Disclaimer: PJO is not mine.

Author's Note: Sorry. Derek and Annabeth are dead. Now, the aftermath... semifinal chapter, almost to the end of this tragedy.

28. Cora

After the battle was over, I stayed with Derek until dad took me back to Hazel's home. Dad made some Romans carry my brother's body with us. Romans stared at us with a mix of gratitude and hate as we passed with my brother's body, the reason of everything. Alex and Kiara were alive as well as most of my former hunter sisters, but our trireme didn't make it, sadly, neither Phoebe and Rachel.

Hazel wasn't at home since dad made her leave the town before the battle. Thankfully, their home was standing still unlike others around, destroyed by Polybotes. Romans placed Derek over Hazel's dining table. I thanked as they left the house and for my anger they didn't reply. I hated their way of treating us, the lineage of Neptune. They feared us so much, even when we just saved them.

I crashed on the couch ready to sleep until next week. My dad was already upstairs taking a shower probably trying to keep it together, for my sake. If I had just lost the love of my live, I think nobody could be able to drag me out of bed for a month, or I would be on my way to Tartarus to re-destroy Polybotes and Chrysaor.

I was so comfortable in the couch to the point of sleeping when someone knocked on the door. I sighed annoyed as I dragged myself to open the door.

"Cora" said Manny Ortega, praetor, wearing armor and his whole face covered in monster dust, blood and sweat.

"Praetor" I said slightly bowing. He did the same.

"I see you are alive and kept your promise. Camp Jupiter and New Rome are in your debt" said Manny. He smiled making me blush.

I sighed sadly as I felt what I just lost to save them, the ones who still feared us. "I don't want a parade. I just want to take my brother to Camp Half-Blood. He needs a proper funeral" I said.

"After all he did?" said Manny confused. Derek was right in one thing. We would never fit in here.

I gave him a little sad smile after a sigh. "He is still my only brother"

Manny nodded and took a look to my brother's body over the table. "I'm sorry for your losts"

"Thank you" I said.

"Do you need anything?" said Manny as he placed his hand on my shoulder. I didn't know if he wanted to hug me or not. I was awkwardly staring at him.

"A mean to get back. Our trireme is destroyed" I said as I brushed gently his hand of my shoulder. He gave a strange look by my actions and nodded.

"Of course, I will send a centurion and some legionaries to escort you and your Greek friends once it's everything ready" said Manny.

"I'm really thankful" I said. He gave me a quick bow and left running back to Camp.

I sat back on the couch and I wanted to cry so much, but this time I slept for hours. I woke up with Hazel's hand stroking really gently my hair.

"Hi, sweetie, we are back" said Hazel once I opened my eyes. I stood up quickly and Hazel hugged before I could rub my still sleepy eyes. "You dad told us everything. I'm so sorry"

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault. You didn't kill them" I said as my eyes filled with tears. Her embrace was so motherly, so like mom that I cried and sobbed for what it felt hours. I let it go all the locked emotions I had for the past weeks. My mom and my brothers were dead.

Eventually, my crying brought dad into the room. "Cory" he said as his arms hugged my back and we cried together until Hazel's husband came to take her wife upstairs to sleep. Somehow, it was already very late at night.

Dad and I slept on the floor hugging each other. I cried all night. I mourned my mom, my brother, my twin siblings, Thalia, Zoey, Rachel, Leo, Grover, Phoebe, Melissa and the Romans and Greeks who died because of the Jackson family.

At dawn, the Romans took us to Camp Half-Blood in one of Leo's Roman vessels. I felt uneasy during the fly. It wasn't for the fear of heights but because this was Leo's ship, my former hero who gone rogue because his own father killed her love. That whole situation was messed up. Leo was a good guy, just like my brother.

Almost at sunset, we reached Camp Half-Blood. The Campers waved at us as we landed. The ashes and burned cabins were almost gone as the cleaning was almost completed. Some nymphs were already working on redoing the cabins.

Chiron came to us trotting as we landed. He hugged my dad who was helping to settle down the bodies. Then he approached to me.

"Hi, Chiron. We brought Leo. I know he would want to be here" I said looking at my dad carrying down my brother to the big house.

"Of course" said Chiron looking at the same.

"Also Derek. I hope there isn't a problem with that" I said hoping for an all clear.

"It's still one of us and your brother regardless of his choices" said Chiron and put his hand on my shoulder. I felt like crying all over again. I sighed sadly.

"Rachel is dead. Leo's fire… We couldn't bring much of her, only ashes" I said definitely holding pointlessly my tears.

"Such as lost, she was a good woman. She will be missed" said Chiron wiping a couple of tears from his eyes.

"Chiron, I…" I said full of hesitation and doubt thinking my brother's words.

"I also think you are the one" said Chiron and left quickly helping my dad with the heavy load.

After, I walked to the beach hoping to find a way to stop feeling so much at the same time. I felt so full of despair and pain. I was looking at the waves. I wanted to see my grandfather, to meet him, now that I was in his territory.

Suddenly, I felt a warm hand of my shoulder. I turned slowing to see Apollo looking at me with sad eyes. His armor was gone as he was wearing khaki pants and a bottom up checked shirt. He looked handsome and so normal, a devil in disguise.

"Did you come to finish me? To kill me? Did milady send you?" I whispered. I was ready for it if it meant to stop feeling.

"No" muttered Apollo. I felt like crying. I felt like trashing the beach into nothing. I was angry at the world.

"I am the one. Artemis said it herself. I should have never been born" I spatted angrily. I looked down with my fists clenched tightly. Tears were running down my cheeks.

I felt once again Apollo's hand on my shoulder comforting me. "Maybe you are right child, but maybe you were aimed for greater and better things" I tried to smile at his words. He sounded so sure, so hopeful.

"Thank you for helping me with Polybotes" I finally said bowing.

"Don't mention it. It was the least I could do after what happened to your family"

"Lord Apollo, why?" I said as more tears were on my eyes.

"Your family is such an oddity. In all the history of Olympus, there haven't been legacies as strong as you. When Artemis blessed you, I knew you were special. Maybe better than all my previous oracles, smart, strong, determined and loyal, the best of Annabeth and Percy. So, I took my chances and here we are" said Apollo and wiped my tears with his godly thumbs.

I looked at his pretty blue eyes and looked down ashamed of blushing. "Were you testing me with Halcyon, Rachel, my dreams and all?"

"Yes and you passed them all with high marks" grinned Apollo.

"Am I really that special?" I said. I didn't feel that special, but I knew after fighting Polybotes that I was really powerful.

Apollo looked up thinking his words, he scratched his chin as he said. "Well, you have your grandmother's blood. Sally Jackson was meant to be the Oracle, to break the curse, but she found Poseidon and you know what happened"

I had indeed a powerful heritage. I knew Grandma Sally could see through the Mist but I never thought that, never in my wildest dreams. I looked at my options now. I wasn't a hunter anymore, but the possible new Oracle. Then I thought about the previous one

"Did Rachel have to die for me to be the new Oracle?" I said scared of my destiny.

"No. She didn't. I wanted to save her but I was late" said Apollo and I could see the honesty in his eyes. He really cared about Rachel. He looked as guilty as I was.

I felt uneasy of being the Oracle after what happened to Rachel: tongueless and burned. I wanted to say no. "I…"

"Will let you mother's sacrifice be in vain? She died to save the Olympus… to save Derek, you and your dad" said Apollo as he could read my mind.

"My brother is dead too" I said looking away.

"We can't always have everything. You brother paid for his sins" said Apollo sadly.

"What about the twins' souls? What were their sins? They didn't deserve to die, to be eaten by a giant" I said almost angry. Of course, I was upset for their deaths.

"Hades put them on the EZ line for rebirth, a great honor indeed and a big favor for Athena and Poseidon… your mom is in Elysium waiting for your dad when it's time for them to see again, and yes, also your brother" said Apollo. I nodded thankfully.

I sighed. "What I have to do now?"

"Can you feel the words in your mouth, in your tongue? Just make your oath" said Apollo and I nodded.

"I accept this role. I pledge myself to Apollo, God of Oracles. I open my eyes to the future and embrace the past. I accept the spirit of Delphi, Voice of the Gods, Speaker of Riddles, Seer of Fate" I said effortless. I felt filled with renew peace as I knew my place now. I was the Oracle until I wasn't. I hope not to die to give up my position.

"Welcome, Cora Piper Jackson, Oracle of Delphi" said Apollo bowing in front of me. I smiled at his gesture but I felt homesick.

"Do I have to stay here? I miss my home" I said almost pleading.

Apollo shook his head sweetly. "Preferably. You will help to rebuilt Camps"

"Do I have a choice?" I said meekly.

"Of course you do. The future is made of choices" said Apollo with a bright smile.

"But?" I said intrigued.

"You know what the best choice is" Apollo winked.

"What about the prophecy? Am I still the one?" I said scared.

"No. It all ended with Derek, Annabeth and your brothers… if they were alive, wellI don't think Zeus would let them live much longer. They were a palpable threat... Sorry, I know this isn't exactly what you wanted to hear... Before I leave, your grandfather and grandmother sent you this" said Apollo drawing his sword and presenting it to me. "Your own sword. They feel you deserve one. It's a little token of appreciation for saving Camps"

"Like my dad's Riptide?" I said as I touched the blade.

"Something like that. They say they are sorry for the way things happened but they have hope in you and your father" said Apollo and I took the sword. The hilt had my grandfather's trident on one side and my grandmother's owl.

"What's its name?" I said.

"It's for you to find out. It's your sword after all. One of the kind just like you" said Apollo and vanished in cloud of yellow dust.