Dreams of Demigods

Chapter 23

Allison's POV 23

Chiron told Cherry, Malcolm, and I to go inside the Big House so we could all discuss the prophecy. While we walked inside, I still couldn't believe that Cherry had gotten a quest, and that I was coming along. I was going on a killer quest. I was pretty stoked to visit the land of dreams, wherever that was. The rest of the prophecy, well, I wasn't really looking forward to. The land of screams, a lost soul, more dreams, ugh. I sure hoped the land of dreams was worth it.

The four of us stood around the ping-pong table, which I thought was a weird place to be discussing something as serious as a prophecy.

Malcolm started talking as soon as we got settled. "I did some thinking, and I concluded that we have to go to the Underworld. It's on the west coast, and there are a bunch of lost souls in the Fields of Asphodel. Also, the land of dreams is probably Elysium or the Isles of the Blest, while the land of screams would have to be the Fields of Punishment, because people are constantly being tortured there," he rambled on. Wait, what? I didn't sign up to go somewhere where people were tortured, even if they were already dead. "I'm not sure about what box we're supposed to find," Malcolm continued, "but we can figure that out later."

Chiron, Cherry, and I all stared at Malcolm. How could he know so much about what a prophecy meant, assuming his predictions were correct. Malcolm was an Athena kid, so he probably knew what he was talking about. His theory made sense and all, but I still wasn't sure about it.

"Well," Chiron started, "that's one idea. Did anyone else interpret the prophecy differently?" He looked at me and Cherry, but we both shook our heads. Deciphering this prophecy was harder than understanding Shakespeare, and that stuff was beyond confusing. Plus, Malcolm had been at camp longer than me and Cherry; he probably had some experience with this kind of stuff. Or maybe he was just trying to be a know-it-all.

"Anyways, the camp store will loan you some money and drachmas before you leave tomorrow morning. I'll also buy some plane tickets to Los Angeles, so you can get to the Underworld," Chiron informed us.

"The Underworld is in L.A.?" Cherry seemed confused.

Malcolm huffed at her indignantly. "Yes, and Mount Olympus is on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building. Any more questions?" Cherry still looked puzzled, but now she also looked like she wanted to punch Malcolm in the face.

"Okay," Chiron said, looking between Cherry and Malcolm, "I don't think there is anything else to discuss. You may all go back to your cabins and prepare for the quest. You can skip activities today if you'd like."

Cherry, Malcolm, and I walked out of the Big House. Cherry and Malcolm were bickering about something; I hoped they wouldn't fight this much on the quest. I walked a little faster until I caught up to Cherry, who was calling Malcolm a stuck-up jerk.

"Cherry," I interrupted. "Maybe we should get back to our cabins before you and Malcolm kill each other."

"Okay," Cherry said, and stuck her tongue out at him.

"What's up with you guys?" I asked. "You're constantly at each other's throats."

"Malcolm always thinks he's so smart and so good at everything just because he's a child of Athena, and he's super competitive for no reason at all."

"Well, maybe you guys can learn to work together." Cherry opened the door of the Hermes cabin. "You'll need to be on good terms for the quest," I continued. Several of the Hermes campers' heads perked up. Oh yeah, no one else besides me, Cherry, Chiron, and Malcolm knew about the prophecy or the quest.

"Did you get a quest?" one of the campers asked.

"Yeah," Cherry said, "I did."

"Wow, you're so lucky," another Hermes kid added.

Cherry blushed as she walked to her bunk, while some of the campers started whispering, most likely about our quest. I followed her, because I didn't feel like going to my cabin. The perfume some of my siblings used made me want to gag, so I tried to go into Cabin 10 only if I needed something or it was time to go to sleep. Most of the Aphrodite kids were nice, but spending too much time in my cabin would probably lead to me throwing up.

Cherry collapsed on her bed, staring at the one above hers. "Hey, Allison? Do you think we're ready to go on a quest?"

I didn't have to think about that answer for very long. "Cherry, we've only been at camp for a few weeks, of course we're not ready. But we'll manage... somehow."

"Did I hear you guys are going on a quest?" Connor asked, looking at us from his bunk.

"Yup," I replied, "Cherry went to see the Oracle."

"Do you need a third member for your quest? Perhaps one who's smart, cunning, and smoking hot?" Connor smirked.

"No," Cherry grumbled, "Chiron already assigned Malcolm to come with us." She started to smile. "I guess that means I won't be third-wheeling on you and Kaya." I buried my head in my hands while Cherry and Connor cracked up. "And by the way Connor, you're none of those things." Cherry said, and it was my turn to laugh.

"Whatever." Connor dismissed that last part. "When are you guys leaving?"

"Tomorrow," I said.

"Tomorrow? I haven't even had a chance to prank you yet!" Connor said, acting upset. "When are you coming back?"

"I'm not sure. Whenever the heck we find what we're supposed to." I said. "I'm gonna go to training now, I'll see you guys later. Connor, don't forget to prank Travis for me while I'm gone. I haven't had time to get him back for that water prank he pulled on me."

"Will do," he said with a mischievous look.

For the rest of the day, I attended all my activities, even though Chiron said I didn't have to. I just wanted something to keep my mind off of the quest. Training was pretty uneventful, so was dinner and the campfire. I had trouble falling asleep that night; I tossed and turned for about an hour, but eventually I drifted off.

As soon as my eyes closed, I was in a car. It was one of those cars explorers used to drive through the jungle. It was tan, and there was no roof to it. I was moving forward, through the jungle, but there was no steering wheel. There were trees around me, but they didn't look real. I passed a monkey, but it looked fake as well, like some sort of stuffed animal. The car gained speed as it drove down a hill. It kept going faster and faster until everything around me started to blur. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them I was in my bed in Cabin 10. I sighed with relief, realizing that I wasn't actually in a car in the middle of the jungle. I was safe at camp.

I got out of bed, washed up, and changed. After 20 minutes, I was ready. I walked through the door of my cabin for possibly the last time, depending on whether I survived the quest or not. I made my way to Half-Blood Hill, where a small group was standing.

"-are the plane tickets to Los Angeles," I heard Chiron say, as he gave some pieces of paper to Malcolm. When I finally reached them, Cherry gave me a gray backpack.

"It's for the quest," she whispered while Chiron continued talking to Malcolm. "There's money, clothes, ambrosia, and some other stuff inside." I nodded.

"Well, I think you three are ready to go." Chiron said. "Remember, your first stop is the airport. From there, you will go to DOA Records in Los Angeles. I hope to see you all soon, and may the gods be with you."

And with that, Cherry, Malcolm, and I walked down Half-Blood Hill and through the magical border, to the real world.