Sacred

Torn

Carter's POV
Gemma. She was different, a good different though. I look over at her as she examines the camp with such excitement.
"So who's your parent?" Gemma asks curiously, as I give her the tour of camp.
"Aphrodite," I reply and she stiffs a laugh.
"Like goddess of love, beauty, and basically mean girls," Gemma jokes and I playfully roll my eyes.
"Ding! You are correct!" And I try to imitate a game show host and Gemma snorts.
"Did I win?" Gemma asks and I laugh.
"No but really some siblings are mean, others aren't. And our cabin basically looks like a doll house," I tell her and she laughs
"So do not like being a child of Aphrodite?" She asks.
"It's not that just her children get a bad reputation and they have a perfect image of what her child would look like, a model," I tell her and Gemma mumbles something.
"Huh?"
"Oh nothing. So is there anything good about being a child of Aphrodite?"
"Um let's see... not really," I reply and Gemma snorts," I mean all of her children look great and I've been told I do so uh yea. And uh our cabins are always clean."
"That's a plus side. I mean the whole cleaning hung not the model part but I mean that's a plus side too. Anyway it must be like a Disney movie up in there. Animals coming, singing, and cleaning," She jokes and I laugh.
"Oh and this is our forgers. Children of Hephaestus make weapons and all sorts of trinkets in there," I tell and she nods.
"Question. Can I go in?" Gemma questions looking at the forgery.
"Uh of course," I tell her and she walks in with her fiery red hair bouncing. I follow in behind her. Gemma walks around to the different tables and stops at one and watches a guy test out his invention. I walk over and stand beside her.
"Can I see it?" Gemma asks and the guy shrugs. Gemma takes a screw driver and opens up the panel. She starts connecting wires and fixing things then puts the panel back on.
"It should work now," Gemma says and the guy flips it on and emits music. A red glowing hammer symbol appears over Gemma's head and everyone starts cheering and so do I.
"Great!" Gemma shouts then whispers to me," What does that mean?"
I chuckle and tell her," It means one of the gods claimed you as their child. That symbol means you were claimed by Hephaestus. Congrats Gemma. Isn't that great Julia?" I look around but Julia is no where to be found.
"Where'd she go?" I ask and look around.
"We should go look for her," Gemma suggests and I nod and we leave the forges.

We walk along Canoe Lake and I explain everything to her.
"So does Hephaestus' kids have like any powers?" Gemma asks fiddling with her fingers looking around.
"Only a small number of children of Hephaestus have the power of fire. But it's considered destructive," I tell her and she turns red and looks at the ground. I look around for Julia and spot her sandy blonde hair. Gemma and I run over to her and Julia looks up at us.
"Hey Julia," I say and sit down next to her.
"Hey Carter, Gemma," she greets and I notice she hasn't looked up.
"Oh I think I just heard someone call my name. Gotta go," Gemma jokes and runs off.
"Julia you aren't acting yourself. What's wrong?" I ask her.
"Nothing Carter, I'm fine," Julia replied but I can tell she's lying.
"No you're not. Julia I know you, you're my best friend something is bothering you," I tell her and hold her hand. Julia flushes red.
"I'm just afraid of- I mean I'm afraid for Gemma. She's nice and there's so much she doesn't know," Julia says and I nod.
"I bet. I remember my first day. Getting Aphrodite's blessing and trying to make friends, it was hard. But I think we need to be there with Gemma. Try to help her you know what I said in the car," I tell Julia and she nods.
"So has she been claimed yet?" Julia asks and I smile.
"Yea she's a Hephaestus. Really good with mechanics and tinkering," I tell Julia and she smiles a bit.
"That's cool," Julia replies.
"So what do you think of Gemma?" I ask her with a smile and she pauses.
"She seems different. Really likes to joke around. Her hair is really fiery. And she seems to be too, in a good way." She says, she looks at the lake.
She still looks upset to me. I move closer to her and look at her pale blue eyes.
"Julia, you can tell me anything. We've been friends for ages." I reply.
She nods, but I can tell her usual enthusiasm isn't in it.
I try to break the word barrier a few more times but she's a stubborn as a rock.
I sigh.
"Julia... I wish you'd tell me, but you won't budge on your decision."
Julia nods, smirking.
I laugh.
She soon returns, laughing quietly until she unleashes a fit of giggles.
It's hilarious, and adorable-- in a best friend little sister kind of way.
I've always loved her laugh, and I always will.
"I've got to go to training. You should go check on Gemma. We can hang out later." I say, starting to stand up. She follows along, though her head stops at my chin.
"I will." She replies.
I give her a little hug and then walk over to the training grounds.
I hear her footsteps getting softer.
I wonder if she and Gemma will become friends. I hope so, just like Gemma and I are becoming friends.
We can all be friends.
But a part of me misses Julia and I, the inseparable duo.
Nothing would separate us.
But now there's going to be a trio.
Ever since Gemma came, good and bad things have been happening.
I just hope that everything will be ok with Julia and Gemma.