Chapter Eight

   Annabeth


  If you're complaining about taking out the garbage or having to check your tool shed and it's raining, feel proud of yourself. It was absolutely pouring out here. Lucas coughed out some water.
   "Man, it's raining." I saw faint static outline Lucas. "By Hades, why today?"
   I shrugged. "Let's just head to that camp."
   Lucas walked over to the Master Bolt, which was losing it's light. He turned the key. The engine sputtered out water.
   "What the?" I peered in the engine. As soon as I flicked the water out, smoke greeted my face.
   I backed away, coughing.
   My brother laughed. "Come on, slowpoke! Let's get this show on the road!"
   I fell into one of the car seats, and we began driving to Oregon.

                                    ~|*_*|~

  I heaved myself onto a building's porch. I coughed out some swallowed rainwater, and Lucas knocked on the door.
   "This is the training camp?"
   "Yeah... I remember going here last summer. Demigods normally go here every summer. Ends at fall."
   I shivered from the cold rain. It seemed like a huge bucket of water was pouring on Oregon. Lucas knocked again. The door swung open, revealing a girl. She had curly brown hair, blue eyes and olive-colored skin. She wore a sea-green shorts, blue like the Caribbean's waters, and seashell jewelry. She had a troubled look on her face.
  "May I help you... people?" The girl asked.
  "Don't worry, we're demigods!" Lucas said. "I'm a son of Zeus, and she's a daughter of Zeus!"
  "I'm Sara! Pleased to meet new demigods!" The girl smiled and led us in.
  Inside was luxury. There were Greek artifacts and godly stuff. There were snacks and T.V.s and other amazing things. At the very end of the room was a elevator and a door and on the ceiling was one huge chandelier. There were other demigods chatting and eating, so basically 10 eyes looked up at me.
  "Who's she?" A boy snorted. He had ruffled blonde hair, wearing battle armor and bearing a sword.
  "This is Annabeth, a daughter of Hades." Sara answered.
  "She looks deathly," The boy said.
  Sara shot him a look. "I don't care for your tone, Max! Jeez, even for a son of Ares you're a bigger bully than him!"
   Max crossed his arms and marched over to the elevator.
   "Sara, who is your parent?" I asked her.
   A shadow fogged up in her eyes. She blinked, and the shadow disappeared. "Uh, um... daughter of Hestia."
   I stared at the seashell jewelry, then up to her eyes. "'Kay." I lied and crashed on a couch.
   "I remember you." I heard Lucas tell Sara. "You're not a daughter of Hestia, are you?"
    "Just be quiet!" Sara hissed. "She doesn't need to know who my parent really is."

Chapter Seven

   Lucas


   I stopped the Master Bolt at a cliff in Idaho. I began making a fire, until Annabeth asked me a question.
   "Gaea is being prepared for war, isn't she?" Annabeth asked.
   "Of course not!" I lied. I sat up. "At least we'll have enough time to train for war." I admitted.
   "My first war would be soon," Annabeth breathed.
   I suddenly had a flashback. I remembered everyone screaming, fires burning down buildings and consuming innocent pedestrians. I saw a blurry, tall humanoid figure stepping on cars and everything in it's path. Poseidon was struggling to douse the fire, Hermes tried to send word to my dad. I dropped to my knees and my flashback ended. I remembered that painful memory, the one when my...
    "Lucas, are you alright?" I looked up and saw Annabeth studying me with a concerned look on her face. In the background was a made fire.
    "I'm alright." I said, rising to my feet. I opened the trunk of the Master Bolt. In the trunk was fresher food. Thank goodness my dad refilled it.
    Annabeth took out a mango. She cut the mango into three pieces with her knife, then began eating one piece. Annabeth handed me one. She sat at the fire, munching on her fruit.
    "You know, I think being a demigod isn't so bad." My sister said. She had a twinkle in her eyes. "Despite the fact that Gaea will start a war. I mean, how will she do that?"
    "Earth elementals, nature spirits." I answered.
    "Oh."
    "Don't forget earthquakes and..."
    "I got it, I got it!" Annabeth said and got one of the sleeping bags. She lay down, letting out a solemn sigh. "My mom's probably freaking out."
    "My mom is somewhere on Olympus." I said and did the same.
    The stars were out tonight. The stars were like little lanterns, brightening the dark sky. I could hear distant voices and potatoes.
    Annabeth finally fell asleep, but I had trouble. A lot was going on in my mind like Annabeth being my new sister, Gaea preparing war and Kronos getting back together. I thought I'd never fall asleep, but my eyelids closed. I suddenly heard a familiar voice, like the Oracle of Delphi's.
    Shining lightning bolt, hero of Zeus, you must find a way to stop her. You must! 
    The whole world will crumble, and so will you.

Chapter Six

 Annabeth






   "It's the last thing I need," said Zeus, rolling his eyes. "My father, the one that tried to eat me!"
   "You're the one that sliced me to death! For that, the USA will be finished for!" Kronos said. He glared at me and Lucas. "And I know that one of you is a traitor..."
   Me and Lucas exchanged looks.
   "What?!" Hades and Zeus said in unison.
   "My daughter will never do such thing... betraying the demigods and gods!" Hades protested.
   "So will my son!" Zeus agreed.
   Kronos let out a growl. "One day... when Gaea will take on rage!" Kronos snapped his fingers, and vanished into dark dust.
   "Gaea?" I asked worriedly.
   "The goddess of earth?" Lucas added.
   Zeus shook his head. "Kronos never would say that, despite how evil he truly is. Gaea... impossible that she could take revenge... global warming is already killing her."
   "And Pan!" Hades said, with a smug face. "Oh, how wonderful will it be for the God of Wild to be in my kingdom of dead." My dad swooned. "More pomegranates! More trapped maidens!"
   "No offense," Lucas nudged me. "but your dad is a total nutjob!"
   I just opened my mouth in response. "How immature is he."
   "Anyways," Zeus was listening to our conversation. He decided to break it and get out of this place. "The TCFD mustn't be far away! Hades, could you leave?"
    "But I like it outside!" Hades complained. He stomped his foot in a childish way. "I'm always in my kingdom! Why can't you keep me up here for a while?"
    "I AM THE ONE WHO BANISHED YOU THERE!" Zeus grabbed the Master Bolt and turned it into his weapon. He pointed it at my dad. "NOW GO, OR I'LL BANISH YOU TO TARTARUS, WHICH IS IN YOUR OWN KINGDOM!"
    Hades scowled, and stopped his childish act. He grabbed his staff, and pointed it at Zeus. "I've always preferred Poseidon, brother!"
    "You just had to capture Persephone, Hades!" Zeus spat Hades in a disgusted way.
    Me and my brother stared at our dads in alarm. We watched them, seeing their disgusted faces at each other. Hades began to attack. They both began glowing.
    "Don't look! They're revealing their divine form!" Lucas said and shielded his eyes. I did the same, feeling the power of their weapons and their presence.
    A fight with two gods. What can get better than that?
    A fountain exploded. Literally, a fountain exploded. Water doused us, making the gods' glow soften into regular old selves. Out came Poseidon, god of the seas.
    "GEEZ WHAT IS THAT RACKET?!" Boomed Poseidon. He winced, as if he can still hear the weapons working.
    "Poseidon, our immature brother isn't returning to the Underworld! I swear, if he doesn't go back, I'll blow him to bits!" Zeus said, pointing at the innocent-faced Hades.
    "Well, don't I get to stay up above? Please, it sounds like bumblebees and flowers up here! Down in my kingdom, it smells like dead and decay." Hades protested.
    I saw Lucas slap his face in shame. "Dad! Can't we go now?"
    Zeus raised his hand. Lucas rolled his eyes. "Oh, Lucas! Not in the middle of our argument!"
    "EVERYONE BE QUIET!" Hera appeared out of nowhere, petting a peacock. Great. Three gods and one goddess. As if anything can get better than that. "How many arguments has this been?"
    The Big Three began counting on their fingers.
    "256 times!" Hera said. "Hades, go back to your kingdom. Isn't Persephone waiting there? Poseidon, what are you doing here?"
    "I was cleaning this fountain..." Poseidon turned back, looking ashamed that the fountain was exploded.
    "Poseidon, back to the sea! Isn't that freshwater, anyways?" Hera watched the two gods go back into their domain. She turned to us. "Why, hello kids!"
    "Hera, shouldn't we be heading out now?" I asked her.
    Zeus whispered in Hera's ear, and her eyes widened. "Oh, my goodness gracious! Gaea is taking revenge? I mean, you did defeat one of her children, but that's nothing major! Gaea... why is she... could it be... you guys have to go to the training camp. You two are the only ones who are born from the Big Three.  Go now!"
    Zeus turned his Master Bolt back into the car. Me and Lucas loaded in. Lucas began starting the car, and I watched Zeus and Hera wave goodbye. As we took off, I heard the voice again.
    The traitor is not may who you think it is, my pomegranate. Soon you and your untrustworthy friends will die. The end of the whole world... will vanish into thin air. Me, my babies and my husband will create a new world, one without pesky mortals! You will see, pomegranate, you will see.

Chapter Five

   Lucas


   I woke up with soft sunlight on my face. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, and got up. I looked to my half-sister, Annabeth. I smiled seeing her relaxed face. But then I heard a roar: a roar like metal scraping against metal.
  Immediately, I woke Annabeth up. A dagger fell out of her pocket. It was mine: the one she killed Medusa with. I quickly told her she could keep it, and I took out a flute.
    "A flute?! You're using a flute for a weapon?" Annabeth said when she saw my silver flute.
    "Watch." I said. I blew one note on the flute, and quickly grabbed it at the mouthpiece. Gradually, it changed into a sword. A sword with celestial bronze, and crackling with electricity. I showed her my watch and pressed the button. It turned into a shield, with a lightning engraved in it.
    Rustling came from the bushes. A lion jumped out with glowing, red eyes and jagged, white teeth. I charged at it. My sword bounced off, making the lion have no harm at all.
    Annabeth, terrified of the lion, dodged it's swipes and bites. She ducked underneath, then stabbed the belly. Her force was so strong, it made a crack in it's fur. I suddenly remembered the lion's name.
    "Nemean Lion! Watch out!" I said. Annabeth understood and jumped onto it's back.
    I winced as the Nemean Lion tore her skin. She needed help.
   I charged at the lion, getting it's attention. It opened it's mouth and I charged in. I crawled down it's throat and found his metal heart, thumping so loud, it hurt my ears. I gritted my teeth and stabbed it.

   Annabeth


    My eyesight was dotted with black dots. It was fuzzy, and my shoulder stung. I gasped for breath, clutching my first weapon. I wanted to charge at it, but half of my brain only said, "Rest, rest! you have all the time in the world! Lie down, relax!" The other half was focusing on the pain.
   Fear wrapped my heart as I saw Lucas crawl into the lion's mouth. I grew strength, and charged at the lion, giving my absolute best. Where's my powers?
   I expected Lucas to climb back out of the mouth, but the lion licked it's lips. His eyes bored into me, wondering if I would go suicidal too.
   My fear turned to anger. My anger turned to rage. My rage turned to fury. I began to glow, not caring a bit. Suddenly, a fissure cracked underneath the lion. Thousands of souls pulled the Nemean Lion into the fissure, but some souls were pulling Lucas out. As soon as the Nemean Lion was swallowed up in the fissure, it closed and I went to aid my brother.
   "Lucas?" I poked him with a stick. I heard a cough and his eyes opened.
   "Let's move, before any other monsters come!" Lucas told me.
   We packed up our things and went into the Master Bolt. We began zooming, and the sky was a dark gray. It began to rain.
   "My dad must be coming." Lucas announced when a ball of electricity began to float towards us.
   The ball shattered with a blinding light, then Zeus was standing where the electricity was.
   Zeus cleared his throat. "Annabeth, the Olympian Counsel must speak to you... NOW!" He turned to Lucas. "Have you guys been well?"
   "If you count defeating the Nemean Lion well, then yeah!" I  muttered.
   The god of the sky's eyes widened. "The Nemean Lion? The Nemean Lion!" Zeus said in amazement. I saw a shadow in his eyes, and that meant something was wrong. Zeus paced back and forth, muttering to himself in alarm.
   "You must get to TCFD, quick!" Zeus said, after 30 minutes.
   Suddenly, I heard a laugh. It was more terrible than the Nemean Lion's roar, and trust me, that was horrible enough. Time seemed to slow down. The ground underneath was opening up. A dark mist flowed out of it.
   A man in a black outfit, with black hair, ran out. He held a staff and helmet made of skulls, and he chased the mist angrily.
   "It's your dad," Lucas whispered to me.
   When the ground closed, the dark mist began to form into a humanoid body.
   "OH, BY THE RIVER STYX!" Zeus groaned. "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!"
   My dad glared at my uncle. "Hey, not all of my furies have been paying attention!" Hades said.
   The humanoid form began to grow color. There stood a man with pale skin, creepy golden eyes, brown, ruffled hair and a suit on. I'm pretty sure I was as pale as him when I realized who he was.
   It was Kronos, the Titan Lord of Time.

Chapter Four

  Annabeth




    "I'm sorry, but what? What if there are worse monsters along the driveway..." I began, but Zeus cut me off.
    "Your half-brother can take you there. And with you a daughter of the Big Three, you have special powers like summoning the dead..." I saw Zeus make a face a that thought.
    "Half-brother?" I followed Zeus' gaze to Lucas. "Oh, right." I said, feeling awkward.
    Hera groaned. "When are we gonna drop this conversation, and start moving on? We can't take all day!" Zeus nodded. Hera was right. They had to head back to Olympus and tell the Olympians they spared my life.
    Zeus got a thunderbolt, and Hera did this weird peacock song that called a flying... yes, flying... peacock. Me and my half-brother watched them go off. Lucas got comfortable in the driver's seat.
    "Yes, finally! I get to drive the Master's Bolt!" He sighed with a proud note, then turned the key.
    I felt my legs feel like jelly. I screamed. "Stop! Ow, stop!"
    "Sorry!" Lucas turned the key the other way. The electricity stopped. "I didn't understand that electricity stuff."
    Lucas stomped on the gas pedal, and we zoomed off.

                                                          ~|*_*|~

    It was nighttime. We were in the Colorado Mountains. Lucas parked the Master Bolt on a dry tree, then began to start making a fire.
    I checked the trunk of the Master Bolt. Luckily, there were some sleeping bags and pillows we could use. On top of that, canned fruit! We began eating.
    "How much longer?" I groaned, eating my second-to-last tangerine. I rubbed my eyes.
    "The camp is in Oregon." Lucas said. He was eating pears. "It's not that much longer..."
    "I feel homesick already, on our first day!" I put the can down and continued to rub my sleepiness out of my eyes.
    I walked to my sleeping bag, and closed my eyes. How could I be the daughter of Hades? I mean, Hades isn't my type! He just has misery and torture for games. I play hopscotch, tag, even Wax Museum!
    It wasn't long until I fell asleep. Maybe it isn't so bad to be a daughter of Hades. I thought. Maybe I could make those monsters die with a snap of my fingers.
   It isn't that simple, my beautiful pomegranate. I heard a voice echo in my mind. Soon you will realize the trouble of being a daughter of one of the Big Three.

Chapter Three

   Lucas


   Dad walked us out of the school building, then we went into an alley full of alley cats and trash bags. It seemed darker here, like Hades was watching us. Anyways, Dad whistled his fingers and a bright yellow car zoomed down. It crackled with electricity, but I knew it was safe to sit on.
   Annabeth stared at the car in awe. "Amazing!" She exclaimed. "It's awesome! Breath-taking!" Annabeth sat inside. She screamed. "Zapping! I'm getting out!"
   My dad blushed, which is extremely rare. "Sorry. Undetermined demigods can get zapped with my ferrari." He snapped his fingers and the crackling of electricity stopped. I saw Annabeth stare down at the ground.
   "Right." She murmured. "I'm a demigod."
   I patted her on the back. "It's alright, Annabeth. Who knows if you're a daughter of a major god, like me? We have cool powers and stuff to protect ourselves!"
   Maybe I shouldn't have said anything because her eyes grew big. "Protect ourselves? Protect ourselves?!"
   Dad glanced at me. "Well, now that you discovered you're a demigod, your scent of it is stronger. Monsters could smell that scent and track you down..."
   "Gee, I feel soo much better!" Annabeth said sarcastically.
   My dad sighed. "Just get on the car!"
   Annabeth walked back to the car and sat on it. After taking my seat, I shut the door and put my seatbelt on. Zeus turned on the car and began driving near the thunderclouds.
   "My mother won't worry, right?" Annabeth asked worriedly.
   I remained silent. I remember who my mom was. She was one of the 12 olympians, and her sacred item is a peacock feather.
   "I don't have a mortal mom." I finally said. I saw my dad's eyes look dreamily for a second in the rearview mirror.
    "Oh right!" Annabeth replied. "Your mom's Hera. Then how are you a halfblood?"
    "Me and my dad don't know. I just happen to be part mortal. It's weird. But I'm just glad I'm not immortal." I said.
    There was a silence, maybe an hour long.
    "Who do you think my dad is?" Annabeth finally asked. "Maybe it's Poseidon! Or Hermes! Maybe Daedalus!"
     I stiffled a laugh "Number one! You do not wanna be a daughter of Hermes. Number two! Daedalus is not a god."
     "Oh."
     "And you forgot Hades!"
     Annabeth and Zeus made a face. "This kind girl cannot be the daughter of the god of torture! Besides, Hades is the worst brother ever. I prefer Poseidon, the god of the sea! And me..." Zeus said the last sentence guiltily.
     After more hours of complete silence, the thunderclouds began to part. That must've been Dad was more relaxed than usual. I saw the black sky, kinda like a black dome with tiny white, twinkling lights. And the round moon was like a lantern. A nice, round lantern. You could see the Atlantic Ocean below, with gentle waves. Poseidon was probably sleeping while the guards went on shifts. I kinda liked the sea breeze, but the sky was more of my favorite. Annabeth was staring down, probably thinking who her dad was. I remembered when I lived on the streets, not knowing who my mom and dad was. Jealously shot through me. Half of her life was normal! And I was a child of two olympians. And I was !
     Suddenly, my mom appeared in front of our cruising car ride. She had a worried face, and when an olympian was worried, you had to be worried.
      "Mom, what are you doing here?" I asked.
      "Every child of Hades must be destroyed!" Mom said. "I've tracked a daughter over here..." She revealed a tracking device. It was going nuts with beeping noises.
      I turned to Annabeth. I've seen Hades before when I was 6, and Zeus told Hades it was a "treat" from him to make me ride on Charon's rowboat until the end of the day. Now I saw the resemblence. She had glossy, dark brown hair with slightly pale skin. She had the same eyes: chocolate brown. I sunk into my seat.
      Thunderclouds began to come back together. Rain began pouring. You could hear distant thunder.
      "Annabeth?" Zeus said in a restrained voice. I knew he was trying not to yell at this new demigod. "I'm not going to drive you anymore to TCFD."

Chapter Two

   Lucas stared at me with his mouth like an "O".  He stared at the headless Medusa, then at me. "How'd you? Are you?"
   I wanted to answer him, but I was too shocked about the fact that I cut someone's head off. "Spit it out!" I finally told him.
   "I'm a son of Zeus." Lucas said.
   I looked at his yellow and white clothes. "That would explain the tacky clothing!" I laughed.
   Suddenly, thunder boomed. I saw Mr. Smith walking down the hall with a thunderbolt? Anyway, he seemed very serious and odd. His bald head grew brown, ruffled hair and his tan skin turned white. His suit turned into battle armor with lightning engraved in it. The whole hall smelled horrible.
    Lucas bowed down. "Father, I'm sorry my friend has made fun of you."
    Mr. Smith's serious look softened. He turned to me. "Ahh, Annabeth?"
    I knelt. "You're... actually Zeus? Lucas wasn't ly..."
    Mr. Smith cut me off. "Does Lucas lie? Does a son of Zeus lie? By the River Styx, only Hermes lies!"
    I blinked. Zeus put a finger in green goo coming from the headless Medusa. Zeus tasted the goo. He grinned. Lucas and I made a face,
    "Dad, that's gross!" Lucas gagged. He ran to the boy's bathroom.
    "Monster's blood," Zeus turned to me. "Very nutritious for gods and demigods. It has the calcium, iron, protein..."
    "Gods need nutrients? Aren't you so strong, you don't need any more nutrients?" I asked him. Zeus had a curious look in his eyes.
    "And miss Annabeth, why are mortals so small and fragile?" Zeus turned to the entrance door. "Why us gods and goddesses need nutrients to become stronger. We eat monster's blood in yogurt, salads, hot dogs and it's a flavor in ice cream and popsicles. Popsicles are for the younger gods and goddesses actually..."
     "You eat regular food?"
     "Well, we do have this 'food of the gods' thing called nectar and ambrosia. It's new, though. But it is so powerful, if a demigod ate and drank it so much, their skin will disintegrate and bones will turn to ash."
     Lucas came back. He looked kinda green still, but didn't gag anymore.
     "I believe we should be going now," Zeus told us.
     "Where?" Me and Lucas asked.
     "The TCFD, of course!" Zeus grinned.