Running From the Olympians

Chapter 9

Jay's P.O.V.

Today is May 31st. In three days, including today, I would be leaving Rydia and Nyla behind and going with the anemoi to my father. Going back to my father is practically suicide. He wants me dead, and if he gets the chance, he'll kill me. No doubt about it. Apparently, I want to "rule Olympus," according to him, and he wants to kill me before that happens.

A few gods and goddesses have helped me. Hermes gave me winged sneakers. Demeter hid me from monsters, once. Hecate and Artemis help me hide. Sometimes I would travel with the Hunters of Artemis, much to their dislike. Hecate helped me learn to somewhat control the Mist, and that definitely helped. Zeus doesn't know about any of it, of course.

Zeus, Ares, and Athena are the ones that I usually avoid. Even their children. I can't risk them telling. Ares' and Athena's children are very loyal to their godly parent, which could be a good thing...if I wasn't wanted dead by my own father. Why he fears me instead of Amber, I don't know. We're both his children, so why me? Why can't I live the life where I'm not constantly in fear of being killed by Zeus?

A knock at the door dragged me back into reality. I got up and stretched before making my way towards to door. When I was standing at the entrance, I looked down at myself. The same clothes as yesterday? Did I actually sleep in the same clothes? I threw on a black sweatshirt, flattened my hair as best as I could, and stumbled to the door again. I opened it.

James. "Morning," he said. He gave me a black backpack with a lightning bolt embroidered on the front. Under it was my name.

"What's this for? And why are you here so early?" I asked.

"One, Chiron sent me. Son of Hermes, and all. Two, why not?"

"Good point," I said. "Thanks."

"No problem. Chiron also told me to tell you to meet him at the archery area before your first assignment."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "Never told me why."

"All right. Thanks again."

"Yep." He turned around and walked down the steps and towards the Hermes cabin.

I closed the door and opened the curtains and windows, much to Amber's dislike.

"Close the curtains!" She screeched and attempted to throw a pillow at me. It landed a few meters from me. She stuffed her face into her other pillow.

I walked to the pillow she threw and picked it up. "You have terrible aim, you know." I threw the pillow at her head and she muttered something that I couldn't quite make out.

"What?" I asked.

"Screw. Off." She pulled her blanket over her head.

"Aren't you the pleasant half-sister I never wanted."

She made a sound, but didn't say anything I could understand. I shrugged and sat back down on my bed, opening the main pocket from the backpack James gave me.

There was an orange toothbrush, a small flashlight, a few pieces of paper, which I would read after, and a black hairbrush. I looked in the other pockets. Nothing. Why would I need a backpack just for these things? I wouldn't even be carrying them around. I shrugged and looked at the first piece of paper. My schedule. I didn't bother reading it, so I just put it on the beside stand. I looked at the second piece of paper. It was a map of the camp. I didn't look over that one either, so I put it on the beside stand, too.

The last paper was small and said: Remember. Archery area, first thing. -Chiron

I crumbled up the small piece of paper Chiron sent and threw it in the trash bin next to my bed. I brushed my hair and put the hairbrush and flashlight into the top drawer, and put the toothbrush near the sink in the bathroom. I left my backpack on my bed, not sure what to do with it yet.