Truth [Book Three in Fake Series]

Part Six:

Part Six:

Jaz was bewildered by Camp Half-Blood. It was insanely cool. The arena was wow. The cabins were wow. The Lake was wow. Everything about this place was wow.

But now that they were leaving for the quest, Jaz felt a bit heartbroken. She knew deep down that she would return back to this place after the quest, but something was obscuring that dream, like a wall was hovering over her heart.

Jaz let a sigh escape her lips. She shouldered her backpack and headed towards where Zoe and Silena were waiting. Festus had been cleaned and was now sparkling in the afternoon sunlight, his gold hide polished to perfection. Jaz calculated that there would be just enough room to fit the four of them on without having to store their backpacks in one of Festus' many compartments.

Ethan came sprinting up to the trio, pulling the zip on his backpack as he ran. Panting slightly, he slowed to a stop.

"Okay, we're all here then." Zoe said. "Lets go."

Zoe clambered onto Festus first, then Ethan, Silena and Jaz. Festus spread his wings and took off into the air.

Jaz glanced back down at the camp and waved to the campers who had come to watch them take off. She turned back to see Zoe pulling out the compass with the crystal from a holding compartment on Festus' neck.

"We'll need to follow the compass." Zoe shouted back to them over the wind.

"Okay," Ethan shouted in reply.

•••

They had been flying for at least two hours. Jaz was extremely bored, as all they'd been seeing was sea and wisps of clouds dancing across the sky above them.

Silena was cleaning her dagger and Ethan was talking quietly to Zoe. Jaz felt lonely.

She took a deep breath. The fresh sea air felt good. Jaz wasn't used to this environment. After spending half of her life in Tartarus, it felt weird seeing blue sky and rolling green hills. But Jaz would get used to it. She had to.

Up ahead, Jaz saw land. "Land ho!" She cried.

"Good spotting." Silena said, putting away her dagger.

It wasn't Ogygia, though. From what she could see, it seemed to Jaz like they were still flying over America.

Suddenly, there was a loud roar above them. Jaz looked up to see a dragon hovering over Festus, except this one was much longer than their metallic buddy.

Its hide was a glamorous shade green, with scales as big as shields and claws like swords. Jaz gasped as the dragon dived downwards, its beady red eyes focused intently on the smaller dragon.

Zoe stood up and activated her sword. As the dragon neared them, she struck out with her sword, but it clanged harmlessly against it's armour-like scales. The dragon roared a column of flames and Jaz ducked out of the way. Festus spewed some back.

Jaz used the wind to slow the dragon down. They weren't over land yet, and she didn't want to be. If they fell, it would be better if they fell into water.

Zoe stabbed again and managed to hit a chink in the scales. The dragon roared in outrage and swiped at her with its dagger-like claws.

Jaz screamed. "No!"

Zoe locked eyes with Jaz. Blood was pouring out of the scratch marks. She fell backwards off Festus and Jaz had enough time to see her hit the water with a massive BOOM before the dragon beside them exploded into golden dust.