Jay Evermist and the Olympians
Book One: The Battle Begins
Chapter 10: The Races Burn
(This may not be how Iris was described in the Son of Neptune but this is how I see her. Oh and sorry the actual races are kind of quick and undescribed. Sorry for the wait and Happy President's Day Americans. 'whoop-de-doo')
I climbed the three stairs of the porch and knocked on the big house door. After no response I walked around the other side of the wrap-around porch. I stared at the big view of Long Island Sound. I gaped at the beautiful water as the Naiads allowed little waves to pound along the rocky beach. What had happened? I had been this strong girl who was afraid of nothing, I would run around with Hannah breaking every rule we would find and now. Now I'm just a girl who is sad.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" I jumped and turned to see a woman sitting on a lawn chair facing the ocean. She had long brown hair woven into a single long braid. She wore a dress that would resemble any twenty some drop out in the sixties. Fringed moccasins joined the arrangement and at her waiste was a small leather pouch. "It reminds me of my home." She smiled a deep smile and turned to be. Her electric eyes made me feel at home and it wasn't long until I realized why.
"Mom," I choked. I ran and sat down next to her. "What can I get you? Are you okay? Do you want me to get Chiron?"
"Honey, I'm fine." She patted my arm and looked back out among the sea. "I came here for a couple reasons." She turned towards me and grabbed my hands. "One because this is neutral territory, two because I figured it would be my last chance to relax before…" She stopped. "Until I have to go to work," She chose her words carefully. "I also wanted to talk to you."
"Oh well, now's not really a good time. I mean I have to be back at the stadium in about 20 minutes." I shook my head but the look in my mother's eyes told me that the chariot races really didn't matter right now.
"Hannah told me she talked to you about this."
"About what?" I rose from the chair to face her letting my frustration show. "I have been hearing everywhere, 'a war is brewing' or 'there's going to be another war', but I don't know. I have no idea what it's about."
Iris was now standing next to me holding my arms in hers while she tried to get me to meet her eyes. "I know not every Godly parent is in their child's life, but I like to stop that stereotype. And you, you Jay are just too good to leave unnoticed." Staring at her, I let her continue and explain herself. "Your father was a painter. He was the best one around, at least on the east coast." She said with a wink. "And you," Her smile never went away but her eyes watered. "You turned out so well."
As much as I loved this mother daughter moment I realized what was going on. She was giving me the normal speech whenever she wanted to avoid a conversation. I shook free from her grasp and asked my original question. "Mom, what is this war."
She closed her eyes and took a tissue from her pouch and dabbed her eyes. "Jay there are some things that I can't tell you." I let out an involuntary sigh. "Oh honey," She held my face in her hands. "It's not my fault. The Gods monitor things like this. Like you know, we can't interfere with heroes." She nudged me in the side and my eyes widened.
"You don't mean, that the prophecy…" I stammered. It couldn't possibly be about me.
She slid her fingers across her lips and turned them miming a key. I hugged her unsure of what really to do. "Oh!" She cried and I immediately stepped back.
"I forgot," She smiled real big. "How's the water control? You know it only comes every third generation. Butch and Hannah missed it though." My jaw was open. "The last person who had it, well he didn't even know he was a demigod. What a shocker."
"I don't know, it's good I guess. Came as a bit of a shock." I remembered when it happened yesterday and my embarrassment in front of Conner.
"Well, I should get going but I hope you do well at chariot races." I had almost forgotten I probably should be going now. "And hopefully you can learn more about this 'war' you keep hearing about." She joked in a tone that made it sound like she hadn't heard of it.
I gave her a final hug before running down the big house steps completely forgetting why I had walked up them in the first place. When I got to the stadium I gained some nasty looks from Nico and Jacob.
"Where have you been you should have been here ten minutes ago?" Nico kicked the side of our chariot and then failed to cover up his pain. I guess time flew faster then I thought.
Jacob saw his pathetic kick and smiled. "Yeah we said to go away but to stay away. We aren't that bad are we?" He smiled and Nico's smile looked like he had a truck on his foot. I couldn't hold back my laughter and caught Miki gaze from her chariot. She looked away and turned back to her team. I made a mental note to talk to her.
We loaded up the chariot with some gear and got our places on the front line. Jacob held the steering wheel while Nico ran me through the traps on the last second.
"So we've got," Nico looked up at Chiron giving the rules. "no time at all." He sighed, "There's a compartment on the side that has a javelin and a spinning wheel of death."
"What?" I looked up and was almost scared of what that was.
"Don't worry it's a simple disc that was cut up and sharpened on the edges that happens to spin because Nico didn't put it in right." Jacob scoffed while he gave the okay sign to Chiron.
"Hey what you call an accident I call a gift." He showed me a simple set of controls that well, control it and that he would man the opposite one.
"This is going to be fun." I was actually happy about this. At least it beats running around in the woods. Nico shook his head and gave me a worried look.
"Fun?" He mumbled.
Although it didn't take long that I realized Nico may have right. The next real memories I have are of the races starting and hearing a loud noises all around me. After the first lap Nico began using the javelin on a fast approaching Apollo chariot. Once drawn it was intercepted by their shields. Except it more like Miki was hanging out of the chariot holding a shield out to protect Will, the driver, and Diana, the girl in the corner of the ride. It happened all so quickly but strangely I turned just in time to see it all. Miki reached a little more out and the look of pure determination returned to her face. The tip of the javelin almost seemed to melt but I was content on believing it was a trick of the light. Nico throw the javelin out of his hands in pure fear and shook his hands wildly while plopping himself on the floor of the chariot.
His weight came as a surprise to Jacob because when he landed he jerked the wheel and swerved, driving into Will's car. Will was enraged and swerved back but he must have forgotten that Miki was still halfway out of the car. Her whole body jerked when she felt the impact and when Will turned back she wasn't in there anymore. Five yards back Miki lay unconscious on the ground being dodged by the remaining chariots. If I wasn't in such shock I would have been happy that we just crossed the line first but like I said I was in shock.
"Jay!" Was all I heard before I tumbled out onto the ground and woke up in the infirmary.
Everything was white. I mean everything. The bed sheets, the cot, the curtain draped around my cot, the gown I was dress in, even the vase of flowers on the bedside table was white. And that bothered me. I did because it was just like it was nine years ago. I expected to hear Hannah and Chiron walk around the corner and show me around. To start over. I sighed and saw a figure standing by the curtain. It pulled the curtain back and the light hit my eyes with unknowing force.
Argus was standing there and smiled when he saw me awake. "Hey Jay, long time no see."
I laughed, "Yeah not for some time. I've had cuts and bruises but nothing to land me in here." I hadn't seen Argus since last year when I fell out of a tree during scout duty. He was kind of like everyone's older brother. He had a really friendly attitude and being Hera's 'son' we were all pretty much related to him in a way.
Argus gave me the usual run down. Some ambrosia and nectar and then told me about what happened. Apparently it was the morning and we had slept right through the night. That was the other thing; Miki was lying in the bed next to me and listening closely to Argus as he talked to both of us. She stayed mostly quiet which probably out of awkwardness. We hadn't talked since the hill yesterday. And that was probably the first and last.
Argus left after telling us we could rest as long as we liked. I rolled over towards the opposite bed and slightly closed my eyes to give the impression I was sleeping. I heard Miki sigh and slight whimpers come from her direction. When I opened my eyes she was sitting up with her knees to her chest. Her head was resting in her hands and was now openly sobbing since she probably thought I was asleep. I waited, staying silent and out of sight as she whimpered and ended her cries with choked up breaths.
Eventually I counted to 200 and moved then to give the impression I was now waking up. I sat up avoiding her eyes and yawned. She reached for her sheets to wipe her eyes and all I wanted to do was get out of this room. As much as my hormones would say otherwise, I'm not a very good person when it comes to helping people with their emotions.
"Hey." I turned to her with glazed eyes and a fake smile.
"Hi." She said quietly, never looking up from her bed.
I got up and walked over to where she was now shivering from the cold. I reached up and closed the window that sat between us and put a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?" I questioned. She nodded her head but it didn't seem too convincing.
"What happened?" I asked keeping my eyes right on hers, even though she was looking down.
She started tearing up again. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"What made you fall out?"
"Will." She snapped like she had rehearsed this. "Stupid driver."
"What made you think you could dodge Nico's javelin?"
She opened her mouth but no words came out, she just simply cried. "I'm so sort if you're hurt. It's my entire fault." Miki said between gasps.
"No, it's fine." I stood there awkwardly while she let it out. I figured I should hug her but like I said, I don't do crying unless it's me.
"Can you keep a secret?" I looked towards her to see her eyes showing loss and depression, but also hope.
I cautiously took her hand. "Sure."
"Sit down," She sat Indian style at the front of the bed and I sat with my feet hanging off the end of hers. "This is going to sound stupid. I was trying to melt it." She looked down to avoid my gaze and I only slightly laughed. "See, I knew you would think I was being crazy."
"Not crazy just unexplained." I nodded my head to let her continue.
"Well, I can use fire."
"Like how?"
Without warning she held out her hands and what I saw amazed me. Small blazes of fire and light leapt across her palms almost in a dance. She moved them away and tried to read my expression. "I had never really used it more than that and I though Diana would be proud of me."
"You're like and older sister to her." I willed myself not to cry at thoughts of Hannah.
"Yeah Will and I are all she's got, at least while she's here. She can be a handful sometimes, and definitely has her annoying streaks." She chuckled as if remembering a found memory.
"So how about we go and get some breakfast." I suggested hopefully cheering her up.
"It probably started already," Great she was still upset. As if reading my mind she changed her attitude right away. "But we can go and check it out if you like."
I checked my watch just to see if it had started while we were asleep. "That's weird." I said while trying to shake my watch.
"What is it?" Miki asked while grabbing my wrist. That was something that bothered me, she was so curious sometimes it took over and she hurt my arm.
I pulled back and rubbing my aching wrist. "It's nothing, I guess my watch battery just wore off."
"Aren't they supposed to last like forever?" Well she was in a better mood.
"Yeah, I thought. I only got it…" My voice got cut off. I had found it in my cabin nine years ago under the mist fountain on a table, used to make Iris Messages.
Miki sensed my sadness and grabbed my hand. "Come on, I want some toast." We walked out to the center of the infirmary and grabbed our clothes. After changing out of our gowns we made our way across camp. Breakfast hadn't started and after asking around it was only 7:23. I waved good bye to Miki as she was 'attacked' by Diana and pried away by Will, both demanding questions.
I hoped seven minutes would go by quickly because I was hungry. And then it happened. Only in a flash. I was tackled to the ground with a blue eyed beauty stammering words from his mouth.
"Sorry, Jay." He got up and brushed himself off. Reaching down to give me a hand, I only stared. I slowly got up and wondered what had happened.
"What were you doing, Conner?" I didn't mean to be annoyed, but he must have taken it the wrong way.
"Well, then." He said in a huff while bumping my shoulder and walking past grabbing a baseball a few feet away.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude." I said apologetically.
"Sure." His eyes sparkled but then I realized it was actually the silver chain hanging from his neck and coming behind hind his collar.
"What's that?" I asked.
"Nothing." He quickly spat while adjusting it out of sight. It reminded me of what I had seen during the walk to the meeting.
The breakfast bell interrupted his rude conversation. "Would you like to go to breakfast?" He asked while stuffing the baseball in his oversized pockets.
"Sure." I grumbled while we turned to the pavilion. Conner of course, didn't last long and we had walked three feet before he ran off to meet his brother Travis across the field.
What a great day today was going to be.