Camp Half Blood: One "Salty" Adventure

Chapter Nine

Myra's POV:

I was more than confused as Cole and I walked towards the dining pavilion. Why did I feel the need to stay here so badly? This camp felt more like a prison than it did a home. Cole sat down next to me at a table which he explained was where the Hermes Cabin sat.

"The Hermes Cabin takes in all the unclaimed campers because-" He didn't get to finish as I cut him off.

"Hermes is the god of travelers and as the 'unclaimed' we have no certain family and are therefore travelers until we do get claimed. Right?" He rolled his eyes, but nodded his head in a yes you're right, but you're a complete know it all manner. I decided I liked Cole. He did try to free me from this camp, but for some reason I felt the need to stay here which ruined everything. I felt a bit miserable about this, but at least I was with someone I genuinely liked now instead of that insufferable Will Solace or Ben and his manipulation. I gritted my teeth at the thought of them and Cole shot me a worried glance.

"Don't worry about being claimed. Based on what you just said you're probably a daughter of Athena." He reassured, misreading the source of my anxiety. I nodded gratefully and watched golden plates that seemed to magically refill themselves. "I still haven't figured out how they do that yet." He told me through a mouthful of chicken.

"Nymphs. Air nymphs I'm assuming. Oh! Thank you!" My plate had just seemingly filled itself, but after I said thank you a light breeze played with my hair. I smiled and began eating pancakes for dinner. Cole shot me a confused look, but we ate in silence for the rest of the meal. I refused to look behind me at the Aphrodite table where I knew Ben was sitting. Instead I sat with Cole as he finished eating.

"They have a big campfire sing along every night after dinner lead by the Apollo Cabin. Want to go?" He asked.

"Nah, Will looks like he'll have a heart attack if I take another step out of line and I'm pretty tired anyways." I gave him my best apologetic smile and rubbed the wrapping on my wrist wound a little. He looked a little disappointed, but he drew his attention to my wrist.

"Get Will to change the bandages okay? Maybe that wound will convince him not to use those handcuffs on you again. It's a pretty deep cut. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sure, and make sure to stop by the infirmary ok? There's no way Will will ever let me leave." I rolled my eyes and said bye to Cole. He looked a little sad about it, but I shook it off. I had far more important things to focus on. Hopefully Cole was right and Will would keep me out of the cuffs. That would give me a perfect chance to sneak off and investigate tomorrow. If I can figure out why I need to stay here, then I can solve the problem and leave. Will spotted me walking back to the infirmary alone and joined me. I internally cringed, but kept a placid facade on.

"How are you feeling?" He looked me over as we walked, eyeing the wrapping on my wrist. I picked up the pace only for the small feeling of satisfaction I got from watching him have to run a bit to keep up.

"Absolutely lovely." I said sarcastically and flinched as my wrist started to ache. I offered no explanation to the questioning glances Will gave me while looking at my bandaged arm. He let the silence remain until we entered the infirmary and I sat down on the cot I had claimed as my own. He immediately grabbed hold of my arm and looked concerned at my initial reaction, which was to wince in pain. He unwrapped it slowly, looking up every so often to look for signs of pain on my face. I did my best to remain stoic, but to be honest it hurt like hell. Obviously I didn't do a very good job because he was getting increasingly worried.

"Where did you get this?" He gasped at the deep yellow-greenish cut that encircled my wrist. I opened my mouth to answer when he snatched the handcuffs from off the floor and stared at the bloody bed sheet. He made the connection and his face was filled with guilt. I actually felt a bit bad for him as he fussed over the semi-infected nastiness that was my left wrist.

"I'm so sorry." Ηe spoke earnestly and finished wrapping up my wrist gently. "If Cole hadn't wrapped that for you earlier..." He shook his head, but I got the message. He insisted I could be hiding other injuries from him and checked me over. He disappeared into a back room for a few minutes and came back out with an obnoxious neon orange shirt that I saw the campers wearing and a pair of black shorts. He wrapped my arm in plastic so the bandages wouldn't get wet and told me where the infirmary showers were. I grabbed the clothes and hurried off to get a nice hot shower and a good night's sleep before I began my investigation tomorrow.