Hello readers ( if there are any of you left) Honestly I would completely understand if you all decided to give up on me. I would have by now.

So I must send a most sincere apology to all of you. I really wish I had more time in the day, but I wake up at 6:00 a.m and go to bed at 10:00 p.m then I spend eight hours at school do that doesn't help any. Let's not forget homework!Oh dear, but the reason I haven't been updating recently is because of the rush to finish projects and study for finals. Yippee!Anyway. Enjoy the chapter.

So! I am officially out for Summer so I should be able to update a lot more often! I'm super excited about this and I hope you all have a great time!

Aria

The first thing I did after meeting everyone, was take a bath. The water had seeped into my muscles and helped relieve the soreness in them. Then there was the fact that I hadn't bathed myself for a good few weeks.

I sighed, sitting on my bed in a T-shirt and sweats, wringing my hair in a towel. A smell of cinnamon and oranges filled the air and a slight breeze drafted from the open windows.

A knock sounded at the door and Carter's voice sounded through it. "Aria, we're having dinner."

I stood up and let the towel drop to the bed. I yawned and left the room, leaving the comfort of my cushions behind.

I walked onto the terrace braiding my hair. "Hi guys."

I tossed my now complete hair behind my head. Grabbing a plate, I served myself rice and some meatless stir fry, sat down, popped a piece of broccoli in my mouth and looked up at the rest of the 21st Nome.

"So," I said ignoring their expectant expressions. "How's the weather."

...

We managed to get through dinner without much event. Though for some reason a penguin waddled into the middle of our conversation, which happened to be about the best kind of peanut butter.

Now, I lied on my bed and stared up at the dark ceiling.

I remember praying desperately that I didn't dream before I fell into a fitful sleep.

I dreamed that I was in the middle of the forest at Camp Half Blood. High above me, the canopy of trees caught fire. The flames raced down the branches and through the bark. I stumbled away from the blaze and started to cough.

I shut my eyes tight and shook my head. 'This is all just a dream. This isn't real fire. I'm fine. All an illusion.' But no matter how many times I tried to convince myself it wasn't real, the smoke still felt like it was burning into my lungs and searing an indentation upon my interns.

"Flee." A woman's voice said. Her vocalization sounding as though she'd just been shaken awake, but extremely familiar.

"Flee, my child. The Greeks will never care for you. Even now, as they believe you have perished, some question your loyalties." The woman laughed. "Join me little one. Do not fear your heritage. embrace it. Watch the gods fall. It is what they deserve."

I coughed raggedly as the trees smoldered around me. "G-Gaea?"

My legs gave out under me, and I collapsed to the ground in a gasping fit.

"Your petty camp will burn, its ashes will become the foothold for my reign." Gaea chided. "Embrace your destiny child. You are meant to be by my side."

The searing hot tongues of flames licked my skin, and the burning sensation now flowed through my very being. 'I was burning, it was a dream, and I was going to die'

"Stand beside me," Gaea said. "With you as my right hand, we could vanquish any in our path. That was how it was meant to be."

'Not going to happen.' I thought bitterly.

Then the screaming started, I recognized the sounds of tortured youngsters.

Somehow, I just knew, that the pain inflicted upon these innocent people was my fault. Gaea was hurting them because of me.

"No!" I wheezed. All rational thought flooding from my mind, my subconscious instantly making this a reality. "No! Stop!"

"Join me!"

I shot up, my fingers snatching at a soft fabric, and a terrified scream tearing it's way from my throat.

My panic-filled mind raced around in circles desperate to find anything to consolidate my terror. I knew who that voice had belonged to.

No matter how much I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that she sat right there, her flowing earth gown rippling in the darkness. I felt that if I tried, I could reach out and touch her. I could put my hand upon my biological mother.

I flinched away from the darkness at the foot of my bed. A sleeping face appeared to materialize from nothing.

The panic that filled me skyrocketed and I scrambled as far back as I could get.

"No," I murmered. "No, no, no, no, no, no."

I shouted at her, or, meant to, this being who'd done everything in her power to make my life difficult. The one who expected me to just join her at a moment's notice. No second thougts, no hesitation.

Anger and fear consumed me, the latter being most prominent. My throat ripped open in shrieks as I backed away. My fingers grasped the edge of a pillow and curled around it.

Without thinking, I threw it at the non-existent face. As it passed through the image, I heard a faint whisper.

Join your brother, wake me together. The earth shall rise again!

I stared, terror struck at the laughing face of Gaea, the woman I now knew as my mother. This cannot be happening.

It took me several seconds to realize that someone was next to me. I took a shuddering breath as the illusion slowly vanished. Then looked over.

Carter's hand rested gently on my shoulder, his eyes held a form of genuine concern.

"Aria," he said, "are you okay?"

Reality crashed down on me. Everything was fine. Gaea was gone. If she ever really was there.

I shuddered, "Yeah, I'm sorry, just a nightmare. I didn't mean to wake you up."

He shook his head, "I was awake anyway. Come on, care for some hot coaco?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that a lot."

...

The next few hours were a blur. I spent a lot of time on the couch, drinking hot chocolate or tea.

I just couldn't get my mother's voice out of my head. Join your brother. Wake me.

I shivered. "Gods, that was terrifying."

The next thing I knew, everyone else was coming downstairs and the sun was up.

Sadie yawned, sitting down next to me, "Hey, last night, there was a whole bunch of screaming. What happened?"

"Sorry," I said. "Had a nightmare."

"What was it about?" Sadie asked.

"I was caught in the middle of a forest fire." I said. "There was a woman, and she kept telling me to help her destroy the gods."

I didn't lie, but I left the idea out to interpretation. Sadie definitely thought I meant the Egyptian gods, but I hadn't specified.

I hardly ever lied. More often than not, I just manipulated the truth. In fact, I probably would have just straight up, told my sister about Gaea if I hadn't promised not to.

Sadie glanced at me, "So, was this a ba dream, or a dream, dream?"

I'm not sure." I admitted. "I certainly hope it was just a dream, but to be truthful, it could actually have, or is going to happen."

...

I was getting really tired of having to sneak out. But unfortunately, something told me if I told Carter and Sadie that I was leaving, I wouldn't get past the door.

I had taken 30 minutes to write a message explaining as much as I could.

I gripped the strap of the bag slung over my shoulder and pushed myself against the wall.

There were voices in the room across from me. Voices talking about me.

"I just don't get it Carter." Sadie was saying. "How did she get all the way to Mount St. Helen's?"

Mount St. Helen's? Was that where'd I'd been? Truthfully I hadn't known. Nor had I thought about how few volcanic eruptions happened. Of course they'd figure out where it had been.

"Even if Aria isn't being completely honest with us, she still has every right to privacy." Carter relpied. "You are not allowed to go snooping through her stuff. Nor am I going to distract her while you do so."

Sadie sighed very audibly. "Fine. You don't have to be involved."

I panicked when I realized that she was leaving the room. And headed right for mine.

I am sooooo sorry that took so long to get out, but I was super busy with finals and everything that the end of the school year entitles. So, I hope you liked it and I really hope you have a nice rest of your day!

Thank you all so much! Bye ;)