The Goddess's Thief.

"Don't you have stuff to get, er...?" Sean asked. I shook my head, barely muttering my name out. All I carried with me was a small backpack that held some spare clothes. I had no trinkets from my foster home or anything of the sort. The friends seem to understand and don't question me further. For a moment, I thought about saying good-bye to Mrs. Kemper. I even glanced back at her apartment only to see her staring out at me, waving. "That your grandma?"

"Shut up," Bree grumbled, elbowing him hard in the ribs.

"I-it's okay," I said. "That's...Just gimme a moment." I walked over to the window just as Mrs. Kemper forced it open.

"Good, I got your attention," she said. "Here, I want you to take this with you." She handed me a large plastic bag of groceries. It's even double bagged. "And this..." What came next she had difficulty moving, though when it came through I saw it was a walking staff. It was just a little taller than my head. It gleamed like the polished wood it was and felt heavier than it looked. "You will need this." I looked back at Mrs. Kemper and saw how she gazed at the staff. Her eyes were impossibly sad as if she were releasing a loved one. My gaze returned to it and suddenly, it wasn't a plain staff.

The wood transformed into the purest silver I had ever seen with thin red and blue veins stemming down from the top where a lilly made of amber perched. In it's center was a single large pearl glimmering in the sunlight.

I almost dropped it in shock. "Careful now!" warned Mrs. Kemper. "That's very old and precious. I take it you saw its true form?" Her voice grew quiet on that last part. I nodded, dumbstruck as the staff returned to looking normal again. "That staff will help you. I promise. Now go, child, your new friends are waiting." Without another word, she shut her window and curtains before I could even muster enough energy to ask how she had this. Had she been watching me? Had she always known that I was different? Maybe that was why she actually talked to me, approached me, unlike everyone else.

"Bye, Mrs. K.," I whispered. I took the groceries and staff and went back to Sean and Bree. Neither made mention of how the staff had changed shape so I said nothing. I felt that maybe it was better to keep it to myself. The groceries were divided up between us quickly.

"So, where is this Camp Half-Blood?"

Bree smiled. "Bit outta Manhattan. It'd take us a couple of days to get there, but we came across some extra money," she said. "We can hail a cab." She beckoned me to follow her well away from the apartments until we got to a well deserted street. The windows here were all boarded up and only a beaten up stray cat could be seen sleeping on a porch. I at least hoped he was sleeping. Here we stopped and she took a large, gold coin out of her pocket. Checking quickly to make sure no one was around, she dropped the coin onto the road where it sank as she said, "Stêthi, Ô hárma diabolês!" Just like that the coin vanished into the asphalt as if the road was a mirage.

"Just wait," Sean said to my questioning gaze. This being the third odd thing to happen today, I couldn't say I was very surprised until a few seconds pass and smoke begins to curl up from the ground. The two kept me from jumping away as the wisps rose and slowly they began to form something familiar. Words took shape first and I could read Gray Sisters' Taxi in bold print on the side of the vehicle that was finally formed. The window on our side rolled down and an eyeless woman poked her head out.

I jumped back in alarm, detaching myself easily from Sean and Bree at this point. "Need a ride?" the woman rasped.

"Yes, we need to get to Camp Half-Blood," Bree spoke loud and clear.

"I'm blind! Not deaf girl! You and your two friends get in!"

The door flew open and Bree climbed in followed by Sean. I peeked in and saw two more women in the front of the cab just before the door closed, throwing me across the seat with its force.

"Is that really?"

I looked up after straightening myself out in my own seat, somehow ending up in the middle with the staff cradled in my lap. The woman behind the wheel was staring at me from the rearview mirror. Her one eye seemed to pierce through me as if she could see everything inside my head, as if she could read my very soul. The two other women were turned around, gazing at me with their black sockets though I knew they could still somehow see me.

"By the Styx...It really is, Anger," said the middle one.

"Oh, it's just like the time we had the other one, Tempest," gushed the one who had ushered us in.

"I can see her, Wasp," said the driver with a wicked toothless grin. "Chiron has a great surprise coming his way. Do you think they will know?"

"Of course not! Who in their right mind woul-"

"SHUT UP!" I shouted. All three lurched back from me.

"Tut, tut," said Wasp.

"So rude!" Tempest, the middle one, admonished.

"Soon to be dead." Anger returned to her horrible grin.

"SH!"

"What?" I stared at her, wide eyed. Had she just threatened me? Bree suddenly leaned forwards.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Her eyes were narrowed in distrust at the three. To my right, I could feel Sean shifting around in his spot. Tempest and Wasp were stammering, trying to cover Anger's mistake. Anger and I just stared at one another. She gazed at me as if I was the best show on at the moment and she couldn't wait for the finale.

I leaned forwards toward her. "Tell me what you mean," I said.

"Not really my place, as my sisters have already made known," she replied, turning around to the steering wheel once more. "Buckle up or it may be sooner." As quick as the words were out, she slammed the gas and I was flung back into my seat. I looked between my two aquaintances who merely shrugged in as much confusion as me.

Building sped past at alarming rates. The blurs made me sick to my stomach to the point I had to simply close my eyes and wait for the ride to end. Surely this is what she meant. Their driving was going to kill me. Death by taxi driven by crazy lady with one eye.

"Oi! I am not crazy!"

My eyes jerked open to see Anger glaring at me in the mirror again. "How else am I going to die?" I countered.

"By a choice!" Tempest spouted then groaned.

"Not yours though," Wasp added. Tempest punched her without hesitation. "What!? You're talking, Anger's talking. Why can't I?"

"She's not supposed to know!" Anger snarled, jerking the wheel a hard right, flinging me into Bree and Sean on top of me. The staff fell to my feet. Probably better that way it didn't jam someone in the side with this lunatic's driving. "Besides, we barely know with the snake in Delphi!"

This seemed to catch Sean and Bree's attention. "Wait, you mean it's still there?" he asked. He glanced at Bree and I noticed quickly how pale he had become. Bree didn't seem to excited either by this news.

"Still there and blocking prophecies!" Another sharp turn, this time to the left. "Those two idiots- what were their names?" Neither Tempest nor Wasp answered as both were now hitting each other over spewing secrets. "Oh, who cares. They're caught up right now as it is! Pon-"

A hard punch from both Tempest and Wasp quickly shut Anger up.

"Great," Bree groaned. "Prepare for the worst ride ever..." My horror came back as all three began to squabble and physically abuse each other. Sean seemed to be muttering a prayer in his corner. Outside grew worse as the driving became more forgotten about and hectic. So far all I knew was that two people were caught up with something and from the reaction Bree and Sean gave it must be dangerous. I could only wonder if it was as bad as the fiery haired lady or worse. There was a snake in a place called Delphi and someone got to choose my death soon. Today was getting better and better. What was next? I discover I have some terrible...you know what? I'm not even going there.

Just as I chanced to open my eyes, Bree screamed, "STOP!"

The car skidded across mud and roots before nearly tipping over next to a large tree guarded by a dragon.

Just a dragon. That's normal right?

"Out, out," Bree muttered. "Don't ask questions, just go." I grabbed the staff hastily and tumbled out of the car. It thankfully vanished quickly. I sighed loudly in relief just to be on solid ground once more and hurriedly followed Sean over the hill, giving the dragon a wide berth. Bree stopped to see it. I didn't stop until I saw the valley beyond, though, and there I gazed at the camp in sheer awe. It's huge with a deep forest surrounding it for the most part. A dozen cabins arrainged in a horse-shoe shape could easily be seen from my standpoint as well as an archery range, a pasture, another massive plot of land dedicated to what looks like fighting practice, and a large, red house with a horse outside of it. What could have been hundreds of campers ran back and forth, their cheers well heard on the breeze blowing our way. It carried the sounds as well as the smells of grapes and campfires.

"Welcome to Camp Half-Blood, Leah," said Sean. Both him and Bree looked at home here. I was at their home. Could it be mine too?

Notes

A bit long and rambling, but I made it. Meh, next one will probably be a bit better.

Little editing done. ^-^