Flames of the unclaimed: Lamia's story
Chapter 1
A day in the life of an unclaimed demigod
'Maybe my father is the god of bad luck.' I thought, trudging up the half blood hill.
"Hey Peleus." I greeted as I passed Thalia's tree. He huffed a cloud of smoke at me from his position curled around the tree.
"Same to you buddy." I retorted. It was completely normal to talk to a dragon. He guarded Camp Half Blood and the Golden Fleece. I continued on past the big house, where Chiron and Mr D. were playing a card game.
I walked past the volleyball court and headed down the hill towards the armory and the forge. The children of Hephaestus were busy at work making things. The amphitheater was off to my right and it was completely empty, which was normal at this time. I entered the square of cabins and turned left. Past the Nemesis cabin, past the Hypnos cabin, past the Iris cabin, past the Hades cabin, I kept going until I came upon the Hermes cabin.
Looking at it, it was easily the most beaten up and worn cabin in the whole camp. The god of travelers and thieves was past max capacity. Not that he had endless amounts of children. There were also all the unclaimed demigods lived here until they were claimed, such as myself who has been waiting for… How many beads do I have on my necklace now? Four! I have been waiting for four years going on five! I wish I was Roman instead of Greek, then I could be like my brother. It doesn't matter if your claimed or not where he lives. It wasn't as bad as it used to be, since Percy Jackson had made the gods swear on the river Styx. But it seemed certain demigods were left out of that promise for some unknown reason. Such as me.
I dragged myself up the stairs into the cabin and face planted onto my bed in the back.
"Get off my bed." A voice interrupted from above, sounding suspiciously playful.
"Don't interrupt this sacred moment of peace." I moaned, burying my head further in the pillow. I was not in the mood right now.
"Must've been bad if you're back almost an hour early." She chuckled. I rolled onto my side to look at my bunk mate and best friend, Amita. Technically I was on her bed. She put her book down and nudged me closer to the edge of the bed.
"Get off." She laughed. I got off her bed and stood up. "So do you want to go horseback riding?" Amita asked standing up. I smiled at her enthusiasm. We both had ADHD like most demigods, although I still wondered if Amita had it a little more than me somedays.
"I just ran from school to here. I'm going to relax until archery class. You go to the stables." I spoke, stretching my arms above my head. I wasn't really that tired but I needed her to get out of the cabin.
"Fine. Have fun enjoying your 'sacred silence'." Amita flatlined walking out with a quiet roll of her eyes. This wasn't the first time I had stayed behind and it certainly wasn't a last. Luckily she had learned better than to continually pester me about it. I waited a second or two before the sound of footsteps faded.
'Finally the cabin to myself.' I climbed up the ladder to my bunk and twisted the numbers on the small padlock to open the cabinet mounted on the wall at the head of my bed. I pulled a small carved box out of it and shut it tight. Setting in on the covers of my bed, I opened the lid. An unopened letter sat there waiting for me.
Looking around once more to make sure I was in fact completely alone. I pulled the letter close to my chest. No one could ever know about this, if anyone ever found out… My brother had a similar box as well. Our grandmother gave them to us before she died. When we had first made our way to camp, we were immediately separated. Not only was this one of the last things I had of my grandmothers but it was my only way to communicate with my brother.
I took a small breath as the quiet sound of paper ripping filled the silence. Smoothing out the folded paper, I began to read.
Dear Lamia,
I assume you're doing well since I haven't gotten news of any schools going up in flames or spontaneous combusting. I've been doing decent, I got the wind knocked out of me today in combat training. Frank is a beast. I never saw it coming. He's a sneaky fighter. But he's the son of Mars or as you would say son of Ares so he already has an advantage.
This morning we had another senate meeting. Of course I had to put on my toga, I can imagine you laughing, and go with Dakota- how he's still a senator is a beyond me. Dakota somehow snuck in a bag of red kool-aid and it exploded during the meeting. You should've seen the looks on their faces! Half of them though he was bleeding. I couldn't help but laugh alongside Frank. I never thought someone could turn such an alarming shade of red as Octavian did. He was furious that most of the Senate laughed after that. Even Reyna of all people chuckled, although she looked like she was desperately trying not to laugh. Not that I'm surprised, she's still considered 'large and in charge' despite the upcoming transition of power. I got a warning from Reyna because I may have 'kindly' informed Octavian to go slaughter a stuffed animal when he blew a gasket over the situation.
The rest of the meeting didn't go much better
Reyna grabbed Dakota and I and we went to the Principia- it's kinda of like the Big House and the man with wine you've told me about before. If it is even the slightest like here then you'll understand what I'm talking about. From your earlier stories, I'm pretty sure you're very familiar with the concept… I wish we could see the world through each other's eyes instead of having to describe and compare.
After that, we got slapped upside the head, literally. Dakota got sent to his bed. Although Frank and I spared before he went off with Hazel, they make a cute couple. The ambassador of Pluto was present for the senate meeting but he disappeared during the chaos. He comes and goes as he pleases. I don't know what's wrong with the boy some days. But if you're correct and you think he's this Nico character, he's breaking the rules every time he comes here. He gets to see his sister Hazel whenever he wants...
There are war games tonight and the Fifth Cohort plans on winning. I'm excited to see what they've built for it. But we plan on winning the game. I wish I could show you the camp some day; the beauty of New Rome, the ingenuity of the war games, the way camp is laid out. I wish I could show you some of my new friends and other people I know here. I'm pretty sure you feel the same. I wish you could celebrate my sixteenth birthday with me. Maybe dad will claim me when I turn sixteen if I prove myself worthy. I hope you're staying out of trouble or as much as possible.
Love, Cato
I folded it back up and pulled a piece of paper out of the cabinet followed by a pencil.
Dear Cato,
Don't go doing anything stupid before I get there. Your senate sounds a lot like our council, except they gather around a ping pong table in the game room instead of having an official building- and no, we don't have togas. Although that would be amusing to see.
Who cares about the rules? If you're going to prove yourself worthy of being claimed you aren't doing it alone. I'm going to be there so we can both be claimed. I could finally get out of the Hermes cabin if I was claimed. There has to be a reason as to why I am pretty much the only unclaimed demigod left in camp halfblood. Percy told me I should've been claimed after the second Titan war when he made the gods swear on the river Styx.
So please, don't do anything stupid. I'll leave tonight or tomorrow night and head your way. Stay put until I get there and don't die or get into trouble before I get there. I'm not putting my neck on the line if you're going to get suspended because of that egg-headed senator.
Love Lamia
I folded it up and put it in the box. I closed the lid and heard the faint whoosh. Setting my pencil down, I leaned back against the headboard. Taking a quiet breath, I stared down at my hands.
How was I going to get there? That had been the question plaguing my mind for the last two months. I'd been over it frontwards and backwards, trying to come up with a semblance of a plan.
Obviously I couldn't bring my necklace or anything else that comes from Camp Half Blood or even smells that I might be Greek.
I climbed down and dug in the chest at the foot of our bed. I pulled out an old backpack and started packing my clothes. I skipped the orange camp half blood shirt. That would be like having a giant sign saying "Greek demigod right here." I grabbed some toiletries, a flashlight, and some extra batteries. Maybe I should steal some matches from the Stoll brothers or maybe I could just steal Leo? Nah, too much work. It would be easier to steal from the Stoll brothers.
Walking over to their bunk bed, a rustle through their drawers until o found their stash of odds and ends. Though the exploding gum looked tempting, I snatched a small pack of matches before closing up. Easy. If you lived here, you should invest in a lock. I stuffed them in a zippered pouch before throwing the whole bag onto the bed. Climbing back up, I stuffed it in the cabinet with my box. Looking back at the empty contents of the worn wood of the box, I began to shut it before I heard a faint whoosh. Lifting the lid, I greedily grabbed the paper and smoothed the crumpled sides of the letter. The words were rushed and the ink was still wet on the page.
Dear Lamia
Are you sure you know what you're doing? It isn't easy to get here, let alone fit in. And don't even use Percy in your argument. He was only here because Hera put him here to unite the camps. You wouldn't be able to speak or curse in Greek. You wouldn't be able to fight like you do now. You would actually have to listen to authority. How would you even get here? Do you realize how much trouble the both of us would be in if you were found out? Think about what you are doing before you rush head first into this.
Don't be stupid.
Love Cato
I rolled my eyes. I wouldn't be that stupid. Flipping the letter over, I began to write on the back of it.
Dear Cato
How stupid do you think I am? Have a little faith! Besides, don't you want to see me? This is the only way we can see each other. You know if you try to step foot inside Camp Halfblood, Chiron will send you back. But I'm sure I could get into your camp, people won't recognize me there. I can totally do it. Cato, this is truly our only option.
Love Lamia
It disappeared quickly. Why couldn't he see things from my perspective. This was our only option. It wasn't another moment before another letter appeared. Honestly, it was more like texting except with more hand cramps.
Dear Lamia
I understand your point. You don't know how desperate I am to see you. To actually be able to show you camp Jupiter instead of just describing it. I want you here more than anything but I just want you to know that it won't be easy. I'm excited to see you again. It's been years hasn't it? I hope you have good journey and make it here safely. Keep in touch.
Love Cato
Good. He understands me. I can't wait to see him. A loud knock on the cabin door broke me from my thoughts. I Involuntarily jolting at the sound. I hissed as my forehead smacked against the cabinet door.
Cramming the box and every article to go with it in the door. I slammed it shut and quickly spun the lock shut on it.
"Who is it?" I hollered, climbing down the ladder.
Grover popped his head in. "Mr D would like to see you. Chiron didn't look to happy either."
"Mr D doesn't care about anyone I thought?" I asked.
"It's more of a Chiron meeting than a Mr D meeting." Grover explained.
"Great." I huffed walking towards him.
"I figured you'd know the way." Grover suggested.
"Too well." I blandly spoke, walking out. He didn't follow me as I hiked up to the Big House. "Skatá!" I grumbled. They probably found out about what happened earlier today. Fantastic. walked up onto the porch right to where Chiron and Mr D. were playing cards. Double skatá! Piper and Drew were here as well.
"Miss Smelly how kind of you to join us." Mr D. greeted.
"It's Smith, Lamia Smith." I drawled, used to the insult but irritated enough to keep correcting him.
"You're a smelly child eating spirit? I thought you were just a child eating spirit." Drew bit out.
"Can it, Barbie reject." I snarled.
"Alright ladies." Chiron sighed.
"It's all her fault Chiron! She did this to me!" Drew outcried, fluttering her eyes with the practiced grace that only a child of Aphrodite could accomplish.
What exactly did she do to you Drew?" Chiron asked, his face pulled into a carefully neutral expression. Though I could see his eyes drifting towards me.
He already knew.
"She ruined my gift!" Drew demanded. I couldn't help but snicker. Chiron carefully observed the scarf covering Drew's head. His eyes seemed to almost light up with mirth and I grinned to myself.
"What evidence do you have to back up your claims?" I spoke up, feigning ignorance as I stretched my hands behind my head.
"They found the bottle in the garbage in the kitchen." Drew spat. Her eyes flashing with an indecipherable look.
"So?" I retorted.
"Don't forget, you've been on kitchen duty for the past week because you helped the Stoll brothers steal the boar head from the Ares cabin." Chiron 'helpfully' reminded.
"And the week before that you were in charge of cleaning the colosseum alone for filling the Apollo cabin with bubbles. And the month before that contaminated Demeters watering system with weed killer. Punishment was a month of extra classes." Mr D. casually spoke, setting his cards on the table.
I looked between the pair of them. "Just because I did those things doesn't mean I did that." I bit my tongue when my gaze turned back to Drew, it was a bit of my finer work I do admit. Not that they needed to know that.
"Piper have you figured out who did this to Drew yet?" Chiron sighed.
"Not yet. But we will get to the bottom of this. Unless Lamia cares to tells who her boss was." Piper suggested, raising a brow.
"Lamia?" Chiron asked.
"First of all, it's 'alleged' my alleged boss. You can't prove anything." I spoke, bouncing on the balls of my feet. I clasped my hands tighter around my back. "Second of all, I would never give up my clients- alleged clients at that- that information is strictly confidential."
Chiron sighed and Drew gave me a furious scowl, "It was her, I know it was her!"
"Lamia."
Piper's voice was soft and I couldn't help but turn towards her. I met a pair of mesmerizing blue eyes that made me almost melt. Piper's smile seemed to glean in the light and the world faded just slightly.
"I really need your help, and only you can do it? Do you want to help me Lamia?"
All I could see was Piper, her inviting voice and her endearing smile. I nodded just a bit. There was a slight itch in the back of my mind but I ignored it. Piper needed my help.
"Great," Piper gave a beaming grin and her eyes lit up. "Do you know who-"
"It was me," I spoke, the words pouring out of my mouth before I could stop myself. "It was really easy-"
"Ah ha! See Chiron! I knew it!"
The loud voice shook my thoughts and my train of thought was suddenly halted. Turning my head, a cloud of fog started to lift and alarm bells began to ring.
"Lamia, look at me." A voice compelled me and I couldn't help but turn back towards Piper. She gave another dazzling smile and curled a strand of her hair around her finger, "You were saying?"
Her voice was so kind that I couldn't help but continue, "Actually it was a bit of my finer work, trying to get…" My words trailed off and I screwed my eyes shut, something was definitely wrong.
'Wait a minute-'
"No?" I spoke, my head clearing a bit as I took a step back. My eyes flashed and I snapped my head up to look at an almost sheepish Piper. "Charmspeak," I spat, giving her a glare. "That was a low blow."
Turning towards Chiron I gave him a resigned look. "Yes, I did it." I spoke, my eyes flashing to a vindictive Drew. "But I refuse to give up any of my clients. Strictly confidential." My voice was hard and my mouth closed with a clack.
He gave a long sigh, "Then you leave me no choice Lamia. You are grounded from all training for the next week. You will go to your cabin after dinner and not participate in the games tonight or next week. If you are caught leaving your cabin I will tack on another week onto your sentence. Am I clear?" Chiron demanded.
I would've rather died. He just handed me a death sentence.
"Yes Chiron." I sighed.
"Leave, all of you." Chiron ordered. Drew gave one last sneer before storming off. I didn't have a chance to slip away before Piper caught my eye and gestured for me to follow. After a long moment and a subdued glare, I walked off after her. My shorter strides caught up with her longer legs and for a moment we walked in silence.
"I'm sorry." She spoke, giving me a long sigh. "I really didn't want to but Drew has spent the last four hours shrieking my ear off."
I gave a noncommittal shrug. Getting in trouble wasn't anything new. Just another reason why I wanted to leave.
"Why do you keep getting into trouble?" She asked me, unknowingly rephrasing my thoughts.
"Because I can." I challenged, crossing my arms with a huff.
"Lamia, come on. I know you're trying to prove yourself as a demigod but you're not helping your case." Piper continued.
"Well what am I supposed to do?" I snapped.
"Next week is the first official week of summer. You need to get a grip before everyone comes for the summer. You're on thin ice with Chiron. I recommend laying off the terrorizing. If you don't, I guarantee you'll have Annabeth after you by next week. And you don't want that." Piper explained.
I rolled my eyes, "Why do you think I never prank the Athena cabin. I'm not stupid."
"-But if she finds out about all the trouble you've been causing in her absence she'll demand to know why." Piper continued.
"Why would she even care." I scoffed.
"Because I know she's one of your best friends. I know you two have bonded more than anyone else in this camp. You both have been stuck here since you were barely in the double digits. Percy is another one. Same with him, He will want to try and figure out why you lash out so much." Piper explained.
"Don't you have another trouble maker to charmspeak?" I snapped.
"Just offering some advice." Piper shrugged walking her disappear down the path, I turned the opposite way and marched down to the volleyball courts. I had an Aphrodite child to go kill.
"Hey Lacy!" I hollered. I must've sounded mad because the girl jumped. She wandered away from her game and over to me.
"Hi Lamia." She greeted nervously.
"I want my money." I rushed, my tone dark as I held out my hand.
"I'll get it to you before dinner." She answered.
"My price has gone up. I want one hundred dollars now." I demanded.
"But I don't have that much money." She whined.
"Then make it up somehow. Trade off is after dinner by the climbing wall." I ordered, not bothering to her her reply as I turned to walk away.
"But the games." She whimpered.
"Tough!" I hollered before storming off. I ran for my cabin. It was still empty. I grabbed a different bag from my chest and put paper, pencils, and my box in it before darting out and into the woods. I stopped on the outskirts of the clearing where the council of cloven elders meets and collapsed against a tree. I opened my bag and opened the box. Cato had already written another letter.
Dear Lamia
I presume there is absolutely nothing I can do to stop you from coming. Your silence is already an answer. Just don't be reckless. The Romans aren't as forgiving as the Greeks. You will need to learn discipline in order to survive. I can imagine you rolling your eyes at the thought but it's true. Just be careful.
Love Cato
I sighed. I didn't have a discipline problem. I wasn't reckless. I could make it in his camp. Suddenly an amulet appeared in the box. It was gold with a fire opal in the center. The gem pulsed and gave off a soft glow as if lit from within.
I had just put his letter back in the box so it could disappear when I felt someone behind me.
"What are you doing out here Lamia?"
Asked a male voice. I may have jumped out of my skin at his voice.
"Nico!" I jumped, slamming the box shut before stashing the amulet in my pocket.
"Lamia?" Nico inquired.
"Enjoying the sounds of nature." I retorted shoving the box in my bag. I gathered up the pencils and paper and pack them up.
"What's the rush?" Nico teased.
"I am going for privacy. Don't you have someone else to bug?" I groaned. I liked it when someone acknowledged my existence but I didn't need the son of Hades finding out my secret.
"Touchy. I thought the unclaimed would appreciate my company." Nico scoffed. I rolled my eyes and started heading back towards camp.
"What do you want Nico? Obviously you weren't in the woods for pleasure." I huffed.
He held up his hands and took a step back, "Nothing, just 'enjoying the sounds of nature'. Just like you are." Nico gave me a long searching look before disappearing into the shadows.
I shivered, he always creeped me out when he does that. I trudged back to camp only to be pulled aside by Lacy.
"Here's twenty bucks and this." She responded handing me money and a box.
"I want my cash, if you think some lousy, good for nothing-" I snapped shoving her hand away.
"Just take it!" She interupted, shoving it back towards me.
"Fine." I huffed snatching it away from her.
"This never happened." Lacy added before running away.
I had every intention to snitch about the whole deal to Piper but this dye might become useful in my journey. I headed back to my cabin and stashed it away in the bag I'd packed along with the box, some paper and pencils. I put the necklace in a smaller section of my backpack before heading to dinner. I had heard the horn while I was packing.
After dinner, I slipped away while everyone else was busy at capture the flag. Hopefully Nico would be busy with them too. I unlocked my cabinet and grabbed my backpack. I picked up my quiver and my bow off the corner of the bed. I shruged my jacket off one of the bed posts before making my way to the door and into the cool air. I made a dash for the showers. I had originally planned on just washing my hair before leaving but when I got there and hid my stuff I just stared at my reflection in the mirror. I saw Cato looking back at me. His brown eyes warning me not to come. His black curls would probably be messy from a hard core training session. The same kind features and broad shoulders. We shared so many similar features we could've been twins. Well except for the eyes and the two year age difference. I could do the logical thing and turn around and go back to my cabin. Suck it up and survive through my punishment and just kept writing to my brother for the rest of my life. Things could keep going on as they've always happened.
Or I could leave and find him. Change my life for the better. Seek out this other camp and make a new life with my brother. Maybe we could just go out on our own. Find our godly parents and demand to be claimed. Almost on instinct I went for my bag and pulled out Lacy's dye. I tore open the box and started reading the box. It seemed simple enough and before I knew it I was painting it onto my hair. The box was hair bleach. So I was going to bleach my hair in hopes it worked. Well it had to work. And by the time I was done and had washed it out I had to do a double take. I wasn't just blonde I was a light blonde to even borderline white. That was some strong bleach. I stuffed the debris back into the ripped box and stuffed it into a different part of bag. I'd throw it out the first chance I got.
I made sure I wasn't followed before I took off for Thalia's tree. I had just crossed the barrier into unprotected area when the same male voice interrupted me.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Nico asked.
"Do you like have a tracker on me or something?" I snapped whirling around to face him.
"No, but you look familiar. I see him in you more and more every time I visit. Although you're more rebellious than him." Nico explained.
"Who are you talking about!" I huffed.
"Stop pretending Lamia. I figured out what you were doing in the woods. I've been wondering why you are the only person in the Hermes cabin with a lock on her cabinet. Especially such an odd code as 0614. I couldn't figure out how you came up with it until I made the connection. It's a birthday with the numbers in decreasing units. It isn't your birthday because you were born in April. So the obvious conclusion is that it's someone that no one else knows about birthday. You share similar features with a boy I know in camp Jupiter. You both have the same black waves, you both have eyes that never miss a moment although he has brown eyes where you have bluish green eyes. You both are stubborn to a point. Can be defiant even. You are both protective of those you love. And finally both of you are of the going extinct species of unclaimed demigod." Nico explained. A victorious grin on his face.
"Want a medal?" I mocked.
"You have an older brother in camp Jupiter. That's what you have been doing in the woods is writing letters to him in private. Your cabinet is locked because that's where you hide the box you communicate with him. I think his name is Cato? Senator for the fifth cohort?" Nico continued. Eyebrows raised in question but his lips gave away that he already knew he was right.
"Alright but you have absolutely no room to talk ambassador of Pluto." I glared.
Nico matched my glare with one of his own.
"You have a sister in camp Jupiter. So don't you dare lecture me on the rules that separate Greeks and Romans for their safety." I hollered.
"Not to burst your bubble but you wouldn't make it a day in the Roman camp. You're too reckless. And do you know how stupid that plan is? If you're found out you're gonna wish you were dead." Nico explained.
"So what are you going to do now? Go tattle on me to Chiron?" I demanded.
"Depends. If you turn around and go back to your cabin and forget this ridiculous idea of going to Camp Jupiter I won't say a word. If you continue down the hill further away from camp I will have to report you to Chiron." Nico shrugged, as if he had no choice.
"You report me to Chiron and I'm taking you down with me ambassador." I threatened.
Nico looked surprised and carefully thought about it.
"By Hades you're insane!" He huffed, throwing his arms up in the air.
"Well?" I asked. He glared at me.
"Do you even know how to get there?" Nico argued, crossing his arms across his chest.
"No. But I can get Cato to give me directions." I answered.
"It's not like it's turn right and it's there." Nico scoffed, gesturing with his hands.
"I know it's in San Francisco." I argued.
Nico sighed. "Say if you find camp Jupiter. Then what? What's the reason you tell them about how you got there?" Nico pointed out.
"I just stumbled upon it while running from some Cyclopes." I answered. Nico thought about it.
"You are fully aware how suicidal your plan is?" Nico sighed.
"Yep." I nodded.
"Come on." Nico ordered, walking past me towards the road.
"What?" I asked.
"Obviously you can't be deterred so your gonna need help getting there. But don't mistake this as friendship. I get you there. We keep each other's secrets. Then we part ways." Nico explained coldly.
I rushed to catch up with him.
"So what's it like at the Roman camp?" I asked curiously. Maybe he'd warm up if we got talking.
"One it's not really a camp in the way camp half blood is. It's more of it's own city. Full of demigods from all walks of life. But there are no pranks unlike camp half blood. Well the pranks occur less. I've heard Octavian is usually the victim. Government is more important just like military is more important." Nico answered.
That went well. I thought. My brother gave more description than him in one letter. It was a long and silent journey to civilization.