Staff of Hades

Chapter 15

Blade Roberts

I had dreamed that I was back at Clear Creek. Caspia was being devoured by Lamia. I tried to help her, but I couldn't move. Then it shifted. I was at a grand palace, where several twenty foot tall people were talking; two men and a woman in a long white dress and armor were arguing about something. I got closer and realized that one of them was Ares. One of others was a guy with curly brown hair, a jogging outfit, and winged reboks. "If I don't get my shield and spear back, I'm gonna take it out on your kids, Hermes!"

"Just because something was stolen does not mean it was me or one of my children!" Hermes exclaimed.

"I do not agree," Said the woman in a stern voice. "Hermes, The last time a symbol of power was taken, it was by one of your children. Luke Castellan sparked a war that lasted 4 years, killed hundreds of demigods, and then branched out another 2 years for the giant war. Gaea would not have woken without the Titan war. However, Ares, do not act rashly. You should figure out who stole it, or wait for the 3 questers to find out, but do not take it out on all of them. It is possible that it was not a child of Hermes, but you should ask Chiron and Reyna to interogate their inhabitants before you kill anyone. And when we find out, either the demigods will kill them, or we will convey a council meeting. You will not kill them yourself. That would make Zeus... most angry."

"Shut up, Athena! I'll kill whoever I want to, you don't tell me what to do!" He screamed.

"It would not end well for you." She said.

"What the hell will happen, if you're so smart?" He sneered.

"Many outcomes, but most likely, you will end up with many demigods very angry with you. They will hate you with a passion, not just the way they do, now." She said.

"No one hates me!" He yelled.

"Yes they do," Hermes put in.

"Oh, yeah, you should be talking, the useless god! God of thieves, messengers and travelers! Nobody likes you, no one sacrifices to you besides your own kids! You're pathetic!"

"You just proved why everyone hates you." He said plainly.

"Shut the fuck up, Hermes! I am the god of war! People sacrifice to me for victory! Glory! Satisfaction! Who sacrfices to you, for a good job stealing, or a nice time on vacation! No one likes you!" Ares screamed.

"At least my family likes me. And many mortals hated you because you killed people they loved. They only asked you for help so that they would get what they wanted, not because they liked you. They just wanted to keep the people they did care about safe."

He stood. "I will make you pay for that one, you Wing-footed motherfucker! Did you have a nice time with Leto?" Hermes drew his sword. "How about you and Hera? Does Zeus know?" Hermes snickered.

"Stop this! You need to stop fighting and talking abut intercourse with your mothers!" Athena exclaimed.

They continued fighting and arguing while Athena tried to stop them.

Then the dream shifted to Caspia again. It was when she was about six years old, her hair as red as ever, and she was out with her mother buying ice cream. Lizzie looked like an older version of her, no more than 24. While she licked her pink cone, a man came up to Lizzie. He had a deep tan, black hair, and sea-green eyes.

Lizzie's smile turned into guarded anger. "Poseidon. I did not expect to see you again." He raised his hands. "Elizabeth, you have every right to be angry with me. I left you when Caspia was a month old. But if I hadn't done that, Amphitrite would have killed you and our daughter."

"Do not make excuses. The very least you could have done was to at least send some money or something while I was struggling to support my family."

"I am sorry, Elizabeth. But I am here to help you. Zeus has found out about the child. He knows that I have broken my agreement not to have children. I already broke it with another child, my son who I have persuaded Zeus not to harm, but he will not do the same with two children. So we have two options. You and Caspia can come with me to the sea, where Amphitrite's anger will be strong. Or we can neglect to send Caspia to Camp Half-Blood. She can stay with you for a longer time." He looked over at Caspia, who was running from a bird who was trying to steal her ice cream. "A lovely child."

"If she's so lovely, then why couln't you keep her?" He sighed. "Elizabeth, I told you, I had to do it to keep you safe. I do still care about both of you. When Caspia starts seeing the monsters, promise me you will send her to a mental hospital. I will place someone at Clear Creek who will keep her safe. But make sure she thinks that she is actually insane. Otherwise it will not work. Promise me."

"I-I promise."

"Good. I love you Elizabeth." Caspia had escaped the bird and came over to see who Lizzie was talking to. "Lizzie, who's this?" She looked at her daughter. "This is your father." Her eyes lit up. "He came back for us?" She shook her head. "He is not staying. He is a very bad man." Her face fell. "But, Lizzie, you said-" She cut her off. "I know what I said. But I was wrong. Come on, let's go back to the apartment. We can rent a movie if you'd like." She furrowed her brow. "Oh-Okay Lizzie."

She looked at Poseidon coldly and took Caspia's hand. "Good-bye Poseidon. I don't think I'll be seeing you again."

"Bye Daddy! I hope Lizzie's wrong and we'll see you again. You seem nice." He smiled. "I hope so too." The dream faded and I went on in a dreamless sleep.

When I woke up, Snow and Nico were speaking in hushed tones, and appeared to be arguing. I couldn't make it out. I pretended to be asleep so I wouldn't disturb them and the others sleeping. After a while, they stopped fighting and Snow pulled out a notebook and started drawing in it. Nico laid his head down and went back to sleep. I thought about my dreams. I wondered who the people on the other quest were. I hoped they found my Dad's spear, so that he wouldn't kill Hermes' children. I thought about the little girl, and how different she was now. Oddly similar, though. I just still couldn't believe that Poseidon had told her to tell her daughter she was crazy. It had hurt her in many ways. She was very smart, and she didn't like that people overlooked that because of her diagnosis .

She had never believed it, though. When they had compared notes on what they had both seen, her suspicions had been confirmed. They had seen similar monsters and had the same "condition." She spent a lot of time in the library, trying to understand what the thing she saw were. She had shared what she found in the Greek Mythology books. Hydras, Hellhounds, Empousai, Cyclops, Lastrigonians, Gods , Hippocampi, Peagusai, and a lot more gruesome monsters as well. She had blatantly decided then that she was not crazy. I had always enjoyed talking to her. She was a fun person, even with the horrible things that had happened to her.

Her eyes opened. "Morning, Ariel." She blinked groggily. "Ariel?"

"Yes." She rolled her eyes. "Okay, Sinclair." Leo, who apparently was awake, grinned. "Your name is Sinclair?" She smiled. "Actually it's Sinclair Woodsworth Roberts." I covered her mouth, but the damage was done.

Everyone but Snow was laughing at me. She, I suppose, was more mature. "I think it's a cool name," She said sketching something with her black pencil "Though not as cool as Blade. You should keep going by that." Nico rolled his eyes. "Of course you think it's a cool name rich girl." She stared at him, like 'do you really want to keep arguing with me? I'm already mad at you.' I was surprised that I recognized her expresion. Topaz looked at her curiously and she looked at her like 'I'll tell you later.'

"So, where do we need to go today?" Leo asked, at least after he had recovered from his giggling. Snow looked at Percy and Annabeth appraisingly. "When they wake up, we can go to Alcatraz. That would be our best bet."

"Do you guys want to get coffee first?" Topaz yawned.

"That sounds good," Sapphire said. "I want a cotton candy latte."

"So, we're going to Starbucks? Can I get a donut? Let's wake them up, now!" Before we could stop him, he got between Percy and Annabeth and screamed in their ears.

"HEY! WAKE UP! WE'RE GETTING COFFEE!" Leo screamed. Annabeth punched him in the face.

"Ow! I think you broke my nose!" She opened her eyes.

"Good." Percy nodded with approval. "You deserved that."

"Nice friends." He grumbled.

"You're a nice friend for scaring us like that." Percy countered.

"Whatever, lets get some coffee to clense my nose." Leo said, rubbing his bruised face.