Lydia Powell

Between parries and jabs, that one boy at the gas station seemed to keep me distracted.

I hated myself for not offering to take him home with me. Well more like to the five star hotel my dad and I were staying in. When he stepped into the store, my body temperature began rising and sparks went up my spine. I felt a strong presence, like a monster or a demigod. I quickly ruled out monster because this guy was way too cute to be evil. Thinking back on that, that was probably not the wisest thing to do.

So he had to be a demigod.

But how far would a runaway demigod get with a donut, some drachmas, and mortal money, and no weapon, I thought to myself.

Slash!

I grabbed my leg in pain and muffled a scream. I stared back up at Annabeth who was now standing over me. She pressed her foot against my chest and said, "I win." I flopped down on my back, staring up at the rolling clouds. I could feel Annabeth watching me. It was silent for a long time. It was killing me. I wanted Annabeth to ask, 'What's wrong Lydia' or 'Tell me what happened'. After a long minute of silence, she finally broke it with the question, and the words spilled out my mouth like an overflowing dam.

Annabeth was quite for a long time, probably thinking all this through, and calculating everything. Although there was nothing to calculate, other than I had left another demigod get away. I had left him to probably be attacked by monsters, with no weapons, to defend himself with.

"Don't worry about it," she said. "There are plenty of demigods out there just wandering. As long as he doesn't know who he really is, he'll be fine, I hope. Besides, you helped him the best you could."

I sat up and shook my head.

"Then why can't I take my mind of him?"

Annabeth shrugged her shoulders, although I knew she always had an answer.

She reached out her hand and pulled my up. I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed. I hated being unable to think clearly. "I going to go get this cut checked," I said. Really, I just needed time alone to think. Annabeth nodded and walked off towards the stables.

On my way to the infirmary, I tried my best to figure out why this random guy stayed on my mind.

In the back of my mind, I had a tiny suspicion. Two days before I saw the guy, I had a startling dream. Well most demigod dreams are startling and never really dreams; they're more like omens or visions. This dream was sent to me by my mom. I remember sitting in a large amphitheater, watching her fight. I instantly knew it was her from her shield, Aegis. She gracefully walked towards me and sat down.

"I've watched over you for a long time child, and now its time to fulfill your destiny."

My 'destiny' was in fact the very thing I was trying to avoid. Sometimes, I wished that the gods would just go ahead and kill me, heck, it would make my life easier.

"But I'm not ready yet mom. Why now," I whined. What I was really thinking was, 'Why me'? There were tons of demigods out there to place this kind of fate on, but of all the ones they pick me. I'm no special than the next.

"The Fates say it! That's why. But do not worry Lydia. Your fate may turn out to surprise you, and it may end up with something you least likely expected," Athena said. "Prophecies always have double meaning, you know. But, I have a little surprise for you. It's very vital for your completion," she finished.

I sighed and looked past her shoulder at the empty amphitheater seats.

Athena took my face in her hands. She offered a reassuring smile. I tried to hold back my tears; I hated crying in front of people. The dam broke though and I cried on my mom's shoulder while she held me in her arms. There was a familiar tingly feeling in the back of my eyes. I sobbed and there was a rumble and a weak step below collapsed. "It shall be fine, daughter. I believe you shall do me good. Remember Lydia, I love you," she said. She began to levitate from her seat; she was going back to Olympus. There was a ray of bright light, and I shielded my eyes. The light dimmed a little and Athena turned and said, "And please, work on the powers." She smiled and poof, she was gone. Then I woke up to a dark cabin full of light snores.

My cut had near disappeared now and I was grateful. I walked with Callie, an Apollo girl, to the cabins. Callie was short and had golden blonde with blue eyes, just like the other Apollo kids. I had saved her last summer as she straggled across the property line, a Cyclopes in hot pursuit. She had also just gotten here like a day ago from a cruise with her mom. Cal hadn't seen me in a while and she was talking non stop now.

"-And so then he kissed me! He kissed me Lydia! Travis finally kissed me, and it was the most romantic kiss ev-er," she blabbed.

I rolled my eyes in mock annoyance. "You mad bro," she asked.

"No, you've been hanging around the Aphrodite cabin waay too much Cal," I joked.

"Ohhh stop it, you missed me. I know you did," she smiled.

"Oh yes, I felt so miserable without you, it was almost like having you here," I countered.

Her smile faltered and she stood staring at me with he mouth gaping open. "Close your mouth, we don't want anything flying in there," I teased. She just stared at me still. Callie knew I was sarcastic and I hoped that I didn't push it this time. Just as I was about to apologize she began backing away towards her cabin. "Oh yeah, you're soooo mad bro," she said wiggling her arms like spaghetti.

I shook my head and walked towards my cabin.

Everything seemed to be doing fine now. But of course I HAD to open my mouth and jinx everything. Because the next morning, everything we bad.