A decent update time! Say it isn't so! It would have been up sooner but work and sickness were a pain, but I'm finally feeling better so hopefully that's the end of it. Haha. Hope you enjoy. :)

Chapter Eight: Liar

After a lot of running around, we finally locate the forges of Hephaestus. The fact that they are actually hidden behind the god of fire and forge's temple had made it a little more difficult to discover the location. Why the forges would be behind his temple, I am not entirely certain, but…

The three of us practically sprint toward the forges we had worked so hard to find, only stopping when we reach the gigantic doors.

For a moment, I simply stare at the ornate metalwork on the doors. Celestial bronze flames dance across the entire surface, intertwining into an intricate flowing design. Looking more closely, I realize that the flames are all connected in one way or another, creating almost a chain of fire.

Before I can even knock, one of the doors swings inward, beckoning us into the building. Obviously, we are expected.

Without glancing at Travis or Theia, I take in one big breath and enter the forges, them stepping in behind me.

Immediately, I gasp. Walking into the forges is like walking into the Sahara Desert. I feel as though I have hit a wall of fire. All the moisture that's normally in the air is almost completely absent.

From my left, I hear a sharp intake of air, and instinctively, I turn just in time to see Travis' jaw tighten a little. Clearly, Travis is even more affected by the sudden onslaught than I am, but a quick glance at Theia tells me that she probably hasn't even noticed the sudden temperature change. Lucky daughter of the sun god…

Turning my attention to the room, I see a huge man with his back to us beating the daylights out of something.

"Lord Hephaestus?" Theia calls, her voice echoing in the cavernous room.

The man immediately turns a somewhat intriguing expression on his face and fire flickers tentatively through his dark beard.

"You three must be the heroes I was informed of. Well, don't just stand there gawking!" he exclaims. "Get in here and let me look at your weapons while your armor is cooling."

"You already made our armor?" Theia questions somewhat incredulously, voicing my own thoughts.

Hephaestus seems affronted and snorts.

"Of course I did! Did you all think I was going to wait for your three to finally stumble in here?"

We all exchange glances and then step forward quickly, not wanting to offend him.

The closer we talk to Lord Hephaestus the hotter it gets because we are surrounded by the working forges.

The temperature becomes just shy of unbearable, and I can feel a light sweat already breaking out all over my skin.

"Well, daughter of Apollo," Hephaestus begins, addressing Theia, "I suppose your weapons are fine what with Ares blessing them and whatnot, but you two…" He trails off and appraises Travis and me, making me feel more than a little uncomfortable. "You two, however… I'll need to see your weapons."

As I reach down to unzip my pack, I realize the zipper is caught, and I have to look down to loose it.

"Ah, so you were the one," the blacksmith says knowingly. Something in his tone makes me look up immediately.

"The one?"

"The one that received Queen Hippolyta's weapon," he answers.

"What weapon?" the curious Theia inquires.

Not answering Theia, he instead keeps his steady, unwavering gaze on me as if he is examining me for flaws as he would what he crafts and continues, "Chiron begged a favor of me, to allow your use of that. I assure you, I would not have surrendered that to just any demigod, but it seems that Chiron does think quite highly of you. Do not disappoint."

"I…" Truly. I am nearly speechless. Chiron had begged a favor of Hephaestus… ? For me? Recalling my earlier conversation with the trainer of heroes via Iris message and assimilating this newest information, I almost tear up again. In fact, I'm not entirely sure that I don't and the forges' heat didn't just evaporate it instantly.

He had taken care of me again. Never saying a word hinting to what he had done. Never asking for thanks or credit, just doing it so that he knew he had done his best to protect and help me, to get me safely back to camp. Chiron, I swear on the river Styx, if I do get out of this alive, you will never again doubt whether or not I appreciate everything you do for me.

I will not complain or mope about being unclaimed anymore. Having a father—adoptive or no—that cares as much as to call in a favor with the gods, that is something of which not everyone has the benefit. In fact, I would daresay almost no one has a father that amazing.

After a brief pause, I force my voice to remain even as I nod and respond. "I will not, Lord Hephaestus."

With that, he nods.

"Well, well, well. Your weapon will not need any further blessing, but your arrows," he says, looking at me, then to Travis, "And your knives and sword need blessing, so give them to me."

I immediately surrender my arrows to him and then glance to Travis.

Rather uncharacteristically, he seems to be clumsily fumbling with the zipper of the duffel bag. I say uncharacteristically because children of Hermes are deft with anything concerning their hands. Pick-pocketing, lock-picking, safe cracking. You name it. Now he's fumbling to unzip a bag?

But at last, he manages it and holds the sword and knives out to Hephaestus who takes them, and then turns his back to us once more.

I stand observing for several minutes until I feel a weak tug on my T-shirt sleeve and hear a very dry, croak of a voice.

"K-Kita, I feel like…"

Barely have I turned to him before I have to throw my arms out to catch him.

Touching him, his skin feels like it is on fire.

I curse—none too quietly—before cautiously but quickly lifting him over my shoulder and sprinting toward the open doors, Theia following closely behind me.

Once outside, I set him down on the warm pavement of the courtyard that leads into the forges. This would mean the change in temperature is not drastic enough to put him into shock, but enough that we can try to gradually cool him.

As soon as I have safely set him down, I once more empty my backpack and find one of my water bottles. Unscrewing the lid, I can't help but wonder at how incredibly well this quest has gone so far. Two missing gods, one injured god, fights, and now this? I will not even ask what is next.

I begin to shuffle through the scattered items from my backpack searching for a cloth of some sort so that I can pour water on it and put it on his forehead to cool him. Just as I have begun to rummage, however, I feel someone's hand on my shoulder. Immediately, I turn to see a very surprising sight.

"Asclepius?"

Standing slightly behind me to my right is Asclepius, the son of Apollo who was elevated to god status a long time ago when the gods were still in Greece. Yeah, he was just that impressive. Nowadays, you can find him at Camp Half-blood as the camp medic. The exact reason I am so surprised.

"Shouldn't you be at camp?" asks Theia.

At this he only smiles. "I can be wherever I want to be, silly. Need some help?"

I merely nod, stand, and step back allowing Asclepius to kneel beside Travis. While he works on him, I turn to Theia with a sigh.

"This has started so well."

"So very well," she snorts, crossing her arms.

"So, little sis," Asclepius starts glancing over his shoulder with bright blue eyes focusing directly on his 'sister', "surprised to see me?"

"A little," she replies. "Why are you here?"

"Well, I heard about dad from Chiron and came here to see if anyone else knew any more details. Athena informed me that you three were still here and I decided to see if I could catch you before you left Olympus."

"Why?" questions Theia, entirely confused. "They know as much as we do, so there was no reason to come find us. We can't tell you any more than they did."

At this, he turns, a nearly hurt look on his face. I say nearly because there is the barest hint of mischief in his eyes.

"Why?" he repeats, standing. "Why? Because you didn't tell big brother that you were leaving!"

With that he almost strangles my shorter friend in a hug.

Contrary to what most people would believe, she actually doesn't try to get away from him. As 'openly'—not inwardly, I suspect—'dislikes' her father, she really does look up to Asclepius. Out of all her siblings, including Will, Asclepius is the one she gets along with the best.

"You're… going… to kill me!" she laughs at last.

"Oh! Sorry, sorry!" he declares, quickly releasing her. "Just wouldn't do to asphyxiate you."

"Maybe you should have become another god of poetry instead of doctors and medicine. You do a better job at it."

As they continue to talk, I kneel beside Travis once more.

I assume by the fact that Asclepius has completely forgotten him that Travis will be alright now. Touching his arm, I not that his skin no longer feels like it is burning so I take this as a good sign.

Returning my attention to the two children of Apollo who are talking to each other as if no one else is present, I feel a slight pang in my chest again. A father, I most certainly have, but I still have no idea where I belong in the camp. I realize that without knowing the identity of my Olympian parent, I cannot know who my brothers and sisters are, if there are any at all. Once again, I feel a little down and sigh.

It is not because of the Olympian issue, per se. As I concluded earlier in the forges, I am through with moping over that. No. This is the loss of belonging, having siblings with whom to talk. I don't think anyone except orphans ever really understand the loneliness felt by orphans. Some people try to empathize, but they just can't entirely comprehend it. We're always left wondering why we were given up? Did they want us? Are they still alive? So many questions. I'm luckier than most. I at least have some partial answers.

Knowing that I am a demigod, there is a ninety nine point nine percent chance that at least one of my parents is still alive, which is more than most kids know. That, however, leaves the questions does that parent want me—as Chiron seems so convicted of—and if so, why that parent has not yet claimed me.

A low, quiet groan from beside me tears me from my thoughts, and I immediately look down to see Travis' eyelids flutter open and his eyes meet mine. For a moment, we only stare at each other until he speaks.

"What happened…?"

"You overheated and passed out."

Still lying down, he turns his head left, then right before turning to me again.

"How did I get out here?"

Obviously, he's still a little disoriented. Only a little, but still...

"I carried you."

"Oh… Okay," he replies sitting up at last.

Another several minutes pass in silence before we both realize something.

Somewhere in the course of my internal dialogue my hand, which had been resting on his arm, had made its way down—without any consent from me—to Travis' hand…

And somewhere in the course of him waking up or him sitting up, his hand had closed around mine..

We are holding hands…

We both stare somewhat awkwardly down at our clasped hands…

And then we both simultaneously release each others' hands and move them away. I quickly look down at my lap where my hands are now resting. I can't help but assume that my face looks like a tomato.

Why was that so weird?

"Well, I see that someone is awake," chimes the bright voice of Asclepius.

Both Travis and I immediately look to him. I, for one, am happy for the distraction.

"Uh, yeah… I guess I should thank you, right?"

"Oh, not me. I only healed you. Nakita there carried you outside and she was already starting on getting you cooled down when I showed up and volunteered to help."

Directing my gaze downward once more, I can feel a pair of blue eyes on me.

"Anyway," sighs Asclepius. "I guess you guys better get going, hmm? But! Not before I donate to your quest!"

Now I raise my eyes once more, curious.

"You're going to help?" my ever inquisitive young friend asks.

"Of course! He's my dad, too!" he proclaims loudly, as a small, plastic box with a red cross on the lid appears out of thin air and falls into his upturned palm. After grasping the container, he passes it to Theia. "For you, little sister. Go on. Take a look."

She opens it, looking confounded. "An empty medical kit?"

"Yes," he beams, clearly quite proud of himself for whatever reason.

"… Empty?" she repeats, an eyebrow rising.

"Just hold onto it, 'kay? It could prove useful someday down the road, kiddo," he winks.

"…. O… kay…" she replies at last, opening her backpack, placing the empty medical box inside and then closing it.

"Well, that's my little contribution to you guys. Just hope everything turns out for the best… I'd hate for anything to happen to dad, especially after everything he did for me. I mean, he did kinda bring me back after Zeus smited me…" Asclepius frowns, looking worried.

"Don't worry," I interject standing and then assisting Travis in doing the same. "We're going to find Lord Apollo and Lord Hermes."

"And bring them back safely, yes?"

"Duh," Theia replies, rolling her eyes. "What kinda heroes do you think we are?"

At this, the doctor-god grins from ear to ear. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear! I'm sure they'll be back in no time with that mindset! Hades! Dad may even be driving the sun chariot again by tomorrow. I may not control prophecies or see the future, but I'm sure you guys will be just fine! Just remember to hold onto my gift."

"I will…" Theia answers. She seems to be pondering what good an empty med kit is—and I can't say my mind is employed any differently—but for once she is hiding her skepticism well.

"Alright. Peace out then," he smiles and with the he begins to glow. We all turn away until we are certain he is gone. Only when we are certain do we look toward the forges.

Emerging from the dark, fiery depths of the forges, Hephaestus approaches us carrying armor that I can only assume is ours along with a satchel slung over on arm.

"Well… Your chest plates are ready and your weapons are, too, but helmets will take too long to craft so you'll just have to do with this."

He hands Theia her armor and then hand mine to me, but when he holds armor out to Travis, I quickly reach out and take it instead.

Travis still seems a little shaky and I'm not really sure that holding the armor is the best idea right now…

Hephaestus appears perplexed but a moment before nodding in understanding with an "Of course" tacked onto the action for good measure.

I set my chest plate down long enough to help Travis put on his own and then I do the same as Theia dons her armor. That done, Hephaestus retrieves my arrows from the leather satchel I had observed as he walked toward us. I take them with a nod while with the other hand he gives Travis his sword and knives.

"Thank you, Lord Hephaestus," I say, smiling as I return my weapons to where they belong.

"Hu-hum. Yes… Well…" he replies, seeming awkward and uncomfortably out of place. Kind of like how Clarisse would look at a fancy cotillion for a prep school. "Well… Then, I think you can leave now."

Thus spoken, the god of fire and forges turns and quite nearly flees. Honestly, he seems as though he is not at all comfortable around people. From the moment we entered his forges, he had seemed almost like he wanted to run far away to one of his other workshops.

"To the Underworld we go…" Theia states noisily exhaling.

"Yep…" replies Travis, shoulders slumping.

Seeing both of them, they appear to be already weighted down by what awaits us. As much as I want to be a great leader and bring them out of it, want to say something to cheer them up and inspire them, I'm not sure I'm that talented a liar.

Well, thanks for reading. The story has now begun into the new material. Hope you guys liked it. ^_^

~Kanae~