Chapter 3

Ariana's POV

"A quest? Are you joking?! I can't go on a quest!" I started to sit up. Vanessa grabbed my hand and pulled me back down. "Let me explain. My mom is Harmonia, goddess of harmony. Her Greek opposite is Eris. I need to find Eris' golden apple of discord before Eris can get to it and cause trouble, and I need your help."

"Wait..." My voice cracked. "I can't do this." I flicked my hand to the right and black smoke surrounded Vanessa. I ran away towards the cabins. On the way there, I bumped into Nico. "Hey," he said with a small (and when I say that, I just mean his frown was less...what's the word... Deep) smile. At the moment, I didn't care. I ran. I ran like a coward. I didn't stop until I got to the Hermes cabin. Heads swiveled around to look at me, and gossipy whispers started to form. A tear traced down my cheek. I didn't care what these people thought. I sunk down into my little corner to think. I couldn't go on the quest! What was Vanessa thinking?! My MOTHER was Eris, and I was assigned a quest to find the apple. Vanessa had been told to do the same. I didn't know whether to tell her or not. As the Hermes cabin campers ran out the door to play volleyball, I heard a knock on the back door. I pulled myself up. I was a mess, but I didn't care. As I opened the door, I was caught in surprise. It was Nico. "Hey," he said quietly. "I was wondering what happened today and if I could help. I-" I stopped him. And I ran. I never knew where I was going. I just knew where I didn't want to go. I just wanted to be alone, to get away from all of the people who never loved me. With each step, I felt worse. The burden was bigger than ever. I finally stopped at a clearing. Mist filled the air. When it dissipated, I saw my mother. She was sitting on an old tree stump. She wasn't fully there. It was like she was a ghost or something. "What do you want with me?!" I yelled. She ignored me. "So... Who is this Vanessa?" The way she said her name was dripping with disgust. "She's my only friend here other than...than... Nico..." I finished quietly. I picked up my confidence and kept going. "But why would you care?" I questioned. "Oh dearie... She's the daughter of Harmonia. She's searching for my apple!" "Well then maybe I'll help her! I'm done helping you!" I screamed. "Fine then..." Her face twisted into a frown as she disappeared. I charged toward the cabins. It was getting dark and the campers were heading toward the campfire area. I saw Vanessa on the outside of the Hermes group. "Vanessa! I accept the quest! But under one circumstance-Nico comes too." I hoped that this would work and that she would accept. "Uh, I-" she was stopped by Nico's voice. "What about me?" Vanessa was about to finish her sentence as I cut in. "Nico, there's something I need to tell you. I really hope you can accept, but I at least need you to listen. Vanessa found out that-"

"My mother is Harmonia," she finished for me. That was a relief. I didn't want to break the news. "Harmonia?!" his voice cracked a little. "Eris and Harmonia are enemies in mythology. They cant stand each other. I thought you would've known! Wait. What does Vanessa have to do with this?" I gave a little guilty smile. "Umm...well...Vanessa was sent to search for the apple also, to get it away from my mother. I'm on Harmonia's side. My mother has done nothing good for me. I have made my decision about her."

"You plan to take her on the quest. And me, too, I assume."

"Please, Nico! I really need someone who is experienced on this quest."

"Hey!" Vanessa cut in. "Dude, I am right here you know."

I ignored her sass and kept going. "So...will you come?"

"You know I will! You are right. You need experience, and...I don't think I can let you get hurt." His eyes glazed over with grief. I felt terrible. He had lost his big sister Bianca, and he missed her. I understood. My parents were gone and it filled me with sorrow. I couldn't let Nico down. "Today is Wednesday. Be ready to leave by dawn on Friday. Chiron can't know about this quest. It's a really big secret. Got it?" I looked at the both of them. I really did trust them. I knew my secret was safe. Later that night, as I was laying down in my little corner, I thought about the insane day that I had.

"I can't let you go..." his voice echoed down into the dark canyon.

"Just leave! Go! You will be safe! It's for your own safety!" My voice was strained. I was getting choked up. Tears flowed down my face. I didn't want it to end this way. I loved him and I didn't want to leave him, but it was for his safety. I wanted him and the camp to be safe from the monster that was my mother.

"Is this the end? Does it have to be this way?" His words boomed across the expanse.

"I can't hold on much longer!" The wind was blowing much harder. It whipped me from side to side as I was holding onto my string of life, this thin tree branch about to snap.

"Please don't! There's got to be another way! I-" his voice changed much deeper and hollow. It wasn't him. It was her shadow army commander, Walter. He came again.

"There isn't another way...you have defied your mother's wishessssss..." His tone of voice creeped up my back giving me chills. He let go of my hand as I fell into the darkness.

I awoke in a pool of sweat. I was in shock. I had never gotten that far into my dream before. This time, I had seen the boy's face.

In the darkness of Cabin 11, I thought about this boy's betrayal to me soon to come.

The boy's face floated in my mind. I knew him.

It was Nico.

~ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM ISABEL~

OMG IM SO SORRY GUYS FOR A SHORT CHAPTER! I CANT EVEN RN LIKE I FEEL SO SO BAD ABOUT THIS CAUSE THIS IS LIKE MAH LIFE! TTYL GUYS IMMA GO CRY...

~ISABEL