I walked though a dark hall. I, hardly, could see. It was dark. I felt myself wanting to call out. My instinct was telling me not to. There were different statues in the hallway I was in. I felt eyes on me and marble moving. I heard whispering, but my instinct told me to ignore them. I walked up into a circular room. Only four exit ways points. A huge chandelier was on the ceiling. I walked into the center and saw a black haired woman in a cage like a caged bird. Her gray eyes were full of sorrow. I walked up to her cage. She was in an elegant white dress with silver earrings and necklace. The woman was simply gorgeous.
"Mom?" I said wonderingly.
Her eyes actuated towards me. She smiled. "Theodore."
I smiled sadly, "Mom, what's happening? Why are you in that cage?"
She shushed me motherly. Athena kneeled down and she was gigantic. Athena began to shrink. She smiled when she was eye to eye to me. My mother reached out with her hand for my cheek and touched it. I felt her thumb as she stroked my cheek. Then she reached to comb my hair out of my eyes. Her gray eyes sprinkled when she saw my gray orbs. I couldn't believe my mother was touching me as if she hadn't held me since the day I went to dad. Her smile grew into a grin and she laugh.
"You are so much like your father. Those eyes can see through anyone's plans. I gave that gift to you and you only, but in time, you will be able to use it correctly. You are simply of pure fiction, but with reality than anyone else."
I smiled a bit, "Finally, we meet, Mom. But you're in this cage. Definitely, this wasn't my idea of my first meeting with my mother."
"You have his dry humor too." She chuckled.
"Mom, in all seriousness, why are you in here?" I gestured to the cage.
Her smile turned upside down as if I asked something I shouldn't have. Athena took a deep breath and sighed. She looked at me with all of the joy in world gone. We weren't alone, was what my instincts were saying. A chuckle came into the room and the chandelier shook.
"Demigod, how did you get pass my security? Impossible, it is to do so." A low voice sounded through the room.
It sort of got me nervous about the chandelier, even it was high up off of the ground. I guessed around fifty or sixty feet up. The archways were also high up but around fifty-five feet. Athena's eyes had fright written on them. I frowned. I didn't like this dream or vision. A great way to meet my mother and somehow, it wasn't the way I wanted it.
"Theodore, get out of here!" She panicked. "Please, son, go." I looked towards her and saw the same sadness, she had earlier. I had to run for it and I didn't know what to do. I heard a scream. The first thing that came into my mind that it was doing something to her.
I gasped as I sat up. My heart was going about hundred miles per hour. I didn't like it. There was sweat gathering on my forehead and I couldn't breathe. What was that? Was it a nightmare? Or was it a vision or something telling me that Mom was in trouble and needed help? I didn't know. I didn't like it was all I did know. I didn't like it. My breathing started to go back to normal. I wiped the sweat off of my forehead and it wasn't easing up. I couldn't believe it. I didn't just see what the future had in store. I didn't believe that. Was it my mind playing tricks on me or what? I don't know. I really don't know. I didn't like the feeling. I sighed as I went back lying down. My arms were behind my head and I looked at the ceiling as if I was waiting for something. I didn't want to close my eyes because I would probably see her again in her cage hopeless. I couldn't take that image out of my head. I sighed again. I looked to my wrist watch and glad it was glow-in-dark. It was five thirty.
I sighed again. What did it mean? Is Mom really in trouble? That voice wasn't mortal. I, definitely, think it wasn't a god or goddess. I got nothing. Maybe Annabeth knew something, and I could ask her. I, hardly, got any sleep after insane nightmare. I was like a walking zombie. Okay, it wasn't that bad. I wasn't up for anything. I couldn't really move after trying to go back to sleep I changed into a camp tee and some tan shorts. I walked out of the cabin and sat on the door's step. The sun was rising. I listening to my iPod and I couldn't take the nightmare out of my mind. I heard the door open and closed, but I was too preoccupied with figuring out what my nightmare meant.
"Hey." Someone called, but I recognized the voice as Annabeth.
"Morning," I greeted.
Her arm went around my shoulders as she placed her head onto my shoulder. "Had a good night sleep?"
"Not really." I muttered.
She took my right ear bud and listened a few seconds. Annabeth smiled, "Say Anything by Good Charlotte, right?"
I nodded. "Hey Annabeth, can I ask you something?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"Well, I had this dream, more like a nightmare," I told her what happened and she looked concerned. This had to be bad and I saw her eyes processing whatever information I just gave her. She looked as if she had the same dream, but she knew Mom was Mom. Of course, she knows who Mom is. I, hardly, knew who she was as if I didn't know half of myself. Well, I didn't until yesterday what gave me the thought. I did believe, for some time, that Lynn was my real mother, but I asked her if she was my mom, when I was three and dad looked as if he needed to tell me something. There was where the stories of Mom and him began. He didn't even flinch at the question as he knew that he needed to tell me that she was goddess of wisdom.
"Theo, you had a vision of the future, perhaps. We, demigods, can see upcoming events and can't know what going to happen. It usually deals with our dreams. The gods can also deliver what they want to our dreams. I think you're right about one thing that Athena is trouble."
Exactly! We heard horse hooves came over in our direction. Chiron came up to us as I could see is that he had a worry expression. He waved us to follow him. I put my iPod and headphones into my side pocket and ran with Annabeth to catch up with him. Okay, we raced up the hill and I never ran that fast before but I wasn't tired, even though I didn't sleep much last night. There was a cave and centaur turned to look at us.
"Rachel needs to see you for a moment before heading on your quest." He said with huffing and puffing as if he saw something very wrong.
Annabeth nodded as if we needed to go save mom. She grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the cave. When did I sign up for a quest? I had a nightmare and that is what you needed before a quest. Wait, I don't even what a quest is? Whatever, I'm worried. If that dream or nightmare, whatever, was Athena trying to communicate from some cage in who knows where. We walked into the cave and Rachel was there. Okay, that's little freaky.
"Hey, Rachel," Annabeth said.
Rachel nodded. Her eyes turned a brighter green and smoke, really, came out of her mouth as I thought about what she said about being mugged by the Oracle's spirit. It was probably talking now.
"A Son and Daughter of wisdom will rise." I guessed it was Annabeth and I.
"They will create ties to get their prize." I think it meant about our relationship.
"Their pasts will be speaking." We have to speak about our pasts.
"There is where their end will be seeking." Whatever place we shared would be where we would find Athena.
"To save the one called mother." That kind of made my first guess true about the place we shared.
"An idea will rise from one called brother." Okay, I got came up with the plan.
"Whispers will be heard." I have no idea about that one.
"The brother will be blurred." I will be blurred. I don't even know. Rachel fell onto the bed backwards. Annabeth was stunned. I was hopelessly confused. Sorry, I'm a son of Athena and don't have any knowledge of what that meant. Rachel sat up and rubbed her head.
"Hey." She replied like nothing happened.
Annabeth walked back to the cabin with her eyes goes miles per second, if that's possible. I bet it was the strange air mail message of the Oracle. It called a prophecy. It's a quest prophecy. Each quest needs its own prophecy and I haven't a clue. Annabeth packed a backpack, full of different things, a baggy of bars, Ambrosia, food of the gods, water bottles, and simple things that you could use on a usual camping trip. Malcolm nodded as if he knew something and tossed me a backpack. Cole, another of demigod of Athena, was looking at my watch.
"Hey, Theo, it's a shield watch."
"What? A shield watch? It comes out as a shield. How do you know that?" I asked.
"It simply to see it isn't much as wrist watch and also a disguise shield. How you get it, if you haven't been at camp?"
"A gift from someone named Hephaestus." I realized who the sender, really was. "Wait, like Hephaestus, god of fire."
"That's the only one I know of." Cole answered. I got a gift from a god without knowing it. Cool. Well, I think it's cool. Cole told me that I had to push the center to activate it. I did as I saw the face become a shield instantly. I saw letters, but I couldn't see what it was, Greek most likely, and the letters changed in English.
"Anatetheí o gios ti̱s Athi̱nás, Theódo̱ros Hawkins, cho̱rís distagmó, páli̱ me ta énstikta kai ti̱ strati̱gikí̱ tha apotelései vasikó kíni̱tró sas"
I spoke Greek as if I had known it for my whole life. In translation, roughly, it means: entrusted to the son of Athena, Theodore Hawkins. Without hesitation, fight with instincts and strategy will be your key motivation. How did I know that? I can't believe this. Thanks, Hephaestus, I will. All of them gave me looks as if it was impossible to know Greek that fast, while you're only the new kid. I, hardly, knew Greek and what is it? My dyslexia was acting up again, probably. I rubbed my eyes. I felt the shield go back into wrist watch mode. It was pretty heavy. I'm no heavy lifter. I'm never going to be. I had a rod that transformed into a sword, made of celestial bronze, just by squeezing it. It was impressive. Leo did an awesome job on it. I'm still confused about why Hephaestus sent me that wrist watch for a present on my thirteenth birthday, wait, which was the time I had to be sending myself to the camp, originally. I nodded my head as I was figuring out that I knew Ancient Greek with my dyslexia and then, my ADHD was my abilities in battle.
"Alright," I startled the others. "Let's get this thing started."
Annabeth smiled, "You seem really excited about this, Theo."
"I am." I beamed.
Malcolm walked up to me, "Theo, this is your first quest and you have no idea what you're getting yourself into."
"That doesn't matter. I have to believe in my skills, so I can't possibly fail."
"You haven't realized your limits. If you have forgotten that you just arrived, then you're hopelessly confused."
"I might be confused, but I can't forget that I'm a son of Athena." I reminded him.
He was at a loss of words. Malcolm shook his head. I knew one thing that I was right. I had to believe in my own abilities and relay on Annabeth to help me though my first quest. I placed the backpack onto my shoulders as I promised to myself and to my mother not to fail because it means that the world would go into uttered chaos. Annabeth and Percy gave their goodbyes as I wanted to vomit. Annabeth thought it would be good, if we took some Pegasi and even though I wasn't a big fan of horses. I didn't have any lessons in riding these things. I wasn't going to fall. Annabeth gave me a few tips and we were off. I was flying on a magical horse that didn't exist in my mind until yesterday. I'm a demigod, which was still processing in my mind. We flew for awhile as my brain calculated fourteen hours. The Pegasi were exhausted as was I. Annabeth looked alright. She probably got sleep then I did. We jumped off that Pegasi and sat up a campfire. I found the wood. Annabeth lit it with her tool kit. I wasn't much hungry only was exhausted. I leaned up against a tree.
"Are you tired?" She asked.
I looked that tired. "Yeah, I didn't get any sleep."
"Your nightmare?" Annabeth looked concerned. "Sometimes, we can't explain what happens in them. If we do understand, then we would be able to learn a little about what we are fighting."
She knew something that I didn't know. I wanted to say yes for the questions, but I couldn't believe that she was that concerned about a nightmare. It's like if I had a vision in my dream or I would call it a nightmare.
"I know." I admitted. Annabeth did her thinking for miles per hours. It was different through it also had worry and fright. She looked as if I said something was wrong. I didn't see her at camp. I saw a girl that had confidence and believed in strategy wins above all else.
"Hey, you should rest." I told her. "I'll take the first watch."
I was feeling that instinct was controlling that statement. I wasn't rested, but Annabeth gave me a look that said I've figured you out, but I don't know anymore. I couldn't let her not get some sleep for me to get some sleep. She sighed as she yawned. She got two blankets from her backpack and tossed one to me. I caught it. I didn't feel that sleepy, but I was. I heard a small snore from Annabeth. I smiled. There was more snoring from the Pegasi. I couldn't take my thoughts off of the dream. I stared at the flame. I wondered if any of Athena's demigod children had photographical memories. That wouldn't be fun. My vision replayed in my head as if I was trying to remember anything that would be helpful. After a few times doing it, I came up with nothing.
I don't know what we going against, the only thing that I simply knew that Athena was in some cage and cannot free herself. I really hope it isn't a trap and Athena, my mother, wasn't really there. I hope. I heard some footsteps and looked towards Annabeth. She still sleeping, also the Pegasi were too. I stood like I had legs made of jelly. I felt my legs feel sleepy as I was too. I couldn't believe it and I grabbed my sword, activated it, and pushed the watch's face. A laugh came within my hearing. An eye appeared in the woods ahead. I ran to protect Annabeth, but something stopped me. I tried to move my feet again, but nothing. I looked at my sneakers and there were vines. I tried again. It didn't budge. The chuckle came again, but way louder. I felt a breath on the back of my neck.
"Demigod, you will fall at my hands." The voice said.
"Who are you?" I tried not to sound sacred but that very moment I was.
"Someone, you would know years ago." I could make out that it was a male. I couldn't think that I knew this person.
"Why are doing this?" I felt angry. I was trembling with angry. "Why did you kidnap my mother?"
"She knew that it was trap." He laughed. "She wanted to save you and pathetic siblings, demigod."
"Theo?" A voice broke the vines and I opened my eyes. Annabeth was standing over me with worry written all over her face. She knelt down. "Are you okay?"
I wanted so bad to shake my head, no, but I didn't. I, simply, nodded. She didn't buy it and I knew that she knew that I wasn't. I shook my head. My hands rose. I didn't want to cry. I did. Tears had gathered up around my eyes and was overflowing out. She put her arms around me and started shushing me to calm down. I couldn't take it.
Theo, it's alright. She said coolly.
I sighed, I don't think so, Annabeth.
Why? Theo, you got to tell me. She pleaded.
Again I sighed, Annabeth, I can't put it into words.
I needed to think and I hoped she would give me that than press the matter. I couldn't think about much fear or angry I felt in that very moment or it wasn't real. I tried to believe that, but it didn't work. All of this was real. Myths, legends and the gods were real. All of them were living. Her gray eyes took the serious veil off and showed a concerned look. I smiled and reached for her cheek. I started rubbing my thumb against it. Her frown went to a brilliant smile. I thought about Mom's smile and compared them. I chuckled.
"Annabeth, you got Mom's smile." I said absentmindedly.
She blushed, "Why do you say that?"
"I've seen her smile."
"Have you met her?"
"No, I didn't, but I did have that vision and she smiled." I grinned like idiot.
She nodded and tried her blonde hair back into ponytail. "What do we have in common, Theo?"
"I don't know. Where do you live?"
"I live in San Francisco on occasions." I heard that fragment, usually when people are having trouble with their parents. I couldn't interrupt her. I didn't press it. "Now, I live in Manhattan."
Wait, I almost cut her off. That's it! I lived in San Francisco, when I was little.
"What do we got to lose?" Annabeth smiled.
"A lot," I responded truthfully.
She frowned and glared me for pointing out the obvious. We got to San Francisco fast with the Pegasi. I wondered what the mortals had seen instead of a winged horse. Annabeth chuckled when I asked.
She shrugged. "That is really hard to say."
"What is covering them from their eyes seeing them?"
"It's called the Mist. It is like veil over the mortals' eyes that can mask their true appearance." Annabeth said like a book.
A little kid, around three or so, came up and asked in high pitched voice, "Can I pet your horses, please?"
I winced at the voice, but it stopped my wondering mind. It was loud. Annabeth giggled at my reaction. She smiled, "You can if you want to."
"Yay!" The child yelled, but before he could, a woman came up with a stern look.
"Zachary! You shall not touch those horses!" She yelled. She turned to us and yelled, "How could you even think that my child could have received germs from those horses?"
I couldn't read Annabeth's expression. I could see angry, a little resentment and maybe remembrance. I knew those eyes I always had them. I used to have them as I would think back on the day, when I last saw her, Athena, my mother. You have to give me credit I was days old. I remember her gray eyes, her genuine smile and her glossy black hair, it was tried back like Annabeth's, at the time. We walked with Pegasi for a few blocks to a normal looking house. I was about to ask, but I knew something was that I shouldn't ask.
"I live here." Annabeth muttered.
I looked to the door and saw the name, Chase. I'm guessing and its a little prejudice, but I think Annabeth didn't get along with her mortal family much. She ushered me towards a gate on the side of the house. Annabeth handed me her reins as she went through her shorts' pockets. Her hand came out with a key ring. The key ring had many keys on it. She opened the gate and pushed it. Two kids went playing in the backyard and they didn't look anything like Annabeth. They looked Asian, but they had natural blonde hair. I saw a woman with her brown eyes glancing to Annabeth and I. I could feel that Annabeth tensed up. I didn't know what to do, but I placed a hand on her shoulder like a true brother. She looked at me with a scared face. I smiled gently. She nodded.
"Beth!" The two boys, who were playing in a sand box, waved at Annabeth.
She waved at them with a slight smile. I wanted to do so much for a person I hardly knew for a day or so. It felt like I knew Annabeth my whole life. I couldn't believe that I didn't ever feel this before. Well, I didn't know I had half-siblings at this camp that was created for demigods. After thinking about that, I heard a car pull up into the driveway. I couldn't believe the feeling I was getting. I felt terrible and I knew it was about what I heard in a vision last night. A man with blonde hair and brown eyes came into the backyard from the entrance of the house. Annabeth's eyes grew happily. I'm known he was her father because of the same color hair. He wasn't a surprising father like mine. I can say that he looked like a teacher. His smile was brilliant. He ran to Annabeth and hugged her like he hadn't seen her for a long time. On occasions repeated through my head. I smiled. I love happy endings, but knowing that most of us demigods don't make it to adulthood easily. Mr. Chase let go of his daughter with smile. His eyes turned to me as if trying to read my thoughts. I didn't like that. I smiled awkwardly. Annabeth had felt my awkwardness towards her father. Mr. Chase smiled as Annabeth told him who I was.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Theo."
He struck his hand out. I took his hand and shook it firmly as I nodded. It looked like we were going to stay a night here. I'm okay with that. The twins, Bobby and Matthew, were young, but brilliant. When they ran back into the house, they started playing with some Legos and made this castle in minutes. I call that amazing. Annabeth called it a night and she knew that I dead tired. I didn't sleep good last night or first night at camp. This time wouldn't be any better or helpful.
