Chapter 1
The day started fairly well, sitting under Thalia's tree with your girlfriend in your arms and the smell of raw strawberries filling the air can be classified as a fairly good day. Along the years of Percy's life he has learnt to enjoy the little things he came across with. Being a demigod can bring you full of surprises like eminent death, stupid prophecies that will make your head go haywire and bring you painful memories that will hunt you through out your life in your nightmares (like falling in Tartarus) and not to mention the demigod dreams.
"Percy" Annabeth said, snapping me out of my thoughts, "ever thought about having a life outside of camp, I mean besides going in quests, just having a normal life".
"Annabeth, you know better than me about the life of a demigod outside of camp"
"I know, I was just wandering" Annabeth said looking a bit rather down, "Its just that the last thing I want is another prophecy and another war, I am getting sick of this life Percy"
I didn't know what to say to her, I wanted to comfort her but I didn't know how. Not a lot of demigods made it to their adulthood, usually died young thanks to their demigod life. Now that there wasn't anything ahead of us and we were safe, as safe as a demigod can get, I couldn't help but feel empty. That hollow feeling that I lost too much, like a scar imprinted on my life string and everytime I think of my life I cant help but curse those cruel ladies who call themselves fates, of course I do that only in my head.
That evening I was walking towards the arena for sword practice. Annabeth just left an hour ago to Olympus for some project that I didn't bother asking about, knowing her that she would probably put me to sleep explaining her building structures.
As I got to the arena I was surprised to see Rachael, our oracle, sitting on one of the benches with unfocused eyes probably lost in thoughts. I went and sat beside her, she almost jumped seeing me until she got hold of her senses and sat back looking a bit rattled.
"Everything okay?" I asked. She was obviously looking troubled.
"You scared the hell out of me" she replied
"Whats wrong, you look out of place"
"I was waiting for you, I figured you would be here" she said. Looking at the distance with those unfocused eyes again.
"Okay" I said. She was starting to make me nervous, I was wondering what she wanted to say but I was afraid to find out. Surely my luck can't be that bad that there was another prophecy and another war. "What did you want to tell me?"
She looked at me, this time with sympathy, "Am I making you nervous" she asked.
"Oh gee, let me think, the spirit of Delphi wants to talk to me, why should I be nervous" I said sarcastically. As soon as the words left my mouth I realized my mistake. True that she was the oracle, but she was still a human. She might need a time off or maybe talk to someone. Even though she smiled I could see a look of hurt in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that"
"Its fine, I got used to your lame sarcasms anyway" she said and then that disturbed expression came back. "I have bad news for you", said, "There has been another prophecy" she dropped her gaze on the ground, not looking at my eyes anymore.
I love to say that I took the news without breaking down, but inside I felt like I just got hit by a bulldozer. I didn't know what to say, it was just the thing Annabeth feared. Rachael looked at me again and took hold of my hand.
"Go to Chiron, he will explain everything to you. This should be kept only between us" she said with eyes full of sympathy, she knew how I would take the news. "Whatever Chiron says, just know that I will always believe you."
She stood up and let go of my hands and then questions started to erupt on my head. What prophecy? Does this mean another war? If it does than why should it be kept as a secret? What is my role in this prophecy? What did she mean she will always believe me?
I couldn't speak, I just watched her go. And then rage filled in. I couldn't think properly, I started to curse the fates and kill every dummy in front of me in the arena with riptide until there was nothing. I took a deep breath and started my way towards the big house to find Chiron. When I reached the porch and opened the door I saw Chiron in his wheelchair form staring contently at the blazing fire in the fireplace. He didn't even look up when I arrived and I assumed he have been waiting for me.
He looked at me and said smiling, "Percy my boy, please have a sit"
I was growing impatient, but I sat any way on the chair beside the table where Mr. D and Chiron used to play their card games. I wandered where Mr. D was right now.
"I am sure Rachael informed you about the prophecy"
I nodded
He looked at me skeptically and then pointed towards the table I was sitting beside. Somehow I didn't realize the piece of paper on the table earlier, which kind of disturbed me. I took the paper gingerly in my hand. It was a small piece of folded paper similar to the one which had the first great prophecy. I unfolded the paper and took a look at it.
A lost brother shall be reunited
Heroes of the seven shall be threatened
A single sacrifice shall be the cost
To protect the loved one from being lost
Therefore the hero must face a situation
Where he will stand the outside world of civilization
I read the prophecy again and again. Trying to devour everything it said but to no luck understanding any of it. A lost brother shall be reunited whose brother? We have campers here everyday after the war. Heroes of the seven shall be threatened Does this mean another war? A single sacrifice shall be the cost To protect the loved one from being lost These are the only lines that started to bug me. The rest didn't even make sense to me.
"Rachael delivered the prophecy to me this morning", Chiron finally said after the long silence.
"I don't understand, why are you telling this only to me" I asked, confused since Rachael told me to keep things only between us.
"The hero the prophecy is talking about refers to you Percy"
"What do you mean?"
Chiron looked at me sadly for a moment and then said, "a satyr reported a possible demigod at another summer camp. He said that this particular demigod can control water just like you."
It took a few minutes for me to understand what he was saying and then piece it altogether, so much for a hero.
"A lost brother shall be reunited" I recited, "but Chiron, how-"
"I don't know Percy, as much as I want to believe it is not you I cant. The prophecy also mentioned the seven. I have trained a lot of heroes Percy, I have helped them as a mentor. But in all those times I have seen only few who would really sacrifice themselves for the ones they love. And for all I know about you, you are the only one who would give up godhood for your loved ones."
I just stared at him, am I supposed to be happy about his raise or disappointed now that I am the hero in the prophecy…again.
