˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
BOOK ONE
CHAPTER TWO.
❝ you had a dream about me? ❞
HAVING PROPHECIES was basically second nature to Aria. But normally her prophecies had nice things like 'oh you're going to win a prize!' or 'oh you are about to get a pet dog!' not 'oh you're going to fall down a bottomless pit to your ultimate demise.'
As the shaken girl prepared for the day, flashes of the blue eyed boy replayed in her mind like a never ending film. She had so many questions, but no way to find an answer. She felt helpless. She tried shrugging off these thoughts as she slung her bow over her shoulder and walked out of her cabin, heading towards the training grounds.
The morning air buzzed with the energy of demigods engaged in various activities. Aphrodite's children trying different makeup looks on each other, Ares kids trying to kill anything and anyone, Hermes kids stealing whatever they could, just the usual. Aria's eyes scanned the familiar faces, searching for the sea blue gaze that had captured her imagination in the dream realm. However, the boy from her prophecy remained elusive.
The sun cast a warm glow over camp half blood as Aria, adorned with her golden bow, now searched for Annabeth amongst the bustling demigods. It was unusual not to find her best friend at their usual training spot, and Arias' steps quickened as she made her way towards the grounds, surveying the familiar faces.
"Annabeth!" she called out, but her voice was swallowed by the ambient noise of the camp.
Frowning, Aria checked the cabins, the archery range, and even the dining area, but there was no sign of Annabeth.
Deciding to explore the infirmary, Aria approached the area, where she noticed Luke leaning against a tree, his gaze fixed on the camp with a mysterious glint in his eyes. The scar that adorned his face was prominent, and the snug orange camp t-shirt accentuated his lean physique. A mop of black hair crowned his head, and Aria felt an unexplainable urge to reach out and touch it. However, she quickly shook off such thoughts, realising she was behaving no better than her missing friend.
"Luke, have you seen Annabeth recently?" Aria asked, inching closer to Hermes boy.
Luke turned to face her, a smirk playing on his lips, although Aria was not sure what was funny.
"Annabeths occupied. She's in the infirmary tending to the new boy"
"New boy? What happened?"
Luke's brown eyes gleamed, and Aria swallowed down an uncomfortable feeling in her throat. Was he always this weird?
"Nothing serious. Just a minor injury. You know how these things go. Demigods and their scrapes"
Arias' instinct tingled with suspicion, but she chose to partially trust Lukes word for now. What reason would he have to lie to her?
"Can you tell Annabeth to come find me if you see her?"
"Will do," Luke replied with a fake salute.
After her conversation with Luke, Aria returned to her training with a sense of unease. The rhythmic twang of her bowstring no longer brought the same comfort, and her mind couldn't shake off the image of an unconscious demigod in the infirmary. Luke knew something she didn't, and she hated the feeling of being left in the dark. However her thoughts were shoved to the recesses of her mind as her fellow campers gathered, the anticipation for the impending capture the flag game taking precedence. Aria never had a fondness for this particular camp activity; it seemed like little more than an excuse for kids to engage in sanctioned combat. Of course, she appreciated the imposed restrictions—after all, the idea of being tied to a tree with a gag in her mouth wasn't the most appealing prospect.
As Aria observed the animated discussions around her, a voice cut through the chatter.
"Looking for someone?"
She turned to find a fellow demigod, a girl with a mischievous grin and twinkle in her eyes. Aria recognised her as selene, a daughter of Aphrodite known for her clever tactics and light hearted spirit. The girl had silvery hair, its wispy bangs framing her face as perfectly as a portrait. Blue eyeshadow marked her eyelids, and her lips were a deep shade of red. Aria couldn't deny the fact the Dite's children were talented with a makeup brush.
"Hey Selene," Aria replied, attempting to shake off the lingering unease. "Have you seen Annabeth? Thought she might be around here somewhere."
"Actually I have! She's discussing strategy with her team near the dining hall. But hey, no fraternising with the enemy."
Aria offered a half smile to the enthusiastic demigod.
"Thanks Selene. Hopefully this game doesn't get too out of hand."
"All I'm hoping for is that we win. See you on the battlefield Ria!"
Aria hated when people called her nicknames. But seeing as selene had just saved her mind from an endless pit of turmoil (she literally only told her where Annabeth was), she decided to let it go. The resonant conch horn marked the commencement of the impending match, prompting Aria to swiftly secure her armour. She flung her bow and arrow over her shoulder and delved into the heart of the trees, seeking solace amidst the rustling leaves and the symphony of the surrounding wildlife. The serenity of nature had always been her refuge. The distant hum of a river and the whispered conversations of the trees, swaying in a melancholic rhythm, worked in harmony to pacify her racing heart.
Navigating through the sprawling forest in search of a strategic vantage point, Aria found her senses on high alert as approaching footsteps disrupted the tranquillity. Ready to seize her bow, she tensed until the familiar silhouette of Annabeth emerged from behind the bushes.
"Annabeth!" Aria exclaimed, letting out a breathy sigh of relief. "You don't know how happy I am to see you. I went looking everywhere for you."
Annabeth smiled, but before she could respond, another figure materialised behind her. Aria's heart plummeted to the depths of the Underworld. It was him – the boy from her dreams.
Aria's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she stood frozen in place. This was the boy who had intruded into her subconscious, the one who had tried to save her. She felt like she was going to be sick.
Sensing Aria's reaction, Annabeth turned to acknowledge the mysterious boy. "Aria, meet Perseus Jackson. He's new here, just arrived today."
"I prefer Percy," the boy said, pursing his lips at the use of his full name.
Aria managed a polite nod.
"Annabeth, can I speak to you privately for a minute?" Aria shakily requested.
"Um, sure," Annabeth said, giving the Apollo girl a confused look.
The pair retreated a few steps from the boy who observed them with a curious gaze, his eyes never leaving Aria.
"So, um, basically, last night I had a dream."
"Oh gods, what happened? Are you alright?" Annabeth asked, her hand finding solace on Aria's arm. She knew what this could mean for them.
"Not really. The boy was in my dream. I was in this- this pit and then he was like trying to save me and you were there too. I just- I have a bad feeling about him being here."
"Hey I have a name!" Percy cried out, a pouty expression on his face.
"Were you listening in on this whole conversation?" Aria asked, now fully facing the blonde.
"Maybe..."
"It's a yes or no question. You can't 'maybe' listen to a conversation."
"Okay fine. I was listening." Percy said, a smirk rising on his face. "You had a dream about me?"
"It was a prophecy, don't get too cocky."
"Was I super awesome and good looking in the dream?"
"No."
"Oh."
Distant war cries put a halt to the conversation and Annabeth gave Percy a look that in her terms meant 'we have to go'. Aria was glad Percy was leaving. She already had a distaste for the somewhat arrogant boy.
"Alright, we're positioned further north, but I'll see you at dinner okay?" Annabeth said, turning away from Aria and moving towards Percy, who was fiddling with his helmet.
"Alright see ya, don't die" Aria quipped as she started to walk away, pulling out her bow.
"I'll try my best" Annabeth retorted, as her and Percy disappeared into the canopy of oak.
Aria chuckled and resumed her navigation of the forest, her senses heightened by the adrenaline of the chase, as well as the unexpectedness of literally seeing a boy from her prophecy. Her golden bow felt like an extension of herself as she moved, focused on the thrill of the competition. She waited for around fifteen minutes when suddenly the tension in the air shifted, and Percy Jackson emerged through the trees once more, running at full speed towards the girl, his eyes darting behind him. Aria moved with the agility of a forest nymph and attempted to evade Percy, but in the heat of the moment, their trajectories collided. The impact was swift, and Aria stumbled back, a mix of surprise and frustration etched across her face.
"What the fuck?" Aria exclaimed, her voice sharp with irritation. She shot Percy an accusatory glance.
"I didn't mean it," Percy apologised quickly, his sea blue eyes filled with genuine concern. He raised his hands in a placating gesture, trying to convey that it was an accident.
However, Aria, still caught in the shock of seeing the boy from her dreams in the waking world, couldn't immediately shake off her unease. Her initial surprise turned to frustration, and she furrowed her brow. "Watch where you're going Jackson," she retorted, her tone sharp.
Percy, taken aback by her sudden change in demeanour, blinked in confusion. "I said I didn't mean it. It was an accident. I was running away from Clarisse and her gym squad."
"Why were you running away?"
"It's a long story."
"Oh good, means I don't have to hear it" Aria said while standing up, brushing the dirt off her clothes.
Percy stood up too, his skinny frame struggling to find balance for a second.
"You know what, just for that I'm going to tell you," he said.
Percy's mouth opened as he attempted to start his story but he was (thankfully) cut off by the rustling of trees. A panting Annabeth emerged out of the foliage for the second time that day.
"Clarisse. Is. Coming."
camp notes ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁
walk him like a dog
⤷ gracie