It's nearing Christmas... kinda. Either way, it's exciting and I'm wasting a Hades load of money buying crap for a Santa thing.
On the brighter side, a week until Christmas.

Instructions for enjoying the following chapter:

1. learn to read

2. read the chapter

3. review the chapter

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My third day back at camp and was more active than ever counseling, reading, talking, et cetera. It was also that same day I noticed that the Apollo kids would actually talk to me when I passed by. They'd say a friendly 'hello' and then keep going. Then I noticed the lack of Sterling trying to kill me during sparing sessions and the lack of Shane helping me and the pegasi get along.

So, I hung out in the Ampitheater with Megan while she finished her water color paintings. Then, we'd move to the volleyball courts and play a very competitive game with anyone who'd play.

I was getting back into the groove of camp schedule and enjoying every minute of it now that the more life-threatening parts were over and done with.

"What do you think?" Megan held up her pad of special paper. On it, was a detailed picture of the stage and the fire pit that sat still.

It was almost like looking at a photograph except for in one of the bushes to the far left was what looked like a bright red car. I pointed it out.

"Oh that? I really have no idea." She chuckled, nervously. "I mean, I thought it was there..." She looked from the drawing to the plant, back and forth, back and forth. "But then again..."

I had seen that side of Megan before. Amnesia, deja vu, memory loss. She reminded me a lot like Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, but I loved and accepted her anyway.

"C'mon." I insisted. "Before you become completely confused, let's get to that volleyball game we scheduled yesterday."

"Yes. That'd be nice." She said absent-mindedly and then picked up her stuff.

I dove to set the ball only to miss and slide on the dirt. I groaned and put my head on the ground.

"You bump the ball, Calixte." Angel smiled in her motherly way.

She was daughter of Leto. Yes, the Leto, mother of Apollo and Artemis. She's one of the oldest at camp( oldest campers anyway) and even though she's an accomplished demi... titan, she loves to come back to camp and help out in whatever way she can.

I sighed and pushed my bangs out of my face. "I hear ya... Now lets play!"

I can't say the game was very successful. The ball kept bouncing out of bounds and then down the cliff and onto the ground a hundred feet below(maybe not a hundred, but it was pretty far) and I had to keep flying down to get it.

"Ugh." Meg collapsed on a bush. "I'm soooooo tired."

"I told you not to dive." I sang, mocking her and pointing to the dirt in her hair, on her legs, and the scratches. "Let's get you to the infirmary before Angel gets a hold of you and does her motherly thing." I whispered.

Then, we hurried off into our next activity. Before I knew it the day was up and we were back singing around the fire.

The next morning was Sunday. That meant chores, chores, chores. Immensely boring chores.

I was working the camp store, watching, selling occasionally, and making sure the Stoll brothers weren't going to do something stupid. Nicholas and Emmy were doing some stocking, messing with empty boxes afterward, while Nora and Victoria didn't do much. They're just children, y'know.

I longed for how things used to be; When I'd occasionally blow off my chores to hang with Sterling and Shane if he was dragged away. Sterling would bring some food she stole from the kitchen and we'd have a merry time, but now I felt that I had this duty to stick to things and not give it up.

Then again, I was changing emotions left and right.

"You should've blown off some chores with us, Callie." Sterling said, disposing off all evidence of the stolen dessert. " That chocolate cake was crap, but I pushed Shane out of a tree."

Shane and Sterling kissing in a tree. My mind sang. I pushed sand into a pile and leaned back on it like a reclining chair. I put my hands behind my head and relaxed as the sun went down. " Haven't felt like it lately. My work mode has been kicked into over-drive."

Rock wall climbing was some heavy stuff. I didn't know why, but I was in a complete state of 'never give up'. I realized this after my eighth try on the wall and I had burning, nasty-smelling holes in my shirt the size of baseballs. No one, but Sterling would even come near me thanks to the odor my shirt.

"Boo." She replied, disapproving. " I know you were given some power of the gods, but you don't have to give me that 'honorable' crap they like to use."

"It's not on purpose." I closed my eyes. " I feel that work comes first, everything else later."

"So what exactly did he give you?"

"Strength I guess. It's all I've found out."

"Because you stormed off after you two had a kissing session in your dreams?" She teased in a flirtatious tone with a pout of her lips.

"You're kidding, right?" I sat up quickly, almost falling over and trying to grasp the sand to hold myself up.

"Nope!" The daughter of Aphrodite announced this proudly. " Heard you in chariot while you were sleeping. Did you know, you talk while you're unconscious?It's quite hilarious."

"Gods." I face-palmed myself. " Did I say anything else?"

She yanked her steel blade out of the sand and examined it closely. At first, I thought she was about to cut off my head, but instead replied, " That you were going to kiss Apollo, then somehow it ended up being his fault, then you were going to kill him."

Pause.

"Wait what?"

To late. She had run off.

The next day was the most exciting I had ever been involved in.

It started when I had to take a nap.

I was in suck a sugar rush that I burnt off all my sugar in hand-to-hand combat and was to tired to even take off my shoes as I reached the cabin. With my luck, it was the twenty-first: Summer solstice.

Sterling, Shane, and I had a meeting with the council right after dinner. The schedule had been planned the day before with Chiron that went a little something like this:

7:00- Noon: AM Activies

Noon: Lunch

1:00 PM- 4:00:-

My list, as you can see, isn't finished. I began doodling kindergarden- grade pictures of flowers, ladybugs, and trees. Well, that, and I dropped it in the lake when canoeing.

Anyway, I was rudely awakened after dinner by Sterling. She literally lifted the mattress to roll me onto the floor. I landed back first, then was rushed to change, then ended up pulling on my shoes and heading down the hill when Argus had the car parked. At one point, I rolled down the hill, and it wasn't my fault. I swear the daughter of Aphrodite was really trying to kill me today.

I got to rest and silently complain about my empty stomach.

The security guard gave me odd looks up until the elevator doors closed. Then lame music poured in and we slowly ascended up to the 600th floor of the Empire State building. I leaned on the wall and took in long, deep breaths.

"Nervous about the council?" Shane asked, also leaning on the wall.

"Nah. I'm just tired." I rubbed my eyes.

"Really? Your mother lives up on Olympus, y'know."

I eyed him. "You serious?"

He gave a pffffftttt and replied, " Not only have I been hooked on mythology since sixth grade, I expanded my horizons as soon as my first monster attack."

"I thought we'd all be nervous. I mean, you're father is going to be fifteen feet tall and staring down at you. " I gestured to Sterling. "And the same with your mom."

"I don't care for my mother much. "Sterling glowered. "But I don't have to explain my reasons to you."

Olympus was more amazing that I thought. Shane put his hands in his pockets and headed into the crowd and past the park. Sterling followed, dragging me along while I stared in awe at the vendors, the gorgeous starry sky, and the palace we were coming upon.

It was Greece in it's heyday. Or, near it's heyday. It was slowly recovering from the titan war a year ago.

Minor gods walked about like teenagers in their home cities. Relaxed and looking at strangers with watchful eyes. And those eyes followed all the way up the stairs to the palace.

I commented about how awesome all of this was for the fifteenth time(Sterling was counting. Not me) then was tapped on the shoulder. Now, it was either instincts or reflexes, but with all the strength I had, I delivered a roundhouse kick to Apollo's face.

Lucky for him, he caught me in time and was then holding my ankle at cheek level.

"Sorry for greeting you like a friendly person." He said offended, dropping my leg.

" It wasn't on purpose." I muttered. " You startled me."

"So it's my fault?"

"You are the one who tapped me on the shoulder." I reasoned.

"Not my fault you're so easily scared."

" Maybe-"

"Oh look! We're late already!" Shane lied, checking his watch-less wrist. "C'mon, c'mon." It was clear he was rushing us to avoid argument. "So, Apollo, could you do us the favor of showing the way to the throne room.

Within eight minutes, we were in the throne room staring up at fifteen-foot gods. I swallowed hard. Shane was right about being nervous. We had every right to. Especially about Zeus with his dark, stormy eyes and scent of the ozone. His pinstripe suit reminded me the head of some business.

Hera was gorgeous. Not Aphrodite gorgeous(let her not kill me that), but still considerably prettier that any regular house mom. Her look was less intimidating, but made every hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

They were judging me. By appearance and probably by character from what Apollo told them.

Now, I was telling the story from my point of view and from the looks from their faces, they didn't like it.

I hope you realize, I have a week to finish this story and start a new one.
Sorry this chapter was so sucky. Like I said. A week to finish.