I woke up not wanting to get up, typical. But I might as well try to complete the quest. Maybe a monster will just kill me. Then I won’t have to worry about this whole prophecy thing. Then I heard banging out the door.

Leo yelled, “Wake up, Alex!

I tried to yell back that I’m not home. But of course my voice was gone, oh sorry, not gone. Stolen.

Fern shouted, “I know you can hear us.”

I was ready for intruders like them. I pressed on a button beside my drawer. The next thing I heard was the sound of gushing water and screaming.

Fern exclaimed, “What did you do that for?”

“My jacket,” Leo cried. “Aw man. And my tool belt, you wet my tool belt!”

I slowly rise from my bed and changed into denim jeans, the orange half-blood shirt, a red plaid hooded jacket, and my red converse. I brought that bottomless backpack that was already filled with all of my stuff. I walked out the door with a drenched Leo and Fern. Travis and Connor were right behind them.

Leo muttered, “Thanks, I forgot to shower today.”

Connor and Travis applauded. “Quite a show you put there.”

The brothers tried to look inside my cabin but I shut the door. I pressed the doorknob with my ring and put it on lock mode. Cebury was also there to meet me. She gave me a slobbery kiss and I hugged her back.

Travis cracked his knuckles. “You can give us the keys.”

Connor grinned. “We’ll take care of your cabin while you gone.”

I gave an icy glare to the Stoll brothers. I looked at Ceb into her eyes, and tried to have some sort of telepathy conversation with her. She then barked in a 3-tune harmony, that’s when I knew she got my request. Ceb took a step towards the Stoll brothers and started to growl at them.

Travis stammered, “What is she doing?”

Connor said slowly, “Nice doggy, good doggy”.

I wrote on the whiteboard explaining them the situation. If the step at least 10 feet from my cabin, they’ll be new chew toys for Ceb. The gulped and started to walk away, wishing me luck.

I walked towards the stables with a soaked Leo and Fern. Fern wore the orange camp half-blood shirt under a green jacket. He carried a brown backpack probably filled with food for the journey. He wore baggy jeans, Nike shoes to cover his hooves, his green beanie to hide his horns that he was still too embarrassed with since he complains that he was a late bloomer. He also wore his crutches to pass of as a human. Leo wore his regular army jacket over his camp half-blood shirt. And his golden tool belt was still soaked. We met with Jason, Piper, and Chiron in front of the stables with Phoenix. Jason wore the camp half-blood shirt with a black windbreaker and had a sword by his waist. Piper also wore the camp’s shirt with her faded jeans. She also had her knife, Katropis the dagger of Helen of Troy, attached at her side.

“Finally,” Piper said.

Phoenix whinnied, “This half human, half horse has been trying to give me this sort of jewelry. May I have permission to trample?”

I shook my head and she calmed down.

Leo started to observe Phoenix then asked, “Where is the button on this thing?”

“Gods Leo,” Piper groaned. “This is like any normal horse.”

"Only it has wings," Jason pointed out.

Chiron smiled and handed me a huge golden hoop that could fit through my neck like a necklace.

Chiron said, “This will somewhat tame Phoenix, kind of like the bridle that Bellerophon used to tame Pegasus. You can control the different forms of her, I had the Hephaestus cabin make it custom made for Phoenix’s ability.”

Jason arched an eyebrow. “How did you get this thing anyway?”

Chiron rubbed his neck. “A couple of Hermes kids tried to so called “tame” me a few years back.”

I placed the bridle to Phoenix who gladly received it. The bridle glowed and I noticed that my ring started to glow too.

Chiron explained, “Your ring and the bridle are connected, so you can control Phoenix’s forms whenever and wherever you want.”

“Cool,” Leo said. “Like wireless connection.”

I handed Chiron a white envelope.

He looked at it then asked me, “For your family?”

I nodded, its a few golden drachmas and instruction on how to Iris-message me.

He smiled, “I’ll make sure they’ll receive it. And I have something for you.”

He gave me a letter, it was addressed to me. I looked inside and couldn’t believe my eyes. It was practically 100 bucks in cash.

Leo peered behind me. “You have an allowance? That’s so unfair.”

I pressed on my ring and noticed a new image. It looked like a pegasi; I pressed on it and saw all 13 images of the gods again with a middle one with the shape of the omega. I pressed on the images of a lightning bolt, a hammer, and a dove. Phoenix started to shift and 3 horses appeared beside her. I guessed if I only want some of her forms she can still stay in her true form. As I got on Phoenix, Jason helped Piper get on the Aphrodite horse which is a white miniature horse a few black blots like spots. It had shaggy brown hair that was braided and white, slightly small wings. It reminded me of a horse on My Little Pony. Jason sat on the Zeus horse, a gray stallion with dark gray wings. Electricity ran throughout its whole body. It had a long black mane that it shook every time electricity zapped him. Leo petted the Hephaestus horse. It had bronze skin with gold plates kind of like armor for a horse. It also had huge metallic wings. Oil and coal came out from its behind and I hope it wasn’t what I thought it was.

Fern gulped. “How am I going to sit?”

We all started to consider that. I walked over to the Hephaestus horse. I started to look around the horse until I found a hidden compartment. Just as I thought, inside was a convenient instruction manual. I flipped through the manual then followed the instructions and pressed a button and flipped a switch. The horse started to shake like a blender then started to transform. It’s back started to expand kind of like an accordion, hidden plates in the body started to put themselves together. Then some hidden seat cover popped on top of it’s back.

I wrote on the whiteboard. It said, now it’s a convertible two-seated horse.”

Jason said. “Now that is cool.”

Leo sniffled. “I miss Festus.”

“Well,” Chiron said. “I wish you the best of luck, your deadline is in eight days. Be sure to call back to camp when you can.”

Leo got up front of the horse while Fern sat behind him. Our horses spread their wings and galloped into the sky.

Fern stammered, “Please don’t drop me. Please, I’m too young to die.”

Leo grinned, “Don’t worry fearful Fern”.

Fern frowned. “Shouldn’t it be fearless?”

Leo laughed. “You?” Leo exclaimed. “Fearless?”

“Well, yeah.” Fern said.

Leo started to mock Fern. He whimpered, “P-please don’t drop me. I-I’m too young to die.”

Fern cried, “Alexandria! Leo’s bullying me!”

I waved him off, making the obvious gesture that I didn’t care.

“Don’t you remember your promise in Rosé Point Academy?” Fern exclaimed. “You promised that you’ll help me if anyone messes with me!”

I sighed, Fern really won’t quit. I had Phoenix fly beside the Hephaestus horse.

Leo stuttered, “It was only a joke.”

I gave him my best fake smile. Then I reached for the instruction manual again. I browse into it until I found it, Bull Mode. I pressed two buttons on its right hind leg. The horse stopped in midair still flapping its wings. It twitched and its head jerked sideways. I heard a slow rumbling noise inside it, and then it began to shake. It started to act up, and tried to buck Leo and Fern out of its back. The horse turned sideways, shaking them off and bucking some more. Leo and Fern screamed for someone to stop it. But all Jason, Piper, and I can do is start cracking up.

Leo exclaimed, “Oh n-no s-s-she d-did-didn’t!”

“B-bully!” Fern cried, “B-b-bully!”

Finally they couldn’t hold on any longer. They fell out of the horse and hurtled into the sky. But when they were only a few feet from smashing their faces into the ground, the horse caught them again. The Hephaestus horse then glided towards me, obviously pleased by itself. The boys looked like they wanted to hurl.

Leo mumbled, “Note to self”.

“Never mess with an annoyed Alex”, Fern finished.

We then flied the rest of the way to Ohio. We arrived to Columbus, Ohio a few hours later. We landed at this place called Topiary Park. The park is about seven acres. It had realistic looking bush sculptures. When we got of the horses, they merge back together with Phoenix.

She then nudged me. “May I eat some grass, my lady?”

I nodded that she could have a lunch break. Phoenix galloped over to a bush that looked like a couple made out of leaves.

Piper asked, “What if people see her?”

“Don’t worry,” Leo said. “She can become one with the statue. They might mistake her as a horse sculpture.”

I punched Leo on the shoulder.

Fern sighed, “I just wish most parks look like this”.

I gave Fern a pat on the back. I was sad too; I saw a lot of trashed parks all over the U.S when we were traveling to New York. It was really depressing. We asked for directions, and then headed to the theater.

We found the theater a half an hour later. It looked like the average theater, with a 90s look. In red neon lights it said, Ohio Theater. It also had an act written on the sign board.

NOW SHOWING: “THE MUSE-IC SISTERS”

ALSO SHOWING: “MAMA MIA”

WED & THURS, 8:30

Piper muttered, “‘The Muse-ic Sisters’, how convenient.”

Fern gave a wide grin. “I love Mama Mia, we have to-”

Leo coughed.

Fern stammered. “I mean we have to watch the “Muse-ic Sisters”.

There was a huge line out on front; we wouldn’t stand a chance to get in. So we headed into an alley and went into the back door. Leo flawlessly picked the lock and got us in.

The lobby of the theater was beautiful. I really did felt sad for Annabeth; she would have loved to see this. The whole lobby looked like it was made of gold. The floor was covered by a red carpet; it reminded me of the red carpet in the Oscars. Glass chandeliers hung from the ceiling, twinkling in the light. Detailed carvings filled the walls. Burgundy curtains that were trimmed with gold, hanged by the windows. A marble staircase wound to the next floor.

We climbed up the stairs, holding onto the golden rails and into the theater. The place didn’t look like any theater; it looked more like an opera house. Red, velvet chairs filled the room in rows. Annabeth was right; it was filled with Spanish architecture. The walls, columns, everything were embroidered with 3-D art. The stage also covered with huge red curtains, which covered the stage. We were in those little private rooms some opera houses have. Leo sat first, then me and Fern with Jason and Piper last.

“Great,” Leo complained. “I’m ADHD, how am I going to sit still in this place?”

Jason said, “Just stay occupied, and build something if you get bored”.

Leo grumbled, “Fine”.

Jason put his arm over Piper. They're such an adorable couple, I envy them. 

Someone dimmed the light and people started to shush each other. The curtain opened and one lady stood at the middle of it. It was hard to see from far away, but she was about in her 20s. And had a huge mole by her chin, with it she looks more like an actress. She had ashy brown hair was tied into a bun, and wore a veil over it with a platinum gold hair band that looked like a tiara. She wore a long yellow dressed and wore matching yellow sandals. She opened a mouth and started to sing. She didn’t sing with words, she sang with jumbled words. In a loud, low voice, she was singing in opera.

Piper sighed, “I haven’t listened to opera for a long time”.

Leo asked, “What’s opera?"

Jason groaned, “Seriously, how can you not know these things?”

Leo shrugged. "It's not like I can check my iphone what's hot and what's not. Hello? Very powerful and may I add, hot, demigod alert."

Fern rolled his eyes and explained, “It’s a type of music discovered in Italy. When there’s opera, its helps make the setting more dramatic.”

As we went back to listening, she sang even more. The song was very beautiful; her voice was loud and respectful. It was like listening to a symphony. Then I heard a bunch of sniffling. I turned and saw Fern trying to blink back tears.

“Dude,” Leo asked not believing it himself. “Are you crying?”

“No, shut up”, Fern sniffled. “It just, opera makes me emotional.”

We started to snicker as he wiped his tears with his shirt.

Then two more ladies came on the stage. They look exactly like the lady who sang opera. They had the same ash brown hair, and wore the platinum hair band but with no veil. One wore an orange sundress and sandals, and had a comic mask on. The other wore the same style of dress only black. She also wore a tragic mask. They started to sing together, it was very beautiful. They sang with perfect harmony, sometimes the song seemed happy with the lady in orange leading. And sometimes the song was sad, with the lady in black leading. When the song ended, they bow down and the curtains close.

I wrote on my whiteboard my plan. We have to meet those ladies; they might be the ones we were looking for. We headed out to the backstage. It was huge, ropes and pulleys filled the whole place. We knocked on the door that had the “Muse-ic Sisters” written on it. The door opened and the lady in yellow opened it. She had light green eyes that were covered with a veil. And I was right about the mole. She really did look more like an actress with it.

“Hello!” She sang in a loud voice.

I waved hello while the others said hi in unison.

The lady in orange beamed. “Why, it’s visitors. Come in, come in.”

We stepped into the room. She looked exactly the same as the other two. Only she held her hair in a 2 pigtails like a cheerleader. She looked the cheery type, she had huge dimples. But it looked weird, as if she was being forced to smile. She also had a comic mask in her hand.

They lady in black whimpered, “They must be here to tell us how bad our show was!”

She was the same as the other two. She wore her hair with the hair band; her long hair went all the way to her waist. She had black lines under her eyes, and her eyes were tinged with red. As if the whole day she’s been crying and mourning about a family member.

The lady with the comic mask chortled the other one, “You always judge a person by their cover, Melpomene”.

Melpomene, the lady in black, whined to the lady in yellow, “Polyhymnia! Thalia is hurting my feelings.”

“Now, now”, Polyhymnia scolded and sang with rhyme. “You always get hurt, even when it’s a joke. And Thalia, you should go easy on your sister, be nice to the folks.”

“Okay,” Thalia said, completely ignoring that she was scolded with a huge grin.

Thalia turned to us and giggled, “Do you guys want our autographs?”

Jason said, “Not really”.

“See?” Melpomene moaned. “They’re probably going to make fun of our singing!”

Polyhymnia sighed then sang to us, “Melpomene was always the negative type in the family. And Thalia always teases her with her positive personality.”

Piper asked, “Are you guys the muses?”

They all paused and looked at each other.

Melpomene whined, “They’ve seen through our cover!”

Thalia cracked up. “It must have been you! You always seemed to mess things up.”

Polyhymnia sang, “You must be the demigods. My, what are the odds? What do you guys-?”

She then noticed me behind Fern. The other sisters stopped talking with each other.

They all gave me the same icy stare.

Thalia shouted, “Besides coming here for autographs, how dare you come here!”

Melpomene burst out crying, “You’ve hurt all of our feelings with your horrid singing.”

Polyhymnia shut the door behind us. She sang, “What is your purpose? Or else we’ll sell you to the circus.”

Leo held up his hands. “Hey lady, go easy on the threats. We don’t really want to go on the circus.”

I wrote on the whiteboard and showed it to them. They all glared at me.

“Why will we give you your voice back?” Thalia snickered.

“Apollo had ignored us with his oath of his”, Melpomene blubbered.

Piper tried to charmspeak them, "He didn't mean it, I'm sure of it. Now if you would be so kind, maybe you can forgive Alexandria and-"

"How dare you charmspeak daughter of love," Melpomene cried. "But even we can't forgive her or the man of above."

Fern whispered to Leo, "Since she rhymes, I think she meant Apollo. Not Zeus." 

Leo nodded understanding the rhyme.

Polyhymnia sang, “You can’t, take something you take grant!”

She held out her palm. A huge glowing crystal ball appeared. She then twirled it. As the ball spun, I could here my voice singing. It was a song when I was singing a song from the concert, the last song I used my voice with. Tears came into my eyes, I missed my voice. As I reached out to grab it, it vanished from Polyhymnia’s hand.

“Foolish girl, the little lilac”, she sang. “You will never get your voice back.”

Melpomene bellowed, “Until you’ve proven us wrong”.

Leo asked, “How?”

Thalia whooped, “When you prove what Apollo have swore is true.”

Polyhymnia finished, “If you can’t, then its doom for you.”

They then vanished with a melody that sounded like a music box. I crumpled down to my knees. I lost my only chance to get my voice back.

Fern knelt beside, “We still have the rest of the prophecy to follow.”

“Yeah,” Leo said. “I bet you can-”

He paused. “What is that thing Apollo swore?”

Jason answered, “He swore on the River Styx that she can sing better than each muse alone”.

Leo chuckled, “At least he didn’t swear that you sang better than the muses together, right?”

Everyone glared at Leo. He wasn’t really helping with the moods. I got up and wrote on the white board and handed it to Piper.

She smiled and said, “That’s the spirit! Louisiana, here we come!”

We left the theater and met up with Phoenix. We then soared across the beautiful Ohio skyline.

_____________________________________________________

How do you like this chapter? You guys met 1/3 of the muses. And how do you like my rhymes? I promise you'll read some more rhymes and limericks. So stay tune and read the my next chapter. BYE