Sophia Jackson: Hero's Daughter

Chapter Eight

"You want me to do what?" I looked at Logan with my eyes wider than the ocean.

"C'mon, it won't be so bad."

"Yeah, I thought you Athena kids liked deals and-"

"But I'm not an Athena kid. My mother is, and my siblings are... but not me."

"Oh, come on!" We'd been sitting by the highway for hours, in the baking sun. Logan's brain had begun to overheat, or he was truly insane. Dakota's too, for that matter. There was no way in Olympus that I was going to propose a deal with Miss Devilish Angel.

I looked down at Camp Jupiter. It really was beautiful. I could see why my dad may have wanted to live there. I can also see why they didn't.

"Ahem," I turned abruptly to face... Kyle. What was he doing here?

"Uh, Sophia, can I talk to you?" I looked at him, surprised.

"So you'll talk to him, and not me? You're such an-" Kyle cut off Logan's rant by including him and Dakota as well.

"I was thinking maybe Sophia should make a deal with Luna." Logan looked at me, his eyes like sparks of electricity.

"I told you!" Kyle gave him a look.

"Luna has way too much pride for her own good. She'll do anything to make sure she's on top. So maybe if you guys fight, and you win... well, I'm assuming she'll do whatever it takes to get back on the top. Even if it means helping you Greeks." The way he said 'Greeks' was the way my mom would say spider. Like it was a horrifying thing that the world needs to be rid of.

"Do you have something against Greeks?" Dakota said, looking Kyle straight in the eyes.

"Yeah, Kyle. It sure sounded like it." Oh gods.

"No, I- I mean... well, a Greek killed my half-brother so I'm not exactly their- YOUR- biggest fan." Dakota eyed him suspiciously.

"Well, we aren't too fond of you either," Logan added, just making the situation worse.

"Oh... oh, sorry." Kyle stalked off, then turned.

"I swear, if you make that deal, I'll go with you on your quest. I know something that might be able to help you, if you prove that- that you're the people I think you are." I watched him as he walked towards home, and was totally conflicted.

~

"Are you insane?" Luna looked at me with a look of discontent. She twirled a piece of her hair between her fingers, as she paced around me.

"No, I think I'm as sane as you are. If not more." I regretted saying that the moment I came out.

Sometimes, I had what my mom called a 'Filter Problem.' Apparently my dad had it. It was saying things without thinking them through. Yeah, I had that problem in a major way sometimes .

"Are you calling me insane? Surely that's not how you think you can accquire my help." I eyed her, dagger in my hand.

"No, I'd like to have a little- challenge. Just you and me. And whoever wins," I glanced around the Colosseum, hundreds of Roman campers waiting and wataching, "Well, whoever wins gets her way."

Luna pondered that for a moment, then studied me for a moment, seeing if I was an easy enough match that I could make her seem like a goddess.

"Hmm.... Well, I personally hate the deal to it's guts. However, I will let my City decide for me." Luna turned to face the crowd.

"Is she serious?" I looked at Kyle, who shrugged, and took Logan and Dakota to sit in the crowd.

"What do you think, people of New Rome. Is this young lady worthy of a fight with me? I highly doubt that I'll even be able to lay a finger on you without shattering your little Greek mind." That comment just set me off. I threw myself at her, punching, kicking, and screaming like a 3 year old throwing a fit. I caught Luna by surprise, but that didn't stop her from trying to kill me. We wrestled in the dirt of the Colesseum. All eyes were on us. I was relentless. My eyes burned with hate for this girl, who I'd literally just met.