CHAPTER 1

"Angelina, why're you upset?" Mom asks me, concerned. I shake my head, "Mom… you know what's wrong! Dad's gone and I'm kicked out from every school!" She strokes my brown hair, "Oh, if only you knew..." I look down at my feet, "Mom… do you think he'll every come back?" I ask, quiet.

"Oh, yes, Angel… when you're ready… but he's always there, Angel. You need to remember!" she whispers, giving me a hug, wrapping me into her comforting smell. I smirk, "He's not there, though… face the truth, Mom!"

"I am!" she sharply says, "Angel, you don't know a thing about this whole situation… so, please." I yank myself away from her, "No, Mom. I do know." I walk away quickly to my room.

"Angelina Chase, come back here, right this moment!" I hear her say loudly. In response, I slam the door shut, and leap onto my bed, tears falling. I think, I'll always be the weird girl, the one who's always kicked out… the one with the famous, rich architect mom… with no dad. I close my eyes, sighing, as I bury my face in my pillow.

There's a tall, handsome man with blue green eyes, and brown hair. He's wearing a dark blue shirt with black pants. He's talking to a man… no, not a man at all. The bottom half of his body is a horse! I walk closer towards them. Apparently, they don't see me. I can finally hear them talking.

The tall, handsome man says, "Chiron, I have to tell her!" The horseman says, "You can't. As much as I wish you could… It's much too dangerous! The most we could do was let Annabeth stay with your daughter." The man growls, "Do you know how long I've stayed away from them?" Chiron, the horseman, sadly nods, "Yes… I do know… but what can I do? Even the gods have forbidden it!" The man shakes his head, "No… Aphrodite and Ares… please, tell me there's a chance, Chiron!" Chiron shakes his head, "I am afraid there's nothing I can do… oh, I am sorry. I just do wish there was something I could do… but, you were warned." The man paces, "Yes, and it she would never think of sending her away. I had to let her have her… there was no choice!"

Chiron agrees, "Yes… but…" The man looks at him, impatiently, "But…? What… what is it, Chiron?" Chiron looks at him in the eye, "You can send her here, to the camp. You… all three of you can live here, safely!" The man glares at him, "NO! That is not a choice. I will never endanger her… ever, Chiron! Don't even bring that up…" Chiron is silent. The man apologizes, "I'm sorry… I'm just, stressed. I really am…" Chiron says, "I understand. I'll see you later, then."

I wake up, shivering. What was that all about?

I think. I open my door and silently tiptoe to the kitchen. I turn on the light, "Mom!" I shout, surprised to see her, sitting on a chair.

"Oh, yes, Angel..." I look at her, "What're you doing?" She shrugs, "Oh, just dreams and thoughts… I couldn't sleep. What about you?" I look down at the ground, "Yeah, me too. Hey, Mom?" I walk up to her. She nods, "Yeah, Angel?"

"Listen… I'm really sorry about this morning." She smiles, sympathetically, "I know you're having a hard time, Angel… I don't blame you. I was just about to make some hot cocoa, you want some?" I nod, "Yeah, sure. Oh, with chocolate, please!" Mom grabs two mugs and pours hot cocoa in them, from the hot cocoa and coffee machine. She takes out a jar of marshmallows and puts them in. Then, on top of my cup, she drops chocolate bits from the machine. She hands the one with chocolate to me. She stares at me.

"Hon… is something wrong? I mean, besides this morning…" she trails off, then looks back to me, "Angel?" I blink, "Huh?"

"I mean, ever since tonight, you look sort of…" She sighs, "Please, tell me what's wrong. I might be able to help." After a few empty silences, I nod, "Alright… tonight, I had an odd dream… Let me begin… There was a tall handsome man with blue green eyes, and brown hair. He's wearing a dark blue shirt with black pants. He's talking to a man… no, but then I see it's not a man at all. The bottom half of his body is a horse! I walk closer towards them. Apparently, they don't see me. I hear them talking." I pause, sipping my hot cocoa, "The tall, handsome man says, 'Chiron, I have to tell her!' The horseman says, 'You can't. As much as I wish you could… It's much too dangerous! The most we could do was let Annabeth stay with your daughter.' The man growls, 'Do you know how long I've stayed away from them?' Chiron, the horseman, sadly nods, 'Yes… I do know… but what can I do? Even the gods have forbidden it!' The man shakes his head, 'No… Aphrodite and Ares… please, tell me there's a chance, Chiron!' Chiron shakes his head, 'I am afraid there's nothing I can do… oh, I am sorry. I just do wish there was something I could do… but, you were warned.' The man paces, 'Yes, and it she would never think of sending her away. I had to let her have her… there was no choice!'" I take another sip.

"Chiron agrees, 'Yes… but…' The man looks at him, impatiently, 'But…? What… what is it, Chiron?' Chiron looks at him in the eye, 'You can send her here, to the camp. You… all three of you can live here, safely!' The man glares at him, 'NO! That is not a choice. I will never endanger her… ever, Chiron! Don't even bring that up…' Chiron is silent. The man apologizes, 'I'm sorry… I'm just, stressed. I really am…' Chiron says, 'I understand. I'll see you later, then.' And Chiron leaves." I finish, sipping my cocoa. I stare at Mom. She has a dreamy, strange look on her face.

"Mom, mom. MOM!" I shout. Mom crashes backwards.

"Angel!" Mom winces, cradling her arm.

"I am so sorry, Mom," I continue, "So, what'd you think?" Mom thinks, "I think… I need to go visit someone." I look at her curiously, "What'd you mean?" She responds, "I… need you to take time off school tomorrow. Is that alright?" I nod, "Sure, Mom, but, why?" she absently waves off my questions, "I'll tell you, later… perhaps. For now, box your curiosity, please, Angel." I open my mouth, and then close it.

"Angel… are you tired?" she asks, all of a sudden. I shake my head, "No, Mom. I'm not tired, not at all, actually." She nods, silent.

"Is it alright if we go somewhere?" she mumbles. I frown, "Wait, right now?" She bobs her head, "Yes, Angel, now… so?" I bite my lip, why was she acting so strange? But I mutter, "Fine." She beams, slightly, "I'll grab some food, and you dress, meanwhile… I recommend you pack…" she pauses.

"Lightly?" I suggest. She shakes her head, "No, pack… for about a… week to a month." She quickly pats my head, "Sorry, I'm acting a bit strange, aren't I?" I close my eyes, "Yeah. But, no questions, right?" she gestures a yes, waving me off. I walk quickly to my room.

I run back to the kitchen.

"Mom, where's the suitcase?" She points to a closet, "There, on the upper shelf. Careful." I open the closet, drag a chair, step on it, and take out a blue suitcase.

"Is this one yours?" I point to the gray suitcase. Mom looks wearily at it, "Yes. Bring it down for me, will you?" I put my suitcase on the ground and take out hers.

"You want me to leave it?" she nods, "Thanks, Angel." I give a small nod, and then carry the blue suitcase back to my room. I look through my closet and take out twenty pants, twenty skirts, twenty comfortable shirts, twenty fashionable shirts, twenty pairs of socks, twenty jackets, and then ten pairs of shoes. I take out ten scarves, a bunch of accessory, a lot of undergarments, some leggings, and then personal belongings. After that, I pack another small bag for my phone, phone charger, keys, etc. By the time I manage to zip everything in, about an hour has already passed. When I'm done, I walk to the kitchen.

The kitchen is filled with some foods and drinks. But, Mom's not there. I check her bedroom, where she's finishing packing. She smiles, "You're done?" I nod, "But my suitcase is really fat." She laughs, "Alright. I'm almost done with mine." She zips her suitcase up. She gestures towards the kitchen, "I already packed the food. Go to your room and get your suitcase." I nod, run to my room, drag my suitcase, and my bag, and meet Mom at the kitchen.

"Alright, all ready?" she asks. I nod, nervous, but excited.

"Where are we going?" I ask. She shushes me, "No questions until later. We'll be traveling… far, though." I shrug, "Alright. Which car are we taking?"

"My favorite car, Angel. Now, seriously, no more questions. Put on your coat." She hands me my black coat. I zip it on, and then put on my small bag.

We manage to fit both suitcases in the back. Mom keeps a small purse with her and I keep my small bag. She squeezes my hand, "Ready?" I nod, uncertain, "Sort of." We drive, and drive, and drive…