Tray-

I was so angry at Blake I wouldn't stand it. Sleep just wouldn't come. I couldn't stand it any longer, so I walked outside the tent. Blake was still there, eating. My eyes turned black. "Great, when are you going to leave?" I asked angrily. "Hey, Tray I didn't mean-" "I know what you meant, you idiot. And I want you to leave! We all do! Unless you have any REAL information for us I suggest you go before you someone ends up killing you. Which, by the way will most likely be me," I snapped. He just rolled his eyes. "'Course I've got information. Believe me, I'm not THAT stupid." I just crossed my arms and glared at him. "Fine, here you go, here's my information: I know that Nick's back." I wanted to slap that smug look off his face. "We got that far you idiot!" I shouted. "Really? I wouldn't have guessed!" he shouted back sarcasticly. "You know what else I know? I know that Jenifer is at her daddy's palace, and so's Nick and they're both asking him to get rid of the other! I also happen to know about Jack and Hiporborean!" I flinched. But it wasn't because he was yelling. His eyes got softer. "I know Hiporborean's messing with you. I know Jack's back even if I've never met her. I know Nick and Jack are working together. I know Hiporborean's been visting you in your dreams." Suddenly I was suspicious. "How do you know all that?" I asked. He just laughed. "Hey, you hang around the big house long enough you hear a few things. Did you know Mr. D talks in his sleep?" Now I almost laughed. I could see it clear as day. Him thrashing around in his sleep yelling at the grape vines saying 'please don't hurt me you ugly grapes!' I smiled instead. Then my face turned serious again. "So Jenifer wants Zeus to kill Nick, and Nick wants Zeus to kill Jenifer?" I asked. He nodded, matching my seriousness. "Yeah, I also know Zeus said no to both of 'em." I thought hard. Why would they want each other dead? Weren't they working together? If not, where was Jenifer going to stay? Would she come back? Would Nick? Jason smiled. "You're cute when you're thinking." My eyes went, if possible, blacker. "Get over yourself." I walked back into the tent, leaving him alone. I would be grateful when he left. That's when I noticed Sam crying. Kathrine was still asleep somehow. That's when I knew WHY Sam was crying. "Nell. She reminds you of Nell, doesn't she?" I asked. Sam nodded sniffling. "Me too," I said sadly. There was no way I could miss Nell more than Sam could but I was about as close as you can get. A tear fell down my cheek, but I quickly brushed it away and went to sleep.
My dreams were horrible. Each one had a different grusome scene. At the end Nick was there smiling at me. "This is what your future holds, Thanantos. I know what you're scared of now. I know how to beat you. I know Sam's weekness too. Though hers is obvious. I WILL hunt you down. I WILL kill you." His eyes got deadly serious. "Even if it's the last thing I ever do." I woke with a start. Sam and Kathrine were still asleep. I quickly checked outside. Good. Blake was gone for now. Though I knew without a doubt he'd be back eventually. Nick had said he knew mine and Sam's weaknesses, but he'd said nothing about Kathrine.

Sam-

I woke up just as Tray walked out of the tent in her pajamas. Tiredness still weighed me down and I wanted to fall back asleep but I knew I wouldn’t be able to.

After I had put my contact lenses on, I walked out of the tent with a package of milk rice, a jar of raspberries and a pot.

“Morning,” I said, sitting down and noticing that Tray had already collected firewood.

I started the fire, set the pot on it and added the rice. As soon as the rice and water touched a milky powder began to come off of the rice.

“Ew. What is that?”

“Milk rice.”

“Milk rice? You aren’t using any milk.”

“Milk powder’s already on it.” Tray didn’t say anything. Instead she sat there and bit her nails.

“Is something wrong?” I looked up at her while stirring the milk.

That’s when she told me about the dream – and Katherine.

“He just doesn’t know Katherine, that’s all.”

“I highly believe that he does. There’s something wrong with her."

“She’s young. Her flaw isn’t obvious yet, that’s all.”

“You’re usually right, Sam, but I have to say that you’re wrong. Have you noticed how she seemed to know things before they happened? As if-“

“You think she’s got something to do with-“

“No. But she’s powerful, more powerful than a daughter of Persephone would be.”

“You might just be underestimating Persephone. Aphrodite also has powerful children.”

Tray snorted and thunder rumbled. “I’d be careful if I were you, Tray,” I warned her. “Or else you might have an unlucky life.”

“I already do. Back to Katherine, I don’t think she’s a half-blood.”

“No?”

“She’s the daughter of Persephone AND Hades. I can sense it when I’m near her. She smells like the Underworld and some sort of power is there.”

“You think she’s a mini goddess?” Tray nodded. 

//Jenifer//

Nick and I were sitting face to face at a small dinner table, slowly spooning pieces of ambrosia into our mouths. Zeus was awkwardly sitting at the head of the table next to us, and to our other side were the rest of the gods. Awkward family dinner, if you ask me. I dropped my fork and turned to Zeus. "Da, do we really have to do this?!" He sighed and closed his eyes. "Jenifer, I've been over this. We are a family. As distant and . . . interesting it is, we must eat together." Though only Nick and I were eating, and avoiding each other's gaze. Demeter was making vines grow from her fingers, wrap around her hand, then disappear in a puff of smoke. Hestia was changing her nectar to steam, then summoning up more and repeating the process. Mr. D, (Yes, he actually made time to show up. I was shocked too.) was staring longingly at the glass of wine sitting in front of him before Zeus changed it back to nectar. Poseidon and Athena hadn't even shown up. Hades wasn't here, of course. Apollo was reciting random bits of poetry to Artemis, who was boredly playing with her fork. Aphrodite was looking at her reflection in her spoon, frowning and changing her hair color every few seconds. Hephaestus had created a helicopter using napkins and and toothpicks. Ares was hitting on Aphrodite, who wasn't even paying attention. Hera was at the other end of the table, staring murderously at Nick and me. Some family we were. Suddenly there was a pulling sensation in my gut. Nick instantly looked up at me something like hatred and longing in his eyes, and suddenly it was there again, that dang feeling in my stomach. They're right there...I've never been so close since they were little gods and goddesses! If you just give in...I could so easily take their souls...if only you would let me! "No!" I yelled randomly, causing everyone to look at me, then to Zeus, then back to me. "No...way am I letting this ambrosia go uneaten! Mhm mhm mhm, good stuff, huh?" I smiled sheepishly and scooped another bite into my mouth. Dang girl! If only you'd just give in, I could so easily do all the work, there'd be no pressure on your part! Oh yeah, I'd just be betraying my friends and family. No big deal, eh?* Come on now, it'll be alright! No. For the last time Ouranus, No. Oh, fine. You're such a party pooper. I should've taken the boy. Gladly. You could take him no.? He's right there. Might as well, better for both of us. No, I like hearing the all the CHB gossip. Boys...just don't talk about that stuff. It'd be so much better for me if I destroyed your soul, don't you think? Oh yes, absouletely. See? Now we're on the same page. Now have some more nectar, I'm starved. My hand reached towards the nectar and I sipped it obediently, not exactly trying to but doing it anyways. Hey, where's that Sam girl? And Thanatos? What about Nell, oooh yes, I liked her. Well she's not here anymore, because you killed her. Oh, right, I forgot about that. Little sacrifice, anyways. You really should shut it. Oh, but don't you love our little talks? I look forward to it, actually, it's quite nice. Relaxing, after a hard day's work. What do you do again? Take over your entire desire to live. Oh, right.  I stood up, gave my plate and things to an obedient wind spirit, and left the table, walked towards my room, and sat down on my bed. Almost instantly there was a knock. "Come on in, no privacy here, anyways." Nick surprisingly walked into my room, causually as if he'd been doing this for years. "What do you want?" I snapped, placing a hand on my knife. "Only your willingness to follow me." Suddenly I wasn't aware of anything, it was as if I'd fallen asleep, but my body was still awake. "I will. I will follow you on your quest to take over the gods." "Alrighty then! That was easier than I thought! We start tonight, meet me in the dining hall, midnight. We start with Zeus."

@Nick- wow talk about emotionally compromised.;)
@Blackberry- If you don't like the thing about Kathrine feel free to change it.

Tray-

I nodded slowly. I did think that Kathrine was a mini-goddess. It was slightly obvious, she was bad at trying to hide it. "What should we do?" Sam asked. "We ask her," I said simply. There wasn't much else left to do. "Would she know yet?" "I think so, I mean, Hades might not have told her but Persephone would have. That much I know." Sam nodded. "Let's go." Sam and I walked over to where Kathrine was still sleeping. Sam shook her gently. "Yeah?" she asked grogily. "Is your mom Persephone and your dad Hades?" I asked. She looked utterly surprised. That much was certain. "Well, no. My father was a demi-god son of Apollo" Well I wasn't that off then. "That explains the odd 'feelings' you get." (Apollo's god of prophecy I thought it'd fit 'cause she get the feelings about the future right? Or did I mess that up?) "Yeah," she muttered slowly. "What does it matter though?" she continued. Now it was my turn to look shocked. "Well two reasons actually. Number 1: Nick has a weakness for both of us but not for you. Reason number 2: YOU'RE ALMOST COMPLETELY GOD!" I shout-whispered. She stared at me. "What are your weeknesses?" was all she said. "Urgh, Sam is her dead half-sister Nell (even I flinched by the emotionlessness of my voice), and mine is this little girl who got me killed, oh and a titan who tried to kill me and has got it out for me. What would yours be?" I asked. She thought for a minute. "I don't know. Does everyone have one?" "Yes of course." I sighed exasperated. "It's what makes us human. Even the gods have got 'em. Actually the gods invented most of them." Thunder boomed and lightning struck a tree near by. It started to rain. After yelling at the sky to just shut up and that we were trying to help their sorry butts we went inside the tent. "So weekness, let's have it," I said impatiently. "I-" There was a snap outside. I grabbed my knife and darted outside, Sam and Kathrine by my side. There in front of us was Jack. But she wasn't alone. There were a couple of laistrygonians (canibalistic giants) behind her. "Hello Thanantos," I almsot screamed. I turned a shade of white that would have had Hades concerned. "I'm guessing that's her," Kathrine mused. I would have shot her the shut-up-right-now-or-I'll-kill-you look if I hadn't been so out of my mind scared. "Sam..." I started in a small voice. "I know Tray. We get Jack, you get the laistrygonians." I almost passed out with relief. I was so glad I didn't have to fight her. I charged the laistrygonians and after slicing the first with ease the other two ran at me. Once was holding a celestial bronze club, the other was holding what looked like a gold dodge-ball. The laistrygonian with the club charged at me but I rolled out of the way using my knife to make a deep gash in his calf. I sprang up at the second laistrygonian knife up. I was inches from its face when the first one hit me on the side of the head with its club. He must have been weak because the blow only made me see stars and nearly pass out. It didn't crush my skull though. I slamed into a tree. My head was spinning. He'd hit me on my right temple and now I couldn't hear anything out of that ear. My right eye also wasn't working. But I did feel the unmistakable trickle of blood flowing down the side of my face. I stood up unsteadily. If anything came at from the right, I was doomed. I managed to stand. When I saw the first dodge-ball type thing headed my way. I dove out of the way. Good thing too because the ball made a dodge-ball sized hole in the tree I'd been thrown into. I gathered all the strength I had left and lept at the laistrygonian with the club and sunk my knife deep into his forhead. There was an unpleasant popping sound and it disolved into gray dust. I just had time to duck down before the celestial bronze ball came flying toward me. I rolled out of the way before the laistrygonian stepped on me. My right temple was pounding. My right side was deaf and blind. The giant was on my right. I knew he was using my disadvantage against me. I had no choice but to turn around in circles like an idiot. Then it came at me. It knocked me off my feet and was about to pulverize me when Jack shouted, "ENOUGH!" I noticed the fight with Sam and Kathrine hadn't gone well. Her hair was matted with blood, a tooth was missing, and she had several gashes and bruises. But Sam and Kathrine hadn't faired much better. They were being held by another laistrygonian I hadn't even noticed before. "Stop you lumbering idiot! We need her alive! Master Nick comands it!" Master Nick? OK how long ago was our last fight? Because if I remember correctly Nick wasn't anybody's master anymore. We even had his spear hanging in the big house attic with the other trophies. The laistrygonian dragged me to Jack. I swallowed my fear. Besidse, at this point what did I have to lose? I was half deaf, half blind, and if I died I'd just come back. "Ah Thanantos. tsk tsk. Poor Thanantos. You always did have an ego the size of Olympus." "Have you brushed your teeth lately?" I asked. She slapped me across the face. I'd expected it, and it did hurt, but just seeing her breathe into her hand like an idiot made it all worth while. "I wouldn't be talking. Let's see, I can see one ear has gone out. Eye too I expect. You really should be nicer to me. Come, we're taking them to the warehouse." Why did I have the sinking feeling that that was the same warehouse I'd died in, and that Hyporborean was going to be there?

Admin, why isn't Elizabeth M.'s post showing up? It's been over a day.

I just posted a comment from Elizabeth. But just 16 hours ago I also posted whatever was waiting. So it couldn't have been "over a day," unless the comments float somewhere in cyberspace before appearing in our "to be posted" queue.

Admin

My comment is a reply to my fatal flaw. It says 'awesomesauce' and is on the upper part of the last page. :) 

Sam-

Katherine and I had fought well against Jack, but leaving Tray alone with a Laistrygonian was a mistake. Now, Tray seemed as I she would become unconscious at any second and we were being dragged over to some warehouse and there was now way out.

I could feel Katherine shivering next to me – I couldn’t see for my eyes had been blindfolded.

“Katherine, there’s no reason to be scared. Really. You were amazing back there.”

“He’s there.” Her voice sounded hoarse and old like an oracle’s.

“What?”

“We have to get Tray out of this… He’ll take her away.”

“Who’s he?”

“Hyperborean.” A shiver ran down my spine as she said his name and I felt the Laistrygonian hand clench closer around us.

*

Our blindfolds were taken off and we found ourselves tied to something similar to a refrigerator. A single sliver of light was let in through a cracked shaft in the roof and the shadows moved as if there were hundreds of people watching us.

A cackle arose from somewhere above us. “So… Here we are again. Looks the same to you doesn’t it, Thanantos?” Nick’s voice was recognizable – as evil as ever.

Next to me, I saw Tray’s face contorted with a mixture of fear and anger as she watched the moving shadow nearest to her.

“Perhaps not? Hm. Then maybe this will help!”

A monstrous body jumped onto the floor, making a long crack in the cement. As his face came into the light I recognized him. He was scarred and ten feet tall, about twice the size of me.

He roared and advanced closer to Tray. “Why, nice to see you again. Heard you weren’t cooperating…”

“We have to get her out.” Katherine murmured.

“SILENCE,” the giant yelled. “There’s no way out of here.” He laughed some more, and then turned around.

That is when I noticed a figure behind Tray, working on the knots of the chain. It was Blake; he was here to save us.

At the same time, Hyperborean was giving a victory speech. “See, there is nothing to be scared of, these are weak creatures!” He laughed and swirled around to face us but what he saw wiped the smile clean off his face.

Blake, Tray, Katherine and I were standing satisfied free of all bonds. Tray was whispering something in ancient Greek, which I quickly translated as ‘I’ve got a big bone.’

“You’ve got a big bone?” Tray didn’t answer, yet a loud woof answered  my question as it echoed through the warehouse. “Jump on!” Tray commanded. “Stay here, Katherine.”

“What are you going to do with her?” I cried as Blake and I scrambled up the hellhound’s back.

“We don’t need Shadow travel to get to the Underworld. Tell Sweetie where to go.”

“Her name’s Sweetie?” Blake yelled.

“Just do it!” An arrow whizzed past my ear. “Okay, Blake, tell her.”

Blake whispered some words and then Sweetie bounded towards Hyperborean and I started to scream at the top of my lungs. Then we were suddenly in darkness. I held on to Blake and screamed even louder.