I don't remember what time I came back to my cabin but I know that whenever I did it was too late. The sun was high in the sky and I realised I hadn't even packed. It was all a hot mess. That was when I saw it. Lying beside my bed was a golden quiver and sleek black bow. The quiver was light and looked as if it had been woven out of golden metal straw. There was a note written in golden cursive.

Dear Leander,

I know you felt like I ignored you, but I want you to know how much I've dreaded ignoring you all these years. Although I know this will in no way make up for my poor parenting, I'd like to give you this.

Your Awesome Dad,

Apollo

God of Archery, Poetry and many other sick things.

PS: I've written A Haiku for your enjoyment

Leander is cool

I'm his awesome Father, here's

an awesome weapon

I folded the note up and shoved it deep in the pocket of my skinny jeans and continued to fill my backpack with only the essentials.

"Leander! I can't believe you already get to go on a quest and you got a gift from dad!" Harmony surprised me.

"Yeah, I guess it just pays to be in it good with the Daughter of Zeus." I shrugged

"I have finally figured it out!" Will marched into the cabin triumphantly. I rolled my eyes. "I had to ask Aphrodite for help but I finally got it!" I braced myself for it,"

"You like Nike don't you?" Harmony said Will smirked proudly.

"I can neither confirm or deny that accusation," I responded as stoically as I could. Then slung my bag and quiver with my bow over my back.

"See ya' guys later," I smiled and started walking toward the big house. When I got there Nike was smiling and standing there with Lydia. They both had backpacks on. On her arm she wore a greek gods bracelet, I had noticed it before but now was getting a good look at it . Lydia wore rolled up jeans and a t-shirt with her hair meticulously braided.

"Where is your weapon?" I asked curiously. Nike pointed to her bracelet. She twisted the first charm and a short sword appeared, she twisted another and a shield sprung forth.

"It is a survival bracelet a gift from Dad," She looked at the sky. I could see something in her eyes. This weird combination of power, hope, respect, and pain. Maybe they were all the emotions she had ever felt toward her Dad.

"How did the newbie get a quest?" I heard yelling.

"Because Nike has the hots for him," Xan laughed

"Shut up Xan," Nike said flatly. I wondered if Xan was right.

"Well, still it is not fair I have been at camp four years and I have never gotten to go on a quest," Olympia pouted.

"You're just bitter…" Nike smirked

"Quite frankly I am, Newbie got claimed like yesterday…" Olympia spat.

"My name is Leander." I spoke calmly.

"What are you doing Nike?" Olympia sighed.

"Leander can shoot a bow, good for him… I can use all weapons… Can you do that Leander?... I thought not" She huffed

"I can though," Nike said flatly "I have been training here since I was six"

"You don't count sparky…" Olympia spat.

"Leander is a better archer than you will ever be and Lydia has a supreme intelligence, Bird Brain," She retorted and shot me a look that said just because I am defending you doesn't mean that I always will.

"Call me that one more time Sparky" She growled,

"Bird Brain…"She cocked her hip

"Fine… you want to do it the hard way…" Olympia pulled out a simple dagger

"Wait… that's your weapon?" I spoke confused

"Yes it is her's but so trivial see I prefer to use a little lighting," Nike smirked pointing her sword at the sky.

"Whoops," she opened up her water bottle just as the spark headed towards her, the spark caught the water, directing the spark towards... Me.

"Leander here," Nike threw me a shield.

"Oh look… you're girlfriend has to help you defend yourself against a water bottle." Olympia smirked as the lightning disappeared.

"Nike Please don't say you're fighting again… at this hour?" Von sighed, wrapped in a cotton candy pink fluffy robe with bunny slippers

"Daddy!" Nike screamed loudly

"Nike please don't bring Dad into this!" Von whined

"Mother!" Olympia retorted. A giant clap of the thunder clapped down skimming Olympia.

"Hmph…" Nike snickered

"Great… mom's gonna be pissed" Lydia sighed. Thinking about her sister's call and fight

"Does it really matter.." Olympia's gaze faded

"To bad we are leaving. Oh and" She looked at the sky "Tell Athena thanks for the backup," she smirked and we walked out the front gate.

I saw Olympia's face deflate as I turned around… I needed to find out why some parents were attentive, while Olympia was left in the dust.

"Nike, that was a little harsh," I looked at her closely.

"Look, Olympia is fine but she had no right to insult you, my Dad likes me because I have proven myself and his other daughter got turned into a tree, Hera actually kinda likes me too because I am respectful, unlike others…I don't understand why but the gods like me...it is a kind of blessing and a curse…" She looked as if it had caused her more harm than good.

"Why didn't Athena help Olympia?" I was confused

"Athena doesn't like useless violence, and I don't either," She sighed

"Then why does Olympia?" I was still confused.

"She is a legacy and she wouldn't want me to tell you this….but her Grandpa was a son of Ares." She sighed.

"Legacy?" I was so over my head with all this terminology.

"It means that she has a bit of another god or goddess in her.

"So does that mean she could be in either cabin 5 or 6?" I was confused… was I a legacy, was Nike?

"No, but legacies usually get an extra power… Olympia doesn't really show that much, she usually just tells people she's that smart." Nike smiled.

"I could be a legacy I never got to ask my Mom before she left me. I have sometimes thought Athena would make sense…" Nike said flatly "Yeah, most demigods are actually super distant legacies, like 2000 years… Olympia gets really touchy about her ancestry though… my guess is that because she finds Ares kids as barbaric, she hates that she's associated with them." Nike continued.

"So where are we headed anyway. Do you plan on just walking around aimlessly until we drop dead?" I asked.

"Now I have a car and we will just follow the monsters," Nike said .

"It would be more environmentally conscious if you flew us, or maybe we rode bikes." Lydia commented.

"But a car has better storage." Nike pointed out.

"Look, I know the environment is important, but I have a lot of stuff, so yeah…" I spoke awkwardly showing my slightly huge backpack. Soon we came to a clearing with an old green VW bus that had seen better days. There were some suspicious claw marks on the back bumper, and the paint seemed like it would flake away with the slightest gust of wind. The green color had been faded and dirtied, with the tire rims being completely rusted out as well.

"This is the car that is going to take us on a world saving mission…" Lydia sighed.

"Yes, yes it is…" Nike smirked. Nike threw her packs in the back and Lydia followed

"How long have you had this thing?" I asked climbing in the back. The smell of hippies was practically embedded in the car seats.

"Um… It's actually the camp's..." Nike smirked and climbed into the driver's seat. I took shotgun while Lydia climbed in the back.

"Ugh, if we see a gas station, I'm buying some snacks and air freshener." Lydia wrinkled her nose in disgust."

"For now we should just roll down the windows, yeah?" I suggested. Nike nodded and started the car. After a couple tries, the car came to life with a sputter and a groan. We rolled down the windows and decided to start heading South towards Florida.

After a couple hours of driving, Nike pulled over to a gas station/ rest stop. Lydia headed to get snacks while Nike and I filled up the tank. I had no clue where we were, but I assumed we were almost out of New York.

"So where are we going anyway?" I asked Nike.

"To where Henry is from, we are starting at the root and working up." She said flatly. She leaned back into the car. Her shirt and hair billowed in the wind, the look on her face was cold and stoic.

"Cool, so how much longer?" Like all half-bloods I had ADHD and made it extremely hard to sit still.

"Well the trip should take about fifteen hours but we are already done with three hours so only about 12 more," Lydia was walking back to us with a bag of food. Nike took out the gas pump and swiped her card. Lydia smiled and threw herself into the back. They had a bag with chips, candy and soda. I leaned back into my leather seat that lacked a seat belt, I just prayed we wouldn't get pulled over. Nike's hands sat firmly on the wheel, her eyes glaring at the flat stretch of black asphalt that stood between us and our destination. I looked at my phone which had finally gotten a signal but now was almost out of battery but this crappy car was too old to have a car charger. Nike looked at my phone and back at me. She took one hand off the wheel and struck my phone with a small spark and the battery returned to full power.

"Thanks," I smiled. She said nothing but turned back to the road. I sighed so far conversations with Nike had been hard to start. Soon I had fallen asleep. That was when the dream started.

I saw Nike sitting in a tower, dressing in view of the window; but I could only see from the small of her back up to head, only her back. I could see a light in her window.

"Two lovers intertwined in life and death," A dark voice echoed in my brain. "Destined to share their final breath," It continued

"The Hero killed by horrid grief, as her lover died when she was in her sleep," Another voice called out. "The fate to make the skies weep," I shot up and the sun had sunken into the night. How long had I been out?

"Look who's finally up," Lydia smiled and shoved a can of monster at me.

"What?!" I asked groggily. The car was dark except for the soft glow of the head lights.

"You don't think you can just fall asleep again do you? If Nike needs sleep shotgun takes the wheel." Lydia snapped. I looked at Nike who didn't look like she was giving up anytime soon.

"What time is it?" I questioned curiously.

"11:34 and 52 seconds, to be exact," Lydia spouted.

"Where are we?" I asked groggily.

"We are in Northern Florida" Nike yawned.

"ALMOST THERE!" Lydia cheered.

"Lydia… PLEASE do not yell like that again.." Nike scolded.

"Yes, mom." Lydia taunted. A couple minutes passed and I noticed Nike was struggling to stay awake.

"Want me to take the wheel?" I offered.

"Sure if you are sure you can handle it…" She raised her eyebrow and started to pull over to the side of the road.

"My Dad drives the sun Chariot...I can drive a VW," I taunted Nike pulled the car over and we switched spots. Nike, then proceeded to fall asleep next to me.

I kept thinking about my dream. That voice and Nike in that tower. I felt like blushing when I thought about her bare back though. It made me sick what a teenage guy I was. Nike was a strong female and it felt demeaning to make such a figure of sexual goals. Soon I was the only one up so I turned up an audio book on my phone and listened as I drove us toward Orlando.

The humidity filled the car as I turned the chilling air conditioning off. I just kept following Nike's map and led us to a large hotel that looked fancey af.

"Um… I don't think we have enough money to stay here…" I stared at the crystal chandelier

"Hey never underestimate Nike, she has major connections," Lydia shrugged Nike strode confidently up to the front desk.

"Hello, can I get a room for the three of us. Preferably two queen beds

"Um.. there's 3 of us…" I added in quickly.

"Yeah you and Lydia can share a bed...I am not sleeping next to anyone," She said haughtily. I opened my mouth to object, not that I had anything against sleeping next to a but I had never actually talked to Lydia that much and Nike was well Nike. The clerk smiled her brown eyes were bright and happy. She looked like a hippie forced into the clothing of a Hotel worker. A few kids ran across the lobby. They looked about the same age as Henry. Then out of nowhere a woman with black hair and sparkling green eyes appeared from behind the desk.

"Nike!" The woman exclaimed and embraced her.

"Brosia!" Nike responded happily. The woman had black hair that had been tied in a tight pretzel knot style bun. She looked like she was in her late teens early twenties. Her skin was a warm shade of cinnamon sugar. She had long fingers and neatly manicured nails. She looked much too regal to work in a place like this. Her exoctic magestic appereance looked out of place with her hotel staff paisley vest, flowy white ruffled blouse, and beige pants. She looked all too serious but it was a strange.

"I want you all to meat Ambrosia Delicti daughter of Iris," Nike smiled upon introducing her to us.

"Pleasure." She smiled.

"These are my companions, Leander, and Lydia" Nike introduced.

"Well I hope this hotel can be of service to you." I turned and noticed the clerk turn into a tree as a satyr walked by, wait what!

"Excuse me what kind of Hotel is this?" I asked curiously.

"Well that is a good question after the battles of about two years ago one of the half blood communities wealthier members started putting up hotels and campsites like this all over the country, to provide more safe havens for traveling demi-gods."

"Exactly as I thought." Nike smiled, "Let's head up to our room."

"Follow me," The satyr huffed. He led us to a gold elevator; kind of like the kind that they had at those old fancey hotels elevator and pushed the button for floor 4. He led us down a hallway until we reached our rooms; 418 and 419. He unlocked the door, gave us our keys and promptly left. I tailed Nike like a duckling wandering after its mother. The hotel room was neat and luxurious; complete with those little chocolates under the pillows and a little kitchenette.

"Well this certainly is nice.." I smirked.

"Is it safe from monsters?" Lydia looked concerned, her grey eyes looked from corner to corner.

"We wouldn't being staying here if it wasn't." Nike responded and threw her backpack on the bed and promptly headed toward the bathroom. Lydia dropped her pack on the couch and opened up the shades, admiring the view of the Orlando day.

"Sick!" Lydia's face changed drastically.

"I want to get a few more hours of sleep…" Nike called from the bathroom, the water was running so I just assumed that she was about to shower off the trip in the VW.

I looked around the hotel room. There was a door connecting to what I assumed would be Lydia's and I's room. There was a queen bed for Nike, and a small couch in front of a tv. We hit the jackpot; great place, great price, and the best: safe and trustworthy. I would be able to sleep well tonight knowing that I won't awake to a hellhound at my throat. Finally it was my time to take a shower.

I let the hot water run over my tan skin washing of the sweat and ever lingering scent of Marijuana that hung over the car. When I emerged just about everyone was asleep. Lydia had her warm chestnut hair wrapped around foam rollers. She laid her mouth slightly open revealing her two front teeth. Nike was stretched on her bed. Her thick wet hair was sprawled out behind her head like a halo, and her thin nightgown flowed with the light rush of the AC that was somehow turned up full blast. I sighed and headed back into the other room which Lydia and I shared. I just hoped she didn't do something like kick in his sleep or something. As I entered the room, I saw Lydia still snoring on the bed, Her phone was still on. Normally that wasn't a thing we demigods could do, because it could attract monsters, but there was a certain chip you could put in your phone that could block the monsters from tracking you via your cellphone. Being the teens we were, it was really useful.

"Hey," I said entering the room Lydia continued to snore.

I hated sleep, sleep meant dreams, dreams meant memories, and I had a lot of bad ones to remember. The day my world was spun up onto it's head. My mother and I had lived in Malibu; she was a world famous Cellist and then started to branch off from classical music. She decided to buy an old guitar from a salvation army on a whim and became one of the best indie musicians in the country. She then decided to go into the producing business. Needless to say, I could play four musical instruments and we had a nice house in Malibu. My mother was amazing she raised me alone dealing with being a best selling artist and a dedicated mother, somehow she managed it. Then she got cancer. It all went down from there. Within two years of chemo and fighting she died. That was why I was here in reality. My mother's last breaths were spent telling me about my dad. In her last will and testament she gave my father full custody but that was where everything flipped. Sometimes I could remember flashes of her curling her platinum hair or the smell of her perfume wafting through the house. It felt like so long ago . lt felt like the world was within our hands, but that fateful moment took away. My brain tried to block the pain from rearing its ugly head as I crashed on my pillow focusing on happy memories trying to avoid a nightmare with my Mother as the featured star.