Chapter 2 – Luke
Naomi Mannock was different to what I'd imagined. She had long, wind-swept black hair and bright green eyes. This didn't surprise me so much, it was the same complexion that her half-brother Percy Jackson had. However, she was smaller in physique than I'd thought she would be. She looked to be extremely thin under the raggedy dress she wore, and her cheeks were slightly hollow. She stared around her as we walked; taking in everything we went past.
'So, you coping OK?' I asked to break the silence. She nodded but didn't seem to be able to speak. I was searching for something else to say when we came to the clearing in which our camp was pitched. A circle of six tents surrounded a fire pit in the middle. The sun was just starting to go down. The few soldiers I'd brought with me all stood and saluted as I entered the campsite. I waved them down and they all returned to their posts though casting curious glances at Naomi. Felicity, a daughter of the minor goddess Nike, came over to us. 'I've got the clothes in her tent ready Sir.'
I nodded to her and directed Naomi away from her inquiring gaze towards the furthest tent. It was smaller than the others, only a 1-man, rather than a 3. Naomi stared at the tent when we reached it.
'Oh right, you haven't seen a tent before have you?' I leant forwards and unzipped the tent flap. I half crawled in then backed out and motioned for her to do the same. She crawled in and then poked her head back out, grinning.
'Is this for me?'
'Yup. It's all yours.'
'I've never had this much space to myself!'
I raised my eyebrows. 'Really? Wow, your life was bad, wasn't it?'
'Yeah,' she said, grimacing, then lowered her gaze. 'I never even… No one was ever... nice to me before.' She finished the sentence in a murmur, as though unsure.
I was quiet for a moment, unsure myself of what to say. Suddenly she looked up at me. 'I don't actually know your name.'
I smiled at her. 'I'm Luke. Luke Castellan. And don't worry. We're going to take very good care of you.'
Naomi went straight to sleep as soon as she was in her tent and I returned to the campfire. I seated myself and one by one the others came and sat in a ring around the fire. I stared into the flames in silence. Eventually Felicity asked what they were all wondering.
'Why did Kronos bring her here?'
'She's a daughter of Poseidon.'
They exchanged surprised looks. 'But I thought that there hadn't been any other children of Poseidon for – '
'Nearly a hundred years. Yeah.'
They were all silent for a moment as though unsure of whether to be impressed or alarmed. I decided I'd better explain it to them. Or at least part of it.
'Her name is Naomi Mannock. She grew up here, in San Francisco, in the early 1900s. She is needed for the plan of our great leader Kronos. You don't need to know anymore.'
I stood and entered my tent, the largest of them. It was made for three people but most of the space was taken up by the sarcophagus in which the Titan Kronos was reforming. I knelt before it and lowered my head.
'Lord Kronos, Naomi has arrived. The plan will work.'
'I know she has arrived,' replied the gravelly, chilling voice of the titan, 'was it not I who caused it to happen?'
I lowered my head even further. 'Yes, my Lord. She will turn 16 long before my cousin.'
'Yes, but do not think that this will get you out of your duty to me.'
I repressed a shudder. 'Of course, my Lord. I simply mean that now our success will no longer be dependent upon Percy.'
'There is no need to tell me my own plan,' rumbled the voice. 'You simply need to execute it.'
'Yes sire.' I stood and poked my head back out of the tent and called to the nearest guard. 'Place a sentry near Naomi's tent. Felicity would be best.'
I withdrew, bowed once more to Kronos, and made for bed.
My dreams were as strange as ever. I was standing by the bank of a river, opposite a small village. A hedge divided the buildings from the river. At first, I thought that there was no one else there but then I saw something moving off to my right. I turned and saw a small girl crouching on the other river bank, hugging her knees. She looked to be about seven or eight with matted hair that looked dark. Her eyes were closed, and tears glistened on her cheeks, forging paths through the grime.
Suddenly I heard a shout from the other end of the hedge. Some slightly older children had just emerged from an alley way.
'There she is!' yelled one of them triumphantly
'Crying as usual!' said another as they advanced towards the girl.
The small girl didn't move but I saw her eyes scrunch tighter and another tear squeeze out. The other children came up and formed a semicircle around her. There were five of them and they all looked at least ten. One of the boys crouched down next to her. 'Aww is poor little baby crying because she doesn't know her father?' The others laughed and one of them jabbed the girl with his toe. She still didn't open her eyes but sat still, with her face half buried in her knees. The older children seemed disappointed with this reaction and the first boy who had crouched down and seemed to be the leader, reached out and grabbed her by the hair. She gave a slight yelp but suppressed it. He stood up, pulling her with him and she finally opened her eyes. They were startling green but bloodshot from crying. She pulled free of the boy's grip, but the other children formed a tighter circle around her.
They taunted her and poked at her for several minutes, but she still gave no reaction. They became angry; obviously they wanted her to fight back. One of the girls abruptly lurched forwards and smacked her straight across the face. The smaller girl gave a slight cry and the other children grinned maliciously. One of the boys standing behind the little girl suddenly swept his foot forwards, catching her ankle and knocking her down. The girl crumpled and grazed her knees as she fell. The leader kicked her again and shoved her towards the water.
'Maybe a wash in the brook will make her a bit cleaner! She loves it. After all she was talking to it the other day.' He gave her another shove with his foot and pushed her right to the edge of the river. Suddenly the girl lurched upwards. I thought she was trying to get away but instead she grabbed the boy by the shoulder and pulled him back down with her. They fell into the water but halfway in she pushed the screaming boy away from her.
He spluttered and gasped for air and dragged himself back out shivering and whining. Just as he reached the feet of the other children a wave grew out of the brook and splashed down on all of them. They ran back down the bank all shouting and complaining. As they reached the alley, the first boy turned. 'I'll never forget this! You're going to pay! Freak!' Then he ran out of sight. I looked in the water for the girl, but she wasn't there. I glanced sideways and saw her standing there, completely dry, staring after him with big green eyes.
I lurched awake, the small face still floating in front of me. I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time.
I felt sorry for someone.
I felt sorry for Naomi Maddock.
