The Huntress

Chapter 9

I lent down and quickly stabbed a few monsters, collecting the monster dust and putting it in a small pounch that hung off my belt. Suddenly, I tensed. Something was very off. I swung around just in time to see Golden-Girl's eyes turn milky white.

She collapsed and Nico turned to her, just as his skin turned snow - white and his eyes turned milky as well. He froze in place. "Hazel!" screamed the girl with short choppy black hair. I looked at my hands, panic running through my body. I looked at the Hellhound a few feet away and ran over to it.

I heard the "alive" demigods screaming at each other, including me. "What in Hades are you doing?! The monsters are already dead! HELP US!" screamed Black Head. I glared up at them and they all immediately stopped screaming.

I took out a blade wrapped in material. The blade was silver with dark pictures and patterns ingraved across it, similar to my crown. I cut a small slit in the side of the Hellhound. It evaporated into monster dust, but in the centre of the dust pile, was a small, glowing silver orb.

I heard a gasp. I picked it up in my hands and walked over to the two frozen/dead demigods and knelt next to the girl. With much force, I split the silver orb in two. I took one in my hands and it turned to hundreds of tiny stars. I guided it through her body and she lit up like a silver lamp, the light coming from inside.

Suddenly, she gasped and her eyes flew open. She sat up and everybody crowded around her, pushing me outwards. I did the same to Nico, although he collapsed and was still unconscious. I looked at the sky, both trying to hide my exhaustion and to figure out what the time was.

"We should camp here for the night," I said, looking at the sky. "It'll be dark soon." Every conscious demigod nodded, but their eyes never left me as I set up the camp. Once I was done, the sun was already setting behind the hills. "I'm going to go gather firewood," I told the demigods, gesturing to the woods.

"I'll help!" yelped Jason, and got up to walk over to me. I smile. He's blushing. We fall into step with each other, not saying anything for a while. He broke the silence. "How's Lupa?" "Well, she's good. Happy. And, um, healthy," I said, awkwardly.

I bend down and grabbed a piece of wood, examined it and tossed it to Jason, who catches it with his face. I turn to him and smirk. "Come on, Sparky! Get catching! It's coming flying at you!" I laugh. He frowns and I see a sad look flicker across his face. I realised it was a wrong move.

Something had happened. That's one of the things so people don't realise. Names have power, yes, completely true, but it's not the only thing they contain. They also tie memories together, both painful and happy. I reached for his wrist as he turns away, pulling him around to face me.

"I'm sorry Jason. If she doesn't want you, then she doesn't deserve you," I said, as an image of Piper plays in my mind. Jason's eyes widened and he looked at me." How did you know about her?" He asked softly, a tear running down his face. "The rest don't even know yet."

My heart aches for him. I haven't ever had a boyfriend or significant other, but I understand his pain somehow. I smiled warmly at him and said," You spend 8 months with a pack of wolves and you learn when you've said something wrong." He nods, but never meets my eyes as we continue to collect firewood.

"That should be enough for a bonfire tonight," I say, handing him one last log. He seemed to be handling the pile well, so I walk past him and he follows. Once he's in step with me, I whisper to him," I won't tell the others about her, unless you give me permission, alright?" He nods and we exit the woods.

The sun has set and it's dark. The others jump at the sound of our footsteps, but they helped me set up the fire. Hazel sighed and asked," So how are we going to light it?" Her voice echoed in my head. I wish Leo was here. It sounded sad and a picture of an elfish looking boy with an evil smirk popped up. I realise I was staring at her because she scwirms.

"Do I have anything on my face?" she asks uncomfortably. I shake my head. I light the fire, then turn to her and say," Leo Valdez is fulfilling his oath, so don't worry about him, he will return safely." Everybody gasps and Hazel shoots to her feet. She backs away from me, her hand on her sword.

"How did you know I was thinking about him? And how do you know about him?" she asks, quickly and nervously. I blink, realising what I just said. I start shaking my head and everybody looks at me. "I'm sorry Hazel, I just didn't want you to worry about him. And it just happens sometimes. I know things I've never learnt, like who Leo is," I say, unsure of what else to say.

Something clicks in my head. I look up at Percy and ask," Where's your sibling?" He frowns. "What do you mean? I don't have any siblings," he said, glancing at the others in confusion. "I mean, where's the child of Neptune?" I say slowly, but they all still look confused. I sigh and point at everybody.

"Nico; son of Hades, Hazel; daughter of Pluto, Thalia; daughter of Zues, Jason; son of Jupiter and Percy; son of Poesidon. See what I mean?" I'm starting to get irritated. Luckily, everyone nods and glance at Percy."Children of the Big Three, Roman and Greek," Nico mutters and everybody's eyes widen. "Pardon?" I ask.

He looks up and glances at Percy. He nods and Nico turns to me. "It's the first line of the prophecy. Children of the Big Three, Roman and Greek,
Meet the pit in a land where sanity grows weak.
The key awaits in the hands of The Wolf's chest
To save or curse the demigods' quest.
The hero is held in a silver cage,
And a single breath burns the Death Book's page." He explains.

Wheels are turning in my head. I feel like its going to explode. I lace my fingers together and think. After about 10 minutes, Percy spoke up. "It doesn't really say that there must be a demigod of each god," he reasons.

I'm not paying attention at all to the conversation that follows. I jump when Thalia addresses me. "So?" She asks expectantly. I blink." Umm...," I say. She sighs. "I'll repeat my question; How can we trust you? We don't even know your name!" She cries, sounding irritated. I answer," I am Jade, follower of Lupa."