Down in Flames [OC Demigod Fic]

Chapter Fourteen: "Homeslice"

Atticus steps forward and catches July before her head hits the marble floor. "Looks like our augur has pulled a Jason Grace," he quietly sighs as Rhodes helps him carry the passed out girl outside. I follow them, cautiously hoping July doesn't wake up any time soon. A moment ago, she'd looked at me like she knew every wrong I'd done, all the crimes I've committed, each and every mistake I'd ever made. It was terrifying.

They set her down in the grass and Atticus checks her pulse. She's still alive, thankfully— back in the ancient days, it wasn't uncommon for someone with the gift of prophecy to drop dead after reciting a few mystifying lines of prophecy.

"I'll take her to the infirmary," Atticus says and swiftly picks her up bridal-style, wearing a grave, yet obviously worried expression. "You two can go ahead and take the rest of the day to settle in and rewind a little. It's been a long day for all of us." He walks off at a pace unknown to man, his purple cape swishing behind him majestically. How he can effortlessly walk that fast in a toga and sandals—and make it look so comfortable, too— is beyond my comprehension.

Rhodes slumps down onto the grand marble steps of the temple, letting out a sound of exhaustion. "Crazier and crazier, huh?" Nodding, I join him on the steps, drawing my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. Noticing my quietness, he asks, "What are you thinking?"

In light of all that's happened, I probably shouldn't worry his conscious with all my fears. "I think July could have been making up the whole thing," I lie.

Rhodes stares off into the distance, squinting from the sun. It's nearly dinner time— I haven't seen the dining pavilion yet, but I assume the food here is just a good as Camp Half-Blood's.

"We both know that isn't true," he responds.

"It's easier to pretend it never happened, yeah?"

"The easy thing isn't always the best thing." He turns to face me. "Sabine, what aren't you telling me?"

As I open my mouth to say something along the lines of 'mind your own business', an untimely Iris Message decides to appear in front of us.

"Sabine? Sabine can you hear me? Are you seeing this?" A familiar face greets me— Amaryllis smiles at me through the floating screen.

"I'm at Camp Jupiter," I tell her, sitting upright and waving at her. Beside her, Truett comes onto the screen and waves.

"We've been trying to get a hold of you since you left, but the connection kept breaking. Wait... You're really at Camp Jupiter? To stay?" She looks surprised by this, though it seems like an obvious choice to me.

"Yes. Believe it or not, I have family here. I'm going to be in the First Cohort."

"No way, that's incredible!" Truett pipes up. Then, breaking the bad news, he says, "But you have to come back to Camp Half-Blood. We need your help."

I spy Rhodes watching our conversation, trying to hide his interest. "You know I can't come back," I answer with a sigh. Changing the topic, I motion for Rhodes to come into view. "Oh, and I met a demigod on the way here. Amaryllis, Truett, this is Rhodes."

"Hi," he says, a little flustered.

"Pleasure to meet you," Amaryllis says politely. "Could you convince Sabine that she needs to get her butt back to Long Island, New York?"