Flames {Book One: The Deadly Dream}

Part Seventeen: My Friend does a Castellan

The general came over and stood five feet in front of me. Everyone was too shocked to do anything. He smiled at me mischievously, like he had been waiting to see my expression when he revealed himself for a long time.
           
My legs felt like jelly. My hands shook and I was sweating nervously. It felt like there was a lump in my throat.
           
"Ethan?" I croaked. "You were the general the whole time? You were working for Chaos?"
           
Ethan smiled smugly, his brown eyes glinting. "General, spy, whatever one you like to call me."
           
"Traitor!" Cindy shouted. She gripped her dagger and she charged at Ethan. The skeleton warriors stepped forward and held her back as she struggled. They shoved her back toward us.
           
Everyone around us was too shocked to do anything, or too afraid. "Why Ethan?" Jack asked, his sword was lowered, his eyes wide and confused. Maddie's mouth was slightly open as she gawked at Ethan, gripping her spear.
           
Ethan looked at Jack. Jack was easily the tallest and oldest one of our group. He and Ethan had been at camp for the same amount of years, for they both had three beads on their necklaces. Ethan seemed to be studying Jack, like seeing how well he would fit in a body bag.
           
Which, by the way, is creepy. Just so you know kids, never put someone in a body bag, you're most likely to get arrested.
          
"Why, you ask?" Ethan said, grinning at Jack.
           
"Answer the question!" Pearl shouted. She looked about as shocked as everyone else. "Otherwise we'll attack you and your little army!"
           
Ethan chuckled. "Oh, I don't think you'll do that. Even a dumb person can tell that we outnumber you. Anyone who steps out of line," He glanced at Cindy, "Will be put back or killed. We can settle this peacefully, or we attack and only the strong survive."
           
I stepped in front of Cindy, who Ethan had been looking at. It was just like an instinct, something that just happened. My hands were shaking, but I needed to think of something, a way out of this.
           
I wished Thἀvma was here. I bet she could've cut Ethan's head off, at the very least. I took a deep breath. Try to keep him talking, I thought. His ego is his biggest weakness.
           
"So you were the spy," I said, remembering what he said earlier. "Fernando had nothing to do with this? But why did he—"
           
Ethan sighed. "Fernando does seem like the type to do it, doesn't he? He's so mysterious and dark. But it was me the whole time." Ethan growled suddenly. "I was never noticed, tossed to the side from the start! And you should know that Faren," Ethan smiled cruelly, "Chaos showed you the dream about your sister and Fernando. Alas! If Fernando had only killed her." He shook his head sadly.
           
"I thought you liked her!" I exclaimed, confused. It seemed like I was now just getting to know Ethan, like the one I had knew from before was a fake, a phony.
           
He rolled his eyes. "I thought you were smart, Faren. Pretending to like Thἀvma was a great cover up story. I hated her. I hated her ever since my father blessed her. She was given all the glory, while I was left with nothing! If I hadn't shown up in time to bring her to camp, she would be dead, like her cousin! But I got no honor, no glory, so I joined Chaos. He promised me that I would be noticed, that when he was risen he would give me glory, become an immortal and be the king of the world!"
           
Cold sweat rolled down my neck. My friend was gone. The boy I thought I knew was no more. Maybe I could change his mind.
           
But Cindy beat me to what I was going to say as she pushed me aside. "Chaos is tricking you, Ethan. He's using you, like he used Fernando."
           
Ethan let out a bitter laugh. "Chaos used Fernando, that's for sure. I'll admit I was in on it."
           
"You told Fernando to go into the woods during the Fourth of July," I said suddenly realizing it. "You got him to make the deal!"
           
Ethan laughed. "Little Bandage boy finally figured it out," he teased. "Yes, I did. Right after Thἀvma was put into the nightmare state, I told him about how he could try to get her back, by working for Chaos." He twirled his sword in his hands. "Love is strange that way, isn't it? It can make you do things...risk anything, do anything...just for the one you love." He smirked.
           
"Like you know what love is, you monster!" Pearl shouted.
           
Ethan glared at her, but he was smirking still. "And you do? The person you love has no interest in you. You try to get his attention, but he will never like you in that way."
           
Pearl surged forward and swung her sword. Ethan easily blocked it and disarmed her. He kicked her sword aside.
           
"I said stay in line." He growled. He kicked Pearl back, sending her toppling to the ground beside me.
          
My anger was boiling. The thing I hated most was bullies. They were mean to people, just for power, strength, putting other people down for their entertainment.
           
The world is full of bullies. We just got to step up to them.
           
I don't know if it was true bravery, or true stupidity. I stepped forward. Ethan gave me an amused look, like seeing what I was going to do.
           
"So you tricked Fernando into thinking that if he did what Chaos asked, he would get Thἀvma back," I said simply. "When I asked where you were when I came to get you from the Ares cabin, you said you were at the Hades cabin. You weren't spying on him, you were reminding him what would have to be done, and the consequences."
           
Ethan nodded, mildly impressed. "Fernando did end up getting away, like you said, but he is of no use to us now. He did his job."
           
"But why was Thἀvma the one put to sleep and not Faren?" Maddie asked, her expression stern.
           
A smile tugged at the corners of Ethan's mouth. "The prophecy was told that a child of Apollo would set things right. Not only is she a bigger threat than Faren here, but she is a weapon of Apollo." He frowned. "Her powers will get in the way of the plans of Chaos. Sorry Faren, but you're just not important enough."
           
"Oh, don't worry," I said rolling my eyes. "I don't feel left out. No need for nightmare traps for me."
           
He smirked. "I'm surprised Thἀvma even lasted that long. It took an awful lot of power for Epiales to make sure she couldn't use her singing powers against the nightmare. But no matter. She'll be dead within another month, I'm sure of it. You won't be seeing Epiales for some time though."
           
"I'm so disappointed," I said sarcastically. Cindy snorted. Ethan glared. The rest of the campers were watching Ethan, or looking wearily at the army, their feet glued to the ground.
           
Ethan took a step towards me. Cindy gripped her dagger, and Pearl looked ready to summon a hurricane or earthquake. Ethan grabbed my shirt and pulled me close to him so we were face to face. I stared at his brown eyes, as he smiled at me cruelly.
           
"You could join me, join Chaos," he whispered to me. "Save yourself, survive, get anything you've ever dreamed of. Or you could die with your friends. Die a...hero," he growled. "But it won't matter if you do because soon Elysium won't be there anymore. You'll never be at peace, even in death." His words were like venom.
           
A silver spear with a bronze point flew out of nowhere at Ethan. He quickly deflected it though with his sword, but released me. He turned to look at Maddie who stood there in an after throw position, her spear gone from her hands.
           
Ethan smirked, obviously amused. "I admire your bravery, Madeline. And I believe you're right. It's time for some action." He glanced at his army, then he looked at me. "It doesn't have to be this way. You could join me peacefully. All of you." He looked at all the campers.
           
I glanced at the campers. We had far less people than the number of skeletons, and the hellhounds added to the army's power. "We're not going down without a fight." I turned to Ethan, and all the campers readied their weapons.
           
Ethan shrugged, readying his sword. "Have it your way. Army, advance!"