Adrasteia

The Princess of the Andromeda

"I want to join your team, Luke."

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His jaw dropped a hundred feet. "Are you serious?" I nodded, and he grinned so widely he looked creepy. "Finally! Yes! Okay, I've got everything planned out already! You're on gaurd duty, right?" I giggled at his enthusiasm and nodded. "Okay, so I can KO everyone, or you can just go way out and I'll pick you up there after leaving tracks to make it look like there was a struggle. Just wear your favorite clothes and your sword, cause if you pack your stuff people will get suspicious... What? You ARE serious about joining, aren't you?"

I was grinning at him goofily. I nodded. "Of course I'm serious, Luke! It's just... You're so happy and excited. I haven't seen you like this since... Since Zeus knows when!" His grin never faltered, and it grew impossibly wider. But then a look of worry crossed his face.

"And then when you're on board and far away, we'll talk about what made you change your mind." My smile abruptly fell from my face.

"Yeah..." I sighed and tied my hair up in a messy bun. "I should go, though. Don't want to draw attention to myself."

"That's a first!" Luke and I laughed.

"There's a first for everything! So tonight then?" Luke nodded excitedly. "See ya!" Luke said goodbye, and the mist shifted again. I got up, went to the Hermes cabin and changed into the dress and flats Silena gave me, grabbed my sword and a couple other things, and went back out to the tree.

Midnight

"Jenna, I'm going around the edges." Jenna waved her hand as she continued making out with her boyfriend. I screwed up my face, thoroughly grossed out, and walked for a couple minutes in the direction of the lake. I heard something behind me and turned, putting my sword up against someone's throat. They chuckled.

"Someone needs to loosen up a bit," they remarked. I put my sword in its sheath and attacked him with a hug.

"Luke!" He chuckled again and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Ello love," he said quietly in a British accent while resting his head against mine and stroking my hair. "Hair is still as soft as ever, I see." I giggled.

"Just for you." We leaned away from each other and stared at the other for a bit. "Well, allons-y!" Luke grinned.

"I missed you, Dras. Even with your annoying French catchphrases."

"Not as much as I missed you with your cheesy American catchphrases! C'mon." I tugged at his arm, causing him to laugh.

"Don't have to get all excited!" We grinned. "Let me just... Kendra!" I turned to see a random girl in a dark green Juicy Couture sweatsuit and short black Ugg boots. Her brown hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. "Could you leave some tracks so it looked like Addie was kidnapped?" She nodded and extended her arm to the ground. Ruts appeared as if someone was dragged by their armpits, causing their heels to pull up dirt. Guess her mom is Demeter. "And do you mind escorting us back to the boat?"

She grinned. "No problem, Captain." Luke scowled at the name, and I giggled. I gasped as the ground suddenly disappeared beneath me and I fell. Luke pulled me close and put a hand over my mouth in case I screamed. We slid down an earthen tunnel for miles and miles. The ground closed up as we passed through, so it was pitch black. All of a sudden, just as I was starting to get used to the chute, we were shot out and onto a beach. I groaned and stood, brushing dirt off of my butt and thighs.

"Couldn't we have gone an easier way?" I whined. Kendra grinned.

"Sorry, but it's the quickest way. I kinda like it, to be honest."