Silena Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 2

I turned to see the Minotaur. It was heading towards me, snorting and sniffing. I pulled out the pen/sword I had inherited from my dad, Riptide was its name. I uncapped Riptide and charged. The Minotaur rushed forward. At the last minute I jumped aside and sliced through one of his horns. The Minotaur managed to turn back to me and charge again. I barely jumped away in time. And that's when the empusa showed up. A hoard of them swarmed me backing me against a tree. I swiped at them until there was one left. She snarled.

"The women in your family are so annoying!" She declared, she sounded familiar, like an annoying and bratty cheerleader. Up until then I had forgotten about the Minotaur. But then I remembered. I saw him charging towards me, and I started to sneak away but the emus a noticed.

"Not on my watch." She said as she hissed, her fangs showing. The Minotaur ran into the tree and everything fell on top of me. And all was black. And of course I had dreams.

•••

"Come young one." A voice said soothingly from the void of black around me. I recognized it as the voice of Diana. I blindly wandered in the direction of her voice. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I could see. Diana was standing next to me.

"Silena, there is much you do not know. In time you will find out. The time when your parents mean to tell you will be too late for you to help. Olympus is crumbling. Only you can stop it."

"But Lady Diana, how?"

"Learn the truth child. Learn the truth and come to see the world as we Olympians do. Only then can you save us."

"I- I- I'll try." I stammered. She gave a little laugh.

"Go child, and earn your freedom. Only then, can you have my blessing." She let go of me and disappeared.

"What blessing?" I called out. I revived no answer.

•••

When I awoke I was in the same position I was before I blacked out. Except the monsters were gone. Diana must have gotten rid of them. I stood up and found myself face to face with my Uncle Frank. Well he's not my actual uncle but my parents are like siblings with him and my Aunt Hazel. Uncle Frank, or Uncle Fai as he is sometimes known, looks like a bodybuilder. He has short black hair. He's also in fact Canadian. Uncle Frank pulled me up.

"Where have you been Silena? We've been looking for you for 2 days! Percy and Annabeth are worried sick!" I stumbled back in surprise. I mean I was used to Uncle Frank and Aunt Hazel calling my parents by their first names, but the fact that it's been 2 days since I blacked out is what worried me. That's when what my mom said in the car hit me. Wait. We're visiting Pan's PARENTS! I thought they were DEAD!

"Are you ok Silena?"

"Yeah, I'm fine Uncle Frank. Can we go back now?" Uncle Frank looked at me sympathetically.

"Sure thing kiddo."

"Thanks Uncle Frank."

"Anytime kid. Anytime." We started on our way back to New Rome. After 2 or 3 minutes Aunt Hazel came up, her black, curly hair bouncing as she ran up to us.

"Silena! Thank Pluto you're alright!" She pulled me into a tight hug and all I could see was her darker toned skin, and her purple shirt.

"Can't- breathe-" I choked out and Aunt Hazel pulled back.

"Sorry dear, we were all so worried when you disappeared. Your parents are questing for you with worry!"

"We should head back to New Rome." Uncle Frank suggested.

"You're right, you're right." Aunt Hazel said as she leaned over and kissed him. Unlike when my parents kissed, I thought it was cute. We ran back to the house in New Rome. Did I forget to mention we live with Aunt and Uncle Zhang? (Zhang is Uncle Frank and Aunt Hazel's last name.) My parents rushed up to me, crushing me in a hug. Then came the torrent of questions.

"Are you okay?"

"Are you hurt?"

"Where have you been?"

"Your mother and I have been worried sick!"

"Don't ever leave us again!" Just then the front door opened and Pan came running in, another faun and a wood nymph behind him.

"Perce-" the faun saw me and stopped mid sentence.

"Mars Almighty, Silena where have you been?" Pan exclaimed.

"Talking with Diana." My mom pulled back to look at me.

"Artemis." She breathed.

"We haven't seen Thalia in so long..." Dad said, almost in a trance.

"I wonder how she's doing." Mom says wistfully.

"What are you guys talking about?" I ask confused. "What is this about Diana, why are you calling her by her Greek name, and why are you talking about some girl named Thalia?"

"You haven't told her yet?!" The nymph exclaimed.

"You know why we didn't tell her Juniper. She would be in greater trouble. Ever since the War with Gaea." Mom said. She let go of me and I snuck away into a corner with Pan.

"We know." The faun said.

"Pan?" I asked.

"Yeah?" Was his reply.

"What are they talking about, and who are the people who ran in behind you?"

"Their my parents, Grover and Juniper, and I only know a little bit about what they are talking about, but still not enough to piece together what's happening."

"What?" I ask, utterly confused.

"Never mind."

"I'm going to go lay down in my room. This is too overwhelming for me right now."

"Okay. See you in the morning."

"Night Pan." And I headed upstairs to my room. I quickly fell into a deep sleep. But of course nightmares came.