The Lost Souls

Thalia Torches New England

Bianca Di'Angelo could not wait to get to Camp Half-Blood.

So, after waiting for almost three hours finally the  sky began to lighten.

Artemis muttered, "About time. He's so-o-o lazy during the winter."

Bianca, Thalia, Percy and Artemis all stand in a clearing as Apollo starts to pull up.

Percy covers his eyes as Thalia and Bianca put on their Olympian Grade Sunglasses "Guaranteed to preserve mortal life even after seeing a gods true for for thirty seconds" that Bianca had taken from Olympus, after paying of course.

Finally he parks and they remove the sunglasses.

"Little sister!" Apollo called. "What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"

Artemis sighed. "I'm fine, Apollo. And I am not your little sister."

"Hey, I was born first."

"We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue-"

"So what's up?" he interrupted. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery."

Artemis grit her teeth. "I need a favor. I have some hunting to do alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."

"Sure, sis!" Then he raised his hands in a stop everything gesture. "I feel a Haiku coming on."

The Hunters all groaned.

He cleared his throat and held up one hand dramatically.

"Green grass breaks through the snow.
Artemis pleads for my help.
I am so cool."

He grinned, waiting for applause.

"That last line was four syllables," Thalia, Percy and Bianca state.

The three glare at each other.

"It was," Apollo asks.

"It was," Artemis confirms. "Also don't those three remind you of our father and uncles."

"It's is scary how similar they are," Apollo whispers.

"How about 'I cannot whisper'," Thalia suggests.

Artemis laughs. "I like these demigods."

"No," Apollo muttered in response to Thalia's suggestion and begins to mumble. "I've got it! I am so awesome." He smiles. "And now, sis. Transportation for the hunters and a few demigods, you say? Good timing. I was just about ready to roll. Everyone in."

"Cool car," Nico comments. "How will we fit everyone?"

"Oh," Apollo seemed to notice the problem for the first time. "Well, yeah. I hate to change it out of sports-car mode, but I suppose . . ."

He took out his car keys and beeped the security alarm button.

For a moment, the car glowed brightly again. When the glare died, the Maserati has been replaced by one of those Turtle Top shuttle buses.

"Right," he said. "Everyone in."

Everyone got in and Bianca, Thalia and Percy were getting in last.

"Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon," Apollo greets. "Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus. And . . ."

"Bianca Di'Angelo," Bianca finishes. "Daughter of Hades."

Apollo chokes and Thalia and Bianca smirks as they get on the bus.

Apollo got onto the bus and grinned, jangling the car keys on his finger.