*ੈ✩‧₊˚ THE GREAT WAR ໒꒱‧₊˚ act i . . .
how it all began

⋆｡˚ ⋆˚ · . CHAPTER ONE ，
━━━━━━ ❛ bad dreams can be real ❜

SHE WAS RUNNING, her breath stuck in her chest almost making her feel she was about to pass out. But she had to keep going.

The rain poured on her, shoes making noises as she went up the stairs, clinging on to her clothes like a second skin, hair drenched over her shoulders on the messy ponytail.

She stopped, gasping for air as she looked around, realizing she was at a greek altar, pillars all around her as if statues guarding the altar.

The kindjals on her shaking hands trembled. Her heart beating furiously against her chest, the muscle almost giving out due to its intensive movement.

Sophia knew something was coming. She could feel it in her stomach, in the way the hairs on her arms stood up, on the stop of her heart as hearing the absence of noise.

She was running away from it. Could feel their blood on her face, on her weapons, the drops of the liquid reaching the floor the only noticeable sound.

The girl tried to breathe, tried to calm the fear crawling through her trying to tear her down, to let the tears fall.

But Sophia knew she couldn't. She knew there wasn't any time for her laments when a figure appeared in the distance. When their steps started to impact the ground, creating vibrations on the altar, the columns shaking.

Sophia gripped her kindjals tighter, swallowing the need to throw up. She had to resist. She had to, for him.

— Don't try to fight me. — A deep-raw, sounding almost-dead voice said. The figure continued to move forward, still not visible due to the amount of fog. — You will never win.

— Don't underestimate me. Everybody that does normally ends up dead. — She responded, her body adopting a fighting position almost automatically.

It laughed, the sound making her get chills all over her body. It sounded maniacal, pure evil descending upon her ready to swallow her hole like water.

— Like father like daughter. Or not this time, since he isn't here to witness this, right, Sophia? — She clenched her teeth, the mention of him producing emotions she did not want to have. — A war is coming, child of Apollo. And you will have to choose correctly who to side with, as this will be detonating the tide of it. Do not disappoint me.

The last thing she tried to see was a shadow figure coming for her, so fast she couple only feel the weight of the blade it was carrying, sinking it's way into her stomach, the cool of the metal paralyzing her organs, blood coming out of her mouth, a person screaming her name.

She woke up sweating, a scream building up on her throat, her hands already on it trying to calm the need to scratch the area, a bad habit the girl was trying to avoid.

This wasn't the first time Sophia had dreamt about her death. In fact, she was getting use to the feeling of the sword piercing her body, the metallic taste of her blood coating her mouth, the distant feeling of silence, of getting close to dying.

The first night it happened the entire camp woke up to her screams, her siblings trying to get her back to sleep without success. Her tears made her impossible for her to see, making her way up to the clear of the river, the light of the moon calming her completely. Only then, and some help from Luke, Sophia could find sleep again.

She was only six.

But now she knew better than calling the son Hermes. Even if they were like siblings, she knew how he suffered from his own nightmares, knowing how much Luke struggled to sleep well.

So like every time, she got out of her bed, changing her pijamas for the classical orange camp t-shirt and some short jeans up til her knees with her favorite brown converse, and headed out of the door into the training areas.

She unclasped the two gold feather-form clips from her hair, a small light appearing as both transformed into small kindjals with engravings on the handle: one of them had an arpa on it, and the other a small word, "light".

It was a gift from her father. He gave them to her that night when her mother abandoned her on the hill close to camp half-blood. He said to never take them off. And she did, although not sure why.

That was the last time she saw him. He never replied to her prayers, the questions unanswered she still had about that night, about the light coming out of her hands.

Because that was something else.

Sophia knew, sometimes demigods had other powers. Powers that were not normal amongst their kind. Only powerful ones, childrens of the great three had them.

But from Apollo? She never heard of anybody. And she had researched, everywhere she could. To see if someone could have gone through the same thing, somebody who could guide her, who could help her.

She didn't want that power. She didn't ask for it. Her younger self only wanted to see it, to feel the heat of it on her skin, to stopped her from shivering against the cold.

Not a curse that could tear the camp to half if she was furious. That power was violent, untamed and wild. Sophia didn't use it. Only one time that cost her already too much.

That's why she focused on her kindjals, her preferred weapons in battle. She felt comfortable with them, her both arms deadly on any battlefield, making her way through her enemies, through the people that wanted her dead.

Yes, she was a child of Apollo, the god of music and archery. Kind of ironic, right? Wrong. It is true she was a pure natural with the bow an arrow. But something, a feeling or reason beyond her, made her not use it.

Her father had never cared for her in the past ten years of her life, not even a small gesture that he was listening to her. He only claimed her when she arrived at camp, giving her a space in the Apollo cabin and meeting her siblings.

But since then, it was as if Sophia didn't even have a father. It was better to think that way though. She didn't have to think of the other kids bragging about all the things they did with their dad, or how they couldn't wait to see them again.

Sophia didn't need him. She had survived this last years without him. She didn't need his archery blessing or some stupid flashlight as hands. She only needed herself.

As the hours went by and the sun rose, Sophia kept training, her kindjals getting stuck on a perfect aim on the objectives, sweat already appearing on her skin, oxygen already lacking.

But she kept going, even when a few campers were already awake, not even paying her attention. The feeling of the blades, of her body moving in rhythm, the sound of the metal hitting the puppet straw. She savored it. She enjoyed the feeling of it in a strangely way.

But when the sun finally hit her face, she knew she had to get breakfast before one of her older siblings would pick her up and drag her to the table. She knew how annoying they could be.

Collecting her kindjals and sticking them into her hair as they transformed back into the pins, she walked to where all the others were sitting, getting a seat amongst the other Apollo children and enjoying a small breakfast, consisting mostly of fruits.

Sophia wasn't really a big talker. She enjoyed listening to others, keeping her thoughts to herself. She didn't mind when they didn't ask her specifically, or when they made fun of her because of her silence.

Sophia was okay with it. She always preferred books over people anyways.

But today was different. Something, a feeling told her today wouldn't be normal. As she chewed on the piece of fruit, she knew something would happen, something that would make an impact on her life.

Maybe she didn't get enough sleep, or maybe she was just crazy (which in her kind, wasn't so strange). But the feeling in her stomach didn't go away for the rest of the day.

She cleaned her cabin for inspection, knowing that her siblings wouldn't be happy if her things weren't tidy up. She knew how her older sister Sam was quite bossy when she wanted, especially in terms of cleaning.

After that, and making sure she carried everything, she went to the training grounds once again, watching other campers taking positions, practicing their skills.

Amongst the archers, she saw Annabeth. A small smile appeared on her face. Her and Annie go back (don't tell her she calls her that). Even though Sophia wasn't a big talker, Annabeth was always there for her in her own strange way: since finding each other at the border, the both of them had been rather close, considering most of the campers tended to keep to themselves. Annabeth wasn't exactly the most warming person, showing little to none affection. Sophia could only remember one time the girl hugged her, and it lasted for three seconds before she pulled away. But even so, the two girls were there for each other.

— Another nightmare? — Annabeth said, crossing her arms without taking her eyes off the archers in position. Sophia only nodded slightly. — Maybe you should talk to Chiron. He might know why. Who knows, maybe it's a sign of something coming.

The other girl only shrugged, seeing the others releasing the arrows, some of them making the dartboard and others not even close. To her right she heard Athena's daughter sighed loudly, making her almost impossible to hide her laugh. Annabeth tended to have little to no patience when it came to deal with others.

— I will let you to it. — Sophia said, tapping her shoulder lightly and moving along, avoiding the children from Ares' cabin (knowing how well last training with her ended), and smiling when she spotted Luke's figure in the distance.

Now, Sophia's relationship with Luke went more afar than friends: after being rescued by him when she was younger, she grew quite attached to him, crying when she had been claimed and had been forced to move to Apollo's cabin.

Luke trained her since the moment she arrived at camp, showing her all the right moves on how to defend, attack and become victor on the battlefield. Showed her the strengths on being small and use it to her advantages.

He became his big brother in a way not anybody could understand. She trusted him without doubt. Sophia knew that if anything happens, if there was a time she needed help or could not win, Luke would be there for her. He would never betray her.

That's how far their trust went. Everybody at camp knew better than to mess with Apollo's daughter if they didn't want to face Luke's' wroth.

So when she arrived at the clearing and she met his eyes, Luke paused training, a big smile forming on his features at the same time he scooped her up in his arms, making her laugh out loud as he circled around.

— Hey, you. — He said, putting her down while rubbing her hair. — How is miss little sunshine today? Woke up with a bad mood?

— You mean with nightmares? Another normal day for me. — She joked, regretting it the second she saw him flinched for a second, trying to cover it by moving his shoulders.

— Well, it shouldn't be normal Soph, you know it. You know you can come to me if it happens, right? — He said softly, one of his hands coming up to squeeze her shoulder warmly.

— I know, but you also need to sleep. I don't want to suffer your bad mood if you don't. — She heard him scoffed, rolling his eyes while she laughed, taking a few steps back as he pushed her away.

— Last time I try to be nice with you, I swear. — Luke said, denying with his head. A small smile present on his face as Sophia beamed at him.

Yes, Sophia was like a little sister to him: ever since that night when they arrived at camp, he had taken a rather protective role over her. He knew she didn't need him as much as before when she still clung to his leg every time he tried to leave her side. But it still made him wary when she was called for mission, a small fear on him that she would for any reason not make it.

He was proud of her, of course. He made sure to teach her the best he could to make her one of the finest warriors out there, teaching her every move he knew. She might not be related to him by blood, but by everything else a sibling could be: care, love, and trust.

— But I do feel like something is going to happen today. — She said, making Luke furrow his brows.

— What do you mean?

— I don't know. — Sophia bit her lip, looking to the bright sky. — Call it gut or something, but it is happening today. I don't know what, but I can feel it.

Luke just looked at her, blinking slightly.

— Well I don't know what so important could happen that made you so tense. — The boy said, scratching his chin. — Ah, maybe I do know.

Sophia looked at him, curiosity resting behind her eyes. Luke only smirked at her shortly before he tackled her, tickling her in the places he knew would make her fold in laughter.

— Knowing I will beat you on a one-to-one combat! — He screamed, holding her tight against him, her laughter tickling his ears making a big smile break on his face.

— Lu-ke! Let m- me go! — She tried to say, tears forming in her eyes while she tried to get out of his grip.

Her laughter got the attention from the other campers, some of them smiling when they saw the pair of two laughing so loudly.

— Mister Castellan. — A deep voice said from behind them, the duo cutting their laughter and separating from each other as they turned around, coming face to face with Chiron. — I think that what you two were doing wouldn't be considered training, am I right?

Sophia only nodded, her expression turning serious while she tried to avoid the man's gaze. She felt Luke's hand find hers, squeezing it in sense of support.

— We're sorry Chiron. We were only joking for a few minutes. — Luke tried to say.

— I think those few minutes could determine your survival on a battlefield. — He responded, crossing his arms behind his back. — Get back to work, Luke. I need to have a talk with Sophia here.

Her brother nodded, his throat bobbing slightly while he looked at her. She nodded, giving him a small smile of reassurance and squeezing his fingers one last time, seeing him go back to the others, a sword already in his hand.

Sophia's gaze met the professor's one. She and Chiron used to get along quite well in comparison to with Mr.D. The centaur taught her a lot of things, specially of ancient history and greek mythology.

The man looked at her, his gaze softening a bit as her blue eyes met his, her features so similar to her father's made him almost sad. She was still so young and she had no idea of how cruel the world could get.

— Let's have a walk, shall we Mrs. Brown? — He said, one hand showing her the way.

The girl obeyed, taking small steps while the centaur walked beside her, his talons making a big noise against the floor.

— How have you been doing, Sophia? — Chiron asked, a simple question somebody might do to start a conversation. But Sophia knew better. She knew were this would take, what he wanted to know, what probably Mr. D wanted to know about.

— Could we just skip to the actual question, Chiron? I know you are not here to keep me company while I train. — She murmured, her fist clenching by her sides.

She heard the man sigh, his steps coming to a stop at the bottom of the field close to the river, its sounds drowning the screams and shouts from the campers.

— Theo told me about the nightmares. — He finally said, the girl internally cursing his brother for being so noisy. Sophia closed her eyes for a second, the shadow figure appearing once more in front of her.

— What about them? I thought it was common among us half bloods. — She said, opening her eyes to see the sad look on Chiron's gaze.

— Yes, but not as often as you have them. These dreams tend to disappear with time. But with you Sophia, you keep having them since years. — He explained, his face turning more serious, his gaze hardening.

— And what about it? It's not like I want to have them either. — She shrugged, blinking slightly at him.

— It can only mean that something bad is coming. Half blood's having nightmares are not usually related to good things. Sometimes can mean premonitions that we must not take kindly. Dark times are coming, Sophia. — The centaur said, his eyes breaking whatever transit he was in by looking at the water, his dark eyes focusing on her again. — Now more than ever, you need to keep your guard up. A half blood like you should always be ready for war.

Sophia couldn't help but scoffed.

— I'm his child. I'm not that important. — She responded, anger already rising in her body. Chiron could only deny with his head, feeling sorry for the girl in front of him.

— You might not realize it now, Sophia. But being an Apollo's child isn't something to take lightly. Especially you. — He saw the slight bobble of her throat, the small clenching of her fingers. Chiron had a small suspicion regarding Sophia's... abilities. And if they ended up being true, gods above, she didn't have much time left. — Your father knows that. That's why he claimed you, why he has been protecting you for so long.

— Protecting me? — She cried out, her head already in denial. She could feel the anger threatening to consume her. She could feel the tears coming up. But she would not cry. Not for him. — That man has never cared for me in my entire life. You say he claimed me, that he gave me a cabin, a place to rest. — The girl laughed sarcastically, her eyes blinking slightly focusing on the water. — He abandoned me at that hill, just like my mother. He is the reason I can't have a normal life, the reason I have to stay in this place all year because nobody else wants me. Nobody else cares for me. He gave me a life I didn't ask for.

Sophia wanted to run. She didn't want to cry, didn't want to share a single tear for the man he never saw again. The man who was supposed to teach her how to ride a bike, how to swim. He was supposed to care for her. Wasn't that what parents where for? To take care of their children, to love them?

She lifted her teary gaze to the centaur, blinking away the ones clouding her vision.

— No, Chiron. He might be the man who's blood runs in me, but never in a million years would he be my father. That guy died when he left without saying goodbye. And because of that, — she swallowed the whimpers that wanted to come out — I lost my mother. And know, I have no one. No one to call a parent figure that would want me for who I am.

Chiron felt his heart break. She knew so little, thrown into this world so early and without any answers. He wanted to get closer to her, but the horn signaling lunch time made her snap, the vulnerability he was starting to see completely vanished.

— You can't keep denying it to yourself. He is your father and he cares about you.

— Well, he has had eleven years to show it and still not a single sign that he is listening. I've been fine on my own Chiron and for sure as hell I don't need him now. — Sophia finished, looking her gaze to his for a few seconds before making her way back.

Chiron could only pray. Pray that the one little girl she once was always staying up til late talking to the fire waiting for her father's response, was not gone. That there was still some hope left after all in Sophia Brown.

𓆩⚝𓆪

Sophia just wanted to say a big i told you so to the entire camp. Literally, she would gladly go to the middle of it and scream it, relishing their annoying faces.

She had felt it the second it happened. Her heart stopped, goosebumps forming in her arms as she heard a small hmmm like a whisper in her ears, her gaze snapping to the screams of other campers getting close to the border.

And now, she knew why. The reason for these weird feelings was lying on the bed across from her, sleeping as if he hadn't killed the minotaur just a few hours ago.

She scrutinize her gaze, her head tilling to the right as she watched him breathe. She got closer to him, somehow unconsciously drawn to the boy.

— You drool in your sleep. — She murmured, grabbing a tissue from the night table and wiping his mouth. Her hand stopped shortly after, her fingers moving on their own as a sudden need surrounded her, gently pushing away the strands of hair from in front of his eyes.

They fluttered open a little making Sophia gasp: his eyes were the prettiest shade of green she'd ever seen, a mix of blue and green reminding her of the color sea glass, of all the days she spent looking at the ocean.

The boy murmured slightly, his eyelashes fluttering slightly before falling unconscious once again. Sophia couldn't deny it: he had something. Something that was calling her to him. Yes, he was cute in a weird way. But who was he? Why did he make such an effect on her, leaving her almost breathless?

The girl stepped away, her gaze hardening. No, this was dangerous. These feelings, this sudden interested that had picked her the moment she laid eyes on him was worrying.

Sophia left the infirmary before thinking twice. She was glad for the time, the camp surrounded by the silence of the others sleeping, offering her the chance to go to her cabin without anyone noticing her. She climbed up her bed, trying to stop the erratic beating of her heart.

Who was that kid? And why did Sophia have a gut feeling that something very bad just started with his arrival?

She urgently needed to sleep.

lea's notes ✧˖*°࿐
HI! first chapter here we go. i know is not much, and percy doesn't even appear, but i just wanted to give you something and apologize for the long wait!
hope you guys enjoyed this little introduction and get to know a bit the relationships Sophia has with other characters. so EXCITED for next chapter though, Sophia and Percy are going to meet 🤭 again, forgive for any mistakes you might see!
see you next time! <3