Helen Brave and The Sun Titan
Chapter 6: Orpheus and The Blood Warriors

It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy that Amanda had been chosen, but get jealous after a while of everything always happening to her. I scowled and rolled over, squinting as the light from the sun blinded me slightly. Dragon had dropped by shortly after I escaped from the main meeting area and tried to talk to me, but Harold snarled at him and chased him out. After a sleepless night, I was less than excited to work on Atalanta’s shield and Achilles sword, but I guess there was no avoiding it. I sighed and gently pushed Harold off of my chest before looking up as a knock came from the door. “Come in,” I called, watching as momma poked her head in and frowned slightly.

“Did you sleep last night?” she asked. I shrugged and Harold shook his head, the snitch. I scowled at him and ran a hand through my hair, watching as momma walked in before taking a seat on my bed. “Sweetie are you alright?” She asked lowly, rubbing Harold’s face before looking to me in concern.

“I’m fine,” I grumbled, not feeling up for speaking at the moment. Momma frowned and her eyes searched my face for a moment before she leaned forward and kissed my forehead. I sighed and she leaned back, patting my lap before getting up.

“Alright. When you want to talk you know where to replace me,” she said before heading out of the room. I ground my teeth in aggravation before forcing myself to get up and moving almost robotically through my morning routine. I grabbed some breakfast, ignoring Joshua and Wilma, then headed out of the dorms, slamming into someone as soon as I got outside. I grunted and fell back, groaning slightly before looking up and blinking when I found Amanda in front of me. She looked tired and frowned down at me briefly before blinking then smiling widely.

“Helen!” She squealed before helping me up and hugging me tightly. I stiffly hugged her back and she pulled away, the smile on her face staying bright. “God you won’t believe what happened! I was-,” she began, but I held up a hand, something that I had never done before. Hurt flashed across her face and I instantly felt like an ass, but charged on since I had already started.

“Yeah look I know you got chosen and stuff, but I have to get going. I’m repairing something at the Forge,” I said quickly, watching as her face fell and she looked to the side.

“Oh! Well I can come with! I don’t have classes and-,” she began, but I shook my head and quickly moved for the approaching cable car.

“I need to concentrate on the stuff I’m working on. It’s really important so sorry,” I said before quickly heading to the cable car and climbing onto it. I frowned then peered out at her out of the side of my eye and winced as she turned and stomped into the dorms. Groaning quietly, I turned back and leaned forward, cradling my face in my hands. “God I’ve really screwed up,” I mumbled before sitting up and weakly watching the scenery pass. The ride was mercifully short and I climbed out at the Forge before heading inside, rubbing my head. Achilles and Atalanta were inside already and Dragon was frowning.

“You’re late newbie!” He called before jerking his head towards the furnace. I grimaced and headed over, the two of us beginning to work while Atalanta kept conversation going between all of us. Dragon still seemed mad about last night and kept me at an arm’s length, only lightening up as Atalanta joked with him. I sighed as I worked on the inner handle of the shield, relaxing when I got it fitted.

“Dragon! The shield is done!” I called, walking over and passing it to him. He eyed it critically before nodding and passing it to Atalanta, who grinned and tossed it up.

“Amazing! Thank you both! I should head out then!” She called before grabbing her bag and nodding to Dragon. She gave me a smile then headed out of the Forge, Achilles sliding over and crossing her arms over her chest.

“I want the newbie to work on my sword alone,” she said. Dragon looked at her with wide eyes and I swallowed nervously. I wasn’t qualified to do that.

“I barely know what I’m doing. I don’t think….” I began, but she grabbed my shoulder and frowned down at me. I blushed at the contact and she gave me a smile before giving Dragon a frown.

“I think she can do it alone,” she said. Dragon moved over and frowned deeply at her before narrowing his eyes.

“Hey I know you don’t care much for me but-” he began, but she grabbed his tie and pulled him in close.

“You know why I don’t like you Dragon. You’re lucky that I have yet to declare war on you. So do me a favor and shut your mouth,” she growled, his eyes widening in panic. I looked between the two in shock and nervously wrung my hands when Dragon’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

“Don’t tell me what to do murderer,” he hissed. Her eyes widened before she stood, pulling him up roughly by the throat. I yelped and stumbled back, looking around for help and replaceing that several students were now rushing over, fear on their faces.

“Want me to reenact what got me here?!” She roared. I flinched in shock and stared as her eyes slowly began to become blood red. She moved her hands to throttle him and I moved forward, grabbing her upper arm to stop her.

“Calm down, please,” I said almost desperately. The students stopped, almost frozen as they looked from me to her and her eyes slowly rolled over to me. We gazed at one another for a short while before she growled and released him, moving back. She tossed him a sneer then frowned down at me her hands, opening then closing before she turned and glared over her shoulder at him.

“You’ve started a war Dragon. All of my warriors are no longer going to you or any of your associates for help,” she snarled before looking to me. “If you’re as smart as you are pretty then talk to some of the other students about Dragon. You’ll see that he really isn’t the person you think he is,” she growled out before stalking from the room. I flushed at the unexpected praise before watching as students scattered when she passed them. I let out a shaky sigh while she marched off then tiredly looked to Dragon, who was rubbing his throat.

“Stupid bitch,” he grumbled before shooting me a glare. “Get away from my furnace,” he snapped before sitting and waving me off. “Go replace a new teacher. I’m done working with bipolar bitches,” he snapped before turning to his weapon and beginning to work again. I blinked in shock before scowling and grabbing my things, pausing and sighing tiredly, rubbing my temple where a headache was building.

“I don’t know what just happened, but you really screwed yourself Dragon,” I said lightly before heading out of the Forge and rubbing my face. I huffed before pulling off my apron then pulled out my school schedule and headed off to one of my classes.

The next two weeks passed without Amanda and I talking, but for once it was okay. Joshua and Wilma filled her roll briefly before Achilles began to come around more. Ever since the fight in the Forge I was working with a new mentor by the name of Birdie, who was obsessed with flying. Now Birdie wasn’t tall, probably an inch or two taller than me, and had short blonde locks as well as bright blue eyes. She was fun and we became quick friends, both of us bonding over science junk and comic things. Back to Achilles though, she had brought in a lot of commissions for me and often took me out to lunch or dinner. It turns out she was really fun and a little motherly to younger Ares students, making sure they ate or slept on time.

I grinned slightly, shaking my head as I headed to my work area, Birdie hammering away at her newest invention while I fixed my tie. Birdie was always building some kind of flying contraption and her end goal was actually rebuilding Daedalus’ wings themselves. I was currently working on a sword for a Zeus student and as I began to pull out all of the stuff I needed, she stopped and looked to me. “Hey Helen!” She called. I waved and pulled on my apron then gloves before grabbing the sword from its place and beginning to check it over. Most of it was completed, but the handle needed to be attached then it was due for another round of sharpening.

“Hey!” Someone called, which caused me to lift my head. Achilles was marching over, her face passive as other students moved out of her path and she grinned down at me as soon as she got in close. “Hey how are you? Sorry I’ve been scarce. We’re catching up Orpheus on the student’s council stuff and I’ve been working on some games for team building,” she said before taking a chair and sitting in it. Birdie looked from me to Achilles before returning to her work and I placed the sword down, pulling off my gloves as I did so.

“It’s alright. I understand. Student council stuff is important,” I said with a shrug before taking a seat and leaning back in it. I still have another day to get the sword done since I had started it early.

“Right. So I wanted to ask if you wanted…to go with me this festival that we have at the beginning of October every year,” she asked before blushing and looking away, slouching into herself. I blinked in surprise, feeling my own face heat up and elation form in my belly, before grinning and nodding, there had been posters around for it, but I had been distracted lately.

“Sure! I’d love to go with you!” I said excitedly. She looked back to me in surprise before beaming and sitting up straight.

“Really?” She blurted out before blushing again and rubbing her head while laughing. “That’s great! I’ve participated in the festival almost every year and never just went to it as a festivalgoer! You’re going to love it! You…uh…you really don’t mind going with me?” She asked, a small frown appearing on her face as she calmed down. I frowned too before shaking my head and giving her a small smile, the blush on my face deepening.

“Of course not. I think it’ll be really fun to go with you,” I said before getting up since the student who wanted the sword was here. He marched over and nodded to Achilles in greeting before giving me a wide smile.

“How’s my sword coming along Helen?” He asked, waving to me.

“Good. I just have to attach the handle and sharpen it. If I work now and to lunch it should be done,” I said. He nodded excitedly before looking to Achilles and puffing up a bit. He was like the other Zeus students and had tried flirting with me until I told him I wasn’t interested. He was at least courteous and stopped hitting on me; he was actually pretty mellow afterwards. Evidently Birdie had a boyfriend and he knew she was off limits.

“So Achilles! I was thinking about the festival-,” he began, but she smirked and leaned back in her seat before jerking her head towards me.

“Helen’s my date,” she said before shrugging. His eyes widened before he grinned and nodded to us.

“Congrats! Do you mind me sticking around for my sword?” He asked. I shrugged and pulled on my gloves then grabbed the sword blade and began to get the handle fitted onto it. It didn’t take long and I was in the middle of sharpening the blade when I heard my name being called through my ear buds. I moved away from the sharpening rock and pulled out my buds, looking back. Amanda stood next to Achilles, looking mad while Achilles sneered at her back. The Zeus student looked mildly uncomfortable and I walked over, placing the sword down and giving the other student a smile.

“Your sword is done,” I said before looking nervously at Amanda. “Hey,” I mumbled, awkwardly scuffing the ground with my shoe. She sighed before running a hand through her hair, a frown appearing on her face.

“Look I don’t know what happened, but I don’t deserve you being an asshole to me,” she growled out. I frowned and narrowed my eyes before crossing my arms over my chest.

“I know and I’m sorry,” I began, but she lifted a hand and glared at me. I frowned deeper and she snorted before shaking her head.

“Do you know how messed up your being? I didn’t ask to be a hero. I thought you’d at least would be happy for me, but you’re just like the others!” She snapped. I blinked and moved back in shock before frowning deeply.

“I’m sorry okay? About everything and I know I hurt your feelings, but you know what? I don’t need to take this,” I grumbled, turning back to my work furnace to turn it off. I heard Amanda huff before I was forcefully spun around. I yelped and stumbled back then yelled out in pain when my bare arm hit the still super-heated furnace. I flinched forward and grabbed at my left bicep, wincing when I grasped at the burnt spot by accident.

“Shit are you okay?” I heard and looked up, replaceing Amanda looking at me in horror. Tears welled in my eyes from pain and Amanda moved towards me before Achilles hip checked her out of the way. Amanda stumbled to the side and Achilles moved over, waving my hand away from my arm and lifting it slowly. The area on the underside of my bicep was red and irritated looking which made Achilles hiss slightly before walking me over to a chair. Birdie marched over and glared at Amanda, who looked pained, then looked to me in concern.

“Hey you okay Helen?” She asked. I shook my head, tears streaming down my cheeks as my arm throbbed and she sighed before jogging off to the medical station near the entrance of the Forge.

“Shit I’m sorry I wanted to keep talking. I’m sorry,” Amanda babbled as she tried to move closer.

“You better back up!” Achilles growled, her eyes flashing red before she looked to me in concern. “Hey it’s okay. I’ve been burned before. They make cool scars,” she joked. I blurted out a weak and watery laugh before grinding my teeth as more tears spilled from my eyes. She grinned lightly before rubbing the tears off of my face then gently smoothing a hand through my hair. “Shhh hey you’ll be okay,” she soothed softly. I nodded and looked up when Birdie reappeared with a medical kit and a tired looking Ginger or Zoey…I couldn’t tell. I glanced at her vest and found it was Ginger before looking back at her face. She looked concerned and moved closer, pity entering her eyes.

“Hey sweetie. I was looking for Achilles, but it seems like I’m needed here,” she said softly before nodding to Achilles then giving me a smile. “Hey. What happened?” She asked softly, opening up the medical kit and kneeling in front of me.

“I got burned,” I said while sniffing, rubbing at my eyes with my good hand.

“Where did you get burned?” She asked, looking my face over. I hesitantly lifted my arm and she peered under before wincing a bit and opening up a bottle. “Ouch. How’d you burn yourself honey?” She questioned gently as she put some of the stuff from the bottle onto her hands.

“I did it by accident. I’m so sorry,” Amanda cut in, looking miserable. Ginger looked to her sharply before shaking her head and looking back to me with a warm smile.

“Well it happened…I’m going to rub this cream in okay?” She warned before beginning to gingerly apply it. I hissed out in pain and grabbed Achilles hand before relaxing when the feeling became numb. “Alright. I’m going to put a bandage on it. Keep it out of water for the day and by tomorrow it should be better. Thank the gods for our quick healing. Orpheus, next time keep your hands to yourself,” she snapped, glaring at Amanda before standing.

“Don’t be mad with her. We’ve both been kind of messed up for a few days and it really was an accident,” I said, watching as the harshness in Ginger’s face faded a bit before she nodded and looked to Achilles. Achilles was scowling, but calmed after a second and shook her head. Amanda shifted in place a few times; looking rather miserable while Achilles got up and patted my good leg.

“Hey I need to talk to you about the festival,” Ginger said before nodding to me then Amanda. Achilles frowned before giving me a gentle smile and rubbing my head roughly. I giggled slightly and she grinned before turning to Ginger.

“I’ll see you later Helen. Okay?” She said before getting up and tossing Amanda a deadpanned look. “Watch yourself,” she rumbled out before following Ginger out of the Forge. Amanda shuffled about in place before taking a seat and rubbing aggressively at her face, her head lifting and tears spilling out of her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she said weakly.

“It’s okay,” I said lowly before standing and moving over, patting her shoulder and rubbing at it. “I acted like a jerk and I’m sorry,” I said softly. She nodded before holding out her arms for a hug and I hugged her tightly before nodding to the Zeus student. He gave me a smile then grabbed his sword and nodded to me.

“Thank you for your services. My blade looks beautiful, your payment will be in your dorms,” he said before heading off.

“I thought the Dragon boy was your mentor,” Amanda said. I looked to her and found she was rubbing her eyes and looking confused. I made a face then shook my head before shrugging helplessly.

“Nah he pissed off Achilles and now I’m Birdie’s apprentice for the next two months and a half,” I said before shrugging. Amanda nodded and I moved back before jerking me head in the direction of the food line. “Let’s get lunch and catch up,” I said. A bright smile appeared on her face and she nodded excitedly before tugging me to my feet and over towards the food line.