Chapter 3: I Have Dinner with Disaster

The snarl had made Kyle and I almost jump out of our skins. Kyle got up and felt around the pockets of his shorts. I sat still on the ground terrified out of my mind wondering how to get out. Kyle was now frantically searching the ground when he said, "Don't just sit there Lance. Get up and help me find it."

"Find what?" I said in half confusion

"A backpack, it's a magical sheath that has my weapon in it. I never ever go anywhere without it. It has my weapon in it."

"Oh so we are screwed then, because you took it off in the room."

"You've got to be kidding me. It's your fault that we are all about to die."

"Mine," I said as I tripped on something on the floor that clanked. I bent down and picked it up. It was a clothed package with a note attached. I held the note up to the remaining light and it read, "Cursed is the Hero that holds these blades. Destroyer of Basilisk and all snake like kin. Only in harmony may they work." As read the last words on the note all the letters changed into a word, "Firebrand." I stared at the package on the floor now in curiosity. Kyle began to shuffle closer towards me until I said, "Firebrand."

After that simple word I heard a mighty groan down the hall. Me and Kyle both stared down the hall until the simple cloth package erupted into flames. "What did you do to it Lance?" Kyle stammered in confusion as he skirted away from the flaming parcel.

"I didn't do anything but say what was on the card out loud." I said in a hurry.

"What was that then?"

"Firebrand," and with that being shouted the hallway shook horribly. The fire grew bigger with the roar. The roar and the fire began to fight each other by being bigger or louder than the other. Soon the Firebrand package had lit up the walls around us. The outer floors began to light up the abyss. Fire shot up the walls in a certain pattern lighting up the entire pit. A roar was heard at the end of the hall and we could now see what it was. I couldn't help myself from saying, "That's a big snake."

"Lance," Kyle began to say, "That's not a snake. Think closely and then tell me what it is."

I pondered on the thought for a moment. Then I recalled a legend I once heard of ancient times how the Reptile King was captured and all the snakes and lizards dispersed around the world fearing for their lives, hiding in hopes that their king would return. I stammered, "That thing isn't a snake but a giant reptile like lizard. It's Basilisk King of Reptiles." With me mentioning his name he roared and stretched out his legs. He did not just have four legs like a normal lizard but eight on each side. Basilisk got up and began to walk towards us. Kyle began to grasp at his head in agony.

Kyle tried to make sense but could only make out, "He… Gets… In… Our… Heads… Causes… Much… Pain… Use the weapon…" And with that being said Kyle collapsed on the floor. I was half tempted to run to aid him. And my other half wanted to abandon him. But in the back of my mind I knew that I needed to go get Firebrand and use it to help save Kyle.

I walked cautiously towards the fire that Firebrand was spewing out. I thought what would be in the package hoping to find a sword. I slowly put my hand towards the package wishing it wasn't going to burn me. But as I stuck my hand into the fire it diminished where my hand was. It did so as I opened the package. Inside to my surprise I found two beautiful tomahawks. They looked like sacred weapons that should be displayed in a museum. I slowly picked the first one up as the Basilisk made his way closer towards me. I gripped the second tomahawk and they both had leather grips that adjusted to my hands. Each one had a strand of feathers and beads that ran along just above the handle. The Basilisk began to hiss at me saying, "A ssson of Athena. What a surprissse no wonder I cannot enter your mind."

"Yeah and I'd like to keep it that way." The tomahawks began to glow a molten hot metal look as the King of Reptiles grew near.

"The lassst Hero to yield thossse bladesss did not have sssuch luck that you may have. I cannotsss enter your mindsss. Now I will have to kill you first before I can feassst." His 's' slurred so much that it was almost piercing my ears. It was just like the evil sound of nails on a chalkboard. I wasn't sure how much pain I could endure.

I took two steps forward then one step back. I could not tell what his next move would be somehow and I side stepped at the last second. As Basilisk lunged for me I slashed at his scaly skin. It was like trying to cut through armor but now I knew why Firebrand began to glow. So it could cut through the beast's armor. Basilisk let out a roar and his eyes began to glow. I quickly turned my head and closed my eyes tight. I heard one more roar from it and then I heard a thud on the floor behind me. I glanced up at the door way to see it was opened and there was an archer at its doorway. I looked back over at the Basilisk and saw him laying on his side moaning. I made out, "You've won this time Son of Athena, thisss time. Be prepared for the fall of your Demigodsss reign. I will once again be king of the reptilesss and my ssson ssshall free me and wreak havoc upon this enclosssure."

"Dude get over it, you're trapped here forever. You lost, we won. You know the little thing about thumbs goes a long way."

"You think your sssafesss? You're out of the fire and into the frying pan! Mark my word you will feel havoc upon thisss sssanctuary." With that the archer in the doorway shot another arrow into the Basilisk and he dropped and lost all consciousness.

"Don't worry I didn't kill him. He's immobilized until we can get you to safety," said the archer in the doorway. He lowered a rope ladder and some rope to tie up Kyle. I tied Kyle up and positioned him onto my back. I picked up the note that came with Firebrand and put it into my pocket. I took a little bit of excess rope that I cut off and tied my tomahawks together and around me. I lifted Kyle onto my back and started up the ladder. When I got to the top I dropped Kyle immediately on the floor and he began to regain consciousness while rubbing his head.

"Ugh, what happened?" Kyle had asked while looking around observing everything as though it was all new.

"I think your friend here has a concussion. And I also believe you took the wrong turn for dinner. I'm Louis Son of Tyche at your service."

A child of luck herself, I didn't think that I would get such luck. The irony is always in the details. So once Louis had helped Kyle up and regain majority of his consciousness he took us back towards his dorm. In doing so we had to cross the glass bridge yet again. As we turned towards the elevator I had noticed there was now a table set up with a bust on it and two sitting chairs on either side of the table, like a normal hotel would do. For some reason Louis did not like the bust at all and quickly turned around the statues head and through a cloth rag on top of it. He cursed in ancient Latin and shot and arrow through the busts head. Just then the elevator dinged and out came another demigod. For the first time it was actually a girl that I struck a conversation with here and it wasn't too pleasant. "Louis, you've got to show Kyle and the new kid here some proper manners."

I jumped in before Louis could say something hastily. "Hi, I'm Lance Wakeman and you are?"

She quickly unsheathed a sword called a 'Spatha' and pointed at me, "Lance Wakeman then you must know who I am then. Do you not?"

"Well I'm um not really sure other than the fact that it looks like you and Louis have a grudge."

"Right you are," she said as she stuck her sword closer to my chest. I could now feel the point of the sword pushing down on my flesh. I could not catch a break today with the pointy objects at my chest. "I am Lilly Marks, Daughter of Nemesis." Nemesis quickly ran through my mind like Tyche did until I somehow connected two dots. Louis and Lilly hated each other and what better reason than their parents being counterparts. The bust Louis shot was a statue of Nemesis, which was why he acted so rash.

"Put your sword down and leave Lance alone," chimed in Louis.

"You're not my superior or even a higher rank than me to tell me to back down. And for Lance's sake he is in deep trouble if you step closer," Lilly said.

"Whoa, did not realize we were taking hostages now," I said as quickly as I could.

"I'm not taking you as hostage. Gods no that's just, ugh. The only place I could go here is my room and he is NOT coming in there."

"Personally Lance, if she kidnapped you I would not wanna save you because that would break so many rules on the schools part and parentage wise," blurted out Louis.

"Good great to see my rescuer once won't help me twice," I exclaimed.

Lilly looked confused, "Wait. Louis saved you? From what?"

"The Basilisk. I was trapped down there fighting him while trying to protect Kyle from getting eaten."

Kyle coming more to his senses said, "Wait a minute, I was warning you of not going there, and you fell in and I went in after you. And wait I'm a superior so I out rank everyone here. So drop your sword Lilly." But it was too late. Instead Lilly had already dropped the sword to her side and was getting ready to put it back in its sheath. Then Louis and Kyle both dropped their jaw because Lilly hugged me tightly. I had to gasp for air in an attempt to breath. Wow that was a personality change.

"You are a hero!" She exclaimed. Louis and Kyle looked at one another in shock and amazement.

Kyle chimed in, "Uh how exactly is he a hero?"

Lilly looked at Kyle rashly after letting me go, "He has talked to the Basilisk." She said that with such enthusiasm. After Lilly had calmed down we agreed to continue back to Louis room.

We all began to make our way back to Louis's room including Lilly who was now giving an update to Kyle on a situation somewhere in another realm. Louis was walking next to me still in shock when he noticed my Tomahawks dangling at my side. "What are those?" he asked cautiously.

"Oh it's called Firebrand. I stumbled upon them in a package on the floor of the Basilisk's lair. It had a note with it too," but as I reached in my pocket to grab the note it was all ash. As I pulled it all the way out in fell apart almost instantly onto the floor in a pile of ashes. I thought to myself "Great, now I'm not some tough hero to prove how I found these."

"Firebrand belonged to a Hero many years ago," as he said 'Hero' that way Lilly and Kyle stopped in their tracks and turned around looking at Louis. "That Hero received a Prophecy from the Oracle that used to live here. It was said that the bearer of Firebrand would locate the Fallen Hero and would unleash the Basilisk's revenge." When he mentioned Basilisk, I thought, Wow, of all things that stupid fat lizard king was right. I would have to fight his son.

Lilly asked me, "Lance you don't have Firebrand do you?"

I was already thinking of a response after hearing that dang lizards name yet again. I responded simply with, "No. Firebrand is a huge sword all I have is two simple tomahawks."

Lilly looked relieved than said, "Well that's good because otherwise you would have to travel the realms and find the Fallen Hero." I thought that now I was in trouble that I had brought back some ancient curse. And great that lizard guy, Basilisk said his son would free him. Crap!

Once we got to Louis's room he told Lilly to stay outside and for Kyle to watch her. Kyle had confirmed the orders so Lilly would have to stay there. She gave a quick sigh then adding, "Good I didn't want to go in there anyways." Louis rolled his eyes at her comment and I just ignored them all. I followed Louis into his room. He tossed his bow and quiver onto his bed and told me not to touch a thing. I stood there observing his room. He had the room to himself with it missing a second mattress. In the other bed's spot sat a table with a glass orb sitting on it. I also noticed the 'Magic 8 Ball' just lying around. I also saw that his room was cleaner than mine and Kyle's because well he didn't have clothes everywhere.

When he finally came back he had a file in his hand. I thought, "Great another file with useless classified information." He told me to sit down and slid it across the table. He motioned for me to open it up and I did. Inside I saw what looked very familiar to what I had acquired from the NSA. It had a file report with no name or picture. Then I flipped the page and saw the formal prophecy that the Oracle had delivered so many years ago. The next page was from the 60's with a name etched out as if it was 'CLASSIFIED' information. Actually reading more of this old demigods info a lot was crossed out except for his cause of death, "Died in a pit fight with Basilisk." Then I looked upwards and saw that his weapon of choice area was also filled in, "Firebrand," with it, it included a picture of two dual Tomahawks. What was now my dual tomahawks. I took in a hard gulp and got to my feet. Louis sat there and stared at me.

Louis finally managed, "I can't read it because it only becomes unclassified to those who need it. And based on the time you've spent reading, you have Firebrand."

I nodded uncomfortably and stood up and made my way to the door. Louis stared at me holding his head shaking it in his hands. I pulled opened the door and Lilly and Kyle fell into the room. I stared at them on the floor. I was too angry to say anything except, "I'm up for some dinner. Who's coming?"

Kyle got up and helped Lilly up. Lilly agreed to come and Louis said he wasn't hungry and kicked everyone out of his room. Kyle stayed back and informed Louis about the current situation in the realms. The same info he heard from Lilly. Lilly stood across from me staring at me trying to decide on what to do with me. She finally managed, "Where are you from, like what realm?"

I couldn't tell what she meant by that. What realm I was from? What type of question is that? I answered with a simple, "Washington D.C. area, USA, uh Earth."

"Oh, I've never been to another realm. When I was born Nemesis left me here to train and be raised as a demigod. I guess Athena took favor on you and left you on Earth."

"What's that supposed to mean, a bad thing to live on Earth?"

"Well it sort of is. Especially since post World War II, I believe is what the mortals call it. The government created a secret agency for around the world to search for demigods. I believe they work under the United Nations. And NSA is part of the search team. I have been trying to get Chiron to convince the headmaster to let Demigods out on quests to other realms. All I want to do is learn what type of intelligence the governments are collecting on us and what it's being used for. That's why I'm hoping that Firebrand gets found. Whoever finds it will be destined to go on a quest and find this Fallen Hero."

"Why is the hero fallen? Did he do something wrong?" I asked this to hope to get off the NSA topic. I didn't want to tell her that I had broken into the NSA and found out some information. Understanding this school has a deep divide, I wasn't sure what side to be on.

"No one knows. All we know is he is not here, we hope. But whoever yield's Firebrand has to search for them and not let Basilisk be freed from his prison."

At that moment Kyle came out and she jumped. Something told me these two held opposite opinions on something and I may not be trusted. Kyle said, "Alright guys finally time for some dinner. Oh and for future reference Lance take this." He handed me a map of the school detailing the floor plans of the school. He pointed to a spot on the map which was the cafeteria.

I looked over at him and said with a half sarcastic half grateful tone, "Ha ha, very funny."

"Actually I find it quite hilarious," said Kyle half dying in his laughs.

We continued onwards towards the elevator. We went down three floors and crossed the bridge again. Once we had crossed the bridge we went right and there was an elevator with a bust of Tyche. Lilly looked annoyed but Kyle took the sword from her before she could do anything. We went up seven floors and the elevator dinged and we were opened into an immense cafeteria. There were rows upon rows upon rows of long picnic like tables. We found ourselves a spot in the middle of the room where Kyle usually sits. There was one empty seat left and Lilly slid across the table and sat in it. The two kids who sat on either side of her said, "Awe, your sitting in Louis's seat." The boys were twins and had burn marks all over their faces. Kyle quickly told me they were Jim and Tim the ten year old twins of Hephaestus.

"We don't have assign seats here, so get over it you little brats," commanded Lilly like an order.

"Fine," they both said in unison. As they both did a little neener-neener face towards her. "So who's the new guy?" asked Jim as Tim tore into his mutton leg like a wolf with a fresh kill.

"Well I'm Lance Wakeman, the son of Athena," I said casually getting a little more accustomed to saying it.

Tim switched shifts with Jim as Tim bite into his Turkey leg. Jim began to say, "Oh well that's flipping awesome, because…" Just then Kyle reached across the table and shoved what appeared to be corn bread into his mouth so I could not make out what the rest of his sentence was. Kyle smirked as he looked at me. And as Tim tried to share this information as well Lilly did the same to him.

Lilly just smirked and said, "Kids, there always trying to spread rumors." I looked at her really confused when just then I heard a loud clanking sound that echoed throughout the cafeteria.

"Whoops time to go," said Kyle as he started to get up and Lilly followed his motion.

Jim and Tim both finished their cornbread and swallowed. They gasped and said, "Chiron's gonna make an announcement tonight. Something big is happening soon!" They both said that last sentence with such a cheer it was like little kids on Christmas morning.

"Sit down Kyle and Lilly," boomed a voice from the front of the room. I could make out a tall podium that rose up halfway to the ceiling and there was a bearded man with trimmed curly hair standing at the podium. He tapped the microphone twice and said, "Is this thing on?" And the noise screeched throughout the cafeteria. Kids began covering their ears and a half goat half man ran up and adjusted the microphone. "Ah that's much better," said the man. "For those of you who are new to the school or just cannot remember where or who you are I am Chiron and welcome to Demigod Central. And tonight for those who haven't heard we have a special guest speaker tonight. And I believe they would like to personally talk to a few of you troublesome demigods. If there is a note on your plate please stay after to talk with the speaker. I shall collect them as a ticket or proof of purchase type ordeal." Kids frantically looked at their places.

The five of us glanced down at our plates and the twins looked disappointed. Jim then noticed mine and Kyle's plate and Tim noticed Lilly's plate. "Hey you guys got one. You guys are lucky." They both said 'lucky' with a whining tone. I began to wonder who this guest speaker might be and why I got selected to go. I also wondered if it was a mistake and it was meant for Louis.

Just then Chiron said, "Please refrain from showing disrespect and from falling asleep. And without further ado. Please welcome your guest speaker tonight, Athena the goddess of Wisdom."

And all that went through my head was, "Mom!?"