Chapter 3

It was around 9:00 and Mirabelle and Annabeth were exhausted! The girls had been riding the subway all day and had only eye spy and hackie sack to entertain themselves. They were hungry too, only snacking on apples and carrot sticks. Annabeth and Mirabelle sat down on a bench outside the station and slumped into each other, Mirabelle's eyes were dropping and it was getting harder and harder to keep them open. Annabeth was gazing blissfully at an enchilada cart across the way.

Mirabelle thought about the ride to San Jose and wished that they hadn't ridden there in their p.j's. What a sight they must have been, two seven year old girls, both wearing pink pyjama's spotted with little king frogs, ratty misshapen hair, each vulnerable and exhausted, riding unaccompanied to San Jose. Not something every social worker looks for.

Mostly the runaways had been left alone, a few uneasy glances at their tired faces, and some dirty smirks, some looks from strangers made them want to get off on the next stop and run right back to the chase house. Annabeth would not be intimidated. She stared them right back down, and smiled with triumph when their looks faded and they slunk greasily away from them. Some people were nice and tried to make conversation, Mirabelle lengthly talked with a motherly woman for a ways until she had to get off. Annabeth disapproved.

"She was a nice lady!" Mirabelle had argued.

"She could have been a kidnapper!" Annabeth hushed.

"But. she. wasn't!" Mirabelle countered, emphasizing the end of each word with her hands. Swaying them too and fro.

"Ugh! Your hopeless! You have to be more cautious. We cant go spilling our guts to every stranger. Everyones looking for us, we have to blend." Annabeth glided her hand in front of the girls; smoothing out an invisible yard of cloth.

Annabeth, the sensible one.

Then there they were, Mirabelle and Annabeth waiting patiently in the San Jose downtown subway station, and no 'Guide' was coming to take them anywhere.

And just as Mirabelle was thinking this depressing thought. A man... a man wearing a strapping black suit & tie, was lazily walking toward the girls. Little did he know that Annabeth and Mirabelle were in no mood for being polite, and everything from his perfectly placed fringe and dashing smirk, to his shiny black shoes were unwelcome. As he got closer, Mirabelle noticed his dress shirt was spotless white and his pants were fine and pleated, though his first glance was ruined by his mustard yellow bow tie and wool button cuff links. The strangers fancy dress apparel was again questioned when he waved his hand and in a swirl of blue and wind, two green snakes entwining a tall white staff popped into view and was grasped tightly in his hand.

"Hello girls." The man said happily. The way he walked over and plopped his self still standing, in front of them specifically, made them suspicious.

The girls eyed him skeptically.

His smile dipped in enthusiasm. Obviously disappointed in not being recognized immediately.

"I'm Hermes". 'Hermes' said kindly. Not at all how Athena had announced herself yesterday. "Im the god of thieves, travellers and messengers. Im going to take you to a safe place for tonight, then escort you to Camp-Half-blood."

Considering Mirabelle just saw him magic something out of thin air, she believed him, mostly.

"Whats our names?" She asked.

Hermes didn't skip a beat.

"Your Annabeth." He pointed to Annabeth. "And your Mirabelle." He pointed to Mirabelle.

Mirabelle was pleased, willing to believe anything right now if it meant a warm dry bed somewhere safe, but Annabeth...

Annabeth was persistent.

Hermes however was smiling to himself because Annabeth was looking at him the way Athena looked at Mirabelle. Observing, taking notes, Athena had read Mirabelle's face like an open book two inches from her nose. But Annabeths reading on Hermes... that book was two miles away and hidden behind layers of dirty windows.

"Whats the password?" Annabeth asked.

That stumped Hermes, his eyebrows furrowed and he brought up his hand to scratch his chin. after a minute or two Hermes looked up and said..

"there is no password".

Annabeth smiled and stood up. "So, where are we going?"

Turns out Hermes had rolled in in a stretch limousine. "Only the best for Athena's daughters." And had been asked by Athena to take us to Camp-Half-Blood. "Are you guys hungry?" Without waiting for an answer Hermes snapped his fingers and a large platter of grilled cheese sandwiches Appeared between the 7-year olds. Mirabelle nearly swallowed her first one whole then once she had something in her stomach she slowed down to savour them. "Thanks!"

Hermes let the girls eat in quiet until they were about two blocks from where they were headed. "O.k, did Athena tell you about Demi-gods and olympus and all that?"

Mirabelle nodded.

"Well, one person i was involved with, Mary Stoll," Hermes voice went soft when he said her name."I have asked if she could host Athena's kids for one night, she said she would. Mary has two kids, twins actually, Travis and Connor, Their going to Camp-Half-Blood when there 11".

Hermes pulled into a driveway of a nice looking brick house, the home had a green roof and long lush greenery decorating the window boxes, climbing and winding around the house, everywhere. Inside Mirabelle could see two heads of ruffled sandy hair running around and a tall woman trying to catch them. The inside lights illuminated the porch outside and the front lawn. Mirabelle was so busy noticing the house she didn't notice Hermes open the door for her, she jumped and got out of the way so Annabeth could get out. "Thanks." She said. Hermes smiled in return and led them up to the porch.

Annabeth ran her fingers through her hair and straightened her P.j's. Mirabelle mirrored her actions.

Hermes knocked.

Sorry for the short chapters guys! I promise ill lengthen them out! And ill add more to this chapter. Please review the suspense is killing me! -DaEvilQueen-785