Chapter 3

Desiree

I woke up in the Infirmary. How the heck did I get into the infirmary?

"Des" Alex said coming into the infirmary then engulfing me in a hug "I was so worried. I thought you died"

"What happened?" I asked

"Well Alice thought it was extremely funny to throw you to a tree and blame it all on me" he said venomously "I thought she killed you trust me she's going to pay"

Then what had happened started to come back to me. The fight and all the earthshaking and water. Then being thrown to the tree. "I don't think she would mean to hurt me. I mean you guys were in an argument"

"I don't really care" he exclaimed "she hurt you."

"Don't Alex" I said "I can handle this"

"Fine just be careful okay" he said "Anyway I have to go Sam said that they might let you go later this afternoon. Since you would probably go back to the barracks I guess I'll see you tomorrow"

"Okay see ,you Lex"

Then I was alone. I looked around the room Samuel is most probably tending to other patients he's the best healer in camp, a son of Apollo. I was about to consider standing up and finding him when I found a distraction. There was a piece of paper on my bedside table. It was for me.

Dear Desiree (I hope I got the spelling right)

I am sorry for what happened back at the Siege I didn't mean for things to get out of hand. Since I doubt Alex would even let me near you….I wanted to give you this. You deserve this better than I do especially with the amazing plan.

I am Sorry

Alyce

On the bedside table was a pin. It was designed like a laurel wreath. The Mural Crown. I was confused. That wasn't saying much I wasn't only confused I was in shock. Why would she give me the Mural Crown? And what's this about Alex not letting her get near me? Something is definitely up. That's how her name is spelt? I thought it was Alice they must've pronounced it wrong. I have to get to the bottom of this. Then Samuel entered the room.

"Hey Des glad to see you finally awake"

"How long was I out anyway?" I asked "Alex left in such a rush I forgot to ask"

"You were out for three days" he said handing me what looks like a glass of Nectar "you actually recovered faster than expected you broke two of your ribs and hit your head on the tree. Thankfully you didn't get a concussion. What wonders nectar could do" I started to drink the nectar. It tasted like honey and marshmallows. The ones I used to share with my friends when I was a kid. It warmed me up all the way to my toes.

"What happened when I was gone?" I asked curiously

"Well…" he smirked "Alex was here a lot. Lucas and your sister came a few times…." He said

"And?"

"The new girl came in here left that note for you also tried to see you a few times" he said "she looked like she was in a rush like she didn't want to be seen…That's all your getting out of me"

She came here? Now I really am confused. All Alex told me about the girl is that she was mean and dangerous. That I should stay away from her. Maybe he wasn't telling me the truth. Maybe Lorrain was right. This is so annoying. Maybe…

"Des" Sam said waving his hand back and forth in front of my face.

"Yeah what?"

"I asked if you were feeling better."He repeated "because if you are I can let you go earlier"

"Yeah I can't feel a thing" I said jumping down from my bed

"Okay then if you're feeling unwell just holler kay?

"Sure" I said I grabbed the note and the pin and headed to the Third Cohort barracks.

I was sitting on my bed looking on at the note and the Mural Crown sitting in front of me. I was deep in thought that I didn't notice Lucas come in. I jumped when I suddenly saw him leaning on the post.

"Damn it, Lucas, you scared me" I exclaimed.

"Hello to you, too" he said "I see you got Alyce's Note"

"Yeah" I said then looked back up at him "Wait how did you know about the note?"

"She told me about it" he said as if it were obvious

"Wait your friends with her? Why didn't you tell me?"

"You never asked. And she said something about Alex…"

"Yes?"

"Nothing" he said innocently

"Lucas you know how annoying I can be and you know I can make you say things that you don't want to. So unless you want to go through that again I suggest you tell me what it is."

He sighed "Just don't react badly to this okay she also threatened to kill me if I told anyone"

"Like she could"

"Oh she might" he said "she just doesn't want anyone else in her battles"

"So what is it" I asked impatiently

"She said that Alex threatened her." He said carefully as if watching my expression "told her to stay away from you."

"Why?" I asked Lucas I can practically see his mind turning. Lucas may not be a child of Minerva but he can be pretty smart "why would he try to keep her away and why would he say that she is some mean and dangerous person… she isn't mean or dangerous is she?"

"Mean? No. Dangerous? Can be. And I don't know maybe he's scared he doesn't want her to take you away as his friend"

"Or?"

"Or he's jealous" he said "she is the only daughter of Neptune this past century and it took him days to get claimed unlike both you and Alyce you were claimed right on the spot"

"I don't know" I muttered.

"Hey what's that?" he said picking up the mural crown "how did you get this"

"How do you think I got it" I asked waving the piece of paper.

"I knew she was hiding something" he muttered then turned the pin around his hand and gave it to me "Come on we need to go to Lunch. Maybe I can introduce you to Alyce"

During Lunch we switched seats and was talking to Angelo. Then Lucas suddenly asked

"Where's Alyce?"

"I don't know" he replied "She just grabbed a sandwich and ran off she said she had guard duty or something like that. or maybe she's at her dad's temple. You know how much she likes going there"

I looked at Lucas confused

"I passed by Neptune's temple found her asleep on the floor with a blanket and offerings at the table once" I just nodded.

"Anyway why are you looking for her especially with…" Angelo was covering his hand but I know he was pointing to me.

"Am I the only one who doesn't know about what Alex has been doing!?"

"Nope not really" Angelo said "Alex didn't tell me Alyce did trust me it took a lot of convincing to get her to talk. She said something about not to trust people."

"Might be her fatal flaw" I said "anyway who else knows?"

"Just us"

"You know what I'm through with this I'm going to find her" I said then went out of the mess hall, went over the river and towards the tunnel. Maybe I might find my answers then.

I saw her standing by the end of the tunnel. Kicking a rock in the air not letting it touch the ground using the sides of her feet which were protected by her boots, basically bored out of her wits.

"Having fun?" I asked right as she hit the stone. A bit too hard I might add it hit her on the head. good thing it isn't a sharp edged one or she would've been bleeding hard. It did leave a small scratch.

"Aww man" she said then her voice changed to panic "Hi what are you doing here?"

"To return something of yours" I said showing her the Mural Crown.

"No that's yours" she said "you should've won it. Alex…"

"I don't care what he says" I snapped "I know what he's been doing. He doesn't have the right to take over your life"

"I can't…"

"And why?"

"He threatened me. He said he could make my life miserable at camp. I had that before. I was known a freak for ADHD and the water thing doesn't help either. I can't go back to that"

"You won't" I reassured "you're a demigod all this is normal. And I believe this belongs to you" I pinned the Mural Crown on her shirt and gave her a hug. I think I have gained a new friend.

OKAY tis the end of a short story. Having fun, Making friends, and dreadful siblings. I was thinking of an Epilogue but nothing is coming in soo... :P Goodbye for now~Lyss and Des...(AWSM and DM)

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