WE ARE OFFERED A QUEST

For the second time that week, things changed for us. All of us really. The campers safety zone was obliterated the moment that Hellhound entered camp. Those monsters we all ran from had followed us in, and camp was suddenly dangerous. As for me and Percy? Well, we moved into Cabin three. We picked our own activities, we had our own dinner table, we went to bed when we wanted to.

It was safe to say that it was the most miserable couple days of my life.

I had to say goodbye to that group of unclaimed kids who shared the same feelings as me. I wasn't one of them anymore. I had been claimed. I had gotten what they wanted all along. They didn't want to be around me anymore. I hadn't seen Roe or Josh in days.

Luke still trained with us, though we were alone now, without an audience. And he was harder on us too. He pushed us, and I understood why: we were big three kids. Meaning we were bound to get in more trouble than everyone else.

"You guys have a lot more to worry about," he had said. "You'll have to be careful. Everywhere you go, a monster can find you. And you don't have just yourself to worry about. Others around you will be in danger too. You have to remember that, and train hard so nothing like that will ever happen."

I heard the underlining meaning to his words. Camp may be the last place we live. We might not be leaving this place for a long time.

I still went to study Greek with Annabeth, but things seemed a bit stressed now. She glared at Percy even more than normal, and she even started glaring at me. When I got something wrong, she looked like I was some kind of hopeless case. Not living up to people's expectations was something I had gotten used to. I didn't have a problem with it. But I know Percy did.

"It's bad enough she treats me like garbage, but she actually liked you. She's only being mean because we're big three kids. I mean, isn't this what she wanted? Us to be kids of one of the big three."

"She's just upset that she didn't see it herself," I told him. "She started doubting herself, and when she was sure we weren't, we proved her wrong. And that upsets her. And obviously she believes us being alive in the first place is a problem."

He turned to me. "That's not an excuse for being a jerk."

I smiled at him. "Kind of makes you feel more at home though, huh? Everyone turning against us?"

He gave me a sad look. "But this time we can't go home to mom at the end of the year."

I choked a bit, then turned away, not yet ready to talk about mom.

"We'll have to talk about this at some point you know."

"How 'bout not now?"

He shook his head. "Sorry, but the sooner the better."

"How so?"

He shrugged. "Because I need to talk about it."

Guilt clouded my mind. "I'm sorry, Percy. I wasn't thinking about how you're feeling about the whole mom thing." I sat next to him, snuggling into his side.

Wrapping his arm around me, he nudged me. "It's fine, Cam. I just didn't want to upset you."

"I want you not to feel bad about all this, so next time, tell me."

He smiled down at me. "Know what? Right now, I just kind of want to just sit here. Not talk, just think." He looked out at the lake that sat a little bit away from our cabin. It was in looking distance of our little home, and I felt more at home seeing it there. "It's really nice out there, huh?"

I nodded. "Ya. Mom would love it." I smiled at him. "Well, that wasn't so bad. I mentioned her and didn't start balling. That's a start, right?"

He laughed, nodding. "Ya, I supposes it is."

But getting over all the bad stuff was hard, especially when the bad stuff just kept coming. I woke up one morning, and walk out to see a rolled up newspaper on our front step. Weird. Didn't know we demigods even got newspaper. Maybe this was the Half-Blood Times version.

TWIN SIBLINGS AND MOTHER STILL MISSING

AFTER FREAK CAR ACCIDENT

Sally Jackson and her twin children, Percy and Cammie, are sill missing one week after their mysterious disappearance. The family's badly burned '78 Camaro was discovered last Saturday on a north Long Island road with the roof ripped off and the front axle broken. The car had flipped and skidded for several hundred feet before exploding.

Mother and children had gone for a weekend vacation to Montauk, but left hastily, under mysterious circumstances. Small traces of blood were found in the car and near the scene of the wreck, but there were no other signs of the missing Jacksons. Residents in the rural area reported seeing nothing unusual around the time of the Accident.

Ms. Jackson's husband, Gabe Ugliano, claims that his stepchildren are troubled children who have been kicked out of numerous schools and expressed violent tendencies in the past.

Police would not say whether the children are suspects in the mother's disappearance, but they have not ruled out foul play. Below are recent pictures of Sally Jackson and Percy. A picture could not be found of Cammie. Police urge anyone with information to call the fallowing toll-free crime-stoppers hotline.

At the bottom the number was circled in black marker.

Needless to say, the paper was burned, and disposed of. Percy already had enough on his mind. This would only upset him. Though I couldn't help but wonder why my pictures couldn't be found. It wasn't as if I didn't have pictures. I had tons. Surly they could find them. It just struck me as odd.

I sat at the end of the lake's dock, swinging my legs back and forth. The naiads at the bottomed smiled up at me and waved, so I waved back.

"So you'll talk to the naiads, but not me?" someone said behind me.

I turned around, and saw Roe standing there, her arms crossed, looking me straight on. Surprisingly, she didn't look mad.

I shrugged. "No one else seems to want to talk to me."

She seemed to ignore what I said and stepped closer, her eyes downcast.

"Now that your big three material, I suppose you think you're too good for the unwanted club we made, huh." Again, there was no anger, just sadness. Lots and lots of sadness.

I looked her over, and chuckled a little. "It's called the unwanted club, not the unclaimed club."

She shook her head. "Aren't they the same thing?"

I laughed. "Uh, no?"

She finally looked up at me, a puzzled look in her eyes. "Now how do you figure that?"

"I had to prove myself to my father before he claimed me. I had to fight off a bunch Ares kids and then nearly get eaten by a hell hound for him to claim me and Percy. I don't call that being wanted. Maybe he pitied us or just wanted to get the claiming out of the way while we were a little cool, but I didn't exactly feel wanted."

I don't know how long we sat silently. I don't even remember Roe coming to sit down next to me. I do remember her laying her head on my shoulder, sighing, and the long period of time we just stared out at the lake, and how I could practically hear her smile as she said, "You are kind of smart for a delinquent."

I leaned back on her. "So…can I still be part of unwanted club?"

"Well, you still haven't passed initiation," she laughed.

I scoffed. "Nether have you!"

We laughed, pushing at each other. I might have accidentally on purpose pushed her into the lake, but she did get her payback, by pulling me in with her.

I think it was safe to say Roe and me were on good terms.

After our little swim, I told her about how any pictures of me couldn't be found, and even Roe thought that was odd.

"Do you think your mom hid your pictures?" she asked.

I shook my head. "She had pictures of both me and Percy all around the house. And my schools should have had my pictures. I mean, they all can't just go missing."

She nodded in agreement. "I have to admit, it doesn't make much sense."

Not much else was said on the subject.

Percy must have sensed what I was feeling. Earlier we had moved two bunk beds so that the heads were touching, and that night he gently grabbed my hand, and held it in-between our pillows. "You know it'll get better, right?"

I chuckled. "At least you have a good view on things. I doubt any of this will get better anytime soon though."

Still, I squeezed his fingers tight, not planning on letting go anytime soon. Because whether he was right or wrong, the only way the situation we were in could get worse is if he let go.

That night, I had a dream. I was trapped, along with millions of screaming people, in a town that seemed to be completely set on fire. I looked around me, and realized this was New York, my home. Soon the streets were filled with water, washing the fire away like it was pebbles in a river. But instead of relief, new fear filled the air.

New York was going to be flooded, and the people would drown.

On top of all the screams and cries, I heard something: angry yelling, coming from two men. I looked up, yet all I could see was a giant statue of an eagle on one building that had yet to fall, and a horse on another.

"Give it back!" one voice yelled, like a little kid whose sibling stole his toy. "Give it back now!"

The water crashed up against both buildings, shaking them. The water splashed my face, and it tasted of bitter salt.

There was laughter under my feet, and I looked down to see the ground beneath me crumbling away like a soggy cookie. I started backing up to get away, but it continued towards me. The laughter got louder the farther away I tried to get.

"Run little Hero, run. You won't make it far." The voice was laughing like it told some sick, demented joke. It boomed like thunder coming from the ground.

I did as it told, and turned away from the decaying street, running anywhere that was better than here. But just as the voice had said, I didn't get very far. The ground under my feet disappeared, and I screamed as I fell.

A hand caught mine, and suddenly I stopped dropping. I looked up to see Percy. He looked several years older, not to mention he looked a lot more fit and heroic then the average guy. For a moment, I was relieved, till I saw the horror in his eyes, and realized that his grip on me was slipping. I grabbed for our locked hands with my other on, my eyes pleading him not to let go. He shook his head in an answer to my plea. Never. I'll never let go.

But still, I was slipping. The screams got louder, and I could hear metal clashing, and monstrous yelling. But my eyes never wandered from my brothers. I saw years of familiarity in those eyes, next to years of horror and grief. I felt extremely weak, and my hand dropped from our knotted fists. Percy was shaking his head furiously, shouting something I couldn't understand. I looked down at myself and saw blood. Lots and lots of blood. When did that happen? I didn't feel a thing.

I looked back at Percy, and saw he was balling, still shouting.

I'm going to die.

Yes, little hero, you will.

My hand slipped from Percy's grasp, and flames from below consumed me as I fell.

I woke up screaming.

"Cammie, wake up!"

I turned towards the voice, and would have fallen on the floor, had Percy not caught me, and made me land on him instead.

"Uhh, Percy?" I groaned.

"Cam, you were screaming in your sleep," Percy said, sitting us up. "What happened?"

Looking at him, I realized he was back to being the twelve year old he normally was. Signing in relief, I grabbed ahold of him in a hug. "It doesn't matter. I'm okay, you're okay, we're all okay."

He seemed reluctant, but hugged me back. "What was it about, Cammie?"

"Nothing, nothing Percy. Just…Just tell me you won't let me go. You know, if I were about to…"

"To what Cam?"

I shook my head, just as Grover walked in. "Mr. D wants to talk to you," he said.

Percy looked at me, giving me an annoyed look, and muttered, "We'll talk about this later."

I had asked Grover if we needed an umbrella, because it looked like there was going to be a terrible storm outside. Large gray clouds were so dark, it almost looked black, and I could see them churning. A curtain of rain could be seen far away. But Grover just shook his head. "No, it'll just pass us."

"What?" Percy asked. "Do you not see that storm coming?"

Grover look up. "It doesn't rain here unless we want it to."

I wanted to laugh at him, tell him he was crazy, but I realized he was right. It had looked like it was going to shower in the weeks I've been at camp, but never had it actually rained. Still, this was a huge storm, and even other campers looked nervous.

We walked up to the porch we first met Mr. D on. Chiron wasn't there this time, leaving only Grover for backup; though I'm not sure how much help he would be as 'backup' against Mr. D.

"Ah, just the demigod I didn't want to see, and the one I don't mind seeing," Mr. D said, not looking up from his cards. "Cameron, would you like to play a game of Pinochle?"

I smiled politely. "I'm sorry sir, I'll have to pass this time. I'm actually a bit interested in what it is you called us here for?"

He nodded. "Because you are such a polite kid, unlike all the other brats here, I will tell you right off the bat, leaving out all the small talk." He set down his cards, and looked at the two of us, motioning for us to sit, which we quickly complied, and for the first time, I saw Mr. D completely serious. "So you two are Barnacle Beards kids, huh?"

Lightning flashed, and thunder shook the big house like it was nothing. I cover my head, just in case glass came flying out.

"Okay, okay!" he yelled to the sky. "So here's what's going on. You're being offered a quest."

I sat back in shock. "A quest?" I asked. "To do what…Sir."

He gave a blank look, and sighed. "Zeus' lightning bold has been stolen. The main suspect? Your father."

"What does that have to do with us, Sir," Percy asked, and I could tell he was trying to be polit. "I know he's our father and all, but we didn't know that till a few days ago. Shouldn't this fight stay between the two of them?"

Mr. D looked slightly annoyed that Percy had spoken up, but only said, "That's not how things work. Gods can't steel each other's symbols, so Poseidon would have had to send a mortal hero to go get it. During the winter solstice, Zeus and Poseidon fought. It's actually quite normal for them to fight when they get together, so no one thought different of it. But after the meeting, when Zeus found his lightning bolt missing, he thought the fight was just an easy way to distract him. Poseidon was the one to start the fight, and so obviously it was suspected that he did it as a distraction so his hero could come in, steel the bolt, and leave."

"That's cra—no, not crazy, but unlikely," I said.

Mr. D raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Well, you are trying to tell us that Zeus thinks we did it, right?" I asked. "I can see where he gets the idea, but I can most defiantly say we didn't do it."

Mr. D smiled proudly at me. "Yes, that is what I was implying. Zeus believes it was you two. And he has lots of supporting evidence. You both were in New York when the bolt was stolen. You're at the age where you can do such things now. You easily could have slipped into the group of demigods who were taking a field trip that day to Olympus, and snuck in, stolen it, and gotten out. And now you're father has claimed you. It's a recipe for mutiny, that what this is."

It started to rain inside the camp, and the kids who were playing volleyball before quickly ran for shelter. Mr. D looked out before turning back.

"I'm a god myself, I know how Zeus' and Poseidon's pride works. The best way to stop a war from starting—and trust me, one will if Zeus doesn't get his bolt back—is if the children of Poseidon give it to him." Mr. D leaned back and spread his hands. "And there's your quest. Find the bolt and return it to Zeus.

"So what do you say, Jacksons? Will you take the quest?"

I looked to Percy. The choice was obvious from the beginning of this conversation. Half-Blood Hill had become unsafe for everyone, mom had been killed, war was going to start. And all because of this stupid lightning bolt.

"You know it Sir."

He smiled. "Now, go find whoever you're taking with you, and make sure to stop by the Oracle on your way out. To answer any questions you might have, ask Chiron. I have to make a stop at Olympus for some godly duties."

He picked up one of his playing card, flipped it, and suddenly it was a security pass. "Don't forget to visit the Oracle!" he warned us, and then disappeared.

"So we can take people with us," Percy said, as we walked back to our cabin.

"Annabeth," I said. Percy gave me a weird look. "She's dying to get out of here, and we could really use her help. You know it's true."

Percy nodded. "I'll go ask her, if you find Chiron and ask him where the Oracle is."

"Sounds like a plan Stan!" I smiled.

"Don't call me Stan," he mumbled, walking away.

I ran around, asking timid campers where the big horse was. I finally tracked him down at the sword arena.

"Chiron!" I panted.

He turned, smiling at me. "Yes, Cameron, how may I help you?"

"Where's the Oracle?"

He looked like I had just slapped him and called him a pretty pony. "Where did you…why on earth—"

"Mr. D offered us a quest to go get Zeus' lightning bold. Before he left he said me and Percy needed to go see the Oracle, so while Percy is asking Annabeth to come along, I ran all around camp looking for you so I could find out where the Oracle is. So…where is the Oracle?"

This must have been come as a shock to him, seeing how he was still staring at me. "I-In the attic of the Big House. Cameron, I was unaware you were offered a quest."

I shrugged. "Mr. D told us to go find the stolen lightning bolt, and bring it back to Zeus."

Chiron nodded, not seeming that surprised that Mr. D was getting rid of campers without consulting him. "Well, get going to the oracle."

I nodded, about to go find Grover. We had to take him to, I realized. Because he couldn't finish his test till he came with us on a quest.

"Uh, Cameron," Chiron called back. "I'm not sure if Mr. D clarified this or not, but only three are allowed to leave on quests. There's you, then Percy, so you have one person to take with you. I'm assuming, since Percy ran to fetch Annabeth, that she will be the one?"

Chiron turned away before I could answer. We needed Annabeth. She was brave, smart, and I had no doubt she'd hate us forever if we didn't bring her. But we also needed Grover. He needed to pass his test, a test we sort of ruined for him. But we were only allowed three.

My first thought was to talk to Percy.

"Athena doesn't work with Poseidon," someone said.

I was sure I wasn't supposed to hear that. I wasn't supposed to be listening into the conversation at all. I hid behind a tree, and looked out at the two people who were having this chat. I saw Percy and Annabeth, and by the looks of it, Annabeth was a tad bit grumpy.

"So?" Percy said. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"I'm a daughter of Athena. You are a son of Poseidon. Our parents hate each other."

"Well I'm not my father, and you're not your mother." Percy scoffed, shaking his head. "And here I thought you lived outside your mother's shadow, but I guess I was wrong. You really did strike me as a girl who set her own rules and didn't live in the legacies of her parents." He started walking away. "The offer still stands though. If you want to get out of this camp and go on your quest, here's your chance. We can pretend this conversation didn't happen, and go."

Percy shrugged his shoulders, and turned, leaving her to think about it. I smiled at how mature my big brother had gotten. Normally that kind of conversation wouldn't go so well, not with him leading it anyway. I was about to leave, when I turned and saw a face right next to mine. I looked at who it was, and realized it was a tree nymph.

"It is rude to eavesdrop, you know," the nymph huffed.

I mumbled an apology, quickly running away. Then a new thought popped into my head.

I knew what to do with our little dilemma on who to take for our quest.

I ran to talk to Roe.

The next day, me and Percy stood in front of the Big House, about to walk in to talk to the Oracle. "I told Annabeth if she wants to come, to meet us out here later."

I nodded. "Shall we be going then?"

Percy took my hand, and led me in. I'm actually quite glad he did. I'm almost positive I wouldn't have gone in there had he not.

We climbed four sets of stairs up, until we reached a landing right under a green trap door. "I'm assuming that's the door to the attic," I whispered.

Percy nodded. Reaching forward, he grabbed the cord, pulling it open. A later fell, nearly hitting him in the head, and bringing a fair share of dust with it. I choked on the musty smell, and scrambled up. When I reached the attic, a new smell hit me, along with darkness. It was a smell I remember from science class. Reptiles.

Groaning, I said, "Percy, I think there's snakes up here! I can't stand snakes, you know that."

"I doubt there's snakes!"

"It's too dark up here, I can't see if there are!"

"You're fine! Trust me! I'm right behind you."

Swallowing what I hoped wouldn't be my last breath of air, I pushed myself into the attic fully. The smell got stronger, and I had to force myself not to run to a corner and puke. Percy was, as he said, right behind me. He put a reassuring hand on my shoulder, before walking over to a dim crack of light, hitting objects as he moved past, making quite a ruckus. I covered my eyes as the room became bright has day. When I moved my hands away from my face, I was surprised to see what all lay up here. If I was a historian, I probably would have fainted by now.

It was a gold mine of old Greek armor and weapons. Although most were pitted with rust, and covered in cobwebs, it amazed me. There was a long table in the middle of the room, with many jars. Jars that, with further inspection, was found to hold pickled…things, such as claws, eyes, wings, and other parts of monsters. I assumed they were monster parts anyway. In one large jar, there was what looked to be a giant snake head, but I'm sure most snakes don't have shark teeth and horns. When I looked at the label, it read: Hydra head #1, Woodstock, N.Y. 1969.

I laughed at how amazing some of these things were, but when I looked to Percy, and saw his slightly scared expression, I found what it was he was looking at. It was, by far, the most disgusting, terrifying, and gruesome thing I had ever seen.

It was a mummy, but not wrapped like normal mummies. It was a woman, with long black hair wearing a tie-dyed sundress, and a million colored beaded necklaces. Her skin was leathery and her eyes looked like they had been taken out, and were replaced by milky white marbles. It was like someone took a dead woman from the 70's and stuck her up here. Left her in the clothes she died in, and didn't bother with a proper burial. And when it—she— started moving…well let's just say I jumped. And squeaked…just a little.

Percy was quick to come stand by me, though I could tell it was because he was scared, and not because he was trying to keep me calm. Her mouth opened and a green mist pored over, hitting the floor, and rolling along, hitting all the corners and crevices of the room. I held my breath, not wanting to risk inhaling the strange mist. The mummy's eyes widened, and stared right at us. A voice was in my head, but it wasn't my brother's this time. It was horse, like whoever was speaking hadn't had a drink in years. Possibly, I don't know, 40 years.

I am the spirit of Delphi, the voice said. Speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seekers, and ask.

"Wrong room?" I whispered, frightened. Percy hit my arm. It wasn't that the lady felt evil. She didn't give off the same vibe as Mrs. Dodds or the Minotaur did. It gave an off an ancient, powerful, inhuman vibe. And that kind of freaked me out.

"What is our destiny?" Percy asked, facing her.

The mist swirled, blocking the view of the mummy, putting me at ease. The mist became a table, then four men. Cards appeared in their hands, and poker chips on the table. Their faces became clearer, and I could tell it was Gabe and his poker pals. Uck.

Gabe turned to us, and spoke, but it was the Oracle's voice that said, "You shall go west, and face the god that has turned." He then turned back to his game.

His friend said, "You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned.

You shall be betrayed by one you call friend, the one on the left said before he threw in a chip.

And then Eddie, the building manager, someone I called an ally against Gabe, delivered the worst line of all. "And you shall fail to save what matters most in the end."

The men, who looked as real as when they were in my apartment two weeks ago, turned right back into mist, then fell like it was merely water. It gathered together, taking the form of a serpent, twinning itself up the mummy's leg, around her waist, curling around her shoulder before nesting in her mouth once more.

"Wait!"

I turned to Percy, confused.

"Wait! Who?! Who will betray us? What god!? That's not an answer!" Percy yelled angrily, running at her.

"Percy, stop!" I grabbed his arm. "This is how Oracles work. Remember? We learned that in class. They talk in riddles."

He shook his head. "What help is that!? What did we get out of that?"

I put a hand on his shoulder. "What we needed. We might not know what it means exactly now, but we will."

He scoffed. "Yeah, when it's too late. When we've already been betrayed. When we already failed."

I punched him. Hard. "Now don't you talk about failing! We won't fail. We won't. And I don't want to hear another pep about it from you!"

He was silent for a moment, not saying anything. I punched him again. "Don't think about it ether!"

He smiled softly. "Wouldn't want to be on your bad side."

I smirked. "You've see what happens when someone does. Now go on, there's still the quest, you know."

Percy paused halfway down the latter. He looked up at me, obviously confused. "Wait, you paid attention in class?"

When we got outside, Grover, Annabeth and Chiron sat, Annabeth all ready and packed for the quest.

"So when do we leave," Annabeth getting up, talking softly to us.

Percy smiled. "So you took what I said to heart?"

She stared at him. "I'm oblivious to the conversation you are referring to."

I smiled, and sat down across form Chiron. "Anything you want to say? Might be your last chance."

"First, before we begin" he said, putting down the book he was reading. "I have a present for you. Both of you. Well actually, they're from your father. I've had to wait twelve years to give these to you." He pulled out the pen he had thrown Percy that day at the museum. "This is Anaklusmos."

"Riptide," Percy translated, taking it.

"And for Cameron—"

"The pen you threw me, right?" Chiron nodded. "Thank you, I really appreciate it. But do you mind turning it into something else? I hate carrying things around in my pockets."

Chiron nodded, smiling. "I assumed you'd say that. It was easier to throw a pen at the time. Here, let me see what we can do about that."

He went into the big house and came back out a minute later, holding a beautiful necklace with a driftwood disk on one side, blue smoothed out seashell on the other, and a golden rope lace to hold it. It held together by what looked like two little black magnets. On the drift wood side the name "Nireta" was carved in Greek, and on the shell side a picture of a trident was carved in.

"My name's not Nireta though," I said.

"Nireta is a Greek name," Chiron explained. "It means from the seas. You're father calls you that, I imagine." I smiled, taking it. I detached the magnets, and suddenly it was the sword I had. With closer inspection, I realized it had millions of names carved on it's surface.

"Who are all these people?" I asked.

"Soldiers. From millions of different wars. It was passed down from poor soldier to even poorer soldier. Each one carving their name, though the sword itself has no name."

A sword of a thousand names. I'm just one of thousands to hold this. I blend in with them, yet at the same time, it makes me an individual. Not a solider. Just a girl. Just a daughter of Poseidon. Not much of anyone, yet still someone. I smiled. It is perfect.

"Now, you can't harm mortals with these weapons," Chiron said. "It is made of celestial bronze. Believe it or not, these two swords are twins." He smiled. "They were separated after being made. They were forged by the Cyclopes, tempered in the heart of Mount Etna, and cooled in the River Lethe. Though they are powerful weapons, they find no need to harm mortals. You should know that being demigods mean that you are able to be hurt by celestial bronze too. And best of all, you can never lose these items!"

I looked down at my sword, that was now back into it's necklace form. "Really?"

"Really. Throw it over there if you'd like to see."

Smiling, I chucked my necklace as far away as I could. Percy gasped at me.

"Now it might take a few seconds, but it will come back to you."

And he was right. A few seconds later, there was a weight around my neck, and I looked down, and there it was, hidden under my shirt. I pulled it out. "Okay, that's cool."

Chiron nodded. "Yes indeed, now, onto business. What did the Oracle tell you?"

I looked to Percy, who looked slightly grumpy at the thought. "Well, it said, that we were to go west, find a god that has turned, than we'd find the stolen item, and safely return it."

Chiron raised a brow. "Was that all?"

I looked to Percy. He stared back. Was the rest even remotely relevant? Even if it was, could we admit it? To Chiron of all people? The one who taught us, and believe we might possibly be invisible if we believed it ourselves?

"No, Sir, that's all the Oracle said." Percy spoke this time.

Chiron nodded. "Then it's safe to tell you who I believe the god from the prophesy is." He took a deep breath, and said quietly, so that said god couldn't hear, "It was Hades that had stolen the bolt."

Grover spit out his can. "Hades!?"

Annabeth hissed at him, hitting his arm. "Quiet!"

"B-But why would you think Hades of all people would steal Zeus' lightning bolt?" Grover whimpered.

"He's the only one who could. The Hellhound could only be summoned from the fields of punishment, which lies in his domain. The Jackson's appearance means that they could clear their father's name. They could destroy his plan. So he recruited a spy, one who could summon the Hellhound into camp. I assume he's trying to take over, become the king god himself."

"Couldn't it be in Maine?" Grover groaned. "Maine is wonderful this time of year."

"What do you care?" Annabeth asked. "You're not going."

Grover looked startled. "Of course I'm going."

"What are you talking about, Percy asked me to come yesterday."

"Cammie asked me."

"As I told Cameron yesterday, only one can accompany the Jacksons," Chiron said. "Unless…one of the Jacksons stays behind."

There was silence.

"Look," Percy growled. "If I'm going on a quest, it's not without my sister."

"Percy," Chiron sighed. "You can only take two others with you. You've already picked Annabeth and Grover."

"I'm not—"

"It's okay, Percy," I said.

He looked at her. I smiled softly. "What?"

"Both Annabeth and Grover are going with you. I'm going to stay at camp and train. I'm not going."

Anyone else shocked by that end there? How about the dream Cammie had? Anything surprising?

Wow that took me forever to write! This was supposed to be up three days ago! Well I'm just glad it is up. It's kind of funny, while I was writing this, I was also watching TV (probably why it took so long) and all these Percy Jackson Sea of Monster commercials kept coming up. And each time I wondered where Cammie was. And then I realized, "DJ it was you're messed up brain that put Cam and Percy together on a website. They aren't actually related." Anyway, I'm excited for the movie. I'm planning going with a friend of mine, and later my little cousin, if he reads up till the second book. That's the deal, read the books, and then you can see the movie. I will have a YouTube channel, but it will have to be my old one because to get a new one I'll have to get a Google plus account, and I refuse to get one. And I can't change my username unless, once again, I have a Google plus account. So until these newly coupled websites break up, or YouTube starts allowing me to change my username, I'll be under the username TheInvisibleGiraffe. I already have my Darkest Powers trailer from a few years ago up, and some mortal interments stuff too. I'll have this fanfiction's trailer up soon too, hopefully, so if you're interested, that's out there. Enjoy. I'll try and be better about updating all my stories, but thanks for be patient.