You should all be mega pumped for this chapter, because in this chapter, the plot REALLY begins. I also had to make up my own prophecy and monster. I hope neither are too lame.
So, I may or may not update Here We Are, I Guess tonight cuz I NEED to write the next chapter of this, as much as you guys wanna read it. But I am also excited to write the chapter for Here We Are, I Guess.
Conflicted.
Anyhoo...don't have much random stuff to talk about...
How odd...
VIRTUAL HUGS TO: Guest, Meepmeep123, mrpuppy, The Avian-Olympian, Pokemonchen, Shaylie-Daughter-of-Poseidon, and Pandastyle
Replies:
Guest: I'm assuming you're actually storm35-50. And no judging. I've read some cool fairy books. And your idea sounds cool. My book, I named it The Blessed. And instead of Demigods, these kids are 'Blessed' by gods (Greek, Roman, OR Egyptian). The main character, Gracie, is Blessed by Diana. And there's this big thing where her and these two other chicks are suppose to save the world kinda from various threats. The first book I'm having it be a 'Blessed' of Isfet, who claims to be a Blessed of Ma'at. I've gotten like sixty full pages! :) And, of you've read previous authors notes, you know that I wish to become a legit author, so who knows, with luck, you guys just got a sneak peek at a future novel. :) So if in like ten years you find a book on the shelf called The Blessed, you know I got my start here and my dream came true. :) And thank you for your luck. I did well. Thanks. :)
Meepmeep123: Right? Hahaha! SO PUMPED FOR MARK OF ATHENA! And guys? Expect no updates on October 2nd. Just FYI. I literally told my friends to not talk to me on October 2nd because I will be reading. :)
mrpuppy: I enjoy your name as well. ;) And thanks, I was kinda proud of that phrase. I thought it was very true and cute!
The Avian-Olympian: Haha! Yeah, I have a book that the cover is duct taped on. I don't really care about the quality of my books as long as their read-able. :) Ha! I know how you feel and yeah, you make sense. And thanks again! No one really cares about JV but still! Our JV team beat the JV team who could very well get state! Our V team lost but whatever...And hahaha! Thats so sweet!
Pokemonchen: Haha! That was kinda one of those things where I let the reader decide if he heard her. ;) I updated!
Shaylie-Daughter-Of-Poseidon: Ha! F*CK yeah! ;) I'm the potty mouth of my friends. Ever heard the saying 'We all have that one friend who's a potty mouth. If you don't, it's probably you.' I don't have a potty mouth friend. I'll let you fill in the blanks. ;)
Pandastyle: Haha! Aw! Thanks! That means SO MUCH! And haha! Valid point with Pattenson. I'm not a huge Pattenson fan, but I'm not a huge hater. Though I still pick on him. It's just like Justin Bieber. I don't hate him actually, but the jokes are too funny and too easy. And no, I've never read either. (And wouldn't it be AFA? AAAAAnotherFFFFFacelessAAAAu thor?)
Anyhoo. I have a really good song for this story, A REALLY GOOD ONE, but I probs won't share it until a certain chapter I AM SO PUMPED TO WRITE! I don't know when exactly I'm going to put it in, but it may not be for a while. It's gonna be an emotional chapter where Zack gets to see a VERY vulnerable part of Lena at a VERY vulnerable point in her life.
In other words, her most shameful memory.
I just got you REALLY excited didn't I?
MWUAHAHAHAHA!
I've honestly considered typing it early and posting it separably as a sneak peek cuz I really wanna write it!
Song: Emergency by Paramore.
Disclaimer: ...
READ ON!
Apollo was well across the sky when Thalia joined us once more. Her arms were crossed, her teeth were clenched, and her hands were in fists. Her entire body looked set to spring at the slightest set off. Something was very wrong. Whatever this update she went for was, it was not good.
"We need to talk."
"So you've said," I replied, trying to sound calm, but my body was probably as tightly strung as hers.
"A new threat is attacking. We need the best."
"The best is dead."
"Are you sure about that?"
Completely sure. Whatever this threat is, it's been weakening me from a distance, forcing me to cower at my own past. I feared that if I faced whatever it was head on, I would crumble in shame, fear, and regret. The main components of my existence. Once worn that thin, once I have fallen to that depth of despair, I'm not sure I would ever be able to rise again.
But I spoke not a word as Thalia led us to a corner of the clearing. She sat cross-legged on that ground and Zack and I followed her example. I sat up straight, as if a string was tied to my head and a mysterious puppeteer was pulling my back straight. My arms were crossed so neither Thalia nor Zack could see my quivering hands. Although, Zack kept glancing at me warily. As if preparing himself for my inevitable crumbling. Perhaps that day would come, perhaps it was an inevitability, but it would not happen today. I may be shame, fear, and regret, but I was held together by impeccable strength. Although, I was not impervious to pain, as hard as I might try to be.
"What's this threat, Thalia. And why do you need me?"
"αναμνήσεις τέρας."
"What?" Zack and I both said.
She repeated the phrase. Speaking it: anamniseis teras.
Thalia sighed at our perplexed expressions. "It's Ancient Greek. The literal translation being: Memory Monster."
I felt myself tighten even more, and a flash of cool strike me. Yet, in the face of this fear, all I could do was let out a strangled laugh. "Memory Monster? You're not serious?"
Thalia's face was serious. Deadly so. "Completely."
Memory Monster. How utterly ironic, when all my fears could be found in my memories. All my shame. All my regrets.
"What is this...Memory Monster...Thalia?" The names, both the monster's and Thalia's, sounded foreign and awkward on Zack's lips.
I really shouldn't have thought that. I still could feel the tingle of electricity from Zack's lips against mine. Although, the electricity seemed to come from within me, not from him.
FOCUS LENA!
I Looked at Thalia, and discovered that she somehow seemed older, though I knew she hadn't aged. But I knew better than most that age doesn't matter in the sense of how long you've lived. It matters in the sense of what you've done, what you've seen, and what you know. In that way, I was probably as old as Thalia, who was much older than 48. Both of us were centuries old. I wonder if, in an outsiders eye, I looked as tired and exhausted as Thalia. I figured I did.
"It is what it sounds like," Thalia told us, her voice grave. "A monster of memories. It can dredge up old ones, create new ones, and...and fade memories until they are obliterated."
"This sounds bad..." Zack said, uncertain. "But you make it sound..." he struggled for a proper descriptive word.
"Apocalyptic." I supplied. My mind had gone numb. Not even cold anymore. Numb.
Zack nodded in agreement.
Thalia rubbed her eyes. "It is. It very much is."
"How?" Zack voiced for me.
Dredge up old memories.
Dredge up old memories.
Dredge up old memories.
Dredge up old memories.
At that point, my mind had become a broken record. Only hearing those words repeatedly, becoming more fearful every time I heard them.
"Because," she said forcefully. Her electric blue eyes meeting Zack's identical one. "The entire Western Civilization is based upon a memory. Should the memory of the gods be erased, so would the gods themselves. Understand the urgency now?" Thalia snapped.
I was beyond emotion at this point. I felt like I had been drugged. I heard myself speak, though I don't recall moving my mouth.
"Why do you need me?" It was quiet and though my voice didn't quiver, you could hear the fear.
"Rachel gave a Prophecy," Thalia said solemnly.
My head shot up, my eyes wide. "What?"
"The oracle gave a Prophecy."
I diverted my eyes once again, wishing again my eyes could pierce like my mother, or like Thalia's. "What did she say?"
Thalia took a deep breath, and spoke the words of my condemnation.
"On the run from the gods
Child of heroes shall have to beat the odds
Romans first to feel the Memory blast
Child ventures to the place of parents past
Allies go west to the Romans land
Child of heroes faces herself with the lowerhand
Alone she is condemned to fail and Olympus to fall
With help she is to save it all"
"And you think this is about me?" I squeak, though my mental voice of reason knows I am the only real candidate.
Thalia nods somberly. Zack just stares at me. Concern and bewilderment etched into his features. "'Child of heroes'. Not many heroes survive to childbearing age, believe it or not."
"I do," I mutter.
We sit in silence. "So, not only do you expect me to face..this Memory Monster, you want me to go to Camp Half-Blood?"
Zack's head snaps to Thalia, having not caught onto that.
"'Child ventures to the place of parents past'. I can think of no better place. I believe you are to go to Camp Half-Blood and ally yourself with them. I don't know why they're not there already, but-"
"They don't know." I interject.
Thalia frowns. "How would you know?"
"The Council of the Gods has just realized. Why would Camp Half-Blood know?"
Her frown deepens. "Lena, how do you know this."
I looked into her blue eyes. "Because the monster told me."
She seems taken aback by that. "I...I don't understand."
I shrugged. "Neither do I."
She stands. "I must confer with Artemis. Stay here. I'll be back." She turns away from us.
"Wait!" I stand and jog to catch up. "There's more."
"What do you mean?"
"That dredging up old memories thing? He's done that to me already."
She paused. "Where."
"In New York."
She groans. "But he's in California! This makes no sense! I really need to talk to Artemis. I'll be right back, Lena. Stay with Zack."
I stand there. Without conversation to distract me, I feel fear consume me. Everyone in this world has their share of regrets, shameful memories, and worst fears. All of these could be found in the person's memory.
But my memories...
They were far, far worse.
I was my own prey.