Carefully I walked, a shivering daughter of Poseidon in my arms. The gods must have been watching, because after aimlessly wandering for about an hour, I stumbled upon a miracle.

Hundreds of people were laid out across a large park in front of a huge wall of light that could only be a giant screen. Heaters were strategically placed so that no matter where you sat you wouldn't get inconvenienced by the cold grasp of winter. Near the front of the park, adults were giving away shirts and sweaters free of charge. In retrospect, it was a painfully laware obvious trap.

However, Skylar desperately needed to rest and all seven Star Wars movies, including the newest one The Force Awakens, were being presented on a colossal screen that probably annoyed everyone who lived nearby. I figured we would be there for a while. Skylar still shaking slightly in my arms, I wandered carefully through the crowd of excited mortals and took a seat on the nearly-dead grass near the back of the park.

Couples, fanatics and other families of mortals had brought blankets and towels as well as pillows and fan merchandize to sit more comfortably on the ground. I took advantage of the free sweaters that were provided at the front and accepted a large black sweater with the words May the Force Be With You written in bold white text.

Subtly, I picked up and extra sweater and a t-shirt, since a certain Gorgon had ripped the back of my last clean camp shirt recently. Speaking of which, I was feeling light years better aside from some minor nausea.

The new shirt displayed the words Come to the Dark Side in white over a galaxy background.
Next, I purchased candy and food. Primarily candy though...I have an insatiable appetite for sweets. I returned to our spot in the grass with Star Wars gummies, solid chocolate shaped like the Death Star, Darth Vader shaped cookies and more. I got some sandwiches and water bottles too, since I figured I'd be in for a scolding once Skylar woke up.

I could see her, the daughter of Poseidon's hands on her hips as she lectured me about how too much candy would make me feel sick. I'd just shrug and stuff my face with more candy in response, and she would shake her head and laugh before helping me eat a cookie or two.

Obviously, candy wouldn't be the best food to help Skylar energize when she woke. As for me, I practically existed off sugar. Candy didn't affect my behavior and I almost never became sick as a result of it. The only thing that I struggled with is adapting to the mortal world. Having a break from training and running for my life felt strange. Only once had I visited the world outside of CHB, but a monster attacked even then.

Suddenly, my thoughts jumped from the mortal world and how Luke Skywalker was going to retrieve his light saber from an iceberg to Skylar and her well being. Could she really handle another two jumps? Was I really going to let her risk it? My eyes dropped to Skylar, her long brown hair shimmering with uneven shades of brown in the moonlight.

Somehow, she was still shivering, despite the heaters. She must have been experiencing a nightmare. As Han Solo tucked Luke Skywalker into the open carcass of some fantasy creature, I tiptoed back to the front of the park and took a large, fluffy blanket off of the hands of a mortal.

Skylar immediately relaxed, warmth slowly returning to her cheeks as I draped the blanket over her. I'd never seen her look so vulnerable. So at ease. The Skylar that I was used to was always tensed and on her guard.

Occasionally she loosened up a bit around Percy or Brandon, but never like when she was alone with me. I observed the demigod in her sleep for a while, but turned my attention to the screen as the film started to get very interesting.

I noticed that the sunflower from Demi was still totally fresh, as if it had just been picked. Skylar smiled and giggled a couple of times in her sleep and I knew that she couldn't possibly be having a nightmare.

Suddenly, I sensed a presence that was all too familiar. Several meters away, a bush shook unnaturally. My eyes returned to the screen as a great, scaly creature lumbered out of the trees. It hissed aggressively and unleashed a spout of acid at a trash can just right of us, reducing it to a steaming puddle of gray and green goo.

In a quick second, I scanned the park. Not a single mortal had noticed it yet. That moment, a little boy who had been walking back to his friends fixed his eyes in the direction of the Drakon.

He better be blind, I hoped.

After grabbing Ilíos and notching an arrow, I shot blindly in the direction of the Drakon. I had fought enough of the beasts to know exactly where to shoot and how much it would take to kill one.

My father must have been watching, because the arrow flew straight into the head of the Drakon, exploding into gold flames on contact. I took a moment to thank Apollo before retrieving a scale the size of my palm from the place of the Drakon's death and placing it in my bag. A spoil of war.

Not exactly a war, I thought to myself before returning my full attention back to Star Wars.

Skylar stirred, and I held my breath. Please don't wake up, please don't wake up, please don't wake up.

Naturally, her eyes fluttered open and she glanced up at me before letting out a small yawn.

"Where are we?" she asked. I grinned at the sound of her voice.

"We're in Oklahoma," I told her.

I'd deduced that much just by the accents of some of the natives and the big banner at the front of the park that said "Oklahoma Star Wars screenings! It'd pretty darn OK!"

After offering her some candy, I summarized everything that had happened since she had passed out in the alleyway hours ago. She wrinkled her nose and accepted a sandwich before giving me the speech about sweets I predicted she'd give me.

"Anyway, did you sleep alright?" I inquired, contemplating how Han Solo understood Chewbacca's language.

"W-why d-do...why do y-you ask?!" she stuttered, biting her lip.

"You were smiling in your sleep, I was just curious."

Skylar brought her hand to her forehead and shrugged the question off, then asked me where and when we would go next. Truthfully, I was too interested in Star Wars to be in a hurry to leave. If you haven't already watched Star Wars, I recommend you do. It's seriously great.

Skylar chuckled and agreed to stay a little longer. She asked me to explain the movies so far to her and I went on a huge fanboy rant. My eyes gleamed as I frantically pointed to the screen and explained each character's life story and importance to the plot.

Skylar seemed genuinely interested as I told her about my favorite Jedi. By the time the old movies were over, the daughter of Poseidon was completely caught up and agreed to stay for "The Force Awakens". Watching Star Wars with Skylar was some of the most fun I'd ever had. As dedicated as I was to my training back at camp, all work and no play had gotten old. Here in Oklahoma, it was just Skylar and I sharing a movie together, surrounded by tons of people wearing costumes and wielding plastic light sabers.

When the movie ended, I cheered the loudest out of all the people in the park. Skylar laughed at me before tugging my new May the Force Be With You sweater and telling me to calm down. I laughed with her and for the moment we experienced nothing but pure bliss. No one's life was in danger, not a single monster was in a ten mile radius. It was just Skylar and I laughing together and enjoying each other's companionship.

***

We needed to make up for lost time. As fast as I could, I packed up all our belongings and we hitched a ride on the back of a pickup truck. Because of my imperative need to restock, we abandoned our ride at a seemingly deserted gas station.

We were just regretting our decision when I spotted the words "Open" flashing on a window. Just above it was a neon sign that read "Danica and Christine Gasoline! You'll never need gasoline again!" I opened the door to let Skylar in.

"Thanks," she muttered as she entered the establishment. At the time, nothing seemed wrong. Swords, shields, arrows, daggers, and other greek items were displayed on shelves and stored in baskets. It wasn't until later that I was informed that gas stations don't sell any of those things.

Grinning, I grabbed as silver arrows as I could hold and approached the service counter.

Two girls wearing matching blue uniforms with name tags clipped just above the chest instantly came out of the employees only room and smiled at me.

My cheeks turned slightly pink at the sight of them. Christine had long, straight platinum-blonde hair, dazzling hazel eyes and a bright smile. She about Skylar's height but was still about half an inch shorter than me.

Danica was shorter. She had keen green eyes and sleek amber hair braided down her back. The fact that neither of them looked even remotely old enough to own a gas station never seemed to cross my mind. I couldn't think straight. We were out in the middle of no where but I felt like the whole world was revolving around us. My heart pounded and palms started to sweat. I wiped them across my pants but it had no effect.

"Hi," Danica smirked seductively and waved. "I'm Danica and this is Christine. Can we help you?"

I choked on my words. Several times I opened my mouth and tried to speak, but the words never came. I was utterly infatuated.

Christine giggled and winked before Skylar spoke up.

"Um, no we don't need any help. We just need to buy some supplies and we'll be on our way. I need to go to the bathroom too, if you'd be so kind as to let me use it."

Danica glared at Skylar. "It's in the front corner of the shop near the bottles of nectar."

Skylar raised an eyebrow.

"Nectar?" The color was drained out of Danica's face.

"Y-yes, um, like the drink. It's just juice with less sugar than normal juice. Nothing special really."

"Yeah Skylar," I cut in, my eyes still absorbing the two girl's beauty. "Don't be so rude."

I really regret saying that. Skylar was obviously broken inside. Her eyes were tearing up but she continuously wiped any liquid away. She smiled sarcastically at Danica and Christine before starting towards the restroom.

She threw the door open, almost knocking some jars of Greek fire off the shelves. A couple of knives clattered on the ground.

"I'm so sorry," I mumbled as I knelt to pick up the knives. "I have no idea why she's acting like this. She's usually really nice." Danica smiled and her eyes glittered as I handed her the knives.

"Don't worry, you don't need her."

"Wh-what?" I asked, dumbfounded. "I'm not saying that it's just..."

Christine studied me, odd clanking sounds following after every step she made.

"You're so...handsome." she swooned.

"Oh, um, thank you." I ran my hands through my hair, my cheeks a bright red. "You two are really pretty too.."

Christine giggled but Danica tilted her head in disbelief.

"What? Don't you think we look...beautiful?"

That was an odd question. I looked away from her and began checking for supplies we had forgotten to pick up. Danica's brilliant green eyes focused on me. When I couldn't think of anything, I looked back at the arrows on the counter in front of me.

"How much for just these?"

Danica smiled and my heart skipped a beat. She walked over the same way Christine did, her leg making a loud clanging noise. She placed a hand on my chest and put her lips next to my ear.

"Stay here," she whispered. "Stay here with me."

A wave of warmth spread across my body. I wanted to do anything for her. I wanted her. I was about to agree when a stern voice echoed through my brain. To think that someone such as yourself would be swayed by something as pathetic as this. Do not give in; this is not true love. I frowned, shook my head, and brushed Danica's hands away.

"I...I'm sorry. I can't." I called out for Skylar. She had been in the bathroom for a while now. Where could she have gone?

"She's gone you idiot." Danica scolded, surprising me. Christine continued to giggle.

"Wh-what?" my voice faltered. Danica began to inch closer to me; dragging her leg as she approached.

"You chose me....you insulted her....she hates you....she left you."

I began to back up. "Skylar wouldn't leave me....she'd never..."

Danica smirked. Her eyes began to flicker before turning blood red. Her hair erupted into flames, and her uniform transformed into a knee length dress that revealed her true legs. One of them was a donkey's leg. The other was a prosthetic bronze leg. The only thing she could be classified as was an Empousa. Christine changed too, exactly as Danica had.

Suddenly, I heard a low moan. The water pipes exploded and Skylar burst out of the bathroom, followed by a huge wave of water. Her hands were tied in front of her and she was blind folded. When the water touched her, it gave her the strength to rip through her bindings. She tore off the blind fold and looked at me. I was going to apologize when Danica and Christine sprung back into action.

"Kill them!" Danica screeched.

Her hair had been extinguished but was quickly regaining it's intensity. Skylar looked at me one last time, pain and betrayal staining her brown eyes. She then summoned her sword and raised it over her head and hurricane Skylar stuck. With absolute no mercy.