Hush
Chapter Two
Sitting in a room looking at though a red orb on her desk, Veronica sighed, shaking her head. For the orb within in the orb, images and video of the chaos from all round the world. From fires, looting, fighting and even things much darker. The images of lifeless bodies shook her to the very core. Standing up, she walked away. Her hands were shaking as tears filled her eyes.
Making her way to the window in Veronica's rooms, he looked up at the blue sky. It was nice to see the sun along with the white fluffy clouds, but as she looked toward the right, a rumble reached her ears. Gray clouds were moving in as the rumbles were growing louder. It was only a matter of time before nature would catch up to the chaos all around the world.
Being the Goddess of Speech, something she found peaceful as she found warmth in light in the words humans used to say. She could walk down the street hearing a good morning as the laughter of kids followed, but the world has changed. There were barely any smiling faces anymore or laughter only cries and screams as foul words are used daily. Hurting many and injuring others, she even witnessed those in love say such things, which only brought more pain and despair to her heart. Talking away about her gift was the right decision, but the reaction only seemed to make things worst not better.
Lost in her thought Veronica didn't notice she was no longer alone. Glancing toward her desk, Veronica noticed Jeffery wearing his normal black suit looking at the red orb. He sighed, but he kept looking at the chaos and while she found it appalling, his eyes remained neutral but she thought saw a small smile on his lips.
"Looking among the humans again," He said, still staring at the orb.
"I thought it would be different," Veronica said.
"And?" Jeffery said, looking at her.
"It's gotten worse,"
"Which means taking away your gift has proven my point: humans are savages."
Sighing, Veronica looked to Jeffery, who walked to the door leaning on the door frame.
"Leave me,"
Nodding, Jeffery bowed before walking down the hall. Walking back over to her orb, Veronica waved her hand. It changed from red to blue as it showed images of the seas, oceans, and forests. As the fish swim in the ocean while deer roamed the forest and she even spotted a bear with its cubs. She smiled at the sight of the lioness licking her cubs clean. Sitting down with a sigh, more images of this continued playing. She would look at this for a while hoping to cleansing the chaos the humans have done from her mind. Yet even with all the chaos she had witnessed, she still pondered if all humans truly are savages.
Back at Camp Half-Blood, Annabeth and Grover stare at a young woman with reddish brown hair and emerald eyes walk through the entrance of the Camp. The woman looked around, noticing the camp fire along her once calm eyes grew worried. She turned to Annabeth and Grover, who were still looking back at her.
Unsure, Annabeth moved toward the woman, who walked toward her. The two were a few inches away from each other when they stopped. Both looked each other up and down. The young woman smiled as she noticed the white board around Annabeth's neck. The woman waved to Annabeth and Annabeth did the same. But as Annabeth pulled out her marker to write on her whiteboard, the woman shook her head and extended her hand out to her.
Putting her marker away Annabeth stared at the woman's hand that seem to have a slight pink glow to it. Looking up at the woman, who nodded, smiling. Looking back at Grover, who walked over to Annabeth, only prompted the woman to extend her other hand out to him. Shrugging their shoulders, Annabeth touched one hand while Grover touched the other. The two stood there shaking a bit as their minds felt as they were spinning, but after a few moments, it stopped, but they still felt a little dizzy.
"I am sorry it's a bit much at first time," a woman's voice said.
Grover's and Annabeth's eyes widen, they could hear the woman clearly and so they growing curious Annabeth went to open her mouth, but the woman shook her head.
"Not your lips. Use your mind." The woman introduced.
Nodding, Annabeth took a deep breath. "Okay, wow wait, it worked! Grover says something."
Grover kept his mouth close and grit his teeth.
"How is this?!"
Both Annabeth and the women winced. Annabeth smacked him upside the head.
"Not so loud."
"Yes, please relax and just let it flow, the woman said.
Nodding, Grover took a deep breath and tired again.
"How about now?"
"Perfect," Annabeth said before looking back at the woman. "Telepathy, first time I have encountered it this way.
"Same, ah sorry about before I'm Grover a Satyr."
"I'm Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena."
"I'm Nadine. It's a pleasure to meet you both." Nadine said.
Looking around some more, Nadine noticed the broken wooden tents and barrels. "From what I see, you all have been struggling with the loss of the gift."
"The gift?" Annabeth asked.
"The gift of speech."
Annabeth and Grover could only nod. They never heard of it said that way before. Noticing their reaction, Nadine could tell this was new to them.
"I don't know how to explain this but, there are other gods out in the word beside the Greek ones.
"Yeah we know Norse, Egyptian…" Annabeth started it.
"Yes, but the ones I follow are not well known," Nadine said.
"Hm, and they are the reason we can't talk." Annabeth said.
"Yes, but just one did that to not just here but the world."
Annabeth and Grover nodded before talking in union.
"You need to speak to Chiron."
"Who?" Nadine asked.
"Our mentor and the one who runs Camp Half-Blood."
"Lead the way."
Letting go of Nadine's hand, they felt the dizziness again, but they pushed on, headed toward Big House.
Heading back to help clean up the barrel pieces, Percy saw Annabeth and Grover walking with a woman with long reddish brown hair toward Big House. he had never seen that woman before, but why did she feel so familiar to him? Shaking his head, he went back to picking up the barrel pieces when Annabeth ran over in his direction. Tossing the pieces into the fire, Annabeth took a hold of Percy's hand. Tugging on it gently, she motioned for him to follow she shook her head when he wanted to protest. So he nodded and followed her, Grover, and the young woman to Big House.
Once the three of them reach Big House, they were welcomed by Dionysus, who wrote on his whiteboard.
"Who is this?"
Annabeth went to write something when Nadine touched Dionysus' hand, which his eyes widen. Pulling his hand away, he opened the door to the big house and lead the way down the hall to Chiron's office.
As the door to his office opened, Chiron was greeted by Dionysus, but he moved aside as Annabeth, Percy, Grover and a woman with reddish brown hair entered the room. Motioning for them to sit, Chiron looked at the young woman, who looked back at him, smiling. She found her hand reaching out, wanting to touch his fur, but Chiron took a hold of her hand instead. His eyes widen as his mind swirled and body shook. Percy saw this, which only made me even more curious, which led to him touching her shoulder.
Sensing a new presence, she glanced back at the young man with brown hair that seem to hold a cerulean tint in his eyes. Switching hands, she offered it to the young man who took it.
"Hello my name is Nadine; I spoke to a young man from your camp who I believe can help me quell the chaos." Nadine said.
"So, it was you," Percy said,
Nadine looked at the young man, who smiled at her. The more she stared at him, her eyes flicker as she remembered his voice.
"Yes, but who you?"
"My name is Percy Jackson, Son of Poseidon. You already met my friends Annabeth and Grover."
"My name is Chiron. I run this camp with Dionysus whom you have also met." Chiron said.
"It is a pleasure met you all, but time is not on our side. If we are to end this chaos, I need Percy's help."
Before anything else could be said, Nadine felt two others presences.
"We want to go to," Annabeth stated.
"But go where? Grover asked.
Nadine answered a question with another.
"Do you know of the Sensory Gods?" Nadine asked.
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover went quiet while Chiron shifted his eyes from left to right.
"The gods of the five senses Speech, Taste, smell ,sound and sight." Chiron said. Wow, it's been a long time since I had to remember them.
"The Goddess of Speech Veronica has taken away her gift." Nadine said before breathing heavily.
Seeing her discomfort, Percy looked at Annabeth and Grover. "This is too much for her let go I will fill you both in later.
Nodding, Annabeth and Grover let go and sat back down.
Feeling lighter, Nadine took a deep breath and continued.
"She believes all humans are savages. I was about to believe her words until I encountered you and your perception of the loss of this gift. I hope this can prove to Lady Veronica that she is wrong.
Percy and Chiron remained silent. This was a lot to take in, but Percy knew he couldn't back down. This was the chance he was looking for. If he could convince Veronica the error in her judgment, perhaps he could end all of this and peace could finally return.
"We want to help you," Percy said, looking back to Annabeth and Grover, who nodded.
Nadine smiled as a rush of joy flowed through the link. Percy and Chiron's eyes widen at the sensation.
"Whoa don't get too excited, we still have to find Veronica. Do you know where she is?" Percy asked,
"No, but I know where we can start." Nadine said.
"You, Annabeth and Grover better pack you three have a long journey ahead of you." We'll take care of things here." Chiron said.
"Thank you, I won't let you down." Percy said.
Nodding, Chiron and Percy let go of Nadine. Sighing, she flopped back down in her chair. Percy pulled out his white board and began writing on it while Chiron offered Nadine a bottle of water, which she gladly took and guzzled down.
After a few moments Annabeth nudged Nadine, who hopped up and followed behind the three of them as they left the room.
Dionysus held up his white board.
"Sensory Gods?"
Chiron held up his board. "I'll explain later."
Nodding, Dionysus left, leaving Chiron to pull out an enormous book that read "The Sensory". Looks like he had some reading to do.
Meanwhile, walking down the hall in the tower, Jeffery stopped when two men approached him.
"We wish to speak with the goddess," the men said.
"I'm afraid she is not in the mood." Jeffery replied.
"What she has done…." One man went to say,
"She has shown humans have abused this gift for too long. They are savages as you have seen, so no, she will not return it." Jefferey said.
Both men starred at each other before drawing their swords, but as they went to attack, Jeffery merely smiled. His eyes flicker as two pairs of hands wrapped around the men, pulling them toward the wall. They tried to resist but were eventually pulled into a purple pool, disappearing completely.
Jeffery's ear twitched when he heard food steps. Turning around, there stood Veronica with a concerned look on her face.
"Is everything okay? I thought I heard something," Veronica said.
"Everything is fine. I was just talking out loud to myself." Jeffery replied.
"Oh well, carry on then". Veronica said, nodding and walking away.
Jeffery bowed as he watched Veronica leave. The moment she was out of sight, he turned around and continued walking down the hall with a stern look on his face.
"So, they have finally stirred. This may prove interesting, after all." Jeffery said, as his eyes gave off a red glow.