Chapter Six

Both Xavier and I walked through the small line of trees between here and the river. We were looking for Payton, because Chiron wanted to see the two of them.

That, evidently had been my fault. I had managed to convince Chiron to let us swap classes. He told me to send Payton and Xavier to him, so I have found one and need the other.

Off in the distance, I heard Payton's voice. I knew then that she had been praying to her Dad. I held Xavier back, and we waited until Payton wandered over, in her hands a heavy looking weapon I knew she yap about later. 

I sent them to Chiron. Xavier actually asked her about the weapon as I hung back. Payton gave him a vague answer, and then it was silent between them, as far as I could tell.

It was time for me to take over Percy's care from Tori, so I began to walk to the infirmary.

Have you started to wonder why Payton and Xavier hate each other so much? Well, I'll tell you.

Payton was twelve when she arrived here seven years ago. Usually she stays at the camp all year round, but sometimes leaves for a week. When she turned fourteen, Xavier arrived.

For a while it was the two of them who were friends. Luke added to that when he arrived the same year, and then I came. Really, everyone thought Xavier and Payton would end up together before Luke and I.

Then, Xavier and Payton were sent on a quest together. Whilst they were gone, Luke and I got together, but that is a different story. Payton and Xavier had to track down a cyclops that had gone a little wild around mortals and stolen a necklace that accumulated special powers, which they were to retrieve.

Their search actually lead them to the Underworld, and eventually to a chasm. Tartarus. The entrance, anyway. Payton described it as orange souls reaching out, but the cyclops they were chasing literally jumped into Tartarus.

Feeling victorious since they had the necklace, the two went to leave when an orange set of hands reached up and tried to drag Payton into Tartarus.

Managing to grip on to the side, Xavier leaned down to help her. Obviously it would have been quite a panic, and he almost had her…until Xavier suddenly stopped, stood up and turned away.

Payton told me it looked like he had been hypnotised, but she has never forgiven him for it. She would have fallen into Tartarus if, and get this, a small, random girl saved her with fire, before running away.

Xavier says he was about to pull her up, when he suddenly could not see, hear, feel, taste or smell. In his mind a dark voice spoke in whispers, and when he woke up he was in Persephone's garden, Payton glaring down at him.

We all hoped he would forgive her eventually.

I took over from Tori to watch Percy Jackson. Saddened, I stared down at him as he writhed in his sleep.

"Mom! Mom! No!" He'd yell. Reaching down, I gripped his wrist and shushed, until he calmed and stilled.

I fed him rice pudding and water, before Argus took over and I returned to teach my first class with Luke. On my way there, I sensed someone running at me. Before I could lash my whip, Payton jumped onto my back.

"You stupid piece of salt!" She yelled at me.

"Is your head just full of rock candy? Or perhaps your brain is so soft it's made of water taffy!"

When she jumped off I turned around to face her. I guess Chiron just informed her of the class changes.

"You realise you contradicted your own offence? You called my salt as an offence to my nickname yet played on what the nickname actually i-"

"WHY DID YOU DO IT!?" She yelled. 

"I have my reasons," I replied and continued walking to the class.

"Like what!?" Think, Candace. Mother give me luck.

"I want to spend more time with Luke," I told her in a hushed tone. I didn't say that, my mother must have made me blurt it out.

Without a word, Payton stomped away, leaving me to get to my swording class in peace. When I arrived, the class were seated on logs but Luke was not there.

"Little Miss Luck is teaching us today huh?" Someone yelled out.

"Everyone say thank you captain obvious."

Laughing, the class repeated it and went back to talking normally. Looking over the faces, I knew most of them well. A lot of them were clients.

"Jade?" I asked the daughter of Apollo, closest to me. A fourteen year old.

"Yes Candi?"

"What time does Luke usually get here?"

"Well we just assumed he was with you. Usually he's here before us." I hummed, and wandered away in search for him. From a far away distance I could see Payton and Xavier teaching personal weapons together. 

Payton seemed to be doing fine, teaching swing fighting techniques, which is what I taught normally. Swing fighting is with whips, chains, ropes, rods, nets and thin swords.

I made the class pair up and begin practising the three block techniques.

Whilst they were distracted, I slipped away for a minute to scout the camp. It wasn't long before I found Luke…walking, laughing, talking, joking and smiling with Lenore, daughter of Aphrodite. She had just returned to camp for the summer, and had bags in her hands…Luke had her bags as well, helping her towards the cabins.

Everything about her made me angry. From her stupid, perfect blonde hair to her perfect stupid bone structure to her sparkling hazel eyes, which were also stupid. I hate Aphrodite's kids. 

My eyes watered, because Luke looked so happy and carefree, as though at any moment he could turn around and tell Lenore he loves her. 

When I returned, I smiled at the class and told them they could run free, because only one teacher was here. Everyone thanked me and dispersed. I went to Xavier and Payton. They addressed their class side by side, and then I could not help it…

"Remember everyone, it's Mr and Mrs Laken."

Then I bolted. I ended up sitting in my office staring at the river.

Maybe it was time that I ended it with Luke? He has never called my beautiful of anything like that, never told me he loved me, never met my dad and I have never met his mom.

I stood up. I have made my choice.