Chapter 2: If Zeus Has Tried To Kill Me...Will His Daughter Do the Same?

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A week or so has past since coming to this camp, and I have to say it is well decent. Boring, but safe. I had not had any word or sign that Kratos had lived yet, so I guess it was time to start enjoying camp. Yeah, how was I going to do that when I was a traitor to the gods and now I'm in their childrens' camp?
I shot another arrow into the target, and someone clapped from behind me. I turned quickly around to see a boy approaching me. He had dark hair and blue eyes. "You are good," he complemented and came beside me. He pulled a bow from a sash on his back and hit the bull's-eye.
"Well, since you say I am, I believe you," I smiled and shot another arrow that landed right next to his.
He chuckled, "Are you new here?" he asked.
I nodded, "Yes, I got here about a week ago,"
"Well, I guess that means I've never met you," he held out his hand and I took it. "Lee Fletcher, son of Apollo,"
"Hmp, no wonder I like you. I have always liked Apollo," I shot another arrow landing just outside of the inner rim. I frowned with a huff. I failed.
"Hey, don't get so upset. Nobody's perfect," he chuckled. "The way you talk about my father, it's like you knew him or something," he raised an eyebrow.
"Uh, my name is Althea by the way,"
He chuckled, "Not only are you good at archery, but also avoiding questions," he shot an arrow and got bull's-eye with him barely even looking at it.
"It is good to exceed in many places,"
"Are you good at anything else that I need to watch for?" he asked with faux fear.
I laughed, "I am pretty good with a sword," my bow turned into a dagger in an instant and I pressed it against his chest. "Want to find out how good?"
He chuckled nervously, "With me being the target, no. Someone else, sure," we both laughed. Then he looked at my weapon curiously, "Is that enchanted or something?" he asked.
I laughed at the word 'enchanted', "Yes, I actually got it from this place called Narnia," the past week I have been visiting—more like sneaking into—Athena's cabin and getting books and reading them. I found an interest in this place called Narnia, and this lion/god/thing called Aslan.
"Oh, you must take me to meet Aslan!" he ushered me out of the room to the Arena. "So really where did you get that?" he asked.
"Um, I found it on a chimera while I was roaming the country looking for this place," I shrugged. It was the best—and most plausible—excuse I could come up with.
He looked at me wide-eyed, "You fought a chimera and won,"
I found that kind of insulting the way he said it, "Yes," I answered coldly walking ahead of him a bit more.
"I didn't mean it like that," he was quick to save himself. "It's just that those are rare and dangerous," he corrected himself.
I nodded, "Yes, they are," I agreed with him. He led me to the Arena and people were already fighting. Everyone looked pretty easy. Well, when you've faced a god everyone else kind of loses his or her difficulty. "Who is the most challenging here?" I asked Lee.
He scanned the room, "Probably Thalia, being the daughter of Zeus and all," I shivered. I am pretty sure Zeus still wants my head on his mantel. "Or Clarisse, she's daughter of Ares," he shrugged. Let's see both children of gods that want to kill me. Hmp, I have already defeated Ares once, so Zeus it is! "But maybe you should start with someone a lot easier," he suggested.
I huffed, "No thank you, sir. I would like to face Thalia. Could you maybe get her to fight me or something?" I was basically begging him.
He gave me a look like are-you-sure-you-want-to-die? Or Are-you-suicidal-or-something? I gestured for him to get going. "Ok," he walked off, but then muttered, "Your funeral," he talked to Thalia for a while, while she was slashing some dummy. Eventually, they both started walking back (she looked a bit reluctant about it).
She had a bit of a dark look with all black clothes and hair. She held out her hand, "Thalia, daughter of Zeus,"
I took her hand getting a bit of a shock from it, "Althea, daughter of who knows,"
She smiled a bit at my humor. "So what made you decide to fight me?" she asked as we walked over to the place we are supposed to fight.
I shrugged, "I do not know. You only get stronger if you fight the stronger. Hopefully, you will be stronger,"
She grinned smugly, "I will be,"
"Do not be so egotistical now, ma'am,"
"What is your weapon?" she asked as we stood across from each other.
"Uh," I looked around to make sure Chiron or any other director was watching. I could use the Blade of Athena, but if someone were to recognize it I would have to go into hiding. I decided to go with my all-useful dagger/bow/sword combo.
I took the dagger out of my pocket and Thalia laughed a bit. "That small thing?" she asked biting her lip.
"No, this small thing," immediately the small dagger changed into a long sword, with a silver and gold glow. Thank you Artemis and Apollo.
"Oh," she seemed a bit surprised.
"What shall be your weapon that you possess?" I asked curtly, twirling my sword in my hand.
"This," both of her bracelets turned from a spear and a shield that had the impression of Medusa.
Most people cringed away from the shield; it was not too bad for me. If you had faced some of her minions for practice too it would seem like a happy picture in comparison. "Oh, so now I know what she looks like without getting turned into stone," I smiled a bit.
She smiled too, "So you're funny?"
"You have to have a sense of humor when you have been through at least half the stuff I have been through," I shrugged.
"And what would that be?'
"Just start the fight!" someone yelled. A group of people was forming around us watching. Apparently they found it amusing that a newbie—I believe that is what someone called me—is taking on Thalia.
"Ok," Thalia mumbled. She took one jab with her spear and I dodged it easily. The defensive route was the best route until I knew what she was capable of. Well, at least it was the smart route to take. She tried to stab me in the side, but I blocked and hit her spear up in the air leaving her open—somewhat. I tried to get in a good hit, but her shield blocked me from a good solid hit. I huffed. It would be impossible to get past such a shield and be easy.
She slid her spear on the floor making me fall to the ground. She was above me at just an angle. A perfect angle. I smirked as my sword turned into a bow and shot her hand making her drop the shield. The shield rolled out of the arena. Thalia looked pretty angry to say the least. Sparks were flying off her armor as she came closer to me. Her spear was pointed at me neck, which I was not too comfortable with. "Give up?" she asked a bit smugly.
"Never," placing both of my hands on the shaft of her spear, I pushed back. It hit her in the chest, and she stumbled back. In a quick moment of her recovering I got up. My bow turned back into a sword as I got in a defensive position. She kept on trying to get me, but I kept on blocking her spear. We only got a couple of good damaging hits in. Me—not having any fear, stubborn, and being a complete idiot—did not wear any armor, so every time she got a slash in, she cut me. The actual cut was not it all bad, but the electrifying shock that came with it not so much. I also got some cuts on her, too, so that was satisfying.
She stepped into deliver one last blow—at least that is what she believed. I purposely let it pass my defense and hit me in the gut, slightly getting stuck and putting a gash in me. Her eyes widened, "I'm so sorry," she apologized immediately, letting her guard down.
I smiled, "It is ok, and whom may I ask said this fight is over?" Immediately I pulled the spear out and jabbed the blunt end into her stomach. She reacted almost immediately by pulling it out of me. I grabbed it, trying to get it out her hands by twisting. My sword had been thrown when she had stabbed me. Thalia tried to stop me by trying to regain composure of it, but failed. Soon we were down to just our hands. In our hand-to-hand combat fighting over the sword she had gotten a slash on her unprotected side.
If Thalia was angry before, she was furious now. She placed her hands on my shoulders knocking me to my knees because of the electrical shock that came from them. All my muscles in my body contracted as a memory flashed through my mind.
"Again! You must know how to resist their powers!" Kratos yelled at me. My body was shaking on the ground. He threw repeated bolts of electricity at me. The muscles in my body did not know how to react from contracting so many times.
"Please give me a break. I cannot take it now," I whimper at his feet.
"Look at you. You are pathetic. You are groveling at my feet. Will you grovel at the gods' feet? Will you give up so easily? Do you want them to have the satisfaction of breaking you?" he yelled at me as another wave hit me.
"No,"
"Will you grovel when Zeus throws his bolts at you. He is much more powerful than me, and if you cannot handle this than I should just abandon you!" Kratos' harsh words made me flinch and glare at the ground.
"Kratos, she is tired. Let her rest. She cannot take this much abuse in one day," an Earthly, kind voice gentled.
"No," I hissed in pain. "I do not want you to stop him, Gaia. I need to learn," I got up.
"Child, you are hurt. Let me help you heal," the Earthly titan tried to comfort me and help me.
"No. It is important for your own body to heal itself. Then, it shan't be reliant on any others for help in its own struggled," I argued.
The Earth under my feet seemed to sigh, "I warn you, Kratos. Do not overwork this child. She is young and learning. She cannot kill a god being so frail and weak," Gaia's normally sweet and caring voice had a bit of a threatening edge to it now.
"I shall not be fail or week. Or am I weak or frail right now. I shall be able to kill the gods in any state of mind. I just need to train,"
"Demigod, your flaw will be the cause of your death one day. You are too stubborn to let others help you. I warn you to accept help when it is given to you. Please, do not be so stubborn to resist help," Gaia warned.
I nodded, "I understand. Be less stubborn. Thank you, Gaia. Now, Kratos, you were teaching me how to resist lightning?"
The Earth sighed in frustration. "Yes, and will you fail me again?" Kratos asked.
I shook my head, "I shall never fail you. I shall kill the gods for you. I shall help you with your quest for vengeance. All of Olympus will bow in your name, or die," I promised him.
He nodded, "Do you not mean 'they will bow in OUR names'," I smiled at the thought of being the ruler. The ruler of everything…
"Althea! Are you alright?" someone pulled me up. It was just Lee. He held me up and supported me. "You just blanked out right there," he told me. It took a lot of will not to let my anger come out and just well—again lack for better words—electrocute everyone in a ten foot radius.
I shook my head at first, but nodded, "Sorry, I guess the shock—well lack for better words—shocked me," I apologized. My face had tinted red. "I am sorry for losing," I apologized looking down.
Thalia approached us, "I should be the one apologizing. I just got so angry that I used my powers. I am so sorry," she repeated her apology many times before I had to silence her.
A group had formed around us when we were fighting. The group split as a Chiron came through. He sighed looking at me, and not even glancing at Thalia, "I heard there was a quote on quote 'a newbie idiot fight Thalia'. I didn't think it was true, but I guess it is," he sighed. "Are you alright?" he asked me.
I nodded, "I find that lightning is not a comforting thing,"
He chuckled, then frowned, "The cuts on you seem to need healing, I can do that for you," he came closer. I refused for help. I did not need a centaur to care for me. He turned to Thalia and seemed surprised. "Did she do that to you," normally I would be offended by his words disregarding my strength. Oh, wait. I still find that offending.
Thalia nodded, "She was a tough opponent, I'll give ya that," she grumbled.
Chiron seemed impressed, "Hmp, so you are good at sword fighting. You don't look like a child of Ares,"
"I am not a child of Ares," the idea of that was just so preposterous I could not handle it.
Chiron raised an eyebrow, "Hmp, so not the daughter of the god of war. Hopefully, someone will claim you. You are a tough one to figure out," he sighed. Then his gaze looked down at my weapon—now in dagger form. "What is that?" he asked.
"Uh,"
"Where did you find it?" he prodded.
"I found it on a chimera," I put it back in my pocket.
"Hm," he seemed like he was suspicious of me. "Well it is time for dinner, let's go children," he ushered us to follow him. We did so and ate dinner. As usual I thanked Artemis and Apollo.
"It is not fair that we cannot sit at other tables. Look at Thalia sitting there all alone," I sighed at this predicament. "Why is it not allowed to sit at other tables?" I asked Elli.
She shrugged, "I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe the gods find it disrespectful or somethin," she ate some more of her barbeque.
They began to dismiss us for the sing-along. Then, Connor grabbed my dagger and started to run away. "Connor, give it back!" I yelled at him. He continued running, and I continued following. Following him until a child became an obstruction in my path. "Sorry, sir," I dismissed myself as I fell to the ground.
Thalia laughed at me, "Klutz," she muttered under her breath.
I grabbed her leg and twisted it till she fell down too, "Am I the true klutz, now?" I smirked as she glared at me.
"Here," some child held out his hand. I took it graciously and pulled myself up with his help in one swift movement. Thalia, with a grunt, got up and sturdier herself. She mumbled a sarcastic thank you to whoever helped me up. The kid held out his hand, "Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon," he introduced.
I smiled. Poseidon was a nice man he had helped me once. Then, I decided to take over Olympus. I think that might have terminated our friendship. "Nice to meet you Perseu-Percy," I gulped. I had almost called him Perseus. See I met a fellow a while ago named Perseus. We did not get along. End of story. "My name is Althea," I took his hand and shook it.
Thalia scoffed, "Come on, Percy, we have to find Annabeth and then leave,"
"What's with her?" Percy whispered to me.
"I heard you," Thalia growled glaring at us.
I giggled, "She just is upset that someone would have beaten her if she had not gone all daughter of Zeus on me,"
"Oh, is someone losing her touch?" Percy teased Thalia.
She looked like she was going to vaporize him, "Shut up, Seaweed Brain," she hissed. That seemed to hit a nerve in Percy. He glared at her, and he was going to do something probably stupid and regret it.
Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm. "Hurry, before you get caught in the crossfire," Lee encouraged me to get moving.
"You two better not kill yourself in the car," some Athena girl grumbled and grabbed both of their arms. "Hi, I'm Annabeth. I would introduce myself more thoroughly, but I have to go somewhere with these two, and hopefully not let them kill each other on the way," she grumbled sending both Thalia and Percy warning looks.
"Good luck, Annabeth. It seems you have your work cut out for you," I smiled. Because of Apollo and Athena being such nice people I was instantly in like of everyone in those cabins. "For future reference, my name is Althea," I greeted her. Then, we shared our good-bye's as they left to do what they were sent off to do, or at least I was hoping they were doing what they were suppose to do.
Lee grabbed my arm and started dragging me to the wherever he was dragging me too. "You should be careful around them. Er, Percy and Thalia are not the best to be around considering they might end up destroying Olympus," he grumbled the last part.
I froze in my spot. That sounded like someone I knew… "What?" I did not dare look into his eyes.
"There's a prophecy. The next child of the big three—Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades—that turns 16 will either save Olympus or destroy it," he explained.
"Oh well that is a nice prophecy," I grumbled. Fear settled upon me. What if I was a daughter of one of the three? Could I actually do one of those? It was impossible, my personality and fears block out all of them in one-way or another.