Chapter Twelve

Do you know how freaking long it took me to write this chapter? Like a week and a half! I had no idea how to transition to Nacy meeting Rachel. Plus I hate the names Rachael and Michael because the E should be first on the 'ael' part. But that's just my opinion. So whenever I spell their names I spell them wrong. And I have a friend named Michael so imagine his surprise when I spell Michael, one of the most common names, wrong! I feel so bad but it's a habit to write Micheal. Don't hate me if your name is Michael and I spell it Micheal or Rachael and I spell it Racheal. And Rachel Elizabeth Dare's name is not even Rachael so it just makes my life that much more complicated! Plus whenever I wrote I would just put in a filler chapter. I'm so useless! I'm sorry. But I think this chapter will pick up. . . And oh my gods do not even get me started on how pissed off I am at my stupid computer! It had the nerve to give me and my profile 17 viruses! What did I ever do? *Starts crying*

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or The Heroes of Olympus. But I do own Nachesa Smith and the Olympians.

When Annabeth woke up, they had stopped moving. Both Nacy and Nico were no longer in the car. She noticed they were parked in front of a huge classic looking building covered in ivy. For the first time in months Annabeth thought of architecture and her love for it. The building was modern Victorian at least 8 stories tall. A few car lengths ahead of the Porsche was a sign that read, 'Clarion Ladies Academy Early Open Orientation.'

Annabeth jumped when she heard a tapping on her window. She saw Nacy grinning like an idiot outside of it. Annabeth opened the door and stepped out. Nico was standing behind her leaning against the building in the shade. The sky decided not to snow that day. Even though it was winter it was around 70° and the sun was out high in the sky.

"Why are you so happy?" Annabeth asked.

"I could not find this Rachel person," Nacy said bluntly still grinning.

"How is that something to be perky about?"

"Instead of getting time to look around we were spotted by some old prissy lady. She asked me if I was here for orientation and I said yeah. She sent Nico and me to this room full of other prissy women who started staring at us like we were aliens or something. Anyway I explained that I was only here to check out the school. I said Nico was my brother and my parents were just outside talking to someone. So they gave me this brochure and said I could explore the campus if I wanted to enroll for next year. Mortals are so gullible."

Nico cringed at the brother part. Annabeth chuckled, "I guess you're a pretty good liar then, aren't you?" Nacy shrugged. "Okay let's go find Rachel."

They started on the second floor where the dorms were. Going door to door they searched every room for Rachel Elizabeth Dare. They asked the other girls about her but they said they didn't know and turned their noses up at Nacy. Finally on the fifth floor they were talking to a girl who said she last saw Rachel heading up to the roof.

So the group went up the rest of the way and opened up the roof door to the bright afternoon sunlight. It looked out over the rest of the city. To the left of the group were a bench and a table with a glass of ice water on it. To the right was a small green house with the door open, showing all kinds of colorful flowers.

"Ugh, it is too bright up here," Nacy complained, covering her eyes with a hand.

"Gods, why would she be up here? Its like Apollo territory," Nico agreed.

"Well Apollo is the god of prophecies," a new voice said.

"Hello Rachel," Annabeth chuckled. "This is the Oracle, the spirit of Delphi, and the speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo. But you two Goths wouldn't really be thinking about that now would you?"

"Hey that's my line," Rachel pouted, coming up to hug Annabeth. She turned to Nacy, "And who are you, who looks so much like Nico?"

"I am Nachesa Smith, but you can call me Nacy," she held her hand out. "I am apparently a half-blood but nobody can tell me who my parents are."

"Parents?"

"When we found her she only had months of memory," Annabeth explained. "And no one has claimed her yet. The only thing we have to go off of is a strange moon symbol, and the fact that she draws power from the night and I think from the moon as well."

"So you need something to go off of, like a prophecy," Rachel concluded.

"Yes. Exactly."

"Okay. Approach, seeker, and ask."

"What am I supposed to ask?" Nacy whispered to Nico.

"It's your prophecy not mine," Nico shrugged.

"Thanks, um. . . What do- I mean, what is my destiny?"

Rachel stood up straight and her eyes glowed bright green. As she spoke, it sounded as though there were three different Rachel's speaking.

"To overcome the light

You must strengthen your might

Let the shadows be your guide

And a dark path you must abide

Give over to the ordain

To be held in darkness once again"

"So are you good or bad?" Nico asked.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Nacy snapped.

"I only mean to say, that prophecy seemed pretty dark. And 'To overcome the light'? Isn't light good?"

"We're back to square one, I guess. I was hoping that it could tell me something about where to start, but all it said was more about darkness," Annabeth sighed.

"Hey, do you have a piece of paper and pencil," Nacy asked Rachel.

"Yes, right here," Rachel handed her both from her bag on the bench. "Why do you need those?"

"I should probably write it down since I will probably forget."

"That's for sure," Annabeth mumbled.

"I still can't tell whose side I should be on. Dark is evil and light is good. The light or the dark," Nico wondered.

"You are on my side, because I am not evil," Nacy growled glaring at Nico. She folded up the piece of paper and put it in her jeans pocket. Then she handed the pencil back to Rachel. "Thank you." Nico and Nacy started walking toward the roof door still arguing about light and dark.

"Have you noticed the way she talks?" Rachel said quietly to Annabeth.

"No how does she talk?" Annabeth said raising an eyebrow.

"Instead of 'it's', 'that's', and 'I'm', it's 'it is', 'that is', and 'I am'. Partly old fashion. Haven't you noticed?"

"No I didn't notice, but I see it now. But what does it mean?"

"That's for you to find out now isn't it?" Rachel laughed.

"It was great seeing you again. See you around."

"Say hi to Percy for me, okay?"

"Definitely." Annabeth ran to catch up with the two Goths who were still arguing, albeit good naturedly.

Back to square one. . . Annabeth, sometimes she really gets on my nerves but she can be cool when not in a bad moon. Nico is my second favorite guy because I love Hades and his darkness. Percy is my favorite because he can make me laugh. He sometimes says the most stupid things. Thalia, I have no words for Thalia. She would have to be my favorite girl because she always has a sarcastic remark or the coolest clothes. Anyway, Review!