Leo's pov
I just went to get a soda and I missed everything. When I came back from my cabin everyone was gone. I saw everyone gathered by the side of the hill.
All I knew was that Percy went to go get some powerful demigod. Hopefully it was a girl. I ran to catch up and when I got there all I saw was a huge pile of dust.
Percy was knocked out and Annabeth was with the healers. "What…"I whispered. Then I saw this girl with the darkest hair I ever saw and brown eyes, she wore long sleeve shirt and short black shorts. She walked towards everyone and fall.
No one even tried to come get her, they just stared, even Chiron. I ran to the girl and picked her up bridal style."No… Do not touch me… Leave me alone… Before… It's…. Too…. Late…" she muttered before fainting.
"What the Hades?" Chiron stepped up, "Leo, follow me."
I followed him to the clinic to put her down, and then we went to his office. "Leo, do you understand what has happened today?"
Chiron asked me. "No." I told him.
"That girl, Ariel, kills with touch." Chiron said.
"Chiron… Good one, you almost got me, because that would be weird!" I chuckled. Chiron stared, "And my life's weird." I finished.
"No one knows why the daughter of Hades is like that. Or why you can touch her. You saw Percy right? Well she did that to him, by touching his skin." Chiron finished.
My mind went blank. "That can't be." I whispered.
"It's true, I would like you to keep an eye on her. She should be in her new cabin." Chiron said.
I nodded and slowly walked to the Hades cabin. I opened the door and I almost had a heart attack. Standing in the middle of the cabin was Ariel, her face was emotionless, and she stopped bleeding.
Also, in the bed was a pale nonmoving Nico. She turned to me, black flames surrounded her, but she looked calm. "Move." Her voice commanded.
"Don't you know who I am?" I asked. The flames flickered for a quick second before going on full force.
"No." She said. Her eyes stared at me, cold and unnerving. "I'm the boy, who got you medical attention. The attractive boy who saved your life. The boy who can touch you. Leo Valdez." I said.
I must have said something wrong because the weak flames grew to the roof, "You are wrong. Are we done?" Ariel brown eyes watched me with… sadness.
"Nope. We're just getting started, because I'm Doctor Leo" I said.
"I grown tired of questioning." Ariel replied.
"I haven't. What's wrong with Nico?" I asked. "I was born. That is wrong." Ariel said.
The flames started dying; now they were only on her hand. I stepped closer. "Not in your family's life." I said.
"That is where you are wrong." Ariel said. "No they must love you either way." I said. "My mom would see a monster. The one who ended her life." Ariel said. My head jerked up,
"What!"
Ariel's pov
As soon as the words left my mouth I regretted it but I had to tell someone my story before these flames kill me. "What!" Leo said.
I tried my best to keep my cool, but tears were lurking around the corner of my eyes. "I was six. It was Saturday April 30th. My mom took off work for me. When I was a kid, I could touch people but I didn't like to.
I guess I knew I would just have to get used to it. All the doctors and teachers were worried. I was a good student, but I was closed off for a kid. I would listen in class, study at home, never forget my homework, and I hardly laughed.
I always thought it was best to stay away from people, so I did not talk to them. My mom always said that I was smarter than the rest, that I was a leader not a follower.
She actually liked me for me, even when I told her that I wanted black clothing. That day, I woke to the smell of pancakes and bacon. rushed down stairs and ate my breakfast, while my mom told me what we were doing today.
First was painting my room dark purple, then she dressed me in black overalls with a white under shirt. She let me paint the bottom while she painted the top of the room. We listened to music, she showed me the songs that I still like now, she would sing and after a few times of listening I would sing too. She did not even care when I sang the lyrics "And slit your throat" for the song "My Heart is The Worst Kind of Weapon", and she would sing with me.
After it was done she picked out a black dress with a black beret, and a black umbrella for me. She took me to the mall for ice cream.
Everyone stared but my mom would wave and ask how their day went. She even brought her own black umbrella. After two helpings of mint chocolate chip ice cream, we were passing a toy store when she saw a black leopard and brought it for me.
She said it reminded her of me, because it was beautiful, powerful, and loved to blend in but stand out. I named it Annaleigh after her.
For the first time ever I laughed and smiled. I thought we could do this every Saturday. I daydreamed about going through her closet and adding more cute black outifits.
She made me the best ribs that night with corn on the cob, my favorite food on this whole Earth. After eating we watched TV for a while, we watched Saw 1. I never hid behind my mother, nor did she hide, we watched and laughed at the "scary" parts.
That night before I went to bed I decided to give her a hug. Something I always rejected and never gave out. After a few seconds I wondered why she did not pull away.
I put my head away and saw her pale face in a silent plead for help. Her face started showing her veins, I tried letting go but my hands were stuck on her back. Then I heard a voice.
The voice told me that I was a bad girl and so were my friends. That they should be punished but that she would settle with me. I pleaded with her not to. But she laughed and said I was weak, and that she was putting my mother out of her misery.
My mom said three words, "I love you." Then, she… h-hung limp. The lady said I-I k-ki-illed her. I looked up online what I had but nothing showed up, I told the police what happened but they told me to stop lying.
When I said it was real they put in a mental hospital, until I ran away. Then they sent me to school. I kept running away, I started wearing gloves and I stopped talking. I turned people away; if they talked to me I would act cruel… to save them.
They called me names but I didn't care, I would hate me too. They dared me to take off my gloves but I never did. Nobody likes me Leo! I am a freak! I should die! Look what I did! You are lucky I did not kill you! That's the luck I have! But it is going to run out one day! I need to leave!"
The flames started again they surrounded me, I started crying, the flames touched everything but Leo and Nico. "You're not alone! Everyone's ok, you saved Percy!" He yelled.
I noticed that my black flames were surrounded me in a tornado. "Leo! I am going to die anyway! I cannot control my powers! These flames are waiting for my will to fall so they can kill me!"I shrieked.
"No they're not! You have to embrace the fire! Not reject it!"Leo insisted.
"ARE YOU NUTS!" I yelled. "Yes! But trust me!" I stopped struggling, the flames flickered confused.
I smiled, they liked me; I let the flames spread to the whole room. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Leo screeched. Leo freaked out covering his face.
My flames lapped around him giving him slight warmth. "Huh…" Said Leo "I controlled it!" I yelled and looked over to Nico who was fast asleep. I stepped towards him but almost fell, until Leo caught me. "Do you think everyone will forgive me?"
He smiled, "Of course. Now let's get him to the nurse." He said gently. "No. He will be fine." I said "Ariel. Come on." Leo begged "He will be better. I can feel it. It's like a sixth sense. He knew what was coming. He thought he could handle it, my power."
I explained. Leo stared at me, eyes wide. "What?" I questioned.
"Your eyes!" He exclaimed.
"Huh?" I went to my mirror; my eyes were black, just like my flames. I guess I just got a new power. I tried again and make my skin darker like Leo's, but when I tried to make my hair blond it did not work.
"I guess you can only mimic other people or objects." Leo said. I shrugged, not that weird, and changed my appearance back to my, but with light black colored eyes.
"I like my eyes like this." I told him, but he shook his head, "You're weird." "I could kill anyone with my hands but my ability to like the color black for my eyes is weird."
He paled, "Leo," I said.
"Huh?" "May you make me a sword? I know you are a child of the fire and blacksmith god."
"How?"
"I told you sixth sense. Let us get going." I turned to walk away but something held back my arm.
I looked back to see Leo, "You don't have to be shy. You can't hurt me or scare me, I have seen stuff that makes this look like child's play. I'd like to be your friend but I can't if you don't want me to." His put his head down, the disappointment was clear.
"No! You are really sweet, you're the first person I talked to in years. It's just that your so much nicer, sweeter, funnier, good looking… Ahh!" I covered my mouth, his smile widened, "I mean… It's just I am not social! I uhh…. I am soooo stupid. I am sorry! Of course we can be friends." I finished.
He smirked, "Good looking, eh? I'm disappointed, I was going for hot!"
"Do not push it." I warned him.
"Come on let's go to the forges." Leo said.
"Ahh… Ok." He took my hand and ran with me to the forges.
"Is anyone going to be there?" I asked.
"No it's kind of late." Leo told me. I noticed then that it was at least seven.
"Oh. Good… Do you have music?" I asked.
"No…" Leo answered.
"Good, I brought some." I told him and pulled out my favorite black IPod.
"What kind of sword do you want?" Leo asked.
I stuck my hands up and waved them around like a little kid. "Oh! Oh! I know! I want a… uhh… I want a lightweight, sword! Not a dagger! What happens if I have to sword fight! Can it be black! Can you also make it transform to be a bracelet! That's a great idea! And! It can I have a design that I'm going to make!" I yelled.
Leo stared at me. "What. Did I do something wrong?" I asked. My shoulders sank, "I'm sorry." I apologized.
"Are you kidding me? I thought you were shy!" Leo said.
"But you said to be myself." I stated it like a fact.
"When was the last time you talked to people?" Leo asked.
"10 years, why?" I asked.
"That explains a lot." I gave him a puzzled look, "If you were any other girl I would've been slapped." Leo told me.
I was confused, "Do you want to be slapped?" I asked.
"NO THANKS! I'm good." Leo exclaimed.
"Okay." I said.
"So you're ideas rock. Yes you can make designs. Yes I can make it a bracelet, and they can both be black." Leo said. I threw my hands in the air, "Score." Leo laughed and fist pumped too. "So what songs do you have?"
Leo asked. "A lot. You will have to wait and see!" I said. Leo smiled and started working on the sword, while I put Light Em Up by Fall Out Boy. After a few minutes of day dreaming I decided to make a design for the bracelet and I had a perfect idea.
"Hey, whatcha doing back there!" Leo called from the work room.
"Drawing a design for the bracelet!" I said. "Can I see?" Leo asked. "No!" I turned around to see Leo trying to take a look.
"AHHH!" I screamed and covered the paper. He laughed and snapped his fingers as if disappointed. I giggled and put the paper in my pocket. "What are you doing?" I asked him.
"I'm also done but it needs to cool down." Leo said. "Soooo… What do you do at this 'camp' anyway?" I asked.
He grinned if possible bigger and told me all his adventures like how he stopped Mother Earth herself. "It's not that funny." He said pouting; he just started telling me how he wore goggles and made "tattoos" saying team Leo.
"Oh, It is funny!" I said in between laughs.
"You're just jealous that you don't have the guts to do that." Leo said.
"Is that a dare?" I said.
"Only if you're not chicken!" I smirked, "I will do it." I replied.
Leo got a marker from his tool belt, "I'll pick for you."
He took the marker and started writing on my arm. "No peeking." Leo told me. I rolled my eyes and waited for him to be finished. "I am done! Look at this beauty!"
I giggled and took a look at my arms. "Leo!" I shrieked. Leo put his arms in the front of his face, for some odd reason while I ran to give him a huge hug.
His face lit up light a Christmas tree. "Uhhhh…. Youu-uu'rr-reee n-oo-t m-aa-d at mmm-ee!" He squeaked.
"No. I love it!" I exclaimed. His face went through many emotions ranging from embarrassed to downright confusion.
"You're not mad at all!" Leo yelled.
"No! Gothic Beauty is the best thing you can have ever written!" I yelled back. I think I saw a blush but ignored it and he left to finish the design.
After I finished the image I started adding words, but I do not think I will show Leo the words, they are a little embarrassing. I flipped through my songs until I find the song 'Dango Daikazoku' and played it since it was one of my favorites.
I yawned and closed my eyes for a few seconds.