[chapter 7]
Finally updating again! sry it took so long, you guys really aren't at fault. Although more reviews would be nice it's mainly because I'm just lazy. Thanks again to my (few but notable) constant supporters. I removed the "Jesus Christ" reference in the last chapter because I realized it screwed up my timeline. Also I'm starting to actually name my chapters.
Jay pov
The next morning I was standing on Half-Blood Hill waiting for the rest of the quest. It had initially been me and Zoe waiting but she had gone back to check on Phoebe who was taking suprisingly long by Hunter standards.
I looked over the camp for a while. I had only been here for about two weeks and I'm already leaving again. Then again I'm not used to staying in one place anyway.
I noticed Clarisse and Thalia in the distance. They were slowly walking towards me. Then I saw Zoe and another girl, presumably Phoebe, walking behind them. At the same time Chiron was approaching from the Big House.
"Always the first one up, I should have known"
Chiron said.
"I'm not used to sleeping long"
I replied
By this time the others had also arrived. I was suprised to find out the other girl wasn't Phoebe but actually Bianca.
Zoe told us Phoebe had refused to travel with a man (aka me) so she had decided to bring Bianca, their newest girl, and teach her everything on the quest.
After saying our goodbyes to Chiron we started driving. Since we didn't have an exact destination we decided we'd drive as far west as the bus would take us
We wanted to switch the driver every half an hour but since everyone else fell asleep, I ended up driving most of the way.
Our fuel ran out in Washington DC near the Museum of Natural History. We saw a small café down the road and decided to get lunch there.
While we were walking Clarisse asked:
"So Jay, how did you manage to stay alive for...however long you've been alive?"
"Honestly I'm not entirely sure. I'm somehow cursed by Kronos to not age meaning I could only die if I was killed in battle. That's highly unlikely though because I also bear the Curse of Achilles."
"So you're pretty much immortal"
"I guess, unless maybe I just age really slowly"
We had reached the café now.
"We'll eat in shifts. Three people eat while the other two scout out the area" I said.
"Why? We're inside a big city. It's not like any monster will attack us here" Bianca replied.
I smiled at her "You still have much to learn young one. Me and Thalia will take the first..."
"Will you stop it Jay! I know I asked you to come on this quest and you're just trying to help but right now you're behaving just like the stereotypical male we Hunters despise!" Zoe told me in a sharp tone.
I was a little shocked by her outburst but I quickly realized she was right. I had been playing Leader ever since the quest had started.
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm so used to being in charge, I forgot this was your quest and you should be the one leading it. What do you think we should do, Zoe?"
"Alright, while I didn't like the way you expressed it, it's not a bad idea. Though I think one scout is enough. Any volunteers?"
I raised my hand
"No Jay. you already drove the entire way you need a break. Anyone else?"
When nobody raised their hand she said:
"Alright then I'll do it. I will be back in half an hour and I'll shoot a flare arrow if I need help"
"But won't the mortals see..." Bianca started
"And someone please explain the concept of the mist to her" Zoe added with a grin"
Zoe pov
I was walking around the City when I saw two Empousai walking into the Museum. I followed them quietly through the exhibits into a room full of dinosaurs.
"General, these are the teeth you requested"
a blond boy told what i assumed was a tall man, though I could only see a silhouette.
"Plant them!" the man ordered
I felt like I had heard his voice before but it sounded rougher than I remembered. I focused on the Empousai who were planting the teeth.
After a while skeleton warriors climbed out of the earth. I saw another Empousai approaching them with a white piece of clothing.
That's when I remembered the story of the sparti. They would fight over the first precious thing they saw. Now I also recognized the white clothing it was part of a Hunter's uniform. They wanted them to hunt us.
I quickly drew my bow and shot the clothing out of the Empousai's hand. Sadly, it didn't have the effect I was hoping for since the five sparti now turned to me.
"Intruder! Attack!" the man bellowed
I turned to run but the door had been closed behind me. The only exit was next to where the general was sitting. The only way there was through the sparti.
I was still trying to make up a plan when the sparti were struck by lightning which then solidified into Jay.
"How did you..."
"No time. Take my hand"
"What...why?"
"Just do it"
I took it. I felt a small electric shock and the world started moving really fast. Then suddenly we stood outside the café were Bianca, Thalia and Clarisse were still eating
"How did you just do that? And did you kill those Sparti?"
"Not killed, temporarily shattered. They're still coming after us we need to go"
"What's coming after us?" Bianca asked
"Sparti, invincible killing machines. Where do we go?" Thalia said
I thought for a moment "Train station!"
"This way" Jay shouted
"How do you know?"
"Wind vision, I'll tell you later"
We quickly ran in the direction Jay had pointed. After about five minutes we finally saw the station. To our suprise the sparti were already waiting for us blocking the way to the only train that was standing still.
"Change of plans, we're taking that one" Jay said
"Are you crazy? That one's still moving" Bianca nearly screamed
"I've survived worse things"
"Yeah? Well I haven't"
"I'll use the wind to slow it down just trust me"
"Your choice Zoe we'll follow you" Thalia said
"I don't see any other way. We'll do it"
I could feel the air being pulled towards us like back in Maine, before it was slammed into the train. The wheels screeched and it slowed down to a minimum so we could all jump aboard before Jay released it again and we rushed off.
Jay pov
The wagon we had jumped on was filled with sports cars and we had each gone to rest in one of them.
I had closed my eyes and was almost drifting off to sleep when I noticed someone sit down next to me.
I assumed It was Zoe since I had barely heard her approaching so I just took a wild guess and asked
"I'm guessing you want me to explain everything?"
"Actually I came to apologize"
I opened my eyes at that
"For what?"
"For snapping at you"
"Oh that. No need! you were right It's your quest and you should be in charge"
"Yes, but that wasn't the problem. None of your Ideas were bad and if it had been anyone else I would have probaby just accepted it. The problem was just that it hurt my pride as a Hunter to take orders from a man. But you deserve better than that and if you hadn't taken control back there we'd likely all be dead."
"Well in that case, apology accepted. So I'm in charge?" I asked jokingly.
"Don't push it" She smiled "Now that that's done, It'd be great if you could explain everything"
"Starting where?"
"ehm...Wind vision, what is that?"
"Alright, you know how there's water nymphs and nature spirits, right?"
"Yep"
"Well there's also wind nymphs and by using Wind vision I can see with their eyes"
"Alright that makes sense. How did you manage to teleport us from the Museum to the café?"
"I didn't actually teleport. I just turned us into lightning so we were able to travel at lightning speed"
"Wow, you can turn other people into lightning?"
"Yes, but only for a short period of time and only one person at a time"
"Ok, last question..."
"What is this? An Iterview?" I said faking annoyance but grinning internally
"We're not on Hephaestus TV, though I'd probably make a great reporter. Now, I've never seen any other child of Zeus do that. How are you so much more powerful than other demigods"
"I've had a lot of training first Artemis, Ares and Chiron and then many more while I was gone"
"That's it? Just training?"
"That and my sword. It's like my symbol of power like Poseidons trident or Zeus Master Bolt. There's a little more to it but that's all I can tell you"
"Ok then. We should rest now"
I just nodded and closed my eyes. I expected her to leave but she never did.
