Chapter 4
Protector?
(Still Jason)
I liked to say that I got Alex safely to the Big House, she slept, woke up, and things went back to normal, but that is not what happen. Apparently, the earth goddess wasn't done with her daughter.
We had to pass close to the canoe lake to get from the dining pavilion to the Big House. But as Chiron and I passed, Alex draped across my arms, something shot from the lake and wrapped itself around Alex's waist and legs. As quickly as it appeared, the vines pulled her down into the lake.
"Chiron!" I ran as I shouted and soon heard Chiron galloping behind me. The minute I reached the shore of the lake, I jumped in. The lake was ridiculously cold, but wasn't frozen over, so I could still make it back up. The only problem was making it back with Alex.
I continued to dive down, forcing my eyelids to stay open in the murky water, until I saw a form twisting in the water. Alex had been pulled down by seaweed, which was now wrapped around her fragile neck and waist slowly strangling her of the little air she had. She was grabbing franticly at the stuff around her throat, desperate to loosen the seaweed's grip. As I got to her, I grasped the seaweed to rip it off, but it was tough and slippery, so it took a few tries to release the one around her waist. I knew I had to work fast, because here struggles were getting weaker and her eyes closing, slipping into unconsciousness, again. Finally managing one good pull, I was able to free her, grab her around her waist and swim up. I felt something yank me back down to see seaweed around my ankle and slowly creeping up. Not good, I thought, being low on air, nearly numb, and Alex was doing much worse. She seemed to be in a daze.
Suddenly, she looked at what was holding us down, held out her palm toward it and clenched her hand. The seaweed dissolved, and she raised her arm up towards the surface and we shot out of the water and on to the shore. I coughed and shook from the cold, thankful for no longer being underwater. Alex was back in unconscious; she wasn't coughing, but she was curled up and shaking violently. I looked up and Chiron was standing over us. I caught the scent of wet horse.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help, but I can't swim well with hooves." He clopped nervously, looking down at Alex. "We can get the blow-dryers and…"
"No, I don't want to freak out the others. I dry off myself and Alex the normal way. Is it okay if I take her to the Big House?"
"Of course. But before you go, I do hope you know that we now have to determine someone as her permanent protector." He said, concern and weariness blended into his voice.
Protector?
I didn't really understand, but I was more worried about getting Alex warm. So, I picked her up and began the walk to the Big House. I stopped at the Ares cabin to grab fresh clothes for myself and towels for both of us. Once we reached the Big House, I did my best not to hit Alex's head against the railing and door frame as I took her into a spare room. Alex wasn't shaking as violently, but she still shook. I lay her on the bed and did my best to dry her legs and arms. Alex is small, about the size of a sixth grader, but she looked and acted as old as a high school student, so it was hard to tell her real age if you didn't know her. After I dried her off as best I could, she was still shaking. I changed and wrapped her in the extra blankets.
I stood over, thinking about how to keep her warm, taking off her glasses and taking out her contacts. Then I remembered something my mom once told me. The best way to warm the body is with another body. I face palmed, thinking about how most demi-gods die fighting, when I realized that she had a better chance of causing my untimely demise. Reluctantly, I sat Alex up as best I could; knowing if she ever found out how easily she would flip. I pulled her close the best I could without exposing too much of her, almost wrapping her in as cocoon of blankets. This is so weird. A little while later, Alex had finally stopped shaking, but her lips were still blue. I sat there a little longer debating on what to do next, but I accidently fallen asleep, exhausted from everything that had happened.
I know this is really short, but I have a serious case of writers block and it took me over a month and a half to think this part up. As always reviews are appreciated. A friend of mine helped me revise this.