I had been away from camp from September 5th until October 13th. I had decided to go to a private school in the mountains of Massachusetts. It was secluded at the top of a mountain; which was the only reason I stayed there. If a monster was going to come after me I could see it coming from a mile away. There was also a stable where Jet stayed when I wasn't able to ride her. Being up high was good for the two of us, she enjoyed looking out across the sky and being up in the mountain helped clear my mind.
While at school I managed to be a complete loner. Kids tried to make friends with me but I had to shrug them aside. I couldn't let anyone get too close to me in case something happened. Lately my powers had been getting too far out of control. A few times while walking along a path in the woods with Jet, flowers sprouted where I had been walking. It happened once in the dorm hallway but I was the only one around to see. I had also over done a project for a mechanics class and created a jet out of who-knows-what.
"I need to get back," I told Jet when I was sure we were alone. The other horses were really the only ones I talked to. Some of them were funny and others just wanted me to let them out.
"I know," she said and shook her head. "Oh, there's a package for you in here."
"Who's it from?" I asked opening the stall gate and getting the box out of the hay.
"If I knew then I would have said there's a package from so-and-so."
"No need to be mean," I said and opened the box. There was a note inside that read:
Hi these are for you.
A little gift to help out.
Please use them safely.
~Apollo
"What's in there?" Jet asked peering over my shoulder. Underneath a set of bubble wrap was a set of bow and arrows. The arrows were similar to my sword in the fact one side was celestial bronze and the other was a type of gold.
"These are nice," I said slinging the quiver of arrows and the bow over my shoulder. "I'll be back to take you out once I lock these away…" I trailed off because in front of me a rainbow appeared with Annabeth standing inside.
"Hey," she said excited. "Listen I don't have much time but you need to get to camp as soon as possible. We've found someone who might be able to tell us where Percy is."
"I'll leave here as soon as I can!" I said joyfully. "Finally, an excuse to leave this place."
"I'll see you later then," she said and the rainbow disappeared.
"We leaving?" Jet asked happily.
"Not quite," I said hiding my things under the hay. "I need to tell the headmaster something's come up and I have to leave.
"I'm sorry," he said but didn't look all that sorry. He was a rather portly man that could barely fit behind his desk. "But the rules are the rules. You can't leave the schools grounds without a parent or guardians say so."
"Don't you remember?" I started to explain. "That I have no legal parents or guardians?"
"Nick," he sighed. "I cannot let you leave the schools grounds until a proper break comes up. That is unless you have a parent or guardian to take you since you are under aged."
"You don't understand though," I told him. "But I need to get back to New York. My friend's mother is extremely ill and she wants me to be there with her."
"No," he said getting pink in the face. "And that's my final word."
"Not even if the mother of my friend talks to you?" I started to formulate a plan in my head. If I could get hold of Crystal and have her put drew on the phone then I might have a chance of leaving. Drew was one of the few, if not the only, charm speaker at the camp.
"No!" he huffed and shooed me away. "Now go get back to class. I am a very busy man."
"Yes sir," I said and left his office. I realized that my class was in the stables so I could easily leave if the chance came up.
"You are late Mr. Jackson," the equestrian teacher scolded when I walked into the stables.
"I was at the headmasters," I said casually.
"Alright," she said and glared at me a little. She was rather old and wrinkly; like a dried out piece of pale leather. "I want you all to do the trails today. No one is to return until my whistle is blown. Once you hear it you must immediately race back. Last one has to clean the winners stall. Alright leave when you're ready."
"Ok," I whispered to Jet. "We're leaving in a few minutes."
"What about your stuff?" she asked looking at me.
"Most of my clothes are back at camp and my swords in my pocket."
"And the bow and arrows?"
"I'm just gonna ride with them out," I said and jumped onto her back. "Now go into the woods and when no ones around take off."
"Finally," she said and we galloped into the wood. No one was near us but we kept along the path for a few more minutes just to be sure. "Now?"
"Now," I said and we burst through the trees. The sun was starting to get low in the sky so I guessed we wouldn't be back at camp much before bed.
I was right. Everyone was at the camp fire when we arrived. But instead of everyone singing and having a good time the fire was low and no one was talking. I debated just going in and joining everyone but I wanted to watch and see what was going on. Up next to Chiron was a kid with longish blonde hair and a purple shirt. Then out of nowhere he summond a bolt of lightning.
"I thought you were the only one who could do that here?" Jet asked as we watched.
"Not anymore," I said and knocked and arrow into the bow. I sent the arrow flying straight at my target; the fire. It hit with a resounding thud and made everyone jump. As the fire roared for a brief moment I started to walk down the stairs to see the new comer. All eyes were on me now. "Where is he?"
