Hey everyone, so this is chapter 3. Thank you all for being so patient in waiting for the update. I meant to update sooner, but I've had a lot of personal stuff to deal with this week, and I didn't really get the chance to write. Thanks so much for all the reviews you have all been incredibly nice. Anyway, please enjoy this chapter and I will hope to update a lot sooner next time:)
The hot sun blared down on my body. We were in the middle of a heat wave and it was cooler staying inside than going out. However despite my constant moaning, mum had forced me out of the house to enjoy the hot weather. In the end I gave in and met up with Annie and Phoebe, my two closest and only friends. We ended up going to Annie's house and lounged around in the sun, chatting and having a good time. Before I knew it, I realized that I should've been home an hour ago. I practically ran home, an apology already forming in my mouth. But when I got to the apartment I saw that the door was already open. That's when I knew something was wrong. No-one around here leaves their doors open, it's not safe. Taking a deep breath I walked into the apartment. The sight before my eyes caused all the blood to drain from my pale face. My mum was lying there, dead. She'd been shot. Blood was everywhere. It was all my fault I shouldn't have left her. She was gone. She was dead. She wasn't coming back.
I shot straight up in my bed. I was completely sweaty and tears ran down my cheeks. I looked around and remembered where I was. The events of yesterday flooded my mind. I was safe. No more monsters, no more Aunt Sarah. I looked over at Percy's bunk to see if I had awoken him. Luckily for me, he was happily drooling in his sleep. Sliding my legs over my bed, I checked the time. It was half four in the morning. But I didn't want to go to sleep. Not after what I just saw. Besides, tears where still streaming down my face and I knew that I was close to breaking down. Making a quick decision, I quietly slid on a pair of jeans and my sneakers, and headed out of the cabin. I didn't exactly know where I was going, I barely knew my way around camp. But I just wanted to clear my head in peace. The forest seemed the best place to do this. I started walking towards the trees and soon enough I entered an eerie darkness.
As I got deeper and deeper chills ran down my back, but I forced myself to go on. Images of mums dead body whirled through my head and my eyes began to sting with tears again. This time I couldn't hold it back anymore. I slumped against a tree, my legs no longer holding my weight, and broke down into a fit of tears. I don't usually break down in the middle of magical forests, but I was having a bad week. I cried for my mum, I wanted her back so desperately. Despite being accepted into this camp, I still felt alone. I barely knew anyone here. I was only really comfortable around Annie and Phoebe and that was only because we'd been friends for years.
"Are you okay?" Came a voice. My head shot up so quickly that I hit it against the tree trunk. I didn't look at the person in front of me because I was too busy wiping my eyes. I hated people seeing me like this, especially people I didn't know.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I was just walking back from the bunker, because I stupidly fell asleep there, and I saw you." The voice started rambling slightly. It was a boy's voice, which made me feel even more embarrassed. I sniffled, trying to regain composure. I was secretly hoping that the person would just go away. I wasn't up for explaining why I was sitting under a tree at four in the morning crying.
"Listen, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. But, I'm not leaving until I know you're okay." The voice said softly.
"P-please just leave me. I'm fine." I muttered pathetically. I was hoping the unknown person didn't know me. I didn't want to give off the impression that I was pathetic to everyone in camp.
"Adriana." The voice said in realization. Well that's just typical for the stranger to recognise me.
"Ade." I stammered automatically.
"Well Ade, if you wouldn't mind, the Supreme Commander would love to see your gorgeous face." The person said. My heart sunk when I realized it was Leo. Why did it have to be Leo of all people? He'd just tell Percy. Giving up I looked up at him. He was sat down just in front of me. As usual he had his elfish grin plastered on his face.
"See that wasn't that hard." He smiled.
"Please don't tell anyone." I begged.
"I won't, but only if you tell me what's wrong." Leo said in return.
"Nothings wrong, I'm just being stupid." I lied. I rarely opened up to people I knew, let alone people I just met.
"Well that's probably the biggest lie I've ever heard, apart from the ones Gaia told, now they were whoppers." Leo rambled. I placed my head back in my hands, I was so grateful that it was dark so he couldn't see the true state of my face.
"Leo, not to be rude. But could you please leave me alone." I said again, my voice was still weak.
"I would, but I doubt you know your way back to your cabin from here." Leo said smugly. I hated that he was right.
"I'm sure I'll be able to find my way back." I said. I wanted to be on my own.
"Really, well there's all sorts of things in these woods, and I personally aren't going to let you get eaten alive." Leo replied cooly. I couldn't help but groan.
"Fine." I sighed.
"After you Adriana." He gestured. I wiped the remaining tears off my face and led the way. The walk started off in an awkward silence. I wasn't ready to start off a conversation and Leo seemed fascinated in the pipe cleaners he was fiddling with.
"Listen, I'm not very good with the whole heart to heart business, but please know that if you want to talk, I'll listen." Leo said softly.
"Thanks." I replied taken a back. I'm not used to people offering to listen about my problems.
"I get how you feel. It might be hard at first, but it does get better." Leo carried on.
"Yeah but it was my fault." I mumbled quietly.
"Ade, don't do that to yourself. Don't blame yourself, you couldn't have prevented whatever happened." Leo tried to assure me. I didn't know what to reply. It was my fault and there was no point in listening to people trying to tell me different. We were coming back to the cabins now anyway.
"Well, bye Adriana." Leo said smiling slightly. I don't know how he was always smiling.
"Bye, uh thanks for walking me back." I stammered.
"Anytime. Please talk to me if you ever feel like you just have. I won't tell Percy as long as you don't keep whatever's bothering you, inside of you." Leo said gently.
"I won't. Anyway like I said I was just being stupid, I'm fine, honestly. Thanks again Leo." I said, walking back into my cabin before he could say anything else. I suddenly found myself exhausted, not even bothering to get changed, I crawled back into bed and fell asleep.
I woke up to someone nudging me. Groggily I opened my eyes and saw Percy standing above me.
"Morning Ade, breakfast starts in ten minutes." He smiled.
"Morning." I smiled in return. I got up and slid out of bed.
"Um, do you normally sleep fully dressed?" Percy asked. I looked down only just remembering that I was wearing my jeans.
"Oh yeah, I uh got up early and went for a walk. Guess I fell asleep." I tried to lie. It wasn't very convincing but Percy didn't question it. I didn't bother getting changed again, so I just tied my messy brown hair into a ponytail.
"Did you sleep well?" Percy asked, as I was putting on my sneakers.
"Yeah I did thanks." I smiled in return.
"That's good. If you get any weird dreams it's normal, all part of being a Demi-god." Percy assured. It was nice to know that my dreams were only going to get worse. I followed Percy out of the cabin and to the Mess Hall. Most of the cabins were already seated, so I didn't have to wait long to tuck into a plate of pancakes.
"Sorry about last night, I got a bit distracted and the next thing I knew, you were gone." Percy said.
"It's fine, I was just a little tired so I went back to the cabin." I replied.
"Did you find your way alright?" Percy asked.
"Yeah, um Leo walked me back." I stammered slightly.
"Leo was there?" Percy asked puzzled.
"Yeah he didn't stay for long though."
"I'm just glad you got back alright. I thought that I'd take you down to the canoe lake in the morning. Teach you how to use your powers." Percy said.
"That sounds good." I smiled genuinely. I found it weird being surrounded by people who cared.
"Then I thought we could have some training, for capture the flag tonight." Percy added.
"About capture the flag, how do you play? I've never played it before." I said slightly embarrassed.
"Oh right, sorry I should have explained it to you earlier. Basically there are two teams, the red and the blue. We're on the blue team. Each team takes one side of the creek and hides their flag. The flag has to be in visible sight. Some of your team have to defend your flag, whilst others attack the other team and find their flag. The first team to get the other teams flag across the creek into their own side, wins." Percy explained. It took a moment to take it all in, but the game sounded simple enough.
"So it's a pretty safe game then, no swords or daggers." I assumed.
"Ahh, about that. It's a training excercise so swords and daggers are necessary. But don't worry you're not allowed to kill or maim anyone. And anyway I'll practise with you later today, you'll be fine, you're the girl who handled the Minotaur." Percy smiled. I didn't feel overly assured.
"Is there any other rules?" I asked.
"Yeah, teams can catch opposing prisoners and put them in their own jail. Only a teammate can free them. Also you're allowed magical objects, so you'd be allowed Bertie, but you're not allowed to use magical powers. Chiron had to put a stop to that this year, seeing as Jason could just fly over everyone, or Nico could shadow travel." Percy remembered. It was nice to know I was about to play a game where you had the chance of getting imprisoned or impaled.
"So who else is on our team?" I asked.
"Well the camp have a bet running over, who would beat who at capture the flag between Jason and I. For the last two weeks we've tried to get cabins to side with us. It's an even split. Athena's sided with me, but that's only because of Annabeth. Ares has as well, but Clarisse just wants to beat Jason. Annabeth managed to win over Apollo, and I convinced the Stoll's to get Hermes to side with us. Annabeth also knows people in Iris and Hypnos, Frank managed to win over Hebe and I managed to convince Dionysus. Jason's got a pretty strong team though, so Hades knows who will win." Percy informed me.
"Well, it sounds like it will be an interesting game." I said finishing my final pancake. Percy nodded in agreement and eat his final waffle.
"You ready to go down to the lake?" He asked with a smile.
"Sure, but do I need a towel or anything?" I asked.
"Nope, I'm pretty sure you won't be needing one." He said with a mischievous grin.
Percy found it very unusual that the daughter of the sea-god, couldn't swim. It wasn't that I didn't want to learn how to, my mum said I'd never need to know and she couldn't afford lessons for me. So it was quite scary when Percy led me to the very deep canoe lake.
"Just take it slow. You might want to take off your shoes to start with though." He advised, edging towards the water. I quickly took off my only pair of shoes and followed Percy to the water. Something about it felt right and for some reason I felt strong.
"Now just concentrate on keeping your clothes dry. It should come naturally but seeing as this is your first time, you may need to concentrate a little." Percy said, beginning to walk into the lake. I was surprised that his clothes didn't get wet, even though he assured me they wouldn't. Seeing him walk into the water gave me confidence. I concentrated on keeping my clothes dry and followed in after him. To my surprise it worked. My clothes were completely dry, aswell as my skin. I got deeper and deeper, getting more and more confident. Soon I was standing in waist deep water.
"Now for the good part. I take it you haven't been underwater before, so if you want I could put an air bubble around you, just so you can see what it's like." Percy offered kindly. I was incredibly grateful, as I was still nervous about the thought of going underwater. What if it didn't work and I drowned.
"Thanks." I smiled nervously.
"Ready on the count of three." Percy said lowering himself slightly, "One, two, three."
Percy grabbed my hand, which made me flinch a little, and brought me underwater. I closed my eyes panicking.
"You can open your eyes." Percy said gently. I slowly opened my eyes and was greeted to one of the weirdest sights I've ever seen. I was underwater but everything was perfectly clear. Percy had created an air bubble around me so I could breathe, he didn't need one. I felt even more powerful and I knew that I could trust Percy.
"Can we try without the air bubble?" I asked.
"Sure." Percy smiled getting rid of the air bubble. At first, I held my breath, but something told me that everything was going to be alright. Cautiously, I breathed in, expecting my lungs to fill with water. I was pretty shocked when I didn't die. Instead I was breathing normally. I felt free and confident, something I rarely felt. My thoughts were clear and I felt relaxed for once. I was tempted to stay underwater forever. I just let both time and my thoughts wonder. Well that was until someone nudged me. I looked around to see that Percy had already returned to the surface. I pushed up and joined him. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the sunlight.
"You were down there for ten minutes." Percy smiled.
"What!" I said shocked, it felt like it had been ten seconds.
"Yep, it feels good doesn't it. It makes you feel stronger." Percy laughed.
"Yeah, I wish I went to the beach before. It's so peaceful underwater." I replied. Being in the water had given me enough confidence to have a conversation without making it awkward.
"We can come back later if you want, but I think we should get some sword practice. Also Annabeth wants to have a tactics meeting." Percy informed me.
"Sounds good, I think I need all the practise I can get." I smiled.
"Speaking of the Fury." Percy said, his eyes lighting up. I followed his gaze and saw Annabeth waiting at the side of the lake. Percy ran out of the water towards her. I followed him slowly, not wanting to leave. When he reached Annabeth he greeted her with a hug and a light kiss. They both looked so happy together it made me feel happy. I decided to give them some privacy so I looked down at the water and started swirling my hand about. Happy memories of my mum flooded my mind. Our late night hugs, dancing around the kitchen together, watching a film every saturday and laughing so hard that we ended up crying. I felt my eyes water with happy and nostalgic tears, but I blinked them away.
"Ade." Annabeth cried. I snapped out of my trance and looked down at Percy and Annabeth, for some bizarre reason they were a few feet lower than me. That's when I realized a small wave of water had lifted me into the air a little. I stupidly panicked causing it to fall back into the lake, bringing me with it. I made my way to the surface and towards Percy and Annabeth extremely confused.
"What just happened?" I asked.
"You controlled the water, were you angry or something?" Percy asked looking slightly guilty.
"No, I was feeling happy. I was remembering things." I quickly assured.
"Seaweed Brain was only asking, because usually when he pulls something like that he's angry." Annabeth smiled.
"I am not." Percy moaned, making Annabeth and I laugh. "Anyway it was pretty impressive Ade."
"Yeah I have to admit, it was pretty good for your first time." Annabeth added. My cheeks started to feel hot. I wasn't used to getting complimented a lot.
"Um, thanks, but I doubt I'll be able to do it again. I didn't even realize what I was doing just now, yet alone do it again." I stammered.
"Nonsense, with a bit of training you'll be fine." Percy smiled.
"Yeah you'll be better than Seaweed Brain." Annabeth teased.
"Oh really Wise Girl." Percy said pushing her a little.
"Yes really." Annabeth smirked pushing him back.
"Stop distracting me, I came here because Leo wanted to talk to you Ade. What about I have no idea." Annabeth said with a grin. I felt my cheeks grow hot again. I knew Leo would want to talk about last night but, I just wanted to forget about it.
"Me either, I'll go see him later. We need to practise for capture the flag." I said, earning smiles from Percy and Annabeth. We turned heading towards the Arena, I didn't want to leave the comfort of the water but I knew I'd be returning soon.