Quest

Ok so just to speed things up, Jason and Drew made it to the big house, Drew was trying to hit on him. Drew smelled like Christmas—a strange combination of pine and nutmeg. Jason wondered if she always smelled like that, or if it was some kind of special perfume for the holidays. Her pink eyeliner was really distracting. Every time she blinked, he felt compelled to look at her. Maybe that was the point, to show off her warm brown eyes. She was pretty. No doubt about that. But she made Jason feel uncomfortable 'And she was no Leo' he said in his head. He slipped his arm away as gently as he could. "Look, I appreciate—" he was about to say but then Drew cut him off "Is it that girl?" Drew pouted "Oh, please, tell me you are not dating the Dumpster Queen." She said "You mean Piper? Um …" Jason wasn't sure how to answer. He didn't think he'd ever seen Piper before today and she was more like a little sister to him, but Leo he felt strangely guilty about it. He knew he shouldn't be in this place. He shouldn't befriend these people, and certainly he shouldn't be falling in love with one of them. Still … Leo had been trying to cheer him up this whole time even if today was weird for him. Piper believed she was his friend that acted more like a sister. She'd been brave on the skywalk, but then he's thoughts went back to Leo, Like when Jason had caught him in midair and they'd held each other face-to-face, he couldn't pretend he wasn't a little tempted to kiss him. But that wasn't right. He didn't even know his own story. He couldn't play with his emotions like that.

Drew rolled her eyes "Let me help you decide, sweetie. You can do better. A guy with your looks and obvious talent?" She wasn't looking at him, though. She was staring at a spot right above his head. "You're waiting for a sign," he guessed. "Like what popped over Leo's head." He said "What? No! Well … yes. I mean, from what I heard, you're pretty powerful, right? You're going to be important at camp, so I figure your parent will claim you right away. And I'd love to see that. I wanna be with you every step of the way! So is your dad or mom the god? Please tell me it's not your mom. I would hate it if you were an Aphrodite kid." She said "Why?" he asked "Then you'd be my half-brother, silly. You can't date somebody from your own cabin. Yuck!" she said "But aren't all the gods related?" Jason asked. "So isn't everyone here your cousin or something?" Jason asked "Aren't you cute! Sweetie, the godly side of your family doesn't count except for your parent. So anybody from another cabin—they're fair game. So who's your godly parent—mom or dad?" She asked. As usual, Jason didn't have an answer. He looked up, but no glowing sign popped above his head. At the top of the Big House, the weathervane was still pointing his direction, that bronze eagle glaring as if to say, Turn around, kid, while you still can.

Then he heard footsteps on the front porch. No—not footsteps—hooves.

Let's just say after that it got weird, Jason meet Chiron and then he just said you should be dead and that made Jason so confused. Chiron told Drew to leave and she reluctantly did, he told him to come in and he did. They talked for a bit and he even meet Seymour the leopard, they spook more butbefore Jason could ask more questions everything froze and that's when heard her Jason, a voice said.For a horrible moment, he thought the leopard had spoken. Then dark mist boiled out of Seymour's mouth, and an even worse thought occurred to Jason: storm spirits. He grabbed the golden coin from his pocket. With a quick flip, it changed into a sword. The mist took the form of a woman in black robes. Her face was hooded, but her eyes glowed in the darkness. Over her shoulders she wore a goatskin cloak. Jason wasn't sure how he knew it was goatskin, but he recognized it and knew it was important. Would you attack your patron? the woman chided. Her voice echoed in Jason's head. Lower your sword she said "Who are you?" he demanded. "How did you—" Our time is limited, Jason. My prison grows stronger by the hour. It took me a full month to gather enough energy to work even the smallest magic through its bonds. I've managed to bring you here, but now I have little time left, and even less power. This may be the last time I can speak to you. "You're in prison?" Jason decided maybe he wouldn't lower his sword. "Look, I don't know you, and you're not my patron." You know me, she insisted. I have known you since your birth."I don't remember. I don't remember anything." No, you don't, she agreed. That also was necessary. Long ago, your father gave me your life as a gift to placate my anger. He named you Jason, after my favorite mortal. You belong to me. "Whoa," Jason said. "I don't belong to anyone." Jason said Now is the time to pay your debt, she said. Find my prison. Free me, or their king will rise from the earth, and I will be destroyed. You will never retrieve your memory. "Is that a threat? You took my memories?" Jason asked.

You have until sunset on the solstice, Jason. Four short days. Do not fail me. The dark woman dissolved, and the mist curled into the leopard's mouth.Time unfroze. Seymour's howl turned into a cough like he'd sucked in a hair ball. The fire crackled to life, the arcade machine beeped, and Chiron said, "—would dare to bring you here?"he said "Probably the lady in the mist," Jason offered.Chiron looked up in surprise. "Weren't you just sitting … why do you have a sword drawn?"Chiron asked "I hate to tell you this," Jason said, "but I think your leopard just ate a goddess."He told Chiron about the frozen-in-time visit, the dark misty figure that disappeared into Seymour's mouth."Oh, dear," Chiron murmured. "That does explain a lot."He said "Then why don't you explain a lot to me?" Jason said. "Please."Before Chiron could say anything, footsteps reverberated on the porch outside. The front door blew open, and Annabeth and another girl, a redhead, burst in, dragging Piper between them. Piper's head lolled like she was unconscious."What happened?" Jason rushed over. "What's wrong with her?"Jason asked"Hera's cabin," Annabeth gasped, like they'd run all the way. "Vision. Bad."The redheaded girl looked up, and Jason saw that she'd been crying.

"I think …" The redheaded girl gulped. "I think I may have killed her."

Jason had learned her name was Rachel, but his forces was on Piper who was unconscious and breathing so low. Jason may not have remembered her but he knew one thing 'Real or not' she was the little sister he never had and he wanted to protect her. Chiron put his hand on her forehead and grimaced. "Her mind is in a fragile state. Rachel, what happened?" Chiron asked "I wish I knew," she said. "As soon as I got to camp, I had a premonition about Hera's cabin. I went inside. Annabeth and Piper came in while I was there. We talked, and then—I just blanked out. Annabeth said I spoke in a different voice." She said "A prophecy?" Chiron asked. "No. The spirit of Delphi comes from within. I know how that feels. This was like long distance, a power trying to speak through me." Annabeth ran in with a leather pouch. She knelt next to Piper. "Chiron, what happened back there—I've never seen anything like it. I've heard Rachel's prophecy voice. This was different. She sounded like an older woman. She grabbed Piper's shoulders and told her—" Jason cut her off "To free her from a prison?" Jason guessed. Annabeth stared at him. "How did you know that?" Annabeth asked. Chiron made a three-fingered gesture over his heart, like a ward against evil. "Jason, tell them. Annabeth, the medicine bag, please."

Chiron trickled drops from a medicine vial into Piper's mouth while Jason explained what had happened when the room froze—the dark misty woman who had claimed to be Jason's patron. When he was done, no one spoke, which made him more anxious. "So does this happen often?" he asked. "Supernatural phone calls from convicts demanding you bust them out of jail?" Jason asked "Your patron," Annabeth said. "Not your godly parent?" she asked "No, she said patron. She also said my dad had given her my life." Annabeth frowned. "I've never of heard anything like that before. You said the storm spirit on the skywalk—he claimed to be working for some mistress who was giving him orders, right? Could it be this woman you saw, messing with your mind?" she asked "I don't think so," Jason said. "If she were my enemy, why would she be asking for my help? She's imprisoned. She's worried about some enemy getting more powerful. Something about a king rising from the earth on the solstice—" Annabeth turned to Chiron. "Not Kronos. Please tell me it's not that." The centaur looked miserable. He held Piper's wrist, checking her pulse. At last he said, "It is not Kronos. That threat is ended. But …" he said "But what?" Annabeth asked. Chiron closed the medicine bag. "Piper needs rest. We should discuss this later." He said "Or now," Jason said. "Sir, Mr. Chiron, you told me the greatest threat was coming. The last chapter. You can't possibly mean something worse than an army of Titans, right?" Jason asked "Oh," Rachel said in a small voice. "Oh, dear. The woman was Hera. Of course. Her cabin, her voice. She showed herself to Jason at the same moment." Rachel said "Hera?" Annabeth's snarl was even fiercer than Seymour's. "She took you over? She did this to Piper?" Annabeth said. Jason saw how angry she was 'Wow she must really care about Piper' Jason said in his head.

"I think Rachel's right," Jason said. "The woman did seem like a goddess. And she wore this—this goatskin cloak. That's a symbol of Juno, isn't it?" he asked "It is?" Annabeth scowled. "I've never heard that." Chiron nodded reluctantly. "Of Juno, Hera's Roman aspect, in her most warlike state. The goatskin cloak was a symbol of the Roman soldier." He said "So Hera is imprisoned?" Rachel asked. "Who could do that to the queen of the gods?" Annabeth crossed her arms. "Well, whoever they are, maybe we should thank them. If they can shut up Hera—" Chiron cut in "Annabeth," Chiron warned, "she is still one of the Olympians. In many ways, she is the glue that holds the gods' family together. If she truly has been imprisoned and is in danger of destruction, this could shake the foundations of the world. It could unravel the stability of Olympus, which is never great even in the best of times. And if Hera has asked Jason for help—" then Annabeth cut in "Fine," Annabeth grumbled. "Well, we know Titans can capture a god, right? Atlas captured Artemis a few years ago. And in the old stories, the gods captured each other in traps all the time. But something worse than a Titan … ?" she asked Jason looked at the leopard's head. Seymour was smacking his lips like the goddess had tasted much better than a Snausage. "Hera said she'd been trying to break through her prison bonds for a month." He said "Which is how long Olympus has been closed," Annabeth said. "So the gods must know something bad is going on." She said "But why use her energy to send me here?" Jason asked. "She wiped my memory, plopped me into the Wilderness School field trip, and sent you a dream vision to come pick me up. Why am I so important? Why not just send up an emergency flare to the other gods—let them know where she is so they bust her out?"

"The gods need heroes to do their will down here on earth," Rachel said. "That's right, isn't it? Their fates are always intertwined with demigods." Rachel said "That's true," Annabeth said, "but Jason's got a point. Why him? Why take his memory?" Annabeth asked "And Piper's involved somehow," Rachel said. "Hera sent her the same message—Free me. And, Annabeth, this must have something to do with Percy's disappearing." Annabeth fixed her eyes on Chiron. "Why are you so quiet, Chiron? What is it we're facing?" The old centaur's face looked like it had aged ten years in a matter of minutes. The lines around his eyes were deeply etched. "My dear, in this, I cannot help you. I am so sorry." Annabeth blinked. "You've never … you've never kept information from me. Even the last great prophecy—" he turned "I will be in my office." His voice was heavy. "I need some time to think before dinner. Rachel, will you watch the girl? Call Argus to bring her to the infirmary, if you'd like. And Annabeth, you should speak with Jason. Tell him about—about the Greek and Roman gods."

"But …"

The centaur turned his wheelchair and rolled off down the hallway. Annabeth's eyes turned stormy. She muttered something in Greek, and Jason got the feeling it wasn't complimentary toward centaurs. "I'm sorry," Jason said. "I think my being here—I don't know. I've messed things up coming to the camp, somehow. Chiron said he'd sworn an oath and couldn't talk about it." After that they talked some more and on a sad note Chiron left. Annabeth said if they wanted answers then cabin fifteen was the answer. Rachel staid and looked after piper while Annabeth and Jason went and let's just say it was a long day.

Piper on the other hand had a dream about her last day with her dad on the beach. Then it changed to a nightmare were some lady told her if she didn't obey then they would kill her father and the next thing she knew she was awake.She woke feeling like she'd been trampled by an Irish step-dancing troupe. Her chest hurt, and she could barely breathe. She reached down and closed her hand around the hilt of the dagger Annabeth had given her—Katoptris, Helen of Troy's weapon.

So Camp Half-Blood hadn't been a dream.

"How are you feeling?" someone asked. Piper tried to focus. She was lying in a bed with a white curtain on one side, like in a nurse's office. That redheaded girl, Rachel Dare, sat next to her. On the wall was a poster of a cartoon satyr who looked disturbingly like Coach Hedge with a thermometer sticking out of his mouth. The caption read: Don't let sickness get your goat! "Where—" Piper's voice died when she saw the guy at the door. He looked like a typical California surfer dude—buff and tan, blond hair, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. But he had hundreds of blue eyes all over his body—along his arms, down his legs, and all over his face. Even his feet had eyes, peering up at her from between the straps of his sandals. "That's Argus," Rachel said, "our head of security. He's just keeping an eye on things … so to speak." Argus nodded. The eye on his chin winked. "Where—?" Piper tried again, but she felt like she was talking through a mouthful of cotton. "You're in the Big House," Rachel said. "Camp offices. We brought you here when you collapsed." Rachel said "You grabbed me," Piper remembered. "Hera's voice—" then Rachel cut in "I'm so sorry about that," Rachel said. "Believe me, it was not my idea to get possessed. Chiron healed you with some nectar—" Piper cut in "Nectar?" she asked "The drink of the gods. In small amounts, it heals demigods, if it doesn't—ah—burn you to ashes." Rachel explained "Oh. Fun."

Rachel sat forward. "Do you remember your vision?" Piper had a moment of dread, thinking she meant the dream about the giant. Then she realized Rachel was talking about what happened in Hera's cabin. "Something's wrong with the goddess," Piper said. "She told me to free her, like she's trapped. She mentioned the earth swallowing us, and a fiery one, and something about the solstice." In the corner, Argus made a rumbling sound in his chest. His eyes all fluttered at once. "Hera created Argus," Rachel explained. "He's actually very sensitive when it comes to her safety. We're trying to keep him from crying, because last time that happened …well, it caused quite a flood." Argus sniffled. He grabbed a fistful of Kleenex from the bedside table and started dabbing eyes all over his body. "So …" Piper tried not to stare as Argus wiped the tears from his elbows. "What's happened to Hera?" Piper asked "We're not sure," Rachel said. "Annabeth and Jason were here for you, by the way. Jason didn't want to leave you, but Annabeth had an idea—something that might restore his memories." She said "That's … that's great." Jason had been here for her? She wished she'd been conscious for that. But if he got his memories back, would that be a good thing? She was still holding out hope that they really did know each other. She didn't want their friendship or Leo's chance to be just be a trick of the Mist.

Get over yourself, she thought. If she was going to save her dad, it didn't matter whether Jason liked her as a friend or not. He would hate her eventually. Everyone here would. She looked down at the ceremonial dagger strapped to her side. Annabeth had said it was a sign of power and status, but not normally used in battle. All show and no substance. A fake, just like Piper. And its name was Katoptris, looking glass. She didn't dare unsheathe it again, because she couldn't bear to see her own reflection. "Don't worry." Rachel squeezed her arm. "Jason seems like a good guy. He had a vision too, a lot like yours. Whatever's happening with Hera—I think you two are meant to work together." Rachel smiled like this was good news, but Piper's spirits plunged even further. She'd thought that this quest—whatever it was—would involve nameless people. Now Rachel was basically telling her: Good news! Not only is your dad being held ransom by a cannibal giant, you also get to betray the guy who's like a brother to you! How awesome is that? "Hey," Rachel said. "No need to cry. You'll figure it out." Piper wiped her eyes, trying to get control of herself. This wasn't like her. She was supposed to be tough—a hardened car thief, the scourge of L.A. private schools. Here she was, crying like a baby. "How can you know what I'm facing?"

Rachel shrugged. "I know it's a hard choice, and your options aren't great. Like I said, I get hunches sometimes. But you're going to be claimed at the campfire. I'm almost sure. When you know who your godly parent is, things might be clearer."

Clearer, Piper thought. Not necessarily better.

She sat up in bed. Her forehead ached like someone had driven a spike between her eyes. There's no getting your mother back, her dad had told her. But apparently, tonight, her mom might claim her. For the first time, Piper wasn't sure she wanted that. "I hope its Athena." She looked up, afraid Rachel might make fun of her, but the oracle just smiled. "Piper, I don't blame you. Truthfully? But I don't think Annabeth is hoping for that." She said "Why?" Piper asked "Let's just say you've made quite an impression on her" Rachel said smiling. The just made Piper blush but also she feel even guiltier. "Another hunch? You don't know anything about me" Piper said "You'd be surprised." Rachel said "You're just saying that because you're an oracle, aren't you? You're supposed to sound all mysterious." Rachel laughed. "Don't be giving away my secrets, Piper. And don't worry. Things will work out—just maybe not the way you plan." She said "That's not making me feel better." Somewhere in the distance, a conch horn blew. Argus grumbled and opened the door. "Dinner?" Piper guessed. "You slept through it," Rachel said. "Time for the campfire. Let's go find out who you are." Rachel said and the left.

The whole campfire idea freaked Piper out. It made her think of that huge purple bonfire in the dreams, and her father tied to a stake. What she got instead was almost as terrifying: a sing-along. The amphitheater steps were carved into the side of a hill, facing a stone-lined fire pit. Fifty or sixty kids filled the rows, clustered into groups under various banners. Piper spotted Jason in the front next to Annabeth. Leo was nearby, sitting with a bunch of burly-looking campers under a steel gray banner emblazoned with a hammer. Standing in front of the fire, half a dozen campers with guitars and strange, old-fashioned harps—lyres?—were jumping around, leading a song about pieces of armor, something about how their grandma got dressed for war. Everybody was singing with them and making gestures for the pieces of armor and joking around. It was quite possibly the weirdest thing Piper had ever seen—one of those campfire songs that would've been completely embarrassing in daylight; but in the dark, with everybody participating, it was kind of corny and fun. As the energy level got higher, the flames did too, turning from red to orange to gold.

Finally the song ended with a lot of rowdy applause. A guy on a horse trotted up. At least in the flickering light, Piper thought it was a guy on a horse. Then she realized it was a centaur—his bottom half a white stallion, his top half a middle-aged guy with curly hair and a trimmed beard. He brandished a spear impaled with toasted marshmallows. "Very nice! And a special welcome to our new arrivals. I am Chiron, camp activities director, and I'm happy you have all arrived here alive and with most of your limbs attached. In a moment, I promise we'll get to the s'mores, but first—" then someone cut him off "What about capture the flag?" somebody yelled. Grumbling broke out among some kids in armor, sitting under a red banner with the emblem of a boar's head. "Yes," the centaur said. "I know the Ares cabin is anxious to return to the woods for our regular games." Chiron said "And kill people!" one of them shouted. "However," Chiron said, "until the dragon is brought under control, that won't be possible. Cabin Nine, anything to report on that?"

He turned to Leo's group. Leo winked at her, she mouthed 'are you ok?' Leo nodded. The girl next to him stood uncomfortably. She wore an army jacket a lot like Leo's, with her hair covered in a red bandanna. "We're working on it." More grumbling. "How, Nyssa?" an Ares kid demanded. "Really hard," the girl said. Nyssa sat down to a lot of yelling and complaining, which caused the fire to sputter chaotically. Chiron stamped his hoof against the fire pit stones—bang, bang, bang—and the campers fell silent. "We will have to be patient," Chiron said. "In the meantime, we have more pressing matters to discuss." He said "Percy?" someone asked. The fire dimmed even further, but Piper didn't need the mood flames to sense the crowd's anxiety. Chiron gestured to Annabeth. She took a deep breath and stood. "I didn't find Percy," she announced. Her voice caught a little when she said his name. "He wasn't at the Grand Canyon like I thought. But we're not giving up. We've got teams everywhere. Grover, Tyson, the Hunters of Artemis, Pyra and Nico —everyone's out looking. We will find him. Chiron's talking about something different. A new quest."

"It's the Great Prophecy, isn't it?" a girl called out. Everyone turned. The voice had come from a group in back, sitting under a rose-colored banner with a dove emblem. They'd been chatting among themselves and not paying much attention until their leader stood up: Drew. Everyone else looked surprised. Apparently Drew didn't address the crowd very often. "Drew?" Annabeth said. "What do you mean?" she asked "Well, come on." Drew spread her hands like the truth was obvious. "Olympus is closed. Percy's disappeared. Hera sends you a vision and you come back with three new demigods in one day. I mean, something weird is going on. The Great Prophecy has started, right?" Piper whispered to Rachel, "What's she talking about—the Great Prophecy?" Then she realized everyone else was looking at Rachel, too. "Well?" Drew called down. "You're the oracle. Has it started or not?" Rachel's eyes looked scary in the firelight. Piper was afraid she might clench up and start channeling a freaky peacock goddess again, but she stepped forward calmly and addressed the camp. "Yes," she said. "The Great Prophecy has begun."

Pandemonium broke out.

Piper caught Jason's eye. He mouthed, You all right? She nodded and managed a smile, but then looked away. When the talking finally subsided, Rachel took another step toward the audience, and fifty-plus demigods leaned away from her, as if one skinny redheaded mortal was more intimidating than all of them put together. "For those of you who have not heard it," Rachel said, "the Great Prophecy was my first prediction. It arrived in August. It goes like this:

"Seven half-bloods shall answer the call. To storm or fire the world must fall—"

Jason shot to his feet. His eyes looked wild, like he'd just been tasered. Even Rachel seemed caught off guard. "J-Jason?" she said. "What's—"

"Ut cum spiritu postrema sacramentum dejuremus," he chanted. "Et hostes ornamenta addent ad ianuam necem."

An uneasy silence settled on the group. Piper could see from their faces that several of them were trying to translate the lines. She could tell it was Latin, but she wasn't sure why her friend was suddenly chanting like a Catholic priest. "You just … finished the prophecy," Rachel stammered. "—An oath to keep with a final breath/And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death. How did you—" she asked "I know those lines." Jason winced and put his hands to his temples. "I don't know how, but I know that prophecy." He said "In Latin, no less," Drew called out. "Handsome and smart." There was some giggling from the Aphrodite cabin. God, what a bunch of losers, Piper thought. But it didn't do much to break the tension. The campfire was burning a chaotic, nervous shade of green. Jason sat down, looking embarrassed, but Annabeth put a hand on his shoulder and muttered something reassuring. Piper felt a pang of anger. Only problem was she didn't know who to be angrier at Annabeth or Jason.

Rachel still looked a little shaken. She glanced back at Chiron for guidance, but the centaur stood grim and silent, as if he were watching a play he couldn't interrupt—a tragedy that ended with a lot of people dead onstage. "Well," Rachel said, trying to regain her composure. "So, yeah, that's the Great Prophecy. We hoped it might not happen for years, but I fear it's starting now. I can't give you proof. It's just a feeling. And like Drew said, some weird stuff is happening. The seven demigods, whoever they are, have not been gathered yet. I get the feeling some are here tonight. Some are not here." The campers began to stir and mutter, looking at each other nervously, until a drowsy voice in the crowd called out, "I'm here! Oh … were you calling roll?" he asked "Go back to sleep, Clovis," someone yelled, and a lot of people laughed. "Anyway," Rachel continued, "we don't know what the Great Prophecy means. We don't know what challenge the demigods will face, but since the first Great Prophecy predicted the Titan War, we can guess the second Great Prophecy will predict something at least that bad." She said "Or worse," Chiron murmured.

Maybe he didn't mean everyone to overhear, but they did. The campfire immediately turned dark purple, the same color as Piper's dream. "What we do know," Rachel said, "is that the first phase has begun. A major problem has arisen, and we need a quest to solve it. Hera, the queen of the gods, has been taken." Shocked silence. Then fifty demigods started talking at once. Chiron pounded his hoof again, but Rachel still had to wait before she could get back their attention. She told them about the incident on the Grand Canyon skywalk—how Gleeson Hedge had sacrificed himself when the storm spirits attacked, and the spirits had warned it was only the beginning. They apparently served some great mistress who would destroy all demigods.

Then Rachel told them about Piper passing out in Hera's cabin. Piper tried to keep a calm expression, even when she noticed Drew in the back row, pantomiming a faint, and her friends giggling. Finally Rachel told them about Jason's vision in the living room of the Big House. The message Hera had delivered there was so similar that Piper got a chill. The only difference: Hera had warned Piper not to betray her: Bow to his will, and their king shall rise, dooming us all. Hera knew about the giant's threat. But if that was true, why hadn't she warned Jason, and exposed Piper as an enemy agent? "Jason," Rachel said. "Um … do you remember your last name?" He looked self-conscious, but he shook his head. "We'll just call you Jason, then," Rachel said. "It's clear Hera herself has issued you a quest." Rachel paused, as if giving Jason a chance to protest his destiny. Everyone's eyes were on him; there was so much pressure, Piper thought she would've buckled in his position. Yet he looked brave and determined. He set his jaw and nodded. "I agree."

"You must save Hera to prevent a great evil," Rachel continued. "Some sort of king from rising. For reasons we don't yet understand, it must happen by the winter solstice, only four days from now." "That's the council day of the gods," Annabeth said. "If the gods don't already know Hera's gone, they will definitely notice her absence by then. They'll probably break out fighting, accusing each other of taking her. That's what they usually do." She said "The winter solstice," Chiron spoke up, "is also the time of greatest darkness. The gods gather that day, as mortals always have, because there is strength in numbers. The solstice is a day when evil magic is strong. Ancient magic, older than the gods. It is a day when things … stir." The way he said it, stirring sounded absolutely sinister—like it should be a first-degree felony, not something you did to cookie dough. "Okay," Annabeth said, glaring at the centaur. "Thank you, Captain Sunshine. Whatever's going on, I agree with Rachel. Jason has been chosen to lead this quest, so—" but then everything seemed quieter to Piper. She turned and saw a boy with green eyes. He motion her to fallow as he left. She looked around and saw everyone was paying more attention to the others then her so she fallowed the boy.

After a while she saw the boy looking out at the lake. Piper came closer "It's a pleasure to meet you Piper" the boy said and that made Piper shocked "How'd you know my name?" she asked "I knew you were coming for months" he said "You have?" Piper asked and the boy past her something, a sketch book. Piper grabbed it and opened it, the first page had the first phrase of the prophecy Rachel had said with seven shadows surrounding it "The prophecy" Piper said and the boy nodded. Piper went to the next page and was shocked the next page had a picture of Jason, Leo and herself on the bus heading to the Grand Canyon "But how?" Piper asked "I am a seer of fate, I see what the fates show me" he said and piper gave him the book. She looked at the boy, and she felt like she had seen him before, it took her a minute but then she remembered she had seen him in the office in one of the picture. It was a picture of him hugging another boy and Annabeth was laughing at them "Wait aren't you-?" she asked and the boy nodded "That's right Piper McLean my name is Percy Jackson" he said.

Piper was surprise "Then why are you here?" she asked "Um no offence" she finished and he smiled "It is alright, and as for your question well I had to see you" he said and she was shocked "Why would you want to see me, I'm a nobody?" she said and Percy shook his head "Piper there's more to you then meets the eye, you just don't know it yet" he said and Piper looked down "what so special about me?" she asked "Both you and Jason have important roles, that you need to do, you need to find a stone of sky and nature" he said "What's the stone of sky and nature?" she asked "They are two stones, one controls the sky and the other nature" he said. Piper was shocked "What but I thought Zeus controls the sky" she said and he nodded "He does, but the stone allows the user to create weather changes, the stone it's self has been around since Gaia and Ouranos" he said and she looked down "But why me and Jason?" she asked "You'll know when you find it" Percy said. Before Piper could ask anything a big lightning strike hit the campfire "What was that?!" Piper yelled "I believe Jason just should them whose son he is" Percy said and Piper looked at him "What?" she asked "Jason is the son of Zeus, lord of the sky" Percy said and Piper looked back 'That does make since' she thought. Then she looked back at Percy "May I asked a question?" she asked and he nodded "If you are here then you knew you were going to be taken, right?" she asked and he nodded "Then why didn't you tell anyone about it?" she asked and he looked down "I couldn't Piper, trust me if I could I would have, I hate seeing my friends so worried, I hate seeing Nico-" he didn't finish but Piper had a feeling she knew what he was going to say.

Piper looked down "Then why are you letting me see you?" Piper asked "Because you barely know me, you won't try as hard to keep me here as the others would" Percy said and Piper had to agree with that. Then Percy looked at her again "Piper I need you to do something for me, if that's alright with you?" he asked and Piper thought for a moment before nodded "I need you to go to my cabin, there you'll find present for me from my boyfriend in the second drawer" he said "Then why didn't you open it?" Piper asked "Because Hera took me before I could" he said and she nodded "Hera's really involved in all of this, isn't she?" Piper asked and Percy nodded "When we meet again can you give it to me?" he asked and she nodded "Alright I'll get it" she said and he nodded "Thank you, oh and before you go I need to tell you something" he said "what?" Piper asked "Child of lightning, beware the earth, the giants' revenge the seven shall birth, the forge and dove shall break the cage, And death unleash through Hera's rage" he said "What?" she asked "That is Jason's prophecy for his quest, which reminds I think you should go before Drew beats you to it" Percy said "What?!" Piper yelled running back but then she stopped "oh and thank you" she said but Percy was gone. Piper was shocked but she still had to go so she ran. When she got back it looked like no one knew she was gone, Piper signed in relief until Annabeth cot her eye and she raised her brow and piper mouthed 'went for a walk' she said Annabeth still looked questionable but then she looked back at Chiron. Piper thought it went something like:

Annabeth: The giants' revenge … no, it can't be.

Chiron: Don't speak of it here. Don't scare them.

Annabeth: You're kidding me! We can't be that unlucky.

Chiron: Later, child. If you told them everything, they would be too terrified to proceed.

Piper knew it was crazy to think she could read their expressions so well—two people she barely knew. But she was absolutely positive she understood them, and it scared the jujubes out of her. Annabeth took a deep breath. "It's Jason's quest," she announced, "so it's Jason's choice. Obviously, he's the child of lightning. According to tradition, he may choose any two companions." Someone from the Hermes cabin yelled, "Well, you, obviously, Annabeth. You've got the most experience." Someone said "No, Travis," Annabeth said. "First off, I'm not helping Hera. Every time I've tried, she's deceived me, or it's come back to bite me later. Forget it. No way. Secondly, I'm leaving first thing in the morning to find Percy." Annabeth said "It's connected," Piper blurted out "You know that's true, don't you? This whole business, your friend's disappearance—it's all connected." Piper said "How?" demanded Drew. "If you're so smart, how?" Piper tried to form an answer, but she couldn't. Annabeth saved her. "You may be right, Piper. If this is connected, I'll find out from the other end—by searching for Percy. As I said, I'm not about to rush off to rescue Hera, even if her disappearance sets the rest of the Olympians fighting again. But there's another reason I can't go. The prophecy says otherwise." She said "It says who I pick," Jason agreed. "The forge and dove shall break the cage. The forge is the symbol of Vul—Hephaestus." Under the Cabin Nine banner, Nyssa's shoulders slumped, like she'd just been given a heavy anvil to carry. "If you have to beware the earth," she said, "you should avoid traveling overland. You'll need air transport."

Piper was about to call out that Jason could fly. But then she thought better of it. That was for Jason to tell them, and he wasn't volunteering the information. Maybe he figured he'd freaked them out enough for one night "The flying chariot's broken," Nyssa continued, "and the pegasi, we're using them to search for Percy. But maybe Hephaestus cabin can help figure out something else to help. With Jake incapacitated, I'm senior camper. I can volunteer for the quest." She didn't sound enthusiastic. Then Leo stood up "It's me," he said. His cabin mates stirred. Several tried to pull him back to his seat, but Leo resisted "No, it's me. I know it is. I've got an idea for the transportation problem. Let me try. I can fix this! Please" Leo pleaded. Jason studied him for a moment. Then he smiled. "We started this together, Leo. Seems only right you come along. You find us a ride, you're in." he said and Piper smiled 'that's my boy' Piper thought "Yes! You won't regret it, I promise" Leo said and Jason nodded "I believe you" he said "It'll be dangerous," Nyssa warned him. "Hardship, monsters, terrible suffering. Possibly none of you will come back alive." She said "Oh." Suddenly Leo didn't look so excited. Then he remembered everyone was watching. "I mean … Oh, cool! Suffering? I love suffering! Let's do this.

Annabeth nodded. "Then, Jason, you only need to choose the third quest member. The dove—" Drew cut her off "Oh, absolutely!" Drew was on her feet and flashing Jason a smile. "The dove is Aphrodite. Everybody knows that. I am totally yours" Piper's hands clenched. She stepped forward. "No." Drew rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, Dumpster girl. Back off." She said "I had the vision of Hera; not you. I have to do this." Piper clamed "Anyone can have a vision," Drew said. "You were just at the right place at the right time." She turned to Jason. "Look, fighting is all fine, I suppose. And people who build things …" She looked at Leo in disdain. "Well, I suppose someone has to get their hands dirty. But you need charm on your side. I can be very persuasive. I could help a lot." The campers started murmuring about how Drew was pretty persuasive. Piper could see Drew winning them over. Even Chiron was scratching his beard, like Drew's participation suddenly made sense to him. "Well …" Annabeth said. "Given the wording of the prophecy—" Piper cut her off "No!" Piper's own voice sounded strange in her ears—more insistent, richer in tone. "I'm supposed to go." Then the weirdest thing happened. Everyone started nodding, muttering that hmm, Piper's point of view made sense too. Drew looked around, incredulous. Even some of her own campers were nodding "Get over it!" Drew snapped at the crowd. "What can Piper do?" Piper tried to respond, but her confidence started to wane. What could she offer? She wasn't a fighter, or a planner, or a fixer. She had no skills except getting into trouble and occasionally convincing people to do stupid things.

Plus, she was a liar. She needed to go on this quest for reasons that went way beyond Jason—and if she did go, she'd end up betraying everyone there. She heard that voice from the dream: Do our bidding, and you may walk away alive. How could she make a choice like that—between helping her father and helping Jason? "Well," Drew said smugly, "I guess that settles it." Suddenly there was collective gasp. Everyone stared at Piper like she'd just exploded. She wondered what she'd done wrong. Then she realized there was a reddish glow around her. "What?" she demanded. She looked above her, but there was no burning symbol like the one that appeared over Leo. Then she looked down and yelped. Her clothes … what in the world was she wearing? She despised dresses. She didn't own a dress. But now she was adorned in a beautiful white sleeveless gown that went down to her ankles, with a V-neck so low it was totally embarrassing. Delicate gold armbands circled her biceps. An intricate necklace of amber, coral, and gold flowers glittered on her chest, even her hat was gone reveling her headband that was now glowing even the owl was different it's wings were no longer closed they were opened, Piper heard a gasp and it came from Annabeth who was looking at it, and her hair …

"Oh, god," she said. "What's happened?"

Still in a daze Annabeth pointed at Piper's dagger, which was now oiled and gleaming, hanging at her side on a golden cord. Piper didn't want to draw it. She was afraid of what she would see. But her curiosity won out. She unsheathed Katoptris and stared at her reflection in the polished metal blade. Her hair was perfect: lush and long and chocolate brown, braided with gold ribbons down one side so it fell across her shoulder. She even wore makeup, better than Piper would ever know how to do herself—subtle touches that made her lips cherry red and brought out all the different colors in her eyes.

She was...she was...

"Beautiful," Jason exclaimed. "Piper, you … you're a knockout."

Under different circumstances, that would've been the most flattering thing he had ever said. But now everyone was staring at her like she was a freak. Drew's face was full of horror and revulsion. "No!" she cried. "Not possible!" she yelled "This isn't me," Piper protested. "I—don't understand." Chiron the centaur folded his front legs and bowed to her, and all the campers followed his example. "Hail, Piper McLean," Chiron announced gravely, as if he were speaking at her funeral. "Daughter of Aphrodite, lady of the doves, goddess of love."