AHHH! SECOND OR THIRD TO LAST CHAPTER!

Prepare for an epic finale, my friends.

Anywho, I won't keep you waiting. Read on! (And thanks for all those reviews – they made me happy :D )

Chapter 10

"Ohmygod-Katie!" was the first thing that Travis blurted out when he saw me. I was standing by the door, one fist clenched, and the other still poised on the light switch. My jaw had dropped a couple of feet and I could feel my ears reddening in anger.

"How could you…" I trailed off as I felt my eyes brim with tears and I ran out into the hallway – right into Connor.

"Whoa there, what's going on?" He asked, grabbing me before I could run to the elevator.

"Why don't you ask them? I shouted, trying to get out of his grip. Unluckily for me he had a ton of muscle from who knows how many years of swordfighting. I stopped struggling and settled for just glaring at Isabel.

She was blushing, doing her best not to look into my furious eyes. "I'm sorry, we didn't think she'd be back so quickly."

"Yeah," said Travis, "It was our fault."

Connor seemed to have worked out what happened in his head. He must've felt bad for me because he slowly loosened his grip.

"Whatever," I said, brushing off my arms from where he had squeezed them, "I'm going to bed."

I walked past them in silence and plopped down on the sofa, not even bothering to take off my makeup or put on my pajamas. Isabel followed soon after and walked into the bathroom, her pink toiletry kit in hand. I could hear Travis and Connor arguing in the hallway but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I could only hope that Connor wasn't telling Travis that I liked him. That would make this the most awkward love triangle ever.

"Just go to bed, Travis." I heard Connor tell him as they entered the room. Connor fished around in his suitcase for his toothbrush. Travis just stood like a puppy dog at the doorway, waiting for Isabel to get out of the bathroom.

That night, once everyone was asleep, I just couldn't help it. I burst into tears.

When I was little and I thought about going on a quest, I pictured it full of action and monster killing. I thought I'd be with a group of strong demigods who would treat me with respect and later become my best friends. I never assumed I'd be in such an awkward position – stuck between a rock and a hard place, they call it.

I waited until I was sure everyone was asleep before I got off of the couch and went to complete my dare with Connor for the day. I was still crying when my lips touched his snoring face.

Connor's POV

I felt awful for Katie but I couldn't do anything for her. While I wanted to help her, I knew that my brother's relationships were not my problem and if he wanted to ruin Katie's quest I couldn't do anything about it. I tried to tell him to stop sneaking around with Isabel. He was only giving himself a distraction and we needed to focus on the quest itself. He eventually agreed but refused to stop liking her, claiming that they'd pick up as soon as the quest was over. There was nothing I could do.

That night I was so pooped, I fell asleep almost instantly. It wasn't a good sleep, though. I thrashed around so much on that little air mattress I was surprised I didn't put a hole in it. I kept going in and out of dreams – it was very confusing. In fact, there was one point when I thought I felt someone's tears land on my face and the warmth of breath on my cheek.

I could've sworn I heard sniffling.

Travis's POV

There are a couple really awful things in life:

Forgetting your homework.

Running out of peanut butter

Stepping on a Lego

But nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to walking in between two extremely pissed girls.

Last night was awkward enough, but we all managed to get in another argument this morning. For some reason, Katie woke up with her heart set on visiting that old jail in San Francisco where they now give tours. 'Alcatraz' she corrected me when I called it 'Azkaban.' I was up for going if it would make Katie feel better, but for some reason Isabel was completely against it.

"I've only been there once, but it's an awful place." she told us. "I don't understand why anyone would go by choice. Come on, Katie, don't make us go."

Katie sighed. "Please Isabel? For some reason I just really think that Dolos is there. I don't know why, it's just a feeling in my gut."

"Well if you're going to listen to your gut you're a lot stupider than I thought." she growled. "Which is a pretty large feat." she added quietly, almost to herself.

"Isabel!" I exclaimed.

"Don't worry, Travis." Katie assured me. "I know she's kidding. I've been around stupid people enough to know what they're like." she glared at Isabel who rolled her eyes.

"Well since I can't argue with that lovely comeback I'll just put it plain and simple for you." she stepped towards Katie. "I'm. Not. Going. To. Alcatraz."

Katie just shrugged, a fake smile plastered under her nose. "Oh well, it was nice to meet you. Really our time together was just delightful. Have a nice life." she dropped her smile, spun on her heel and started out of the hotel lobby, only turning back around to say, "Come on boys!" before strutting through the revolving door. Connor turned to give me a look before sighing and following her. Katie had gotten all the way through the door before she turned around and noticed that my feet were still planted next to Isabel's – who was likely grinning like the joker. I knew I was in for it when I could see the redness of her face through the spinning of the door. I didn't have time to blink before she had shoved herself at the revolving door, causing Connor to smack back against the wall as the entire contraption changed direction. Under normal circumstances I would've laughed, but with a hot headed, hunchbacked, smoking eared demigod stalking towards me, I made the smart decision to keep my mouth shut.

"You are unbelievable!" she spat, a mere foot and a half from my face. I could see the worry lines that creased her face and the bags under her eyes from lack of sleep. Her cheeks looked almost deflated, as if someone had pricked them with a needle and let all the air seep out. Her brow was lowered on her eyes in fury and if I didn't know her better, I'd say she was about to punch me.

"Look Katie," I began in the most soothing voice I could muster, "Just please understand that I'm stuck in the middle of two girls whose opinions I respect-"

"Oh, don't give me that crap."

I stared at her, my eyes wide like a deer in headlights.

"Excuse me?"

She shook her head. "Don't make excuses for yourself, Stoll. Don't act like you're trying your hardest not to choose a side because it's obvious which team you're rooting for."

"Katie, stop it, you're making this much more difficult than it has to be-"

"Well, of course it's going to be difficult!" she shrieked. "And to think I thought she was the stupid one!"

Hearing her rant, the entire lobby had turned to stare at us. A distracted couple didn't notice their toddler riding off on a luggage cart towards a staircase.

I closed my eyes and tried to breathe before turning to the princess herself who had her arms crossed, glaring at me. So many thoughts were whirring around my head; so many possible things to say to her. But I eventually decided on the calmest (and least explicit) retort.

"It doesn't need to be me, you know." I told her, staring at her face, watching at it turned from furious to confused. "For your face." I tried to elaborate. "Anyone can do the deed and get rid of the blue – I only said that it was me because I wanted to annoy you, and I wanted to kiss you."

She snorted. "I knew all along, Stoll, you aren't telling me anything I don't already know."

I laughed but it was a mean laugh I didn't know I was capable of. "Of course you did, Katie. Of course you knew that because you know everything. That's what you are now, an arrogant, stupid, know it all!"

She opened her mouth to protest, but I cut her off. "And you know what? I've changed this past week too – it's not just you. I've learned that women can be jealous and catty and I want nothing of it!" My voice suddenly rose, and whoever hadn't been listening before, turned their heads. "And something else changed in me this week, Katie. Something I didn't think was capable of happening until you traveled the west coast with me for a couple days and changed my mind. I don't want to kiss you anymore. In fact, I am happier than I've ever been about anything that I was lying!" Before she could say anything back, I swept past her and stomped out of the building, barely exchanging looks with my brother who had made it out of the revolving door in time to hear the gist of our fight.

Isabel followed right on my heels but I wasn't in the mood to talk to her. I could feel the tears beginning to fill the rims of my eyelids and she was the last person who I wanted to see me cry.

"Travis, wait." Isabel called, grabbing the door after I purposely let it slam on her face. I tried to quicken my pace, but she had grabbed me by the hand and pulled me into a hug before I could protest. I was too exasperated to struggle and I eventually decided to just stay like that, enveloped in her arms like some sort of sad love letter. I almost hoped that Katie was watching, but I didn't want to think like that. When I eventually pulled away, I shot a glance into the lobby, but the only stares I received were from amused hotel guests. Isabel rubbed her hand along my back.

"Travis," she said quietly. To my surprise, her throat was choked up.

"Yeah?"

"I…" she sniffled, "I think it would be better off for you, or, for us, if I went home for a little while."

"What?" I turned to her, suddenly panic stricken at the thought of being alone with my brother and Katie.

She nodded. "I know you think you need me, but I think you also need some time to work things out with Katie. And," she shrugged, "To be completely honest I could use a break too. God, I don't know how you questers do it. I've never been on a quest and yet even this little adventure seems like one heck of a mess."

I laughed. It was true. Most quests were typically messes.

"Alright." I finally agreed. "But not for a long time, just long enough for Katie and me to clear the air."

"It's a deal." she agreed. "I'll meet you at Alcatraz tomorrow morning. That way you've got all of today to get rid of the tension."

I smiled. "Thank you, Isabel, I mean it."

She smiled. "I need this just as much as you do." Her throat closed on the last word and I watched in surprise as she turned on her heal and sprinted away, tears tumbling down her cheeks.

I had been staring after her, still dumbstruck when Connor came up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. Katie was standing behind him, avoiding eye contact.

"Hey, Travis," he said quietly, "We found something I think you should know about."

I stayed where I was.

"I'm not listening to anything you say until she apologizes for starting this stupid fight."

"But she called me stupid!"

"Katie." Connor warned.

"Ugh, fine. I'm sorry I started a fight with your girlfriend, Stoll."

I sighed. It wasn't going to get any more heartfelt than that.

"Come over here." Connor motioned towards a bench. Dropping our packs on the ground, Katie and I plopped down on opposite sides on the bench while Connor fished around in his pocket. He pulled out a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and handed it to me.

"This is the prophecy." he told me. "When Chiron read it through the IM I wrote it down on a piece of paper in Isabel's kitchen."

I read through the prophecy wondering if we could make sense of any of the lines yet.

Trickery and chaos has shelter to hide

Where hundreds of devils, not angels, reside

The smell of betrayal, a hint of chagrin

A last minute switch, and a trick with a pin.

A god with a mission will finish their task,

Revealing a hero proclaimed and unmasked.

Nope, just as mysterious and annoying as ever.

"What did you figure out?" I asked Connor.

"Well," he began, "I didn't realize it at first, but – if you turn it over you'll see – I jotted it down on the back of an envelope."

I turned it over and, sure enough, the flap on the other side had been ripped right through the middle.

"So, this is important, how?" I asked.

"Read it." Katie said simply.

Still slightly confused, I opened the envelope and pulled out the piece of paper, slightly singed on the edges.

My dear,

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to contact you but I've been very busy getting everything prepared. The jail is nearly set and we should be able to house the guests on Friday, the last day of June. If you bring them no earlier than then, then we should be fine. I look forward to having your company once more, and I cannot wait until we begin the invasion.

Best regards,

Dolos

I stared in awe at the piece of paper in my hands, pleading to the gods that it was lying. That couldn't be right… Isabel couldn't be Dolos's… But then, it made sense.

Why her parents weren't home, why she didn't want to go to Alcatraz today. Even her words from earlier made a lot more sense now that I knew the truth. "God, I don't know how you questers do it. I've never been on a quest…" The way she spoke as if going on a quest was even a possibility for her. She was a demigod – just like the rest of us, and she kept it hidden all along. She couldn't see through the mist, she just wanted to lead us around on an endless scavenger hunt until it was time; time to bring her father his prize – Us.

I could feel my blood rushing to my head as my sight blurred in anger. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry Travis." Katie said quietly.

Her hand on my shoulder felt like hot coals. I was so fed up with her I wanted to punch her. Instead, I yelled at her.

"Sorry?" I roared, standing up so I could face her. "If there's anything you aren't, it's sorry, Katie Gardner. In fact, I bet you're just ecstatic that you were right and I was the stupid one for once, getting a crush on the enemy's daughter."

"Travis…" Connor warned, but I wasn't done.

"I bet you're sooooo proud of yourself for finally proving me wrong. And you know, you should be. In fact, give yourself a big old pat on the back, because, once again, you were right, and I was wrong." In a burst of fury I crumpled the envelope in a ball and threw it into the street, practically seething as I watched a Jeep roll over it, and then a Prius.

Katie was crying.

I could hear her sniffling even over the sounds of LA cars blaring their horns and the Valet parking people talking amongst themselves. It was about twelve o' clock and my stomach was growling like some sort of animal. Connor must have heard it because he held out a hand to Katie.

"Come on guys. Let's get some lunch. We've got to get to San Francisco by the end of the day."

Katie's POV

Kiss him.

That was my assignment from Dolos the night before.

Not while he was asleep, or drunk, or anything but completely normal.

And it had to be on the lips.

Well this is going to be interesting… Good job to reviewer mkc120 for guessing almost EXACTLY what I had in mind for the ending… Not quite though :D:D:D

Btw on a completely different note I found a new fandom to be obsessed with – Sherlock on BBC. If there are any other sherlockians on here I'd love for you to send me a message so we can fangirl about Johnlock and all. THANKS FOR READING!