Last Shadow || Deception Book III

Chapter 4 Pt. III

Clarianna 

Darn, I should have smacked the living daylights out of him, I thought as I approached the camp barrier. "That little brat," I sighed, shaking my head. But he'd pouted, his brown eyes wide, and I'd gone from wanting to strangle him to wanting to squeeze him in a hug. He was just too cute. By the day, Nico had started to become the little brother that I'd never had.

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

"What is wrong with you?" a second voice whispered. "That's so cringy!"

"Shut up!" the first voice said. "We're supposed to be scouting right now! Secretly!"

"Yeah, well you were the one who first announced our presence!"

I couldn't stop a smile from appearing on my face. "Travis. Connor."

"Who is that?" Connor hissed,

"Aww, come on, two years and you've already forgotten my voice? I'm offended."

"Rianna?" Travis said after a moment of silence. "That you?"

"In the flesh," I replied. "I'm-" I broke off as the brothers popped up from behind a bush, wariness and curiosity warring on their faces.

"You're not supposed to be here."

"No one told you, did they?" I muttered to myself. "Smart decision."

"What?"

"Nothing." I cleared my throat. "Relax. I'm not here on behalf of Kronos. I just need to talk to Chiron."

Connor and Travis exchanged a glance. "We can't just take your word for it," Connor said. "Sorry, Ri."

"I really need to talk to Chiron," I stressed. "Please, guys."

Silence.

"Seriously," I said again. "I swear on the Styx that I'm not here on orders"

"Fine. But you'll be blindfolded," Connor relented after a moment of silence.

I stared at them in shock. "There's nothing to even see but piles and piles of snow!"

They shrugged. "Take it or leave it."

"Alright. But if you try to do anything . . ."

"Message received, loud and clear," they said together. Travis took out a burlap bag and placed it over my head

With my sight gone, I instantly felt exposed and vulnerable. "Is this necessary?" I whispered, my voice muffled, and balked as one of them tied my hands behind my back and nudged me forwards.

"Yes."

"You guys know me," I tried again. "I'm not planning anything."

"Exactly," Travis murmured, his hands gentle on my back. "We all know what you're capable of. That's why these measures are in place."

"Then you should both know that a piece of rope and a blindfold won't do anything to me. So you might as well just let me walk properly."

"Nope."

"I'm starting to think you're doing this just for the sake of doing this."

"Perhaps."

I groaned. "Gods above."

Neither responded and for a while, there was only the sound of our boots crunching against the snow. I tried to orient myself to no avail. I felt like they were leading me in circles, and I didn't dare use magic to probe my surroundings."