3 . 6 . 14

High on Stalling ~ Chapter 25

(Kathrine's P.O.V.)

"Uh...hello?" I titled my head, waving my hand in front of Astrid's face. "Hewwooooo?"
"Wha-"
"You've spaced out idiot." I cut off.
"Sorry. I guess." Astrid shrugs.
"Can we just get to the point?" I turned my head to the side to see Magnus and an incredibly pissed face. He was sitting down like he was part of the team. "You've been stalling and doing nothing! No wonder we're stuck in this world- you guys aren't trying now!"
"I don't think you could say that seeing as you're weaker than us." I mutter.
"Weaker but more focused." He growled. "I might be weak, and maybe I only hide behind stronger people, so what? At least I'm doing what I need to do."
"I can't help but agree." Percy grumbled. "As much as I hate this idiot, I do feel like we gotta work faster. I've seen how the previous chosen ones failed and working slow doesn't help."
"Whatever." I ignored.
"I...I heard a voice." Astrid whispered.
"Can't hear you." I lean closer. "A voice?"
"Yeah... fool." She said.
"What?" I stared, dumbfounded. "I'm a fool?"
"No. We're all fools. What...what have we done?" Astrid shook her head. "How much have we missed...?"
"Stop talking to yourself...what did you hear? What voice?" I begun.
"Guidance. We need guidance. Jackson, you're the only one who can give us that." Astrid turned to him. "But you haven't given it."
"What? I'm just gave you some guidance- hurry the hell up." He contradicted.
"You told us something- you never guided us. Your words lack guidance- they're empty and worthless." Astrid blankly replied.
"What? What're you saying?" Percy growled.
"We probably missed a lot...what details are there?" Astrid wondered. "You guys do whatever you think is productive...Kathrine- come with me. I got an idea."

Astrid shot upwards and grabbed me by my wrist. "Hey! Wai- wait!"
"Astrid! What do you mea-!" Clair shouted behind us as Astrid dragged me to her room and slammed the door behind her. She slumped into her bed and I followed.
"What the heck? What's wrong with you?" I questioned.
"We need to find clues...clues..." Astrid trailed off.
"Clues? Couldn't we have done that with them?" I asked.
"The more minds, the more fools. I'm the most logical and you're the most abstract- perfect." Astrid answered.
"Huh?"
"The tasks...what were the tasks?" She ignored.
"Wai- I-..."
"The slime and that guy...that's it..." Astrid scratched her head. "Slime...dragon..."
"What about them-"
"Ughhhh!" Astrid groaned.
"Astri-" I begun but my head throbbed. Like pulse, sending a wave of pain throughout my brain. "Ah...ah..."
"Kathrine? Kathrine? ..." Astrid's voice faded into silence and a new one replaced it.

"Read the stars of fate. Take in all the information. And take action." It said.
"Kathrine? Hello?" The throbbing dissipated immediately. My head cleared. Suddenly, everything went back to normal.
"What...stars of faith!" I screamed.
"What."
"What time is it?" I asked, suddenly insanely enthusiastic.
"Uhhh...around...5:00." Astrid guessed.
"When do stars appear?" I questioned.
"Uhh...why?"
"6:00." I think...well, guess. Why the hell should I know such useless information?
"Hewwo?" Astrid waved her hand in front of me.
"I'm alive. Anyways, got any books both the constellations in this place? If any..." I faltered. What are the stars of fate? Are they literal stars? Or a metaphor for something else? Are there even stars in this world? Constellations? Wait- who in the right mind would need to make constellations? We have magic and technology to tell time and seasons...is this world old enough and filled with enough people that constellations were created here? And are they any different from the old world's? "Stars of fate..."

"I do have one and...stars of fate? I think I've heard of those." Astrid casually stated.
"WHAT?! Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I screamed. Goddamn Astrid and that casual tone of hers.
"Uh...cuz' you didn't tell me that you were looking for them?" Astrid bluntly replied. Makes sense but I'm not accepting it because I'm one stubborn heck of human.
"Whatever. Where'd you see them?"
"A book. Same book as those constellations you're looking for...uhh...there." Astrid pointed at a ominous-looking, purple book.
"Why are all the important stuff ominous..." I wondered.
"Ominous? I think it looks great." Astrid shrugs as I hop off the bed and take the book off its snug position on the shelf.
"Uh huh..." It was surprisingly well-kept for a book that seemed like a hundred year old and wasn't dusty and torn-up like the grimoire. Thank the lord. Time to open the hold grail.