Chapter 2

I laughed, the Apollo kids always tried to make me laugh so I would miss. I lost focus, and shot a blunt arrow to the left of the target. "Seriously?!" I asked Alice. Alice only snickered, with the other Apollo kids. I rolled my eyes, and watched the others shoot, but no matter what, they almost never missed. I sighed, "This is rigged." I said. They snickered, and laughed. I brought my bow with me, and took off for the Athena cabin.

I knocked, and opened the door slightly. "Hey, how are my favorite uncles and aunts?" I asked. Immediately everyone whipped their heads towards me and jumped up, circling me. Everyone greeted me, as if I was a real child of Athena. I laughed, "It's good to see you guys.' I said.

I talked for hours, the latest books I'd read, any monsters I fought, if anything changed in New Rome. I asked the same questions back at them, but about Camp Half-Blood. Immediately, they exchanged uneasy glances. "What?" I asked, my smile fading. They all looked to a nearby table, and I followed their gaze. Only now, did I realize the big scroll rolled open on their desk. I looked at all of them, and stood, moving over to the scroll. No one objected.

I stared at it, taking it in. "What is this?" I asked, not wanting to say the answer.

The Athena head, Adam, spoke, "Have your parents ever told you about the two Great Prophecies?" He asked. My face must have spoke my realization. "It's not a Great Prophecy, but it's still a prophecy, from Rachel." I looked back at the scroll, and licked my lips.

"How long has it been since this was recited?" I asked, staring at Adam.

He looked at the ground. "Three months. We've been trying to think of every possible meaning."

I looked down at the prophecy. It read,

'Two heroes, one of Titan blood, one of The Big Three's blood shall fight against monsters to match their abilities.

Blood of Big Three shall spill,

A sacrifice,

And with one move, with this sacrifice, will come great victory.'

I thought. "What, a Titan and a Demigod of the Big Three will fight a big, bad monster, and one will die to save the other?" I asked.

"That's roughly what we came up with." Adam replied. I sighed.

"Can I show my mom?" I asked. They knew Annabeth, the only child to find the Mark of Athena. Annabeth Chase, the "greatest" child of Athena in many eyes. They all nodded insistently.

It took only minutes for me to run the length of the camp, to reach the big house. Chiron greeted me, and I only nodded. He frowned when he saw the scroll, but only followed me.

I saw my mom and dad sitting, talking. "Mom." I said. She turned to me, her beautiful grey eyes questioning. "We need an opinion." I said. Her eyes darkened, and her gaze flicked between me and the scroll. She nodded, and had me lay the scroll out.

She read it, and her eyes widened. She looked to my dad, who immediately stood. "No. I've been the center of TWO Great Prophecies, no more for me." He said.

"Percy- It talks of the blood of the Big Three. You, Hazel, Thalia, Nico, and Jason." She said, her eyes turning a rain storm sad grey. "I know-" She said, before he could protest. "But you may not have a choice."

My dad slumped into a nearby chair. I walked over to him, and hugged him. "I'm sure it doesn't mean you." I said, he nodded, but I knew he didn't believe it. I looked at my mom. She had a small, very faint grey streak that matched my dad's. I'd heard the story, they held up the sky, literally, for each other.

My dad had also refused to let my mom go, so they both fell into Tartarus. They made it out, but I knew my dad never wanted to go through anything like that again. I got up, and faced my mom. I was a few inches shorter than her. Me being 5'6", her 5'9". I smiled at her, and she only grimaced at my dad.

I walked out of the Big House, and ran right into someone else. Well, it was the same person, but it happened a second time. I looked up at Mason. He was roughly 5'10", I thought. Much taller than his dad, but still not taller than most guys.

"Seriously, Jackson?" He asked.

"Hey, get out of my way and I won't run you over." I pointed out. "Why are you here?" I asked. Only now I noticed he was holding a sword in a sheath. I glanced at it, and he nervously touched it.

"I saw you running, and thought there was danger, so I followed." He admitted, glancing at his feet.

I tilted my head. "That's not a total jerk move." I commented. He snorted, and shook his head.

"Don't get too flattered, Jackson, I wanted to be a hero, that's all." He replied. I rolled my eyes, and shoved him out of the way. To my surprise he followed me down the Big House stairs. I eyed him from the side. He looked messy, grease covered his white shirt. He wore brown overalls, they were ripped, but hey, they served their purpose. He wore brown boots, and didn't bother trying to tame his wild hair. It was dark brown, and beyond the point of combing it. I smirked, and he glanced at me. "Enjoy the view?" He asked.

I scoffed, and slapped the side of his head. "Yeah, you wish." I said, laughing. Mason rolled his eyes. "Why do you call me by my last name?" I asked.

"What you don't like it?" He asked. I shook my head. "Then I'll keep doing it." He said. Gods, I hated him sometimes. We always got on each other nerves, since we were kids we'd teased each other, picked on each other. Him usually ending the prank by smearing grease on my face, me beating him up. It was always easy, since he was shorter than me. But now, I might actually have a fight on my hands at the end of summer. I smirked, and we continued to walk.

"Have any other place you need to go?" He asked. I shook my head. "Stop by the workshop, dad hasn't seen you yet." I smiled. Leo, he was like my father here. I nodded, and we walked in silence to Bunker 9. Mason threw open the door. I heard clanking under a large contraption. Mason put a finger to his mouth, and nodded. Be silent. Mason walked over to his dad. "Yo, dad. Come on out for a minute. Someone wants to see you." Leo grunted, but didn't come out.

"Dad! Seriously, someone came to visit." Mason said, nudging Leo's foot. Leo rolled out from under the contraption, and I smiled broadly at the familiar face. Leo spotted me, and smiled back. He got up, and hugged me, although I was his height.

"Alyssa!" He said. He pulled back, and saw the grease stains on his hands. "Oops." He said, holding out his hands apologetically.

I shook my head. "No problem." I said. Leo and I talked for a while, before he decided to leave to go to talk to my parents. Before he left, he turned to Mason, and they talked quietly. Mason's eyes narrowed, and he spoke harshly. Leo sighed, and clapped Mason's shoulder. Leo walked out, closing the door behind him.

Mason turned to me. "Sorry, we were just talking." He said.

I raised a brow. "I could see that."

Mason chuckled. "Obviously." He turned, and saw the contraption Leo was under. "Oh, he was working on our chariot." He noted, moving over to it. He ducked down, and rolled under the chariot. I walked over, and stared down at his legs. "Hey, wanna help me out here?" He asked.

I sighed, and got down, crawling under the chariot. I rolled over, finding myself too close to Mason's face. I moved over as much as possible. His hands were covered in grease already as he worked through a panel in the bottom. I looked in too, observing the wires, working them to each circuit. I squinted, and nudged Mason over, putting my hand, which were very small compared to his, and started moving wires.

"Careful!" He said, reeling back.

I shot him a glare. "Oh, shoosh, I'm the grand-daughter of Athena, I can work through a few wires." I said, turning back to the panel. "What exactly is wrong with it?" I asked, while looking at wire after wire.

"It's supposed to shoot fire." He said. I whipped my head towards him. "What? My dad is a fire master. Besides, that's the plan anyway." I rolled my eyes, and focused on the wires again. My hands were sticky, but I didn't mind right now.

I saw a, odd-colored wire connected to a small piece of metal. "Hey, L-" I paused. "Mason. Is this supposed to be here?" I asked. Mason moved closer to me, and I took a small, uneasy breath.

His brows scrunched, and he answered, "No." He put his hand in, and I saw what he was going to do.

"No! Don't pull it!" I yelled. He looked at me, a brow raised, and pulled the wire. Smoke, ash, and grease exploded everywhere. I gasped, and rolled out from under the chariot. Mason followed, and stood, clearing his eyes from the grease. I stood, and glared at him. "Why would you pull it?" I demanded.

"I thought you were wrong." He said.

"When have I been wrong before?" I asked, crossing my arms.

He shrugged, and I sighed as he handed me a rag to clean my face with.