The Children of the Seven

Chapter 7: Getting Started

"Wait! I had a dream."

|Jack|

I probably should have said something sooner, but how was I supposed to know that my unrealistic dream was real?

Everyone in the room was staring at me. "Really?" Asked the burly child of Ares.

"Uh... Yeah?" It came out more like a question. Lily elbowed me.

"Um, well, at first it was just a bunch of images of what I'm guessing was our parents when they were younger. Mostly of Uncle Leo on a big ship. Finally, it focused on one scene: A girl with long, dark hair, dark eyes, and a purple cape sort of thing. She was looking right at me, as if waiting for me. I uh, don't really know what it means though."

I looked around. Everyone was wide eyed. Well, everyone but Chiron. He looked as if he knew this would happen, and he didn't like it.

"I had a vision last night too." Bianca said, almost in a whisper. It was enough to break the silence.

"Please," Chiron said. "Tell us." She took a deep breath and repeated the story she told us.

"It appears to me that you shall take the same route as your parents did." Chiron stated, "You must head to camp Jupiter as soon as possible." Nico looked at us, "I volunteer to take them there. They know me at the camp, and should be more welcoming."

"I'll go with you." It was Thalia. "I know my way around, and you could use a guid to get you there." Everyone looked to Chiron, who looked thoughtful. "I agree. You may all go. Thalia, your hunters may stay here for the time being."

"But Chiron," Skyler stood. "What about 'three to a quest'? Every time there is more, someone dies!" Thalia and Nico looked pained. If I recall they knew some people that didn't make it. The thought of any one of my family members dying-It's too much.

"I understand, but it must be this way." Chiron said sadly. "Thalia and Nico know what they're doing. I trust them to do the right thing. You shall leave in a week. I still wish for you to be trained." With that, the meeting ended and everyone filled out.

We were the last ones to leave, with the exception of Nico Di Angelo. "I'll have you each personally trained. We need to find a good weapon for each of you, and you need to know how to use it."

"I don't get it." Charlie said, "I understand our parents were heroes, and don't get me wrong, I want to save them. But...but why go to all this trouble to save them. Why risk your life to help us?" Nico looked in turn at each of us. "Your parents, are the kindest, most loyal people I know. They have done so much for me, I've always wanted to repay the favor. Their my family, and they taught me that nothing is more important."

I felt my eyes water. I couldn't cry--not now. I watched as Nico walked off towards the Athena cabin. How has he seen so much, and still walk with such confidence?

Zoë was crying, which is very unlike her, and was holding Luke's shaking hand. He's only seven. He can't possibly do this?

But of course. My sadness was replaced with anger. These people are insane. They're risking not only their lives but ours! I never signed up for this.

All of a sudden, I started running towards the Hermes cabin. I could hear the others following me. Calling out my name. But I didn't listen.

The cabin was empty, the Hermes kids were doing their daily activities. I quickly grabbed my bag, and threw the few things I had in it.

"What are you doing?" I turned to see my sister in the doorway, our cousins behind her. "I'm leaving. Isn't it obvious?" That didn't seem to make her any less angry. "I mean," she said, "why are you doing this?" I threw down everything that I was holding. "Because... They just expect us to go out there and die, when we could live, and be happy." Lily looked like she was going to kill me.