Déjà Vu {A Luke Castellan Story} [Three]

•Twenty-Four•

I browse through the camp, looking at the passing individuals and their carefree attitudes. A pair of demigods walking towards the water to hang out, a group of siblings walking away from the dinning hall giggling over some joke they must have had. A small and heartless laugh escapes my lips. Must've been nice to enjoy siblings like that. I march over to the Apollo cabin and quickly gather my belongings. "(Y/N)?" I freeze from packing my bag, my muscles tense. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you." I glance up to the pair of sad honey brown eyes. "I've been around." She fumbled around with the bottom of her shirt and stared at the ground. I go back to shoving my belongings into the small backpack. "Look, (Y/N), Chiron made me. I'm sorry." I harshly stuff the last shirt into the bag and zip it up. "Don't worry about it. I get it." It comes out so sweet and so understanding. It's much better than I actually felt.

She left to go talk to Nico and Luke before the quest, a smile on her face and an idea that I was leaving to see my Aunt. Which wasn't necessarily a lie, but it wasn't the full truth. Artemis has answers and from the sounds of it, she'd be the only one willing to give them up. So I went to the one place I'd expect to find her. The same small apartment I'd left months ago and never actually returned to from that bus ride. I look off to the right of the door, a gathering of plants all together like a few herbs and a succulent or two. I dug into the smallest succulent's soil to find the only spare key we had. She left it here just for me, I was plenty forgetful when we first rented the place. The smell of herbs and fresh soil filled my nose. For not being Demeter, Artemis sure had a fascination for herbs and nature. I guess it brought a sense of natural survival back to her senses. I walk over to what used to be my room, a simplistic design really. The white walls to match the white furniture, complimented with a tan bed spread and accents here and there. A plant or two randomly placed across the space. Not much, but it's what I considered home for a bit of my time back. I threw my bag to the bed and immediately reached for the first dresser, rummaging for the fund bucket I kept. The sound of change flinging around filled the silent room. I smiled as I pulled out a can full of money.

"I see you came prepared." I smiled from the sound of a voice and closed my drawer and looked to see that all so familiar auburn ponytail. "And I see you were expecting me." She crosses over to my bed and sat down, patting the bed for me to sit. I stand my ground by the dresser and cross my arms. She sighs and stops her attempts to make me sit, "(Y/N), you can't possibly be mad because I wanted to keep you alive." I roll my eyes and grab my bag, heading towards the door before stopping. I needed the answers I came here for. "Why me?" It came out so quickly and without a thought.

The silence filled the air and left us uncomfortable. "I don't understand what you mean." I turned around quickly upon hearing her response. "I mean why me? You could've brought back anyone. But you Olympians chose me. You, with whoever else, decided you wanted to bring me back and put me in the very same situation I escaped. Why?" At this point my fist was white with how tightly I was holding my bag strap. She looked around, possibly finding a way to avoid the question. We sat for a while, with no interactions between us. I scoffed at her silence, "typical." I turn back to leave, "and don't even worry about checking up on me or making other gods promise to keep me alive! I'll find a way around them and you!" With those last words, I took my leave. She, just like everyone else, had nothing more to offer me.

"(Y/N), look at me." The second I left the door she had called out to me. I smirk a bit, there was always a way to get to them. I turned to see her hold her hand out. A little silver light forms from her palm and envelopes her hand. The mystical light stretches out and burns brighter than my eyes can handle. After I look back from shielding my eyes, a white bow sits in Artemis' hand. "At least take this with you. It'll shed some light when you need it." I slowly reach out to grab it but hesitate, "There's no strings attached?" She shakes her head and places it in my hand. "Just come back alive." I stifle a small laugh and nod. "I'll try." I turn with the bow in hand and make my way out. Down the entry way and out towards the woods. If I had no idea as to where he'd be, why wonder about? I get towards the entrance of the woods before my little heart chain starts to burn bright. A small curse escapes my lips as drop my bag and bow before I grab hold of the small charm.