/Author's Note - this one also takes a lot of dialogue from TLH, which I do not own. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 6 - Smore's and Prophecies and Lightning, Oh My!
The Hypnos cabin was a bust. After dinner, I headed down to the campfire. I joined my siblings and Grover, but I wasn't exactly in the campfire kind of mood. Typically, Percy sat beside me at the campfire and we held hands and did all the silly songs together. Percy has such a great sense of humor, it was always so much more fun with him. But I decided to suck it up and try to have fun. I was leading my cabin and needed to not make them any more depressed than they were. I joined in the songs enthusiastically.
Chiron completed the announcements - the new campers, no news on the dragon. Someone asked about Percy from the stands.
I didn't want to say it, but I took a deep breath and stood to address the crowd. "I didn't find Percy." My voice caught on his name. Get a grip, Annabeth. He's been gone for two weeks before and came back totally fine. No news doesn't mean bad news.
"He wasn't at the Grand Canyon like I thought. But we're not giving up." I added it fiercely, almost as a challenge. "We've got teams everywhere. Grover, Tyson, Nico, the Hunters of Artemis, everyone's out looking. We will find him." I said it with such conviction I almost believed it myself. Almost.
"Chiron's talking about something different. A new quest." I finished.
"It's the Great Prophecy, isn't it?" To my shock, it was Drew, leader of the Aphrodite cabin.
"Drew? What do you mean?" I asked her. Drew doesn't really address the crowd unless it has something to do with the latest beauty tips or a new break-up. She definitely doesn't address the crowd when it has to do with something as serious as the Great Prophecy.
"Ah, come on." Drew said with that smirk that made me want to fight her. Silena was all the best parts of Aphrodite, while Drew seemed to be all the worst. I had a sharp pang in my heart when I remembered Silena. I despised Drew. She always seemed to go out of her way to make new campers feel badly. She was one of those people who seemed to think that she could build herself up by tearing others down. I hated those people. Didn't they understand that life was hard enough? We needed to try and support each other as best we could. Another sharp pain lanced through me and I realized I needed to take my own advice. I had been treating Jason badly just because he wasn't Percy. That wasn't fair.
Drew was still talking. "- something weird is going on. The Great Prophecy has started, right?"
I turned to Rachel and hoped she got the message in my eyes. Please no. Please no. Please no. Anything but that. Come on, we did not need a second Great Prophecy to start so soon after the first. I just wanted to graduate from high school, go to college, have a (fairly) normal life.
"Well?" Drew demanded. "You're the Oracle, has it started or not?"
Rachel stepped forward and took a breath. "Yes. The Great Prophecy has begun."
I wanted to break down right then and there. I wanted to be back at the Jackson-Blowfis residence where Percy's mom could give me a cookie and tell me that everything would be alright. That I wouldn't lose anybody else and that I could just spend some time worrying about things like SATs and college admissions processes. I focussed on my breathing like I had been taught in therapy. In and hold and out and hold.
Rachel told everyone the words of the new Great Prophecy.
In and hold and out and hold.
Jason jumped to his feet and finished the prophecy - in Latin, no less. Could this day get any weirder? The entire group went silent.
In and hold and out and hold, Annabeth. In and hold and out and hold.
"Handsome AND smart." Drew called from the stands. At least she was back to normal.
Jason sat down next to me with a hard thud. He was embarrassed, but I couldn't tell if it was because he had become the center of attention with his outburst or because of what Drew said.
I leaned over and whispered to him, "Hey, it'll be ok. Everyone will forget about it soon."
Rachel continued to discuss the prophecy but I was barely listening. I was on the verge of a panic attack and I really didn't think this was the time or place.
Rachel explained that the Second Great Prophecy likely predicted something as bad as the Titan War.
"Or worse." Chiron said. Wow, his first comment in hours and that was it? Not helping.
Rachel caught everyone up on the Hera-is-a-prisoner situation while I kept trying to breath. Thankfully, Jason was still too caught up on what was going on in front of us to notice my panic. I noticed Drew mocking Piper about fainting and shot dagger-eyes her way. I wish I could pound Drew in the practice fields or capture the flag for all the bullying she did, but she never picked up a weapon. Thankfully, the anger at Drew seemed to put a stop to my panic attack. And between anger and fear, well, I was much happier with the anger.
Rachel asked Jason if he remembered his last name. He shook his head, embarrassed again. I felt so bad for him and so guilty for how I had treated him. I promised myself that I would do what I could to help him with this quest. Everyone was looking at him now. The pressure must have been enormous, and coupled with the fact that he couldn't remember anything, I realized how terrified he must be. But he set his jaw and it was clear he was going to do as he must. I respected him for that.
Rachel reminded Jason that the quest must be completed by the solstice. She didn't know why. I jumped in, "That's the council day for the gods. If the gods don't already know Hera is 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." I remembered my first quest with Percy. We had gone across America to find the entrance to the Underworld because Hades, Zeus and Poseidon were all fighting with each other about stealing their stuff. It was like squabbling toddlers, except these toddlers had weapons more powerful than nuclear bombs and didn't have a healthy respect for mortality.
"The winter solstice," Chiron spoke up. I shot him a glance and wondered if he had more doom-and-gloom stuff to share with us. "Is also the time of the 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."
That single word sent shivers up my spine. I remembered before the Titan War when monsters had all discussed the "Great Stirring". A time when monsters we had not seen or fought would be awoken and we would have to fight them. I wasn't really a fan of stirring. Last time, Pan had died, Kampe, one of the scariest monsters I have ever imagined, woke up, and we had to fight more than we ever had before.
"Ok." I glared at Chiron. Could the guy just stop with all the bad news? I really couldn't take any more today, and I'm guessing most of the others felt the same. "Thank you Captain Sunshine. Whatever is going on, I agree with Rachel. Jason has been chosen to lead this quest, so -"
"Why hasn't he been claimed?" Someone called out from the Ares cabin. "If he's so important -"
"He has been claimed. Long ago. Jason, give them a demonstration." Chiron interrupted. My guess? If Chiron was talking today it wasn't a good thing. I sincerely wanted to duct tape the dude's mouth shut. I wasn't sure what had gotten into him today but I didn't really need one more thing to deal with.
Jason looked nervous but he stood up beside me. Piper smiled at him and mimicked flipping a coin. I was grateful to her for supporting him, even though she knew now that he wasn't really her boyfriend. At this point, Jason needed all the friends he could get. Jason pulled out his weapon. When the weapon came down, though, he was holding a lance. I had two thoughts - 1) What just happened? It was a sword. And 2) Could Riptide do that? Percy had never shown me if it could. I had to step back with Rachel to avoid becoming a demigod shish-ka-bob.
"I thought you had a sword?" I asked Jason.
"Uh it came up tails I think. Same weapon, long range form."
"Dude, I want one!" Called someone from the Ares cabin. It was hard to see who it was in the dark. A second voice agreed that it was better than Clarisse's weapon, which I was glad she wasn't here to hear.
"Electric…" Jason said it thoughtfully. "Back away." He told Rachel and I. We obeyed instantly. When a demigod says back away, you back far, far away.
Thunder broke down, went through Jason's spear, and zapped the fire. The bang was enough to deafen me for several seconds and the smoke filled the entire clearing. I was covered head to toe in ashes. And my head had one thought - Thalia's half-brother.
"A little over-kill perhaps, but you've made your point." Chiron was saying. "And I believe we know who you're father is."
"Jupiter." Jason agreed. "I mean, Zeus. Lord of the Sky."
This was not good. A child of the Big Three? Well, they didn't always have happy endings. I still remember Percy's retelling of Bianca's death - on the quest to come and save me. I felt my mind go into a flashback - Thalia, standing alone on Half-Blood Hill. I sobbed and tried to reach her, but Luke's arms wrapped around me and dragged me down the other side of the hill. I saw the monsters' blows land on her body. She was the closest thing I had to a sister and a true friend and she was dying right in front of me, just to give me a chance at life. I shuddered and prayed fervently that Jason would not end up the same. A wish I had been sending to the gods every day for Percy.
I was confused, though. I didn't think Zeus had had any more kids. If he had, why had only Thalia been targeted so badly on our way to camp? Hades had sent out the worst of the worst to attack us, in revenge for the death of his mistress. How was Jason here right now, in front of me?
"Hold it." I called out. "How can he be the son of Zeus, one of the Big Three? Their pact, not to have mortal kids? How can we not have known about him sooner?" Last August's prophecy could have meant Jason if Percy had been killed and none of us even knew it. I felt a chill creep up my spine, realizing how close we might have been to that scenario.
Chiron didn't answer. Figured. I didn't know what was up with him today but my anger was creeping into the rage territory. I could tell that he knew what was going on and wasn't telling me. That hurt more than I can explain. My father had never accepted me and now my found-father was rejecting me as well. I felt my chest tighten and had to focus on my breathing again.
Rachel issued another prophecy.
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.
She collapsed and was laid in the corner to recover. I had asked Rachel before and she assured me it didn't really hurt when she got a prophecy, but I did feel bad about it. Passing out this many times could not be good for someone.
"Is that normal?" Came Piper's voice from the dark and silence. I couldn't blame her - Piper's experiences today had been pretty crazy. And she had already had one pretty crazy experience with Rachel.
"I mean, does she spew green smoke a lot?" Piper said, blushing.
"Gods, you're dense." Drew shot back. "She just issued a prophecy. Jason's prophecy to save Hera. Why don't you just -"
"Drew." I snapped. "Piper asked a fair question. Something about this prophecy definitely isn't normal." I've heard enough of them to know, I thought but didn't say. "If breaking Hera's cage unleashes her rage and causes a bunch of death, why would we free her? It might be a trap, or… or maybe Hera will turn on her rescuers. She's never been kind to heroes."
Jason rose and spoke. "I don't have much choice. Hera took my memory, I need it back. Besides, we can't just not help the Queen of the Heavens if she's in trouble."
I opened my mouth to say it would be quite easy to not help Hera, but I saw Chiron mouth "NO." in my direction. I shut my mouth again.
Nyssa stood from the Hephaestus cabin. "Maybe…" She said slowly. "But you should listen to Annabeth. Hera can be vengeful. She threw her own son, our Dad, down a mountain just because he was ugly."
"Real ugly." Someone called from the Aphrodite cabin. I swear, ever since Silena died, that cabin had become insufferable.
"Shut up." Nyssa snarled. "We've got to think about why. Why beware the earth? And what's the Giant's revenge? If what we're dealing with here is powerful enough to kidnap the Queen of the Heavens…."
I realized immediately. Earth. Giants. Oh gods. I glanced at Chiron. He looked pained. The Giants' revenge…. It can't be.
Chiron shot me a look that clearly meant don't speak of it here. Don't scare them. Yea, cause he hadn't done enough scaring us today.
You're kidding me. We can't be that unlucky. I wanted to scream in frustration. We had done our part. We had saved the world. Can't that be enough for the gods?
Chiron gave me a last look that clearly meant later.
"It's Jason's quest." I announced. "So its Jason's choice. Obviously he's the child of lightning. According to tradition, he may choose any two companions." I thought back to the time I had so desperately chosen three companions - Percy, Tyson and Grover - to accompany me into the Labyrinth.
Travis told me I should go but I fought back. I absolutely was not going to fight for Hera. It never went well. Plus, I needed to search for Percy. I was done waiting around for what the gods were going to do.
I watched as Leo insisted he go on the quest. I didn't know Leo much, but he seemed impulsive, even by demigod standards. I didn't know if he was a good choice, but it was Jason's decision. Piper also insisted she go - as well she should. She had received clear messages from Hera as well. The debate started between her and Drew, both insisting that they should be the "dove" in the prophecy.
Suddenly, the crowd gasped. I looked at Piper. She was glowing faintly - red, or maybe a dark pink. And her appearance…. Woah. She had gotten a complete godly makeover. Make-up, her hair was brushed, possibly cut, and styled. Her clothes were replaced by a sleeveless dress and delicate jewelry. She looked amazing, but also absolutely not like Piper. She demanded to know what was going on. I pointed to her dagger. She unsheathed it to see the change that had happened to herself.
"Beautiful." I heard Jason say next to me. "Piper, you're a knock-out." I wanted to face-palm. Really, Jason? You know how she feels - or thinks she feels - about you. It was a total Seaweed Brain moment and pain of missing Percy hit me all over again.
Chiron bowed to Piper. We all followed his example. "Hail Piper McLean. Daughter of Aphrodite, Lady of the Doves. Goddess of Love."
I wasn't sure who was more horrified, Piper or Drew. I almost wanted to laugh at the expression on Drew's face. As the campfire broke up, I went to Piper and gave her a quick hug before I led my cabin back home. I wanted to do more for her, but I could tell now wasn't the time. I had an early morning to get to searching for Percy.