Chapter 6

"Hey Kyra!"

I turn to the voice with a smile. "What's up, Will?"

It was Friday, and I had learned most everyone's names and the classes and rules of the camp in five days. I had a new schedule (one that didn't include dance classes) and I liked it. Before breakfast, I did my own yoga, and then taught some to Connor who somehow always wound up making me laugh until I cried. After breakfast, I worked on my Greek (the time varied) and then headed down to the forge to hang out with Kirsten, though Beckendorf did try to teach me some blacksmithing sometimes, all three of us always ended up sneaking off to go swimming, or cliff jumping depending on the feel. Lunch was a YOYO, so I usually stole some strawberries from the field and headed into the woods with Carlos, where I was working on manifesting different food items (so far, I had made only grapes and Lambrusco wine) and he would tell me a little more about being a magician. (Apparently, there weren't only Greek gods, but Egyptian ones too.) Afterwards, I worked in the fields with Castor and Pollux and eventually turned it into a wrestling match. Right now I was headed to the sword arena, where I got to hack stuffed dummies into pieces.

"Just came from archery practice. You ready for the game tonight?" The son of Apollo returns my smile.

I shrug, "I guess. I'm not all that certain about what I'll be doing. But I guess it won't be that hard."

"Of course not! It'll be fun," He assures as we stop by the armory to get swords for our next class. "It's just like a war version of capture the flag. And kinda dangerous. But it's fun!"

I laugh as we continue on our way. "If you say so."

"You know, I was just wondering. Percy says you were amazing at archery, but I never see you at the field."

I shrug again. "I guess I just don't want other people to think I'm like crazy special."

I had learned that demigods very rarely got to see their parents, and they usually didn't even listen to them, so I had already gained one enemy in Zeus' daughter, Thalia. But it's not like I tried to be favored! It just, happened. Like one day, I was musing to Kirsten about how it never rained and that I actually liked rain, and it (gasp!) began to rain. Of course, I'm still puzzling over how someone who had once tried to kill me, (well, Carlos, but I was the one who almost died) could suddenly like me so much as to ignore the magical barriers and send water down because I had commented on it. Hmmm.

And, actually, I had been down to the archery range (or the field, as some campers called it) at night, but I really didn't want to bring that up because I usually met up with Apollo who was still puzzling over what I was Graced with. Yeah, that might upset Will. Not only that reason, but if I did tell anyone, I was sure that suddenly I'd have a few more companions than I wanted.

"That makes sense. I'd still like to see you shoot sometime. I know Chiron does too."

I laugh at this, "I think Chiron just wants a good reason to keep me in this camp."

Unfortunately, Dion was right and I drove Chiron crazy every day. Connor had once commented that he and Travis weren't getting in as much trouble because all Chiron's attention was diverted to me.

"Kyra, you're late," Percy scolds.

I smile sweetly. "I am not, thank you very much. You were just early."

He rolls his eyes, but can't help but smile. "Sure."

I nod and take my place in between Kirsten and Travis as Percy begins teaching. He was a good swordsman; some would say he was the best in camp. I didn't agree. He was only the best when he was wet. Just like I was only almost the best when I was drunk. (But don't tell Chiron.)

In all actuality, I think if I was completely drunk, and he was completely wet, I would win. Of course, that might not be true. But then again…

"Kyra, you're not paying attention."

My eyes flew back to Percy's from where they were contemplating the water jug.

"Sorry."

"Are you thirsty?" A wicked grin was spreading across his face and I took a step back.

"Not for water," I remark.

"Too bad!" He yells, and the next thing I know, all the water is thrown at me and I feel a need to shriek and jump towards him.

Somehow, I had dodged the first attempt at soaking me, but soon the water was pounding against my back. The plus side to it was that it got Percy wet too. I start laughing and I feel his chest vibrate with surprised laughter and I'm startled to find that I was pressed tightly against him in an attempt to get away from his attack. I pry my arm away from him and push him down. It takes more force than I thought it would. Were we actually stuck together?

"That was not nice!" I yell at him with a smile, but he can't stop laughing to catch his breath enough to reply. "Stop laughing!"

He doesn't head my threat, so I stick my sword under his chin.

"Stop."

He does, but can't rid his face of the smile.

"Well, class, what have we learned from this?"

We both turn to see Chiron standing there with his arms folded and (gasp) a smile on his lips.

"That Kyra's real fast."

"Not to get her angry."

I rolled my eyes at Kirsten and Travis' answers.

"You can defeat your enemy by making them laugh," Someone, I think named Hunter, commented.

"Pay attention in class."

"Hey! I was paying attention!" I argue with Percy.

"Whatever," He answers, standing up.

I slash my sword at him and he barely counters it, but I follow it with a backhand, twisting my blade past his and pressing it to his pulse.

"You sure?"

"Oh. You were paying attention," He replies, clearly surprised.

Actually, I wasn't, but I'm not about to let him know that. I just did the first move that came to mind.

"Seeing as she's already learned the lesson, do you mind if I steal Kyra for the rest of class?"

"No, she's all yours," He gladly obliges Chiron.

I shoot Kirsten and Travis joking "AAHHH!" glances before following him and I realize we're going down to the archery range.

"You wanna watch me shoot?" I question.

"Partially. You've been seeing Apollo at night. You know that's against camp rules."

"Which one? Apollo or night?"

He almost rolled his eyes. "We have a curfew. I can't control who Apollo sees, although if I could, he wouldn't be seeing you."

"Oh, but he's helping me with my Grace!" I object.

"He can do that at a different time."

"Not really."

"How so?"

"He's driving the sun all day," I rationalize. "And my mornings are already full."

Annoyance comes to his eyes, telling me that I'm right.

"Fine, but you can't stay out more than an hour after curfew. And what do you do in the mornings?"

"Uh," That was probably against the curfew rule too. "Yoga. Meditation. It's just me, though."

"Where?"

"Uh, the East cliff."

He nods and I'm relieved that that's not off-limits. "Now, I want to see you shoot."

He hands me a bow and I look at him in skepticism. I could barely make out the target from this range.

"From here?"

He laughs. "You wouldn't make it, that bow doesn't have that kind of power."

"Well," I smile, "do you have one that'll shoot that far?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," He answers curiously. "But I doubt you're that good."

What a show of confidence.

"Can I try?"

"It won't hurt anything," He shrugs, and gives me one that I had never seen him without. "Just be careful with it."

"Of course," I assure, knocking an arrow.

I take deep breaths and focus all my energy on getting this arrow into that small blur of a target.

Three seconds after I let it go, Chiron can only stare dumbfounded at me.

"That's impossible."

He then takes off, galloping towards the target and I run to catch up, arriving shortly after him.

"Amazing," He says, looking from the bulls-eye to me. "How did you do it?"

"Concentration?" I say uncertainly.

"That's it!" I twirl around at the excited exclamation and Apollo grabs my arms. "There's no way you could've gotten that shot unless you could manipulate its path!"

"Uh, that's great," I say, still startled at his sudden appearance. "So I can… no, I don't get it. Explain?"

He laughs and pulls me into a hug, like he does always at the most random of moments.

"You can manipulate things. Make them do things they wouldn't usually do. For instance, Percy wouldn't usually say what he's thinking around D, because it's probably something that would irritate D. But he did and, though he did irritate D, you made him say it."

"Have you been stalking me?" I say, pulling back slightly and he laughs again.

"It's common knowledge."

"Well, I'll leave you two to discuss this," Chiron comments, still perplexed on how I made the shot. "Although I do expect to hear what the end verdict is."

I hand him his bow and watch as he trots off.

"Okay, run that by me one more time," I say, stepping out of the embrace.

"You," Apollo starts slowly with hand motions and a mischievous smile, "Can. Manipulate. Objects. And people. You can change their thoughts and cause them to say things, it's just amazing."

"Oh, that's… interesting. Are you sure?"

"Yes," He hugs me again, this time picking me up and spinning me around.

I cry out in surprise and end up laughing until he puts me back down.

Then I hit him.

"Don't do that again!"

"Awe, you know you liked it," He teased.

I stick my tongue out at him and jerk away when he attempts to grab it.

"Then I should be able to make things move and everything, right?"

"Yeah," He replies.

"Can I manipulate you?"

"I think you already are," He winks.

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too! See? I would've already won this argument if you weren't."

"So not true."

"It is!"

"Nu-uh."

"Uh-huh!"

"Shut up."

"No way."

"Yes way!"

I growl threateningly, but he just laughs.

"You're adorable."

"You're absurd."

"I love it when you say that."

"Absurd?"

"Ugh, yes. It's so sexy."

"Shut up," I push him again.

"No way."

"Yes way!"

"No," He whispered into my ear, giving it a nibble.

I shy away from him. "Don't do that."

"You know you like it."

"No I don't!"

"You do."

"No."

"Yes, stop lying to yourself."

"You know what? You're cocky. Too cocky for your own good."

"Say that again," His smile teases.

"No."

"Pleease?"

"Will you shut up?"

"Uh, no."

"Then I won't."

"Ugh, fine."

"You. Are," I got closer and practically said the last word into his mouth. "Cocky."

His smile brushes against my lips.

"Perfect."

"Is this what always happens when he comes to visit you?"

I jump back, and put my hand to my chest in surprise.

"Geez, Chiron, you almost gave me a heart attack! I thought you were gone!"

"I was, but then D ordered me to come back and "oversee" your activities."

"Wow. Talk about overprotective parent," I muse to myself and Apollo laughs.

"There's really no reason to worry, Chiron."

"Mhmm."

He doesn't buy it. I guess he's just known Apollo for too long.

"It's okay. I mean at least Dion isn't supervising. It could be much worse."

Chiron tilts his head to the side, not sure if he should be offended by this or not.

"True," Apollo agrees and then hugs me again.

"Would it kill you to not hug me every two seconds?" I pull away from him joking.

"Uh, yeah!" He says it like that's the most obvious statement anyone's ever said.

"You're lying."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are. Too."

His lips quirk upward and suddenly he's tackling me onto the ground.

"Po!" I scream as I fall and he starts tickling me. "Get off me!"

He laughs, "You know you like it, Ky," And doesn't stop.

All my efforts to get away are fruitless, so I finally just give up.

"Hey, I thought you were supposed to be supervising!" I shout to Chiron through a fit of laughter.

"Oh? I was under the impression that you didn't want me to supervise," His eyes laugh and I roll mine at him.

"Whatever," I mutter and start playing offense in the tickle war.

Soon (and without anyone's help, I might add) I've effectively turned the tide on the mischievous god and had him pinned down.

"Mercy!" He cries and I see tears forming.

"What? Is it too much, Po?" I reply evilly.

"Yes! Please, Ky, mercy!"

I laugh at him and stand up. "You should probably get out of here."

"But I just got here!" He objects, brushing the dirt and grass off him.

"Aaand? It's almost time for capture the flag. Aren't you supposed to be driving the sun or something?"

He rolls his eyes. "I put it on autopilot."

"The sun has an autopilot?" I ask with laughter.

"Yeah, it makes it easier for me," He replies, wrapping his arms around me once again.

"Whatever. Go," I command, spinning out of his embrace.

"I will on one condition," He crosses his arms.

"And that would be?"

"You dance for me tonight."

"You suck," I glare at him. "Fine. Just be on time."

"Yes Ma'am," He says with a satisfied smile and a mock salute before he turns and a flash of light takes him.

No, I didn't look at it. You think I'm stupid? Okay, well I might be… just a little mind you.

"He certainly liked you."

I shrug with a smile. "He's an idiot."

Chiron thinks this over. "In some aspects, yes, but don't underestimate him."

"I won't," I say. "When does the game start?"

"Fifteen minutes," He replies. "If I were you, I'd head over to the armory. Get a sword and a bow, they'll give you armor. I believe you're on the blue team."

"Oh, okay," I nod to him and start to the armory.

"Oh, and Kyra," I turn around, "If you're Grace of manipulation is as powerful as Apollo seems to think, we might not let you play."

I nod slowly, "Okay."

"One more thing. If I find your drunk, you won't play either."

I smile. "Got it."

I wonder if he knew that I was partially drunk now. No, I didn't think so.

Was I going to be drunk for this game?

Oh yeah.

Was he going to be able to tell?

Nope!

So it was with a satisfied smile that I picked out my sword and bow when suddenly something caught my eye. I was immediately attracted to the gleam of the matching dual blades. They were either long knives or short swords, I wasn't quite sure. When I picked them up, they felt natural in my hands and I performed a couple experimental swings and couldn't keep the smile off my face. They were perfect.

"Oh, hey! Kyra, what did Chiron want to talk to you about?" Percy appears and inquires as I search for some sheaths.

I shrug, checking the fit on some black and gold leather ones. "Wanted to see me shoot."

"Good," He nods, clapping his fist and snapping a couple times, while perusing through the weapons.

"You looking for something in particular?" I look at him with a questioning eyebrow raise after putting the blades away to the side as I turned to armor.

"Oh, uh, no, I guess not," He smiles as I go through breastplates. "Here, this one should fit."

"Thanks," I slip it over my head and he helps tie it at the sides.

"Percy?" I turn to see a pretty blonde girl standing in the doorway.

"Oh, uh, hi Annabeth," Percy tries to smile. "When'd you get here?"

"A few minutes ago," She answers, crossing her arms and looking at me almost icily. "And you are?"

I smile, trying to be friendly. "Kyra, from Cabin Twelve. Percy was helping me get ready for the game because it's my first time."

"I see."

A silence comes and I turn back to somehow attach the sheaths to my waist and move the sword to my back.

"I guess I'll see you around, Seaweed Brain."

I glanced over my shoulder with a knowing grin when I'm sure she's out of hearing range.

"She so likes you."

"Uh, no, she kinda hates me."

I roll my eyes. "You're kidding. You can't see the way her eyes were glowing green? It was like she had caught us making out or something."

He laughs nervously, "Oh yeah? Well… we weren't."

I laugh and shake my head. "No, we weren't. I know that, you know that, everyone knows that."

"E-everyone?" That laugh comes again and he runs his hand through his hair.

"Is that a problem? Do you want people to think we're making out?"

"No! No. I mean, it'd be cool I guess… oh gods, did I say that aloud? Not that I want to, I mean I wouldn't mind but… No!" He slaps his forehead. "Just kill me now. Please?"

I laugh and punch his arm. "I think I'll just let Annabeth do that. Or any of your other many "enemies"."

"I'd prefer if it were you," He murmurs and I'm not sure if I was supposed to hear it.

"You sure I have this on right? It just feels odd wearing jeans and a t-shirt," His eyes widen and skim over me and I find myself laughing. "No! I'm not taking them off. Maybe I should just stop talking. Or letting you talk."

"Maybe. You could wear a dress, it'd go with your Amazon theme."

"Sounds good."

"Really? You'd do that?"

"No. I'll just survive with this."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay," He shrugs, fingering a dagger.

"Should I get arm guards?"

"Sure," He gives me some. "You need some help with them?"

"Better not."

"Um… I'm confused."

"Whatever, yes I want help."

He grins and laces them up comfortably tight. "There you go."

"Thanks," I reply, drawing my arm from his grasp.

"Yeah. We should probably get going. Oh! You'll need a helmet."

"Seriously? Ew, no," I wrinkled my nose at the bright blue plume extending out the top. "I am not wearing that!"

"Come on, now, don't go all Aphrodite on me!"

"I'm not! I'm using my good sense and it tells me that this is terribly unsophisticated."

"You have to," He explains.

"Why?"

"Because it's the rules…?" He guesses shrugging with a smile.

"Whatever. Isn't there any other way I could identify myself?"

"Well… you could wear blue, but then you couldn't hide that well."

I smile and rush from the room and he runs to catch up with me.

"Hey! Where're you going?"

I don't reply, suddenly finding myself in my cabin as I had wanted. Shrugging off the reason I got here so fast, I quickly search through my things.

"You looking for something, Chica?"

"Face paint. I could've sworn I had some," I answer, and Carlos replies by reaching his hand into thin air (or the Duat, as he calls it) and bringing some out of various shades. "Let me guess, blue?"

"That's right," I grab it from his hand and move to a mirror.

Pulling my hair into a ponytail, I paint my long bangs blue and twisted them up into a bump. After which, I drew some sort of symbol on my forehead (I don't know what it was, it just looked cool) and then curled around my eyes widely, ending on my cheek bones. I looked like something from that King Arthur movie. Another slash over my jaw and then a different one horizontally over my lips completed the look.

Chiron would not approve.

Oh well.

Carlos whistled, "You look good, Chica. Double blades, huh? I knew someone who fought with them, an Egyptian deity actually. Of course, I'm sure you have plenty of those in this world too."

I smile, adjusting the bow string across my chest that kept the bow where it went over the sword. "Thanks Carlos. Are you fighting too?"

"I guess so. Clarisse asked me to be on their team."

"Clarisse?" I raise an eyebrow, this was an interesting twist.

"Yeah, so I guess we'll be fighting against each other for once Chica."

"For once?"

"Well yeah, this time I won't let you have the advantage," He teases and I punch him.

"Whatever. Let's just go."

So we went sharing a canteen of never ending wine. Of course I had to cut him off before he got drunk, wouldn't do for him to be running around throwing spells on people.

"Watch yourself out there, Mixed Breed," Clarisse snarls as she comes over to bring Carlos to her side.

"I'll do my best," I smile charmingly and her eyes narrow even more.

"See ya, Chica," Carlos calls back and I nod before jogging over to my side and realizing we were late.

"Kyra, where have you been?" Percy exclaims, and then he stops as his eyes take delight in my painting.

"I didn't think we were starting so soon," I confess. "I'm sorry. Do we have a game plan yet?"

"Uh, yeah," He nods after a second. "New campers are basically always decoys. You'll be going around to the right of the flag with Jaylee and Connor."

"Sounds good, any rules I should know about?"

"Well, obviously no killing. Or maiming. Small injuries are normal. Bruises and cuts are expected, honestly we can get away with broken bones sometimes."

"Hmm, sounds fun," I smile.

"Yep," He agrees, looking off into the distance and pulling his sword. "The horns about to sound, you better get with your group."

"Okay," I nod and head over to Connor.

"Niice," He immediately approves of my blue as I knew he would.

"Thanks," I smile, "just gotta make sure that Chiron doesn't see."

He laughs and Jaylee looks a bit envious that she didn't think of it. It must've been horrible for a daughter of Aphrodite to wear something like that. I smile understandingly and pull the remaining paint from my belt.

"Here," I remove her helmet and paint a striking design across her face before turning and doing the same to Connor. "Perfect. Now we're a team."

He laughs and touches his forehead carefully, "Okay Jaylee, tell me the truth. Did she just write "loser" over my forehead?"

I roll my eyes and punch him just as a horn sounds.

"Oh, we're on," He grins, tugging his sword out of the sheath and I do the same while Jaylee readies her bow.

We jog out over a creek and a shiver of anticipation runs up my spine. This should be fun. We don't meet much opposition, but when we do, it's taken care of easily and humanely, with a couple flicks of the wrist on Connor or my part; Jaylee was our scout.

I can't help but musing about our part as the diversion. Weren't we supposed to be getting the attention?

"They're not falling for it," I murmur to Connor and he nods in agreement.

"You know what that means?" His eyes twinkle. "We get the flag."

I laugh quietly, "Sounds good to me."

Jaylee reappears. "It's clear, there's only one guard."

"You ready?" I ask her.

"I'll just be the lookout," She suggests carefully.

I nod, "Good idea. Warn us if there're any reinforcements coming."

She nods and we venture nearer.

"I was wondering when you were gonna get here, Chica."

"Carlos? You've gotta be kidding me."

"Afraid not, now I guess I gotta take you as a hostage."

"Oh yeah?" I put my hands on my hips. "And who says I'm gonna let you?"

He smiles and whips out a curved blade, lunging quickly and skillfully and I feel like strangling him for not telling me about this secret life he and Diego had lived right under my nose again. I twist to the side, drawing my blades and hitting the hilt against the back of his neck.

"Ow," He rolls away, rubbing his neck. "Where you learn that, Chica?"

"Are you kidding? I was born to do this," I joke, trying to keep his attention away from my partner in flag crime.

He laughs, "Sure."

Pulling out a wand from some hidden place, he speaks a few words that are most likely Egyptian. I didn't really expect him to be speaking Turkish or Iranian or something like that, so it was a highly probable guess. Something crumbles behind me and I whip around to see something that could be called a rock monster.

I cock my head, "Okay then."

Dodging its attacks is easy, if I stay close. It's cumbersome movements made it easy for me to tangle itself up, but, unfortunately, it couldn't really get tangled up. So, as any sane person wouldn't do, I begin climbing it.

"You scared to take me on yourself?" I jeer at Carlos, while hanging on tightly.

"Nah, I just don't want to hurt you," He flashes me a grin.

"Chicken!"

"Whatever, you asked for it," He shakes his head and says a few commands that stills the mountain of rock.

Flipping down (yes I still remembered the few years of gymnastics I took) I smile and he lunges again, taking care not to give me any openings. Whenever I barely dodge a strike or parry just in time I feel like I'm in the Matrix. Yeah, this definitely needs some electric sorta music. Somehow, he twists the hilt of his sword and there are two of them. He slices them across my abdomen, but only scrapes the metal protection as I vault off his shoulders. Kicking his back, he lands on his face and I cross my blades over his shoulders. Grabbing one of my five or so arrows, I stabbed it into his shirt and through the ground. He manages to yell a few words before I find something to stuff his face with. The crumbling starts again and I turn to the annoying monstrosity. With a flash of foolish inspiration, I somehow find Carlos' wand and hold it out towards the creature.

My mind searches for a word. I need some sorta destruction spell. Come on, I know Carlos told me this!

"Ha-di!"

I yell and suddenly, the rocks blow apart like an explosive charge was set inside them. Hmmm, I'll have to remember this trick.

"Run!" I yell to Connor, who was standing there just gaping at the giant dynamite explosion.

He does and I take off after him, leaving Carlos still on the ground. After we sprint over the creek and the horn sounds again, he doubles over laughing.

"That was awesome!" He says, punching my shoulder lightly.

"How did you do that?" Jaylee exclaims as she runs up to me. "I saw this giant rock thing and it just exploded when you said something!"

"I don't know, but what I do know is that we got the flag!" I grin, holding up the blazing red trophy.

After a few moments, members of my team smother me in high fives and "Awesome!"s. Then Chiron approached me, walking with a Carlos who looked near to passing out.

"Kyra, we need to talk."

Uh-oh.

Okay, first things first, I absolutely love writing the dialogue between Kyra and Apollo! XD It's so fun and argumentative... anywho, enjoy the life you live! And have a great second/minute/hour/day/week/month/year/decade/century/ex...