Charlie,
I woke up to the smell of French toast, bacon, and cinnamon buns.
By the time I finally blinked my eyes open and accepted waking up, my mouth was drooling at the sweet smell.
I let out a tired groan, and I sat up in bed, afraid to look at the clock because of how high the morning sun was.
Last night, we got in late. The movie was a forgettable comedy, though I ended up laughing through the entire thing at the time. By the time we were going out and picking up French fries nearby, I couldn't really remember the plot but could remember the funny parts.
Afterwards, Aiden drove home in his dad's favorite vintage Jaguar, and we laughed about how he would probably wreck the entire time. Then we ended up back at the house, where Aiden let me play around with his guitar until he started playing and it felt inadequate to hear me again.
It was late when I finally stumbled to my soft bed, and it was impossible to ever want to get out of this thing with how comfortable it was. I regretted not testing out that Jacuzzi now that I didn't have any time left to do that, and I hesitantly got out of the silk sheets.
I brushed through my hair, and I brushed my teeth quickly. I washed my face to get off the smudged make-up I forgot to take off, and I felt like I had just rubbed every layer off my face when I finally decided I was finished. I was went to the closet to find an outfit laid out for me and a bag packed full of clothes packed by one of the servants in the grand house. I changed into the dark wash jeans, and I pulled a grey owl tee shirt over my head quickly as I laced my sneakers.
I was starving, and I couldn't wait to get to the breakfast downstairs.
What came after the breakfast I wasn't so sure about. I was scared, but, somewhere inside of me, I was ready for this to be over. I even found myself planning what I would do when I got back. It relaxed me, and I had fallen asleep to thinking about it.
After a long time, I finally had decided what I would first do. After sleeping off whatever I needed to, I planned on getting in my comfortable jeans, riding into town with Emily-Rose, and going to our favorite pizza place that was in between my house and hers.
Deciding to focus on the present and not get too far ahead of myself, I started pulling my hair into a ponytail.
Next door, I could hear someone stubble out of the door, and I assumed it was Sam by the heavy, hung-over footsteps, who probably was about to grab just a cup of coffee.
That reminded me how hungry I was.
Deciding to get my bag later, I went out to the hallway, and there I saw Kate's head peaking out of the door.
"Charlie, hey. Come here."
I came in hesitantly, and Kate yawned as she closed the door behind me.
My eyes widened.
She was wearing the same silk undershirt she had worn under her dress last night, though it was wrinkled now. Her hair was a mess, and she hadn't taken off her make-up yet. She was wearing a giant pair of sweatpants, and I could tell immediately that she had a late night like me.
I raised my eyebrows at Kate, who didn't seem to understand what I was staring at.
"You had a long night, Kate," I smirked, and she finally seemed to understand what I was saying.
Kate quickly turned as bright red as a tomato.
"We went walking and watched a movie," Kate explained, a combination of wanting and embarrassment.
"You look like it," I smirked, and Kate crossed her arms triumphantly, a smirk on her thick lips.
"What about you and Aiden?"
Now I was blushing, though I wasn't sure why.
It's not like we did anything at all.
We went to a movie, drove home, and played guitar.
It's not like I have anything to blush for.
"We went to go see a movie and played guitar for a while."
"Oh my gods!" Kate smiled, jumping onto her bed happily, "He did the thing when a guy tries to teach a girl something. That is the oldest trick in the book. You know, he's pretty hot. I didn't know you were into guys with tattoos though, and Aiden definitely has a few. How old is he? I don't mean to sound like Noah, but he's not seventeen or anything, right? I will support you two of course, but that wouldn't be the best thing, you know."
Now I was just as red as she had been earlier.
And I was beginning to stutter with embarrassment.
Kate began to laugh at me, and I crossed my arms quickly.
We had been friends my entire life, but it became different when she was a teenager. Suddenly, we were even closer, and she became the person I wanted to ask about boys. And she wanted to tell me all about the guys in her life, though it was usually only my brother. Even when she went to college, we stayed close.
Usually, I loved it.
Right now, I hated it.
"It isn't a trick. And I don't know what you mean by support us. We're friends. Just friends. And he's fifteen, if you want to know. And he only has two tattoos, it's not like he's covered in them."
"Well, I have zero. So two seems like a lot, especially when you're fifteen." Kate smiled as she sat up in the bed to look at me better, "And you know exactly what I mean when I say I'll support you."
"Noah has one. Is that too much for you?" I asked, sitting beside her on the bed.
Kate glared at me.
"I need to get dressed, and I think you need breakfast. You look hungry, Shorty," Kate jumped out of bed, and I smiled.
"See you down there."
Kate nodded to me as she started to the bathroom door, and she disappeared into the grand bathroom to get ready.
Noah,
Sipping a big cup of black coffee, I watched the five of us at the breakfast table.
Apollo was perfect. No hangover, no drowsiness, no sign of a long night. His plate was piled high was with every delicious breakfast food he could find, and I am pretty sure his coffee was spiked from the way he kept drinking it. He had a big smile, and he was flirting with one of the pretty servants who refilled the coffee.
Unlike Apollo, Sam got what was coming to him from last night. He looked exhausted, and he had a horrible hangover. His plate only had toast and a few things to calm his stomach, and he was wearing his lucky raybands to keep out all light. I hadn't seen him look like this since a his Sunday morning hangover after going out on Saturday after a big win.
Apollo was a little tired, though he drank orange juice instead of coffee. He had waffles and a cinnamon bun on his plate. He was still in his pajamas, showing the two tattoos imprinted on his skin, and I suddenly felt even worse to think that he went out with my baby sister. No matter how many times I was told it wasn't a date, I was still uncomfortable with it.
Charlie was like she was at home, tired but not miserable. She had orange juice, French toast, bacon, and toast. Unlike how she and my dad usually talked about what she would have to do at school, she spoke occasionally to me or Aiden, though quietly for the sake of Sam.
And I was drinking coffee, barely able to eat as I thought about the long drive we would have. I had offered to drive first, mainly because I didn't want Sam at the wheel, and I planned on spending the day switching driving with Kate to get as far as we could towards LA.
The Underworld was our target, and so was Olympia.
I understood why Olympia was after Charlie. My grandfather and father's old enemies had tried to kill me, and Charlie had double enemies because of her parentage. But I knew I was missing part of the story, and I had a feeling we would pay for it.
I was staring at Charlie, shocked to no longer see that little baby that Annabeth had shown me thirteen years ago in the hospital. And I was about to ask about her breakfast when her face lit up and she smiled.
"Kate, you're up."
I looked back to see her coming into the dining room, smiling apologetically.
"I am so sorry I am late. I slept late I'm afraid," Kate shrugged, and she was walking to take a seat beside her older brother, who sat farthest away from us so he didn't have to hear us talking as loud. But Apollo stopped her.
"Oh, you're not late at all. Sit beside me, dear," he tapped on the chair between him and me.
"Sure," Kate pushed her hair behind her ear, sitting in the chair, and Apollo turned in his chair to speak to her.
"How was your walk? Isn't Charleston beautiful? It just makes you want to…" he smiled, trying to find the right words, "fall in love."
The way Apollo smiled like he had already fallen in love with her made Kate blush, but it seemed different this time. I wasn't sure why, but it looked like she had moved on and just took pleasure in the compliments.
"Well, I have. With the city itself. I should have come before," Kate smiled as a servant gave her coffee and orange juice.
Apollo seemed disappointed.
"The food is delicious, especially the Belgium waffles," Apollo smiled, and Kate began to make her plate.
"It looks wonderful," Kate smiled back at him.
"The cook here is absolutely wonderful. He used to work in my home in Tampa, but I don't spend much time there anymore. This city it beautiful that I had to own something here, and now I am here all the time. I moved the cook down here because I hated having to go down to Tampa for the food I want," Apollo began, "You know, I am very lucky to have met such a wonderful cook…"
He continued on about how he had met the immortal cook when he was working as an apprentice under Demeter, and I stopped early in.
Charlie tried her hardest to listen to him, and Aiden was embarrassed by his father, looking down at his breakfast mostly. Sam drank more coffee and took another Aleve. And Kate looked tired, though I couldn't tell if she was tired of the conversation or just tired.
I was beginning to doze off when I forced myself to pay attention.
"I truly worry for you all."
"Don't, we'll be alright," Kate told him, but he kept going.
"I want to give you a parting gift."
"But you already have, Apollo, you don't need to do anymore. You have done above and beyond what we could expect," Kate tried, but Apollo wasn't giving up.
"I've been meaning to discuss with you, but the time never came. I have been thinking about it, and I just know I have made the best decision."
I choked on my coffee.
"Decision? What decision?" I was beginning to feel sick.
"I cannot help you too much, but there is something I think would be best. I know this will work to the advantages of all of us, though it will be taking something away from me."
"What have you done, Dad?" Aiden sat up straighter, looking at him with wide eyes.
"Aiden, you have spent so much time with me, and it has been wonderful. But I know you must be bored of me. I understand that you are a teenage boy, and I know you need space from your parents. You need to get out of the house, have fun, and be a teenager. You've spent so much time being Roman that you have forgotten how to be Greek."
"Wait, so-" Charlie looked between Apollo and Aiden.
"Yes, I have decided that my son, Aiden, shall accompany you."
My jaw dropped, and so did Aiden's.
"That's it. Gods, you take a long time to speak, Apollo, no offense. But couldn't we just get to the point?" Sam complained, rubbing his temples and looked to Aiden, "Can you drive?"
"Yes."
"Great to have you on the team, Kid," Sam stood, "But, if you hurt my car, I will kill you. Now I am going to get some quiet. You people eat and let me know when it is time to leave."
Kate,
I watched as the three blondes got into the back seat.
Sam reclined into his seat, putting his earplugs in and adjusting his sunglasses to keep away any light and any sound. Charlie was talking to Aiden as she got into the middle seat, and Aiden awkwardly got into the seat beside her, still feeling unwelcome about his father making him come on the journey with us.
It was late in the morning, and, if Apollo kept stalling, we would end up staying for lunch, too.
Noah was beyond ready to leave, which felt strange after all the time he had been dreading it. He was getting impatient with Apollo, which is why I had offered to say goodbye with him. I wanted to make sure he didn't piss off our ally.
Apollo as an enemy could be Hades for us. We had enough people that hated us, and I refused to add another.
Apollo was trying his very hardest to convince me to stay with him. He was talking about how he would show me the real Paris and show me the best clubs in Miami and the most famous movie stars in LA and a month at his private island in Greece and a bunch of other adventures for the two of us.
If I hadn't been in love with Noah and had a commitment to Charlie to stay with her, I might have really thought about it. I mean, it was pretty tempting. Of course, I knew that he would most likely love and leave me like everyone else while I was hopefully not carrying his child, but the way he spoke made it feel real.
His voice was so seductive, so calming. It made you feel like everything he said was true, that you were the most beautiful women in the entire world, and that he would love you forever. It was like a drug, and it could make the smartest girl make the stupidest mistakes.
I was relieved when Noah gave Apollo that glare that told him to shut up and Apollo took it.
"A goodbye is so bittersweet," Apollo smiled, putting one hand on Noah's shoulder and on mine. His smile was weak, and he had changed out of his pajamas to his beach look of an unbuttoned cotton shirt and shorts. His chocolate brown eyes shone in the light, and I admit that he didn't look happy about it.
He would miss us, whether it was flirting with me, being with his little Charlie, or being with his son.
"Thank you so much again, Apollo. You've been wonderful," I spoke before Noah could, and I smiled at Apollo.
"Oh thank you for staying, Kate," Apollo smiled, and he looked to Noah, "It's been great to have you, too, Noah."
"Thank you, Apollo."
Apollo's smile began to weakened until it became a frown, and he let go of both of us, motioning towards the living room.
"Oh no, we need to be going," Noah started.
"There is something I think you need to know. It will not take long."
Noah and I looked to each other, and I nodded that we should.
We followed him into the living room, where we took a seat on the couch, and he handed us each a glass of Scotch.
"I'm driving," Noah tried to turn it down, and Apollo shrugged.
"It's here if you need it," Apollo put the small glass on the coffee table in front of us, and he sat down in a chair in front of us. Instead of his usual perfect posture, he was slouching, already almost finished with his drink and about to pour another.
"What is it, Apollo?" I stared at him, getting scared and impatient at him dragging it on like this.
"You need two things for your journey. Olympia is very strong, and, in the Underworld, she gave birth to a series of Rock Monsters. They went after your little sister, Charlie. They are afraid of one thing, Cyclopes. I don't know why, so don't ask me," he waved that off, "And you need to get a vial of a Cyclops's blood. Drink it, and they will stay away from you for the most part."
I began to drink.
"There's more."
Noah reached for his glass.
"They're all crowding around Birmingham, Alabama. Which is lucky for you because that is where Demeter owns a small cottage in a nearby town."
"You want us to stay with my grandmother?" I asked.
"Oh no, she is in Olympus currently. But you do need to go there."
"Why?" Noah was getting impatient, and he wanted to get to the bottom line fast.
"Persephone is stuck with Hades down there. Everything's dead. Her friends never want to come down there. Hades is very hard to handle. And she is really just wanting something lively. Something beautiful and precious, and Hades isn't into having a baby right now. Says maybe in an eon, but he said that two eons ago. So she's getting pretty impatient, you know?"
Apollo was getting off topic again.
Noah glared.
"Oh, right, sorry. In that little cottage of Demeter's, there is a garden. Bring the ripest, most beautiful red rose, and you can get in to the Underworld."
Noah and I stared at Apollo.
"That's all I know."
"You said that yesterday."
"No, I said we should stop talking business."
Noah opened his mouth to continue, but I stopped him.
"Are you sure there is nothing else? Any advice."
"Start on to LA after Alabama. And listen to Aiden. I know he is young, but this has been his entire life. Prophecies, quests, war. I have been trying to get him out there, but I can't take away what he knows. I sent him with you so that you can use this knowledge," Apollo told us, and Noah nodded.
"Thanks, Apollo. We better get going. They're waiting in the car," I stood with Noah, but Apollo stopped us.
"Good luck, both of you."
"Thank you, Apollo," Noah spoke before me, and he seemed genuine.
I smiled back at Noah, and we started walking out of the door. When the door closed behind us, Noah stopped and took a deep breath.
"Do you need me to drive?" I put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and Noah shook his head.
"No, I just needed a second. We can go now."
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"No, but I will be. I need to drive. And we need to get to Alabama. It's a win-win."
I wasn't sure I believed him, but I didn't have much of a choice.
Noah and I went down the steps to where the Jeep was parked behind Apollo's vintage Jaguar, and I climbed into the passenger seat as Noah got into the driver's seat.
"There you are!" Sam complained, "What took you so long?"
"Long story short, we're going to Birmingham, Alabama."
