"Don't worry Seth." Gilbert breathed heavily, he was aware of his thumping heart. "We'll get out of here. I... I promise." He winced slightly, trying to feel his hands. The bounds on his wrists' was too tight and cutting off the circulation. He needed to act fast.

"Quick... Gilbert..." Seth tried to speak clearly. The pain of held up by the wrists for too long was reaching its maximum point. "There's knife in my shoe... if you can reach with your leg and get it..."

Gilbert nodded, he was standing with his hands tied to a pole behind his back. Seth was in the cell next to him with his arms chained to the ceiling and body hanging one and a half feet off the ground. Both boys had been in this position for two days, both of them dehydrated and starving. They needed to escape.

Gilbert took a deep breath and stretched himself out, able to get his foot through the bars that separated the two friends. The toe of his sneaker could just barely touch Seth's pant leg, how would he be able to pull that knife?

"You're going to have to swing from side to side in order for me to reach." Gilbert said.

There were beads of sweat on Seth's forehead, the kid's arms shaking in fear. He knew that swinging on the chains would be excruciatingly painful, probably to the point where it would make his wrists bleed and the major veins in his hands pop; though if it was for them to get out, then it would just have to be worth it. "Just get the knife quick." Seth winced.

He began rocking his body from left to right, almost hitting the bar walls with his ankles. He let out a tiny shriek when he felt the chains etch into his skin, a small bead of liquid run down his arm. "Hurry dude, hurry..."

"I almost got it, hang in there. I'm close to getting it..."

There came the crack of a door being opened, the noise of metal bars as though they were moving. A thrill of panic ran through Gilbert's body as he finally got the knife and into his own cell. He scurried to get it hidden beneath of the soles of his shoes before his captures came in front of him.

Seth gave a small cry, one that would've been screeching loud if not for his power to hide the pain. "Its hurts... my hands hurt so much...pain..." Gilbert gave him a sympathize look, shaking slightly at seeing his friend in so much agony.

A man came to the front of Seth's cell door, one with bustling tattoos over his biceps and neck. He was the one that had taken Seth and Gilbert from school few days ago. He was the one who kidnapped them and brought them here.

The man opened Seth's cell and approached him, the kid too weak to kick at him or fight back when the man untied him from the ceiling. "What're you doing... where... where are you taking me?" Seth trembled and shook, his eyes watering tears. "Don t take me! Don't take me! Gilbert! Don't let them take me!"

"Seth!" Gilbert fussed around with his binds, trying to get the knife to cut the rope at his wrists. But the man with Seth was faster than he was. They both were down the corridor and away in sight before Gilbert even knew it.

"Gilbert! Gilbert save me!"

"Seth! Seth!" he tried to rip free, only happened to cry out in pain more as he realized how pained his hands were. "Seth! I'm coming! Seth!"

"Gilbert!" The shout wasn't a cry or wail anymore. It was just a distant echo of his best friend's voice followed by the slam of a heavy door.

"SETH!"

*****()*****

Twelve year old Alva stood before a crowd of people, her eyes shaking in fear and uncertainty. Her father was right behind her, his big rough hands on her shoulder's with a toothy grin plastered on his face. He had on his black cape; His favorite black cape. Alva wore a witch's costume, complete with the pointy hat and high heeled shoes. She felt so small while being up on stage. She wished she didn't have to do this.

"And now, for our final act!" Mr. Setler's booming voice rolled over the audience, his double chinned mouth and giant eyes glowing in the spotlight. "I present to you myself, my daughter Alva and her amazing preforming spell of witchery!"
the audience gave a roaring applause while Alva's father left her alone on stage. She trembled slightly, remembering to take a smile to the people just like her father always told her to. While scanning the people, she found her best friend Vanessa in the mob; her sea colored blue eyes were shinning bright as she clapped her hands the loudest.

"We all know that witches are real..." Alva started off once silence was poking at her gut. "But what we all don't know is what they are really capable off when it comes to the ones in training."

From behind her, two stage helpers ripped away a black cloth that had covered a table full of magical items. That and also a cage full of different birds: a robin, raven, hummingbird, lark, blue jay, crow, sparrow, and owl; all of them trapped together and itching to get free. Alva pitied them and wanted to get her performance over with now.

She turned back to the crowd and held her head high. She seriously didn't want to do this. "Everyone has heard of black magic before. The using of spells to curse or hex a person, bring them bad luck, or even possibly,death." she paused for effect, letting the words sink into the people like she had been taught to do. "Chants, potions, and charms have all been created for this use of black magic. Tonight though, I will be using powder."

Alva quickly shuffled behind her table of magical items and ingredients. She explained every one of them while giving effects of illusions to keep the audience from getting bored. "Inside this-" she held up a small cauldron and showed it to the audience. "-is the yolk of a robin's egg." of course it was a lie. The only thing in that thing was tap water. Though nobody had to know that. "One sip of it can bring sharp and quick death to a human being." Alva quickly labeled it with a skull and cross bones then moved on to her spell casting.

She hastily arranged every item in place then moved the cage of birds into the center of her drawn circle. The sparrow inside the cage seemed to have been watching her out of all them. Its small black eyes were like tiny dots that asked: Why?

Alva did her best to gulp down her regret and placed the cage where it was supposed to go. She then moved to the side a bit as flames erupted from the cauldron nearby. Getting a few "oohs" and "aahs" from the audience, Alva explained what was going to happen. She held up a red vial.

"Inside this vial there is magical powder which will let me get into the minds of the birds. It will be able to use mind control on them, make them please my will, then have them fly themselves into the cauldron of flames here."

Nobody spoke up about animal's rights here. Alva was just so surprised.

"Watch and behold! This will not be something you will want to miss." Alva uncapped the red vial and sprinkled some of the powder on her tongue then on to the birds. Her hands trembled while she placed the cap back on. Already she could feel the birds voices in her head. She could feel their anxiety of what was going to happen, she could hear them asking each other about why they were here. She could clearly pick out their fear too. The feeling so strong and deep... she didn't want to do this.

"I will order the sparrow to go first. And then the lark." Alva took a deep breathe and opened the cage. She held the minds of every bird to not escape except for the sparrow and lark. One after another they flew out with wings spread out and beaks aimed toward the sky. She was careful to keep their sights on being close to the stage. "and then the owl, the humming bird." They both came out cautiously, soon taking off. "the crow, the blue jay. The raven." They did as commanded, the robin left inside crouched patiently. Looking into its eyes Alva saw violet purple circles of an abyss. She quickly picked up on the motion that the robin bird was actually blind.
"and then lastly the robin."

It flew lightly into the night sky, joining the other eight birds that circled above the audiences heads'. For a few minutes as part of the show, Alva had to command the birds to preform tricks and loops and spirals. She had to make them be circus monkeys; her own personal zombie slaves.

There was a point in it where Vanessa caught Alva's eyes. Both girls knew what was going to happen as a grand finale of the show, they just couldn't admit it out loud. Vanessa gave Alva a hopeful smile, her face saying that it'll be okay. Alva merely nodded soberly and continued on with controlling the minds of the birds.

When it came closer to the end of the show, Alva gathered the birds together in the sky to prepare for dipping themselves into the cauldron of fire toward their deaths. She could feel her own hands trembling and shaking, she tried to keep them hidden by her sides. But her knees also felt weak, her heartbeat racing against her knew she couldn't do it. She knew that she couldn't condemn a poor animal to die by her hand.

"Psst! Alva! Get a move on!" She didn't realize how long she'd been standing there until her father scolded her from behind the red curtain. She quickly snapped back to reality and gazed up at the birds. They were flying in a tight circle thirty feet above the flames, they were waiting for a command.

"I can't do this..." she said to her dad. "I can't kill those birds."

"Alva!" he was now yelling on her from backstage. "Do it! Do it now!"

"I... Dad I can't... I-" Alva was breathing heavily now, she felt like she was about to have a panic attack. "Dad..."

"Alva!" Mr. Setler ran out from behind the curtain and smacked his daughter straight across the face. The audience watched in awe and fear. Was this apart of the show?

"Make the birds drop into the fire!" Mr. Setler said. "Do it now!"

Alva, shaking and clutching her face, stared into the eyes of her father. They were large and hauntingly dark, something you'd see only in the eyes of villain. She couldn't detect any regret he had of hitting her. Only the greed of getting peoples money once this show was over. She didn't want to let him get that money.
"Alva..." there was a warning tone to his voice now. Alva glanced at Vanessa sitting in the audience, she carefully mouthed two words to her:

"Forgive me."

And she went on with the show, anewtype of show.

*****()*****

Aurelia stood at the oar of the cruise ship, the nighttime wind in her face battling against her hair and clothes. She had her arms spread wide and a smile painting her face. For a moment there she felt like she was flying through the stars.

"Hey babe. Enjoying yourself there?" Calvin showed up behind her, causally leaning against the railing with his arms crossed and a sly grin on his face. He still had on his clothes instead of pajamas.

"Oh, Calvin. I didn't see you there." Aurelia stepped away from her moment of bliss and stood in front of her boyfriend, secretly sad to be taken away from her trance. "What're you doing up so late?" she asked him.

Calvin shrugged, the gray in his eyes a little distant. "Just couldn't sleep. What're you doing awake? You know you'll get in trouble for being out here."

She knew to avoid the question. He would think she was stupid if she admitted how she's always wanted to fly like a bird. "we'll both get in trouble for being up here. We should both head on to bed, got a big day tomorrow..."

Calvin sighed deeply. He glanced away then deep into Aurelia's eyes. Taking her hands in his he said: "'Relia... no matter what happens tomorrow, you have to promise me something."

"Anything, Calvin. Anything for you." She stepped closer to him, her eyebrows burrowing in concern.

Calvin nodded and stood up from leaning into the rail. He bent over and gently kissed her on the lips, bringing his hand to his pocket where he pulled out a bronze dagger. Careful to make sure she doesn't scream, he spun Aurelia around and pressed her back against his chest. He had his arm around her neck and the dagger at the bottom of her chin. Aurelia let out a low shriek.

"Promise you won't scream 'Relia." Calvin said. "Promise you won't do it 'cause then if you do I'll have to kill you right this second."

Aurelia did best to stay calm and collected. She was so startled by this act of his, but in no way was she going to show weakness. "Why are you doing this Calvin? Just why? I'm your girlfriend... I thought you loved me."

"I do love you babe." Calvin tightened his grip on her neck. "But there's been another prophecy... another calling of half bloods."

Aurelia's blood turned to ice. She was no fool. "And you think thatI'mone of those half bloods of this new prophecy? Get real Calvin. You know I'm nothing special."

"But why take the chance baby? Why let there be another savior of the gods while Jackson is still out there?" Calvin's deep voice burrowed itself into Aurelia's ear. She wanted to squirm against his grip.

"What's wrong with you? Don't you have faith in Kronos to bring down the Olympians? Do you think that we won't win this war tomorrow?"

"Oh wewillwin." Calvin pressed the dagger harder against her skin, she could feel a tiny trickle of blood spill down on her neck. "We just have to make sure that no one will throw Kronos down a second time."

In a quick motion he swiped a light red line on her skin, just enough to where it was a surface wound and didn't cut into anything major.

Aurelia let out a piercing scream for a split second before Calvin covered her mouth. "Shh baby... you don't want to wake the entire ship do you?"

Aurelia felt tears trickle down the corners of her face. Why did Calvin have to do this? Why?

"that's a good girl... now keep quiet okay? I'm going to lead you over to the deck of the ship where I'll take care of you okay? Shh..." Cautiously handling the fourteen year old girl, he guided her feet down the steps of the oar and toward the side rails. He leaned her over the edge of the bars and had her by the hair now; Aurelia's face was completely facing the black sea below her.

"People will find out you did this." Aurelia was refusing to cry any harder. She will not let him get pleasure out of her pain. "They won't let you get away with it!"

"Oh beautiful, they already have." Calvin positioned his dagger on the nape of her neck, just at the right spot where a slit at the spinal cord would be enough for a clean kill. "The officials of the army already know that I'm going to kill you. They would've had Ethan do it but I volunteered for the job instead. And who wouldn't want to pass up the offer of being a hero?"

"You think killing me will make you a hero?" She gripped the railing tight, one of her hands close to her side where she kept a knife strapped to her thigh. "You think that shedding your own soldier's blood will prove you worthy of Kronos? Get real here. I know inside that you are too much of a coward to kill me."

"Lies!" Calvin lifted up the dagger above Aurelia's neck, gripping her hair tighter. "Iwillbe a hero!" He brought the blade down swiftly, not taking his time to let her speak. It was only too late for help to arrive now with her ear shattering scream. By then it would be too late.

She would have to settle for saving herself.