The Next Generation

Chapter 15 - Kas

Once Zara and Ethan came up from their totally-not-a-date-hangout (It totally was a date) we headed off into the magical world of Disney Land. Note the sarcasm. I never liked this kind of stuff. Too many crowds, too many loud noises, easy enough for them to squish your body together and somehow they don't even notice and-ok. Calm down. I'm hyperventilating. But it's just... crowds! And germs! And noise! And ick.

"Count me out," I muttered as we gazed upon the parade that was going on before us, the others stuffing their faces with cotton candy, ice cream, candy, you name it! I, being a sensible person, got a small bag of saltwater taffy and was only nibbling on them, one at a time. Though I was mostly walking through with Sammy, I caught Charlie giving me guilty glances, but I ignored her. Unless it's something like the situation with my whole speech, I usually just stay really quiet and ignore the person I'm mad at. Also known as the silent treatment.

While everyone was refilling their candy and sweets, she pulled me aside, and after I reluctantly agreed to talk with her. She nervously twisted her fingers together, and finally, after a minute of just standing under the dark bridge, mortals excitedly passing by and stopping for pictures, she spoke.

"Okay, I know you're mad at me-"I crossed my arms and stared at her sternly.

"Heck yeah I'm mad. He's your brother! You were practically abusing the kid!" She sighed shamefully, and part of me wanted to hug her. I mentally slapped that side. I had to stay strong.

"You don't have any siblings, do you," I shook my head, and she grinned bitterly.

"Let me explain," Despite myself, I nodded, my curiosity taking over. "When my dad was a little younger than us, like, two years, he fought Ares. You probably heard. Well, anyways, Ares promised revenge. So twenty years later, when Dad was 32, he came when I was just born and put a curse on me. The curse was that, at random times, I'd go crazy with anger, but if anyone tried to fight back, both of us would be inflicted with really bad pain, like torture pain," I gasped, and hugged her, horrified.

"Oh my gosh! So when I was pulling you off of him-" She shrugged.

"Yeah, you hurt me. But it's fine. I'm used to it," I shook my head.

"Why didn't you tell me? Do any of them know?" Charlie, Ice Queen, Popcicle Lady, smiled softly, almost a smirk.

"I mean, they're basically my family. Of course they know," My eyes widened in understanding.

"So that's why Ethan wasn't fighting back!"

"Jeez Kas, I thought you were smarter than that. I mean-" I pushed her lightly, trying to push away the guilt and fear along with her. She laughed. "You grew up in a library, for Posiden's sake!" I chuckled, and pulled her back towards the others. I noticed that Zara, being the observant demigod she is, noticing us, hand in hand, laughing, and she glared at us. A death glare. But it was okay. I'd tell her later, and then she wouldn't be mad. We kept walking, Emmi, Sammy, Charlie and I talking about which was better, popsicles or ice cream, (which is ice cream, obviously) when Riley pointed and screamed like her head was cut off. Quickly, we all drew our weapons simultaneously, but sheathed them when she shrieked,

"Ohmigods WE NEED T-SHIRTS!" She herded the rest of us into a gift store, stocked full of so much clothing, I would have been buried in it, if it were all piled on top of me.

"I feel like a tourist," I groaned as Sammy laughed and picked out a Lumiere shirt, and added it to Riley's pile. One character for each of us.

In the end, the youngest daughter of Jason and Piper charmspoke us free shirts, and we put them on immediately, laughing at the ridiculousness of everyone. Charlie had an Elsa shirt on, for obvious reasons, C.J had Gaston, Ethan Wall-E, which almost made me cry. I loved that movie, but it was so SAD. But... when you think about it, it's a little sweet. I mean, the movie's about a trashy little robot falling in love with a beautiful new robot, then she shuts down and Wall-E cares for her until she wakes up and figures out she likes him, and then he gets seriously hurt. I mean.... Look at that way and.... Yeah. You get it now? Anyways, Sammy got Lumiere, Riley Lightning McQueen, which she looked a little embarrassed about, Lacy Bo Peep from Toy Story, Emmi Esmerelda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Zara finally got Merida from Brave, which I approved of, except for the fact that Merida was single the entire movie. I mean, all of us are rooting for Zarthan, or Ethra, whatever. Finally, I had gotten Sebastion, which I was quite happy about.

"Why Sebastian?" Sammy questioned as we kept walking. I shrugged.

"He's my favorite. I mean, I feel so BAD for him throughout the whole movie! He's just a frustrated composer, trying to babysit a teen!" I elbowed him in the side. "I can relate to that," His eyes widened as he rubbed his ribs.

"You're a composer?" I blushed furiously, and rubbed my neck.

"Oh-um, yeah. But not seriously, I guess. They aren't really good, so only I see them," And under my breath, I continued with, "I never really had anyone to share them with,"

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing,"

"Could you show me sometime?" I was surprised, and a little frazzled.

"Um, ok, I guess, I'll show you tonight, maybe?"

"Yeah. That sounds great" Emmi joined the conversation, well, more like saved it, and said,

"I really like Djali, but these Disney stores are terrible and have none of his merch, so," She shrugged. "I thought this was the next best option,"

"Also because you had a crush on Phoebos when you were younger," She scoffed and ignored the comment, though I noticed her ears were tinted red.

"What about you? Why Lumiere? Got a crush on Lefou?" He rolled his eyes.

"C'mon sis! You know I've got the best French accent!" Both Emmi and I raised an eyebrow, and he chuckled. "Look! Hola, mademoiselles, it is with deepest pride and greatest honor-" I couldn't let this monstrosity of an accent get any farther, it was murdering my eardrums. Despite this, I pursed my lips.

"You do realize that hola is Spanish, right?" Emmi full on cracked up at this, bending over, and soon we all were, just DYING of laughter so hard, that we didn't notice our friends were missing. Or that they were hostages. Hearing Zara rasp,

"Help!" Shook me to my senses, and my staff was in my hand in a matter of seconds. Then my laughter started to bubble up again. Seriously? Her captor raised a hand.

"Ah, demigods, finally. It's been years since we've had this kind of blood. Now, we shall prepare you for the sacrifice of the hungry, for we are, the Astra Planeta!" I snorted, inside just pondering why they're even bothering with this.

"Uh," Sammy pointed out, "You guys look more like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy, Donald, and Goofy to me,"

"Way to know your Mickey Mouse trivia," I grumbled. I could only register out of the corner of my eye that he was blushing. And then we charged.

WC:1257