Chapter Seven: Silena
I'm still trying to dry the tape recorder. (Stop laughing Luke!) It got drenched with my tears. I can't even think about Kyle (insert bawling here) without drowning my house in salty tears.
Three Hours Later...
Well, I'm back. Now my eyes are all red, and I used about three boxes of Kleenex.
I'm back. In a cooler place. Called Camp Half-Blood. I love this place most of the time. But since last year, I hate it at times. Going to Camp Half-Blood is like a family field trip to me. My parents stay in New Athens, the Greek version of New Rome, Luke and I stay in either the Athena or Poseidon cabin. Our little brother, Carter, alternates every week. He's 9. I know, we didn't mention him, but he's like our Mom. He has her blond hair, and her stormy gray eyes. He's also like Athena. He loves reading, except he's dyslexic and ADHD, and he loves architecture.
I hate this wretched place too. It's where Kyle died. If only we'd reached the pine tree in time. But it was too late, and we were already exhausted to take any more steps, so we camped 10 yards away. I wish we'd taken those last steps. Then the magical border would have protected us from the cyclops and I would still have Kyle by my side now, looking over my shoulder and suggesting things and saying hi to you all.
But that can't happen.
"Oh, hey Carter," I said, closing the laptop lid. Carter is known for his big mouth, and Chiron would kill us if he found out that we were writing a story. He let our dad's copy slide, but Chiron said no one can ever write a demigod story again. Something about this guy supposedly "owning" demigods.
"Hey Silenni," he said, peering over my shoulder, trying to see what I was working on. I shoved him, half for being nosy, and half for calling me Silenni. I hate that name. It sounds like a type of disease.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me SILENNI!" I shouted. Another girl walking into Cabin 3, my best friend, Ashley Gardner, daughter of Demeter. Everyone calls her Ash though. She's a GIRL by the way. But she's a tomboy.
"Hey Ash. Bye Carter," I said, grinning at Ashley.
"Hey Ashley," Carter said, ignoring my earlier comment.
"Bye Carter," I repeated, glaring at him. Random ADHD moment, but Carter was named after this magician that our dad met when he was killing a crocodile. Don't know how THAT happened, but whatever. He finally got the message, and turned his back towards me, muttering incoherently.
Carter whirled back around, stuck his tongue out at me and waltzed out of the room. I got up and hugged Ashley, who grinned.
"Personal space Silenni," Ashley said, laughing. I lightly whacked her arm, and gave her a playful glare.
"So, what up?" Luke said, charging into the Poseidon cabin. I mentally groaned. I hate brothers. (Hey! I hate sisters!) Shut up Luke! Following Luke was our half-uncle, Noah. He was sixteen, and counselor for the Poseidon cabin. He had Poseidon's ebony hair, and clear blue eyes the color of the sea.
"Hey Noah!" I got up and gave Noah a brotherly (uncle-ly?) hug. His muscular arms wrapped around me, and I whiffed a faint scent of the salty sea air.
"Hey Silly," Noah said, ruffling my hair. It was an old inside joke. When we were little, Noah couldn't say Silena, so he called me Silly. The name stuck, and now he calls me that all the time. Ashley and Luke laughed, but I ignored them, smiling at my favorite uncle.
"Ladies, ladies, you can hug later. Now it's time for a- beach party!" Luke said, chuckling. (I still praise myself for that one!) He held out a picnic basket, and shoved it in my face.
"Who's coming?" Ashley asked, staring at Noah. Everyone knew she was crushing on him, but she furiously denied it. Her eyes traveled up and down his body, and Noah watched her, a playful smile on his lips. He was probably used to all the crushers, like all the other children of Poseidon, even Luke. (I'm handsome!)
"Well, Jake Stoll, Evelyn Solace, Char Grace-" Luke hesitated a little. "Sophia Valdez, Sam Valdez, Bridget Stoll, Ben Grace, Xander Stoll, and Zach Grace. Oh, Carter, Dawn Underwood, Alyssa Underwood, Mason Valdez, and Matt Solace and a bunch of other campers."
So, even I can't remember all the names, so here is a list:
(In age order)
Stolls: Bridget, Jake, and Xander
Jacksons: Luke, Silena, and Carter
Solaces: Matt and Evelyn
Graces: Char, Ben, and Zach
Valdezes: Sammy, Sophia, and Mason
Underwoods: Alyssa and Dawn
"Wow," Ashley breathed out. I wasn't sure if it was because of Noah, or the number of campers that were coming. Noah smirked even more, and I lightly poked her arm.
I exited the cabin, the lovey dovey-ness too much for me.
