The Child of Hera

Chapter 7-Luke

Luke was on the beach.  He used to like to stand by Thalia's Pine Tree, but now it was too painful, considering that she hated him now.  He looked out at the sea.

He thought about Birdie, and what she had said to him.

You were given life again for a reason.  Don't waste this new opportunity because you've lost your best friends' trust.

Luke sat down on the sand and picked up a handful of it.  He watched the small breeze blow it into the ocean. 

After she had said that, she took him to another room in the big house.  She sat him down on the guest room bed and told him that she could read minds.  She also told him, that when she did so she gained all the joy and pain that they had ever experienced all at once.  She said that she had never felt so much pain in one person.

They talked about how he got back from the dead.  He told her that a giant had kidnapped him in Elysium and taken him to Tartarus, thru the doors of death.  He had been taken to the giant council and rejected as an ally because of his switch in loyalty in the Titan war.  He had wandered around Greece, confused and trying to find his way back to America.  When he finally got a boat ride to Florida, he got attacked by the bunch of monsters that were running the ship.  He sent them back to Tartarus and took over the ship.  He landed in Boston, Massachusetts, a little off course.  He met a kid named Magnus, who had the same last name as Annabeth.  They were attacked by a manticore, during which Luke learned that Magnus was a demigod.  They parted ways after killing the monster.  Luke didn't know what to do.  He couldn't go back to camp, but at least he was in a place that spoke English.  Then he was captured by the Hunters of Artemis, reminding him that he was a horrible person.

What had astounded Birdie the most was his age.  He had been twenty three when he died.  Now he appeared to be seventeen.  They supposed it was because of his rebirth.  He had been reborn, but died in childbirth.  He remembered his previous life as soon as he reached the underworld.  The judges had taken pity on him and put him in Elysium again.  Birdie supposed that his age of his second death counteracted with the age of his first death, so he was seventeen.

They had talked about a lot for almost two hours.  Once they got side tracked and talked about the best way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  She told him all about the giant war and Thalia's brother Jason, and so many other things that had happened in his absence.  Percy and Annabeth were dating.  He should have expected it.

Luke smiled and watched the sun set.  It was time for dinner, but he didn't want to face everyone.  They probably all knew he was alive now.  

He heard soft foot steps on the sand behind him.  Birdie sat next to him and stared out at the sunset.

"Are you going to come to dinner?"

"No."

"At least come to the camp fire."

"No thanks."

"Please?"

Luke paused.  He hadn't heard that word used for anything but begging for mercy in a long time.

"Pleeeaaase?" she asked again, dragging the word out.

"Fine, but only the camp fire."

"Great!  I'll go get us some food."

Luke thought back to when she hugged him.  It had felt good.  He hadn't been hugged in a very long time.  

Birdie came back with the food a few minutes later.  She handed him a plate of stew and rolls with a fresh salad.  She had a taco.

"Leo and Calypso cooked tonight.  I have to say that Leo makes some mean Mexican food."

 She picked up her fork and stole a bite of his stew.  

"Hey!" he said, and stole her taco in defiance.  He took a big bite of it and she tried to steal it back.  "I'm a son of Hermes, remember.  You can't beat me in a stealing contest."

They spent the rest of their time running after each other with the taco.

Awwww!  Don't try to ship them people.  I have more evil surprises in store!

I know that you're wondering about Birdie.  I've technically only given you Luke's history.  Don't worry, it will come!