Chapter 2:

Last Hope

"They can't," Annabeth insisted. She looked around the war room as if expecting someone to argue against her. Nobody did of course, both because this was Annabeth and because no one could even phantom why the Gods would vote to kill all Demigods. Let alone all mortals.

"The Gods need Demigods and humans to believe in them, without us they fade right?" Her eyes drifted towards Chiron.

Percy noticed the centaur seemed like he had aged years in the last hour. He hoped it was just his imagination but he feared it wasn't; Chiron had told him years ago that he was immortal as long as he was needed.

"Although not immediately the Gods would indeed cease to exist. Their survival is tied to the Western civilization."

Just like Pan's disappearance was caused by the dead of the wild, Percy thought. He couldn't imagine his father wanting to kill him. Maybe Zeus or Ares but not his father, not after everything that he had done for Olympus.

"Maybe it's a test, or someone else pretending to be Olympus." Annabeth's proposal made him feel a little better. Maybe Hermes would show up tomorrow and reveal it to be a bad prank. His stomach disagreed with the theory.

"Hey, the Olympians almost never agree on anything," Damian, the son of Nemesis suggested, "so why would they now?"

More hopeful whispers filled the room.

"Have you contacted Camp Jupiter yet?" Percy asked.
Annabeth and Chiron shared a look before Chiron said they'd try later.

After Chiron had calmed most of the campers down he had a final announcement. It was directed at the head of Cabin Nine, or Leo's temporary replacement. "Prepare to launch Plan Last Hope."

"Last Hope?" Both Annabeth and Percy asked.

"You two weren't here during the siege of the Romans," Malcolm explained. "We were ready to defend our turf but if the Romans were to ever break through we prepared several evacuation plans and routes." he shrugged. "It luckily never came to it and I really hope we don't have to resort to last measures."

Percy nodded. Campers didn't like to talk about the siege but from what he overheard Camp Half Blood was prepared for even the worst case scenarios.

After the meeting Percy pulled Annabeth aside. She refused to meet his eyes, silently pleading him not to. Percy asked anyway.

"When I asked about the Romans you kept something quiet, what was it?"

Annabeth still refused to look at him, even as she answered.

"Something, or someone, is blocking all forms of communication. This time it is not the Emperors."