A few things to say before I go on with this story:

So, I got my first flame. It was… interesting. But hey, don't like it, don't read. Sorry. From now on, please only constructive criticism. No flames. And I'll say it again: this the first time I do this, so have mercy! On with the story, now.


Last chapter…

"I… Have to… Go… Heal this…", I said, while I looked away and started heading to the Big House. I left him there, but I heard his steps following mine after a few seconds. Even for me that had been funny. I sounded like I was trying to convince myself that I had to leave. But did I want to leave?

Oh shut up, I told the annoying voice. Great. Now I was arguing with myself.


Chapter 7- I Start Having Dreams

He coughed blood. Again. I wanted to do something to help him, but I just couldn't move. The woman torturing him laughed. I got goose bumps when I heard her laughter.

"You really think you can ignore me and get away with it?", the woman asked. She was both beautiful and terrifying.

The man looked at her narrowing his eyes.

"And you wonder why I don't like you", he muttered, earning another punch from the woman.

Just then, he looked in my direction.

"Danielle…", he mouthed, and everything went black.

A high pitched scream woke me up. I realized, I was the one screaming.


"Dad!", I gasped.

I looked around, and I found my siblings looking at me with concerned expressions on their faces.

"Dan, are you okay?", a voice to my left asked. Jasmin was kneeling beside my bed, her eyes wide with fear.

"Dad…", I repeated, breathing heavily.

Who was the woman in my dream? And why was she torturing my dad? Millions of questions were appearing in my head, but I couldn't find the answer to any of them.

"Let's talk to Chiron", Jasmin said, helping me up.

I grabbed a jacket on the way, and we headed towards the Big House. We knocked, and a few seconds later, Chiron opened the door.

"Good morning, children", he said smiling. "Isn't it a bit early for you to be awake?"

Something must have showed in our faces, because he stopped smiling, and frowned.

"Is there something wrong?", he asked.

I was going to start explaining, but Jasmin beat me.

"Danielle started talking in her sleep", she said, eyeing me from the corner of her eyes.

Chiron raised his eyebrows, and then turned to me.

"Jasmin", I whispered, "you said it's common for demigods to have clairvoyant dreams, right?"

"Yeah, but you said you hadn't had any", she said hesitantly.

"Not until tonight", I said darkly. I looked down. I was starting to understand why everybody hated this dreams. My head ached so badly I wanted to scream.

"What was the dream about, child?", Chiron asked.

At first I didn't answer. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and started explaining, still with my eyes closed.

"I dreamed about a cave. It was very dark. A man was there, tied up. He was bleeding badly. Then, a woman came, and punched him in the face". I couldn't stop trembling. My voice sounded hoarse. "She was torturing him, apparently because he hadn't paid attention to her, or something. The man was… my dad". I fought the tears back. "He looked at me and mouthed my name, and everything went black."

"…"

The silence was pretty tense.

"What did the woman looked like?", Chiron suddenly asked.

I swallowed. "She had long, black hair up to her waist, and was dressed in a purple tunic. Her eyes…", I remembered the fear I've felt when I saw them. "Her eyes were dark blue, almost black." Jasmin put her hand on my shoulder, comforting me.

"Hecate", Chiron whispered.

"The goddess of magic? But why would she want Danielle's dad?", Jasmin asked. "It doesn't make any sense!", she added.

"Anything else you forgot to tell us? This is crucial, child.", Chiron said.

"Well… she said, and I quote, 'You think you can ignore me and get away with it' ", I remembered.

Chiron was deep in thought. "I think you need to see the Oracle, Danielle", he said bitterly. He showed me the way to the attic, where he said she would be. I climbed up, not knowing what to expect.


I had heard a lot of Rachel Dare, and I had wanted to meet her. Right now, I didn't exactly looked forward to it.

I knocked, and I heard a faint "Come in".

A room with bright colors, full of pictures and paintings was not what I'd expected to find. A girl with intense red hair was sitting on a bed, reading a book. She looked up, and smiled.

"Need a prophecy?", she asked.

I shrugged.

"Ask your question then", she encouraged.

"Okay… What will happen to my dad?", I asked, praying that it was good news.

Rachel's eyes filled with a green, bright light and as she opened her mouth, her voice sounded different and raspy.

Look for the liar of magic and hate,

A friend's decision will decide your fate.

Losing what you love the most is the cost,

For you to return from this quest, that is lost.

Rachel passed out, luckily on her bed. I couldn't stop myself now, I was crying.


When I climbed down the stairs, I heard voices arguing. I found Maxwell, Patrick, Jasmin and Lucy in a discussion. When they saw me entering the room, they fell silent.

"What did Rachel say?", Jasmin asked anxiously.

I didn't answer. I looked at Chiron.

"It's okay child, tell us", he said. "Tell us everything she said"

I repeated my prophecy aloud, the silence only broke by my sobs.

"You need to pick someone to go with you on this quest", Chiron said, looking down.

Pick someone? I couldn't pick someone! Someone would die! I would be giving them a death sentence! And this quest was doomed already, so what was the point?

My thoughts were interrupted by someone clearing his throat. It was Patrick.

"I'll go", he said.

"No.", I said firmly.

He snorted. "What do you mean, 'no'? I'll go! I won't let you do this alone.", he looked so determined, it almost convinced me.

"I'll go, too", Jasmin said.

"No! I won't let any of you die!". I was angry now.

"Please Danielle! We want to go! We're volunteering! So give us a break and accept our help!", Jasmin said.

My hands were shaking. I couldn't believe they wanted to come with me. That showed so much loyalty- or so much stupidity. But there was no point in arguing. They wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Fine", I snapped. I wiped my tears away.

"Good. You'll part tomorrow afternoon", Chiron said. "We should get some breakfast. I bet all of you are starving."

I hadn't noticed how hungry I was until he mentioned it. Lucy and Maxwell glanced at me one more time, and then they headed for the pavilion. Patrick and Jasmin were still looking at me, arms folded.

"What was Lucy doing here?", I asked.

"She wanted to change the bandages of your cut", Patrick replied.

I looked at my arm. The bandages were vaguely stained with fresh blood. I would take care of that later. My two friends turned to go.

"Thanks", I muttered.

They faced me one more time. Jasmin hugged me, and we went to get some breakfast together.


Lucy said my wound would be healed completely by tomorrow, so I had nothing to worry about.

Except for the fact that one of your friends is going to die in your quest, that is already lost.

So much for not worrying.

I was at the beach, deep in thought when a bright light shined to my left. I turned, and a woman with grey eyes stood in front of me.

"Danielle", she said. Her voice was full of wisdom.

"Mother", I said, bowing my head. It was the first time I saw her, but I was still too focused on my quest.

"I want to wish you good luck on your quest", she said calmly.

I nodded.

"I also want to give you this", she said. She was holing an olive blossom.

"The person you give this to, is the one that's going to survive in your quest", she explained quietly. "I know it's not very fair to only give you one, but I figured maybe you wanted to have a choice." She handed me the flower. It wasn't very big, but it was beautiful.

"Thank you mother", I said.

She smiled. But it was a weird smile, like she was trying to hide something with it.

"I must go now, child. Good luck", she said. I covered my eyes to prevent myself from seeing her true godly form.

She wishes me good luck when I'm failing anyway. Brilliant.


I'm not sure how that prophecy was, but that's the best I could do! I suck at rhymes...

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