Logan:
As we strolled down 5th avenue again, I tried talking to Christina about other things but after a while I shut up because I could tell her anger hadn't subsided. We walked down near Central Park Zoo, and stopped on East Dr., one of the roads that ran through Central Park. Christina dug out a drachma and made sure no one was nearby.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"This is the fastest way to camp but it's dangerous," Christina answered.
"What?"
"Oh just listen and watch," she told me.
"Hold on, we've got company," Kyra cut in. We looked and saw a bunch of kids the same age as Lillian, Christina and I coming up to us. They were trying to look all cool and gangster. The leader came up to us and sneered, "What are you doing out at this time freaks?"
"I was going to ask you the same. Now get lost," Christina growled. The kids laughed.
"Yeah right. We're not afraid of some homeless kids," one said.
"Pfft. We're not homeless. But call us that one more time and we'll make sure you don't," I answered.
"Yeah. Whatever homeless kid. We aren't afraid of girls especially her," the leader said, jabbing his thumb at Christina.
"You'd be surprised," I defended. I was trying to somewhat get their attention completely of Christina who was already in a bad mood. If she punched one of them, I was afraid we would get in a street fight and get arrested. They laughed at Christina who was just staring.
"What are you going to do little girl," they taunted as a few of them and the leader danced around her in a circle. She stood there and waited till the right moment. The leader passed in front of her, making a real nasty face and she punched him square in the face, knocking him down flat. The other kids stopped dancing around and backed away.
"What the-," the leader said some wonderful language. "You want to pick a fight with me idiot?" he asked. She seemed calm somehow. There was a glint in her eyes, one that I had seen only when she fought physically. He tried to punch her but she grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm. He cried for his mama and told her to let go.
She did and he looked at her in fear. Then he growled to his friends, "Well, don't just stand there. Stop them!" That's when a fight broke out. We all backed into a circle facing them. A few attacked Christina but when one swung she hit him in the face with her foot. She grabbed the other by the arm and twisted him around so that his own arm was against his neck. She growled something in his ear and yanked his arm away from his neck so that he went spinning away. Another grabbed her from behind, putting Christina's arms behind her back and grabbing her neck. She struggled for a few minutes as the kid tried to choke her but she kicked him so hard in the soft spot, he started to cry.
Alethia grabbed one by the head and flipped him onto his back. He got up and ran while one tried to trip her. But she finished him.
One moved in on me and I freaked out a bit. I didn't know any fighting skills or any moves. But a small voice in my brain said, "Their arms are just like swords. Your own arms are like shields or swords also." I concentrated on that as one tried punching my stomach. I sidestepped and used a blow of my own. The leader moved in on Christina with a little dagger. I cursed a bit. He tried stabbing Christina but she took out her bronze dagger and stopped his blade. He yelped in surprise, probably because, 1: he didn't think she had a dagger and two, he hadn't seen someone like her have a quick reaction.
He tried stabbing again but she held her dagger like a sword and what she did next made me almost scream myself for my mom. She swung her dagger straight through his stomach. The blade passed right through him without even harming him. The leader screamed and so did the other kids, running away. Soon everything was peaceful. I stared in horror at Christina.
"What in the name of the gods did you just do?" I asked stunned. "How come it didn't harm him?"
"Because, the blade is Celestial Bronze which is mined on Olympus itself. Very rare. Celestial Bronze is only meant to harm demigods and monsters. Not mortals because they aren't as important. But us demigods can be harmed by mortal weapons," Christina explained. "Anyways, we need to get to camp. Now be quiet so I can focus." We didn't say anything as Christina held out her hand.
"Stêthi 'Ô hárma diabolês. Stop, Chariot of Damnation!" she chanted. She threw her drachma into the road and it sank through the asphalt, replaced with a car woven out of smoke. The window rolled down and an old woman with grayish hair popped her head out.
"Ride? Passage?" she said quickly.
"Seven to Camp Half-Blood," Christina answered, getting in the car. We crammed in after her. Everything was gray and looked like smoke but the seat was pretty solid. I looked ahead at the drivers and nearly yelped. There were three ladies all in the front with the same kind of hair, lanky hands and a black sackcloth dress. They hit the accelerated and Alec ducked in order to avoid Kyra swinging arm as she held onto the seat.
"Does this thing have seatbelts?!" I asked Christina desperately. As if an answer had magically came, a voice came over the speaker and said, "Hi! I'm Guymeade. And when I'm buying wine for Zeus, I always buckle up for any accidents along the road! Thank you and have a lovely day!"
"Whoa, what?!" I said. Christina pointed down and I saw only a black chain.
"Yeah, thanks. Not that anxious to use it," I gulped. As we sped down different roads, I could tell Alec was getting motion sickness.
"Oh man. Not feeling well at all." We all stared at him as he turned green. Christina cursed.
"Hold on please Alec," she said grimly. We turned a sharp corner and the lady on the right driving screeched, "Give up the eye Pempherdo!"
"Wasp," Christina told us, giving us the names in English.
"No! I'm driving Deino!" Wasp yelled.
"Anger," Christina continued.
"Deino give up the tooth, you had it last time!" yelled the one in the middle.
"You've had the tooth three times in a row Persis!" yelled Anger. Christina frowned as we swerved onto another road. She grabbed the seat in front of her, gripping it tightly.
"Persis? Never heard that one before." She looked at Lillian.
"Persis is the other form of her name. The one we're use to is Perso," she explained.
"Right. Perso or Persis is Tempest."
"Give me the tooth Deino! Now!"
"No!" Anger shouted. They continued to fight while we sped down Williamsburg Bridge. We kept accelerating until I felt like we were bumping along the road. Tempest began to ask for the eye and after a while she took it out of Wasp socket and stuck it in hers, blinking like crazy. We kept going faster and faster as everything became a complete blur. Up ahead I could see a valley coming into view and Wasp yelled for the eye and Anger asked for the tooth. Then Anger knocked the eye out of Tempest's socket and Wasp grabbed it, sticking it back in her eye. She slammed on the brakes and all of our heads slammed into the seats.
"Oww," Acacia groaned. Peeling our heads off the back of the seats we got out quickly. They sped away as we walked up the hill, crossing the borders. We walked into camp and found everything empty but we heard noises coming from the Amphitheater.
"Camp fire," Lillian said. The three new demigods were staring at everything, stunned but as we neared the Amphitheater, the demigods became nervous. As soon as we walked in, all the demigods turned their head and stared at us in amazement.
"We're back," Christina announced. They stared at us, and then at the new demigods. They saw Alethia but I could tell their eyes couldn't believe it. Then all of the demigods stared at Christina scars on her face. No doubt that they hadn't seen her look like that before. Then they broke out cheering. Chiron pounded his hoof and the cheering died down.
"Yes, I must say I can't be happier to see these demigods come back with three new ones, all alive." The cheering started up but he pounded his hoof. Everyone quieted down.
"However, I must say, I would like to hear your story," Chiron continued. "And what you learned."
So Christina told them the story and the rest of us filled her in. She choked up at the part when Liam died but no one looked sad. They seemed a little weirded out for some reason. When she told them the part about the Keres, everyone freaked out. I filled them in about the part where Christina got scratched but was healed by Hermes. That's when Christina reached the part about the battle against Dominick. She let me take her place and I told them what happened. Christina after that told them the part about the battle against Lynch and everything else. When she told them about Lynch and Dominick, pandemonium broke out but Chiron got everyone to be quiet.
"So, we know that they are planning to attack us soon."
"Chiron, I didn't say that-," Christina started.
"I know but there's no doubt that they could attack any sooner. All it takes is for one to come back and summon monsters. But I must ask you, who are the other demigods that we know." Christina paled in the face.
"I-I couldn't see their faces under the helmets but some of them…," Christina shuddered. "I knew way too well and had trained them. I can't imagine what would happen if they used my own moves against them if they were to attack." Chiron took this into consideration.
"Come on Christina! You're the best fighter here! You would have plenty of other moves," yelled a kid from the crowd.
"I know Averil, but the thing is, I train a certain way and all of you know that," heads nodded, "What I'm saying they could those moves on me and I would take the fault of it. However if a battle does come, let's hope we have time to prepare."
"Then you could teach us new and better moves but yet we could still use the old moves," Averil answered. There was a murmur of agreement. She considered this. I could tell she was trying hard not to scare them.
"Maybe. But pray to the gods if a battle comes, it won't happen to soon," she answered. Averil nodded.
"Anyways, now we know who are traitors are," I said. "And what we need to be careful about now. It won't take long for Dominick or Lynch to recruit more of us."
"Logan has a point. Tomorrow we'll call a war meeting," Alethia said. Everybody nodded.
"And we have one more surprise. You said Liam died. But seriously...," Alethia started to say.
"I didn't die Christina," said a male's voice. Christina eyes god as big as drachmas. Liam was standing at the edge of the amphitheater.
"Oh my gods. How...what the...Liam how are you...?" Christina was tongue-tied. She was in so much shock and surprise. Liam smiled and came forward and Christina hugged him tightly.
"I thought you died! How...?" she started.
"The vial. Aphrodite managed to overrule the Fates' plan. She took me back to camp. That was the golden light. And so when I got back, everyone knew I was suppose to live. But I had to take to vial to stop the temptation of Iris-messaging you guys to see if you were ok and everything," Liam explained.
Christina blinked.
"Aphrodite did that? Well then that means she had something else on her mind to keep you alive. The goddess of beauty and love keeping a demigod that isn't her child alive? Then she's up to something."
The Aphrodite kids started yelling but Alethia got them to shut up.
Liam shrugged, smiling and Chiron cleared his throat.
"Well, the important thing is that they succeeded and Alethia is back. Now that the matter is closed, let's sing one last camp song before it's off to bed!" Chiron announced. The Apollo cabin began the song but I could tell they were distracted by the fact that their head counselor had betrayed them. After the last song, everyone clapped half-heartily and drifted off towards their cabins. As my sister, Lillian, Alethia, the three demigods and I walked out of the amphitheater with Chiron, we introduced the new demigods. Alec wasn't surprised about Chiron being a centaur.
"We'll stick them in the Hermes cabin until they are claimed. Tomorrow, I have you guys give them a tour," Chiron said. "Now off to bed after you show them their cabin." We took the demigods and as we walked, I thought piecing information together. We showed them the Hermes cabin and Alethia went straight to bed. I couldn't blame her, she had been through enough. We stood in the middle of the ring of cabins.
"Gods, that was a crazy quest. Just think, after a good night's sleep, we'll be able to think clearly tomorrow and won't have to worry about fighting monsters," Lillian said.
"I know, but I'm still struggling with the fact that Lynch has chosen his path to become evil," Christina murmured. Lillian's eyes turned sad.
"Same here. We need to get some sleep because we all look like death from traveling." I looked down at my shirt and saw she was correct. My shirt was almost in shreds and I was dirty, grimy and cut up. Christina didn't look any better with her facial scars. Christina hugged Lillian goodnight. Then Lillian said goodnight to me and walked off towards her cabin.
"Let's go Christina. We need some sleep. Especially you Christina from creating that shield," I told her. She smiled.
"You need some also. That was amazing fighting today against Dominick."
"Thanks to your help."
"Nah. Most of it you did yourself," she answered. I nodded and we headed for the Poseidon cabin. We didn't bother changing considering how tired and gross we were. I sat on the couch drinking water, thinking about the fight between Christina and her parents. Christina climbed into bed and crashed automatically. I listened to her breathing. After that I got in bed and went to sleep.
"All right Alethia, Lillian and Logan, I race you around the borders of camp on our pegasi's," Christina challenged. It was ten in the morning, a day after our quest and we were all refreshed and clean. Christina's scars across her face had faded after we all had done the Swim and Beach activity. Since she was the daughter of Poseidon, being in water long enough healed her scars. I had asked her if it takes longer for them to heal since they were scars. She said kind of. She said that if they were fresh, they would heal quicker. If they were older, it would take a little longer.
"Sure. But you're so going to lose," Alethia said.
"Got that right," I put in.
"Ha-ha. It would be a first though to feel the wind in our faces without freaking out over monsters," Christina said.
"Yeah," Lillian sighed. "I call Pothos!" she added quickly.
"Ha, then I get Pegasus 2!" Alethia answered.
"Leave Blackstorm to me!" Christina said.
"Saigas," I said. We mounted our pegasus' and Christina counted.
"1...2...3...GO!" We shot into the air and raced. Christina spread her arms out on either side, letting the wind rush through her hair. She touched the feathers on the wings of Blackstorm softly, smiling a bit. As we flew I sense her worries draining away and freedom replacing it. Then she concentrated back on flying. She whispered something in Blackstorm's ear and he shot forward, Christina laughing. Lillian went after her and Alethia and I followed. We all tied the race, feeling better than we had long before.
"Great race," I complimented the others. "Despite the fact I was surrounded by girls completely." They laughed and then Christina eyes widened behind me. I turned around and saw Griffin.
"Griffin! Where were you yesterday when we arrived?!" I questioned.
"I was busy doing looking for more demigods. But I caught up on everything thanks to Casper and his twin Jasper. Is it true about…you know?" he gulped, looking at Christina. She took a breath and nodded.
"I thought it was going to be better this time but obviously not. Anyways, I came to congratulate you guys because I've got to go see Mr. D.," he said.
"All right. See ya Griffin!" I answered.
"See ya!" I turned to Christina.
"Now what are we going to do?" I asked. But my question was answered when Selena Blanton came running up to us.
"You guys, the war meeting is starting right now. I was sent to come and get you," she panted. We looked at one another and ran towards the Big House. We walked into the recreation room and saw everyone sitting around the ping pong table. We took our seats and Chiron started the meeting.
"As you all know, Logan and Christina have successfully returned with Alethia and to add to that, with new demigods," Chiron said. "However, we would like to hear your story from the top again." So we told them. Christina was slowly getting angry every time she mentioned Lynch's name. When we finished, there was shocked silence because we had told them some things that we hadn't told the camp the night before.
"But that's incredulous! Why would he turn against the Olympians?!" Sophia said, breaking the awkwardness.
"We already explained that," I growled. "Don't you ever listen?" Sophia glared at me.
"Watch it. Just because you went on a quest doesn't mean you can challenge me," she answered.
"Sophia, we already explained it. Three millennia of hatred. Darkness. All alone. The stupidest job a god could have. That's why he wants something better. Think Sophia. Hungry for power like most minor gods. The only difference is this time it's an ally that's turned," Christina replied. I sensed that in her mind, she was piecing more clues together, some that she hadn't told us about.
"Basically, as far as we know, Dominick and Lynch and a bunch of demigods have betrayed this camp. But a few demigods were ones who went to camp. The others demigods were ones that we've never seen at camp. So they have hunted other ones down and recruited them," Landon summarized.
"Pretty much. Although there is one thing that I won't say until I'm sure," Christina said. Everyone stared at her. She locked eyes with Chiron and they had a silent exchange.
"So…what are we going to do about this?" Faber asked. I looked at Christina and she nodded. We had talked the night before about what we were going to do. And if that something was going to happen, we were going to have to quickly.
"If Hades recruits too many demigods and minor gods, the Olympians will have lost half their numbers. After that, he'll try an assault against us since we are the bonds that tie the gods to the mortal world. If he manages to get most of us on his side, the rest of us that doesn't join will have to go into hiding or will be killed. Once he's finished with us, he'll quickly move to Olympus because we demigods won't be in his way at all. If Hades accomplishes getting the main seat of power, then the world will drop to his power and all lives will be at stake; demigod or mortal. All the gods will be at each other's throats. It will unbalance the council. Hades is chaos and destruction. If a war is brought to us, then we have to maintain our positions of keeping the camp safe," I explained.
"Yes, but how can they attack if our borders are safe?" Faber asked.
"All Hades has to do is get in camp since gods are allowed to, summon hellhounds and monsters and attack. Or they could have Lynch and Dominick who are still demigods get in secretly and summon. Last but not least, they could send a brainwashed demigod we don't know about and have him do some major and serious stuff that could make the borders fail. Or possibly all three," Christina answered almost immediately because she was waiting for that question to come up. Everyone thought upon that happy note.
"Then what will we do about that? Scrounge every new demigod for information?" asked Kore Lynn from the Demeter cabin.
"I don't know what we're going to do. But all I know is that we have to be careful with every new demigod until we're sure that they are or are not the enemy," Lillian replied. Heads nodded.
"Now how are we going to prepare for a battle that we don't know about?" Selena questioned. Christina sat back in her chair and thought quickly. Her face slowly paled as she came up with one of many answers she found out with the clues she hadn't mentioned.
"No Selena, we'll kno-know, trust me," she stuttered, the color beginning to drain from her face. Landon sat forward, his hands folded on the table and his face full of concern as he studied Christina's face.
"Christina, what's wrong? What are we facing? I know you well enough that the look on your face is saying that you just figured something out." Christina shook her head
"Christina, come on. Look at me," Landon said. She did reluctantly. "What are we facing because I know you know." Christina held his gaze and after a few seconds of silence she spoke.
"If Lynch and Dominick have demigods that he's recruited, maybe some of them aren't with him. Maybe some of them are with us our camp. Our 'friends'," she said, looking away. "That means that if Lynch has some kind of signal or something, all he has to do is send it when he's ready and then those hidden demigods will cause a commotion that will send us into chaos. Then we won't be prepared if Hades and them were to attack this camp." Everyone was shocked. Then they started talking at once, looking at one another warily as if expecting some kind of signal from each other.
"Silence!" Chiron ordered. Everyone stopped and listened carefully. "How can you be sure of this Christina?" Christina eyes were blazing with anger as some answers began to connect as she thought.
"Because, Lynch would need someone to do his dirty work like he has always," she answered solemnly. A few kids covered their mouth in complete disbelief. I had a feeling that what she had said was something she wouldn't have said if this hadn't happened.
"How could you say that?" Jason Cots said, the head counselor of the Apollo cabin. "You and him were-,"
"That was the past. This is the present Jason. Get with it. He has chosen to betray me, Lillian, Alethia and the camp," Christina interrupted. Jason just stared at her, shaking his head. But as he stared at her, there was something in his eyes that didn't seem correct. There was this look that I couldn't understand.
"But that's beside the point," she continued. "If he were to attack like I said, we would have no intention about it."
"So what do you want us to do about it?" Kore asked. Christina didn't answer as she traced her finger on the ping pong table. It was like she was drawing a battle plan out.
"We'll just have to be ready for them. If next year, we can figure out enough information on when they're going to attack, then we'll give a warning as soon as possible," she answered finally.
"Is it possible to predict how long we might have?" Selena asked tentatively.
"At the most, we probably have another two years. It will take a lot of time to recruit more demigods in order to be strong and a lot of planning," Christina replied. Everybody nodded.
"Have we completed the prophecy all the way though?" Sophia asked. It was a good question because Christina had to think about it for a few moments before saying anything.
"Well...," she drawled, starting off. "Here's the prophecy if you don't remember: Four shall travel as far west as they can. To find the girl taken by hand. You will lose a needed child of archery, a friend. Only to find a god in the end. If thee shall find the girl, war shall wage. And underground will release terrible rage."
"So Lillian, Liam, Christina and I were the four and we traveled as far west. Check," I said.
"To find the girl taken by hand which was Alethia. Check," Lillian added.
"You will lose a needed child of archery, a friend. I thought that was Lynch but really it was Liam. We lost him on the quest and not him entirely with his life," Christina continued.
"If thee shall find the girl, war shall wage which you guys did find Alethia and war did happen among all of the monsters and demigods," Liam said.
"And underground will release terrible rage. That happened to be Hades because he just went all out on us in the battle," I finished. "So yeah, we did complete the prophecy."
"So is that everything that we've covered?" Jason asked. Chiron looked at Christina and she met his gaze. Something passed between them and she nodded, locking eyes with Lillian who nodded also.
"I believe so," Chiron answered. And the war council adjourned.