He looked down at the animal. The knife in his hand….he could hardly do it. It was so innocent, those big beady eyes, begging him to let it live.
Apollo looked over his shoulder waiting for him to do it. Do it and you can have the gift of prophecy. He took a deep breath and raised the knife. It’s not real. It’s not real…
He drove the knife down into the animal. The tear echoed through the hall has the fabric ripped. Inside where he expected to be fluff was color. It swirled around creating images. He could see the words in it. He had it. He had the gift. After all this time, he did it.
The prophecy, however, was familiar. He knew the carved words in the stone. Why couldn’t he get his own vision? Not some old dusty one!
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire, the world must fall.
He looked at the other innocent toy animals waiting for their fate. He breathed in and nodded. He turned to the god of prophecy and bowed.
“Thank you, my lord.”
Apollo smiled and disappeared. He looked down at the white stuffing. An old prophecy. Just his luck. He tossed the knife and listened to it echo off the stone. He sighed and headed towards the field of Mars.
He sat down in a crater. His head fell between his liege. His slow, steady breaths continued. Sometimes his shoulders jerked up twice as he sucked in air, then went down.
Octavian looked at the sky. Why did they curse him? Why did he have to be a failure? He tucked his knees to his chest and wiped his face smearing dirt.
“I failed you mom. I-I’m trying to make you proud. D-dad gave me the gift. It’s not e-enough.” He tried to stop his sobs. His thoughts kept repeating.
“Hey, Octavian right?”He choked on a cry and nodded. The dirt crumbled down as two feet slid down it. A hand reached out and ruffled his hair.
“Tough day huh?” He wiped his eyes.
“None of your business,” he croaked. A hand patted his back. He tried harder to stop crying. He couldn’t let anyone see him crying.
“Me too. Reyna yelled at me for knocking down all the armor racks. A month of toilet duty. I’m Lucia by the way.”
He looked up at the face. A girl with bright purple hair. Freshly cut right above the shoulders. She smiled softly. She could see the glistening lines where tears had been.
“What about you?”
”My mom made me promise to make her proud. I thought the perfect way was to get the gift of prophecy. All I got was a stupid old one. I’m a failure.”
“We’re like ten! You’re worried that having the gift of prophecy isn’t enough?! Are you crazy? Your mom is definitely proud, believe in me.”
He felt her arms wrap around him. He wasn’t sure what to do other than hug her back. That was the best day of his life.
“Lucia! Let me go with you!”
Her purple hair flicked into her eyes as she turned angrily to him. Her brown eyes flared with anger. “No Octavian! Stay put!”
He held onto her arm. He couldn’t let her go. Not this time. He looked at her. He had to keep her here. “No! I can’t!”
“Can’t what?! Stay put! That sure is easy Octavian!” He shook his head and began to yell.
“I can’t lose you too! Not after what happened to mom!”
She lowered her weapon. He never talked about his mom. Only that he disappointed her. She couldn’t let this little kid die with her. She knew he would. She pulled him into a hug.
“Octavian, I’ll be back. I promise. You know I never break a promise.”
“But what if you die! You can’t go! I have to come with you!” He gripped her tighter in the hug.
“Listen, I don’t know why you’re so protective all of a sudden, but you need to calm down. The legion needs me Octavian. I’m one of their best fighters.” He watched her run off over the hills.
Octavian never saw her again.
Now as he flew across the sky, a smile crossed his face. He felt the rush of the wind. He knew nobody would miss him. He did know that he had a friend waiting for him on the other side.
“I’m coming Lucia.”