Night

Ch. 4: Grounded

Being Grounded sucks. Especially if you're immortal. But I guess it could be worse, it could be for 100 or 1,000 years, instead of just a month, and I could be just stuck in my bedroom 24/7, at least I’m allowed out. I’ve been counting the days on my wall, marking through the calendar that is, I have 20 more days of punishment to go, I know a month and I still have 20 days, but my dad's month really means two months. So I’ve really been grounded for 40 days, not 10.

For the past forty days I’ve just been reading, watching TV, and catching up on sleep. Oh, and doing anything but go 100 yards from my bed room, Erebus put up a barrier to make sure I stayed where I’m supposed to.

I was laying on my bed looking at the canopy above my head when my mother came in, with a dress. “What's that for?” I asked sitting up, I really hate dresses.

“Erebus agreed to end your punishment early if, and only if, you wear this dress all day.” She told me smiling.

“End it how soon?” I asked skeptical.

“Tomorrow, you can do what you want, go to Olympus and Earth. But he really doesn't want you to be with Sam.”

“Oh, no of course he doesn't. He hates Sam, but guess what? Sam is my best friend, I can tell him anything without him freaking out, and I do mean, ANYTHING. Even girl things,you usually can't find a guy friend who will listen to that stuff.” I said passing between the bed and vanity.

“I know, and I like Sam, so I talked Erebus into letting you hang out with him, and he agreed, on one condition, you can not be alone together. You have to be with at least on other person. Now are you going to wear the dress or not?” She said smiling at the look on my face.

“Yes I’ll wear the stupid dress,” I said running over and hugging her.”I love you, I love you, I love YOU!! Now how do I put this stupid thing on?”

“hah, come over here.” She said and helped me put the dress on. When I was in the dress and she did my hair, I don't even know how she managed that one, I stood up and looked in a mirror.

“Ah, I look, girly.” I screamed.

“What happened to you? You used to always wear dresses.”My mother said hugging me from behind.

“Yes, about a thousand years ago, when girls weren't allowed to wear pants. And I would still wear pants.” I said wanting to gag at how I looked.

“So should we go see Erebus?” She asked.

“I guess, I don't really have much choice now, do I? I mean assuming he wants to see me in the dress to know I actually wore it.” I said as I followed her from the room. I had been avoiding my father as much as I possibly could, if he walked in room I was in, I would walk out; and if I was about to walk into a room he was in I would turn around and go back the way I came.

“Yes he does, he's been quite upset that you've been avoiding him.” She told me ginning, and looking at me out of the corner of her eye.

“OH, he noticed that did he?”

“It was kind of hard to miss, I am pretty sure everyone noticed it.” Erebus said turning a corner, “Selene, you look wonderful.”

“I look like a girly girl.” I said through gritted teeth, I was also still pretty mad at him.

“You are a girl.” Erebus said.

“Yes Erebus I am a girl, but I’m not a girly girl, I hate pink, dresses, ruffles, sparkles, and all the things Aphrodite stands for. I would much rather wear armor and have a sword strapped to my hip, than wear a dress and carry a purse.” I said to him matter of fact. “That's just not me, you can ask Sam, he'll tell you the same thing.”

At the mention of Sam all emotion drained from his face and he tensed up like he wanted to hit something. “You're lucky I am letting you hang out with him, but do not push it.” Erebus told me.

“Yes sir, warden.” I said mockingly, saluting, and rolled my eyes. He got pissed.

“Selene, I would suggest you stop now if you want your punishment to end tomorrow, or if you ever want to see Sam again.” Nyx said watching Erebus. He looked like he was about to blow a gasket, it was hilarious. I walked passed him and into the living room to sit down, and low and behold, there were my siblings, Hemera, Hypnos, and Thanatos.

“Hi,” I said to them as I sat next to Hemera on the couch. “So what have you all been up to?”

“The same, but apparently you still can't stay out of trouble for two days.” said Hypnos.

“Must you always try to start something?”I asked him, usually we can't stop fighting for two minutes if we're in the same room, but I want to stay out of trouble and fighting with Hypnos wouldn't help me do that. At the winter solstice we were two of the main ones fighting, Nyx had to hold me back a couple of times.

“Yes, yes I must.” I looked back at Nyx and Erebus gesturing to Hypnos.

“You did hear what he just said right?” I asked and they both nodded their heads.

“We did, but there is not much that I can do to stop him,” Nyx said.

“Keep him away from me!” I said smiling like that was actually an option, and unfortunately it wasn't. One of the main things I did for fun while grounded was fight with my brother.

“Awe, but I love you my dear dear little sister.” Hypnos said.

“Awe...... Yea right, you are you kidding?” I said and everyone started to laugh, except Hypnos of course.

“No one.” Thanatos said smiling and looking at Hypnos out of the corner of his eye, “if either one of us actually loves our sister, it's me.”

“What no it's not, it's me!” Hypnos said.

“It's Thanatos, he doesn't try to pick fights with me on purpose.” I said glaring at Hypnos and then smiling at Thanatos. Ten seconds later a servant walked in and handed me a note with my name on it, it said.

Selene,

I really need your help with the moon, now, something is wrong I can feel it, I hope you can too. Meet me in front of my temple on Olympus in exactly 20 minutes. And Hurry. Earlier is better, and bring Hypnos with you.

                  Artemis

I looked at Erebus, “Go.” he said and I looked at the servant, “when did this get here?”

“Oh um, about five minutes ago maybe. I’m not sure, someone else gave it to me and told me to get it to you.” she said.

“Alright, thank you. Come on Hypnos, Artemis wants you to come too.” I said getting up and grabbing his arm.

“AHH!! It burns, it burns.” He screamed when I touched him.

“Oh shut up and stop acting like your only five.” I told him aggravated and we vanished in a column of moon light.