So I'm sure most of you (if not all) have figured out that the quotes always deal with something that's going to happen in the chapter, BUT, just in case you haven't, well, they do. Usually it's just a key word to hint something that's happening in the chapter. It usually won't be obvious until after you read the chapter. All right, enjoy!

Chapter Quote:

"I do know this. It's the things we run from that hurt us the most."

~Brad Sturdevant

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Chapter 2: Sinking Ships Were the Good Old Days

Luke

It'd been just over a week, but Bryn's death still seemed like it was yesterday. She may or may not be alive, but if she was, the Bryn that was alive wasn't the Bryn he knew. She was totally and utterly different. Luke had to accept, unwillingly, that he'd never get to see her again, and knowing she died in order to save him would haunt him forever. He would always have this guilt that no one would be able to convince him out of having.

Although, riding a centaur in a hula skirt was an interesting, yet effective, way of actually pushing the depressing thoughts out of Luke's head, even if it was because he was trying not to fall off. The world zipped past his vision, and he had no idea what state they could possibly be in. The centaurs could be taking a long route for all he knew. Luke looked over at Silena and Derek. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the ride; he looked like he wanted to puke. Luke couldn't blame him. This wasn't the nicest of rides. Efficient? Yes. Smooth? Absolutely not.

Finally the torture ended when the centaurs skidded to a stop.

"This is where you get off. We're not a big fan of wolves," Ned said.

"No problem. Thank you for the ride," Luke replied. The three demigods waved goodbye to the centaurs.

"I feel like I'm going to puke," Derek groaned. He did look rather pale and sickly. Silena pulled out a small square of ambrosia. He took it gratefully. The trio turned around and stared at the forest in front of them.

"So who wants to walk into the forest of probable death first?" Luke inquired, trying to lighten the mood. When neither he nor Derek moved a muscle, Silena rolled her eyes and started forward, saying, "Wimps."

The two boys quickly flanked her. It still seemed strange that it was just Silena they were protecting. Luke was so used to having to watch out for his sister and Bryn. He'd promised he'd take care of both of them...

"Something's following us," Silena said, interrupting Luke's thoughts. The three demigods halted, drawing their weapons: Luke and Silena their swords, and Derek his bow.

"Who's there?" Derek ordered, sounding surprisingly sure of himself. His question was answered with a low growl... or growls. From all around. Luke watched as massive wolves crept out of the forest with their teeth bared and ears straight up. He didn't need to know wolf to know these wolves meant business and if they said the wrong thing, they were going to end up as puppy chow.

"We're here to see Lupa," Luke said. "We mean no harm but we will defend ourselves if need be."

Do you threaten us, young demigod? A voice demanded. Someone had said it, but not out-loud. They said it through his head.

"I'm not threatening, just advising. May I ask who spoke?"

A wolf, bigger than all the others, jumped down in front of him. Silena and Derek risked a glance behind them, but stayed facing their direction in case this new wolf ordered her pack mates to attack. If wolves could smirk, this one most definitely was and said, I did. Give me your names.

"I'm Luke Jackson, grandson of Athena and Poseidon. This is my sister, Silena Jackson. I think her... divine heritage is obvious. And this is Derek Michaels, son of Apollo and possibly some other god apparently because he can do stuff that no one else can and is pretty awesome. You are?"

I am Lupa. Tell me, how stupid must you be to raise arms against my pack?

"We have wolves the size of small cars staring at us like they would like to eat us. We're going to be wary. And for the record, we had our weapons out before we knew they were them."

The alpha wolf blinked. Her eyes shifted over to Derek. He'd remained still as statue, not moving a muscle. Surely that bow was getting heavy, Luke thought.

Derek Michaels. I've heard about you.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" he replied, not looking at her.

An interesting thing.

"Thank you for that clarification," he grumbled.

You haven't figured out how to get her, have you?

"I have actually. She's my girlfriend."

I'm not talking about Miss Jackson.

"Then who?" Derek's voice quavered, making Luke wonder just what Lupa was talking about.

Hallie.

"Derek?" Silena inquired.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he answered; he'd hesitated though. He was lying. Luke wanted to know why.

Lupa snorted. You're more stubborn than Pluto himself.

"What does Pluto have to do with this? It's not even considered a planet anymore which is completely stupid," Luke said.

"Oh my gods Luke..." Silena groaned. "Pluto is the Roman name for-"

"Hades," Derek finished. "So what does Hades have to do with this?"

You'll find out when you find the girl, among other things.

"She's his child, isn't she?"

"While I would love to know why you know this girl when you said you didn't, Derek, but we came here for another reason. Lupa, we were told you were given Bradley and Brady Winchester for some reprimanding. It is urgent that we speak with them," Silena intervened.

You're not the only ones interested in them.

"Bryn's here," Luke stated. "She's the only one we know of that would be interested in them."

Who is Bryn? Lupa actually looked confused.

"Bryn was our friend. She is... was... their older sister. We're not sure if she's dead or alive. She wants to recruit them though, and she's working for the people that are trying to bring the gods down. We can't let that happen. If it does, we'll be fighting against three children of Zeus. Luke and Silena are extremely powerful, but two children of the Big Three versus three children of the Big Three isn't going to end well. We're screwed if that happens," Derek pointed out.

You will have more than two children of the Big Three on your side.

"Who is the third?" Luke asked.

You'll find out soon.

"It's got to be Hallie," Derek said.

"You would know," Silena muttered under her breath. The son of Apollo gave her a guilty look.

Come. I shall show you Brady and Bradley Winchester. Lupa started walking off and the demigods followed.

"Uh, your minions won't turn us into puppy chow will they?" Luke queried.

"Luke!" Silena hit him on the arm.

Only on my command. You three are not weak, which is good. Although you do have mouths on you.

"You're pretty sassy yourself, miss."

"If you get us killed with your talking, I will kill you in the Underworld and send you to Tartarus," Silena warned. Luke grinned at her but said nothing. The group followed the lead wolf with the other wolves trailing behind, keeping watch on them and everything else.

The trees that had been sparsely scattered around opened up to a small clearing, big enough for a house to be built with a ten feet of nothing but grass around the entire place. On the other side were three people: two blondes and one brunette.

It wasn't hard for Luke to figure out the two blondes were the Winchester twins. They looked just like Bryn, even from the distance he was standing at. The brunette however was unfamiliar. She was shorter than the boys, and faced away from them. One of the twins made eye contact with Luke before mouthing something to his companions. The girl placed a battle helmet on her head and started walking off, taking a glance behind her so brief that Luke didn't get a good look at her. The twins hesitated before following her.

"Brady! Bradley!" Silena hollered. The twins turned around and waved but went back to following the girl. Derek narrowed his eyes in their direction; he jogged after them. The Jacksons followed.

"Hey you two, wait up for a minute!" Derek yelled. The twins ignored him, forcing the three demigods to run faster. The Winchesters and their acquaintance disappeared behind a boulder bigger than a tank. When Luke, Silena, and Derek rounded the thing, their targets were dashing through the forest. Without thinking, the three chased after them.

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Silena

The Winchesters were incredibly nimble on their feet and so was the other person. Derek was the closest to them because his son of Apollo powers kicked in he turned into an Olympic athlete. Silena and Luke tried to keep up as best they could, but when the twins and the girl started crisscrossing paths and disappearing behind a tree on Silena's left side and reappearing on her right side, it got confusing. Luke ended up just focusing on chasing the person closest to him, which happened to be a twin. Derek had the other twin, leaving Silena with the girl. She wondered how this was going to work out if she actually caught the mystery girl. She was gaining on her, but she hadn't necessarily thought this plan out well. Silena had never been necessarily good at hand-to-hand combat. Sword-fighting, sure. But not ninja stuff.

The mystery girl skidded to a stop, and whipped around to face Silena, who in turn slid to a stop, although not near as graceful as she would've liked. Her helmet covered most of her face, so the only part visible were her eyes; they were flashing with anger and... terror?

"Who are you?" Silena demanded.

"It does not matter who I am. Stop following us," the girl replied in a carefully controlled voice.

"It does matter. Why are you after the Winchester twins?"

"That is none of your business," the girl growled.

"What's your name?"

The girl remained quiet before: "Penn."

"Penn? Nice to meet you. I'm Silena."

"I know who you are. I am not interested in talking." Penn stalked off, but Silena, rather stupidly, grabbed her arm to stop her. Her world flipped over before being jarred back into focus. Her face was planted in the ground, her arms pinned to her back. Silena struggled violently but it was no use.

"Listen to me Silena, if you find out why I want the twins, it would be catastrophic. Stop following me and stop following them. I am truly, truly sorry for this," Penn apologized, sounding surprisingly sincere. "But it is the only way I can get you to stop following me."

Silena had no idea what Penn meant until she felt something pinch the side of neck.

A pressure point.

Her world turned black.

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Derek

He lost the twin somewhere in the forest. It was no use trying to find him either. He was lost in the middle of an unknown forest with Luke and Silena gods know where with a bunch of wolves that would love to eat him alive with a leader who liked to give answers more confusing than the questions asked and a psycho mystery girl recruiting the Winchester twins. Derek missed the good old days when the biggest thing he had to worry about was not drowning on a cruise ship when Amphitrite and Triton got pissed that Bryn was onboard a boat in their territory.

Anger burned through his veins, and without thinking, he punched a tree. But that punch triggered something. Clattering behind him made Derek turn around. A skeleton in ragged Civil War wear was forming. Its mouth was in a permanent, gruesome smile. It turned its hollow eyes on him; he started to back up. A bow wouldn't do much against a skeleton, so Derek hastily put it away and took out his sword. But the skeleton didn't attack. It was almost as if it was awaiting orders.

From Derek.

Had he somehow raised this thing from the Underworld?

But how was that possible? He was a son of Apollo, not Hades.

"You will have more than two children of the Big Three on your side," Lupa's voice resonated in his head. It wasn't possible... was it?

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Plot twist number two? Maybe? Yes? No? Let me know what you think! And does anyone smell trouble brewing between Derek and Silena? Review!