Chapter 5

Lawrence p.o.v

"Thomas," I said, "Thomas Smithson, Alex company first Sergeant, 101st

Airborne. My friends called me Tommy." Emilee rubbed circles in my back to calm me down; it helped a little.

The images of battle were starting to fade in my mind and I could no longer smell the death, but I still remembered. That was part of me, somehow, for some reason, Thomas Smithson was part of me.

"I think I understand the visions." Emilee said, hand falling back to her side. "Thomas, his soul is attached to you, somehow." I nodded slowly, it made some sense. "Maybe it's your mother, goddess of misery. Miserable souls are attracted to you."

"Fun." I croaked, my voice lost somewhere back in Germany.

"That would explain how good you are at fighting too." I raised an eyebrow at her. "I've been training here four years. You've never even held a spear before. There's no way you should've been able to beat me that easily." I smiled and nodded.

"Excuses excuses." She smiled and shoved my shoulder playfully.

"Shut up." She looked away but I could see her smiling.

"Want another round?" I asked already knowing the answer. She faced me again, grinning.

"Hell yeah!" She jumped to her feet. I followed her back to the middle of the arena. She unsheathed her swords and I pulled out my lighter. In an instant it was a spear again. I leveled the point at her and charged, she dodged to the left and slashed down at my side. I just barely moved my spear shaft in the way parrying her blades to the side.

She leapt back and I pressed my reach advantage, keeping her away with jabs so I was out of her range. We circled one another, weapons at the ready, until I saw my opportunity. I lunged low between her legs knocking her right knee off to the side. She flailed her arms to regain balance and, with the butt off my spear, I slammed her in the chest. She toppled to the ground.

"Rematch." She said between gasps. I laughed and nodded leaning on my spear to catch my breath. Suddenly, it was a lighter again, I plummeted to the sandy floor, landing next to Emilee who was trying not to die from laughter.

We fought for hours, I won most of the time but Emilee managed to outsmart me once or twice. It got even harder for her when, halfway through, my spear turned into a five foot scimitar and she had to change her entire strategy. We concluded that the lighter took on the form of whatever weapon was best for the opponent.

*

When the dinner horn blew we were both sweating our assess off, so we split up and showered before heading to the dining pavilion. I got there early and waited at my table. Pretty soon the pavilion was bustling and plates loaded with food were set on my table. I licked my lips and loaded up with food. Along with everyone I stood walked to the fire and scraped some in. I made a silent prayer to the gods, thanking them for bringing me to camp half-blood.

The food was great, like always, and it tasted even better with the knowledge that I was finally safe.

*

I was woken up the next day by a loud knocking on the door. "Ugh!" The knocking continued. "No! Piss off!" Someone opened the door, last straw. I grabbed the lamp beside my bed and whipped it at the doorway.

I heard a grunt and a thump as someone fell to the floor. I looked up to see who it was, give you three guesses. "Geoffrey." I rolled my eyes at the dazed boy lying on my floor.

"Fuck you man." He groaned and rubbed his head. "Gods that hurts." I made fake pouty lips at him.

"Awww, boohoo." He glared at me. "You gonna cry?" He flipped me off and stood. "Why are you even here?"

"Emilee sent me to get you." He says through gritted teeth. "Meet her in the library." I raised and eyebrow at him.

"So you're her messenger now huh? Damn I didn't think the friend zone got that deep." Geoffrey looked about ready to flip.

"Just go." He turned and stormed off. I chuckled to myself. I rolled out of bed, pulled on pants and a CHB tank top. I checked my reflection in my cabin's mirror. Looking good, I tousled my hair and left the cabin.

I headed in the direction of the Athena cabin. When I got there it was empty, so I headed to the library. There I found Emilee sitting at a table with a huge stack of papers, and an almost empty jug of coffee. "Hey," I said, her head snapped up and I saw bags under her eyes, her hair had probably started off in a bun, but was now just a complete shambles.

"Hi," She responded, before quickly turning her focus back to the book she was reading. Or more accurately two books, that she was seemingly trying to read simultaneously.

"Okay," I said, slowly sitting down. I tried to get her attention, but she was either too focused, or too sleep deprived to notice. "Emilee. Emilee!" She snapped her head up, I put a hand on both books. "Chill the hell out. What are you even doing?"

She tried to snatch the books back but I closed them and tucked them under my arm. "Fine," she sighed and leaned back. "I was trying to research this Thomas, and your condition in general." I nodded, and gestured for her to continue. "Well, turns out he's real."

She pulled a folder out from the stack of paper and handed it to me. "Still can't read remember." I said handing it back to her. Her eyes widened.

"Shit, that's right." She took it and started to read. "US Army attestation papers. Thomas Smithson, mother: Helena Smithson, father: unknown. Enlisted December 10 1941 to the 101st Airborne division in New York. Killed December 26 be shell fire in siege of Bastogne."

I heard explosions, bullets whizzing by, trees cracking. I blinked away the noise and sweat beaded on my forehead. Emilee didn't notice and carried on talking.

"And these," she pulled out another sheaf of papers. "These are the camp

half-blood records from 1938." She flipped through to a certain page and scanned down it with a triumphant look on her face. "Right here, Thomas Smithson, sixteen, son of Aries." I thought about that for a second. Somehow, I had a ninety six year old dead demigod's memories.

"So, how is he me? Or, how am I him?" She shrugged.

"Still figuring that out. But I think I know someone who can help." I raised and eyebrow.

"Who?" Emilee stood tucking some papers and books under her arms.

"Nico Di Angelo, Hades cabin head counselor."