Hi guys…still here. I mean, you know that because I posted Chapter 10. Please review! I don't really have any other way of knowing if you guys actually read the chapter. I mean, I can look at views on the traffic graph. But for all I know, you could have scrolled through quickly and moved on. Anyways! Hope you like it!

ANNA

"Go to the Big House?" Anna repeated numbly.

"Yeah," Kayla said shakily. "I think we should ask Chiron…what happened."

"Okay," Anna consented softly. She felt helpless and scared, not feelings she liked. Then she thought of Stewart. How he didn't remember…and the world swam and went black.

Anna woke suddenly. She blinked and rubbed her scratchy eyes. When she swallowed, her throat felt dry. There was an odd taste in her mouth.

"You're awake," came a familiar voice.

"Stewart?" rasped Anna hopefully.

Stewart's face swam into view. He looked tired and drawn, his face haggard, the shadows under his eyes dark and pronounced. "Hey, Anna. How do you feel?"

Anna was too tired to even glare at him. "Absolutely awful. What happened?"

Stewart sighed. "Kayla says that you looked at your eyes in the mirror and you just stood there for a long time, like you were hypnotized. Vanity issues much?"

Anna cracked a small smile. "Shut up, Stu."

"Anyways, then you fainted. You hit your head pretty hard on the desk—"

"I did?"

"Yup," He moved closer and took her hand, placing it at the back of her head on the left side. Anna could feel a huge bump and some bandages. She pressed on it experimentally and yelped in pain.

"Ow!"

"Anna," Stewart said exasperatedly.

"Sorry!"

"Anyways, here we—you—are. Chiron should be in any moment—"

Chiron clopped in. "Hello Anna, Stewart. Stewart, I need to speak with Anna, if you don't mind. Kayla is waiting on the porch, if you like." He waited until Stewart had risen and exited, casting an apologetic, anxious look at Anna as he went.

Chiron lowered himself into his wheelchair. He sighed deeply.

"So…" Anna prompted him.

Chiron looked at her. He had never looked so old, Anna thought. "You are an interesting case, Miss Thyme." He studied her a moment more. "I am granting you a quest."

"A quest?! Why? Shouldn't I, like, stay and heal or something? Who would go with me? Why would I need a quest anyways? Shouldn't we be looking for Ailee?" Anna gasped. Ailee. "Wait. Ailee. I think she's…I think I'm supposed to find her. Okay, I need a quest. Like, now. And can I have some ambrosia? Like, now. I don't exactly want to leave with…this." She gestured emphatically at her head.

"Well, I'm very sorry, but you can't go without your head," Chiron told her sternly.

Anna sat stunned for a second, then she snorted, a grin spreading across her face.

"Fast thinking, Miss Thyme. Yes, you can have ambrosia. As for a quest, I think you'd better visit the Oracle."

ONE HOUR LATER

Anna finally had reached the top. She had a small stitch in her side from running the whole way, but otherwise the climb had been refreshing. She took a moment to catch her breath, then looked around. Chiron had said there would be a cave…there!

Anna took a reluctant step inside. The interior was dimly lit and torches flickered on the walls. Anna shivered. Shadows jumped on the wall and Anna felt her heartbeat speed up. Then a figure emerged from the darkness beyond…

Suddenly blinding light filled the cavern. "Well, that's much better," came a cheerful voice. Anna looked up, startled, to see a smiling, middle-aged woman with wild red hair and lots of freckles.

"Uh…hello?" Anna stammered. "I'm Anna Thyme, they said, um, I should find the Oracle but I thought she was, um, a mummy." She blushed furiously.

"Oh no, she…retired, shall we say, years ago. I'm Rachel, by the way. Rachel Elizabeth Dare." She stuck out a hand.

Anna shook it, realizing as she did so that her palms were extremely sweaty. Feeling embarrassed, she wiped them (hopefully discreetly) on her denim shorts. "You know your initials spell 'red'," she blurted before she could stop herself.

Rachel laughed. "You know, that's the first time anyone's told me that since Annabeth."

Anna, still feeling awkward, fidgeted with her camp necklace. It was just a leather string. No beads yet.

Rachel gasped and sat down suddenly on the stool behind her. Anna hadn't noticed it before. Rachel's eyes were glowing eerie green, and as she opened her mouth, smoke poured from it. She spoke in a raspy voice.

You shall go west and find the girl who has gone.

Betrayal and anger from the Lord of Time's pawn.

A cursed dagger will find its way home.

Soul taken early, forced to roam.

Rachel's eyes stopped glowing and she blinked dazedly. Anna stumbled backwards. She had to get out of here. Heedless to Rachel's calls after her, Anna sprinted out of the cave into the sunlight…

But the words of the prophecy clung to her like smoke.

:) As always, reviews appreciated! Hope you enjoyed it.