Chapter 10

Jarred silently walked through the forest. Ancient Greek had been boring, just review of what they learned yesterday. He sighed, not only that but his cabin had kept teasing him about Alice.

As he was walking, he suddenly heard some faint music. He strained his ears but he was sure of it. He was hearing violin music. He headed towards the music. The closer he got the more he recognized the sound.

He walked out of the line of trees and found Alice sitting on a blanket at the shore of the lake. Her back was facing him as she slowly played a tune on the violin.

He walked over to her, silently watching her play.

Soon, Alice finished playing and just stared at the lake shimmering in the sun.

"Jarred..." he heard her murmur. He felt his heart skip a beat when he heard the adoration in her voice. Jarred sat beside her, looking out across the lake.

Alice jumped and turned to look at him with wide eyes. "J-jarred! When did you get here?"

"A few minutes ago."

"Oh..." Alice trailed off then looked at the lake.

He gently took her hand in his own. "What was that song you were playing?"

He saw Alice smile softly. "No song in particular. I just played whatever tune my emotions give me." She said, entwining her fingers with his.

Jarred smiled slightly as he looked at her. He knew she had felt love while playing.

Alice's eyes softened as she looked back at the boy beside her. She then slowly leaned towards him, her eyes never leaving his.

Their lips were about to meet when an all too familiar voice broke them apart.

"Hello. What do we have here." said an amused voice coupled with a few snickers in the background. Jarred turned around and saw Jake and a few of his siblings. Jarred groaned and fell onto his back showing his irritation.

"What do we have here indeed." Another voice said. Looking around, Jarred saw Arcus and few of Alice's siblings behind him. Alice blushed and fiddled with her fingers.

"What do you guys want?!" He snapped as he sat back up.

"No need to snap." Arcus said calmly. "We were just wondering where Alice went to." He continued before taking Alice's violin, promising to bring it to the cabin.

"Well I believe you guys, but I was actually talking to Jake..." He shot his older brother a look.

Jake grinned at him. "Just the same. We were wondering where you went." he said, smirking slightly.

"It's true, right guys?" Jake asked, turning to the others who nodded.

"I can go off on my own Jake, I don't have to be under supervision twenty-four seven."

Jake chuckled. "Alright. You got me." he said. "We were curious."

Jarred muttered a Greek curse under his breath.

"Jake, while you're here. I've been meaning to talk to you." Arcus said, walking over to the head counselor for Ares. "It's about the Capture The Flag this Friday."

Jarred looked at Alice unamused. "Slip away while they're distracted?" He whispered to her. Alice nodded at him, she eyes shining.

He put a finger to his lips as he got up and quietly led them away from their siblings. As they were escaping, Jarred felt her hand in his, entwining their fingers.

"Wait a minute...Where did they go?" Jarred heard Jake shout. Jarred suddenly heard heavy footsteps coming towards them.

He pulled her into the shadows of a few trees. When Jarred turned to Alice he blushed, not noticing how close together they were.

He could see Alice blushing as they shifted in the shadows, their bodies pressed against each other. The sounds of their siblings' footsteps faded as they went further away and soon, they were all alone.

Jarred smiled slightly at her. "Come on, let's go or they'll find us again."

"I don't think they'll find us here..." He heard Alice say very quietly as if he wasn't meant to hear her say it.

He didn't look her in the eye as he slid out of the trees. Jarred felt Alice walk beside him as they silently explored the shadows of the forest.

"How far do the woods go?" He asked.

"I don't really know." He heard Alice murmur. "I don't think this part has been explored yet."

"So that means monsters could be here then huh?"

"Maybe...Maybe not. I'm not sure."

"That's reassuring..." He felt a shiver run up his spine. An uneasy feeling tugging at him. Oh great...

"Jarred? What's wrong?"

"Uneasy feeling, and if there's anything I've learned from that is that something bad is going to happen."

He heard Alice wince and move closer to him, clutching his hoodie.

He shuddered again. "Come on, let's go..." He started to cautiously lead them back to the camp ground.

"Okay..." Alice muttered, walking closer to Jarred.

Jarred put his arm around her pulling her close. He felt like prey, as if something was watching them waiting for the right moment to attack.

Alice was shivering slightly in his arms as they continued to move forward.

Jarred froze hearing a low growl. Hellhound...

He felt Alice freeze too before she started shaking violently. Jarred suddenly remembered what Jake told him before. Out of the blue, hellhounds attacked their apartment... mothers didn't make it... followed until camp... Arrived half-dead...

He narrowed his eyes and kept going. He didn't have his weapon. If the hellhound attacked they wouldn't be able to defend themselves.

Alice was whimpering slightly in his arms, holding onto Jarred with a death grip.

"It's ok Alice..." He gently cooed to her. "It's ok..."

Alice's death grip loosened slightly but still her eyes had a slightly wild look on them.

As the growling grew louder he grew more anxious to just run, but he knew that provoke it to attack quicker.

Soon, they managed to leave the forest tree line.

"Alice! Jarred! There you are!" Jarred looked around and saw Arcus running towards them, his sword in the sheath on his belt.

"Arcus why do you have your sword?" He looked slightly confused. Great first question, why not "Why did something bad happen?" instead.

Arcus stopped in front of them, a confused look on his face. "I always have a sword. Training remember?"

Jarred face-palmed. "Right sorry, minds on...other things." He glanced worriedly to where they had come from.

"Right. Well anyway, you two start training. This week's Capture the Flag game is in two days. The Ares, Apollo, and Hermes cabins are allied against the Athena, Demeter, Dionysus and Hephaestus cabins." Arcus said before moving back towards the arena.

He opened his mouth to say something but Arcus was already gone. "Come on Alice." He looked at the girl still clinging to his hoodie.

Alice whimpered before suddenly wrapping her arms around Jarred, shaking like a leaf. "D-don't leave m-me."

He held her close to him. "I'm not going to leave you..." He whispered in her ear, he couldn't' even imagine how scared she was.

Alice buried her face in Jarred's chest as she clung desperately at him. She was still shaking like she was trying not to cry.

He rested his head on hers. "Shh...It's ok, it's ok."

They stayed like that for a while until Alice's shivering lessened though she still clung to Jarred.

"Come on." He whispered to in her ear before leading her to the arena.

All the way, Alice had Jarred's hoodie in a death grip, her knuckles white. "I'm...I'm just going to...shoot arrows..." she said, her voice cracking slightly.

Jarred glanced down at her. "For practice?"

"Y-yeah..." she said, looking down at her feet. She refused meet his eyes.

He stopped walking and made her look him in the eye. "Alice, listen, I know what happened when you were little. Jake told me. But, I want you to know that you don't have to be scared when I'm with you. I'll protect you, I promise."

Alice stared up at Jarred with fear still lingering in her eyes. They stared at each other before Alice wrapped her arms around his neck. She buried her face in his chest again and Jarred saw a few tears leak out of her eyes as she clung desperately at him.

Jarred closed his eyes as he held her close, his own words ringing in his mind. I'll protect you, I promise...

"What's going on here? Jarred, what happened to her?"

Jarred opened his eyes to see Pascal. "We almost got attacked by a hellhound in the woods."

Pascal's eye widened and he immediately went towards them. He put a hand on her shoulder then looked at Jarred with sad eyes. "Let me take care of her for now. Please Jarred."

He seemed reluctant, then got Alice to look up at him. "Go with Pascal okay?" He told her gently.

Alice nodded then Pascal lifted her up into his arms. Pascal gave Jarred a small sad smile. "Thank you..." he whispered before he carried Alice in the direction of the cabins.

Jarred watched him go, he couldn't comfort her like the way Pascal could. He sighed and headed to the arena, though training was probably the last thing he wanted to do.

Enjoy~