It was the first day of summer vacation, when all the non year-rounders rushed through the camp borders and into their friends. I lay on my bunk, staring at the ceiling. I didn't have any year-round friends here, no normal child of Hades did. I only knew one person well enough to call a friend, and that would be my half-brother, Louis.
I kept one ear cocked toward the door, waiting for the squeak when he walked in. I lay there for over five minutes, but no squeak came. Finally, being impatient, I swung my legs off the bed and stepped out into the sun. I shielded my eyes and raced across camp, heading for Half-Blood Hill. My spirits soared when I saw a hazy figure at the top, shaggy hair and all.
"Louis!" I called as I climbed up the hill, "How was your year?"
He held out a hand and we sat together at the top. "Crap." He said simply, "My year was absolute crap."
"Oh. Mine wasn't that bad. Dad actually remembered my birthday, so I got a cool present."
"What kind of 'cool' present?" Louis asked, his tone genuine. I loved the way he could do that, know that I spent my year with out father and he spent his year with crappy foster parents, yet he felt no bit of resentment towards me.
"I need to show you." I smiled mysteriously, my olive green eyes twinkling with laughter. "But let's drop your load off at the cabin first."
"Sure." He smiled, knowing I liked surprises.
We each grabbed a suitcase and lugged them down the hill and back the way I came. We dropped them on the threshold of the door and started racing for the woods, me leading the way.
We got to the darkest, deepest corner I could find, were almost no one could find us.
"Watch this." I grinned at Louis, then stuck two fingers in my mouth and whistled sharply.
Nothing happened for a moment, but then the shadows exploded as a giant hellhound leaped out and pounced on me. "Good boy!" I laughed, as he licked me all over, soaking even my thick, black hair. "Louis, meet Mask! This was my fifteenth birthday present! Go ahead, you can pet him!"
Louis smiled, but his icy blue eyes betrayed his uncertainty. He reached forward hesitantly and scratched Mask's nose. The hound immediately flopped on his back and begged for a tummy rub. Lukas laughed, all uncertainty gone, and dropped down the forest floor.
"Awesome, Jasmine. But, did Dad, uh, say anything about me?" He sounded so hopeful, it almost tore my heart out to disappoint him.
"Well," I began slowly, eyes at the ground, "He didn't say anything..." I saw Louis's face at that moment, his eyes slowly filling with tears, "But I'm sure he was thinking it!" I ended quickly, trying to sound upbeat. Maybe a little too upbeat.
"I'll see you back at the cabin." Louis's voice was barely above a whisper. I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes as I watched him trail away miserably.
Why Father-boy go so soon, Jazzy? Mask's puppy voice spoke in my mind. It was a talent I had, communicating with Underworld creatures. A talent I hadn't told Louis about, fearing his jealousy.
"Because Father doesn't love boy, Mask."
Why Father not love boy? Mask was truly confused.
"You'll understand when you're older honey." I smiled as sweetly as I could, and rubbed my puppy hellhound between the ears, watching my half-brother's lonely figure disappear over a rise in the ground.
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