Daughter Of Light- Book 1: PJO

Chapter 32: Will and I Become the Masters of Charades

We wondered through the crowd, not really knowing what we were looking for. We wondered through a garden, the flowers were beautiful. Many of the bushes were shaped and cut into beautiful shapes. Our heads were on the swivel, no idea what we were looking for. We wondered back into the big court yard where the band was playing. We stopped beside one of the big white Columns that lined the court yard.

"I'm going to get some food. I'm hungry!" Will whispered. "I'll keep my eyes and ears open, see if there's any gossip. You guys stay in this area."

He let go of my arm and disappeared into the crowd. I went to protest but he was already gone.

"Oh Styx." I grumbled.

"He'll be fine." Raph rumbled.

"I...I know..." I stammered, I had lost my words again when I looked over at him. His eyes sparkled in a cocky amusement. He turned towards me, his huge muscles buldged as he folded his arms and leaned his shoulder on the white marble. He was only about a foot away from me. I could feel his warmth. He tugged the gold headband crown from his head and tossed it on the bench beside us.

"So?"

"Uhhh...so what?"

His dark eyes bite into mine. "How are you doing?" He asked gently.

I opened and closed my mouth. "I...I don't know. This is so weird. We're all dressed up and at a party when I know camp is in danger still, I lost my brother...and-"

I stopped talking. I looked down at the small space of ground between us. I felt a warm rough hand gently being laid on my bare arm.

"You really are glowing, Sunshine. Like Will said. It's like...from the inside out."

"Oh. Well...I don't mean to. I don't know what's going on."

"It's like the light right before the sun rises. Or a warm summer glowing sunset."

"Is...is it..weird?" I whispered looking up at him, now really worried about what he thought.

"No. Your glowing. It's... beautiful. Like gold ichor of the gods."

"Oh. I- I can't see it. Is it-"

I didn't finish when a man stepped up and almost stepped in front of Raph. I had to back up he was so close to me. His smile was cocky, but not like Raph's this guy was absolutely twice my age, probably way older if he was immortal. But the look in his eyes was not one that made my stomach flutter.

"You must be a goddess!"

"No. And you interrupt my conversation." I folded my arms tight across my chest.

He looked over his shoulder and jumped, like he only now noticed Raph. Raph was glaring down at the guy with such a menacing look the guy paled and backed away. Raph glared after him. I stepped back, closer to Raph. He looped an arm around my back drawing me closer.

"Wanna dance?"

I'm not sure but I think my heart skipped a beat and my face turned bright red.

"The Son of War knows how to dance?"

"We're about to find out." He shrugged.

He kept his hand on my back, almost possessively and steared me into the middle of the courtyard where everyone was dancing. He spun me towards him and held my hand in his, and I placed my hand on his shoulder.

"I've uh...never done this before."

"Me either."

"Never attended a school function, especially dances..."