One Too Many: The Call Of Olympus

Melanie: Naomi Is Extremely Dangerous

"So. First of all, I want you to imagine a box. And inside that box, your emotions and your powers are mixed up. Now, you are going to bring a new box, and label it 'Emotions'. And then, you're going to sort it out. Then label the other box 'Powers', and set them both up on a shelf." The blond boy sitting on the grass in front of me explained.

"Noah, are you sure this is going to work?" I asked.

"Yeah, it worked with me..." He trailed off.

"Okayy.." I did exactly as he said. "Done."

"Well, now we need to test it. Uh.....what makes you really sad?" Noah asked.

"My dad."

"Then, I guess think about your worst memories with him."

I closed my eyes, and imagined the physical abuse I had gone through, the pain my father has inflicted on me. I felt tears slipping down the sides of my face. I forced my eyes open to see Noah looking at me, concern evident in his eyes.

"Well, it worked, but are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Great!" I smiled, trying to hide the fear behind my eyes.

"Okay...anyway, I gotta go to the big house. Romans. Exchange program. I'm one of the guides. Wanna come with?" Noah stood. I nodded and followed him down to the big blue house. Chiron was waiting on the front porch with a petit girl. She looked korean, and she had elbow-length, wavy black hair that was dyed bright purple at the tips.

"Ah yes, Noah. This is Naomi Parker." Chiron said.

"Hi! I'm Naomi, fifth cohort, legionnaire, and daughter of Venus. What about you guys?" Naomi asked, her hazel eyes shining.

"I'm Noah, and I'm a son of Hades." Noah replied.

"Huh. You don't look like it. What about you?" The small korean girl turned to me.

"I'm Melanie. Daughter of Persephone. And Eris.." I added nervously. Naomi blinked. Then a bubbly smile spread across her face.

"That's sooooo cool!" She exclaimed.

"Thanks?" I wasn't sure how to react.

"So. Where am I staying?" Naomi asked.

"Aphrodite cabin. But, just so you know, they're a pain in the butt." Noah said, grinning stupidly.

"I'm used to idiots. The fifth cohort is full of them."

"Well, I should probably go." I turned away. But before I left, Chiron told me that we had two options for my cabin. I could either stay in the Hades cabin, or I could choose one goddess, and they would build a cabin for that goddess.

"Oh! Melanie, you should stay with us! I mean, that is, if you want to. Just a suggestion." Noah exclaimed, jumping up and down. I thought about. Stay in one cabin, all by yourself, or room with fifteen other people, Noah included?

"I'll stay in the Hades cabin."

Noah jumped in the air and pumped his fist. Then he noticed the stares and tried to look dignified. "I can help move your stuff!"

"Yeah! You should go now, I'll find the Aphrodite cabin. It's that that one isn't it?" Naomi pointed to a gold and pink building. Noah nodded, and Naomi skipped happily all the way to the cabin. So here I am in the Hermes cabin, packing up all my stuff with the blond son of Hades.

"Did you do this?" Noah held up a canvas. I had painted that one a couple days before I came to camp. It was a starry night sky, complete with constellations and a crescent moon.

"Yeah. It's one of my favorites. I mean, I'm no Van Gogh, but it's pretty good in my opinion." I was trying to be humble about it, but not pick me. Soooooo not easy.

"You're really good. How did you do this so perfectly?" Noah pointed at the moon. I shrugged.

"I started painting when I was about 9. It was a coping mechanism. I watched tutorials, and started getting pretty skilled with paint. And then... yeah, I started doing that." I gestured the the painting he was holding up. "I had a ton more, but I only brought that one. It was special. I don't know why, but when I was painting it, I felt like Persephone was watching over me." I smiled. "I know it sounds stupid."

"No, actually, I get it." Noah didn't elaborate, and I didn't need him to.

~•0•{●}•0•~

Noah showed me my space in the Hades cabin, and I had settled in. All of Noah's siblings were really welcoming. We had just got ready for bed when Naomi stormed in.

"I may or may not have lashed out on a snob called Ian. Oopsies." She muttered.

"Wow." One of Noah's siblings, Lee sighed. "You had the willpower to not kill him at the start. How?" Naomi shrugged.

"Wasn't easy. First of all, the second I walked in, he inspected me, and asked why I was wearing such 'ugly' fabric. LIKE, DUDE!" Naomi threw her arms up. I looked questioningly at Noah, and he looked at me like, 'Snob. Annoying. Kill.' . Which I understood perfectly.

"So. Why are you here?" I asked cautiously. Naomi looked at me, smouldering. Then she pulled out a pair of dual swords out of a hidden sheath. She slashed the air inches away from my chest, and glared at me.

"Why do you think?"

"I don't know! And point that sword somewhere else!" I exclaimed.

"We're sneaking out! I had a vision. From Venus. Or was it Aphrodite? Whatever. Zeus is plotting to kill you. And there's a civil war. We're going to stop it." Naomi explained.

"Wait, what? Why are we going to the gods if they want to KILL Melanie?" Noah asked, concerned.

"I don't know, Aphrodite-Venus told me we need you to stop the war."

"Why would we trusting a random girl from CJ, and the goddess of beauty?" Noah inquired, skeptical.

"Wait, Noah. I trust Naomi. And she's telling the truth. I can tell, I don't know how though. Let's go." I said.

"No! You don't even have a weapon!" Noah exclaimed.

"Chill. I do have a weapon. Anybody got a bow? I learned how to shoot an arrow a couple years ago."

"What? How?"

"I'm multi-talented." I replied calmly.

"There's your answer! Now, let's go!" Naomi urged.

"Fine. Just let me grab my stuff." Noah pulled a bronze sword from under his bed, and the two of us packed our bags.

"Don't worry about us! We're on your side!" One of the girls in the cabin yelled out.

"Thanks, guys!" I called back.

And we set out, probably to die. Yay.

Woah. That was a looooong chapter.