The Lost Crown

~Asher~ 9 [editing underway]

Everyone stopped talking and stared at something.  I followed their gaze, trying to peak over their heads, and realized that it wasn't a something, but a someone.

A girl with wavy chestnut hair reaching just below the shoulders laid slumped over at the Hermes table with a yellow light fading from above her head.  She couldn't have been more than twelve with her heart shaped face and childish, up-turned nose and thin lips that were slightly parted.

I stood and made my way over to her, very aware of the eyes concentrated on me and the whispers from other campers behind my back.  I probably wasn't supposed to be doing this, but I really didn't care at the time.  I locked eyes with an older looking kid with light brown hair curling just past his ears with a sharp angular jawline and a slightly crooked nose, like he'd broken it a few times.  He had caught her when she passed out or fell asleep or whatever had just happened.

"Do people always pass out when they're claimed?"  A few people around me let out some nervous laughter.  I swallowed and managed to keep my courage.  I hated people staring at me, I could just feel their judging eyes burn into me and-

No.  Enough with the pride.

He shook his head, "Only children of Hypnos or Morpheus.  She was just claimed by Hypnos."  I looked around, expecting to see a table full of kids cheering for their new sibling, as I had gotten, but everything was silent.

"Where are the other Hypnos kids?"  I asked, focusing my gaze back on him and the girl.  Of course, I already knew the answer to that question.  No one would expect me to, though.  I had to play up the cluelessness.

"They're all sleeping.  All the time."  He shook his head, "I guess it was only a matter of time before she fell asleep as well.  And to think, I never even suspected..."

Chiron galloped towards us and cleared a path for himself.  He looked down and sighed, "How Hypnos even stays awake long enough to have kids, I don't know."  There was a general eruption of giggles from the crowd at that, "Put the girl on my back.  I'll take her to Cabin 15."

Richard lifted and laid her on Chiron's horse rear, and I watched him trot off towards the cabins.  Everyone soon resumed their chatting and laughter, but I didn't.  I glanced over at the other new girl at the Hermes able.  I knew she would get claimed tonight, too.