Sun kissed - Apollo.

21: A God buys us Cheeseburgers.

The next afternoon, June 14, seven days before the solstice, our train rolled into Denver. We hadn't eaten since the night before in the dining car, somewhere in Kansas. We hadn't taken a shower since Half-Blood Hill, and I was sure that was obvious.

I had startled awake that morning, shaking with the same fear and terror as that shadow had given me. I didn't understand, who doesn't like me? And why don't they want me to enter?

I didn't say anything to them, i knew that if i did. Percy would worry and he would definitely want to fight the person when we came across them. But i did have a feeling it had to be a god. Someone higher up doesn't like me.

We got off the train and Percy had an iron grip on my hand as if someone would come up and ahout at my brother, 'Percy, but i'm taking her.' He probably fears that Apollo would show up or something.

"Let's try to contact Chiron," Annabeth said. "I want to tell him about your talk with the river spirit."

"We can't use phones, right?" Percy asked Annabeth.

"I'm not talking about phones." Annabeth replied in a matter of fact tone.

We wandered through downtown for about half an hour, though I wasn't sure what Annabeth was looking for. The air was dry and hot, which felt weird after the humidity of St. Louis. Everywhere we turned, the Rocky Mountains seemed to be staring at me, like a tidal wave about to crash into the city.

Finally we found an empty do-it-yourself car wash. We veered toward the stall farthest from the street, keeping our eyes open for patrol cars. We were four adolescents hanging out at a car wash without a car; any cop worth his doughnuts would figure we were up to no good.

"What exactly are we doing?" Percy asked, as Grover took out the spray gun.

"It's seventy-five cents," he grumbled. "I've only got two quarters left. Annabeth?"

"Don't look at me," she said. "The dining car wiped me out."

Percy fished out his last bit of change and passed Grover a quarter, which left him two nickels and one drachma from Medusa's place.

"Excellent," Grover said. "We could do it with a spray bottle, of course, but the connection isn't as good, and my arm gets tired of pumping."

"What are you talking about?" Percy asked, while i just looked at the two confused. My brother matching my facial expression.

He fed in the quarters and set the knob to FINE MIST. "IM'ing."

"Instant messaging?" Percy asked.

"Iris-messaging," Annabeth corrected. "The rainbow goddess Iris carries messages for the gods. If you know how to ask, and she's not too busy, she'll do the same for half-bloods."

"You summon the goddess with a spray gun?" Percy asked.

I looked intrigued, was it possible that i would be meeting Iris? The goddess i was named after? That would be totally cool.

Grover pointed the nozzle in the air and water hissed out in a thick white mist. "Unless you know an easier way to make a rainbow."

"I could try next time but i don't if it works?" I say as i hold my hand up.

"We'll keep that in mind." Annabeth answers back. "But for now, this is more easier."

Sure enough, late afternoon light filtered through the vapor and broke into colors.

Annabeth held her palm out to Percy. "Drachma, please."

Percy handed it over.

She raised the coin over her head. "O goddess, accept our offering."