Another chapter here for you. Please let me know if you find anything wrong with them. I know switching POV's can be confusing, even as the writer ;) Enjoy!


Charlie's point of View

I let out a breath, leading the horses into the barn that Eric pointed out. I didn't want them getting caught by any monsters. If only I could talk to them like Percy did. Then I could tell the horses, go hide, come back later to pick us up. But sadly, that's not how my powers worked. I just hoped they understood me.

"Alright, so we've gotten this far with the dove, but now what?" Simon asked.

I shrugged. I honestly didn't know how the Percy had gone on so many quests. I mean half of the prophecies didn't even make sense. And what was I supposed to do. Get a metal detector and scan the entire area?

I rubbed my temples. "Think Charlie, think." I looked from Eric to Simon and back. "Obviously, monsters are going to be guarding this stuff. So, we just have to find all the monsters."

"Yeah, but how do we find monsters?"

I grinned looking at the two boys. "I have an idea."

Ten minutes later…

"Alright guys, go ahead."

"Do we really have to do this? I feel ridiculous," Simon whined. Eric was glaring at me.

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm sort of enjoying it too." They rolled their eyes in unison.

Dressed in white togas, created from old bed sheets worn over their regular clothes, Eric and Simon stood apart by about twenty feet out in a pastor. I sat in a nearby tree. Simon raised the sword that he barely used, "Eric, you have offended me for the last time." It was said with the same gusto of a high school boy forced to participate.

"No, it is you who will die demigod." Eric was saying with the same fake excitement. I was hoping that all the monsters we encountered would be dumb because this was the most unbelievable act I had ever viewed. I had to be honest, my idea was stupid, but I couldn't think of anything better. And neither of them were coming up with any better ideas.

It went on for another half an hour.

"I don't know, maybe we should just call it quits." Eric called out. Simon agreed. I called them back to the tree and swung down landing next to Eric. He put his arms up to steady me. I handed out water from our supply.

"Maybe there aren't any monsters guarding the armor." Eric started.

"Or your acting just stinks that much," I smirked.

Simon threw his empty water bottle at me. I turned to him with an evil gleam in my eye. I bent my knees. Suddenly Simon looked afraid. And that's when I lunged at him. I tackled him and Eric was laughing. I felt Eric drag me off Simon by my belt.

After a moment of looking slightly terrified, Simon also started to laugh.

"Ugh, boys." I rolled my eyes, but had a huge grin on my face.

We finished the water and I suggested that they spar, to make it more realistic. Eric's face changed from smiling to worry. He was a great swordsman and Simon could barely hold a sword. I was wondering why he looked worried, but I didn't get a chance to ask.

A sudden roar interrupted any further conversation. We all looked to find a giantes lumbering toward us. At this point my body was about to bolt. It took all my self-control to keep myself standing with Eric and Simon. Simon dove for his arrows and bow that were placed against the tree. He notched them before I would have been able to say 'Kansas Farmland'.

"Stay back, or I shoot!" Simon called out. He voice was strong and solid. I felt my own knees shaking. I only wished I had a smidgen of courage that Simon had. I looked over at Eric. His face had hardened and he looked ready to fight. I had seen him in the battle of Manhattan. He was good.

Why was I suddenly so afraid? I had fought in the battle of Manhattan. I fought mock battles. I played capture the flag. What was wrong with me?

Simon's Point of View

When the giantes had shown up, I grasped for arrows that were nowhere to be found. I dove for them when I remembered setting them by the tree. I needed to give my friends the protection I was picked for. Archery is the best long distance weapon. I had a great aim.

"Stay back, or I shoot!" I called. I was hoping the giantes would maybe want to sit down, have tea, and tell us where the magical armor was. No, he kept coming. Each step closer, shook the earth even more.

I looked over at Eric. His face was set, but I could tell he didn't want to have to face this monster head on. Rumor had it Eric was cursed. He no longer won any sword fights, even against the beginning sword fighters. I had already seen the evidence when he had to fight the hairy-dog-man. It was like, even his sword wanted him to lose. I looked at Charlie taking all of her in. She was terrified. This was something I had never seen. She wasn't even this afraid when we fought hairy-dog-man. I knew she had fought in the battle of Manhattan. I had witnessed a few instances where she cut down some monsters with Eric or Samantha at her side. Maybe she knew Eric couldn't fight.

I looked back at the giantes and let my arrow fly. It struck him in the knee and he toppled down. I really didn't want to dust him yet. By dust him, I mean turn him into dust. It was an awesome phrase that I came up with. (Mentally buffs nails against shirt, looking cool.)

"Tell us where the armor is and I won't kill you." I called. He was still a good fifty yards away. At this distance, I was pretty dang accurate.

All the giantes did was yell a garbled mess at us. I notched another arrow, sending it straight into its right arm. More unintelligible yelling.

Eric's Point of View

So far, Simon was the only one taking any action. Granted the monster was a good half a football field away, and I wasn't keen on him getting any closer.

"Simon, aim for his eye. He won't tell us anything and the closer it gets, the more danger it poses." Weighing your options. Make sure you keep your troop safe. Top priorities. All these thoughts were swimming through my head.

Simon nodded, saying, as if reading my mind, "They teach you some good tactic stuff in the military school." Simon had a grin on his face. I could feel my stomach knotting. I was really hoping my sword skills would return when fighting a real monster but no such luck. I guess my curse was a real thing.

Simon let loose his third arrow. It went straight into the giantes eyeball. I felt my stomach churn. That had to be the most disgusting sight. The arrow was sticking out of the giantes eye socket and it was wobbling around. I guess it didn't go in far enough.

"Again Simon," I told him.

He nodded. He sent another arrow flying. The giantes was standing, even with an arrow sticking out of his knee.

I didn't know what to do. I readied myself to charge. Simon let loose one last arrow. Something was different about this one. And then it hit me. In sort of a mini-shockwave. Simon had a few explosive arrows in his quiver.

"You've been dusted!" Simon fist pumped. I smiled with relief. I turned my attention to Charlie. She looked white as a sheet and so unsure.

"Hey, Charlie? Are you ok?"

She looked at me and then I noticed the tears in her eyes. She shook her head. I glanced back at Simon, but he was already salvaging arrows.

"Charlie, we killed the monster. What's wrong?"

She turned away. "Eric, that was all you and Simon. I didn't even say anything. Simon was the one who fired the shots and you- Well you took charge."

I suddenly felt very guilty. I should have let Charlie make the calls. "I'm sorry, I should have-"

"Don't apologize," she snapped. "If you hadn't made the calls, well who knows what would have happened. I sure as Tartarus wasn't any help."

Charlie wouldn't turn around, but I could hear her sniffling.

"Guys, we totally rocked that!" Simon was as loud as ever. I turned around and gave him the evil eye. He stood silent for a moment. Confused. When he looked at Charlie, his face changed.

"Charlie what's-"

"I'm going to go take care of the horses. Make sure you- Er- I guess find something to do. I'll be back." Charlie jogged away, stumbling just before she entered the barn.

"What happened?" Simon asked his eyes wide.

"I think she froze. She's upset with herself for not being able to lead the quest I guess."

Simon raised his hands, "But, she's been leading this quest the whole time. She gives watches and makes sure we hydrate and-"

"It was because I told you when to shoot."

Simon only nodded slowly in response.