Battle of Truth [PJO OC story] [UNDER EDITING]

No Claims and Birthday Cake

I sat alone staring at the purple hues of the sunset. To my eyes it wasn't an incredible view. I despised the way the soft blues of Long Island mixed with plum purple and settled there as if it looked incredible.

Except for a few couples scouting the beach I was the only camper left outside. Though I did not understand it, people these days preferred to stay inside after eight o'clock and not enjoy the 'pretty' view. As I sat there, feet soaked in the water, I thought about the events of the last week. Percy Jackson, the hero of demigods, had come and visited camp alongside his wife (who kept correcting an Athena kids fighting stance). As he had demonstrated sword fighting styles he stated that I was remarkably good at handling it and that I would be sent on a quest any time soon. When he had asked my parentage however I had been stuck not knowing how to answer. As I told him that I was not claimed, his face dropped and his voice changed.

"I thought I made them promise," he had said, "Ten years ago I made them promise."
Of course I had no idea what he had been going on about and shrugged it off, though a small voice inside me seemed to whisper, The Gods, Jax. He made them promise. After that I hadn't thought much about it although an uneasy feeling seemed to settle upon me as I sat on the wooden dock.

"Guess who!" someone shouted from behind me. I jumped and almost fell feet first into the cold water.
"Hey there Spence," I said, attempting a smile.

"And Ondine," corrected a young girl with
bright purple hair and soft brown skin.

"And Ondine," I repeated. Solitude was not on my two best friends priorities lists but I loved them nonetheless.

"So whatcha doing all on your own on a night like this?" Spence joked, "last I checked you only turned sixteen once in your life."

"Well I'm the only over thirteen unclaimed half-blood left in camp. Didn't want to embarrass myself."

Spence pulled a hand through his shaggy brown hair. With the corner of my eye I saw a flash of turquoise. Ondine must have been experimenting again. "Well, I- uh," Ondine had never been smooth with words. As a daughter of Iris she had tried to express herself through art instead and after failing, decided that speaking was the only thing she could do. I knew this wasn't true.

"What Ondy is trying to say is that it's fine. We get that you're upset but it's still your birthday."

"Don't call me Ondy." Spence shrugged.
"We also have something for you."
From behind his back Spence revealed the tiniest cake I had seen in my life. It was unevenly frosted in mint green, and over the top lay hundreds of rainbow sprinkles. They'd got me; I was a sucker for sprinkles.

"Thanks guys," I smiled, for real this time. They sat by my side as we stuffed our mouths with cake. We laughed and chuckled and made fun of other campers. However it was soon that I realized that I should leave the two alone as they fell asleep in each other's arms leaving me alone again.

Big, wooden and brown, the Hermes cabin stood before me. I didn't have much inside other than a couple books and sketch pads but I had to make do until I was claimed. I climbed up to the top bunk and draped the blanket over me. Most nights I didn't change into my pajamas. But tonight I did. Twisting and turning I tried to make myself comfortable. Spoiler alert: I failed.

***

Nightmares are nothing new when you're a demigod, but honestly I just wanted them over with. For the first time in forever, however, I felt aware that I was dreaming and not just.... seeing things.

I was standing in the center of a battle field. Millions of soldier with swords and daggers were charging at each other but avoiding me altogether as if a invisible circle separated me from them.

My feet felt cold and drenched and as I looked down I saw that I was standing in puddle of murky red blood. Suddenly pain took over me. My knees buckled and my arms slacked. Someone had hit me. A spear protruded from my chest at an unearthly angle I fell over and the voices took over me once more.

They promised. They lied.
They promised. They lied.
They promised. They lied.

***

I jolted up in bed banging my head hard against the ceiling. Before I could recover from the hit I tumbled over down to my doom. Or in this case the hard redwood floor. "Ugh," I grunted.  I made my way out the cabin and when I finally let my eyes open properly I only saw darkness. Stars glittered through the night sky and I cursed that it was still night. I couldn't bother climbing back up to my bunk so instead I went and got changed.

It was a dark night with a cool breeze that pressed against my face. Though I was intending on getting a good nights sleep the nice weather kept me outside. After looking around for a few minutes I decided that the best place would be near the strawberry fields. Finding a suitable space to sleep I laid out my blue blanket and placed myself gingerly upon it.
"Happy birthday to me," I sang, shutting my eyelids.

'Happy Birthday Jax,' I heard a voice whisper, in a tone as if it was caressing my mind.

Then I drifted off.