I have a feeling a lot of people are going to hate me after they read the bottom author's note. It's kind of sad, but this story keeps going on and on and I think it's finally time that I tell you all something very important.
I have beat writers' block and this chapter is what came out. Read the chapter and then read the bottom note because I must tell you something...
The question around camp wasn't how Philippe would make his entrance. It didn't matter. There was a camper at every entrance to our camp. That also included the collapsed entrance to the Labyrinth. We knew the Labyrinth has gone with Daedalus's passing. Chiron still had us guard it.
The question everyone was asking was WHEN would Philippe make his appearance? We were hoping soon. Constant motion of the camp was sickening. The small children were locked away in their cabins under the supervision of one older camper. Harpies no longer were on the job. That was the night campers' job. That included all the children of Morpheus, Hecate. It also included Hazel, Nico, and my self.
We stalked the borders and made trips through the cabin wings to make sure no one wandered out. The harpies weren't allowed out due to the fact that they might eat or maim one of the kids that were supposed to be on duty for the night. Chiron didn't want to take the risk. Nico and I usually met up once a night to check on each other. It didn't last too long, but we cherished the few moments we had.
One night was especially strange. I had been going along the border having not found anything. But, I felt like I was being watched. It was that feeling you get when the star in the horror movie keeps turning around because she thinks she hears footsteps. I don't watch scary movies a lot simply because they scare my senseless. Once I had watched on and I tried throwing popcorn at the monster or the person. I can't remember what it was now.
Nico and I met up at the intersecting point of our routes. He had already been standing there when I showed up. He smiled and opened his arms to me. I took the hug gratefully and felt the comfort spread through every limb in my body.
"How are you?" Nico asked laying his head in my hair.
"Good…" I trailed off kind of unsure.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked putting me at arms length to look at my face.
"I don't know… I feel like I'm being… stalked." I whipped around at a slight noise. Nico tensed pulling me back into his chest.
"If it's a monster it can't get you we're just inside the borders. But, if it's a half-blood we'll have to fix it, and soon. I'll see what I can do."
After that night Nico asked Annabeth for a favor. I began using her invisible hat and Nico began strengthening a new sort of power. He had figured that if he could travel with the shadows perhaps he could be a shadow. He was like a traveling dark mist through the darkness. It scared me so bad the first time he showed up at our meeting like that. He melted from the shadows and tackled me. He covered my mouth and then kissed me quickly with a wicked grin on his face.
"It worked." He laughed. And that was all his said. I threw a couple of insult in his face, but he paid them no attention.
The tenth night or so was when it happened. At first it was just the sound of hooves. Nico screamed something into the air that I didn't catch, but I tensed down into a hunters crouch. The sound came closer. It pinpointed me exactly. I slipped on the invisibility cap and the noise halted for a bit before a continuation straight for me.
Finally, it came into few. A skeletal horse with no insides sauntered up the borders. On its back was Philippe. At least I thought it was Philippe. It looked like him at first glance that was for sure. But, if you looked him in the face you could see the gleaming gold that was now in his eyes. I had seen those eyes before.
I held off a gasp as I remembered having fallen in love with those very same eyes. Those eyes that had captivated me in a completely and totally unhealthy way stared at me now. I was invisible though wasn't I? He couldn't possible see me. The moonlight caught his face and I noticed something on his face. It was like a mirage or a hologram. If he turned just the right way you could see a scar. It wasn't really there, or was it? I couldn't quite figure it out.
"I've missed you my dear." Kronos's raspy voice echoed from Philippe's mouth and I held back a gasp. "That silly little hat can't hide you from me." He reached out a gentle hand and extended his arm as if to touch my face. I backed away automatically. Someone grabbed me out of the shadows and I tried to scream. The person covered my mouth and I began to thrash.
"It's me…" Nico grunted not letting go of me. I went still letting him drag me through the shadows behind a line of trees. There was a large collaboration of campers waiting and Nico let me go. He apologized for scaring me. It was a surprisingly sincere apology even though he enjoyed scaring me. Nico gave an order to one kid who passed it along the ranks. We were to hold our ground. If the fighting came it would stop here.
"Aikaterine," Kronos's voice split the air drawing out my name sweetly. I winced at the sound and cowered back farther until I ran into Percy. He smiled at me and rubbed my shoulders. Annabeth winked at me. I took a deep breath that went down to the pit of my stomach and then took the few steps forward so that I was back in position beside Nico.
"You'll be ok." He assured me kissing me tenderly. I nodded as soon as our lips parted. I pulled on the invisibility cap and snuck back into the woods. I don't think Nico noticed, but he would soon enough.
I crept back through the line of trees and ended up where I had met Kronos. Philippe's body was standing tall and strong with the golden eyes of the lord of time set deep in his skull. The moonlight was the one thing I wanted him to avoid. If he stepped into the moonlight you could see that scar that had marked the face of the last host of Kronos.
"Aikaterine, I know you're here. I can feel your presence." I let out a low and slow breath that I hadn't realized I was holding and his head snapped in my direction. I backed up a step and he stalked forward. Gods… I wasn't doing to well with stealth mode. Might as well go vision… I thought taking the ball cap off my head.
"Aw, there you are." Kronos' voice hissed in my direction. I took a large breath and took a step forward drawing my sword. Backbiter, it was the sword I could trust… sort of. It was the only sword I had really ever used.
"Why did you come back so soon?" I demanded. My voice was deceiving. It sounded much, much stronger than I actually felt.
"To finish what I started," He responded standing straight at the shock from my confident tone.
"Do you think I'd let you do that?" I asked swinging my sword in my hand with skill.
"No, but do you seriously think you can beat me?"
"I don't know about her, but I know I can." Percy stepped out from the trees with a grin so big on his face you would have thought he was a cocky jerk. If it was toward Kronos, I didn't mind. "I've done it once before."
"Luke killed me. And, that was only with temptation by that Chase girl!" Kronos hissed his short temper getting to him.
"You mean me?" Annabeth came out of the woods behind Percy and smiled at Kronos kindly.
"Luke was weak. You can't convince my new host to kill himself. He doesn't know any of you!" Kronos was trying to convince himself now. I could tell by his tone.
Nico melted from the shadows behind Kronos and began to talk scaring Kronos slightly. "He knows me. I could scare it out of him." Nico suggested chuckling darkly. Kronos's eyes flashed that blue green I knew to be Philippe's eyes and then vanished again.
"Yea Philippe should remember me as well." I spoke up stepping forward. "Philippe, remember what I told you your first day? Here we're equals. You will get no such respect just because you're hosting Kronos in your body."
"You should bow down to me!" Philippe's voice broke through and I smiled.
"See you do remember me." I smiled sheathing my sword and crossing my arms over my chest. Kronos took the opportunity and pulled his blade. I struggled with mine getting it out just in time to stop his strike. Nico tried to come in, but Percy held out an arm and told him to be still. He told him that this was my fight. I turned my head to look at him like he was crazy. I may have been a good swordsman, but against Kronos I was nothing but a sparring dummy. Percy's eyes were glassed over. I thought, damn… He was possessed. Someone was telling him that this was my fight and he was listening. Gods' damn…
I pushed back Kronos's blade and struggled with my footing as he made another slash for my midsection. I jumped back almost falling down backwards. Kronos took that as a keen opportune moment and slashed at my arm. He cut a deep gash. I screamed in pain feeling like I was dying. My energy level went way down, and I felt like part of my soul had been sliced from my body.
"Lady Hera, please help me." I whispered struggling to stand tall.
Now is your time Hadraniel. Hera's voice echoed in my mind.
"No…" I breathed running into a tree as Kronos tool another shot at me. I blocked it lazily almost not able to stop the blow.
He will die soon. Your time on Earth is done. She insisted calmly. There was no worry or sadness in her tone. He shall prove himself for the last time tonight when he fights in honor of you.
You, you're the one telling Percy to hold him back for now. You're trying to get me killed! I thought in exasperation. Kronos cut a gash at my ankle and I fell down gasping in air. There was a slice on my rib cage, on my ankle, and on my arm. I couldn't stand; I could barely breathe. I was finished.
I'm sorry Hadraniel. Hera's voice whispered into my mind just as Kronos' scythe finished me off.
I thought that was the end of my life. I thought I was done. I thought so many things all at once I had forgotten exactly who I was. I was Hadraniel. I was an angel. So, when I died I didn't go to somewhere new. I went home. Home to watch Nico prove himself for what Hera had said was the last time. Did that mean he was going to die?
So, you've read this whole chapter and I must tell you. This story is coming to a close. The next chapter is going to be the last of the Jail of the Forbidden. Hadraniel has done her job and she is the story. So, read the next chapter when it comes out soon. That will be the end. I love y'all! PLEASE don't hate me. But, all stories must come to an end...
Sincerely,
wisegirlindisguise
