This chapter is pretty long, but if I had stopped in the place I was going to, it would have been a super short chapter. Hope you guys enjoy.
Right before supper I was in the arena fighting with Eric. I still skipped my class with my cabin mates any chance I could. It was nice. We got along well. It was like I was one of the guys, which made me feel less self-conscious being with him. Samantha liked to show up and cheer me on. She cheered especially loud when I was able to strike Eric with my sword.
Eric was patient with me. Even when I got mad and threatened to quit cursing whoever came up with the wretched idea of sword fighting. Soon enough we started all hanging out more and more. Samantha liked to joke that I might as well be there sibling with how much time I spent with them all. It was nice to have both of their company all the time, but I knew Eric was only there for his sword sharpening. Slowly our time together dwindled as the war with the titans became our only focus. Sword fighting remained our sole time together.
Then Beckondorf died.
I didn't cry, I just went to the workshop and worked until dark. Samantha came to give me company and had dragged along Eric. I asked them if I could be alone. Being in the forges, it felt like Beckondorf was still there. They both tried to argue with me, but eventually gave in to my wishes.
After his funeral, I was busy making weapons and prepping for what was to come. My lessons with Eric ebbed away towards the end. I only saw him when he needed his sword sharpened.
The battle came and went. I remember fighting with my sisters and my brothers. Percy and Annabeth were trying to act brave, but everyone knew we were not faring well. That's when it happened. The Ares cabin showed up, led by a Silena Beauregard. No one knew it at the time though.
Clarrice came in slaying the dracon. I was too busy celebrating to notice Samantha running full speed at me.
Samantha tackled me with a hug. Eric was close behind her, with grin on his face. He clapped a hand on my back.
"I'm so happy you're alive!" Samantha wailed in my ear. She buried me in a hug. I looked at Eric and mouthed, 'Is she ok?'
He just smiled and nodded.
It was a long fight and we came home with only minor injuries. The three of us had been lucky. Or rather I should say, I was lucky. Samantha saved me more than once. Making sure she always had me covered. Even Eric had kept me from getting cut down by a sheet of arrows. He had tackled me, bringing me down behind a car. I hit my head hard on the concrete, but was thankful it was just a bonk on the head instead of an arrow through the eye. I was also thankful for all my lessons with him. I probably wouldn't have lasted long without them.
That had been my saddest summer. We had all lost so many people and now everyone was preparing to go back to school.
Eric left back for school. He went to a military academy. He was starting his Sophomore year, while I was starting what would have been my "freshman year" at camp half blood. I realized how much difference that one year made between us and yet how little. Samantha herself was going back for her Junior year. She had spent a lot of time complaining about the dreaded Junior research paper. (So glad I didn't have to go to her school.)
And I was back to being alone. But I made sure to have lots of projects to keep me busy. There was that awesome chariot and those new weapons for Eric and that cool hilt I was making for Samantha. And I wasn't alone. Two of my siblings were also year rounder's. They also kept me busy helping them with new instillation in our cabin.
It surprised me when I got an Iris message from Eric. It was in the middle of the night when I woke up to a shimmering image of him. I could tell he was in a bathroom. He didn't have a shirt on. I felt my face grow warm.
He smiled when he realized I was awake. "Took you long enough. I didn't know if I could wake you up without waking up the whole cabin."
I laughed and then covered my mouth. One of my sisters was snoring next to me. "Wouldn't be too hard, there are only three of us." I whispered.
"I'm coming back for the first week of December."
"Really?" After all the carnage and stress from this summer it would be nice to just be- happy. And not worry about fighting some evil giant being who could destroy you with one look.
He nodded, "I thought I would let you know. I was hoping you could clear up your busy schedule to hang out with me."
I rolled my eyes, "So I could sharpen your sword."
He gave a low chuckle. His voice had started to sound deeper this last year. I felt my entire body flush this time. "Well, yeah. That too. Maybe we can practice some too. You need all the help you can get." I could tell he was teasing.
I heard footsteps.
"Gotta go."
"See you soon."
He smiled, "I'll see you Charlie." He waved his hand at the mist and everything went blank. I turned to find Corey sitting up only a bunk away.
"I'll see you Charlie," he mocked.
"Shut up," I threw a pillow at him. He caught it but chuckled as he laid back down. He had become really protective over me since Beckondorf died. He made sure no one got on me for missing practice and he encouraged my projects. Not that any actually worked since his death. Our cabin had become cursed.
I frowned thinking of these things.
I better get back to sleep. I realized Corey had my pillow. I was going to have to fight him for it.
When Eric arrived for winter break he hugged me. Something he rarely did with anyone. It made me feel very self-conscious about all the grease and oil on my hands and arms. He didn't seem to mind.
He told me all about his school and I caught him up on all the explosions I had caused in the forge. He seemed concerned with the fact I kept putting myself in danger. "Should I let Samantha know what you've been doing?"
"You wouldn't." I dared.
"I would," he gave a sassy look.
"Fine, I'll be more careful."
He cocked his head sideways.
"Fine. I'll take a break."
He smiled triumphantly. I grumbled at him until he lightly punched me in the shoulder. I smiled.
It was nice having him back. We did almost everything together. He told me about what Samantha had been up to since they had cellphones and could communicate more frequently. We even decided to Iris message her one evening. She was so mad that she was stuck in Georgia for family Christmas.
"Just be happy your family wants you around for the holidays," Eric joked.
"Or that you have a family," I muttered.
For a second everyone was silent.
"I did not mean to say that out loud." I blushed. "I mean I have you guys and that's family enough for me."
Samantha laughed, "Yeah, I'm like the cool older sister and Eric is like the annoying older brother." We all started cracking up at this and then Samantha and Eric started to argue about who was the cool one and who was the annoying one.
The Iris message ended after we wished each other a 'merry Christmas' and a promise from me to I.M. Samantha more often.
Eric looked at me for a long time. "Are you ok?"
I shrugged, pulling a dagger from my boot. We were sitting on a fallen log, where I started to dig and stab with my dagger like I was bored or something.
"You just- seem off. And then you made that comment." Eric said taking my dagger away from me. He started to clean it off on his jeans.
I huffed a sigh, "Yes, I don't have anyone to spend Christmas with. My mom is dead, my father is a god who doesn't have time for me, and none of my relatives want me. Welcome to camp half-blood where most of these kids have screwed up childhoods. We fight monsters and battle titans and learn to wield deadly objects instead of having regular arts and crafts time."
"We still have arts and crafts time."
I would have laughed, but it just kind of made me angry. "I shouldn't be throwing myself a pity party, but sometimes I just want to. I'm sorry. Holidays are just really depressing."
Eric didn't say anything for a long time. It was already dark at six o'clock in the dead of winter. He stood up as the snow began to descend upon us. "Let's go back, it's dark, and I'm ready for supper." He handed me my dagger. I glared at it for a moment before standing to take it. I didn't mean to be in a bad mood, I just was.
During the entire meal, I felt Eric's eyes on me. I wasn't trying to worry him, and it just frustrated me more and more. I didn't need this right now. Why was I getting so irrationally angry? I even knew I was angry, but I couldn't stop it.
"Let's go to the Arena. It's my last evening here Charlie."
He was standing next to the Hephaestus table. I nodded. I wasn't really in the mood, but it was his last night.
