Chapter 17 – Child of the Night
It seemed like they have been walking for hours but they've only just walked out of the forest, out of the camp and down the long rocky road of Long Island. Cressida's feet ached, though the others seemed to be doing fine, probably because they had grown up in Camp Half-Blood/Jupiter and have spent their hours breaking sweat with exercising, battling, climbing the lava rock wall, practicing every day of their lives and preparing for battle. None of them had talked to one another. Cressida felt that the silent was deafening, and she couldn't take another minute. "So, where are we heading? We can't keep walking forever." Her voice was calm and confident.
They all stopped. The road was lined with trees on each side, towering and green. The sun was already slipping beneath the canopies; it had been long after all. The sky was a chalky pink and orange.
Hazel turned around, facing them all. Nico instinctively placed his hands into hers, protectively. Jack talked; his hair was bright and yellow. "Yeah," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "I can feel my feet falling off." He looked tired too, Cressida thought. His forehead was glazed with a sheet of sweat, his shoulders sagging. His sun symbolled quiver on his back looked like it was going to fall off.
"Well," Dominque piped in, she looked fragile and defeated, although she tried hard to envelope herself with her usual confidence. "We're meant to go to Greece, and so far, all I see are trees and the smell of Long Island." Then she added, "We need to get a boat or a ship or something. We can't fly, after all."
Cressida began to nod in agreement and Dominque glanced at her with surprise, though quickly covered her expression with an impassive face.
"No," a soft voice said, it sounded shaky. "No boats, no." It was Hazel. Her body trembled, her hand on Nico's turning stark white. Her eyes glistened. She looked so horror-stricken of the idea of sailing. Cressida wondered why, though. Hazel looked so determined and strong, and despite the trembling voice, it dripped with an assertive tone.
"Why not?" Domonique asked insensitively. "It's easier."
Nico glanced at his sister, Hazel, and nodded at her in understanding. "No boats."
"Then what are we going to do to get to Greece?" Jack quipped.
Nico bit his lip and then, shockingly, he levelled his dark eyes on Cressida. "Can you shadow-travel?"
Everyone looked at her inquisitively.
"Yes," she said uneasily, shifting on her feet, looking around the forestry ambience to avoid looking at their curious eyes.
Nico, awed, said, "How… how long can you keep it up?"
"What?" Cressida replied dumbly, finally averting her gaze at him.
He sighed impatiently, raking a hand through his dark tousled hair. "I mean, can you manage travelling to a far distance?"
Then a memory popped up, fresh and gloomy. "I've travelled to Tartarus. To the mansion of Night…" Her voice drifted off as she remembered the feeling. She shivered.
Everyone's jaw dropped. Hazel glanced furtively at Nico, her face crossed with horror and awe. Jack yelped. "You've been there?" he said it like he couldn't believe it, and as if that was the last place he'd ever visit. It wasn't like Cressida went there for a tea party, chewing on biscuits with the variety of monsters and gods.
Cressida nodded.
"I've never been able to travel that far," Nico muttered, searching Cressida's face. If he was looking for something on her face, then he was left disappointed. "You must be… powerful." He spat out the word as if he couldn't fathom the thought of it.
Cressida shrugged, ignoring the tone of his voice. Dominique stood straighter, if that was even possible because she seemed to always stand tall. She said, "Well. Has anyone got a plan?" She rolled her grey stormy eyes at Cressida.
Nico's face brightened. "We shadow-travel."
"…Does it hurt?" Jack asked, grimacing.
"It feels strange, but exhilarating for me…" Cressida said.
"Lucky for you," Nico mumbled. "I sometimes hate it. I wish I could enjoy it, but it feels like life is sucking out of me every time I use it."
Impulsively, Cressida glanced at the sky. The pink and orange hue was turning dark and immediately, Cressida knew her eyes would turn to its constellations. "Can we go… now?"
Nico nodded silently, whispered something to Hazel and then grabbed her hand and then Jack's. Jack, looking kind of giddy out of nowhere, grinned. Nico glanced at him secretly, and then looked away wearily. Cressida looked at Hazel for permission to hold her hand, Hazel, looking composed, nodded. Cressida held her hands, they were warm. Holding Cressida's left hand was Dominque. Dominque looked as if a bug had bit her. "Ready?" Nico said.
They all nodded, glancing at each other.
With Cressida and Nico's power channelling together, the darkness swirled like a vortex, sucking all of them in. It was stronger than usual, and it required more effort for Cressida as the sun was still out. But nevertheless, the trip was successful. Their adjoined hands tightened as the darkness and shadow sped with velocity, that even physics could not even solve. It was faster than light – and in a matter of seconds, they all pratfalled on a hard surface of land. The smell of the fresh-sea wafted gently through the air, filtering through Cressida's nasal passage with a content feeling.
Cressida sat up, butt aching and head full of dry leaves. Around them, a stretch of blue sea encompassed the surrounding land. Towering cliffs in the far distance sat hundreds of white stucco-squared houses that tinged with an ancient-Greek texture. They landed on mushy green grass, palm trees forming a sort-of canopy above them that provided a little shade. The sun was out and brilliant.
They were at the land of the gods.
"We're here," Dominique observed. Sitting up, she fought with a long twig in her hair.
"That's nice of you to point out the obvious," Jack replied. Nico chuckled silently.
"Where are we?" Cressida stood up with great effort, her whole body aching. They seemed to be on some distant land, far away from the stretch of ocean and residential homes. Palm trees seemed to be the only object that dotted the surface.
Hazel moved with stealthy motion, scrutinizing every detail that seemed to be on the land. "We're on an island."
Jack took out his arrows that tipped with a golden crown. Everyone looked at him curiously as he spiked a tall palm tree with the tip of the arrow. The palm tree rumbled with a golden hue, oozing a foreign magical sensation that reminded Cressida about Nyx, how her presence exuded a feeling of power. It seemed that they all felt it too. Jack swirled around, "We're on a magical island," he breathed. "Guys, this is real bad – "
"Yes, yes it is. You are a curious one, aren't you, son of Apollo."
Hazel unleashed her imperial golden sword, her eyes flashing with danger. "Show yourself!"
They all formed a circle, their backs facing each other as their weapons pointed at nothing. All around them were palm trees that didn't look so friendly, then, suddenly, appeared ten women with long blonde hair, eyes green. Their bodies were encased with mossy green vines. Dryads.
A man's voice chuckled. "Ladies, ladies… leave these demi-gods to me."
"I demand you show yourself, you coward!" Hazel yelled.
"Your wish is my command…" The man chortled.
The man materialized out of nowhere, causing Cressida to jump. He was bald, except for the one lock of blonde hair in his right temple. He had broad shoulders and a tall physique. He was handsome though – his eyes two different colours - He has one blue crystal eye and the other is sheer red. The man stood on tiptoes as if he is eager to run away and he had wings on his feet.. He wore a black toga, his legs exposed and a small nipple on his chest peaking out in the corner of the material. His upper arms were ornamented with gold bands, rubies and gems twinkling in the sunlight. He grinned at them.
"You're a god," Dominique sneered. "I know who you are."
The god cocked his head at her, eyeing her from top to bottom that sent shivers running down Cressida's spine. Cressida tried to figure out who this god was – what his name was, but came up with nothing.
"Oh, hello, daughter of Athena. Care to inform your little friends of who I am?"
The dryads glared at Dominique.
Dominique said nothing. Instead, Hazel spoke up. "Caerus the god of opportunity and luck."
Caerus head tipped up and he laughed. "Yes, yes, clever demi-god." He gazed at everyone, especially Nico with narrow eyes. "What brings you here, at my home in Santorini?"
"We're on a quest," Nico said.
"A quest, hmm." The god seemed to find that amusing. "Oh, well, I don't think I'd be of any help."
"Well, apparently, you are." It was Cressida who spoke this time. She seemed suspicious of the god, but didn't concede. Her dark hair was matted to her sweaty skin, her face covered with sheen of perspiration.
The god glanced at her, as if acknowledging her presence. "Oh, my," he said. "Who do we have here?" He came closer to her and titled his head, smelling the air. He grinned. "No, way. In all eons, I have never seen a demi-god that spawned from an ancient deity." His eyebrows quirked. "Fascinating…"
The pretty dryads glanced at Cressida with envy.
Cressida, bearing her bow in hand, stared at the god. "So, you're the god of opportunities?"
He shrugged. "Yes, I am. I suppose I am supposed to grant you demi-gods some luck?"
The demi-gods glanced at each other, then at him.
He crossed his arms and outstretched an arm to the palm trees. The palm trees shook and then moved, creating a free passage way. "Then follow me." Caerus glided to the passageway, the wings on his bare feet flapping.
The demi-gods, cautious, glanced at each other. "He seems harmless…" Jack said with uncertainty.
"Guys, I don't have a good feeling about this," Hazel whispered.
"We don't really have a choice, do we?" Nico took hold of Hazel's hands. "Let's go."
They all followed the god, the dryads trailing after them with a glint of mischief in their green eyes.