Author's Note:
This chapter was pretty hard to write considering how I have no idea where this fic is going. It seems to be just one long drabble; but things will pick up, I promise. Please review, comment, favorite. I adore suggestions! Would you like me to center the POV on anyone besides Rachel? Check out my other fic, Demi-god Retreat and please if you have any suggestions with that one as well; by all means, let me know. Please excuse my minor errors; I rarely ever read over my work before submitting! Enjoy and thanks for reading!
Are you sure?" Annabeth raised her brow, eyeing her Roman counterpart.
"Positive. The people of New Rome are very frightened, and news has spread like wild fire... Thanks to Octavian's rather dramatic public announcement..." Reyna glared at the scrawny blonde boy.
"The people needed to know! I couldn't put their lives in-"
"Reyna, what measures are you taking at camp?" Jason addressed, while Piper locked eyes with him.
"Well, it is my duty as praetor to ensure that the Roman legacy is passed on from generation to generation and to ensure the safety of all Roman citizens.. It may be a bit unorthodox, but desperate times call for desperate measures. We've issued out contraceptives, and the people-"
"So you're not going to fight it?" Nico sat up from his chair.
"What is there to fight, Nico di Angelo? It is a prophecy from the gods! From Fate!" Octavian bleated.
"There must be some other way..." Hazel whispered, slipping Frank's hand into her own. If she wanted to make love with Frank, she wanted it to be on her own terms.
"Well, when you find it; please let us know. It seems we've run out of drachmas for your rainbow goddess. I bid you all a farewell; please do not hesitate to call if any of you have insight. As much as I hate this prophecy, this is the only solution we have so far." And with that, Reyna and Octavian disappeared.
"Unbelievable." Thalia huffed.
"So, what are we going to do?" Travis fretted, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead as he shook his leg nervously.
"I- I have to make a call." Rachel got up and ran outside.
Pulling out a drachma and dropping it down the small waterfall, she prayed to Iris, the rainbow goddess.
"Show me Apollo."
After a few seconds, the shimmering water revealed the handsome god in what looked like Urban Outfitters as he was trying on a pair of sunglasses.
"Well if it isn't my beautiful and awesome Oracle. How are you, sweetie?" He winked.
Gods, he was infuriating.
Making Rachel vow to swear off boys, then flirting with her every chance he got. As if that weren't enough, he makes a prophecy about a virgin dying...
"We need to talk. This prophecy..."
"The prophecy? Yeah, it is a bit tricky. Why don't you ask my boy Will? He's got a knack for poetry. Ooh, how about this haiku: Prophecies are dumb/Too easy if you ask me/But I'm too awesome. Good, right?" He tried another pair on, taking out his iPhone 5s to take a quick selfie. "I'm really too hipster for this world." He sighed longingly.
"Please, just- Just tell me what it means." She begged.
He removed his glasses and his eyes bored into hers.
"You're an artist, right Rachel? You of all people should know that art can't be interpretted. The fates give me news, I make it into an awesome piece of poetry, and you supply it to the masses. That was the deal. Sorry sweet cheeks, but I can't help you out. It's in the contract." He smiled apologetically.
"I could die! Hundreds of people are at risk! Can't you see that?"
The god laughed. He actually laughed.
Rachel was boiling with anger.
"You won't die, trust me. Ooh, how are these? I don't wanna try too hard to be awesome; it's gotta be natural." He donned a pair of silver aviators.
"Gods, you are so basic..." Rachel muttered inaudibly.
"What was that, dear?"
"So, what now? We're all supposed to have sex in order to protect ourselves?"
"Just let nature take it's course. Love has a mind of it's own. All I have to say about the prophecy is that each of your little friends know something; just put it all together. The world won't end if a certain someone finds love. I gotta run, hun. I got a date with a chariot and a hot star, and I'm not talking 'bout the Sun, if ya know what I mean." He winked, and then the Iris Message was disrupted.
Rachel took a few deep breaths before returning to the bunker.
"Any news?" Percy asked as soon as Rachel stepped foot through the threshold.
"No... Not really." Rachel rubbed her arm.
"Hey, I'm sure everything will work out. We all just need time to think." Piper assured.
"Yeah... I think that'd be best. I'm sure Chiron will spread word tonight at dinner. We should start heading over to the Mess Hall though. It's 6:45." Rachel suggested, looking at her watch.
"Yeah, we better get goin'." Travis and Connor chided.
As the demi-gods and Rachel sauntered back from the woods and joined their fellow campers, tension filled the air.
After receiving her meal, consisting of miso soup and tofu tossed veggies, Rachel dropped her warm, buttery loaf of bread into the hearth, praying for guidance from any god that was listening, but mostly to Athena.
She needed serious help.
It seemed that as soon as she sat down; Chiron clinked his wine glass.
"Ladies and gentlemen. And satyrs. And harpies... And well, all creatures..." He announced awkwardly. "We have a new prophecy in the works of rather personal importance."
He then went on to explain the prophecy and what was known so far; captivating everyone's attention.
The campers took it rather well. The younger ones remained confused; but got a sense of the situation.
The Aphrodite cabin looked more relaxed than the rest of the demi-gods; Rachel mentally smirked.
And that was the last thing, the girl remembered before the Oracle chanted:
"Three shall go find,
love that is blind.
The dove, the brain, and the all-seeing eye;
Find the cure in the heart's biggest lies."
"A quest! Chiron we have to leave tonight! Three... Three must go... The dove must be Piper... Brains... Athena. The eye... Wait, could it be?" Annabeth looked up at Chiron.
"It has never happened before..."
"What do you guys mean? Annabeth?" Percy asked.
"I thought only demi-gods could go on quests; not mortals. Let alone, the one giving the prophecies." She murmured to herself.
"What are you guys talking about?" Clarisse demanded, banging her fist against the table.
"Rachel. You're going on a quest."
