Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original Percy Jackson characters, the ones I create and the plot, I take full credit on.

Chapter Fourteen: Preparing for the Quest (Ryan von Parkington's P.O.V.)

Annabeth shook her head and winced as if she knew that something bad or painful was about to come, I backed up quickly as Rachel advanced on me.

"Whoa, look, I didn't…!"

"Didn't what?!" she snapped. "Think it would hurt to make fun of me?!" She grabbed a fistful of my shirt and brought her face close to mine.

I stammered, but I got out what I meant, "R. E. D. are your initials…! Rachel Elizabeth Dare! I was calling you by your initials!"

She stopped and let go of me, "Oh…" she smoothed out her outfit and I slumped down to the ground.

Rachel had us sit in a circle and Annabeth took her laptop out as she repeated the prophecy to the group. As always, I was impatient. "Any ideas of what it means?"

Both of the older and experienced girls smirked, Annabeth was the one who answered, "We always have ideas, but that's what the laptop is for. Condensing. So, everyone feel free to shout out any leads from the spoken text."

Percy was right on it, "We're looking for a crown."

"In a ghost town, so like the west?" Justin questioned.

Rachel shook her head, "As long as the earth is dead. So, either it's a curse made by Demeter or Gaea. I predict the first."

Everyone watched Annabeth expectantly, "I've revised your offers to create an overall idea. It's a cursed king's crown – Erysichthon to be exact. He chopped down Demeter's sacred grove for his dining hall. Wherever the crown is, the earth should be dead. But how does it link up with a child of Aphrodite?"

We sat there in silence. It dawned on me and I spoke up, "The curse has to do with both of the parties. Demeter's daughter is basically held captive by my father for a good part of the year. Maybe in exchange for the crown, we get Lucy."

"Close, but it's not the king that's cursed, it's the crown," a voice behind us said. We turned around to see Nico. A shiver went up my spine remembering our conversation earlier.

Annabeth's forehead wrinkled, "What do you mean?"

"Demeter placed the curse on his crown. He was obsessed with his station, so he would never take it off. So, whoever wears it has insatiable hunger. Somehow the spirit of the king found a way to get rid of it, so his punishment is off balance and he's sitting there laughing it up while my father gets angrier by the day because Demeter is down there chastising him for letting it happen. Erysichthon was supposed to peel off his flesh and eat it for the rest of time. They sent me to find it first, but I'll leave it to the lot of you; I have other quests to go on myself," he started to leave, but Olivea stopped him.

"How does it connect to Lucy though?"

I mouthed a "thank you" in her direction and she smiled.

Nico turned around, "She's descended from his bloodline and Erysichthon also foolishly claimed his wife to be more beautiful than Aphrodite like Lucy's father did. Double-whammy, right?"

I sighed, "How do you know all of this?"

Nico shrugged, "I've done my research. It was my quest before it was yours… Well, not officially, but y'know."

"Thank you," I said trying to be respect so he wouldn't feel the urge to make his earlier words a promise. He smiled and with a nod, he left.

Rachel looked around, "Well, the trip up here was completely useless. We could've just saved some time and gone straight to Nico." She got up and dusted off her pants, heading out of the cave and into the sun.

Before I left the cave, Annabeth pulled me aside. "Are you sure you want us along with you? Typically we don't just claim who goes on the quest. If you don't want this group, you have the right to choose other half-bloods."

I looked behind me and yet again had the pleasure of seeing Justin and Livey together. I thought about it. Did I really want that along for the ride? I was already unhappy, did I need the extra killjoy? I glanced back at her and then sighed, I knew my answer.

"Nah. We're good."

She leaned back on her other leg astonished and then back forward curiously, "Are you sure? Because if you feel that–"

"Look, I've been here for a day and you guys are the only ones I've really met. I don't really have a large pool to choose from. It's either you guys or going by myself. Or with Nico, and he scares the crap out of me."

"One of the Special Six," she laughed and then leaned in close, "You know, at first, I was jealous. Then I remembered I've helped save the world two times now." She turned and started to walk out but she stopped and looked back at me, "And I'm dating the strongest of the Six. He'll need my advice at least once." She winked and then walked out. I laughed and followed her lead.

As I started to walk out, I stopped and noticed something shiny lying by the cave opening. I bent down and picked up the bent scimitar, "What the…?" And then I heard the commotion from outside. I peeked around the curtain and saw that the group was surrounded by two massive scorpions and a hell hound. They circled them and I stood there silently, then I heard his voice.

"You know, the borders don't affect half-bloods, even if they are 'evil.'" I looked to see if I could spot the owner of the voice, but it was a lost cause. He continued on, "Weren't there more of you? I could've sworn I saw one more person."

My throat caught in my throat. I swallowed and took a shallow breath.

"No, there's no one else. Nico already left." I heard Annabeth lie. I took the blade of the scimitar in one hand after covering it with a scarf lying nearby and wrapped my other hand around the hilt and bent it back to its original form over my knee.

I checked through the little hole I made in the curtain again. I finally saw the young man; he was tall and lean, he had black hair and bright blue eyes with pale skin – he could have been my brother if his eyes had been darker, his jawline was strong and he looked confident enough to take on any god. He looked over at Annabeth after she spoke and walked over to Olivea. He held her face lightly and looked into her eyes, "Is that so?" She jerked her head away and spit on his shoes. He scoffed and took a step back to examine the damage. He looked up at her incredulously, "These are brand new! You'll have to pay for that…" He stood back and motioned for one of the monsters to attack.

This was it. I was on my own. I had to get rid of this guy and his pets. By myself.

I tore through the curtain and hit the first monster I could see with the blade, it landed on the hell hound which immediately shriveled up and turned to dust. I swung around and hit the massive scorpion advancing at me and chopped its tail off before cutting in down the middle. The group looked at me astounded, as did the obviously evil young man.

His astonishment soon vanished though, as he smirked and flicked his wrist. The other scorpion was whisked away and vanished into thin air. "Why waste another one of my loyal pets?" He walked over to me and I was frozen. I tried to move, but nothing came. The others seemed to be in the same predicament. He reached me and held out his hand and then dropped it while laughing maniacally, "Sorry! My bad! I didn't get to introduce myself! I'm Adam."

Author's Note: Trying to get this going so I don't let it go so easily again. Did you notice that the items from the attic have been moved to Rachel's cave? Looks like Ryan got a little help from Kampê's scimitar and Aphrodite's scarf! Review to let me know you like it (or hate it)! Forever yours, tkervvv