Children of Chaos

Chapter Three- The Army

No one said anything for a few minutes. "So, you're baby cousin Percy", she said finally, Aria standing up from her throne, striding over to us. "And you want to join my army." 

"Aria..." Ceatha began to say, before her sister cut her off. 

I gulped, sweating nervously. The painter definitely didn't portray how intimidating she really was. "Uh, if I'm allowed to, that is-" 

She placed a hand on my shoulder, gripping it slightly. "Don't fret cousin. Of course you can join! Recruits are never turned down- of course, you'll need to pass through the trials, but I'm sure you'll be fine." 

"Wait trials? What are those?" I had to ask, after noticing the worried look Ceatha threw in my direction. 

"They're basically tryouts. Just, harder and more stressing. Thousands of men and woman from across the galaxy have trained for these trials- but they still fail to pass", she told me, sighing slightly. 

"So, I most likely won't get in?" I guessed. The way she was describing it seemed like getting into the army was an impossible task. 

She looked me over once, tilting her head slightly. "I believe you'll do just fine", she whispered to me, before backing up slightly. "Trials are tomorrow. Ceatha can help you get there", she began to say, before a portal opened behind her, just like the one that transported me here. "Good luck Percy." She shared a look with Ceatha, before stepping through the portal, disappearing. 

"Well, that went better than expected, considering that she killed someone the last time I was with her", Ceatha told me after I had let Aria's words sink in. 

I didn't respond- my eyes hadn't left where the portal was moments before. 'You'll do just fine', she had told me- it sounded like she already knew the outcome of the trials. I guess that was one of her many powers. 

"Well, I better get some sleep- I need to be well rested for tomorrow", I told her, smiling despite my nervousness. She nodded, and led me out of the castle, and to an apartment that Chaos had rented for Paul, Gracie and I. 

"I'll come get you tomorrow. Sleep well Percy", she said, before, like Aria, disappeared through a portal, leaving me alone out in the hallway. 

I opened the door. Inside, the apartment was well decorated- a modern kitchen to the left, a fully furnished living room in the middle, and two doors leading to modest bedrooms to the right. I sighed, before locking the door behind me. I opened one of the bedroom doors, and promptly collapsed on the plush queen bed in front of me, instantly falling asleep. 

Unsurprisingly, I had nightmares all throughout the night- Sally's dead body, the campers betraying me over and over again. And I could do nothing about it. 

After a particularly bad nightmare, I woke up, the sheets clinging to my skin. I thrashed them off, and quietly got out of bed, making my way over to the kitchen. 

It was still dark out, the city quiet as I made myself a cup of coffee. Ceatha would be here in an hour or so, to take me to the trials. I sighed, as I sipped on the hot beverage in my hand, the coffee calming my nerves down slightly. Making my way over to the window, I looked outside, downing the last of my coffee. 

The sun was slowly creeping up the horizon, the stars slowly fading out in the sky. Only a few people roamed the streets of the city- that would change once the sun came up. 

After placing the empty mug of coffee in the sink, I went to my bedroom to get changed. Thankfully, Chaos had brought all of my clothes and belongings from my old house. I put on a simple black t- shirt, shorts, and some sneakers. I slipped riptide into my pocket, before glancing at myself in the mirror.