JADE'S POV

"What was that?!" I ask Rosemary, panicking. She seems just as freaked out, if not more.

"Crap, I thought we would have more time," Rosemary mumbles. "Follow me."

She starts to run, but it looks more like a gallop. I run right at her heels, making sure I hit every twist and turn Rosemary makes. Whatever made that roar...it definitely wasn't human.

Then it sounds again, "Mmmm, I smell a couple of halfbloods!"

We take a turn into an empty alley, but get stopped by a brick wall. I'm out of breath, and on the verge of tears. I'm freaking out, and I can't remember why. I look around and see we are in an alley...why are we in an alley?

"Rosemary, why are we here? What are we doing?" I ask, my voice cracking.

"Just stay quiet." She whispers, holding her finger up to her mouth. I look down the entrance of the alley, and then into view comes a giant figure. It had to be at least 13 feet tall. I look to Rosemary, but she is paralyzed with fear. Behind the monster I see pedestrians walking by as if nothing is wrong. Are they blind or something!? Then I see Alex and Ren turn the corner.

REN'S POV

"I think Jade's in trouble."

That sign left my hands so quickly I'm surprised Alex understood it. We both made a run for the door, telling our dad we were going out (or I told him). I dashed through our neighborhood, making my way to town, Alex hot on my heels. I pause, causing Alex to run right into me.

Then I hear another roar, this time some words added into the mix. "Mmmm, I smell a couple of halfbloods!" What the heck are halfbloods? Before I could ponder the thought too much, I started moving again toward the sound, weaving through the occasional people along the sidewalk. I take one last turn into an alley where I see a giant man. At the end of the alley is of course, Jade and Rosemary.

Then it's like déjà vu; seeing Jade cornered freaking out, Rosemary paralyzed with fear.

"JADE!" I scream, hoping to get her attention, thinking I could help her get back into the open. With just my luck, I fail, instead getting the attention of the giant Cyclops. With one swing of his club he sends Alex and me flying into the brick wall, a pile of cardboard boxes to breaking our fall. I move the boxes to see, but my vision is left all fuzzy. I try to stand, but I fall right back down. "Jade!" I try to yell, but my voice is quieted by another deafening roar of the giant.

Tears start to stream down Jade's face, as her eyes turn black. It's exactly like my dream; she raises her hands and with a flick of her wrists, vines come out of the ground and start to crawl up the beast's legs. The vines wrap around his legs and torso, pulling him towards the ground, bringing him down with a loud thud and curses from the giant. For a final touch, Jade brings her hands together, causing the vines to constrict, turning the Cyclops into dust, and Jade falling to the ground.

ROSEMARY'S POV

"Jade," I whisper into her ear. "Wakey wakey!"

"Uuuugghmmmm," she moans, rolling over in her bed. After she the monster was taken down and she passed out, Ren and Alex carried Jade home, finally getting the suspicious looks we had been looking for. On the way home Ren kept asking for answers; "What was that?" "How did Jade do that?" "Are we safe?"

Following orders, I couldn't answer any of those questions unless Elise was around, so here the 4 of us are now, waiting in Jade's room for Elise to get home. Their dad is nowhere to be found.

Alex makes some signs with his hands, and Ren translates, "How long until Jade wakes up?" I just shrug, not knowing any better than he would. I protect, not heal. Even if I fail at my protecting. Then the doorbell rings, and Alex and Ren race downstairs to get. I immediately hear Jared's voice racing with questions, each question getting louder until he reaches Jade's room, with Alex and Ren on his heels.

"Is she okay?" Is the first question he says that I can understand. He says it so calmly it doesn't even sound like the Jared I know.

"She will be." I nod, taken aback by his new personality. Jared was one you could look to lighten the mood; he was always cracking jokes. Him not being able to come up with one, and actually caring about someone is new and just unexplainable.

Jared takes a seat on the end of Jade's bed, looking over her. Physically, she looked just fine; no cuts, scrapes, or bruises. I can't say the same or Ren or Alex though. Standing in the doorway are the boys. Ren's head is wrapped up from a gash in the back if his head, and Alex's elbow is bandaged up from his assortment of scrapes and cuts. The sound of the front door opening interrupts me from my thoughts.

"Jade? Ren? Anybody home?" Elise calls out. I can hear her set down her bag and keys on the table.

"We are up in Jade's room!" Ren calls out, shifting uncomfortably. Elise, even though only their half sister has always been very protective of the triplets. Doting over them whenever they come into harms way.

As Elise makes her way up the stairs, she begins talking, "So I was thinking that tonight, for dinner maybe we order in some pizza. Dad is off at work with some plant crises-" she stops as she sees Ren's head and Alex's arm. "What happened to you guys!? And her!?" Elise yells, pointing at Jade, the pitch of her voice rising. Ren shrugs nervously, and Alex refuses to look at Elise so he can't see what she's saying. I guess I have to explain.

"Elise...it's time."

"It's too early..." Elise mutters, almost too quiet for anyone to hear. Tears form in the corners of her eyes. I didn't realize how hard this would be...knowing what the two of us know...and Jared.

"Should we tell them?" Jared asks, his cocky attitude coming back.

"Tell us what?" Ren asks, confused, as Jade starts to stir.

"What happened?" Jade asks, rubbing her head. "I don't remember walking home...and this time I'm for sure I didn't."

"You took down a Cyclops." I say bluntly. It's best we just tell them all we can.

"But those aren't real." Jade laughs, smiling at the ridiculousness from my words.

"But they are," Elise begins, "And so are other monsters, and the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece. My mother is Athena, Jared's dad is Hermes, and your guys' mom is another goddess."

As Elise says this Jared is signing to Alex to make sure he is following along. Jade has a shocked look on her face, and Ren is shaking is head in disbelief.

"So what you're saying is my mom is a goddess? What's next? Are you going to tell me you're a monster?" Ren laughs, pointing at me.

"If you consider a satyr a monster, then sure!" I smile, lifting up the bottom of my sweat pants, revealing my furry legs.

"Well not that this revelation moment hasn't been fun or anything..." Jared cuts in, "but I think they should probably start packing for camp."

"Camp?" Ren and Jade say in unison.

"Yep, how about you guys go get something to eat first, we will explain later!" Jared says cheerfully, leading the way downstairs.

"Ren...can I talk to you?" Elise says before Ren leaves the room.

"Sure!" He smiles, closing the door behind me as I leave.

REN'S POV

"You expect me to believe this?" I say, not wanting to believe what I just heard.

"It's true Ren. I'm so sorry. If you want her to have more time, you can leave her here with me this summer if you want." Elise tells me softly. She knows I can't handle the news she just told me; I'm only 12 after all. "But only if you are sure it's her."

"She can't even remember her own name half the time. I'm always having to look out for her to make sure she is okay, I'm 100% sure it's her." I conclude. "I guess we should just tell her now she's not going before she gets too excited."

"You're right." Elise says, standing up, pulling her long red hair back into a ponytail. She opens the door and makes her way downstairs, with me on her heels.

"Jade," Elise clears her throat, "You can't go to camp with the boys this year."

It was at that moment I swear everybody stopped breathing and our hearts stopped beating.

ROSEMARY'S POV

"What?" Jade sounds so heart broken it makes me want to cry, "But that's not fair! Ren and Alex get to go!"

"You're not going!" Ren orders.

"Why not?" Jade pouts, "Jared says Elise went! You and Alex get to go!"

"I just don't think it's safe for you," Ren mumbles. I can immediately tell he knows the secret. He knows what would happen if all three of them went to camp. Elise just told him. The triplets would have to take on the prophecy, where the one most burdened would die.