4 years earlier…
Two women climbed the steps of the big house. One with short strawberry blond hair, elfish features and sparkling blue eyes. The other, taller, her skin creamy and a cascade of curls falling to her shoulders. The later knocked on the door. A pudgy man wearing a tiger-printed shirt opened the door.
-Oh. You two. I thought I’d gotten rid of you 12 years ago.
-When we were both sweet, innocent little angels, yes. The blond agreed.
-Watch it Clara Settle.
-Actually it’s Foster now. The woman lifted her left hand and wiggled her fingers.
-Got married. Two beautiful girls. Is Chiron there?
-Where else would he be, its eleven o’clock at night if you haven’t noticed.
-Look, we’ve had a long trip and both of us need to get back soon, can you please just get Chiron? The tallest said.
-Watch your tongue Simone. Always thought you’d look nice as a shrub. The man warned.
-Mr D. Somebody said.
-Good you’re here. I won’t have to suffer these two little loud-mouths longer. He said before stalking off. A centaur took his place.
-Come in, Clare, Sienna. He said. They sat down at a table, where a pack of cards was waiting for the next day.
-So, what brings you here? He asked.
-Children. Sienna said.
-Yes, I do know about Liam, he’s what, 3 now?
-Yes, but that’s not entirely it. Clare has two daughters too. Sienna said.
-My husband is mortal, but my daughter Jessie sees threw the mist. She can see monsters all around us and isn’t shy to say so. I think she has a scent as well. A Satyr approached me the other day and told me that she would probably develop one.
-How nice of him. We could arrange for her to come to camp for a summer, when she’s older. Learn to fight in case of emergencies, but I think she’ll be fine with a once-every-two-years routine. Chiron said.
-I agree. When she’s 12 maybe? That’s when monsters start attacking.
-Yes. You live in Armpit, Nevada right? I suggest you send her to Adonis elementary, your other daughter too while you’re at it. The school has a lot of demigods and strong-seers. We have 5 satyrs presently at the school actually. He said.
-Thank you for the advice. Clare said.
-Why would both of you take such a long trip just to do what an iris-message could arrange? Leaving two half-demigods and a demigod to a mortal man isn’t the wisest decision. Chiron said.
-We know, but, well… Si will explain in private.
-In private?
-If you look out the window you will observe two of my half brothers who have failed to stay in the cabin. He peaked over his shoulder.
-The Stolls probably. Clare, do you mind..?
-Not at all. She said getting up.
-And don’t do anything! Don’t think I’ve forgotten you Clare Foster! Chiron called as she stepped out of the front door, smiling.
As quiet as a cat she made her way behind the two boys.
-I hope you’re better thieves then spies, or else you might get vaporised. She said. The two boys jumped and turned to face her.
-How did you..?
-Thieves recognise their environments before stepping in a room. Never forget that.
-Hey, for the record I’m the kid that that managed to smuggle all the coffee this place has, the harpies were on a rampage! The tall one said.
-Lame. Ever tried stealing all the diet coke? They gasped.
-Oh my gods that was you?
-Clare Foster, formally Settle. You must be Connor, and you’re Travis. Charmed, I’m your oldest sister alive and I just busted you, so get going.
-We can find the cabin on our- never mind. Travis said letting his sister lead him back to his cabin.

YAY! Connor and Travis! My favourite campers ever!

Awesome! I can see this one is going to be funny!!

Thank you!
And there's more Connor and Travis Amph!

1
The Thing that flies

Bad things happen when I’m in crowds.
It’s nearly a proven fact. I lose my voice, I feel smaller then I already am (3’8)… I won’t even go into when I have to do presentations in class…
So when my dad decided to take me furniture shopping, I told him it had “bad idea” written all over it. Ah well, I tried.

We were in the warehouse where they kept the furniture. My dad was zigzagging the cart threw the crowd.
-You see aisle 34 Lee? He asked.
-Over there.
-Right. He said heading into it.
In the alley we were hauling a cardboard box on to the cart. A random girl yelled and I looked up just in time to see a crate falling towards us, a black bat-like shape flying near the top of the roof. My dad grabbed my arm and yanked me away as it smashed onto the cart.
-Lee, Lee, are you okay? He asked.
-I’m fine, I’m fine dad. What was that thing flying around the light? I asked. He paled as a crowd of worried people gathered around us. A bubble of shy rose up in my throat as my dad tugged me closer to him. He pushed his way threw people, ignoring them asking if we were okay and what had happened. He dragged me out of the store.
- Dad, I thought you really needed that desk. I said.
-Changed my mind, get in the car. He said. He looked anxious. Was it because of the thing I’d seen flying?
-Dad, what was the thing flying? I asked sitting down in the shotgun seat. He didn’t answer.
-Dad?
-Lee, it was nothing. You imagined it. There was no flying thing in the store. He said, starting the engine. I could tell he was lying to me. The way he acted, like he was expecting somebody to pop up in the windshield.
-So how’s your friend Nala doing?
-Nala? She’s okay.
-Still on medication for her legs I presume?
-Umm, yes. The illness she has, whatever it is, is chronic. I said.
-Ah. Doesn’t do gym?
-Dad, I told you all this before, what’s wrong?
-Nothing, nothing, just curious. He said.
A few minutes later he pulled into our driveway. Our house was small, a brick townhouse in downtown Quebec City with a backyard the size of my room, where sun never seem to shine. It’s small, but it’s big enough for the 2 of us and Thomas. My dad got out of the car quickly.
-Is Michelle here? I asked. No response.
-Dad! I said.
-Michelle? Oh, err, yes, her and Jacey are staying her for supper, I told them we’d be late and to let themselves in. He said, closing the car door. I followed him into the house. I headed for the backyard.
A small, woman, with short black hair was throwing nerf baseball balls to a blond boy holding a bright orange bat. He hit them and they hit the gates.
-Hi Michelle. I said. She turned around and smiled at me. Her eyes were leaf green and smile lines were frozen in her tan.
-Hello Leda. She said.
-Lee, Lee, did you see how far that one went? Jace asked over-excited.
-I sure did, Jace. You’re getting better. I said encouraging him.
-So you mind taking over? Michelle asked.
-Sure. I said. She smiled and handed me the balls. I played ball with Jace for barely 10 minutes before dad popped his head out of the door.
-Lee, I’d like you to stay inside. He asked.
-Why?
- I don’t want you to catch a cold.
-Dad, I never get cold. I said.
-Leda. He said sharply. I didn’t insist. Dad never called me Leda, ever.
-Sorry, Jace. You can stay outside and play on the swing. I offered. He nodded and ran for the tire swing.
I climbed the stairs to my room, passing pictures of a little girl with mousy brown hair and amber eyes, not looking at the camera. A baseball cap was on her head. Yup, me.
My room was pretty small. It was a bright yellow color, the AC vent blocked by my schoolbag, stopping the cold air from coming in. My bed, drawer and shelves were all a dark wood; my bed spread had the Toronto Blue Jays logo on it. My weekend homework was spread out on it. English. My worst subject. I figured, what the heck, might as well try.
5 minutes later I gave up, the small print torture for my eyes. I really didn’t care about Little House on the Prairie. 335 pages of history; pass.
I closed the book and pushed it away. I glanced at the work sheet. Questionnaire on chapter 18. Splendid. I pushed the worksheet away too and that was it.
I got up and looked for something to do. Maybe Jacey wanted to lay a game of Snakes and Ladders? I picked up the game and opened the door.

-I’m worried about Lee.
-The crate falling doesn’t mean anything; maybe she did just imagine the thing. Michelle said.
-I doubt it.
-You said they wouldn’t detect her easily. That’s why they didn’t attack directly, because they weren’t sure about her.
-I suppose. Maybe they just aren’t acting on orders. Dad said.
-Perhaps. But why wouldn’t they detect her easily? Michelle asked.
- She’s barely like her, she’s more mortal. He said. I dropped the game, which tumbled down the stairs, and I ran back in my room.

More mortal? More mortal then what? What the heck did he mean? I paced in my room. Somebody knocked on the door. The door creaked open.
-Leda? You dropped your game. Dad said.
-Yeah, um, I’ll go pick it up. I said.
-Are you okay? You sound nervous. Is it about your oral report on Monday?

Oral report?

-Yeah, that’s it. I said lying.
-Relax, its just introducing yourself. I think it’ll help Mr Thompson a lot, to get to know you all. Also, I don’t have time to make anything worth eating; Michelle’s offered to pick up Chinese food. Yes, I know take-out isn’t your favourite, but just tonight? He said in response to my expression of dislike.
-Fine, but I get eggrolls.
-Agreed. He said. I followed him downstairs to pick up the pieces of the games.

He didn’t look like he’d been talking about secrets with Michelle, still shocked, from the crate probably, but he’d clamed down. I kept thinking about who “her” was. My obvious answer was my mom.


My dad, before he’d gotten settled in, had traveled the world for 10 years after his university. He’d been everywhere. China, Israel, the States, Saudi Arabia, France, England, Tanzania… It was his thrill to arrive in another country, a backpack on his back, knowing nothing about the language and customs and finding himself a place to stay and things to eat. The last country he went to was Greece.

He met my mom there.

He said she’d graduated from the University of Athens, days before they met. She helped him find a place to stay, a hotel owned by a friend’s father, and taught him how to speak Greek. He ended up staying in Athens for nearly a year. Then she got a job at a museum in San Diego, so my dad moved there with her. He started teaching seventh grade French and Latin. A year later, yours truly was born. She died a day or so afterwards.

He never took me to a grave and he never showed me a picture, and I never pushed him. Her name was Sethia Halkias, she comes from a city called Olympia (which actually exists), and I look a little like her. That’s all I know.

I want to know more about her, but every time he even slips something out, he becomes all sad and worried, and I’m always too shy to ask, even with my own father.

How could I be more like her then like a mortal? He talked like she wasn’t…

No, I must’ve misunderstood. Missed something, heard a word wrong. My mom was just a teacher from Olympia, that’s it. I brought the game back upstairs and dropped it onto a shelf. I starred out the window to the building besides us.

It was a house that some guy rented to college students, and they tended to do the dumbest things. At some point one threw something out the window that shattered the pane of mine. My dad had had a long and loud argument until they agreed to replace it. I’d went to look in the garbage cans beneath my window and I’d found a spear head, a stick a little aside. My dad told me that one studied Ancient Weaponry.

The blond one that seemed to cause the most trouble wandered down the hall. Then the buff one jumped out of nowhere and knocked him over, the two started wrestling in the hall. 4 other guys popped their heads in the hall, each out of a different door and encouraged them to fight. The blond one finally got pinned and they stopped cheering. 3 disappointed guys handed big gold coins, dug out form their pockets, to the others and they all disappeared.

Stupid college students.

They made a racket at nights too. They’d put the sound to their horror movies way too loud and you could hear the fighting and monsters roaring.

I decided to give little house on the prairie another chance.

10 seconds later I’d decided I’m not touching little house in the prairie until I forget how rubbish it is. Not worth wasting time on.

-Lee! Don’t forget to read your book for school! My dad called from downstairs. I grunted and picked it up again. Laura was describing how you made butter. Fantastic.

I’d only made it 5 pages when Michelle got back. She drives like a maniac, always at least 20 over the speed limit. I ran downstairs faster then I usually would for take-out.

Child of Athena?

Hi!
After this my chapters are kind of... Meh, so it could be a while. Decided to give you a chapter that leads to questions.

2
Saved by Greek mythology
-My name is Leda Mun-Munroe and I’m twelve years old. I was born is San Di-e-Diego and I live down…town.
-Sir, we can’t hear anything! Daniel Shrew complained.
-I can hear Leda perfectly well, Daniel. Go on. Mr Thompson said staring me down with his big brown eyes.
He would be pretty tall if he wasn’t wheelchair-bound. His hair and beard were brown and he always seemed so serious, like we were all in mortal peril, but he was okay. First teacher ever to get my name right on the first shot, which automatically made him, at least okay. Lee-dah, not Le-dah.
-Umm, I, I live with my, d, dad, Brian Mun-Munroe and um, yeah.
-Leda, can you elaborate more on yourself, personally? He asked.
-Umm. I. I play ball. And. Err, yeah.
-That’s it then? Return to your seat then. Mr Thompson said. I rushed back to my seat, besides Daniel Shrew.
-Lame-o presentation, “Leda”. What kind of a name is that anyways?
-To answer Mr Shrew’s question, Leda is the name, in a Greek mythological context, of the woman mother to Helen of Troy. He said as I blushed. He steered his wheelchair to the front of the class.
-A beautiful woman who fell in love with Zeus, king of gods, while he was disguised as a swan. And, Mr Shrew, I know quite a few Leda’s and it is a very respectable name. But since you have so much to say, why don’t you come up here for your presentation? Shrew smiled crookedly and went up to the front of the class. I barely registered a word he said.
Everybody was talking, word after word, about themselves, their families, their hobbies, whatever. I kept thinking of what Mr Thompson had said. “That’s it then?”, like I’d disappointed him.
There was so much more I could’ve said. I could’ve mentioned Michelle, Jace, the trailer my dad owned on Orleans Island… But of course I figured that out after the presentation.

4 more students passed, words spilling out, before the bell rang. I was pushed to the back of the line, with Nala.

Nala Chêne is freakishly tall, her hair is blond and goes to her hips and even when its summer she wears sweatpants and long sleeved shirts. She had some kind of knee illness that excluded her from gym for eternity. She was a planet friendly person, as I’d learned the first day when she’d nearly had a heart attack seeing all the forms the teachers handed out. She talked loudly and got in fights easily. I was one of her only friends, and so was she, meaning I often dug her out of trouble. A nervous habit of hers was to do weird animal noises, a lot of people in her family did. She did goat sounds when she got really, really nervous.
-I don’t like Shrew. She said, hugging her binder to her chest.
-Neither do I. He’s so…
-Leda, can I talk to you? Mr Thompson asked.
-I’ll see you in history. Nala said as I walked towards him.
-Yes. I said over my shoulder. I stood in front of him, starring at him. He waited for the students to all be gone, telling one to alert Ms Hexum I’d be late.
-Yes, well, I noticed in your presentation that you live with your father. Are your parents separated?
-Um, no. My mom… died. A couple days after I was born. I confessed.
-Do you know her name?
-Sethia Halkias. She was from a village in Greece called Olympia.
-Where the Olympic games where born. Charming place, really. The tourist attraction ruined it. He said. I glared at him weird. He’d been there before tourism?
-Yes, well you may leave. Goodbye. He said. Half-way to the door I turned around.
-Um, Mr Thompson? I asked.
-Yes Leda.
-Lee, most people call me Lee.
-And I shall call you Leda.
-Um, okay, I just want to say, thanks for, well, earlier with the name, and…
I think he understood. He looked at me, strait in the eyes, which rarely happened, people were as afraid to meet my unusually coloured eyes as I was to meet theirs.
-Leda Munroe, I don’t like bullies. They end up being worst then they appear. All you need is to call Daniel Shrew, and the rest of your class, because I do know he isn’t the only one, off. Can you try that?
-Um, sure. I said. I sped up my pace out of the class.
Hanna Truscott “forgot” to tell Ms Hexum that Mr Thompson wanted to talk to me, so the lesson started off of her about her lecturing me about being late etc, etc. Ms Hexum scares me.

She wears her black hair in a ponytail and her eyes sparkle grey, like storm clouds. She knows so much things, speaks about 8 languages fluently, plus 3 extinct languages. She often wore jeans and a white blouse. She’d gotten here after the previous teacher, Madame Bramston, had “fallen” down the staircase and gone into a coma. I get the feeling that if she really wants to, she can hurt me horribly.
-Go sit down. She said. I rushed over to besides Nala, past Daniel Shrew who stuck out his leg. I kicked his foot out of the way and he yelled “OWE!” I looked back at his foot. There was a small plastic cover outside, and to everyone’s surprise, it’d melted.
-Ms Hexum, Munroe did something to my shoe! He yelled.
-I didn’t do it! How could I have…?
-Mr Shrew, we do not accuse if we do not have proof. Go to your locker and change your shoes. She said. He grabbed his binder, gave me a “later you die” look and left. I sat down besides Nala. I was puzzled, scared, knew my face was as red as a tomato and my eyelids were heavy.
-Lee, you okay? Nala whispered.
-I think. Tired. I said, rubbing my heavy eyelids.
-Now we will get to our lesson. Yesterday we started talking about Ancient Greece; correct me if I’m wrong, no? Perfect. Now we will talk about the democracy. First off, Athens…
Ms Hexum got about two sentences before I gave up on paying attention. I starred down at the note sheet she’d handed off. There were two. The first ones, I caught the title before the letters started swimming that bad. Athens. I looked at the second. The letters were standing still. They didn’t do 360s and the B’s didn’t look like D’s. I read threw it, it had the same title.
-She gave me the same sheet twice. I whispered to Nala.
-What are you talking about? The second isn’t in English; she gave it to us in Ancient Greek. She showed me the Ancient Greek one. The one I was reading. I frowned. That wasn’t possible. I could read English, a tiny bit of Spanish and French, of course, mandatory if you live in Quebec by the way, Ancient Greek? Nah…
-Leda Munroe. Ms Hexum said.
-Hum? I jumped. A few people chuckled.
-Miss Truscott asked an excellent question: what made Athens so special. What would you answer?
-Umm… They… Athens was a center of literature and philosophy, kind of like the philosophical capital of Greece. And, um, it’s real important in mythology. I said stealing my answer form the sheet.
-Correct. How is it connected to mythology? She asked again.
-It, ah, the goddess Athena, of knowledge and wisdom…
-Battle strategy, don’t forget battle strategy. She added.
-Yes, she was the patron goddess of the city after winning a… a kind of contest over Poseidon. They had to give the city a gift and he gave the city a salt-water spring…
-Geyser. Ms Hexum said.
-Yeah, and… and she made the first olive tree grow.
-And they picked a stupid olive tree over a geyser? Ricky Hallsming asked. Ms Hexum shot him a deadly look. It made me want to curl up in a ball and rock back and forth; she wasn’t even looking at me. She walked down the aisle of desks up to Ricky’s desk.
-The city of Athens, formally known as Attica, did not have a Wal-Mart or Target department story, Mr Hallsming; an olive tree was a resourceful way to get food. The geyser; was saltwater for one, meaning it didn’t produce drinkable water, and as a second, couldn’t be multiplied but more olive trees could come from the first one given. Very good answer Miss Munroe. She said. She turned and started talking about Sparta. I breathed out. Thank gods for the old stories Mima tells me! Saved by Greek mythology…
When the bell rang we all ran out. I feared she’d keep me after class too, so I was first out.

GREAT CHAPTERS! i love them

3
I keep a promise
That lunch, Daniel Shrew and I both kept promises.
I was sitting in the back with Nala, and two other guys, Alex and Zach (pronounced Zack). Alex was telling us about a YouTube video he’d seen, and we were all cracking up.
-Hey, Munroe! Someone called. I turned around. Daniel Shrew and his buddies were coming towards me. I knew my face was changing colors.
-Oh Styx. Nala said.
-What do you want Shrew? Alex asked nastily.
-I’m not talking to you Butt-ing. He snapped. His buddies chuckled.
-It’s Budding. And if that’s all the insightful comments you’ve got, thanks for sharing, means a lot to all of us, please leave. Nala said, standing her full height.
-We don’t care about you either, freak. He said. He smiled wickedly and picked up my backpack.
-Well, well, what do we have here? He asked. I tried to reply but the words got stuck.
-That’s a backpack. Nala said, like a pre-school teacher. Shrew ignored her and zipped it open.
-Hey, you can’t do that! Nala said. She tried to snatch my backpack from him but one guy caught her arm and pinned her to the wall. Alex and Zach tried too, but the other guys caught them. The whole cafeteria grew silent. Seeing my friends struggle to win my fight, I remembered my promise to Mr Thompson.
-Give, it, back. I said.
-Munroe can talk! He announced to the other seventh graders. I lunged forwards and tried to grab the bag but he took a step back and I grabbed at air. He was taking my things out of my bag. A picture of me, dad, Michelle and Jacey got pulled out.
-Is that your mum Munroe?
-Give it back, Shrew! I said.
-Oh woops, can’t be, she didn’t stick around you; smart woman. He said.
-SHUT UP! I said, tears to my eyes. I felt something inside me melt at his words, the small bit of courage I’d assembled.
Nala groaned and Zach would’ve said something, if the guy pinning him didn’t have his hand shoved on his face.
-Make me! He turned around to smile a “isn’t that cute” smile to the guy holding Nala, and I lunged forwards, but he pushed me and I fell down the 2 or 3 steps separating the side of the cafeteria to the main area.
Falling was painful. The edge of the steps pulled at my skin and I hit my head on a table when I got to the ground.
-Mister Shrew! I heard someone say. I looked up. Mr Thompson had rolled into the room.
-Umm, umm… He dropped the bag, which tumbled down, following my footsteps and hit me. I tried to get up but I couldn’t.
-Mr and Mr Leekwood, Mr Gaston, I don’t see any reason for you two to be pinning Mrs Chêne and Mr Budding to the wall, nor Mr Frone. The 3 others let go of my friends, Zach had turned a disturbing bluish color and was breathing deeply, clutching a table.
-Much better. Nala, Alexander, please go help Leda up. They both came down the stairs and helped me to my feet.
-Are you okay? Nala asked. I felt dizzy, small, horrible and my ankle hurt, but I nodded. I tried putting weight on my ankle. I fell but Alex catched me.
-Thanks. I said.
-Alexander, Zachary, Nala, please bring her to the nurse’s office, and then meet me at the principal’s office. Please bring your things as well. Mr Shrew, you and your friends are to follow me.

The nurse figured I’d sprained my ankle and called my dad. We all went to Principle Dean’s office. He sat Shrew, his 3 buddies and I on chairs, Nala, Alex and Zach standing behind.
-I am greatly disappointed in all of you. He declared.
-All of us? What did Nala, Lee, Alex and I do?
-I do not encourage violence, especially not in my school. All of you were going to fight.
-What? We just wanted the stupid bag! Zach said.
-If the 3 of you hadn’t been pinned to the wall of my cafeteria…
-By them!
-Shut up Zach.
-There would’ve been a fist fight. Mr Dean insisted.
-They were the ones who came looking for trouble! They are the ones who took Lee’s backpack and insulted her mom! Alex said outraged.
-You are 12 years old, maybe 13-I honestly don’t care, you should be able to resolve fights in other fashions.
- How is that fair?! Nala said. Mr Dean ignored her.
-The four of you, he said pointing to my friends and me, are to go to detention tomorrow. Mr Shrew, you and your friends will be seeing room 223 for a month. The office door crept open.
-Mr Dean, sir, a man called Brian Munroe is here. The secretary said.
-Very well. The 4 of you are dismissed. He said. Alex helped me up and supported me out of the office. My dad was signing a form. He put the pen back down onto the desk.
-Lee! What happened? He asked stepping forwards.
-Your daughter, Mr Munroe, got in a fight. Principle Dean said.
-What? Lee wouldn’t get in a- Lee, is it true?
-It wasn’t a fight, it wasn’t going to be. I assured him.
-Shrew came looking for trouble and he got it! Nala protested. As Mr Dean went into a long speech, probably took it from a peace activist, I looked around. I could see through the glass window panes of the library, Mr Thompson. He made eye contact and he winked before rolling behind a bookshelf.
-Mr Dean, with all due respect, I don’t believe Lee or any of her fights were going to fist fight. He said. He slid his arm under my shoulder as Alex took a step back. He took my bag from Nala and walked me out of school. I turned to look at my friends.
-What happened? He asked, as the engine roared to life. I told him everything. We were home in five minutes, but he stayed with me in the car until I finished my story. He paled when I said the bit about Shrew insulting my mom.
- You acted very reasonably, Lee. Well done. He said.

Dad had gone back to work, leaving me on the couch with the remote, instructions to stay in the house, and a pack of frozen peas. I didn’t usually like TV, but I needed the most pointless distraction possible in the moment, and he knew it.
Great advice Mr Thompson. Call him off. Yup, that worked out well. Okay, so that was the part of my brain that feels pain talking. Truth was, if I hadn’t said anything, maybe it would’ve gone to a fist fight. Maybe he’d have kept trash-talking about my mom. Who knows? All I knew, was I probably wouldn’t ever work up the courage to do something like that again.

I really wasn’t really paying attention to the show. Random badly drawn ape/human mixes running around for some pointless deed of pointlessness. The doorbell rang. I picked up a pair of crutches next to me and managed to go to the door. It was the blond student from next door.
-Umm, hi? I asked opening the door.
-Hi, um, me and my buddies were wondering if you’ve seen anything weird recently.
-Weird?
- You know, unusual, out of the common…
-No. I squeaked.
-Okay, well, um, luck with your ankle.
-Thanks. I said closing the door as he turned around. TV was getting on my nerves, and a few minutes of a screen can screw up my eyes good, so I turned it off. I pulled my math binder from my bag and decided to try my luck. Yes, I was that bored.

Nala called when my work was half done, and my brain half-fried.
-Lee?
-Hey Nala, it’s me.
-Oh good! Just wondering how you were doing.
-Bored out of my mind, but good.
-Sweet. She said.
-How was the rest of the afternoon?
-Oh, well after you left Mr Dean sent us to gym class. Shrew too, and we had Mr Thompson again after. Shrew tried to trip me and Mr Thompson kicked him out and that was that.
-He deserved it. I said glumly.
-He did. Daniel Shrew is an idiot, Lee; don’t pay attention to anything he’ll ever tell you, ever. Ble-eh-eh. She said, the last being a nervous goat noise.
-I guess.
-Lee, don’t let these things, I mean people, get to you, key?
-I guess.
-Lee…
-Yes.
-Good. Stay off your ankle.
-Ugh! I’m so bored… Nothing to do!
-Ms Hexum gave us a whole lot of homework.
-I honestly don’t care about Sparta and Athens.
-Really? Well, you, uh, should. Especially Athens.
-What?
-My aunt’s calling me to go do something, bye. She said hanging up rather quickly. I put the phone down and felt something furry around my ankle. I looked down. A baby bunny, with short brown fur, was hanging around my feet, like a cat.
-There you are Thomas! I said. I knelt and picked him up.
- Finally you poke your nose out from wherever you hide. I said. I put him back down, and like a dog he followed me to heaven. Well, his heaven.
I opened the fridge door and dug a pack of small carrots out of the vegetable drawer. I gave him one. Watching bunnies eat can make a person hungry (you try it) so I went over to the pantry. There was practically nothing there. I dug in the bag and found a brownie wrapped in plastic wrap. I took it out and took a bite.
It didn’t taste like a brownie. It tasted like peanut butter cookies. I swallowed and looked at it weirdly. It had no nuts in it. I figured it probably wasn’t good and tossed it in the garbage can. I started walking and realised that my ankle didn’t hurt. Gingerly, I started putting more and more weight on it. Nothing. It’d healed.
Usually for me, no matter how minor, it took a week at least for a sprain to heal. A couple of hours? Something wasn’t right… Oh well, that resolved my activity problem.
I went to play with my Nerf guns.
Yes, I have an obsession with those things. I own 10 and I often just go in the basement and shoot targets that my dad drew on the wall. I had a good aim. I picked up the newest, a Recon CS-6 I’d gotten for Christmas and started shooting. I kept missing. So many things were on my mind. Mr Thompson’s wink, Shrew’s words, how Nala had hung up on me like that, and my ankle. It was hurt, I recognised it from a ball injury it was a sprain, how had it healed so fast? I put it down and moped around the house for a bit until dad came back.
-Lee? Lee? He called.
-I’m down here. I said. I got up the stairs.
-Why are you walking on your ankle?
-I don’t know, but it healed. It doesn’t hurt anymore.
-That’s weird. I’m sorry I got back a little late. Hold-up at the office.
-No problem.
-We’ll have to eat the left-over Chinese food.
Oh. Problem.
I didn’t complain as dad trooped up the stairs to get changed.

Dad was looking for soya sauce in the back of the pantry when he called me.
-Yes? I said.
-Did you eat anything? He asked.
-Umm, yeah, a brownie. Except it tasted weird so I threw it out. Why?
-Just wondering. He said after a few seconds. He’d been acting very strange since Saturday, when the shopping expedition had gone wrong. Not like himself. He liked to laugh and goof off. Now he was serious and worried,


On Sunday, I came down the stairs, ready for my ball practise. Dad was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper.
-Actually Lee, I’d rather you not overdue it, your ankle.
-Dad, I’m fine! I complained.
- You’re not going. There was something else I wanted to talk to you about. There’s a summer camp, in New York. I was thinking that it would be good for you. Fresh air, make a couple of friends, on your own for a while.
The idea horrified me.
Apart from dad’s trailer on Orleans Island, I’d never been on any kind of vacation. Never took a plane, a boat, a train, nothing. A week, somewhere I’d never been with a bunch of strangers? I already saw myself stammering and red as a tomato trying to introduce myself.
-Umm… You’re sure?
-Yeah, Lee, it’ll be fun. I know you don’t like crowds, but I think you’ll fit in well.
- New York is far away.
-Not that bad. He said.
-It’s really far, what if I don’t make it the week? He turned to face me and put a hand on my shoulder.
-Leda, you will be fine. Besides, it’s not a choice. He said.
-Why not? He closed the newspaper.
-I have a business trip, the first week of summer. I’m going to Belgium. Michelle is out of town and I can’t find anybody to watch you. You’ll be fine at camp. A lot of kids consider it a second home after the first summer.
-I already have a home!
-That’s not, anything like what I said. You’ll get used to the routine fast enough, Lee.
-I still don’t want to go. I said. My dad closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
-Lee, if I didn’t have to, I wouldn’t send you. I honestly wouldn’t. Please don’t argue. He said. He sounded sincere as he got up with the newspaper and patted my hair before walking out of the kitchen. I paced in the kitchen for a long time.
Dad never went on business trips for one. All of a sudden he had to go to Belgium? That was far from here. He always said he couldn’t stand being on planes anymore, nor was he important enough in his office to go on business trips. Belgium? Had to be pretty important to be that far…
Second, dad insisted for me to stay close to home. Said it wasn’t good for me to be at other places, that he liked to keep an eye on me himself. So camp in another country? Again, a big change.
I didn’t usually argue with him. He knew what I liked and what not, and if he wanted me to do something I didn’t I knew it had to be important. Usually I played along, or just voiced my opinion before doing the first. I really didn’t want to go, sleep in some deteriorating cabin, in the middle of the woods with strangers. Kids more popular, kids ever jerky-er then Shrew, chatterboxes who wouldn’t let me fade to the background with no questions like at school… No. Camp was not for me.

I wonder what that camp is............ Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

^ Okay, maybe it is a horribly-kept secret.

3
The thing that flies again

Nothing interesting or mildly entertaining happened after that week. Of course Shrew kept picking on me, but he did so when I was alone, at my locker or in the cafeteria.
Mr Thompson stayed at the school, and he seemed to follow me. He rolled past the cafeteria often; sometimes pausing to look threw the glass windowpane. Sometimes I caught his worried eye. He also seemed to dislike Shrew. He was fair when giving grades and such, but the way he looked at him… It scared me a little.
Ms Hexum on the other hand, never came back to school. Her replacement was some shrivelled up hag who spoke about 5 words of English, 3 of French.

Right, mildly interesting: my dad took me to his office.

He does marketing for the worst cereal in the world, its called oaty-wheats. He’d in the senior division, which means they have a whole building for themselves. Most of the people there had to work in other buildings for 30 years before they got there, meaning they were all old and lonely, their kids all grown up. So when someone pops in with a kid (in occurrence when dad brings me), they totally flip out.
It started with the security guard at the entrance.
His hair was white except he wasn’t that old. 50 years old I think, which compared to others meant he’d found the fountain of youth. He smiled brightly and he was bright-eyed, his eyes were grey like dust bunnies. They reminded me of someone.
-Hi Brian, not expecting to see you here on a Saturday! He said.
-Hi Roy, no choice.
-I know how you feel. Is that your daughter?
-Yes, Lee, this is Roy Bakings. He shook my hand.
-Lee, if you need any help doing your homework, Roy can probably help you.
-Got my mother’s brains. He said proudly.
-Thanks. I said giving him a little nod before starring back at the floor. Dad brought me to his office.
-Roy’s a great guy. He’s really smart and he has a god heart; can probably help you a lot. He knows how it is to try to work with dyslexia too. He said. I nodded. He turned into a corridor and pushed open the back door.
The walls are grey, just because having to get up at 5 in the morning on a Monday and work is not depressing enough; and it’s pretty small, like the other cubicles. It has two desks stuck together and a computer. In one corner was a big format of a cereal box, except written in either Dutch.
-Poster to make the stuff more popular in Belgium. He said.
-Good luck with that. I said rolling my eyes.
-I know, the stuff tastes like cardboard, but this is my job, I’ve got to try. He said gathering his papers. He cleared a spot for me.
-You can work here, if you’ve got a problem Roy’ll be at the front office.
-Key. I said. He tipped my baseball cap so it covered my eyes.
-Meeting should be over in an hour. If anyone comes send them walking. I nodded and he left the office.
I took Little house in the prairie out of my book bag and sat down on a chair. It bored me out of my mind faster then a NASCAR does a lap. I finished the chapter and moved on to the question sheet. It was one of those “define the following words” questions, followed by 10 works longer then my fingers. I looked around the office. The only dictionary was a French-to-Dutch dictionary, which I figured wouldn’t helped. I picked up another one, whose cover was ripped off and flipped threw a few pages. I noticed a picture Dad was using as a bookmark.
He was standing in front of a crumbly temple under the hot sun, smiling at the camera, surrounded by tourists. He was holding hands with a small woman. Her hair was tucked into a bandana and probably tied back too, considering I couldn’t see any. She was smiling a shy smile, her eyes covered by sunglasses. I starred at the picture. With all the people around, of all different ethnicities and their clothing all different, all I saw was her. I knew who she was, even if he’d never shown me a picture of her before. I just did.
-Lee? I heard somebody say. I turned around. It was Roy.
-Umm… Hi, I… I felt my face redden when the words wouldn’t come out on the first shot.
-Just checking. You’ve been quiet. He said.
-Yeah. Umm. I’m a quiet person. I slipped the picture under a pile of paper.
-Your father mentioned it. He’s a good man Lee, listen to him. He has your safety at heart. Roy said. I nodded, looking at the ground.
-He told me you’re going to a camp this summer. Told me you didn’t think you’d like it. I shook my head.
-I don’t… like crowds. I don’t like when people pay attention to me. I whispered.
-I know the camp your dad’s talking about. I know a few of the regular campers that go there. They’re good kids, Lee. Good kids, they’ll be nice. They’ve got a great location, great councillors and great activities. You’ll like it. He said.
I nodded but he wasn’t convinced.
-You still don’t want to go. He noticed. I nodded.
-Lee, your dad’s job is really hard.
-Yeah, I know, he’s going to Belgium…
-That’s not what I’m talking about. The priority is to keep you safe. It’s never easy for anyone. You’d make him real happy by going. He only wants the best for you. Roy said.
I looked at him questiongly. It was like my safety was worst then everybody else’s. Like those kids on fantasy shows, who have vampires and werewolves hunting them down. So far all I had was Shrew, which I guess would fit somewhere in between.
I was about to ask him more, but before I could he changed subjects by offering me help with my homework. I accepting, admitting to myself that I was doing a pathetic job. He pulled up a chair and helped me, step by step threw nearly every question. He was a good and patient teacher. He reminded me of Mr Thompson.
He looked at his watch.
-I should get back to the office now. Good luck with the rest, Lee.
-Thanks. I muttered. He walked back to the administration, leaving me to wonder where I’d seen him before, and if I even had seen him before.

Many months later, as beginning of June came around the corner, dad grew even more and fonder of the camp idea.
-What’s even the name of the camp?
-That’s a surprise, he always answered, which is adult code for either “I don’t know yet” or in this case, “If I tell you, you’ll hate it (more)”.

That’s how, the Saturday after school ended, I was chatting with Alex and Zach on MSN. They’d asked Nala and I to do a couple of things with them this summer and Nala and I had had to say no. Her aunt was shipping her off to a camp as well, except for her it was the whole summer.
Dad’d made me pack. He told me to bring “but the essentials”, all of which fit in a backpack, which was waiting by the door. He’d left for his flight late last night. Michelle was going to pick me up and drop me off at camp, which was on the way to wherever Jace and her were going.

Alex – What time are you leaving @?
Lee - In an hour
Alex – Sucks.
Lee –Yeah. If it’s so early why are you guys even on?
Zach – Because we aren’t going to see each other this summer, Alex has a hockey camp. Last minute, much, what am I supposed 2 do?
Alex –Where’s Nala?
Lee – Left yesterday. You didn’t know?
Alex – No she never talk about her summer plans
Zach – ever
Alex – Think she’s a spy?
Lee – XD
Alex – Y’ah never know!
Lee – Yes, and btw, I’m a vampire
Zach – Knew it
Alex – So what R U Zach?
Zach – Awesome
Lee - : P
Alex –OMG, Lee, who’s picking you up?
Lee – Michelle, why?
Alex – Cause my mum turned on the CTV, check it out.
I grabbed the remote from the computer desk and switched on CTV. The woman was wearing too much make-up and had a serious look on her face.
-…The crash victims have been identified as Michelle Rosale and her son Jace,
-Oh my God! I said. They showed a video from a McDonald’s drive-threw video camera. A familiar blue Ford Anglia was driving along the road and another behind speeded up and hit it strait. Except the car flipped over, which seemed exaggerated for the small impact. The other car went around it and sped away. For 10 more seconds they showed the other cars stopping, and 3 men getting out and try to get Jace out. But something caught my eye, in the corner of the camera’s view. A dark, winged shape that I couldn’t see well. It reminded me of something.
The furniture trip, those months ago… The same shape, I was sure.
-Both mother and child are alive, but Jace Rosale is now in coma at l’hôpital pour enfant de Québec.
I switched the TV off, my hand clamped on my mouth. Oh my God. That crash hadn’t been an accident, I was sure. And that thing, the thing with wings, had been there. A feeling of coldness and evil enrobed that creature. I didn’t like it. The doorbell rang and I opened it. It was the blond college student. He was covered in blood.
-You’re alive! Was the first thing he said.
-Oh my God you’re covered in blood! What..?
-We have to get you out of here, common. He took my wrist and dragged me out the door.
-Hey! What are you doing! Let me go! What do you think you’re..? He let go of my wrist and stopped walking.
-Lee, you saw the Kindly one in the car crash video as well as me, it’s not safe for you here, they are looking for you! He said.
-Wait, you saw it too?
-You honestly believed your father? It’s not your imagination; it’s an actual monster and its out to get you.
-Me? What the heck did I..?
-Nothing, just trust me! I stared at him.
-Where are you taking me? I asked.
-To the camp you were going to go to today. There’s no time, you have to follow me. There was a sound, like a hawk.
-Come-on! He said. He ran towards his house and I followed.
The street was deserted, at 6 in the morning, except for 2 of the student’s roommates who were struggling with the reins of–you won’t believe this – a winged horse. A cry of surprise escaped from my lips.
-Calm down, Star, calm down! Damn, where’s Jackson when you need him! A big guy said.
-It’s making her nervous. The other explained looking at the sky nervously.
-Well get Blue, we don’t have time! He said. One opened the garage door. I could see another of the horse – Pegasus; I remembered they were called- inside. I wanted to ask so many questions. What was up with the flying horses? Wasn’t it animal cruelty to keep them in there? Who the heck were they? What was the thing with wings? What was up with this camp? One of the other kids walked up to me.
-I’ll brief you on what’s going on: I’m Vince, that’s Kyle, Bruce went to get Blue and Ian is inside. Zeus knows where Marcus is and we don’t care enough about Cory to keep track of him. We are trying to get you out of Canada and to camp. He said.
Bruce led Blue out of the garage and closed the door.
-The horses they…
-Have wings, I know. Hop on, you’re coming with me.
-What? But…
-This is perfectly safe kid; we do it all the time! Kyle said. Vince was already on the Pegasus.
-Lee, they tried to kill your dad’s best friend and her son, they already tried to kill you. Come on. Vince said. I nodded and my knees weak as jell-o, I got up on the Pegasus behind Vince.
-Hold on tight. Vince said.
-Umm, we’re going to fly on this thing?
-Has wings, doesn’t it? YAH! Blue beated her ghostly white wings and we took off.
-IM us! Bruce called as we spiralled upwards.
It was in total awe, the wind blowing softly against us, that I took my first of many Pegasus rides.
-It’s about 337 miles to get to New York, an hour and a half or so by Pegasus, ‘specially when you have a fast one like Blue! Vince yelled over the wind.

I looked down. We were above clouds, but every now and then I’d see patchworks of fields, cities and trees in between.
Finally Vince directed the Pegasus to land at a camp. There was one big House and a bunch of little cabins in two rectangles. There were also other buildings, a stable, one that looked kind-of like a factory, an archery range, an arena and little sheds. People were walking around, carrying weaponry and chatting. Three were yelling their heads off, and, get this; some were floating metres above the ground racing each other. Vince landed near the stable and hopped off. He offered his arm to help me but I jumped off and looked around.
-What is this place?
-Camp. Vince said.
He turned to the stable and shouted something in a weird language. I’d heard it before. One day someone had told Ms Hexum that it wasn’t possible that she talked Ancient Greek fluently. She did for the rest of the class until he admitted it was. Except this time I understood perfectly. He was calling a kid named Percy.
A black haired boy with green eyes walked out of the stables. Vince said something, too quickly for me to catch, and he replied. He sounded angry.
-Vlacas. He finished by saying. The boy replied something sounding equally rude, and he brought the horse in the stable, talking to it.
-That’s Percy Jackson, he talks to horses. Vince explained.
-That’s impossible. I stated.
-Lee, you just flew on a winged horse to New York from Quebec City and you’re telling me it’s impossible for a boy to talk to a horse. Common, I’ll take you to see Chiron. I didn’t say anything but followed him up the hill and into the big house.
-Vince! Somebody said. A 17 year old girl with brown hair tied back in a ponytail was running towards us. She tackle-hugged Vince.
-Gods, I missed you! She said.
-So did I, so did I, let go. Vince said pushing her off.
-Lee, this is my little sister Katie. He said, turning back to me. I nodded.
-Hey, Lee. I’m Katie from Demeter. She said offering me her hand. I shook it. She wore jeans and an orange T-shirt with “Camp Half-Blood”, which I assumed was here, written on it.
-Cabin’s waiting; we’re at the arena with Hecate, Lily and zombie-boy, bye! She said before running off.
-Common. Vince said. We continued walking until we were at the house then we climbed the steps and Vince let himself in.
Mr Thompson and some pudgy guy were playing cards at a table.
-Mr Thompson? I asked. My teacher looked up.
-Hello Leda. Goodness, you’re early…
-Yeah, there was a… Umm… C’est quoi l’mot?
-Just say it in Greek, Vince.
So Vince explained to him everything, at least I assumed: I didn’t really pay attention, while the pudgy man starred at me weird, like he was trying to remember who I was. Nala’d have told him to take a picture by now…
-I see.
-Sweet. I better run, cabin’s waiting for me. Bye Lee. He said before running out of the room. Mr Thompson turned back to me.
-Well, the important part is you got here safe.
-Mr. Thompson, were exactly is here?
-Here you are at Camp Half-Blood. And you’ll have to stop calling me Mr Thompson. My real name is Chiron.
So what the heck are you? An imposter? I thought.
-It was a pseudonym, Leda. I travel to many schools.
-Chiron, if you’re going to tell her the whole thing, do you really need me here? The pudgy man asked grumpily.
-No, Mr D.
-Good. He got up and left, into the corridor.
-Sit down, Leda. Chiron offered. I took a seat.
-The tale I’m about to tell you is very long. To you it will make no sense. You will call me lunatic and meaner things perhaps…
And then Chiron told me the most bizarre and unrealistic story ever.
Of a world long gone, of fabulous heroes, Olympian gods. Terrible monsters, and fabulous beats, broken oaths, and blood-shedding wars.
-You expect me to believe this? I said, a few seconds after my brain finished processing it all.
- Leda, the pieces fit too well together for you to deny it.
-Yeah, they would, if this was a parallel universe!
-Think. Your ankle healed because you ate ambrosia, which is a god food your dad kept for you in case of emergencies, and the flying thing you saw was a monster. The students living in the home besides you are all demigods, which is why as soon as they recognised your father’s friend on the news, and saw the monster, they brought you here.
-I’m not buying it. This is a story, myths, a joke. You probably read a book about it and are an obsessed fan.
-Stop making excuses. You can see it all around you, just as well as me Leda. You won’t admit it, because your whole life you’ve been programmed to deny fairy tales and myths.
-Why did he tell me my mom was dead, then? Why did he invent a random person? My mom is not a goddess, and I am not a demigod!
-I already explained your first question, as I explained the, scent. And I can prove to you in a variety of ways you’re a demigod. Your dyslexia; it’s because the English Alphabet won’t cut it for you. You are completely hardwired for Ancient Greek. A lot of half-bloods also have ADHD, which you don’t, but for most it’s their battle reflexes standing out. In a fight they keep you alive. You see more than other kids, Leda. You see more, you notice more. It’s the warrior in you: evaluating the battlefield, studying the enemy for that fatal flaw. You survived the ambrosia. That’s another proof. Mortals literally burn up if they eat it, demigods too if they eat it in quantity. Don’t lie to yourself.
I started doubting my “logic”. It made sense. It explained the thing that flew, my ankle, and if my brain really was hard-wired for Ancient Greek, Ms. Hexum’s study sheet. But why hadn’t I understood her speak it?
-Vince talked to the kid that speaks to horses in Ancient Greek, why didn’t I understand that?
-Even the demigods who speak it fluently have trouble understanding fully if you speak too fast. And sometimes outside of camp, the mist blurs up the words. Chiron said.

Still not convinced, and he could read it in my face.

-You probably know demigods too. You met Roy Bakings haven’t you?
-The security guard at my dad’s office? I asked.
-Son of Athena. Only reason he’s not a university professor is he noticed how many of Canada’s demigod population lived in the surrounding region of Quebec City. The rest are in Ottawa for the most part. You’ll meet the second oldest child of Athena, Annabeth soon. You’ve met Vince Gardner and his little sister Katie. Bruce and the other demigods living in Quebec as well. Face it. The gods, and demigods, are everywhere.
I starred at the table for a few seconds letting my brain digest all the new and wacko information.
-Suppose, my mom really is a Greek goddess, who is she? I asked.
-I don’t know. Your mom has to send a sign for herself, she needs to claim you. The rule is you have to be claimed before you’re 13.
-I’m turning 13 in a week from today.
-So you don’t have much of a wait, 7 days at a longest. Chiron said.
-My dad would know, wouldn’t he? Can’t you contact him somehow, even without phones? Chiron looked serious.
-We’ve already tried contacting your father. The messages won’t reach him.
My eyes opened wide and my head felt weird. The words echoing in my head.
-He’s in Belgium. On a business trip.
-We know. We also know his hotel. He isn’t there, as he should be by now.
-Where is he then, were could he be? I said, starting to panic.
- Anywhere. There must’ve been a change with his flight, or a change of hotel. That’s probably it. Chiron assured me.
-And there is no godly way of contacting someone without knowing their emplacement? I asked. Chiron ignored my question.
-We talked to Michelle Rosale as well.
-Is she okay? What about Jacey? Is she a demigod too?
-Michelle is a mortal with strong sight. She is unharmed, shaken of course, and Jace is in a coma.
-Oh my gosh…
-Would you like to talk to her?
-Yes please. I said immediately. Chiron took a golden coin out of the pocket of his jacket. He took one of those crystals you get at gift shops as well and tilted it to make a rainbow.
-O Iris, goddess of the rainbow, accept my offering. Michelle Rosale, Quebec City, Canada. He tossed the coin towards the rainbow, but instead of hitting it, it went right through it. Immediately the rainbow shimmered into a vision of Michelle, sitting in a deserted waiting room, looking anxious. Her short straw-blond hair was loose on her shoulder. Her eyes were irony-blue and she seemed 20 years older with worry.
-Michelle! I said. She turned and breathed out.
-Lee, sweetie, are you all right?
-I’m fine Michelle, how’s Jacey? She exiled.
-Not in any mortal danger. She said. I was so relieved I wanted to cry.
-How about you?
-I’m fine, not a scratch. Do you have any news from Dad? She bit her lip.
-I tried calling him this morning. He should’ve been there by now. She had. She had that familiar wrinkle above her nose she gets when she’s worried.
-Are you okay? I mean, the kindly one or whatever Vince called it, did it..?
-Bruce Phalanx told me showed up at your house a few minutes after you left. They managed to kill it before it caused any damage. She said.
-So you knew about… you know; the whole god thing? She nodded.
-Since I’m really little. I had a run in with the chimera. A son of Hermes, Adahy Ross, killed it and spilt the beans. Then I met your dad and we became best friends in middle school. He had strong-sight too. I got permission from camp to tell him everything since there used to be so many monsters in Quebec. I lost contact with him when he went off traveling. I saw him again when you were a new-born, he had to bring you to the hospital for frost-bite or something and it was my shift.
-Did he tell you who my mom was? Michelle shook her head.
-Never brought it up, never asked. All I know is that the satyrs and monsters had a hard time recognising you. She said.
-Michelle Rosale? A voice asked.
-Bye Lee, good luck at camp. She whispered before passing her hand threw the mist.

I starred at the spot where the Iris message had evaporated for a few seconds.
Michelle’s car’d been attacked by a monster, Jace was in a coma, my dad was missing and it was all my fault.
-It’s not your fault. Chiron said, as if reading my thoughts.
-Monsters, he said seeing I wasn’t going to answer, have been at Quebec City more then any other Canadian city.
-But they never attacked anybody I knew until now, did they? I asked.
-It was bound to happen soon. You’re nearly 13. He said. I shrugged.
- Annabeth Chase has offered to show you around camp. I think she’s waiting at the archery range for you. Chiron said, switching subjects.
-Who is she?
-She’s a daughter of Athena. 17 years old, been here longer than any other camper. She’s the architect re-building Olympus.
-The girl in your war story?
-Yes, that’s her. I have archery in a few minutes; she’ll show you the grounds instead. Is that okay?
No!
I had no clue who this girl was, and she was all important!
-You’ll be fine, Annabeth is a nice person. Chiron reassured me. He rolled down the handicap ramp of the big house, I followed and he took me past the cabins, which were the weirdest assortment of buildings I’d ever seen. Two people fell from the sky, only to softly land, a short distance away from us.
-Jason don’t you ever do that again! The girl said laughing. The blond boy smiled.
-My turn! A curly-haired guy said.
-Me t-too! A girl with thin brown hand, holding his hand said.
-Jason, one at a time, and make sure they don’t fall.
-Sure Chiron. Jason said as he shot upwards with unbelievable speed, holding Leo by the wrist. I starred in awe.
-Child of Boreas. He controls the wind. He takes people ‘skydiving’. His sister and cousins do it as well, but he's quickest. He said as we kept going.
I followed the all-terrain wheel-chair to the archery range. A girl with long curly hair tied back, an athletic figure and storm cloud-grey eyes was waiting for us. She had a knife strapped to her arm and a Yankees baseball cap in her pocket.
-Hello Annabeth. Chiron said.
-Hey Chiron. She’s Lee Munroe?
-Yes. Leda, Annabeth, Annabeth, Leda. Annabeth shook my hand.
-You determined? She asked.
-No. I said.
-It’ll come, fast probably. She assured me. I shook my head.
- Here comes Eris cabin, another painfully long lesson… Leda, you better not meet them straight away.
-Good call. Annabeth said. Common, Lee. She walked towards the first rectangle.

Confussed at the last part otherwise AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing as usual! just wish there were more to read

^ you were saying?

4
I get a tour
-So you’re a Blue Jay’s fan? Annabeth asked.
-Oh, um yes. Your team’s the Yankees?
-Yeah, when I was little. I’ve stopped paying attention to ball when, you know… The life threatening stuff really began. She said as we walked between two cabins and into the rectangle. In the middle there was a fire burning, a little girl poking at the coals. She looked up at me. She had no irises or pupils, just a fire burning in the sockets. She wore a plain brown dress and a scarf on her head. She was so tiny, I’m sure she wasn’t a camper. But at the same time she fit in right…
She met my eyes and I looked back down. A few seconds later, she’d disappeared.
-Here are the Olympian cabins. Zeus and Hera are at the end, and starting with that black one, with the green fire, and the brown one over there, those are the minor god cabins. Except the black one is Hades, not a minor god, and Hestia, cabin 14 over there, is now something in between.
-But neither of them Olympian, not in the myths. I said.
-But neither of them Olympian, not in the myths. I said.
-Things change. Annabeth shrugged. We walked past the second rectangle, the forge, the stable and the canoe lake.
-Who are those girls in there? I asked pointing to the rippling surface.
-Naiads. She said. A squirt of water hit Annabeth. She backed off.
-Stupid river spirits. She muttered. She showed me the rest of camp.
-Waiting for you to be claimed, you’re in Hermes. She said pointing to an old cabin. Emphasis on old.
-Hermes is the god of travelers and hospitality. Except you better be praying for the hospitality part to be good now, which I don’t expect it will be.
-Oh.
-I know, I know, not really encouraging, but better then Eris or Ares.
-What was that bird brain? I heard somebody say. A tuff brown girl, with muscles all over came by. She was wearing red armour, a boar-shaped helmet under her arm.
-I was just saying how inhospitable your cabin is. Annabeth replied.
-One of these days…
-Odd you’ve been saying that for the past 6 years. Annabeth replied. Before Clarisse could say anything, Annabeth took my arm and dragged me towards cabin 11.
-That was a bad example; it’s not good to be a loud-mouth with Clarisse. She said.
-What about you?
-I can actually get away with fighting Clarisse. But you’re probably not a war-god type, seeing as Athena’s kids all have grey eyes, all of them, no exceptions ever, and you’re too shy to be Ares, so you might want to wait a while. Annabeth said.
-Will do. I said. Annabeth and I climbed the steps of the cabin and opened the door.
-Dude, knock! Someone yelled.
-Connor, what are you doing? Annabeth asked. Two boys, nearly identical with elfish features and sarcastic smiles were standing in the middle of the room holding a piece of important-looking plumbing.
-I’m not Connor, I’m Travis! One responded.
-I was talking to him. That better not be from Athena.
-Wouldn't dream of it, it’s from Eris. They’re almost as fun as Ares! Connor said.
-You do realise that this’ll mean war? Anyway, this is Lee Munroe. Undetermined. Lee, meet Connor and Travis Stoll, sons of Hermes.
-Hi! Travis said.
-Err… Hi. I said, knowing my face was growing red.
-So, I’m Travis and this is my little brother Connor. He said, dropping his end of the pipe. It weighed too much for Conner who dropped it.
-Dude! They’ll hear us! Patricia has ears like radar! He reproached.
-Hide it! There, under Chris’ bunk, we’ll blame him. Travis said, completely forgetting Annabeth and me.
- Wait, what about that new girl’s bunk? Connor said. Travis smacked him in the back of the head.
-No! Dude how twisted and cruel can you be? You’d really let Patricia loose on the new girl?
-You cannot smack me in the head! His brother did it again.
-Oh yeah, looks like I can. They both started bickering. Annabeth snapped her fingers.
-Guys! She said sternly. The cabin was silent. And she reminded me of someone that moment. But I couldn’t remember who.
-Yeah, well, anyways, welcome to camp, I guess. Hey, Annabeth, mind if we..?
-No you can not under any circumstances hide that thing in cabin 6. Common Lee. She said, touching my shoulder. We walked out of the cabin.
-So, yes, those are the Stolls. Gods, I wish you’d have met them when they weren’t conducting some form of thievery, but I guess it’s okay. They’re rarely up to anything good anyways. Besides, your mom’s the immortal right? So you’ll only be in Hermes until you turn 13 at the max, which considering you just finished grade 7 shouldn’t be so long.
-A week from today. I said.
-Even shorter. Besides, your mom will realise you’re here quick enough. I nodded. It was about 2 in the afternoon.
-Yo, Annabeth! Somebody yelled. She spun around, and so did I. A buff guy with a permanent scowl on his face and black eyes was walking towards us, his arms not moving.
-Jake, what’s up? She asked.
-There’s a new kid here with his mom. Mr D isn’t here and Chiron’s busy. Woman doesn’t speak English, she wants to speak directly to someone, Percy doesn’t speak French, so we were just wondering…
-The Hades..? I don’t speak French; not fluently anyways.
-Um, I do. I offered.
-You speak French? Annabeth asked.
-I’m from Quebec. I said.
-Great, well common..?
-Lee. I said.
-Okay, Lee, common. He said. He took off up the hill. Annabeth and I followed.

And I got the second surprise of my life…

When we got to the hill somebody else was there, already chatting with the woman. I saw her from the back. Her hair was blond, going to her waist. She wore long pants and no shoes. Except her feet, they weren’t feet. They were hooves. Yes, you got me right, black hooves. Your surprise can’t be anything compared to mine, I nearly had a heart attack when I recognised…
-Nala? She spun around at the sound of her name.
-Lee! She said. She ran and hugged me so tight I think I hear something crack.
-Oh my gods, Chiron told me about Michelle and Jace, and I was super worried, thank the gods they got you here safe!
-Lee? Another voice said. I looked past Nala. A familiar boy, nearly as tall as Nala, with purplish black hair and eyes the color of driftwood was standing beside the woman.
-Alex! I said. I ran towards him and hugged him.
-Oh my God, what are you, why are you..? I baffled.
-I don’t know, she told me she’d signed me up to a hockey camp! He said pointing at his mom.
-This isn’t hockey camp. I told him straight away.
-I figured when I saw Nala. He said pointing at the hooves.
-Don’t point, guys! It’s normal around here.
-If it’s so normal why didn’t you tell me? You’re what, a satyr?
-Correct.
-What’s a satyr? Alex asked. We caught him up on the myth.
-It’s a myth guys, you’re going absolutely crazy.
-Are not! Chiron will explain. Nala said.
-Chiron? Who’s Chiron? Alex asked.
-Mr Thompson. I said.
-Really? I thought his first name was Tiberius…
-Out of all things, Tiberius Thompson… No, his real name is just Chiron. Nala said.
-No last name?
-No last name. Nala confirmed. Alex looked puzzled.
-Lee, talk to his mom. Annabeth said.

-No, its fine. Chiron said. I turned to look at him. I knew who he really was, but it was still a shock to see his bottom half one of a white stallion. Alex looked like he’d pass out.
-Mr Thompson? He baffled.
-No Alexander, I think Nala and Leda have said, but my real name is Chiron. Now what’s your last name again?
-My… Oh, Budding. Chiron looked at the clipboard he was holding and flipped a page or two.
-Okay, I see. Nala, please bring Mr Budding to cabin 7. Pollux isn’t here, so get him set up.
-You got it Chiron. Lee, you coming?
-Sure.
-Sweet, common Alex.
-Umm, my mom doesn’t speak English and…
-Chiron speaks French. Common, you’ll get to see her before she leaves. Alex took his backpack and swung it on his shoulder. He said bye to his mom, and joined my struggle to follow Nala. Her knee problem? Yeah, non-existent. That girl could run FAST.

She brought us to the cabin, the one with the glass roof.
-Welcome to your home away from home. Nala said, opening the door. She pushed Alex inside, then me.
There were 6 bunk beds in the cabin. The floor was made of glass, just like the ceiling and you could see a vine yard growing underneath it. And as soon as Alex stepped further on the floor, the grapes started growing a little bit.
-Oh my God, look at those things! He said. Immediately they stopped.
-You have control over them by the way. Nala pointed out, pulling the purple curtains at the other end of the room open, letting in the sunshine.
-What?
-Okay, confession time; your dad isn’t a man called Steve Billings who died of cancer when you were 1. Your dad’s the Greek god Dionysus. Alex starred at her blankly.
-The god of wine, vines, grapes and parties. Nala said, her eyebrow raised.
-Nala, the Greek gods don’t exist. Therefore, he doesn’t exist. Alex said patiently.
-He does. Your dad is Dionysus and he’s my boss. Not Steve Billings.
-My dad is so Steve Billings!
-Is not!
-Is too!
-Is not!
-Is too infinity! Nala said. Alex gave up on her. He turned to me.
-Did she tell you all this junk already?
-No, Chiron did.
-And you believe it? What happened to your mom being Sethia I-don’t-remember-the-last-name?
-She just isn’t. It was a cover story.
-Then who is she? Some Greek goddess I bet?
-Lee hasn’t been claimed yet, so we don’t know. Nala said, showing more patience then I thought possible for her to master.
-7 more days before the time limit is over and she has to claim me, do. I said.
-So you believe this junk?
-Yes. I said. Nala started explaining everything Chiron had already told me to Alex.
-Not buying it. Alex said.
-You will once you’ll meet him. She assured me. She turned to me.
-You know Mr D, right?
-Plays cards with Chiron?
-Yes.
-Then yes.
-You’re buying all this, Lee?
-Alex, it makes sense. I argued.
-It does not make any sense whatsoever!
-It does! You’re dyslexic aren’t you? And you have ADHD? It fits into what Nala says.
-Does not! The door opened. A guy, about 18, with blond hair came in, a backpack on his back, looking tired. He frowned at all of us.
-Umm… Hi? He said.
-Oh, hi Pollux! This is Lee, and he’s Alex, your, um brother…
-He is no my brother I’m an only child! Alex said again. Pollux nodded understandingly.
-In denial? Pollux said, throwing his bag on a bunk, that looked like the only one ever occupied thanks to the picture taped on the wall.
-Yes. Can you try and..?
-Reason? Sure. Oh, by the way, Grover wants to see you.
-Grover wants to… Oh my gods, Grover! Thanks Pollux, bye Alex, common Lee! She said sprinting out the door. I sighed and followed her. This time she ran strait into the forest.
-Didn’t Chiron say the forest was full of dangerous things? I said, pushing branches out of my face as I ran.
-Yup! Nala said cheerfully. We finally got in a small valley. Another goat-boy being was standing there talking to an older one, this one holding a club. His horns poked past his curly hair.
-Hey, Grover! Nala called. He turned towards us. He was holding a check board in one hand, a purple gel pen in the other. His eyes were brown. He looked about 17.
-Nala, hay. And that is..? He asked pointing his pen at me.
-Lee Munroe. One of the half-bloods I’ve found last September.
-Wait, you knew all along? I asked her.
-Oh right, I forgot Chiron hadn’t explained the satyr thing! We go undercover at schools, and demigods have a smell, so when there’s one, we know, and so do monsters. Alex I knew from the start, but you I wasn’t sure.
-Why not? I asked.
-You smell different.
-You do. The other satyr said.
-Umm…
-Don’t answer. Nala advised.
-Wait, what about Zach? I asked.
-Zach? What about him?
-Everybody’s here, what about Zach?
-Zach is a mortal.
-Dang, because you know, that would be great to see him too… I said thinking about it. What if I never left camp? I’d never see him again… Or Jacey if he made it, or Michelle.
-Mortals aren’t allowed here, except for the oracle. Nala said.
-Wait, you didn’t hear? Goat-boy said before I could ask what an oracle was.
-I came back from another country at 4 in the morning; no I did not hear much, I just met the first arrivals. She said.
-You know Clare Foster?
-I’m not that old. Nala replied.
-You know her anyways. Well her kid, Jessie, she’s four, except she woke up this morning looking like a 12 year old!
-Woe! You’re kidding! Nala said.
-How is that possible? I asked.
-We don’t know. But looks, matureness, knowledge, like she was 13 years old all along! Anyway, Clare’s first instinct was to bring her to camp. At about 6 in the morning they got here. Clare’s gone, but Jessie’s hanging out with Hermes.
-That is messed up! Nala said her eyes as wide as my fist.
-I know. Anyways, Pollux sent you?
-Yes.
-Okay, it’s about your application for next year; you’re going to have to go back to Quebec.
-That’s cool. Nala shrugged.
-Sweat, and… Never mind, I’ll tell you later. Nice meeting you Lee. Grover said. An arm, beige with a tint of green, grew out of a tree, grabbed the clipboard and disappeared back in the bark as another satyr popped out from behind a tree to talk to Grover.
-C’mon. Nala said. She tugged my arm and directed me out of the forest. The sunlight nearly blinded me.
A fight had broken out near the original 12 rectangle. Clarisse and a girl with mid-neck velvety, black hair, which reflected the light.
-Oh Styx. There’s gonna be blood. Nala moaned.
-What? Why?
-When Clarisse gets in it with Patricia Chiotac, it’s never good. Ares and Eris are twins, and the cabins get along about as well as the gods do. She said in a hushed tone. There was a cry of pain. I looked back and Patricia Chiotac was on the ground, Clarisse’s spear to her throat.
-Alright, alright, you win. She gulped. Clarisse lowered her spear, threw a brownie to Patricia and walked away with 2 other girls.
-What was that thing? I asked Nala.
-Ambrosia. According to Chiron you’ve already had some. What did it taste like to you?
-Dad’s 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies. I said.
Thinking about dad and his cheated baking reminded me of the fact he was unfindable.
-Don’t worry about your dad Lee, this stuff tends to happen, it always works out.
-Always?
-Unless the kidnapped is a demigod. In which case, your dad is fine. Besides, celestial bronze and stygian iron, which are the two things most weapons are made out of, can’t hurt him. Monsters tend not to hurt regular mortals, so it’s fine. She assured me. I shrugged. A conch bell blew.
-You better get back to cabin 11. I’ll see you later, key?
-Sure. I said as Nala scampered off into the woods. My gaze drifted back on her solid hooves. My friend… The Amazing goat-girl. Sure, why not? I sprinted towards the cabin thinking of about a thousand “why not’s”. There was a line, led by the Stolls already moving and I added myself to the line, behind a girl with curly black hair. I had trouble following, there were so many kids everywhere, and nobody I really knew… I hated it.
-Don’t worry, I don’t like it either. A girl whispered to me. I turned around. A girl with blond hair, streaked with brown and sparkling, piercing, blue eyes was standing behind me. She looked uncomfortable in her own skin.
-I’m Jessie. Jessie Foster. She said as we entered the dinning pavilion.
Jessie, Jessie… Foster… Jessie Foster? Where had I heard that name before?
-Are you the 5 year old that woke up as a 12 year old? I asked. She nodded.
-Please don’t ask, because I honestly have no idea. She pleaded.
-Sure. I’m Lee Munroe by the way.
-Hi, Lee. So, your dad’s Hermes?
-No, I just got here today, undetermined. I said.
-Oh. It’ll come soon. My mom told me it only took her 3 days.
-My birthday’s coming up anyways, so I’ll have max a week. And your mom is a child of..?
-Hermes. Her dad’s Hermes.
-Cool. That makes everyone here your..?
-Aunts and uncles? I know. It’s pretty awkward. I look older than some of them. Jessie said as we sat down. The guy in front of us; Chris, told us how to order our food and drink. We followed the rest of the cabin. Jessie threw some BBQ in for Hermes
Please, whoever you are. I whispered as I scrapped half of my plate’s content off. And for a split second, the fire’s flames grew higher and brighter then ever, before returning to their usual state. I went to sit next to Jessie, who was already waiting for me. I looked around at all the tables. This place was bigger then my school’s cafeteria!
I noticed Alex sitting with his brother, Pollux. They were still arguing, Alex was probably still denying it.
-You know that guy? Jessie asked pointing to Alex.
-Who, Alex? Yeah, he’s one my best friends. We went to school together.
-Where did you live?
-Quebec city. You?
- Armpit. It’s in Nevada.
-That’s an actual place?
-Don’t ask about the name. Jessie said.
For the rest of the supper I talked with Jessie. Then Connor or Travis got some kind of firework display going in his sister’s hair and that was the entertainment.
When we walked to the camp fire, I’d shedded my shyness and was talking with a girl named Natalie. The fire was already going; it was about 5 feet high and bright, nuclear looking green. The moment I squeezed onto Hermes’ bench, it grew up to 20 feet and burned bright purple, and stayed like that for the rest of the evening. I didn’t pay attention to any of the songs –which were around the lines of “99 spears hanging on the wall” and “Old Achilles had a sore heal”- but starred at the fire instead. For some reason, I couldn’t sit still for a whole class, but I could stare at a fire for an hour without moving. Weird, eh?
But I didn’t really think about it. For the first time I’d talked to strangers and camp was actually… fun.

Wow that was really good! I think I know who her mom is..........................

^ Not a very well-kept secret if you manage to follow my crazy theories and all... Ah well, let's see if you're right.

5
Weeks going on days
The days stretched into nights and I still tagged along with Hermes. I couldn’t help but stare at the other tables during meals, and wonder at which one sat my siblings.
The heads of the other cabins were trying to figure it out too, but it didn’t matter that much to them. I mean, I was just another kid. To me, it was the world. It showed that she was still alive, like I those fantastic dreams I used to have, and that Shrew was wrong; she didn’t just leave because something was wrong with me, she had to.
Of course the fire burning inside of me was tarnished by the lack of news from my dad, and that every time I asked Chiron he was either busy or didn’t know, and the fact that waiting was long.

The day before my birthday, Nala, Alex, Jessie and I were sitting on the beach.
-It’s either tomorrow or today. I repeated for the thousandth time, excited.
-It’ll be today, it has to be before the exact time you were born. Nala said.
-I don’t know the exact time I was born, I just know I was, and which day. I said.
-Geez, nobody could’ve figured that out. Alex laughed.
He’d finally accepted the reality of camp Half-Blood, became his old happy self, and was doing the exact thing I was. Avoiding Ares, and trying not to get fried on the climbing wall, which seems like a pretty good survival technique. The water rippled as Nala skipped a stone. She took out her weird flute thing and started playing softly. It was like a hum. Soft and reassuring, it calmed me down strait away.
The sun was slowly dropping, getting ready to set. A conch horn blew, calling all campers back tot their cabins. Jessie and I said ye to Nala and Alex and headed back to cabin 11.

That night I twisted and turned. I was restless. I was going to get up and walked around for a bit, but I saw a dark shadow, of a person, by the window. It wasn’t anybody here, I knew that much. It freaked me out enough to keep me in bed, and finally I was tired enough and just crashed.

I was gently woken up by my good friend Travis Stoll and his bucket, which I assumed (hoped) was filled with water.
-What the..?
-Happy birthday! He yelled.
-Travis shut up! Gwen Miles, the only other unclaimed demigod, yelled. Sunlight was creeping in threw the curtains. It was dawn.
-The Hades’ is your problem? You wake us all up at, what, 5 in the morning? Chris said.
-It’s Lee’s birthday! He said with fake cheerfulness.
-Of course, I forgot I was born on make-an-enemy-easily day! Serious?
-Yeah, you’re right, I just haven’t used this bucket in two long.
-How ‘bout you use it as a helmet? Connor suggested. Travis investigated the inside.
-You sure my head would fit in this, cause… Connor wacked him in the head.
-Nah, your head’s too fat. Natalie said wisely.
-The heck was that for? Travis complained.
-For waking 10 nice people up at 5 in the morning! Connor said.
-Shut up, Jessie at least is still sleeping. I said.
-Oh. Well since we’re all up… Travis grabbed a spear, put the bucket near Jessie’s bunk and hit it. Jessie sprang up.
-Gods Travis what’s wrong with you! Gwen said, as I grabbed a towel to dry my hair.
-He’s challenged. Chris said wisely.
-Such wisdom… Worthy of Athena. Rose said, patting down her curly black hair. Thunder rumbled.
-Key, maybe not. Sorry! She said taking it back.
-The world is so confusing. I’m going back to bed. Marc said falling back on his pillows.
-That’s wisdom. Rose said imitating him.
-Travis you die today. Natalie said, plopping down. One by one the rest of Hermes’ children (and grandchild) crashed. I put my head back to my pillow, slipping my arm underneath and smiled.
Today. She might’ve not have noticed before, not have cared, forgotten, or been too busy, but today, she’d have to claim me.
Of course I didn’t sleep. The rest of the day was long and I was edgy. I waswasn’t all there either. I nearly killed Travis at the archery range, shooting before he got out of the way, but nobody minded.
I didn’t care I was turning 13 anymore. That I was a teenager, that I could watch the PG13 movies at the theatre alone, I didn’t care about any of that. I just wanted to get claimed.
After supper, the game of capture-the-flag had ended early after a Hephaestus bomb had went horribly wrong (a back-up camp fire was scheduled in half an hour), and Alex, Nala, Jessie and I were chilling in the strawberry field.
I was really ticked off. It was 6 at night. Common, I had to be born before 6 o’clock at night! Time was ticking out anyways. But what if this was all a terrible mistake? What if I was just some dyslexic kid whose father wanted to send to some other New York camp and happened to not burn up when eating demigod food? Then the new, brave, part of my brain slapped the other. There were still about 6 hours to midnight. Don’t panic. I thought.
-Relax. Nala said.
-I can’t relax, what if this is just a mistake?
-Yes, world’s biggest coincidence. Alex said.
-You’re a demigod Lee; it’s just… taking a while. Jessie said.
-A whole week?
-Some kids used to come here at age 12 and be claimed at 18. Nala said.
-What if it’s the same thing?
-It’s not; the gods have to keep their promise. At the worse they’ll end up working it out amongst themselves, and send Chiron news.
-Why won’t she just claim me? What’s wrong with me? I said, feeling pathetic.
-Nothing’s wrong with you Lee, chill. Alex said, putting his arm around my shoulder.
-It’s just taking a while. Nala said. The guy that talked to horses, Percy Jackson, came in the fields.
-Sup Percy? Nala asked.
-Campfire’s now. Earlier then Chiron planned. Gotta go tell Ares. He said, sprinting off.
-Luck! Alex shouted.
-You’ll need it! Jessie added. He took out his pen and uncapped it. It grew into a celestia bronze sword.
-That is one seriously cool sword. I said.
-It is. His dad gave it to him before his first quest. Immortals do that a lot. Nala said.
-My mom has a dagger with two snakes wrapped around it. The eyes are actual rubies. Jessie said getting up.
-That’s awesome. I said.
-It is. Nala said, as Alex and I got up too. We walked to the campfire. Most people were already there. Jessie and I sat down on the Hermes bench. Rose was keeping Travis away with the tip of her spear.
-No way! She said.
-Cheap-o! He said. Rose thrust the tip of the spear a little more. Travis backed off.
-Travis, here! I heard Percy shout.
-Thanks Percy! See Rose, HE’S nice! He said walking towards Poseidon’s bench. Except he tripped on a spear some kid had left sticking out and he fell face-first in the campfire, yelling. I ran to drag him out. He was already pretty far in the fire, but I reached into the flames. His arms were burnt black. The fire was probably magic. I looked around. Apollo wasn’t here yet. I remembered something I’d seen Rachel, the oracle, do to a kid who’d been a bit too slow on the climbing wall.
-Styx, Styx, somebody got nectar? I asked. Rose handed me a water bottle.
-Travis, this might sting. I warned.
-It already burns, I can handle stinging! He said. I put my hand gently around his arm to elevate it and the black sort of all got sucked near my fingers and disappeared. Travis’ skin was the peachy color it had been before.
-Woe, that was cool! Travis said. Jessie, standing behind me, frowned.
-Lee, how did you?
-I don’t know… I said looking at my fingers. Their color hadn’t changed, not even a little pink. Another thing I noticed; my arms weren’t burnt. I’d had to reach into the fire to grab Travis, my arms exposed, but the fire hadn’t burnt me. I got up and put my hand in the flames. Nothing. It was like putting your hand above a heating vent, except strangely comforting and pleasant. I took it out and examined it. My hand was intact.
-What the Hades is up with that? Alex said. And then everybody gasped and pointed above my head. I looked up just in time to see it- a hologram. It was a campfire, the flames actually moving.
-Oh Styx. I heard Annabeth say.
-What is it? I asked her. She crossed glances with Chiron. She gulped and answered slowly:
-It’s a hearth. And the goddess of the hearth is… Hestia.

6
When weather gets suckish, you know a quest is coming up


The camp fire got cancelled. Chiron had taken Nala and me to the big house. Annabeth and Percy followed, Alex and Jessie tried to.
He brought us to a big room, locked with 6 locks, most of them looking booby-trapped. Chiron inserted a drachma in the crack in the wall and the locks disappeared. He brought us in. The room was empty. Long white curtains were pulled open, to reveal a window, from which the last streaks of sun were invading the room. On a small circular table in the corner was a huge old-styled brown book and an assortment of gel-pens lying beside it. Chiron trotted over to the book and opened it, Annabeth on his heals (or hooves).
-Chiron, Hestia doesn’t have any children. I said.
-She does now, he said.
-She swore to it. I insisted.
-Lee, the thing is, gods aren’t good at keeping oaths. Percy said.
-She’s one of the only gods not to have children in the myths, that can’t stop now. I insisted.
-Lee, it did. Percy said.
-But… but…
Gods! I wasn’t supposed to be alive; this had to be a mistake. A horrible mistake. Hestia didn’t have any children, I wasn’t the first. There wasn’t, and never would be a first.
-I know, Lee. Percy said sympathetically. I looked at him helplessly. He was born out of a broken oath too. He knew what it was like.
-I knew there was a reason I hadn’t seen her since you got here… Chiron said, picking up a big brown book, and flipping through the pages; most of the edges had gone wavy because of the humidity.
-Wait, you see her? On a like, everyday bases? I asked.
-She tends to the hearth here, as well as the hearth on Olympus. Nala said.
-You mean that… that little girl, that was her?
-She likes looking like a child to stay discreet and not stand out. I’ve seen her as a young adult as well. Percy said.
-It does make sense. Annabeth said thoughtfully.
-What? I asked.
-Well, the satyrs couldn’t determine if you were a demigod or not because they’d never smelled a demigod child of Hestia before. That’s why the monsters weren’t directly attacking you until last weekend. You could read Ancient Greek fluently the first time I taught you, as you could talk it. Hestia’s the eldest daughter of Kronos. If someone would be hardwired for Ancient Greek more then her it’d be a primordial god. She said.
It made sense. Curse logic.
-Chiron, it’s on the other page. Annabeth said, peeking onto the pages.
-Thank you, Annabeth. He said flipping back a page.
-What are you looking for? Percy asked.
-Sometimes, to avoid fraud and provide proof, the gods write their children’s names in here. They sign it with something only they can. Nobody comes in here but gods, its locked at all times, but he isn’t here right now so he made it accessible to me. Okay, here you are, Leda. He said. I walked over, my legs weak and looked at the page, until I found my name. It was the last on the page.
Leda Joanne Munroe Quebec City, Canada, Hestia
-A name can still be fraud. I said. Chiron put his finger to the goddess’ signature. A crane erupted from the word. Nala quickly opened the window and it flew out.
-The crane. It’s her bird, isn’t it? I said. Chiron nodded and closed the book hardly.
-That settles it then. Leda, your mother is indeed the goddess Hestia.
Styx, Styx, Styx, Styx, Styx, a millions times Styx!
This wasn’t good. When a god broke an oath in never was. Chiron’s stories explained it all more then well.
-What now? Annabeth asked him.
-We train her. We hope for the best.
-But Chiron, you know what the gods’ll…
-Not today Annabeth.
-But…
-Not today. Chiron insisted. He led us out of the room. I was terrified. The other gods weren’t going to be happy about it. And when the gods aren’t happy they tend to turn you into various animals or ashes. But I followed Chiron out of the room; Nala at my side. He led me to cabin 14.
Hestia had her own cabin, except it was like Artemis’ and Hera’s. Not meant to hold actual demigods in it.
The cabin was small, about half the side of others, and made out of wood, like Hermes. The tiles on the roof were bright red and red and white checked curtains were pulled on the windows. I climbed the steps. A worn out “Welcome” carpet was near the door. I pulled the screen door open, then the actual door and stepped in.
The central hearth took up a lot of the room; the cabin was pretty small, after all. 2 sets of bunk beds were pushed against the walls. The whole room smelt of spices, like a kitchen. The floor was wood, like in a cottage, and the curtains were as red as the roof, the window sills as well. From one window we had a view of the lake, from the other the central hearth. I walked towards it and starred at the crackling flames, as if hopping for its tender to appear.
-This is cabin 14. Make yourself at home.
-Thanks. I said.
I paced back and forth for a couple of minutes, wondering how the gods would punish me for existing. Finally I paused to look at the room’s hearth.
The fire was running out of wood. I bit my lip and looked around for more. There was a chest in the corner. I lifted the lid, hinges screeching. Wood and branches, sizes varying, and crumpled up newspaper, as well as a pack of matches. I grabbed some of the wood, and the kindling and fed the fire. A long stick, the end burnt was also propped against the wall. I took it and pushed the wood towards the flames, the fire caught on. I squatted in front with the stick and stood there watching.
The sun was rising when I crashed on the bunk facing the hearth
My dreams were seriously messed up.

I dreamt of animals. A horse, an eagle, a peacock, a dog with three heads, a rabbit and a piglet. All of them were standing in a field, except at different heights. The eagle was highest, then the peacock, the horse, the dog and the rabbit. The piglet was in front of them, sinking into the ground. The two birds were just making angry animal noises (the rabbit not so much) and the pig sank. The others made more noises, and the pig rose. It was like a game of tug-of-war. A never-ending game of tug-of-war.
I woke up.
I looked out the window, it was pouring rain. But that wasn’t possible- Mr D always made it dry here, he hated water. I checked my watch. Breakfast in 10. I pulled on my jacket and ran to the dinning pavilion, where everybody else was heading. I scrapped part of my meal in the fire.
To Hestia. I muttered. Chiron toasted the gods, which just led to more thunder and we ate, faster than usual. Nala came up behind me. She was wearing her green swetsuit.
-Hi Lee, how are you doing?
-I don’t know. I said. She patted my back.
-Chiron and Mr D want to see you. She added. I nodded and we walked to the big house. We went in the door fast. The fire was keeping the whole room warm, which felt great compared to the freezing rain. I followed Nala into the parlour. Mr D was sitting at a table, scribbling in a Sudoku book, Chiron was just waiting.
-Hello Leda. He said. He seemed tired.
-Hi. I said softly.
-You may have noticed the gods aren’t particularly happy today. He said.
-The rain. I said.
-Correct. This in occurrence of Hestia having broken her oath.
-Why is it such a big deal? Gods break oaths all the time. I asked.
-True. But unlike Zeus and Poseidon, nobody saw it coming. Hestia has never broken an oath. She is the first maiden goddess to break an oath.
-What about Athena?
-Athenian children, like Annabeth, are born from thought. It doesn’t count. Chiron said.
-How do we know Lee isn’t born from a flame or something?
-By this point in the argument, she would’ve mentioned. Mr D said, looking up from the puzzle-book for the first time. I had to admit that he was right.
-Zeus and Demeter seem to take it that you should be punished somehow. Chiron continued.
-Fantastic. I managed.
-Don’t be sarcastic girl, this is serious. Mr D said.
-But Hades, Poseidon and Hera seem to think they should let you be.
And I appreciate it, I thought of saying.
-What about the other Olympians? Thunder rumbled and lightning sounded, so high pitched I<m sure about 20 dogs peed without seeing it coming.
-I think I better go to Olympus. Mr D said. And for the first time I’d ever seen him, he showed an expression other than boredom. Genuine worry. He poofed into a puff of purple smoke, which slowly dissformed.
-Mr D is of course supporting Hestia. They are close friends since she gave him his throne. Aphrodite is supporting her as well. Ares is pushing for you to be destroyed; Artemis thinks some form of punishment is due. She has even left her hunters here to voice her opinion on Olympus. Apollo and Hephaestus are in this instance neutral. Hermes thinks you should live, and Athena has not spoken up yet, which is very odd. Debates are one of her pastimes, the number of times she left politicians baffled… The minor gods haven’t really got that big of an importance in this argument. It seems that the 6 children of Kronos are trying to fix this problem by themselves.
Yup, that’s me. A problem…
-That’s not what I meant. Chiron said, like he was reading my thoughts.
-I know. I said quietly.
-But there is another issue. Here, sit down, both of you. He sat down.
-The gods think Hestia is the one who kidnapped Perseus Jackson, Jason White and Ariadne Namakwa last winter.
-What? That’s ridiculous! Nala said.
-That’s what we said. A voice said. We turned around.
All 3 of the kidnapped were standing in the wide door frame. Ria holding her wand and leaning on the door frame. She conjured up 3 chairs and they sat down at the table.
Jason looked exasperated that this event he couldn’t remember kept coming up. His blond hair was out-of control and his icy blue eyes were bright.
Percy looked like he was about to do something unpleasant, like eat a boot. His green eyes sparkled, and it I could nearly see waves going across his irises.
Ria had tied her auburn hair in a knot. Her eyes were pitch black, but colors moved across them. She had a few freckles on her nose, but her features seemed to work well together and she was pretty.
-I met Hestia. It isn’t her style. Percy said.
-So have I. I agree with Percy.
-I don’t see Hestia harming demigods. The motive isn’t high enough for her. Ria said.
-What is the motive, anyways? I asked.
-Not claiming you. Jason said.
-What?
-If Percy were to die, the oath he holds the gods too would as well. They wouldn’t need to claim their children. Meaning she wouldn’t get in any trouble. Chiron said.
Which really made me feel like I was just a pointless lump of flesh and bones, just a pain to everyone.
-But it isn’t her style. I don’t see her doing it. Percy insisted.
Yeah well nobody saw her having a kid either.
-Then who did?
-We’re still working on that theory. Ria said, tapping her wand on the table. Sparks were flying out.
-Ria stop, this is wood! Do I have to drag Julia back from Washington to teach you proper wand handling? Chiron scolded. She slipped it back in her pocket.
-Well, there’s no proof against it. It’s not like the gods would believe her. I said.
-They wouldn’t. But there is a solution.
-What is it?
-Our quest was to find the necklace of Harmonia. It was stolen from the gods during the war; some enemy demigod took it from Olympus. He lost it near lake Placid, that’s where we stopped looking. If you found the necklace, finished our quest, it would show Hestia is not trying to sabotage anything, or harm us. Jason said.
-It would work? Nala asked.
-Probably. Ria said.
-Alright, where’s the necklace then? I asked.
-That’s the problem, we still don’t actually know. Jason said.
-But, Percy’s memories are the clearest of us 3, so if you, him and other guys I guess go find the necklace, it’ll show Hestia never had intentions to sabotage. Ria said. I looked at Percy.
-You’re willing to go on a quest again? I asked.
-This one seems worth it. Percy said.
-The question is, does it seem worth it to you Leda? Chiron said.
I thought about it.
-Yes. I said my voice weak. Chiron nodded. He turned to Percy and Nala.
-Go get the others that have some interest in this, we’re having a meeting.
7

I was squished between Pollux Freed and Percy. The Olympian cabins were there, 4 minor god cabins too (Hecate, Boreas, Persephone and Iris). Chiron had just gone over the plan. Annabeth was staring at Percy big eyed.
-You’re willing to… No, no, you can’t leave camp. She said shaking her head.
-It’ll be fine this time. He assured her.
-You can’t promise that. Annabeth said.
-No, but from what Chiron’s said more than 3 people will go this time, it’ll be safer. He said. Annabeth wasn’t convinced.
-Look, you know why I want to go. You know why perfectly well Annabeth, I’ll be safe. She rubbed her hands on her jeans.
-Please? I need to know you’re okay with it if I’m going. He said, so quietly nearly nobody could hear.
-You really want to go? Annabeth whispered. Percy nodded. She laced her fingers around his.
-Promise you’ll be careful? Or at least try?
-Promise. He said giving her hand a squeeze.
-I’ll go with Lee. He said to Chiron.
-I want to go too, well, you know, unless you want somebody else to go. Nala said, standing in the corner. I nodded, a block of thankfulness in my throat. I was glad Nala wanted to come; it would be reassuring to have someone I knew really well tag along.
-Alex will want to go. Pollux spoke up.
-Alex can go if he wishes it. He is pretty good with a spear from what I’ve seen. Chiron said. I nodded again.
-When’s the meeting over? Connor asked.
-‘Cause, you know, we’ve got stuff to do. Travis said. Connor elbowed him. Chiron didn’t even have that “do I want to know?” debate in his eyes like most adults do. It was just, I don’t want to know.
-No. Leda, talk to Rachel. I looked at Rachel confused. Her eyes were green and piercing.
-Umm, what?
-I’m the oracle of Delphi. If you ask me about your quest, I’ll give you your prophecy.
-Okay; what about the quest? I asked. Rachel was about to open her mouth but her eyes rolled back.
-Rachel? I asked. Her eyes were back and on the opposite side, they glowed neon green and matching smoke billowed out of her mouth. When she spoke there were 2 echoes.

2 from what’s broken shall go to the center of the land
One who lost youth, who lost a love and who lost a promise
One shall be lost where the fire will rage
Meet the god of two before going further then sand
The beast that runs wild, you shall encage.
You shall go where was kept the son from the trident
And a pair shall be saved by a lament

Her eyes rolled back, the smoke filled back into her mouth and she was Rachel again.
-Um, what was that? I asked.
-A prophecy. Chiron said.
-And not a very good one. Percy said.
-I agree. Rachel, go find Jessie Foster. Pollux, go get your brother.
-Jessie? Why? What does it mean? I asked.
-With prophecies, you have to dissect the lines. Percy said.
-2 broken, one who lost youth, one who lost a love and one who lost a promise. Two broken, could mean two broken oaths, which means you and either Percy, or Thalia. One who lost a promise, well, that’s Nala.
-What? I asked. What promise? I looked at Nala. Her eyes were something they’d never been before. Sad. I’d never seen any sign of weakness in Nala, and now she looked like she was going to cry.
-I’ll explain later. Not now, not before the quest. Please. She implored. I nodded, still wondering what could be so sad it made her cry.
-One who lost a love; it could be most camper, really. But it probably means Alex since he’s your friend and Nala’s his keeper too. Didn’t he loose a sister when he was little? Annabeth asked.
-Sara, he had a twin sister called Sara. Nala said, blinking a lot.
-They were super close. I added.
-And one to loose youth is somebody who has lost their youth and that needs it back. Jessie Foster. Can we go now? Travis asked.
-Yes, you may. Leda, Percy, Nala, stay here please. The lines echoed around in my head.
1 shall be lost where the fire will rage
Lost, lost…
Somebody would die.
Somebody would die on a quest to help me. Who? Nala? Percy? Jessie or Alex if they came? They all had lives, a family. Percy had a girlfriend; Alex had the close possibility of an NHL career! Jessie was just 4; Nala wanted her park license to defend the wild. They all had the world opened for them, and one of them would die!
At that moment Jessie and Alex burst into the room panting.
-Pollux told me, quest… Alex panted, pushing his bangs out of his eyes.
-Yes. Come; sit down, both of you.
They sat down at the table with Percy, Nala, Chiron and I. Chiron filled them in and recounted the prophecy.
-It’s a dangerous quest for anybody. Nobody will blame you if you don’t go.
-I’m going. I want to help Lee. He said meeting my eyes. His eyes were black and kind. He looked like he had when Shrew had pushed me, genuinely worried, and angry at whoever was pushing me around. Like his father had last time I’d seen him, actually.
-You sure Alex? I asked.
-I’m sure. He said.
-Jessie? For you it’s even more dangerous. You can’t have resource to ambrosia and nectar. Chiron warned.
-I’ll go. Jessie said.
-Then listen to me, and listen to me well. The necklace or Harmonia is a dangerous magic item, but not in the same way as, say Zeus’ master bolt, or even Anaklusmos. Even looking for it can be dangerous. . It’s going to be dangerous; it’s a point which I cannot stress enough. The risks are high. He said, meeting everyone’s eyes one at a time.
-I will try to get Piper and Nico to transport you by shadow travel to Lake Placid.
-What about Mrs O’Leary? Percy asked. Chiron frowned, confused.
-Well, Mrs O’Leary can shadow-travel too, which would be useful if we need a fast getaway. And having a hellhound on your side is pretty useful. Percy said.
-Yeah, that seems like a good idea. Jessie said.
-Then Mrs O’Leary too can go. Chiron approved.
-Where do we start looking? I asked.
-First off you can start looking where the last quest left off. Then you can go talk to the two gods who own the necklace.
-Which would be..? Nala asked.
-Aphrodite and Hephaestus? I guessed.
-Correct. Chiron said.
-Well, Hephaestus is going to be at his forges, where’s that? Jessie said.
-The main forge is, like his temple, under the largest factory in the United States. Boeing Everett factory.
-4.3 million square feet of floor area. Percy recited before smacking his forehead, as if to hit that fact out of his head.
-Yes, that’s the one. If you want to go in the forges you need 3 things
-Oh damn. Percy said.
-You’ll need a child of Hephaestus and someone that knows the rites. Leo and Isadora have offered up.
-Then from there we’ll have to follow his directions? Nala asked.
-Correct. The rest of the day is yours. Train, rest, whatever you need to do. You leave tomorrow at dawn. You may go. Chiron said. We all got up. Nala and Alex were already waiting for me by the door. I was about to follow them out, but Chiron called me.
-Leda? Come here, please. He said.
-I’ll catch up with you later. I told Alex, Jessie and her. They nodded and left, Percy following. I walked towards Chiron.
-Yes? I asked. Chiron took something from the pocket of his coat. It was a golden whip.
-I found it this morning in the Big House’s kitchen. I think it belongs to you. He showed me the handle. I read the name.
σπινθήρας
(Read spinthí̱ras)
-Spark. I translated.
-Correct. Here, take it. He said. I took the handle and, like it had a mind of its own, the whip lashed up and wrapped around my wrist. I let go of the handle and I stayed.
-That’s… I said, failing to find a good enough word.
-It’s a magic item. She knew you were going on a quest. Few demigods go on their first quest without a magic item of their own. Chiron said. I nodded, passing my finger on it.
-You can go with Nala and Alex now. I thought you’d like to have it now to practise.
-Yeah… Thanks. I said. I pulled the sleeve of my jacket back onto my fore-arm. There was no bump; I couldn’t feel it threw my sleeve. Undetectable. A smile drew on my face.
She did care. She’d gotten a magic item for me. She’d kept it until I was ready to use it.
I turned to walk out but stopped.
-Chiron? Do you have any news from my dad?
-I’m afraid not. Haven’t heard from him. Nor has his work. The demigods living next to your home, those who stay in cities in the summers, they’re watching over the house, in case something happens or someone comes. He said. I felt a little disappointed.
-Okay, thanks. I said.
I lifted my sleeve and ran my fingers on the whip again. I pulled it back down and ran out of the Big house, putting my cap back on and running for shelter.

Hey, sorry I'm late!

8
The goddess of everything-that-is-happening-right-now
“You leave at dawn” didn’t make me sleep better than the night before, nor did the exhaustion form the capture-the-flag game with the hunters (we got creamed).
My dream seemed even more real then last time.
6 people were arguing in Ancient Greek, standing in the center of a marble room, the throne room of the gods, I realised, not knowing how. Three men, three women, one was standing at the outskirts of the group.
-The child has as much right to be alive as Perseus Jackson or Thalia Grace! A woman with a white dress said.
-This oath is more serious. A woman with dried grass woven in her hair said. She looked like Katie Gardner: she must be Demeter. I realised that I must be seeing a fight on Olympus. I looked around for my mom. She was nowhere to be seen.
-How is it more serious? The fate of Olympus was graver then a fire-resistant child walking about! The other answered.
-I have to agree with Hera. She makes sense for once. A man with black eyes said.
-I don’t think she changes anything. The child is born what good would it do to anyone to kill her? It is not justice, it is murder. She has done nothing wrong herself. The last man said. His eyes sparkled green. I figured he was Percy’s dad, Poseidon.
-Personally I think its sweet Tia’s finally getting a family. Hera said. Poseidon and Hades rolled their eyes.
-She swore she wouldn’t. You don’t swear unless you’re sure you’ll keep it.
-Yes Demeter, because we’re all so good at keeping oaths. Poseidon said sarcastically.
-Athena, what do you think? Zeus asked. They all looked at her. I studied her face and I realised why I thought Roy and Annabeth had reminded me of somebody. Because I’d met their mom.
Twice a week until she quit her job actually… It made sense all of a sudden why Ms Hexum had handed us copies of texts in Ancient Greek, it was a test on me, and why she spoke Greek fluently: it was her birth tongue.
-I’m staying neutral in this. She said.
-What? Hades asked.
-I’ve met Leda Munroe. She’s just as powerful as Thalia, Nico or Perseus. She doesn’t know it yet, but I can sense it.
-Wait, so you knew? Hades asked.
-Yes Uncle. Her eyes are amber; it’s a variation of the flames. She speaks and read Ancient Greek the moment she heard it. She’s shy and unconfident, the first being something Hestia always was.
-Why didn’t you say anything? Demeter complained. Athena looked at her, her eyes piercing.
-I saw no use in rushing things. What good would it’ve done? She’d have been rushed in a world she wouldn’t believe in, get rejected already still not knowing what she was into, things wouldn’t have been as well explained to her. She would’ve despised it. She could be a great threat, or a great warrior. Whichever you form her to be. I am not thrilled by her existence, but I will not give the child any reason to go against Olympus. Nor will I kill for no reason. She said. She got up.
-If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go see how my daughter is doing on that shrine she’s working on. Athena said, before walking out of the room.

I woke up and it was dawn. It seemed like it’d just stopped raining.

I looked around the cabin. Today’s the day. I thought.
I put on jeans, my camp T-shirt and my yellow hoody. I tucked my hair into my Blue Jays cap, grabbed Sparks and the small bag I’d packed. Supplies only. Didn’t need anything else.
I put one last log in the hearth, figuring it would die by the end of the day, and headed out of the cabin.
Everybody was already up. Why, I had no idea. But they looked at me strange when I walked out of the cabin. I blushed and closed the door behind me. Small orbs floated around, providing light. Laurel and Jason had already taken to the skies. I walked over to the big house. Jessie and Nala were already there.
-Hi. I said sitting down on the railing besides them. -Hey Lee. Jessie said. Nala grunted. She wasn’t a morning person.
-She looks kind of brain dead. Jessie observed.
-She’s always like this in the morning. I told her.
-Caffeine. Nala mumbled.
- That stuff’s not good for you and you know it. Alex said, walking towards us.

-Hey Alex. I said. He waved, not awake.
-Look what I got this morning. Jessie said. She took a barrette out of her hair and said:
-Maia. It turned into a dagger. Two snakes crossed each other, wrapping themselves around the handle, the scales metallical green, the eyes were two rubies.
-That’s so cool! I said.
-It’s my mom’s. She got it before her first quest. She sent it to me this morning.
-Awesome. Alex said.
-Ehhh… Nala said.
-Maia. Jessie said. The knife folded and shrunk into a barrette, two tiny snakes making the outline. She put it back in her hair, under her ponytail.
-Why is everyone up at this ungodly hour? Alex asked.
-Annabeth’s coming back. Percy said, following him.
-What? Where she been? Alex asked.
-Olympus. I said, recalling my dream. Percy nodded, not even asking how I knew.
-She’s been busy here. All the new kids need to learn Ancient Greek and about the myths- she’s the best teacher camp’s got to offer, after Chiron. She goes to Olympus to build at nights. He explained, sitting on the steps, running his hand threw his hair.
-So everybody’s up to get news from Olympus? Nala asked, her eyebrow raised.
-Well, no, but somebody ticked Hypnos and Morpheus cabins too, which may be contributing facts. But that’s why nobody’s training. He answered.
I looked at the sky automatically. I just starred at the clouds. The sky was tinted with pink as the sun rose. Then from behind a cloud, a pure white Pegasus appeared. It landed on Half-Blood hill. It’s rider descended and was automatically circled with people. She yelled something to them and they took a step back. She took her Pegasus by the reins and brought it towardsthe stables. The horse was getting nervous.
-Ah, Styx. Percy said. He ran towards them and yelled something around the lines of “Back the Hades off!” to them. He took the reins from Annabeth and said something to the horse before bringing it forwards, holding the reins by one hand,
Annabeth’s hand by the other.
Once the Pegasus was installed in the stables and rubbed down, they both came back.
Annabeth looked exhausted, but quite happy with herself. She had a jean book bag across her shoulder, a bunch of carefully folded blue prints sticking out. She had her knife strapped to her arm and her baseball cap in her free hand.
-They all want news from Olympus. She said.
-The fights? Jessie asked. She nodded before pushing her bangs out of her eyes.
-How are they? Alex asked.
-They’re… going on. They’re causing a lot of bad weather: a jumbo jet went down in the Atlantic; thankfully Poseidon and Amphitrite managed to save most of the passagers. And they’re getting nowhere. I barely heard anything, but I had to pass the throne room to get to another building, but it goes something like: “it’s an oath; you break it, there’s a price” and then “because we’re all so great at keeping oaths”. She said.
A jumbo jet went down? So many people could’ve been killed if the sea gods hadn’t been paying attention! That just made me feel horrible: it was my fault.
-I’ve talked to mother. She admitted herself it’s getting nowhere. Annabeth said. I guess I must’ve looked guilty or something, because Percy said:
-It’s not your fault Lee, the gods just need to calm down, that’s all. I bit my lip.
-It’s already been worse. A voice said. I turned around. It was a girl with short, spiky black hair. She wore a jacket with buttons of weird unknown bands over a green day T-shirt, combat boots and jeans. Her eyes were electric blue and she had a spear in her hand.
-Hi Thalia. Percy said. She gave a little nod in his direction but kept her eyes on me.
-Don’t worry Lee; the gods cause destruction whenever the guy in charge of the coffee-run accidentally gets ‘em decaf.
-People could’ve died. I told my cousin.
-There has been worst. A few years back, there was Typhon, which I really don’t want to talk about, then 4 years ago or so, when Percy was an innocent little kid…
-And Thalia was a tree. Percy piped in.
- …There was the whole “master-bolt” dilemma, where nobody was happy but the twins of chaos of course, and then when I was 12, the world was just so freaking messed-up. Storms and tsunamis and tornadoes…
-Ah, remember that one storm that nearly swept me away? Annabeth asked.
-That was funny. After, you know, we’d retrieved the seven year old from a block away. Thalia laughed.
-Point is, it’s not your fault. Percy said.
But it IS my fault. I wanted to protest.
-You talking ‘bout the gods? Nico asked walking up to us. Piper was right behind him. Her hair was beaded with glossy black beads. She was wearing a shirt with a black rose, names of other plants circling it.
-Yeah, the freak weather. Percy said.
-Yeah… They tend to do that a lot. Nico said.
-It was fine until two days ago. I said pathetically. They gave up on convincing me it wasn’t my fault. I raised my sleeve and just ran my finger across Sparks. Somehow I drew courage from it.
-Did any of you two shadow-travel in the last 24 hours? Annabeth inquired.
-Um, yeah. We both went to the Underworld last night. Nico said.
-I SO beat you. Piper said mischievously.
-You did not! Nico argued.
-Are you both okay to shadow-travel with us to Lake Placid do? Nala asked.
-‘Course we are. We’re not little kids, we can shadow travel fine. Piper said.
-Besides, Percy’s taking Mrs O’Leary, meaning we only have to take two of you guys. It’ll be fine. Nico said. Chiron walked out of the door.
-Hello. He said, surprised to see a lot of us.
-Hi Chiron. I should get back to the cabin. Good look to you all. Thalia said. She gave Percy a quick hug and ran off.
-Are you all ready? Chiron asked. We nodded.
-Percy, Annabeth, go get Mrs. O’Leary. They nodded and walked off, hand in hand.
-Nico take Leda and Alex first. May the gods be with you. Thunder rumbled as Nico walked into a shadow.
-Yeah, well, we’re going to find out. Jessie said.
Her blond hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, which fell to her mid-back. Her eyes were blue and lined with black, her skin, as usual pale. She was wearing black combat boots, a dark green t-shirt and jeans. She looked uncomfortable: I knew she’d IM’d her mom last night. Clare Foster hadn’t been thrilled. She’d been resilient to let Jessie go (not that it’d have changed everything). The dagger was a “good luck” gift, like giving flowers to an actor before a show, except not the same thing at all.
I’d called Michelle. I’d told her about everything and what I was about to get myself into. She wasn’t too happy, and I felt bad about giving her something else to worry about, but I figured if I was going I had to tell someone. Jace still wasn’t showing any sign of waking up anytime soon. His vitals were fine, he was still perfectly alive, but he wasn’t playing baseball and swimming around, like all kids his age. And I couldn’t help but think it was my fault…
She took Nico’s hand and, a little surprised, he took mine.
-Don’t get lost. Piper called as we were engulfed in darkness.

When we emerged from the darkness we were on the shore of a lake. It was clear blue and there were no ripples. The rising sun reflected on the surface. A little to my right there was a forest. The green grass was still damp with dew. At least it wasn’t raining. The lake really was beautiful.
-Woe. This place is amazing. Alex said, walking out of the shadow we’d emerged from: cast by an oak tree. Nico sat down at the foot of the tree and breathed deeply.
-Sure is. I said looking around.
-Nico, you okay? Alex said.
-I’m fine. I just didn’t get any… OWE! That last bit was because Piper, Nala and Jessie appeared.
-You landed on my foot! Nico complained.
-Well don’t stay IN the shadow, twit. Move before Percy and Mrs. O’Leary get here. Piper said. That motivated him into getting up and moving. Piper grabbed hold of a tree and sat down there, her skin clammy.
-Shadow-travel works better when you’ve had a good night sleep. Piper said, taking a piece of ambrosia out of her pocket. She broke it in two and handed part of it to Nico.
-‘Gotta agree with her on that one. Nico said, gladly taking the god-food. Mrs. O’Leary appeared. Percy hopped off her back.
-You okay girl? He asked. She howled.
-She says yes. Piper told him, passing her hand threw the great dog’s fur.
-You talk to animals? Alex asked surprised.
-Spring-born animals, yes. Especially Underworld creatures. She said.
Made sense.
-How the heck did you figure that out? Jessie asked.
-A really creepy incident with a squirrel, she said. She turned to Nico.
-The illustrator for my dad’s books owns a cottage around here. He knows about the gods and junk, maybe we could crash there? Piper suggested.
-Sounds god. We’re not shadow-traveling any time soon. No point following you guys, we’d be useless in a fight and... His legs bucked and his step-sister caught his arm and sat him down.
-Whoa zombie-jr. Yeah, I think we will have to crash at Joseph’s place. Can you walk? She asked her step-brother.
-Gods, Piper, I’m not 5.
-And I’m not the one who nearly passed-out. Let’s go. She said, hauling him back to his feet. He held on to her shoulder tight.
-Bye guys, best of luck. She said.
-Yeah.
-Percy be careful; don’t get lost again. She said.
-I won’t.
-Seriously, don’t. Nico said.
He followed Piper, clutching her arm so tightly his knuckles were white into the surrounding woods.
-I’m glad Nico met Piper. Percy said.
-Why’s that? Nala asked.
-He grew up with a sister as the only stable thing he had. He didn’t have a home or anything, only Bianca. Then he lost her to the hunters, then to death. He’s been scrambling to get something since. It got better last summer, when cabin 13 was built. At some point he was really close to Thalia. He found the hunters often when he was traveling; they saw him as a fallen one’s sister, a kind-of sister to Thalia, and too young to flirt anyways. Then a child of Persephone popped up, Rick Rocco or something. He didn’t care for Nico, Nico didn’t care for him. A week after Rick died, Piper showed up. They fight, bicker and argue, but they really do care for each other. Percy said.
I imagined what it’d be like, not having a home or a place familiar to go to. Heck, if I didn’t have a place where I could just walk around in pyjamas, put things in order like I wanted to, I’d be a freaking mess!
-You, Thalia and Nico, you’re like siblings. I said.
-We’ve… been through a lot.
-The pact? He nodded.
-Whatever, let’s get going. He said.
-You lead the way, Percy. Nala said. He nodded and led us in a patch of woods, different from the one Nico and Piper’d disappeared in. We pushed through the branches, following Percy. I was right behind him.
-You remember the exact spot? I asked surprised.
-Heck no, I have the memory of a confused goldfish. But when Hebe enhanced my memories she amplified some. The ones that meant most. This is one of them. He said.
We got to a small clearing. The trees blocked out the little natural light we could’ve had. The place was uncomfortably silent. This was a forest, birds, animals, what’d happened to all that?
I crossed glances with Alex. We’d been in the school’s forest in gym and at lunch enough times to realise something was wrong.
I lifted my sleeve and unleashed Sparks. It slapped to the ground. Percy’d uncapped Riptide, Nala produced a set of reed pipes (I knew she was good, she had mad music skills), Jessie had the dagger and Alex had a long spear, except the tip was a perfectly polished amethyst, not that it made it look any friendlier. Mrs. O’Leary growled, ready to pounce.
We stood back to back and waited. Something was in the forest. It had to be. Just as we began to think we were just spooked and slowly unfroze, the world went completely black. Mrs O’Leary barked.
-Grab onto something! Jessie yelled. I took Alex’s arm.
-Don’t let go! I yelled. I couldn’t feel the ground under my feet. It was like I was floating in outer space.
-What’s going on? Nala asked.
-Chaos, my friends, chaos. Somebody said. Then everything turned back on.
In front of us was standing a really small woman, about 18 years old. She had bad posture and velvety, shiny black hair falling mid-neck, with two red streaks. Her eyes were black. She was scary pale, like a vampire, and had a detailed tattoo of a scorpion on her arm. She wore a short jean skirt, black fishnets on her legs and arms, those little black punk gloves, a grey tank top with black angel wings and rhinestones on it and black converse sneakers. Her lipstick was bright red and she wore heavy grey eye shadow. She had a huge ring with a miniature golden apple instead of a jewel on her middle finger.

OMG im so sorry i didnt read this earlier but i didnt know it was u. But anways this was so AWESOME!!!!!!11 i love ur writing

9

The weirdest thing about her was that somehow she still managed to look friendly and welcoming, sort-of like you smile and wave before stabbing someone.
-Oh damn. Percy muttered. The woman raised an eyebrow and a finger towards Percy.
-Please, don’t kill him, Lady! Nala implored.
-Why would I kill him stupid satyr? Right now, you two (she pointed at Percy and me) are my favourite people in this world!
-Umm… I said thinking of how bad that was.
-Why would that be Lady Eris? Percy said.
Eris, goddess of chaos, a.k.a. everything happening right now, waved her hand dismissively.
-Lady, shmady, you don’t really mean it. Eris is fine. Aldo my brother does call me Ery. Among other rude things that I probably shouldn’t repeat.
-Okay then, Eris, why are Lee and I your two favourite people?
-Actually I think you should stick to Ery, it has a better ring to it… She said talking 1000 words per hour.
-Um, Ery? You still didn’t answer his question. Nala subtly pointed out. She smiled, beaming.
-Do you have any idea how screwed-up Olympus is right now? Damn, I love it! And when you (she pointed at Percy) came along, ah, that was fun too. Anyways, since you’ve helped me increase chaos by about 25 to 50%, I’m going to help you out.
-Like you did at Thetis’ wedding? Jessie muttered.
-It pumped up the crowd. She shrugged. All a harmless joke.
I figured if she had “cause-a-war-that-kills-billions” as one, she and I didn’t have the same definition of “harmless”.
-Anyways, I’m going to tell you something right now, my sister, Hebe, you know her right?
-Yeah, she’s the one that fixed Percy right?
-Correctumondo. Anyways, she screws things up a lot.
-What?
-Not on purpose, no. Annoying twit’s got the sense of humour of a damn stick. But she’s still young, she makes mistakes.
-She’s like a million years old! Alex protested.
-Trillion this December technically. But you can’t trust everything she says, kid. But you’ll know when she messed up. The memory’ll be more foggy then the others.
-So wait, are we even at the right spot?
-Oh yeah, you’re at the right spot. I didn’t say she messed up on important things. But maybe your 5th birthday cake was actually vanilla, or the annoying red-head in 6th grade was actually blond, stuff like that. Just saying. And don’t tell her I said that. Let me tell you: construction blocs thrown at you are WAY more painful then they look. She said rubbing her elbow, as if remembering the old injury.
-Umm… Okay. Thanks. Percy said puzzled.
-Don’t mention it. Thank you for increasing chaos, one broken oath at a time. You too kid; I actually think you’re better… Nobody saw THAT coming let me tell you that… Woo, that was a fun night. Eris told me. I blushed as red as a flame.
-Well, I’m off. There’s a garage sale at a cottage near here and you will not believe how much fun table-rigging is. TTYL. She said, preparing to troop off into the woods.
-Wait! I said on a hunch. Eris froze and turned to face me. I felt myself turn small and tiny.
-I knew Ares was kidding, you aren’t mute! Oh, and by the way Jackson, thanks for nailing him in the ankle a few years back. It opens up a whole new world of nicknames. She told Percy.
-Um, you’re… welcome?
-Fab. So yeah, what was that? She asked me again.
-The… Harmonia’s necklace… it increases, um, ch-chaos, right?
-Yup, I love that thing. I actually wear a replica most days. Oh, reminds me. She pulled a chain off her neck. It had heavy silver links and black gems, framed by silver. The thing automatically yelled out “EVIL”, so I have no idea why Harmonia fell for it.
-Exact replica, Hephy made it for me. Here, keep it. In case you need visual replicas and junk. But I want it back by the solstice. She said. She tied it around my neck, and I wasn’t sure if it was a god idea to wear it. But I figured better me then Jessie or Nala.
-Yeah, so go on kid.
-If it causes chaos, it must spread out some trace, right?
-Theoretically.
So couldn’t you point us to the place that has the most chaos?
-Damn, you’re pretty smart kid. Get yourself some contact lenses and you could pass as Athenian and avoid this whole mess! But no. There are too many big sources of chaos all over the world. They sort of all blob together and its super hard to put them apart if you’re not immediately besides one. Besides, you guys are doing really well! It’s been an hour and you’ve only ran into me. Speaking of which, me, has garage sales to sabotage and, you, have nasties to deal with.
With a POP she disappeared.
-Did anybody catch anything she was trying to say? Alex asked.
-Ish.
-Well that’s her purpose. Whatever she does doesn’t work out. She tried to help us and it’ll turn out horribly. Jessie said.
-Then I don’t fancy staying around.
-Right. I think we should just go to Hephaestus’ forges. Eris would’ve sensed the necklace if it was here. Nala said.
-I guess you’re right.
-I can send Mrs. O’Leary in advance. If she shadow-travels strait before we go in a godly/monster place it probably wouldn’t be good. Percy suggested.

-You’re right; it’ll give her a chance to rest up. Alex said. Percy whispered something into Mrs. O’Leary’s ear. She barked and gave him a huge slobbery kiss before running off, to find a good-enough shadow probably.
-Well the giant dog’s taken care of, how do we get..?
There was a little laugh, so cute I wanted to barf, but at the same time it sent chills down my spine.
We turned around, like one synchronised machine. 3 girls were standing there. One was about 17. She was blond, her ponytail pulled high and her eyes sparkling blue. She wore navy blue shorts, a cap and sash over a white shirt. She hugged a check board to her chest, a walky-talky hanging on her neck by a smiley keychain. The two girls were about 9, they had their hair braided into two brown braids and they were dressed just like the older ones, except they had weird little berets instead of caps.

Before you get this next part: I want to make 2 things clear.
1 My series of fanfics (3 different fics for 1 main plot, did I ever mention that?) was planned out BEFORE Lost Hero was released, so of course some of the parentages and all will change. My Jason is not the same as the real and better Jason. Got it? This is just fanfic.
2 Please do not talk about Lost Hero here. Discussions are for forums and articles: not ficforums. It wouldn't be right for a member from another country then the ones who get the book on release date came to read the fanfic but got a "OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE JASON'S DAD IS BLURRBLURRBLURR!!1111!!!!1" Plus, zit iz spam.

Now that that's sorted out: enjoy!

10
We meet the girl guides of doom

-Umm… Hi? Can we help you? Nala asked. The older one laughed.
-No, we’re fine. I’m Keely; I’m one of the local Girl Guide leaders. She smiled and batted her eyebrows at Percy, who wasn’t paying attention.
-Weird place to be selling cookies, isn’t it? Jessie asked. They all laughed that stupid little laugh.
-You won’t believe how sick I am of seeing those. But we were wondering what you were doing on camp property.
-Camp? I asked, the word like an intruder in my mouth.
-Yeah, camp. We own this ground for our summer camps. Keely said.
-That’s why we sell cookies! One girl piped up.
-Umm… We’re sort-of, lost. We’ll be on our way now. Alex said. He shot us a look like “Now”.
-Don’t worry. Want to come back to camp with us and call someone? Before any of us could say anything, Nala said:
-Sure, thanks!
-Great! Common Donna, Leah. Keely said. She took Percy’s arm, tried to flirt some more (emphasise on “tried”). The girls took each other’s hand and skipped off singing some girl-guide song. As one of the little girls walked past me I noticed she smelled weird; like wet fur. I figured it was probably something that went along with sleeping in the wild for a week.
Percy ditched Keely and fell to the back with us. A disappointed looking Keely ran to join the two girls.
-What was that for? We can’t use a phone! Alex whispered furiously at Nala.
-Well it’d be great to find water or something to Iris-message camp so, umm, I don’t know, Leo and Dora could come pick us up? She whispered back.
Soon we found ourselves in a valley, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the camp the girl guides came from.
For starters, it wasn’t a camp. It was a gigantic hotel with parking lot. We froze in our tracks.
-I don’t know much about camping, but this is not a camp. Percy said.
-Th… That wasn’t here, Keely mumbled. That… Donna did you see it?
-No. Donna answered.
-Leah what about..? Leah? Leah? Oh my God, where did she go! Keely panicked. We all looked around for the second little girl. There was a scream from the hotel. Weapons drawn, we all ran forwards.
-Stay there! Jessie yelled at the two girls, as we pushed past the doorman and into the lavish lobby. The crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling and the carpet was blood red. It was full of rich people and dressed up kids, like they were going to a sci-fie convention or some other Zach-like thing. One walked right up to us and said
-What are you supposed to be dressed up as?
-Mortals, scram! Nala said. We looked around. None of them were reacting like someone had screamed a short while ago.
-Hello ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Do you have reservations? A bellhop who’d snuck up on us said. We jumped and looked at him a little stunned. It seemed perfectly normal for him to be seeing us armed. He probably thinks it’s a costume I reminded myself. We put our arms away anyways.
-No. We’re looking for someone. Alex said.
-Do you want me to check in the system? He offered.
-Yes please. Percy said for the sake of getting the bellhop away.
-Can you give me a name?
-Um, yes. Leah. He nodded and went off behind the counter to check the computer.
-Do you see a small girl guide? Anyone? I asked
-3 feet of barf-able cuteness and badges, wearing a sash: nope, haven’t seen her. Jessie said.
-Lee, Alex, over there, is it just me or is that..? Nala started.
-Zach! I finished.
Sure enough our friend was making his way through the crowd, giving some kind of inter-galaxy-handshake to those who crossed his path. His skin the color of caramel syrup stood out in the crowd of red-painted people. His brown hair was hidden under a black tuque and his eyes were dark blue, tinted with green.
-The Hades is he doing here? Alex asked.
-I don’t know. I said, already making my way through the crowd. I caught up to Zach and caught his arm.
-Zach! I said. He turned around.
-What the heck kid? Let go of my arm!
-Zach, it’s me. Lee?
-I don’t know no Lee, and isn’t that a guy name? I took my hand off his sleeve.
-Zach?
-How do you know my name?
-Dude, we go to the same school! Remember him at least? Or Nala? I asked as they made their way to us, through the crowd.
-I don’t know any of you, go away! He left but I ran after him.
-Stupid stalker, go away!
-Zach, what are you doing here? Alex asked.
-None of your beeswax shorty!
-You really don’t know me..?
-No duh Sherlock! He said stalking off.
-What the Hecate was that about? Nala asked.
-He just didn’t remember us. Alex shrugged
-That can’t be good. Percy guessed.
-I have a bad feeling about this place, let’s find the kid and Zach, and get out of here. I said.
-I’m with Lee on this one. Let’s follow him. Jessie said. So we went down the hallway Zach’d disappeared into. I looked at the people and noticed not only where they badly dressed, but most of them talked weird too. I crossed one’s gaze. He was dressed like a Native American and his eyes were brown like bark, but I saw other things in his eyes. Shapes. Shapes of him sitting under a tree with a girl, dressed in a dirty dress, white cap and black shoes, like she was a museum’s wax model of one of the first Canadians. And then it changed and he was kneeling in front of a tipi-like structure. I looked away startled and looked at Alex and the others. He was looking at the people as well, but he didn’t seem startled by anything. I tugged at Percy’s sleeve.
-Percy? Look in their eyes. I whispered. He looked at a hippy-like girl. I could see her playing cards with a boy at a kitchen table quite clearly in her forest green irises.
-What about the eyes? He asked.
-You don’t see anything? I asked.
-What do you see? Percy asked.
-Well, that guy over there, dressed like a Native American, I can sort-of see the outline of a tipi. And the hippy girl, I see her in a house playing cards.
-Oh my gods, Lee! You’re like Hestia!
-What? I asked.
-Hestia can show you memories, memories of your home. Your family, your friends, all that. I guess she can see them too. Do you see anything when you look at… say Jessie? I turned my head and looked at Jessie.
-Nothing. I said.
-Gentlemen, ladies! I heard the employee who’d assisted us say. I turned around, not wanting to deal with this guy.
-There is no Leah in this hotel.
-Okay, we’ll be going there now. Nala said.
-Do you have your room keys? They give you credit for the arcade and restaurant. He asked. Percy paled. The guy pulled out 5 green cards.
-No thanks, we’re just looking for somebody. Percy said. He pushed us further in the crowd to ditch the guy.
-Percy, what’s wrong? Nala asked.
-This is an exterior branch of the Lotus hotel and casino. If you start playing their games, or eating their food, you want to stay forever. It’s nearly impossible to escape. He said troubled. My mind went on auto-drive.
-Alex, Jessie and I’ll get Zach. Nala and Percy, go get Leah. We find them and we’re out. Don’t eat anything, don’t play anything, and don’t even think about taking one of those cards. I said.
-Scream if you’re in trouble. Alex said as we separated. We ran back in the corridor after Zach.
-What the Hades is he doing anyways? Wasn’t he supposed to stay in Canada for the summer? I asked.
-That’s what he said, wasn’t it?
-Maybe he got kidnapped. Jessie suggested.

-No, he was alone. I said as we made another right. We peeked into a convention room where people were waiting for a reading of some kind and we scanned the crowd for Zach.
-There! Alex said. We ran towards him and I caught his arm.
-What the heck? You again, will you just stop stalking me!?
-I will if you come outside with us for 10 seconds! He looked at me questioningly.
-Why?
-I want to show you something. I lied.
-Fine, 10 seconds. He agreed.
Happy with personal victory, we pushed through brightly painted people and mascots until we got in the lobby.
-Excuse me! Excuse me! Somebody yelled at us. We stopped.
-You must stay in the hotel; we’re offering new platinum cards to…
-No thanks leave us alone! Alex said. We turned our backs and Jessie yelled something I probably shouldn’t repeat. We turned around: the guy had grabbed her arm. She smacked his hand away.
-What the Hades is wrong with you? She asked.
-You mustn’t leave, you mustn’t leave!
-Yes we must! She said. She kicked him in the stomach and ran towards the exit, Alex and I, dragging Zach, on her heals. We burst out the front door and put as much distance as we good.
-Leah, did you find Leah? Keely asked, her eyes distressed with worry.
-No, the others are on it. I said. I unstrapped Sparks and slapped it to the ground, Alex pushed a button on a watch and his spear appeared. Jessie produced her dagger. Zach’s eyes were wide.
-That’s Nazilda’s whip from episode 392 of Star Battles! And the dagger is…
-Shut up Zach, this is serious! Alex said.
-How the heck you know my name? He asked.
-We know you. I said, my eyes glued to the door, from which I was sure some kind of baddy would pile out.
-And you know us. I finished.
-Let’s pretend I didn’t? He said.
-I’m Alex, she’s Lee, and you never met her, but she’s gently.
-Isn’t Lee a guy name?
-We’ll talk about etymology later, where are Percy and Nala? Jessie sighed.
-Still inside.
-I hope they didn’t get caught. The Lotus hotel and Casino is like a gingerbread house, traps and temptations everywhere. Keely said. We turned to look at her puzzled.
-How do you know? Alex asked cautiously. Keely smiled a wicked smile.
-I simply adore new demigods and their innocence. I could just dip them in my coffee and eat them up. She said.
And then anything beautiful, anything cute and innocent, melted away from the pair of them.
Their hair turned to fire and they grew long teeth. Weirdest thing, one of their legs was covered by a coat of curly fur; the other was metallic, like a robot.
-Woe, what the heck are you guys!? Alex said, forgetting fear to amazement. Keely rolled her eyes.
-Don’t they teach you anything at camp? We are empoussa.
-Whatsa?
-Empoussa impertinent mortal! You’re dying first! I slapped my whip to her back.
-I don’t think so. I said. She turned and snarled at me, but Keely wasn’t my problem. Donna was. Ever heard the expression small but mighty? I will NEVER use that expression again, unless I am referring to that kid.
She was on my back, her claws planted in my shoulders. She was too heavy for me and I got pushed to the ground. She planted her teeth in my back and I yelled. I pushed off and rolled onto my back, AKA onto the Empoussa. She let go and I sprang to my feet. She lunged but I slashed my whip to her wrist, sparks rolled around her, and pulled it down, the weapon dragged the monster with it. I pinned her to the grounds.
Her fingers were longer then I’d thought and she planted her claws in my hands, but I didn’t let go. I couldn’t even spare a hand to reach for the dagger strapped to the back of my leg. I was hopping Alex and Jessie were doing okay with Keely, so one of them could come and kill Donna.
-You will pay for this daughter of Hestia! Donna snarled.
-Want to bet? She spat on my cheek, but I didn’t move.
-You are freaking disgusting! I complained. Then my cheek started to burn.

-Fire may not burn you, half-blood, but venom is another story! Or as you’d probably put it “another ball game”! I noticed my hands and wherever Donna’d scratched or impaled me with her claws started to burn the same. That was her plan. Weaken me in combat to finish me off in the end.
I couldn’t help it; my arms started trembling and my vision getting fuzzy. I bucked and fell off the monster, that sprang to her feet and raised her hand to finish me off. But then someone tackled her. A boy. Not Alex, not Percy, someone else. I squinted to see who was fighting the Empoussa now, but I fainted.

THAT WAS SO FREAKIN AWESOME!!!!!! I don't understtand how I could miss chapter 9.......

10
Messing with mortals: by necklace-stealer

When I woke up, Nala was kneeling next to me, her hand on my forehead.
-She’s cold as marble. I don’t know if it’s normal for a child of Hestia, but demigods get fevers at this point unless... She warned. I blinked, my vision re-establishing. I was in a forest.
-Lee, you’re alive! Nala said.
-Oh my gods, good! Another voice said. I sat up, even if Nala tried to push me down.
They’d made a kind of camp ground. Anyways they’d cleared a fire pit, where Percy was trying to get a fire started. Jessie was a little behind Nala, sitting on a low tree branch. Alex was sitting next to her. Besides Percy there were two people. A college-aged African-American woman, her hair braided near her scalp, her eyes icy blue. She was thin and athletic enough, on her side hung a sword, the leather scabbard engraved with swerves, like the ones in cartoons that were supposed to be wind, and snowflakes. Besides her was Zach, he was the one who’d spoken up.
-Where, what, the Empoussa..? I said trying to make things fit in my scrambled brain.
-Gone. We’re not even in New York anymore, we’re in Washington.
-Washington? How did..?
-Forgot introductions! Lee, this is Melissa Temperance, daughter of Aeolus. Nala said.
-Hello, Melissa said.
-Hi. I said quickly.
-I’ve known about the exterior branch of the casino for a while. I was flying by with Reese when I found you guys.
-Reese? Reese who? I asked.
-Reese Rodriguez. You know Chris from Hermes? Percy said.
-Yeah.
-His twin sister.
-Chris is a twin?
-Yeah. He thought Reese’d died in the war, but then a year back they sort-of ran into each other.
-That’s it. Anyways, we travel together. We saw Alex, Jessie and Zach and landed. Reese went to help Percy and Nala, and I cleaned up outside.
-So you’re the one who tackled Donna after I went down? I asked. At the evocation of them, the injuries started to burn and I winced.
-Sorry Lee, Empoussa venom is super painful for girls. Nala said.
-And not guys? Jessie asked.
-Empoussa venom is meant to keep boy-blood fresh and prevent it from drying or blobbing up when they bite a guy. Takes them a while to suck all the blood out. It’s just not compatible with girls. Nala explained.
-So they’re vampires? Alex said.
-What does stories were based out of. What were you saying, Melissa?
-You asked if I killed the little Empoussa? No. That was your mortal friend. She said. I looked at Jessie.
-Not me Lee, Alex and I were busy with Keely.
-So, wait, Zach? I asked.
-Yeah. He said.
-You got your memories back? I asked. He nodded.
-Sorry I was a jerk.
-But how did you..?
-That’s Hades of a long story that will make no sense whatsoever. He assured me.
-Wait, you’re not a half-blood are you?
-No, and I’m not half-animal either, he said giving Nala resentful looks.
-I told you, satyr! Nala said.
-Thanks for sharing the info by the way. Zach complained.
-I wasn’t allowed to! Not to two half-bloods so especially not to a mortal, no offence. And can I take these stupid shoes off? She asked. Before we could say anything she kicked her sneakers off and Zach looked like he might pass out right there.
-Zach are you alright?
-Fine. It’s just the hooves… He said.
-Knock it out, you’re all being over-dramatic. So what I have hooves?
Alex opened his mouth to protest but my look told him to let it go.
-So how the Hecate did you manage to kill the Empoussa, Zach? I asked.
-I’ll show you, it’s really awesome! Alex said. He got up, pushed the “spear” button of his watch. The amethyst weapon expanded and Alex stabbed Zach in the chest. I gave out a cry or protest, that Alex was stabbing someone in the chest but Zach didn’t flinch. Alex’s spear snap but he retracted it into the watch.
-Wait a minute, what? I asked.
-Zach took a dip in the Styx. Percy said.
-Took a… In the Styx?
-That’s it.
-But how did you get to the Underworld? I asked.
-We’re still working on figuring that part out. Jessie said.
-So, somebody got you to take a dip in the Styx and ditched you in the Lotus Hotel and Casino?
-That sums it up. Melissa said.
-Oh, gave me this too. Zach said. He pulled out a pocket knife. He flicked in the handle from the wooden handle and it turned into a sword, with a bronze handle, wrapped in leather. It looked pretty nice.
I thought about how confusing and logic-less this whole thing was, and how unlikely it was that Zach, who had 2 demigods and a satyr as best friends, got kidnapped and ditched in the Styx. I apparently wasn’t alone as Zach went on.
-…So I just knew I had to take the pocket knife in my pocket and when I flicked the blade out, voilà! And it isn’t always a sword, it can be a spear and a dagger, depends what you’re thinking of. He said.
-Awesome weapon. A voice said.
It was a girl, a young adult, like Melissa. She hhad a creamy skin tone. Her hair was black, cut in a pixie-cut style. She was small and curvy. Her eyes were sparkling brown and her ears were pointy, her eyes thin. One thing came to mind: wingless pixie. I supposed she was Reese Rodriguez. I was surprised about it; she looked nothing like Chris, except for the eyes. I guess Chris took more from their mom and Reese from Hermes.
-Hey, you must be Lee, I’m Reese. She said, holding out her hand. I looked at her hand for a few seconds before shaking it. I knew Chris and the other Hermes campers do NOT shake hands with them unless you’ve checked for buzzers.
-You’ve met Chris. She said. I blushed to the roots of my hair and nodded.
-Nah, it’s cool, I get that a lot. She said. She made herself confortable on a fallen tree, next to Melissa, and brushed off the hems of her muddy jeans.
-I’ve checked the perimeters; should be fine for the night. She said.
-Thanks Reese. Percy said. I was staring at his hands, how he was trying to create a spark, rubbing two sticks together.
-You’re doing it wrong. I said. He looked up.
-What?
-You’re not going to get a spark like that. I got up. I was more stable then I’d thought I’d be. I knelt next to the fire pit and took the sticks from Percy. They didn’t even touch each other but sparks the size of gumballs went flying. Percy, Alex and Zach jumped back to avoid getting showered by them.
-Woe! Alex said.
-Sorry! I’m not sure how to…
-You’ll learn how to control it, don’t worry. Percy assured me.
I was pilling twigs on the one piece of bark that’d caught a flame. They burnt quickly.
-Elder always burns fast. I muttered.
-What?
-It’s elder wood, that’s why it’s burning fast then say, oak.
-How do you know that?
-My dad and I go camping often. I was always the one in charge of the fire, since I’m 8. I said.
The evocation of my dad pained me. Still no answer or news from him. I hoped he was okay…
And it suddenly made sense how he trusted me so much with matches and making campfires. He knew I could do it, and at the worst I wouldn’t get hurt. Memories of sitting by the lake, the fire dying and the loons crying out to each, as he showed me the constellations other pained me.
-While you were out we sort-of decided to stay here for the night. We’ll call Dora and Leo tomorrow morning. Jessie said. She jumped out of the tree she’d perched herself in and landed, swift as a cat.
-Alex, I’m going berry-hunting. Your dad’s god of berries, let’s go. She said, before running off in the woods. Alex followed her.
****
-How do we get there? Alex asked.
It was early in the morning. After a long, sleepless night, we were all up and ready to leave after extinguishing the fire and scanning the camp ground for forgotten weaponry. Zach was coming with us. We’d talked to Chiron and he didn’t know anything about Zach going in the Underworld. He’d gotten Nico and Piper on and they had no idea who Zach was, even if they’d both been to the Underworld for the first few nights of camp. He’d send them to the underworld to talk to its king and queen and scout around. We’d decided, last night, the best thing for Zach would be to send him back to camp, while he and Jessie -who couldn’t stand around camp for more than 5 minutes- went to explore the area.
We were trying to determine how we were to get to the forges.
-Fly? Melissa suggested.
-NO! Percy and I said instantly.
-Dude, we’re traveling with the two people who shouldn’t fly the most. Reese said.
-Oops, forgot. She blushed.
-It’s okay. But how? Percy asked. Reese asked something in Latin. Melissa took her by the shoulders.
-Dude! Nobody. Speaks. Latin. Dead language: speak English.
-No money for a train or anything, right? Reese repeated.
-No, in the bag the Empoussa ripped to shreds yesterday. I said.
-How are we supposed to get to the factory then? Jessie asked.
-Leo’s got you covered. I heard somebody say. I turned around.
Two people were standing in between two trees. One was Leo Valdez. He was wearing jeans and a camp T-shirt, a tool belt around his waist. His hair was curly and he looked kind-of like an elf. His long and nimble fingers were holding a skateboarding helmet.
Besides him, holding his hand was Isadora James. Her hair was long and thin, pulled back in a high and pretty messy ponytail. Her dark eyes sparkled. She was wearing jeans and a T-shirt with “Nobody knows robots better than me” written on it. She had a laptop under her arm.
-How the Hades did you guys get here? Nala asked.
-Teleportation. Leo said as his girlfriend set up the computer on a rock and started typing 1000 words a minute.
-Ready. She announced.
-Sweet. So, teleportation, you wear the helmet, and Dora teleports you to the factory. We’ll meet you there. Should take 15 minutes for everyone, its virtually painless too. Who wants to go first? Leo asked.
-Me! Jessie said. Leo put the helmet on her head and Isadora started typing again.
-So, this is pain…
But at that moment Dora pushed a key and Jessie disappeared. A few seconds later the helmet re-appeared.
-That is just awesome. Alex said, which I thought summed it up pretty well.

*this is sort-of what Reese is supposed to look like, except younger and no jewellery. Hopped you liked this chapter!

Awesome! Whooohooo!! So good. I got confussed though because I forgot what happened in the last chapter.

Hecate, I’ll put my comments in bold; so hopefully, you’ll be able to see them. Since you’re really, really good at writing, I’ll most likely be nitpicking throughout the story.

Two women climbed the steps of the {big house}capitalize. One with short strawberry blond hair, elfish features and sparkling blue eyes defiantly needs a rephrase. The other, taller, her skin might want to add like “was” creamy and a cascade of curls falling to her shoulders. The later knocked on the door. A pudgy man wearing a tiger-printed shirt opened the door. Good description of the two women, and Mr. D
-Oh. you need something here You two. I thought I’d gotten rid of you 12 years ago.
-When we were both sweet, innocent little angels, yes. The blond agreed.
-Watch it Clara Settle.
-Actually it’s Foster now. The woman lifted her left hand and wiggled her fingers.
-Got married. Two beautiful girls. Is Chiron there? Who’s Chiron? For those who haven’t read the book recently…
-Where else would he be its eleven o’clock at night if you haven’t noticed.
-Look, we’ve had a long trip and both of us need to get back soon, can you please just get Chiron? The tallest said.
-Watch your tongue Simone. Always thought you’d look nice as a shrub. The man warned.
-Mr D. Somebody said. We don’t know if this pudgy man is Mr. D or he’s an IMPOSTER. But, just nitpicking once again
-Good you’re here. I won’t have to suffer these two little loud-mouths longer. He said before stalking off. A centaur took his place. A centaur is a what exactly?
-Come in, Clare, Sienna. He said. They sat down at a table, where a pack of cards was waiting for the next day.
-So, what brings you here? He asked.
-Children. Sienna said.
-Yes, I do know about Liam, he’s what, 3 now?
-Yes, but that’s not entirely it. Clare has two daughters too. Sienna said.
-My husband is mortal, but my daughter Jessie sees threw the mist. She can see monsters all around us and isn’t shy to say so. I think she has a scent as well. A Satyr approached me the other day and told me that she would probably develop one. Develop what?
-How nice of him. We could arrange for her to come to camp for a summer, when she’s older. Learn to fight in case of emergencies, but I think she’ll be fine with a once-every-two-years routine. Chiron said.
-I agree. When she’s 12 maybe? That’s when monsters start attacking.
-Yes. You live in Armpit, Nevada HAHAHA that last part is funny right? I suggest you send her to Adonis elementary, your other daughter too while you’re at it. The school has a lot of demigods and strong-seers. We have 5 satyrs presently at the school actually. He said.
-Thank you for the advice. Clare said.
-Why would both of you take such a long trip just to do what an iris-message could arrange? Leaving two half-demigods I wonder, would they be called demi-demi-gods? Just ponderingand a demigod to a mortal man isn’t the wisest decision. Chiron said.
-We know, but, well… Si will explain in private.
-In private?
-If you look out the window you will observe two of my half brothers who have failed to stay in the cabin. He peaked over his shoulder.
-The Stolls probably. Clare, do you mind..?
-Not at all. She said getting up.
-And don’t do anything! Don’t think I’ve forgotten you Clare Foster! Chiron called as she stepped out of the front door, smiling.
As quiet as a cat she made her way behind the two boys.
-I hope you’re better thieves then spies, or else you might get vaporised vaporized . She said. The two boys jumped and turned to face her.
-How did you..? Some screaming or a ‘HOLY….’ Would be nice
-Thieves recognise recognize their environments before stepping in a room. Never forget that.
-Hey, for the record I’m the kid that that managed to smuggle all the coffee this place has, the harpies were on a rampage! The tall one said. Tall what, monkey?
-Lame. oooooo burnEver tried stealing all the diet coke? She said; then this next part. It sounds like their being strangled as they speakThey gasped.
-Oh my gods that was you?
-Clare Foster, formally Settle. You must be Connor, and you’re Travis. Charmed, I’m your oldest sister alive and I just busted you, so get going.
-We can find the cabin on our- never mind. Travis said letting his sister lead him back to his cabin.

Once again AMAZING, but that’s expected from you. I just have some minor comments that you’ll be able to fix soon. If you want me to do the next part, I can.
With love,
fencingrocks

Hey fence, thanks for reading it so soon!
nd Chiron and Mr D don't require explanation, because this story is set for PJO and HoO readers, who know full well who those two are.
And the fact that we don't know if he's an imposter- well Chiron called him Mr D, which is a confirmation of identity.
I'd appreciate if you did the next part, but can I suggest you only copy-paste the sentances or bits that you have a comment on in the post to shorten it?
Thanks again

And now for he main show:


10

We all got to the factory, safe and sound. Percy asked Reese, Zach and Melissa to check on Mrs. O’Leary, who we’d sent to the parking lot the day before not knowing we’d run in a couple of Empoussa, while we talked to Hephaestus.
The factory was huge. We were walking down the hallway.
-Hello Miss. A worker told Dora.
-Good day, Sir. Another told Leo.
-Wow, you two are popular. Jessie whispered to Leo.
-My dad owns this place, and she was made here, yeah. Leo smiled. We got to the check in. Leo rang the little bell. The moment the annoying little “ding!” sounded, a worker popped up. He wore a “Boeing” T-shirt and black pants.
-How may I help you?
-I’d like to see the forges please. The guard stayed silent.
-By that I suppose you mean the assembly…
-Nope, the forges. As in Hephaestus’ forges. Leo said.
-No such thing kid, stop wasting my time.
-Dude, come off it, just give me the key or I get my friend here to bust the lock. Leo said, pointing his thumb to Dora. She held up what looked like the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver (from the show Doctor Who, common you have to watch that!), her thumb on a button, the top glowing blue and producing a low humming sound.
-Put-that-down-this-instant. He said threw gritted teeth. Dora did, smirking innocently and lowered her hand. He handed Leo a paperclip.
-Thanks Earl. She said.
-How do you know my..? He started.
-You’re wearing a nametag. Common guys. She said. She led us down a hallway and to a door that said “Personnel only”.
-That’s the key? Could’ve busted the lock with this baby. She said showing the screwdriver.
-Wouldn’t the key have magical properties?
-Point taken. Leo passed it through his fingers and passed it to Dora.
-Nope, normal paperclip. He said as she stuck the paperclip into the lock.
-Ooh, let me I’m god at this stuff. Jessie said. She picked the lock expertly, making me wonder how many times in her 4 year life she’d had to do this, and opened the door. It was this giant electrical box. A jungle of wires, switches and moving parts.
-Oh boy, here we go. Leo said. He took out a pair of pliers out of his tool belt and started snapping and twisting certain wires. Dora took out the sonic screwdriver. She pulled a part down and snapped the opposite end in two, until it made a kind-of pliers. She started working on the control box too.
-Um, what exactly are you two doing? Percy asked.
-Shush, busy. Leo said. Dora flicked a switch and a new song started playing.
“Bob the builder! Can we fix it? Bob the builder! Yes we can!” The voice on the intercom yelled out.
-Bob the builder? Really? Nala asked as Percy, Alex, Jessie and I started laughing.
-Leo, the piston. Dora pointed.
-Oh, right. He adjusted another piece of metal and the music changed to a female voice, sort-of like what you get on the phone when they tell you to redial.
-Hello, welcome to the temple and main forge of Hephaestus, please state the full names and titles of everyone in your group and your purpose.
-Leonidas Valdez son of Hephaestus, Isadora James, Leda Munroe daughter of Hestia, Perseus Jackson son of Poseidon, Alexander Budding son of Dionysus, Jessie Foster mortal granddaughter of Hermes and Nala Chêne, Satyr. We seek information. He spoke up.
-Proceed. The voice replied. So Leo and Dora started connecting wires back together, snapping more, turning knobs and everything. Until a door appeared.
-Sweet. Leo said hi-fiving Dora. She opened the door and stood at the entrance.
-Hello? My Lord? She asked.
-Come in. A gruff voice replied. Dora courageously stepped in; we followed her, Leo first. Both of them completely flipped out.
It had 3 car cranks in one corner, a few old-fashioned tools and metal-working equipment in the back. One wall was completely covered by small drawers a little bigger then matchboxes, some transparent some wooden. There were a bunch of worktables everywhere: it seemed like the god had 20 projects going on at once. There were sheets of metal and wood piled up in one corner. The back wall has tools hanging on it, all on the wrong spots, and different projects hung from the ceiling or were posed on floating shelves. There was also a dragon’s head in one corner.
The god appeared from a corner. He was a well built man with more muscles then a quarter back. His hair was cut short, and his beard was shorter then someone had described, small fires still started and ended here and there. He had black eyes and big hands. We all kneeled.
-Hello. He said. He willed us into the forge and closed the door. Leo and Dora looked like they were in heaven, their eyes big as drachmas.
He looked at every one of us.
-I know you two, evidently. If you would like, you may go look deeper in the forges. Just don’t touch any of the projects.
Dora and Leo beamed, like he’d announced Christmas would be happening 4 months early this year.
-Thank you, Father. Leo said.
-It is very generous, my Lord. Dora said. They bowed before hurrying off to go look in the forge, as excited as kids let loose in the candy shop with a credit card.
He nodded at Percy and passed on to put a name to our faces.
-You’re Dionysus’ youngest. He told Alex.
-Yes sir. He said.
-You’re the satyr in charge of those two. He said, pointing at Alex and me.
-Nala Chêne, Lord. She said.
-You must be Hermes’ youngest grandchild. He said.
-Jessie Foster, Lord.
-And you, he said turning towards me, must be Hestia’s girl. I blushed to the roots of my hair.
-Y-yes… sir. I said. Hephaestus starred at me and nodded.
-I know why you’re here. Hephaestus said, turning his heals and walking towards the nearest table.
-You, you do? I gulped. He picked up a golden bird, the size of a canary and cranked the key in its back.
-Course I do, I’ve been to Olympus in the past 48 hours, everyone knows. He said. He cupped his hands and the bird flew out of them and landed on Leo’s shoulder. Dora stroked its feathers and it tweeted.
-You want the necklace of Harmonia. He said.
There was a POP and another immortal appeared.
Her eyes were perfect almonds, with long eyelashes and they sparkled crystal blue. They were lined with just a tiny bit of eyeliner. Her lips were full and glossy. Her hair, which fell to her shoulders in heavy curls, was the exact shade of Alex’s. She wore a knee-length snow-white sundress with flats. She was petite and delicate-looking.
-What about my daughter’s necklace? She asked.
I tried to remember who Harmonia’s mom was from the stories Mima always told me when she visited. Then it hit me; Aphrodite.
The love goddess advanced to stand besides her husband, who didn’t look happy about the crowd in his forges (I’m guessing Aphrodite wasn’t the problem).
-Percy, nice to see you again, and you must be Lee. She said, completely ignoring her step-son and everyone else.
Leo looked away from the goddess, rolling his eyes, royally unimpressed. I had the feeling there was bad history. Either way, the goddess didn’t notice.
-Umm, y-ye-yes L-lady. I mumbled. She looked at me beaming.
-I knew she’d find the right guy for her! She squealed. I figured she was talking about Hestia and blushed even more. She turned to Alex.
-Alexander Budding, right? Of course… Don’t worry Alex; you’ll know what to do soon. She winked at him and he became as red as me.
-So yes, what was that about Harmonia’s necklace? She asked. Hephaestus looked like he was just going to let her do the talking and go back to whatever he was building before we got here.
-They’re trying to find it. Hephaestus grunted. Aphrodite looked astonished.
-Why in Tartarus would you want to do that? She asked.
-It’s the only way to clear my mother’s name. I said in a super low voice.
-Oh, that’s so cute! And you don’t even know her yet! Trust me you will love Tia, she’s the sweetest person! But what’s that around your neck? She asked. I put my hand to it.
-Oh, it’s a, it’s a, a, replica. I took it off and handed it to Hephaestus’ outstretched hand. He passed it threw his fingers and examined it.
-Made in 1543, this forge, silver and millennia-old black diamonds… Eris’ I believe?
-Um, yeah.
-We ran into her at lake Placid. Jessie said.
-I see. Eris is a pain, but once in a friendly hellhound she’ll help out.
-Yeah well there’s one of those in the parking lot. Percy said half-voice.
-Disgusting creatures, they slobber so much… Well, we don’t know where the necklace is more than Zeus or anyone else. Aphrodite shrugged.
- Hermes checked the best spots, the ones he hides things in, both of us looked for it, Hecate scanned the state of New York for it, its unfindable.
-Do you at least know who stole it? Jessie asked.
-No idea. Hephaestus shrugged.
-Who were the last people in Olympus, before the war ended? I asked Percy.
-There was me, Annabeth, Grover, Thalia… Kronos and Ethan.
-Ethan..? Nala asked.
-Nakamura. The son of Nemesis.
-Then Nemesis is our best bet for finding the thing. Alex said.
-Question is; where do we find her?
-She had a temple in Ancient Attica.
-Wasn’t Attica just old Athens? I asked.
-Yes. The ruins are still in Greece but…
-It moved! Alex said.
-Yes, in spirit, the god said slightly annoyed, and it’s pretty far from here.
-Where?
-Boston.
-‘Cause of the Boston tea party? Jessie asked.
-That’s it. Thomas Hutchinson, was a son of hers.
-Who’s he? Alex asked. I was glad he did, I had the same question. But they looked at him a little weird.
-I’m Canadian! I didn’t and won’t study the Boston tea party for a while! He said.
-But you know what it is, right?
-Discovery had a program about it. He shrugged.
-You were really that bored? I asked.
-Oh it’s so cute! Aphrodite said, overexcited.
-Thank you for the help Lord Hephaestus, and Lady Aphrodite. Percy said, as I tried to decrypt what she was saying.
-Anytime, Percy. Aphrodite said, treating him like an old friend. She winked at Alex, kissed her husband on the cheek, and disappeared.
-Leo and Isadora can get you to Boston with the teleportation device before going back to camp. Hephaestus said.
-Um, yeah! Leo said closing a tiny drawer full of screws. He elbowed Dora who was observing a bronze horse miniature, galloping in circles on a metallic surface.
-Of course, of course My Lord! She said. Her hand fidgeted around a necklace made of braided colourful string. I knew Leo’d made it for her. She fidgeted with it when she got nervous or bored.
-Common guys, let’s get you all to Boston.

*THIS is the sonic screwdriver

your british?!

wow

I loved that CHAPTER!!!! It was so good HEcate!!! Keep on wrighting them!!!

MOAR

PPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEE­EEE­EEE­EEE­EEE­EAA­AAA­AAA­AAA­AAA­AAA­AAA­SSS­SSS­SSS­SSS­SSS­SSS­SSS­SSS­SSS­SSS­SSE­EEE­EEE­EEE­EEE­EEE­EEE­EEE

OH GODS THT WAS SO GOOD OMG CNT WAIT FOR HE REST!!!!!!!

Thank you!!!!!! And no, I'm not British, I'm Canadian! That's oen of the reasons Lee is Canadian, cause I've been to Québéc and because we're so close to the US but book 6 of CHB series is the first we get in there. And... You'll see. I also wanted her francophone. And hockey player. Go Canada! And before you ask, yes I say eh.

10
Finally Shrew gets is

We met the others in the parking lot. Mrs. O’Leary was wagging her tail, hitting lamp posts and cars and other expensive dent-able things. She jumped to Percy straight ahead.
-Slow down girl, yes, I’m here, I’m here! He said.
-She’s been busting cars since she saw us. Reese said.
-Maybe we should send her back to camp, Alex suggested. Sure she’s useful in fights but I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be in cities a lot, Mrs. O’Leary doesn’t blend in very well in cities.
-I guess you’re right. Leo, do you mind..?
-No, we can bring her back. She won’t be happy do, Piper’s not there.
Mrs. O’Leary got along with about anybody. Percy was her owner, then Piper who could talk to her, then Nico.
-Where is she?
-I don’t know. Underworld?
-That should be fine.
-Ajax just IM’ed me, Melissa said. Stupid little prat got himself knocked out of the sky by Jason in a fight, and they need every wind child they can get for the show.
-What show? Zach asked.
-The Anemoi children set a show up, whenever something important happens. It’s an aerial acrobatics show, kind-of like the Snowbirds on Canada day. The best is the summer one; they practise for it starting the first day of spring, a mile or so from camp. Huge event, going to be right before the fireworks. Nala said.
-Exactly. I planned part of the choreography, so they want me to fill in for Ajax. Melissa said.
-So you and Reese are going with them? Jessie asked.
-Well, actually, Lissa is, but if you still want me around, I could help out. I’ve got contacts with traveling agencies and I can speak about 10 langauges fluently, and mumble in a few others. Reese offered.
-We need everyone we can get. I said.
-Cool, where to now? Zach asked. Alex and I crossed Nala’s eyes.
“We have to tell Zach”
“Does he really have to go to camp?”
“Yes.”
“You break it to him”
“We have to”
“Just someone!”
-Zach, umm, the thing is, you’re mortal and you’re untrained, and we’re not quite sure why you were in the Underworld. Maybe it wasn’t to make you stronger, the, you know, river-thing, but to kill you. So, umm… I said.
-Wait, you’re going to just send me back to camp? He asked.
-Yes. Alex finished for me.
-What? What do you mean I have to go back to camp? I don’t know where camp is, or anybody there!
-You sort-of know the guy who lives next to Lee
-Zach, you’re untrained, it’s… it’s for the best. I said.
-But I freaking tackled an Empoussa!
-You didn’t know what it was until we told you. You can’t see through the mist, you can’t see the threats.
-Neither can most of you at first, except for Lee. He said. Alex pulled out the last, desperate card.
-You’re mortal, Zach. That seemed to hit him real hard, but he got over it.
-So is she! He protested pointing at Jessie.
-Jessie’s different. Percy said.
-How? She’s mortal!
-Quarter god and she can see threw the mist.
-Dude, let it go. You’ll stay at camp for the whole summer, you’ll see Lee, Alex and Nala again, I swear on the Styx I’ll do my best. You’ll get to train and they’ll figure out how the heck you got in this mess.
Zach agreed, still not happy. We promised him we’d tell him everything the moment we got back to camp. They shadow-traveled with Mrs. O’Leary back to camp. I was the last to get teleported.
-Good luck Lee. Dora said softly pushing a key as the world went black and back on, like a TV turned on and off. Except this time, I was in Boston.
****

Thanks to Percy, we found the temple in no time. We figured it would be near a monument, probably something to do with the Tea Party.
-There’s a replica of one of the original ships, it’s a museum. He said.
-Ooh, that, I’ve been there, it’s really nice. Reese said.
-Guide the way, then.
She led us to the harbour. There was a sign that read “Boston Tea Party ship and Museum”. We dug out a few drachmas and payed with that, confusing the employee at the ticket counter, a small girl with two platinum blond braids.
-Umm, we don’t accept… She started. Nala snapped her fingers.
-You take cash don’t you? She inquired.
-Oh, yeah, sorry. For a minute I thought… Silly me. She shrugged, and stamped our hands before letting us onto the ship.
-Where to now? Alex asked, after Reese and Percy’d explained the concept of mist manipulating to us.
-Can’t you detect godly presence? I asked Nala. She frowned.
-I’m a satyr, not a GPS.
-Well there has to be a sign. A trace, something! Jessie said.
-Over there. I said pointing to a hallway. I frowned confused. The words’d just spilled out, I hadn’t thought about it.
-What?
-I don’t know. I just think… Over there. I shrugged.
-Why? Nala inquired.
-Because temples are like houses for a god… Percy realised.
-Your mom is goddess of home. You can automatically find temples!
-So Lee’s like a temple GPS?
-Probably.
Amount of powers: 2, fire-resistance and temple-location. Wonderful.
But the others seemed to trust me so off we went. The hallway only had 1 door that wasn’t heavily locked. It was guarded by a security guard.
-You sure it’s here? Percy whispered. I looked around.
-Yeah. I whispered back.
-Well, hi! Nala told the security guard. He just starred at her. His scalp was polished like silver and he was super buff.
-Can we go to the temple? Alex asked. Mr Buffness raised an eyebrow.
-What?
-The temple of Nemesis. Y’ah know, the Greek goddess of revenge? Jessie asked.
-Temples for Greek goddesses are in Greece kid, you are presently in Boston.
-Yes, we read the sign outside the boat, thanks. Jessie said sarcastically.
-Then I don’t see why we’re having this discussion. Scram. He said. Percy walked up to him.
-Look buddy, if you’ve got the slightest clue of what’s going on on Olympus, you know that Hestia’s got a kid. Brunette behind me. We’ve got a job to do. Move. He said. The security guard spoke into a mic attached to his collar, mumbling so nobody understood.
-I got 5 on their way down… There’s the Jackson kid, some satyr, a son of Dionysus, two daughters of Hermes...
-Granddaughter!
-One daughter, one Granddaughter of Hermes, and Hestia’s brat. Immediately the door swung open.
-Magic words. “Hestia’s brat”. Jessie said.
-Oh good. I muttered. The security guard moved out of the way and we filled inside.
Nemesis’ temple was pretty beautiful. The room seemed miles away from Boston. Long, heavy black curtains hung from metres (“feet”) above ground. From the top we saw a clear blue sky, nearly all shadowed by puffy white clouds. Sunlight poured in and the floor was marble white. There was not one piece of furniture in the room, all except a set of old-fashioned balances in the back. Made of pure black metal, they were the height of a keyboard.
The door shut behind us.
-Ah, Leda Munroe. I’ve been expecting you. I heard a voice say. It came from near the scales. I looked and there was a woman there.

She had a tall and elegant frame. She skin was the color of caramel, with dark black hair, braided in a casual, un neat braid down her back. Her eyes were a dark, nearly brown, black. She was wearing a kind of circlet around her head, the part with a piece of stone, etched with gold dipped onto her forehead. Her features were harsh but she still looked beautiful. And dangerous.
She wore only black; pants, sneakers and a turtleneck. She was an Indian princess disguised as a thief.
-I knew you were coming from the moment I heard the motives of your quest. She said.
-Lady Nemesis. We each whispered, bowing.
-Welcome to my palace. She said. She followed Alex’s gaze to the balance.
-The balance interests you? She asked.
-Umm, yes, I mean, no, err…. Nemesis lifted her hand as if to say “don’t worry”.
-Pick someone you don’t like, anybody. She said.
-Daniel Shrew. He immediately said.
-Of course. She nodded approvingly and snapped her fingers. The balance appeared besides her.
-What does he have going for him? Friends. She said, waving her hand. A bar of gold appeared on one side of the balance every time she said something new.
-Popularity, he’s good at basketball, confidence...
-Ego… Alex corrected.
The side with the gold was dipping way below the other.
-But if I decide to make it more even. I can. She snapped her fingers and the third bar disappeared, a piece of coal appearing on the other side.
-What was that? Reese asked.
-That, was Daniel spraining his ankle and being out of playing condition for a good while. Nemesis informed us. My eyes must’ve grown as big as chariot wheels. Alex paled and his mouth opened and formed a half-moon shape, the way it does when he’s guilty. Nala was expressionless.
-Don’t feel guilty son of Dionysus. It was bound to happen someday. I check on everyone’s balance every now and then. Nemesis said.
There was a mix of feelings. Shrew was a jerk. He was mean, unpleasant, rude, stupid and cocky. He had it coming. But at the same time, was making him suffer making anybody else any better?
Nemesis looked at me.
-You think I’m harsh, don’t you?
I could’ve lied, or risqued instant-combustion. But I didn’t say anything.
-You’re too shy. It’s not a good balance. The goddess declared. The balance rearranged itself until a whole new set was there.
-Your studies aren’t going so great; you’re a target to the gods right now, your father is missing, the little boy you came to consider as a brother is in a coma, you are far from your home. You lack of self-confidence and you’re so shy you’ve yet to speak to me. She said. 7 pieces of coals appeared on one side and I blushed.
-But you have a heart of gold, you’re more powerful than you can think, you have amazing friends, you’re a strong fighter, your family is closer knit then you think, and you turn heads. For every quality a bar appeared, 2 on the last.
-I what? I baffled.
-You turn heads. You must’ve heard that expression, daughter of Hestia.
-But I… Me? The goddess sighed.
-Quite like your mother you refuse to admit or see the good in yourself. But yes, I’m telling you. So in all; it’s pretty balanced. Nemesis concluded. But then another lump of coal added itself on.
-What’s that? Nala asked. Nemesis looked at the balance, intrigued.
-A punishment. A curse from the other gods. Nemesis said. The tilt to the right was more obvious than ever.
-Umm, excuse me, Lady Nemesis, but we need to know if you know anything about the necklace.
-Harmonia’s necklace, isn’t it? Excellent copy you have there, by the way. I can confirm Ethan stole it. He had it on him when… She bit her lip, her eyes full of pain.
-I don’t know where it is. But it probably was somewhere around the Empire State building. It might’ve gotten picked up by the mortals. Or a camper. I don’t know.
-Does anybody on Olympus really want the necklace? I asked.
-It’s cursed. Even immortals take a risk wearing it; Harmonia was a goddess, remember that. Nobody really wants it. Sure Eris says she’d like to have it, which personally I do all my possible to prevent, but other than that. She shrugged.
-The necklace was built for revenge. You must have some control at tracking it. Jessie said.
-Quite clever, Jessie Foster. Nemesis said. But no. I can’t find it.
-Is it like, like Eris, where there are t-too many traces to find one? I asked, attempting speech.
-Umm… Not exactly. It is not my item of power. Revenge happens when you wish it to. Nobody has wished for me to find it, therefore I am powerless. Nemesis said.
-What if we ask you to find it? Nala asked.
-You have no revenge-related reason to want the necklace. None of you will use it to equalise yourselves to a nemesis. You don’t need it for revenge.
-I need it. I said coldly. Nemesis looked at me.
-I need it. I need my mother to… to fight. I need to make her of size to fight Zeus. I said, the words spilling out of my lips in a voice that wasn’t mine. It was a brave voice. Cold as well. Not something I was.
-You don’t know half the story daughter of Hestia. Approach. She said. Sparks slipped lower on my hand until I was clutching the handle. My feet took the steps, one after the other. I was in front of Nemesis. She lifted her hand and put her finger to my forehead.
I was watching two people. One of them was Zeus. But he looked younger, about 15, his hair shorter. He was standing in the throne room with another woman. She was wearing a white dress, the sleeves a little lower on the shoulders. A pale scarf was tied over her mousey brown hair and there were black marks, soot, on it, identical to the ones on her cheeks and nose. Her eyes were filled with the fire flaming besides them. She looked a little older then him. Maybe 19; 20 max.
-You must be proud brother. She said.
-Honestly Hestia, I am just glad it is over with.
-Hmm…. Don’t think it gets easier. You have 5 siblings at your control now, other immortals waiting to be rounded up at the 4 corners of the globe. She said.
-My control? You are the eldest.
-Indeed, but you are the one who defeated father. I’m no good for power. It has to be you.
-Poseidon’s second eldest. He said still uncomfortable.
-Have you seen Poseidon anywhere near here since the war was won? Or Hades here? Or Demeter, or Hera, or me? Only you have stayed on Olympus and watched it grow brick by brick, it’s a miracle any one of us can find the throne room. She said, waving her hand to display the room. Zeus wasn’t convinced, and Hestia saw it.
-None of us are taking power; you are. Common little brother, trust yourself. She smiled, putting her hand on his shoulder.
The scene changed.
12 thrones were now in the room. Zeus looked like an adult now, he sat in the back. I saw his other siblings there too. A scrawny young man was kneeling at Zeus’ feet, a 9 year old girl standing besides him. She was the same girl I’d seen at camp. I recognised the boy’s hair color, then the eyes; the same as Alex’s. He was the young Dionysus.
-Why add another throne? The balance of power we have all worked so hard to establish will be ruined. That is why half of us wish not to see it happen. Hestia explained.
-And your solution is better because..? Hera asked.
-Because. If your husband wishes it, dear sister, he can make Dionysus as powerful as I was. I don’t mind.
-It unbalances the council either way. 7 men, 6 women. A tween with auburn hair and a silvery dress said.
-By one. Common little Sis, live a little. A cocky-looking teenager replied.
-I told you I’m older. I still think it is not a good idea. She, Artemis I assumed, insisted.
-Nun-uh, I’m older. Apollo replied. Zeus raised his hand to stop the twins in their tracks. He met Hestia’s eyes.
-You truly think this is the best idea? He questioned.
-Definitely.
-You are willing to give up Olympian power for eternity? He asked.
-Yes. Hestia said. Zeus studied her.
-All those in favour? He asked. All the people present but Dionysus, Hestia, Artemis and Hera held their hands up.
-Very well. Dionysus, I make you the twelfth Olympian. Zeus said.
Nemesis took her finger away from my forehead and my knees bucked. Alex caught me.
-Woe, Lee. You okay?
-Umm, yeah. For how long, I mean, was I out for… for long?
-Lee, you weren’t out. She touched you for a second, and then your knees bucked. Nala whispered. I had eyes only for Nemesis.
-She gave up her power and now it is coming back to hit her between the eyes like a boomerang. Nemesis said.
-The necklace would make it even. I insisted. Nemesis shook her head.
-I’m sorry, I can’t help you. Nemesis said. I was so frustrated. Eris confused me, Aphrodite just plane lost me, and Nemesis just seemed to not want to help!
-Thank you for your time Lady Nemesis. Reese said. We turned to the double doors, black wood beautifully carved with swirling patterns, strangely in place with the curtains. The doors disappeared.
-One more thing. She said. She walked towards us and took a chain from inside her collar. It was a silver key.
-Give this to Elli, Elli Nakamura, when you get back to camp. I think it has been long enough, they can watch the cabin on their own, again. She said giving Nala the key.
-Will do. Nala said.
-Thank you. She said. We went for the door again.
-Umm, Lady Nemesis? Percy asked.
-What is it Perseus Jackson?
-I’m… I’m sorry about Ethan. He whispered. Nemesis bit her lip but nodded.
-I could’ve tried to talk logic into him before he picked sides. She whispered back. She shrugged in a no-use-crying-over-spilt-nectar way.
-Thank your for your thought. Good luck. She said.
We were out the door when we heard screaming. That was an automatic cue for ‘weapons out’.
-Screaming is never a good sign. Nala moaned as we ran onto the deck.

Hey im from boston! i thought the tea party museum was closed though... nice chapter!

HecateA that was sooo good please post more.
i understand the whole jason-son-of-Boreus, thing and thr Piper-daughter-of-Hades, thing so ya
please keep writing i am so interested into what happenes and i am so glad that you included Percy in this all... so ya keep writing
Love always Lightning98

hya. so proud of u HecateA! im canadian too! best story ever, btw.

sorry I only caught up now but well done Hecate I love it and uh lightningthief98 Piper is a daughter of Peresphone not Hades unless you meant underworld when you said Hades I don't know anyway you should get it easily if you have read the first one of her fanfics in this series anyway

sorry Rick i did missunder stand... so anyways hecate you are a great writer

ya no doubt about it. she deserves the name hecate. shes working magic here! this is even better than some of the actual books ive read. anyway i didnt know piper was persephone. i skimmed the other ones and i thought that i couldnt find it. i probably just mised it though.

what do you mean you scimmed the other ones partypony you should read the first book in this series of her books to understaand it more and make more scence of it

i DID read it! when piper was mentioned as a child of persephone, i was like where did that came from, so i skimmed the story again. i couldnt find it, but im sure its mentioned around here somewhere. and i did make sense of it.

No it wasn't mentioned why......We just thought Piper was a daughter of Persaphone.(Well, not me I thought it Pietho with her dad being a demi-god of Perseohone)

11

Mortals were running off the ship and onto solid-land, and I couldn’t blame them.
The monster was thrashing around in the water. It was a huge serpent, with a face like a catfish, bright orange. It roared like a lion and I noticed someone fighting it. A 17 year-old dude with black hair and, I don’t know if it was just me, green skin. He had a huge spear in his hand, except it had two ends. He had the beast’s neck, somehow, stuck between the two spikes and he was struggling to nail it with his sword.
-Stupid worm! He yelled.
We ran to the railing.
-What the Hades is he doing here? Percy murmured to himself.
-You know him? I asked. Percy swung his legs over the railing.
-‘Course I do, that’s Triton. He said. He jumped into open water, but a wave, sort of like the one holding up Triton, caught him. Riptide in hand, he board-free surfed to the beast and he stabbed it. It roared and tried to turn towards him but Triton dropped his sword and forced it back.
-Oh no you don’t. He said threw gritted teeth, pulling the fork back.
Percy stabbed at it again but it wiggled threw and dove back. Triton grasped the fork and waves shot up forcing the thing up. Percy produced a rope and wrapped it around the neck. Eventually it wiggled free and submerged, both brothers going down with it. It wailed and disappeared into the sea. We waited anxiously as only a few ripples and bubbles disturbed the surface. I was starting to wonder whether something’d happened and if we should get closer, but they burst back out. The rope was swinging with Percy swinging with it. He finally caught on to its neck, wrapping his arms around it. He yelled something to Triton. Triton threw him a knife and Percy caught the handle, and stabbed the beast.
Triton let go of the fork as the beast went down in the shore.
-Stay out! Triton yelled at it. The fork thing zoomed back into his hand as they both made their way to the dock. We ran off the ship and there. Percy and Triton were both already waiting for us.
Triton had a green sweatshirt on, the hoody pulled over his head, and jeans, covering as much skin as possible. If it weren’t for the tip of his hands and face, he could’ve been a normal teenager. Not an all-mighty sea god.
-Um, yeah, the idiot here’s Triton. Percy said, pointing his thumb at his brother.
-Who you calling idiot? Even your girlfriend calls you Seaweed brain.
-Yeah, I have a girlfriend. What the Hades you doing here anyways?
-I’m allowed to travel ain’t I? I’ve been stuck at the palace for a long time. You’d want out too. Anyways, I realised that thing was heading strait for mortals, so I figured I’d stop it.
-Epic fail by the way.
-It was stronger then I thought it’d be. Which is really strange, it hasn’t been to the palace yet.
-What? Reese asked.
-Well, usually the closer to the palace sea monsters get, the more powerful they get. Never seen this one before. Either way, you guys better be off. And I got sightseeing to do. Been a good century I haven’t been to Boston.
-What? That’s it? Common man, you’re being cheap. No godly advice? Percy asked.
-Umm, necklace of Harmonia, right? Let’s see, what did that do… Umm… Ooh, the women of the house of Thebes went all crazy over the damn thing a few centuries back.
-So they might now? I asked. Triton looked at me.
-Hey, you’re the Munroe kid aren’t you? I blushed to the roots of my hair and nodded.
-Well you’re right, in theories they should have a clue how to find it.
-Great. Nala said.
-So, where the heck do we find them?
-Their descendants are sort-of spread out across the globe. And that’s my godly advice for the day, I got to catch the next bus for this museum thing, see yeah. Triton said, before walking off the dock.
I was surprised at how Percy’d acted with Triton. Compared to how respectful he’d been with Nemesis and Eris, he’d acted so… natural with Triton.
-Triton’s not the turn-you-to-ash type. Percy reassured.
-Thanks gods. So the women of the house of Thebes, right? Where are we supposed to find them? Alex said.
-Well, Triton said they were spread out across the globe.
-Are they demigods?
-I remember Chris telling me only one of them pays attention to the godly heritage and news.
-Great, which one? She famous?
-Yes and no. She is a critical factor, but she barely gets any credit.
-What’s her name?
-Freya Flint, costume designer and star dresser. Reese said.
-Wait, star-dresser? Does that mean that we have to go to...?
-That’s right Lee. We’re going to Hollywood!

that was awesome! though triton sort of acted differently than i thought. thats cool.

It was amzing AGAIN!! i LOVE UR WRITING!!! OMG IT'S SO GOOD!!!

wow that was really good Hecate!!!!
I was cracking up when Percy and Triton where talking to eachother... They really do act like brothers
OH!!!!! I am so excited for the next one!!!! they are going to Hollywood!!!!! This is so exciting
(Just to let you know Hollywood is just like anyother city... just a bigger ego)

Thank you all, and sorry for the wait! I'm trying to write Son of Neptune and Jewels equally, but I'm going a little overboard. It should get better from this point on guys!

12
So we had to take a plane to get to Hollywood. The plane was huge, and Reese got us first class somehow. We had good seats, all seated far from the exits, the flight attendants were super nice and
I hate planes.
Reese did some kind of prayer/hymn/sacrifice in an eating area of the area (which didn’t freak the other travelers at all) and assured us that Hermes would assure for Percy and I’s safe passage by air.
If both our immortals would’ve been on Olympus, as long as they were there, Zeus wouldn’t’ strike us down. But Poseidon had returned to his palace for a short period of time now, and Zeus had much less chances of listening to Hestia. We’d offered sacrifices to Zeus, Poseidon, Hestia and Hera, hoping that’d encourage them to bargain for us. And it could’ve been a day flight too. But we were in Artemis’ domain (kind-of) and Artemis wasn’t fond of me either.
I sat as far from the window as I could, Percy was right besides me.
-Window seat is the worst. He muttered.
-I know. I said.
-Aww, common Lee, it’s not that bad. Jessie said. She’d arm wrestled Reese in the airport to win the window seat.
-Yeah, you aren’t the one Zeus wants to blast out of the sky. I said, my voice to a whisper.
-Take off soon. A woman with red square glasses and frizzy black hair pulled back said. She plastered a 100% fake smile on her face.
I settled back in my seat feeling so sick I thought I’d throw up. Sparks had slipped from my wrist to being wrapped around my hand now, my other hand gripping the arm rest so tight my knuckles were white. I don’t know if it was just me, but Sparks got warmer in my hand. The celestial bronze wrapped around my hand was reassuring. And then the plane moved.
Take off was the worst. When you take off you start going fast, which is usually no problem. Except I was in a plane, which as far as I was concerned meant certain doom.
But either Zeus wasn’t paying attention or Reese’s prayer/hymn/sacrifice worked. We’d had a close call where the pilot had to fly through a thunder storm, where I’d started shaking so hard the flight attendant eyed me weird, probably thinking I was having some kind of seizure. Percy wasn’t any better, he barely breathed the whole time and for the following hour. That’s how spooked we were.
I didn’t manage to sleep like everyone else. I was exhausted but my eyelids refused to fall. Percy turned his head from the seat next to me.
-Can’t sleep? He asked softly, not to wake Nala up.
-Heck, no. I said. He slipped something out from inside his pocket. A pack of Hulls.
-Here, take one. He said.
-Hulls?
-No. Well, yes. Annabeth figured we’d have to go on a plane at some point. She knows how bad I deal with planes. They “slightly encourage sleep”. Legal, too. Take one; get some sleep while you can. He said. I took one of the honey coloured hard candies and thanked Percy. It tasted like dad’s cheated peanut butter cookies.
-They taste like ambrosia. Percy said a little uselessly.
-Mm-hmm. What do yours taste like?
-My mom’s cookies. Best thing ever, he said. You?
-Peanut butter cookies. 3 ingredients, as close to baking as my dad gets. I said.
Dad. Where was he? Was he alive? Shouldn’t I be supposed to have some kind of dream or omen or whatever? Someone had told me that’s what happened to Piper Ross, once. I’d been so busy trying not to get killed I’d forgotten him. How could I do that?
-My first quest my mom was dead. Percy said. My mouth felt dry.
-Dead?
-I thought so. That’s why I went. I didn’t care about finding Zeus’ lightning bolt or helping my dad. I only wanted my mom back. I thought if I’d go to the Underworld I could get my mom and the bolt, like I was some kind of superman. I found out she’d been taken hostage by Hades, only good thing Ares’ ever done to me. And in the end when the dust settled he gave her back.
-That’s great.
-You’ll get your dad back Lee, don’t worry. He said. I nodded and my eyes started stinging with fatigue.
-Gods, I’m… tired. I said muffling a yawn.
-Good night.
-‘Night. I answered before falling asleep.
Sleep brought nothing but dreams.
I was 9 years old, kneeling next to a campfire pit, building a cooking fire with twigs. Looking at it now, it looked like the worst fire I ever built, but when the tip of the lighted match caught on the newspaper in the middle, it caught (which it probably would’ve done anyways). My dad walked out of the trailer holding a pack of bread and one with those huge sausages. Even if Nala’d made me eat on the plane (no seriously, it was practically force-feeding), they made my mouth water.
-Looking good, Lee. What’d you use? He asked in French.
-Pine. It’ll burn quickly, but I’ve got lots. I said pointing to a pile.
-Good. Matches? He asked. I patted the ground besides me until I picked up the pack of matches and tossed it to him. He catched it and put it in his pocket. He put the food down and sat on a log and watched me push branches in further or flipping them over with a little of a smile.
-Dad? I asked.
-Yes?
-At school they keep telling us not to use matches, and to let an adult do it, but whenever we come here I’m the one that takes care of the fire.
-Does that mean you want me to build the fires?
-No! No, I’m just wondering why.
-I know you, and when it comes to building and caring for campfires there is no messing around with you. I taught you how to build them for a reason, might as well let you do it.
-Why?
-It’s a good thing to know. Besides, one day maybe you’ll teach this to your annoying little girl.
There was a moment or two of silence.
-Am I an annoying little girl? Dad tugged me closer to him.
-You’re my annoying little girl.

It changed.
I was in Aunt Jo’s basement.
She had the same butter-blond hair as my dad and her eyes were kaki green. She was sitting next to Uncle Daniel. Dad was there, so was Michelle (Uncle Daniel’s sister) and Alex’s mom, a pretty Japanese woman, who even by her delicate look was stronger than Aunt Joanne. Jacey, Alex, Zach and I were on the floor, everyone starring at the TV. We were all fidgety and bearing team Hockey Canada jerseys or shirts.
Simultaneously, we all jumped to our feet, hands in the air, cheering.
It changed again.
I recognised the two little kids, even if we mustn’t have been more than 5. Alex and I. We were sitting in the change room of the recreational centre’s arena. I had goalie padding on and a blue “Timbits” jersey, my helmet pulled up so it wouldn’t cover my face. Alex had the same jersey, except he wasn’t goalie. Forward, he’d always played forward…
-My name is Alex. He said in French, thought they sounded weird because he had a mouth guard in his mouth.
-I’m Lee.
-Are you always goalie?
-Yes.
-Are you good?
-My dad says I’m the best goalie.
-The best goalie is Carrey Price. Alex said.
-But Carrey Price is in the NHL, he doesn’t count. I said.
-I guess.
Alex’s mom and my dad found us.
-There you are Lee, I’ve been looking for you. Dad said. He pulled off my helmet and ruffled my hair.
-You did well out there, kiddo. We’ll have to start calling you “the wall” soon. Angel, this is my daughter, Lee. Lee, this is my co-worker Angel. Angel smiled at me, delicately pulling off Alex’s helmet.
-Hello Lee, I have learnt very much about you. She said in accented French.
Again with the changing…
A puck was heading straight for me. I lunged to the side and caught it in my glove. Cheering burst out in the crowd and every girl on my team hopped onto the nice, sticks raised. They crowded around me and we were all propping each other, punching each other’s arms and helmets. That was the last chance of the shoot-out the other team’d had of making it even.
And then I woke up, just in time for the announcement of landing.
I was relieved; I’d be able to get out of this stupid plane.
As we walked through the airport, I re-thought the visions. The time I’d met Alex, the gold-medal Olympic hockey game last winter in Vancouver, and one of my dad and I’s last-week-of-summer vacations. Memories. Why?

Glossary:
Timbits: This donut/coffee/soup/stuff place called Tim Hortons, they make theese little donuts called timbits that are really good! They named a hockey association for little kids after them
Carrey Price: Goalie for the Montreal Cannadians, maybe he wasn't when Lee was 5, but I didn't feel like researching.
Shootout: tie breaker, best out of 3 shots at the goalie wins the game

I am amazed I knew all of that hockey stuff. I play every sport besides hockey. It's to hot where I live to play plus me and skates don't mix. It's called having a bruised butt. Well anyways, that was amazing!!! I absoluty loved it! Whenever I read your storys it feels like I'm reading a book by RR.

yes that was really good. and just for the record, i like timbits ;)

wow that was really god Hecate, you are now helping mee understand hocky... dont judge me i am a total baseball fan.... sorry
I am just starting to wonder what thise dreams are about... you always keep us hanging :)
I hope you could write more asap... I love your writing :)

Guys, I'm so sorry I didn't write sooner! I'm just busy, but here it is! I'm getting paranoid I'm letting this fic die, but then I read your comments and I feel better. Again, sorry I kept you waiting!

12
Hestia rushed in the throne room, not looking happy.
-Brother, you mustn’t! You had no permission, the council had decided nothing! She yelled at Zeus. Standing near were Poseidon and Demeter.
-This is not decided by the council. It is decided by me.
-You had no right!
-I have every right Hestia! The beast has chased many heroes before, on the command of a variation of gods. I have the right to send it on any hero that annoys me.
-She has done nothing! It isn’t right and you know it! You must stop it! She said. The central hearth sprang metres higher and 20 times as hot. Wow, how could I tell that?
-This very moment the beast is heading straight for their campsite and you know just as well as me, once the beast is unleashed, it never stops until the job is done.
-You had no permission, no right! Not even Hera dared when Thalia was born! Zeus didn’t even wink.
-I hope you don’t sleep well tonight! She said before erupting in a column of flames, which marked the air with smoke and, as a nice touch, scorched the nearest marble column. As it dissipated, the lord of the sky didn’t move, like a statue. A very angry statue.
-Zeus, tell me she wasn’t talking about what I think she was. Poseidon said. Zeus did not move.
-That is insanity! The beast will tear the girl to shreds; it would break Hestia’s heart! The god said.
-It is kinder than any other death the child would have had. Demeter said defensively.
-What of my son? Of Dionysus’, of Hermes’ daughter; the satyr, the mortal? As soon as they try to stand up for her, they are all doomed! This is not all about one hero!
My dream changed.
Nemesis was standing in front of her balance; I was seeing her from back. The formation had not changed, it was still mine. Then a dozen more coal lumps appeared and the bad side tipped so low it touched the ground. Nemesis did not act surprised or concerned.
-Good luck, Lee Munroe. She whispered.
I sat up straight, panting.
The treetops hid most of the starry sky and the summer breeze blew softly, but something was wrong. I could feel it, even without my dream. I shook Nala’s shoulder.
-Nala. Nala wake up. I whispered. She grunted.
-Nala something’s wrong, something’s very wrong, get up! She grunted away tried to swat me away.
I gave up on her.
A branch cracked in the woods, but I couldn’t see anything.
-Damn it. I whispered, squinting.
That’s when my hand burst into flames.
Well, not completely, but there was fire in my palm. It cast an eerie glow on the campground. I guess the light bothered Percy because he frowned in his sleep. I knelt next to him.
-Percy. Percy. I whispered. His eyes opened and he sat up.
-Lee what is it? It must be midnight. He said. He looked at my hand, eyes wide but didn’t say anything as I told him about my dreams. More branches were cracking.
-Any ideas? I asked.
-No. We should get out of here. Wake up the others. He said.
That was solved by a giant light fox.
The beast emerged from the woods. It was a fox, twice as tall as Percy and made entirely of light except for black teeth that resembled suspiciously those of a great white. It glowed, making me wonder how we hadn’t spotted a giant light-fox.
-GUYS! Percy yelled. Everybody woke up on that one.
-What the..? Oh Styx! Reese said. She grabbed her weapon, a long ceremonial knife, and ran by our side. Nala, Alex and Jessie on her heels.
-That’s the Teumesian fox! Jessie yelled. Reese added something in Japanese.
-Sent by gods to punish heroes! She repeated, noticing she’d accidentally spoken Japanese.
-Great, how’d we kill it? Alex asked.
-It’s never been killed. It kills! Jessie yelled back. The thing lunged towards me. I slapped my whip across its snout and it backed away whimpering. Two smoky lines were left. It jumped at me but I ducked and it went rolling into the woods.
-Zeus, he sent it after me! I said. Reese mumbled something in Arabic, which probably wasn’t very complementary to the king god.
The beast got up.
-Fight it like a drakon! Nala said.
-No! If you try to protect me it’ll try to kill you too!
-We’ve got no choice; you can’t take it on your own! Percy said.
We charged the fox.
Nala, pipes to her lips, started playing a soft tune that made Alex drowsy. I kicked his foot.
-Wake up; it’s the fox who’s supposed to fall asleep! I said.
But it wasn’t listening. The fox was running straight for us. Percy and Reese right behind it, weapons drawn, Jessie’d already gotten herself on its back, her dagger raised. She stabbed it in the back. The thing reared to its back legs, like a horse and she would’ve fell if she hadn’t grabbed a fistful of shiny fur and hung on. It nearly fell back on Reese, but Percy charged her and slammed her out of the way. They got up and Percy leapt onto it. He climbed on its back. It started running in circles, like a dog chasing its tail. Obviously Alex and I as distractions weren’t necessary. So we charged too. When it saw me coming, the fox stopped. Percy and Jessie planted their blades in its back, Reese under its stomach. It didn’t react. When they took their blades out, beams of light would come out from the wound, like someone inside was shining a flashlight, and then close.
-Lee! Can you summon fire? Percy asked.
-Yes! I answered as a paw smashed down next to me. I slashed out Sparks and a bloody gash appeared on the fox’s paw. It wasn’t happy and I had to run out of the way. Next thing I knew, Percy was next to me.
-Go!
My hands burst once again into flames and the water of a nearby creek levitated out too. It formed a pool right above his head, like in cartoons where the laws of gravity and substance mean nothing.
Percy made the first move. The water splashed down on the fox and its light dimmed.
-GO! He yelled.
-Fire doesn’t light when the surface is humid! I yelled back. A paw separated us and I rolled out of the way.
-Just do it! He said. The fox turned towards me and I raised my hands. Columns of flames burst out and hit the fox. A flame caught on the wet grass and BOOM, before I knew what’d happened, a fireball went up.
-RUN! Alex yelled. We all sprinted after Reese and Jessie, who’d found some kind of trail earlier in the day.
We ran as fast as we could, across the night. It was dark and we could only see outlines of branches and people.
We got out of the small forest and saw a farm in the distance, the windows lit up yellow. We jumped the fence surrounding a corn field and paused once we were hidden among the cobs. I was bent in two, starring at the ground, panting, forcing air into my lungs.
-What… Was that. About? Nala asked.
-It’s Zeus. He sent it after me. I admitted pathetically.
-I know, I mean, the fireball?
-We’re on the outskirts of LA; I sensed the water was at least a little polluted.
-You were hopping there was gas in it, that’s it isn’t it?
-Yeah. The fire caught on so I’m guessing you were right.
-Big time. Jessie said.
-Is it dead? Reese asked.
-I doubt it. It never dies. It’s a hunter, not a prey. That’s how it is in the myths. Alex said.
-It’ll keep following us?
-Most likely.
-No. It will keep following me. I said.
-Exactly. Us. Alex said.
-Lee, forget it. We aren’t leaving nobody behind. Nala added.
-What time is it? Reese asked.
-I don’t know. 2:45 in the morning. Jessie asked.
-Should we head for the city?
-Freya’s office only opens at 7.
-I don’t want to hang around the woods or a corn farm. Besides, quicker we get there, quicker we get this over with. Percy said.
-I’m up for getting away from the fox. I said.
The other agreed so we walked to the closest bus stop Reese could find.
-I’ve been here way too much; I know their bus system by heart. Reese justified.
-How do we pay for the bus? Everything’s back at camp with the fox ’o doom.
-Relax Alex, daughter of the god of traveling. She took a passport out of her back pocket.
-I got this covered. She said.


So after the magic passport turned out to contain a buss pass for Reese and a bunch of bus tickets for the LA system (and any other system of any transportation actually), we ended up in Freya Flint’s studio, and Percy was arguing with the guard.
-We need to see Freya Flint, its urgent! He said.
-Miss Flint is busy.
-No, really, if you had any idea how urgent this was…
-Babe, what’s going on? A young woman, 23, asked, putting her arm on her waist, besides the guard. She took off her big sunglasses to reveal expressive crystal blue eyes inked with midnight blue. Her hair was dark red with a streak the color of bamboo. She was very small and her eyes were lined with a thin gold line. She was petite and very curvy, wearing a green knee-long dress with brown boots just as long. Her bangs were hung out of her face with a headband. She had a measuring tape around her neck and one of those pin-cushion/bracelets around her wrist. She smiled sweetly.
-These kids want to talk to you. “Urgent” apparently. He said rolling his eyes in a “yeah, sure” way. The woman, Freya, looked at us. Her smile faded but she caught herself.
-Do I know you? She asked.
-Not directly. I’m Percy Jackson.
-Use full names babe, keeps everything professional. She said.
-Then I’m Perseus Jackson.
-You… Well, I have work, but I can talk while I work. Judd, did you get the costumes moved?
-Like you asked Freya, coffee’s waiting on the desk.
-Best assistant ever. She smiled. She led us behind the small podium where Judd was posted and through a corridor, everything was black, ceiling, roof and the uniforms of the workers. Only color was us and the white costume holders getting carried around and the employees of the costume shop, each one dressed more eccentric then the last. Freya led us to an open door office. She closed the door after Jessie walked in and her expression was one that made me wonder how she’d ever managed to look friendly.
-Why are you here? 5 demigods have a big scent; I’ve stayed incognito for 5 years since camp and you bunch better not ruin that. She said. Percy introduced Alex, Jessie and Reese.
-You know who I am, and if you have a clue you know her. He said showing me. I blushed. She zeroed in on me.
-You lead this quest, why let the son of Poseidon do the talking? I blushed some more.
-I trust his experience. I muttered.
-Smart choice Leda Munroe. Well, I’m Freya Flint, daughter of Aphrodite. D…
-Descendant of the house of Thebes, we know. Jessie said, bored by titles.
-We’re looking for the necklace of Harmonia, supposedly your ancestors’ wet nuts over it. Alex said.
-Enough. I want to hear your leader speak. Or else I will not co-operate. She said glaring at me. I opened my mouth but nothing went out.
-Well? She asked. I felt like a total loser, red as a tomato. Freya’d detected the shyest kid in the bunch and was picking on me. Just like Shrew. I wondered if Nemesis would end up spraining her ankle or something.
-Dude, back off. Nala said.
-She is claimed. Your duty as protector is over Nala Chêne.
-It’s never over. Nala said coldly.
The moment was tense. I was grateful when Reese kicked in with diplomacy.
-No need to fight and Freya, I’m afraid you don’t have a choice here. If you don’t help, the gods will end up ripping each other apart. We have estimate 5 days before things really start to get heated up above, we have no time for this. She said. It was a demand of information, but Reese made it seem diplomatic.
Freya grabbed a sewing box and turned her heals; she went towards a mannequin dressed like an old English queen that went Goth.
-My ancestors did in fact hold the necklace in high esteem, she said pinning up a sleeve. Did they ever get it? No. The gods kept it out of humans reach.
-But they must’ve kept track of it. Waiting in the shadows for the right moment to snatch it and run. Reese said. We looked at her.
-Chris is a better thief then any guy in the Mafia. She said.
-Well… yes. Do you think I keep track of it? No. I don’t need it, and if I did I have enough of a name in this bizz to get an excellent replica ASAP.
-How do you know what it looks like? Chiron told me that nobody does. Freya blushed and pinned up the other sleeve.
-You’ve seen a picture or something haven’t you? I said. I wanted to make Freya feel as intimidated as I had, make her see I could handle her. And then I went woe, that didn’t sound like me.
-Fine, look in my bag. She said, pointing to a chair. The bag seemed to be made out of a thick white fishnet. I dug my hand inside and pulled out a small brown book.
-The diary of Trinity Ann Ségure, the last woman of the house of Thebes to have actually looked for the thing. Turn to the last page. Nala did and turned the yellow pages carefully not to rip them. The script was thin and long in cursive, which was torture for us all but Nala.
Mars 5
Alas, I fear this quest is no longer for me; I am too old and sickly to be wandering the globe and such. Hopefully a descendant of mine will find this diary and retrace my steps before the necklace falls back in the hands of the gods. If she ever does, I hope she knows that things lost always get picked up by the wind.
Trinity
Below were two pictures, one was a photograph, inserted in metal frames. It was a black and white picture of a beautiful old woman with white curls, lines around her eyes and that gave out the feeling that she would’ve made everyone in a room feel good just by walking in. The other was an incredibly detailed sketch of the necklace of Harmonia.
-Thing lost always get picked up by the wind. What does that mean?
-Could be a reference to a wind god. I suggested quietly.
-So you are smart after all. Freya said, taking a pin out of her mouth and pinning it in the dress.
-Okay that does it! Nala said. She looked about ready to punch Freya. I took her arm and pushed her back.
-Owe! Lee you burnt me! She complained. The spot where I’d grabbed her arm was bright red and smoking.
-Sorry. I mumbled, thinking about how cool and useful that’d be. Unless I burnt a hole through my softball glove or something. That wouldn’t be good.
-Freya, please lay back on Lee. Reese said, diplomatic as ever. Then I remembered Hermes was the god of diplomacy.
-Well yes. She is right, you’ll have to find a wind god. She said. She turned her back and looked through a rack of white covers.
-I personally suggest Aeolus so you all die, but that defies the purpose of this quest so you probably want to go check out Boreas.
-Jason’s dad?
-White? Yeah, him. Has more experience dealing with demigods then the rest of the anemoi. Friendlier too.
-I thought he was the guy with mood swings.
-Nope, that’s Aeolus. Boreas is the one who gets really, really ticked. So all in all: your chances of survival could be better with Aeolus. Freya said, taking a cover out. She unzipped it and hung it on a hook before looking through the other covers.
-Freya, do you know where Boreas is? Alex asked. She turned towards him looking unimpressed.
-You’re kidding. You don’t actually know where Boreas’ palace is? She asked.
-No. Why? Is it that obvious? Jessie asked.
-Well for those 3 it is. Well should. I bet you’ve seen his place hundreds of times. Probably know it like the back of your hand, daughter of Hestia. Freya said, taking out another cover. It had a post-it glued on it and Freya just scrunched it up, but I barely noticed. Alex and I had met each other’s eyes.
-We’re going home.

That was great! Ive been missing the story so its nice for the update.