Something Forbidden

Chapter 10: Raili

RAILI

I tried hard not to blush, but it came out anyway. I looked down and prayed no one saw that.

"Excuse us for a sec'," Danika said, breaking the awkward silence.

She grabbed my arm and dragged me as far away as possible. I decided not to argue, i was glad i had a reason to leave, i dint want anyone thinking i have a crush on Nico.

"What was that all about?" she asked me, letting go of my arm.

"What? What do you mean?" i lied.

"Dont lie to me, Raili. Lets just face it, you like him."

"Like who? Who's him?" i asked, hoping she wont notice the shakiness in my voice.

"Raili!" she snapped.

"Okay, okay! I do like him! Ever since that dream i had about him-"

"Wait, what dream?" she asked, cutting me off.

I hesitated, but i told her what i could remember.

"Oh..." she said afterwards, somehow relieved.

"What? What 'Oh'?"

"Nothing, its just..."

"Just what?" i asked.

"Its just that, Apollo kids, they... they tend to see the future." she said, "I thought your dream would be... some kind of dangerous mission. A quest,"

"How do you... how do you know all these stuff?" i asked.

She stared at me, like she had said too much. She was hiding something fron me, from the group.

"Raili, its not important. Just a minor thing," she reassured me, but i wasnt buying it.

"Then if its only a minor thing, why cant you tell me? Even before the attack of the manticore, you acted strange. Like you knew this would happen. You introduced us to Grover, you know the kinds of monsters, gods, and a few people here at camp... What are you hiding?"

I had completely burst. I was curious from the start, and now i needed answers. Danika stared at me, stunned.

"I cant..." she whispered shakily.

Dissapointed, i walked back to the cabin. I guess i'll have to figure it out myself.

I lay on my bunk and find Cheska there too. I guess she was afraid to fall on her bunk or something. She was drawing on her notebook with a pen. She was so into her drawing that she hadnt even realized i was there.

"What are you drawing?" i asked.

She squeaked and almost leaped off the bed.

"Dont SCARE me like that!" she said, quite annoyed.

"Sorry," i said, though i thought she dint need an apology.

I waited for her to answer my question but all she did was continue her drawing.

"Well?" i asked,

"Well what?" she asked, annoyed.

"What are you drawing!?"

"Oh, right. Sorry. Im drawing someone special," she said, gazing into her notebook.

"Who? Me? Awww, thats so sweet!"

"Not you, stupid. Nico!" she said, her eyes sparkling as she said his name.

"Wha- what?"

My heart shattered.

"Hellooo? Raili in there? Nico Di Angelo, of course!" she said, showing me the picture.

Of course, i saw that same slightly sad look he had. His intense eyes as if to say, 'I dont like to be stared at,'

"Nico Di Angelo! Of course," i said, faking a small laugh.

"Did somebody say Nico Di Angelo?" a voice called out from the cabin.

I looked around, Roshan and a few others quickly ran towards my bunk.

"He's here? Really!?" one of them asked.

"Was  here. He already left," i told them.

"Oh," she said, "Im Therese by the way, and this is Ysabelle. Im sure you heard of Roshan, though."

"Nice to meet yo-"

"Wait a minute, you like him too?" Cheska asked them, cutting me off.

"Of course!"

"Have you ever gone on a date with him?"

They all shook their heads in dismay.

"Sadly, no. If anyone does try, Lourdes and her gang will rip them apart!" Therese said,

"Who's Lourdes? What gang?" i asked.

"Aphrodite's children,"

"They arent so bad," i said, hoping i was right.

She shook her head.

"Even worse. Lourdes can charmspeak!" she said in complete terror.

All of them shuddered, but Cheska and i looked at them in confusion.

"Charmspeak? Whats that suppose to be? A kind of magic makeup?" Cheska asked,

"No. Charmspeak is when you get people to do stuff- embarrasing stuff- just by telling them to do so." Roshan told us, her voice grew lower and more serious.

"Can all Aphrodite children do this?" i asked.

"No. It is rare for Aphrodite children to charmspeak. Lourdes is one of them,"

"So, youre saying Nico can never be dated. Ever."

"Sadly... yes."