Val's POV

Time seemed to fly. I spent most of my time with Dylan, Chelsea, and Kaylee. When I wasn't training or studying spells I was either eating or trying to sleep which was sometimes in the infirmary because I got hurt a lot while training with Dylan. Those would be the times Chelsea would come to see me. She was finally starting to work things out with Derick. Turns out he finally began to realize he had feelings for her beyond friendship. I still shake my head every time Chelsea tells me how nervous he gets when they talk. Every once in a while Alaska would come to see me, but she's been busy with trying to run her cabin and control her brothers and sisters because the Stoll brothers decided to take a semester to go out to college. Strangely though I haven't seen much of Nico besides the few times he'd come with Chelsea to the infirmary or when I would get some training with the rest of the cabins. Currently though I was having one of the very few moments I do have to myself to just think and relax.

The sand seemed to crunch under me with each step. It was just before dinner and the sun was beginning to set on the waves in front of me. I pulled out an ipod that Will had given me recently and put my head phones in walking further down the beach. The sweet melodic sounds of "On Melancholy Hill" began to play and I closed my eyes as I walked. Which in all honesty was probably a bad thing to do, but I just wanted to get out of my surroundings even for just a bit. Slowing to a stop I sat down pulling off my sweatshirt I bundled it up and rested my head on it laying back. Feeling the last rays of the sun soak into my skin I began to feel a sort of peace I haven't felt in a long while. Soon enough I began to nod off into a dream state.

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms." My dad looked up and bookmarked the page he was reading from.

"Do you know what that means Val?" I looked up into is eyes a spark there that he only gets when he has something important he wants me to know.

"Well I don't know. I suppose to live life they way you want no matter the cost?" He shook his head smiling.

"That's only the cover of it you don't see further then the first sentence. Really think about it."

"Well to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach would mean to observe what is around me and try to understand everything to my fullest capabilities?"

"Yes, yes continue."

"Um I did not wish to live what was not life could refer to figuring out the meaning of life and wanting to live it to its fullest because living is so dear, but not wanting to hold back on things unless one needs to?"

"Don't stop now I think your on to something." He nodded eager to see what else I might say.

"To take literally everything you can from life and see it in its true singular form separating it from what didn't matter and only focus on what counts?"

"That's quite an interesting take on your good 'ol uncle Henry." He placed the book 'Walden: Or Life in the Woods' on the coffee table next to the love seat he was sitting in and got up. As he began to walk toward the kitchen I asked, "Dad did you live your life to the fullest?"

Turning around he smiled at me, "I may never know, but what I do know is that I am very happy because I have you."

"Do you ever miss mom?"

"As much as I wish she could be here I would never change a thing because we both know all good things are wild and free." I rolled my eyes.

"Dad you can stop quoting Henry David Thoreau I get it, but do you ever regret being with her knowing you couldn't stay with her?" He turned back around at this point and knelt down in front of me.

"Valerian, I would never change a single thing. I need you to know this. I loved and still love your mother a great deal and as much as it hurts sometimes to know that she can't be here it only hurts because she can't be here for you. That I can't share all these precious memories with her. I wish so much I could give you a mother, but I know that it wouldn't be the same. You may have loved her as if she were your mom, but I know deep down you could never truly feel that way because there is something special about you. Something not very many people have, and no it's not because of who your mother is or your grandfather, but the fact that even though they are who they are you were still able to come to being. You have a destiny that is so thickly bound to so many people it is almost unreal. What ever you choose to do know that I will be here for you and so will your mother in her own way. I love you Valerian more then anything that has ever been in existence and will ever be in existence. I need you to understand this. You could call this one of the essential facts of life that are here in your woods. Do you understand."

"I-I, yes Dad. I understand and I love you too." He smiled sweetly. Getting up from his kneeled position he ruffled my hair.

"Now, how about we stop with uncle Henry and move onto some scones and hot cocoa?"

"Sounds great Dad."

My dream began to swirl into another.

"Hey Val?"

"Yeah Kaylee?" I turned my head to look at her. Currently laying on the grass of one of the many golf courses in her neighborhood we could see all the stars and constellations in the sky. We had a habit of coming out here on warm summer nights when it seemed as though we were in the middle of nowhere.

"Do you ever look up into the sky and think about where you are?" She asked looking back up to the stars.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know like where you are in the universe, or life. Maybe where you stand in the balance of everything."

"I don't know sometimes I guess when my dad tries to subtly teach me philosophy. Which need I remind you is not very subtle at all." We giggled at this.

"No I'm serious. Do you ever think that there is a place specific for everyone where they are supposed to be?"

"Like how we are here right now?"

"Sure something along those lines."

"Do you mean destiny?"

"I think it's more like fate." I turned my head to face her again. She turned to look at me as well.

"Well Kaylee," I grabbed her hand and held it in mine,"I think that according to whatever force that is out there that I was meant to be here with you right now. To hold your hand, to talk about nothing and everything until we pass out or give up, and to be your friend. Whether it was fate, destiny, or just where I'm supposed to be in life I'm here and it feels right." Squeezing my hand gently she said, "Thanks Val." Smiling I replied, "No need to thank me for nothing." Bouts of giggles came to the both of us.

Slowly it faded to yet another dream.

"You really are something you know?" I turned around to see none other then Barron.

"Barron?" A great smile was my answer.

"It's true you know you were meant to be in specific places throughout time, and you are very very special."

"Did you see all that?" He laughed.

"I did you don't mind do you? I know they were personal." I shook my head no.

"Good then because I wanted to talk to you about something maybe change fate a bit." I looked at him questioningly.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that you are supposed to be in certain places at certain times, but I thought why not try and change it a bit y'know? Save some time and heartache."

"What do you mean by heartache?"

"Please Val, you heard the prophecy. By staying there you are only waiting for something bad to happen let me take you away from it all at least."

"I like it here though. I have my brother Kaylee, Nico, Chelsea, Derick, Alaska. I don't know what I'd do without these people."

"Listen carefully to me Val. The gods play games with their kids like it's nothing if you stay there they are going to toy with you. Your brother is leaving soon, and your friends are more then welcome to come with you, but I don't know how willing they would be or if by the time it happens you'll want them to come with." I shook my head with frustration.

"Barron stop speaking in circles and just tell me what's going to happen." He smiled sadly, "If only it was that simple."

"Listen Barron it's not too late to stop whatever it is you're doing and just come here to camp. It would be great you could meet all these great people and we could be a great big family again like how we used to." He shook his head at this.

"Val you just aren't getting it. It's not going to happen as long as those gods rule over us as though we are ants they can step on if need be."

"It's not like that though."

"So naive Val you just don't see it. I hate to have to wait, but it seems as though I can't change fate and you will just have to see for yourself the cruelty the gods really posses."

The dream started to swirl into blackness.

"Wait Barron why? Why does it have to be this way?"

"I'm sorry Val but it just does I wish-"

"Wait, Barron?" I said coming into consciousness. Someone was jostling me awake.

"Barron?" Said a familiar voice. Pulling out my ear buds I looked up to see who was next to me. Turned out to be the one and only Percy Jackson.

"Oh just an old good friend." Confused Percy asked, "Isn't that the guy starting the new army?" Blushing I said, "Yeah I guess it is." Looking down at my lap I realized the sun was no longer up as everything was dark. Sudden shifting next to me alerted me that Percy had sat down.

"You dreaming 'bout him?"

"You could say that I suppose." He looked briefly at me suspiciously.

"Not planning on going anywhere are you?" I glared at him.

"I wouldn't count on it if that's what you are asking." Holding up his hands in defense he replied, "Just checking." It remained quiet for a moment or two longer before I asked, "What do you know about fate?" Percy just sighed.

"Well it's a strange thing fate. Sometimes it can be the greatest thing knowing that there is always a next step, but the catch is that you can't change it. I remember when I was younger I would fear the time it would come for a prophecy knowing it wouldn't be wrong and fearing it would end tragically."

I nodded taking in this information.

"So you are saying that no matter what fate always will happen no matter the consequence?" A downtrodden look crossed his features for a quick second before he responded.

"Yeah it doesn't really take into account what someone may want, or like to happen it already decides for them."

"Well that's bullshit." He laughed at this.

"I'm glad you think so. I was starting to think I was the only one." I laughed along with him.

"It's just how can something seemingly nonexistent be so involved with our life and everything we do?"

"Beats me. I just hope for the best and expect the worse."

"That's a bit morbid. Always waiting for something awful to happen." He just shrugs.

"You get used to it after a while."

"That's a terrible thing to become used to." He smiled at this.

"It's not like there is much else I can do."

"I suppose." I said contemplatively.

"It's getting late you know people will be out for you if you don't head to your cabin." I raised a brow.

"People? Out for me?"

"Knowing Kaylee you have say," looking down at his watch and looking back to me, "'bout 10 minutes before she goes into best friend mode and has the whole camp out looking for you." I laugh at this she really would knowing that she'd probably think something had happened to me again.

"What time is it anyway?"

"Oh around 10:30 ish."

"You're right I probably should head back now. Thanks Percy for waking me gods know what would have happened if I had remained asleep."

"It would be Hades on Earth that's for sure."

"I'll see you around Percy stay out of trouble."

"You too or at least as much trouble fate permits." Smiling I get up and walk up the beach back to my cabin. This cabin of course holds a worried Kaylee and a calming Will.

"Where were you? You disappeared after dinner." I hugged her as soon as I saw her. Releasing her I smiled. "Sorry, I went for a walk on the beach and I fell asleep with my headphones in."

"Oh well I'm glad your back Dylan was worried sick." Dylan look up from his bed with a cheeky smile.

"No I wasn't. I assumed she was at the Hades cabin." At this he winked and went back to reading his magazine. Blushing furiously I retorted, "Well I wasn't so guess who the fool is?"

"Not me because I sure don't wish I was at the Hades cabin right now with a certain half-blood."

"I don't know what you're talking about. Nico hasn't even really talked to me much actually since that day." Kaylee glanced over at Will at this.

"Well Will, I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" She smiled sweetly at him.

"Yeah sure thing bright and early!" He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek before saluting Dylan and patting me on the shoulder on the way out. Turning to me now Kaylee gave me an understanding look.

"Well you have been busy right?"

"Yeah I guess, but even when I'm not I can never find him. It's like he doesn't exist anymore except for when he wants to see me." Dylan looked up from his magazine again at this.

"Well why not just go see him tomorrow morning instead of going to the infirmary. I'll tell them I have you on a hike or something and that way you can go eat breakfast or something with him?" Kaylee looked appreciative at him.

"That's a great idea! Maybe you could do a little more then eat breakfast and talk." She said the last part in nearly a whisper and waggled her brows at me.

"You know I heard that, and I honestly don't need a mental picture of my sister with another person intimately."

"Who said they would be intimate with each other? Gosh Dylan what plagues your mind is truly a mystery to be lead to think such things." I rolled my eyes at their antics.

"Well either way I'll need to be up early, so let's hit the hay."

"Alright Miss Bossy Pants. You heard the lady Dylan, magazine away and lights off in 10!"

With that I went to bed hoping for a better tomorrow. It wasn't that today was bad I was just afraid at what Barron told me. He was right though "Hurt and betrayed she will leave" That was part of the prophecy, and even though it didn't really say it I had a feeling it was me. It always seemed to be me. Maybe I can talk to Nico about it tomorrow when I go to his for breakfast.

SORRY FOR BEING SO LATE IN UPDATING SCHOOL SEEMS TO PRACTICALLY CONSUME MY LIFE WHETHER IT IS CLUBS, HOMEWORK, CATCHING UP ON READING, OR DARE I SAY IT BEING SOCIAL. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN FORGIVE ME FOR MY TRANSGRESSIONS AND ENJOY THEY STORY I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DISCONTINUE IT AND I WON'T UNLESS NEEDED. SO REVIEW IF YOU PLEASE DON'T BE SHY!