Haunted

The Quest

She stood with Will, hand in hand, as they watched the waves crash along the shore. The sky was clear and the sun was bright. She looked down at him, "I have to go soon. But you be good for me, okay?"

He nodded, "Of course. I'll do my best."

She smiled, "I know you will." The last word was a bit louder than the others. He giggled, "You'll come back though. Right, Harper?"

She nodded confidently, "You bet I will." He giggled again.

Harper gave him a hug, "I'll see you soon."

"Okay." He said, smiling and wrapping his arms around her.

She let go and turned away, "Will, if I don't come back..." Her voice trailed off, "Never mind."

"What are you saying Harper, you'll come back. You have to."

She nodded as a shout came from across the camp. She looked up and waved, "Will I have to go. Be good." Then she was gone. Running across the field to meet her parteners in crime.

Harper ran up the hill, "Okay, let's roll." She said, smiling at Shelby and Luke.

Luke smiled back at her, "We have to wait for Chiron. He'll be along shortly."

Harper nodded, "Sounds good." She sat down and leaned against Thalia's tree.

She swung her bag off and set out next to her. "It's weird, I've always wanted to go on a quest. But know we're leaving... I don't."

She saw herself beside her friends. She bit her lip, remembering everything from that night.

The three half bloods stood inside the gates. Luke turned to the other two, "Be careful. I don't want either of you dying."

Shelby gave a mock salute, "Yes sir." Harper smiled, "You got it captain." Luke seemed to force a smile. "Alright. I'll get an apple, you two distract it." Harper and Shelby glanced at each other then nodded.

The trio advanced slowly, weapons really and faces set. Luke was in front of the others and when he was about fifteen paces away from the tree, he froze.

Harper and Shelby came to a stop as well. "Why did you stop?" Shelby whispered softly.

Luke put a finger to his lips and pointed. Twisted around the base of the tree was a dragon, a real one. And it was beautiful.

Harper smiled, "He's incredible." Luke glared at her, "Stop talking, are you trying to wake it up?" He hissed.

Shelby raised an eyebrow, "Luke, she knows what she's doing."

Luke and Shelby glared at each other until the son of Hermes looked away. Harper took a few steps forward and knelt next to the beast. She stroked the top of its head and the monster rumbled.

"Harper be careful!" Luke hissed.

Shelby rolled her eyes, "You are aware she knows what she's doing, right?"

Luke ignored them and kept his attention focused on the daughter of Apollo.

Harper was humming a tune and the dragon was starting to wake. "Harper, just grab an apple and go. We dont need to wake it up." Luke whispered.

"Yes we do." She replied, "If we get permission, we can take one. And it will not be permitted to kill us." Harper turned back and began to sing softly. The dragon's head swayed as it began to rise, it's eyes not yet open. Harper took another step forward. "Harper!" Luke called, "Come back here." She ignored him. "Luke," Shelby tried again, "Give it a rest, she'll be fine." They put a hand on the son of Hermes' arm, but Luke pulled away.

The dragon turned to face the sound of Harper's voice, opening its mouth wide and roaring. Luke lunged forward, hitting the dragon with his blade. "Why did you do that?" Shelby hissed. Luke looked back at him, terror etched in every part of his face, "I thought it was going to hurt her."

"Well, you thought wrong." Shelby hissed.

Harper's voice died and she just stood there, looking at the beast. Doing her best not to run. The dragon hissed and spit, its eyes opening fully. It turned to face Luke. And then it lunged and Luke's scream pierced the quiet night.

The three of them sat on a hill overlooking the Caldecott tunnel. Harper stood to the side leaning against a tree, tossing the golden apple and catching it. Luke was sitting against a tree and Shelby lay on the ground, staring up at the stars.

"Luke, what you did back there, it was beyond idiotic." They said.

"So? We all made it out alive." Luke shot back defensively.

"We bearly made it out." They corrected. "And it's your fault."

"My fault? I wasn't the one who send us on some stupid death quest."

"Oh right, blame the gods. Because they are always to blame." Shelby snarled, "Luke maybe you should stop blaming other people and start looking at what you're doing. Start thinking about your own actions."

"But can't you see, this is how the gods treat us. This is how they see us. We are pons on their chess board. They use us without second thoughts and they throw us away. And they never feel guilty, because we're just pons."

"We are much more than pons Luke, we're heroes." Shelby snapped.

Harper caught the apple one last time and stuffed it into her pocket, "Can you two give it a rest, what's done is done."

"How can you say that he almost got you killed. And more importantly, he almost ruined our chances of getting that apple!"

"What do you mean more importantly? Harper's life is much more important than some dumb apple." Luke stepped forward and balled his fists.

Harper stepped between them, "Luke they have a point. We had a job to do and you trying to help almost ruined our chances. I'm willing to die if it means the right thing will happen." Luke opened his mouth to protest but Harper was quick, "Now get some rest, you've lost a lot of blood and you won't be doing anyone any favors by making us sit in a mortal hospital for hours."

He sighed, "Fine. But you shouldn't have to die if it means the right thing happens."

If only you knew. She thought.

It was hard to explain how she knew, but she did. The moment she laid eyes on the son of Hermes she knew everything.

She knew he felt abandoned. She knew what he was capable of. She knew more than he ever would. She also knew he would be the death of her. And she was right.

So why was she here, leaning against a tree, standing guard, over his sleeping body? Because she believed in the gods, apparently. She understood her part and she played it as well as she could.