It Burns (A Heroes of Olympus Fanfic)

Break Fast

Do you know how it feels knowing that your whole life line depends on a stick? Juno cursed me due to the fact that I "had too many gifts" and it was supposedly some kind of a huge weakness I needed to acquire to balance out my advantages and special talents.

My grandmother gave it to me before I could leave with the pack of wolves that Lupa had sent. I've had multiple troubles with it. But ever since I entrusted it to Hazel, it felt as if my burden was lifted.

I guess you could say that in a sense, it was as if I couldn't care less about the firewood or when it burns. I trust Hazel with all my life - literally. As long as I'm able to be with her, I'm alright.

That's when he came and made things a lot more complicated than they should be.

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The smell of poached egg and and bacon fills the morning air. Mmm, I softy let out a moan. Mornings make me feel elated, I really don't know why.

As soon as I got those mini-god - slash - dad voices under control, my mind feels tranquil and calm. Dad's Roman and Greek personalities used to keep screaming on about battles, explosions, weaponry, vengeance and all that.

It started when a fight broke out at Camp Jupiter when Annabeth and the Greek demigods in the gang first arrived. You know, when Leo had been possessed by an evil spirit, which then made him start the war by firing a ballista into the Forum.

I sat up on my bed. While taking a deep breath, I stared at the lamp on my desk, which was fuelled by magic olive oil, giving it the ability to burn day and night.

You probably might have known this already, but fire is my biggest fear. You also probably already know the reason why. But even if I'm terrified of it, keeping an open flame in my room kind of helps me focus. This is my usual morning routine.

The Argo II sure is peaceful today. As I slowly stepped out of my cabin, I stretched for a bit and let myself be enraptured by the mixed aromas of a splendid breakfast.

Who could have cooked this? Hazel? Percy? They are the only ones, aside from my mom and grandmother, who knew about my favourite breakfast back when we were staying overnight at my grandmother's old.. now burned mansion in Canada.. which is another story.

I closed my eyes and thought about my grandmother. Would she be proud of me?

Fighting against monsters here and there, saving the world by stopping Gaea from waking up and bestowing upon the world of her evil acts.. Who am I kidding, of course she'd be proud, I think.

You're not standing straight, Fai. Stand up with honour, my ox warrior! That's probably what she would say if she saw me right now, so I stopped slouching and straightened my spine.

I could hear a subtle cracking sound as I did it but it felt quite satisfying.

I slowly crept towards the kitchen, itching to know who made breakfast. A little grin forming on my face, I could only guess who prepared this morning's meal.

"Good morning.. Ha-" I stopped myself before I could say anything else.

"Good morning, Frank!" Hazel greeted me warmly. Her golden eyes glinted as she smiled. Darn it, how could someone so beautiful as her do this to me? Just seeing her so happy in the morning quickly made me forget I still held a grudge on someone. I don't want to disappoint her.