I know, it's been a while... though for me a short while. I know the first chapters went up in quick succession... but I had a lot going on.

Chapter 5

The laughs of Linda made Addy's training the hardest. She could hear the party on the beach, but Sloan wasn't going to let her leave the arena until either Linda told them to return to their cabins, or she managed to actually land a blow against him.

Addy's dented armor, which had been completely perfect when they started, was a sign that Sloan was not letting her off easy.

"Look," Addy said as she was sitting on the ground, her sword skittering away, "don't you want to go to the party?"

"Not as much as you do, apparently," Sloan said. He pointed at Addy's sword with his own. "Pick it back up and let's get to trying again."

Addy stood and grabbed the sword again. She was slowly improving, able to last several attacks from Sloan now before utterly failing. It was all made harder by the fact that the curse the Aphrodite girls had placed on her was still in effect, meaning she was in a skirt and cute, tight shoes.

The light in the arena was an orange color, as the sun was setting outside. As Addy turned back to Sloan, she couldn't help but notice how the shadows on his face really enhanced his features. This time, Addy attacked first, which he was not expecting. He still easily blocked, pushed her back, and took a swing at her. Addy dodged this, and then blocked his next one.

And then, her wacky impulse hit. Her sword locked with his, she held it as strong as she could, and then lifted a foot, intending to pound it into his stomach. And she yelled as she did so. "This is Sparta!"

Sloan caught her foot with one hand, shocking Addy. She had hoped the element of awkwardness would throw him off his game. He twisted the wrist with his sword, causing Addy to drop her sword. But, she wasn't about to give up. She swung at him with one arm, trying to punch him, but he blocked her arm with his sword arm.

So she went for a head butt.

Addy opened her eyes to see the stars in the sky. The orange glow of the arena was gone and Sloan was standing over her. Linda was poking the girl with the toe of her shoe.

"Her eyes are open, you can stop that," Sloan said, looking at Linda.

"Whatever," Linda said, rolling her eyes. She looked down at Addy. "Wake up, Stoll. No sleeping in the arena."

Addy sat up, but things began to spin and she almost fell, even though she was only sitting. Sloan quickly knelt down next to her and caught her shoulders, holding her steady.

"What happened?" Addy asked. Her forehead hurt.

"Well, you tried to head butt me," Sloan said. "So, I met your head with with own head butt. Apparently my head is a lot harder than yours and it knocked you out."

Addy blinked a few times, as the words sank in. "Oh..."

"Come on, you might have a concussion," Sloan said. "I doubt you can have ambrosia or nectar, so let's get you to an Apollo camper."

"I say we test her," Linda said, holding a small bar of ambrosia. "What's the worst that can happen?"

"She could die," Sloan said. He scooped Addy into his arms and stood.

"What about my sword?" Addy asked as Sloan walked toward the exit of the arena. "Alex sharpened it and engraved my name at the bottom for me."

"I've got it," Sloan said. "It's in my belt."

"Oh... thanks," Addy said. She leaned her head against his shoulder. She was slightly impressed how gently he was handling her. She lightly lifted one hand and fake punched his other shoulder. "I landed a punch."

To her surprise, Sloan chuckled. "Yeah, you've got a concussion."

"Okay, wake me up when we get there," Addy said, closing her eyes. That was until she felt her feet dropping to the ground. The suddenness without warning jarred her, causing her to fully wake. Sloan was still holding her back, but had purposely dropped her legs. She stumbled a bit when her feet hit the ground, and clung to his shoulders to stay standing.

"What the Hades!" Addy asked, turning to him. One moment, he was trying to help her, and then he was dropping her.

"You can't fall asleep with a concussion," Sloan said. "You might not wake up. I am not going to be responsible for putting you into a coma, Addison."

"Oh..." Addy nodded.

Sloan lifted an eyebrow. "You're not going to yell at me?"

"For what," Addy asked. "Despite your methods of keeping me awake, your intentions were good."

"For calling you Addison," Sloan said.

"Oh... did you?"

Sloan chuckled again and began ushering her along again. It took Addy a few moments to realize they were heading toward the beach party. Luckily, Linda wasn't following.

"Lux," Sloan called once they were with the fray of the party. Addy was having trouble focussing on any thing. She noticed a boy turn toward her and Sloan. He was dancing with one of the Aphrodite girls... the one that had seriously not known that Alex was a girl. She, of course, was beautiful.

The two approached. Like all children of Apollo, Lux had brilliant blue eyes. "Something up?" Lux asked, his arm around the girl's waist.

"She has a concussion," Sloan said, placing his hand on Addy's shoulder. "And a few more bruises than I should have given her."

"Oh, I remember you," the girl said pointing at Addy. "Brea blessed you today. You're looking really good."

"Blessed?" Addy asked. "That's what you call this?" She gestured to everything that she was being forced to sport. A tight shirt, a short skirt, long flowing hair. She had tried to chop off the hair, but she doubted even the scissors of the Fates would be able to cut through it until the blessed curse was ended.

"So I take it that introductions aren't needed," Sloan asked, knowing that it would annoy Addy. "As, clearly, you and Agape go way back to this afternoon." He turned to Lux. "This is Addison. Addison, Lux, son of Apollo."

"Well, Addison, if you could stop giving a death glare to my girlfriend, I'll see what I can do about your concussion and bruises."

"I'll keep the bruises, thank you," she said. "And, please, call me Addy."

Lux just shrugged and placed his hands on either side of Addy's head, and then began chanting a hymn to his father. His hands began to glow, and the pain in Addy's head began to immediately recede. She sighed as the ebbing pain finally was gone and Lux stepped back.

Things were clearer, even in the dim light of the bonfire. She smiled. "Thank you, Lux. Nice to know that someone here isn't a total jackass." She shot a glare at Sloan.

Sloan just rolled his brown eyes and threw his hands up in defeat. "We're here, you might as well enjoy the party." He pulled her sword from his belt and held it out to her. "And make sure you thank Alex for this."

"Is Alex really a girl?" Agape asked, cocking her head to the side.

Lux and Sloan both turned to her. "Yes, she is," Sloan said finally.

Izzy stumbled around, after her third cup of the strawberry wine. She couldn't really taste the alcohol in it anymore, which she supposed was good. It was still sweet, however.

"Izzy Stoll!" the brown-haired girl turned, recognizing the voice as her own. She was greeted by a near mirror image, just a few things different, such as the clothing. And this girl had longer hair with beautiful highlights.

"Addy!" Izzy yelled and threw her arms around her twin. "When did your hair get so long?"

"About four this after noon," Addy said fingering her now long hair in annoyance. "It won't go away."

"Where have you been?" Izzy asked, trying to walk forward, but stumbled a bit.

"Whoa... have you been drinking?" Addy asked.

"No!" Izzy gasped in shock. She then looked to the side. "Okay, well... maybe a little. Char gave it to me."

Addy crossed her arms over her chest. "Not cool, girl. So not cool."

"Anyway, I need to get into the light of the fire," Izzy said. "So that I will glow and Sonny will notice me. Can you help me?"

Addy nodded. "Just... give me the cup, okay?"

Izzy nodded and held out her cup to Addy. Addy took it and put it on the table with the drinks. "Okay, we'll go toward it, but not too close. I don't need you tripping and falling in."

The two walked... well, Addy walked and Izzy clung to Addy like her life depended on it. But, within a minute, they were near enough to the fire that the light was hitting the shimmer and glitter on Izzy's body.

And Sonny looked up from where he was with Leiko. His eyes fell upon the twins, and his blue orbs lit up.

He stood up, and approached.

"Izzy," he said, regarding the twin that was residing in the Hermes Cabin. His eyes then rested on Addy. "Addy, I haven't seen you yet today. You haven't been hiding from me, have you?" He stepped closer to her. "I hear that you've been assigned a new archery teacher. My guess is that it was Ryder's idea. However, where you're at, only a real archer could help you to improve."

"Then I hope Roxy is as good an archer as you claim you are," Addy said.

"If you doubt my skill," Sonny said his voice lowered, seductive, and motioned to his quiver. "Then how about you and I head to the archery range and I show you that I always hit what I aim for."

Addy had to admit that the son of Apollo was attractive in nearly every physical way. He was handsome, strong, tall, beautiful eyes, and over all, alluring. But then Addy's eyes drifted to her sister, who, in her drunken stupor, didn't even seem to realize that the guy she had eyes for was hitting on her twin. Addy remembered talking with Alex earlier, and Sloan's obvious hatred for the Son of Apollo.

"I think it's a great idea," Addy said. She smiled and stepped back. "Hey, everyone! Sonny's gonna show us what a perfect archer he is. Anyone up to challenge his aim?"

Sonny's blue eyes widened. "Uh, I was thinking more of a private show..."

"Oh, I know exactly what you were thinking," Addy said. "And exactly what you were aiming for." She smirked. "And, nothing short of a spell from Aphrodite herself is gonna get you it."

Izzy clapped her hands in excitement. "Go Sonny! You're the best!"

"You wouldn't want to upset all your fans, now would you?" Addy asked.

Sonny chuckled a bit. "I won't," he said. "Tomorrow at noon," he called out. "All that dare challenge me, bring your bow and five arrows to the archery range." He then turned back to Addy and spoke quietly for her. "And, when I come out the champion of that, you and I will have private lessons."

Addy nodded. "I accept," she said, crossing her arms.

Izzy woke the next day to a horribly bright light and screeching loud noise. She prayed for sleep to come back, but it evaded her as the roaring in her ears grew louder. She pushed herself to the sitting position, and thanked every Greek god she could think of that she didn't need to throw up because she was on the upper bunk.

It turned out the horrible noises she heard were the early birds chirping and the snoring of her cabin mates. And the bright light; the sunlight just peeking up over the horizon. The sun itself was not yet visible.

Izzy climbed down from her bunk and stumbled to the bathroom where she discovered she was still covered in shimmer from the night before, though now it was smeared as she hadn't washed it off before falling asleep.

She grabbed a towel and hopped into one of the showers, allowing the water to wash over her for about ten minutes before actually grabbing her shampoo or any soap.

When she came out, Addy had made her way into the cabin and stood outside the shower with a bottle of water and two pills. Izzy grabbed both without thinking, popping them into her mouth and drinking down the whole bottle of water.

"Thirsty, I see," Addy said. She shook her head. "I assume you remember very little from yesterday."

"How did you know that I needed those?" Izzy asked.

"Twin telepathy," Addy said. "You're in pain, and I can feel it... to some degree. Plus, I was there last night."

"Really?" Izzy had no recollection of this. At present, she could only feel a raging headache and over all ickiness.

"Really," Addy said. "It might be for the better that you don't remember all of yesterday." Addy remembered how Sonny had basically ignored Izzy.

Izzy looked up at Addy, and then cocked her head. "Are you wearing make-up? And why is your hair long?"

"Long story," Addy said.

"At my present state, I think I have time," Izzy said.

"Some DOA cursed me," Addy said.

Izzy stared at Addy for a few moments, expecting more.

"Okay, maybe not such a long story," Addy said. "Are you going to be okay, because I have to find someone that's really good at archery."

"Sonny's good," Izzy said.

"Someone not him," Addy said. "Apparently, my new archery teacher isn't quite as much as a dead-shot as he is."

"Well, I haven't seen anyone else as good as him," Izzy shook her head. "Why?"

"No reason," Addy said, waving off the statement. "But, just to let you know, Sonny's going to show some trick shots around noon at the archery range."

Izzy's eyes lit up a bit, which was good because she was sort of looking as if she wanted to die. "Really?"

"Yeah," Addy nodded. "I just thought you'd like to know. I know you wouldn't want to miss it."

Just at noon, people began to make their way toward the archery range, following Sonny. Addy had spent the whole morning trying to find anyone, without seeming desperate, to find someone with better aim than Sonny. No one had volunteered to try against him.

After most of the people had filed in, Sonny began showing off a few trick shots, shooting several arrows at once, lighting things on fire, shooting moving objects out of the sky, and shooting behind his back and getting very close to the bull's eye. A large portion of the crowd was cheering him on, especially most of the girls.

"Okay, now for the moment you've all been waiting for," Sonny announced loudly. He turned around to the crowd with a large smile. He eyed Addy for a moment, and lifted an eyebrow, noticing that she was holding a bow and five arrows. "Anyone willing to take me on?"

There was a moment of silence. Addy took a deep breath and was about to step forward, but then felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked over to see Sloan. "You can't beat him," Sloan said. "You'll just embarrass yourself."

"Then what do you suggest I do?" Addy asked. "If no one challenges him, he'll win by default."

"And that concerns you because?" Sloan asked, crossing his arms.

Addy screwed up her mouth and avoided Sloan's eyes. "I sort of made a deal that if he won I'd have private archery lessons with him," she mumbled.

Sloan rolled his brown eyes and grunted something about how much of an idiot she was.

"No one?" Sonny asked.

"Of course not, Sonny!" Leiko cheered and giggled. "You're the best there is, after all."

"I'll take the challenge," Sloan said, stepping forward.

I'll try to get the next chapter up quicker, but no promises that it will be up quickly. I'm working very seriously on one of my original stories (the first story I intend to publish professionally). Also, I'll try to get something for Two Princes as well, but once again, no promises.

Also, regarding a question asked in my latest review from the Demi-God Trap, no, Annie is not Thalia's daughter. Thalia is a Huntress, an eternal maiden, and not a mother. It is possible for other people to have general features of Thalia, like hair and eye color.