I would highly recommend listening to Real World by The All American Rejects. It's my new favorite song, and I love it! Also, thanks to everyone who reviewed this. ^^ Huggles!

DISCLAIMER: If only…

"What is a hero but a person who lays everything on the line for the good of somebody else?"

-Darren Shan, The Vampire's Assistant

"You should be careful what you believe, Mr. Tod. The world is full of monsters with friendly faces."

-Heather Brewer, The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites

Chapter 10

My Poker Face Sucks

(Ivy POV)

This was about the most stupid and/or dangerous thing I have ever done. And that's saying a lot, coming from me. I've had fights with damned ghosts and the gods. Somehow, I end up winning, but not in this fight.

I knew I wasn't going to win.

In a nutshell, I had Shadow Traveled away from camp and now I was on a train to get to NYC as fast as I could. And if you've ever heard of Shadow Travel, then you must be thinking, What? Only 'creatures of the Underworld' can do that!

Apparently, I'm a creature of the Underworld. I figured this out when I was seven, and I had gotten up in the middle of the night to get a drink. I guess I was still half-asleep, because I walked into a wall. But instead of hitting the wall, I hit the ground in Arizona. And I did end up getting back home before my mom eve found out that I was gone, but it did freak me out a little. Although, being considered an Underworld creature wouldn't surprise me very much.

I probably looked like crap. Heck, I felt like crap. Shadow Travel takes a lot out of you. Not to mention, the closer I get to Kronos, the worse headache I get.

Truth be told, Kronos wasn't actually coming to camp. Er – well, he was, but then he thought otherwise – AKA, realized that he wasn't strong enough to fight off all those Demigods, monster army 'n all. I knew that. I could feel it, boy could I.

Imagine the worst head ache you have ever had, then multiply that by about three million and that will give you about half of what I'm feeling right about now. I had stopped by my old house before I came here to change clothes. (Wearing a Camp Half-Blood shirt around the city would just be screaming for a monster to attack you.) Now I had on a purple turtleneck and jeans. I was getting weird looks from the people around me, considering the fact that it was in the middle of June and all the other girls around me were in short shorts and skimpy tank tops that revealed cleavage. But I just ignored them.

"Well, if it isn't my little goth girl," said an annoying voice next to me. I already knew who it was.

"Go away," I snapped. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him pull on a fake hurt looking expression.

"What? I thought you loved seeing me!" said Phobos, but he didn't do a very good job at pretending because as soon as the words were out of his mouth he started chuckling.

"You suck at impressions," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "What the hell do you want? And since when am I your 'little goth girl'?"

"Rawr. Kitty's got claws. And who's to say that you're not mine?"

"Hmm. I wonder who. Let's see," I said sarcastically, pretending to be thinking. I held up fingers as I counted. "Kronos, Apollo, Amber, Jackson –,"

He made a sound that was something between a laugh, a snort, and a cough. "Wait, wait, wait. Jackson? Is he like your new boyfriend or something? You've been spending a lot of time with him, you know."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Denial is the first stage, sweetie."

"I'm not in denial! And don't call me that!"

"Oh, well sorry then, cutie."

I sighed and gave up, slumping in my seat. "Where's your brother?" I asked him eventually, noticing that he was just staring at me. Seriously, it was getting creepy. Phobos shrugged.

"Dunno. Don't really care at the moment."

"Aren't you caring."

"I know; I'm the picture of brotherly love."

I rolled my eyes. The train started to slow down, and I stood up the second after it stopped. He stood up too.

"Shouldn't you be off torturing someone with your dad?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips. He shrugged again.

"Eh, I guess, but dad can wait."

"Whoa, I'm more important then your dad?" I asked dully, turned and walking off the train. "I'm touched. Now go away." People were starting to stare at me again as they got off, but I ignored them. He grabbed my arm and twirled me back around to face him. We were the only ones left in the car, and I was afraid that the train would start back up again. Then I would be stuck on it with him. Ugh.

"Well the least you can do it look at me while I'm talking to you, cutie," he said. I'm sure he didn't intend to add the 'cutie' part; he just wanted to annoy me. And it worked.

"So what is it this time? Another cryptic warning?" I asked. "Cause honestly, I could care less."

Phobos just looked at me, then the next couple seconds I think I imagined. Why? Because he was kissing me. The god of fear was kissing me. I wasn't sure if I should be disgusted or freaked out. I guess I settled on the latter, because I tried to push him away. Only it's not that easy when there's a damn god kissing you.

Eventually, he broke away, smirking, a weird look in his eyes that I didn't recognize. To my surprise, I realized that I was blushing.

"What was that?" I demanded, thankful that my hair was falling in front of my face. Maybe it could hide my blush, which I still have no idea where it came from.

"You know, your poker face sucks, cutie," Phobos said. I was just about to tell him that I wasn't wearing a poker face (because I wasn't) and ask him if he even knew my name, but suddenly he was right in front of me, his lips on my neck.

I froze, trying to think of some logical explanation of why he wouldn't leave me alone. The room was suddenly hot, and for once, I wished that I was in one of those skimpy tank tops only to be relieved from this heat.

One of Phobos' hands went around my waist, pulling me closer as if in an awkward hug, the other on the back of my neck, pushing my hair back.

"See, it sucks," he muttered, his hot breath making me get goosebumps. "And if Jackson doesn't want you, I'll take you." And with that, he disappeared in a shower of gold vapor.

I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding. I shook my head and glared up at the ceiling.

"He's not my boyfriend! And neither are you!" I shouted, and then hurried to get off the train, earning me more weird looks from neighboring people. But I was used to it by now, so it didn't bother me.

I sighed again, and then headed off to the place where I knew Kronos would be waiting.

Please don't kill me! Is it so wrong to have a crush on the god of fear? XD