The Huntress

Chapter 7

His voice was low and sent a chill down my spine. I panicked and asked," No! Am I?" He chuckled. "I don't know, I was asking you," he told me. I relaxed. "Last time I checked, I fell asleep, but I don't think like that asleep," I replied and glanced over at him."Are you dead?" I asked slowly.

He raised his hand and examined it. I noticed the skull ring on his finger. He shook his head and said, "Nah. Last time I checked, I only came down here to see my dad." Then he frowned.

"Well, it's more than likely that he killed me, but then I wouldn't be here." Okay, this was getting wierd. "Um, where is here?" I asked nervously. This boy made me uneasy, but in a different kind of way. He narrowed his eyes at me.

"The Underworld," he replied. I made an O shape with my mouth and averted my eyes from his. "So, um, what do you do here for fun?" I fear that I may be talking too much, but luckily he just shrugs.

"Talk to spirits, learn, tell stories about the modern world to the older spirits." I nodded and sat down next to him. I know it sounds strange, but I enjoyed his company. "I guess those stories kind of turn into horror stories, huh?" I smile and he laughs.

It's a joyful sounds, but it sounds like he doesn't do it often. "Yeah, it does." He chuckled. Then he turns his head and extends his hand. "I'm Nico di Angelo, son of Hades. I take it you're a demigod?" I shake his hand firmly, surprised that my hand doesn't go straight through him.

"I'm Jade Brown, pleased to meet you. And yes, I am a demigod, but sadly I haven't been claimed yet," I told him sadly. He smiled at me in a reassuring way and said, "Don't worry about that. I also spent a while not knowing who my godly parent is. And, trust me, the way I found out was not pretty. " I raised an eyebrow and shakes his head.

"Don't ask." I smile and said, "I won't, but at least you got claimed." He nodded and added, "Which is better,though; not knowing your godly parent or being claimed by the god of Death?" I laugh.

"Okay, but I prefer being claimed, because then you get to scare the pants off of everyone." I was very smug with my reply and he started laughing again. "But I understand. You're probably not very popular, are you?" I continue, only realise what I just said and covered my mouth with my hand before I apologized.

" Sorry, I really didn't mean to make it sound that," I said, biting my lip. Fortunately, he just shrugs. "Don't worry about it. I get that quite a lot. At least, I know that you only think that because of who my father is rather than the way I act." I wondered if he had just dissed himself or if he was being sarcastic.

I couldn't decide, so I changed the subject. "So, I take you're Greek." He raised an eyebrow and replied, "And I take it you're Roman." I nod. "Yep!" I said cheerfully, "Roman and proud." He chuckled, then suddenly, my form flickered. I saw a look of disappointment cross Nico's face, well hopefully.

"Bye, see you around maybe?" He asked it like a statement. I nodded and waved. "Definately. Better watch your back!" I said, waving my hands in front of his face and making ghost noises as I began to fade and the last thing I saw was his smiling face.

When I opened my eyes, I couldn't help but smile. I streched and yawned as I stood. "That was the best dream in a while," I mumble to myself. I ducked out of the cave and saw breakfast cooking on the fire and I almost threw up.

A poor deer's head lay there, burning up. To my right was the pack, attacking the deer's ribcage and bones were scattered everywhere. Ah, demigod! Called Lupa, I decided to let you sleep in this morning and the pack and I went on a hunt. The poor deer had suffocated and we just had to put the meat to good use.

I felt a bit better knowing that they hadn't killed the animal themselves, but still felt ill. Now reach in and grab the deers head out of the fire, she instructed. I stared at her as if he'd grown a second head.

"What?! With my bare hands?!" I squeaked. Lupa nodded. I stared at my hands, imagining them around the wolf's neck. Swallow your fear and reach in and grab it, she encouraged.

I swallowed then walked closer to the fire. I could already feel the heat from where I was standing. I really don't know why I did it, but I wanted to prove myself. I looked around the skull for a suitable and easy place to grab it, and decided on the eye holes.

Suddenly, I shoved my hands in to the fire. It felt like my skin was going to fall of my bones, but I hooked my fingers through the eye holes and threw it out. I stumbled backwards and, biting back tears, looked at my hands.

The skin that had touched the skull had gone black and blisters covered my hands. Some parts, you could see my skin boiling and bubbling. I looked up at Lupa and shrieked," Do you do this to every demigod you meet?!!!"

Lupa chuckled. No, I have only done this to you. I wanted to see what you would do with a certain amount of persuasion. And we, as a pack decided, that this was your joining ritual. This means that you may sleep with us at night.

If my hand didn't hurt so much, I would have punched the she-wolf in the snout. But luckily, said Lupa, we brought nectar. As if on cue, two wolves walked forward with a small, metal bottle.

They slowly poured a golden liquid over her hands and she watched in amazement as the blisters heal and the black / cooked skin cam loose to reveal a new layer of skin underneath it.

After 5 minutes she was able to to open and close her hands without wincing in pain. She smiled as Lupa said, Now, you are officaly part of this pack. The pack moved into a circle around me and sat and let loose a loud howl into the sunny morning.