Heir of a Titan - Book 2 PJO

Chapter 31: Combat Barbie takes my Horse

I'd never actually been inside the Plaza. The lobby was impressive, with the crystal chandeliers and the passed-out rich people, but I didn't pay much attention. A couple of Hunters gave us directions to the elevators, and we rode up to the penthouse suites.

Jake, the Hephaestus Counselor came running.

"Nora!" He signed. "We're getting reports everywhere..."

"Okay. Can you walk and talk? Where's Thalia and Percy?"

I followed Will into the big room that had been set up for the wounded, which looked to be just about every camper. Jake was signing, but I forgot to watch what he was saying as I saw all the kids laying bloody and bandaged. Will tapped my arm, I looked at him.

"I did what I could. But I need your help." 

I nodded, motioned for a second. I turned to Jake, "Sorry. Just a moment, grab the counselors and find a room to mee, I'll be half an hour." 

He just nodded and left. I pulled my chest armor off and discarded it by the door. I turned to Will, "Show me the worst ones first." 

As he led me through the room, he handed me a Nectar Aid juice box. I sighed in gratitude. I felt some energy come back. I knelt down beside one girl who looked white as a ghost, I placed my hand on her forehead, there was no response from her, she had been knocked out hard, and her internal organs were struggling.  

Apollo, father. Please give me strength. 

I closed my eyes and tapped into my healing side now, the anger was washing away, and now it was replaced with worry and a deep need for my fellow campers and siblings to be okay. I felt the tingle in my chest and the warmth spread down into my arm and into my hand and into the girl, she looked no older than 12. She shouldn't be fighting in this war. She should be playing tag and giggling at sleepovers with friends. A sadness hit my hard, like a punch in the gut. I saw her eyes flutter open and she gasped for a deep breath. 

I let go and smiled down at her. She blinked a few times and looked around. 

"Where am I?" She asked confused. 

Will leaned over, "How are you feeling?" He asked, his hands moving fluently, ASL a second nature for him. The girl blinked and pulled her eyebrows together. 

"I feel okay, tired." She finally confessed. 

"Drink this," He produced a juice box and handed it to the girl. "Drink it all and then sleep." Will directed. 

I got up and went to the next bed, a boy looked like he was stabbed right through. He was withering in pain, despite the ambrosia and nectar and the other mortal medicine and bandages. I didn't bother asking for permission just yanked the bandages off. Even in his pain, and disoriented state he looked at me in fear. He tried to shake his head and mumble something, I just ignored him. Will and someone else came running, clearly he was screaming and making a scene. 

"Oh shut up." I signed, my face clearly showed my annoyance. "I'm trying to save you from meeting Hades." I placed my hands on either side of the big ugly wound on his stomach. Will and the other camper, I glanced up, it was Austin, they were holding the kid down, trying to keep him still, and talk him into letting me heal him. I ground my teeth and I felt the internal organs struggling, and the internal bleeding. I closed my eyes and concentrated, I felt the warm tingling start and I forced it into his bloody and banged body. He slowly started to stop struggling, he I felt my energy depleting, but I kept going, feeling everything internally mending together, his vital signs became stable. I was shoved backwards, I stumbled and shook my head. I felt kind of dizzy. Will was looking at me in concern.