DEMI-GOD: The Lost

Chapter 9

Kayea jolts awake. Her body is shaking with cold sweats down her back and legs. Her hands grab the grass around her, a cold chill blowing into her face violently.

A downpour of rain drowns the garden she's laying on like a flood from the gods. Kayea curls into a ball and covers her head with her hands. It was all a nightmare. Just a nightmare. That's all it was. Yet why did it feel so real?

The familiar buzz of the stone burns into her hand and up her wrist just like the lightning had done to her. An arm wraps around her and a warmth spreads through her skin. The rain that drenches her clothes and hair stops for a moment, the sound of the raging water still ringing through her head.

"You're okay Kayea. It was just a Nightmare." Blake whispers, his body is so warm. She grabs his shirt and buries her face into his chest. His hands and skin are warm even though the rain is so cold. That's a minor god for you.

Exhaust fills her body, the warmth lulling her to sleep. A slow rhythmic hand rubs the back of her head and before she knows it she's nodding off.

. . . . . . .

"She doesn't understand our ways yet. If you would just let me help-" A loud feminine screech jolts Kayea awake.

"No! No way! I do not consent to this!" Kayea darts her head around, it's Aphrodite. She's crying and whining like a little child. Ares and Blake are also in Kayea's room. Well isn't this just a wonderful party. Inside her room. HER ROOM.

"Father I know it's the challenge but-" Ares raises a hand and shakes his head slowly.

"Blake. As much as it pains me, your mother is right. Kayea is your enemy in the challenge whether you like it or not." Kayea stares at the blanket. Her hands clench it tightly.

"But father-" Aphrodite grabs Blakes arm and pulls him towards the door.

"No more arguing. You will leave this woman now. You are a minor God, Blake. I will not sit here and let MY son encourage a DEMI-HUMAN." Her eyes fall on Kayea with disgust in her eyes.

Kayea's gaze falls away from the Goddess. Blake's quickly darting to Kayea's. She doesn't return the glance and waits till the both of them are out of the room. Ares doesn't leave though. He watches the door slam shut and sighs deeply.

"I'm sorry about her. She's difficult when it comes to our son." He turns to face Kayea. Blake really does take after his father. He looks almost nothing like his mother actually. It would be almost impossible to guess Aphrodite is his mother, if not for the infamous stories about Aphrodite and Ares.

Kayea nods her head slowly. The burning sensation wraps from her palm to her wrist again but she shows no reaction to it. Had the Nightmare really been all that? Just a Nightmare? It felt...real.

A hand rests on her shoulder lightly. Ares offers a small encouraging smile. "If it means anything, I do hope you and Blake are put on the same team later today." The same team. That's right, the challenge is mainly a solo game but there's a certain point where the remaining minor gods or demi-gods get paired up in teams.

Wait.

Did he say later today? How long had she been asleep? Her eyes dart to his in a panic, he seems to have expected it since a sincere and apologetic look comes across his face. "We tried to wake you but even the greatest Ambrosia we had in stock failed."

Kayea jolts from her bed and swings the covers to the floor. She stumbles a few steps and somehow manages to get to the window unharmed. The curtains fly open and the bright sun pours into the much darker room.