Her Warm Embrace

"I want to get rid of this problem." I said with a determined look. I can't carry the weight of a curse on me. No. I already have enough problems.

"Adrian, do you think that an enchanted sword like this, which can disappear and reappear just with your imagination, will be easy to get rid of."

I knew she had a point. But I couldn't accept it, I didn't want a curse upon me. I was not born to take over all the problems of others upon me.

"I'll still try." and I walked out of the library with the sword in my hand. I faced the forest and raised my arm. I threw the sword with all my might and it went flying into the woods.

I faced Isabella with a triumphed look.

"You see. It's that easy." I said and she frowned.

"Try imagining it again." she ordered.

I didn't want to but I did. And what happened next, made me want to cry. The shameless sword...was again back in my hands. I bet if the sword had a face, then it would be mischievously smiling at me and saying 'lol, you failed. I'm still in your hands and kicking your butt.'

"What do I do?" I said with a miserable face.

"In my opinion, nothing. See Adrian, if Hecate didn't stop you from owning this... "

"WHAT!! You mean Hecate knew about this curse and... still she willingly and... knowingly let me own this goddamned sword!" I fumed with rage. And the sky rumbled.

"Adrian, calm down. There has to be a reason that this sword found you. And... and remember that we still don't know what the curse truly was." she said.

After hearing her words, I tried to calm myself down but my mind and heart rebelled against me.

"I am trying, Isabella. I truly am. But what is happening with my life, I don't understand. It's like someone is playing a prank on me." I was feeling helpless.

My condition was truly miserable but what Isabella did next, knocked me out of my senses. She started coming closer and then stopped just when we were few inches apart. She was so close that I could feel her warm breath.

"Isabella?..." and before I could react, she hugged me. I was shocked to my core. Her warm embrace felt like an angel's blessing. Her sudden action was enough to even kill me. After a moment, I, too, hugged her and rested in her embrace.

After a long silence, she spoke, "Adrian, I know it's hard for you and believe me, I understand. I do. But don't lose heart." she said and she moved back.

I was still in a daze but was fast to act.

"Thanks, Isabella." was all I could say. And, also, I didn't want to make this beautiful situation an awkward one, so I decided to blabber less.

"It's okay. As a friend, I can't see you breaking down." she said and after that we moved out of the room.

As soon as we came out, it disappeared. Isabella faced me, "Let's go."

We reached back at the training area. Isabella said that she had some work to do so she left.

The training area had few people. I was watching a match that was going on between two half-bloods.

One was a girl, around fifteenth or maybe older. She was using a spear, and...was quite expert at it. She was tall and muscular for a girl.

The other one was a boy, the same age as his opponent. He had a bronze shield and a sword.

The fight was attracting a lot of attention. In a matter of seconds, almost everyone in the valley was present there as audience. They were cheering for them.

The fight was truly aggressive. I couldn't help but be impressed. With their skills they might even win the Olympics against trained adults, if there was a sport such as this.

Finally, the boy managed to disarm his opponent. The girl received a hard blow from the boy and she fell to the ground.

The crowd cheered like crazy. Some looked sad at the girl's defeat.

The girl stood up and glared at the boy. "You were lucky, punk." and then she left without another word.

"She's Clara Martin, descendant of Ares." a boy beside me said. He was the same boy I met in the sick room. The boy with the mediterranean complexion and Asian black eyes.

"Hello, I couldn't introduce myself to you back in the infirmary. I'm Will Smith, I'm the descendant of Apollo." Will said with a welcoming smile.

"Hello. I'm Adrian Crimson." I smiled back at him.