The Son of Hermes (a Percy Jackson fanfic)

Chapter 8: I get the job to carry a miny-cow, yippee!

It was a good view from the base of cliffs. The ground was covered with red rocks and a few branches from old trees. The sun was shining. The day was cloudless. The perfect day to have fun, go for a picnic, or just laze and sit around.

Yep. That's exactly what a normal teenager would do. Emphasis on 'normal teenager'. Thalia and I, being demigods had choices to make. Choices which may lead to our death. Typical for us.

"Well,"Thalia said, "One thing is clear."

"What?"

"I'm your companion. That's instruction 'c'"

"Right,"I replied, feeling grateful that she was on my side."Which god do you want to choose?"

"None," came the prompt reply,"But seeing as we don't have an option, if I were you I wouldn't pick Zeus. His quests are exceptionally difficult. Don't go for Dionysus. I don't want to take orders from a drunk. And don't choose Hera. She'll most likely get us killed. She hates demigods, or more specifically, she hates demigods who are children of Zeus."

"Fine. No Wine Dude, Lightning Guy or Demigod Hater,"I said unenthusiastically,"That leaves us with Aphrodite and Apollo. Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love and Beauty. Her quest should be simple, right?"

Thalia made gagging noises.

"Trust me, Luke. I know I won't be able to stand a quest for lost hairbrushes and lipsticks. Aphrodite is known to lose them more than once."

"So, no Aphrodite," I said,"Apollo is our choice, then?"

"Yup, Apollo it is."

"We have to return by 22nd April. What's the date today?"

"Um...the 12th of April."

"Ten days to finish the job."

"Ten days..."Thalia said in a worried tone,"I hope that's enough."

"If it isn't?"I asked nervously.

"Then we're dead. Made your choice?"

"Choice made," I confirmed.

As soon as I said these words, I heard a flutter of wings.

"Um...what was that?" I asked Thalia.

"I dunno but if it's a monster we're going to take it down'" came the determined reply.

I raised my golf club. Not much of a weapon but something is better than nothing, right? Thalia's spear appeared in her hands as soon as she opened the film canister. We stood back to back, anxiously waiting for a monster to suddenly materialise and say, 'gotcha'.

We waited. And waited. And waited. Nothing came.

"Luke," Thalia muttered,"Look at this."

I turned around to see a grumpy looking creature coming towards us. It was partly humanoid, with a mischievious face. It had lemon yellow wings instead of arms and had tiny claws. It was plump and looked kind of heavy. It wore a dress which looked like it was made of potato sacks and was going through a file of papers.

"A harpy,"I said , remembering the name of a creature with these looks.

Thalia nodded.

The harpy kept coming closer. It finally looked up from the papers and seemed to notice us for the first time

"Luke Castellan?" It asked in a squeeky voice.

I didn't like the fact that it was refering to me with my mother's last name. I hated to use it but I decided not to argue.