YOUNGER

Chapter 1

First Person - Helena

The demigod dressed in black — Nico — 'shadow travelled' us all back to the surface. I watched in awe as we walked towards a large blue house. I don't remember much of what the others said to the centaur — Chiron — but I do remember when two others joined us. One was a girl with blonde ringlets and wise grey eyes. The other had jet black hair and bright eyes. I'd given them each a hug as well, apologizing before running back to Hazel. Her comforting golden eyes fascinated me.

"We think she can tell if someone's gone to Tartarus," Nico explained. "She did the same thing when she saw me."

•••

I went to the Hermes cabin for the first few nights, but soon was transferred to the Hades cabin. No one explained why. I didn't ask, though, because I liked it better. It was dark and didn't hurt my eyes.

The girl with blonde ringlets — Annabeth — showed me a shed full of weapons. She'd helped me to choose one, but had been confused when I found one made of Imperial Gold, inscribed with the word 'Dies'. I'd giggled as I told her it was my middle name. "But that's... Dies is the Roman personification of day," Annabeth wondered.

"I know," I said, putting the sword down. "This one has my name on it, but it's not mine."

I didn't find a weapon that suited me but, as I found out a few years later, I wouldn't need one.

•••

"Lena, wake up!" Nico's concerned voice broke through my sleep.

I opened my eyes. "Waddup?"

Nico was already on the other side of the cabin, checking his Stygian Iron sword. "There's monsters in the camp. The border itself is fine, but I thought I'd wake you up so that you knew what was going on. Stay here, okay?"

"But Nico, I can defend myself. Can I just see them?" Nico shook his head.

"Stay here." He left the cabin.

I groaned, rolling my eyes. Just because I didn't have a weapon didn't mean that I couldn't defend myself. I decided to just go up onto the roof, which I'd found was quite easy to climb up to from the trees next to the cabin.

I looked out over the camp grounds when I reached the top of the cabin. I could see an assortment of monsters battling with the other campers, random glints of colour lighting up the area as the demigods used their powers.

I could see Annabeth and her boyfriend Percy Jackson fighting near the front, Nico surrounded by skeletons and Will near the back of the battle, occasionally fighting off monsters with a dagger as he tried to heal them. I watched, emotionless, until I remembered what I could do.

"I can help them, I can help them!" I said excitedly.

•••

I was soon racing to the edge of the battle, frantically searching for someone, anyone, that I knew. I soon spotted Will helping some of the wounded campers, tears pouring down his face.

"Will! I can help!" I ran towards my friend, who looked up in shock.

"Helena? Why are you here? Didn't Nico tell you to stay away?"

I reached Will, panting from the sprint. "I... can... help..."

Will put his hand on my shoulder. "Helena, run back to your cabin."

"But you guys were fighting when you were my age! Percy and Annabeth were questing since they were 12!"

"Helena."