Basic info: after ToA, underworld siblings
Tw/Cw: ab*se

Hazel ran down the bridge to the water of the river, splashing cold water on her face as a way of escaping the heat of a Roman summer on sentry duty. She knew that, as praetor, she didn't have to do this, but as it was hot today she decided to give the legion a day off, taking over the day's chores by herself and a few other determined workers.

"I'll just- lay down here a bit." She murmured to herself, taking off her sandals and lying down on the warm sand. Just a quick nap, was all this would be... 

~~~

"You insolent girl!"
Hazel flinched as she rubbed the still stinging spot on her cheek where her mother had hit her. She struggled to hold back a soft whimper as she stood there and took Marie's harsh words and aggression.

Deep down, she knew this wasn't her real mother. She knew that something beyond her understanding had happened, something mysteriously magical. Under different circumstances, Hazel would be enthralled in the situation. A magical mystery would be perfect, an excuse to run away with her Sammy, travel the world and become famous detectives. Did people discriminate by skin tone in fancy galas for famous detectives? She and Sammy would find out.

Alas, under no circumstances could Hazel see that happening. Be realistic, Hazel, she told herself sternly, as she felt a sharp sting on her other cheek.
"Pay attention, Child!" Her mother yelled, in a voice that wasn't her own.
"Yes, Ma," she murmured, lifting her chin and looking Marie-but-not-Marie dead in the eyes. The gesture was almost defiant, but Hazel knew how to play her cards so that her 'mother' wouldn't perceive it as such.

She wasn't surprised to see wild green eyes, a contrast to her mother's calm, cool, brown ones.
"I have big plans for you, Dear," said Marie sweetly.

Her mother never used that tone unless she wanted Hazel to do something either very dangerous, very bad, or both. Hazel felt herself beginning to shake, fear swelling up in her stomach.

Just make it through this beating, she thought. Then you can go find Sammy and spend time with him before the school opens again.
Hazel tensed as her mother gripped her shoulders so tightly that they'd probably bruise.
"Very big plans, indeed."

Her mother's voice sounded as if there were two women speaking at once, one terrified and one gleeful. This was a common occurrence, which strengthened Hazel's belief that something very unnatural and magical was happening.

Strange things like these seemed to follow the Levesques around, from the voices to the strange man whom Hazel had come to recognise as her father. He only showed up when times were at their worst, and even then only for a split moment. His appearance was enough to calm her mother down, just for a bit.

And then there was her curse. Ever since she was a wee child, Hazel had been able to do things that she shouldn't have been able to do. Actually, she wasn't even sure if she had done it, trouble seemed to follow her wherever she went. Whenever she got scared or anxious, a rare gemstone or metal would reveal itself from the dirt. She'd made the mistake of telling her mother, and now every morning she'd have to summon a jewel of some sort for her mother to sell. They never spoke of the curse that came with the jewels...

Hazel's father had warned her mother against Hazel. The sheer memory of that made Hazel want to be sick. Her own father told her mother to abandon Hazel, to give up on the jewels and to turn her to him. She decided she'd rather die than go to the father who had tried to hard to make sure he had nothing to do with Hazel, and just her mother.

Hazel felt herself shoved towards the stairs, and realised with relief that her mother was finished her angry mood. She risked a quick look over her shoulder, and out of the corner of her eye Hazel saw her mother scooping up a small pile of rare rubies. She allowed herself a glimmer of hope - perhaps they'd make enough to go somewhere safe for their colour, somewhere people didn't hurt her for being her mother's daughter. She tried not to think about the curse.

Hazel cleared her throat. "Ma, I'm goin' out. Don't stay up, I'll be with Sammy."
"I don't like the looks of that boy." Marie grumbled.
"Ma! He's my friend."
"Be home by midnight."
With a small smile, Hazel nodded, and walked out of the small house that would never, ever, feel truly like home.

~~~

"Hazel, Hazel wake up!"
Nico's voice caused Hazel to stir from her thoughts, and she opened her amber eyes, finding herself sprawled out on the sand. It seemed about midday. "What- what am I doing here?"
"I dunno dude, I just work here." Her brother joked, but a quick glance of her brother's coal dark eyes told her how worried the son of Hades actually was. "Here, let me help you sit up..."

She sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her forehead gingerly. "I..."
"Man, I just found you lying there..." Nico breathed out. "I thought you'd died. What were you thinking, falling asleep out here? The border for camp is like- two or three miles away."
Two or three miles? That- that wasn't right.

"You mean camp Half Blood, or Camp Jupiter?"
"Half-Blood."
"No, I was on sentry duty at Camp Jupiter."
Nico looked confused. "But—"
"I dunno!" Hazel threw her hands up in the air.

Nico looked perturbed. "Only thing I can think of is that you shadow traveled somehow. But I didn't think you could...?"
"Me neither, but I guess..."

And that was how the two children of the underworld decided to mess around with their powers, and ended up in some very odd places. No, officer, I did not see a dark girl and a pale boy running around in Ronald McDonald suits. Missing costumes from Tasmania? Couldn't be them.