CHAPTER 7

As they walked, slowly, throughout the fiery palace they stopped again, and again to look around. While staring in awe.

"Wow…" whispered Tia.

"Yeah… Wow…" agreed Larissa, staring at a statue of a queen.

"Totally." agreed Will.

"Do you think this is the present Queen?" asked Tia, looking at the same statue Larissa was.

"No… It is probably the very first one. Their are dozens of other statues, it looks like they are in order… So the present one is probably the last one." answered Larissa.

"Oh… Makes sense."

As they continued walking they came across a few guards, all of which the girls took care of, while Will was watching their stuff, grumbling.

"Uh… Do we have any clue where we are going?" asked Will.

"No, clue…" answered Tia.

"… Whatsoever." added Larissa.

"Ok… Then get out the necklace…"

"Sure." said Tia.

"Yeah, sure." agreed Larissa.

"… Now."

"Oh… Um… Sure… Hand me my bag." said Larissa.

"Here." replied Will, handing her a leather black backpack.

Larissa, rummaged through her things before she pulled out a ruby heart-shaped necklace, glowing steadily.

"Ouch!" exclaimed Larissa, as she pulled it out, and dropped it.

"Happened last time, shoulda remembered." mumbled Will.

"Here… Allow me." said Tia, as she used her power of controlling the winds, and air, to levitate the necklace.

"Nice." complimented Larissa, as she rubbed her hand.

"Here… You should probably wrap this in some cool water." said Will, as he handed her a piece of torn towel, and some water. Knowing that she can turn the water into some small pieces of ice.

"Thanks…" replied Larissa, doing just that.

"Do you want some ambrosia, or nectar?"

"No, thanks… I'm fine."

"Ok… Um, the thing is vibrating…" said Tia.

"We are close." replied Larissa.

The three were walking through a hallway, that split into pathways, in the middle was a dome-like room.

"Might be the Throne Room." suggested Will.

"Let's find out." replied Larissa, stepping towards the large doors.

Suddenly, they swung open. Out stepped a woman in a red elegant red silk dress, it was strapless(obviously) except for a see-through sparkly sleeves, that attached to her middle fingers with one ruby, each. She wore high-heeled sandals, with straps criss-crossing half way to her knees, she had a forehead crown(a crown that is not on her head, but on her forehead), the metal was silver, and one gemstone in the middle, which was a beautiful ruby. She also had a pair earrings, which was also rubies. She had long red hair, and light brown eyes.

"Who are you three, and what are you doing in my palace?" asked the woman, who was obviously the Queen.

"Tia! But the necklace in my bag!" whispered Larissa.

Suddenly, a group of men, the Preparers obviously, rushed towards the Queen.

"What is it, Your Majesty?" asked a Preparer, as he stepped forward.

"It is nothing. I can handle this, go home." answered the Queen.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Go home, all of you."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

As the Preparers left, the Queen stepped closer, as she did, Will, Larissa, and Tia, got a better look. If she had any weapons, or if she a opening they could use to their advantage...

"Now… Who are you, and what are you doing in my palace?" repeated the Queen.

"Um…" started Tia.

"Let me handle this, you can watch, and next time you can do it." whispered Larissa, as Tia nodded, and stepped back.

"Your Majesty, I am Larissa, and these are my friends, Tia and Will. We came from Camp Half-blood, we have a message from Olympus." explained Larissa.

"Camp Half-blood, Olympus? You are half-bloods?"

"Well… Will, is. But Tia, and I are from different realms, we came-"

"I thought ,Hermes, delivered messages, and packages."

"He does… But we were sent, because it involves Tia, and I… Will is just here to help with any injures, things like that."

"Oh, great! I'm a piece of meat! Useless!" exclaimed Will.

"I didn't say that!"

"But you implied it!"

"Ok! Misuse of words! I'm sorry! Now, shut up!"

Will grumbled, as he stood quietly.

"Your friend must be careful, if my Preparers were here, they would suggest punishment…"

"Oh… Ok… Um, Will, Tia… Remember that…"

"No, need to be nervous… Now… We have not discussed why this message affects yourself, and your friend, Tia…"

"Oh… Um… Maybe we can talk… Later? We are really tired from our travels."

"Hmm…"

"Please?" asked Tia, stepping forward, as she her eyes felt convincing.

"Of course, I will have my servants gather your things, and take you to some guest rooms."

"Thank you, and if you please, our horses are out your shores, with our tents, and supplies."

"Tents? But-"

"We didn't know if you would let us stay in your palace." explained Larissa.

"Oh… Uh… I will have a group sent out."

"Thank you…"

"Carrie! Olivia!" called the Queen.

"Yes, Queen Dara?" said two girls(twins), both wearing a uniform, and their hair pulled back in a braid.

"Take these guests, to some rooms, and send out the other girls down to the shores for their horses and supplies." replied Queen Dara.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Come with us, please." said one of the twins.

As they followed the twins, they sighed.

At the Canoe Lake, in Camp Half-blood...

"Here we are, Lyla. A big lake full of water." said Shyla.

"Thank you, um…" replied Lyla.

"Yeah… How are we going to mover her in there?" asked Shyla, to herself.

"We can lift her into the lake." suggested Viola.

"Great! Um… I'll get the tail, you get her… Arms?"

"Yeah…"

As they lifted into the lake, Lyla sighed.

"Thanks… I feel so much better!" exclaimed Lyla, as she dived down into the warm blue waters.

When she resurfaced, Chiron had stepped to the edge of the lake.

"Um… Hi… I'm ,Lyla." greeted Lyla.

"Hello, Lyla. I am Chiron, director of this Camp…" replied Chiron.

"Um…"

"I heard about ,Nixie…" said Chiron, turning towards the girls.

"Yeah… I didn't like her… A mermaid has a right to herself."

"Nixie, meant ,no, harm… She just needed… A… Body." explained Viola, poorly.

"Yeah… She could have asked the Queen…"

"Mermaids, have a queen?"

"Well, yeah! Mermaids need someone to guide them, and make choices! Everyone needs a ruler... Everyone."

"Oh... I guess, so..?"

"Hmm... Whatever... Cya! Time for me to return to ,Aquala..."

"You can't return to... Um..."

"... Aquala..."

"Yeah! That place."

"Umm... "That place" is my home, where I live, and ,yes, I can."

"No! You can't! We need someone to teach us!"

"Ugh... I don't like temper tantrums."

"She rarely screams, at all..." commented Shyla.

"Hmm... I got it. How about, if I get legs I'll teach you!"

"Hmm... Well, I don't know how you would be able to get legs." said Chiron, stroking his beard.

Lyla, crossed her arms on the edge of the lake, and sat her head on them.

"I was hoping you knew of a way... The only way my people, and I, know is... Well... You know..."

"Well, we could ask Athena's Cabin, if they knew of a way!" suggested Viola.

"We could... Great idea, Viola!" complimented Shyla.

"Thanks."

"Let's get going then!" exclaimed Lyla.

"We'll get going, you'll stay here... No legs, remember?"

"Ha-ha... Fine."

"Later."