Disclaimer: The same old, the same old.

Author's Notes: 6/24/15 - Today is a good hot day to get wet. St Jean Bautist's day means in my hometown: run or you will get thrown bucket of water. In other news, I haven't written anything in a while. I am enjoying my break but I am getting lazy, so lazy to think on starting something new and cool... It's too hot right now in my beautiful sun city... scorching, blistering hot. I am sorry if you are against last chapter but bad things happen to good people too. 6,718+ views.

CH 38 "Plans" (Lana)

I passed out in the darkness. I don't remember anything else, not even dreaming, until I woke up and it was noon. I was under a tree shadow with a cape as a blanket and a bag as a pillow. I barely opened my eyes. I felt so tired like I hadn't rested at all.

"I still believe you made a wrong call, son of Zeus" said a robotic metallic voice and I bitted my lips drawing blood. I wanted nothing more to stand and fight her. For me, everything was her fault. She was a couple of feet away behind me, really close and I could slash her with my sword, but then I remembered that I left it in the forest.

"Lana is as strong as Claire. The Jacksons won't hurt her either" said another voice and I stopped my plan. Ewan was here as well. Of course, he was. I just promised my loyalty to him, to his cause.

"He said we needed the Titan blood" said the Dark Sword and wondered who else was behind all this: demigod? God? Giant? Titan?

"The firstborn child will do just fine. Besides, Claire is not ready to come with us" said Ewan confidently "Don't worry. I will convince her, and don't look to me. You failed in getting the clear eyes. You weren't subtle at all"

I heard a robotic chuckle and the Dark Sword said "A minor slip. Well, you got your ex-girlfriend back. Her tracking powers can helps us to find them more easily and the eyes too. That must be something"

"And yours?" asked Ewan "She could have joined us."

"She was too alike her stepfather, too loyal and goody two shoes. Now she is something less to worry" said the Dark Sword and I thought it was girl, but… unless she was a lesbian. She didn't sound sad at all. Did she even care about her girlfriend or it was just a cover, an alibi?

"That's a shame. She was really skillful" said Ewan and I knew that girl was dead, poor girl. Did she know who her girlfriend was? Did she feel like Theo must feel right now? Betrayed?

"Almost as good as me" said the Dark Sword almost proudly.

I heard someone standing up and I closed my eyes. I didn't want them to know that I was awake or that I heard them.

Soon, I felt a hand shaking me lightly by the shoulder. I heard Ewan almost whispering "Hey, are you awake?"

"No, I am not, dork" I grunted with eyes close.

"As chirpy fun as always in the mornings, well, noons. Are you hungry?" said Ewan and I heard him laugh carefree, almost innocent. I opened my eyes and his face even looked younger, like we first met.

I sat up rubbing my shoulders and back. Everything felt stiff and sore by the hard ground. I said "Just a little, but I don't think I can't eat"

Ewan looked at me with wide open surprised eyes and exclaimed loudly "Don't tell that idiot got you knocked up?!"

Now, I was surprised because I saw no reason for him to think that. I yelled "No!" Ewan stared at me and exhaled as he looked relieved. Frankly, it wasn't his problem anyway. Why should he even care about that? He sat in front of me with his legs crossed and a big smile on his face.

"Wait, I know that face. Did he cheat on you?" said Ewan after second of looking at me, then he started laughing and I felt my cheeks burning hot of embarrassment "Bravo, Jackson. I never thought he got it in him. Who was the lucky girl? Someone I know?"

I felt even more embarrassed. I pushed him annoyed and saying "He didn't sleep with her, just a kiss. Okay?"

Ewan smiled and said teasingly "Okay. Can I imagine the kiss at least? It had to be really hot and steamy."

"Not funny" I said pushing him again until he fell on his back. I felt like 13 all over again when we were together.

He sat up again and said "It is if you see it from my point of view." He smiled so teasingly and funny even moving his eyebrows.

I still don't know why, maybe the stress of the last 24 hours, maybe I was just losing my mind but he made me laugh. I laughed like I hadn't since Morgan left and he smiled pleased. I punched his shoulder saying "Shut up!"

"I have really missed you" said Ewan and I knew what he meant. Despise of everything, we were good friends. We had chemistry and when we dated, there was a spark, not the same as Theo and me, but it was there, small, fragile, like a timid flame.

"Me too" I said honestly.

I looked around and the Dark Sword wasn't with us anymore, maybe she never was. Maybe I dreamed. Maybe I could wake up any second in Theo's arms and the last 24 hours were just a bad dream. Or maybe I was hoping in vain.

"Lana?" said Ewan suddenly and taking me out of my thoughts. I looked to him and he looked bashful.

"Yes, Ewan" I said lightly with a small smile in my face. I could hear my stomach complaining. I definitely could eat now.

"Hungry?" said Ewan and I nodded. He stood up walking to a big camper's bag and took out a bottle of orange juice and piece of bread; it still felt warm and fresh. I took a bit and it was savory delicious. I ate the whole piece in a couple of big bites and drank the juice in a one intake.

After breakfast/lunch, I had no idea what to do. I had no idea of Ewan's plan and how stopped him. I could kill in the cold blood but then what? The Dark Sword talked about someone else and I had to know who.

I walked around the tree just to do something. We were in a forest, maybe a national park, probably somewhere in the North. I could see a lot of pine trees. The weather was cold as we were in Winter but it was still manageable. I looked up and it would snow soon.

Later, I helped Ewan picking up wood for the night. We had made light talk, little things. I mostly talked about my classes, the exhibit and the movies I had watched. He went to the exhibit the day after the premiere and praised my sculpture. Every time I asked him about him, his plans or anything related to this reasons, he derived the topic to something that I could get sidetracked like art.

It was the middle of the afternoon when Ewan made a really important question as he took my hand "About us?"

I knew what he meant. I promised him to follow him, but to love him what a different thing. My whole body ached for Theo. I wondered if this was how he felt all those four years in the Wild. How awful I felt. My whole body pulled me back to New York, to my boyfriend but my mind was more stubborn and I knew I had to stay, I had to stop Ewan.

I said quietly and honestly "I don't know. Could you give me some time to figure it out?"

"All the time you need" said Ewan and his arm pulled me to his body. He kissed my forehead, lightly and sweet, not demanding anything and understanding all.

One hour later, the Dark Sword returned still wearing her mask without the cape and I could see her curves in her tight black clothes; she was a girl for sure, with dark brown hair in a messy bun. She appeared riding a black hellhound, maybe 3 feet taller than Mrs. O'Leary, behind her there was a big bulk, enough to fit a person and I was afraid I could be right.

Ewan greeted her with a big hug and they whispered something at each other. I couldn't get close without being suspicious. I just smiled at them like nothing was wrong. I saw Ewan patting the dog's fur with light loving touches and I helped Ewan with the fire without saying anything.

Once the fire was roaring, we sat in a circle and I could feel so much better with my fingers getting warm and cozy. I definitely needed gloves, the thick ones.

For good 10 minutes, nobody said a thing until I talked "So what is the plan now?"

Ewan and the Dark Sword stared at me, but it was her who said "We are no telling you a thing until we are sure you can be trusted."

I was offended and I wanted to talk back, but I had to be polite and smart. I just smiled dumbly and said sweetly "I just betrayed my friends, the ones I used to call family and my boyfriend. That doesn't count?"

"No. Anybody can be a double agent. It's really easy, Triton's daughter" said the horrible robotic voice of the Dark Sword. I wanted to yell at her to take that off. I was sick of her mask too. It reminded me too much of Mer and ultimately my boyfriend who I missed so much.

"I can be trusted" I huffled.

She looked at me and smiled saying "I will take this off. It's a little hot and we are alone anyway."

I looked at her removing her mask and I couldn't believe what I was watching. I said with grandly disbelief "Charlie, you are the Dark Sword?"

"Yes, I am. I told you. Anyone can be a double agent" said Charlie smiling at me so teasingly than it made everything even more bizarre "Surprised? You should have seen Aida's face"

I shook my head, even blinked a couple of times and said "But why?"

"It's fun as simple as that" said Charlie with malice "I have a great idea." She literally jumped to the dog whose name was still unknown for me. She took the big bulk down and dragged it to us. I could see the outline of a person, maybe a child, no bigger than Will. "It's time to prove your loyalty to the cause" Charlie opened the bag from the head to the toes with a knife hidden in her boot. It was painful reminder of Theo. I looked to the boy inside, red hair, white skin with freckles. I was right. He looked no older of 5 years old and he was still tied and sleeping. Was he drugged? She handled me her black Stygian sword meaning each word "Kill him"

I looked to the blade and whispered "He has done nothing to me."

"He is a son of Zeus, our enemy now" said Charlie moving her sword at me. She really wanted me to do it. This was my first test and I hoped it my last one. I grabbed the sword and I thought of fight her and Ewan. I preferred kill them than an innocent. I smiled at them and I leaned to the sleeping boy and he just opened his eyes. His electric blue eyes looked at me, pleading me for help. He looked even less scared than I was. He knew I couldn't do it.

"He is not my enemy" I said dropping the sword at Charlie's feet. I looked to Ewan "It's just little boy, your sibling"

"He will grow up, just like weed" said Ewan and I just didn't know him anymore "You have to cut them from the root."

I gulped as I knew that I was stuck with them. I felt my eyes in tears but I rubbed them off quickly before they were out. I said confidently "That's why you are killing demigods"

Charlie smiled and said "Not me. I am just for the kicks, your boyfriend on the other hand"

Ewan put his hand in the air saying "I haven't killed a single demigod yet, just an annoying blond legacy of Athena… and Mer" I gasped at his words. Now I understood what they were talking this morning. Aida was dead and Ewan did.

Charlie smiled wickedly and handled her sword to Ewan saying "Well, this is your time to start"

Ewan looked at her, then me and the little boy who was crying, tied with gray tape on his mouth. He said gently "Sorry, Denzel. This is necessary. You should be flattered and relieved. Being a son of Zeus is not easy. I will lift your burden. Plea to reborn as a son of Demeter or something less dangerous"

I said "Please, don't" but it was too late. I saw the sword going down severing the little boy's head off. I covered my mouth restraining the scream inside my body. Charlie rolled her eyes like saying 'That's it?' and Ewan looked at me and I saw just a light remorse in his eyes.

I looked to the body, the blood pouring out freely as the head was just inches of the body. I closed the little boy's eyes and I ran as fast as I could. I heard Ewan yelling for me but I didn't look back. I had to draw as much distance as possible of this madness. I thought I could do it but it was just too much to bear.

As I was reaching a hill, Ewan got to me. I really hoped to escape. I felt his hand pulling me back to him but I pushed myself forward trying to evade him. Still his grip made me return. As I was looking back at him, I saw it and he knock it me out with boulder on my head.

I woke in the middle of the night with a head splitting pain. I felt hand in my neck pulling me up to stand up, or something like it. I tried to open my eyes but I couldn't focus. My head was spinning and spinning. I heard a soothing voice saying "Drink it" and I felt the edge of a glass in my lips.

"What is this?" I asked and I could smell the liquid. It was sweet like cherry pie and Theo's lips, my favorite things.

"Something for your head" said the voice again and I drank the thing. It had to be nectar since it tasted like that. The hand on my neck put me down again. I felt a pair of lips on my forehead whispering 'I love you' as a blanket covered me. I heard the fire close and I could feel the warmth of it, and I slept.

When I woke up again, it was daylight. I was on the ground next to thick tree root. My bag was by my side and everything felt weird. The sweet taste was still in my lips, freshly cut Camp strawberries, just like Summers with Ewan, and it was weird. Nectar taste never lingered this long.

"How are you feeling?" said Ewan and I smiled at him. I was happy to see him and I still couldn't believe how we ran away 2 days ago, too sick of the Gods and their plans.

"Great, love. That tree was really hard" I said. Last night, I tripped clumsily with a root and hit myself in the head with the tree trunk.

"Wear this" said Ewan and slid a black ring on my left thumb. It was weird. All day before I had felt my thumb lighter like a phantom feeling of heavy ring in it, but I didn't wear rings, at least until now.

I looked to him and smiled almost hopeful. I said "Are you proposing?"

"No, today. This will make you untraceable for our enemies" said Ewan and I felt his lips on my hair and forehead.

I could hear myself yelling to snap out of it, but my other half of myself didn't seem to care. How annoying my consciousness could be. My father warned me of falling in love with Zeus' son, but I didn't care. I literally fell over heels for this boy.

I leaned to kiss my one true love, Ewan. "I love you" I said and he kissed me with his hands on my cheeks and neck. I felt his touch foreign like my body was expecting something different, maybe someone else. Maybe the tree really affected my head. I hated how clumsy I could be.