I woke up when someone slightly propped me up and made me drink some nectar. I knew it was nectar, because it tasted like honey, but it went down my throat smoothly. I swallowed and blinked my eyes open.

Cody's eyes lit up when I looked at him, "You're awake."

I looked around the small room. It was well kept, and didn't have much in it. I looked back at Cody. Cole had come up to stand next to him and look down at me.

"Where are we?" I asked.

Cole replied, "One of Odius's houses somewhere in Delaware."

I propped myself up on my elbows and rubbed my eyes, "Man, I feel terrible."

Cody said, "According to Odius, the thing that attacked you injected a knock out drug when it injured you. It was supposed to KO you for hours but not until it did some damage."

"What's the damage?" I asked.

They both shrugged. Cole answered, "Not as bad as it could have been."

I let myself fall back on the bed, "Where're the others?"

"Guy's getting some things to hide us with and Harry was sent as his guard," Cody explained.

"'Some things to hide us with?'" I repeated skeptically.

Cole's turn, "New clothes, some hair dye. He's doing what he was put on the team to do, hide us in plain sight."

I sighed. For some reason, I wasn't looking forward to that.

Cody continued, "And Odius went out to get some food and more medical supplies."

I nodded, "Alright. How long have I been out? We're in Delaware?"

Cole nodded, "A few hours. We pushed the pegasi to their limits to go as fast as they could. We didn't want that thing catching up with us."

I raised one arm while the other stayed over my eyes and said, "Thank you."

Cody laughed. "Want some water?"

I nodded, "Please."

They walked off. I watched them and wondered if Cole was being his overprotective brotherly self and staying glued to Cody's side to watch over him. After that thing attacked us, I don't blame him at all. I was guessing Odius had decided to pair us up so we'd have backup if ever needed.

The twins were always each other's partners. They worked so perfectly with each other it'd be stupid to separate them. Harry was a major fight-aholic. He could handle a hard fight long enough for the rest of us to be called in to help. As I said earlier, Guy wasn't much of a fighter, so it was a good idea to pair him with the guy who fought random beasts and other people just because he was bored.

I paused in my thought process. I moved my arms slightly so I could look through them at the ceiling. That meant that I was Odius's partner. Great. . .

I sighed again. I wasn't going to worry about that now. I decided that I wasn't going to stay where I was and got up. My side ached slightly, but the burning was gone. I stood carefully and walked to the living room.

Cody frowned at me, "You shouldn't be pushing yourself, Flare."

"I'm fine," I told him, taking the glass of water.

He just kept frowning at me. The front door opened and Odius walked in with a bunch of bags hanging off his arms. He kicked the door closed behind him and only then seemed to notice us.

"You shouldn't be up yet, Flare," he told me. He walked into the kitchen.

"And? I feel fine," I retorted.

"Feel fine but aren't," he countered. "Lay down or sit down. Just sit still."

"Easy for you to say," I muttered. I went to sit at the small table by the window. Cody started helping Odius put stuff away while Cole leaned against the wall and watched.

Not long after, the door opened again. I heard Harry mutter, "This is ridiculous."

"What is?" I asked.

He looked at me and I had to try not to laugh. He was holding boxes and bags in and on both arms. He frowned at me when he saw me laughing at him. I wanted to compare him to some boyfriends that get suckered into carrying their girlfriend's shopping, but Guy had his hands full too.

He had a large box under one arm and a bunch of bags in the other. He was taking one out of his mouth as he came through the door. I was guessing he had to put it in his mouth to free his hand enough to open the door.

"Looks like you two had fun," I remarked.

Guy smirked at me, "Glad you're okay."

I shrugged, "Nothing I can't seem to handle."

He smiled and asked, "Where should we put this stuff, Odius?"

"Bedroom," Odius replied. "You can work from there and the master bathroom."

Guy nodded and walked into the room I had come out of. I caught that it was the only room in the house. I guess Odius never had anyone over when he traveled about. I sort of wondered why. Didn't he have any friends outside of the camp?

I brushed off the thought with one of my own, Did I care? Nope, I didn't. At least, I think I don't. I don't know.

I rubbed my head with my hand. The glass of water was taken and replaced with an ice cold water bottle. Some pills were set next to it. I looked up at Odius.

He said, "Normal aspirin, for the headache. It should work on you." He went back to the kitchen.

I watched him walk away for a minute. I looked at the pills and took them. I set the water bottle against my head and closed my eyes, willing the throbbing to stop. The throbbing reminded me of something.

"That thing caught fire," I said aloud.

"Yeah," Cody said, stopping what he was doing and looking at me. "How did you do that?"

I shook my head, "I don't know. I've only done it once before."

"You've done it before?" Odius asked.

I nodded, "To my stepsister, when she tried to smash my guitar. It's what got me thrown out."

Odius leaned against the wall facing me, "It saved our tails this time. Maybe we should figure out how it works."

I shrugged again, "Have fun trying."

He gave me a hard look. I ignored him. I was not interested in learning how to do that on a regular basis. I'd take my bow and arrows over anything else any day.

"Where's my bow?" I asked.

"They're next to the bed," Odius answered. "Your bow smacked into me when it flew off." He turned a little and I saw the red line on his arm from where he had blocked it from hitting his face.

I should have laughed, but I didn't. I went back to putting the bottle against my forehead.

Harry came out quickly and planted himself on the couch, "I am not going along with this."

Odius looked at Guy coming out of the bedroom, "What's his problem?"

Guy replied, "He doesn't like the idea of getting a hair cut or covering the scars up."

"I will not wear make up!" he called from the couch. "Nor will I ever cover up these. They are to show I am a warrior."

"You are an idiot," I countered. "I don't care if you hate it, but I don't want to deal with that. . . Thing again. If changing our looks will keep it off our backs for awhile, then we'll do that. Get over it."

He turned to glare at me and I glared back. The headache was taking its sweet time going away and his complaining was just plain annoying. And I was telling the truth when I said I didn't want to go against that thing again. Once was plenty enough for me, thanks.

Odius stepped in, "Enough, both of you. Harry, we have no choice. It's only until we get to Mount Olympus."

Harry grumbled something I couldn't hear. I ignored him.

Odius turned back to Guy, "Can you start first thing in the morning?"

Guy nodded, "Sure."

Odius nodded in reply and said, "Then let's get some food and then some rest."

I stood up and walked by Guy, "I'll pass on the food, thanks."

I felt a churning in my stomach and bolted for the bathroom. I made it in time to throw up something disgusting. I coughed at the taste and tried to stop the nauseas feeling that was making my head spin.

I felt my hair get pulled back gently and whoever it was kept it back for me. They knelt behind me and rubbed my back lightly. I couldn't see who it was through the watering eyes and the fact I had them squeezed shut.

I'm sure you've all gotten sick at least once before. It's not fun to throw up, especially when there isn't anything in your stomach. It hurts and it sucks. I know that. . . Now at least.

I finished another coughing fit and panted. Whoever was behind me reached over and flushed. They pulled me back lightly and leaned me against the edge of the bathtub. I heard them stand and the water started in the sink. A few seconds later, something cool was pressed against my forehead.

I cracked an eye open. Odius was kneeling next to me, pushing some stray strands of hair out of my face. He saw me looking at him and shrugged.

"Apparently the drug they used isn't working with your system," he said. "It's rejecting it pretty badly."

"You think?" I asked sarcastically. My voice cracked.

He held up my bottle of water. He helped me sit up with an arm around my shoulders and held it to my lips. I drank it and immediately felt my throat stop burning.

"The twins will take the room," he said. "That way Guy can work on them first thing in the morning. He'll be in the room, too. Harry will sleep in the hall till morning then come in here."

I leaned back against the tub again. He fixed the washcloth so it was still over my forehead. It slightly went over my eyes, but there was still enough of a crack for me to look at him.

"You can take the couch in the living room," he continued. "This way you can get as much rest as possible without anyone disturbing you by moving around."

I turned my head so my cheek was against the bathtub, "Where are you sleeping? It's your house."

He nodded, "Yeah, but I'll be out with you. We can't have you attacked right now."

I looked at him, "When did you start caring?"

He looked back, "When Chiron pointed out that this guy would go after the god's kids if he won."

"Scared?" I asked.

He shook his head and replied calmly, "Not for me."

He stood up and went to the door. He stuck his head out the door and said something. Guy answered and there was some rummaging noises. Odius took something from him and turned back to me.

"You can shower or take a bath," he offered. "It might help." He set some clothes on the sink. "Come on out when you're done and you can go back to sleep."

He left then, closing the door softly behind him. I stared at the wood for a few minutes before pushing myself up to sit on the edge of the tub. The washcloth dropped in my lap and I ignored it. I started the water and stared at it as it filled the white tile. I glanced at the door again.

Okay, I'll admit it. I think a little more of the jerk now. He was helping me and being nice to me for the same reason I was on this stupid quest in the first place: to protect our younger brothers. He had Pollux, and I had the twins. I'd say that was common ground for a fighting partner.

The couch had a sheet and blanket already on it when I came out. The others took their posts in their spaces. Odius had found some air mattresses that Harry, Guy and Cole would use. Cody got the short straw and had to take the bed (Cole wouldn't let him argue).

There were some more blankets on the floor in front of the couch and Odius was sitting on them. I guess he ran out of air mattresses. He didn't seem to care, though. I lay on the couch, wrapping myself into a ball with the blankets as close as I could get them.

I fell asleep fast. Odius was still sitting there watching me when I passed out again.

Three updates in a row to make up for not updating sooner