Zagreus

Sleep didn't call me this time. I truly had too much of it these days. Being in the Hecate Cabin was not helpful either. They kept quizzing me about the bones I had and how I summoned the that energy blast two days ago.

I fiddled with the pendant between my fingers. It saved me, yes, and it brought me trouble too. I kept thinking about the conversation I had with Chiron. He seemed distant and unconvinced of what I was saying. Yet, he was very certain in answering, sympathizing with my vague memories. He too agrees that I was a child of Hecate. Or at least, 'appeared' to be convinced. There's much to know about his slight indifference.

Percy Jackson was a different story. He was with Chiron when I entered the Big House. I've learned that he was the son of Poseidon – one of my father's brothers, the god of the sea. That explained the wave that washed the eurynomoi. The boy exuded a lot of power, which raised my defenses immediately. I was not keen on trusting him just yet.

There must have been a god directing the camp too because when I pointed out the grape vines and the strange décor in the living room, Percy told me that it was 'Mr.D's'. Chirons did not want him to elaborate on that as I may seem to be an 'awkward' conversation. I didn't push my luck.

Before Percy and I left, Chiron told us about a feeling that something is stirring. Percy froze but Chiron shook his head. "It may not be the time for that, Percy. Nonetheless, we must always remain guarded. Enemies may be lurking close," at that last sentence, he gave a quick suspicious look at me and bid us good-bye.

I guess we couldn't fully trust one another in this place. Hecate was so wrong. But she said that the answers would lie here – that I must consult the oracle. Annabeth did tell me about the red-headed girl that resided in a cave within the camp. She was the recent host of the Oracle of Delphi (which I would soon look-up). I must consult her tomorrow to get this over with.

I sighed flipping the emblem up to see the faint glow it had against the silver. If Hecate was right, then I must truly seek the gods, whatever it takes. But so far, my dreams were only leading me to a dark side of my past.

Cluck… a pebble hopped across the river. Cluck… another one followed. I looked around to see who the thrower was. I spotted a silhouette by a nearby oak tree. Walking silently, I approached the figure, ignoring the distant giggles of the wood nymphs.

I hid behind the trees until I could see who the figure was. The turquoise highlights gave it away. Sabrina now wore a loose lilac sweatshirt. Her pants were baggy, and she was still wearing the same black high-tops.

She hugged her legs as she threw another pebble across the water. "Can't sleep?" I began, it was not a great conversation starter, especially with Sabrina.

"Go away, witch boy, not in the mood for your nonsense," she threw another pebble much harder this time.

I was not keen on going back to the cabin so I figured that spending some time with spiteful Sabrina should coax me to going back. I rolled my eyes, "Neither do I," I said as I sat that beside her. She glared at me and continue to throw her pebbles. "One of these might hit you soon enough"

"Then I better intercept it," I said as I hurled a pebble that clashed with the pebble she threw. "Bulls-eye" (my vocabulary was adapting quickly).

She snorted. "I wish we would've intercepted that attack. Then, Celine and I wouldn't be stuck here for the rest of who knows when"

"The attack was clearly uncalled for. We were not aware that they were following us. If you listened –"

"Look, I'm not here to argue. But what's the deal with those ghoul things? I heard they called you there former master or something. I swear if you're responsible for that…" her message was clear when she took a rock and hurled it farther down the river.

"I clearly don't know what they were talking about. I too thought it was a trick, so I stalled them by playing"

"That clearly didn't work. You might be a monster summoning witch or something even more terrible"

I hate that she kept calling me a witch. "If I summoned them, why would I waste my energy killing them with magic?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe a decoy or an illusion for your set-up"

I sighed, there was no use to getting through her. Might as well tell her what happened to me before I met them. She wouldn't believe it anyway.

"I wish I could answer your questions. But I can't even figure out my past. A day before I met you two, I woke up on a rooftop in New York city with no recollection of what happened to me before that," I decided to leave out the part where I met Chronos - that may be too tricky to explain since they know me as a demigod.

"I wandered the streets until a telepathic cat -," Sabrina slightly giggled at that part. She was looking away, pretending not to listen, but I could see her lips shaping into a smile. She was less terrifying that way. "- led me to Hecate, strange how she suddenly appeared literally out of nowhere. She told me that going to Camp Half-Blood would be the only way to figure things out. She herself cannot provide the answers for me. Err… you know how gods are," I added that part to throw my scent off.

"Well, lucky you, I don't really know what they are," she threw another pebble. "Probably an illusion these kids believe in."

That was a wrong call, I shouldn't have said that. Being unclaimed was not something she was obviously proud of. I wonder what her mortal parent was like, was she supposed to come back to her mortal life?

"I never asked this, but where were you and Celine going when I saw you in New York?"

"Somewhere we ourselves are uncertain of. Far from this place…" she said the last word as if Camp Half-Blood was not the only place she wanted to get away from.

"I guess you held on that new beginning," I said softly but she caught my words.

"And you were out to get answers," she scoffed, "yeah, witch boy"

The sun was rising over the horizon. The stars began to disappear as purple and orange colors began to spill. Sabrina's eyes remained glued at the other direction, clearly contemplating.

"Time goes very fast, huh?" I stood up, "Guess they would be awake soon, better return soon before more questions are asked"

"Hey, urmm…" Sabrina said as I was turning to leave.

"Hmm?" I asked

"Th-thanks for saving Celine and I at the boutique and even back there with those ghoul things. Even just saving Celine. It was a close call. Thank you."

Those last words took me aback. "Err… sure… uhh, no problem," I was getting great with composing sentences.

"Don't fluster yourself, witch boy. I'm still going to kick your sorry butt if I find out more about it"

The shock on my face must've made her smile. She might have understood my explanation after reflecting upon it. She is truly unpredictable. Turning around, I managed to smile too. Beyond the trees, I saw some of the campers exiting their cabins. She definitely looks less terrifying when she smiles.