A/N: Hi everyone! I'm back. This is the sequel to the Olive Tree, so please read that if you haven't already.
Tips and suggestions are always welcome! I hope to update quickly :D
Happy reading ;)
A Mortal Life
Zoë
Fire roared around the trees and vicious howling broke the night's silence. Faster and faster the flickering flames sped towards me, closely followed by the thundering feet of a monster army.
Never before had I encountered a group of monsters that were so powerful, they would easily kill me, I have no choice but to run.
Running is slightly harder without Artemis' blessing. My breaths make clouds of steam rise into the air; my body no longer glows silver, but pulses like any other human. It's a fragile feeling, knowing that if I get wounded, no one will be there to help.
My legs begin to grow heavy, but adrenaline makes me run faster.
All my arrows are used up. I threw my dagger at a monster but I had no time to retrieve it. The only weapon I have is Anaklumos.
I suddenly stumble over a loose tree root and fall onto my hands. There's a roar. I look up and see red eyes and flashing fangs that aim towards my heart...
Thud.
There's something pulling on my arm.
"Get up, we need to go!"
I have no time to see who it is, but I stumble to my feet and sprint along next to him. He fires a volley of arrows towards the monsters, taking down at least ten. His technique rivals those in the hunt.
The place where he held my arm tingles.
We reach a large house, supported by cream coloured pillars. Dark shadows linger inside.
"Go in, you'll be safe in there," he urges.
I see his face properly now. Brown hair, pale blue eyes underneath dark eyebrows.
I'm hesitant to go in, but a girl at the door pulls me along, as if this is an everyday occurrence.
"Do you have a place for the night? If not, you can always stay here and go home in the morning – it's dangerous out there – "
"Wait – who are all of you?"
The girl with long hazel coloured hair smiled nervously. "I'm Helena, a clear sighted mortal – Marcato took me in when I ran away from home..."
I didn't ask why.
"Is that Marcato?" I say, as he bursts through the doors.
"Yeah, son of Apollo."
I turn to him. "Thanks for saving me," I say firmly, determined to give up all my male-hating thoughts.
"It's my pleasure – but may I ask, what were you doing out so late? Isn't it dangerous for a demigod to be out at night?"
I'm not a demigod, I thought. No, I have no special powers. "It's...a long story."
He nods in understanding and gives me a warm smile. "That's fine, I'm sure you're tired after all this chaos – would you like a bed for the night?"
I stiffen. "No...it's ok. I...need to get back home..."
"Then let me escort you, there are many monsters still prowling around at this time of night."
"I'll be fine," I say more harshly than I mean to.
Marcato raises an eyebrow. "I don't want to see you hurt. I really don't mind if you want to rest here until morning – I have plenty of spare rooms."
Hesitating I bite my lip. I have to learn to trust people better.
"Ok, just until the morning."
...
The bedroom in spacious but cosy. There's a handmade stool and cupboards around the room and balcony that overlooks the vast fields of Greece.
I stand on the balcony and stare up at Mount Olympus, wondering what's happening up there. It must be a beautiful place, few demigods have seen it, but I've overheard some of their stories.
"So you ran away then, huh?"
I turn around suddenly.
"What do you want?"
"You're making a mistake," he pleaded. "We can make this work out – "
"Hold on, hold on, make what work out? We had nothing going on between us," I retort with fire in my words.
He rubbed the back of his neck, with black hair tousling in the breeze. "The wedding is in less than a week. I don't want to get married and neither does Artemis – "
"Then don't marry her," I reply simply.
He is silent.
"Why did you run away?"
I shrug. "I want a normal mortal life; is that so wrong?"
He avoids my eyes and I can tell there's something else he wants to say, but he doesn't have the courage.
"Your name is Zoë, isn't it?" he says quietly.
"Yes, now please can you leave me alone?"
"Wait – maybe I could run away, somewhere Zeus could never find me. I could take you with me – "
"Why would I want to go anywhere with you?" I demand, backing away off the balcony. "I hardly know you."
He's persistent, he's different from all the other boys that try.
"I love you Zoë," he whispers so quietly it's hard to hear. "Always."
I stare at him dumbfounded.
The sincerity of his words, he couldn't be lying.
Oh. My. Gods.
"Right..." I laugh nervously, feeling a lump rise to my throat. "Then give your love to someone else. Someone who will return it."
"Zoë, please – "
"Just go," I sigh. "I wish you luck on your wedding."
He looked down and for a moment I thought I saw a tear glisten in his eye.
"Then do me one last favour..."
He leant in closely, so close our noses were only an inch apart.
My heart beat faster as I caught his fresh sea scent, which circled around us.
"What?" I asked irritably, frustrated with his silence.
He hesitated. "There's a girl who is running away from her father. She's homeless and lost. She'll pass through this town in the morning – can you look after her for me?"
I heave a sigh of relief. Nothing like I thought. "What does she look like?"
"She's got blonde curls..." his eyes looked distant. "Stormy grey eyes and her name is Annabeth Chase."
