Sorry for any delay. This story has taken a turn even I hadn't predicted a while back. Hope you enjoy and keep reviewing.

Chapter 13

Izzy stood stock still as she felt Orion's lips against hers. Her fingers on the plate tightened and shook. She knew she should have been backing away... running away even. But she wasn't. In fact, she was quite certain her lips had gotten a mind of their own, because after a second or so, she responded to Orion's lips, returning the pressure.

She didn't want to be kissing him, because she knew that Alex liked him. But, if nothing else, this did prove that Addy had been wrong about Sirius. Clearly, Orion wouldn't be kissing her if his best friend liked her.

But she still knew that kissing him was wrong.

It didn't feel wrong. His lips were soft and gentle and warm. Very smooth. And the kiss was so sweet. Unlike Sonny, who kissed hard and needy. Sonny, who was forceful. No, Orion's lips were inviting, but left the option to leave... which Izzy couldn't understand why she hadn't left.

It was Orion who finally stepped back, with a tiny spark at the end that left Izzy's lips buzzing, an odd yet pleasant feeling. And there was a smile on his lips. "You should be getting that food to Addy," he said, his eyes definitely smiling as well. He reached out and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. And, with that, he left.

It took Izzy another few moments to actually start toward the Big House again, as she contemplated the situation. First, it was clear that Sonny was only using her. Orion, it seemed, as far as she could tell, was not. He had pursued her, not the other way around.

Second, Izzy knew that Alex liked him. And Alex was nice... but not really her friend. Alex was Addy's friends. Addy had made a lot of new friends, while, aside from Trixie, Izzy really hadn't. She'd been more of a project to Eri, and she wasn't even sure where she stood with Char anymore.

Third, her lips were still buzzing. It might have been from the quick spark of electricity, but whatever it was, she was sure going to have that kiss on her mind for a while to come. She had liked it, and wouldn't mind being kissed like that again.

Izzy smiled and there was a little more pep to her walk as she continued toward the Big House to get Addy some food.

"Travis," Katie said, brushing past him into the room at the B&B. He hadn't even had time to close the store before she was throwing things into their bags. If it hadn't been for the fact that she was throwing both of their items into the bags at random, Travis would have been very worried.

"Are you okay, Kats?" Travis asked. "What was the call about?" Just a few minutes earlier, there had been a knock at their door saying they had a call, and Katie had been the one to answer it.

"We have to go to Camp," Katie said checking that all their things were out of the dresser.

Travis's blue eyes widened. "Are Addy and Izzy okay?" he asked. "What happened?" He, too, was now moving as fast as he could, grabbing their items off the bed and chair.

"There was an attack," Katie said. "Izzy's fine, but Addy was hurt." Travis tripped and fell at that news. "She'll live, but we have to get there. The border's down."

In record time, they were down the stairs and Travis loaded the car while Katie paid. They were on their way back to camp. Katie was driving as Travis was still feeling the side effects of the hellhound that had attacked them. As well, she had something she needed to tell him.

After about an hour of silence, Katie couldn't keep it in any longer. "Travis, I'm pregnant."

"I know," was all Travis said.

Katie glanced at him. "You... know?"

"I figured it out when you wanted to buy a whole cake," Travis said. He smiled at her. "At least, I suspected. But when you went back for a third cupcake, I took it as a definitive sign."

"Why didn't you say something?" Katie asked.

"Because I figured you'd tell me soon," Travis said. He leaned back. "How do we tell the girls?"

"Let's worry about making sure they aren't killed while the border is down first," Katie said.

"How long until the shield is back up?" Chiron asked, walking into the center of the group resetting the shield.

"It shouldn't be more than a minute, Sir," the Head of the Hecate cabin said. "The problem is that we won't be able to sustain it for long if we don't get an energy source. The tree was powered by Thalia, and the Golden Fleece did so after she was removed. That power is fading and we have no way to power it."

Chiron frowned and brought his hands to his face. "What can be used as an energy source?"

The girl frowned. "A demigod of great strength, a mystic object... we can siphon energy off those here until we can find a suitable source, but until then, well..."

Chiron sighed. Having energy siphoned from his campers was dangerous. Siphoning from the injured would slow their healing, but from the uninjured would weaken their protection force.

"Can you siphon energy from me?" Chiron asked. "I am immortal, but not a god. My energy won't be too strong for you to handle, but should help sustain it."

"For a time," the girl said. "But too long, and it will wither you to nothingness."

Chiron nodded. "Then let's hope we can find a sustainable source before that happens."

Sirius smiled at Izzy. "You know, you don't have to patrol," he said when she came to check in. Despite his Half-Blood abilities, he had been given the role of doling out the patrols, mostly because he was a treat defensive strategist. That and the Athena campers were all suffering injuries. He was even in charge of organizing the adult Half-Bloods, such as Connor, for their patrols, mush to the dismay of one Annabeth Chase-Jackson. "You should be with your sister."

"I'm the perfect candidate for patrolling," Izzy argued. "I'm good with a sword so I can destroy monsters before they can even enter. As well, I can super speed, so I've got the ability to be an early warning system if I can't defeat a monster or there are too many. And, I don't carry the Half-Blood smell, so I'm at less of a risk of being attacked."

Sirius fought the smile that was creeping onto his face. "Let me rephrase that," he said. "Your uncle told me that he didn't want you patrolling."

"Good thing he's not a counselor," Izzy said.

"I can patrol with her," Sonny said, coming up beside her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Not likely," Izzy said, stepping away from him.

"We're actually placing Apollo campers in the forest, positioned in the trees," Sirius said, his face having gone stony. "The trees will give you cover, as well as a good vantage point to attack what can't attack back. Just keep an arrow drawn at all times." He turned to Izzy. "If you really want to patrol..."

"I do," Izzy insisted. "Plus, Sloan and Jemma are on Addy watch, so I'm just helping to pick up their slack."

"Well, we could use another person patrolling the front boarder, near Thalia's tree," Sirius said. "We think that's the most likely spot monsters that can manipulate the mist will try to enter."

"You think they'll try to pose as Half-Bloods?" Izzy asked.

Sirius nodded. "But you won't be alone," he said. "I hear you know Annabeth Jackson?"

"Oh, yeah, she's friends with my parents," Izzy said. "Daughter of Athena."

Sirius nodded. "She'll be there with you." He smiled at her. "Now, get some rest. She'll get you when it's time for you to patrol."

Izzy sighed and nodded. She decided to try to get some time in with her sister as long as she wasn't on duty yet.

Addy was woken from her sleep by a door being shut. She opened her eyes to find the room was dark, not much light coming from the moon outside, but she could still make out a figure approaching her. It was too tall to be Jemma or Izzy, and not broad enough to be Sloan. "Uncle Connor?" Addy questioned, thinking that he'd be the only one that would come into her room at this hour.

However, a moment later, a hand was over her mouth, preventing her from screaming, talking, yelling. Addy struggled, but was too weak from injuries to break free. A cloud moved outside, revealing more light, and Addy noticed blue eyes, and blonde hair. A handsome face stared down at her, a dark smile taking over his features. Sonny.

"Seriously, Addy, stop struggling," he said, grabbing both her wrists with one hand. He crawled onto the bed, straddling her, a large smile on his face. "You're just going to hurt yourself more if you do." Addy attempted to say something, but his hand over her mouth prevented her from talking. "What's that? Oh, I'm sorry, I guess you'd like me to release you." He laughed. "Not happening. New deal. I get what I want, and then, maybe I'll allow my siblings to heal you."

Addy struggled again, kicking her legs out, but couldn't strike Sonny considering his position. She could feel her injuries pulling at her as she struggled, which only put her in more pain. Sonny leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Don't you know, Addy, I always get what I aim for." With that said, he lightly bit her ear, an action that usually caused girls to gasp. It didn't elicit the response he was hoping for, so he began fluttering kisses and licking along Addy's jaw and neck.

Addy's response was to wiggle her head until she was able to open her mouth, just a bit, before biting his hand... hard. Sonny yelled, pulling his hand back, and Addy felt blood in her mouth, but didn't have time to sputter or spit it out. She just screamed as loudly as she could. She knew there were others in most of the rooms of the house, and within a few seconds, someone had opened the door, sword drawn, to see what was happening. Addy wasn't sure who it was, but clearly seeing Sonny straddling her was not expected, or welcome.

Uncle Connor was in the room not too long after, with Linda and someone Addy had met at her parents' wedding right behind. Connor didn't pause for any kind of explanation and ran in, wrenching Sonny off her. "What the Hades are you doing to her? I ought to rip you limp from limb."

"Get off me," Sonny snapped. "Got a thing for younger girls or something, and don't want her spoilt?" Connor slammed Sonny into a wall.

"That is my niece," Connor said. "And if I ever see you near her again, I will destroy you. The same applies for my other niece."

"Connor, that's enough," the other man said, putting his hand on Connor's shoulder. "You don't want to hurt him."

"Oh, that's what you think," Connor said. "I've got half a mind to snap this kid in half."

"I'd like to see you try," Sonny said. However, as he struggled, he couldn't get out of Connor's grasp.

"Connor, as much as you must hate him right now, Sonny's just a camper," Linda said. "And he's talented. We need all the talent we can get right now."

Connor kept his blue eyes narrowed at Sonny. "So, you're this jerk that my nieces were talking about. No wonder they hate you. You're a worm." With that said, Connor took a step back and pushed Sonny toward the door of the room. "If I see you near my girls again, you will be sorry."

Sonny stood up and sneered at Connor. He then looked past the older Half-Blood toward Addy. "Remember what I said," he said, before turning around and striding out. Linda followed a moment later, hopefully to scold or punish the Apollo camper.

"What did he mean by that, Addy?" Connor asked. He stepped closer to his niece. "What did he say?"

"Just his little motto," Addy said. She coughed lightly, worn out from struggling with Sonny. "That he always gets what he aims for."

Connor sat down on a chair. "This is Will," Connor said, indicating to his friend. "He's the most talented healer I know. He'll have you up and about in no time."

"I guess it's the least I can do considering you were just molested by one of my many younger brothers," Will said. He sat down on a different chair. "And once I've got you back to health, I'll go have a little chat with him about how to treat ladies."

Izzy paced back and forth, unable to keep still. Her patrol partner, Annabeth, however, had been standing still for quite a while. Izzy glanced at the adult daughter of Athena and wondered if maybe she had fallen asleep standing. However, just was Izzy was about to approach, she moved, grabbing at the dagger she wore at her waist, and was standing at the ready.

"Stay back," she said to Izzy. "And get ready to run if I tell you to."

"I can help you," Izzy said. She flipped her wrist, drawing her longsword. Annabeth glanced at her and smiled lightly. However, the smile disappeared when a monster appeared, just outside the border. It jumped, but the border held, though it trembled a bit. Annabeth charged while it was confused from having been knocked back.

When Annabeth hit the border, however, she too was thrown back, essentially keeping her locked inside the camp. Izzy, having charged with Annabeth, passed through. She brought her sword down on the monster, destroying it in one large blow.

"What's wrong?" Izzy asked. "Why'd you stop?" Her eyes widened. "Did you know who that was? Have I done something terrible?"

"No," Annabeth said, standing. She stepped forward and placed her hand against an invisible barrier. It held, and she could still not pass. "I can't get through."