Jamie

This one is untitled, as well. I'm bad at titles. ;) {It's also my biggest story so far - just throwing that out!} :) {I happen to be really interested in Greek culture, if you're wondering}

 Think twice about stealing! Yes, these stories of mine aren't very good, but THEY'RE MINE! Please do not take the full story and post it on your blog, but you may post snatch-its of it WITH MY LINK. Just remember- I made these characters, their story, their plot. They are fully mine!

Jamie

                                                                                                        Madeline

Chapter 1: Jamie:

Jamie wondered carelessly if she should be dead yet. This often happened to her... But it didn't make it any more enjoyable. Jamie, it seemed, was bound by an invisible spell. You could hurt Jamie, but you couldn't kill her. She was insured death by old age.

Jamie was a not-so-fashionable (by the school cheerleaders’ standard, anyway) 14-year old. Black-brown hair, brown eyes, that was her. Exactly.
Jamie wiggled onto her stomach, grunting slightly before stopping herself. Ares was here, still angrily looking for his daughter. His black-brown haired, brown eyed daughter. In other words, her.

She was the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite. Not immortal but  bound by spells... which can easily be turned into curses. Aphrodite had pleaded with Zeus for Jamie to be mortal.
''Please, Zeus, 'life is only precious because it ends'!'' Aphrodite pleaded with Zeus. ''You know that child should of never been born. Hephaestus will be in a rampage!'' Zeus thundered. ''Just one reason more to make her mortal, Zeus!" Aphrodite said. ''Fine,'' Zeus said, ''But with all favors, there must be a spell. Curse, in other words. She will die of old age. She will live to see things unknown to us now, things that will happen far, far, in the future. But she will carry the weight of the Heavens on her shoulders, so to speak.
'' She will travel far, and be known across the lands. Hated, yet loved, by many. She will be greater than Hera, Queen of the Heavens (Hera frowned deeply at this). Yet she will die; and be forgotten by many. Until only one is left of her kind, and then she shall be known. It will go on forever until one young women, descendant of Jamie, you call her, shall stop the curse. Even I don't know how. But she, Jamie, that is, will live a life of suffering until... until... she meets (who does she meet? Oh, let me see now)... Hades!'' Zeus finished. ''Hades!'' Aphrodite exclaimed. ''Oh... Thank you, most kind ruler of everything. Thank you, for sparing my poor Jamie!'' Aphrodite quickly said.

***
''Jamie!'' Thundered Ares. Jamie could hear the waves of the ocean angrily splashing against the small ware shop. ''I told you not to go. Not to that movie. Not to that type of movie. Never. But did you listen? No.'' Ares lowered his voice. ''I'm sorry,'' he said, removing the broken table that covered Jamie. He picked her up and put her on his knee, like she was a small child again. ''I just don't like those sort of movies. I don't want you to get involved with war, yet,'' he said. ''I know.'' Jamie said. ''But you almost killed me.''
''As if I could!'' He said.
''Okay. So maybe I might have tried. But that was when I was angry. I'm not angry anymore, am I?'' He asked, poking Jamie's stomach with one finger. Jamie swatted his hand away when he tried it again.
''I do so hope I'm not breaking this father-daughter moment, but I have something important to tell you. From the Grand-pooh-ba himself.'' Hermes appeared out of thin air. '' He says, 'if you don't bring this message to Jamie, Hermes, I'll personally ripe out your throat.' Opps, wrong message! He says, ' Jamie, you are in need, gather your things at meet me and Pandora at Olympus. Ares, you may not come. Girl stuff.'''
''Then how come he can?!'' Asked Ares. Hermes did a bad job of hiding his delight over Ares's indignation. ''He thought you'd say that. 'I'm not listening, either. Hera will fill in my place. You can, though, join me for some ambrosia and meatballs.'''
''Not a bad offer,'' Ares said. Hermes laughed. ''I almost wish he invited me.'' Hermes sounded regretful. ''I don't really have anything worth taking, except for my backpack, which is here, so let's go,'' I finally spoke. Who is Pandora, and since when has Zeus taken such interest in me? I thought to myself. ''Okay. Hold on to something.'' Hermes ordered. I started to hug the broken-off leg of a table. ''No, not that, me,'' Hermes scowled. ''Sure. Just one problem. Hold what? The edge of your toga, arm, or, if you like, I'll hold your hair,'' I said. ''Stop being sarcastic and difficult. I think it's just easier to do this...'' He picked me up like I was weightless and said, ''coming, Ares?'' Before the haze of sparkles covered him from view.

Chapter two: Hope is Not Lost

''Never. Ever. Do. That. Again! Or I will kick your ''swift'' messenger bum!'' I said. Hermes made a ''tsk, tsk,'' sound. ''You do forget that you are talking to a god, don't you? And besides,'' Hermes grinned evilly, ''I'd like to see you try.''
''Gosh, you're as bad as Eres,'' Ares said. ''I like to think so,'' Hermes agreed. ''Oh Jamie, when I heard you were coming I was so excited! Somebody to talk to, somebody who'd understand!" A girl exclaimed, rushing towards me and nearly knocked me down from the big bear-hug she gave me. ''Pandora, you know that is most disgraceful. I am teaching you to be a lady, not a gladiator!'' Hera said. I understood it was Hera because many people know of her black-red hair. ''Then you will never succeed, Hera,'' Hermes said. Hera looked like she was about to slap him. ''As that may be, at least I can turn into something a little respectful!'' Hera coldly said. ''You know, she's here, listen to you talk like she isn't,'' I boldly spoke up. ''Oh yes. Quite sorry, Pandora,'' Hermes said. ''And as for you, little miss sarcastic, when you need me again, just say 'Hermes, Hermes, my awesome abnormally handsome hero, come save me!'''
''Okay, now I'm going to hurt you!" I said, but before I could he disappeared.

''I'm sorry about Hermes, Jamie,'' Hera said just as we were siting down. ''I wouldn't mind helping you crack a few eggs in his bed,'' Hera offered.  ''No, I'll get sweet revenge... Later,'' I said. ''Good idea. But for now, no questions until the end of the story.
''It all happened the day Pandora was showing the box to her ‘bestie’, Kenneth (an odd name for a girl, I know) when she dropped it. It flew open letting out all of the evils. At this time Pandora and Kenneth were screaming their heads off, losing our dignity as women, until Kenneth had the idea to close the box. Two minutes after it opened, to be exact. Mortals.'' Hera sighed. ''All but one came out... Hope. It gave us hope. It was a sign that we could get all the evils back. Well, Jamie, Pandora and Kenneth to be right. I mean we didn't open it, did we?'' Hera asked. ''Me? But I didn't open it either!'' I yipped. ''Yes, dear, life isn't fair. Except for the gods, now,'' Hera chuckled. ''So not funny,'' I muttered under my breath. ''Hmm? I didn't catch that last bit, dear,'' Hera's tone took a dangerous sound. ''Nothing, Queen of Heavens. Nothing. But how are Pandora and Kenneth---we---going to get the evils?'' I asked. ''Oh, with this! Some of the finest, I'll assure you! All gifts from the gods. Let's start with...Oh! My favorite, the gift from me! Yes, you can believe your eyes. A wonderful little pouch filled with coins. Oh no, not that sort of coins, the ones you mortals use, but only the best from myself! Worth ten of those... dollers you use. Useful, aren't they? Any mortal you use them with will understand, only for a while mind you, what they are worth.
''The gift from Ares. Oh like you need a Swiss Army pocket knife! Puh-leeze! Moving on! Hermes... only the best, most fashionable sandals! You can walk in style, how delightful! Here, take them.''
I looked at the sandals. On mine were written...

From the best handsomest hero ever, Hermes


''Yeah, Hera, I think we need to do more than crack just a few eggs in Hermes's bed,'' I said. Hera grinned. ''You do know, Jamie, I can read your thoughts. And no, I won't stop. I like knowing what's going on it mortals's tiny brains. But anyway, from Aphrodite. Honestly, Jamie being her child and all I thought she would send something sensible. Oh well. A new outfit. Oh, but nice touch! Bejeweled leather jackets! How exciting for you, I'm sure!
''Athena...we all know she's still a sore loser... anyway, she sent... 'Necklaces of Wisdom, put them on and know everything' leave it to Athena to find some silly name. Apollo... felt the need to give you medicine. Mind you it's not cherry flavored. I've had this stuff before, it should be labeled 'sweaty hair flavored, straight from Zeus'! Sorry dear, you know I didn't mean it. Poseidon got you the Percy Jackson series and DVD. YEAH, POSEIDON, I'M SURE THEY'LL HAVE FLOATING DVD PLAYERS IN THE DESERT! Sorry dears. At least someone took the time to get you.... 'worth one free piggy back ride. Zeus.'   Sorry, but that's what I call stupid. Noooo, not you, dearest Zeus, only that they won't have time for piggy back rides! Oh, never mind. There's something under...  See? This is what I mean! A well thought out gift, yet stylish. 80's Hippie bags for all!''
'' Couldn't we have just gotten a fan?'' Asked Pandora. ''No. Could you carry all this stuff with a fan?'' Hera said. ''That's what I thought. We're having a formal feast today, though! Everybody invited, except most of the minor gods. Who cares about them, though? Sorry Zeus, of course we love them. Sort of. Oh, a long lost present! It's from Hephaestus! A note...''

I still hate you.


'' Well that isn't very nice, is it? He just can't get over one tiny thing. I mean, it's not your fault you shouldn't  been born, right?'' Hera cheerfully said. ''Not helping. Let's get dressed.''

***
''How is my little mortal doing? Liked my gift?'' Hermes asked, grinning wildly. ''About ready to yank it off my feet and slap you with it,'' I replied. ''Oh, so you liked it? Great! You see, it has a matching toga that goes with it, and I'd be more than happy to send it to you!''
''You evil thing, you wouldn't dare!'' I gasped. 'Hermes, stop tormenting the poor child,'' demanded Zeus leaning over Hermes. ''Oh, but Zeus, I like doing it. But, if you say so, I'll stop,'' Hermes sighed.

At that moment Hera came running, er, gliding towards us. ''Oh Jamie, come eat something! Sit down! Rest a touch, you deserve it! In one weeks time you begin training! You must show me everything you know. Once you know them, that is!'' Hera chuckled. ''Training? What for? I don't need to lose weight, do I?'' I said, confused. ''No, dear, of course not. Training to catch all the evils! To kill all those dangerously bloody trolls coming after you! So we can watch you for even longer on our TVs! With HD! You'll be the heroin of the season! That is, if you live!'' Hera said this will her normally cheerful tone I almost didn't catch it. ''If I live!'' I gasped.

''Yes, dear,'' Hera said as if talking to an abnormally slow child. ''If you live. You don't execpt to live, do you? Of course you'll die! And we'll have fun watching you!'' She applauded for herself. ''I think, Hera, Queen of Heavens, Jamie should go to bed with Pandora. We don't want them staying up late now, do you?'' Asked Athena, sliding towards us. ''No, of course. Off for some more ambrosia, then!'' Hera said, and started wobbling towards the ambrosia bar.

''Yes, Jamie, even gods sometimes drink a little too much ambrosia. You'll be better off without Hera for tonight. But dear, I must talk with you. This is important; Kenneth is a demi-god. She doesn't know it, and Pandora doesn't either. Don't tell them until the time is right, Jamie. But know this, tread carefully with Kenneth. I have no idea what her power is... and how dangerous.

''But now, sweetie,'' Her tone took a cheerful sound. ''Time for bed!''

Jamie woke sometime about 7:26 a.m. the next morning. Jamie heard somebody talking, and leaned towards the door to listen:

''We are going to have so much fun, Pandora! I'm almost glad you let those evils loose! Just think, hiking, and wearing those stunning outfits from Aphrodite, it'll be perfect! I heard Jamie's daughter of Aphrodite. Is she pretty? She must be,'' Kenneth said. ''Jamie is... commonly pretty. I think she'll get prettier, though, when she's older.'' Pandora confided.

''Hi,'' I said, and opened the door. ''Jamie!'' Pandora said. ''Wow, aren't you a sleepy head?'' Kenneth said. Kenneth was beautiful. Like, really, beautiful. Her golden blonde hair was shaped into perfect curls, and she had piercing sky blue eyes. Her skin had a natural tan to it. I wished I had some sort of god power to zap Kenneth out of Olympus! I crossly thought.

''No, I'm not. I stayed up late talking to gods,'' I answered. Ha! Have you ever done that? Nope! ''Oh cool! Anyway, I'd get dressed if I were you. Breakfast is about... now!'' Kenneth cheerfully said and got up. ''Bye!'' And dragged Pandora with her.

After I dressed I slipped into a seat next to Hermes (only one left...). ''You missed the big pow! Hera and Athena started arguing about who was the most beautiful. It got nasty. Just one reason you girls shouldn't have razor sharp nails,'' Hermes smirked. ''Oh pass the cookie butter, you... you... whatever. Just pass it,'' I said, not really caring about Athena or Hera. Except the ''fact'' I was going to die in a matter of days. ''Sure thing, ''Jam''!'' Hermes said. I slapped him. Oh gosh, I slapped a god. He was stunned, and I took that time to atempt to snatch the cookie butter. ''Oh no you don't!'' He raised the cookie butter above my head. ''No cookie butter for Jam!'' He shouted. ''GIMME THE COOKIE BUTTER, BUDDY!'' I shouted, almost as loud as Hermes. I jumped for it. He stood up, towering above me. ''You do know you aren't scary. Buddy, you’re wearing a toga. As in, a dress.'' I said. He started laughing. I couldn't help it and started laughing, too.

I took my chances. ''Ha! Cookie butter for me!'' I said, waving the cookie butter in the air. ''Fine. You deserve it,'' Hermes grinned and disapeared. ''Wow, Jamie, did you really slap a god?'' Pandora asked, awestruck. ''Um, yeah, I guessed I did,'' I admitted. I mean, how many people can say they slapped a god? And are still living? Not many. ‘’I’m not sure if that’s amazing or what. But for now, let’s get dressed; in something other than togas!’’ Kenneth and Pandora laughed together at Kenneth’s joke. Was it really that funny? It didn’t seem so to me, I thought. But oh well. I was making friends with Kenneth and Pandora; that was really needed if I was going to live.

‘’Wow, Jamie, your mother is so good with clothes. Look at what she layed out for us! Is that awesome or, like, what?’’ Kenneth asked, still gazing at our clothes. So okay. It was a cute outfit. Jeans, a coral tee-shirt, and other stuff. No biggie. What was Kenneth playing at? ‘’Yeah, I guess  my mom is pretty good with clothes,’’ I admitted. We got dressed. Kenneth was even more beautiful in normal clothes than her Sponge Bob pajamas. I didn’t think that was possible.

‘’So, what do we do today?’’ Kenneth brightly asked Hera as we sat down with her again. ‘’More presents! The gods are very interested in your quest! And can you believe it, we didn’t even go through them all last night! Let’s start with, oh! Eros!  He’s Jamie’s older brother, you know. About, 18 now. Oh, they grow up too fast! He’ll always be the tiny god of love to me… he got you... cash! Those normal things you use. Demeter got you… Hair Changing Hair Dye! ‘Feel summer, winter, fall, and spring all with this package’! Oh, I love Demeter’s gifts best! Always so creative! Dionysus gave you flasks of… something purplish red. Sorry girls, this needs to be check first! Oh never mind, here’s a note, ‘It’s only grape juice, Hera. Blahh’. What have I ever done to him? Oh, never mind. Hades got you… ‘worth one free pass over the River Styx’! Now you don’t need money when you die! Dee-light-ful! Those are all the presents from the major gods, girls. Don’t tell anybody, but I’m throwing away all the gifts from minor gods. Useless.’’ Hera admitted. ‘’Why are they… useless?’’ I asked. ‘’Dear, everybody knows minor gods give the worst gifts. Minor gods have nothing to do all day, take Iris, for example. All she does is make rainbows. Not very interesting, huh? So she puts lots of… feeling… into her gifts. Which make them… a pain, so to say. I’ve tried to get her to stop, you know, by getting her interested in those night-rainbows-in-your-room thingies. Not working. All she says is, ‘Hera, I can make real rainbows in your room’,’’ Hera sighed. ‘’But it must be pretty boring to be a minor god. I mean, you’re minor. You’ve got nothing to do, and I bet they’re rarely invited to any major events,’’ Pandora said. ‘’They don’t deserve to be invited! All they do is whine all day, ‘Oh Hera, great Hera, pleassssssssse make me like you! Please!’ Who cares about them?!’’ Hera snarled. Pandora looked rather taken aback. ‘’Nothing, great Hera,’’ Pandora muttered. ‘’So I thought,’’ Hera said. Just at that time Athena burst in. ‘’Hera! Hera, all the gods have been called for a major meeting. Even the Great Three are there! Please, Hera, come quick!’’ And Athena was away. ‘’Girls, stay here. I’ll be back… later…,’’ Hera said and was gone.

‘’Perfect!’’ Exclaimed Kenneth. ‘’We can go explore now. C’mon, guys,’’ Kenneth dimpled her cheeks adorably, ‘’It’ll be fun.’’ ‘’Hera told us not to go anywhere,’’ Pandora said. ‘’Who cares about Queen of the Dumpsters? Let’s go!’’ Kenneth got up and pulled Pandora with her. ‘’She’ll never know.’’ And they were gone.

Jamie got up, too. To go, or not to go, that is the question. All of Jamie’s horrible history lessons were coming back. To go. Jamie decided. But not with them. Jamie knew exactly what she was going to do; leave this place. Sure, Olympus was great, but a unknown-period-of-time trip wasn’t up for her. Jamie quietly opened the door. She was sure the door was trying to be louder, just to get her caught. But nobody came. She quietly padded down the stairs, to Olympus’s famous kitchen. ‘’Bake an egg, make an egg, eggs for us! Add the flour, stir the dough, muffins for us!’’ The kitchen was alive with music. All around voices joined in, old and young, they sang together. And what a beautiful sound they did make! Jamie found her feet tapping, and all at once she started dancing. Twirl here, tap there. Faster and faster the song went. Twirl here, tap there. And then it was done. Jamie sank to the floor, dizzy. ‘’Oh! Miss Jamie, what might I do for you?’’ The cook asked. ‘’If you would, Argus, get me a pack of dried fruit and meat. And two water bottles, please,’’ Jamie asked. ‘’Of course. Iana!’’ Argus called. A young pretty girl came up with exactly what Jamie had ordered. ‘’Perfect, thank you. Good bye, then,’’ Jamie said. Iana shyly nodded her head. Jamie climbed up the stairs and found Hermes there. ‘’Don’t think about going,’’ Hermes said. ‘’I wasn’t, thank you!’’ Jamie lied. Hermes laughed. ‘’You can’t lie to me, Jamie Grace,’’ Hermes said, calling her also by her middle name. ‘’Don’t call me that.’’ ‘’ Grace! Grace! Grace! Jammieee Gracccccccccce!’’ Hermes sang. ‘’ Hermes, you sound like a dying duck. Leave her alone,’’ Poseidon ordered. Hermes walked away, still singing. ‘’Sorry about Hermes. What are you doing?’’ Poseidon asked. ‘’Oh, nothing. I need to go. Sorry. Bye!’’ I yelled and ran off. If Poseidon was walking around, that’d mean the meeting was already over! Another day, Jamie promised herself.

Meanwhile Kenneth knew the meeting was over. But the point is, Kenneth told herself, Jamie doesn’t. Kenneth hated Jamie from first sight. Kenneth was beautiful. Kenneth could fight well. Kenneth was everything Jamie should have been. Kenneth should have been Aphrodite and Ares’s daughter, not Jamie! At this point, Jamie was just another obsitcal in her way. And I’ll crush her like I crushed everybody else, Kenneth promised herself. ‘’Pandora, I think we should go back. We never should went!’’ Kenneth made herself sound piteous, like she was truly seeing she was wrong to suggest going. Which she wasn’t. ‘’Yeah, I think you’re right. Let’s go,’’ Pandora easily agreed. Pandora couldn’t say no to Kenneth; which Kenneth took advantage of easily. The girls raced down to the room, just in time. Jamie was already waiting. ‘’Hi, guys. Whew, you’ve been gone for a long time! It’s good you’re back, or you might be in trouble,’’ Jamie said. There was something in Jamie’s voice… Jamie couldn’t be trusted. Soon Jamie would know what Kenneth wanted. Maybe Kenneth would even have the joy of crushing her sooner. Get the gods out of the way, first, Kenneth impatiently told herself. ‘’Girls!’’ Hera said, appearing in the room. ‘’I’m glad to see you haven’t left.’’

Chapter 3: The Unseen World:

Jamie walked the twisting and turning passages. There was no end; at least, there seemed not to be. ‘’Hello?’’ Jamie called. ‘’Anybody here?’’ There was no answer except for an echo. ‘’Here, here, here,’’ called back Echo. Jamie had been walking, always seeking but not finding. Never finding, because what was lost was not lost. It was only departed. Departed yet close, close, yet farther than ever. I’m losing it, Jamie relized. Yet it was so close; Jamie could feel it. She had only to reach out a hand, and feel the small squeeze and pressure of another. Light shone ahead. What is there is not there, Jamie shakily told herself. But the light was there. Warmth shone on Jamie’s pale hand as she reached out yet again. ‘’I’ve been expecting you,’’ rang the voice. From a person who was not there. ‘’Please, sit down,’’ came the voice again. Jamie looked around the small room in the tower. There were two red plush chairs, one was oqupied though, by a creature unseen. Jamie sat in the opposite chair. ‘’Now, questions after. We have a very limited amount of time, Jamie. You must be aware of enemies unknown. Enemies swarm around you, daughter of Aphrodite and Ares. You cannot stop it, but you can prevent it,’’ the voice chuckled. ‘’Jamie, you know what I mean. Who I mean, should I say. You have a long and tiring adventure ahead of you. One that will prove it’s worth, though you may not see it yet. ‘Oh yes, save the whole human race! But what do I care, I can live on Olympus!’ No, Jamie, I doubt you would fit well on Olympus, yet. The world is depending on you. You will feel the pressure in the days to come. But before you go find me,’’ the voice stilled. ‘’Jamie, our time is done. But, might I add; do not run away, for fear itself is with us always.’’

Jamie woke, shivering, her mind still ringing with the last of the verse, ‘’But hope will never leave us.’’ Hope was not gone. Hope would stay, and so would Jamie. Jamie sleepily got out of bed. She pulled on a pink shirt, jeans, and pink converses. Something Aphrodite had chosen. It was five thirty P.M., still time to explore the home of the gods, Olympus. The place of secrets and horrors, Jamie thought. Jamie heard a loud snore; she looked around and found Kenneth, her cheek pressed against her pillow snoring. Ha! So Kenneth wasn’t so perfect, after all. And then there was Pandora. Pandora was commonly pretty, but she still looked better than Jamie did sleeping. And Pandora didn’t snore. Tick, tock, time is running out, said a voice in Jamie’s head. The voice. She quickly left the room. Where was the steps leading to the tower? With the red plush chairs? And where is a map when you need one? Jamie thought grumpily. Whish, wash, a map slowly floated above. The map flew directly into her hands. It was a plain blank page of a notepad, not really a map. So much for too easy. But before Jamie had time to think that thought the umap light up.

I am glad to see you are not yet dead. Think about where you wish to go and so be it. The map will work only under your command, un---

The words burned brightly one last time and vanished.

Its name is πολεμιστής.

Warrior, Jamie instantly thought. She was surprised. She knew Greek?! The words once again vanished. Jamie waited for something else to come up, but the map was done. She knew who had sent it: the voice. The voice had wanted her to meet him, or her, again; and here was the very way! Yet why had the voice not finished it’s sentence? Enemies swarm around you, daughter of Aphrodite and Ares. Something had been in the room. Something that could not know the secret the voice holds. Jamie looked around her. The hall was empty, and though shadows were met not often with light it was not dark enough to hide a person. A thing. Unseen things still brushed against her sides, though, whispering, ‘’Come with us, Jamie.’’ ‘’You don’t need to go.’’ They were soothing and calm, Jamie could feel herself letting go. To darkness; to the unknown. No! Jamie intensly thought. She was in Olympus for a reason. She needed to find the evils. To find the voice. All would be lost without her. She could not let go into temption. Yet how could she use Warrior if unseen things flitted by her always? How could she now when to use it? You will know. And now was not the time.

‘’I’m afraid she won’t be able to use Warrior for a while yet,’’ the voice sighed. ‘’Most horrible, indeed. But we have things to go by, Voice. They will search for you, and will not stop until they find you,’’ A woman warned. You could tell she was in her forties, but she still carried a sense of youngness about her. Voice, who had lived before the gods, felt young again. ‘’Yes, I fear it is so. No,’’ Voice paused and chuckled, ‘’I know it’s so.’’ The woman sighed and rolled her eyes. She didn’t have time for Voice. There were things to be done, and things to be prevented. ‘’Voice, if you won’t listen to me, I’ll go.’’ ‘’No! That’s quite all right, thank you. Let’s see, you were talking about someone searching for me?’’  Voice asked, Voice’s tone as smooth as honey. ‘’Yes, Voice, you have something to fear from this one. With him around you can’t just simple disappear. He’ll sense you if he haven’t seen you yet.’’ Voice’s face, not normally shown, lost its color. ‘’He can see me? When I’m invisible?’’ Voice quietly asked. This would mean trouble. Heavens, it might even mean war! ‘’Yes. It’ll be your own wits against his,’’ she said, before adding, ‘’And he is not short of wits.’’ If even possible, Voice’s face got even paler. ‘’Then if I live it’ll be a miracle?’’ She nodded. ‘’But you are past the help of miracles.’’

Jamie sat down. She had found a parlor, a very pretty one at that, but she hadn’t noticed it. What she should have, though, noticed it was all painted blue or green. The chairs were green, the walls, even the light the lamps gave out were green! The room was also shaped as a sea shell, but that either did not enter Jamie’s mind. How will I know when to use this? Is there anything else Warrior can do? Jamie’s mind raced. A calm breeze floated gently past her nose. A breeze smelling of salt and sand, a beach---beach---beach! That was it! That was not only the smell of the breeze, but the theme of the room! Jamie looked around with more interest. The detailing was beautiful, but very plain. Not something interesting for the sea god---sea god. Sea god! She was in the sea god’s parlor, uninvited! Jamie snatched Warrior and raced towards the door. ‘’Please, stay awhile.’’ Jamie slowly turned on her heel. There was Poseidon, not seeming angry but amused. ‘’Last time a demigod came into my parlor she wanted to spy. She did not make it out, may I add. What brings you here? I haven’t had many visiters from the last,’’ Poseidon asked. ‘’I needed a parlor and I found this one. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come here. I didn’t notice,’’ Jamie explained, already wondering how she would die. Rocketing off of Olympus? Not likely. Drowning? More likely. ‘’I don’t take kindly to visiters, but I enjoy talking of news. Do you bring any?’’ Poseidon eagerly asked. ‘’Um, well, no,’’ Jamie said. Poseidon sighed. ‘’Well, you are lucky, Jamie. I can’t kill you yet, but if you make it back you’ll have a score to finish with me.’’ And with that Jamie fled the room. She ran, panting, to her room. The sun was higher in the sky, and the clock read: 7:42. Breakfast was served anytime in Olympus… from 12:00 P.M. to 12:00 P.M. the next day. After carefully tucking Warrior under her bed (to hide it from any snoopers), Jamie went to the breakfast room. The breakfast room was a huge affair; meant to hold not only all the gods but minor and demi gods, too. When there was a patch of wall to be shown it was painted a pale yellow, but more often you would see large windows. The breakfast room was at the peak of the largest tower in Olympus. Sometimes you could see Apollo riding in his sun chariot, and if he saw you he would wave. But the west wing tower was not only the largest, but the highest up, so it was preferable not to see Apollo. But other than that the breakfast room was enjoyable; the high roof was painted by Michael Angelo, the white tables so detailed you could sworn the Sirens were moving, and the breakfast room never ran out of flowers. Jamie ran her hands down the side of the table; all the small nooks and crannies were smooth, no splinters poked out at you. Breakfast had been set next to the wall. There were no placemats nor menus, so she supposed it was alright to take your choose and sit down. Jamie loaded her plate with eggs, cinnamon buns, sausages, toast, creamy yogurt, and then got a large glass of orange juice. Floating on top of the surface of the orange juice was a small orange person on an orange boat holding an orange umbrella! Jamie laughed with pleasure. This, too, was very detailed. She started eagerly stuffing her mouth. ‘’If I didn’t know better I’d think you were a pig. We gods, we eat like real people,’’ came an annoying voice. ‘’Hermes, be quiet. I’ve seen you eat before. If I’m like a pig then I have no idea what you are!’’ Jamie said. Hermes’s cheeks reddened. He started slamming eggs onto his plate. ‘’That’s like eggy torture. My next protest is going to be about bullying eggs,’’ Iris (yes, the goddess of rainbows) said. Hermes glared at Iris, then at Jamie, and sat at the table farthest from her. Made a god very angry and yet living… for now, Jamie added to my mental list of things she’d never do twice. Iris sat down next to Jamie, holding a coffee mug. ‘’Hello! I ussume you’ve heard of my protests?’’ Iris asked. ‘’Well… no,’’ Jamie answered. Hermes snorted. Iris looked at Jamie oddly for a moment. ‘’You… haven’t? That’s not a very funny joke. Of course you have! I’m protesting for rainbow stripped tigers next! After, that is,’’ Iris shoot a look at Hermes, ‘’I protest for no more egg bulling!’’ Jamie decided Hermes would rolled his eyes if not for Athena appearing. ‘’Children, children, stop bickering. I’m not anything like Iris, but for now I say, let peace rain from the skies,’’ Athena said gloriously. ‘’No,’’ Jamie said irritably before widening her eyes. ‘’No?’’ Athena asked. Gods don’t like being told no. My mistake. ‘’C’mon, she’s the child of Ares. She probely wants war to ran from the skies,’’ Hermes jumped to my defence. Huh? Last time I checked Hermes hated me. ‘’Even so…’’ Athena muttered. ‘’No, no!’’ I screamed. Don’t take me. Please, I’ve been told I have a great disteny! PLEASSSSE!! And I fell, blinded and thrashing, to the floor.

‘’Do you think she’ll live?’’ Voices travled to me. ‘’No. She’s very weak. Whatever attacked, it was very strong.’’

‘’Something attacked? What was it?’’  

‘’Unseen things. Things that may be watching us now, as we speak. We cannot be certain.’’

‘’So this is it. This is what’s been prophocyed.’’ I heard crying, pleads for somebody to wake up… for me to wake up. I can’t, I tried to tell them. Why can’t I? I pondered. I was thinking perfectly, yet my body willed me, ordered me, not to wake. No, I told myself, wake up. Now. I blinked one eye open. Somebody cried harder. ‘’Look!’’ Somebody else said. I opened the other eye. Now I could see where I was. It was obviously a hospital, with white walls…everything white. Aphrodite sat by my bed, being patted by two men… Hepchuste and Ares. Hepchuste… the shorter, uglier one scowled at my wake. He left the room, for which I was thankful for. ‘’What happened?’’ I feebly asked. Hermes peered over Zeus’s shoulder at me. Zeus was here. Something horrible must of happened. ‘’Dear, um, well,’’ Aphrodite faltered. Athena appeared out of nowhere. ‘’Let me tell her,’’ she scowled. What’s up with everybody scowling? ‘’Long, long ago, lots of things happened. Some were normal everyday life, some simple foolish, and others dangerous beyond compare. This certain date, it was dangerous. Very. We see things, most things, that is, in the future. A prophecy came to us,’’ Athena took on a chant.

‘’Humans come, humans go, yet monsters stay; forever more. None shall bring great danger, none shall cause terror. Then the time will come, the beast will rise, to bring your downfall. He will see the unseen, smell the hearts beating in terror. All will be lost.’’

I stared at her. Not very funny, Athena. ‘’It’s true,’’ Athena said simply. A tall teenager came in. He had wavy blonde hair (which came down to his ears), blue eyes, and a natural tan. ‘’Eros!’’ Aphrodite cried and went to him. Oh. So it’s my brother. ‘’Hi,’’ he said. I waved. I wished I looked at least something like him. He threw some tulips at my bed. I caught, er, tried to catch them. A nurse came in and put them in a vase for me. ‘’Thanks,’’ I said. The nurse looked frightened and ran out of the room. ‘’So nobody told me what happened,’’ I whined. ‘’You haven’t told her yet? To put it simple, a big bad monster ‘’went’’ inside you and terrorized you from inside. Sounds fun, huh?’’ Eros said. ‘’No, bad joke,’’ I said. Eros grinned. ‘’I’ve got to go, squirt. Got to do some match-making,’’ he got up and left. Aphrodite sighed with affection. ‘’Maybe you’ll get your magic power soon?’’ She suggested. ‘’She’d be too weak to use it well. No use if she did,’’ said the solemn faced doctor. Way to go for encouragement! Then he left. That was pretty much the highlight of my day.

I dreamed again and visited Voice. ‘’No, Jamie, I can’t explain what happened to you any better than Eros did,’’ Voice sighed. Voice was still invisible. ‘’But I can show you a few things.’’ And I started dreaming… in a dream.

I saw the breakfast room, except it was painted a violent purple. There were two white marble thrones, which Zeus and Hera sat on. Around them sat the other gods. Placed before them were a table filled with food. ‘’They can’t see or hear you,’’ Voice warned me. ‘’Zeus, Hera, everyone, we have a time of trouble ahead of us,’’ Athena stood up. ‘’I was given a prophecy…

‘’ ’Humans come, humans go, yet monsters stay; forever more. None shall bring great danger, none shall cause terror. Then the time will come, the beast will rise, to bring your downfall. He will see the unseen, smell the hearts beating in terror. All will be lost.’’

‘’If the monsters whom have already attacked us and humans bring not great danger, nor terror, then this monster is to be most feared!’’ Athena raised her voice. Everybody was silent. ‘’What can we do about it? If all will be lost, then we have not reason to fight,’’ Hera said. ‘’But we have hope to survive, Hera, and that is reason enough to fight. Fight for our children, for our family, for everything we hold dear! If we don’t have reason to fight, we don’t have reason to live.’’

I entered another scene. Athena stood by her dressing table, slowly brushing her hair. She hummed ‘’Taps’’. Athena suddenly gasped and doubled over. Her maid screamed in fright. She got up, straight backed, eyes wide, and said, ‘’But three will rise to fight. And fight they will until the monster is almost gone from strength. Yet they too will fall.’’

‘’Do you understand, Jamie?’’ Voice asked. We were back in Voice’s room. ‘’You are one of the three.’’ No. I couldn’t be, I wasn’t strong enough. ‘’I’m sorry,’’ I said and ran down the flight of stairs. Through and through different halls and rooms until I woke.

Something was leaning over me. ‘’Come, quietly,’’ she panted. She had vivid green eyes and blonde hair. ‘’Who are you?’’ I asked. ‘’The voice has sent me,’’ she answered. If she knew about the voice, I would trust her. I got up. She took my hand and lead me through passages and through and though until we got to a wall. ‘’We can’t have random people finding Voice,’’ she explained as she pressed a hidden button and tapped a code. The wall opened into a stairway. As soon as I got in we heard something charging towards us. ‘’Oh, no,’’ she muttered. She quickly pressed another button. I heard it panting. I saw it’s cold blood red eyes before the door/wall closed. We walked up and up, there were several landings but we kept going until we reached the top. I saw light, as in my dream. The girl disappeared; but I could feel the pressure and warmth of her hand. ‘’Welcome, Jamie. I won’t feel kindly towards getting you again; you must learn to find your way here,’’ Voice said. I sat down in the other chair, now a light sky blue. As I looked around I saw everything here changes. The walls were now green, being once orange; things that were blue were purple, and more. ‘’The room ‘’feels’’ what you’re feeling. It’ll take a while to feel yours,’’ Voice said just as the room took a purple shade. ‘’Ah! Curious, are we?’’ Voice asked. I nodded. ‘’I’m afraid this is not the time for questions, though. You must listen closely. You are constantly being watched. You are in grave danger, you must be moved here. You have till lunch to gather your things, tell no one. Then Echo will come for you,’’ Voice said. ‘’Echo?’’ I asked, a smile forming on my lips. I had heard of her story. Voice seemed pleased. ‘’Yes, Echo and I make quite a fine pair. Her spell was kindly lifted, though. She still enjoys echoing people.’’ I laughed. For those who don’t know her story I’ll tell it to you.

Echo had been a wood nymph who loved to gossip. One day she meet Hera, and of course started gossiping with her. Hera found out what Echo been saying was lies, and so she cast a spell on Echo. Echo could only say things people had said. Echo took to walking the woods alone, but one day she met Narsius. Echo liked Narius, but he did not like Echo. ‘’Go away, I don’t love you!’’ He had shouted at her. ‘’Love, love, love,’’ Echo said. Echo was so sad she simply ‘died’. Athena found out and was angry. To punish Narius she made him look in a puddle and saw himself. He was in love with himself, and was so sad the face in the puddle would not talk he killed himself.

But Echo didn’t die. She vanished but her voice stayed. Echo, it appears, can take on a human form when she wants. ‘’Go,’’ Voice said. I felt a tug on my hand and saw Echo, in her human form. ‘’Go,’’ she repeated. 

When Echo had left me I started packing. I want this, or, I don’t want this. Most of the day did not go by in a flash. My time with Voice had, of course because I had enjoyed it. This was just plain torture. Kenneth had been annoying, Pandora quiet, and Hermes… cannot be described. His ‘I’m-so-funny-I-laugh-at-my-own-jokes’ had been horrible. He had been trying to cheer me up, but it didn’t work. I had started to get crabby, and I think he left thinking it was because of him. Which it was, but I didn’t want him to think that. What did I want him to think? Maybe that I had enjoyed it all, that when he left I was in better spirit than before. Did I---My thoughts were interrupted by Echo appearing. ‘’Come,’’ she said. She took my hand and disappeared. If anybody had seen me walking with a strange girl they would wonder. As we walked there were no odd sounds; all was quiet. Oddly quiet, I relized. Normally I would hear monsters pacing floors, banging against locked doors, feeling them flit by. But there was nothing, all was…was wrong. ‘’Echo,’’ I whispered, ‘’It’s too quiet. Normally I can hear them, feel them close to me. But I hear nothing but us, feel nothing.’’ Echo returned to her normal form. ‘’Too quiet,’’ she agreed. She tugged me, and we started to run. Running from what? The unseen. The answer was simple yet horrible. As we got to the hidden button, I started to hear banging. Echo started to push numbers franticly. The door slowly opened. Faster! I urged it. It opened faster. Echo practicly shoved me in and pressed the button. I could hear it, whatever it was it had kicked down the door. I heard running, faster and closer it went. Creek---the door started to slowly close. Echo dragged me up the stairs, and instead of going to the top we stopped at the second level. ‘’Hide,’’ she whispered. We ran to the third door and opened it. It was a kitchen, lifeless but often used. It had many locks on the door. ‘’Hurry!’’ Echo urged. She (again) pushed me in and locked the doors. I could hear panting, but I didn’t want to stay on that. I went to the corner and pulled myself into a ball. Echo, though, started to explore. It was a fairly large kitchen, beautifully designed. Everything a cook could want. Ten cooking racks, one island, and one long bar at one side. There were also odd paintings; paintings of drowning men, brought close to the rocks by Sirens, of a cook looking closely at his finely chopped carrots. But the oddest one was a painting of the kitchen. I noticed, with a start, I could see myself and Echo. Every few minutes the painting would go refresh, and you could see Echo moving for a second. Then it would stop with Echo in place, and it’d show that picture for a while. Like a camera, I noticed. That was what it was. A camara. And you have a camara, because, you want to look at something forever. Like a picture or a video tape. But to start that, you must see it first. ‘’Echo, come here,’’ I said. I described to Echo what I had found out. ‘’Somebody must be watching us,’’ I ended. ‘’It wouldn’t be a painting then, it’d be a secerity camera in the form of a painting,’’ Echo corrected me. ‘’Very good,’’ answered a man coming in from a door we hadn’t even noticed. His hair was gray, and he had a pot-belly. He went the island at started chopping peppers. ‘’And I suppose you’ve found out what this is?’’ He asked, not taking his eyes of the peppers (a wise chose). ‘’No,’’ I was about to answer before Echo said, ‘’Yes. It’s not a kitchen, is it?’’ Then I noticed it. The door the man had come from was a trap-door. Off to the side and barely seen. ‘’I’ve never seen a wood nymph so smart. Yes, this is the king’s own secerity room. You might of noticed, but behind the bar there are many cameras,’’ he said. ‘’Who is the king?’’ I asked. He stared at me, making me feel rather stupid, before saying, ‘’Don’t you know who the king is? No, I expect not. Kind King Jims,’’ he answered. ‘’The one whom whenever he touches something it turns to gold?’’ I asked. ‘’Of course not, silly girl. I think Liam should be called on,’’ he said and pulled a little silver bell. I heard the sounds of boots hitting stairs. I pulled myself into even a smaller ball. Bang! I winced. Oh no, I thought. The trap door opened. ‘’Opps, I bonked myself on the head,’’ said a tall, gangly teenager.  He was very thin and brown headed, had I really been thinking I was about to die? He had a gun, and it was set to fire (aiming at his bum; not a good chose); but he didn’t seem like he’d know how to use it well. The man seemed to notice it too. ‘’Liam, where’s your knife? And your gun is set to fire… AIMING AT YOUR BUTTOCKS YOU IDIOT!’’ He screamed. ‘’What? Oh…’’ Liam said shamed-face. He quickly put it right. ‘’Why is a girl here?’’ He asked staring at me. ‘’Girls aren’t going extinct, you know,’’ I answered. He glared at me before turning to the man. ‘’That’s what I’d like to know.’’ And so Echo started our story.  When she finished the man laughed. ‘’Well, I’d ussume you’re okay now. Go!’’ He said, laughing. ‘’No. You don’t understand. I have direct orders from my boss to keep Jamie out of harm. I will not leave until I am certain we are in no more danger!’’ Echo shouted. Her blonde hair started rising above her head in a whirlpool. The man backed away. ‘’That can be arranged. I’ll send Liam and Todd out with you. They’ll protect you if that monster comes,’’ he said. I looked at Echo. Could we trust him? ‘’Send for Todd,’’ the man ordered Liam. He backed slowly away, still staring at me. I could hear him banging down the hidden stairs. ‘’Toady Todd!’’ He screamed. Boy, is he loud!

‘’Andrea, I’ve been waiting too long. How could you keep me waiting?’’ Jim asked, shaking his head. I was bound foot and hand, and I feared I was about to die.

Chapter 4: Names Hold Power:

‘’I hope you’ll get use to waiting, because you’re about to do a lot of it,’’ I answered.

When Liam had arrived, instead of one man named Todd he brought many (non named Todd by the way!), who imedditly bound us with chains. They brought us to their ‘’king’’. A teenager I use to know. He was four years older than me, and still as determined as ever. He was now king of the Pelicans, the Amazons’s ‘worst feared’ enemy. He wanted to overcome the Amazon for his own purposes. To rule of many people. Maybe to start his own kingdom. Whatever it was, he was still as bonkers.

He sighed again. ‘’Andrea, Andrea, what are we to do with you?’’ He threw up his hands in mock despair. Andrea is actuclly my real name. He had said when we were younger, ‘’I call you Andrea because I think it’s prettier than Jamie.’’ He probely thinks it’s more manly now in an attempt to be sophisticated. ‘’My. Name. Is. Jamie!’’ I gritted my teeth. ‘’Names hold power. Andrea holds more power than Jamie. So why be called Jamie?’’ he asked. ‘’Maybe because I don’t care about power. Maybe because I’m not a killer like you?’’ I coolly asked. He stood up. ‘’You once were… fun… Andrea. What happened to that? Do I need to take you to the dungon?’’ He asked. ‘’Please, do. It’ll be much better than being tied here listening to you,’’ I said. ‘’I’ll help you with that then. Guards, untie her and the other one and bring dinner, a table, and two chairs,’’ he ordered. A few guards left to get everything; and the others untied us. Echo actuclly spit at them. ‘’I’ll leave you alone for now, Andrea, but not your friend. If she tries anything I will not be merciful,’’ Jims told me. ‘’If she leaves, I leave. We stay together, got it, buddy?’’ I tried to seem powerful and threatening. I don’t know how that worked being tied up…

          I tried not to touch anything. The chicken crackled and bubbled, the smell wafting towards my nose. The bread was buttered richly, a perfect shade of yellow. The stew was beef, with extra meat and gravy. Even the vegetables looked good. I couldn’t help it anymore. Jims was eating everything I could be eating, and he was still alive. So why shouldn’t I eat anything? I lunged for the chicken. ‘’Andrea, what happened to your manners?’ Jims mocked. ‘’What happened to yours? Oh wait, you never had any.’’ Echo snarled. Echo looked beautiful, even being restrained by the guards from trying to strangle Jims. I stuffed the chicken down my throat and swallowed. Oh, bliss. Finally eating. Next I grabbed a bowl and franticly began ladling stew in it. Echo took her food more slowly, still dangerously looking at Jims. I could tell she was ready to jump at him at any moment. But I knew Jims. If he was going to strike, he would do it slowly and painfully. His prefferead way of killing somebody. Jims had not changed. He stood up. ‘’Guards, take them to their room. I don’t care if you put them together; there is no way out without our help.’’ The guards grabbed our arms and pulled us towards the door. ‘’I don’t think fate is in your favor, Andrea,’’ was the last thing I heard of Jims.
          Andrea. A horried name, given to me by my god-mother, Helena.
          ‘’I think Andrea should be a fine name. Andrea means strong, brave. My thread has shown Andrea will be so. Andrea, someday you will be powerful. Perhaps more powerful than the gods themselves. You will have the power to do anything, to be anything. Yet the fates are not in your favor.’’

‘’Wake up!’’ Echo urgently whispered. ‘’Er?’’ I groggily asked. Echo slammed a hand against my mouth and listened. Quiet. Nobody heard me. ‘’I have a plan. I need you to start screaming or something so a guard opens the door. I’ll slip out, invisible of course. Later I’ll let you out, and get a guard to show us the way. It’ll work,’’ Echo assured me. ‘’I’m not so sure---‘’ But Echo had already turned invisible. I found she had left a knife and ketchup from the kitchen in our room. ‘’What---oh,’’ I said in understanding. I squirted ketchup on the knife and on my back. I fell to the floor. ‘’AHHHHHH!’’ I screamed. I made my eyes big and unblinking, and my breathing as silent as the night was. I heard pounding. ‘’What are you doing in there?’’ Asked a voice. Liam. He wouldn’t be hard to trick. My heart pounded. Open the door, open the door, I thought. He cranked the door open a just enough to peer in. I saw the look of astionusment on his face, and I could hardly keep from laughing. He opened the door all the way. Yes! Echo could slip through. ‘’August! August, she’s dead!’’ He screamed. I heard the pounding of feet yet again. A fearful noise for me. What would they do to me when they found out I wasn’t dead? The chef came in. Ah; no wonder you wouldn’t tell me your name, I thought. August took the knife from my hand, which I let limply fall back. He licked it. Oh no, the man licked the ketchup. ‘’This is ketchup. Which means;’’ he stepped on my back; ‘’She’s not dead, are you, girl?’’ Pain shot through my back, and I winced. He got off. ‘’Nice try, girl. You may be smarter than you look.’’ I glared at him. ‘’Thank you, August,’’ I answered. ‘’August,’’ Liam copied. ‘’What are you doing you fool?!’’ August shouted at Liam. Liam shrunk back. I felt sorry for him. But then again, he would be the perfect guard to lead Echo and I back. If he survived August, that is. August dropped the knife and advanced towards Liam. He started swearing like a solidar of Hades. I quietly picked up the knife, and motioned to Liam to be quiet. Ha! I held the ketchup-y knife to August’s throat. ‘’Liam, got any rope?’’ I asked. He nodded. Together we bound August to the small metal chair. Liam even left him wearing only his Hello Kitty boxers. ‘’Liam,’’ I asked, ‘’Could you show me and Echo the way out? As a favor?’’ He nodded readily. ‘’First we need to find Echo, though,’’ I said. ‘’That may be a problem,’’ he said. I groned. But at that moment Echo burst through the door. ‘’Oh! You already have somebody to talk us up!’’ She said delightedly. I didn’t have a problem with Liam… he let us make him lead us easily. No restains. Which was a problem. Who knew what he was doing. Maybe he’d led us to Jims, or to a whole army. I held Echo hand, and she held Liam’s. Liam led us soundlessly, but I don’t blame him. I think we were all feeling the dark, the lonely feeling that tells you there is no hope. Don’t search for any; just let the calm darkness devour you whole. At last light shown, and Liam led us to a small wooden door. ‘’This leads to the kitchen. Nobody should be there, as August is the only chef. Leave this place as quickly as you can,’’ He ordered, and pushed the door open. Echo ran to the large sections of knives, and chose the smallest most dangerous one. She stuck it in her knife sheave and handed one to me. Not quite as jagged as Echo’s, nor as dangerous, but still a knife, something to protect me. Go, Liam motioned. Echo grabbed my hand and together we ran to the door. As I felt the terror pusling through my veins, my heart beating loudly, I relized I loved Echo. Echo must had loved me, too, for all she had been through. Just for me. And she always put herself first, showing love with everything she did for me. I relized I didn’t want Echo to die, protecting me. Echo opened the door. I heard nothing, saw nothing. We ran out into the darkness, together. The way it should be. Echo must had known where the stairs were, for she leaded me. I had no idea. When we reached them we ran, more quickly than I had ever run in my life, up the stairs. We got to the top. The door was opened, beautiful, true light spilling from the light room. ‘’Quickly, now!’’ I heard Voice. We ran even harder. At last we reached the room; Echo quickly closing the door behind us. I was oh, so tired. I simply collapsed onto silk pillows, dreams coming and going.

I woke to the smell of porridge. A plain, rather bland sort of food; but nothing had ever smelled so good. I turned over, and found somebody had laid a fine blanket over me. I sat up against the wall, and took in my surroundings. In my past visits I had never truly seen what a beautiful room in was. The room changed to a very light purple, with a hint of gray. I think it was curioustiy and tiredness, for I was feeling both. The curtains were closed over a large window. They were velvet, as soft and cushiony as the pillows I was seated on. Beside the plush chairs (which were still red), there were two couchs. Not very soft, but sturdy. They were purple, also, so the chairs must had been the only thing that didn’t change colors. There was one large coffee table in the middle. Wooden, with a glass surface. It was beautifully hand carved, showing off the carver’s delicate work. On it was a Gods magazine, showing a large picture of Zeus at the gym, a picture I did not need to see. Beside that there was a hand sewn throw, a coffee mug with stale coffee, and a few books. I eagerly looked at the titles. Gods: All you Want to Know About Your Favorite Gods!, The Offically Unofficial Book of King Midas, and The Care and Keeping of Your Winged Sandels. Not one of them seemed interesting, so I went back to looking. The cone shaped roof was painted with ivy and vines, swirling and twirling together, as if interlocking a family. Little people were also painted on the vines, looking like they were having fun swinging. If only I were one of those people, careless in my fun; not thinking about the dangers that were kept so close by. But I wasn’t, I harshly reminded myself. I couldn’t afford to be careless, to be blind to the dangers so close around me. Paintings were hung on the wall. Many sorts; Zeus was painted holding a lightining bolt, Hermes flying with the wind. My favorite was Hermes. The painting was so detailed, you could see the wind rushing towards him, feel the cool sensation of flying. On a dressing room table stood a brush and a vase of pale pink roses. The roses were old and wilting, though. The mirror was cracked, not like everything else in the room. Everything else seemed young and soft and beautiful. The dressing room table was made harshly, showing only angry carves. The edges were sharp, and not all of it was painted the same white. Half of it was painted blue, with little yellow and red dots here and there. Why it had come to be in such a beautiful room I didn’t understand. I had to tear my eyes away from it, for my curiosity was stronger. What else lay in the room? Nothing much. The last new thing my eyes could find was an old antique wooden basket; it looked like it had been used as a trashcan instead of holding the beautiful things it once held. It was old and forgotton, all formor beauty vanished. I understood it’s sorrow. It had been beautiful, prized and used everyday. Now it stood by itself in a dusty corner, collecting trash in a beautiful room full of things still prized and used. How lonely it must of felt. Lost in a world of beautiful things. ‘’Breakfast!’’ Echo shouted, opening a door I hadn’t noticed. I jumped. ‘’I hope I haven’t scared you, Jamie but it’s time for breakfast. I made porridge.’’ And with that Echo left the room. I got up and followed her. Two places at a table were set with silver spoons. The porridge didn’t seem like what I had smelled. It was full of blueberries and nuts. ‘’Wow, Echo, this looks amazing. Thanks,’’ I said and sat down. Echo plopped two full glasses of apple juice down. She sat down herself, and we started to eat. It was even better than it had looked, if that was possible. I finished quickly, and Echo filled my bowl again. I devoured that even faster, but refused Echo’s offer of more. ‘’Nope, I’m good,’’ I had told her. Echo smiled and went back to her breakfast. I hope she doesn’t think I don’t like it, I thought. But I decided Echo knew I was full. Echo had that touch with people, understanding even a small blink. ‘’Voice will be with us soon. Voice doesn’t often eat,’’ Echo informed me. I nodded, still slightly tired. But I had things to do today. The door opened by itself---or at least seemed to. ‘’I’m here,’’ called a very tired Voice. ‘’You know I was worried sick. I was starting to ask my mistress if she would call a search, but then you appeared. Now I don’t need to worry you were too sick or hurt for me to beat you up. NEVER. GO. ANYWHERE. OTHER. THAN. THE. TOWER!’’ Voice screamed. ‘’If you think something is chasing you, then run as fast as you did yesterday up to the tower. NOT to an unknown castle!’’ Voice said in a somewhat quieter tone. Echo bowed her head. ‘’Yes, Voice,’’ she quietly said. But I could see a glint of excitement and rebellion in her eyes. She motioned under the table for me to do the same. I did so. ‘’I believe you are sorry. You may go, now. Echo, I’d like you to take her to your room,’’ Voice ordered. Echo nodded and took my hand. We stood up and soundlessly made our way to our room. Through a beautiful hallway, next door to the left, I tried to remember. Echo opened a door. ‘’Whoa,’’ our room was not beautiful, or homey. It seemed fragile enough to be a child’s room, yet it was not. It was of Echo’s own creation, a thing as fresh and wild as a newborn tiger. Our room was large and spacy, looking like a jungle. Animals that seemed alive were painted on the wall, and vines were everywhere. There were flowers, trees and bushes. I could see no sign of humans. ‘’Look,’’ Echo pointed up. The two largest trees were entwined together to make a tree house of branches and leaves. There was a vine ladder. Echo climbed it as easily as a fish can swim. ‘’Come on!’’ Echo sounded excited. I was excited, too. I gingerly climbed up the rope, doubting the strength. But I was completely safe. I started to climb faster, and I couldn’t reach the top fast enough.

It was even more amazing inside. Branchs wound themselves into chairs and tables, and even beds. Soft leaves covered the beds. The roof was high, made of completely leaves. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. ‘’This is your bed,’’ Echo pointed to a bed. It had cherry red leaves on it, much to my surprise. ‘’So we know which is yours,’’ Echo explained. I dumped my backpack on it. My backpack, which had been through so much. Being tossed in the trashcan by the school bullies. Through my adventure in the second floor. It was dirty and scraped, a little odd, but it was something from home. My real home, I reliezed. Olympus was beautiful; more than beautiful, but I would never fit. I wasn’t a chip off the old block. I was my own unique creation, beautiful in ways uninmaginable. I was me. I would never, never could, be like Aphrodite or Ares. And I was glad.

Voice had been pacing. The appearance of Jamie and Echo had been odd. Things always lurk around Jamie, Voice reminded. But this was different. It was like there had been a human there--- a seen thing. But there couldn’t have been, Voice tided. Yet something had been wrong. Voice knew that much. Voice tried to remember anything from that night; but his memory failed him. He was too tired. Much too tired to do anything. A rest would be of much good.

I woke with a sudden start. All was quiet, all peaceful. A breeze floated in our room. Branches took war on each other, invading the deepest parts of the trees. Leaves rustled, once deciding a place in the room another looked better. Yet I was sure I had heard something. Maybe it was only the branches, or the leaves, I reminded myself. Something still seemed out of place. The leaves had rustled and crackled, not commonly. Like---like something---stepping on them. Echo’s long eyelashes blinked warily. So she had been wakened, too. She put a finger to her lips. Quiet. Another rustle and crackle. Echo sat up straight, looking around with now full, unblinking eyes. Echo quietly walked towards a branch-woven chest and opened it. Suppiles lay in it. She grabbed a riffle, and pulled out a smaller shot-gun. Two knifes. The smaller weapons must had been for me, I thought. I was right. Echo handed me the shot-gun and a knife. She walked soundlessly to the open space, meant for a door. Shadows were all about us, beconing with a single finger towards them. To shadows, the places unknown to humankind. Because those who go in often don’t come out. This time, though, a dark shadow lay on top of a lighter one. A human shaped shadow. Other shadows, also shaped as humans, lay hunched together; slowly moving forward. Echo pressed two green buttons. The branches became sharp, poking from the outside. They were still as smooth as ever inside. A door (which could not be opened) wove itself through the branches of the wall. The branches once again changed. They became sturdy, not at all like the one-day-made struction of before.  I heard swearing. They---whomever, whatever---had found us; and our closed doors. There was no way of entry. Even the roof, made formally of leaves, was now woven tight with branches. ‘’Now we just wait,’’ Echo quietly informed me. She sat down on a chair and started sewing a quilt. She had pulled out a sewing bag from a cranny in the table. Clever. The bag could have been seen if closely looked at, but from far distance nothing was shown. The quilt was beautiful, too. It had only just been started, but you could see a pattern coming together. A wood nymph, only the wisps of a wild young thing, looked lovingly at a handsome man. It was Echo, I reliezed. Echo had lost everything she cared for; yet she lived on. How was the possible without having a soul? Love. She must care for Voice, and me. Otherwise she would have been a lifeless, soulless creature. I suddenly hugged Echo. ‘’I love you,’’ she whispers. ‘’I love you, too,’’ I answer. Here we are, hugging while people are trying to kill us. It seems odd and unnatural. Echo broke apart and started sewing again. Her cheeks are a faint green, maybe a wood nymph blush. She busies herself in sewing, taking cation not to look at me again.

My stomach growls. Echo has not offered me food for five hours, but perhaps that is because I already ate it all. She seemed hardly to take anything herself, which shamed me. I have no right to ask for food, her already giving me shelter and most of it! I rebuked myself. ‘’When will Voice be here?’’ I whined, only to get my mind off of food. Echo had already told me one of the green buttons called Voice, to tell Voice we were in danger. ‘’Voice normally does not take so long,’’ Echo said thoughtfully. I frowned. ‘’I was simply getting my mistress,’’ Voice said, lesourly walking in, as if we hadn’t been in danger. ‘’She couldn’t come.’’ Voice sighed. Voice had a woman’s body, with fiery red hair that matched Voice’s puipless red eyes. Voice had a long skirt with a long sleeved top. Not very stylish. ‘’Voice choses Voice’s form. If Voice wishes, Voice will be a man. If not, Voice will choose a woman’s form. Voice chooses not to show Voice’s true form. Voice may not have a human form is my guess,’’ Echo whispered to me. ‘’You may call me her or she when I’m in my woman form,’’ Voice tells us. ‘’The same with a man form.’’

‘’Anyway, all danger is gone. My mistress didn’t have time to come, but she did do us a favor. You should thank her. Echo, take Jamie to the um—coffee shop, won’t you? Yes, that wasn’t a question. Do it,’’ Voice says, vanishing. ‘’Do you drink coffee?’’ Echo asked, climbing down the ladder. ‘’Not often. They have soda or something, right?’’ ‘’Yeah,’’ Echo shrugs as well as she can climing down. ‘’I’ve never been. Never had enough time. It seems I’m always doing something for Voice.’’ ‘’So your like Voice’s minon?’’ I ask. ‘’I guess. Voice did me a favor and I’m repaying it. One year at a time.’’ I whistle. Echo’s room seemed a lot more creepy and dark after being attacked. Foot prints and broken branches were everywhere. Trees were hunched down, bending as close as they could to themselves. The roof had angry painted storm clouds. ‘’Sometimes, at times like these, I fear an impact has been made too large on the world.’’

Chapter 5:

The smells of coffee fill my nostirls. I prefer the smell over the drink anyday. Echo must feel so too, because for many minutes we aren’t talking, only breathing in the scents and thinking. ‘’What do you think of what happened last night?’’ I finally ask. I need to hear the answer, but I already know it. ‘’It was obviously the Pelicans. Why would they want you?’’ Echo says. ‘’I don’t know. I knew Jim, before, but we were never really friends,’’ I shrug. ‘’Prehaps he wants something from home, from his old life. You may be the only connection,’’ Echo says darkly. Her eyes turn from green to a dark blueish gray, like a sea threating to storm. Memories flash in her eyes like a movie, and I see it all:

‘’That is not so,’’ a younger, more powerful Hera says, circling Echo. ‘’And I honor honesty before anything else. Olmpic has no room for liers.’’ Echo is shaking and cowering, not like the Echo I know. Hera raises her arm—

Echo is weeping silently, her face showing her torment. Narcius is looking at himself, pleading for his refelction to talk to him, to say anything. ‘’Please, fair spirit, why do you not talk with me?’’ He asks, raising his eyes for only a second before letting them flit back down again. ‘’If that is so…’’

Echo gasps. ‘’Don’t do that again!’’ She warns, her eyes crazed. They slowly go back to normal. ‘’How do you do that? Only one has ever been able to.’’ ‘’I don’t know,’’ I say honestly. ‘’I have always understood the memories of those who open to door. I don’t go in, the let me in,’’ I say. ‘’Well, sometimes they can’t help it,’’ Echo growls. I shrug. ‘’I’m done. Do you want to go back?’’ Echo asks. Considering we never had anything, I am done, too.

Oh. I relize what leaving meant. Arthridite was probely screaming her head off, and Ares only a certain amount of scared. They would be searching for me, of course. But only some of them had good intentions. ‘’Your stay is over,’’ Voice says, appering out of thin air. ‘’They need you. Training starts any minute. Echo will take you.’’

Things between Echo and I were still a bit rocky, after the whole I-can-see-your-private-most-deepest-memories thing.

‘’I’m sorry,’’ Echo says quietly, eyes darted everywhere, looking for everything. ‘’One who doesn’t give love doesn’t know the feeling of it. I shouldn’t have been like that, but memories are a presious thing.’’ ‘’I shouldn’t of looked into them. But since you shared a secret with me, I will share one with you:

‘’Athena doesn’t like the looks of Kenneth, and nether do I. She’s too perfect in everything she does. She’s human, throw and throw, but I think only barely. Sometimes I wish I was like her. She’s just so beautiful,’’ I say. Echo smiles softly in the dimming light, and snaps. ‘’We’re almost there,’’ she says. We walk in silence into the room. ‘’Bye,’’ I whisper, and Echo vanishes, padding away on soft feet. ‘’Oh! Jamie, your…um—back! It’s wonderful to see you again,’’ Kenneth says, giving me a hug which is neither senscire nor warm. ‘’Jamie!’’ Pandora exclaims. ‘’Hera just gave us our ‘training’ clothes.’’ Pandora hands me a pair light green cargo pants, boots, a belt, a light green shirt with many pockets, and a hunting jacket with even more. ‘’Hera’s going for the ‘hidden’ look. I think we’re going to wear that when we go out,’’ Kenneth shrugs, a huge grin still on her face. ‘’Let’s go!’’ Pandora says, already pulling us away.

The training center is huge. There are only two windows, and they do not give much light. There is a section hidden off with cloth, which darkens everything around it. Life sprouts around everywhere:

Vines, poison berries, edible plants and fruit, long, twisting trees, bushes, and thick green stuff. A mysterious fruit leans down in front of me, and I have an odd erge to pluck it off, and bite deeply down into it. I reach up, and pluck it. Just when I am about to bite, ‘’I wouldn’t suggest eating that,’’ Athena says. ‘’You’d be dead even before biting into it.’’ Athena and Ares sit on floating black clouds, observing us. Ares is covered in his black armor, only his red eyes showing. Athena wears a long white dress, with her bow and arrows slong across her back. Her hair is done in a tight bun.

I drop the fruit with a loud bang. ‘’Thank you, Jamie,’’ Ares says crossly, ‘’Now some poor somebody is going to find it, and perhaps it.’’ He blinks, and the fruit disappears. ‘’Start your training!’’ Athena declares in a loud, magnificent voice, but still very crossly. Kenneth walks over to the bows, and shoots an arrow into the heart of a tree. She looks up for praise, but Athena waves her off, frowning. As I understand, it will take hard work to please the gods today. Even Pandora is already starting, finding edible flowers, while I am still standing where we started. Nothing calls my name, beging me to use it. Because for all I know, I am good at nothing. When I start towards something, a silly reason throws me off. Oh no, you could hurt yourself with a sword. Not that. You’d eat something posionus. ‘’Jamie, why don’t you find edible flowers with me,’’ Pandora suggests. I throw her a greatful glance, and walk over. I know nothing about flowers, of course, but I suppose that’s what this training center is for.