Daughter of Neptune

Coincidence

I looked around the small room and could see bars on the left and the front walls. Through the bars on my left I see a boy lying on the ground, same as me. His black, curly hair covered his face. I noticed that he had similar handcuffs, but his had water encased in it. Instead, mine had flames encased in it.

Then something clicked, my godly parent is Poseidon. The handcuffs contradict our powers from our godly parent. This boy must be a child of Hephaestus, God of forges and flames.

A few minutes later, when I was pondering escape, he stirred. I looked over when I heard rapid breathing and saw movement. The boy rolled over onto his back and moved his hands into a more comfortable position, if that was possible with handcuffs on.

He sat up and then notices me, peeking at him between the bars. “Did she tackle you as well?”

“She?” I asked, confused about who ‘she’ was.

“Yeah, ‘she’.” The boy replied. “She tackled me to the ground. Then poof, here I am.”

“No, I got stuffed into a sack, then brought here.” I said sarcastically, but then I asked a serious question, “Why do you think they captured you?”

“Probably my good looks.” He laughs. I didn’t mention that he looked like he’d just been attacked by a grizzly bear. He had bruises on his arms and face.

I nod, “Makes sense.”

I heard footsteps and shortly Tom stood outside my cell.

“Having fun getting acquainted with the floor Brianna?” Tom mocks.

The other boy’s head spins in my direction, “You’re name is Brianna?”

“Yeah.” I murmur. “What does it matter?”

The boy looks at the floor, “I was kidnapped while I was on a quest. A quest to rescue a Brianna.”

“Maybe it’s a coincidence.” I suggest.

“Maybe…” He said. I could almost see cogs spinning in his head, from all the thinking he was currently doing. Tom walked over to his cell and banged on the bars.

“Come on Leo, Lord Kronos wants to see you.” Tom smirks and I immediately knew that whatever would happen to this boy; Leo, would not be good. Tom unlocked Leo’s cell and waltzed in, full of himself. He grabbed Leo by his shirt collar and lifted him off the floor.

Leo groaned but let Tom lift him up. Then Tom pushed him in the direction of the cell door, walking behind Leo and directing him with words I couldn’t hear.

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When the other demigods got back, they immediately knew something was wrong. There was water covering the ground and Leo was nowhere to be seen. The fact that Hannah was sitting on the ground with her head between her hands might have also been a give away.

Esme and Ben ran over, with Jason in the lead. When Jason reached Hannah he crouched next to her. He waited for Esme and Ben, looking at the forest, which surrounded the lake. When they reached Hannah and Jason they sat on the ground, waiting for Hannah to explain.

Hannah emitted small sobs while Jason glanced at her every few seconds, obviously worried about her.

“What’s wrong Hannah?” Jason asked. Hannah sobbed again, then looked at him.

“She got him.” She said, trying not to cry. “I wasn’t fast enough.”

“Who’s she?” Ben asked, leaning forward.

“I don’t know, a girl.” Hannah looked at Ben with tears running down her cheeks, “She wore brown clothes and had black hair.”

Jason glanced at Esme, “Know anyone of that description.”

“No.” Esme shook her head. She didn’t know anyone who fit that description, but she did have her suspicions. “Can you tell us anymore about her?” Esme inquired.

Hannah pointed to the tree she was hiding in and explained how she’d jumped them. Then she described the blue handcuffs and how she was there one second and gone the next. Hannah wasn’t interrupted, which she liked; they just let her get on with the story.

When Hannah had finished explaining she broke into tears, “If I had been quicker, he would still be here.”

Ben tried to comfort her, “It’s not your fault. If you keep beating yourself up about it, we’re never going to find him.”

“He’s right you know.” Jason agreed. “It’s getting late, we’ll look for Leo in the morning.” With that the four demigods lay on beds of leaves and drifted into a restless sleep.