Daughter of Mother Earth

Chapter Eight

"Hurry, Clearwater! We can't wait all day!"

Crystal hopped onto Nightshade and waved to Percy. "Bye!"
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"Ah..." Crystal sighed as the smell of warm strawberries filled her nose.

She laid back on the warm grass, the breeze tickling her sun kissed skin. Her brown hair sprawled around her and she looked at the slightly cloudy sky.

"Free time is nice..." She closed her eyes and relaxed.

She never noticed the strawberries seemingly growing wild next to her or the flowers blooming around her body.

Please, child. Join me so I can rise...

Crystal opened her eyes. That voice... Familiar, yet... Why am I hearing voices?  She closed her eyes again.

Crystal... Join me!

Crystal frowned, eyes still closed.

I must rise!

"Shut up!" She yelled out.

The voice stopped... for about a minute. Crystal shot up, angry. Her anger faded when she saw her outline made of flowers.

Were these here before? She thought.

No, child. You created them. With your powers.

That voice was really starting to bug her.

"I said, shut up!" She screamed.

Crystal stood up, angrily grabbing her hair. It took her a moment to realize that a large hole had opened up next to her. Inside was a dagger, sharp and fearsome. Crystal studied the weapon. The hilt was made of smooth rocks, the blade was about 7 inches long and was made of blades of grass covering packed dirt. Crystal ran her finger over the blade with her left index finger.

"Ow!" She hissed as the grass cut her finger, drawing blood.

Definitely sharp.

On the end of the blade nearest to the hilt there was an engraving:

λεπίδα του αίματος

"Blade of Blood?" Crystal asked, confused.

She tilted the dagger and it flashed in the sun. For a second, the blade was blood red.

The conch horn blew.

"Shoot!"

Crystal stood up and started running, not caring to put on shoes. She held her shoes in one hand and in the other, her dagger. By the time she reached the Hermes cabin, they had started to line up.

"Crystal, what's that?" Luke pointed to her hand.

"My shoes." She raised an eyebrow.

"Dur. I meant the other hand. Why do you have a dagger?" He grabbed it.

"I don't know. I found it in the meadow."

In a hole by my feet... She mentally added.

He handed it back to her. "Well, put it away. I don't want anyone hurt."

Crystal quickly wrapped it in a shirt and stuck it in her bag.

"Dinner time, guys." Luke said.

Crystal (again) trailed in the back.

That dagger is special. Take care of it.

"I said shut up." Crystal growled.

The kid in front of her looked at her with a confused look.

"Not you."

See? He thinks you're crazy. Join me, no one will think you're crazy.

"If you don't shut up, I'm going to shove my dagger up your-"

Ah, ah, ah. We can't use the dagger for such silly purposes. Save it.

"Why are you bugging me?!" She whispered.

I'm only helping you. I'll need you someday.

Crystal growled again. The voice stopped.

"Thank you." She sighed.

You're welcome.

"Gah!"