Chapter Four: Return Of The Lemnian Women

 Chapter 4 

''' Return Of The Lemnian Women '''

That night, I dreamt that I was with Ouranos’s army. I saw Christian, the traitor, walking over to a hill. I decided to follow him. I walked with him up the hill, and met a ferocious sight. A dragon likes no other, hundreds of heads on one torso of a dragon. It was wrapped around a tree. I looked at the tree, and saw why the dragon was there. On the tree were ten golden apples. This must have been what Chiron was talking about, the Apples of Immortality. Christian walked up to the tree, and the dragon tensed. Christian pulled out a giant silver, gold and bronze ax, and the dragon heeled. Christian walked closer to the tree and picked the one at the top. He took the apple he had chosen and walked up the hill. There was a podium with a silver table at the center. Chris put the apple on the table and spoke.

“I offer the Golden Apple of Discord to Lord Ouranos of the sky, in hope that he may return,” He recited.

I watched as the apple was levitated skyward. Then, the voice that had almost taken over my mind last summer spoke.

“Good, good, you have done well, Christian. After a year of this diet, I will have my old form again, and after another month, I will be more powerful than anything else.” Ouranos laughed.

“Excellent my lord,” spoke Christian, “We will crush the gods and any opposition we face!”

<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Yes, wait. I sense an intruder. Blast! Hades has sent his son to spy on us, well Anderson. You are recruiting I see, well, It does you no good. You will be thrown into the depths of Tartarus!”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">I woke up panting and sweating. Everyone was asleep, except for Joe. He looked concerned.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“You ok man?” He asked, “You were muttering in your sleep.”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“What did I say?” I questioned.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“You were like, almost there, no don’t take it. What did that mean?”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">Of course, I knew what it meant, but I wasn’t going to tell Joe that.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“No idea,” I said.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Well, we are here,” Joe said.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">I looked out of the window, sure enough, we were in the same area as the last time we were here, were we almost stayed here, if it weren’t for Madison. Man I missed her a lot, but I wasn’t going to tell anyone. I turned around.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Hey! Zack, Janny, Shelbi, Phillip, Michelle, Ian, Megan! Wake up, were here.” I told them.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">All of them stirred, Janny sat up and wiped his eyes. Megan sat up and stretched, hitting Zach in the face.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Ouch!” He growled.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Okay guys, listen up!” I told them, “They probably won’t think that we are looking for a gift for Codi anymore, so it is going to be a hard rescue.”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">We discussed strategy in the truck for a little while. After we were done, we grabbed our weapons, and got out of the truck. I held Felonious tightly, I remembered the way that they had they had taken over me, and if it weren’t for Madison, I’d still be there, obsessing over Codi. I was determined not to let it happen again. The sun was coming up as we entered the village. About twenty of the women were at the center of the village, along with Jacob. He was heavily armed, he had two swords, a quiver of arrows and a bow, and a large bronze ax strapped to his back. Codi was the first to see us.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Oh so you have come back!” She said, “They always do.” Codi ran up and tried to hug me, but I pushed her away.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“I am here for Jacob, he will come back to camp with us.” I told her firmly.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">Codi’s smile vanished, “If you want him to come out of his trance, you need the ability to charmspeak, you are a child of Hades, and only children of Aphrodite may have that gift.” She said.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">I turned to Michelle, “Do u have that gift?” I asked her.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">She shook her head, “No only one of the girls in our cabin has it, and we don’t know who it is.”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Great,” I muttered under my breath.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Hey! Don’t get angry at her!” started Phillip. I was shocked, because he hadn’t spoken this whole trip, “Michelle’s great! She has lots of talents!”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“I know,” I said, “I was just thinking that we need to get Jacob.”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“It’s a shame you don’t have that girl from last time,” said Codi, “She had the power over our potion.”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">This remark hit me like a rock. That’s how Madison had saved us from the Lemnian Women, she could charmspeak. I needed to make a deal with Codi.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“I challenge Jacob to a duel, if I win, he comes with us, if I lose, I die and my friends go free.” I proposed.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">Codi thought about this. She shrugged, “You will die fast, shame, and you had such potential.”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">Step one, complete. Now it was time for step two to go in motion. I said a silent prayer to Aphrodite.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Ok Aphrodite,” I said, “I admit, I kind of like your daughter, if you want me to save her, I need the power of charmspeak for a little bit.”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">Nothing happened, and I think I know why. I wasn’t being truthful. I tried again.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Alright, fine,” I said in my head, “I love your daughter, and if she is to be saved, I need to be able to charmspeak for this battle.” I couldn’t believe I just said that, but for some reason, it felt like the truth.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Awww, I knew that you did. You just had to admit it! You may use charmspeak for a little bit. Later!” Aphrodite’s voice rang in my head.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">I drew Felonious and stepped up to Jacob. He had pulled out his ax. Time for my plan to go into action. Before I could say anything though, Jacob charged. I sidestepped, and deflected another attack.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Jacob! Listen to me!” I told him firmly, I could feel the charmspeak working, “You are in a trance! Wake up!” I yelled.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">Jacob looked like he realized what I had said. He blinked twice, and then seemed to realize what he was doing.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Connor?” He asked, “Why am I fighting you?”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“No time to talk!” I yelled, “Come on!”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">All ten of us ran to the truck, chased by the Lemnian Women. We got to the truck and got in. As I started the truck, Joe did something weird. He had a light blue aura around him. He turned his back on the Lemnian Women and did the ultimate way to defeat an enemy. Worse than a nuclear bomb, he farted. As he farted, about twenty lightning bolts went with the gas, hitting all of the Lemnian Women. He had received the blessing of Zeus.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Well that was,” I said.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Gross?” Michelle offered.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Cool?” Janny suggested.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Awesome!” said Phillip.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Safety,” Joe said, smiling.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Ugh men,” groaned Michelle as she and Megan entered the truck.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Once again,” Janny said, “Chicks are mental.”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Remember what you said Connor,” Aphrodite told me in my head, “I expect you two to be a good couple, or else.”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Yes meme.” I said.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">“Connor,” Joe asked, “You’re ruining my moment of glory by talking to yourself.”

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 20pt">Everyone laughed. We got in the truck and started to drive to Las Vegas.

Chapter Five: I Cause An Earthquake