Chapter 11: Alone

The news of Evie's death hit camp like a bomb. Everyone talked about it, and everyone seemed to know that Evie and I weren't at the best of terms. They didn't know why, but knowing we didn't like each other was a reason to accuse me. Chiron wouldn't have any of it, or so he said. Of course he couldn't deny that my case was weak. The day I regain my memories Tom dies, the day after, Evie. Everything pointed at me, and it was me. Colt didn't seem to bother with not being caught. He probably didn't even care. I tried not to seem suspicious, I seemed to have a talent for it back when I was Michael so why wouldn't I have that now? Still I could feel the stares burn in my back. Everyone was talking about me, I hated it. I used to love being in the spotlight but now I couldn't stand it. Maybe it was one of the traits Colt took from Michael.

Dinner was horrible. Everyone was whispering and looking at me. All the seats around me were empty, trust me that was rare for the Hermes table. Even the people I knew were giving me weird looks. I felt alone, hated. I had a tough life, but I had never been alone. Even when I just came to the orphanage Peter and I became friends in the first week that I lived there. I lived on the streets of L.A with people, and I wasn't in San Francisco long before Martin found me. But now I was alone, I wondered how many people here had felt alone. The stories were that most demigods didn't fit in with mortals. I never had a problem with that but if most of the people there knew what it was like to be alone, how could they shun me like this? I guess when rumours were going round it didn't matter. In the end I got up and leave, I wasn't going to get pissed or whatever. I just walked away. Back in the day I never did. I always went into every conflict head on. Look where it got me.

My friends dead, a second personality and the feeling of being completely alone. I went to the only person who might help. Luke Ford, the only one that didn't hate me as far as I knew. He was the son of Hephaestus, so the forge was the only logical destination. The forge was a grease monkey's heaven. Everything you needed to make pretty much anything was there, from ancient forges to the newest tools available. There were also weapons laying around everywhere. Swords, axes daggers everything. I didn't think I was a son of Hephaestus but I wouldn't have minded being there everyday. The only thing was the bloody heat. With all the flames burning it wasn't healthy for people who didn't like extreme heat like me. There seemed to be one other person there that seemed to be bothered by it. It was a girl, a darn good looking one. She reminded me of someone. I hadn't seen her before that was certain but I recognized her. I didn't know her and since she probably heard the rumours about me I didn't expect a nice conversation but I had to know.
"Hey." I said awkwardly. I didn't really know how much she had heard and more importantly how much she believed. By now I figured the stories much have escalated. Two days, two deaths. What were they saying that I was a descendent of Jack the Ripper or the real life Hannibal Lecter? I didn't even want to know. I constantly tried to convince myself that no one would believe rumours like that but I knew they all did. People were so gullible.
"Hey." She said smiling. "You're Angel right?" She said. So she knew something about me. Although her smile didn't make me believe that she hated me like all the other campers seemed to.
"Yeah. Who are you?" I wanted to ask her if she was a daughter of Hephaestus but I didn't want to make that assumption. As far as I knew many demigods were insulted when asked such a question unless it was actually true.
"I'm Maria Wilson, daughter of Aphrodite. Have you seen Luke?" As soon as she said Aphrodite I knew. Her hair was dark and she had green eyes. But that's how I recognized her.
"You're Sophie's sister!" I said, it sounded stupid but when I figure something out I get exited. I never convinced myself I was smart or very quick witted (of course the arrogant side of me would never admit this) so when I did figure something out I was happy about it.
"You've seen Sophie?" Given I only just got my memories back I kinda forgot that me meeting Sophie was a long time ago, and that Sophie had been missing for most of that time. I wondered if she was dead, many (like Grace) seemed to think so. I didn't know if Sophie and Maria were close but I would expect that she would definitely be one of the people that believed that she was still alive somewhere, or at least hoped so.
"I met her in New York months ago. I just thought I recognized you from something...I guess it was that." I said. I couldn't really see big resemblances but there were a few small ones. So small I can't even explain them. I think that most people that knew both Maria and Sophie would agree with me.
"Okay." She said thinking it was a bit weird probably. "We don't even look alike that much." I didn't know if she was offended, maybe she was. The Aphrodite girls didn't seem like the most humble kind. Apparently Maria thought a lot more of herself than she did about Sophie. In modern religion hubris was a sin. In Greek mythology...not so much. The gods themselves were the most arrogant beings that existed. All the gods felt they were greater than any other being. I wasn't a big fan of the god mostly because of their arrogance and their ignorance. They thought they were so great but their western civilization was rotten. Something they ignored, or were too stupid to notice. I figured it was what they ignored because I didn't see the gods as complete idiots. Well...not all of them. Maria's mother, Aphrodite, was the most shallow goddess in my opinion...but I couldn't call the goddess of beauty, love and sexuality the most arrogant. Her daughters usually were though.
"I guess I have an eye for those kind of things." I said.
"Whatever." I started liking this girl less and less. "Anyway, have you seen Luke?" She asked me again. I completely ignored her question last time.
"I haven't seen him, no. I came here looking for him actually. Why are you looking for him?" I asked her.
"I'm his girlfriend duh." She said. The longer I talked to her the more she reminded me of those bratty L.A girls I knew in the orphanage. Most of them were ugly as the night and had nothing to brag about but still they found a way to make themselves believe they should be queen of the universe. Of course Maria had some stuff to brag about...but I still got annoyed by her bitchy attitude. "Anyway, he talked about you with Evie. I thought you might know as you seem to be camps biggest fuss at the moment." She said. I wondered if she even knew Evie was dead. It didn't matter to me. I wanted to get away from her as soon as I could. And since Luke wasn't here, that's exactly what I was planning to do.
"Well I don't know. I guess I'll talk to him later." I walked off. I could hear her whatever me again. I didn't care what she thought of me. I didn't know where go at that point though. I didn't want to go to the Hermes cabin. So I went to the woods, I didn't care if that made me suspicious. Chiron told everyone should stay out of the woods. I didn't care for his warnings. After all Colt could hardly hurt me. I spend hours there. Until it was nearly dark.

I was sitting at the place where I woke up without memories. That seemed so long ago. Of course it had been a couple of months but most of them I spend in a coma . Luke had been right, now I wished I still had amnesia. But now that came too late. It was getting colder slowly, I had decided not to go back to the cabin. I didn't care if I had to sleep in the woods. I wasn't tired, I was just there as time passed me slowly. I was thinking about the things I knew about myself. So many bad memories. I started to think about San Francisco, a city that did me more bad than good. I survived there for a while with the four hundred dollars I had but pretty soon I was out of money. I didn't feel like living in alleys and play grounds. So I went to the place I figured I'd be accepted, the house of god. Of course I had a lot to confess to the lord, something I never got round to doing. I was taking in though. Got a small room in the cloister. I was given food, water and 'prayer'. Not really a gift. More like something I was forced to do. I didn't believe in God, if there was a God I'd say he's a cunt. I had seen so many horrible things, if there was a god, how could he allow that? But the priests didn't have to know my opinion on those things. I should have been thankful for them even keeping me in. I stayed there for six weeks before I was sick of the praying and the talk about good. I did something then I would never be able to justify. I went downstairs, my stuff was packed and I was ready to leave. But I didn't just leave. I had to give a big F-U to the church. And given how much oil and candles there were, I just couldn't resist. I got a glass bulb filled with oil and made a trail from the altar to a big pool of oil down the carpet of the church. The carpet was decorated with pictures of Jesus' march with the cross. It seemed quite old and it was a true waste to burn it. But I didn't care about that. I got one of the burning candles and threw it on the pool of oil. The fire danced on the carpet and towards the alter. The carpet burned, the alter burned and soon the wooden benches and everything else that was lightly flammable burned. I stood by the door of the church watching it burn. The flames danced till they reached the image of Jesus on the cross at the far end of the church. That's when one of the priests came downstairs watching his church burn.

"No!" He yelled. "You monster! How can you do this after all we did for you!" The priest screamed at me. I just stood there smiling. I turned away and made my way out of the door. The priest tried to put out the flames but in the process he himself got caught in the fire. I heard his screams as I walked down the steps. The fire-fighters arrived once I left the street. Another one of my gruelling deeds had been done.

"Angel?" Luke's voice got my out of my memory. Luke didn't sound very happy. I didn't reply. He was coming in my direction anyway, so what did it matter. He stood right in front of me after a while, he didn't look very happy either. "Here you are."
"Hey Luke." I said. Obviously Luke had heard of Evie's death and was done giving me the benefit of doubt.
"Stay away from her Angel. I won't let you hurt her too." He said. Apparently he was more protective of his girl than I thought. It wasn't very surprising. Every guy was protective of his girl. Especially against someone who could possibly be a serial killer. Well by now it was pretty obvious that it was me.
"You too huh?" Even Luke had given up on me. I was truly alone now. Maybe Grace would still talk to me but I doubted that. Why would she if she believed the rumours? She didn't seem the kind of girl that would question a rumour that every camper believed.
"Come on Angel. Did you really think I still believe you? First Tom than Evie? The only one capable of doing that...is you." He was right. At least I think he was. I doubted any other camper was as mentally fucked up as I was.
"You don't understand anything Luke." He just drew conclusions while he didn't even listen to what I had to say, it was typical.
"I don't give a fuck. But if you hurt anyone else. I swear to the gods I will kill you. And if you dare hurting her I will send you to Hades just like you send Evie."
"I'd like to see you try." I said looking him straight in the eyes. He had beaten me before but when it was life or death I would probably put up a better fight. And now that I had my memories it wasn't all instinct any more. He didn't say anything after that. He left me alone. I was alone. Everyone thought I was some ruthless killer. And I was. Well Colt was. I realized...I wasn't alone. Ever since I got my memories back I would never be alone. I could hear him...talk to me. I couldn't understand him at first. I had to concentrate, it felt like some sort of meditation. I went into the deepest of my mind until I heard him. He had my voice, but it sounded...different. He sounded manipulative and more confident. Just like he had when I first met him.
"They all hate you Angel. If they want a killer, let them have one." I knew what he meant. He wanted me to give up control. To let him take over to get...revenge so to speak. "If we work together we can be stronger than them. We don't need these puny wannabe heroes. We'll kill them one by one until they beg for out mercy." I knew it was stupid. But I was alone and angry. So after listening to his please...I answered.
"Okay."