The breeze drifted through the trees. Marcus smiled as it hit his face. Even in moments when he should be tense, the feeling of the wind always relaxed him. He may not ever show himself around Camp, but at least I know Dad's watching. Marcus glanced around, seeing Maddie crouched next to a tree a few feet from him, tightening the straps of her light armor and trying to keep her cool before the actual battle start ed , and Jason a few feet behind him, looking scared out of his mind. Marcus sighed. Guess I should go comfort him or whatever... Gods damn it. Why me? Marcus walked over to Jason, slapping him on the back gently. "Hey man, relax. Can't fight too well if you're already scared yeah?"
Jason jumped and looked at Marcus with a frown. "I don't know if I'll be able to fight at all really... All I have is this knife some guy gave me and that claiming from my Dad..."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Claimed already? You'd think I'd be around for something that important."
"Important? Hardly." Jason scoffed. "Nobody seemed to care really... Elliot and I got claimed at the same time this morning after you left the armory."
"Well? Don't keep me in suspense. Who's your godly parent? And Elliot's?" Marcus forced a smile to his face. Two claims in one day? Not just that, at the same time? This could mean trouble.
"Well Elliot got claimed by... The guy from the Matrix... Morpheus? God of night or something? At least people knew who that was..."
Marcus raised an eyebrow at that. For all his power, Morpheus was still considered a Minor God, not an Olympian. "And? What about you Jason?"
Jason looked away before muttering almost inaudibly. "Dolos. I was claimed by Dolos."
Marcus just looked at him. This nervous kid... was the son of Dolos? God of trickery, cunning, guile... and murder. Another Minor God... But not one to overlook. Marcus looked Jason up and down. No wonder he seems so upset. Marcus put his hand on Jason's shoulder. "Word of advice. We're not our parents, and who they are or what they stand for doesn't have to define us."
Marcus saw Jason look at him with hope in his eyes and was about to say more when the horn sounded. Changing tact quickly, Marcus grinned at Jason. "Well, time to see what you got kid. Make me proud." Jason nodded and after a quick second to collect himself, darted into the woods, fumbling with his dagger as he did so. Heading i n the wrong direction... Not a great start. Marcus shook his head and turned just in time to see Maddie stiffen as she t ook hold of her spear and her face twist ed into a sinister grin. And she's gone berserker mode already... Marcus sighed and pulled out his pocket watch, swinging it into sw ord form. Well, at least I know she's the strongest out there . Nothing to worry about. If anything, I feel bad for anybody dumb enough to fight her.
Marcus faded back into the shadows of the nearby trees, sneaking his way through the forest, hopping on stones to cross a river of water that cut through the trees. Cross the river with the Flag, and we win. Simple. Hephaestus Cabin usually put their flag by that stupid Zeus' Fist jumble of rocks , so I' ll check there first. As he went, Marcus could hear the sound s of combat all around him, but he stuck to the shadows. First rule of being a smuggler, learn when to fight and when to run and hide. Marcus smiled to himself. Aaron, you taught me well. Marcu s could see, hidden among the forest floor, plenty of tripwires and oddly placed piles of leaves in the middle of open areas. Traps. The Hephaestus specialty. Good thing I'm taking my time here , or I'd have been hit by half a dozen already. And knowing the Hephaestus Cabin, I really don't wanna know what those traps do.
Marcus slowed as he reached a larger clearing. Through the trees, he could see Zeus' Fist rising into the sky. A large collection of boulders, reaching nearly two stories, the formation was a common one to use as a base, so it was good a place as any to start looking for the Flag. Crouching down behind a tree, Marcus could make out the shape of a person on the top of the Fist. Squinting in the sunlight, Marcus tried to see who it was, and smiled to himself as the blonde figure stretched and lounged on the rock. Only one person he knew would be so nonchalant in the middle of Capture the Flag. Working hard as always I see, Chastity. Marcus looked around and didn't see anyone else nearby. Huh... Could that mean the Flag isn't here...? Or just that they didn't think anybody would get this far...? Marcus looked up to see Chastity had moved to a ledge about halfway up the fist, strumming the small lyre she always used to channel her Aphrodite abilities. I could just sneak around her... but if she saw me there could be trouble. Marcus watched as Chastity strummed her lyre, a small smile on her face and the sunlight shining off her hair. He felt himself smile. Although... I could just talk to her... What's so wrong with that? Marcus felt himself standing and walking carelessly towards the clearing toward Chastity, who turned her eyes to look at him but never stopped playing her lyre. Wow... Beautiful and talented... Marcus forced himself to stop walking. He saw Chastity's smile start to fade. What was I...? Marcus looked at Chastity as she hopped down from the ledge to stand in front of Marcus, bringing the music closer to him. Marcus started walking again, now fully into the clearing and about halfway to the fist. Such beautiful music from such a small lyre. Must be because she's a daughter of Aphrodite... Marcus forced himself to stop again. Aphrodite... Instrument... Marcus looked at Chastity as her smile fully faded, her face shifting to a determined scowl. She's using a charm... That little devil. Marcus allowed himself to smile. Not that I can blame her. Rule two of being a smuggler. Use whatever you have to your advantage.
" Hello Marcus." Chastity said, her voice smooth. "Funny to see you so far away from the action."
Marcus allowed his smile to widen. "Maybe that wasn't the action I was looking for." Smuggler Rule...
"What action are you looking for then?" Chastity voice faltered slightly, as did her playing of the lyre, but she quickly recovered. "Oh. The Flag. Sorry to say, I don't have it."
Marcus shrugged. "That isn't what I'm here for either. I came here hoping to find you Chastity."
"W-well, as much as I'd like to believe that, I know that you aren't really thinking straight right now." Chastity stumbled over her words, and she let her lyre drop to her side.
"Of course I am. It's only when I don't have anybody else around that I can state what I really mean." Marcus flicked his sword, allowing it to change back into a pocket watch and pocketing it. Smuggler Rule Three...
Chastity looked around. "Well... we're alone here. Obviously." Marcus smiled at that last word. Chastity was letting her guard down. Acting more like herself. Chastity stepped closer to Marcus, leaving just a few feet between them. "So... what are you trying to say?"
Marcus looked around, stepping closer to Chastity. "Well I'd hate to be... interrupted here." Marcus smiled, letting his eyes show what Chastity would expect them to after a statement like that. Smuggler Rule Number Three is...
Chastity finally seemed to believe Marcus, stepping close to him so they were almost touching, teasingly looking up into his eyes. "Oh, we won't be. The Flag is down by the river, so nobody will even think about coming out here." Chastity put her arms around Marcus' neck. "Now, what exactly are you here for?"
Marcus smiled and wrapped his arms around Chastity's waist. "That far away huh? Well then... I guess nobody will know..." Without warning, Marcus shifted his weight, throwing Chastity to the ground causing her to cry out, and used a technique Kelly had taught him a long time ago to hit a pressure point on Chastity's neck, knocking her unconscious. Marcus checked to make sure she wasn't too hurt before standing up again. "Sorry Chastity. But all's fair when it comes to Capture the Flag. You'll get over this. Eventually." Marcus took off running toward the river. Smuggler Rule Three. When you're caught, lie your way out of it.
Some Time Before...
Gods I hate this part. Marcus leaned against the back wall of the meeting hall in the Big House. The newest group of half-bloods to make it safely to camp were all sat down here, being shown the orientation film explaining... well, everything. Very fast. None of these kids are even gonna remember half of what that film says... Gods know I sure as hell didn't. Marcus couldn't help but smile. No. Aaron had to explain it to me that night outside his Cabin. Marcus laughed a little at the memory. The son of the Goddess of Victory had appeared, looking much like a God himself, almost immediately after Marcus had fought off some campers who thought he'd be easy to haze. Marcus glanced around at the new half-bloods, around a dozen in total. Which of you will have to fight off the assholes this time I wonder... Which of you will step up? Marcus knew better than to judge based off of appearance by now. He'd seen Maddie grow into one of the camp's best fighters, and it had been a long time since Marcus had had to step in to protect her. As he looked around, Marcus noticed that none of the other half-blood leaders sent to keep an eye on this new group was paying much attention. They all knew the drill by now. When one half-blood shows up, they get a guide to show them the ropes. When this many are brought in at one time, they get the orientation film, and a group of older half-bloods to look after them till they settle in. At least, that's how Dionysus would tell it to Zeus if he was asked. In reality, the older half-bloods were here to stop any panic that might arise from a group this big having their entire world flipped upside down at once. The Gods have definitely lost faith in Half-Bloods as a whole over the centuries... and who can blame them. Marcus shrugged and glanced around again, making sure nobody was watching him, and slipped out the back door to the meeting hall.
Marcus strolled through the middle of camp, stretching as he went and enjoying the warmth of the sun on his shoulders. Much better than that stuffy meeting hall with a boring film I've seen a h undred times for the next hour and a half. Marcus stopped for a moment and glanced around. Nobody could really blame him for skipping out on the orientation fi lm. Hell, at least one of us ditches every time it's shown. Still, the last thing he'd want to do right now is run into somebody who knew where he should be. Dionysus was not known to be forgiving when somebody besides him slacks off.
"Ooh I'm telling!" Marcus spun at the voice behind him. "Naughty, naughty, sneaking out on your responsibilities like that. "
Marcus sighed with relief when he saw who was talking to him. "Lay off Alicia. If there's anybody who can't give me too much grief for skipping anything, it's you."
"That is so not true!" Alicia scoffed. "I take my responsibilities very seriously thank you! In fact, it's why I was waiting for you in the first place."
Marcus raised an eyebrow at that and turned. He waved back at Alicia. "Well whatever it is, it can wait. I have somewhere to be."
Alicia jumped ahead of Marcus, stopped and turned to him, her hands on her hips, making him stop in his tracks. "Can you take me seriously for, like, two seconds here?"
Marcus sighed and help up his hands in defeat. "Alright, alright fine. What is so important?"
"Aaron set the next date we head out."
Marcus' smile faded. Alright, time to get serious. "When is it?"
"In three days. He wants you and me to try and gather as much of a list as we can in that time. Especially from the new kids. They're probably the ones who need things from the outside world the most."
Marcus sighed. "Fine. We all know that I'm just the BEST at talking to the new kids on the block..."
Alicia smiled and patted his cheek. "Oh come on, you can be really charming and sweet when you want to be. Anyway, that's all I got for you for now. Just make sure you at least talk to SOME of the new kids, okay? Aaron's orders." With that, Alicia strolled away, leaving Marcus shell-shocked in her wake.
Alicia... thinks I'm charming? Marcus watched her walk away, half-tempted to go after her and ask her exactly what she meant by that. He pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. Dammit. He was already running later than he wanted to be because of the orientation. Next time... Marcus ran toward the coliseum training grounds.
Marcus slid to a stop in the sand on the arena floor. Catching his breath, he looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings. The combat dummies on one side, the more modern weights and equipment on the other. No sign of her... Dammit. Marcus caught his breath and shrugged. Well... Whatever. It was a favor for Maddie. If the girl doesn't show, it's not my fault. Walking over to the training dummies, Marcus pulled his pock et watch out of his pocket, flicking it into its sword from as he did so. Might as well get some practice in while I'm here.
Marcus launched himself at the nearest dummy, swinging his sword in complex forms. Be unpredictable. Fluid. Float from one form to the next. Marcus flicked his wrist, tossing his sword in the air and changing it to his whip. Ever changing, ever moving. Like the wind. One minute, still and silent, the next a tornado. Marcus lost himself in his imagination, no longer seeing the arena and the training dummies, but armies, each soldier begging to be the one to put him down. He dodged, weaved, changed his weapon's form over and over again, cutting down foes left and right. Wrap my whip around his leg, throw him off balance. Change to sword, cut him as he falls. So lost was he in the sounds of his battles, Marcus almost didn't hear the footsteps in the sand, so lost in the sights of his imagination, he almost didn't see her in time. He spun, his sword singing as it cut through the air, stopping a fraction of an inch from a real throat, not the one he had in his imagination.
"Well at least I know you're not just some idiot with a sword." Marcus looked at the newcomer. A girl. She was blonde, perhaps a head shorter than he was. Pretty. No... pretty doesn't do her justice. This girl is beautiful.
Marcus shook his head, letting the point of his sword drop to the sand. "No, just an idiot with a sword and whip. Sorry about... that."
The girl looked at him, a half smile on her face. "By 'that', do you mean almost killing me before the lesson even begins?"
Marcus nodded, caught off guard by her confidence. "Yeah. That. Anyway... lesson. So, you must be Maddie's friend."
The girl nodded. "Uh huh. Name's Chastity, daughter of Aphrodite."
Marcus couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at that. "Seems a bit of an odd name for the daughter of the Goddess of Love..."
Chastity rolled her eyes. "Yeah I get that a lot. Guess my dad had a sense of humor. Or maybe he hoped that with a name like mine, it would mean something." Chastity looked Marcus up and down, and he was instantly conscious of how he must look, out of breath and probably covered in sand and sweat. "It did by the way, but not what he intended." Chastity finished with a smile.
For once, Marcus was a at a loss for words. Even for a daughter of Aphrodite, this girl was... forward. "Uh huh... Anyway... let's get this started, shall we?"
Chastity smiled. "Already? But we just met."
Marcus sighed and rolled his eyes. He could already tell that this girl was going to cause him no small number of headaches.
"Alright I think that's enough for one day." Marcus flicked his weapon back into a pocket watch, pocketing it as he did so.
"Well at least I know you have stamina!" Chastity sat down hard on the sand, out of breath. "We've only been going at this for two hours!"
Marcus sighed. Why does everything she say sound... wrong? "And in that time, you've already improved."
Chastity smiled up at Marcus and held out a hand expectantly. "Well? Isn't the gentleman going to help the lady to her feet? After all, he is the one who tired her out." Marcus couldn't help but smile a little at that and pulled Chastity to her feet. She dusted herself off and winked at him. "Thanks for the workout Marcus. Can't wait for the next one."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Next one...?"
But Chastity only laughed and walked off, blowing a kiss to Marcus over her shoulder as she left the arena. Marcus watched her go, perplexed, finally shaking his head. What have you gotten me into this time Maddie...? Marcus turned to leave but stopped when he noticed somebody in the s tands of the arena. Odd... Usually I'd notice.
Marcus walked over to the stands, not knowing why he did so even as he did it. He was drawn to this stranger for some reason. As he got closer, he could make out more details of them. Her. A woman.
"Chastity? How in the hell..." Marcus started, for indeed this woman was the spitting image of Chastity. But that's impossible... she just walked in the opposite direction!
The woman laughed, and the sound of it caused Marcus to smile. "Oh, no sweet Marcus. But closer than you'd think." Marcus stopped himself. Wait... Looking closer, the woman seemed almost... too perfect. Eyes that shifted colors. Hair that was perfect, even in the humidity of the summer afternoon. Not a drip of sweat in the summer heat.
"Aphrodite." Marcus couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. He'd met a few Gods before, but this was the Goddess of Love and Beauty. He doubted any man could ever see her and not feel... something.
Aphrodite smiled and clapped softly. "Got it on your first real guess. Impressive Marcus."
Marcus found himself caught off-guard. Not only was he talking to Aphrodite herself, she knew his name. What should I do...? Should I bow or something? Marcus shook his head. This wasn't like him. Wha t am I thinking? Just act normal , idiot. Marcus met Aphrodite's eyes. "Well, I have been around a God or two in my time you know."
Aphrodite cocked her head to the side, letting her hair fall, perfectly framing her face. "Confident and composed, even in my presence. Although, that could simply be arrogance. Tell me Marcus, are you arrogant?"
Marcus stiffened a bit at Aphrodite's words, an instant denial jumping to his lips, but he stopped himself. Why would she ask me that...? If she came here to speak to me, why question me ? Marcus could see Aphrodite's eyes watching him carefully. Ah... so it's a test. But a test of what? And why? Marcus composed himself. "I wouldn't say arrogant. I know what I know. And I know a Goddess when I see one."
"And you know enough about combat to teach it to one who's godly parent isn't usually considered to be proficient in it?" Was that teasing Marcus heard in her voice? Or was it a challenge?
"A favor for a friend." Marcus replied cautiously.
"And tell me, what do you think of her?" Aphrodite watched him like a hawk, and Marcus could sense they were getting to the real reason Aphrodite was here. Why does she care what I think...?
"You mean... Chastity?" Marcus thought for a moment. "I honestly don't know... I could see us becoming friends. She certainly seemed to think so." Marcus shrugged.
Aphrodite smiled then, and Marcus could feel the heat rise in his face, and he forced himself to look away. "So honest, even when speaking to her mother. Admitting uncertainty, even in the face of a Goddess, yet also exuding confidence. Yes... Yes, you could be a perfect match."
Marcus looked at Aphrodite, shocked. "A perfect match? What are you talking about?"
Aphrodite stood and appeared on the sand next to Marcus in the blink of an eye. "Why, you and Chastity of course. I do take more of an interest in my children's lives than some gods do. Aeolus for example." Aphrodite's smile at Marcus did nothing to stop the chill that ran down his spine. "Oh, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against him. But occasionally, I do wish he and the other Gods would take a more hands on approach to parenting."
Marcus shook his head, reeling. "Whoa whoa whoa back up... Me... Me and..."
"You and Chastity, yes. I do hate repeating myself Marcus, so I truly hope you don't make me do it again." Aphrodite patted his cheek. "Sweet Marcus. Confident. Skilled. Caring. You two would be the cutest couple you know."
Marcus stepped back, shaking his head to clear it. Why am I not fighting this more? Nobody tells me how to live my life. No God or Goddess... Marcus stopped and looked at Aphrodite, his mind becoming clear. Of course ... A Goddess ' aura. The mind numbing aura of love and beauty... Marcus straightened and looked Aphrodite in the eye. "I just met Chastity. How can you say that?"
"Well it IS in my being to know such things Marcus." Aphrodite smiled at him, as if this answer would be enough for him.
But Marcus was already shaking his head. "You've been wrong before. And since you appreciate my honesty, here's a little more. You're wrong now."
In that instant, Marcus felt the air around him shift. Aphrodite's demeanor changed. "Don't say something you'll regret Marcus. I was just starting to really like you."
Marcus took a deep breath before replying. "With all due respect Aphrodite, I make my own choices, and no God or Goddess will ever make them for me. I will choose whoever I want to choose, and frankly you trying to tell me Chastity is the only choice for me is making me not want to even consider her."
Aphrodite looked at Marcus, and Marcus could feel the anger starting to build in her. Just as he thought she would smite him from existence, she smiled. "Ah, you heroes are all the same. 'I walk my own path, regardless of the Gods!' It's almost sad how many times I've heard that before." Marcus blinked, and in that instant Aphrodite was no longer in front of him, but was leaning against him from behind, her back to his. "But remember Marcus, while free will exists, and you are ABLE to make whatever choices you decide, I can influence the outcome. I can make it easy or difficult to get what you want. You've taken my advice and thrown it back in my face, and that kind of courage I can admire. Yes... I quite like you Marcus. I can't wait to see what love has in store for you." And with that, Marcus felt Aphrodite's presence vanish, leaving him alone in the arena. Looking around, Marcus took a moment to gather himself. Aphrodite's threat... I wonder what she means...
Marcus looked over as a voice rang out across the arena. He smiled as he saw Maddie waving her arms from the entrance. "Marcus! What are you doing? It's time for dinner! Come on, you don't want to lose your seat, do you?" Marcus smiled and ran towards Maddie, walking with her to that night's bonfire and dinner. It doesn't matter what Aphrodite says. I'm sure whoever I choose, things will work out in the end.