Separated (A Sequel to If Only) {On Hold}

Chapter 18 •••Bianca•••

Loser.

Who carves that word into their own flesh?

I know I saw it, just for a second. It flashed right before...well, you know what happened.

It was there. I swear it was. I just don't know who did it.

Loser.

•••

Tommy's POV

"Where the Hades is your base anyway?" I asked Leah as she walked beside me. She was carrying Jay (pretty strong girl, Jay isn't exactly a feather) and I was carrying Bianca (it would be rude for me to state exactly how heavy she really was).

Leah glanced at me. "What, you can't take the walk?"
"That's not what I was saying at all."
"Sounded like it to me."

I raised by eyebrows. "I guess you interpreted my intentions incorrectly, then."

"What were your intentions then?" Leah questioned.

I shifted Bianca on my shoulder. Yes, I was carrying her like a sack of potatoes. Didn't have much of a choice, did I?

"I just want to get idea of where we are...I mean we're walking so it must be close."

Leah smiled a little. "Oh, of course...aren't you observational..."
"Are you being sarcastic with me?"
"Maaaaaaybeeee..."
"Well don't be."
"Why?"
"Because I am sarcasm."

I huffed and looked away from her, wrinkling my nose. I heard Thalia sigh ahead of me. "Tommy, you aren't sarcasm. Leah is sarcasm."

"She's actually really not." I said, rolling my eyes. "I actually really am, you idiot."

"Hey! I am not stupid!"

Thalia and Leah laughed and I huffed again, looking away from them at Bianca's bloodied face hanging over my shoulder.

Even when she looked half dead, she was still beautiful. To me, anyway.

•••

Bianca's POV

I opened my eyes and looked around. I was laying in a tent, there was a dim candle glowing above my head, and four faces were peering anxiously down at me.

I coughed a little and they all jumped back in surprise, as if they'd never heard a cough before.

What the Hades is going on?

"Bianca! YOU'RE ALIVE!" Tommy yelled, jumping on top of me. I let out a little oof as he landed.

Let's get this straight. Tommy is not light. He's like a sack of bricks.

A large sack of bricks.

Now, if you want to know what it feels like to have him jump on you, go find a big sack, fill in with bricks, lay down on your back, and have someone chuck it onto your stomach.

"Tommy, get off of her!" Said a girl I did not recognize.

Tommy turned around and glared at her. "Hey, Little Miss Rainbows, I do what I want."

The girl smirked slightly and grabbed Tommy shirt collar. She then lifted him off of my stomach like he was a puppy. I let out a sigh of relief as she dropped him on his butt and he sat there pouting.

"Hello, Bianca." The girl said, offering me her hand. "Who are you?" I asked.

The girl smirked slightly. "Well, dear, I'm part of the reason you're still alive."

Hold up! Movie moment here!

I'm sorry.

What!?

"Erm...listen sister-I'm not sure what you're saying but I don't even know you so-"

"Calm down, kid." She said. "Name's Leah, Huntress, I like to kill stuff, sass people, and act like I'm innocent around new people to gain their trust...though I don't seem to be doing it to you, do I?"

I shrugged. "Right...now as long as I'm not on the list of stuff you'd like to kill-"

Leah let out a shout of laughter that made me hop backwards on my butt.

Note to self: Never do that again. It hurts. Especially on concrete.

I guess I just kinda spanked myself.

Sorry, off topic.

"You, kid, have got potential. Now all we have to do is get rid of that jumpy attitude." She said. I frowned. I wasn't that jumpy was I?

Leah smiled slightly, as if she knew what I was thinking, but she didn't bother to check. She just offered me a hand and helped me up...and almost tore my arm out of my socket.

Fun times.

I winced once I got to my feet, still aching from being tossed around like a playground ball. Stupid monster.

Another girl I did not recognize, one who certainly looked younger than me, held out her hand for me to shake it. "Hello, Bianca." She said with a stiff smile. "I am Artemis."

"Arte-oh no way." I stammered. Artemis suddenly grinned at me. "Yes, my little second generation. I am Artemis, leader of the Hunters and...I suppose more importantly...goddess. And of course, I don't look very powerful...I am in the form of a twelve year old girl."

I stared at her, my mouth falling open. Holy Hades, I just shook hands with a freaking goddess.

"Well, why are you here?" I asked, realizing too late that I sounded rather rude. Artemis tilted her head slightly. "To invite you to become a Huntress, of course. You see, your late aunt-or should I say your namesake-was a Huntress as well...and she sacrificed herself so many years ago...but that's beside the point." She added.

"I'm not her." I pointed out. Artemis frowned. "I'm aware, child, but Lady Thalia and Lady Leah have explained to me that you are a wonderful fighter-"

"Oh, like Hades!" I snapped, not sure why I was getting so fired up. "What do you think my father would say if I became a Huntress-"

Artemis held up a hand, and I stopped yelling.

"It's okay if you don't want to child, I'm only asking that you don't yell at me." She said calmly. I wrinkled my nose slightly, realizing that I had been a bit stupid to scream at a goddess.

Artemis laid a hand on my shoulder, her eyes serious. "Just consider the options, okay? The only catch to becoming a Huntress is the fact that you must reject boys."

I nodded once. While I was turning away from her, I caught the look on Tommy's face.

I don't think I've ever seen him look so horrified.