It's been a busy week. But I survived till off day, and typed this chapter. There's a little bit of more juicy plot clues in this chapter, though it's very vague :P Also, since you guys all wanted the short stories for each character, I may do that in the future. For now though, I'll concentrate on the main plot.
Enjoy!
Acheron "Ash" Azazel Adams, 19, Son of Tartarus
Was he pissed to be woken up at the most ungodly hour? No.
Did the very high chance of encountering a monster outside camp scare him? Again, no. Being the son of Tartarus sure had its negative points, but there were its perks too. While he seemed to attract as many monsters as the children of the Big Three did, he found it easier to connect with them. Sometimes, if one showed up in the camp forest, he'd find himself talking to them, asking them how their day was, sharing some of his own problems with them... much like talking to a companion, or even a friend. Though it was rare, few of these Monsters then became a lot more accepting of him, even respecting him as their prince. By the way, he had told his friends to drop the formalities countless times, because he didn't want to be respected in that way - he just wanted to be their friend.
Does he desire to be "Cured"? Now, that's an interesting question. On one hand, the campers would not be so afraid of him. He'd seen a couple of new demigods throw looks of distrust at him when they thought he wasn't looking. It was easy to pass it off; pretend he didn't see those glances and just move on with what he was doing. But truth to be told, it hurts. And after a prolonged time, he thought it was pretty reasonable for someone like him to maybe... have an inclination to be Cured. On the other hand, however, he needed to gather more information on this Cure. Will taking it really be the answer to his problems? Will he still have the demigod scent? Because wasn't stupid as hell to Cure himself of his powers when the monsters could still sniff him out.
"Are you certain about going on this quest?" Ayumu asked in his usual monotonous voice, walking by his side behind Dominca and Ciara, who were chatting in hushed tones.
"I don't think it counts as a quest. There's no prophecy involved." Ash shrugged before giving a sidelong glance at his friend with a smirk, "I'm surprised you got out of bed."
His snark earned him a slap on the arm, "I'm surprised you got out of bed. What happened to 'sleep is for the weak' and all that horseshit?"
"Oh, as much as I'd love to go on this trip to watch how spectacularly the coward fails, I'm going for a different reason," Ash said bitterly.
"I know, you said you wanted to make a few 'friends'." Ayumu made air quotes with his fingers.
But Ash was serious now, and he looked directly at his friend and said in a lower voice, "I trust you, that's why I need to tell you this now."
Upon hearing the tone of his voice, Ayumu dropped his playfulness, "what is it?"
"I've told you of my nightmares before - those of my father, telling me of betrayal here at camp, but last night it was different." Ash swallowed, "last night, he told me if I stayed, I would be the cause of this betrayal."
Ash observed his friend, who remained silent, waiting for him to continue. But when he did not, Ayumu took it upon himself to say something, "Why would you listen to him? You've never really liked him."
True, but in some ways, his father Tartarus was right when it came to certain things. Sure, he kind of hated the way Tartarus chucked him a weapon as a child and basically made him fend for himself to pass his stupid survival test, but looking back now, maybe it did help him a teeny little bit, though he still resented his father for that. About the betrayal, Galen was merely one of the first, but Ash was sure that in a camp filled with demigods who were unsure what to make of a son of Tartarus, he would be experiencing more of such betrayals in the future.
"I can't take the risk that he might be right this time. What if I did cause some terrible thing to happen here? I don't hate everyone at Camp Half-Blood, Ayumu, and I have some good friends around here too."
"But where will you go?" said Ayumu, "after we go to the facility and get Galen the Cure, we'll be returning back to camp."
Right, he hadn't actually thought that far. But maybe along the way, Ash might find a place he belonged. Maybe he could make a circle of monster friends and this time, protect them and live with them. Maybe it was time to move away...for the safety of everyone at camp, because he knew that if his friends at camp were in the same situation, they would do it for him too.
Besides, there was something nagging at him at the back of his mind. In that nightmare last night, Ash did not just get a warning from his father. There was something else to it, and it was the real reason why he was convinced that he would bring misfortune to those at camp. He had not told anyone about it; not even Ayumu, because was not quite sure how to feel about it. He was afraid.
He had been told of a prophecy.
His father had warned him of a part of a prophecy. Just the two lines, nothing more, and nothing less either:
Hell is destined to slay, hate unleashed,
Redemption all but finished.
Ash knew it refers to him. He'd asked Tartarus about it, but his father had declined to explain it, and only confirmed that it was speaking of him.
He'd asked to hear the entire prophecy, but was told that Tartarus himself did not know the complete prophecy. It was stupid to think two lines of the prophecy could determine his actions and deeds, as though his path could be predetermined by the idiot who wrote it, just because he felt like rhyming words that day.
It would be wise to run those lines by Ayumu, since that guy often has a very different and unique way of thinking - many people underestimate him as a dreamy and spaced out person - and therefore may be able to interpret it differently from what Ash thought himself.
Although, ash thought wryly, is there really that many ways to understand those two simple lines? It looked pretty clear from his point of view, that it was a kinda bad situation.
Ash figured he'd mention it to Ayumu later on, when he was less likely to be overheard. He was quite comfortable around Ciara and Dominca, but this was one of those matters he wished to discuss only with Ayumu in private.
"You know, you can't be sure this Cure actually works." Ash raised his voice, so that the girls in front could also hear him.
However, Ayumu replied first, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, "yeah, but we also can't prove that it doesn't work unless we check it out, right?"
"And if that's what will calm the poor guy's mind, I think we should just accompany him there. If it works, then good for him. But if it's all a scam of sorts, at least he won't do something rash again in the future," Ciara added.
"Whatever sinks his boat." Ayumu muttered.
They were already reaching the peak of Half-Blood Hill, and could barely make out the entrance in the dark. Ash could see two figures, both standing under the large oak tree, and drenched from waiting in the rain. A girl was sitting gracefully by the tree, legs tucked under her, with Clinsi - the name in which she gave her war-fan which could transform into a violin and it's bow - in her graceful arms, though she had lowered the musical instrument. The other figure was Galen, his arms crossed against his chest, as he turned his back to her.
Ash was near enough to catch his words, "please don't use that. Don't convince me against going."
Upon hearing his words, Iridia paused, then carefully replaced the instrument in her bag, "I shall not prevent you from going if that is where you truly desire to go."
"Thank you," came the reply.
As soon as the pair spotted them, they approached, but Ash only had eyes on Galen. Ever since that guy betrayed and killed all his monster friends a year ago, they'd never got this close to each other. As Ash burned his eyes on his face, Galen's own flickered up to meet his for a split second before dropping his gaze to the ground and then at Dominca.
"You decided to bring him along?" Galen said, in a very conversational tone which gave nothing away.
Dominca tried to make peace, "Look, I know you and Ash has got a bad history, but I think it's just a misunderstanding. I thought it'll be safer for us because of his influence over monsters…"
"I know." Galen replied a bit too quickly.
Ash just couldn't pass up this perfect opportunity, "At least if my monster pals are feeling a bit hungry, I'd know who to suggest a delicious meal. Just know that if you don't fit in now, you'll never fit in even after getting the Cure, because there is no cure from being a wimp."
"Right." Ayumu said, with a distant look in his eyes, "we'd better be leaving now, because I think I can see a harpy in the distance."
"We can discuss outside the camp borders." Dominca suggested, "the harpies don't bother about us if we're away from the camp."
The bunch of six demigods shuffled past the entrance of Camp Half-Blood, bringing their packs along. Only when they reached the road, a safe distance away from camp, did they stop and drop their packs on the grass.
"Any idea where the Research Facility is?" Ash wondered.
"The exact location of the I.L.B.R. Facility is not clear, since it's on an unnamed island. But according to the news articles, it is based in Phuket." Galen said.
"Asia, huh?" Ayumu muttered mostly to himself, "It isn't a surprise those scientists are Asians."
"It's definitely a long way from here," Iridia said, "but we will manage it if we stick together."
"How are we going to get there?" Ash asked, already dreading the answer.
"By plane. It's the fastest." Ciara shrugged.
Of course, by plane. What did he expect? By boat? Ash snorted at the mental picture of all six of them rowing a dinghy across the Pacific Ocean.
"But not necessarily the safest." Ash added as an afterthought.
Trouble was, air travel and water travel never sat well with him. Tartarus was all about the underworld, and land was the safest when it came to his children. What luck he'd got himself into. Phuket was situated on an island - surrounded by water, in case you missed that part out - and they had to get there via an aeroplane. Perfect. Nothing could go wrong.
Galen surprised him when he said quietly, like he knew what was worrying Ash, "it'll be fine, Zeus won't shoot you down since there are other demigods on the plane too."
"Don't read my thoughts." Ash snapped.
Galen raised his hand in a passive manner, "you never used to mind."
"I didn't use to." Ash said curtly, "but I do now."
Ciara, the ever logical one, could not find another alternative about the transportation issue, "it's the only way. Going by sea will take weeks, and it's risky with the choppy waters this season. We can't possibly walk either, so air travel is the only way."
"May I suggest we book a taxi to the airport while we discuss? It'll take time for it to arrive and standing this long in the rain isn't good for us." Iridia said.
"That's a great idea actually," Ayumu snapped his fingers as he agreed instantly with a yawn, "I could do with a nap in the long journey."
They booked Uber. Mainly because it was in the middle of the night and no taxi in their right mind would even for a second think that there were potential passengers in the dark road of Long Island. It was dangerous to use a phone as monsters could pick up the signals and track them down, but they figured it will only take a while before the taxi picks them up. On top of that, the safety of camp lies not too far away. So if they ran into any serious trouble this early in the trip, they could always run back and call for backup.
As the rain pelted down mercilessly, it was a saving grace when they saw headlights from ahead.
"That's the cab!" Dominca waved, "It says here on the phone to notify us that the ride has arrived!"
The taxi slowed to a stop in front of them, and the driver got out. He had a name tag hanging from a lanyard around his neck confirming his identity as Mr Croates. He had shaggy salt and pepper colored hair, and wore a simple T-shirt and bermudas. His slippers squelched in the wet grass as he helped to stow their bags in the trunk.
"Booking by a Miss Wang Su?" Croates said with a gentle voice, "heading to the airport?"
Iridia nodded, shaking his hand, "please, call me Iridia."
"Hop in!" Croates said, getting into the driver's seat and shutting the door. "Won't do to be late for your flight."
With that, he stepped on the accelerator and they took off into the night.
Ash belongs to Flaming Fate Zero. I find him very relatable and human so it was fun to type from his POV. And the relationship between Ash and Ayumu is really adorable in my opinion :) Those two are going to such BFFs.
How did you find Ash?
Thoughts on the relationship between Ash/Ayumu and Ash/Galen?
Bits of the prophecy is being revealed...slowly. I've got the full one typed out (it took ages to get it to rhyme and all) but I'll wait for the opportune moment :P Thanks for the reviews!