Failed Attempts

Chapter 5: Tate

I lay on the ground, unable to sleep. When they built the cabin 11 bathroom, they definitely didn't take into account that anybody would ever be sleeping in it, even with my cushioned sleeping bag, the hard, floor is anything but comfortable. The constant smell of wet dog and the dripping of the leaky faucet don't help me to close my eyes either.

So instead, I stare at the ceiling and begin to think about the girl I saw earlier. Her face has planted itself into my brain and I cannot stop thinking about her. She seems so dull and vague but at the same time so interesting and I want to get to know her more.

"May I present to you, Elise Von Derve, daughter of Hades."

I keep replaying it in my mind. Elise. What a nice name.

A few hours pass and my body finally succumbs to the force of drowsiness and sleep deprivation. I am left undisturbed for a while until a dream is graced upon me.

I am falling through what appears to be some kind of snow tornado. Ice chunks like glass shards pierce my skin and leave me with bloody cuts all over my body.

Falling, falling, falling without end. Gusts of wind throw me back and forth in the storm making me dizzy and nauseous.

"Come to me my child."

The wind stops and I am dropped on a snow padded ground. I try to run but I am unable to move, almost like my brain is not connecting to my body. I tell my legs to take me as far away from here as possible but instead they lay still and immobile.

"Tate," says a woman's voice, it's quiet and gentile and very...cold. "How much you've grown."

I whip my head around to the source of the sound. There standing, is an ebony haired lady, dressed in a revealing, silk dress, her skin the same unnaturally pale colour as mine, like snow. A silver tiara upon her head and her eyes the colour of freshly ground, coffee beans....

"Mother."

"So indeed you recognize me, I'd hoped you might. I have been watching over you my boy, you have grown so, strong."

"What do you want?" I snap.

"Join us."

"No-"

"We can rule this world together. Winter, all year long, the rest of the stupid half-bloods enslaved. I can teach you to master your powers. Just you and I-"

"No."

"What did you say to me child?"

"I said no."

I watch in terror as Khione grows ten times my size and a colossal snow storm forms around her.

"YOU WILL OBEY ME! YOU WILL JOIN ME IN THE FEAT OF THE GODS!"

I feel a force overcome me. A little voice inside of my head starts to cheer me on, it's my mothers. Soft, gentile, and convincing.

"Join me," I cover my ears to block it out but it won't stop. "Join me!"

"Join me! Join me! Join me! Join me!" I'm writhing around on the ground. It's taking over my mind.

"Join me! Join me! Join me! Join me!" She won't stop until I say yes.

"Join me! We will rule! Join me! We will rule! Join me!"

"NO! EHOUGH. I WILL NEVER BE LIKE YOU, NEVER!"

The voice stops and and the storms surrounding her disappear, she shrinks back down.

"Heed my words Tate Evans...you will pay the price!" She gives me one last scowl and then vanishes from sight.