Chapter Eleven
Phoenix
I walk away from Lucius and James visibly shaking. When I had run out earlier, Percy and Annabeth had come out after me. In order to get rid of them, I told them I need my arrows and bow for practice later. They left and came back with the items I had requested. My guess is that they felt sorry.
I almost scoffed. I didn't need their pity. Shuddering again as I walk, I think that it would be nice to have someone to talk to. Someone I could talk to without stuttering.
Visibly, I shake myself. Lucius would be fine. He could bandage a small wound by himself. Although it unnerved me that I had actually shot an arrow through James' hand (without accidentally hitting Lucius thank the gods), he had deserved it. I mean, who goes around kissing girls without permission?
Creepers and rapists. The thought goes through my head before I can stop it. I shake myself again and then begin to jog to the archery field. There was still about an hour to kill before supper and I needed to calm my nerves. The stars weren't out yet, so I could practice my aim.
When I arrive at the archery, I'm already feeling a bit better from my run. Exercising always made me feel better. It helped me clear my mind and concentrate on something beside my own thoughts.
I look around quickly, but no one else was here. I shrug to myself. They were probably all off doing something important with their lives.
Without another thought, I impulsively snatch an arrow out of my cask. It's locked in my bow and sailing through the air in less than three seconds with a piercing whistle. It hits a bull's eye on the target, 200 meters from where I was standing.
I sigh. Slower this time, I take out another arrow. I lock it in the string of my bow. Gently I pull the arrow back to my shoulder. I take aim for the same target my first arrow was stuck in and with a slow release of air through my mouth, I release the arrow.
It sails through the sky as silent as the ocean breeze. The arrow hits the target and splits my first arrow in half.
I should smile at the accomplishment, but I don't. Not only was I short another arrow, but it wasn't as if I'd accomplished anything special. I'd been taking archery lessons since I was about five. It was the one thing my dad did for me that I liked.
After I walk to the target and remove my two arrows, now one and two halves, I spend the next hour patiently firing arrows.
I fire at a different target every time, not wanting to repeat my split arrow episode. I was short two arrows and though I still had ten, it felt weird.
Every time I fire an arrow I try something different, trying to test myself. I would crouch really low and then fire, or jump in the air and fire again. I would stand on one end of the field and fire to the other, but every time the results were the same. I knew I looked weird jumping around out here like this, but I didn't care what people thought about me. I just cared that they would stare at me.
Soon I only have two arrows left in my cask, and I decide I would fire them and then gather all the arrows and go to supper.
I take out one of the arrows and lock it in my arrow. My motions are the same when I move slowly. They are precise and natural. I'm just about to release the arrow when I hear a voice.
"Should have known you'd be here."
My fingers release the arrow without my permission. The arrow flies off into a bush. I sigh. Now I would have to spend an extra ten minutes searching for it and be late to supper. Chiron would be very displeased.
Lucius walks closer to me as I tighten my bow around my last arrow. He's standing right beside me, and I'm finding it hard to concentrate.
"You have excellent aim." He remarks. "I saw you hit about 50 bull's eyes in a row."
I keep my mouth shut. I knew that if I opened it, I would be all over him. Apologizing for James, asking if he was alright, if they got the arrow out of his hand, and if Lucius' shoulder was okay. That last one was the foremost on my mind though.
Straightening, I pull the arrow back. It takes me a long time to concentrate on a place to fire it, with Lucius standing right beside me.
Suddenly he leans down a bit and whispers in my ear. "Thank you Phoenix."
My fingers slip when he says my name. His breath felt warm on my neck, and his voice as so hypnotic. The arrow flies for the second time that night without my permission. The only bright side is that it lands in the same bush area as the first one.
I sigh heavily. Lucius didn't really help my thinking process and when he was near, I got this queasy feeling in my stomach that had been intensifying all week. I had to admit that my first dislike I had of him for being too outspoken was all but gone.
Almost grudgingly, I trudge over to get my arrows. I bring my cask and sling it over my shoulder. My bow stays in my hand. Lucius follows me.
I gather the eight arrows out of the various targets, and then I go over to the bushes where my other two arrows had flown.
I spend about a minute searching by myself before Lucius starts to help me without a word. After about ten minutes of searching, I had only found one.
Suddenly Lucius cries out. "Found it1"
He hands me the last arrows with a grin on his face. I take the arrow from him, but as I do my fingertips brush his. Was it just my imagination or did he hold on to the arrow for just a little longer than necessary?
When he finally releases the arrow, I quickly place it in my cask hopeful that he didn't notice my slight blushing. When I look back at him, I notice that his face has an adorable flush to it.
His golden eyes seem to glow with their own light in the darkening sky. I know that my face looked as stoic as ever, and I couldn't help but notice a slight disappointment flicker in his eyes.
"Your arm?" I ask nervously, keeping my question short.
He pulls down the sleeve of his shirt slightly. The cut James had put on him was wrapped tightly in a white bandage. It looked like he would be all right.
"James?" I ask after he lets go of his shirt.
"I took him up to the infirmary, and they're making him stay over night but other than that he'll be back tomorrow."
"B-back?" I stutter, shocked. But what did I expect, really? That they'd lock him up for kissing a girl against her wishes? Probably not. For trying to kill a fellow demigod? Most certainly.
"Yeah." He sighs and for the first time I see sadness in his face. It messed up his face completely, and I found myself desperately wishing he never had to look that way again. "We were in the parrying building, and we were sword fighting. If anything, you'll get assigned a month of kitchen duty for sticking an arrow through his hand."
I sigh and roll my eyes. Typical. I save a demigod from being murdered, and I get kitchen duty. James nearly kills someone and gets a "Fell better soon!" from all the other demigods. Life could be so cruel. I suspected the Fates had it out to get me or something.
"But," Lucius starts. "He won't be back till late tomorrow evening so we won't see him for a whole two days."
I give him a slight smile. He beams as if he had just won the lottery, and I quickly avert my face to hide my slight blushing.
"So, you wanna go to dinner?" He asks. I nod and begin to walk.
He grabs my arms and stops me. I stop, but I don't turn around. It felt like my entire arm was being shocked with electricity. But it felt so good.
Lucius holds on to my arm a second longer than he should, but I find myself wanting more when he lets go. Maybe James was right about one thing. Maybe I was falling for him.
I blush to myself, glad he couldn't see me face. Would that be the worst thing in the world? To be dating Lucius? I'm sure I could warm up to him, and I did feel better when he was around. Although I was kind of mad he hadn't talked to be in about a week.
"Will you eat with me?" He asks, his breath hitching at the end. It takes me a second to jolt out of my thoughts, but the impact of what he's saying hits me.
"As a d-date?" I could help but stutter as I turn around.
His face turns a bright red. "N-not if you d-don't want to." He runs a hand through his golden hair. "I j-just wanted to t-talk with you."
I was happy I wasn't the only one that stuttered with nerves. Although I wondered why I made him nervous. Perhaps I would ask him. Later.
"Sure. We can talk." I say surprising myself with how easily the words came out.
He seems to sigh in relief. "Well then we better hurry. Chiron will already be mad at you for putting that arrow through James' hand, and I don't want him to be mad at you for being late too."
I almost smile at the gesture. It was sweet of him to be worried about me. I didn't smile because he should be a little more concerned with himself too.
So we hurry off to supper. Neither on of us voices what is surely going through both his mind as well as mine.
This was a date.
Ooooh ooooh! Looks like the love connection is starting to click! Sorry I took so long to update. I was writing other stories. please feel free to check them out at my page. Please review! I love getting reviews! Ideas are very much appreciated, and if you want a chat about something, please message me!
