*read in adorable voice* ANOTHER CHAPPIE! :3 THANK YOU FOR READING MY STORY GUYS!
Anyways, back to normal voice. I know there has been at least a hundred people who have viewed this story. THANK YOU ONCE MORE! Without further ado, ENJOY!
Disclaimer: I don't own PJO and HoO. I will never own it. (At least, I think so. I've still got my 'PJO buying' money in the bank.)
VIII
Sydney
I pounced towards Blake, who barely had time to dodge.
It was one of our regular training sessions we've had for the past month, since I came to camp. They helped ease my stress about Jane, and now just life in general pretty much.
This time Blake lunged at me, and I blocked with my sword. That's how the session went, and I wouldn't want to bore you with details.
Well, until Will Solace came.
See, we stopped fighting because we know that if Will comes, it has to do with Jane. Or, at least, most of the time. I instinctively assumed the worst: she was dead. I honestly didn't know how to feel. My mind went numb. Whenever I looked at Blake, he looked as shocked as me. My heart pounded in my chest. I felt like I suffocating. I'd lost the person who kept me alive for three or more years..
Then I noticed Will was smiling.
I was instantly confused. Why would he be...?
Then I knew.
She wasn't dead. She was awake. She had to be.
"Jane? Is she awake?" I asked, eager to hear his response.
He nodded. "Yes, she just got changed and discussed some things with Chiron."
I looked over at Blake, who didn't look shocked anymore. He was smiling slightly, and looking over at me now.
"Er," Blake started. "Can I..?"
"Yeah," I responded with a smile.
Will beckoned us to follow him, and we did. As we left the arena, I saw Lulu leaning against the Poseidon cabin alone. I immediately felt bad, as Blake and I just left her to do our training session, but I suddenly had an idea to make up for it.
"Will, hang on a second," I told him, and he stopped as I requested.
I then jogged over to the girl, and smiled.
"Hey Lulu!"
"Hi."
She frowned slightly after she said that. "Why are you so-"
"Happy?" I laughed. "I know since you've got to know me, I haven't been the most upbeat of people, but I am now. Like I used to be. Why? Jane's awake."
"Jane? The girl who fell into a coma before I came?"
"Yeah, I think you'll like her. Oh, yeah, that's what I came to talk for. Do you want to meet her?"
"Do I? Of course not Sydney." She laughed, and I rolled my eyes as I motioned her to follow me back to Will and Blake.
The walk there was even more boring then the sparring session, so I won't waste ten minutes of your life describing the uneventful walk to the front of The Big House.
All I can say was that whenever I saw Jane, she didn't see me.
She was wearing a camp tee shirt, underneath her grey leather jacket. She also wore jeans and black high top sneakers. Her dark brown hair was in a loose fishtail braid, and she looked much paler than when I last saw her.
"Jane.."
My voice was quiet, but I said her name loud enough for her to hear, she turned to me, and for once, I saw a genuine smile on the girl who drinks gloominess along with breakfast. I broke off from my group, and ran up to her.
As soon as I got up there, I tackle-hugged her. (Or is it bear-hugging? Either way, you get what I meant.)
Jane pulled away, and frowned.
Somehow, she seemed different.
Besides the paleness, everything looked the same. Although, it all seemed..more dull, less vibrant. Her green eyes seemed much paler than when I last remembered too. Honestly, I didn't know what to think.
"Jane, what-"
"So, this is Jane," Blake said from behind me.
Jane instantly turned to her usual cold and calculating self. She studied Blake, and when she saw Lulu, the look in her eyes became dark.
I felt like Lulu was a C-4 and Jane was a nuke.
Jane immediately scowled and pushed pass me over to Lulu. I tried to stop her, but she just brushed me off. Lulu avoided Jane's gaze, not looking her in the eye. I knew Lulu didn't like meeting new people that well, but I didn't know how she'd handle hostile Jane. What made Jane so angry, though, I wasn't sure. All I knew was that hopefully Lulu wasn't as shy as she could be around passive or neutral strangers as she was hostile ones.
Especially hostile ones like Jane. I've seen the way she'll kill a monster, and it's brutal.
I was really praying to the gods she didn't use that method on Lulu. Although I'm more than certain Lulu could take Jane, I was just worried that Lulu wouldn't have enough time to get ready.
"And who are you?" Jane asked, her voice cold.
"Louisse Mae Johnson."
"And why are you with Sydney?"
"She rescued me."
Jane muttered, "From what?"
"A chimera."
Jane scowled and said under her breath, "What? Didn't your mortal mother or father teach you how to fight?"
"Don't mention my mother," Lulu snapped angrily.
Jane sneered, "Why? Are you embarrassed?"
"Jane," I started. "Please lea-"
"Sydney."
I went towards Jane, but I felt a hand grab my arm, and when I turned to see who, Blake had.
He whispered to me, "This Jane girl...no offense, but she isn't as great as you made her seem. Oh, and Lulu can fight her own battles."
I shrugged. "Jane seems different..."
Blake pointed back towards the girls. They were calmed down now, but Jane was glaring at Lulu, and Lulu ignored her. Eventually, Jane came back to me. She gave no acknowledgement to Blake.
"Sydney, there's something I have to tell you. I've been...assigned a quest."
"You? A quest? But-"
"I know. I just woke up and I'm not claimed."
Blake fake coughed to get our attention. It worked.
"Um, guys? What's this quest about?"
Lulu nodded in agreement with Blake, but said nothing.
Jane muttered, "The peaceful god of death stole a ring that makes him invisible, and I have to get it back with the help of a few others."
Blake raised an eyebrow. "Did you get a prophecy from Rachel?"
Jane frowned at him. "Rachel? And who are you?"
"Rachel is the host of the Oracle of Delphi, and usually she'll give a prophecy about the quest."
"Why?"
"So you can go on the quest," Blake replied. "There hasn't been a quest or prophecy for two years, though."
"Oh."
"Yeah, Rachel should be arriving anytime. Considering it's January 4th, the schools are still on Winter break, Rachel's in camp, so-"
Jane looked alarmed. "What is today again?"
"January 4th, why?"
She ignored Blake again, her eyes wide. Then it hit me-Jane's birthday. December 17th. She had turned sixteen over two weeks ago.
"Jane," I said. "You're sixteen."
She nodded in response. "I turned sixteen in a coma where I ended up getting my first quest."
We all said nothing until a girl came. She was about seventeen or so, probably a senior in high school, with a tall and slim frame. She had frizzy red hair, a colorful tee shirt and jeans that had doodles all over them. As she got closer, I could tell she had freckles and bright green eyes.
Blake pointed, "That, my friends, is Rachel Elizabeth Dare, the current host for the oracle of Delphi."
She smiled when she came over. "Hi, I'm Rachel. I'm sure Blake already told you about me."
We all nodded except for Blake and Jane. Jane looked as if she wanted to burrow herself into a hole of darkness, but she stayed put. I frowned at her. She hadn't been acting like Jane since she woke up. I wonder..
My thoughts were interrupted whenever Rachel said, "So...you're Jane Bishop, the girl who was given a quest in a coma."
Jane nodded.
"Hm. So, you need a prophecy. It'll come naturally, but I don't know how long it will take. I haven't given a prophecy like this since The Great...never mind."
Jane frowned, and finally spoke. "What is everyone hiding? I've been awake for a short period of time and I can tell you guys are hiding something."
Rachel opened her mouth to speak, but we all heard a shout that interrupted our conversation.
"Jane!" We all turned to see Percy and Annabeth coming up the hill holding hands.
Their smiles made the rest of us smile too. Well, except for...eh, you can guess who.
Percy then saw the rest of us. "And Sydney, Blake, Lulu, and...Rachel."
He smile disappeared when he said 'Rachel'. He glanced at Annabeth, then looked at Rachel. "Is there a prophecy..?"
She nodded and told him about the quest given to Jane. As Percy and Annabeth listened, their previously happy demeanor disappeared. Now they seemed concerned and worried.
I frowned, wondering if what Jane said about them hiding something was connected to Percy and Annabeth's behavior.
As soon as Rachel concluded, Percy looked out at all of the campers walking aimlessly around, sparring, training, or just talking. We all sat in silence, until we heard another voice speak.
"Ah, Rachel."
Chiron was in his centaur form, coming down from The Big House porch to us. His tail wagged slightly.
Rachel was about to respond, but something stopped her. What it was, I had no idea.
HEHE! CLIFFY!
It says this chapter is only a little over a thousand words, which I doubt, but hey! Anyways, TWO MORE CHAPTERS UNTIL THE TENTH! WOO! I get excited over the randomist things. (Is randomist a word lol) I HOPE YOU ENJOYED! -TheSeaGirl1234
