HIRAETH

Chapter 10

Caleb's POV

July passed quickly.

And I knew- and dreaded the time when Luke would betray us. I heard him muttering in his sleep, drifting away from us as the days went on.

Atleast I got closer to Annabeth.

"How can you still not remember?"

I bit my lip. "I'll try."

"I heard that a thousand times already Caleb."

I tried my puppy eyes at her. She wavered slightly and sighed.

"Alright. Only this once."

"You know I've heard that a thousand times Wise Girl."

Her eyes narrowed. "How..."

My mind went into panic mode.

Think!

"You are wise, aren't you?" I blurted out.
"... You've heard someone say that?"

"No."

She looked skeptical for a moment but let it pass.

"Okay, so memorize these parts next time." she folded a few pages. "Percy got a lot better. And he started later than you."

But I want to be with you.

I didn't want to dissapoint her. But I wanted to be with her. The longing pain in my chest was unbearable, only relieved when I was next to Annabeth. I was homesick, even though I was at home. It was so different, the life I lived, and the things I knew.

"Luke."

"Yeah?"

"... Can we talk?"

I had to try.

Maybe then- maybe this cycle would be broken.

I was stepping my foot into quicksand now.

~

"Why?"

"Stop this."

"What?"

I stared at him for a while.

"Kronos."

His blue eyes narrowed. "How...." he shook his head. "Look. The gods don't care about us. They don't care about you. Kronos can make a better world. He's going to make a fair world."

"They do care."

"Shut up."

"Hermes cares about you. Much more than you imagine."

"Then why am I like this?" he hissed.

I stared at him. "The ancient laws." I said solemnly. "Gods cannot interfere in mortal affairs."