The missing flower of flames
by Tately E DeLaure
chapter 4
Tate P.O.V
Formal was some thing I was trained in perfectly well, be a hero not so much. But no one could leave the camp without permission and I know for a fact I was never going to get it. So here I was sitting on the top of the hill next to the golden fleece and the dragon, I had a bit of toast for Peleus, it was my breakfast but I was not hungry this morning. The sky was blue with no clouds in sight, but I was used to storm clouds and rain, lots of rain. I was leaning against the tree and threw the rest of my toast to Peleus. Who ate it in one sitting.
"you knew that was for you and not Peleus. You need to eat just as much as that dragon does." Josh said walking up the hill. I glared at him, he was always telling me off for not doing something! But here's the thing, he grew up loved and well cared for. He was pampered while I had to work for most of my life just to keep the owner of the orphanage happy.
"I know but that doesn't mean I'll eat it" I said, moving over a bit so that he could sit down by me. Josh wrapped his arm around my shoulders; then handed me something. I looked down to see the old cricket ball that we used to play with as children in the court-yard at the York manner. I picked at the frayed stitching; but really I have lived in Kennewick Washington for so many year now, I've forgotten how to play cricket.
"Tately! Josh! Chiron called a war council meeting and he wants you two there now." Leo said coming up the hill. I throw my head back in irritation, I hate this. Even though I had only been here for a week and a half, I was getting called to these. I knew I was only a consultant. I got up and tossed the cricket ball to Peleus who caught it and started chewing on it.
"How could you give the dragon the cricket ball that grandfather gave us as children?" he asked.
"Simple dear brother, I don't remember what cricket is or how to play it. I do however remember that you hated that old thing." I said rubbing my chin and acting like Sherlock Homes. Josh smacked my arm playful, and we were both laughing but that stopped as soon as we heard the bam. I saw smoke coming from the right side of camp just outside of the woods. I run to where everyone was gathering, I saw Matt fight a hell-hound. My instincts were to step in and protect him, but I could not move. He was fighting so bravely and so beautiful, or that was until the thing throw him into a tree. My hand flew for my staff charm, and I went into full battle mode. I picked my way to the front line. Only to get pulled back by Leo.
"Tate what are you thinking? You don't knew how to fight." he said. I turn on him.
"That is Matt down there, and if he dies you will die. I have protected him for years now as the last wish of his sister." I said before pulling away and running. I saw a tree and several rocks. I jumped onto the smallest rock then the next until finally I was on a tree branch. I jumped down from the branch, and rolled down the hill so that I land on my feet right in between Matt and the hell-hound. I slammed the butt of my staff into the ground and the spell went to work. A silver net of flames surrounded the hell-hound. Making the thing grow smaller and smaller by the second. Once the hell-hound was gone I run to Matt side and started shaking him.
"Please Tata let me sleep for just a bit longer." Matt said, he never said his sister name he only ever said Tate or Tately.
"I am not Tata, Matt..."I stated but could not finish for the pain was too much, I ran pushing past every one. I run all the way to the other side of the camp before breaking down. I was under the arc of the lilac trees, when the wind picked up.
"Dear lord help me please in my greatest time of need for you of all knew the path that I have had to take my whole life to protect those that I love and care for. Amen. Mothers please I need you guidance, for much like that of Demeter I am lost and looking for the thing I have lost, which is my way." I said sitting back on my heels. The lilac was my favorite but I was not one to cry, never. I stood up, and put my hands on the lowest branch, and hulled myself up,I had always had felt better the closer to heaven I got. I was so comfy that I must have fallen a sleep. I woke to someone or something shaking the tree. And I mean the tree. I jump down from it to see a hell-hound ramming the tree.
"Good lord, why is this always happening to me." I said. The thing turned towards me, eyes as black as a bottomless pit. For I knew that thing did not have soul, it only had a feelings to kill that in which it was sent to kill. My hand as if it had a mind of its own, reached for something but find nothing. My charm bracelet was gone, and I was completely defenseless. I reached for any thing that I could use, a tree branch in my hands became a staff for a short time. I found one and started the spell of vanishing evil souls( monsters). The only thing is, it would not stop moving. Great and the stick was almost out of time. I was slammed into a tree, and the thing was over me, when it howled out in pain. It dissolved to dust, and an arrow landed in my lap. I threw down the small stick and the weak silver flame went out. I stayed like that trying not to move encase the person that shot the arrow thought I was also a threat, it's happen before. I tried to move my legs under me encase, I needed to run or fight, but without any weapons to protect myself with. I was going to die before I even reached the camp.
"Tately, come out where ever you are? Please Tater come out." Josh was yelling. He sounded worried.
"Thalia what are you doing here? Oh never mind, have you seen a small red-haired around here?" Leo asked.
"Behind those bushes but she's not moving, and she was fighting a hell-hound with a stick on fire." a girl said, I looked up and saw three arrows above me. I pull my self up using them and then push my self into the tree as high as I could go. I jump to the next tree but fell short and ended up landing on Josh. Who wrapped me in a bear hug before checking me over. I had a few cuts and scrapes but nothing bad. Or I thought until he saw my arms and legs. The stupid Hell-hound ripped the right pant leg off of my jeans, and my jacket was still in the tree, where I had been sleeping.
"Tately Elizabeth DeLaure, how in the name of the Queen of England did this happen?" Josh asked. He was asking me about the huge cuts on my arms and legs. Very long story for another time.
"There nothing. Just something that happened a few weeks ago." I said pinching his arm. I stood and stagger a few steps but quickly regain my balance. I pulled my jacket free from the tree, and slipped it on. I jogged away from the three of them and went back to the camp, I knew of only one person that had a history of stealing my bracelet. Maggie how she did it was a mystery to me. I walked into the outside of the circle of cabins, Jordan had said that Ares had a red cabin with instrument of war on it. But then again my bracelet also had instruments of war on it, and there's the fire. I run toward it.
"charm of sight, charm of flight come to me. give me strength give me power." I chant over and over hoping that the bracelet would hear me and come. And like always it did. It flow right into my hands and clamed down. I slipped it back on my wrist. Pain rushed up my arms and legs. The earth felt like it was spinning and than blackness over took me.
~time break~
I woke to a massive head ach and wrapped arms. And the bright lights over head didn't help that much either. I sat up only to find that Matt and Jordan were fighting again.
"... Matt it's your fault she got hurt, if you hadn't called her by your sister's name this would not have happen." Jordan yelled.
"How was I to knew, that calling Tate by my sister's name would cause her to get hurt. And you knew as while as I do that she will never let anyone dress her wounds. Frankly I surprise that no one saw them before now." Matt yelled back. I cleared my throat at that.
"I hide them very nicely and I'm not telling how come I did." I said swing my legs out from under the blanket. they were also wrapped in bandages. I stood weakly on my legs at first but soon gained the balance and grace to be me again. If you think heavy footed and stiff as a broad balanced and graceful, because I have never seen it. I was walking around the room when my right foot slipped out from under me, and I landed on my behind. Pain flared in my hip but soon faded. The door locked, the window to small- for Jordan and Matt- to climb out. I would of but to far of a drop, which would ended in me breaking my leg and/or neck.
"There is no way out." I said sitting back on the bed. The two of them looked at me as if I was crazy and I have been defined as CRAZY far too many times.
"Tater are you sure you're feeling ok?" Matt asked but it didn't sound that way. It sound as if he was asking if I was felling ok. I rubbed my ears just to make sure that what ever was clogging my ears up came out. Cotton balls, with little spots of blood on them. Jordan looked at them and then pushed me back on the bed. Jordan yelled something to Matt, who run out the door for something. The most I could hear was a slit buzzing. That when the images started flashing before my eyes. the flash of the flames, the flashing red and blue lights, it was to much for me to take. I fell back into the darkness.