Ash Veron: The Secret of the Helm

Chapter 1: The Quest

I held my trusty dagger in my right hand and a shield in my other hand. Slowly, I felt the hilt's hand-engraved patterns digging into my skin. A sensation of coolness followed, it must've been my blood but I ignored the pain. The shield felt heavy, its weight relied on my arm whose muscles were bulging from the carrying of my source of protection.

To my relief, the dagger kept its balance on my hand as I slashed at a few of the other girls from the Athena Cabin. The wind whistled as my weapon slice through the air. My feet allowed myself to advance forward with ease. Leaves rustled but the sounds of brutal battle cries overpowered the sounds of nature.

We were in the middle of a war game. As usual, my team had the least people. But hey! I'm not complaining. I'm glad my dad doesn't always go up to Earth and do 'you know what' all the time. I've seen the Hermes Cabin and their cruel practical jokes on one another.

 Anyways, my name is Ash Veron. Daughter of Hades. At Camp Half Blood, things were peaceful. The director of the camp, Percy Jackson was very nice to us, and our co director, Chiron was just as nice to us. Chiron was a centaur, half horse half man. Even from where I was, I could hear his encouraging commands and clapping. 

It had been years since the battle of Gaia. Camp Jupiter and Half Blood had reconciled. 

After I held off a few of Athena's children, I caught up with my brothers and sisters who had their swords held up. My dagger looked timid in comparison but everyone knew I was just as dangerous with my weapon choice.

A Hermes boy ran forward. He was the first to spot us so he yelled," Over here!" 

"I've got this." I muttered.

Before the rest of his siblings could arrive, I charged at him. He was new so I knew his first move would be the only one he knew of. With ease, I countered his strike and jabbed at him violently with the hilt of my dagger. He was rendered unconscious almost simultaneously.

 My one fully related brother, Pete grabbed my arm and ordered," We need to keep moving." 

I obeyed not only because he was my brother but also because was the head of our cabin. He wasn't the best head of cabin. Nico was much better but he moved to Camp Jupiter. 

My brother released his grip on me while I glared at him for trying to restrain me. 

"Follow me" he commanded to the rest of us while holding up our Hades flag dramatically.

He led our cabin deeper into the woods. We were careful to lower our voices and walk as quickly but quietly as possible. Our weapons were held up and at the ready. Our shields were ready to be held up in the face of danger.

I spun my head around to check our surroundings for the fifth time. As I did my streaks of crimson flew in the wind gently. With a single finger, I grabbed all of it and tucked it beneath my shirt so it wouldn't end up being a spoil of war.

Suddenly, a man in a black hood appeared in front of us. I stumbled at the sight of him and was embarrassed to see that I was the only one that reacted that way. I knew very well who he was. He was Hades. Hades always visited us, but personally, I thought he and I had a better bond than the rest of my siblings. 

"Father!" I called out cheerfully. 

Putting aside my weapon, I ran towards him to give him a hug. As soon as I was two metres away from him, he raised his arm as if he were holding a weapon. Then I found myself being violently shoved away with a dark force. Right after my helpless yelp, I crumpled to the floor in a crash. 

Pete quickly held out his sword threateningly even though he knew it was nothing against the powers of our father. Using his other arm, he made sure his palm was facing upwards then he pulled it higher as if he were lifting a dumbbell. Seconds later, the ground began to shake while cracks seared into the ground. With that, he had summoned a skeleton army to his aid.