Chapter 11

Kerry can FLY?

I walked briskly beside my friends listening to Foster the People on my IPod. The pomegranate was safely tucked away in my bag which was now hanging on my shoulder, occasionally colliding with my legs. My friends were also listening to music. It was nice to relax once in a while. Then again, do Half-Bloods ever really relax?

"We should contact camp," Pointed out Kerry as we made a stop at McDonalds for some lunch. Cash was doing okay but we all agreed it would be better if we ate a slightly cheaper option of food.

I scanned my menu quickly.

"Cheeseburger please," I told Johanna who was ordering all the food, "What was that Kerry?"

"Camp. We should contact it," She answered sipping some of her coke.

"We can try an Iris message after this," Alanna informed us setting our food on the table. There was a mad rush for a second as everyone reached for theirs. I popped one of the fries into my mouth and grinned. Artemis had provided us with a lovely (slightly raw) breakfast but it had been a while since I'd last had proper fast food.

"How do you send an Iris message?" Johanna asked chomping on her McChicken sandwich. Salad splayed everywhere and Johanna's checks turned pink as she ducked under the table to pick up the stray pieces. I laughed but to be honest the rest of us weren't doing much better. The size of the food here was larger than the one's back home. I was glad to get a bigger meal but none of us were quite used to it yet. Alanna's fish-o'-fillet was about the only thing anyone was managing.

"You just have to make a rainbow and throw in a couple of drachmas," She explained easily and I nodded while picking at my burger.

I was still wondering how the visit to Hades had gone. Did he really care about me? Or was this just a way of evening out the whole 'haven't talked for about my whole life' thing?

My thoughts were interrupted when an argument broke out between Johanna and the waiter who had just come up to our table.

"Well of course this is real money!" Snapped Johanna.

"Sorry Madam," The waiter said, "But this is not USA Dollars." I looked in her hand to see a golden drachma lying there.

"Oh for goodness sake," I exclaimed, "Johanna, you gave her the wrong coins!"

"What?" Asked Johanna. I mimed punching her.

"You gave her the Greek money!"

"Oh..." Sighed Johanna, "Sorry guys, my bad, my bad!"

I laughed and fished some spare change from my pocket.

"Here you go," I handed the waiter the coins.

One more hilarious moment on our trip.

Xxx

I critically circled the home-made rainbow.

"You sure this is okay?" I demanded.

Alanna nodded but Kerry (looking rather hawk like) inspected it some more.

"It's got to be okay," She finally announced, "We need to to contact camp."

After our lunch we had headed to a local river and Alanna helped to gently sprinkle some water like rain while Johanna shone light on it. Soon enough a rainbow had appeared and now here we were.

"You do it Kerry," I said handing her the coin. She took it and chucked it into the mist.

"Camp Half Blood," She called confidently.

The fog cleared to reveal a clear, crisp image of Chiron talking to Jessica. Her silky black hair was hanging loosely in a ponytail and she had an expression of pure concentration. Of course she would. She's a Daughter of Athena.

"Jessica!" I called, excited to see her. She turned and her face lit up as she saw us.

"What's up, guys? How's the quest?"

"Never mind that," Interrupted Alanna whose hands were still raised as she held up water, "How's Kylie?"

Jessica's face fell and Chiron took over.

"Not good. Her condition is rapidly decreasing. We need you to complete this quest as soon as possible."

"But no pressure," Mouthed Jessica behind him. I laughed and he stared at me.

"Sorry, sorry," I quickly corrected, "Serious matter."

"I should think so," He stated with a small huff of annoyance, "And as Jessica requested- how are you?"

"Good, good," Johanna said, "We've got a helping hand now."

She quickly explained about Artemis and our recent visit to Hades.

"That's goo-" Started Chiron but he was cut off by a shriek of joy from Kerry.

"Holy Poseidon!" Exclaimed Alanna as she dropped her hands in shock and the water fell. Jessica and Chiron disappeared.

"KERRY!" Exclaimed Alanna in an extremely peeved voice.

Johanna was laughing and I was just confused.

"Look at this guys!"

I turned to see Kerry sitting on a branch in a tree VERY high off the ground.

"Kerry," I said in a cautious voice, "I didn't think of you as one for suicide,"

She laughed at my joke- of course I knew she wasn't going to commit suicide.

"No, THIS!"

All of a sudden Kerry dropped from the tree. I rushed forwards ready to do whatever I had to so Kerry wouldn't die but all of a sudden a shadow appeared above me.

Kerry Reid was flying.

"What. The. Hades." Said Johanna, pronouncing each with emphasis on the startled tone in her voice.

Things had suddenly just got complicated.