CHAPTER FIVE.
just pawns in a god's game
IN SOME WAYS, a hero's quest was meant to be a great privilege — a high honour bestowed on demigod children from the gods themselves.
They would leave camp, fight monsters and maintain their survival until they reached their location and followed through with the task given to them. Not only were demigod children sent on such dangerous quests seen as great heroes of Olympus, earning the upmost respect of their peers. But if they were able to complete their quest and come back to camp alive, they received something much better than just respect. They were given an abundance of glory too. Something that every demigod child dreamed of at least once in their lifetime — to be recognised for their bravery, strength, and even resilience.
Feyre Blanchard used to dream about her time. The time when her father would see the potential in her, and send the girl on a quest that would earn herself the highest and upmost respect from not only her campmates, but the gods too. Most importantly, the recognition from her father. She would dream of stepping into Olympus for the first time after completing her quest and her father welcoming her, a proud smile on his lips while he embraced her. She imagined his voice, what he would sound like when he told Feyre he was proud of her and what she had accomplished.
However, her time never came. Feyre never quite understood why. She was the best archer in camp, smart, strong and brave. She had all the best qualities to accomplish a hero's quest. Why she was never asked to leave camp and complete a task for Apollo remained a mystery to this day. And maybe she would never figure out the reason why. Overtime she accepted that about herself, realising maybe she didn't have to know.
But it was safe to say Feyre was jealous when her best friend, Luke, was sent on his very own quest as requested by his own father when he was seventeen and she was sixteen. She watched him leave camp, setting off on what she could only guess would be the adventure of a lifetime. They communicated via the occasional iris message where Feyre would act strange. Luke always knew she was jealous of him at that time, even if she never admitted it out loud herself. But it didn't alter their friendship as Feyre would always wish for him to return safely whenever they said their goodbyes to one another.
When Luke returned from his quest, he wasn't in the best shape. Feyre would never forget the day he came into camp, a large gash carved into the side of his face where the dragon, Ladon, had attacked him while he tried to retrieve the golden apple from the Garden of the Hespirides. She was panicked as she brought Luke into the infirmary and took care of his wound. He didn't speak about what had happened at first, but opened up to her overtime about his experience in the Garden. Luke was different after that. He put on a good enough facade for everyone else, but Feyre knew his quest with no glory in return had changed him.
That was when Feyre Blanchard realised a hero's quest was no privilege. It was a dangerous path — and a death sentence for many.
At the end of the day while quests may have offered eternal glory for those who were successful, it always came at a terrible sacrifice. Demigod children were sent away to fight their parents battles, fighting monsters and other entities of a higher power, and while they were rewarded if they managed to maintain their survival, the invisible scars of inescapable trauma would forever remain. Feyre learned that was what the gods stood for — abandoning their children the second they were born, and then sending them to fight a battle they didn't have the guts to fight themselves.
So when Chiron asked her and many other demigod children to convene together as Percy Jackson — the son of the sea god, Poseidon, will be sent to retrieve Zeus's stolen master bolt from the Underworld — Feyre was far from thrilled about the news. She was even a little angry. Percy had only been at camp for a few days, and at the mere age of twelve, he was being tasked to go on a dangerous quest across the country to prevent a civil war amongst the gods. Once again, the fate of their world was being forced onto the shoulders of another child when it shouldn't be his burden to bare in the first place.
But when you are the forbidden child of Poseidon, who has been accused of stealing the bolt, Percy wasn't given much choice other than to accept this quest.
Feyre Blanchard stood in between her sisters, Alina Sinclair and Delia Cromwell, watching as Percy along with Chiron and Mr. D (otherwise known as the Greek God, Dionysus). Her sisters, herself, and other demigods children who showed promise and a range of useful skills stood around together, waiting for Percy's answer. Like any other quest, Percy would have to choose three quest-mates to accompany him. Feyre believed she would be one of the three chosen. She had welcomed Percy with open arms when he arrived at camp. She would even consider herself his friend. It was apparent he would want companions who he could trust.
So Feyre knew she had to prepare herself to leave camp and put her life at risk if chosen. But she knew it was better if it was her than her sisters. At least they would be safe back at camp.
"The Oracle has confirmed what we expected, that this quest will proceed toward the Underworld, where you will confront the god who has rebelled against his brothers, Hades," Chiron announced, the mere mention of the king of the Underworld sending chills up and down Feyre's spine. "The entrance to Hades's domain lies under the city of Los Angeles. This is where you will journey to," The centaur elaborated, staring down at Percy for a moment.
Feyre rolled back her shoulders, a shaky breath leaving her quivering lips. The thought of venturing off deep into the Underworld left a bitter taste on the tip of her tongue. To go up against trials and tribulations deep in the darkest and most dangerous parts of their world, and fight against monsters, and fight more of them than ever because travelling with a forbidden child would put a target on her back, scared Feyre. It was goddamn terrifying. A quest this important could not afford to make any mistakes. One wrong move and that could mean the end of peace amongst the gods. A burden she didn't know if she was ready to carry just yet.
"Time is short," Chiron shared, nodding his head. The half man, half horse then looked up, his eyes scanning over the available candidates he had selected to go on the quest. Now it was up to Percy to make his decision. "I have selected the most compelling candidates, from which you will choose three to join you on this quest and ensure that we succeed—"
"Annabeth," Percy interjected, cutting off Chiron as he selected his first quest-mate to join him.
Everyone, including Feyre, was stunned to hear the name of the wise daughter of Athena fall from Percy's lips. It wasn't like they were close, but Annabeth Chase possessed a range of skills and knowledge that could be useful for a quest as big as this one. Then that feeling of worry began to set in again. Feyre and Annabeth was close. Not as close as what Luke and Annabeth were, but they were friends and have been for years now. Feyre didn't want to see the girl get hurt. It was the last thing she wanted.
Chiron discussed his decision with Percy for a short moment, the pair talking amongst themselves for a moment before Chiron nodded his head and glanced over at Annabeth. "The first quest-mate shall be Annabeth Chase! Now, on to the other candidates," He announced proudly.
"I want Grover, too," Percy informed.
Chiron was hesitant about the idea. It was rather apparent from the way he stared down at Percy for a moment. But nonetheless, it was Percy's choice and he had to respect that. "Very well. On to the last and final candidate," Chiron responded.
There was this strange foreboding silence that quickly flooded the air while the others waited for Percy to make his final decision. Feyre found herself feeling more uneasy than ever, worry bubbling in the pit of her stomach. And when she looked up from her feet to see Percy staring back at her, an indecisive look burning bright in his ocean blue eyes, that was when the worry turned into paralysing fear. Feyre knew this was the moment she had been dreading. The moment when she would finally be chosen to leave camp for the first time in four years and venture off on a dangerous and terrifying journey.
However, suddenly, Percy did something that shocked the girl to her core. His attention snapped over to the young girl standing beside her, nodding his head. "Delia," He announced, sounding confident with his answer.
Everyone was left astonished by Percy's choice. Even Delia herself was standing with her mouth agape, surprised to find she was chosen for the quest. Feyre knew she should've been relieved, knowing she would be safe and sound in camp. But now the fear she once felt for herself shifted to Delia, worried that her sister, the same sister who didn't have a mean bone in her body, who didn't have the blood of a true warrior pumping through her veins, would leave camp and put her life at risk for the sake of the gods and glory that would never be hers to keep.
It was in that moment Feyre Blanchard had wished it was her Percy had chosen. It should've been her. Why didn't Percy choose her?
After the quest-mates were selected, everyone disbanded and continued on with their day. Feyre wanted to find Delia and talk to her, but the young girl was nowhere in sight. She had already vacated the premise the second she was given permission to do so. Feyre was worried for her. Delia wasn't like most of the kids in camp. She was too kind, too gentle, and she was never a naturally skilled fighter like her siblings. The only reason she was selected as a potential candidate by Chiron himself was because she was the best healer in camp and that was useful in more ways than one. However, no one believed she would actually get picked.
When Feyre reached Apollo's cabin, she looked up at the building, a heavy weight lingering in her chest cavity. Feyre swallowed the thick lump lodged in the back of her throat before she walked up the steps, and when she entered the cabin, she saw Delia frantically packing her backpack for the journey ahead while Alina watched from where she was standing by the entrance into the cabin. Feyre turned to look at her sister, who appeared just as worried as she was. "I tried talking to her. She's scared, Fey," Alina stated, her voice shaky.
It seemed like Feyre wasn't the only one worried about Delia's safety.
Feyre didn't say anything in response. She just walked ahead and knelt down in front of Delia, watching as she went through her belongings. It was silent for a while before Delia decided to speak. "What do you even pack for a quest?" She questioned in a rhetorical manner.
Feyre then let out a quiet sigh, shrugging her shoulders. "It's a short trip. You won't need a lot," She reassured.
Delia let out a bitter chuckle, shaking her head while she continued to scramble her things together. "See...I wouldn't know that because I never thought I would be chosen for a quest. I mean, it's crazy. Me, going on a quest to the Underworld, it's insane," Delia rambled, her voice beginning to shake. Feyre stared at her sister with a sympathetic stare, reaching out and grabbing her hands with her own, putting an end to Delia's frantic packing. Delia then sat back and lifted her gaze to meet Feyre's. "Why would Percy choose me?" She asked, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"Because you're his friend. You'll look out for him," Feyre answered. Although she didn't know or understand why either, she didn't want Delia to know that. "Quests are scary, but they're also a great privilege. To be selected is the highest of honours. Especially when you succeed," Feyre hated herself for lying, and it made her feel twice as guilty. She just didn't want Delia feeling any more afraid than she already was.
"But I'm not like you, Feyre," Delia argued. It was quiet for a moment while the younger girl wiped away the tears from her eyes. However, the tears just kept coming, rolling down her face and dampening her cheeks. "I'm not a warrior. I suck at using a sword and I'm no better with a bow and arrow. I'm going to be useless on this quest. A burden."
Feyre grabbed either side of her sister's face with her hand, cupping her cheeks in her hands, using her thumb to brush away her tears. "Hey, you are useful. You're the best healer in camp. If anything happens to him, or Annabeth, or even Grover, you can heal them. Save their lives. Just because you're not skilled in fighting doesn't mean you're useless. Your skills just lie elsewhere. That's why Chiron considered you, and that's why Percy picked you," She explained, a gentle smile ghosting across her lips.
And when Feyre saw a small smile form across Delia's face, it warmed her heart to see an inkling of fear had faded away from the deepest parts of her sister's mind. It became clear she had said all the right words that Delia needed to hear, right now more than ever as she prepared herself to embark on a journey of a lifetime. However, the longer she stared into the girl's eyes, the sooner Feyre realised fear still remained. "But I've heard the stories. Sometimes heroes don't come back from their quests alive," She croaked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Feyre bit down on the inside of her cheek for a brief moment, staring at her sister in silence before a thought crossed her mind. Feyre then retracted her hands from Delia's face, a breath leaving her lips while she reached up behind and unclasped the necklace sitting comfortably around her neck. It was a pure gold necklace with a golden sun pendent attached to the chain. It was a gift from her mother, and it was the item Feyre treasured the most. The girl never knew how her mom was capable of affording such a gorgeous piece of jewellery, but she was always so in love with the necklace that she didn't dare question it.
Her mother made her promise to never take it off, and Feyre did stay true to her promise for a long time. However, this was one of those circumstances where she had to break the promise made to her mother, believing it would be better kept with her sister.
Feyre held up the necklace for a moment before she snaked it around Delia's neck, hooking the chain together while it sat around the younger girl's neck. "When my mom gave me this necklace, we were sitting together in the meadow underneath Thalia's tree. It was the day she sent me into camp and the last time I saw her. She told me that as long as I was wearing this necklace, the gods above would protect me," She told the girl.
Delia shook her head in response. "I can't take it from you. It was your mom's," She countered.
"Yes, you can, and you will," Feyre argued back, her persistant tone causing for Delia to sigh in defeat. "The necklace kept me safe inside this camp for four years. Now it will keep you safe while on the quest. But I would like it back once you return," She elaborated further, earning a soft giggle from Delia in response.
"I will guard it with my life," Delia replied, smiling softly back at Feyre.
All of a sudden, Feyre pulled Delia into her embrace and Delia instantly returned the favour, wrapping her arms around the older girl and holding her close. The moment between the two sisters lasted for a few seconds before Delia pulled away and finished packing her backpack for the quest ahead. Feyre and Alina helped her with what she would need, and what could be left behind. Nearly an hour later, Delia was packed and ready to go, leading the way out of the cabin with her sisters trailing close behind.
When they reached outside, Feyre lifted her gaze to see Luke Castellan standing outside. Just seeing his face again brought her some peace amongst the chaos of her overwhelming worry for her sister's safety. A small smile found its way to her lips when she saw Delia approach him, and it meant the world to her when she watched as Luke said his goodbyes to her while she stood beside Alina on the steps leading to the cabin doors.
"You be careful out there, Delia," Luke warned the girl in a playful manner, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "But it's okay. You'll be okay."
Delia rolled her eyes in response to his words, shaking her head before she decided to change the subject. "Can I ask you a favour before I go?" She asked. Luke nodded his head in response, and Delia perched herself up onto her tiptoes before she leaned close towards the boy's ear. "Look out for Feyre while I'm gone. She's worried. I think she's going to need you more than ever this summer, and I just want her to be okay, and you make her feel okay," She whispered to him.
Luke frowned, staring down at Delia for a moment before his eyes softened. "I promise," He reassured the younger girl.
Delia said her goodbyes to the older boy before she walked away, going to meet up with Percy and the others before they embarked on their journey to the Underworld. Feyre furrowed her brows together in confusion, a puzzled look glimmering in her dark coloured eyes before she walked down the steps and stood next to Luke. "What did she say to you?" Feyre questioned curiously.
Luke stared at the girl for a moment before he folded his arms over his chest, shrugging his shoulders. "Nothing," He answered, tilting his head to the side for a split second. And Feyre dropped it, believing if it was worth telling, Luke would tell her. Luke, on the other hand, stood in silence, replaying his promise to Delia in the back of his mind, his heart hammering hard against his chest.
She's going to need you more than ever.
And that scared him because deep down he knew he couldn't keep his promise. Not even for Feyre Blanchard.
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Delia Cromwell stood on top of the tall hill. She remained behind the invisible magical barrier that kept the camp she knew and loved safe from any threats from the outside world — monsters who would gladly tear apart every demigod child on the other side. Delia was all too familiar with that irrational fear ever since the night that changed her life forever, and she never let herself forget it either. She had spent every waking second inside the safety of camp since the moment her protector came and escorted her safely to her new home following the tragedy that struck her through the heart and left her scarred since. She believed it was her second chance to do something with her life.
Now Delia was officially going to be leaving her home — her safe harbour — for the past year. She would embark on a quest. A dangerous and visceral journey across the country to the city of Los Angeles where the Underworld was hidden underneath. She would more or less likely be faced with monsters of all kinds as she would be travelling alongside the forbidden child of Poseidon. She wasn't a fighter. Apollo's children were natural born archers, but not her. She was too scared to hold a weapon half the time. Delia didn't know how she would survive against the monsters. She was sure she wouldn't last a day.
Despite her sister's words, Delia still felt this underlining fear, and she couldn't shake it.
Delia lifted her gaze, watching as Annabeth Chase stood underneath the tree that protected the camp, the reason why they all got to be safe in the first place. Delia's eyes softened at the sight. She heard all the stories about Thalia when she first arrived at camp, and how she protected her friends, Luke and Annabeth, but paid a terrible price in the end. The girl's bravery and courage was to be admired. She inspired all the kids back in camp. She inspired Delia. She just wished she was twice as good as a hero as Thalia once was. Delia would never let herself forget the sacrifice one young girl made all those years ago.
"She's really gonna miss that tree, huh?" Percy piped up, staring at the tree with a deadpanned look plastered across his face.
Delia cocked her head to the side, shooting the curly haired boy a look. She wasn't the only one either. It didn't take Grover long to clear his throat. "When Annabeth first arrived here with Thalia and Luke, they were being chased by monsters. Agents of Hades. Sisters," Grover spoke up, informing the boy of the history that cemented itself into demigod history.
"Furies," Percy nodded his head. "Mrs. Dodds?"
Delia turned her head to glance back at Grover, her eyes flickering between the two boys standing beside each other. "Who's Mrs. Dodds?" She asked curiously, her brows furrowed together in confusion. The name didn't sound familiar, but it did to them. She couldn't help but wonder why.
"Our algebra teacher. Alecto," Grover answered, making eye contact with the girl for a moment. Delia nodded her head, surprised to learn a monster had posed as a math teacher. Especially a monster who was close with the king of the Underworld. Grover let out a breath. "Thalia turned back to fight to buy her friends some time. Her satyr protector tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen. So, at the last moment...Zeus intervened to save her life and...changed her form," Grover elaborated further, nodding towards the tree in the distance. The tree that used to be a teenage girl.
Percy frowned in response to the satyr's words. "The most powerful being in the universe's best idea to save his daughter's life was to turn her into a tree?" He inquired, sounding almost surprised.
"She was the bravest demigod I ever knew. She fought valiantly, and she met a hero's fate," Annabeth intervened, now standing with the rest of the group.
A ghost of a smile formed across Percy's lips, shrugging his shoulders as he looked back at the tree. "She met a pinecone's fate," He retorted, causing for Delia to nudge him harshly. Percy grunted in response and shot the girl a look. Delia turned to him and shook her head disapprovingly.
"Forbidden children are always in danger, even the strongest ones, even Thalia," Annabeth informed, taking no notice of Percy's previous remark about Thalia. "And you are not Thalia. Do exactly as I say, and maybe you survive this. Are we clear?" She questioned in a rhetorical manner, not giving the others to reply before she took off, stepping past the magical protective barrier and down the hill.
Delia Cromwell reached up and touched the sun pendent hanging loosely around her neck, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment. The gods above would protect me. Feyre's words played like a distant echo in the back of her skull, reassuring her that as long as the necklace remained around her neck, the gods would protect her and shield her from harm. Delia continued to tell herself the words she wanted to hear, breathing steadily before her eyes opened once again. She dropped her hand back down to her side and followed Annabeth, stepping past the protective barrier around camp and into the unknown.
There was no turning back now.
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authors note.
And the quest begins...
I don't really have much to say other than I love the Feyre, Alina and Delia sibling dynamic so much. My best girls for real!!!
Also there is so much yet to be revealed about Delia. I'm saving it for a few chapters but you will either hate me or want to kill me when you learn what she's gone through and how it has affected her 🤭
Until then I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I'll update again soon!!