Chapter 9:

We were all breathing heavily, barely making it through the entryway to the sea of monsters. Our small boat was leaking and the guys were trying to plug it up while I was trying to keep us going with the motor, but it was already beginning to quit on us as well. We made it to a shore but the pitch blackness of the night made it hard to see anything, even my family the stars were covered by the clouds. "No use is going searching in the dark guys, lets just settle in here and go in the morning." I decided and we cuddled up together, making me a Stoll sandwich once more.

I woke up feeling empty and saw the guys were gone, making me look around. There was a beautiful port and huge building with tons of animals and women around. "Travis? Conner?" I called out as I left the boat, seeing a variety of different boats and ships and other transportations along the beach. "Ah, I see, come along, the young men with you are already inside meeting with our lady." I looked at the young lady in front of me, she was holding a towel for me and asked me to follow her this way. I did and she led me to the top floor of the building and opened a door, showing the guys standing in front of a mirror with some lady behind them, holding two cups.

"Just one shake and I know that you will be changed until your full potential." I eyed the glasses as I stepped past the woman, who tried to stop me, but my skin blazed under her touch, making her release me. "Stop, leave them be." I demanded and the woman turned to me, smiling brightly. "Oh my, such a beauty! I'll be along with your makeover shortly, let me finish with the gentlemen first. They need a lot of work." I stepped closer, her words were soft, but I could hear the threat in them.

"My dear, I promise you will have my full attention after I give the guys their shakes. Please allow me to do this." I shook my head and stepped closer, feeling my body begin to tap into the power I held within, my skin rippling slightly. "I don't think they need to change a thing about them. They are perfect the way they are. Guys, come here to me please." it seemed they couldn't hear me over the sounds of the lady's voice, whispering things to them. "Such beauty, such strength and feel her power, it's amazing! Oh my, you are so lovely and will be such a great pupil." I blinked, she wanted to teach me?

"I have no wish to become your pupil, I do want the guys back. We must be going. Excuse us." I stepped past her and felt a wave of power wash over me, making me stumble. "I'm afraid that I need to insist. These boys need to have their full potential unlocked. I can do that. Then I will be happy to show you how to do what I did just now." her eyes narrowed and her smile changed slightly, darker. I rippled again, sending a wave of my power at her as I moved closer to the guys, they're eyes were glazed over, I was almost at them.

"How sweet, you have a deep power inside of you, but nothing compared to what I have. Not another step." I reached my hand out, about to grab Conner's hand when the power hit me, such a wave, it crippled my knees and I sank down, the lady stepped over to me. "Who are you? Such a hit should have knocked you out." I groaned and struggled to my feet as she laughed, sending wave after wave of her power, making me fall over and over. "I am no demi-god." "I can tell that. Such strength and determination. It's been so long since I've had such trouble with someone. My voice doesn't even phase you."

I found my feet again and faced her before I dug a wave of power out of myself, blocking her next attack. Her face changed, seeing me still standing. She sent another and I knocked it to the side, knocking the lady that led me here out to the side. That seemed to bother her a lot and she threw out her hand, rocketing another attack of power at me. It almost knocked me over, but I just stepped back, coughing. "Your strength is only so much. I can last forever, however, you can't."

I laughed and saw blood shoot out of my mouth, her power had actually injured me, surprising. "I'm more ever-lasting than you think." I began to shine, my skin blazing to heat of my former self. The room began to heat, the rays coming from me such power making her shield her eyes. I felt my head begin to spin, I was so wore out from travel and my power was beginning to take a toll on me. "I am Circe, goddess of magic! No power is more than my own!" she shouted, her anger and power trying to force me back, but my heat rays melted it before reaching me.

"I am Hesperia, Evening Star! Release them and let us pass unharmed! I will use my full power to protect those who I love!" I resonated my voice so she heard me loud and clear, I sent a final wave over her, burning her tips of her hair. She retreated, holding her hair and shouting to get out. I sighed and pulled the power back, the room cooling and light dying off. I turned and saw the guys blinking and rubbing their heads. "Hey, what's going on?" "What happened?" they asked and I smiled, before coughing and blood came out again. I sank to the ground as they rushed over. "You have to stop over-using your power." "Your going to get yourself killed!"

Conner scooped me into his arms while Travis cleaned my blood off the floor, before we left the building, not coming in contact with anyone else. "I swear this place was covered with people just a moment ago." "Yeah, I wonder what happened." I shook my head, pointing to a large boat, it looked fast. "Just get our stuff and let's get away from here. I need to rest please." Conner sat me on the leather seat of the boat and they hurried and grabbed our things while I watched the island, making sure Circe wasn't coming back for us. Travis took the wheel and we sped off, they were enjoying themselves while I was lying back, trying to recover.

We had a long trip still ahead and I knew what was coming…the Sirens. They were going to get to the guys, they got to everyone I saw when I was in the sky. I found some thick wax below in a tub and gave it to them. "It's going to be dangerous, I don't want you two to be tempted. Please stick this in your ears and I'll do the same. I have seen the effect the Sirens have on people." they agreed and we shoved it far into our ears, making sure we couldn't hear anything. We passed the island without any of us losing ourselves to their

song and next we were pulling into the land where the Cyclops was told to live.

We gathered what we thought we might need and I went to head into the isle when the guys stopped me. "You need more rest." "You used way too much." I shook my head, saying we needed to get the fleece. "Not until you are better rested, your health is important to us." Conner said and Travis agreed, "We aren't going to leave until we feel you are alright to go. There's a dangerous creature up there, and probably other traps and things." "We all need to be at full strength. So let's just get some sleep and rest. We will go in the morning if you are better."