Chapter 14 On The Road
Getting past the Canadian border was easy. All I had to do was lie that I was visiting the states with my little sister, (Meredith) and with my two cousins, (the Stoll brothers). They let me through no problem! I woke the Stolls in the car.
"Ummm, Jet," Travis said, "Why is there a little girl sleeping next to me?"
I explained the situation to them, saying that I was going to take care of her from now on. They were a bit confused at first, but they understood.
I turned to Meredith and said, "Meredith, sweetie, time to get up," she yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"Jet, where are we?" Connor asked.
"We're in Maine, only a few hours till we hit Mt. Washington" I responded.
"Mt. Washington?" Travis asked.
"Yeah, the wind dragon is in the worst wind weather in the world, at the top of Mt. Washington, what didn't I think of it sooner…thanks Phoebus"
"Who's Phoebus?" Connor said.
"Oh, uh, no body, it's nothing" I replied.
It was sunny out, it was 9 am and we needed to get some food in us before we take out the second dragon. We're gonna need our strength to take that sucker out. "Hey, you guys hungry?" I asked the Stolls. They said they were. "Hey Meredith, do you want some food?" she nodded and smiled. We pulled into the next exit to get some food. We went into a diner and ordered some food, steak and eggs for me, waffles for the Stolls and a chocolate pancake for Meredith. She sipped on her milk and leaned against me. "Everything is going to be alright," I told her. She nodded and went back to her pancake. The Stolls and I talked strategy, since the dragon's element is air, it's most definitely flying. I had no idea how I was going to protect Meredith, but that was my main job. I want her to have a childhood that I never had, mine was taken away by the gods, bred to be a killer, and Meredith doesn't deserve that. The waitress came by with the check and smiled at me, when she walked away, her small scaly green tailed curled behind her. WAIT! TAIL?
"Guys, run!" I shouted. The Stolls jumped up and ran for the door; the waitress turned into an empusa and dove at us. Meredith screamed, still sitting in her seat, the empusa leaped at me and pinned me down, my armor wasn't on, I had my forearm in the empusa's throat guarding me from her gross teeth.
"Run Meredtih, get outta here!" I called to her; she jumped out and ran for the door.
Wow Jet, you're actually letting this empusa break Meredith away from you?
Like hell I am, Phoebus was right, what was I doing?
Empusas usually go after mortals and weak minds, why is this one going after you?
No way am I some weak minded fool, and if I was mortal, how come I had amazing fighting skills and why was I allowed inside Camp Halfblood? I shook my head and tried to get my staff; I finally grabbed it and stabbed the empusa in the neck. She dissolved immediately and I fan for the car, not bothering to pick up the tab. I hopped in the car and gunned the engine.
"Meredith, did you know what you saw?" I asked her.
She shook her head and crawled up to the front seat passenger and hugged me, crying softly. She never let go throughout the entire drive to Mt. Washington, and the drive took 3 hours. Next stop, the wind dragon.