I slept well. When I woke in the Demeter cabin the next morning, I hardly remembered climbing into bed at all.

The rest of the cabin was still asleep. Lazy dawn light filtered through the vine-crossed skylights in the roof. Dusty morning sky highlighted the leaves of the foliage that covered the entire cabin. Twisted grapevine arches unfurled like a living arbory above our heads. A scaffolding of stems and creeping ivy streaked across the walls. The windows had no glass, but were so full of eager sun seeking plants, that you could hardly see outside. The bunks which, unlike the sporadic Hermes cabin, formed a neat 3 walled square around the perimeter of the cabin were a botanical jungle gym. Vined plants twined themselves around the posts until it looked like the bed frames were made of vines instead of metal rods. Even the light in this cabin had a green tint, so you felt like you were wearing saint patricks day glasses all day. For a demeter kid, it was perfect. As a child of Hades, it was almost nauseating.

Dead leaves rustled with my bed sheets as I rolled over. At further inspection, I could see that all of the vines in the general area of my bunk were turning a sickly yellow and peeling from the walls. Nico's taunt flashed into my head. 'good luck with the plants'. I tried to press them back into place, or prop them onto surrounding vines, but only managed to mangle them even more. Hurriedly, I put on my shoes and left the cabin before anyone could ask questions. Vaguely, I wondered why in the world I'd asked to be claimed as a child of Demeter. I was probably the last person you would ask to keep a living thing alive.

The Hecate girls were already at the breakfast pavilion when I arrived. A few other wood nymphs shuffled around, talking and lazily shuttling their giant plates through the maze of tables. Grabbing myself an egg and a piece of butter soggy toast, I sat down beside the two girls.

Lou eyed me. "You really should be sitting at the Demeter table."

I shrugged indifferently. "No one's here yet. Besides, I know you two better."

"It's in the rules." she said softly.

"I'll move later." I told her, waving my hand. "No one's here yet."

Kasumi hadn't said a word yet, Her dark hair remained a solid veil over her face as she quietly spooned scrambled eggs into her mouth. I gestured to her with my thumb and mouthed. 'Is she okay?' Lou Ellen nodded, although weightily. I took a bite of toast.

"What are you two planning today?" I asked casually.

Lou ellen rubbed her hands together nervously. "I was hoping to help Kasi with some training. She's…" Lou hesitated, struggling with her words. "She's really going to need it in the next few months."

Kasi didn't move, but her shoulders stiffened a bit, like someone had tightened a clamp on her neck. Lou Ellen looked strained. I could tell it was hard to except they were going to be apart from one another.

"Yeah?" I replied. "Maybe I could come too."

Lou dipped her head. "Well actually, we're going to be training in magic today…"

"It's alright. I can just try my sword play or something while you guys.. do your magic stuff."

Lou glanced at Kasi. Kasi twitched her shoulders in a tiny shrug.

"Alright. That'll work."

"Sweet. I think I can do it after lunch."

Lou nodded. "We'll be there pretty much all day, so just come find us."

"All day?" I asked skeptically.

"Of course! Kasi needs to learn as much as she can!" Lou said strongly. I could tell she was nervous.

"Okay, I'll try to find you."

Camper had begun to fill in the other seats. I caught a few of them glancing at me.

"I'd better go sit down." I told Lou. She nodded again, and turned her attention back to her breakfast.

I was about to make my way over the the demeter table, but stopped when I noticed some irritated looking demeter kids approaching carrying a handful of acid yellow vines. I tapped Lou on the shoulder. "Hey, on second thought, do you know any spells that can help plants grow?"

I had some trouble finding my friends out in the practice area. I finally spotted the pair sitting crosslegged on the grass behind a spare weapon shed. They both had their eyes closed.

"What are you guys-"

Kasi suddenly threw up her hands and moaned in frustration. "I can't do it!" She cried. Lou Ellen cracked open her eyes and sighed.

"You can Kas. You just got distracted by Ava that time."

"Sorry." I said softly, but it didn't feel like a time to comment.

Kasi rested her head on her fingertips. "No. You don't get it. I really can't do it."

Lou reached a hand out to her sister. "It's okay Kas-"

Kasi turned on her, eyes shining. "No it's not! I'm going to die out on that quest and get everyone else out there killed to!"

Lou Ellen shuddered. "Don't talk like that! You'll get it, you have to!"

"I know I have to! But I just can't!" Kasi cried again. Tears glimmered in her sea green eyes. "I'm scared Lou… what if I really can't do it?"

Lou Ellen slid over to her sister's side and wrapped her arms around her. "It's okay. Hecate knows what we're trying to do, she can help us!"

Kasi didn't seem too sure, but she didn't argue.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. "Sorry, do you two need a minute?"

Lou looked over at me. "No, in fact, I think we'll join you in some sword practice." She glanced down at her half sister. "We're done with magic for right now."

Wielding swords we borrowed from the shed, Lou demonstrated a set of defensive and offensive moves for us to practice. "Kas, you try it first okay?"

Kasumi stepped up in front of us and Lou took a seat on the grass beside me.

She looked drained.

I turned to her and whispered quietly. "Have you two really been out here all day?"

Lou sighed tiredly and nodded. "I've been trying to help Kas out. She's going to need to learn a ton in order to help on the quest. I'm just worried that she won't know enough yet."

"Do you wish she was staying here?" I asked.

Lou hesitated. "No.. well, yes. I know that she'll be okay, and this will be a great experience for her but, I can't help worrying that…" Lou bit her lip.

"She'll be killed?" I finished.

"Yeah." Lou sighed, a bad night showing on her face. "She's so young and inexperienced. Usually only the most prepared campers get selected for quests. But this time." She glanced at me, then back at Kas.

I brushed off any implied insult and put a hand on Lou's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. Prophecies are what greek history is built off of, and your sister is part of one. She's got a part to play, and I know that she'll be able to do the right thing. We can't see how yet, but I have a feeling Kas will be the biggest part of all of this. She's a special girl. She'll be able to do it."

Lou sighed again. "I know. It's just hard really believing it."

I left it at that. Kasi finished the routine and passed the sword to me.

"Actually." I interjected. "Why don't you try to practice with me?"

Kasi glanced at Lou, looking slightly nervous. Lou shrugged.

"I guess." Replied the asian.

I took up stance opposite her. Kasi grabbed a second sword and held it ready.

I'd never used a sword like this before, so I waited until Kasi made the first strike. She was quick. Her sword came at me low from the left. I deflected it and tried a jab at her. Kasi had already danced away.

She stabbed at me again, this time higher, aiming towards my shoulder. I dodged and she overstepped towards me. I tried to swing my sword up at her outstretched arm, but she twisted and I missed.

The duel waged on. Kasi's technique was sloppy and untrained, but her size and speed made up for it. Anytime I took a jab at her, she was already two steps away.

Finally, Kasi made a move that she couldn't recover from. I swung my sword towards her neck in what would have been a killing blow with a real sword. But just as the sword was about to make contact, Kasi whipped her head around and stared at the blade. It seemed to pause midair, as if struck against a solid wall. Then the hilt jerked from my fingertips. I tried to duck backwards, but the heavy metal grip shot back and cracked against my temple, right between the eyes, with enough force to knock me to the ground.

I heard Lou cry out, and mirrored fuzzy silhouettes loomed over me.

Inky blackness tinged the edge of my vision. Someone placed a hand to my head, but I was already slipping away. My vision went dark, and darkness took me by force.