By Your Hand

Jem stopped, turning halfway so the sun slanted across his blonde hair and grey eyes. “So you’re okay, then.”

“No! I’m emotionally scarred for life!” I smacked him on the shoulder and he cringed away from me, grinning. “I just didn’t want to feel stupid, standing there while I sent you to get my best friend.”

“It’s no problem.” Jem shrugged. As he did so, I felt a chill rush past me, and I shivered, rubbing my arms as goosebumps popped up on my skin.

“Are you okay?” Jem’s forehead wrinkled, watching me shake.

“Yep.” I shook the feeling off – literally. We didn’t talk much after that – I was intent on finding Illiana. I could see her in the middle of the field where she practiced using her powers with a special teacher. Because of her unique ability to separate body from soul, and float around like a spirit, she had to be able to control when she did and how long she stayed out of her body.

As I watched, she raised her arms above her head, and she crumpled to the ground. A mist-like form rose up out of her, long white hair billowing out like a gentle cloud, arms and legs forming.

“That is pretty impressive.” Jem whispered in my ear as we closed in on Illiana.

“Mmmhm.” I agreed, muttering, “Yeah...I’m pretty sure I’m the only defective demigod around here. I have the worst luck EVER.”

“You are not defective!” Jem threw his hands up in the air. “You can see dead people!”

“How very Sixth Sense of you,” I said. “That doesn’t even have anything to do with being the daughter of Tyche.” He stuck his tongue out at me, which is when Illiana noticed us. She sunk back down into her body, and stood up, dusting off any dirt that had adhered itself to her clothing when she fell.

“Hey guys,” She greeted us. “What’s up?”

“I need to talk to you.” I said, beckoning her to me with a finger.

“Shoot.” She said, not moving.

“Not. Here. Please.” I ground out between my teeth.

She groaned, swinging her arms around listlessly while she turned to her teacher. “May I go, please?” Her teacher simply nodded.

“Excellent.” Jem tapped his fingers together. “Do you want to go back to the mess hall?”

I stopped moving, my brain kicking in. “Actually, I think that most of the kids are going out of camp for the day today – some sort of field trip to Greece or something. Anyways, we’ll have the place to ourselves...mostly...which means we can find her.”

“Find who?” Illiana asked. “Did you see the girl again?”

“Yeah.” I grunted. Illiana squealed.

“Owch!” Jem slapped his hands over his ears. “My perfect hearing has been damaged!”

“Be quiet, drama king.” I held up a hand to shush him. “Now, why the squeal?”

Illiana jumped up and down. “I learned this new thing where I can merge with wandering spirits and let them talk through me!”

“That could help us!” I clapped my hands.

“Great,” Jem shoved us both forward, his hand planted firmly on the small of my back. “So, why don’t we go try and find her, then?” I tried to nod but I had lost my balance when I got shoved, so, being my graceful self, did a faceplant instead.

Notes