Hello, thanks again for the great reviews. Here's the new chapter.
NPOV
I was walking with Percy. Yesterday, he had gotten his nose fixed and I had apologized. He was now telling me something and I need to start listening.
"So yeah" he said
"Wait, what?" I asked
"You didn't hear a word I said, did you?"
"No" I said plainly
He sighed.
"Well," he started again, "There have been a couple of incidents in the camp"
"Like what?"
"The harpies, first of all, keep saying they keep seeing these strangers, every now and again. Always the same people. Then a couple of days ago, a few of the younger campers saw three men watching the camp and then…" He stopped
"And then…" I urged him on
"There was an attack"
I looked at him in shock.
"One of the nymphs was attacked. Her tree was found dying sometime yesterday"
"Does anyone know who's doing it?" I asked
"No, the only thing they found was a strip of black fabric hanging from one of the branches"
Something was tickling my memory, I just didn't know what.
"What did it look like?" I asked
"It was just a black piece of cloth, a bit dusty, like it had been worn for a long time, but it wasn't really that interesting"
I remembered something.
"I need to go for a walk" I said blankly.
"Okay" he said, walking off
I walked into the woods and looked for a minute. I ended up in at the tree I was at yesterday. I closed my eyes and listened for anything; nothing. I squeezed my eyes shut and thought
I know you're here. Come on out. I need to talk to you.
Nothing.
I sighed. Why is it when you want to talk to someone they never answer?
"Yes, why?" said a voice from behind me
I spun around to see a man leaning on a tree. He was wearing a black duster, had shoulder-length, black hair and was dripping from head to toe. I mean flat out just-got-out-from-the-pool wet. His voice was hesitant and he paused after every few words, slurring a little. His features seemed to be melting.
I knew by now that it was pointless to ask who they are, so I asked,
"Why are you here?"
'I'm here as a warning"
"As in…"
"There will be three"
"But-"
"I am the first"
"Look!" I said firmly, "All I want to do is talk to the girl that does disappearing acts and questions my every answer. I'm not looking for a Christmas Carol experience or a black spot"
"Well, first of all, she doesn't feel like bothering with you right now, so to bad" he pushed off from the tree and started to slowly walk towards me, "Second, it's not an option to get these warnings, I'm not in charge. And third, I wouldn't be here if I had the choice, but I lost a bet and had to go first"
"Okay, well, a warning for what?" I asked
"Well, if you would shut up and let me speak, you would know, now, wouldn't you?"
I stayed silent.
"I presume you know about the attack. That was the first. There will be two more, then you will get the final round"
I raised my hand.
"Yes?" he sighed
"Why are you doing this? I'm totally confused on that matter"
"You are being tested"
"For…"
"To see what you could be"
"Okay now I'm even more confused then I was before"
"Look, would you just shut it. I really don't care. And if I had it my way, it would be to hell with this entire camp and stamped down with tar and a steam roller"
I raised my eyebrows. He turned and walked away.
"Where are you going?" I called
"I'm going back to watch the current bane of my existence" he called back over his shoulder and disappeared into the woods.
I spun on my heel and walked back to my cabin. I shut the door and leaned back on it for a second. I pushed off and fell onto my bed. I turned over and heard the sound of paper crackling. I rolled over and accidentally fell off my bed. I put my hand on the bed and moved it around. I finally found it and pulled it down to me. A few black and dried rose petals fluttered down. It read;
I know that you wanted to find me
If you still do, then come and find me at 10:30 tonight.
You know where.
I'm pretty sure I know who that came from. Well, what time is it now?
I looked at my wrist and it's…time to get a watch. I looked at the clock on the bedside table. 3:30. I still have…1,2,3... 7 hours till I have to go and meet her. I jumped back on my bed and lied down.
There was a loud jeering coming from somewhere. I took a step and suddenly I was standing outside a mob of people all in a circle. I pushed my way through a see of blurred faces to the front. In the middle I saw a girl with black hair and purple eyes, standing looking someone in the blurred-eye. There was lots of undistinguishable shouts and insults being throw at her. Then a person threw something and it hit here in the face. More people took their lead and started throwing things at her. She took them without flinching. The person that she was looking at came forward and stepped in front of her. He raised his hand, as if to smack her across the face, but all stopped. The rocks stopped in mid air. The mob became silent. All was still.
The girl turned to me and seeing the look in her eyes was spine-tingling. There was no sadness, no pain, no regret. There was just thins indescribable detachment. I saw a little hate, a little power, but it was like none of this was effecting her. It was like she had gone through this a thousand times. If this was the case, I feel sorry. No one should have to go through this.
"I don't want your sorrow, or anything like it" she said, her voice was sickly sweet and dripping like honey.
"You take all of this, all of it, as if it's nothing but routine"
"Yes. I do. And it is. But we're not here for that"
"Then what are we here for"
"We're here, because" her voice went silent. Like someone had just pressed mute.
"What?" I asked my voice was silent too.
The entire scene soon started to fade and blow away like sand. Her face melted away and slipped once again from my mind. The next thing I heard was a soft,
"Nico"
Then again, this time stronger,
"Nico"
"Nico"
I opened my eyes to see Percy standing over me.
"Come on man, it's time for dinner"
I stared at him for a moment, then I realized he had just interrupted my dream for food, I lunged. I tackled him to the floor. We wrestled on the floor.
"You" My curse was lost due to a yell from Percy as I tried to choke him.