AN: Sorry that it's late. Do you like the cover? I drew it myself. This chapter was not written by me, hence why it took forever. I will be writing most, if not all the other chapters though, so no worries. I would appreciate it if you give him complimentary, he did work very hard on it, even if it took awhile.
The Stolen Caduceus
4. Draco
By Mr. High-and-Almighty
Draco was swimming in the lake, which was odd seeing as how Athena was his mother. Normal children of Athena despised water, considering the eternal feud that has been conspiring between Poseidon and Athena. But, of course Draco was not a normal child of Athena. No, his physical appearance and actions lead you to believe he was anything but one.
His pitch black hair and obsidian eyes bore resemblance to Hades. His aesthetic appeal, or lack thereof, and heavily scarred face and body made him look similar to Hephaestus. His repulsion to people and organic life-forms caused belief in either. His war-like nature would make one think he was related to Ares, and his cold skin and icy demeanor reminds one of Khione.
Even his powers were extremely uncharacteristic of his mother.
He was a fire-bearer; descended from Hephaestus, but not only was a fire-bearer, but a dangerous one also. The two fire-bearers that preceded him in his family caused two of the greatest fires in modern history. Draco's great-great-grandfather, Aiden Khalid, caused The Great Chicago Fire, who had inherited his "gift" from his great-great-grandfather, Phlegon Khalid who was Draco's great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. Phlegon was a son of Hephaestus, who coincidentally caused The Great Fire of London. Unlike his half-sibling Jet, who shared the same lineage, mother, and powers as Draco, though his fire was not blue, but white: pure energy.
Obviously, seeing Draco would not give one the impression that he didn't contained any relation to Athena. That is, of course, until you conversed with him.
After a second of interacting with him, you would notice a prominent air of arrogance that was only slightly radiated, when watched from a distance. He often spoke with a plethora of such interminably long words, that some of his siblings could not even comprehend what he was saying. A very large array of the things he uttered was insults, which he spoke out with a loud voice, holding his head high.
Draco felt hundreds of eyes glimpse upon him as he had walked out of the lake, as if Argus himself wished to speak with him. No, these eyes were not of females basking in the glory of his body glistening with water and the beauty that was him, nor were any of adoration, or infatuation. They were all of fear and worry.
Though Camp Half-Blood was his beloved home, he despised it with a passion. He was constantly outcast, and feared, causing him to have a small array of "friends", that were in reality simple acquaintances that he could tolerate in small doses. Perhaps it was due to his demeanor, or his powers, or it may have even been due to his hair and eyes, though Draco suspected that there were a multitude of reasons that all combined, gave him the factor for his aversion.
Draco was definitely not mundane, as stated before. Not only was he not a normal child of Athena, but he was not a typical demigod in general. Draco was in the category of demigods that would buy a cellular phone, simply to attract monsters so he would have something entertaining to partake in. Apart from the typical ADHD and dyslexia that came accustomed to being a half-blood, Draco had a myriad of other disorders. His various psychologists and therapists had attributed Narcissistic Personality disorder, Sadistic Personality disorder, Anti-social Personality disorder, Malignant Narcissism, Impulse Control Disorders including Intermittent Explosive disorder and Kleptomania, Pyromania, Megalomania, and he was plagued with a Superiority Complex.
Draco could not help bear hatred towards Apollo at deciding to shine the sun at a much higher intensity today then he did the days before. It was winter, yet it was the temperature rivaled that of mid-spring. Draco despised the sun and anything synonymous with heat, in spite of, or perhaps because of, his Hephaestus ancestry and his ability to conjure and manipulate fire. History obviously repeats itself considering Draco's powers never brought him joy, but rather misery. Avoiding the haunting gaze of the other campers and the glaring sun, Draco rushed to his cabin, only to find that it was locked. As he saw his efforts were futile, he audibly growled as his perpetual scowl deepened. He yelled at his cabin mates to open the door, which they hurriedly did, apologizing profusely.
After slipping on the skintight Under Armor body suit Draco wore under everything, and wearing his usual camp attire, he left the cabin. Draco continued to walk to his unknown destination until he reached a part of camp he knew all too well: the Arena. Draco walked inside as he felt a familiar cold presence. As soon as Draco stepped a foot inside the Arena, Jonathan Delano spun around to greet him.
"Oi, Delano," Draco called.
"Draco…?" Jonathan asked, with that idiotic look on his face. "You're back?" Jonathan as his surprise turned into annoyance and a scowl that matched Draco's appeared.
"Of course it is me, idiot. It is not as if there are any other Indians at this wretched camp. And it is Khalid to you," Draco responded, gruffly.
"Whatever Draco. Don't call me an idiot."
"I do as I please, Ninja Boy."
Jonathan's hands curled into fists. "What did you call me?"
Draco smirked, enlightened to rouse such a response. "Do you need an otologist, or are you so moronic that you fail to comprehend common English?"
"You're the one to talk, Scarface."
This infuriated him, though, admittedly, anger was a emotion he was familiar with. Perhaps, the only emotion that coursed through him.
"Do you wish to die?" he demanded.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"Be realistic Jonathan," Draco mocked as Jonathan visibly writhed when he said his name as if it was the worst insult in the world. And, in a way, to Draco, it was.
"Fine, then!" Jonathan said as he pulled out his rifle.
"Ooh, is Delano actually planning on harming me?" he said as he snapped his fingers.
Suddenly there was an audible crack and Jonathan became aware of a stench that resembled smoke and rotten eggs.
"Do you not just revel in the sweet and pungent odor of a fresh flame?" Draco asked, giving Jonathan one of his signature arrogant smirks.
"Not everyone is a pyromaniac that enjoys burning down houses for a living," Jonathan said, barely obtaining the hurt look in Draco's eyes that lasted for a split second. "Now what did you do Draco?"
"I do not comprehend what you speak of. Perhaps you will be required to shoot me," Draco spat through clenched teeth.
"Whatever, you asked for it," Jonathan growled as he pulled the trigger, though instead of a loud gunshot, only came a faint click.
"You are going to jam your little toy there," Draco said as he saw Jonathan repeatedly pulling the trigger, to no avail.
"What did you do?" Jonathan yelled at Draco, quite furious.
"Oh, well, it seems to me that someone burned all the gunpowder in your rifle and the bullets. Now, I wonder who would have the ability to do such a deed," Draco answered, wiping the smirk off his face, now glaring at him.
"Draco, why don't you just go back to where you came from and work as a Technical Support representative?"
"I may be Indian, but I was born in Canada, Delano," Draco corrected. "Though judging from your intellectual capacity, I doubt you know where that is."
"Draco, what makes you so High-and-Almighty? Give me one good reason, three if you can."
"Well, let us see. I am a multibillionaire plus I have a huge inheritance, I happen to be the best sword-fighter at this camp, and I am also the most brilliant person at this camp, especially with my eidetic memory. And in case you cannot count, since I avidly believe that, that certain ability has not manifested itself in you yet, I said three reasons; hence, I am better than you. Since we are in the arena, how about a little duel, you and I?"
"Sure, if you thin—"
"Jonathan!" Someone yelled from behind Jonathan's back. It was a brown-haired girl; Draco could not remember her name. He thought it was… Janelle?
Something along those lines…
"Danielle?" Jonathan's voice followed the vocal patterns of a question.
"Jonathan, what are you doing?" Danielle asked, glancing worriedly back and forth to Draco and Jonathan repetitively. "You need to calm down."
At first Jonathan's eyes hardened, before turning softer towards her. "Fine…" Jonathan muttered, obviously contemplating deeply.
"Humph. Pathetic." Draco said, watching the two.
"What?" Jonathan demanded.
"Well, Delano, you should not let your female dominate you as so."
"You don't know anything about Jonathan, Drake. You don't know much about anyone," Danielle spat, "the only reason you're bothering to speak to Jonathan is probably because your intimated by him."
"First, it is Khalid to you. Second, you should watch how you act with me." Draco declared.
"Oh, look at Mr. High-and-Almight—"
"Draco, you are not as great as you think you are." Jonathan said, interjecting.
"Well at least I got claimed, Delano."
"So did I!"
"Really? By who?"
"Why do you want to know?" Jonathan said suspiciously.
"Well I just wanted to know who was idiotic enough to claim you as their son."
"Like Khione is an idiot."
"Khione, eh? Well, I will offer a morsel of advice, fire is always victorious against ice. No matter the circumstances," Draco said, analyzing how to kill Jonathan in a way that he would feel the most pain.
"How about we test out that theory?"
"I concede to that agreement."
"Jonathan, stop," Danielle pleaded, her tone turning desperate.
"I have to fight him," Jonathan argued, as he pulled out his twin daggers.
"Don't," Danielle whispered.
Jonathan took one more look at her, indecision on his face, before determination set in and he lifted his daggers towards Draco.
Draco summoned the lighter, which he had acquired from Hephaestus when he was eleven years old, to his hand. Now, if you had never seen Draco give battle before, then you may wonder what one would do with a lighter. But then you would witness the spectacle that was the solid imperial gold lighter that was gleaming in Draco's hand. As Draco cautiously pressed the button that caused the gas inside to flow, being careful not to light a spark, the small lighter turned into a hilt of the same material. The hilt was wrapped in leather, and protruding from the end was a round butt sparkling in the sun. Out of the hilt sprouted a three foot long celestial bronze blade that looked as if it was modeled after a slithering snake, a faint glow radiating from it. Adorned at the tip of the blade was a thin conical piece of stygian iron, dying only one
inch after it was birthed from the snake's mouth.
"Meet Inferno, the Eternal Flame." Draco said as the blade on Inferno burst into flames.
"Draco this is not the first time we have fought. I know your swords name," Jonathan mocked.
"But it has been a time long enough for the immortals."
"Whatever." Jonathan said, to which Draco pressed the button at the top of his wristwatch, causing it to grow into a circular carbon fiber composite shield plated with Iridium.
Draco and Jonathan began to battle; Jonathan stabbing and swiping with his daggers, while Draco took a more defensive route and simply sidestepped parried and blocked with Inferno and his shield. As the battle progressed Draco began to grow bored. He glimpsed at the surrounding area as he saw a girl cheering for Jonathan. Draco faintly remembered her… her name was Guinevere? No that was King Arthur's queen. Gwen? Close enough. She typically affiliated herself with whoever happened to be so unlucky as to face off with Draco. She always wished for the "underdog" to succeed.
Draco began to tire of the cadence the two had settled themselves into so he decided to make it slightly more interesting. He purposely provided an opening, which Jonathan spotted immediately and utilized. Jonathan rapidly positioned his dagger to coordinate with the flaw and thrust hurriedly. As Jonathan's dagger hit Draco, he saw the glint in Jonathan's eyes. But, much to the astonishment and horror of Jonathan, the weapon did not proceed and harmlessly bounced off Draco.
"Oi, Delano, did I ever mention the story of the first monster I successfully defeated alone?" Draco asked in answer to Jonathan's questioning gaze.
The boy simply shook his head.
"Oh well it is a great story. But that is insignificant currently." Draco said as he took off his shirt revealing his body suit.
"The first monster I killed was…" Draco said as he took off his jeans. "The Neman Lion," Draco finished as the body suit exploded into a golden lion pelt that covered his entire body.
"That means if I had shot you the bullet would've..." Jonathan said, realization striking him.
"Never penetrated me." Draco finished for him.
And with that Draco attacked, similar to a animal that had not fed in days. He brought his shield down on Jonathan's left hand, effectively swatting one of his daggers out of his hand. Jonathan continued to battle with one dagger, albeit unsuccessfully. As Draco brought Inferno's blade downwards, Jonathan swept his dagger up, barely blocking it. They remained in that position until one of Inferno's flames licked Jonathan's fingers, singing them. He rapidly jumped back, forced to let go of his dagger. Draco vaulted towards him, causing Jonathan to bring up a wall of Ice. Noticing this Draco ignited himself with fire and dashed through it, melting the majority and leaving the rest in crumbles. Draco quickly extinguished himself, and proceeded to hungrily jump upon the now defenseless Jonathan.
As Draco held Inferno to Jonathan's throat, he recited, "I repeat, fire always overcomes ice." He then stood up, still pointing Inferno at Jonathan's exposed neck "But, I suppose I could let you live… This time that is." Draco proceeded to knock Jonathan out with the butt of him sword. He then sheathed Inferno, stuck the lighter in his pocket, and strode out of the Arena, smirking while he heard Danielle's screams, leaving the others to contemplate in bewilderment.
In his dreams Draco stood in a field. A barren field. A contradiction of a field. For you see this field was not a normal field. It was a Burning Plain, but, at the same time, a Plain of Ice. He stood completely frozen with Inferno drawn in his hand. He stood straight, transfixed on a man that across from him, who was staring back with a blank expression. In fact, there was no expression, for there was no face.
Suddenly without a catalyst, Draco charged at the man who simply shook his absent head. Draco moved his blade so that it would run through his heart and most likely kill him. As Draco came a foot away from impaling the man, effectively skewering his heart, the man did something unexpected; he moved. As he side-stepped he revealed a girl with red hair that Draco knew all too well: Scarlet.
He watched helplessly as Inferno inched closer towards her with omnipotent force. Draco was able to move the blade instead of puncturing her heart, and literally breaking it, it would gash threw her stomach, figuratively doing the same thing. As Inferno dug deeper and deeper into Scarlet's body, time seemed to slow for Draco. He slowly pulled the blade out of her body, for the first time, resenting its shape, and lowered her to the ground.
He stared into her lifeless eyes as she uttered the most wretched response imaginable for Draco: "Arty…" she gasped. "Why?"
Suddenly Draco felt a feeling that he had not felt since he was a 9-year-old child standing in the ashes that was his home, crying for the last time. Draco was completely overcome by guilt, remorse, and grief, which was soon consumed by an overwhelming hatred and a burning anger. He launched himself towards the man, who pulled out a sword and with one slice, amputated Draco's left arm. Draco crumpled to the ground as he watched the man walk away, and, suddenly, realization hit: he was going to die.
So, accepting his fate, Draco crawled to Scarlet and draped his arm across her, one thought circling around in his mind: On this Burning Plain of Ice I die.