The Madness of Midas' Hand {Private w/ Dawn and Diggy}

Alec hadn't planned on going on a quest. Hell, he didn't even want to go on a quest. He was about to decline the offer, but when he found out that one of his fellow camper, Serena, was partaking in the dangerous mission, he quickly jumped on the chance to join as well.

Out of all the people, he didn't understand why Nezza would ask him to accompany her. Sure, he was like an older brother to her, but he was also hot-headed and very impatient. He was used to flying solo.

He trailed behind Serena and Nezza who were walking side by side. Perching his sunglasses on his head, he silently made a promise to himself to keep them both safe throughout the quest. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if something happened to any of them, especially Serena. Speaking of her, Alec still wasn't sure about the feelings he had towards her. As girly as it sounded, he felt butterflies in his stomach just at the sound of her name, and he felt his heartbeat accelerate just at the sight of her.

He checked the contents of his backpack once again before they left. He packed some snacks, nectar, ambrosia, and a few extra clothes. He also brought along his harmonica, for entertainment purposes. Hopefully he wouldn't use up the nectar or ambrosia. He wanted to think that they would all make it back in one piece.

Alec fidgeted, dusting imaginary dirt off the sleeves of his raglan t-shirt, and flicking his hair to the side. He didn't want to admit it, but he was extremely nervous. All he wanted to do was make his mom proud for once.

His head snapped up when Nezza started talking. Smirking, he wondered how she was able to keep up with such a peppy endeavor when they know they have a big chance of dying in the next few days.

"The Underworld," Alec said blankly. "If it's anything like the Inferno, I'm not gonna enjoy it." he shivered, picturing all the flames as depicted in books. As the son of the goddess of ice, it was going to be hell for him… literally.

Alec opened up the doors for both of the girls, pushing Serena to sit in between him and Nezza. Giving her a teasing smile, he gestured for her to go in first.

He watched Camp Half-Blood disappear in the distance. For once in a long time, he'd be leaving camp for the day and wouldn't be back after curfew later that night.

Alec laughed at the memory of his first encounter with Nezza. "Wrong first impression? That's an understatement! You tried to kill me!" he guffawed, chuckling at the daughter of Nyx's expression.

As Nezza bolted out of the van, leaving him and Serena behind, he took the opportunity to properly study her. Her light brown hair was tied up in a messy ponytail, tendrils framing her face nicely. She was dressed rather modestly too. In her gray hoodie, shorts, and sneakers, Alec thought that she looked better than every child of Aphrodite.

He forced himself to avert his gaze to Nezza, who was already by the entrance of the train station. Alec frowned when he noticed that she paid for their tickets. He shoved his hand in his pocket, fishing for the mixed drachmas and US dollars he kept in his pocket. He'd make sure to pay for their next expense.

Alec plopped down on the seat next to Nezza. It took a while for the train to move, and he already knew that the week would be long for him.

Alec frowned when he saw Serena drift off to sleep. Seriously? They were just starting the quest and she was already dozing off? He rolled his light blue eyes and shook his head. With the possibility of danger around them, he didn't feel like taking a nap at all.

He turned to look at Nezza who started a conversation with him. Feeling a smirk at what she said, he shrugged. "S'okay. I think I'd volunteer if you would've chosen someone else, honestly," he told her, chucking. "Where'd you get that impression?"

But he was aware of his reputation around camp. He was used to being alone, it calmed him. With no other company, it gave him lots of time to think. His thoughts would always drift to his family; how his siblings were now, and if they were being treated nicely by his parents. He never tried to reconcile with his parents, and by the looks of it, he wouldn't be doing it in the near future.

"Thank you, Nez," said Alec softly. "I'm glad you chose me," he admitted sheepishly, reaching into his gray and blue backpack to look for his iTouch. The trip was going to be long. He didn't want to spend the entire time being idle.

He was playing Temple Run when he noticed Nezza squeeze their fellow companion's shoulder from the corner of his eye. It caught his attention. Was there a monster on board?

He decided to shrug it off and continue his game. Maybe she just wanted someone else to talk to? But the look of alarm all over her face caught his attention. He glanced at his surroundings, trying to look as natural as possible, and that's when it caught his eye. The thing had one eye in the center of his forehead. He bolted to his feet, grabbing his backpack and flinging it over his shoulder.

"We're switching seats," he decided for them, looking over in the next cab where it was almost empty. Great. An arena for them to fight in. It was almost as if the gods were planning the whole thing and using them as some sort of entertainment. If a fight is what they want, they're gonna get so much more than they asked for.

The trio rushed into the nearly deserted train cab. Alec wondered what the mortals would see since the Mist would manipulate their sense of sight. Would they still see him shooting ice out of his palms or would it look like a bunch of rainbows were spewing from his hands? He shook his head, reprimanding himself silently. Now wasn't the time for jokes.

After Serena had locked the door, he stretched out his arm, palm facing the entryway, and immediately, the lock froze over. He wasn't sure if that was going to give them more time, but it was worth a shot.

By the look on Nezza's face, he knew that the clever daughter of Nyx already had a plan formulating in her head. He admired the fact that she was a natural leader at such a young age, something he never was. With the way she gave out orders, she could've persuaded him to go into battle without any weapons and be assured that he'd come out alive.

Alec ducked behind the seats, his head poking out from the side of the seat in front of him. The view was clear enough, giving him a perfect chance to turn the cool tiled floor into ice. He stole a glance at Serena, a way of telling himself that she's going to be safe.

His heart was hammering in his chest as he saw the cyclops struggling to open the door through the darkness. He could see the fire in the monster's eye through the window on the door. Alec felt his bottom lip tremble, the result of his nervousness. They're going to be okay, he assured himself. They're going to live.

He already had his palms on the ground when the cyclops stepped foot into the vehicle. It took a mere second for the floor to glaze over, shining like diamonds in the dark.

The monster lost its balance, a leg lifting off the ground as it plummeted toward the ground. He waited for Serena to do her task before coming out of his hiding spot to survey the damage done. The humans were oblivious to the small fight that happened right before their very eyes. The only remains of the monster were a pile of golden dust on the ground where the monster once stood.

Looking at the two fourteen year olds, checking to see if any damage has been done. His eyebrows knit together. If one monster was able to find them on this train, there's a huge chance that there will be more.

"We have to go."

Alec felt a surge of adrenaline when Nezza opened the emergency exit. The landscape of the countryside was whizzing pass them. His eyes widened in realization when he understood perfectly what her intentions were. But before he could react, Nezza grabbed his hand and jumped off the train.

"Are you mad‽" he yelled as they flew through the air. The wind was strong enough that he was able to give himself a smooth landing by controlling the air around him. It was a gift from his mother. He knew he could levitate himself if the wind was blowing like crazy.

He dangled a few inches above the haystack until he realized the air was still. It caused the son of Khione to land flat on his face on the hay.

Alec quickly composed himself and stood up, dusting some straw off his jeans. He shook his head roughly, some twigs falling out of his dark hair.

"You're one wild girl, aren't you?" he threw a grin at Nezza, following her as she marched to the barn. 'What're you gonna do? Ask for some milk or cheese?" he joked lightly.

"Nebraska," Alec grumbled, shooting a glare at the farmer. He couldn't seem to trust this guy. He looked incredibly stupid with his goofy grin, missing front teeth, and rosy cheeks. Now that he thought of it, he looked like a cartoon that stepped out of a children's television show.

He nudged Nezza when she told the creepy farmer guy about being a burden. He gave her an incredulous look. They were being offered a free ride and she was going to turn it down like that? For crying out loud, they were in the middle of nowhere and had no source of transportation into the city!

But something seemed fishy. Who farmer would lend his only car to a bunch of teenagers? Looking at the Southern man, he gave him a dubious look. Nezza may be the one given the quest, but she was clearly too naive for handling business like this. She didn't have to be the one doing everything on the quest and he'd take the reins this time. "Name your price."

"Free of charge, just for ya'll younguns," the creepy farmer from hell grinned. "I'll even drive you there myself."

Alec was about to accept the offer, but he noticed the evil glint in his eye when he eyed his two companions suggestively. "No thanks. I'm sure we'll be able to make it there ourselves."

Placing a hand on each of the girls' backs, he steered them in another direction away from the redneck. "We're not hitching a ride from that psycho," he whispered to them sharply.

"I insist. I bet you yankees couldn't make it out of this state alive," said the farmer as he followed the young demigods. When he gripped Serena's wrist, Alec saw red.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on her," he warned him darkly.

"Or what?" the farmer taunted, looking at the seventeen year old like he was a joke.

Alec's light blue eyes shone in the darkness. He felt his hand twitch before he sent a gust of wind to blow the farmer back. To finish him up, he used his powers to freeze him in a block of ice. He knew that he shouldn't have done that, but the stupid guy tested his patience. Whatever.The ice would melt the next morning anyway.

Giving the frozen farmer a menacing look, Alec grunted before walking away from the scene and to the empty road ahead of them.

Alec was surprised when he was grabbed by the arm. He felt the soft whisper of his friend tickle his ear. He gave Nezza a small smile, although he wasn't sure if she would be able to see it since she was leaning on his shoulder. "It's fine, sis. I'm always gonna look out for you no matter what," he said in a hushed tone.

His head whipped around to face Serena. When she mentioned something about his iTouch, he grabbed it from his backpack's pocket and tossing it to her. "It's in there. I'm not that good with directions," he revealed, walking towards her.

As his brunette friend toyed around with his gadget, he noticed something in the dark: on her wrist were red marks where the farmer's hand had clenched it. Immediately, he grabbed her arm to survey the damage. "Crap. Are you okay?"

He frowned as he traced the outline of the wound. Slowly, he felt his temperature decrease as his temperature served as a substitution for an ice pack. He snorted mentally. Just call him the walking ice berg.

But the sound of a car's engine roar interrupted their little moment. He could see the headlights of a beat-up red truck approach and Nezza was behind the wheel.

Alec wrapped his arm around Serena's waist and he jumped to the side to avoid the vehicle. They felt off to the side and on to a patch of grass, but he stood up and pulled Serena along with him. He shot her a look before making a run for the car.

"Hit on the brake!" he yelled, almost a few feet from the car's trunk. "It's the pedal on the left! Brake!"

Alec saw arrows whizzing past him and looked back to see Serena shooting a bunch of them at the tires. Her aiming was impeccable as they shot straight to the tires which flattened immediately. He watched in terror as the truck spun in circles before stopping. He sprinted to the vehicle, but Serena made it first. The two girls shared a hug before Alec grabbed the daughter of Nyx and wrapped his arms around her small figure in a bear hug.

"Nez! Don't scare me like that," he exclaimed. "I don't know what I would've done to myself if something happened to you."

He patted the top of her head, trying to flatten out all the hair sticking up. He couldn't afford to lose his best friend at the start of the quest. He didn't even want to think about it.

When Serena tossed him the keys, he caught it without effort. His baseball skills really came in handy sometimes. He nodded in agreement. "Yeah. There's no way in the Underworld that I'm gonna let any of you two drive. Besides, you guys aren't even sixteen yet."

When the girls went back to the barn to look for some replacements, Alec surveyed the flat tires. Plucking out the arrows that the daughter of Apollo had shot, he knew that he wasn't going to have a hard time since he was experienced with cars. The two returned, the tires in their arms and he grabbed a hold of them and set it next to the car. He dug around the back of the car for a tool box and found one laying in the backseat of the car.

He shrugged his shirt off, not wanting to get it dirty in the process, revealing his torso that he constantly kept in shape by going to the gym and playing baseball. "Here," he muttered, handing the grey tee to Serena, then proceeded to work on the car.

He loosened the wheel bolts, then raised the car with the car jack. He continued to unbolt the nuts the rest of the way then pulled out the tire, throwing it to the side of the road, and kicked the tire. He put the replacement tire and secured it with bolts, screwing it with the tire iron to hold it in place. He did it with the other flat before lowering the car then tightening the wheel bolt.

"Finished," he told them triumphantly, out of breath. He got his shirt back from Serena and looked inside his bag for a towel to wipe his forehead with. He slipped his shirt back on, then hopped inside the truck, inserting the key into the ignition, throwing his backpack in the back seat.

"Where to, ladies?"