make me sick." The Elder woman said sarcastically.

I laughed. "Anyway, we were talking about punishments? Celestial influence or no, they harmed each other physically, so I suppose there must be a punishment of some kind?"

"Indeed. They are both suspended for one week, and will do their work at home, and not be allowed to participate in the after-school activities." The elder crossed her arms sternly.

Rafaela sighed. "I know it's harsh, but it must be done."

I blinked at them both incredulously for a moment. "Sweet Athenian Justice, it's like you were both entirely homeschooled!!! A week?!? And that's HARSH?!? Fuck I'd love to have gone to this school, growing up!" I laughed sarcastically.

Rafaela raised an eyebrow. "Did you seriously just say 'Sweet Athenian Justice' with a straight face?"

"The real punishment is, of course, their exclusion from the after-school activities, and the lack of use of their magical gift for a week. I don't know how you do it where you are from, outsider, but we do not practice magic outside the Safe Places. Under the school is one. The graveyards are another. After school, the children go and use their magic amongst each other, as much as they like, with no chance of anyone ever seeing them, and knowing the secret." The elder sighed.

I blinked at her, and they both snapped their eyes to me, feeling the rise in my emotions. I fought it down, and cleared my throat. "So you're saying... you force them to completely remove Magic from their Daily Lives... and you're surprised when shit like this happens? Also, let's talk about 'knowing the secret'. Because that's not how the Geas Works!!!"

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And you would know?"

"Yes, as a High-Master Mage of the Order of Merlin, I know a damned good bit about the Geas that bans magic from being seen, seeing as the Order of Merlin collaborated with the Irish Fae to create it in the first place!!! The person who saw the magic and the person who cast it both receive Heart Attacks, as well as the Mage or Witch having all the magic taken from them for 24 hours. And your attitude towards it, and the actions you take to prevent it, are why Witches make up 96% of Geas Infractions!" I snapped.

She blinked slowly. "I see... you're not a witch at all, that explains your attitude."

"Which part, my hatred for Imbeciles in positions of Authority, or my disdain for your moronic traditions that reduce Magic to a Recreational Activity and Privilege, instead of the Subject of Study and Massive Responsibility that it truly is?!?" I growled.

Rafaela gripped my shoulder. "Alright, that's enough, both of you. Dean, leave, you're not helping anyone, here." She snapped at the woman.

She sniffed derisively, and turned on her heel, walking out.

"And you, no more arguing." Rafaela tapped my forehead with her second knuckles gently.

"Stupid rules." I grumbled, and pulled her into my lap.

Gabriel giggled softly, cracking her eyes. "You're very snappy... like a alligator." She mumbled.

"A Dragon, you mean?" I grinned, and snorted a small stream of fire for theatrics, swiftly imbibing it with the ability to send her to sleep as she smiled at me.

She relaxed, and I nodded. "Perfect. Should we take her home- to your house, that is?" I asked.

Rafaela smiled and picked up her daughter carefully, cradling her to her chest. "Let's Go..." she nodded, smiling a little.

"I didn't mean- I mean, I just meant-" I opened the door of my car, and she grinned.

"Oh I know what you meant. I saw it all, last night, remember? You have a turtle tattoo on your left butt cheek, pointing at your asshole." She winked.

"No I don't?" I looked down at my hip. "It's a Delta, the Greek lefter of Daedalus, and used in physics for Change! It's literally a triangle with fibonacci's spiral, why would you call it a turtle!!?!?" I growled at her laughter.

—

I woke Gabriel up gently, and she grumbled, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "It's early... queeeeeee?"

"Your mom has to watch the shop, so you're with me, today! What do you want to do?" I asked quietly.

She slumped back into her bed, and I picked her up, and set her on her chair, in front of her mirror. "Nope, no sleeping, you slept for fourteen hours. What do you wanna do today?" I asked stubbornly, and began brushing her hair.

"You can build portals, right?" She asked, yawning.

"Correct." I nodded, and pulled her hair into her preferred ponytail.

"Can you go to the Dunkin' Donuts down the block... 'n get me a donut 'n some coffee?" She grinned sleepily.

"Some caffeine might actually wake you up, so sure. Let's do it." I smiled, and then helped her get dressed as well as I knew how, sticking her on my back and walking towards the storefront, down the stairs.

Rafaela kisses her and me swiftly as we passed. "Be careful! Don't do anything stupid!"

"We're just going to give some pneumonia medicine to the Miami Sanctuary, it's no big deal." I chuckled.

She nodded and popped my ass as we passed. "It had better be!"

"You see, now I'm thinking of testing your patience..." I hummed, and laughed, slipping away from her and through the portal.

"Don't feed her donuts, even if she begs!!! She's grounded!!!" She called after me.

"Really? We're enforcing that?" I stuck my head back in.

"Yes, she got into a fight at school, she's grounded for the week, and is only allowed to go with you or me to work." She nodded seriously.

"What about Greece? I have pneumonia shots for them, too." I asked.

"What's with all the pneumonia? It's summer!" She asked, confused.

"Ah, right, that's the code word. Pneumonia medicine treats a series of sicknesses that most Fae or Magic creatures from Northern lands get when it's hot outside. It's like a Reverse Cold." I explained.

She blinked. "Huh. Alright, you can go to Greece as well, but she's not allowed any sweets!"

"Yes Ma'am..." I grinned and closed the door before she threw something at me for calling her ma'am.

—

Gabriel giggled softly when I sat her down in front of me, inside the Troll Market. "What are we doing in a Sanctuary?" She asked.

"Eating breakfast." I said simply, and then accepted my coffee and giant bowl of noodles from one of the servers. Then I set it in the indention in the middle of the table, just for that purpose, handing her a pair of chopsticks. "It's good stuff, don't be shy." I nodded, and began eating.

She grinned and stirred her chopsticks around until she had something of a ball of noodles, and chomped on it, making me laugh out loud. "Oh god's you're adorable!" I laughed, and shook my head.

"Hey! Athenos! Mind if I join?" James appeared, and patted my shoulder.

I hugged him swiftly, and sat him down. "Yes, sure! We're just taking a break for breakfast, before we start dealing with the Pneumonia in the Depths." I nodded.

He raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't she be in school?"

"I got suspended for kicking Fleur DeFortuna's butt!" Gabriel grinned guiltlessly, and slurped up a long noodle. "Mama wasn't even mad, really, cause she says that Fleur's whole family is third-rate, dumb, mean, and racist, and I don't know what that one means, but they are all dumb and mean, so I agree." She said firmly.

I frowned. "Your mother shouldn't tell you things like that... it is not your place to judge those you do not know."

"But I know Fleur and her bothers, and they're all dumb and mean, and I know her papa, and he's big and dumb and mean." She said stubbornly.

I hummed. "Fine, but it's not polite to say. Let's move on. You want more? You cleaned out my breakfast, you know." She was drinking the broth now, having finished the noodles while we talked.

James grinned. "I've got something even better." He placed a plate of biscuits, straight from an oven, and covered in butter, on the table.

I blinked. "Where in the nine hells did that come from?"

"Your aunt who lives in Tuscany. She gave them to me just now for dealing with a little pest problem." He shrugged.

I chuckled and scanned them for any type of magic or physical poisons and curses, like I always did before eating, and besides the ridiculous amount of cholesterol in the homemade butter, it was safe, so we dug in.

"So what were you doing in Tuscany at 7:30 in the morning? Shouldn't you be in class?" I asked.

He grinned. "Class in Greece starts in ten minutes, actually. I've got it covered."

"Good... Alright. And Tuscany?" I pressed.

He shrugged. "Visiting."

"Hunting Rebel Fae, you mean, like in Damascus?" I asked dryly.

He froze.

"Mm. Yes, I'm not stupid, my child, and I have a psychic link that tells me when your emotions get over a certain threshold. It also lets me track you, though I try to leave you your privacy as much as I can." I explained.

He grinned guiltily, while Gabriel giggled and poked him. "Busted, Chico..."

"Well, Yeah. I was. Struck out, but yes. Seems they're getting wise to me... they're going to ground somewhere, and I'm trying to find out where." He sighed.

"Try China." I gave him a basic hint, and went back to eating casually.

He hummed, glancing at me sideways. "Maybe I will. Always wanted to see the Gobi."

"Stop by Laos, first. My old teacher might have something for you, if you ask nicely enough. She collects Rare Flowers from all nine realms." I said, sliding him the coordinates, and standing up. "But we have to be going, and you need to go to school, so goodbye, my son." I ruffled his hair a bit, tossing back my coffee, and Gabriel snagged one last biscuit, jogging after me.

"Why doesn't James call you Papa?" She asked innocently.

"He barely knows me. I'm just the Sperm Donor, to him. He came from my blood, but I never was there to teach him about it. You know this, why ask?" I asked her, curious.

She smiled. "Because he needs to hear the answer."

I stopped walking, and she continued, casually eating her biscuit. "You devilish little Minx!!!" I laughed incredulously and followed her into the Stairs that led down to the Deep, the part of the sanctuary that those sensitive to light or cold, such as the Arctic Mythos Creatures, stayed.

—

"Why was I not notified of this?" I snapped, shoving my way into a circle around a Jotun who was in the final stages of the sickness that we had nicknamed Pneumonia, just to make it easier.

His body was burning up, and the ice that normally formed on their skins, making it seem black or dark blue, was melted, and his pale blue skin was open to the black lights that were the main source of light in this portion of the Sanctuary.

His family members growled at me in Jotun, and I caught 'final rites' and 'leave, Human'.

I snapped back in English. "I'm a Healer, and I'm going to save his life; if you want to kill him yourself, you're welcome to after I'm done with him!"

They took a step back, and I felt his pulse. Weak, not even 40 beats a minute... I hummed and set up an IV, carrying him into the nearest sheltered cave, and laying him on a table. I ignored the inhabitants complaints, and injected pure Jotun adrenaline into his IV Drip, for continued exposure, and watched his color start to darken a little.

I added a severe overdose of the proper medicines, because of his size and the severity of his case, and grinned when ice started forming on his skin. Then it started melting again, and I growled as I felt his heartbeat start to flutter.

I snapped at one of his family members. "You! Press his heart, and you! I need some of your blood!" When they stood, staring at me, I snarled savagely, and they jumped to do as I said.

Then I began carving Runes into his forearm, carefully. When I finished them, ice blanketed his entire body, and his heartbeat stabilized, allowing the medicine to work it's way into him, and drive the sickness out.

I relaxed slowly. "Alright. He'll be weak for a few days, but he'll live."

They cheered, causing Gabriel to cover her ears at the cacophony of sound.

The Jotun on the table growled, shrugging his way out from under his family who had been holding him down, and looked at me, confused. "Who are you?" He asked, his voice weak.

"I am Doctor Parthenos, the Resident Magical Doctor of Miami, New Orleans, and Athens. And I just saved your life." I answered easily.

He laughed softly, and rubbed his forearm. "Incredible... I have never seen someone carve Runes during a healing. My name is Khiame Thunder-Eyes, and You have my gratitude, Doctor Parthenos. Ask of me anything you wish, and I will grant it, by my blood and bone, which you have saved from my seemingly inevitable Coward's Death."

"I can think of nothing you have that I want. All that I have wanted, I have given to my son, and therefore I would give him the debt you owe me, as well." I nodded.

He grinned. "So mote it be, Doctor. Tell me his name?"

"He is James Athenos Parthenos. Good day, Jotun's of Deadman's Deep." I bowed, and we made our exit.