The First De-Quandran

I Make Friends With A Bracelet

I shoot out of my sleep in a cold sweat with banging at my door. "Steven! Steven, get up! By the gods, boy! Wake up!"

I scramble and unlock the door to see Chiron pale and frantically clopping in place. "What– what's going on? I-I just woke up, can I at least brush my teeth and my hair–?"

Chiron steps to the side, and behind his nearly glowing white horse half is Rachel Dare herself with her auburn hair and eyes bright with warning. "Steven, thank the gods. It looks like it's your turn."

I blanche and look over at Chiron. "For what?"

Her eyes go black this time, forcing me to wonder why they were glowing in my dream. Sometimes demigods have prophetic dreams, or dreams of the past but this doesn't make sense. I don't try to make it make sense either, I'm trying not to gasp for air at the sharp acidic scent of the smoke pouring from her. "A demigod alone and unchosen,
Will break the mold, unloved and unbroken
A lonely quest to reunite true blood
And quell the fury from The Ones Above
You shall go to the other side in opposite affair
But lose your home and have life lain bare."

She falls forward and I catch her before she can hit the ground. I can't imagine what being a human oracle is like, but I can guess it's not a fun job to tell heroes horrible poems about their fate.

Not that I'm a hero or anything, don't get it twisted.

I'm choking on my air for multiple reasons, thankful when the smoke disperses so I can get enough oxygen in my lungs to tell Chiron, "I-I already had a dream about this. I heard the prophecy already."

Rachel coughs once and rolls her eyes. "Glad I wasted my time, then."

"That's enough, Rachel," Chiron says with a grim smile. "He means thank you."

"Right. Thank you, Rachel." I hesitate as the silence between all of us makes me realize I'm just in my boxers and a ratty old tank top. As politely as possible I set her back on her feet and make sure she won't collapse again. "I'm not a jerk, I promise."

Chiron sighs, once again taking on the poise I'm so used to him having. But I'm afraid already, so it's not like it's really helping. "Come with me after you pack your things, Steven. Immediately."

I was there in five minutes because I own basically nothing, wondering why in the cosmos I was the kind of person that got to be violently woken up after a terrifying nightmare and a horrible day. "Chiron, what's going on?"

"Aphrodite has been offended and it has caused chaos in Olympus," He said simply.

I'm baffled as to why this is suddenly my problem. I'm pretty sure she hates me. This chair is too small, my knees are pushing up against the table and the amount of eyes on me are making me blush for no reason. Rachel, Mr. D, and Chiron all watch me carefully to the point that I start to feel like maybe I should say something over the ticking of the clock. "Okay... so it's my fault?"

Chiron shakes his head. "No, it's not your fault, Steven. You've done nothing but exist as peacefully as possible."

"Though," Mr. D smirks. "Your tiff with Lilith was rather entertaining, Sara."

It would be so much different if he'd at least call me boy names. That would make it better, I'm certain it would. But no, he insists I must be a girl. "I'm not a girl, Mr. D!"

"The backbone in this kid!" He bellows, sipping at his Diet Coke with whimsy as his eyes go swirling purple with irritation. "Watch your tone with gods, boy."

I'll take it, because I have a feeling if I looked into his eyes any longer my mind might snap like a glowstick. "What's going on? Why am I here at three in the morning?"