Chapter 8

Lawrence p.o.v

"No." Her deep green eyes looked into mine, clouded with drowsy worry. "No, I'm pretty fucking far from okay. The things I saw, in my past lives." I felt Emilee's hand on mine, her soft touch sent a jolt up my arm.

"That's over, you're here now." I felt more tears stinging my eyes, I tried to hold them in. Emilee squeezed my hand, as if assuring me, this was a safe place. I let them roll down my cheeks, more memories flashing.

A packed church in Ottawa, a father burying his son, the twenty one gun salute rattling the windows. Then a field hospital in Vietnam, holding my best friend's head in my lap, as he heaved his last breaths, the holes in his chest filling his lungs with blood.

Soaking wet Roman soldiers fighting desperately for their lives, elephants trampling men to death. Then a mountain pass, nine thousand men stood fearless as a wave of Persian arrows blotted out the son.

"Lawrence," Emilee whispered, her green eyes pierced through the visions. "You're here," she squeezed my hand again, "you're safe." I laid my head down on the hospital bed, suddenly overwhelmed by exhaustion. As I fell asleep, I felt a hand brush through my hair, soothing me into slumber.

*

I opened my eyes and knew immediately, I was dreaming. But this wasn't another flashback, the eyes I was looking through were definitely mine. The scene before me was confusing. I was in a small brick room, in front of me three figures played cards around a small metal table.

The guy closest to me threw down his cards in frustration. The guy grinned and spoke in a low gravelly voice.

"And that's why you never bet against the house."

The third person spoke, a woman's voice, high and soft. "Actually," she laid down her cards, a royal flush. "I'll take that." She raked the substantial pot towards her. The guy who described himself as 'the house' scowled. The first guy pushed back his chair and stood with a stretch.

"Welp, I gotta piss, you two have fun." With that he turned and walked out of the room through a battered wooden door. The house leans back resting his hands on the table.

He opened his mouth to speak but Emily's voice came out. "Lawrence," my dream started to fade. "Lawrence, wake up it's breakfast." My vision came into focus, I awoke looking into Emily's big green eyes. "Why are you smiling?" I blinked remembering the rest of the world.

"I wasn't smiling," I pushed my self back to sitting and winced at my now thoroughly sore back. "Breakfast?" Emily laughed.

"Yes," she pointed to the tray on her bedside table, she had one on her lap as well. I took my tray and tucked in with vigor, all that dreaming had aroused my appetite.

When I was finished it occurred to me that I should tell Emily about my dream. "Hey Em," she looked up, surprised by the nickname. "This might sound weird, but I had this dream." I went on and told her everything I had seen.

When I finished she didn't look surprised, she inhaled long and leaned back on her bed. "And you're sure this wasn't a flashback." I nodded. She turned her dagger in her hand, something she seemed to do when thinking.

"We need to talk to Chiron." She said and swung her legs off the bed, she collapsed immediately, I just barely caught her in time.

"Woah woah woah," I tried to sound soothing. "You rest, i'll talk to Chiron."

"I would certainly hope so." I spun at the voice behind me. Sure enough, there he was, sitting in his wheelchair giving me a knowing smile. It was a weird thing, this was only my second time talking to the guy, but he already felt familiar. "Well," he spoke again, "I must say i'm impressed."

I cocked my head, confused, "With what?" His eyes twinkled kindly.

"Why your efficiency." I still didn't follow, I glanced at Emily but she seemed as confused as me. "You've been here what, three days, and you're already causing trouble,already stirring up trouble." He smiled warmly. "So, what is it you need to talk to me about?"

I sat back down in my bed side chair and, for the second time that morning, recited my dream.

"Do you think it means anything?" I asked.

"Demigods dreams always mean something" Chiron's smile was gone now, and he stroked his greying goatee. "But what, mmm, that I do not know. For now I want you to stay here, train as usual and tell me as soon as you have another dream." I nodded.

So that's what I did, everyday for a month and a half, I sparred in the mornings and read with Emily in the afternoons. I played capture the flag, I sang the campfire songs, for the first time ever I started feeling happy.

I should have known it wouldn't last.