ATN: THE ELEMENTS OF BEAUTY

THE SKY LIFTING UNDERTAKER

Next morning, I woke up at seven. After my usual works, like yoga, freshening up and bathing, I got dressed in my FC Barcelona T-shirt, jeans, and my belt, and packed my book, armor disc, and war helmet. Then, I put my knife and wand in my pocket and came out of my room, only to find out that everyone had already gone to the training ground.

I reached the training ground, and found my cousins and Tina, my teammates in my upcoming missions, along with the rest of the demigods. They all surrounded Iris. I feared she had another vision. So I made my way to her, and asked her, "You saw something?"

"Yes, Jay." Iris answered, "You only have a day to collect these elements, create the ointment and return it to Aphrodite."

"What?" I asked. I turned towards my teammates, they all nodded. I turned back to Iris, and asked, "How? Why?"

"Apparently, after Clytius and Periboea came out, they started creating an army to give the rest of the gigantes a head start by destroying Atlantis. Meanwhile, Periboea did her work to take Aphrodite out of this battle, while Clytius worked on the army. He has accumulated an army of vrykolakas, hundreds in number."

"What are those?"

"The undead. They aren't exactly gifted creatures, but are very fast and tricky. Battling hundreds with just twenty will be impossible. We have to use the mortal army too." 

"So, what now?"

"Get going. I'll open the portals. Please try and make it by afternoon in Atlantean time. It will be ten thirty now in Greece. So, be quick. Because, by one day, I do not mean one day in Atlantean time, but Greek time."

Iris got up, and said to Dadai, "Lead them well, Avik. They are young, so they'll look up to you. If Apollo arrives and says something, try to reason with him. Don't end up making him your enemy. Though that's very difficult, but still, just talk to him nicely."

"I will." Dadai said. Iris opened the portal, and said, "If there is any trouble before you get the flowers, contact the other team through your rings." 

Dadai, Hiya and Abhro looked at us, the other team. "All the best, Dadai." I said, "We can do this."

"Thanks, same to you." Dadai said, and Abhro and Hiya repeated that. Then, the three of them jumped into the portal. Now, Iris turned to us. "Listen, guys." She said, "Your mission is a bit tougher. Even more so, since you won't land in front of the garden straightaway, like the others who landed straight in Delos. You'll be a little farther from the garden. Just be careful, and return. All five of you returning is of utmost importance."

"Yes, Iris." Tina said.

"What will you do till then?" I asked.

"I'll try to give you a head start, somehow, deliver the first element to Hecate, so that she can send it to Persephone. Where is it?"

"Here." I took the bottle of red liquid out from my backpack, "The potion of beauty."

"Okay." Iris took it, and said, "Now get going. And know that the way to the garden is straight."

We nodded, and Iris opened the portal. Hurriedly, Riya, me and Tina jumped in.

So hurriedly, that we forgot to bring water. As soon as we reached the place, whatever it was called, I looked around at the girls. Riya had gotten up. She had fallen on some mud, and her sky blue top, Atlantium belt and blue jeans, were muddy now. Tina looked no better. Despite her pretty features, she reminded me of a Lara Croft from the last Tomb Raider game, where Lady Croft was in the jungles of Peru. Tina had abandoned her shorts, and was wearing black leggings, and a jaguar pattern T-shirt.