Hey guys! I am back and have a chapter for you. I will hopefully have another chapter by this afternoon, but don't hold your breath.
"Kara have you had any strange dreams of late?" I turned to see Demeter ask me and I wondered if she knew that was plaguing me.
"I have had a few." I admitted causing everyone to look up from their conversations.
"Do you want to tell me what they were or is that too…" She trailed off, hoping I would speak and not shut everyone out.
Everyone was looking at me now, even the demigods. I looked over at Zoe and she gave a slight nod telling me to say what was going on in my mind.
"I have been having dreams of the future. Kronos rising and taking over the world." I said quiet which made the volume in the room drop down to my tone, even the demigods stopped talking.
I looked around for a minute, gauging their reactions to my statement. The consensus was fear and anger on a few.
"I don't believe." I turned to look at Zeus, with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Why?" I asked simply, hoping he could help me make sense of my dreams.
"I killed him myself. He can rise." Zeus said and I realized that he believe his words.
He was that cocky.
"He believes he can come back." I said.
"He should be able to talk to you. Stop making this up." He growled and I felt anger rush in my veins, but I pushed it away.
"But…" He cut me off and I wanted to strangle him.
"I wish not to hear about your fantasies anymore." He said and turned to talk to Hera.
"Zeus! You have to listen to me! He is going to rise and try to take over the world. We have to precautions now, before he is knocking on our door with a fully prepared army, while we have nothing." I wanted to hit him and knock sense into him, but I knew he would never believe me until it was too late.
"Kara." he said pointedly, wanting me to stop, but I couldn't.
"You want to lie to them again. You want to tell all the demigods there is nothing to worry about, until you are calling all of them here to protect you. You don't want to tell them until they are carting off their own in body bags, if there is anything left of them. I will not stand for it, Zeus! I never had and I will not start now!" I was screaming, now letting the anger in control, and I could felt the thunder rumbling outside, connecting us.
"Kara." he growled and I was about to scream in rage.
They weren't listening to me. They never listen to me when the time arises that they need to.
"What about your daughter?" I asked, playing the only card that I knew would make him listen to me.
"What are you talking?" He tried to control his voice, but I could tell he was wavering in this fight now.
"Thalia Grace or do you want me to bring him up?" I asked, daring him to make me say the child of Jupiter's name.
"Don't you dare bring them up." He growled and I saw him shift to Jupiter, the laurels and long purple robes.
"Your daughter could be the prophecy child and she needs an army to led." I said, wanting them to know that can't just have more child and the problem would eventually go away.
"You can't expect us to just fuel your fear driven dreams Kara." Hera hissed out at me and I knew she knew something about his kids, especially the Roman one.
"They are not dreams they are threats to me and to you made by Kronos himself." I wanted slap her, I hated how she always downgrading me or sending me out to fight monsters with no memories.
"You can not be feeling pity for him, Kara?" Athena asked me. "Trying to make him look stronger than he is. He is too weak to rise, father made sure of that."
Athena never believed me when it came to matters like this. I had tried to tell her about my heritage before, but she hadn't believe me when I said that they hadn't faded.
"Don't go playing cards you don't know how to handle." Zeus said, finally regaining his composure after the threat I had.
"You are treating me like I'm a child. New to the whole playing cards game, but I have played with more power than you could ever know. I may not be immortal, but I know the power I have inside me. I know when a threat arise that needs to be looked at. You can't expect me to do everything you say all the time without expecting me to ask the same of you. Just this once listen to my words, just as I have to yours." I was practically begging now, I didn't want more demigods to die because of their inability to listen to me.
"Kara you don't know what you are talking about." Athena said with tone and look that screamed stop it now.
"You don't know how stupid this decision your making is." I growled back, hoping her fatal flaw would come into play and continue this argument.
"Do not egg me on Kara. You know what will happen." She gripped her spear, that had been sitting next to her throne, and I knew that I had hooked her.
"You remember the last time that you said that. You couldn't remember your own name for a month." I willed my sword to appear in my hand, this had a taken a turn, but I knew I could talk to her if we fought.
"They will be no fighting at this meeting." Zeus boomed and we both turned to face him.
Shame written on Athena's face, for letting her flaw get the best of her, and anger painted on mine, I needed a planner to help me with my next move.
"Kara you will speak no more of this nonsense. Understood." Zeus said and I sighed, knowing I can't win this battle here.
"Yes." I mumbled and he started to talk about something else with Poseidon.
"Council dismissed." Zeus thunder and I was going to yell at him that it wasn't a council if they wasn't counsel him, but with one pointed look I knew to keep quiet.
Most of the gods groused since we mainly focused on me trying to convince the gods that Kronos was going to rising.
I shrunk down to human size as all the gods exit. The demigods were here and they was going to be a party, but I just wanted to go home to Annabeth.
I limply floated off the chair as the demigods started to flood out a few lagging behind, still stunned at my accusations. Zoe stood in front of Artemis's throne waiting for me, I suppose, we still had to keep up the charade, but I didn't feel like doing anything.
"Kara. Thou tried to convince them, but thou knows how hard they are to convince." Zoe said reaching for my hand, but I pulled away from her.
"It's not that. They have never listen to me. My heritage, the Giant War, and anything that you want to add to that list, Zoe." I said, pressing my back against Artemis's throne, trying to hold back the tears that rested behind my eyes.
"It's not thou's fault." I looked up into her volcanic eyes and wondered if she had shared that dream that Eros gave to me.
"It will be my fault when demigods lose their lives." I growled at her and started to walk away from her, the anger fueling my body and words.
I thought she was going to let me go. Walk out just like when she took her oath with Artemis, but her calloused hand grabbed my hand and felt my breath hitch with surprise. Especially when she spun me around and made me face her.
"Don't listen to thy head. Listen to thee words. Thou is not to be blame for the gods' blindness and never should. Thou hast tried and shouldn't give up at this waypoint." She held my face making me look into her compassionate eyes, that screamed in belief for me.
"Hey, Kara." I looked at Zoe, who smiled and turned my head to look at who called me.
I turned to see a group of six demigods walking towards me and in the lead was Juliet and her boyfriend Michael.
"Hmmm." I looked over as Zoe pressed a kiss onto the side of my face and I hoped that she didn't see the blush that came after.
"Is what you say true?" Michael asked and I had to admire his straightforwardness and deep southern accent.
"Yes. Kronos will rise, but not now. Not in this decade." I said and Zoe released her grip on my face, I didn't want her let go of it.
"I don't care if he rises tomorrow or two centuries from now, if I'm alive I will fight for you." Michael said and then turned around to the other demigods. "Are you with me?"
"Yeah!" was shouted among them and I felt the tears rise again at the show of courage from these demigods I had never even met.
"Why?" Zoe asked, voicing my question.
"You know my uncle." Michael said.
"My mother isn't always right." Juliet said.
"Our father likes casualties. We don't want to be like him." Twins of Ares, Martha and Mavrik said.
"My father is too much egotistical and not enough caring to his children." Stevie, the daughter of Apollo, said.
"My parent may not care about me, but I care about my friends." Nicolas of Nemesis said.
I felt the tears raise from my eyes as I pulled all of them into a large hug. This is why I love demigods. They rally around a fallen one and put them on their shoulders so they can see the great world from a different angle.
"Thank you." I choked out and whispered a blessing into the air, I was giving them a happy life. Even if it ended early, it would be full of happiness, love, and success. "But I could never ask this of you."
"You aren't. We are just doing what our parents want from us. Warriors they flick at a problem, hoping one will finish it off." The twins replied and punched each other in the shoulder.
"You are one of us. You stand with us and you fall with us." Nicolas said and pulled Stevie into a headlock, while she giggled.
"Kara." I looked over at Zoe, I had almost forgotten about her.
She gave me a smile and I pulled her into the circle. She gripped my hand as if it was a lifeline in this hard world.
"Hey guys." We turned to look at Stevie. "You want to a sing-along here."
The campers happily agreed and I pulled Zoe into my arms, hoping just hold her for a minute.
It's a hard-knock life for us!
It's a hard-knock life for us!
'Stead of treated. Stevie sang.
We get tricked! We replied back, laughter in the air.
'Stead of kisses. She sang.
We get kicked. The twins nailed each other, but continued on.
It's a hard-knock life!
Got no folks to speak of, so,
It's a hard-knock row we how
Cotton blankets. Stevie had a wonderful voice that could carry.
'Steada wool. The tables had turned, but we continued on.
Empty bellies. She belted out and looked towards us.
'Steada full. Zoe kissed my cheek and I blushed again.
It's a hard-knock life!
Don't it feel like the wind is always howlin? Stevie sang and then pointed at Zoe and I.
Don't it seem like there's never any light? We sang together and everyone stopped.
"Oh my gods," Stevie gushed. "Perfect harmony of an alto and a soprano. I have never heard that in all my life."
I looked at Zoe and remember when we used to sing to each other when the other was down, but I don't think that we ever sang together. She smiled and sang a note I knew well.
(Bold is Zoe, Italics is Kara, and normal is both)
Little do you know
How I'm breaking while you fall asleep
Little do you know
I'm still haunted by the memories
Little do you know
I'm trying to pick myself up piece by piece
Little do you know
I need a little more time
Underneath it all I'm captive by the hole inside
I've been holding back for the fear that you might change your mind
I'm ready to forgive you but forgetting is a harder fighter
Little do you know
I need a little more time
I'll wait, I'll wait
I love you like you've never felt the pain,
I'll wait
I promise you don't have to be afraid,
I'll wait
The love is here and here to stay
So lay your head on me
Little do you know
I know you're hurting while I'm sound asleep
Little do you know
All my mistakes are slowly drowning me
Little do you know
I'm trying to make it better piece by piece
Little do you know
I, I love you 'till the sun dies
Oh wait, just wait
I love you like I've never felt the pain,
Just wait
I love you like I've never been afraid,
Just wait
Our love is here and here to stay
So lay your head on me
I'll wait I'll wait, I'll wait I'll wait
I love you like you've never felt the pain,
I'll wait I'll wait
I promise you don't have to be afraid,
I'll wait
The love is here and here to stay
So lay your head on me
Lay your head on me
So lay your head on me
'Cause little you do know
I,I love you 'til the sun dies
I wrapped my arms around Zoe's body, giving her a tight hug and inhaling her familiar scent of golden delicious and wood smoke. We heard clapping and quickly released each other with a light blush playing on her cheek.
"You guys make me jealous." Stevie said. "I mean so much talent and I have never heard you sing."
"Well after that heart touching event, why don't we go enjoy a party with friends and family." Juliet said and kissed Michael's cheek causing the boy to blush.
"Ok." The twins said and started to punch each other while walking out.
"I going to have to see my dad flirt with people. Great." Stevie said, pulling Nicolas out by the arm and I knew they were going to be together.
Juliet and Michael started to walk out of the throne room, but stopped when they noticed we weren't following them.
"You coming?" Michael asked and grabbed Juliet's hand.
"Yeah." I said and lower myself so Zoe could hop onto my back.
"We are coming." Zoe said, finishing my sentence for me.
*(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)*
"Lady Kara and Lady Zoe would you like a drink?" A nymph fluttered near us with a silver platter covered in drinks.
"Sure." Zoe said and grabbed the nearest drink to her, while I looked skeptically at the drinks.
"Where did they come from?" I asked cautiously, knowing to never trust one that calls you lady.
"Dionysus's magic of course." She pointed towards the wine god and his wife as they walked through crowds.
"Ok…" I said and tentatively took a drink.
The nymph walked through the crowd and disappeared without much of a trace. I felt Zoe's hand brush mine and I looked over at her.
She slowly swayed to the music that she was hearing and took a small sip of her drink. Gods, she was beautiful even in her normal hunter's outfit, that was torn and stained from monsters attacks and rogue tree branches.
She caught me looking at her and smiled at me. I took a sip of my drink and smiled back. Was this kind of like flirting?
She set her drink aside and took my hand. She pulled me out into a street where everyone was dancing and quickly assumed the position for a waltz. One hand out for me to take and the other on my shoulder. I quickly followed suit, not wanting to let her down. My hand intertwined with hers and the other on her hip.
"Thee has missed this side of thou." Zoe said as we started to dance to whatever song was playing her head, because in mine was not a waltzing song.
"What side?" I asked and spun her around, making her giggle.
"The one that the demigods bring out. The one that hopes and smiles." She said as I dipped her, I would one day thank Aphrodite for teaching me romantic dances.
"It has been a long time since I was around demigods that believe so strongly in protecting their futures and wish to displease their parents." I mused and she spun me around.
"Nor has thee. The hunters just blindly follow milady around." Zoe said and pressed a kiss into my cheek as a minor goddess walked towards us.
"I miss camp and you. You remember our crazy adventures together. Zoe and Kara taking on the world, or more like Zoe and Kara somehow avoid capture and being tazed in every country." I said making her laugh.
"Thee always has wondered how we didn't get arrested except for in Mexico." Zoe said.
"If you had said you spoke Spanish then we wouldn't have been arrested for drug cartel, but no you had to wait until they booked us before you told me." I said and smiled, remember the four days we spent in a Mexican jail.
"It wasn't thee's fault. If thou had been acting suspicious we would have never been arrested." She said causing me to narrow my eyes.
"Have you always looked this beautiful?" I asked and I pretty sure my speech slurred multiple times in that sentence alone.
"Have thou always looked that adorable?" Zoe replied with a slurred question to mine.
"You want to go somewhere?" What was I saying? No, she had to go to Artemis's temple and rest with the other hunters.
"Sure." She said and wrapped her hand around my upper back while I put mine on her lower back.
Aphrodite's POV
I watched as Kara led Zoe off to a temple, where they would sleep together. No they would have sex. Kara just need warmth and a strong set of hands to keep her tethered to the ground and I was giving her a well deserved night of it.
I had to laugh to myself at her stupidity. After foiling one of my attempts of giving her a love potion. She just as easily drinks one while staring at her love, without sensing anything.
They really can say love is blind.
*(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)**(**)*
Kara's POV
"Huh? Where am I?" I moaned and rubbed my head, that was pounding.
I felt a soft bed under me and a nice heat source next to me. I shifted towards the heat source, drawing in more heat even though I was the hottest human on earth. Literally my body temperature is 130 degrees fahrenheit.
The heat source was soft and firm and I cracked open my eyes hoping it wasn't what I thought it was. Brown almost black hair covered the pillow next to mine and a tan body laid next to mine. I bolted up, scared that we had done it only to discover that we were only in our pajamas.
Zoe mumbled in her sleep and rolled over snuggling into my body. I froze. What was she going to think about this if she woke and discovered us like this? I could blame Aphrodite for this, and truth be told it wasn't a lie, but she would still be mad at me and I couldn't let this hurt the friendship I forged with her again.
I looked around and discovered we were in a spare bedroom of Aphrodite. I shut my eyes and quickly concentrated on the floor beside the bed. With a small pop, I was laying on the cold wood flooring on the room.
I stood up and looked at Zoe's sleeping form. Hair covering her beautiful face, tan arms hugging the spot where I had been, and legs splayed in a weird angle that would have hurt anyone else.
I couldn't leave her sleeping here or she would know what had happened and be even more angry. I bit my lip in panic realizing what I had to do. I quickly picked her up, bridal side and she nestled her head into my neck with a few mumbles here and there.
Concentrating and praying to my mother, that this wouldn't wake her. I teleported to Artemis's temple and just my luck I landed right in the middle of where all the hunters were snoozing, and snoring in some cases, away.
"Gods. I hate you Fates." I whispered and quietly spread my wings, with a light flap that only disturbing a few blankets and hairs.
I flittered over to the alcove where there was an empty bedroll and knew this was Zoe's spot. I slowly lowered her down into her bedroll and pulled a stray blanket from some unlucky hunter's grasps. I laid it over her body and tucked the edges under her, just like she liked it.
With a sigh I flew out of Artemis's temple my cheeks blazing with shame of stupidity and want.
I hated this night for that reason.
I hated this year for the different attempts the love gods had made.
So that is the chapter and hopeful another chapter. Hope you liked it. Please review. Flames accepted.
Godeleus out (::)
I hated the gods doing this to and thinking they were helping me out.
I hated myself, because I wasn't strong enough to keep it in.
Because there I sat on the edge of Olympus sobbing and rubbing the star-shaped scar on my cheek. Wishing my life could just stop for a moment and let me breath and catch my bearings before continuing, but I knew that could never happen.