Percy Jackson: New Friends

Chapter 13: Xenia's POV

Chapter 13: Xenia's POV

I seriously couldn't wait for land. Being on this ship made me want to try on a thousand Hawaiian shirts-- and that wasn't a good thing. Darci and I were the first ones off. She kissed the ground and sighed. I looked at her like she was crazy. She got up and dusted her jeans off.

"I'm ok," she said.

"Let's hope so," I replied.

"Where are we, anyways?" Maika asked. Duke checked this nerdy device.

"We're in the Bahamas. Looks pretty inviting," he said.

"Hello! Welcome to the Bahamas! My name is Panndy! May I take your bags?" a lady said cheerily. She smiled at all of us and had a clipboard under her arm.

"We don't have bags," Cleon answered.

"Oh that's ok!" She handed us credit cards. "Just stock up on whatever you want!" Alexandria eyed her suspiciously.

"No thanks," Alexandria said quickly, "We're good." Adam looked like he really did want to stock up. Probably because he didn't bring much stuff.

"But it's our pleasure! We don't have many demigods visit this island much," Panndy explained sadly.

"Why?" Destania asked curiously.

"You know...just a bad experience. That's all!" Panndy said.

"Bad experience? What happened?" I questioned.

"Come along, children!" Panndy said, not answering my question. Many people were there. They were laughing and having a good time. I wanted to just jump in. We also saw many gift shops. Adam grabbed a few things. We finally went to her office. It was very well furnished, and we sat on the huge couch. In the back of the room on a table was a Greek pithos jar. I kept staring at it. I suddenly had a new desire to open it. Apparently, the other demigods did too.

"Children! Don't look at that thing! Curiosity, perhaps, can be miserable-- literally. Let's talk about your all-inclusive rooms!" Panndy said cheerfully. Suddenly, I heard a clink from the pithos.

"What exactly is in that jar?" Indie asked.

"None of your concern," she said, all of a sudden grouchy.

I heard another clink. Something alive was in that pithos. I thought I heard the help when Panndy rushed us out of her office.

"Epimetheus!" Panndy called. A really buff guy appeared.

"Yes, Pand-"

"Shhh!" Panndy interrupted. I began to realize that Panndy wasn't her real name. Epimetheus looked at me, and suddenly I was back in my past.

The music played as I was back at my friend's house again. People were laughing and having a good time. My old me wasn't. I looked concerned. My former best friend, Kaylie, asked, "Xenia, you look worried. Come on and get some punch!"

My old me replied, "Not right now, Kaylie." My old self looked very distracted. I knew what was coming next. I heard a snarl from the woods that was right next to Kaylie's house. I hated parties, but Kaylie had convinced me to come to hers. Another snarl came from the woods. I dodged out of the way just in time. A huge hellhound came from the woods.

My old self looked startled. I grabbed the nearest weapon I could find and stabbed him. He howled and disenegrated. I was out of breath. My old me ran into the woods, battling monsters as I went...

I collapsed. "Xenia, are you all right?" Ralph asked me. I stood up.

"Yeah. I'm fine," I replied. "Pandora," I suddenly remembered. "You're not Panndy, you're Pandora. You were the one that opened that pithos in your office. Either I'm wrong, or something alive is in that jar."