Chapter Three:
Up to the three weeks passed since my second prayer. Each day I felt worse than the last, my heart and head aching. I'd finishing reading the book for the second time and I became familiar with the traits of the Underworld and Hades himself. Each night I prayed at dinner and before I slept even, begging for some change. I didn't realize how much I needed Nico back. These people were sucking the bitterness out of me and filling it with hopefulness. I didn't like it. Or did I? After my first month of being here, the campers tended to stay away from me. They thought I brought bad luck upon them if I wished to. I couldn't understand why for several days until it hit me. It was after the accident with Clarisse they started to act strangely towards me.
Capture the flag rolled around once again. It was Ares versus Athena and me. Hephaestus cabin didn't want participation. Apparently the entirety of cabin 9 had a major project to work on. Hermes wanted action, but with no team to join without making it unfair… it took a lot of convincing to sit them out, to say the least. And as always Demeter and Aphrodite sat on the sides as petty cheerleaders in a basketball game. All in all the game went well. Our line of defence and attack were just as strong as the other and I was fortunately on the hunting side. I eventually found Ares cabin's flag and when I did, I also met it's protector. Clarisse. We engaged in a bloody battle, yet another level of hatred added to each other. I was defeated soon enough, on the ground at sword point. I swear she was about to cut my throat until she paled dramatically. She stared out into the distance, a look of new knowledge and horror spread across her face. Although you were not supposed to turn around on your opponents, I looked behind me seeing nothing that would scare a child of war.
" What are you looking at?" I asked her. Her sword clattered on the ground. " You!" She hissed. I looked up at her. "What?" I asked.
" You worship Hades! That is how the Hellhound made it past the borders," She said in the same snake like tone.
" My friend died because of you!" She howled. The campers had gathered around now, both cabins present.
" I don't control anything of his! I'm still a daughter of Apollo," I told her, trying to defend myself.
" But he… you. You are still a Hades worshipper," She spat. The Ares camper took to gasping in shock, thankfully, rather than poking me out with their sticks with a point on top. Even my allies, Athena's cabin looked weary. I stood up, facing Clarisse.
" I don't have control over his elements. I only send prayers to him. I doubt you call that worship either, La Rue,"
" I blame you," She hissed towards me before storming off into the woods, calling for Chiron. Of course she'll take it to Chiron, I thought bitterly. Soon, the centaur appeared along side a Satyr, something else I'd yet to piss off or befriend.
" Throw her out of camp Chiron! I, on behalf of Ares, demand it!" She shouted, pointing towards me.
" Clarisse, you can't do anything on behalf of your father. Now, why would I throw her out of camp?"
" She worships Hades! It's dangerous!"
" No, it's not Clarisse. Lord Hades is still an Olympian and she has the rights to do so,"
" Exactly! What now?!" I yelled at her. That's when she struck. Her dagger was out in a flash, catching my arm as I dove out the way. About to snap, I was dragged way from Clarisse by two stronger Athena campers.
" Chiron!" She screeched.
" Clarisse, go to the healing tent and get yourself fixed up. You and two other campers will be going on that quest I've assigned. I want you out of here. And Lyn? Please no more arrow attacks," I was about to complain, but realized it was better than getting kitchen duty or any punishment at all. I left the woods, muttering curses to myself. Clarisse La Rue was asking for my attention; also known as a fight.
A while into my dinner, after I had given my offer, I ate a cheese burger in silence, that is until someone decided to cast terror among the campers.
" Hellhound!" One screamed. Like the other campers, I stood up to catch a glimpse of the monster. I looked around and saw younger campers shaking in fright, the older and the brave moving in to fight.
" Halt!" Chiron ordered, his voice echoing off of the pillars. The hellhound padded over silently. I recognized it then that the hound was from my dreams. It was a dog… in fact it looked startlingly like a mastiff. But with glowing red eyes and the size of a grizzly bear.
" Don't attack!" Chiron told Ares campers who were still ready to fight it off.
" Chiron are you crazy?!" Clarisse yelled. " It'll kill us all!"
I ignored the following argument but watched as the Hellhound moved closer and closer and closer until it entered the Dining Pavilion. It padded over the floor, stopping to glare at the empty Zeus and Poseidon tables. It continued his walk in silence before it stopped in front of… me? It sat, dropping something that it had been carrying in it's mouth. It was a black envelope, placed into my hands. I opened it with shaking hands and unfolded the white paper. I read what was written, in the regular handwriting:
Lyn,
I can't write much but here is what I have to say:
I've been receiving your offers and prayers, if you will.
As for Nico, he is safe with me in the Underworld.
I'll send him back when he has done his duty.
Hades.
P.S. Keep the Hellhound. I foresee he will become useful for you.
I looked up from the letter, to the hellhound to Chiron. He marched over, a hand outstretched.
" The letter," He demanded. I took a step backwards, folding it up and storing it away in my shirt.
" You wouldn't care if it were their fathers or mothers writing would you? No, you wouldn't," I said defensively. " Therefore, I keep the letter,"
" It's from Hades, child! He's a dangerous, cruel…,"
Chiron stopped when the hellhound growled, no snarled, at him, crouching. The thing came up my waist, and if I hadn't felt reassured by the beast, I'd be frightened to say the least.
" I'll give you the letter," I decided, taking it from it's hiding place. " If I get to keep the Hellhound,"
Chiron considered it, until the Ares cabin voiced their opinions. He seemed to tune them out. He took a good few minutes to decide before hastily speaking.
" Agreed,"
" Swear on the River of Styx that no harm will come to this creature from any camper, activities director or even him, Dionysus," I pressured. The kids around me seemed shocked that I used Dionysus's real name. The hound's ears seemed to perk at the name of a familiar name.
" I swear on the River of Styx that no harm will come to the Hellhound inside the camp…,"
I glared at him to finish.
" … or outside Camp Half-Blood's borders by any camper," He finished. I was satisfied with his answer. My new pet looked up towards me and I rose a brow. Inside those red eyes of his I saw what appeared to be trapped souls, all begging to be brought out. Chiron cleared his throat and I handed him the letter. He took it and read it swiftly, eyeing me and the dog.
" Can I keep the letter?" I asked him. I could hear the hopefulness in my own voice. He sighed as if arguing with another side of him, but handed over the letter. I tucked it away and started leaving, the Hellhound by my side. I figured he knew who's his new master was.
" Lyn," Called Chiron. I turned, glancing back with a feeling of victory.
" Give that thing a bath. The smell's nearly unbearable," He requested. I nodded and headed off towards the lake.
As I towel dried off the wet, irritated hellhound by the lake, I thought of names. One does not simply have a hellhound without a name.
. " What about Talaiporía?" I asked him. Suffering in Greek. I highly doubted the hellhound cared at the present moment. It was too occupied trying to dry off.
" So why are you so nice?" I asked the hellhound. He ignored me, rolling around on the floor, trying to get some of the shampoo fragrance out of it's fur. I smirked slightly, standing up. I sat on the dock, my feet hanging over the edges.
" You know, I've always wanted a dog," I said. I heard shuffling behind me, then a voice.
" Who are you talking to?"
I turned around and saw a naiad, a form of water nymph.
" The hell hound you stupid water spirit," I snapped, still facing the lake. I hated the naiads. I hated all things to do with water. Maybe it was because I couldn't swim? Maybe it was because Poseidon controlled the waters and I didn't trusted him as far as I could throw a Cyclops… which wasn't very far.
" There's no hellhound here," She said. I turned around and saw no black beast.
" Aw come on!" I yelled when I saw the creature making a run for it to the forest.
" Wait!" I shouted hopelessly, starting my sprint.
I eventually found the hellhound, sitting in a dark shadow between two trees.
" Come here you," I panted, taking a step towards it. Suddenly, it vanished. I paused, looking around wildly.
" What the hell…?"
Suddenly I was pushed over, landing face first on the forest floor. I whirled around on my back, wielding no weapons to save myself. I released the tense breath when I saw it was the hellhound. I stood up and shot a glare at it. I started out of the forest, the hound trailing behind me.
" So why are you a friendly hellhound?" I asked it, but like I had expected no answer came. I stood up and started back towards my cabin.
The dreams came violently, wrecking all peaceful thoughts in my head and filling the empty spaces with fear and pain. Sounds of tortured souls tore my mind apart. Slowly an image formed. Set against a black was a throne, made of black onyx skulls. There was a man perched upon it, dressed in black robes. His skin was albino white and his black eyes representing that of a mad genius.
H-Hades, I tried to stammer. No sounds came out of my voice.
" Come to me," He called, rising from his throne. The tortured, agonizing cries from the souls had drifted away, leaving nothing but a silence.
I opened my mouth, or attempted so to speak out, but the image faded away.
I sat up, eyes wide, pale hands gripping at the sheets. I steadied my breathing and glanced around. I heard the sounds going off, signalling breakfast. I threw myself out of my bed, searching for clothes. I had to go, I realized. I couldn't ignore a request from the gods.
It was during my Greek history lesson that I decided to bring up the dream to Chiron. I quickly explained the vision to him.
" And why do you tell me this?" He asked suspiciously.
" I want to go," I told him, closing the books I were reading.
" No! Absolutely not! I forbid it!" Chiron rejected, shaking his head. I stood up, a scowl frozen on my face.
" And why not?!"
" No one living enters the Underworld. It's a place for the dead, not the living, Lyn. You can't go. Not unless a quest is assigned,"
" Then assign me quest," I argued.
" I would never," Chiron said firmly. I crossed my arms over my chest, throwing myself back into my chair, not saying another word.
Another update! Ugh, 46 days until Mark Of Athena comes out. I can't wait! I need my lovely Nico. No matter how young he is in the series.
Flufferz: Because Hades is a badass and should totally rule Olympus?
Trusting Him17: Here's your update!
BlueDot77: Thank you!