The Quest for Violet Jones [PRIVATE]

And now they were back to the 'let's steal a car' topic. If they were anymore delinquent-like, they might even be worse than ten Violets combined.

Though, time was running out. Anna and Violet were both unconcious, and required medical attention immediately.

"Okay, let's do it."

I stood up and rubbed my hands together.My back grew wet while my hair dripped on it and I shivered. It was getting cold fast. I grinned mischeviously at the mention of staeling a car. This was something I could do. " Alright. Y'all wan't something fast or big?"

"Well, in this situation, a fast vehicle would be the most appropriate option."

Melina couldn't move her eyes away from Anna. She remembered how the daughter of Hecate had saved her from commiting suicide in the lake the night before, and now she felt like they had switched places--that she, Melina Johnson, was watching a friend die in front of her. That she was willing to give her life for another, just like any leader would.

Then her gaze turned to Violet. How did she feel about her? She was glad that they were bringing another half-blood to camp, but it's not like Violet was thrilled about it. What was she going to do, destroy the camp through rebellious acts? They couldn't let that happen-- Melina couldn't let that happen.

Though, they was something different about the gothic teenager. Maybe, just maybe, there was still hope. Maybe she's just confused and doesn't understand the path she's been taking for years, and maybe Anna could finally turn her around and bring her to the light. It would be difficult, but to Anna, it would be worth it.

"Alright. Let's get out of here before Violet's gang comes back." Melina hoped they were making the right decision; they wouldn't be able to handle another tragedy. Two of them were unconcious, the rest were at least injured, and they had no ride back to camp. The fates just love making everything a challenge.

"Anyone know of a nearby car dealership?"

I laughed." Good idea Travis." I said, grinning. I looked around and sighed. Once the sun set the gangs would come otu to 'play' and we'd be screwed. I grinned devileshly noticing a car dealership a couple blocks down the street.

Melina scooped up Anna's dormant body and then nodded back at Travis.

"Let's act fast."

She looked over at Mini, and then followed the daughter of Hecate's gaze a few blocks down.

Car dealership.

The teenager returned her gaze to Travis, who was now holding the body of Violet in his arms. "I think we found ourselves our one way ticket out of here," she said, nodding her head at the building with cars parked outside.

Anna could only remember snippets of what had happened. She felt her dormant body being carried into a seat of some sort-- her head dangling as a seat belt was strapped around her body. She wasn't awake, but was still well aware of the things around her.

Was it magic? Possibly. Children of Hecate were always questioned about their powers. In truth, it was always a mystery. They always had to keep training and studying to fully understand their capabilities. There was probably more they could do, but will never be founded until after Anna's death, and so on.

Though, it might not be the magical energy that runs through her veins that's keeping her aware of everything. It could be that she is in fact regaining conciousness, but the process is extremely slow. She lost alot of energy in that battle, and her body needed time to rest.

There was only one problem. A part of her memory had been lost-- a part that was vital to her. Her past. Who was her father? Who was she? This was only a temporary situation, she was sure, but it frustrated her that she couldn't remember her own name. That's the danger with magic-- you never know what it can do to you, especially when you cross your limits.

"Ar- Are we home yet?" she managed to ask, her body still sleeping. "I feel . . . dizzy."

I ran towards the car once the gangsters showed up. I winced feeling a slight pain in my abdomen but I ignored it and returned fire before jumping in. I shut the door quickly and off we went. I sighed and pulled out an extra clip from my back pocket and reloaded my gun. I smiled slightly hearing Anna speak. " Not yet sis. But don't worry. What with Travis'es expert driving skills and a little magic we'll be at camp in no time." I said, trying to sound reasuring.

"Long Island Sound in Rhode Island." Melina studied the map she had brought on the quest. Her gray eyes studied it intentively, observing the routes and cities depicted on the map.

"We might have to take the same route we came, unless we want to get stuck in a few other states that involve us almost dying, being attacked by thugs, and suicide bombers trying to crash a plane just to kill us." She spoke her words like it was an everyday occurence, which it probably was for half-bloods. Life was never easy for them, but even that sort of trouble has limits, and can become too extreme.

I started shifting through my book bag. Food, water, clothes, nectar, bandages. Oh.Here we go.I pulled out the nectar and bandages." Nectar, anybody need?"I said, holding up the canteen.

Melina looked out the window, watching as the scenery quickly approached and past. Was that what life was like--a series of events that abrupty came an went?

She thought about their quest. In all honesty, it had been so easy to find Violet. Yes, they stopped every now and then like every half-blood is on a journey, but it was almost too easy to take the girl and run. Did the thugs let them take her?

As if answering her question, the teenager turned her blonde head to the back window where the sound of motorcycles could be heard.

"We've got trouble."

Melina pushed Anna's and Violet's head down out of the way of the window, that way they couldn't be seen. Then, she reached for her pocket and took out her yellow retractable highlighter--her sword.

"They're getting closer!"

"Well," I took the safety off my gun," This'll be fun."I sat on my knees and looked out the window. Yep. We were definately being followed. The ones on motorcycles were getting closer. Great. A nice lil gang fight.

Melina compared this moment to a book she read, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. It was like the the thugs were the Socs-- the rich, preppy kids, and they, the half-bloods, were the Greasers-- the poor, always-targeted-by-the-socs kids. What was reassuring was that the Greasers won the gang fight at the end of the book. Plus, with their intense skill and training, the demigod and demigoddesses would be able to take them, though some of the team was either unconcious or badly wounded.

So all in all, the sides were pretty even.

"Just watch out for any civilians that come our way," Melina instructed, swinging her sword at a thug that was quickly appraching.

I chuckled darkly and aimed my gun near one of the motorcycles. The bullets inside were kind of like mini-grenades. There was just so much stuff you could make with magic these days. I pulled the trigger and the second the bullet made contact there was anice fiery explosion. The guy on the bike got thrown off but he wasn't dead. " 'Couple down, even more to go." I muttered.

Violet was slowly regaining conciousness. She could hear the sound of motorcycles speeding down the highway, and the group of half-bloods fighting for their lives. It was all because of her.

The teenager opened her eyes and turned her head to the side. Next to her laid a sleeping Anna, and Violet could only hope that her cousin wasn't dead. Why, though? Why was there a sudden change of heart for her cousin?

She drowsily reached for the arm rest on the car door and pulled herself up. There they were, her gang. Their only attempt was to rescue her, but in truth, weren't both sides trying to rescue her?

Violet had known the gang for years now. They taught her how to live out on the streets--to fight for survival. In the process, she even learned a few things about her identity as a daughter of Hecate.

Then again, Anna was her cousin. She was the first person she ever was closest to in the past; the only one she could put her full trust in. Had she betrayed her own family?

"Let me go! It's okay!" Violet called out the window, telling her gang to cease. For once, they didn't listen. One of them called out 'they must've possesed her!'

"It's fine!" she urged. They still didn't obey, which left both sides with absolutely no choice at all. They had to battle it out once more--the last time.

"We're almost in Flagstaff, I'm sure." Melina leaned out the window, already in close quarters with one of the gang members. She swung her sword repeatedly, the tip catching the grips of the motorcycle, and slicing it clean off.

"And Zin, before anything drastic happens, what do you intend on doing?" The daughter of Athena knew well what Zin was capable of, and she was concerned whether the cabin leader would explode the car or not. "If you blow this up-" Melina shook her head. It wouldn't be even romotely possible for Zin to listen to her.

I chuckled and shot snother 'grenade at one of the motorcycles. The rider bailed and rolled to the side of the road." Your gonna try to shadow travel all of us back to camp, right?" I said, ducking back in and putting afew more explosive bullets in my gun. This should be...interesting.

In all honesty, Melina loved quests. It gave her the opportunity of putting her training to the test, and more importantly, allowed her to experience the dangerous life of a hero--the risks, the death, the pain--all in one journey. This time, however, she really wasn't having the time of her life.

As she carried the dormant Anna Jones out of the car, she quickly leaped into the air and crash landed on the concrete, Anna remaining safe, but Melina recieving a few cuts and bruises. Their only way of travel exploded shortly afterwards, engulfing the sky in a in flames and smoke. The smell of the debris envoloped the area aswell, which led mainly everyone in the area to choke and gag. No one could see anything with the amount of smoke, so their enemy was well hidden, and so were they.

"Don't make a sound," the daughter of Athena whispered silently and softly. "We have to get out of here."

"Well, obviously we do," Violet retaliated in a sarcastic manner, lowering her voice as well.

Melina didn't need Violet's attitude at the moment, so she simply ignored the teenager's comment. She was already processing strategies in her head, but none seemed to be the most helpful. Their only means of escape would be to wait for the smoke to clear up, hide, and then run. Even that would be a challenge, however.

"Please tell me someone can get us out of here." Melina looked at the group, which was pretty impossible with the amount of exhaust blocking her vision.

"Hey! Who was that?" a deep, husky voice cried. She figured it was one of those pesky gang members again, hunting them down for their leader. Perhaps Violet could talk to them, but based off of their behavior during their little drag race of doom, that didn't seem like an option.

"Quick! Hide! Ready your weapons!" Melina scooped up Anna in her arms. The fog was beginning to clear, so it was easy for her to manuever around objects in her path. She hid the Hecate cabin leader behind a rock, while she pulled out her sword and prepared for another battle.