Embers

"Just a few more minutes, and we should be at the airport!" Damien said, striding in front of the rest of us. Damien was a pretty mischievous 20 year old. He always had this smile, this crooked grin that made him look like he was about to pull a prank at any second. His jet black hair and the smile reminded me a lot of Percy, the 30 year old prisoner serving life in jail.

Jack seemed pretty unhappy for the trip. He was Dove's cousin, or so I believe, because both of their mothers are daughters of Aphrodite. And of course, Dove, was the daughter of Leo Valdez. Her dad was killed after Isaac, my father, blew up his ship. Valdez seemed like a good guy from Percy's point of view (who, to be honest, I visit pretty regularly when I'm bored). She has every reason to hate my dad, but not me. I'm not my father.

"Why are we going to the airport?" Dove asked from behind me. Damien chuckled.

"The flower we're looking for - the golia, only grows in one specific place. It's great for site seeing. Lots of people, you'll love it." Damien paused for a moment as we headed through the glass doors of the airport terminal. "We, are heading to China."

"I must have heard incorrectly..." Jack said, pretending to scrape wax out of his ears. "Did you say China?"

"Yes, I did." He said, motioning to the plane sitting out the window. "And if we font hurry up, we'll have to swim there."

"There is no way I'm going on a plane for that long with him." Dove said as she motioned to me. I scoffed.

"Neither would I." I retorted.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll sit in the middle seat!" Damien huffed. "I'll even give you coloring books and crayons while I'm at it!" He threw his hands up and walked up to the lady at the front desk. There weren't many people in the airport, just a few people loitering, waiting for their planes.

"Hi! Yeah, I'd like..." Damien started. I zoned out, focusing on Dove and Jack whee whispering in front of me.

"...But now isn't the time. We'll go get that stupid flower and get back to your mom as soon as we're done." Jack finished, hugging Dove.

"What if she gets the sickness? Who'll take care of her if I'm not there?" Dove questioned. Jack was about to answer, but Damien interrupted.

"Alright kiddies, I got the tickets! Let's go !" He motioned to the access hatch leading into the red striped aircraft out the left window. We proceeded through metal detectors and X ray thingies, making sure we didn't have any lethal weapons.

We sat down in the back of the plane, the window to my left and Damien to my right. After him was Jack, and in the next row over was Dove, who was talking quietly with Jack about their parents.

Oh, gods. I forgot to even talk with my parents. They won't know where I am - I'll try giving them an iris message sometime soon (the Romans adopted the Greeks form of messaging).

But for now, I think I could use a little rest...

Notes