Chapter VI

Annabeth's face loomed over me. My nervous grin disappeared from my face. "How long have you been eavesdropping?" she demanded. I gulped; glad she had discarded her knife on the table. Judging by her tone, Annabeth might've gutted me right then and there.

"Um, well…I heard you mention a dream," I stuttered. I figured I might as well tell the truth. Annabeth grabbed my arms and dragged me to a chair; slamming the door closed with her foot. She sat back down in her seat. Percy met my eye and gave me an understanding smile; as if he'd been through the same thing before. "Sorry," I told Annabeth. "I couldn't help—"

She held up a hand as if to stop me. Annabeth sighed, "Since you've already heard part of our conversation, you should be in the rest of the discussion." She tugged her blonde ponytail and gestured for Chiron to talk.

He said, "Niki, Annabeth has a, ah, problem with one of the Olympian gods."

I asked, "Hera?"

Chiron nodded, "Demigods have dreams but unlike mortals, they usually provide visions of the future or past, or messages. Annabeth received a dream from Hera telling her to get her most prized possessions back, her crown, scepter and jeweled lily." I frowned and opened my mouth to say something when Chiron read my mind and said, "Gods often use heroes to do their bidding. No god can steal other immortals' weapons or symbols of power. They are bound by ancient laws."

I thought on that for a moment. "So," I said drawing out the word. "What next?"

Percy propped his feet up on the table. "We go on a quest, obviously. And Annabeth needs your help. My help too, of course."

Annabeth looked really tired. She rubbed her temples and put her head down and murmured something. "What?" I asked.

She raised her head, "Do you want to help me, Niki?"

"Of course."

Percy asked if we should tell the other campers. Annabeth shook her head. I think she was still upset about 'losing the one she loved most'. I glanced around. "Then what are we waiting for?"

Chiron smiled, "Patience child. You still have to train. The deadline is on the…" He frowned. "That is strange, Annabeth, did Hera give you a dead line?"

Her expression gave us an answer. "You don't know?" I blurted out. "How the heck are we supposed to—"

Chiron cut me off with an admonishing look. I threw my hands in the air and mimed zipping my mouth. "The quest group needs a prophecy. Annabeth, wait here while I find Rachel."

Annabeth dropped her head on the table again. Her blond hair was splayed on the table. I looked at Percy who was making sound effects for two Ping-Pong balls that had faces drawn on them. I sighed loudly. I picked at a scab on my knee. The silence made me squirm. I was feeling my ADHD making me restless.

After what seemed like ages, Chiron clopped back into the room with a green- eyed red head whom I assumed was Rachel. I sat down and slouched.

"Rachel will give you a prophecy Annabeth. " Chiron said. Annabeth stared at Rachel whose eyes glowed a brighter green and she fell backwards onto my lap. Percy reached over and we helped her stand up.

Sickly green smoke billowed around her feet. The doodles on her jeans also shimmered with an aura of power. Rachel spoke in a raspy voice:

Daughter of wisdom, beware your flaw

Or face the pain of the peacock's claw.

The queen of heaven will test your pride

A wave of doubt you must ride.

Keep in mind what matters most,

The one that is dear should be held close.

Rachel collapsed and I lay her on the nearest couch. "Well," Annabeth said. "I guess we should go…pack and…"

We all stared at Annabeth and I started to think that peacocks weren't the prettiest birds anymore.

We went to bed that night feeling very downcast. Well, that's what Percy and Annabeth looked like. I was excited. My first quest! How cool was that! I ran up the Big House stairs to my temporary room. I packed a backpack full of spare clothes, water, flashlights, and lots of extra batteries. I fell asleep and had my first demigod dream.

There was a small white cow, grazing by the banks of a bubbling river. The cow was beautiful, unlike any cow I had ever seen before. The cow suddenly stopped munching and turned toward me. I saw a jeweled flower in the creature's jaw. Its luster was amazingly bright. Suddenly a bright flash of light burst near the cow. A tall graceful woman with dark brown hair stepped out of the light. She would have been beautiful, if not for the sharp scowl on her face. She glared at the cow, and tried to pull the jeweled flower out of its mouth. The cow grunted and stepped into the river; the current was moving along faster now. The cow melted into the river with the flower. The woman stamped her foot in frustration. She turned toward me. "Get it back before it is too late." Then my dream faded to black.

I woke the next morning thinking of my dream. It really made no sense to me. I figured it had to do something with the quest, but…I shook myself out of bed and slipped on jeans, a Camp shirt and a sweatshirt. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and grabbed my bow and arrows. I sheathed my dagger to my belt. Then I headed off to breakfast.

The other campers were filing into the pavilion just as Annabeth ran up to me. "Ready?" she asked.

"Um, I didn't eat yet? So, not ready. Yet," I told her. She smiled, which was nice to see after yesterday.

After breakfast, the campers headed off for cabin inspection (another good thing for not having my own cabin! No chores!). Percy, Annabeth, and I headed off to meet Argus at the base of Half-Blood Hill. We drove out into the city. I stared out the window. "Uh, where are we going?" Annabeth turned to me.

"To Percy's mom's place."

We were dropped off at the entrance to this tall New York apartment. There was a doorman who called up to the fifth floor. We were let in and I hopped in the elevator with Percy and Annabeth. We knocked once and the door swung open. A tall woman with light brown hair and a fleece pullover greeted us. I assumed that she must be Percy's mother. "Come in, I have cookies!"


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