I'm in a writing mood today. Hope you like the chapter.

Chapter Eighteen: Camilla

Keres? Come on! Keres are awful spirits of horrible ways to die. They are basically the police if you escape the Underworld. They invented the guillotine. And many other various death machienes. Want to know the best part? They were my siblings. Same mom.

I tried to keep a brave face but it was hard in front of these demon-ladies. I was currently being held by a large Kere. She was buff but also kind of chubby. And in great need of some deoderant. I tried not to focus on the smell too much. The lead Keres got up in my face again. I was starting to get tired of it. "Where is the Light emblem. This is the last chance before.." She cracked her fingers and I got the point.

I sighed. " I have no idea. But if I were to go looking for magical artifacts I would go for something that acctually exists. The Kere snarled. "It does exist! It is merely hidden away!" I snorted. "Uh huh. Yeah, hidden for two millenia! At this point it has practically lost everything." The Kere turned to her sisters. My half-sister and yelled, "She will not admit the location of the great Emblem! What shall we do to convince her?" I glanced over at Annabeth. Her captors were focused on the leader Kere. I sent out shadows. They wormed their way to the sheild and broke a little tear behind Annabeth. She followed my gaze and her eyes widened. She slipped through and I let the shadows seep away.

Go get the boys. I mouthed. She nodded and with surprising steath snuck out of the room. I exhaled. Holding that sheild had been difficult. I felt sweat tricle down the back of my neck. The leader turned to me. "You have one more chance before we kill your friend. The Keres cheered and turned to where Annabeth had been. Gasps arose from the crowd as they saw that the daughter of Athena had vanished. The leader glowered at me. "You just made a big mistake. No one messes with my captives!" She turned to the big Kere. "Break her arm." My eyes widened and I tried to wiggle free but with no luck. I heard the crunch as a bone folded. I yelped and tears stung my eyes.

The Kere holding me laughed and lowered me. My feet barely touched the floor. One Kere in the audience jumped up and down. I saw my chance. The Kere jumped again. And I thrust all my weight downward the large Kere dropped me and I flew into the leaders shadow. I landed in our small living room. Annabeth, Percy, and Kian were running out the door. Percy was last and saw me appear on the couch. "Guys! Wait! She's in here!" Heard pounding footsteps come back to our door. Annabeth flew inside Kian hot on her heels. I smiled weakly. "Ta-da!" My vision swam in and out. And for the next twenty minutes I was unconcious. I awoke when Annabeth tried to move my arm so she could put it in a sling.

I almost slapped her. Almost. I jolted upright when a shock of pain went through my right shoulder. I clutched my arm to my chest. Kian sat in front of me. He looked like he had aged two years. Percy stood at the door, proably watching for the Keres. I stood quickly and my knees almost gave out. Kian grabbed my waist. "Slow down speedy." Annabeth handed me a sling and I sat back down on the couch. I slipped it over my arm and managed with only a weak grunt when I moved. I stood on shaky legs. "We've got to go. Now!" Kian held up his hand. "Wait. Where are we going?" I sighed. "Anywhere but here. Everyone grab my arm.

Percy rushed from the door and put his hand on my good arm. Annabeth and Kian followed. Just then the Keres burst through the door. "Get her!" screeched the leader. I winked at her and pulled our group into shadow.

We appeared at the edge of town. A blonde boy was carrying a bucket. He looked to be about ten. He dropped his bucket and milk splashed all over us. My knees buckled and Annabeth caught me. I noticed Kian had slipped his hand into mine in the jump. That made me blush. The boy rolled his eyes at me.

"Camilla! I told you not to do surprise visits!" I smiled at the young boy. "Sorry Liam. Emergency." He sighed. "Come in."

Annabeth on one side and Kian on the other I walked into the a large barn. Liam carried his buckets to a shelf. A cow mooed behind him in a stall. "Sorry Matilda, gotta help Cami first." The cow let out another mournful moo and went silent.

I heard Percy snicker. "You named your cow Matilda?" Harley smiled "Yeah. It was my sisters idea." I sat down on a hay bale and tried to cath my breath. If it weren't for my mother that would've been a lot easier. I had spent the last year down in Tartarus doing nothing. Ugh, if only I had remembered to excersize!

I had now lost all of my endurance in shadow traveling and most of my strength. And that smoke from the Kers hadn't helped. When Keres die, instead of turing to monster dust they turn into a noxious gas. It's as if they are trying one last time to kill you.

Liam was looking around in a medicine cabinet while Annabeth talked to him. He didn't reply to any of her questions which seemed to annoy her. He sat on the bale next to me.

"Hello everyone. I'm Liam, Camilla's younger brother."