Chapter seven
Lyra P.O.V.
"So you're a daughter of Hecate?" I nodded, barely paying attention. Lou Ellen was watching me, contemplating me, and staring. "But you can't use magic." I shook my head. "Then what can you do?"
"I can talk to purple elephants and spell the alphabet through my nose."
She humphed and turned back to her food.
You didn't have to be snappy. I rolled my eyes and went back to shoveling my food. Smirking, I noticed Annabeth focused on me, her arm wrapped around Percy's waist. I smiled my vexatious smile at her. Percy cleared his throat and received all the attention. He seemed so used to giving orders.
"I think we should all stay here until we have some news about the gods. Do we know if all of the gods are gone? Like, um, Nike, Fortuna, the Muses?" There was a chorus of assents. "What about missing spirits? Monsters?"
"There's been some less monster activity, but that could be because of the decrease in demigods," supplied one of the Athenian kids. Malcolm.
"Alright." Percy leaned against a table, running a hand through his disheveled hair. A boy in a muddy green shirt and shaggy fur pants ran up with a giant smile. Percy returned it and gave the guy a man hug. "Any reports from the nature spirits?"
"Sorry. The spirits are protecting and guiding lost demigods here, but as far as the gods go..."
"It's okay, G-Man. As long as the demigods are getting away from the government."
"Why don't we talk about the information they had?" I said. Heads turned in my direction.
"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked.
"No, I get it. When I got a chance, I flipped through the files Dr. Calder left out. They were extensive. What weapons we used. Abilities. School and medical records—" Percy listed off.
"And the test results." I added. Percy looked at me quizzically. "You weren't there long enough to be tested. But the results of Drew's testing. Others like that."
"We're you tested?" Annabeth inquired
"Yes." They waited for me to elaborate but all I said was, "they also took blood samples."
"I don't remember anything like that."
"That's cause they couldn't get a needle through your skin."
Percy grinned besides himself. "Do you know why they wanted the blood?"
I replied in the negative. "I know they were curious as to how to replicate the Achilles Curse. They observed the 'bonding' between your skin molecules or something."
"I do know that they were amassing an army. Us. They wanted to use our abilities, our strengths, and replicate them to their benefit. Also they were all signed for 'The Capitol' or something like that." I explained about the file of weapons I had found. Annabeth and her siblings exchanged quick glances.
"Is this the file?" Percy pulled out a file with a black strip on it. He handed it to me and I fingered through it before nodding. "Calder was stuffing this and a few others into a backpack before Jones killed her."
Annabeth held her hand out for the backpack and looked through it. "I'll get on this right away. Malcom?"
No one else had anything that involved the new information and they began to scamper off. Lou Ellen excused herself, along with half of the group. Only the oldest kids were allowed to participate so the numbers were already really small. Awkwardly, I finished eating my food and stood up.
"Umm, can I have my file? I'm overwhelmingly curious as to what they collected on me. Then I think I would get a very satisfying feeling beating the thing into oblivion."
Percy grinned and fished it out of his bag. "Go to hell on the thing."
I smirked evilly and trotted to the Hecate cabin after saluting the remaining kids. It was a regular looking stone cabin but the stones were inscribed with runes and hummed with energy. The inside contained a medieval castle look, candles and crystals floated around the main room, and the actual cabin was bigger inside than out. Two doors led out of the entryway. One was closed, the other had beads covering it. The walls were made of stone. Druid markings were expertly painted on the floor. The same marks on my arms and from my dreams.
"I hope you like it," came a voice behind me. I spun to see Lou coming out of a room I thought was the bathroom.
"It's—cozy. Tardis-like," I said, trying to find compliments. Lou raised her eyebrows. "Bigger on the ins—never mind."
Lou nodded and indicated the beaded doorway. I followed her in to find the bedroom. There were five beds with curtains pulled around each of them.
"That ones for you," she indicated the one straight to the right. A pretty dark green blue color concealed the bed. I pulled aside the curtain and found the bed next to a hanging closet cut out of the wall. Shelves also had the rock cut out, a glowing crystal a size smaller than my palm shining on the middle one.
"Why are there only five?"
"Hecate doesn't have many children. Once a child of Hecate crosses the border of camp, a new bed is created. A space that fits the one it holds. You'll find clothes your size and all."
I checked the closet and sure enough clothes filled the mini repository. "Thanks." I faced her with a smile. "If you don't mind, I'm just gonna take a shower and go to sleep. I'm kinda tired."
"Sure. I'll be in my bunk." She gave me one more smile before going to the farthest bunk, a deep purple curtain. I riffled through the clothes, grabbing a navy blue long tunic and black leggings, then found the bathroom.
The bathroom was as extravagant as the rest of the cabin. Runed tiles covered the wall in the shower, little stones for shampoo and conditioner were placed on the shelves. Touch one and your hair was washed completely. Touch the conditioner and your hair was detangled. I used a drying rune then navigated back to my "room."
My file sat unopened on my lap. I was curious but also hesitant. Pushing aside all qualms, I flipped open the file.
Lyra Thorn
Age: 16
Godly Parent: Hecate, goddess of magic
Mortal Parent: James Thorn
Address: 16 Seabird Road, Boston
Current Location: at the Academy
Abilities: no magical abilities, increased strength and agility, possibly psychic. Connection to canines. Probable fighting capability.
Known Items/Weapons: unknown weapons. unknown items.
Other: Birth name: Simone Lyra Thorn. Heterochromiac, doesn't seem to be a trait of Hecate children. Fluent in Spanish, not dyslexic like most demigods, extremely ADHD, positive choice in testing. Her attitude may prove troublesome to manipulation to governmental uses. Conspiracy theorist.
They knew more than I had thought. My medical records and school reports were there too. I threw the file to the floor, nauseous. No, not nauseous. My stomach didn't feel queazy, but my head killed. The pressure burned and increased. I clutched my temples and rolled to my side. My vision blurred and blackened.
Smith was standing in his office, men anxiously watching him. In a fit of rage, the agent overturned his desk and threw his furious gaze onto the henchmen. I could swear his eyes were more black than brown, like they had been before. Veins in his neck popping out.
"How the hell did they ESCAPE!" He shrieked at the recoiling men. "They can't just vanish!" He ran a hand through his thinning hair. He looked absolutely ill. "The camp. They're at the camp. That STUPID CAMP! The one place we can't find. We know every single detail except the location." One idiot man stuttered something then realized it wasn't smart to say, but Smith had heard him.
"What? What was that? Speak up." The man attempted to shake his head but only managed to move his eyes back and forth. "SPEAK!"
"It's—it's only one of the p-p-places we don't know the location o-of. The underworld entrance and-and Olym—"
"Olympus," Smith snarled. The man nodded quietly. His associates had moved to the other side of the room. Anticipating Smith's next action. The agent swiftly snatched a letter opener from the ground and drove it into the man's heart. The man died quickly. The light vanished from his eyes before he even touched the ground. "You!" He pointed to the nearest soldier. "I want you to tell the Doc to go ahead with the plans. I will find the brats. And you will make rounds to the homes. Use anything to drag the bastards out into the open." My vision started to fade, the corners blurring like a tv shutting off in slow motion. It ended with two men dragging the blood stained body of the soldier out the door.
I sat bolt up, snatching a black sweater and the glowing crystal before shooting out of the room. Ellen called after me, but I ignored her. I scanned as far as I could with my mind, searching for Percy's light. I caught him a few feet to the left. By now, it was completely dark, the moon was barely a sliver in the sky, the stars flickering into oblivion. I ran across the grass separating the even and odd cabins.
"Percy! I need to talk to you."
He turned, and I saw a flash of white teeth. "I'm listening."
I rested my hand on the porch of his cabin, running my hand along the old wood work. "I—I have to go home."
Percy stared at me. His eyes wide. "You can't be serious. You live in Boston. Not to mention the government will be watching your house."
"I have to make sure my dad's okay. I have to talk to my dad about—things. Plus I want to grab some—things."
"Things." He moved towards me and leaned against a pillar, crossing his arms. "Care to elaborate?"
"The weather. A necklace. Some weapons," I said to his face then mumbled, "Ghost."
"You want to risk everything for your dog? I would do a lot for Mrs. O'Leary but come on, Lyra!"
"You don't get it, Jackson. Ghost is not an ordinary dog! My mother gave him to me. The wolf a symbol of her house and power. And I need to check on my dad." Percy shook his head and hit his hand on the railing.
"No, Lyra! It's too dangerous. We're staying here until we figure out what to do about the gods and mortals." He saw I was about to say something and said, "that's final."
I clenched my jaw, "fine." I bowed dramatically, "I bow to your authority."
"You may pride yourself on your lying skills, but you're not that good at it."
"I'm going. There's nothing you can do to stop me so don't try," I hissed. I turned around and jogged away.
"What are you gonna do? You can't exactly walk home!" He yelled after me and staring. Without thinking, I charged to Cabin Thirteen. I pounded on the door. Finally, a cow-licked haired Nico appeared in the doorway. He narrowed his eyes and half smirked, half sneered at me.
"I find I'm more merciful when I get my sleep." When I didn't say anything, Nico sighed impatiently, "what do you want, Laura?"
"It's Lyra, and I need you to help me with something." He nodded for me to continue. "I need you to do that thing you did earlier and take me to Boston."
"Why?" He asked. I growled frustratedly.
"Because I need to go there. Will you help me or not?"
"What's Percy's take on this?"
"Does it matter? I know he is a hero and commander, but I'm not his soldier! I don't follow his orders and from what I can tell you don't either."
Nico clenched his jaw and looked at the floor. "I don't always but—"
"Yes or no?"
"But the Feds are gonna be watching."
"Not if you get me inside the house."
We arrived in the living room, the lights out. Nico, his sly, smooth self, walked straight into the coffee table. Glasses and a plate crashed to the ground.
"Sorry." He whispered. I glared for a second, but, once I was sure no one had heard and more importantly that there was no Feds in the house, I tiptoed upstairs. Pictures of my dad and I smiled like skeletons in the minimal night light. The hall was carpeted so I didn't have to worry about foot sounds and walked normally. First, I cracked open my door and slid into my bedroom, deciding against using the bedroom light. I felt my way to my dresser, knocking some pencils to the ground but finding my necklace. A metal circle with a triskelion wheel carved into it.
I slipped back into the hall and went to the next door. Dad's room. I rested my forehead against the brown wood. Two rhythmical heartbeats and breathing was on the other side. I opened the door enough for me to come in then cupped my hand over Dad's mouth. He woke with a start, crying out with a muffled shout.
Sh, Dad, it's me. He stopped squirming. Ghost beside him shifted his glowing white body and nuzzled my arm.
"Lyra?" He whispered.
Yes. He drew me into a bone crushing hug.
"Gods, Lyra. They came to me, the bastards, asked me all these questions about your mother."
I'm okay, Dad. Really. We got out and are hiding somewhere safe. I can't say where, but I had to tell you.
"Lyra, you shouldn't have come. If you get caught..." He warned. I smiled coyly.
"I have my own plan for that. But, Dad, the men. They may try to use you to get at me. I want you to promise me you'll find a way to get off their radar. This could get messy."
He squinted into my eyes. He knew I was serious.
"I promise."
Good. My friend is downstairs. I have to leave before someone notices, but I wanted to borrow one of your knives. And I have a mission for Ghost.
"Which one?"
Kat. Dad nodded and pointed to the wall across from his bed. The wall was covered with knives and ancient weapons: crossbows, swords, a mace. Being a historian, Dad collected old weapons from different cultures. The one I called Kat came from the Persian tribe Katrians. It was a small blade. Two prongs connected to the hilt holding a half oval blade six inches long. I took it off the wall and slipped it into my boot.
"You should go."
I nodded and gave Dad another big hug.
Love you, Dad.
"Love you, Syra."
I clicked to Ghost, who jumped off the bed and waited by the door, wagging his tail. Ghost padded down the hall and the stairs, head butting Nico at the bottom. He eyed Ghost wearily.
"Since when is keeping a wolf legal?"
"Since he's not a wolf. He's an Inuit. Ready?" Nico nodded vigorously, extending his hand to me. "Ghost, up." I spread my arms, and Ghost leapt into them. I stroked him fondly and maneuvered the giant puppy to one arm. Suddenly, Ghost's ears flattened back and he growled viciously. Nico drew his sword, black as death, and held it at neck's height. We waited, but nothing came.
"I don't see anything," I whispered. Nico shrugged and reached for my hand. I didn't take it but stupidly decided to check it out. I set Ghost onto the floor and inched forward. Ghost sat back, his hackles raised, in pounce position. I moved around the big arm chair that connected the living room to the kitchen. I didn't see anyone so I turned back to Nico, and that's when he struck. A big guy wrapped his overly large arm around my throat and the other securing his grip. He was so big could he make pro wrestlers run for the hills.
Nico stepped forward to help, but the attacker made a warning sound.
"Stay where you are!" He snarled quietly. "Or I snap your pretty friend's neck. Or I could just strangle the girl," To prove his point, he clenched his muscle, effectively cutting off my oxygen supply. I tried to gasp and clawed at the man's arm. Nico froze but kept the sword up menacingly. The intruder held the choke for what felt like minutes but released the choke hold enough for me to breathe. I greedily gulped down the air.
"Here's what's gonna happen. You are going to put that nasty little sword on the ground, and slip these," he threw zip cuffs onto the floor in front of Nico, "around those little wrists of yours."
"No. You are going to release Lyra and are going to beg me not to kill you."Nico growled. The man's chest rumbled. A laugh bubbled out of his mouth. The action tightened his grip around my throat.
"Nico, do it." I gasped. Breathing fast and furious, Nico slammed his sword to the ground.
"Smart, girl." He took his back hand from behind my head and reached into his pocket for something. I hadn't planned on it, but my connection with Ghost had always been strong. He leapt forward, clamping down on the man's leg. He cried out for a second but I struck him in the throat. Nico rushed over and held the sword point above his throat.
"I told you that was gonna happen." The guard was grasping at his leg Ghost had just released from his crushing bite. Something on his leg caught my attention. He was bleeding badly but it was wrong.
"Nico," I grabbed his aviator jacket sleeve. "Nico, look at his blood."
"I'm a little busy right now."
"No. Look." My forcefulness brought Nico's attention to the man's leg. "The blood. It's black."
"That's just the lack of light," he said, but he sounded unsure. I fumbled beside me for the wall switch and clicked it on. Light flooded into the room. The pastel blue walls disagreed with the feelings in the room. The attacker, salt and peppered hair and black eyes, was sweating profoundly. The blood in his leg was as black as Nico's sword.
"Why is your blood black?" I asked the man. He shook his head and reached for an item off his belt. Nico stepped on his arm, halting the movement. "I'll ask you one more time. Why—is—your blood—black?" I pronounced each word carefully.
"I'll never tell you."
"I don't need you to." A kneeled beside him and shut my eyes, allowing my mind to wander. The attacker, Samuel, named after his father, grew up in a little town in Michigan. His father served time in the army, and Sammy wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. He was an instructed in special ops training when he was approached two years ago by a branch of the government that dealt with strange occurrences.
"Lyra." Nico's voice came off persistent and worried. I opened my eyes and looked at him. "We have to go."
"I haven't found anything useful yet."
Nico groaned but pulled back his sword and brought it down hard on Samuel's head. Samuel fell unconscious and slumped to the ground. Nico handed me his sword and heaved the man into a sitting position.
"When we get to camp, just let me sleep, okay?" More to himself, he said, "oh I'm gonna regret this." He grabbed my hand and Sam's hand preparing to shadow travel. In the last instant, I snatched Ghost's collar, and we were gone.
COMMENT!