Carystus

Blood and color-changing eyes

Two Years Later

"One two three…. No! How many times do I have to tell you it's an upper hand strike, not an underhand?" I exclaimed. I turned around to hide a grin when I felt the stunned looks the Hermes kids where giving me. They probably didn't notice how different the wind sounded when they did an underhand. I sighed inwardly and turned to study them grimly. I knew they always went off guard when I couldn't see, so I lunged at the nearest kid, snatched his sword, and gave him a good jab in the ribs. His doubled over in pain. He's lucky the sword was made of wood.

My vision snapped back on and I cringed. One of the kids, - Daniel? - took this as the perfect opportunity to fake left, then slash down wards. Next thing he knew, snap, half of his sword was in my hand and the other half was pinning his orange t-shirt to a tree. Every body grinned. I was about to give them one of my trademark brooding looks, but then Percy and Annabeth stepped out of the Athena cabin together.

The entire sword fighting class exploded into cat calls and shouts of, "Hey, look, they got a room!" I quickly grabbed the nearest kids by the scruff of their necks and when I let them go, they ran about, telling everyone to shut up. The group of twelve-year olds shuffled into order, grumbling about how many pranks they could have pulled if I weren't their instructor. The conch horn blew and everybody sprinted away before I gave them any homework.

That's when Merelin walked over.

I try to avoid Merelin as much as possible. She reminds me way too much of… well, I'm getting of topic. She's the only sensible person, or girl, in my class.

"You seem so grim, Carytus. Why is that so?" Merelin asked softly, her intelligent eyes a wondering shade of brown. Then they quickly turned a queasy shade of purple. "It isn't a bad dream, is it?" she murmured.

I shook my head at her and walked away, vaguely hoping that she would get the point and go away. But no, she just had to smile concernedly and follow me as I walked towards the strawberry fields. She was still following me and I sighed as I sat underneath the willow tree I got shot down from a few years ago. She sat down beside me and I noticed her feet where blistered. Her shoes weren't on, for that matter.

I stood up and surveyed her inch by inch. The only thing wrong was the absence of her shoes. Then I noticed a small, slightly discolored area on her pale cheek. I poked it softly and Merelin howled in pain.

"Open your mouth," I commanded firmly. When she didn't listen, I grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her with every word, " Open. Your. Mouth." I repeated. When she did, blood trickled out of her mouth and onto the ground. I let my eyes and voice soften.

" Its okay. What happened?" the poor girl was sobbing now and through the muffled moans of pain I caught a few words.

" There was a spy...she..." I frowned and began to ask her a second time, but something was wrong.

Merelin wasn't breathing.