Daughter of Neptune

The unhappiest girl in the world

Ben was quickly packing a backpack. He shoved in a spare set of clothes, ambrosia and nectar, which was only to be used for emergencies. He finished packing and walked outside where Hannah, Jason, Leo and Esme were waiting.

 Chiron had added Ben to the quest. He was to help track where Brianna was taken. As Ben looked at the others he remembered finding Issy, dead. Those harpies had used Issy to get to Brianna. They had taken Brianna unwillingly to who knows where. 

He had to find her. “I swear on the river Styx I will find you Brianna, wherever you are.” He mumbled. Hannah looked at Ben,

“Lead the way tracker boy.” Esme had a scowl on her face when Hannah said that. Ben was sure that she could track much better than him, but she had to stand down and let him lead. Ben then knew what he must do, 

“Esme, daughter of Artemis.” Esme looked him in the eyes with pure hatred. “I would like you to join me as a fellow tracker on this quest.” Esme stepped forward and smiled,

“Thankyou Ben, son of Iris.” Esme’s hatred had turned into respect. The five demigods walked through the camp, every head turned their way. All the campers knew that they were going on a quest. Some envied them and others wished them luck.

Ben led the others to the place where he found Issy. They all walked silently, thinking about what happened at the spot they were going to. When they arrived Ben explained how the harpies had taken Brianna. No one looked like they had an answer to where they’d taken her, except Esme. 

Ben could almost see cogs turning in her head, nearing overdrive. Esme walked over to the harpy footprints and looked around for any other clues. She got down on all fours and sniffed the tracks. She disappeared into the nearby trees for a few second. She came back with a smile on her face and an orange feather in her hand.

“Found this stuck in a tree. It’s a harpy feather.” Esme stopped short of Leo, Jason, Ben and Hannah. She put two fingers together and raised her hand to her mouth. She blew hard but no sound came out. She still smiled, satisfied with her work.

Leo laughed and said sarcastically, “Nice whistle!” Esme didn’t flinch at Leo’s insult and instead looked into the distance. Two smoke clouds were becoming nearer. That’s when they figured out what Esme had done. 

Two black shapes, kicking up dust, were nearing towards the group of demigods. They were big and had four legs. Ben guessed they were dogs of some kind. When the ever-approaching shapes were closer Ben knew what they were. They were hellhounds.

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As the aqua liquid ran down my throat I thought of Ben, the boy I had seen at camp. I remembered his red hair, but when I saw him he had bright yellow hair, almost white. I wonder what he was going through for his hair to be that colour. 

Black spots danced in front of me and I felt dizzy. I grasp the wooden bench seat tighter in an attempt to not fall over. I grab Tom’s hand and he smiles. That one smile showed me the evil and how merciless he really is.

 Tom was acting the whole time. I believed he felt the same way I felt for him. Then my vision clouded and I passed out.

Tom looked down at Brianna, lying on the ground in front of him. His black eyes darkened and he showed a toothy grin. Everything was going according to plan.

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 A girl was sitting behind a black obsidian desk. She had black hair and eyes. Her features were common amongst people in these parts. She wore simple brown clothing and like everyone else, she had a name badge. 

On the name badge, in bold letters was ‘Sophie’. She was focusing on a book filled with scribbled notes. The handwriting was inconsistent, as if done by many people. When Tom walked in through a large door, her eyes didn’t wander from the book.

“Do you have an appointment?” Sophie asked, still scribbling in the book.

 “I have come to see my father.” Tom said sternly. His black eyes pierced Sophie.

 “You need an appointment. Your father is a very busy man.” Sophie met Tom’s gaze. Tom glared at her for a few seconds then turned to the tall door. He whistled and a boy with blonde hair walked in, pulling a large sack. 

“I think Kronos cam make time. I have something he would like very much.” Tom showed a toothy grin and the other boy stood next to him. The other boy had blonde hair and blue eyes. He had a scar running across his face. 

Sophie looked at the large sack, “What does that contain?”

“It contains what my father needs to finish his plan.” Tom laughed. Sophie smiled and then she pushed a black button on the desk. Immediately two tall, black obsidian doors opened. The boys dragged the sack over to the door and walked through it.

The two tall doors closed shut behind them and Sophie went back to scribbling down notes in her book.

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The two hellhounds were sniffing the ground. The brown hellhound was sniffing around the trees and the black hellhound was sniffing the tracks left by the harpies. The black hellhound barked and then sat down, just to the left of the harpy tracks.

Esme walked over to him and patted his head. “He picked up the scent. He said that he’d show us the way.” Everyone picked their backpacks up off the ground and stood near Esme.

“Are we going to walk the whole way? A boat would be quicker,” exclaimed Hannah. She was a son of Poseidon so it made sense what she was saying.