AN: This chapter mainly revolves around Charlie, Charlotte and Izzie's side of the quest and a little bit of Justin, Daniel and Parker's 'rogue quest'. Next chapter is more centered around Ken, Chris and Bree. A few new half bloods introduced in this chapter as well.

Also, I have begun to rethink the plot a little and I think I can make it so that none of the main characters die. Yay!

I hope you enjoy and please review.

Chapter 4: Nightmares, Demigods and a Dance

Charlie Blake hated boarding schools.

Well...not all, contrary to popular belief, a lot of schools weren't all stuck up and snooty. But from his experience from a very stuck up and snooty boarding school for a few years. He knew that Hartford Newlake's Preparatory Boarding School was one of those. His nose crinkled at the very sight of it, bringing back unwanted memories of his time at St. George's Academy for Boys.

"Are you okay?" Izzie asked.

"Yeah! Yeah! Fine," he answered quickly. "Who are we supposed to meet?"

"A satyr by the name of Douglas," Charlotte answered quickly.

"Are you alright?" Izzie questioned the other girl. Charlotte seemed rather tense and nervous.

"Fine," she mumbled. "Fine, fine, fine."

They'd arrived about a day after they left camp and now stood outside the huge school.

Douglas the satyr wasn't hard to find. He had curly dark hair, hidden by a red beanie, he was wearing the standard boys school uniform. A button down white shirt, navy blue tie and dark blue trousers. He was also the only kid they could see who used crutches.

At the site of the three half bloods, Douglas ran, or limped quickly, rather over to them.

"Hi!" he exclaimed. "I'm Douglas Evermatt," he introduced himself. He was a younger satyr, more inexperienced. All three half-bloods could immediately tell this was a big deal for him. The three introduced themselves and Douglas gave them all a glance over.

"We need to get you three into uniform."

"Uniform?" Charlie tugged at the cut of his shirt nervously. "Why?"

"I'm tracking a couple of half bloods," the satyr explained. "To get them out, we'll need you to blend in."

"What about teachers?" Charlotte asked, her arms folded.

"I'll think of something," Douglas replied. "Say that you're new students. My cousins from New Jersey or something," his eyes turned to Charlie. "And a distant relative from London."

"Douglas," Izzie cut him short. "I'm sorry, but we need to get the half bloods out of here, ASAP. There was a prophecy and...I don't know what's going to happen. But one of these kid's lives is...could be at stake."

"Oh gods, oh gods," he muttered again and again to himself. "I was afraid something like this might happen. I really don't want to mess up," one of his hands went to the back of his neck.

"It'll work out," Izzie tried to assure him. "I promise."

"But we do have to get the half bloods out of here," Charlie jumped in. "Can you fill us in on who they are?"

Douglas glanced at his watch. "Hmmm. It is lunchtime. Got any tin cans on you?"

The three turned to each other. Charlie reached into his backpack and pulled out a full can of coke.

Douglas shrugged. "I'm thirsty too. Two birds. But first you three need to get in uniform. Just a sec." He headed off to a nearby shed, and emerged with three uniforms. "You can change in there," he gestured, handing them each the uniforms. "Ladies first."

The girls uniform had a knee length skirt, the same color as the boys pants and a white blouse. Ties were optional for girls and they were allowed to pick the rest of what they wore by themselves, which meant they all kept their shoes.

Charlie's uniform was the same as Douglas', but he rolled up his sleeves instead and wore his tie very loosely.

"Some teachers are strict on uniform," the satyr reminded.

"What are they gonna do, give me detention?" Charlie shrugged. "I don't even go here."

For lunch time, the three took a seat on a secluded grass bank. While the students had to option of sitting inside, on the football fields, in the cafeteria or a few at the fountain. It was a sunny day, so most people had opted for outside. The school had a roll of about 4,500 students, so a few extra heads didn't attract much attention.

"So, who are we looking at?" Charlie asked.

"Well, there were four half bloods here. Two are siblings, Vivian and Cayden Rae. They're twins," Douglas gestured with his head to a boy on the football field with brown hair and then to a girl a little further on with darker hair, but brown highlights. "No lead on Olympian parentage, but they were both left at an orphanage in Oregon when they were a few months old. Someone mysteriously paid for them to attend school here."

The half bloods nodded. "Who else?"

Douglas' head shifted around a little bit before pointing with his head to a boy with slicked, coffee colored hair and the same sort of skin tone. "That's Max Hamilton. He's a year older than the Rae siblings."

"You said there were four," Charlie commented. "Were?"

Douglas nodded sadly. "There was a girl. Her name was Rosaline Carter. She disappeared a few weeks ago. The school claimed she just ran away, she didn't get along with the other students."

"You don't know where she is?" Izzie prodded.

"Douglas shook his head sadly once again, leading Izzie to place a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.

"That must be who the others are looking for," Charlotte commented. "Where was she from?"

"San Diego."

"West," Charlie muttered to himself. "That must be her," he spoke a little louder.

"We have to get those half bloods out of here," Izzie said. "Is there any way that we could quickly. Maybe by tomorrow." She felt nerves building inside of her. It was a feeling she couldn't shake.

"Actually..." Douglas raised his hand. "There is a school dance tonight. It'll be chaperoned, but if we can get them out by tonight..."

"Sounds like a plan," Charlie commented.

Douglas turned to him. "You've worn a tux before haven't you?"

Hitchiking wasn't safe. So instead, they'd stolen a flying chariot, taking turns driving until they reached Washington. On Daniel's shift to drive, Justin fell sleepy and began to nod off for a nap.

A voice echoed. It was a voice he recognized- all too well.

"Justin! Help!" his name was called again and again. It was Charlotte's voice.

"Charlotte?!" he ran around. It was in an unfamiliar location. His name, again and again. She was pleading for help. His help.

And he couldn't find her.

Screams. Not Charlotte's but of people in general. A building in flames. People needing his help. His, not anyone else's. Just him, only him. Screams of terror and flames and Charlotte. She needed him.

He couldn't save her.

He didn't know where she was, he didn't know what was happening. All he knew was that all hell had broken loose.

All hell had broken loose and he couldn't save her.

Charlotte. The person he cared about the most.

"Justin! Justin! Please!"

"Charlotte? Where are you? Where?" he screamed into the distance. But she didn't respond. Was he too late.

And then more voices. Other people who needed his help. Why was he alone? Why was he the only one who could save them. The people. Why only him? Why was there nobody else to help?

"Help!" More cries.

Justin stood alone in a desolate place in flames. Running, he threw his hands over his head, trying to find those needing help. Trying to save people, but they were nowhere in sight.

"I can't!" he screamed. "Where are you?" More cries for help. "I can't!" his heart felt like it would beat out of his chest.

"Justin! Come on! Justin!"

"Justin! Man come on, wake up!" Parker nudged him rather hard in the ribs as he woke in cold sweat.

Shaking his head slightly as he coughed out the pain of Parker's elbow in his ribs. "I-I," he stammered. But he couldn't think of a way to complete his sentence. Instead, he rubbed his eyes and tried to make sense of what was happening.

"Are you okay? You were thrashing around a bit," he commented.

"Yeah," he lied. "Bad dream," he mumbled under his breath. "What's up?"

"Daniel's turn ends soon, you're up."

"Right, thanks." This was why he was here. For demigods, dreams weren't just your subconscious acting up. They were almost like individual prophecies, like clues or pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, waiting to be put together.

He laid his hand on his forehead and closed his eyes trying to comprehend what had happened. It was a dream he'd been having on and off for about a week now. It was Charlotte's voice, there were others too which he couldn't really deduce whose voices they belonged too. This was why he had to do this. Follow the quest, save whoever was in trouble before it was too late.

"I feel like a waiter." Charlie deadpanned stepping out.

Night had fallen on the day and in a few hours it would be time to put their plan into action. It was a "semi-formal" dance, which meant kind of formal but not over the top wear. Although, a suit and tie or a dress wasn't exactly the ideal attire for running away. Which, it was almost guaranteed they'd have to.

Students had been allowed out after classes where many of the girls worked on makeup and hair. It was also one of the few times where non Hartford Newlake Prep students were allowed into the school. But only dates.

There was a shop in town where they could get suitable clothes for cheap. Charlie was dressed in black trousers, a white shirt and tie. The girls had selected their own dresses which were not formal, but looked suitable for the occasion.

What was usually the gym was decorated to look like a dance, with lights, refreshments etc. They immediately caught sight of the Raes, Vivian and Cayden, but Max Hamilton was nowhere to be seen.

Time passed and the three looked anxiously around. No sign of Max. Charlotte couldn't help but feel slightly sadder as she watched some of the students dance, if only Justin were here.

Douglas went to go search for Max, while Charlotte went to go get Vivian and Charlie and Izzie assumed to role of separating Cayden from a group of guys.

"Dance with me," Charlie told Izzie.

"What?" she questioned.

"It'll look too awkward if we just walk over to Cayden. If we dance, it'll just be a coincidence he's in the general direction."

"Right."

So they danced, Charlie apparently was very light on his feet and his moves were swift and easy. Izzie had to admit she was a little taken aback. He had the build of an athlete or perhaps a warrior. But he danced rather well.

"Vous pouvez danser?" (You can dance) Charlotte asked, not realizing she wasn't speaking English.

Charlie smirked. "Ah, oui oui," (Yes, yes)

She raised her brow. "Vous parlez Français?" (You speak French)

"Un peu," (A little) he shrugged his shoulders. "Boarding school requirements. All students are required to take least one foreign language."

"I'm impressed."

Charlie laughed lightly. "Merci bocu," (Thank you.) "What about you? Where did you learn to speak French?"

"Self taught."

"Really?" his eyes widened. "That's very impressive."

"Thanks."

He looked at her just for a moment before speaking. "You know, I do remember this one other line from French."

"Oh yeah?"

"Vous regardez incroyable ce soir," he spoke. (You look amazing tonight).

"You don't look so bad yourself."

They were close to the table where Cayden Rae was standing by. Their little moment would have to be put on hold, the plan had to be put into action. Lives could be put at stake.

"Cayden," Charlie called.

The boy turned around. He looked a little younger than Charlie, maybe fifteen and had his hair slicked back, wearing a shirt, blazer and black slacks. He frowned a little bit. Izzie saw from the corner of her eye that Charlotte was talking to Vivian in the far corner. No sign of Douglas or Max, though.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Cayden replied cautiously.

"Uh, no, not really. But your sister sent us," Charlie explained. "Can you come with us for a second."

"Viv?" he suddenly became worried. "What's up?"

"Just come with us, please," Izzie said with a tone, that worried the Cayden, but enough to go see.

He nodded curtly. "Okay, let's go," but unsure why he was trusting these strangers.

Charlie could already see that Charlotte had gotten Vivian out of the gym and the two headed out with Cayden by their side. Although, just before, Charlie and Izzie shared a look, the type that said 'we'll continue this later.'

"Excuse me, where do you think you three are going?" asked a teacher, cutting in front of them. She had bobby short hair and round, wire framed glasses.

"He's not feeling well," Charlie lied quickly, pointing to Cayden. "He needs some air."

She raised her nose up, as if to declare her superiority. "Hmmph," she snorted, but said nothing more. "You! What do you think you're doing?" she snapped at a gym teacher, walking off.

They met Charlotte, who was with Vivian outside. But no sign of Douglas or Max.

"What's going on? Who are you people?" Cayden questioned, releasing himself from Charlie's grip on his shoulder.

"Yeah," Vivian folded her arms. "I'd like to know."

"It's a very long and complicated story," Charlie answered. "But, we need to get out now, as soon as Douglas gets back."

"Douglas? Douglas Evermatt, the guy with the crutches?" Cayden furrowed his brow. "What's he got to do with this? This is crazy!"

Just then, Douglas showed up, apparently out of breath, with Max Hamilton by his side. The tip of Max's hair had been singed, apparently.

"We have to go!"

"Where?"

"What is happening?"

"Just-"

"Demigods!" a voice roared. They turned around, to their shock it was the teacher who's stopped theme earlier. But she wasn't. Her head was the same, but she had a lion's body and an eagle's wings. She was a sphinx.

"Oh gods," Charlie muttered.

"What the-" Cayden began. But he didn't get to finish.

The sphinx hissed and licked her lips, slowly advancing toward them. Charlie had his sword in his hand, ready to extend and slash at any moment, Charlotte clutched her dagger in her fist and Izzie's dagger had come out from her charm bracelet. Cayden and Vivian looked terrified and Douglas quickly put himself in front of the Rae siblings.

"Let's play a game," she hissed. "You answer some questions right, you live. You don't, you die."

"I have a better idea," Charlie clicked something, causing his sword to extend about three feet longer. "Back away."

The sphinx laughed. "Half blood, so impulsive. I'll enjoy tearing you to bits."

Charlie prepared for his attack, as the sphinx launched her paw out to attack in a swiping motion, he thrust the blade sideways, causing a cut in her paw. It was barely going to slow her down.

"Go!" he yelled to the others. "Run!"

The sphinx lifted her paw of the ground and looked at it. She gritted her razor sharp teeth together and snarled. "You've done it now, demigod." She launched forward, her sharp claws, ready to rip them to shreds as Charlie swung his sword again, this time, scratching the underbelly as blood released.

Charlotte leaped forward with her dagger, to graze the shoulder area to slow her down.

"Charlie!" Izzie's voice rang out.

"Go!" he yelled. "Take the others and go," he turned for a moment and they locked eyes. "I'm serious! Go!"

She took one look back and then took a look at Douglas, Max and the Rae siblings. They were scared they needed to go, Charlie and Charlotte could handle this. Couldn't they? Quickly swiping the gear they'd stashed by the bushes for their getaway, she yelled.

"Come on! This way!"

The sphinx continued to attack, as Charlie and Charlotte took turns trying to kill it. Once it became clear that it was a lost cause, Charlotte took a final stab to it's shoulder, before they took off.

Taking off in a dress and dress pants wasn't ideal, but they had no other option, they could vaguely see the others in the distance. As they came to a stop, away from the dance and the sphinx, Charlie dropped his sword onto the ground and clutched his ribs.

"What the hell happened there!" Cayden exclaimed.

"Yeah, what's going on?" Max added.

"Charlie..." Izzie gasped. As he lifted his arms from his ribs, there was blood dripping down. When the sphinx had swiped him, he doubted it was too deep, but it definitely hurt.

"We have to keep moving," he gasped, trying to limp away.

"Charlie, we have to-"

Suddenly, Cayden was unsure if someone pushed him, or what happened, but he was further in front than anyone else. Before anyone knew it, there was a roar in the air and he was grabbed by something. He screamed.

"Viv!" he screamed for his sister.

The demigods and the satyr turned around. Vivian immediately saw her brother in the grip of the beast. It had bull horns and was huge, it's eyes aflame and vicious. In his fist, Cayden was screaming, trying to fight his way out, looking terrified. But it was no use, the Minotaur was too big and too strong.

"Cayden! Let him go!" Vivian screamed. The Minotaur only roared and squeezed him tighter,his breath growing weaker, no longer having the power to scream for his sister or for help.

The Minotaur roared loudly again. In a fit of absolute rage, Vivian picked up Charlie's celestial bronze sword, lying on the ground and ran, charging at the Minotaur and plunging the sword into the monster's leg. He let go but it was too late. Cayden's figure had dissolved into a shower of gold particles.

"Cayden!" she screamed. Rage still filling her, she slashed the monster's upper thigh, almost penetrating the bone, nearly ripping off the limb.

In that moment a flying charriot sailed through the air, knocking the monster off it's feet.

"Justin!" Charlotte gaped at the sight of the driver.

"Get in! Quickly!" he yelled.

Everyone's hearts were

Everyone's hearts were beating out of their chest. Fear, adrenaline, a plethora of feelings and emotion flowed through their blood. Douglas was the first to come around, ushering Max and the other demigods into the chariot. Vivian stared at the knocked back monster. It wasn't dead, but it wasn't in top shape. Suddenly, she felt the need to have a breakdown.

"Cayden..." she whispered. Her brother was gone.

"Vivian," Douglas called as he gestured to the chariot. "Please."

She closed her eyes, trying to block out the pain, the memory of what had just happened. Fighting back tears, she stepped into the chariot with the others as it took to the sky.

"Where to?" Justin asked softly at the "wheel". After everything that had just happened, everyone was silent. It was only his question that had broken it.

"California," Charlotte replied softly after a long pause. "Ken, Chris and Bree are there."

Nobody argued, so Justin nodded. "California then."

AN: Next chapter features Ken, Chris and Bree and the arrival of the others. I hope you like the addition of Vivian (the new half bloods are all my own) and whose godly parent you think she should be. I have a vague idea but nothing is set in stone. I know the bit with Cayden and the Minotaur is like the Lightning Thief, but I really couldn't think of another.

More to be revealed next chapter. Including:

-The missing demigod, Rosaline.
-More on Ken, Chris and Bree's side of the quest
-A situation that puts one half blood's talents to the test
-A new romance budding. And by new I mean one that hasn't been previously mentioned/hinted at.

Don't know when the next chapter can be put up, but I promise, I will try as soon as I can. Thanks for reading and please, please review. Reviews are like candy to me, and boy can I write on a sugar rush.