Chapter 8: Prophecy and Preparations

Annabeth's POV

After our little tryst, we had a quick shower, we met up with Grover and made our way to the big house tot speak to Chiron and Mr. D. Wandering around camp again felt as if we were back home. Back to the only place we were safe, as Percy once said. The number of the campers was increasing greatly because not only were there newbies, but many of the "veterans" were coming to spend Christmas here, like Percy and I originally planned to. Before we were given this quest.

As expected, Chiron and Mr. D. were playing Pinnacle in front of the Big House. They looked up and for the first time in nine years I saw Dionysus being embarrassed. Probably because he knew what we had to do because of him. Or knowing that we wouldn't be able to resist the magic of his manifestation.

"Why didn't you destroy it?" I asked him once we were close.

"Annie Bell, you shouldn't talk to a god like this." He said still not meeting my gaze.

"We might be turned into golden statues, because of your little hand and you're telling me that I shouldn't talk to you like this?" I asked him furious.

"Annabeth, calm down. I told you we will get through this." Percy whispered in my ear wrapping his arms around me. I immediately relaxed to his touch and let him talk things out with the two immortals in front of us.

"Well, Peter Johnson, you seem to have a great spell over Annie Bell here." Mr. D. pointed out.

"She has the same power over me. Now is there anything you can tell us about that hand?" He asked the god.

"Nothing more than what your parents told you. Midas was a greedy human. Way much more than anyone else in this world. His pride and greediness is what fed the hand's magic." He said seriously. I've never seen Mr. D. serious.

"Okay. Who will lead this quest?" Percy asked again still cradling me.

"You will, Percy." Chiron answered,

"Well, then my companions will be Annabeth, of course, and Grover." He said

"Actually..." We heard someone say from behind us. We turned and saw Thalia smiling at us.

"Thalia!" Grover, Percy and I yelled and went to greet her.

"Wow! I guess the rumors of you two being inseparable are true." She said hugging us all.

"You have no idea" Grover said and Thalia laughed while I blushed and Percy just smiled.

"How could I stay away from my amazing girlfriend, Pinecone Face?" He asked when we pulled back.

"Possessive much, Seaweed Brain?" She asked .

"You act as if you don't know him, Thal." I said wrapping my arms around his waist.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with the hunters?" He asked our best friend. The immortals behind us were completely forgotten for the time being.

"I was, until my father requested that I accompany you in this quest. He filled me in on what we have to do."

"Didn't lady Artemis have any objections to that?" Grover asked confused.

"Well, considering that the outcome of this trip will determine the fate of the gods, she wasn't. In fact she let me stay by your side as long as I need to."

"The same thing happened to me." Again we turned but this time we were faced with Nico. "What happened guys? Don't I deserve a hug?" He asked chuckling and we went to hug him as well.

"When are we leaving?" Thalia asked after all the proper greeting took place.

"You have to leave tomorrow, but first Percy must consult the Oracle.

"What? Rachel is here?" I asked surprised.

"Am I wearing your cap Annabeth and you can't see me?" She asked standing at the door to the Big House.

"We didn't notice you. How did your father let you spend Christmas here?" Percy asked.

"He didn't." She said giggling.

"He doesn't know?" Thalia asked surprised.

"What he doesn't know, doesn't hurt him." She said and now we were all dumbfounded. Rachel was never a girl to sneak. Except that time she "stole" Blackjack to come here.

"I never thought you had it in you." Nico commented.

"Neither did I. It just happened. Now Percy why don't you come in?" She suggested and Percy turned to kiss me before going in. Nico went to the side with Grover while Thalia came to sit with me.

"How are you doing Annabeth?" She asked me as I kept looking at the door to the Big House.

"I'm fine Thal." I said.

"You don't look so fine." She commented. I turned to look at her and she had her eye-brows raised. I knew there was no getting out of this so I told her my fears.

"I just can't even consider the idea of losing him." I admitted looking down.

"Annabeth, although there is nothing wrong with that, it's stupid. Seaweed Brain is invincible. There is nothing that can happen to him." She comforted me.

"Thalia, if he touches the hand, it won't matter if he is invincible or not. He will turn into a golden statue." I said.

"Then you just have to prevent him from doing so. All five of us will help each other to accomplish this task." She hugged me and then Percy came out of the door looking a little pale. We all ran to him, but I was the one to ran in his arms.

"Where is the Oracle and what did she say?" Chiron quickly asked.

"Rachel is resting. And her words were these:

After the gods' request
Five will go on this quest
The sea, the wisdom and the nature
will combine with death and danger
to retrieve what's hidden
up in the mountain forgotten
You shall find the great curse
but one will be lost to the hearse
Decisions will be made

when the Titan offers a trade
Go forth great hero
before your time comes to zero
" He finished and I went numb in his arms.

"Well the first three lines are clear. In the forth, "death" probably refers to Nico, but what about 'danger'?" Grover asked.

"It's me. The hunters have always been described as great dangers, because of our lack of patience with men and everything." Thalia said. I still couldn't move.

"Now, 'to retrieve what's hidden up in the mountain forgotten'. It's of course about a mountain and since the gods have information saying that the said mountain is the Mt. Rushmore, we know where you have to look for the forgotten hand." Chiron said.

"The next two lines clearly say that you will find the item...." Mr. D. started but Percy cut him off.

"But one of us will die."

"It doesn't say that Percy." Chiron tried to be an optimist.

"Oh yeah? A hearse carries the dead bodies of people to the church. What ELSE could it mean?" He asked and I could feel him tremble.

"I don't know, but it could mean something different. The ninth and tenth line are about Hyperion, so we can't know exactly, but the last two....." Chiron trailed off.

"NO!" I yelled when I could finally move. "No! You won't die. You can't do this to me. You promised." I screamed in his chest.

"And I'll do everything in my power to keep that promise." He whispered in my ear hugging me close. "Guys, would you mind if we made an early start?" He asked the others.

"No problem. We'll go pack now." I heard them say before I felt Percy lifting me up. I wrapped my legs around him and he carried me somewhere. Probably cabin 3. Sometime later he came to a halt.

"Baby girl you have to get off, so we can pack." He said but held on tighter. He sighed, sat on his bed and pulled me back so he could look at me. "Please stop crying. I hate to see you like this. Rachel didn't say that I'm going to die. She said that I have to hurry before anything happens."

"But what if something does happen?" I asked still crying.

"Annabeth, we can't base our life on what-ifs. We wouldn't be here if we had." He said and I knew he was right, but somehow it didn't make me feel any better. "We will get through this. And next summer we'll go to Greece as we planned. We'll visit all the great monuments, you'll start mumbling about each detail and I'll stand by your side enjoying watching you so happy. When I get bored out of my mind, I'll drag you down to those beautiful beaches where I will finally be in my element. We'll prank the ones around us with the water and we'll be the only ones to know." He said and finally made me smile. When he saw that he pushed his hand into my hair grasping my neck.

"And then, in the nights, I'll show you how much I love you and what you do to me." He finished and kissed me with need. "Are you better now?" He asked when he pulled back.

"I'm composed." I answered kissing him once more.

"Now, can we pack so we can go?" He asked smiling. I swallowed hard and nodded. We stood up and went to prepare ourselves. We each took a backpack having put two changes of clothes, a couple of bottle of water, some food, etc. I also brought the poem he wrote for me. Soon we were all set to leave and went outside where our three companions were waiting for us.

"How exactly are we going to get to South Dakota?" Grover asked.

"A plane is out of question." Percy and Nico said at the same time and when they realized that they laughed.

"How about a train instead?" I suggested.

"Good idea. Who will drive us to the station though?" Thalia asked.

"That's easy. We can ask Argus." Nico suggested.

"Then I guess we are ready! Mt. Rushmore here we come!" Percy yelled and the others cheered.

"Be careful my daughter."I heard my mother say

"Just keep him safe and I will be fine." I thought back even though I knew there was nothing she could do to help us on this quest.

Short again. I know. I hope you are not so mad at me about it and that you review. Highlight of day so far (on facebook):

Me:hey! I'm not a complete tomboy

Tony:Really? how would you describe a girl that ALWAYS hangs out with guys, plays video games, football, basketball and everything with them?

Me:well...............................me! You know you love it so shut up.

Tony:I didn't say otherwise, but you are a tomboy. MY tomboy.

Me:true! When are you coming over?

Tony:I'll turn off the pc and head over right now. Are your parents home? :P

Me:Yeah you perv! What did you expect? That you would have me all to yourself?

Tony:A guy can dream, can't he? I'm turning it off. See you in a few baby girl

REVIEW!!!!!!

xoxo

Catherine & Tony