The Uniting

Chapter 6.) Love and War

I woke up the next morning feeling much better. My ribs were just a little tender but my head ache had faded. I ate some ambrosia and the pain was gone all together. I put on a a plaid red t-shirt and easy to move in skinny jeans. Then I put my hair into a French braid and then I went into the kitchen where mostly everyone was already sitting.

"Hey Soph, feeling better?" Percy asked as he took me into a hug. I hugged back "Yeah a lot better. I just want food right now." I said with a smile. Everyone laughed softly and I grabbed a plate and started to eat.

"So, when are we getting to Charleston?" I asked. "About half an hour more. The map will probably be in two different specific places. A war museum by the pier, and the park also by the pier. When me and Reyna went there on a quest once, there was a spirit wandering around. I tried to approach it, but it disappeared when I tried talking to it. Then Reyna tried, and they talked for a little. She came back over to me with a pale face and said that it was nothing and the spirit wouldn't do anything. So, what I'm thinking is that the spirit will only talk to girls." He explained.

"So we'll have a girls group and a guys group. We'll go to the park and talk to the spirit while you guys will go to the museum." Annabeth decided. We all agreed on it and finished our breakfast.

Half an hour later we were all ready for our separate quests and we were now docked in Charleston. "Wow. It's fancy here." Piper said looking around. The park had a lot of World War 2 monuments and many of the houses were from the 18th century.

"Alright guys, it's go time." Jason said as he clapped his hands together.

"Alright, we'll meet you guys in a little bit, iris message us if there's an emergency." Annabeth said as she kissed Percy's cheek. Piper and Jason hugged and Frank pecked Hazel on the lips quickly. Leo wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed my forehead. "Stay safe for me Sea Queen." He whispered into my ear. I smiled and nodded against his chest.

"See you soon." I said and then we were off. Me, Hazel, Piper, and Annabeth walked through the park, looking at the flowers and monuments until we came along a gazebo and we saw the spirit walking around. There was a picnic set up in the gazebo and the spirit had a lovely gown on.

I suddenly felt Piper tense beside me and she groaned loudly. "It's her." She muttered.

The spirit turned towards us and we gasped. She smiled and I immediately felt myself get jealous. She had long strawberry blonde hair and dark brown eyes. Her smile was white and perfect. I had always wanted blonde hair and brown eyes, and then I immediately knew she was if I was this jealous.

"Lady Aphrodite." I said curtsying.

"Sophie dear, good to see you again. Let me see the last time, oh yes, the Titan war? Yes it's been a few months." She said kindly to me. "Hi mom." Piper cut in. "Hello Piper, how has my beauty queen been?" She asked. Piper rolled her eyes. "I'm fine mother." She said. "Oh, where are my manners, please, sit." She said. Me, Hazel, Annabeth, and Piper sat down.

She poured the tea by just waving her hand. I took a sip of mine. "Milady, we all ask you for help on a quest. Annabeth, needs to find a certain map that will help her on her quest. Do you think you could tell us where it is?" Hazel asked. Aphrodite nodded. "Why yes I can. But first, a little girl talk!" She squealed.

"Okay so, Hazel, maybe try something with the denim and button down shirts. Not really a boy magnet." She said. Hazel looked down at her shirt and raised her eyebrows. "Mom!" Piper yelled. "Oh Piper dear, calm down. Your friends have just such interesting love life's." Aphrodite said.

"I remember making a promise to Annabeh about her love life when she was younger." She said slyly. Annabeth choked on her tea. I waved my hand so the tea would stop choking her.