Book 1 of Sapphire North and the Pantheon of Olympus: The Secret of The Bow and Arrows

Chapter 15

"You did what?!" The female Apollo twin, Clara, tried lashing out at me, golden eyes blazing with fury. She had to be held back by her brother, Xander (pronounced z-AN-der). "How dare you disgrace Apollo like that!"
Chiron was the only one who still looked calm. "Now, now, Clara. I am sure no one else here believes that Sapphire is the real culprit. If she was to steal it, the harpies would have eaten her on her way out of camp."
Clara turned her attention to Chiron "Ever heard of a thing called magic? She could have used that to get out of camp! Artemis and Apollo were born to bicker, obviously because they're siblings. Artemis could have sent Sapphire to steal his bow after she lost an argument. After all, Artemis never was very intelligent-"
"Oh so now I'm a thief and I'm stupid?" I said, growing angrier by the second. I would know if I had stolen something. "Well you stuck up father is very bright, even if he is the sun god!"
Her eyes widened. "You did not-"
"Enough! Both of you." Xander said. "We're not here to bicker. There are more important things to deal with." He seemed to be the only one who could calm his sister down. Reluctantly, Clara slumped back into her seat, glaring at me through her slick, jet black hair.
"Now, Chiron what were you saying?" Xander asked calmly.
"I was saying, nobody can get out of camp without alerting myself or Mr.D. So it isn't possible for anyone to leave. Unless there is very dark magic involved..." his brow furrowed. "Anyhow, Apollo is very suspicious. And Sapphire is most likely to be the thief according to Apollo's strange reasoning. He requests that Artemis returns it to him by the summer solstice, which is one week from now, the day with the most light."
"Obviously." I muttered.
"By then, your group will have to find Apollo's bow and return it to Mt. Olympus by the solstice."
I almost fell out of my chair. "What do you mean 'find Apollo's bow and return it to Mt. Olympus by the solstice with a group'? Isn't Mt. Olympus in Greece?"
"Not the modern Mount Olympus," Chiron answered. "The modern Mount Olympus in on the Empire State building. The 600th floor to be precise."
"Well that makes sense." I said, slouching back into my chair.
"What I mean, is that you are going on a quest." Everybody's eyes widened.
"A-a-a quest? Nobody has went on one in years." Megan stated. "Are you sure its safe to-"
"I'm sure Sapphire needs to go if she would like to live to see next Monday. Now on a quest, you shall require 2 companions. More than 3 demigods outside of camp at once... well let's just say that would be a monster magnet.
"Your party will leave tomorrow at noon. Tell me your decisions after dinner. Meeting adjourned." Then everyone filed out of the room, as I thought of 50 ways I could get killed.
* * *
"Hey, Sapphire!" I heard the James pbefore I saw him. He was running towards me from across the greens.
"Uh, hi James." I stammered.
"So, you know the quest Chiron assigned you?"
"Oh, don't get me started. I've had at least 10 people I barely know came up to me and asked me to go. One Aphrodite girl even tried to charm speak me. Can you believe that? So what about the quest?"
He blushed. "Well, I was going to ask if I was going to go-"
"Are you serious?" I asked. "Why should I bring you along?"
"Well, Athena and Artemis seem to enjoy each others company so it's not like there is any bad blood between us. Secondly, you know I'm smart. And that I am good in a fight. Besides, I am good with plans and I'm willing to bet that you don't have one."
He had a point.
"I guess there is no reason you can't come. Welcome aboard the death train! Next stop: Apollo's Fury!"
He smiled. "Thanks Sapphire. Your a good friend." He shifted his weight awkwardly. "Well, see you later." he said, jogging off towards the canoe lake.
What I didn't realize at the time was that I made a big mistake. Things were gonna be pretty awkward for me when he finds out I also wanted his girlfriend to join us.
* * *
"Melissa, you in here?" I said, knocking on the stone door to the Hecate cabin.
I hear the sound of feet scampering to the door.
She answered the door, looking shocked to see me then masking it with a smile. "Sapphire? What are you doing here?"
"Um, well can I come inside for a sec?"
Looking slightly annoyed, she stepped aside and let me in.
The interior of the Hecate cabin reminded me of a dungeon. Bunkbeds were pushed aside, as if sleeping didn't matter. The center of the room was a small pit that looked like the shield Melissa used, churning darkness that would consume you if you fell in. Inside a small cabinet in the back of the room were jars of what seemed to be potion ingredients. A mist clung to the ceiling as if the cabin had its own atmosphere.
Melissa sat down on her bunk, which was surprisingly covered with makeup.
"So," she breathed. "What did you want?"
"First, tell me what the makeup is for."
Melissa let out a big sigh and raised her hands in surrender. "You caught me. Its for my date with James later. We are going on a beach picnic."
"So why do you need makeup?" I asked, straying from the reason I came here in the first place. "If James truly loves you, why do you need to look 'pretty'?"
She shrugged. "Guess it just comes with the territory of having a boyfriend."
Boyfriend. Melissa never liked anyone or showed and reaction toward the word love. But now, it's all she can think about, like it was consuming her life. Am I making a mistake?
"So I was assigned a quest today and I wanted to have you come with me."
She gasped. "A quest?"
I nodded and began to explain the councilor's meeting and my conversation with James.
"Wait, so he asked you?" Melissa asked, tilting her head.
"Yeah, so?" I asked confused.
"Nothing." she replied.
"So are you coming?"
She got that far away look that told me she was thinking deeply. "Well, yeah. You're my friend. Of course I'll go. But you sure it's not gonna be awkward? Because you know..."
I nodded. "I'm sure. You swear you'll do it?"
She laughed. "I swear on the River Styx. Besides," she added. "I shouldn't have to worry about James liking you."
I furrowed my brow. "What do you mean?"
"Well," she began. "Obviously he wouldn't like you, I mean who would-" she stopped. "Oh no. Sapphire, I didn't mean-"
"You didn't mean what?" I said, anger welling up inside of me. "That because I'm not, what, 'creative' and 'passionate' like you? Huh? Because you have to prove your better than everyone in any way, shape or form? 'Cause those things don't make you desirable, okay? Those thing don't make other people worth less than you. Those things just make you conceded."
Melissa jumped to her feet. "Yeah, well those traits have earned me a boyfriend who might actually like me, for once. And yeah! Maybe I am more passionate and creative. But at least I'm not going to die alone."
I could barley control my rage. "See? You make everything into a competition! Your no better than the Ares or some of the Nike campers! When have you ever cared about anyone but yourself? Do you think other people don't get hurt when you brag non-stop about everything? Earlier this year, I saw a girl in the hallway, crying about her 34% on a Math test that you one-upped her about!"
She took a deep breath then pointed towards the door. "Get. Out. Of. My. Cabin."
"Fine." I muttered. "I don't ever want to see you again."
"Just get OUT!" Melissa demanded.
"FINE!" I said, slamming the door behind me.
As I started toward the Big House, I grew more and more nervous about the quest. Going with me, I had my best friend who probably hates me and her "supportive, caring" boyfriend.
Yay, me.