Last chapter…

"I think you of all people need to be awake tomorrow", Jasmin said suddenly, her voice hiding something, "since you'll need to know if my brother wants a replay of today as a thank you", she said, muffling now her laughter with her pillow.

WHOOSH

"Ow!"

I chuckled. I'd thrown my pillow at her.

Chapter 2- I Get My Nightmares To Stop

His eyes never left mine, and his hand was warm on my cheek. His gaze only said one thing.

"I'm sorry, I have to go now."

He started fading away, and I woke up with a start.

I'd dreamed of Patrick. Again. Luckily, it hadn't been that bad. We'd just talked, and then he said he had to go. Most of the times he doesn't even look at me. That's what scared me. That he had forgotten me.

I looked up to Jazz. She was deep in her sleep, her mouth slightly open. She looked so peaceful… I envied her for a moment.

Then, I realized there was something different about my half-sister's room. The silver moonlight wasn't there anymore. Instead, a dark yellow and orange light filled it, giving it a cozy look. I looked around, to see where the light was coming from.

A woman was standing by the window, making some flowers enter the room and blossom before my eyes. She had a beautiful dress, which shimmered when she moved. She had her hair in a bun, and her eyes showed kindness. She turned to face me.

"Ah, Danielle", Persephone said. "We finally meet."

I nodded. "My lady."

"Oh, don't call me that", the goddess said, waving her hand, "I've been trying for decades to convince people to call me by my whole name", she sighed, "But there's no use. Well, first things first. How are you doing, child?"

I hesitated. What did she mean by that?

"Let me be more specific", she said, smiling. "How are you dealing with Patrick's death?"

I couldn't help but flinch at the name. Persephone cocked her head to the side, concerned.

"I mean, I'm…", I didn't know what to say. "I'm…doing fine, I guess. The dreams make it a little hard, but other than that I am fine."

She sighed. "Yes, I guess you could say that", she took a deep breath, "Listen Danielle, you're not going to have any more dreams about Patrick, okay?"

"Why?", the question blurted out of my mouth before I could stop myself from asking it.

"Because of two reasons: one, Hades is going to kill me if I keep allowing dead heroes to go into the dreams of the living. And now that I think about it, he'll kill Morpheus too. See, we have this agreement…", she hesitated. "Anyways, the second reason is, because you're going to get a challenge soon, and you need to be completely focused. You can't be distracted by silly dreams."

They're not silly…, I thought, reaching for my locket.

"Wait, a challenge?", I asked.

She nodded. "Yes, a challenge. I'm not allowed to tell you what it is, though. But I do wish you the best of lucks. May the gods be with you", she added smiling.

"Wait, Persephone, what do you mean? I'm getting a quest or something?", I didn't understand a single thing.

She held out her hand. "Danielle, don't worry. You'll find out soon enough", she looked through the window, were dawn was breaking, coloring the sky with shades of pink, orange and gold. "Ah, look at that. The morning's here. My husband will want to know where I am. I better get going."

She was about to leave when a voice echoed in the room.

"Daughter? Where are you? You promised we would take care of your garden soon."

Persephone rolled her eyes. "Yes, mother, I'm coming! I was just telling Danielle the news!"

"Oh", Demeter said, "the daughter of Athena? She's too skinny. Tell her she should get some cereal for breakfast!"

"Mother! Enough with the cereal!", Persephone groaned. She shook her head. "Remember Dan, stay focused."

I covered my eyes when she started glowing. When I opened them, I looked at my half-sister. Jazmin was stirring in her sleep. I rubbed my eyes and I looked at the alarm clock. 6:50 am. You have got to be kidding me.

Funny. We did have cereal for breakfast. I suppose Demeter got what she wanted after all. I smiled to myself while I thought of what Persephone would say to another of her mother's lectures about fiber.

"Dan? What's so funny?", Jazz asked, pouring more milk into her bowl.

"Ah…", I looked around, not knowing if it was right to mention the gods in front of Jazz's mortal family. But it seemed like she was the only was listening, so I continued. "Persephone payed me a visit last night."

Jazz's jaw dropped. "Say what? What did she want? What did she say? What did you say?"

"Wow, slow down!", I shushed her in a whisper. James was looking at us suspiciously, and personally I didn't want to explain to him that I wouldn't get more dreams with my dead love. I wondered why… "I'll tell you later!"

She rolled her eyes. "I hate when you do that."

"Yeah, well, it's your fault", I muttered, looking at the sticky dough that was once my breakfast. I wasn't really hungry.

James leaned to my side. "Nightmares again?", he asked with a small voice.

I nodded, and looked away. He put his hand on my cheek, and gently made me face him again. He traced the purple circles under my eyes. "You look like you met someone from the Underworld", he joked. I snorted. He didn't know how right he was.

James was the only member of the family that felt comfortable talking to us about camp, quests, gods or other campers. His mother was okay with it, but she just felt… well, akward. I couldn't blame her. The goddess of wisdom had had the child of her husband. And she didn't like the whole violence and blood concept. My theory was that she didn't want her son to go through dangerous stuff, for she was afraid of the consequences. What any mother would think. Or at least what any mortal mother would think.

Which made me wonder…

"Can I get up?", I asked. The whole family looked at me, surprised.

"Honey, you haven't even touched your breakfast…", Amelia started.

"It's okay, Amelia, I'm not really hungry. I'll survive till lunch", I smiled. I left my bowl in the sink, and ran to my bedroom. I grabbed a spray filled with water, that Jazz used for her plants, and a drachma out of my bag. I made a rainbow, right in front of the window and threw the coin.

"Oh, Goddess, accept my offering. Athena, Olympus."

My mother was looking at some blue prints with Annabeth. They both looked up, and smiled.

"Hey sis", I said looking at her, "Mum, can we talk please?"

"Do you mind?", Athena asked my half-sister.

"Not at all", she answered matter-factly. "Hey Dan", she added, looking at me, "See you in a few days at camp?"

"Sure", I replied. Annabeth gathered the blue prints, and headed somewhere else.

"Merry Christmas child", my mother said, "I hope Amelia liked the sweater?"

"Oh, she loved it mum. It was perfect", I said smiling at the memory of Amelia's face.

"I'm glad", Athena said. "Is everything alright dear? It's not that I'm complaining, but why did you IM me?"

"Oh! Right, I almost forgot. Well, you see, Persephone came last night…", I started.

She raised her eyebrows. "And?"

"She said I wouldn't have any more dreams about Patrick", I continued, sounding, to my surprise, a bit disappointed.

"And why is that?", my mother asked.

"Well… she said something about a challenge", I finished.

Athena sighed. "I was afraid you would say that. I'm sorry Dan, I can't tell you."

"What? Why?", I asked. This is so not fair…

"I know it's not fair, but you have to be patient. I promise you will find out soon", she replied.

"You sound like Persephone…", I said, annoyed. But before I could continue arguing with her, a voice downstairs interrupted me.

"Dan? We're leaving in ten minutes!"

"Okay Jake! I'm almost done!", I replied.

"Liar", my mother said, amused. "You don't even know what you're going to wear yet!"

"I'll figure something out", I said. She was right though. We were going out for lunch, and I hadn't even brushed my teeth.

Athena rolled her eyes. She waved her hand, and a silver light filled the room. "Goodbye, Dan. Have a good time."

"Bye mum", I said, while I turned to see what she had left me. My favorite jeans, a black hand-knitted scarf, a turtle neck argyle sweater and my sneakers. I smiled, and got ready as quickly as I could.

I managed to get to the living room before everybody else. In the end, we all waited for Jasmin.

"See Jazz?", Jake said. "You should learn from Dan. She's punctual."

Jasmin rolled her eyes, while she tied her scarf in a knot. "I'm here now, aren't I?"

"Yes, but if you don't mind Danielle, would you give her some advise on getting ready more quickly?", James asked, making his parents laugh.

I laughed with them, while Jasmin muttered something about them liking me best. I sighed. If only she knew.

Chapter 2!! At last!! I only managed to write it because I'm sick… I stayed home all day.. *sigh*

Any ideas about the challenge?? I want to hear them!! And those who know are not allowed to say anything, or else… *glares at the people who know*

Well, tell me what you think! Review! :]