Chapter Eight:
I started then to freak out, “LEO?!” I called out. No one answered, a squirrel came up to me and chittered away and offered me a nut, but then scurried away. Then I heard a conch shell blow in the direction of the Big House.


I ran up to the Big House where Chiron and Mr. D were standing and shouted, “Leo and Thalia were taken!” I kept repeating until Mr. D stopped me, “Vanna! STOP IT!”
I glared at him, “It's Hannah.”
“Whatever.”
The other campers started to crowd around the porch of the Big House and all started talking and asking questions and wondered where the heck some people were.
“Children!” Chiorn addressed the demi's, “Do not panic, send your cabin leaders inside for a meeting: if your cabin leader is missing please send in the second of your cabin. The rest of you please retire to your cabins and try to rest.”


Everyone slowly trickled away, I went away too and then my Uncle's request shot into my mind. I pulled out the note from my jacket. I looked at it then I glanced around the area and spotted Darren. I ran, “Darren!”
Darren turned around, “What's up?” He said with a half grin. I could tell he was upset. “Darren pack your things: we're leaving.”
“Wait what?”
“Just meet me behind my cabin when you're ready.”

I turned form him and started walking to my cabin, and then I felt my jacket being tugged. I looked down and saw a small girl with long black hair covering her eyes. She was the cabin Hermes, she was slept in a sleeping bag across from me. “Hi!” I said with a smile.
She hung really close to me and mumbled something into my jacket. I knelt down to her, “What is it?”
The girl didn't look me in the eyes and she whimpered when she spoke, “Please take me with you.”
I hardly could deny this girl, I tried to look into her eyes but she kept on looking away. “What's your name?”
“Lilly McWish.” She whispered.
I smiled, “Well Miss McWish if you want to come pack your things and meet me and my friend Darren behind the Artemis cabin.”
“Okay.” Before she could run off, I tried to look her in the eyes, “Lilly don't tell anyone where you're going ok?”
This time she looked at me directly and I saw violet eyes underneath that hair, were those real? Lilly smiled, “Ok!” and she dashed off.



I scratched my head, and wondered about those eyes. But I turned quickly to my cabin and quickly packed what little I had. But the Hunters in the cabin were curious to say the least. “What are you doing?” One asked.
“Packing.”
“For what?” Another asked suspiciously.
“Camping in the woods. I need the fresh air.”
One of the Hunters crossed her arms, “You can't the woods are off limits.”
I grinned, “Maybe the ground, but I prefer trees.”


Then one of them happened to recognized the bow and arrows. She took the liberty and snatched the bow out of my quiver, “What is this?!” She demanded. She shoved the bow in my face to make sure I saw it.
“Uhhh.” I really didn't want to answer that question, and this already looked back.
“Are you in cahoots with the other gods locking Artemis up and then you get her bow?!”
“If anything Thalia should get her bow for being loyal-”
“Where is Thalia anyway?”

They all looked at me, “I heard that you were guarding the flag, and Thalia was going to get it.”
Another girl walked up to me trying to scare me. “Where is Thalia?!” She barked. I tried my best not to be intimidated.
“I don't know!” I exclaimed. It was the truth.
“LIAR!” The girl shouted. Now this hunter was tall, and she had dark brown hair similar to mine but lighter, and she had fiery green eyes that bore down into me. “TELL US WHERE SHE IS YOU LITTLE-” she called me a name which I do not wish to repeat.
“I told you I don't know!”
“LIAR!” Her fist flew and slammed directly into my jaw. I fell to the ground gasping for air. Pain shot up as I moved my jaw, I gingerly touched it trying to evaluate it's condition. Thank the gods it's wasn't broken, but I already could feel it starting to swell.

“YOU TELL US WHERE YOU HAVE ARTEMIS AND THALIA!!!” She demanded. The other hunters either were with this hunter jerring at me or were just bystanders. I stood and with clenched fists and answered, “Listen, I do not know where Thalia and Artemis is! Can't you see, I'm one of you?! I'm on your side!”
The girl cursed again and landed her fist in my stomach, I doubled over and she then hit me to the ground. “You are not one of us!” She shouted, “Traitor!”

I squirmed from the pain, moaning for some kind of help. But no one came for me. The hunter kicked me and I was tossed across the room. I couldn't force myself to get up. The pain was so terrible, I couldn't stand it.
“YOU WILL TELL US WHERE OUR LEADERS ARE!” the girl demanded.

My head throbbed I could hardly think, I could hear my heartbeat inside my head. The hunter kicked me again, I rolled again, and I saw her face, even though she spoke with such anger and fury her eyes said that she was afraid, scared, and desperate. My head throbbed even harder, I thought I was going to pass out. “I. Don't. Know.” I moaned.
The girl yelled and was about to kick me again into unconsciousness, but I heard a arrow sail pass my head and then the Hunter's pants were pinned to to the floorboard. The arrow was golden and I rolled my head to see who fired and saw Darren standing in the back doorway with bow in hand.
“Back off!” He shouted.


“Back off!” He shouted.
No one back away, instead The Hunters pulled out their own weapons to defend themselves. I heard little footsteps come up and I saw Lilly in the doorway and she saw me and gasped. “NO!” She shouted.


“Go Lilly.” I moaned. But she wouldn't budge. I could see that she had a mixture of hate and sadness. “Leave my friend alone!” She shouted.
The Hunter that beat me up pulled out the arrow, “You need to choose your friends better.”
“NO!” She screamed and stomped her foot and then a thick fog came rolling in and the next thing I knew The Hunters were all knocked out in their places.

Darren quickly came over to my side and fed me a square caramel looking thing, it melted in my mouth I tasted some warm chocolate chip cookies with marshmallows in them. Instantly I felt better, I sat up, “What was that?!” I looked over at Lilly and she was marveling at herself.
“I, I don't know.” She replied.

“Come on,” Darren lifted me up and supported me with his arms as I put my arm across his shoulders. “Get my stuff we have to get out of here!”
Lilly ran past Darren and I and grabbed the pack that I made for myself, and picked up my quiver and gave it to me. I slung my quiver over my shoulders and my bag on my strong shoulder. “Come on we have to see a Rachel: For a prophecy.”

“Ah I know where she'll be.” Darren said with a grin.
“Where?” I asked.
“If she wasn't summoned to the council she'll be in her cave.”
Darren helped me out of the cabin.

***

By the time we got to Rachel's cave I was able to walk on my own, but my jaw still was throbbing and yeah, swollen. We came up to the cave and I saw green Greek Fire burning I could hear it crackling. I wanted to run and hide, something was completely setting me off and I hated it. But Darren pressed forward but Lilly clung to me.

I decided to be brave and stepped into the cave. I saw a girl with wild red hair and a was wearing a long dark green cloak. At first her back was towards us but she turned and Darren first and smiled, “Oh hey Darren!” Then her eyes landed on me, and it looked like she was having a seizure! She lay on the floor shaking uncontrollably, I walked up to try to help her but Darren put out his arm to stop me, “It's ok.”
Suddenly the girl I figured was Rachel stopped and suddenly rose up, and started speaking with a raspy voice.

“From a daughter that was beaten:From a son that resents
From a daughter that has been forgotten.

A trio must dive to find the lost ones.
A new threat commences
A new plan is done.

Archer and Magic combined
they will find the heroes gone
But The Fates have cut a string
It cannot be undone.

But this is only the beginning,
Yes.
There is more to this
than meets the eye.”

Rachel collapsed and Darren was quick to catch her and lay her gently down and cover her with some sheet to keep her warm. Darren turned back to me, “Remember that?”
I shook my head, “Memory isn't my strong suit.”
Lilly then raised her hand, “I do.”
I looked at Darren, “We have to get out of here.”
Darren nodded and we all walked out of there. But something weighed on me, “... The Fates have cut a string: It cannot be undone.”
Someone was going to die before this quest was over.

Notes

Whoo Hoo! Another chapter! Tell me whatcha think is going on! I wanna hear it. Who is going to die, and who is Lilly's godly parent?