Chapter Fourteen: A Dare and a Quest

It was two in the morning and I was sitting in Gwen's bunk, two of her brothers were working on my hand, which still felt like it was smashed. Luckily they had managed to reduce the pain and were in the process of resetting my bones. Most of all I was given this stuff to drink which looked like a milkshake, but tasted like fresh strawberries and,oddly enough, cotton candy. After I sucked it dry I felt instantly better.

"What is this? It's amazing."

"It's the nectar of the gods. We can only have a small amount of it or we'd burn up. Same goes for ambrosia." said the blonde wrapping my hand up in heavy bandages. He held it closer to his face, examining it. "That should do it. The nectar will help the healing and your bones should be back to normal in a couple of days. You'll be sore so don't try to do too much with it."

I nodded while opening and closing my hand. It was sore, but better.

"Thanks guys, for everything. I didn't know where else to go."

He shrugged but I saw him blush. Boys were so easy to fluster.

"What happened?" Gwen asked for the dozenth time that night and to which I still hadn't provided an answer. I didn't want the other kids to hear. But I knew she wouldn't wait until morning so when the others went back to their bunks I decided to spill it.

"Do you want the whole story or just the gist of it?"

"The whole story."

I sighed.

"Well after dinner I went for a walk and ran into Nico. He invited me back to his cabin and we were talking and just, I don't know, messing around. One thing led to another and he tackled me on his bed. He was on top of me and he was looking at my earrings. That's when Mr. D came in."

I paused, seeing her eyes light up.

"You were pinned under Nico Di Angelo, on his bed?!" she squealed. I heard a few of the girls in the cabin giggle.

"We weren't doing anything!" I yelled whispered.

"Of course you weren't" she said with a grin.

"And that's the same reaction Mr. D had when he showed up and we tried to explain." That wiped the grin off her face.

"He was mad, pissed more like it. He made me leave with him and I followed him to the big house. We got into a argument and I ended up yelling in his face and..." my face fell into my hands.

"You didn't." she looked at my bandaged hand. "Please tell me you didn't"

"I slapped him."

The whole cabin was silent, like deathly silent. That had shut those giggling girls up. Gwen included. For a moment, she just looked at me. Her face expressionless. Not like Gwen at all and to be frank, it was unnerving. Then she broke the silence.

"Why did you do it?" she whispered. A terrified whisper.

"I don't know alright! I was upset and mad and I just wanted to do something. Maybe I thought it would make me feel better." I forced a bitter laugh and lifted my hand. "Guess I didn't think that one through."

"Sarah-"

"No. I don't want to talk about it anymore." I stood up. "Thanks for listening. I should be getting back to my cabin, I'm sure they're worrying about where I am." Or at least Miley and Hayden would be curious if I'm pulling a heist without them.

I left the Apollo cabin and made the short trip to the Hermes cabin where a few of the kids were still awake, but didn't question why I had just got in. Thank the gods for small miracles. I didn't bother changing into pajamas, I just chucked off my shoes and crawled under the covers. Sleep took me quickly and all I knew was darkness.

~Page Break~

"Come on Sarah you can do better than that!" Percy shouted as he came at me again.

Our swords clashed once more leaving us at a stand still. If I had been anyone else that would be an improvement. But I was me and this was showing I was slowing down. My hand was still sore from yesterday and while I could hold a sword, I wasn't going to land a hit on Percy anytime soon. Even if my hand had been fine, my mind was a million miles away and it would have affected my action. Nico had caught up to me this morning at breakfast. He had been worried, but was relieved when he saw me. I had to calm him down after I told him what happened to my hand because he looked like he was about to obliterate Mr. D. Which would have been awesome had he had the ability. But I doubt even the son of Hades could take Mr. D and get away with it unscathed. He had walked me over to my lesson with Percy, but had to leave right after. He had business with his dad. I couldn't help but feel a little abandoned. And my spider sense was helping, as I watched him walk away I felt a sense of trouble...of doom.

I swallow the feeling and retreat in my stance, my sword still held steady. Percy lunges and I know my hand won't be able to control the sword the way I needed it to. As I predict, when I try to maneuver my sword to deflect his Percy easily overpowers my half action and my sword flies out of my hand. I hear it clang to the ground behind me. He smiles, but I can see his eyes travel down my arm to my hand.

"Maybe we should wait until it's healed, then I won't feel guilty winning like this."

I smirk. "You mean if you ever will when I'm back to normal."

We change out of our armor and head in separate directions, him towards the Athena cabin (go figure) and I towards mine. But when I'm halfway there I feel a pull in my stomach. A sudden desire to head away from the cabins, away from the center of camp, and towards a rocky area I've never notice before. In the distance I can see the big house, that's why I've never been here. Avoiding that place has been a top priority.

When I manage to reach the rocks I see a cave, a red drape covers its entrance. I'm officially curious now. I gently pull the drape aside, revealing a hallway in the back of the cave. Slowly I find my way down it, then my jaw drops. Inside this cave there is an expensive looking leather couch, a flat screen television, an enormous four poster bed with hanging drapes, a hot tub, and many items that seem personal and not bought a million dollar store.

"Woah" I'm stunned, where has this place been hiding? Is it a rec room or something for the kids at camp?

"Yeah it's pretty amazing isn't it?" says a voice off to the side of the room.

I jump at the voice, suddenly I feel like I've entered a place I wasn't suppose to. Turning I see a girl a year or two older than me, her hair is slightly curly and red. She has green eyes, but darker than Percy's, hers are more like emeralds. She's smiling at me and I relax some.

"Hi, I'm sorry I didn't knock, there isn't a door." I explain lamely. I probably wouldn't have knocked even if she had a door. Curiosity can block your manners.

She just shrugs and comes to stand by me. "It's alright. I like having visitors."

"Why haven't I seen you around? Who's your parent?"

"I don't have a godly parent because I'm not a demigod." When I give her a confused look she continues. "I'm Rachel Dare, the Oracle of Delphi."

"Oh." I've read about Apollo and about the Oracle. "Well, I'm Sarah Kenneth and I'm currently staying at the Hermes cabin. My best friend is a daughter of Apollo."

"That's cool. Haven't been determined yet huh?"

"I know who my parent is, I just haven't been claimed."

Now she gives me the confused look.

"It's a long story." I look around the place again. "I can't believe more campers don't come by, this place is so cool."

"They usually only come here if they need a quest, that's why you're here." she explains.

"I didn't come here for a...quest, I just had a feeling to come this way." I say a little unsure.

"Yes you did, you just didn't know it." She doubles over and wraps her arms around her stomach. She looks like she's about to be sick. She bolts right up a moment later. Then her face blanks out, her eyes light up.

"A daughter of the vine will be summoned to rise,

to rescue death's child from the one in darkness lies.

The archer, the dove, and she will fight,

to lose or conquer in the dead of night."

Her weird voice quiets and her eyes close. For a moment everything seems back to normal. Then Rachel Dare crumbles to the ground.