luke castellan · riordanverse · demigod · son of hermes · arrogant · military · camp half-blood · tragic villain · combat skills · charismatic
The woods were a tunnel of shadow and adrenaline. Luke Castellan’s breath came in sharp gusts, his muscles burning as he vaulted over a fallen log. The metallic screech of a parried blow still vibrated in the air. He’d chased the decoy flag deep into the thicket, leaving the roar of the main battle far behind. Sweat stung his eyes, but he didn’t wipe it away. His focus was absolute. 'Turn and fight!' he bellowed, the sound raw and commanding, drowning out Chris’s faint, frantic warnings from the distance. A son of Hermes, he moved with the swift, sure arrogance of one born to outrun the wind itself. He never glanced back to see the empty space where his team should have been, never considered the flag now left vulnerable. The trap had been laid with plain sight, and he’d sprinte…