Chapter Two: Someone's got some 'splaning to do!

The first thing I could coherently hear was my French teacher and Jack talking indormally.

"Jack stop complaining about the paste,it was either that or you deal with the poision."

"But it itches!" Jack complained in a whiny voice

I slowly opened my eyes to see I was laying on Jack's shoulder with Leo sitting in the other seat,and who I thought to be my French teacher, Mrs. Baker, sitting in the driver's seat.

The woman had the same insanely curly blonde hair,and kalediscopic eyes,but instead of Mrs. Baker's caramel skin, the woman had a greenish tint.

Her eyes met mine in the rearview mirror as silence fell throughout the car,"Good morning my dear. It is nice to see you are awake after so many hours."
"um.."I began,sitting up straight,frowning in confusion.

"I can't really say much to you to explain other than,Surprise! You are the child of an ancient god!"

I had to sit for a second before her words really registered in my sleep addled mind,"What?!"
Jack snorted as he finally met my eyes,"We're going somewhere where you'll be safe. You'll love it. It's a real Summer camp."Leo and Jack started to laugh at his wording for some reason.

Once their laughter subsided,Leo grinned at me ," Man I didn't have you pegged as one of us Nao!"

I blinked rapidly, staring at the odd woman that looked almost like my beloved teacher.

"Naomi Drar…."She began, glancing up to meet my eyes between staring at the road,"I am very curious as to what you are holding. We couldn't get you to release it earlier. Its something on a chain yes but…"
"Oh" I blinked,deciding to just roll with the madness,very glad for her distraction," I… Think this is what shot through that man- uh Manticore's shoulder." I relaxed my hold on the blood caked pendant,some of the red having transferred to my hand. I closed my fingers around it again, glad for the odd sense of comfort it provided."I guess I just feel safer holding onto it?" I reasoned weakly,honestly surprised that my mind-which had been really science based most of the time- was rolling with this madness,even embracing it.

After a moment, I managed to clean the blood off of the pendant with the corner of my shirt and slid the chain over my neck, nearly jumping out of my skin when a static-y, female voice sounded in the back of my mind,"Your….Familiar…. Following…. The… Shadows…. Child….Be…Safe."

I stared at Jack and Leo in shock,"Did you hear that?!"
"Hear what Nao?" Leo questioned,looking at me worriedly.

"N-Never mind?" I mumbled,shaking my head and zoning out until Jack elbowed me in the side.

"Remember the first time we met?"

I snorted,"How could I not. Sixth grade, Science third period, you stared straight at me-almost like you could see my soul, and asked me in a confused voice,"What Are you?!"" I rolled my eyes,"Weirdest introduction ever. Why?"

"One;" He held up one finger,"I really was looking at your soul. I'm a kid of Thanatos, the death god and all. He gave me some blessing when I was born that makes me pretty much a grim reaper. He needed some lackeys I guess." He shrugged,"Two;" He held up another finger,"you'll find out soon enou- Why are you laughing?"

I had to stifle my laughter to answer,"Just find it funny. Death having a child. Creating the opposite of what his job is."I snickered,"Sorry."
"Nah It is kind of funny."

Mrs B. rolled her eyes-now somehow back to her usual skin tone-,"You'll get used to it where we're going Naomi."

Jack smirked,causing our teacher to snort,"I swear he is related to Hermes somehow. That troublemaker Smirk."

"Are you looking forwards to seeing your husband again Chariclo?" a soft voice questioned from beside the matronly woman. Calypso-Leo's girlfriend- was in the car as well, her caramel hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders as he dark brown eyes twinkled in a myriad of emotions.

"Wouldn't anyone?" Mrs. B questioned, smiling.

"'Ey. How much longer till we are at CHB?" Jack questioned as he crossed his arms, being one of those that hated being stuck in a cramped place for too long,and he clearly viewed however long this ride was to be way too long.

"One more hour." She explained,laughing at the look of misfortune on his face,"Amuse yourselves how you will."
She froze, realizing what she said," Keeping it PG of course! Don't do anything that would cause the author of a book aimed at Children to Teens would blush at!"

"Riiight. Hey Leo?" Jack once more had the evil grin on his face.

"Yeah man?"

"For the love of- Don't do anything stupid you two!" Calypso looked back at us, her hair slightly tussled from where she had fallen asleep and leaned against her arm- judging by the red mark on her cheek-

"Eeyy " Jack grinned," Want to see Naomi light up like a kid of Apollo's magic hair?" He whispered-very badly might I add- to the now grinning Leo.

"Dude yes!" Leo grinned

Jack grinned as he held up his phone, and on the bright screen I could see the title of the song he'd selected.

"Heroes; David Bowie"

I spazzed slightly as I started to hum the lyrics to myself,only to stop and frown as Leo burst out laughing

"Dude!"
Jack grinned, "I told you!"

I flushed a bright red as I shrunk down into my seat, refusing to look at anyone in the car. That is until Calypso came valiantly to my aid from the chortles of the two boys, "Be nice! David Bowie is a legendary performer!"

I nodded, motioning to Cally as I sat up, "See! Someone here knows that the Eighties had some great music and musicians!"

We all laughed as Mrs. B turned up the radio, tuning us out.