The Lightning Thief

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

They slept in one of the towers. Jennifer obviously lived in it, and she slept in her own rooms. Catie had long given up asking Jennifer where she originally came from and who- or what- she was, but she was surprised that Jennifer seemed to live with the Shadowsmith. Of course, it explained how she knew that much about the Shadows.

In the top room of Jennifer's tower Ignatius and Catie slept together in a great four-poster bed. Usually Catie would never have dreamed of sleeping next to her employer, but tonight she was glad he would not be alone. She was so worried about him.

The moment Ignatius' black haired head touched the pillow, he drifted into sleep. Catie lay beside him until she was sure that he was fast asleep. Then she quietly climbed down the dark stone staircase and knocked on Jennifer's door.

The blond beauty opened. She had changed into more comfortable clothes, dark red, and her hair was tied back in a ponytail.

"Miss Catherine! What is the problem?"

Catie stared at her. "May I come in?"

Jennifer shook her head. "If you want to talk to me, let us go down to the Cathedral. Noone is allowed to enter my room- except for myself, of course."

Catie nodded, unsure what to say. Jennifer lead the way downstairs into the Cathedral's biggest room. It was the room you came into when you entered the Cathedral through either the tall main door or, as Jennifer had done at their arrival, through the smaller door at the side of the Cathedral.

The Cathedral did not at all resemble a church. In fact, it rather looked like a working place of some scientist- bookshelves full of scientific books, glasses with strange creatures inside and gems in all colours. There were also two smaller rooms in the Cathedral, to the left and the right of the main door. Catie had not yet been allowed to have a look inside, and she wondered if Jennifer might take her there now, but the blonde beauty led her to one of the two tables, surrounded by bookshelves, that stood at both sides of the door to the towers.

Jennifer sat down and motioned for Catie to sit on the other side of the table. She obeyed.

"So, what is it, Miss Catherine?" Jennifer's blue eyes pierced Catie once more.

Catie sat a little straighter. She thought once more about taking back her decision, but deep inside she knew she had to do this.

"I want to become Shadowsmith instead of Ignatius. He is in no state to make a decision like that. I am. I don't want him to be forced."

Jennifer's face broke into a big smile. She looked like a cat that has just caught a very fat mouse.

"You do this because you love him, don't you, Catherine Realowe? You want to save him the pain."

"Pain?", Catie asked alarmed. "Is it painful?"

Jennifer shrugged. "Would it change your mind if it was?"

Suddenly she grabbed Catie's shoulders. "Do you love Ignatius enough to endure pain to save him? Do you love him so much?"

Catie thought: She knows anyway. She nodded.

"Yes, I do love Ignatius", she answered, "and I want to spare him pain. But what..." Jennifer let go of her and started to pace around the room, unable to sit still.

"We will start teaching you the Art of Shadows tomorrow", she said. "It will take a few days... Now go upstairs and look after your love; I think he wants to see you."