A/N: HI! Sorry for not posting yesterday…
Chapter 10
POV Jezebelle (Head Girl of Camp Half-Blood, Daughter of Hera)
Janice is allowed a day to rest before we head out. Unfortunately, that means the rest of us get to leave early. Yay. No. I bitterly laugh as I pack for the trip. I meet with my team at the edge of the forest, and see my supplies. A bow, a sheath of thirteen arrows, two celestial bronze knives, fruit snacks, granola bars and a stack of books. Seems like I'm all set.
I feel bad for Asher, since he is the only boy here and he seems a bit uncomfortable as he packs his things. Also with me is Danielle, who is stuffing in a box of crackers while trying to eat one. Not sure how that will turn out. Amber is trying to fit in all the medical supplies she can into her bag, including ambrosia and nectar. Willow is delicately putting in clothes and food, only stuff with wheat. What is it with Demeter people and wheat? Maybe I'll never know.
"Ready to go?" I ask quietly to them. They all silently nod, knowing what faces us ahead.
We stand just outside the other groups, and Fallon, who is leading Praetor Greene's group, heads out first and everyone from Camp Half-Blood claps for them. After that is Flin's group. I meet his eye as he leads his group down half-Blood Hill. This may be the last time I see him. Ever. The Half-Bloods clap respectfully as he leads his tiny group down towards the exit of Camp Half-Blood. "Ready people?" I say, not wanting to offend Asher.
"Yeah," Danielle says, and we all walk out together. Danielle leads us, followed by Amber and Willow, then Asher. I am last and every one of the half-bloods drops to their knees. I am touched by their sign and none of them speak or clap. It is just dead silence as our group walks forward. It's like a death signal.
"They'll miss you, you know that right?" Asher whispers in my ear, his gray eyes focused on me.
"I know," I whisper back, watching Amber and Willow descend the hill.
"He will miss you too," Asher says, his eyes full of pain. What is he talking about? Oh. Of course, Flin. Why was there so much pain in his eyes though?
Jezebelle doesn't reply, just walks down the hill and catches up to the rest of the group. Danielle chatters on about going to Russia and how exciting it will be. Jezebelle just walks soundlessly forward, thinking about the challenges that lie in front of her. "You all right?" Willow asks, departing from the group, walking in line with Jezebelle.
"Yeah. Just thinking," She says quietly, looking at the weeds they were stepping on.
"We all know something is up Jezebelle. Why don't you just trust us and tell us?" Willow says, frustrated.
"Fine. You want to know?" Jezebelle says angrily.
"Yes, just tell me," Willow says, her dark eyes pleading her.
"When we fly into Rome, I have to leave our group. I have to go face someone else when we get to Rome. You may know him by his Roman name, Hercules," Jezebelle says quietly.
"Jezebelle. Why didn't you just tell us?" Willow says, her face getting softer as her sympathy for the girl grows.
"I didn't want anyone to worry about me. Or come after me. I don't want anyone to die because I failed to do something that I was supposed to do," Jezebelle tells Willow, which catches the attention of Asher and Amber. They fill them in on it and when they get to the airport, they tell Danielle about it as well.
They fly and once they get to Rome, Jezebelle sadly tells them that she has to leave. They all murmur goodbyes. Willow embraces Jezebelle and wishes her good luck. "Willow is now in charge. She will activate the Kremlin activation. Listen to her please," Jezebelle directs the rest of them.
She leaves them, and walks out of the airport, each step sending miles of distress in her body. Just when she is about halfway toward where she was supposed to be and thought she had rid herself of the others. She quickly surveys the area and sees Amber. "What are you doing here!" Jezebelle explodes.
"You obviously needed help, and I am a medical person, and the rest of them decided that I should come to help you," Amber says like it is obvious.
"Fine," Jezebelle sighs. "Just know it is your grave you are planting yourself in,"
"Okay, let's go!" Amber says excitedly.
POV Flin (Head Boy of Camp Half-Blood, Son of Poseidon)
I instantly smile as we watch as Jezebelle's plane flies away from us. We are deciding to drive down. Marisol is grumpy the whole way, which makes Evan very angry and almost electrocutes the car. Blake tries to calm them down, which just almost makes Evan electrocute him. The Roman just sulks in the corner, as if she is disappointed to be with so many Greeks at a time. I watch the skies for any signs of the Praetor, just in case he would try to sabotage our trip. Turns out I was right as I spot him high in the sky. "Oh god. We should pull over!" Marisol says frantically.
"We have to keep moving!" Evan argues, and each of them are trying to shout their opinion as we are lurched forward as a blast of lightning hits the car.
"Told you!" Marisol glares at Evan.
The windows crack and break and glass falls. I try to summon water, but to no avail and find out there is almost no water around. "Seems like Jezebelle is a bit far away, so I guess the first blood of Olympus shall be you, Flin," Greene says, fingering something in his hand.
Flin wields a trident in one hand and a sword in another. Greene charges at him and he blocks a stab from him. Flin dances around as he lurches out with his trident, but only being disarmed by a gust of air that blows it out of his hand. He sees another lurking in the shadows. Flin charges toward it and is surprised when he sees Juliette standing there, with a short knife wielded. Greene smirks, and goes the other way, towards Marisol and Evan. "Hi Flin," Juliette whispers, her voice hot against his neck.
Marisol looks like she is almost done in for, and Evan is trying to counter Greene's air power with his own. "I need to help them," I say, looking at the group. Blake and Erica are looking hesitant where a small group of monsters are around them.
"But wouldn't you rather hear my story?" Juliette says flirtatiously. "The story is always told by the winners. I'm sure the Hera girl told you the whole truth."
"She did," I say, but I can't help but wonder what Juliette had to say as opposed to what Jezebelle said.
"She may not have. The truth is, a couple months ago, when I had first arrived at camp, I was claimed by Aphrodite because I had the power of charmspeak. But it is a power that is shared by Gaea and Aphrodite. And when I had become the cabin leader for Aphrodite, someone approached me. Him," Juliette says, pointing to where Greene and Evan are fighting. "He told me that if I didn't try to spill the blood of Olympus, he would kill me. So, I staged the whole thing, I was never going to kill Amber and Willow. I knew the Hecate girl was right behind me, and she could free them. I always had a plan, and my plan won out eventually,"
I want to believe her so badly, and it fits with everything the others said. All of it does, except for the parts where Greene threatened her, or was even at camp. We would have known if he was there, wouldn't we have? But, we were not the heads yet. It was a daughter of Hades and a son of Zeus… maybe I should try to find them. "Fine. You're story fits with everything everyone else said, now what do you want," I say.
"I want you to get me away from him," Juliette says, motioning toward Greene.
"We will need your help defeating him first. Evan is running out of steam," I say, trying again to get some water. But, I can also somewhat create a tiny earthquake too. I place my hands on the ground, and Juliette looks at me quizzically, her brown curls bouncing. A rift creates, and Greene laughs and disappears into the sky.
"Well, we chased him off. But he's not really going to die now is he?" Marisol says, approaching with Evan, Erica and Blake.
"What about her?" Evan shakes his finger accusingly at Juliette.
"She was forced to do it. Her story fits with Jezebelle's," I say.
"What if she made it up to fit with Jezebelle's story!" Erica points out.
"She's lying!" Blake snaps.
"I say she's coming, now let's go. Our car is probably ruined," I say.
"Then we have to walk," Marisol says through gritted teeth while glaring at Juliette the whole time.
"I have another idea, it probably is dangerous and you don't have to do it. I have done it, and I think I can take people along," Juliette says quietly. No one believes her and I listen to her idea.
"It's our best bet guys if we want to get there in time," I say.
"Fine. Let's try it," Evan grimaces. Juliette takes my hand and Marisol's and I take Erica's hand and Marisol takes Evan's. The earth beneath us rises and it is almost like a wave as we move forward.
A/N: Janice's group will be leaving next chapter, and Greene's group is about halfway across the country now! Jezebelle and Amber face difficult odds as they go to Greece :)
Quest-ions! (See what I did there? ;)
1: Does your character believe Juliette's story?
2: If in Jezebelle's group: What did they say when Amber left to help Jezebelle?
3: What will they say to Flin when they find out that he let Juliette tag along?