The Shadow Archer Twins

That morning was probably the best one I have ever had. And, looking back on it, it was actually pretty boring. All I did was spend as much time as humanly possible with Malcolm. He seemed calm, which in turn calmed me down. His grey eyes seemed to take on a lighter color, not as dark an intense as they used to be. But, they also looked broken.

As he rested, he told me all about his dreams. Nightmares, showing him visions of his journey to protect Tox and Katie, and some of the stupid things he had said to Katie. The hours drifted by, and we calmly talked, with me mostly listening. For a guy who had been asleep for nine days, Malcolm was pretty talkative.

After about half an hour of me indulging in the sight of his gorgeous grey eyes, his perfect smile, and hearing the sound of his breathing, I said what was on my mind.

“Malcolm, did you ever like Katie? Ever think she was attractive?”

I said those words, not to probe him, or get myself worked up, but as actual questions.

“Now to me,” Malcolm responded, “Those are two different questions. Did I ever find her attractive? Yes. She is attractive, Izzy, that’s just a truth.”

He sighed, contemplating an answer to the other question. “Did I ever like her? Well, based on my answer to the first question, no. I thought she was pretty, but I always knew I would return to you, Izzy. And then, on the way back, I got…distracted.”

On the inside, I smiled. I loved Malcolm for many reasons, but one of the biggest ones was his loyalty. But this wasn't about me, it was about him. His eyes drifted off, thinking of a face a hundred miles away, outside the safe house in Harrisburg.

“Jake’s death wasn’t your fault, Malcolm. It couldn’t have been, and you know that.”

“Gaea visited me in my dreams, Izzy!” He snapped, his voice breaking with emotion, “She showed me the manticore killing him, pinning up against the wall, over and over and over again!”

He started to sob, his mind as broken as his body. “Izzy, I know Jake’s death better than he does! Do you know what that feels like? She showed me visions of him suffering in the Fields of Punishment! I wanted to die, Izzy. To trade my soul for his, anything. And then, I saw a light above me.”

His eyes drifted off again, looking up at an imaginary figure.

“I saw a face, hard to make out. I thought to myself that it had to be you, because you’re what should have driven to come back to the world.”

His voice was rising in volume, and, even after taking a deep breath, he couldn’t help himself. He screamed, louder than any war cry,

“But do you know what I saw? I saw Katie, running away from us kissing in the stables in tears!”

He started crying again, and I sat there on the side of his bed in silence, listening to his soft sobs. I knew that he had to get this out, or he would never focus on what was to come. After a while, he calmed down, and we started to talk softly again.

After about another hour or two, I heard footsteps, quiet, on the porch of the infirmary. Tox had returned from preparing the Camp for war.

And so, the morning had ended. Tox walked in, dressed in his full battle armor of celestial bronze, painted black as night and covered in a material that made it blend in to his surroundings like camouflage. If Tox wasn’t careful, he could turn into the next Batman.

“It’s time, Malcolm,” Tox said, “The Athena Cabin needs you.”

Malcolm looked deep into Tox’s eyes, and that dark intensity came back. Even if he was physically weak, he was mentally ready for war. He was ready to destroy Gaea for what she had shown him, for what she had made him go through over the last few weeks. He was ready for blood. Any blood.

Helping him out of his bed and walking out of the infirmary, I was surprised at what I saw. But what surprised me wasn’t the array of phalanxes, each cabin fully armed and ready. What surprised me was the weather. It had started to rain. At first almost unnoticeable, and then it came down hard, the rain pouring through the Camp’s protective barriers, soaking everything. The campers, now soldiers, didn’t care. They just stared across the field leading up to Half-Blood Hill, watching silently as the Romans marched across the turnpike and formed ranks on the top of the Hill.

I let Malcolm walk slowly to the Athena command tent, and as I passed it, I saw Emily di Rosa talking with Tox, looking up into his eyes. They were obviously crazy about each other, and that made me smile. Emily stood up on her tip-toes and kissed Tox on the cheek, which made him smile, but a bit sadly. She then put her helmet on and exited the Athena tent, closing the flap behind her. I walked over to the campers of the Hermes cabin, where Travis Stoll was waiting for me with my armor and sword. I strapped on my armor as fast as I could, and formed ranks with the rest of my huge cabin.

When Malcolm came out of the Athena tent, he had his armor on, his sword strapped to his side. He looked frail, but he was trying to hide it. Behind him, Tox walked out with his bow, quiver and dagger, and behind him trailed Emily, gazing longingly at the figure of Tox. For both their sake’s I hope they survived this battle.

Even if we didn’t like it, war had finally arrived.

Notes