A Warning of Hatred

I'm shaken awake by Katelynn while she screams my name. I don't understand why until I see Maliah, her eyes that sickly shade of blue and her sword raised over us. I wrapped my arms around Katelynn and push us out of the way just as her sword comes down. I push Katelynn behind me and release Dynami just in time to block Maliah's next attack.

"Run and get help, Kate." I tell her, not taking my eyes off of the girl in front of me.

"Okay," she says and I hear her feet hitting the floor as she leaves.

"Maliah, you have to fight it back!" I yell at her, blocking another attack.

A sick laugh escaped Maliah's throat, and it's not hers. It isn't light and bubbly, it's almost raspy and chaotic. It made me sick hearing it come from her.

"You foolish, foolish demigod. She couldn't fight back anymore if she tried. I'm afraid she's just all worn out," a voice laughs from deep within Maliah.

"Why are you possessing her, Hecate?" I snap, blocking another attack.

Katelynn runs back into the room with Perry and Harvey hot on her trail, "Do something!"

Katelynn is crying, loud sobs racking through her body. Perry gives her a sympathetic look and pulls her into his chest, holding her head there and shielding her from the view. Harvey begins chanting, louder and faster than last night. Perry chants behind him, only softer and with only one hand able to do the same signs as the night before. I knew that Harvey was making up for his brother, now.

"My own sons would dare to do this?" the voice screams from Maliah.

"Shut up." Harvey snaps, then continues his chants.

"Come on," I mumble, "come on."

Maliah screams, an actual scream that sounds like her, and falls forward. She was bleeding. I hadn't noticed but right before Harvey expelled Hecate away, she stabbed herself. Katelynn fought against Perry and turned around, her eyes wide as she gasped.

"Do something!" she screamed, "You can't let her die!"

"Shh," Perry says, "it's okay. We know a few minor healing spells that will help speed up the process. Just breathe."

He was nice to her, so soft spoken. Perry didn't really talk much anyway, but it was clear he had a soft spot for Katelynn. She cried a little more and it made me wonder why she cared so much for Maliah. Sure, we were all friends, but she was the most shaken up by this. I then realized that Maliah wasn't just her friend. To Katelynn, the girl who was cast to the side by her best friend, had finally found a new friend who would pay attention to her, listen to her, and give her advice. Ellie clung on to Katelynn far more now than Katelynn did her. Ellie wasn't Katelynn's best friend. Maliah was.

And letting your best friend die right in front of you wasn't something demigods did so easily.

"Kate, go lay down and get some rest. They're going to heal her." I tell her.

"But-"

"It's okay, just take the bed. When you wake up, Maliah will be okay. I promise." I tell her, "Get some rest, you're exhausted."

She gives me a sad look, but she nods. She gets up, hesitates, but hugs me. I hug her back and then she walks to the bed, lying in it and closing her eyes. It takes the brothers twenty minutes to heal Maliah. They chant together, sweating and struggling, and for twenty straight minutes her wound closed slowly.

"This," Perry paused, struggling, "is taking so-"

"Focus, Perry, she needs us. Absolute focus." Harvey responds.

They both go back to chanting and after a minute, the wound is completely sealed. They both fall forward, holding themselves up and panting.

"Why did it take you so long?" I ask, "And why are you so drained?"

"We did it without the proper plants and herbs. It's almost impossible. Luckily, we're two of the only three children of Hecate who can pull it off." Harvey pants.

"Oh."

I pick up Maliah and the brothers say their goodbyes, staggering to their room. I place Maliah in the bed and crawl into Katelynn's sleeping bag.

"This is only the beginning," a shrill voice hissed in my ears, "I will kill that girl, demigod, and you can't stop me. Mark the words of Melanie, goddess of hatred and death."

I woke up to Maliah and Katelynn screaming. Just as I almost jumped up ready to attack, it was followed by laughter. I stare at them, confused, but they just giggle a little more. Maliah waves me a quick good morning and I return it. After a minute, Brandon walks into the room carrying three plates and three sodas, as though he were a waiter.

Ellie pops her head in behind him and smiles at us. Her eyes land on Katelynn in confusion.

"Kate, why are you in here? Why aren't you hanging out with us?" she asks, in reference to Brandon and herself.

She hadn't meant it in a rude way, either. The sad thing was she actually had no clue why Katelynn wasn't with them.

"I'm not going to be a third wheel anymore, Ellie." Katelynn said, as a matter of fact.

"Third wheel? You're not a third wheel." Ellie says.

"She kind of is, Ellie. You always ignore her when I'm around." Brandon says, coming to Kate's defense. Kate motions to him with her arm and a look on her face that says, see-I-told-you.

"Plus, I'm still not over you lying to me." Katelynn says.

"So we're just not friends anymore, is that it?" Ellie asks, rage in her eyes.

Katelynn sighs, "Right now, I don't know. I know that I'm upset and I need time."

Ellie sighs and storms out. Katelynn looked kind of guilty, but she didn't feel guilty enough to follow Ellie. Brandon sighs and sits the food down, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm proud of you for speaking up about how you felt, Katie. I love Ellie, but even I see that you and Maliah have way more in common. You're both just becoming teenagers, you two can relate more to each other. You figure out how you feel about everything, and in the mean time she'll cool off."

Katelynn nods and Brandon leaves. He really was a great brother. After we finished eating, Prometheus walked into the room.

"Little girl of Zeus," he says, "We're here."

"We're where?" she asks.

"The Island of the Lost."