Leo was standing in a cavern filled with flames. They licked up the walls and across the floor. They had no fuel, but they climbed ever higher, encasing Leo with their heat and light. He embraced the feeling, but wondered where he was.
"Hello?" He called out into the cavern.
"Leo," a voice said. Leo spun around but saw no one. The voice echoed from all around him, deep and kind.
"Um, hey," Leo said. "I'm guessing I'm dreaming. And since I'm surrounded by fire, I'm guessing it's Hephaestus talking?"
The voice was silent. Then it said, "You just can't fool kids these days."
Leo cracked a smile. "Hi, Dad."
"Yes, Leo, it's me," Hephaestus said. "And yes, you are dreaming. I needed to give you a message."
"Let me guess," Leo said. "There's some sort of quest involved."
"Well…yes," his dad admitted. "And it is your quest."
"Alright, what's the issue this time?" Leo said. "An evil Titan Lord who needs defeating? A giant rampage that needs stopping? You name it, Leo Valdez is on it."
"Well, no, none of those things," Hephaestus said. "This is a quest to find your sister."
Leo didn't know what he had been expecting Hephaestus to say, but it was most certainly not that.
"My…sister?" He said. "Like, a daughter of Hephaestus?"
"Yes, she is my daughter," his dad said, "but she is also your twin sister."
Leo thought he was going to fall over flat on his face. "Wait, wait, wait, back up," he said, holding up his hands. "Twin sister? Like, twin twin sister?"
"Um, yes," Hephaestus replied.
"You'd better show yourself and explain, mister," Leo said, turning in a circle. "I have a twin sister?"
"I'm sorry I cannot explain further, Leo, but our time runs short," his dad said. "This you must know: if you wish to meet your sister, journey to Detroit, Michigan. There you will find answers. Good luck."
"Wait, hold on!" Leo shouted, but the dream was fading. The next thing he knew, he was sitting up in his bed in Cabin 9. Dawn was breaking. His cabin mates were starting to yawn and sit up as well.
Leo didn't waste any time. He threw on some clothes, muttering about the gods and their stupid cryptic ways, and raced out of the cabin.
He sped down to the Big House, passing a few early risers who were heading down to the pavilion for breakfast, and arrived on the Big House porch in record time. He knocked impatiently on the door and waited, shifting from foot to foot, for what felt like eternity until Chiron opened the door.
"Yes, Leo?" The centaur asked, looking surprised.
"Chiron, my dad visited me in a dream last night," Leo said quickly. "I need a quest."
Chiron looked even more surprised now. "Why don't you come inside and tell me more?"
So they sat in the living room and Leo told him everything Hephaestus had said. When he finished, Chiron looked into the distance as if looking at something only he could see. Then he said, "Well, you certainly need a quest. Here's what we'll do. You go eat some breakfast, then visit Rachel to get a prophecy. She should be in her cave. I'll look for some questing partners for you. Meet me outside the Big House today at about three o'clock and we will make the final preparations."
Leo agreed and left.
As he was instructed, he visited the Oracle's cave after breakfast. He pushed aside the beaded curtains and peered in.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare was sitting on a couch reading a book. She glanced up when she heard him come in.
"Hey, Leo," she said, putting down her book. "What brings you here?"
"Hi, Rachel," he replied. "I'm going on a quest, and I need a prophecy. You got one in your stocks you could lend me?"
Rachel rolled her eyes, but said, "Sure." She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, they were glowing green. She opened her mouth and green smoke poured out of it.
Leo took a step back. He had witnessed this many times, but it never failed to freak him out.
Rachel started rasping his prophecy in that voice that wasn't hers.
A child shivers in the cold
Searched for by the ones of old.
She guards the one who gave her life
Her eyes a story of her strife.
In her past a disturbed vow
Haunts her even in the now.
You must find her, keep her, guard her well
For the power she possesses no tongue can tell.
Rachel blinked and the green was gone from her eyes. The smoke dissipated, and Leo didn't hesitate in getting the heck out of that cave.