The Mortal

Now is the trouble really starting

I don’t remember anything until I woke up in the infirmary with Leah watching me. I didn’t dream or at least I didn’t remember any dream. The worst was that I remembered any single moment of the conversation with Hecate. Even the part where I learned that my parents were dead and that my friends didn’t remember me. It was like someone was taking my heart away from me to play football with it. And in case you wonder it’s not nice. Leah finally noticed that I was awake.
« Hello Sleeping Beauty » she said
« How long did I sleep ? » I asked
« Almost one entire day. How are you feeling ? »
« Not so bad considering what happened. I feel … I don’t know. Stronger maybe ? »
I tried to get up but everything started to turn around me. I let myself fall back on the bed.
« Okay forget what I’ve just said I’m not so strong. »
« You want some Ambrosia ? I didn’t give you some earlier because I didn’t how you would react. »
« How I would react ? »
« A bite of it can heal but too much can make a demigod feverish and can kill a mortal. And I wouldn’t be surprised if you told me that you are a mortal considering that everything is strange whith you. »
Everything is strange with me. That was a good summary.
« Yeah you got it I’m a mortal and I have to admit that I would prefer not to die. But for how long have you been there ? »
« Hey ! I’m the one who’s asking the questions ! »
« And since when ? » I interrupted her
« Since I saved your life mortal » she answered with a smile
I remained silent looking at her with a strange look.
« Oh come on ! Just kidding » did she resume « I’m here since the moment you were brought here by Chiron and Rachel. »
« And you’re the one who took care of me ? »
« Yes ! I’m your doctor now ! As an Apollo kid I have special healing skills so I spend a lot of times in the infirmary to help injured people and I was there when they brought you so I decided to stay with you »
« That was kind » I said blushing « Thank you »
Lowering my hand to hide that I was blushing I noticed a strange thing on my arm. It was a strange that I’ve never seen before. It looked like a wheel with a labyrinth and a star inside it. It was like a tatoo but I was sure it wasn’t there before. Suddendly I remembered that it was the place where Hecate touched my arm yesterday so maybe it was the sign that we were bounded now.
« Do you know what this is ? » I asked showing my arm
« I don’t » she answered « But Chiron surely knows it. And he wanted to see you as soon as you were awake anyway. »
« Let’s go then ! »
I got up slower than the first time and with Leah’s help. Everything was fine this time. I started to walk to the door.
« Feel good ? » Leah asked
« Yes. Now I really feel stronger ! »
One outside I started to walk faster. I felt good. I really did. But Leah calmed me.
« Slow down » she said « Don’t be an idiot ! You barely managed to get up ! »
I listened to her and I slowed down. We walked silently until we arrived at the Big House. Chiron wasn’t there so we waited for him to come back. While we were waiting I asked Leah to tell me more about the camp and about her. She told me that she was there since she was twelve and that she was claimed by her father a month after her arrival. She told about her abilities to heal and to use a bow. She was good in music too but not as good as her siblings since it was not her specialty. She also told me about the camp traditions like the camp beads or the Capture The Flag games. She was showing me her necklace with all the beads when Chiron arrived.
« You’re awake ! Great ! I don’t have much time so tell me everything ! »
I started to talk and I told him everything I knew. I told him about the Lamia and her wish to bring Clytius back to life. I told him about the threat that it would represent on magic. I told him that I was a mortal and that I was able to enter the camp only because Hecate opened the way for me. I told him about my parents and friends. I told him about the new powers I was supposed to have and the quest I had to lead. When I stopped talking I felt strange. Saying all of that it made it more real. As I was thinking about that Chiron was starting to speak.
« It seems like we don’t have much time before you go on your quest. You’ll have to be prepared quickly. Do you know if you can have demigods with you for that quest ? »
« Yes I can » I answered remembering Hecate advice to choose wisely
« So you’ll have to choose two demigods to help you »
« I can choose anyone ? »
« Yes as long as the person agrees »
I was already thinking of the person I could choose to go with me but Chiron interrupted my minds. He noticed the thing on my arm.
« Is it where Hecate touched you ? » he asked showing my arm
« Yes » I answered « But I don’t know what this is »
« It’s an Hecate wheel » he said « One of the magical symbol of Hecate. Maybe it’s a side effect of the spell she used on you. »
« Oh hum yeah maybe » I said trying my best to remember the spell that she had used
« Have you tried to use magic yet ? » Chiron said interrupting my mind
« No. He just woke up » Leah answered before me
« I’m not in the best position to teach magic but just to see what you’re able to do I’ll make an exception. »
« Hum okay but how do I do magic ? »
« I have to admit that I’m not sure of how it works. Try to focus and just let magic flow through your veins »
I tried my best to focus and do something magical. I closed mye yes and just imagined that I created something made of mist because it was the only magical thing I knew since Hecate just told me about that. But when I opened mye yes I saw nothing special.
« It didn’t work » I said
« Actually I don’t know what you were trying to do but you’ve done something magical » Chiron said looking at my hair « Your hair weren’t green before »
Green hair ? Seriously ?