You'd think that the rest of the day would be normal.
Congrats. I did too.
After the detailed version of "Greek and Roman schists!" Annabeth led me out of the cabin.
"So." She finally started. "You're famous."
I made a face. "Sure, I guess. I hate it, though. All my dad's Scandal stories and whatnot. All the people coming and going, models staying overnight..." I grimaced. "So many couples. Sometimes children, too. All working for my dad, becoming famous on their own routes."
"Must be overwhelming."
I stared at her. "You have an interesting way of putting things... But yeah, I suppose so." I nudged the ground with my toe. "It's just... my dad is supposedly really handsome - he has to be, he's a model - and when I look at pictures of mom... gods, she was gorgeous. But whenever I look in the mirror, all I see is a freak." I sighed, wondering why I couldn't shut my big mouth.
"Shut up." Annabeth said.
"What?" I demanded.
"Shut up." She repeated patiently. "Cass or Cassandra or just plain Sandra, whatever you want us to call you, you are beautiful. I have a sneaking suspicion that you may stay in the Aphrodite cabin longer than you think."
"What are you saying?" I tilted my head.
"You're catching along faster than Seaweed Brain." She muttered. I caught it, but didn't comment on it. "I mean that I think you might be a daughter of Aphrodite." She shrugged. "We'll find out tonight, anyway. First, you have to train."
"Train?"
"Yep. Remember, no killing other campers when they get annoying." Annabeth said grimly. I started and looked up in her face for signs of joking, but I couldn't find any.
"Um..."
"Believe me, it's happened before." She sighed. "First, you need weapons."
"Weapons? Like, real stab-and-your-dead weapons?"
"Yep. Thankfully, we normally only practice on dummies."
"Normally."
"Sometimes."
"Okay then." I gulped in anticipation.
Annabeth led me through the forest. "Never go in here alone." She warned. "Full of monsters and stuff."
"Monsters?" I asked nervously. "Like... the fire-breathing Canadians? Were those monsters? I mean, I lived in Canada for a few years and didn't see any of those."
"It's just a term." Annabeth dismissed it with a wave of her hand. "The real name is Laistrygonians, but... eh, you've got to water it down because nobody pronounces it correctly anyway. So... weapons." She picked out a sword. "Eh?"
"No." I said firmly. She shrugged and tossed it back into the shed. Then she reluctantly picked out a dagger. "Eh?"
"Um..." I held it reverently. Looking into it, I could clearly see myself... and then my reflection changed. I saw myself in a tunnel, dagger drawn - was it this dagger? It looked similar - facing a teenage-ish boy with fiery eyes, ratty jeans, a black shirt, and a leather jacket - like the person who robbed people down a dark alley. He had a bandanna around his head, like a motorcycle gang, but then he turned. I swear he was looking right at me. He spoke six words... I could hear them in my head. "Hello, sister. This is my party."
I shrieked and dropped the knife. The vision ended.
"What... the Hades... was that?" I demanded.
"That's Katoptris." Annabeth said concernedly. "Helen of Troy's blade. It showed her visions of the future."
Oh gods. That's my future?
"It used to belong to Piper, but the visions stopped completely after she stabbed Enceladus."
"Enchiladas?"
"Nope. Enceladus was one of the giants that we killed in the Giant War, few months back. But... are you seeing visions?"
"Yeah..." I described the images that I saw, and the words I heard. "You're telling me that you didn't see or hear any of this?"
Annabeth shook her head, a strange look on her face. "But I think you should train more before we figure this out. Then you can go see Rachel."
"What about me?" A girl behind us asked.
"Oh my gods, Rachel!" Annabeth exclaimed, and they hugged. "You weren't supposed to come in until tomorrow!"
"Yeah, well, I got an urgent message." Rachel glanced at me. "Is this Kennedy's recruit?"
"Yep, they just rolled in this morning, via the Gray Sisters." Annabeth grinned. "Sandra, this is Rachel Elizabeth Dare, our Oracle."
"Like, the Oracle of Delphi?" I grinned and shook her hand. "Awesome!"
"I flew here from Clarion." Rachel told us. "I was told that the Labyrinth was re-opening; a sorceress named Pasiphae is re-making the lair of Daedalus?" Then she looked straight at me, and her green eyes were greener than usual. "I have a prophecy to deliver - or a mangled one, anyway. And I have news for the war council. But first, you must train, Sandra. Embrace your parentage. If you do not... well, your quest might not go as well as hoped for."
On that happy note, I began to train.
And train.
And train.
That night, everyone was gathered around for the campfire, roasting marshmallows and singing about how Grandma puts on her armor. I felt like puking, but I didn't... thankfully.
Everyone cut glances at me, as if waiting for me to do something. Like, randomly burst into flames (apparently, it's happened before) or break out in as tap dance or something the like. But I wasn't about to do either of those. I'm horrible at dancing, and I'm not to fond of being set on fire.
However, a flock of doves flew in and circled around my head five times. I was very confused when everyone pointed and whispered, because I didn't see them at first.
"Hail Sandra, daughter of Aphrodite, goddess of Love and other things." Chiron, the horse guy, announced.
Looking up, I swatted at the doves untuil they had to go away. Looking down, I saw myself dressed in one of those fancy tops and a skirt.
A skirt.
"OH MY COWS POTATOES." I screamed. IIm in. A fricking. Skirt.
This is the worst possible thing that could happen!
Love sucks.
La week later
"I'm sure you've all noticed that Rachel is here." Annabeth said.
We were all assembled in the game room of the Big House, sitting in fold-up chairs around the Ping-Pong table. It was supposed to only be senior counselors herez but for some reason I was invited. "She's been here for a week." Piper spoke up. "Right about when Sandra showed up." She nodded at me. "What's up with that?"
"I have news for all of you demigods." Rachel spoke suddenly. "A danger is coming, and the newly made Labyrinth is only the first step."
"Back up." Clarrise made a time-out gesture. "Newly made Labyrinth?"
Rachel was unable to answer this, as she promptly collapsed in her seat. I looked around. "Um..."
Loving daughter wanders in fear
Thinking the end must be near
She will go west and face the god of the pearls
And should she come back, the plot unfurls.
Rachel spoke these words like a rattlesnake, her voice tripled. After she finished, she collapsed again, but this time, when Ashe sat up, her eyes weren't glowing. Oh yeah... Did I mention her eyes were glowing?
"Well, Sandra." Percy said presently. "This is a quest, should you chose to accept it. You can take along three companions."
Three companions. Quest. Prophecy. Fiery eyes. This is my party. The words and images flooded my brain, making it whirl. Leave Camp Half-blood, one of the only safe places in the world for demigods, and go west facing some dumb god of pearls?
Heck, he's just the god of pearls. How bad could this be?
"Any suggestions? Kennedy?"
The satyr jumped at her name. Looking around anxiously, she began to take a nearby Coke can and chew it. "Urm... Sure?"
"Great." I said. "Any other volunteers?"
Annabeth leaned forward. "I'll go. We should drag along Clarrise too, she's had good experience with the Labyrinth."
"Yeah, sure." Clarrise sighed. Chris squeezed her hand for encouragement.
"Three companions " I clapped my hands.
"Hazel can wedge a gap in the Labyrinth for you." Chiron started.
"No, sghe can't." Annabeth countered. "She's is Canada right now, finding out more about her past. Arion's with her, but I doubt that she'll come, seeing as Frank has a surprise for her." Everyone ooh'd.
"So what can we do?" I asked.
"Leo should be back tonight." Annabeth answered. "Maybe... I don't know. Ever since he made that workshop in Missouri, he's been fixing everything. Maybe? We shall see."
Meeting adjourned.
I went to sleep in my bunk.