Chapter Text
Violet quickly tried to duck to one side as her cousin's meaty fist swung in a wide looping arc that the boy thought would put more power into his punches because he saw it in a movie. In truth, Violet was much happier at the looping punches that at least struck her in the arms, legs and ribs far more than the jabs that hit her in the stomach, face and chest. Her short crudely cut black hair fanned out as she ducked, just missing Dudley's punch as the scrawny young girl, the girl who was eight but looked barely more than six due to chronic starvation moved aside from the blow.
Dudley Dursley was a fat, loud-mouthed bully and for all that the boy liked hitting his freak of a cousin, the freak his mom and dad said it was fine to hit because she wouldn't say anything to anyone unlike any of the other children at his school. For all that, he was still uncoordinated and a cry-baby, so when his punch missed his cousin and he stumbled forward into the tree he had tried backing Violet up against, there was a dull thud sound. Dudley raised his hands to his nose and found a few little spots of blood coming out of his nose and his tongue where he had bitten his tongue in anticipation of hitting the Freak.
Tears filled the fat boys eyes, looking at Violet with a strange mixture of hate and glee. "Look what you did Freak! Dad's going to really beat you for hurting me and being mean to me!"
Violet felt herself grow a little pale as Dudley turned and ran away towards Magnolia Crescent which would lead onto Wisteria Walk and finally to Privet Drive, the house which would soon have a badly beaten Violet, no doubt Uncle Vernon would use the metal buckle on his belt this time, slung into the cupboard under the stairs. She would be denied food apart from perhaps a glass of water and a stale crust of the day before's bread for at least a week for daring to 'hurt' her Aunt and Uncle's precious Diddikins. Violet looked down at her own trembling hands, skin burned and blistered from being out in the sun all day maintaining her Aunt's award winning garden and then having to cook large meals for three people using heavy pots and pans that were really too big for a child's Violet's size, especially when she was chronically underfed and thus often had tremors that would run through her entire body and make her spill boiling water or burning hot food on herself..which would in turn lead to more beatings and being denied food.
It was a vicious cycle really and Violet cursed first herself and then her dead parents and then everyone who she knew could see the results of the abuse but chose to do nothing about the bruises, burns, Violet's small size and skinny stature. Sometimes teachers who seemed to care would come in the next day and treat Violet the same way all the bad teachers treated her, other times they would be fired for some mundane thing or would otherwise quit the school. After the second time this happened, Violet had stopped even trying to say anything to the Teachers when they asked if she was ok and if she was happy at the Dursleys.
But...what if Violet just...didn't go back? What if she stopped listening to that voice in her head that said she should go back to the Dursleys because they were her family after all and if she tried really hard to please them surely they would treat her better. A different voice spoke in Violet's mind then...it was her voice. She would advocate for herself dammit. Closing her eyes, Violet shook her head and made a mental effort...she pushed the other voice..the one she had listened to through every beating...every Holiday she was flung in the cupboard and left there with only a bucket and a glass of water as the Dursleys ate the food she had cooked for them. She pushed it out of her mind and when she opened her eyes again...it was like a fog had been blown out of her brain...her thoughts were clearer...and she felt a warmth in her stomach...not that of the few times she got a hot meal when the Dursleys could not be seen to be neglecting her...this was a warmth far beyond that...a all encompassing warmth that ran through her body like a fire burning away impurities...
Violet looked around and suddenly she knew..she knew there was something wrong with the whole town she was in. Something wrong with the neighbours..the shop keepers...the police and teachers. Violet grabbed her backpack from the ground twenty metres away where she had dropped it to try to pick up speed on her way to get to the tree where she hoped to use the broad trunk to keep Dudley at a distance and dug deep within the hidden pocket of her backpack to find the few coins and ten pound note she had picked up off the ground one day on her way home from school. It was enough for the bus...it was enough to get away.
Violet clutched her backpack tightly against her body as she looked over her shoulder deeper into the alleyway. The two skinny rat faced boys blocking her in were grinning, one of them holding a crude metal spike that must have at one point been a piece of railing or something before it had been sharpened into a very crude shank. "Come on girlie...just give us the backpack and you can go. Promise."
Clutching the backpack tighter, Violet looked around with her eyes, keeping on backing away down the alleyway. No one was watching from the street and even if she shouted the boy with the knife would have plenty of time to stab her before she could even get a second shout off..but if she kept on backing up she would be too far from the street for any help to get to her at all. She thought quickly..in her backpack were some loose change and her P.E kit with a pair of daps, shorts and a old grey t-shirt that had belonged to Dudley when he was much smaller, the shirt still billowed on Violet. She could give up the backpack but that would leave her with nothing to fall back on..nothing to barter for another day's food.
Violet knew she had been lucky over the last two days, able to find somewhere to sleep and do a few odd jobs for just enough money to buy some plain bread that kept the hunger at bay. But her backpack and the items within were her lifeline in case...in case things went really bad. She knew that if the worst came to worst she could go to Soho..but..no...no the feeling in her stomach told her that no she couldn't do that. Violet bit her tongue and prepared to try to sprint past the two boys and back out towards the street where at least there was the possibility of help.
As she did though, another figure appeared at the end of the alleyway and slowly walked towards the trio. The figure stepped into a shaft of light that managed to penetrate the narrow gap between the buildings and Violet saw he was a middle aged man with dusky skin and black hair woven into tight braids that ran down his back, dressed in a leather jacket over a dark green shirt with jeans and trainers. He approached the two boys backing Violet up and cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, perhaps you might find yourselves better occupied elsewhere. I am sure with a twenty in each of your pockets you will be able to find some other entertainment than threatening this young woman?"
The boys turned, one of them keeping half an eye on Violet and making sure she was still blocked into the alleyway. The one with the shank though was looking curiously at the man. "Huh? twenty each right and we leave her for you? Sure." The boy thrust out his hand aggressively and the man reached into a pocket drawing out a roll of twenty pound notes, pulling a pair of them off the roll and slapping them into the boys hand. With one final look at Violet, more a sneer than a appraising look now, the two rat faced youths departed and left Violet alone in the alleyway with the strange man.
He spread his hands out to either side showing Violet he was not carrying anything, Violet felt her back hit the wall at the end of the alleyway and was now breathing fast. The scent of the alley was strong in her nose now, wondering what this man wanted with her. He spoke softly, crouching down to put himself more at a level with Violet. "Hello Violet Potter, my name is Geb and I was told I could find you here. I understand that you have no reason to trust me, so I would like to speak to you for a few minutes and if you want nothing more to do with me I will still pay for your meal and give you enough money to stay somewhere for a few days? I do not want anything more than to simply speak to you."
Violet's breathing was harsh, scraping in her chest and making her feel slightly light headed. Since the half a loaf of bread she had eaten yesterday she had not eaten so Violet was hungry..and from the look of it this man had enough money that she could maybe stay at one of the semi-official shelters for street kids for a while so at least she would have a roof over her head. Geb gave her a little nod and a smile. "I will go and wait at the little cafe down the street, I think you saw it on your way down the street. If you would like to hear what I have to say then please come find me. If you just want the meal and money I will depart after you order. I will be waiting with my wife Nut, she would quite like to meet you as well."
Geb stood up and walked away out of the alleyway, turning and continuing to walk out of Violet's line of sight as the eight year old debated with herself. The feeling in her stomach was telling her that it would be ok, she should at the very least listen to what this Geb had to say to her if nothing else. Nodding to herself, Violet cautiously walked back down the alleyway and peered out both left and right. No one was waiting to grab her, which was a good thing...so...maybe it was ok. Slinging her rucksack back over one shoulder, Violet rubbed at the tears that had gathered in her eyes and sniffed before venturing down the street in the direction she had seen Geb walking, weaving through the busy London Midday foot traffic. The cafe was only three doors down and sitting in a window booth was Geb sat next to a woman with dark skin and long straight hair of lustrous black wearing a long dress of dark blue with dozens of stars and moons of silver thread around the hem and ends of the sleeves.
The bell over the door jangled as Violet approached the table where Geb and the woman was sitting cautiously, her eyes wary and her muscles tensed to dive away and escape out the door. A pot of tea sat on the table along with a selection of small cakes and pastries on little plates, Violet felt herself unconsciously lick her lips at the sight, she had always wanted to be able to eat the delicate little sweet treats to her heart's content but naturally her Aunt and uncle had never even considered buying any for her. Geb and the woman both noticed Violet and Geb gave a slight nod to the other side of the booth from where the couple sat. Violet was quite glad that she had a clear run from the booth to the door without having to go past the couple, so with a wary look at the two people already sat there, Violet slid into the seat and looked cautiously as Geb poured himself and the woman..presumably Nut..tea from the pot with both of them taking several swallows. Somewhat reassured that there was not going to be anything in the tea, Violet poured herself a cup and sipped it, feeling the warmth of the cup spreading into her fingers.
Geb tilted his head slightly and then planted a small kiss on Nut's cheek before folding his hands in front of him and addressing Violet. "Hello again Violet, this is my wife Nut.." he gestured towards the woman who extended her hand and Violet, not wanting to be rude, shook her wand. The woman's skin was very cool, almost cold but something in Violet's stomach lurched as her fingers made contact with the dark skinned woman's skin. "..now..regardless of what you decide I want you to know that I do not want to put pressure on you. You see...Nut and I think you are a very special child. You see...tell me Violet..what do you know of the Ancient Gods of this world?"
Violet felt confusion rising in her at this sudden tangent and thought hard, she had spent a lot of time in the Library as a child, it was better than being outside at playtime and being chased around by Dudley and his friends, especially during the summer and Violet had gone through the same fascination with Ancient Greece and Egypt that she was sure every child had at one point or another. "Umm...I mean I kinda know about the gods of Ancient Egypt and Greece...I know the Disney films are not very accurate as well...uhh..."
Nut nodded and smiled at Violet, her teeth perfectly white and straight as Geb gave her a lazy grin. "Well...would it surprise you to know that those Gods were very real. And whilst they may not be...well they are asleep now. But they left behind some of their power and some bloodlines..that means.."
Violet interrupted, putting her cup of tea down a little harder than she intended. "I'm eight, not an idiot. I know what a bloodline is, we learned about it in history lessons.."
Nut laughed, the first sound to pass through her lips and for a moment Violet was utterly entranced by the woman's laughter. It made her think of stars burning brightly overhead and the passage of the moon and suns in far off galaxy's exploding and contracting and supernova's and blackholes and...Violet shook her head and realised she had lost about ten seconds of time. Geb and Nut were both looking at her with smiles, not condescending smiles either but with fondness.
Geb cleared his throat whilst Violet took another sip of tea to cover her embarrassment. "Indeed, I apologise for being patronising Violet. So...the Gods left relics, bloodlines and mantles of power behind them. A long time ago now..Nut and I found ourselves coming into possession of some of these things and we were both able to tame this power. Since then, we have made it our mission to try to reunite the bloodlines that can bond with these relics and mantles and bring them to a safe space where we can live, learn and then go out into the world and try to help humanity survive...as with the gods asleep they cannot do so anymore."
Violet nodded slowly, then realisation struck. "And...you think I am one of these...one of these bloodlines?"
Nut nodded and leaned forward, excitement dancing in her eyes...eyes that shone like the stars themselves. "Indeed Violet Potter...we believe that you may be the last bloodline who can call upon the power of the Thorned Gods...those of the Celts. If you do want to come with us, you shall have a family. We have other young people coming into their own power and you would be able to grow in safety and security, learning how to harness your power and the relics left behind by the Thorned Gods."
Violet blinked slowly, Nut's voice having an effect on her as she shook the impression of streaking comets and swirling aurora's out of her thoughts. "Yes...the choice is between you and the Dursleys...its not even a choice."
In the far north, within a castle on Scotland's northmost tip, little devices issuing puffs of smoke, whirring and spinning come to a stop. The owner of these items does not notice for some days, busy as he is with working out just how the fence of magic erected around the town of Little Whinging had been breached. How the girl...the sacrifice had somehow escaped him. She would need to be found..found and brought back under his control...all for the Greater Good of course.