Chapter 14:

I met Dylan and Liam on top of Half-Blood Hill in the morning. I looked up at the giant pine tree that sat on top of the hill. The tree wasn't only the reason why Camp Half-Blood had lasted so long, but it was also a hidden story of sacrifice.

"Good luck heroes!" Chiron said.

"Thank you, Chiron. But do you have any idea where we should look for this god?" Liam asked. I was blown away. I would never expect Liam to ask Chiron anything.

Chiron's smile disappeared, "No, but I'm sure you'll know where to go. Just look for a sign." He galloped back down the hill.

"Hey just remember it could always be worse. When I was your age I was fighting in a war… but I guess you might have to do that soon." Percy told us. Annabeth elbowed him in the side and he winced but didn't say anything further.

"Trust your gut! It can get you out of some nasty situations. Trust me." Annabeth told us.

Down at the bottom of the hill, there was a honk. The three of us turned around and saw a white van with 'Delphi Strawberry Service' painted in big red letters on the side. Argus sat in the front seat and looked at us as if he was mentally asking us, 'what's taking so long?'

"Go! Good luck!" Annabeth pushed us away. I looked back at the top of the hill when we reached the van. I saw Percy and Annabeth waving at us from the top. I allowed myself one last look at the pine tree and a single tear trickled down my face.

"Hey, we'll make it back." I jumped at the sound of Liam's voice, but I offered him a small smile.

"I know we will," I told him with complete confidence.

…

Argus drove us into the city. I heard that Mount Olympus was on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building, so I figured maybe if we looked around that area for a little bit we might find something.

As soon as the three of us had all of our things out of the van Argus hit the gas and left us standing on the sidewalk coughing on the exhaust from the van.

"So where too?" Dylan asked me. I looked up into the sky and barely could make out the top of the Empire State Building.

I shrugged, "We'll look around and see if we can find the god's sign."

That's exactly what we did. We walked throughout the city near the headquarters of the gods. Every alleyway was checked, no brick or piece of pavement was left untouched, and every dumpster was looked at. We never got into a dumpster but we made sure to open up the lids and check inside.

"So now what?" Liam asked me.

"I guess we could go up to Olympus but what good would that do? The gods probably know as much as we do." I told both of the boys and they nodded their heads in agreement. Suddenly, I heard a small cackle from farther down the alleyway we were standing in.

"Did you hear that?" I asked Liam and Dylan.

"No, were we supposed to hear something?" Dylan asked me.

"Stay here! If I need help I'll scream or something." I said.

"That sounds smart," Liam said sarcastically, but I ignored him.

I walked down the alleyway and when I was out of the two boy's sight I whispered, "λειτουργεί." My armor was summoned and I flicked my wrist allowing my sword to appear, and I ventured deeper into the alleyway.

Finally, I reached the end of the alleyway. I looked around and saw nothing out of the ordinary. A small trash can sat in the corner overflowing with whatever the person that used it put into it. Above me, there were no fire escapes, no windows, and nowhere for anyone to hide.

"Where are you," I said in a low voice. Nothing made itself present but something about the whole scene made me feel uneasy. The wind rustled the trash on the ground forcing me to turn my back on the exit of the alleyway. That's when I felt a presence. I turned towards the exit and saw nothing. My nerves jittered pushing me close to the edge of my confront zone. I scanned my surroundings and while I had my back turned to the wall the trash can fell over. I jumped and again felt the presence.

"Show yourself!" I shouted, but not loud enough for Liam and Dylan to hear me.

A laugh came from the corner opposite of the fallen trash can, "Sadly sea spawn I cannot show myself because if I did show myself to you. My mother might become jealous and you might fail the tasks that Psyche barely passed." A deep voice spoke to me.

I racked my brain trying to think of where I had heard that name before. Finally, it came to me, "Eros, the god of love. I thought you would be up in Olympus shooting people with your little baby bow, yet you're here hiding next to someone's trash, why?"

"Why does everyone think I'm a little chubby baby flying around with a tiny bow?" He didn't give me time to answer, "I'm not hiding Mya. I'm scouting out the playing field. If you really want to win a war you need to know what you're up against." I could feel him scan my body and I didn't like it.

"You're the god of love why would you want a war?" I asked him not masking any of the confusion in my voice.

"You know who my parents are correct?" I nodded. "Well, then you can guess that I have a little bit of the power of war coursing through my veins, a courteous gift from my father. My mother has also told me that war and love go hand in hand and she's not wrong. War can be sparked because of many issues but the war that is fastly approaching us will be because of love, and I will be favoring the winning side." His voice dropped to a whisper, "Because in the end, Mya, love always wins. Ask Luke." My cheeks burned bright red.

"Don't bring him into this!" I shouted at the invisible god.

"Suit yourself, but I can feel this won't be our last encounter, Mya," the god told me.

"It will be!" I could feel myself burning with complete anger.

"You can't escape me, Mya. Not a single being has been able to escape me ever, and I will make sure you're not the first!" Eros laughed at me.

"Don't threaten me, Eros I'm not scared of you! You're an enemy of the gods and you will never get away with helping whoever you're helping!" I showed no sign of fear because I knew that it was what the turned god was looking for.

The god laughed at me, "You shouldn't be threatening me, Mya Gethern. Just because you are a daughter of Poseidon means nothing to me!" he spat. "And you should be terrified of whoever was able to get love on their side of the war because they have to have power to control my domain and me!" The wind shifted and I could feel that I was now alone.

"What was it?" Dylan asked me when I walked back towards them.

"Nothing, just a trash can that tipped over and had its trash moving around." I lied. Both of the boys nodded and we continued to walk down the sidewalk. I hung back walking behind them and thought about what Eros had said. What was powerful enough to control such an uncontrollable god? There had to be something because there was no way Eros could lead a war on his own… right?

I broke into Liam and Dylan's conversation, "We need to go to Olympus!" They both turned towards me and laughed.

"Why?" Dylan asked through his fits of giggles.

"Because I have some inside information that could help us win this war," I told them. They both stared at me like I was growing snakes out of the top of my head.

"Got a rat?" I looked above my head and saw a snake.

"What the-"

"Pleasure to see you again, Mya." I turned around and saw Hermes.

"Lord Hermes," Liam said taking a bow. Dylan stood staring at the god and didn't follow Liam's lead.

"Thank you, Liam but there is no need for that," the god told the bowing boy, "I'm am not as formal as the rest of my family. Now, Mya what is this information you need to tell the gods."

"Well, I have just met a… god," I carefully chose my words making sure not to overstep. "I believe the council may be able to get some more useful information than what I have but they are working-"

"What are you doing here?" Dylan spat at his father. "You never showed your face until a few nights ago and you didn't even talk to me! No, you talked to her! She's not even your daughter!"

"Now, Dylan-" the god started.

"No, don't make up an excuse! You left me with an abusive mother! You left me to fend for myself for years, and you think you can just walk back into my life like you didn't do any of that!" Dylan shouted at the god.

Hermes looked down at the ground and said, "I'm sorry- I'm sorry I wasn't there when I should've been. I wish I could've been because I would've I promise I would've Luke." He slapped his hand against his mouth knowing he made a mistake.

"That- that is pathetic! I'm not him! I will never be him!" Dylan tried to go on but I stepped in.

"Dylan, he didn't mean to, and there are rules about the gods and their relationships with their kids," I told Dylan.

"They promised they would change! I heard and saw what Percy made them promise… I saw it in a dream! Yet Liam, you, and I were forgotten because they will never change! That's why he fought against them because Hermes, his own father forgot about him!" Dylan stomped off and I looked at the god, but he waved me off.

Liam had chased off after Dylan while I stood in the middle of the sidewalk torn between two parts of my life.

I felt the wind shift and I swear I heard a soft whisper say, "Love always wins!"

Finally, I made up my mind and ran down the sidewalk towards my friends.

Fairyn~ Sorry I left you on a cliffhanger, but I kind of did it again in this chapter.

I really feel these characters starting to develop and I'm falling in love with this project! Also a few nights ago I shifted for the first and let me tell you 100/10 do recommend! If you enjoyed this chapter please review!

~Emily