Val's POV
I awoke with a start practically jumping out of my bed. Kaylee turned from the couch and rushed over to me.
"Whoa there tiger calm down." I was breathing heavily now.
"What happened last night?" She looked at me like I was crazy.
"I don't know exactly, but you went missing for a couple of hours, and I sent Nico out to find you and he brought you back half asleep and bloody." I looked at her wide eyed.
"So, that did really happen." She smiled sadly at me.
"I guess it did." I gasped again.
"I kissed him." She looked at me confused again.
"What do you mean?"
"I kissed Nico."
"What?"
"I kissed him. Don't you get it Kaylee. I KISSED him." I quickly shoved my covers off of myself and ran to the closest mirror to me. Looking at myself I saw what remained as a tiny scar on my neck from those boys.
"I kissed him." I whispered. This time I reached up to touch my lips. Looking at myself in the mirror I felt different, but I didn't look different. My head began to spin. What is going on?
"Don't worry it's not like it's the end of the world or anything." Kaylee said coming up behind me to where I could see her in the reflection of the mirror.
"No, you're right it's not, but it changes everything."
"How so?" I whipped around and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"BECAUSE! Don't you see it! He kissed me back! The Ares kids are after me now more then ever! My mom is sending me a sibling! EVERYTHING IS CHANGING AGAIN, and who knows if it's for better or worse!"
"I'm sure you'll be fine just look at you."
"No, no, no, you don't understand they ATTACKED me. I FOUGHT back. This is bad, very bad. Nico kissed me back." I turned back to the mirror once again feeling my lips. Exasperated Kaylee turned me back around and made me look at her in the eyes.
"Listen to me Valerian Marie Adams and listen carefully. You are going to take a deep breath and count to ten then we are going to go and get some breakfast and continue with the rest of the day like we would any day and if by some chance you get to talk to Nico then you will and you will be happy because it's obvious that you like him otherwise you would not have kissed him in the first place. Now take a deep breath." I breathed in just like she said to.
"Good, now count to ten to yourself." One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
"Done?" I nodded my head.
"Alright. Better?" I thought for a moment then nodded again.
"Ok, go get change and let's go." I did as she said and got ready for breakfast and the rest of the day. We walked to the dining pavilion as if nothing had happened, and when we arrived whispers were going on throughout the camp's tables spreading amongst the halfbloods occupying them.
"Just ignore them."Kaylee said as she patted me on the shoulder and went to get her meal as Chiron trotted up to me.
"I have received some distressing news as to some events that have taken place recently and wanted to know if you were alright Valerian." I smiled at him.
"So my mom talked to you and Dionysus?" He grimaced.
"Sadly yes she did, but do not fret child we have sorted some things out, and we have gotten into contact with a sibling of yours. He is to arrive in 2 days time to help you learn to control your abilities."
"My mom told me as much. Do you know him?" He smiled genuinely this time.
"Indeed I do, he is a magnificent fighter and a great demi-god. I had a pleasure training him when he was in his prime."
"How old is he and what's his name?"
"His name is Dylan Conroy and he will be turning 28 in about 3 months."
"Thanks Chiron I look forward to meeting him."
"You should, as far as I know he is your only half sibling."
"Why didn't he have a cabin then?"
"He wasn't claimed until he stopped coming here then one day he came to visit his friends and told us of his mother and how he has made his peace."
"Oh, that makes sense I guess."
"Well good luck with your studies and be careful alright?"
"Yes Chiron." With that I walked to my table prepared to eat.
"What did he say?"
"He told me my half brother is coming to train me."
"Oooh if he's anything like you he'll be cute! How old is he?"
"Kaylee, I thought you were going after Will, and he's like 28 so he's too old for you anyway."
"Uh-uh I'm 18 a ten year difference means nothing we can get married and then we can really be sisters." She said completely serious.
"Kaylee?"
"Hmm?"
"No." She pouted.
"Why not?"
"Just no, that would be really weird and get awkward fast just, please." She sighed.
"Well I guess so if that's really what you want." She elongated the word well to add dramatic effect.
"Trust me it is."
"Fine, I'll probably have a better chance with Will anyway."
"I swear if I didn't know any better I would think you were a boy crazed daughter of Aphrodite."
"That or I'm just on her good side." She said winking at me.
"Right, good for you then."
"What? You don't want to have a happy love life?" She asked confused.
"No, I do. Just one that doesn't have some form of influence you know? Like a natural one."
"It couldn't hurt to have a little shove though once in a while, so you know you're going in the right direction."
"I guess." Kaylee got up with her dish.
"Well come on we have things to do today hopefully without much ridiculousness."
"We can only try." She smiled at me again.
"Let's go." We walked toward the infirmary to do our work with the Apollo cabin. Me mixing potions and healing kids with spells, and Kaylee following Will around being his 'personal assistant' whatever that means. The only thing that bothered me was that the boys from last night were there, and of course I wasn't really into seeing them again. Thankfully Will greeted us as soon as we got there.
"Hey guys! I heard what happened last night my little brother Kyle was on duty when they came in. Sorry about what happened Val." I shrugged.
"I can't make people like me just like I can't make myself human. Honestly I don't blame them I just wish they were a bit less ignorant or aggressive either one would be nice." He smiled.
"Glad to know you're okay. Although I will say this, they were stabilized last night and all of there cuts and bruises healed, but the weird part is that one kid had burns on him and they still haven't healed no matter how much nectar or ambrosia we use. He's in some pain too because every time it begins to heal it refreshes itself."
"Oh." I said shocked.
"Yeah, and it doesn't look like it'll go away any time soon either." I began to panic a bit.
"D-do y-you want me to heal him? Is that what you're asking?C-cause can't you just pray to your father. I'm sure he can do it." I said stuttering and rushing my words. He put a hand on my shoulder.
"I don't know if my father could fix this. It seems as though you cursed him. If anything yes you would have to be the one to heal him and I know that would be hard to do, so we are not asking you to. We were actually going to wait until your brother Dylan got here. Until then we were just planning on giving him medication to sedate him."
"I would do it. If I knew how to." He smiled sadly at me.
"I know." He then turned back to Kaylee.
"Well why don't you go get started in the back and we'll just give Val here the morning off eh?" She smiled at him then turned to me to make sure I would be okay alone. It didn't sound that bad. She turned back to him nodding.
"Just be careful k?" I smiled at her.
"Why don't you tell that to the other campers." I joked. She laughed light heartedly although I wasn't really into it though especially seeing what I could do to people I wouldn't really advise people to try and hurt me until I get some things in check.
"Alright then. Let's go Will we've got people to heal and potions to mix ándale ándale!" She grabbed his wrist and trudged onward into the infirmary. I on the other hand decided to get as far away from this place as possible. The thing is, where to go? Cabin? No. Beach? I'd probably run into people I wanted a little time to myself to think about things. Arena center? Definitely not. I could go into the woods again. I mean it's not like someone will follow me in there in broad daylight just to attack me like the night before. Plus, my dad always said lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place. To the woods it is.
I walked there trying to be as non conspicuous as possible. Thankfully it seems as though no one noticed me. I guess that Kyle kid kept everything to his cabin and Chiron and Dionysus plus the kids and their cabin. No one seemed to really be messing with me. Once in the woods I had the chance to finally see all its beauty. Turns out when there aren't two crazed kids out for your blood things can be beautiful. I walked on until I came across a small clearing. The grass was like the ones at gold courses short but comfy. Sitting down I became eye level with the buds and blossoms around me. There were all types of gorgeous flowers growing freely and naturally. Some familiar others as unknown to me as the number of stars in the sky. Laying back I looked up to the sky. Through the canopy of trees I was able to see glimpses of the blue and white of clouds and atmosphere. Everything was so peaceful here unlike how my life has lately. I could hear the crinkling of leaves and rustling of bushes as animals moved throughout the brush. I could also here the faint sound of water flowing and the gossiping naids. Though that was only if I was really quiet.
So much happened last night. The boys who chased me most likely won't do it again at least not alone. They might not even acknowledge me, but with my luck they'll just turn it into a bigger scene. If so I just won't go anywhere alone not like that doesn't seem to happen already, but I guess I'll be even more conscious about it. I closed my eyes to just feel my surroundings and take in as much of this peace as I could. Then a reoccurring thought came to mind. Nico. I wonder if her really likes me. Not like how we kissed or anything I have kissed a fair share of people before but last night's kiss felt like something more. I hope it wasn't a pity kiss or an in the moment kiss. I don't even know if I like him. I just know that there is something more to him whether he will show it or not and that I don't want him to be another kiss. I just don't know what I want him to be.
"Ughhh complicating people." I sighed. Trying to regain my sense of self I just listened to the world again to the point where I fell into a calm a nice calm. There was more rustling in the bushes but I ignored it keeping myself relaxed.
"The woods? Alone? Again?" A voice sounded. Turning towards it I blinked my eyes open. None other then the great son of Hades stood before me with a cocky smirk on his face.
"I wanted to get away." He raised a brow.
"With no weapon?" I felt for my dagger but there was nothing. I guess I didn't bring anything.
"Can I not have peace? Weapons don't create peace." He nodded and sat down next to my head which still lays on the grass.
"After last night?" He pressed on.
"Well my dad always said lightning never struck the same place twice." He smiled.
"You are too optimistic." I chuckled a bit.
"You are to pessimistic." He shrugged.
"Comes with the blood." I rolled my eyes at him and turned away.
"Why are you here?" I said looking back at him.
"Well I know you are supposed to be at the infirmary in the morning so I decided to check in on you, but Will told me he gave you the morning off, so I checked your cabin and you weren't there. The shadows told me where you were."
"That's not fair." I pouted.
"And why is that?"
"What if I was trying to hide from you. It wouldn't be fair if you just used your shadow powers to find me."
"Were you hiding from me?" His voice was softer now. I looked into his eyes despite the long black locks that hung in front of them.
"No. I was hiding from the world you just happen to have found me." He smirked at me.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Why so curious?"
"Not sure just wondering."
"Well it's not too shocking, but I was thinking about last night."
"Oh, which part?" I sat up now in order to face him. His gaze followed me as I re-positioned myself to be more comfortable.
"Well I started at first thinking about how it started, then what happened in the woods, and how everything transpired, and then..." I trailed off thinking to myself about the kiss we shared.
"Then what?" He asked with a gleam in his eyes.
"When you kissed me." I felt the warmth on my cheeks. I could see some flush appearing on his as well. He then looked behind me.
"Hey, do you see those bunches of flowers over there. The ones in different shades of pinks and purples some white." I turned to look. They were little flowers with tiny stems. I heard him get up and saw him walk past me. He plucked some of the flowers and came to sit in front of me again.
"Do you know what these are?" He asked. I shook my head no.
"I'm surprised that someone like you doesn't know what these are."
"Oh really? Just because I seem smart doesn't mean I know every flower name." He shook his head.
"That's not what I meant." I glanced at him suspiciously.
"Then what did you mean?"
"These are Valerians."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah, they are known for representing accommodating dispositions. Pretty much easy to deal with tendencies. They are also known for their relaxing affect they have on the body but no offense they have a terrible smell."
"Why do you know so much about them?" I asked shocked.
"Well they are all over Europe they were also pretty big during the Medieval times."
"You know for someone who had so much trouble in school you know a lot." He shrugged.
"You know you are a lot like this flower."
"Are you saying I'm easy to deal with and I smell?" He laughed.
"No you are definitely not easy to deal with, but I guess your powers will be. Once you learn how to control them of course. You seem to be pretty lax when no one else is around or when your with your closest of friends. You don't smell though but you can be quite the terror if pushed." I cocked my head to the side.
"Since when did you become so deep, wise, and knowledgeable?"
"See now usually someone would take that as an insult, but I'll just let it slide."
"So about the other night..." I trailed on hopefully getting him to say something about it. He gazed into my eyes for what seemed like forever.
"Listen Val, I know you are going through a lot right now but I don't know if you can handle a relationship right now."
"You know for someone who was just sweet talking me a second ago you have a lot of nerve to say something like that." I stated shoulders squared. What did I expect? He wasn't lying about the whole things going on, but what does he know about handling relationships?
"I mean I liked kissing you I really did, and when I found you all battered up because of those dillholes I was really angry, and I wanted nothing but for you to be okay. I have feelings for you I just can't place them."
"Well how would you feel if I dated another person?" He thought for a moment.
"Hurt I think probably jealous."
"Why would you be hurt and jealous?"
"Because he probably wouldn't even treat you right and that he would be able to call you his and that after something kind of sort of happened you moved on so quickly."
"Then what is there to figure out?"
"You know I think you are like the only other person besides Percy that I've actually talked to so straight forward."
"Well let's just say I never thought last night would have ever happened." Tossing the Valerians away from us he leaned closer.
"I sure hope you won't treat me like those other Valerians." I joked.
"I doubt it, but who knows maybe you like being thrown around a bit." I rolled my eyes.
"You know sometimes you don't even make sense." I leaned forward and kissed him. This one much different from last night. Last night was provoked by so much emotional distress. This one was pushed by choice. Startled by my actions he quickly recovered and leaned into it. Moving our lips together I felt a certain spark that I haven't felt in any other kiss I've had before. Others were tainted with lust, or quasi-love. Nothing like this, this was different and I liked it. We broke apart quickly after.
"What do you have to do for the rest of the day?" He asked.
"Um camp stuff like you do." He smirked got up and held out his hand.
"Come with me."
"Where are we going?" I said as I reluctantly clasped my hand to his. He pulled me close and wrapped a protective arm around me.
"Where ever you want." He then made us vanish into the shadows appearing at the Poseidon cabin.
"Wait here." He said to me and went in. A few minutes went by and some strange looks from other passer byes were sent my way. All until a certain someone shadow traveled behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He then whispered into my ear, "I just talked to Percy and told him I was taking you out of camp for a while so we could 'hang out'. You now have the rest of the day off." I shivered as I felt his breath on my neck.
"I thought I wasn't allowed to leave camp." I could hear the smile in his words.
"Well they can't really stop you if I shadow travel you out of here." I craned my neck to see his face.
"You now you are such a bad influence."
"I'm only going to get worse." He then dragged us into the deep dark shadows once more going who knows where.
I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKED THAT I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN A WHILE SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE ROMANCEY STUFF AND MAKE IT A BIT LONGER THEN USUAL. SO REVIEW AND STUFF DON'T BE SHY. ALSO FOR ALL YOU TEGAN AND SARA FANS THAT NEW CLOSER VIDEO FREAKING AMAZING! P.S I HOPE YOU AMERICANS ALL ENJOYED YOUR THANKSGIVING AND IF YOU AREN'T IN AMERICA/AMERICAN OR YOU DON'T CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING HOPE YOU HAD A NICE LAST WEEK ANYWAY.