Chapter Thirteen: Thalia Grace
A/N: It's about time I introduced some of the original characters from the book. Reviews make me happy.
Carly's POV
Alright, so we just won Capture the Flag. I should be happy right? Maybe, but I still felt awful. I don't know why, but something inside me just told me that I didn't belong here. I did not belong in camp Half-Blood. Sam and Melanie did their best to cheer me up but to no avail. Even as we walked towards our various cabins, people still kept giving me weird looks and it was driving me crazy. I mean, yes, I am the forbidden child of Artemis! Get over it!
When I left Sam and Melanie at the Ares cabin, I made my way towards the Artemis cabin. It wasn't too hard to find, being that it was the only cabin that glowed silver in the dark. It was a pretty cool night, now that I realized it. The wind blowing off the lake was bone-chilling. As I approached the cabin that would house me until the gods know when, I stopped to admire it, I mean, it was really beautiful. It looked as if it were absorbing the moonlight. I push the door open just a little bit and peeked inside. I could see several bunks with what appeared to be white and silver sheets that, just like the cabin itself, glowed silver. It was absolutely gorgeous. I walked inside and what happened was amazing. As soon as I stepped inside, the floor came to life with millions of tiny little stars. It seemed to resemble the actual night sky. My stuff had already been placed on one of the bunks. As I slowly walked toward it, I noticed that the other bunks had stuff on them too. One of the bunks had a bag that appeared to be made out of actual fur and a quiver of arrows. Another bunk had two spears and a small hunting knife. This was impossible! I was the only child of Artemis. Who's stuff was this. Who's bunks were these?
"They belong to the huntresses," said a voice from behind. I turned around and saw Annabeth Chase, the girl who had led our team to victory in Capture the Flag. I realized I had left the door open. "May I come in?" she asked.
"Yeah, sure," I said. Annabeth stepped inside. She was still wearing her armor from Capture the Flag. Her grey eyes captured the light of the sheets. She slowly inspected each of the beds.
"The huntresses sometimes leave their things here when they head off. They know they'll return for them," Annabeth said. She smiled. Her smile was truly beautiful. I understood why Percy Jackson loved her so much.
"So they just leave their stuff?" I asked. "What if they need it while they're hunting?" Annabeth laughed. It wasn't a cruel laugh like she was making fun of me, it was more like a silly laugh.
"When you've got your mother leading the pack, it's needless to say they won't need much. I've met Artemis and she can handle anything on her own. It's almost lie the huntresses are only around for moral support." I smiled. My mom must've been an extraordinary goddess. I kind of envied her, I mean, I hadn't met my mom yet, and there was a chance I would never get the chance to. Annabeth seemed to notice my sudden change in facial expression. She walked right up to me and gave me a hug.
"I'm sorry I mentioned it. I know how hard it is not having met her. I didn't meet my mom for the first time until I was eleven. I know how you feel." I gently pushed her away.
"I'm alright. I haven't met her in my sixteen years of living; I'm used to it." Annabeth's face showed that she didn't believe me. I didn't believe myself, really. After a moment of awkward silence, Annabeth looked at her watch.
"Oh! Look at the time. It's almost curfew! I'll be going now. Feel free to come to me for anything. And remember, you really shouldn't be out after curfew. Chiron wasn't kidding about the monsters." I managed a small giggle.
"Don't worry, I won't," I assured her. She smiled and with that was out the door, closing it behind her. I was left alone in a pool of silence. I focused my attention to my bunk. I quickly unpacked my things and put them in the small dresser next to my bunk. On top of the dresser was a small lamp in the shape of a crescent moon. It was on, a white light illuminating the floor around it. I sat on my bunk for a while, taking in the strange series of events that had occurred in the past few days. I had discovered I was a half-blood, I had fought of monsters, I had survived various near death experiences, I discovered I was a forbidden child of Artemis, a maiden goddess, which literally meant I wasn't supposed to be alive , I had played and won Capture the Flag, a game which involves real fighting and in some cases, real deaths, and I had come into this cabin, my mother's cabin, talked with Annabeth for a while and now here I am, reminiscing on the past few days. I had been through a lot! I didn't even realize how tired I actually was. As soon as I laid down, sleep caught me instantly.
I dreamed I was in a forest. It was dark, so I knew it was nighttime. I was covered in sweat and grime and I had my hairclip bow in my hand. I was panting really heavily and I could barely feel my legs. I was walking. I was screaming. I was screaming and walking. I was screaming, "Freddie! Sam! Melanie! Where are you?" I kept screaming that over and over again. I began to sob. I couldn't find Freddie or Sam or Melanie. I was alone in the woods. Or so I thought. The next thing that happened was incredible. The night sky appeared to open up like a giant mouth. Out of it came a man with a long silver hair and a long silver beard to match. He had on a black tux with white stripes. In his right hand, he held a big lightning bolt. He was running towards me at full speed. He yelled, "CARLY SHAY YOU MUST NOT BE! I MUST END YOUR LIFE NOW!" With that, he raised his lightning bolt and shot a ray of powerful lightning at me. The pain was excruciating. It was like I was being strangled with electricity. I could feel my life slowly being drained. I awoke with a start. I was soaked with my own sweat. I couldn't focus on anything for a while. When I finally came to, I noticed dozens of eyes staring at me. In front of me, were a bunch of girls who's ages varied from maybe six or seven to eighteen or nineteen. At the front was undoubtedly the leader. She was wearing a silver tiara over her short spiky black hair. Her eyes were as blue as the sky. She smiled when I woke up.
"Hello Carly. We are the Hunters of Artemis. I am Thalia Grace. It is a pleasure to meet you."
