First off, another long chapter ahead. Second, I bet some of you might be wondering how I'm getting this written so fast. Well, I kind of had the whole thing typed or written already, now I'm just tweeking it. So I hope you are enjoying the story. Last thing, the weapons Chakrams. Those are a circular throwing blades, but I have watched shows where they pull them apart and use close combat fighting blades. Maybe that's how they aren't supposed to be used, but I like it. Alright, I'm done blabbing. Let me know if you guys like the story so far :)


My next task would be to actually inform Simon and Eric.

Simon was easy. I found him practicing Archery. I pulled him aside. "Quest time. You in?"

"Aw yes!" His sun like eyes glowed just bit brighter than normal, just like his fathers. I had once heard Apollo had fallen in love with Simon's mother because she was such a good singer.

"So, you picked me for my long range fighting skills?" He asked.

"Er, yeah sure." I answered but he was already smiling and nodding.

"We leave tomorrow. You, me and Eric."

I left as Simon processed the fact that I just said Eric's name. I heard him say wait but I was already gone.

I headed to the Arena. Ares cabin was there just like I thought. I stood in the entrance watching Eric dual with Samantha. When he noticed me, his blade faltered. Samantha caught him in the chest with the flat of her sword. He fell and the other kids laughed.

He got up and came towards me.

"Eric get back here. We aren't done." One of the older campers called.

"Just a sec," he called.

"We leave for a quest tomorrow morning."

At first, he looked really excited and then his face looked agitated. "What if I don't want to come?"

I glared at him and shouted, "then don't."

I turned and walked away.

"Wait-" he caught my arm. I shook him off. "Can you sharpen my sword before we leave?"

"Bring it by the forge before supper."

I left to pack and finish preparations.

In the forges, I pulled out my latest project. New arrows that were made to last longer. Once a monster disintegrated the arrow would drop and still be intact. Or that was the idea anyways.

I heard footsteps. I paused, no, hoof steps.

"Charlotte."

I came out with my arrows in hand.

"Yes?"

"I just wanted to see how your preparations were going." Chiron watched me carefully.

"Actually since you're here," I handed him an arrow. "What do you think?"

"These are heavier. You would need a strong bow for these."

"Already taken care of." I went back in and brought out a new gold bow. "I made this with Simon in mind."

"You've only had a day to prepare," Chiron looked a little shocked.

I felt my face color a little. "I had a dream a while ago, but I wasn't sure why. Now I know. The arrows themselves, I made those last week. The bow should fit Simon well."

"And Eric?"

It was like Chiron had summoned Eric. I realized it was getting late and close to chow.

I turned back to Chiron, "I'm sharpening his sword."

Chiron nodded and left us.

"I ran into Simon. He seems excited. He was even packing his lyre." Eric gave a tentative smile.

"I hope he can actually sing," I said.

For a moment I smiled and Eric laughed.

I realized who I was talking too and my face lost its smile. I asked for his sword and began sharpening it.

"You like Melee?" I asked when I was finished.

"Well, yeah. That's my best fighting style."

"Here, I've been working on this for-" I stopped. He didn't need to know how long I had spent working on it.

I handed him a shield. He slipped it on his arm. It fit perfectly. Then he noticed the special feature I had put on the inside. "Chakrams." He pulled out two semi circled blades with handles to hold them. He watched how they fused together for a throwing blade.

"Woah! How did you do this?"

I shrugged.

I sent him away and told him to send me Simon. Simon tested his bow and told me he would have verses created about my great weapon making. I shook my head and sent him away with his new weapon.

All that was left was my final project.

I heard a knock at the door and realized Eric was standing with a plate of food. "You missed dinner."

"Oh," is all I said.

"You missed out on Chiron announcing our quest. Everyone was looking for you, so Corey covered and told them you were in the shop preparing."

"I must thank him." I said distractedly.

He handed me my food, "You need to eat. We have a long day tomorrow." I nodded and took a bite so he would leave.

I didn't touch it the rest of the night.

When I woke up Corey was standing over me. "It looks good," he said nodding.

"I hope so," I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep in the workshop.

I noticed Eric and Simon waiting for me in the doorway. "Let's go sleepy head. Time is ticking." Simon pointed at his wrist, but there was no watch.

"That's a chariot…" They both said.

"An enchanted one. Thanks to the Hecate kids. It will be very difficult for Gaea to do anything to us. I've got spells carved into almost everything, including the horseshoes."

"Sweet!" Simon said.

We grabbed our supplies and hitched the horses. All the campers admired my flaming chariot. I made it in honor of my father, the god of fire. I included his symbol of crossed hammers. There was even a cup holder.

"How long have you been working on this?" Eric asked.

"A while." Is all I answered.

"Charlotte Ebony! Don't you dare think of leaving without telling me goodbye." I turned to find Samantha running full speed at me. She collided with me and hugged me hard. "I'll be waiting for your return so don't die. And keep these two knuckleheads in line." She popped Eric in the side of the head. I couldn't help but smile.

We set out down the back roads. We must have looked like an Amish buggy to the mortals. We kept a steady pace heading west.

"Where exactly are we headed?" Simon asked.

"Midwest lands. It said we are looking for farmland."

Simon was stroking his lyre, like he was about to break out in song. "So like Kansas or Nebraska or that other state that has wagon ships in it."

Eric scrunched his eyebrows, "Wagons? You mean like the schooner state? Oklahoma?"

"That's it!" Simon said pointing a finger at Eric like he just won his own personal game show.

I looked up at the sky praying that this would be over soon.

Simon continued, "So it's magical armor, right?"

I nodded. I had already given them the whole prophecy. I had learned that keeping part of a prophecy from someone was never a good thing. "My dad created it for Achilles," I added.

Our speed was nothing more than a slow trot. I didn't want to tire out the horses too soon. I decided we should set up camp before the light died. I sent Simon to the main road to see if he could find anything to eat. He came back with some gas station food.

"Guys!" He was practically tripping over himself getting to us. "We're in West Virginia! I asked the lady at the gas station what town we were in and I didn't recognize it. Then she told me we were in West Virginia!"

Eric and Simon stood there staring at me. "How is that even possible?" Eric asked in disbelief.

"You guys don't listen very well. Enchanted chariot. Magic." I said sounding out the last word as if they were three years old. "Magic wheels do magic things." I said even slower.

Eric smirked and gave me a light punch in the shoulder, "Stop being such a smart-aleck. I know you have a brilliant mind, but you don't have to rub it in."

Simon threw his arm around my shoulder, "Oh I like you more and more."

I couldn't help the smile that formed on my face. "Come on, let's eat, you dorks. I'm starving and I've got first watch tonight."

We were too busy chowing on our food to talk much more. Magic travel is pretty exhausting. We set up a small fire, something we had debated on for a while, but I would rather have a fire and keep away the wolves. I had already heard several howls while we were eating.

"Are you sure you want first shift?" Eric asked.

All I responded with was, "My quest, I'll go first." I turned away tending to the fire as he settled next to the chariot. I heard Simon quietly humming some lyrics.

'Wump,' I turned just in time to see Eric pulling back his pillow and Simon, the victim of a pillow assault, glaring at him. He grumbled, "Next time just say please." There was no more humming. A few more minutes and they were snoring away.

I walked in circles around the fire. I kept glancing back at the boys. Well Eric. I didn't know how to feel about him being here. We hadn't made up and I didn't know if I should apologize or let him. I was kind of hurt that he hadn't tried to apologize again. But maybe that was my fault. I sighed and sat down against a tree. I pulled out my sword and set it in my lap.

'Crack.'