ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｔａｎｓ　ｃｕｒｓｅ

WHEN A GOD SAYS SOON THEY DO NOT MEAN SOON. Lucia didn't know how long it took for dawn to come but oh was she impatient. She simply wanted him to come faster...Apollo that is.

When she found out about this whole thing, she did believe she was talking to the cast of 'keeping up with wackyville'. However, the events of today and signs from her past had her questioning whether or not it really was true. maybe a greek sun god really was her father? at least...one of them. she made a mental note to ask about the whole light birth thing later.

Lucia never asked her mortal father about her mother. She never really felt the urge or longing for one even when she saw people around her have amazing ones like Percy. Once her dad died and she was forced into the cruel hands of her stepmother she really only desired one less.

she was always satisfied with her dad and just her dad. Still, one time Lucia felt the need to ask her father if he knew what love was and if he was ever in it. with no explanation or further comment, he told her that he was in love with the sunlight. Lucia always believed that he just had a great love for watching the sunset and sunrise. or that it was just symbolism for his optimism. but now

The hunters were standing calmly to the side, and Artemis stared into the east like she was expecting something. Bianca sat off to one side, talking to Nico.

Lucia frowned to see his gloomy face. his lips were pursed and his eyes filled with tears, even from a distance Lucia could tell that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt.

She couldn't help thinking how selfish it was of her, to abandon her brother like that. even if she understood Bianca wanted to be free of that responsibility. Lucia was angry at her for abandoning someone she loved so easily. especially someone like Nico.

It was also the fact that Nico already felt like a little brother to Lucia. she couldn't help but want to make sure he never felt the sadness that she had. However, with the look on his face and the fact that his only blood family chose to willingly leave him. She felt that he might've already gotten a taste of it. Dread was evident in the pit of her stomach as she thought of the future of this decision and the effects it would have on Nico.

you're just being paranoid. he's going to be okay. they both are.

She watched as Grover and Thalia walked towards her. Grover held out his hand which she accepted cautiously before the three huddled over towards Percy. Lucia stayed silent as they approached. she honestly didn't want to talk to him more than she could help it.

They asked what happened with Artemis and Percy explained.

When he finished, Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

"How'd they even show up here?" Percy wondered. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia said, disgusted. "It's all Zoe's fault. That stuck-up, no good—"

"Who can blame her?" Grover said. "Eternity with Artemis?" He heaved a big sigh.

Lucia raised an eyebrow at that

Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs. You're all in love with Artemis. Don't you get that she'll never love you back?"

"But she's so... into nature," Grover swooned.

"You're nuts," said Thalia.

"Nuts and berries," Grover said dreamily. "Yeah."

"This actually explains so much," Lucia thought out loud.

The three demigods turned towards her expectedly,

She addressed Grover. "You always used to chew on the vending machine soda cans when you thought I wasnt looking. I guess It never crossed my mind that 'Hey Grover might be a goat'."

"Satyr!" He bleated

Lucia couldn't help but snort at the noise he made, She corrected herself "Sorry, Satyr."

It was then that the sky began to lighten. Artemis muttered, "About time. He's sooooo lazy during the winter."

"He's going to come at sunrise?" Lucia asked. she tried to seem uninterested but the way Artemis looked at her made her think she was a little too obvious in her desire to see her godly parent.

"Yes."

"I didn't want to be rude. I mean, I know the legends of Apollo. or sometimes Helios? please tell me that's not a third father—anyways, it basically goes that the sun god drives a big sun chariot across the sky. But isn't scientifically, the sun a star about ninety-three million miles from Earth, give or take. Maybe I'm just not used to Greek myths being true, but I don't see how Apollo could drive the sun..."

"I thought it was like a zillion," Percy mumbled

"We're aware, Kelp head."

"Kelp head?" Percy repeated

Thalia snorted, causing Percy to glare at her

"What? That lion-thorn monster thingy said Poseidon. I connected the dots."

"Manticore." Artemis corrected "And as for the sun It's not exactly as you think,"

"Oh, okay." She started to relax. "So, it's not like he'll be pulling up in a—"

There was a sudden burst of light on the horizon. A blast of warmth.

"Don't look," Artemis advised. "Not until he parks."

Parks?

Lucia averted her eyes, and saw that the other kids were doing the same.

The light and warmth intensified until Lucia's winter coat felt like it was melting off of her.

The warmth felt familiar and made her feel 1000x better after being in the snow for so long.

Then the light died.

Lucia immediately looked. And she couldn't believe it.

A red convertible Maserati Spyder stood parked in front of her and the best part was that it glowed. It was glowing because the metal was hot.

The snow had melted around the Maserati in a perfect circle, which explained why Lucia and them were now standing on green grass with wet shoes.

The driver got out, smiling. He looked about eighteen. He had sandy hair...blue eyes... he was tall. Lucia gasped when she recognized him.

From her peripheral, she saw Percy's gaze on the side of her face

He smiled playfully. The Maserati driver wore jeans and loafers and a sleeveless T-shirt.

"Wow," Thalia muttered. "Apollo is hot."

"Well, that's gross.."

"He's the sun god," Percy said.

"That's not what I meant."

"in front of me!?" Lucia complained,

"Little sister!" Apollo called. If his teeth were any whiter he could've blinded them all without the sun car. "What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"

Artemis sighed. "I'm fine, Apollo. And I am not your little sister."

"Sure, Sure, little sister."

"We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue—"

"So what's up?" He interrupted. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"

Artemis grit her teeth. "I need a favor. I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."

"Sure, sis!" Then he raised his hands in a stop everything gesture. "I feel a haiku coming on."

The Hunters all groaned. seems they'd met Lucia's immortal father before.

He cleared his throat and held up one hand dramatically. "Green grass breaks through snow. Artemis pleads for my help. I am so cool."

He grinned at them, waiting for the applause.

"That last line was only four syllables," Lucia corrected.

Apollo frowned. "Was it?"

"Yes. What about 'I am so big-headed?'" Artemis suggested.

"No, no, that's six syllables. Hmm." He started muttering to himself.

Zoe Nightshade turned to them. "Lord Apollo has been going through this haiku phase ever since he visited Japan. 'Tis not as bad as the time he visited Limerick. If I'd had to hear one more poem that started with, There once was a prince from Sparta—"

"I've got it!" Apollo announced. "I am so awesome. That's five syllables!" He bowed, looking very pleased with himself.

Lucia stood there for a few seconds contemplating whether she really was going insane again. wasn't the god of poetry supposed to be i dont know good at it?

"And now, sis. Transportation for the Hunters, you say? Good timing. I was just about ready to roll."

"These demigods will also need a ride," Artemis said, pointing to them. "Some of Chiron's campers."

"No problem!" Apollo checked them out. "Let's see...Thalia, right? I've heard all about you."

Ouch

Thalia blushed. "Hi, Lord Apollo."

"Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half-sister. Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad you're back. I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember one time—"

"Brother," Artemis said. "You should get going."

"Oh, right." He looked to Percy "Percy Jackson?"

"Yeah. I mean... yes, sir." Percy responded

Apollo studied him, but he didn't say anything instead he gave him a look that seemed slightly threatening.

Finally, that's when he looked at Lucia, his eyes intently on her. he formed a bright smile which Lucia couldn't help but return, still, she felt the nerves eating her from the inside out "Hey little star. Nice seeing you. glad to see you still have your iPod."

Lucia's face twisted in shock. She looked down to see her iPod sticking out of her front pocket. It had on a golden-yellow case and her white headphones wrapped around it.

"You—?" Lucia asked.

"Of course. If it were a regular device monsters would have eaten you years ago."

"Uh—Thank you?," Lucia responded "But...How?"

"God of music and prophecy kiddo. It's safe to say I assumed you would want one." Apollo reasoned

Lucia vividly remembered the day she got her iPod. She was only six and it was three days before it happened. Lucia had begged her dad to get her a phone. She tried to reason that all the kids had some kind of phone and would listen to music on them. She was absolutely banned from having any electronics but she so desperately wanted to listen to music everywhere she went.

Lucia's dad was a musician in a famous band, a guitarist, and a lead singer. His love for music spread to her from an early age. they would sing in the car together all the time and he taught her how to play the piano and electric guitar. Music was a part of her and it was putting on her headphones to drown out the world that kept her going when he died. She remembered when he handed it to her, she asked him if he was serious and if it was really hers. He said yes that it was a gift from those who loved her most. A gift he recieved that he swore to save for her.

"So you're....my other...you know." Lucia blocked the pain from the memory away

"Dad?"

"What else would I mean?"

"I am little star. " Apollo said, his playfulness died down... he looked almost sad "You look just like him."

Lucia fought with all her strength to not let the dam of tears break. She wanted to fall to her knees and sob. Wanted to ask him questions and yell and scream at him until she got her answers. However, she stood looking at her father with a blank face.

"Well!" any ounce of possible sadness was replaced with giddiness "We'd better load up, huh? Ride only goes one way—west. And if you miss it, you miss it."

Lucia looked at the Maserati, which would seat two people max. There were about twenty people there

"Cool car," Nico said.

"Thanks, kid," Apollo said.

"But how will we all fit?" Lucia asked

"Oh." Apollo seemed to notice the problem for the first time. "Well, yeah. I hate to change out of sports-car mode, but I suppose..."

He took out his car keys and beeped the security alarm button.

Chirp, chirp.

For a moment, the car glowed brightly again. When the glare died, the Maserati had been replaced by one of those Turtle Top shuttle buses that people used for school basketball games.

"Right," He said. "Everybody in."

Zoe ordered the Hunters to start loading. She picked up her camping pack, and Apollo said, "Here, sweetheart. Let me get that."

Zoe recoiled. Her eyes flashed murderously.

"Brother," Artemis chided. "You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart."

Apollo spread his hands. "Sorry. I forgot. Hey, sis, where are you off to, anyway?"

"Hunting," Artemis said. "It's none of your business."

"I'll find out. I see all. Know all."

Artemis snorted. "Just drop them off, Apollo. And no messing around!"

"No, no! I never mess around."

Lucia didn't have to be daughter of the god of truth to know that was a lie

Artemis rolled her eyes, then looked at us. "I will see you by winter solstice. Zoe, you are in charge of the Hunters. Do well. Do as I would do."

Zoe straightened. "Yes, my lady."

Artemis knelt and touched the ground as if looking for tracks. When she rose, she looked troubled. "So much danger. The beast must be found."

She sprinted toward the woods and melted into the snow and shadows.

Apollo turned and grinned, jangling the car keys "So" he said. "Who wants to drive?

☼

THE HUNTERS PILED INTO THE VAN FIRST. They all crammed into the back so they'd be as far away as possible from Apollo and the rest of the boys, Bianca sat with them, leaving Nico to hang in the front with them, Nico didn't seem to mind as Lucia was close

"This is so cool!" Nico said, jumping up and down in the driver's seat. "Is this really the sun? I thought Helios and Selene were the sun and moon gods. How come sometimes it's them and sometimes it's you and Artemis?"

"Downsizing," Apollo explained. "The Romans started it. They couldn't afford all those temple sacrifices, so they laid off Helios and Selene and folded their duties into our job descriptions. My sis got the moon. I got the sun. It was pretty annoying at first, but at least I got this cool car."

"But how does it work?" Nico asked. "I thought the sun was a big fiery ball of gas!"

Apollo chuckled and ruffled Nico's hair. "That rumor probably got started because Artemis used to call me a big fiery ball of gas. Seriously, kid, it depends on whether you're talking astronomy or philosophy. You want to talk astronomy? Bah, what fun is that? You want to talk about how humans think about the sun? Ah, now that's more interesting. They've got a lot riding on the sun... er, so to speak. It keeps them warm, grows their crops, powers engines, makes everything look, well, sunnier. This chariot is built out of human dreams about the sun, kid. It's as old as Western Civilization. Every day, it drives across the sky from east to west, lighting up all those puny little mortal lives. The chariot is a manifestation of the sun's power, the way mortals perceive it. Make sense?"

Nico shook his head. "No."

"Well then, just think of it as a really powerful, really dangerous solar car."

"Can I drive?"

"No." Lucia responded for her father "You're too young, Come here"

Lucia grabbed Nico's arm helping him jump off the driver's seat, when his feet touched the floor he handed a card to her which she accepted... Lucia smiled to see it was the Apollo Mythomagic card.

"Oo! Oo!" Grover raised his hand.

"Mm, no, Too furry," Apollo said. "And to prevent another Phaethon let's avoid Lucia getting behind the wheel, Shall we."

Apollo looked past Percy and focused on Thalia. "Daughter of Zeus!" he said. "Lord of the sky. Perfect."

"Oh, no." Thalia shook her head. "No, thanks."

"C'mon," Apollo said. "How old are you?"

Thalia hesitated. "I don't know."

"How don't you know?" Lucia wondered

"I was a tree" Thalia explained "For seven years"

"Oh?"

Apollo tapped his finger to his lips. "You're fifteen, almost sixteen."

"How do you know that?"

"Hey, I'm the god of prophecy. I know stuff. You'll turn sixteen in about a week."

Thalia's eyes widened, "That's my birthday! December twenty-second."

"Which means you're old enough now to drive with a learner's permit!"

Thalia shifted her feet nervously. "Uh—"

"I know what you're going to say," Apollo said. "You don't deserve an honor like driving the sun chariot."

"That's not what I was going to say."

"Don't sweat it! Maine to Long Island is a really short trip, and don't worry about what happened to the last kid I trained. You're Zeus's daughter. He's not going to blast you out of the sky."

Apollo laughed good-naturedly. The rest of them didn't join him.

Thalia tried to protest, but Lucia's immortal dad was absolutely not going to take "no" for an answer.

He hit a button on the dashboard, and a sign popped up along the top of the windshield.

Lucia tried to read it backwards but her dyslexia only made it harder. After a few seconds though she was pretty sure it said WARNING: STUDENT DRIVER.

The campers all sat down. Lucia found a seat next to Nico as he stared happily out the window. Percy and Grover sat in the row next to them with Percy on the outside of the seat and grover in at the window.

"Take it away!" Apollo told Thalia. "You're gonna be a natural!"

"Speed equals heat," Apollo advised. "So start slowly, and make sure you've got good altitude before you really open her up."

Thalia gripped the wheel so tight her knuckles turned white. She looked like she was going to be sick.

"What's wrong?" Percy asked her.

"Nothing," she said shakily. "N-nothing is wrong."

She pulled back on the wheel. It tilted, and the bus lurched upward so fast Lucia fell back and crashed against something soft. It wasnt until she felt a hand fall on her back did she realize she was on someone's lap.

"Slower!" Apollo said.

"Sorry!" Thalia said. "I've got it under control!"

"Are you okay?" Percy asked. His face was beet red as his other hand held her waist to prevent her from being tossed around again.

"Sorry," was all she said before standing up and finding her seat next to Nico. She thanked the gods that her skin wasnt pale enough to show the warmth in her cheeks.

Lucia Looked out the window over Nico's head, she saw a smoking ring of trees from the clearing where they had taken off.

"Thalia," Lucia said, "lighten up on the accelerator."

"I've got it," she said, gritting her teeth. But she kept it floored.

"Loosen up," Lucia told her.

"I'm loose!"Thalia said.

She was so stiff she looked like she was made out of plywood.

Lucia didn't take offense to her snapping though, determining it to be the nerves and pressure of driving the literal sun.

"We need to veer south for Long Island," Apollo said. "Hang a left."

Thalia jerked the wheel and again threw Lucia into Percy, this time he was more prepared and caught her in his arms

"The other left" Apollo tried

"Are you serious?!" Lucia yelled, she pushed him away causing him to bump into Grover

"Calm down, Sunlight" He tried "I didn't want you flying out the window. It's not my fault you're still a shortstack"

"Shut up Kelphead!" She grumbled, sitting next to Nico again and this time she gripped onto the seat for dear life

"She gets that from me," Apollo grinned at his daughter's hotheadedness.

Lucia made the mistake of looking out the window again. They were at airplane height now— so high the sky was starting to look black.

"Ah..." Her dad said, and she got the feeling he was forcing himself to sound calm. "A little lower, sweetheart. Cape Cod is freezing over."

Thalia tilted the wheel. Her face was chalk white, her forehead beaded with sweat. Something was definitely wrong. Lucia could sense it

The bus pitched down and somebody screamed. Lucia stifled a laugh when she realized it was Percy.

Now they were heading straight toward the Atlantic Ocean at a thousand miles an hour, the New England coastline off to the right. And it was getting hotter on the bus.

Lucia was probably the only mortal there who enjoyed the feeling

Apollo was thrown somewhere in the back of the bus, but he started climbing up the rows of seats.

"Take the wheel!" Grover begged him.

"No worries," Apollo said. He looked plenty worried. "She just has to learn to— WHOA!"

Lucia saw what he was seeing. Down below was a little snow-covered New England town.

At least, it used to be snow-covered.

The snow was melting off the trees and the roofs and the lawns. The white steeple on a church turned brown and started to smolder. Little plumes of smoke, like birthday candles, were popping up all over the town. Trees and rooftops were catching fire.

"Pull up!" Percy yelled.

There was a wild light in Thalia's eyes. She yanked back on the wheel, and Percy held on this time. As they zoomed up, the fires in the town were being snuffed out by the sudden blast of cold.

"There!" Apollo pointed. "Long Island, dead ahead. Let's slow down, dear. 'Dead' is only an expression."

Thalia was thundering toward the coastline of northern Long Island. There was a Camp there, Lucia saw the valley, the woods, and the beach. She also saw a dining area and cabins and a gorgeous amphitheater.

Something about the Camp made her smile as if she knew this place all along and was only returning.

"I'm under control," Thalia muttered. "I'm under control." They were only a few hundred yards away now.

"Brake," Apollo said.

"I can do this."

"BRAKE!"

Thalia slammed her foot on the brake, and the sun bus pitched forward at a forty-five-degree angle, slamming into the Camp Half-Blood canoe lake with a huge FLOOOOOOSH!

Steam billowed up, sending several frightened naiads scrambling out of the water with half-woven wicker baskets.

The bus bobbed to the surface, along with a couple of capsized, half-melted canoes. Lucia had her arm tightly around Nico holding him safely. Her fist was shades lighter from how tight she was gripping the seat "Let's never do that again, yeah?"

Grover nodded,

"Well," said Apollo with a brave smile. "You were right, my dear. You had everything under control! Let's go see if we boiled anyone important, shall we?"