"Run. Run. Run." It's the only coherent thought I have as my feet pound against the frozen ground. We've been on our own for less than a week and we're are already on the "monster-dar" as my twin calls it. I suppose I should have known better considering we're half bloods but...I had hoped for more time.
Someone slams into me, I stumble almost falling and curse as I realize it's my sister. "Merda! Davvero Astra!?(Crap! Really Astra!)" "Sorry!" She squeaks. I grab her wrist and take off again hearing the cyclops crashing through the woods behind us. "Climb." I pointed to a red wood with branches low enough for her to climb.
I don't have time to wait for an answer before sprinting towards large pines growing just close enough for a skinny teen to get through. I suck in a breath as the one eyed lumpy face of my attacker stares at me as he starts yanking trees out of his way. I attempt to hide my fear sliding my set of celestial bronze throwing knives out, one to the eye, it screams. I hesitate. Focas Cal! One to its massive forehead. Screams. Blood. No! Don't think about it! He-it would kill you without hesitation! One to the throat, curtain call for mister cyclops. I shudder trying to calm my breathing. Too late. I vomit all over a tree to the dismay of a very angry sounding nymph. I shakily gather my knives and return to where I left my sister praying my weakness isn't obvious. A half bloods who can't kill monsters? Pathetic! "Sorella(sis)!" I startle looking up to see Astra swinging like an acrobat on the branches of her red wood. Thank the gods she's all right. "Astra. Are you hurt?" We've been practicing our English for years and yet our Greek "accent" is still noticeable. Bianca told us people don't speak "Ancient Greek" anymore. When did it become ancient? No idea but we can't dwell on it. Her and her adorable brother taught us their native language and English. They said it was what most people spoke in "modern times". Astra finally made it to the ground and gives me this big goofy grin "Sei stata così coraggiosa sorella cara!" "English Astra. We must practice." She scrunches up her face and thinks for a moment "Eww- y-you were...so... brave... sister dearest" I nod immensely grateful she was getting better. "Thank you Azzy. I'm assuming you're uninjured?" "Yep! All good Caleena" I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Come. We have a long ways to go before we arrive at "camp" Nico wrote about."
Why are we doing this you might ask? Well so am I, because my sister decided on this road trip of hell. But I'll start at the beginning of our sad little tale...or at least at the start of this definitely not a suicide mission trip. "The Lotus hotel and casino" or as me and mine call it, our time capsule. I am Caleena of Athens(is Athens still in existence? Is it part of "ancient" Greece?) and my sister is Astrid of the same. We are children of the gods just not the ones you're thinking of, we are children of the Titans, specifically Euryphaessa and a human. Who's Euryphaessa? Again we don't know(good heavens I'm tired of thinking that) all we know is that she's our mother, she's the titan of the eclipses, we've been in that "hotel" for several thousand years and didn't age a day, and that we know nothing! And we know that our dear friend's are at this "camp" for our kind. For "half bloods" that is.
We know this because Nico Di Angelo wrote of it....but the letter is dated 4 years before the date on the local paper somewhere in "Philadelphia" according to a map I saw a few towns past. My sister was wanting to see those beloved siblings again and so we left the safety net the lotus provided and started walking the several(hundred?) miles to a place called manhattan and the safety of camp half blood. Why would I go with her? Because I miss the sweet Di Angelo children? Because she's my sister? Or maybe because I'm as reckless as she is? Astrid's voice cuts through my anxious thoughts "look Pegasus kin!" She says dreamily pointing to a rust colored pegasus with a rather sort wingspan circling above us. She starts calling to it. Why does she do this? Because she's clearly insane. "Astrid! Do not call to a noble child of Pegasus like some common pet!" Even as I say this the Pegasus kin swoops down and land in front of us. "Sister! The Pegasus kin has joined us! But his wings are so small. Do you think he's waiting for one of those growth spurts Nico mentioned?" The Pterippi(Greek word for pegasus) stomped on the ground and whinied. "I don't speak majestic flying horse but I'd say he's annoyed" the horse nods at me and my sister hurriedly apologizes and asks for a ride to camp. Because asking a wild potentially dangerous winged horse for a ride is a great plan. He nods and bends down for her. "Come. Hurry sister." What. Am. I. Doing!? I climb on behind her against all better judgment solely because I do not wish to misplace my twin. It's calming. Being in the air is amazing, it should terrify me and yet it soothes my frayed nerves(as long as I ignored my sister's giggles and squeals). Like I can take a deep breath after forgetting to breathe for a while(it's a thing alright!) as we fly glide soar (nothing seems right for flying on a literal legend) I look at the landscape "cities" that look nothing like my home lands layed out below us and what appears to be buildings that touch the sky(how is it possible?) in the distance. I lean against Astrid wishing I could see even the smallest trace of the home I know but I know deep down there isn't. My eyes are heavy but I can't sleep now. What if we get attacked! In the air? Am I going crazy? My eyes shut again and I fall into a dream. Home. Sprawling green fields and orchards, simple cottages in a bustling town filled with the laughter and chatter that always annoyed me. I walk up the hill to my favorite spot, my tree overlooking the entire city of Athens and the skyline beyond. There I was talking with him. The only boy in Athens who loved me without expecting anything more from me. Arthur. I sit down exactly where I always sat, right beside him. "—father expects me to join the war efforts. But how do you fight against Titans?" I tuned him out at this point before. I just wanted to look at him and yet here I am wishing I had listened better. Could I have saved him? Probably not. But at least I'd have warning before the calamity struck. The scene changed, I was running through the burning city chaos and carnage everywhere as my sister dragg behind me and Papa in front pulling me along. "—your mother has created a spell. It will keep you alive and prevent aging, moving with the gods. As long as you remain inside your safe." "But Papa, why is it so small? What about you?" He gently pushes me and Astrid in. "NOO! PAPA! NO!" I start crying in both memory and dream as the door shuts and I watch the world burn from my safe little bubble. I wake screaming as I always do from that dream. The last time I saw Papa.... I'm in a bed I realize with a start. "Where-" I start but the sound of foot steps stops me. "You're awake!" Nico Di Angelo, the one who started all of this said but... is it him? He's older, granted he's not much taller than I remember but his hair is longer, he's thinner and paler but I'd recognize him, if it wasn't for the sad-no defeated look in his eyes. "What's wrong? Is it Astrid? Or Bianca-" He winces at the name. "-what happened to Bianca?" I ask slowly trying not to upset him. He looks away and takes a shaky breath "Look Cal, I'm glad you're here and all but a lot has happened and-" another couple of breaths "-we...I-I can't do this. Stay here." He leaves and I start suspecting the truth even before Astrid and a blond boy came in. Astrid was bouncing up and down "This is Will! He's a friend of Nicnic and Bia. He said he needed to talk to us. Did Nico look sad to you?" "He did and I believe its because of what Will needs to tell us so come sit down."
It was worse than I thought. Bianca died. A second titan war. And a second(when was the first?) giant war! According to Will they just finished the funerals for the deceased campers who fought Gaia(!?!?) a week before. Now here I lay in the Hades cabin with Nico(so proud of this kid) across the room because I didn't want to sleep in a room full of strangers. I sigh for probably the hundred time as I try to process for the fifth time today. I understand the words and yet they don't seem to fit in my head. "I know it's a lot." It takes me about 30 seconds too long to realize Nico was talking to me. "I-uhh yeah. How do cope?" He gives a short bitter laugh. "I don't. I do my best not to think too hard about any of it and bottle the rest up. I'd have lost my mind or become the "villain" by now otherwise." "That doesn't seem healthy...." I roll over to look at him. "It's not but it's the best I can do to get through...you woke up screaming earlier...you...wanna talk about it?" I could tell he was uncomfortable and shook my head but...did I? I'd never talked to anyone about that night. Not even Astrid. It's always been too big, too scary, to...heartbreaking. But Nico lost his sister and has quite literally been through hell and back so if anyone could understand my pain it's him...right?
But it sounds like he has enough of his own to deal with...I can't add more, I mean he's still a kid! "127" Nico called. "What?" "How many times you've sighed. So talk. I won't get mad." I groan but grab my blankets and walk across to him "move over." He gives me a tiny smile and moves over patting the bed beside him. I lay down next to him and groan. "Can't we just pretend the world is normal and ok and pretend that we're two normal "teenagers" because there's a before adult age now like since when!? And I'm kinda freaking out now because, what. In. The. Celestials. Is. This. World!" I bury my face in the pillow and scream before taking five(hundred) deep breaths only to realize Nico was laughing. At me? Probably but who cares as long as he's happy...right....but what was funny? "S-sorry. I'm just not used to people being even more out of touch than I am." I give him dirty look. "Rude." He gives me one of those tiny smiles again. Where'd that big goofy grin he used to always have disappear to? The Fates are truly cruel to have taken it from him. "Did you want a chance to talk?" He rolls away from me "absolutely not. Don't you dare try to make me." I give him a sympathetic smile even though he wasn't looking to see it. Maybe someday we'll actually open up to each other. Today is not that day. Tomorrow isn't looking too good either. I groan. "How do you sleep with all of this stuff floating around in your head?" Nico snorts again "most nights I don't. My self proclaimed doctor is very upset about it." I sigh. "But-" he continues "-it helps if you focus on something that has nothing to do with your problems. Like... I don't know, the stars? Or something that makes you happy." I smile seeing an opportunity "what do you think about?" He sighs and stays quiet long enough that I start thinking he's ignoring me before softly saying "The beach. Me, Bianca, mama, and Nonno-my grandfather used to go all the time when I was little." I smile "that sounds amazing... I've never been to a beach. We were always to afraid of angering Lord Poseidon by doing so....." I trailed off debating my next words "...there...was a tree overlooking the entire city of Athens though. I'd go out there and read and just...exist with Arthur-" I freeze realizing my mistake. Thank the gods Nico didn't comment on it. "Sounds like the perfect place. Now I know I said I wouldn't get mad about you talking but it's-" glances at clock "-2:39 in the morning and I need sleep." I smile "I'll let you sleep if you explain how you can tell time without the sun." "Deal." He replies with a yawn and I roll back over trying the trick Nico suggested. To her surprise it worked and she slept nightmare free for the first time in days.
The morning was chaotic and loud but I didn't mind. At least not until Chiron came clomping into cabin 13. "Do you know who or I suppose I should say what you are?" "Me and my sister are half blood daughters of Euryphaessa. The time spell placed on the two of us is what caused the time void that became the Lotus hotel. But I noticed Euryphaessa doesn't have a cabin. Why is that?" "You should find your sister before I explain this." He replied solemnly and every instinct went into brace for impact mode so I knew it was bad. I found Azzy at the archery range with Will. Deep breath and talk. No problem. "Sorry to interrupt but Chiron wants to speak to us at the big house Astrid." She smiles and bid good bye to Will before skipping(honestly girl! Where are your manners!?) off towards the big house.
It takes several hours for him to explain the last several thousand years and none of it made sense. He then proceeded to tell us that titans such as our mother were not welcomed here anymore and therefore had no cabins. "I've spoke with the Olympian council late last night. They have decided to allow you to stay and even build your own cabin on the condition that you complete a quest, possibly several to prove your worth and loyalty to the gods." Chiron told us and even though his voice was kind it felt as if ice had been dumped on me. A quest!? I barely survived getting us here! "We accept!" I shoot Astrid a dirty look but nod anyway knowing the gods would not be kind if we refused. "Will it just be the two of us?" I ask trying to keep my panic from showing. "Normally three half bloods would go, so you may choose one other camper to accompany you. Choose wisely but perhaps you should receive your prophecy from the grove."
The grove? "As in the grove of Donona?" He nods in conformation and has a red haired girl by the name of Rachel lead me and Astrid to the sacred woods. As we stand among the chattering trees Azzy grabbed my hand nervously. I smile at her before mustering my confidence and saying "Grove of Dodona, give us your prophecy!" I immediately regretted it when all the trees spoke as one to say a horrible poem. It goes like this:
In twilight realms where shadows play,
The Mother of Sun lies far away,
Forgotten and forsaken from sight,
A radiant queen, without her light.
Her friends weep, their hearts astray,
The land withers, night's dark sway,
The hero must abandon one and lead them astray
Misery's the key, that opens wide,
Chains of fear, where souls reside,
In darkness deep, they lose their way,
Until the dawn breaks, and lights the day.
Ominous isn't? I thought so. "I've read that before." Astrid says and I immediately regretted it when Rachel turns to us and demands to know where. "I don't remember! It was a book in the lotus." Astrid says shocked. "In a book in Latin that we asked a friend to translate for us." I finish for her. "But about this prophecy, it sounds like it's going to take us to the underworld doesn't it? 'In twilight realms where shadows play' the twilight realm is what philosophers in Greek times called the underworld." Rachel doesn't respond but Astrid does "that sounds like we should take Nico as our third. He'd be the best guide when it comes to the underworld."
I nod already trying to come up with a way to ask him. I'll ask him at dinner I decided.
I sat next to Nico at the Apollo table because that's where he sat most nights apparently. Everyone was happy and chatting away and there I sat with bad news to give, a prophecy that sounds like a death warrant and a quest I might not survive. Chiron wasn't sure what exactly the quest was but he knew the gods were worried. A titan apparently had escaped or been taken from their prison in tartarus. That titan might be our mother. The food no longer looked appealing. Chiron thinks we need to find said titan and re-imprison them but no one seems to know which one it is. "You alright? You're looking at your food like it insulted you several times." Nico says breaking me from my depressive spiral. "Ineedyoutakemetotheunderworldforaquest!" I say quickly trying to get it over with but he gives me a confused look. "Sorry. I'll talk slower this time." Deep breath and talk "I might need you take me to the under world for a quest." He frowns. "Another quest!" He mumbled clearly annoyed with someone. Hopefully a god and not me. "I'm sorry." I mumble and his head snapped up. "Don't be. You didn't choose to get dragged into a quest! I'll help you and Astrid. But the gods better give me a break after this. However it might be a while. Things are a mess right now and I'll be needed here." I nod "that's fine. Me and Azzy can start and see if we can figure out what we need to do." He looked like he wanted to argue but didn't.
The campfire was so cheesy (as the modern mortals say) but it was surprisingly fun. It almost made me temporally forget about my potential death...until the dreams.
A gorgeous woman on her knees bound by glowing gold and silver chains. She wore a mask in the shape of a Chinese ying-yang that seemed to change every time I looked. Half was a sunny day with clouds drifting across, the other was a starry night with shifting constellations. In the center was an eclipse that shifted from solar to lunar with every blink.
Her dress was a simple white chiton like most wore back home. The room switch from utter darkness to blinding light every few minutes but the women didn't seem agitated by it even though I was after only a few minutes.
Where are we? I try to say but nothing comes out. "Your journey will not be easy daughter but you must prevail. If my captor has his way he will erase time itself. Past, present and future will end. The world will return to when it was nothing but him."
Him who? Who has captured you? Are you my mom? Where are you? Why me? How do you destroy time? The questions remain silent no matter how hard I try to ask them.
"You will need help to reach me. Another like you. A forgotten child." Rude much?
"Find them where Death is at home. Find the street only present in the deepest night. That is where you'll find the doors. "
Why is my mom(maybe) giving me ominous instructions? What street only appears at night? Also death? What doors? Doesn't sound fun or survivable.
Something in mystery land slams and my vision funnels until I'm rolling down a sunny grin hill with a face that hurts to see. Arthur. My Arthur. He's laughing like at me for my tumble. "Clumsy as ever huh Cal?" He chuckles and I wish I could bottle that sound as he jogs down the hill towards me. "You know me Artie. Clumsy Cali eternally." I smile as he sits beside me. "What do you think about these new self proclaimed gods? I mean they're the children of the titan queen and lord Kronos but..." he leans in and whispers "they seem dangerous to me. Untrustworthy." Before I can respond the dream scape shakes and I'm pulled into consciousness by Nico. "Hurry up and get ready. We're already late to breakfast."
Breakfast, packing and worried goodbyes(I skipped those) and then we were off. In the back of a camp half blood van with a man covered head to toe in eyeballs(literally) named Argus driving us(Can this day get weirder?). To find the doors on a street that only exists at night. Yay us!
Chiron told us the doors the titan in my dream(Mom?) told me about could refer to "The Doors of Death".
Dramatic name I know. The street she referred to could be referring to the Nightshade road. A forgotten path to the underworld(Scary!). "Cal? Stai facendo di nuovo il imbronciato(You're sulking again)?" Astra asks startling me out of my thoughts. "Huh? Of course not. I'm just trying to figure out our we're going to find this third member..." "I'm sure we'll figure it out. Hey this is like the time we went to the woods with the boys back home! Only without the boys!" "What are you talking about? This is nothing like the camping trip." "But it is! It's an adventure!" I sigh. Clearly my sister is insane.
Argus dropped us off near a dark (disgusting) little alley where the Nightshade passage is supposed to appear.
We stand there for several seconds during which my brain reminds me that Nightshades are deadly flowers often used to symbolize violent deaths. How fun! Astra nudges me. "What now?" Why gods why must I always be the one to come up with plans!! I clear my throat "I suppose we should find a place to rest and wait for this pathway to open." Azzy points across the street to a nondescript café with snacks and reading material to entertain us.
In other words, it was perfect.
I nod and hold her hand as we wait at the road art with other mortals, crossing it when the little white man blinks into existence across from us. These "modern" mortals are strange.
We sit in a corner with some dull history books in an attempt to catch up on what we missed.
Wars, plagues, new countries and religions...so much change in what feels like a minuscule amount time. It's mind boggling.
The café kicks us out at 7:30 for closing leaving us to sit on the curb processing the new information while staring at the alley entrance. It doesn't take more than a few minutes for the alley to stretch and warp opening to a whole new neighborhood. "It looks like all the color ran away" Az says quietly. I wouldn't put it quite that way but the entire "street" looks colorless so I can't say she's wrong. I take a deep breath calming my nerves(yes I lie to myself. What's it to you?) "Let's go find our third Astra." I walk confidently(I wish) down the eerily silent street. The buildings look just like all the rest in this city only it's in grey and black. What are we looking for? No idea. I'm hoping it's a know it when you see it kind of thing. *We wonder for several minutes before I see a boy holding a dual scythe. He was cute in the brooding probably a murderer kind of way. Short black hair and oddly purple eyes in (bet you'd never guess) all black. Jeans, leather jacket and combat boots and what I assume is a band shirt. In my staring I don't realize he's spoken(embarrassing much?) "Sorry, what was that?" "I said we don't get many new comers here. Who are you?" He has an interesting accent, not quite Italian but probably from that area. "I'm Caleena and this my sister Astra. And you would be?" He walks towards us the scythe turning into a silver and black(shocking, I know) bracelet. "I'm Aster. I watch over my father's realm. You Ladies are alive so I'm curious as to why you'd come here."