Last chapter…

"You all ready for this?", Jazz asked.

"You bet", replied Drew. I took a deep breath to prevent myself from turning around and punching him.

I did as Chiron told me, and a silver light blinded me, even with my eyes closed. When the light went out, I smelled the salty air of the beach, and I opened my eyes.

Chapter 7- The Calm Before The Storm

Crystal blue water extended itself endlessly in front of me. Soft sand under my shoes, and a light warm breeze caressed our faces. Apparently, the beach was our first location.

I looked around. A sort of garden surrounded us. Flowers and plants of all shapes, colors and sizes grew taller and taller. The remains of a fire layed not to far away from us, and a smiling girl was standing to their right. Caramel hair and almond eyes. I'd seen pictures of her at camp.

"Welcome, Danielle, Andrew and Jasmin", Calypso's voice was sweet and soft. I turned, about to ask the others if they were okay, when I saw Drew gaping at our host. I frowned, then faced her.

"Calypso, right?", I asked.

She nodded. "Yes. As you see, Ogygia will be the first scenario of your challenge. Athena asked me if she could… borrow the island for your first test. Are you ready?", she asked me.

No. "Yes", I replied.

"Very well, but your test won't be until tomorrow." Phew. "You have the rest of the day to fully prepare yourself. Come with me now, I'll show you where you can stay."

I watched suppressing my laughter how Jazz closed Drew's mouth with an annoyed look, and we started following Calypso to a cave nearby. Three hammocks hanged across the place, no sheets, no blankets. It didn't matter actually because the warm air made the cold of the cave bearable.

"Thank you", I said truthfully to Calypso, who smiled.

"Meet me at the shore tomorrow after you've had breakfast, okay? Oh, you must be hungry, it's noon already." She snapped her fingers and some fruit and fish appeared on a table next to my hammock. At the sight of the food my stomach grumbled.

The girl looked at my one more time. "Get some rest, Danielle. I think you'll need it", she said before leaving the cave and diving into the jungle of plants. I didn't know how I was supposed to feel after that last sentence.

Jazz and I spent the afternoon training. Drew helped every now and then, but he was so excited about the sea that in the end we all forgot about the test and enjoyed the warm water splashing and racing each other. See, since Drew hadn't been at the sea before he wanted to live every second like it was his last one there. By the end of the day we were all so tired, that at dinner Jazz fell asleep and spilled her drink. Drew and I had to carry her to the cave. I didn't felt like sleeping at once though, and I decided to go and sit by the beach. Drew noticed me getting up, so he came with me.

The calmed sound of the ways and the clear sky above our heads were the exact definition of holiday. I guess Calypso was living the sweet life over here.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow", Drew asked me, laying on the ground and looking at the stars.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sort of… numb about it. Like it hasn't hit me yet. That will probably change 5 minutes before the test", I said shaking my head. I looked at him, and he met my eyes.

"Come here", he motioned me with a hand. I frowned, confused.

"Lay next to me", he explained.

I leaned back, till our faces were at the same level and looked up. Constellations winked at me from above.

Drew cleared his throat. "Whatever happens tomorrow, I want you to know that… I'm really sorry about what I said about…"

Patrick. I closed my eyes. I didn't want to talk about this right now. I turned to face him and put a finger to his lips.

"Stop", I whispered. "I don't care. Or at least not right now, okay?" He nodded, took my hand from his lips and put it down.

"And… what you said after that…", he was whispering now too. I blushed as I remembered my exact words. "Was that true?"

I swallowed.

"…No", my voice quivered a little, so I tried to clear my throat. "No, I lied. I'm sorry." It wasn't a bad idea to lie. That way I could pretend I didn't like Drew so everything wouldn't have to be awkward between us.

His eyes flashed for a second with an emotion I didn't recognize. Then they returned to their bright, electric blue. He laughed.

"Oh, good! Good! I was getting worried! Imagine how awkward that would have been!", he echoed my thoughts, smiling. "Good…"

I managed a smile too, but like his, mine didn't reach my eyes. We turned to the sky again, and we both sighed.

I sat up straight, dusting the sand off my back. Drew imitated and, and as he got up he offered me a hand.

"Come on", he said as he helped me up. "You have a big day tomorrow."

We headed to the cave, and I fell into uneasy dreams the second I laid on my hammock.

The sunlight filling the cave woke me up. The others were stirring in their sleep. I got up to find breakfast on the table. I did my best to eat, but I wasn't really hungry. I had been right. It had just hit me that I was facing my first test now. Something cracked behind me and as I turned I found Jasmin and Drew both standing up and walking towards me. They ate in silence, apparently not knowing what to say. I was too nervous to notice. As soon as they finished breakfast we headed to the beach, were Calypso was waiting for us. I noticed a boulder not too far from the shore were a mast was standing. That wasn't there last night.

Calypso smiled as we reached her. "Good morning heroes. Danielle, how are you feeling?"

I just nodded, and swallowed hard. I didn't feel like talking.

"Good. So here's your first test. You see that boulder over there? You have to swim to it, and then tie yourself to the mast. You must not, however, put the knife away. We'll see how much endurance you have when the moment comes."

I didn't understand much at that time because of I was too busy trying not to run away from this place, but I nodded again.

"Okay. You may start…", Calypso looked up. "Now. Good luck."

Jazz and Drew hugged me, and I walked to the water. Luckily, it wasn't very cold. I dived when the water reached my waist, and I swam towards the boulder. The water was clear and there was no sign of animals anywhere near. I wondered why.

I climbed up the boulder, scraping my elbow. The warm blood flowed down to my fingers. I closed my eyes briefly and kept climbing till I reached the mast. There was some rope, so I used it to tie myself. I kept my knife in my pocket, remembering Calypso's instructions. I looked around me, thinking clearly for the first time today.

I was tied at a mast. In the middle of the ocean. I had to keep my knife close to me. Suddenly, it all clicked together, and my eyes widened as I realized what my challenge was going to be.

The Sirens.

I'm really sorry this update's so short, but it was either that or nothing. I want to know- did you guys catch the hint when Dan saw the boulder and the mast? Were you expecting this to be the first test? What about what happens next?

Review! :]