Chapter 11: Things get complicated for everyone.

I waited until they had given up and settled down for rest before opening one of the books. It was in Greek, yet I could read it as if it was in English. It was about the Greek Gods and Goddesses, stories about their rein and what they did. "Why does all this seem so familiar?" I mumbled to myself and closed it, not wanting to read anymore. I looked at the guys and saw how mischievous they looked, even while they slept.

I pulled out the earrings and saw they were green pebbles held together with gold vines wrapping around them. I shrugged and put them in, I should wear them after all, and they had to be mine. I found another book; it seemed to be a journal or diary, so I opened it to the most recent page. "He is so frustrating; I can't help but love him, even though there is another one I care for just as bad. I feel as if my heart is being torn in two and can't decide what I should do."

I looked between the guys, was I talking about them? I remembered they said we never really met. I continued to read. "Should I choose to forgive and just go home? Or should I refuse and try to make a different life where I am now? He wants to be with me, but the others are just as bad. I'm not sure I will be able to choose without causing a war." I blinked and closed the book.

Who exactly was I? I just read my own words and didn't understand a word of it. I heard a twig snap and jumped up, the horse must have come back. I backed away from the area where the twig broke and tripped over the guys. They both cursed in Greek, which I understood and started to get up, but I was kinda weighing them down.

"It's back." I whispered and they both looked at me. "The creature thing with wings." I said and pointed where the twig snapped. Travis pushed my legs off him and got up, and started toward the place. I held my breath as he disappeared and felt a tap. "Can you move, you're hurting my ribs." I realized I was stabbing him with my elbow and quickly sat up, blushing.

"Sorry." "It's fine, you just surprised us." I nodded and looked up to see Travis petting a gray horse thing too. I backed up into Connor, saying, "There are more of those!" Connor grabbed my shoulders and I glanced up at him. "Erika, just calm down, everything is fine, they aren't going to hurt you." His voice was sweet and gentle, as if I was a child that just had a nightmare.

I stared into his eyes and felt my cheeks heat up as a blush formed, I looked away quickly, nodding slightly. "I don't think we are going to get any sleep with her like this." Travis said, walking back over to us. I sat up completely, not daring to look at them. "I'm sorry I'm not myself." "No problem, you can't help it." "Yeah, plus you are kinda nice like this."

I felt my cheek get hotter and quickly stood up, surprising them both. "What would I normally do in this situation?" I asked and kept my eyes on the ground, they stood up and shrugged. "We didn't really pay any attention to you before now, I mean we noticed you, but never really gave you any thought." "From what we found out the first day we actually met, you-"

I looked up and saw Connor was rubbing his arm, Travis smiled. "You would probably get moving on our mission, but you seem to be scared of our transportation, so I'm not sure how we are to get this done." I looked at the horse, and then realized that's how we got where we were. "WE FLEW!" I screeched and backed into a tree, away from them all. "Erika, calm down remember." Connor said, slowly coming toward me, I took a deep breath and nodded.

"So how do we ride these things?" "Pegasi." "Come again?" "That's what they are called, yours is named Nightshade, the gray one is mine and his name is Ash and there is another one for Connor, its name is Rusty." I glanced at Connor and he smiled, nodding. "Nightshade?" "Yeah, you normally just whistle and she comes." I tried it and sure enough, the Pegasus flew down with the sorrel one that was Connor's.

She came toward me, tossing her head, but I backed away and ran behind the guys. "I can't do it, I just can't." I mumbled, holding onto their shirt sleeves. "This is going to be a long trip." I heard Travis say and pulled away from me. "Erika, come on, you can do this." I looked at the horses and then shook my head again. "Its fine Travis, she can ride with me." I looked up at him and he nodded at me.

He took my hand and slowly led me to the waiting Rusty, who seemed scared of me. "He's going to throw me off." I said and started to pull away from Connor, but Travis grabbed my waist from behind. "Get on Connor, I got her." he did and Travis lifted me with ease and placed me behind Connor, I gripped his waist and buried my face into his back.

"Come on, Nightshade will follow, I'm sure." Connor said and then he mumbled back to me, "Just don't scream or let go of me." "Yeah, like I would do that!" I said back and he chuckled at me. "Let's go, Percy and the others are probably far ahead." I felt the horse's wings spread out and buried my face as far as I could, holding my breath as we took off. "Erika?" I heard Connor call after a few minutes and slowly opening my eyes to see clouds all around me.

"Wow…" I breathed and loosen my grip on Connor, who glanced back. "You alright?" "It's beautiful…" I said and he looked around, then back at me. "Yeah, you are." I felt my cheek burn and looked away. "I mean, it is beautiful up here." He tried to cover, but I knew he said it and so did he. "Travis, where do you want to stop?" "How about Las Vegas?"

He called back and Connor nodded, and then looked back at me. "That alright with you?" "Sure." I replied and he turned back to the front and I laid my head on his back softly, just enjoying the view. I felt him tense, but then he loosened up and relaxed too. I must have fallen asleep because I woke up to a rough landing of the horses.

I shook my head as Connor slipped off and held his hand up to me. "What do you think you are doing? I'm perfectly capable of getting of my own horse. Don't take your father's words that you must protect me because I don't need it." I snapped, and then saw I was on his horse and Nightshade was behind us. They glanced at each other and then just stared at me. I hopped off the horse and crossed my arms.

"Where are we? And why are my clothes different? What is going on?" I ordered and they just looked at each other. "Lost the ability to speak? Fine." I snapped and walked to Nightshade. I touched her nose and she tossed her head away from me. "What's wrong girl?" I asked and patted her neck. She backed away from me and I turned to the guys, really angry now. "I order you two to tell me what has happened!"

"I'm not sure how to explain it, you were passed out in the forest, then woke up-" I held up my hand to my forehead, I remembered a shadow coming toward me. "Erika?" I heard one of them say, but I felt the shadow hit me again, but only in my memory I thought. I opened my eyes and saw the guys staring at me again. "Are you always going to stare at me?" I asked, sitting up. "Erika? Are you alright?" "Yeah, did we make it to Vegas?" they blinked and looked at each other.

"What's wrong?" "Nothing, let's just find somewhere to stay, it's kinda late." We walked around, leaving the horses to find somewhere to stay as well. A man appeared from a hotel and asked us to come inside, that we looked tired. He ushered us inside and I saw the greatest lobby ever made. "Here are your room keys and playing cards for all the games." And then he was gone.