The Daughter Of Olympus

Chapter 9: Self Control

After leaving the cave a day ago, Jamie's parents and Zan stumbled upon a forest which they had been wandering for at least two hours now. She took random turns at random times hoping that a sixth sense wasn't just a myth. Behind her shuffled Jamie's mother and father. They seemed really friendly and happy at first, but now that the danger had passed it seemed to dawn on them that their children were left alone. Jamie's mom worriedly chattered about how afraid and horrified little Alyssa and Jamie must be. Zan sighed.

"Miss. McLean, I can assure you," for the hundredth time "that Jamie and Alyssa are in good hands. Trust me."

"Mhm, and that's how they lost you, huh?" she blurted mindlessly. She doesn't mean it, she's just scared. Zan reminded herself, dodging a bundle of branches. She patiently waited for an apology but it never came.

They continued to trudge onward as Zan continued her game of eeny-meeny-miney-mo with the trees. For all she knew, they could be going in circles. Suddenly her foot got caught under the root of a tree and she tumbled forward. Coming to a stop, she sat up and looked around. The world seemed to be going in circles.

"Guys. Earthquake." She mumbled, falling onto her back.

"Oh my! Are you ok, dear?" Miss. McLean, asked frantically. She quickly examined Zan for injury. After blinking a few times, the world finally stopped and Zan slowly sat up.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just tripped, nothing to be worried about." She said.

"Oh no, no, no. Get up, hun, lets brush you off." Miss. McLean said, pulling up Zan and brushing grass off from her hair. "Oh no, you're clothes are dirty too, and you've got scratches!" She exclaimed.

"It's ok. It'll heal." Zan reassured her.

"Well, ok. Once we get to civilization we're gonna get you all cleaned up, no doubt about it. Maybe even a shopping spree. Jamie would love to have someone her age around for once!" She replied smiling. Zan grinned. Is this what it's like to have a mother?

Just then, the McLeans fainted.

"Miss. McLean!" Zan exclaimed, shaking them, "Mr. McLean!"

"Oh, they won't be waking up." A woman's voice cooed from behind her. Zan turned and saw a woman wearing a white toga with her curly hair tucked into a golden headband of sorts. Zan had met many of the gods and goddesses, but not this one.

"What do you mean? Who are you?" Zan demanded.

"They're in a deep sleep. They were tired, you know. Fighting to stay awake."

"What did you do?"

"I simply removed their self-control." She answered wistfully.

Self-control? What?

"Need another clue?"

"Just tell me."

"Oh, you're no fun." She sighed, "I'm Sophrosyne, goddess of self control." She said, extending her arms as if she was being admired by a crowed. Or she wanted a hug. She wasn't going to be getting neither.

"Oh ok, that explains why you knocked out my friends." Zan said sarcastically. Sophrosyne calmly folder her arms.

"I did so because I wanted you to have a worthy prize." Sophrosyne said, ignoring her sarcasm.  "Come with me."  The goddess started to glide away into an archway of trees.

"Hey! What about them?" Zan called after her, rooted to the spot.

"Oh... Yes." the goddess turned and snapped her fingers. The McLeans started to glow and lift off the ground.