Chapter 46: Fifth stage: Acceptance
[ Annabeth pov ]
"It's fine Annabeth." said Luke while patting her head. "You can go and participate in today's games. I already talked with Chiron and he will make sure Christina is fine in the meantime."
Annabeth stared at her brother's face and smiled slightly. "I don't mind staying with Chris." she replied.
This would be the fourth games that would be played since they arrived at the camp and so far she hadn't participated in any.
Despite how interesting they looked, all of them being war related games like capture the flag, she had always stayed behind with Christina and while she didn't mind doing this at all, she would be lying if she said she didn't want to play.
"I know." replied Luke. "But that doesn't mean you can't have fun once in a while. Besides, I have already been... recognised by my godly father, so perhaps if you do something impressive you will be recognised by your godly mother as well and will be able to move to a cabin with your brothers."
Annabeth stared at Luke with slightly wide eyes, ignoring the hesitation and slight anger that appeared in his tone when he said the word 'recognised'. "But you are my brother... and so is Christina. I am fine staying in the same cabin as you, in fact I like ti a lot!"
Luke stared at her eyes and smiled kindly while riffling her hair. "You don't need to act tough with me Anna." he said in a soft tone. "I know you have been trying really hard, and no matter what you will always be our sister. However, that doesn't mean that you can't do things you like, besides I am sure that you would enjoy a lot staying in Athena's cabin, after all the children there share the same likes and dislikes as you."
A momento of silence fell between them as Luke crouched down and hugged her tightly. "Neither Chris nor I will be going anywhere Anna, so you don't have to worry about us."
Small tears formed in Annabeth's eyes as she felt the warmth of Luke's embrace.
"It is fine spending some time doing what you want to do, meeting new people and trying new things." he said. "I always dreamed of you two being able to have a fulfilling life, and so did Thalia. So stop worrying so much and go show everyone how awesome you are in today's game. Everyone, even your mother, will recognise your greatness!"
'Yes...' thought Annabeth as she heard Luke's words. 'It will be fine.'
"Alright." said Annabeth as she separated herself from Luke. "I am awesome, and I will prove it!"
Putting on a proud expression and flexing slightly, Annabeth stared at Luke and chuckled.
Luke too laughed at the sight of his young sister making poses, which came off as cute instead of mighty or threatening like they were meant to.
"Still..." muttered Annabeth with a slightly sad expression as she stopped doing the poses. "I will still be your sister, okey? So don't leave me..."
Luke smiled and pulled Annabeth in for another hug. "Never. I will never leave you, nor will I ever leave Christina."
Annabeth stared at him with a smile and turned around. "Well, I will go and win this game!" she said.
"Make us proud, Anna." said Luke as he watched her go off.
Annabeth felt a weight lifted from her heart as she walked to where the game would be played at. She knew that she had to be better to protect her siblings, she had to be stronger, she had to be smarter, still... it would be fine if she enjoyed herself a bit in the process right?
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[ Luke pov ]
"Hey Luke." said Cassius, greeting Luke as he entered the Hephaestus cabin. "Annabeth isn't with you today huh?"
"No." said Luke while shaking his head. "I sent her off to the war game of today."
"Ahh right." said Cassius as he remembered there indeed was a game today. "Anyway, I suppose you came to see them right?" he continued, his expression becoming slightly excited.
"Yes." replied Luke. "Charles told me earlier that they were ready."
"Indeed." said Cassius while pulling a blanket of something and uncovering a pair of arms. "And, while I don't brag about my inventions, this two ended up being beautiful."
Luke smiled as he saw the pair fo arms. "You are right, they are beautiful." he replied. "I am sure she will love them."
Cassius nodded at Luke's words. "Indeed." he replied, grabbing one of the arms and giving it to Luke is that he could see it up close. "We even painted the red pandas. Well, I asked Ariadne from the Aphrodite cabin to paint them, but the result is the same."
Luke chuckled as he saw the red pandas painted on the arms. "They are indeed cute..."
Silence fell on the workshop of the cabin as Luke finished examining the arms. "Did you add the dagger in the arm?" asked Luke with a serious expression.
"Yes." replied Cassius. "A dagger of celestial bronze is hidden on the left arm. We didn't make the arms themselves of celestial bronze because we will have to make new ones while Christina grows up, and we just don't have enough celestial bronze to make a pair of arms every year or every several months. You will have to settle for a dagger capable of killing monsters."
"That's fine for now." said Luke. "She won't be going to fight monsters so the dagger should be enough."
Cassius nodded and sat down as Luke placed the arm back on the table.
"You need to do something about your anger." said Cassius as he stared at Luke.
Luke's eyes widened momentarily before his usual expression returned. "What are you talking about?" he asked with a confused expression.
"Sigh, you think you are the only one who has ever been angry at 'them'?" asked Cassius while shaking his head. "Of course not."
Luke stared at Cassius in silence for a moment.
"Take this as advice from a friend." said Cassius with a sad expression. "Ants can't challenge humans."
Luke's eyes widened once again as he understood the comparison his ruined was making. "So we are just supposed to be good little ants?" he said while gritting his teeth.
"Yes." replied Cassius. "Because if even a single act becomes annoying for the humans, they will come and step on the entire colony."
Cassius stood up and looked at Luke in the eyes. "Just remember what you wish to protect and how far you are willing to go to do so."
'Indeed.' thought Cassius as he stared at Luke's angry expression slowly diminish. 'Even if we have to swallow our pride and act as pawns in their games, we do so because that is how we keep our family safe.'
"You haven't been here for too long." said Cassius. "But it is safe, much safer than out there. I came over two years ago with my brother Charles and it is not that bad. All you have to do is swallow your anger for being abandoned and move forward."
Placing his hand on Luke's shoulder, Cassius put on a sympathetic expression. "I know how you are feeling because I was there too and, while as a child of Hephaestus I am not good with emotions and all that, I want you to know that I am here for you if you need to talk or something."
Luke nodded at Cassius' words and smiled slightly. "Thanks..." he muttered, however his anger didn't diminish.
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[ ??? pov ]
Darkness, absolute darkness, and from that darkness a glowing golden eye opened. On the golden eye, the image of Luke hitting a tree with tears falling form his eyes was reflected.
"So much hatred... and he still has hope..." muttered the owner of the eye, his voice echoing through the endless darkness that surrounded him. "What a fine pawn you will make..."
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