Down in Flames [OC Demigod Fic]

Chapter Eighteen: "An Unlikely Duo"

The war games have stopped, and everyone looks pretty shaken up by the incident.

"Sabine! There you are!" A panicked Atticus rushes towards me. "Pearl said you fell into a hole, and then it disappeared."

"I did, but I'm okay now." I'm not really okay, but that's irrelevant. I shove the skull necklace into my pocket before Atticus can notice it.

"All the skeletons went back underground after about five minutes," he elaborates, perhaps wondering if my disappearance had anything to do with that.

"Where's Rhodes?" I ask tentatively.

"No one's seen him since the attack."

Out of the corner of my eye, I feel someone watching me. Casually looking over my shoulder, I see Pearl, her eyes shooting daggers at me. She knows.

How much, I'm not sure. Either way, something needs to be done about her.

"Atticus, I know this might seem sudden, but I have to get back to Camp Half-Blood."

His eyebrows crease with immediate hesitance. "Why? What's the matter?"

"I had... A vision. Hephaestus— Vulcan, is missing. I think there could be some answers as to why back on the East coast." I never was a good liar, but there was enough truth in there for me to get my point across.

Atticus nods solemnly. "A considerable number Vulcan children have talked to me this week about a cold, strange feeling they've been having. If you know what you're doing, you may go."

I have no idea what I'm doing.

"Thank you. But may I request one more thing of you?"

"Certainly."

"Pearl has to come with me."

He looks over at her and frowns.

"She's on probatio, I don't think she can handle such a quest."

"I'm on probatio too," I counter.

"But at least you've had experience. She just came out of Lupa's initiation a few months ago. Sure, she's been toughened up by those wolves, but needless to say, she lacks, er..."

"Social skills?" I suggest, to which he nods heartily. Even Atticus seemed slightly put off by her cold demeanor.

His face made it clear that he was unsure of what a trip to Camp Half-Blood might entail for Pearl. I would assure him that she couldn't do anything there that's worse than I have done, but I have a feeling he wouldn't take such a response lightly.

"Trust me, she'll be under my constant supervision."

"Okay, I suppose," Atticus finally agrees. "...Do you think Rhodes will show up anytime soon?" He asks, bringing up my starting question to our conversation.

"I wouldn't worry about it," I try not to let my bitterness show in my expression or tone of voice. "He's bound to show up eventually."

Atticus inclines his head in agreement, then strides over to Pearl, informing her of her new mission.

What will come from going back to Camp Half-Blood? I'm not certain. However, this an easy way to get Hades off my case; it's the last place he'd expect me to go. I have a gut feeling that the Camp Half-Blood holds a key to where my father is.

An adamant refusal is the first thing I hear from Pearl, shortly followed by a heated discussion with Atticus. Luckily, the praetor seems to have changed her mind by the time he gets back to me.