Hi there! It's PiperAnnabeth here and I am back from a really long, lazy me. I know I haven't updated for a while and this taught me a lesson: Finish all your chapters before posting a new story.

Well, I hope you enjoy this story.

I would also really love it if anybody reading this would comment and give me suggestions on how to improve my grammar.

So I hope you really enjoy this chapter. Thank you for reading everyone!

Chapter 10: I Wish Harpies Would Give the Answer to Everything

Riviera's POV

Just when I fell asleep, Melinda had to wake me up again at 10:00 p.m. which was very annoying because I just got so comfy with my bed. I started to actually sleep soundly in Camp Half-Blood. The Aphrodite cabin started to feel more like home by the day. Well, that was what I thought. Right now-forget it.

I wanted to punch Melinda in the face. Hello?! We have a quest starting at morning's light! I want to get some beauty sleep here, stupid! I wanted to scream at her. Instead, I kept tossing around. But Melinda and her "friends" dragged me all the way to the campfire. As we got closer, I starting hearing the loud noises of the campers talking about the chicken at Popeye's. Like, seriously? The hearth of the fire was really warm and cozy, which made me want to fall to sleep again.

Neigh! Despite that my eyes were closed and the loud noise, I could recognize that it was Butterscotch's sound. I stopped groaning. From that one sound, I knew it was important. If I were to save my parents, I had to be attentive.

As my eyes fluttered opened, I could see that suddenly everyone was staring at me. They were biting their lips to keep themselves from laughing. Peter was, who was about ten feet away, looked at me awkwardly.

"Um... why am I here?" I whispered to Melinda as she thanked her friends. When she was finished, she focused her concentration on me. Melinda replied, "Every time we have a quest, we need a prophecy, something like fortune-telling. The prophecy comes from the Oracle, or also known as the spirit of Delphi. People told me that the Oracle used to be one dead mummy in the attic of the Big House, so thank the gods you are in this generation. The Oracles are usually very beautiful maidens in the old days, then a mummy, and now we have living people to doing the tradition again. If you have anything else to ask me, just say it. I can help you out. After all, I've been in camp for six years!"

"So who's the 'Oracle'?" I asked. Melinda pointed at a woman laughing with Chiron. I could estimate she was a middle-aged woman. She had red, fizzy hair tumbling to her shoulders. Freckles dotted around the bridge of her nose. Her green eyes blended everything together.

Then I noticed that sitting next to the fire was a girl who was probably no more than eight years old. She was stoking the fire with an iron staff to make it burn on and on. A brown dress flowed to her ankles and her mousy-brown hair tumbled to her shoulders. She lifted her head and looked at me. The coziness of her eyes made me so sleepy that I would've dropped on the floor snoring if it wasn't for Melinda catching me.

She slapped my face.

She scolded at me, "Riviera! Don't fall asleep now! Your presence and awake-ness is definitely crucial!" I groaned as I rubbed my hand on my left check which Melinda just slapped. I stumbled up. I looked at that small girl who had just vanished.

"Wait. Where was that-", I started.

"That what?" Melinda wondered.

"I just saw a girl next to the fire."

Melinda looked at the campfire. She pointed out, "There's nobody there."

"Yes there was!"

"Don't be silly! I can see that how much you are like your father, Percy. You both have that stupidity in your brain."

"Listen Melin-"

"Don't doubt me."

I became desperate to change the subject. When you're in a fight with Melinda, you don't win.

"Fine," I puffed out. My angry expression must have been funny because Melinda started laughing. She tried to imitate my look. I noticed how stupid I look and I started laughing at myself. However, I pulled myself together.

"So what is the Oracle's name?" I asked as I brushed my blonde hair back. At the same time, I tried not to laugh as the image of Melinda with her lips pouted out and her eyebrows knotted together replayed over and over.

"Her name is Rachel Elizabeth Dare, or just Rachel." Melinda informed me with a smile.

"And she is supposed to give us prophecies?" I wondered skeptically. She looked way to pretty to contain some sort of ancient spirit.

Melinda must have noticed me and quickly added, "You should see how freaky she is when she starts to talk about these future stuff." I quickly nodded, although I still couldn't see Rachel that way.

Then, I noticed the campfire. The heat was really intense and it was shooting several feet up into the air with a blazing orange flame.

A few nights ago, it was as dark as midnight when everybody remembered Percy and Annabeth. We were told that they are looking for Ares's missing spear. Ares blame Annabeth because for a few years, they had constant fights on who is the real god/goddess of battle: Athena or Ares. For Athena, you need battle strategies and skills to win. And as for Ares, he has the power and the attitude to win. So the Ares' children hated the Athena campers and the Athena campers felt the same way.

Annabeth didn't steal anything and is on a quest to find the spear. Percy has to tag along. The Greek myths got it right. You can't have two people going on a quest, you need three, no more, no less.

Rachel raised both of her hands. She was probably signaling SILENCE but there was no need, for everyone was quiet. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen!" she announced. "As you know, three heroes are going to find and most likely save Percy and Annabeth Jackson. They were missing for many weeks. And here we have it, our demigods who will save them: Melinda Tinsley, Riviera Stone, and Peter Williamson!" No sound. No applause. No voices. Just silence.

Peter came up to Rachel. When Melinda went too, I followed. He said, "We would like our prophecy, please!" The other campers were chanting in unison, "Oh, Spirit of Delphi, give us the prophecy."

I would've been screaming and running off, but it was too cool to not stare at Rachel. Her eyes were covered in a thin layer of green. Other than that, she looked absolutely fine and you can barely tell the difference.

She stared straight at me then started reciting some sort of riddle. But, her voice was not hers. It sounded ancient and hollow. I tried to understand what she had said which was probably this:

"Amid in the angel city,

The man of love shall not take pity.

Do the tedious chore with all your might

To make sure the road is right.

One more price you shall pay

Or everyone you care will fade away."

After the last word, the mysterious veil in her eyes disappeared. She blinked her eyes, shocked and unsure of what she had just glanced back to meet my eyes. What the heck?! she mouthed. I shrugged my shoulders.

I stared up at the sky.

Gods, if you can hear me, please help! I really need you! I prayed.

Chiron's voice directed towards me, "And Riviera, because this is your quest to find your parents, you are proclaimed leader. But please don't stare at the sky now. The pollution blocked up all the constellations lately so I really don't understand what's so interesting up there."

I sighed and stared at Chiron as he was explaining what was expected from the quest.

"Here is our team: Riviera, Peter, and Melinda," he said, "I will expect you all to be out of camp by tomorrow morning with Butterscotch. He is at the stables if you need him. Are there any questions?"

No one moved.

"So I guess that's it. Let the quest begin!" Chiron exclaimed. Then, he turned back to Rachel and started another conversation. However this time, he had a nervous expression.

I watched as all the other campers left the amphitheater. "Good night," I whispered.

...

If you want to get someone to wake you up, my advice is to not ask your frenemies. Or your enemies. Or your frenemies' friends. I rather have Butterscotch come running in the Aphrodite cabin.

Well you can ask your frenemies of course but in my experience, they dump a bucket of icy cold water from the stream on my head. I woke up screaming and in front of all the Aphrodite campers laughing. I guess Melinda had to wake them all up at 4 o'clock in the morning to watch the show.

"Melinda! What in the world are you doing?!" I yelled. Everyone became quiet.

"This was all Vicky's idea!" Melinda shouted. Her straight golden hair was already clipped. She wore a hiking jacket on top of her camp T-Shirt. She slipped on a pair of Arizona jeans and sneakers. Victoria must have lent Melinda her dagger because άρωμα in Greek, was in a sheath attached to the belt. Melinda's makeup was really stunning. I guess she could have added more, but that would make boys faint.

"That was just for fun!" Victoria admitted. "Besides, she needs a shower right?"

"That doesn't mean drag everybody out of the bed! You're making Riviera all embarrassed!" Melinda criticized.

She took a backpack by her desk and shoved it in my arms. From my drawer, Melinda took out a pile of clothes and stacked it next to me.

"Please put that in honey," she commanded.

I took the clothes and carelessly stuffed it inside her schoolbag.

I stared at the bags design. I was all pink and purple. Sparkles and glitter covered the front. "BEAUTY RULZ" it said on the top. Below that was a picture of lip gloss, eye shadow, and an illustration of a girl about my age applying powder all over her face.

"Victoria, just accept the fact that you were the one who thought of the idea," Melinda said.

"And why would I do that?" Victoria asked.

"Unless you want me to leave Miss Perfume in the middle of the United States."

"Oh you wouldn't!"

"And why wouldn't I do that?"

"You know mother gave me that sword! You're just jealous that you didn't get a dagger like mine-"

"But I got her skills of charmspeaking, natural beauty, and ability to do an awesome job at flirting? Yeah, I get it."

"Melinda!"

"Well, admit it!"

"Fine! I planned it all out! I woke everyone in the cabin," Victoria shouted out, sounding a little miffed and angry. She took part of her loose hair and starting to make a French braid with it.

I sat there with my head dripping wet and stated in shock, "So Melinda, why did you listen to Victoria?"

"I made a deal with her. A trade," Melinda answered.

I was to curious and asked, "What's the deal?"

"Thing is-" she started but the door swung open. Everyone gasped. A harpy appeared at the door. Her sharp, yellow eyes stared at me. Her wings were covered in her green feathers.

"You," the harpy said. She pointed her bony finger right at me. "Don't just sit there you idiot. Come here! I need a word with you!"

As I got off my cold and wet bed, the Aphrodite campers shuffled back to their beds.

I'm going to die. I'm going to die, I told myself. I slowly walked toward the harpy. My knees were knocking so hard, I bet Melinda, who is sleeping on the other side of the cabin with Victoria, could have heard me.

When I got a closer look at her, I saw that the harpy's eyes shone with anger, hatred, and the will of destruction. But the more I tried to study what her eyes showed, memories of my adopted family, school, and even camp were starting to fade away. I realized what was happening and looked away.

"What's wrong, you dwitt?" the harpy asked.

"N-nothing," I stammered.

"Then tell me where did your parents hide my masters' spear! That is his most prized possession out of anything else."

"Ares is your master?"

"Yes, dummy. If I get the spear back for him, he will then fight with Athena to prove who is the real master of war, strategy, and battle. We will together humiliate Athena. She has been my archenemy ever since- Wait! Why am I telling you all of this?!"

"But who are you?"

"Why, I am Mnemosyne!"

"Didn't you capture my parents?"

"Of course I did! But they won't admit that they have the spear!"

"Don't you ever think that they didn't steal the spear?"

"Impossible!"

"So, just tell me where they are so that I can help you find the helmet faster."

"Beyond your godliest dreams! There's a reason for the Oracle, you know!" Mnemosyne stated. After that, she turned into a pile of dust that was blown away!

"Well this is going to be one long quest," I muttered to myself.