Chapter 22: I Got My Fortune Told by a Centaur (Just How Many Prophecies Can a Demigod Get?!)

Words: 3,801

Recap: Mystery thickens surrounding the identity of Professor Rose and more troubles about to follow up.

It had been a long and exhausting day with my homework finished at the last second, quidditch practice, and all this cleaning I helped Pringle with. You couldn't really blame me when I had dozed off in the middle of wiping clean the mass of trophies that the school seemed to have a never-ending supply of.

It was the dream that had given me a wake-up call.

It started off with finding myself at the familiar Gryffindor Dorm Room once more, I turned from a voice that came from right around the corner. A voice I recognized came from Remus who was saying - no, shouting to James, "Sirius, how could you agree with him. Your plan is mad!"

"No, it's not. I think I made it quite simple, don't you think, Sirius?"

"I would hope so. It was originally mine anyway, we go into the forest, find the Will 'o Wisp and where it originated from, and once we proved where its nest is, we could inform the teachers, no problem."

"It's not that simple! You really think you could solve a problem the teachers have been all over with for months?!"

"Seeing as they're leaving Jackson alone without much suspicion on him, I doubt they'd be any smarter."

"Besides, you can't say you were never curious what the school keeps inside."

"And those two managed to escape unscathed; I doubt it's that dangerous."

There were so many points he could refute, Remus looked ready to strangle just as much as I do. Instead, he made a loud exasperated groan while kneading his eyes with the ball of his palm. Remus didn't seem to assure himself that he could persuade them to stop, and I knew first hand how stubborn they could be. Peter, on the other hand, looked just as nervous as he always been, looking left and right between them and keen to follow whichever sides.

"Fine. How are we leaving without getting caught?"

"See, that's the thing. While me and Sirius sneaked into the woods, it's both of your jobs to distract the prefect once they go into their rounds or if we ever need backup."

Remus sighed and looked resignedly at them, "Just...stay out of trouble as long as possible."

"Relax Remus, what's the worst that could happen?"

Oh, there were so many retorts ready at the tip of my tongue. But I was shaken out of my dream and jolted awake to find Pringle looking down in judgment.

"Perpatíste ekeínous tous ilíthioi!" I cried without thinking.

Which roughly translates to "Curse those Idiots!"

It's a mouthful, I know, don't blame me that it's naturally my first language.

Pringle didn't seem to flinch at the foreign language coming out of my mouth, nor did he seem to care and just pointed out the rest of the unpolished trophies I haven't clean.

There was no way I could continue serving my punishment when two Idiots are walking to their possible death — deciding quickly while a plan formed in my head.

Resigning myself to what I'll get myself into. Once Pringle turned his back, I took a large cup of trophy from the pile, jumped and covered his head with it, took out Riptide, and hit the metal cup with the blunt side of my sword.

Pringle swiftly went down in a slump.

I looked down at my handiwork for a moment longer, sending a silent apology before bursting out of the room. Running passed the hallways, down the stairs, and rushing past the entrance hall, didn't even bother to look back at the giant oak door and toward the Forbidden Forest.

I stopped just at the edge of the black grass, feeling breathless as I gaze at the darkness within it. Steeling my nerve, I took out Riptide and dashed inside.

It was just as I remembered, but creepier and darker. The stars were the only source of light that couldn't quite help maneuvered the thick trees I was in and the thick tree roots that make up the uneven ground. I stopped then lightly punched my head because 'duh, this is where magic comes handy.'

I took out my wand and chanted "Lumos," giving me a light that shone the path I could take and have taken. At the moment, there is no strange monster looking for ways to kill me, but the occasional wolf howling didn't help in letting my guard slip.

For a moment, I thought maybe James and Sirius weren't serious about going here. Maybe they changed their mind at the last moment.

I was proven wrong by a couple of screams that echoed a forest.

Muttering a few strings of curses, I ran as fast as I could toward the source of trouble.

Once I spotted a group of shadows, I uttered "Nox" before hiding behind a tree and spied on the scene. There, I was witnessing the two imbeciles their wands on the ground with their hands tied behind each other's back. On their side were a couple of Centaurs, surrounding them in circle were more Centaurs.

On the usual note, I would have sighed in relief, knowing the kind of creatures that could call themselves Party Ponies in my homeland were around them. But three things burst that bubble for me.

One, this isn't America. Two, Centaurs could turn evil like any other creature seeing as I fought them before in the Roman Camp. Third, they have mean looking faces at the moment which spells 'not good.'

Edging closer to the group while hiding beneath the shadows. I tried eavesdropping to get a clearer picture of what was going on.

"We swear we didn't come to cause trouble. We just wanted answers about the Will 'o Wisp." James cried.

"Silence!" They flinched at the harsh tone from one of the centaurs. "We may not harm the young, but know that we do not take kindly to those who trespass this forest."

"We're sorry," they coursed between sobs.

Inwardly counting the centaurs, I knew there was no way I could fight them all without casualty. I thought hard for a moment before maybe, somehow, I could summon the unicorns.

I didn't know if it would work, but nothing wrong in trying, right?

I closed my eyes and focus on sending an S.O.S message telepathically for any horse-kind in vicinity. To my surprise and delight, I got a reply. Not in a word-to-word kind of response, but more of a brush on the back of my mind that sent reassuring feels. It was probably because of the distance, but knowing my message was received was enough at the moment.

Looking back at the group, I saw most of them looking at one centaur as if they were waiting for their leader in command to say his order. Even in the dark light, I could at least tell a few things from him; black hair, packed body that could rival a Child of Hephaestus or Ares, a chain necklace around his neck, and a hard gaze that could make anyone stand straight in attention.

"Please consider this Bane; they are just younglings. Have you not see of their fates?"

"I have. But the stars have been in disarray since the start of term for those younglings."

"Are you saying we should interfere with the heavens?"

"Of course not, I'm suggesting something, not even the stars could predict what is coming, and they're at the thick of it."

"Then we should send them away and be done with it."

"Not until I have questioned their worth. Mars is bright. Brighter than anything I've ever seen. Whatever's causing the upcoming storm could decide the fate of not just the Wizarding World, but humanity itself."

The two centaurs bicker and argue back and forth with undertone message between them. Thinking what I should do with time on hand, I aimed the spell just a bit upward and used the red flare spell I first learned. It shot out and exploded in red, surprising the centaurs. From their perspective, it must have looked like it came from within the trees. I ran around the edge and kept firing continuous spells to rattle the centaurs, making a hard time for them to pinpoint where the attacks came from. Finally, I tucked my wand in, sneaked in out of their sights, cut the ropes, pick up their wands, and whispered one word; "Run!"

They didn't protest as they did what I tell them to.

We ran as quickly as we could before any of the centaurs would notice our escape. Turns out, the answer was 'very quickly.' One of them caught the absence of their two prisoners and shouted at our wake. We kept running despite that. But with their speed, we'd soon get overtaken.

So it felt like a godsend when a stampeding herd of Unicorns came down from the side, blocking the centaurs pathway and managed to help us to escape.

"Thanks, Lexus," I shouted in my head for him.

"Anything for you, My Lord." I heard him say.

Inwardly congratulating myself that I could now summon nearby horses or its kind, but it couldn't be that easy for once when two of the centaurs managed to outmaneuver the Unicorns and gaining on us still.

Cursing in Greek, I drag the two boys to the side. Pushed them to a three an ordered then with a whisper, "Stay. Hide. Don't make a sound!"

I turned back, ready to confront the centaur and, if possible, dragged them away from the two wizards.

They did, which means I have to handle two centaurs without killing or being trampled with, simple enough.

I stopped running.

They caught up, and in no more than a second, had their bows trained on me. I lifted both my hand in surrender. Trying to calm them as and possibly reasoned them. After all, they're still Chiron's people.

But don't think I have high expectations; I have every right to think things will go south.

"I mean you and your people no harm. I came for the wizard kids and intent on bringing them back, nothing more."

"Yet you strike us when we have our backs turn."

"I meant not to injure and only to distract. I worry for them, and I don't trust you with handling kids without injury. Wizards are more fragile than most other beings like mortals are."

"He's got a point there, Reagan." His friend pointed out to the Red Centaur. He had dark red coat and ginger hair, now I know as Reagan, gave a pointed look at his friend which shut him up.

Still, I was getting to them. While Reagan looked hard to bargain with, I need to try.

"I swear to you if you leave us be, we'll get out of the forest. That I promise."

I noticed their drawing arms began to lower, "You may be telling the truth," Reagan said in calm matter of fact tone. A smile graced my lips but soon turned to frown when he drew back his bow once more, "But you may be telling lies, and Half-Blood like you are used to trickery, even younglings like you, and we can't risk that."

Reagan shoot his arrow, his friend soon followed, but I dodged one and grabbed the other by the hand before snapping it with my knee. My action caused them to flinch, which is what I need to close my distance to them and kick Reagan by the back of one of his four-horse-legged knee. Causing him to slump and be a reaching distance for me to knock him by the back of his head, rendering him unconscious.

The other tried to aim his bow at me, but I had my blade at his unconscious friend, "Spare me and leave with your friend, that's all I ask, or he'll pay the price."

It wasn't to my liking, using hostages, but I'm leaving two unattended children in the forest, and I have no time to play nice.

The centaur was silent, considering my offer with a deep frown that brought his thick eyebrows into union. He looked up at the sky, his eyes searching for maybe some divine advice or whatnot.

"Mars is bright tonight."

What?

As if he didn't say anything, he gazed down to me once more, his face hasn't changed to tell me his thought. "I'll take your word Demigod, but know this. Your presence here marks irrational changes. Changes that shook even the heavens and must be corrected. Your task will be treacherous, sanity will be the first victim, and the lines between friends and foes will be blurred."

They were as cryptic as the gods, but it was a prophecy or fortune-telling more the like. His firm matter of fact tone struck me hard and caused my chest to be tight in knot. His eyes that showed he saw more of what I could be, like Chiron's own eyes would, never gaze away from mine.

But the thing that could come out of my mouth was, "Uuh...okay…"

I don't know if he felt offended or took my response in a stride as he lifted Reagan's body to rest on his back, and together they galloped back to the deeper forest.

Finally, when they're gone. I hastily made my way back to where the boys are.

And found I wasn't surprised but wearier when they weren't at the spot I told them specifically to stay. "Of course they won't listen, why would they even listen to me? I'm just a fellow first year. Those Morons." Good gods, is this how Annabeth felt whenever I did something stupid? Now I partially understand why some still asked her how she could stand me.

My training kicked in, and I looked for any trails they made, my wand glowing out a light once more and found their tracks. Once I spotted another wand light not far, I marched, feeling like I should give them a piece of my mind or two. Not the wisest thing to do since we're in an unknown part of the forest where we could wake any monster lurking within, but I was past caring at that point.

"Didn't I tell you not wonder off?! What part of 'not wandering off' don't you under - oh…" I was cut off because of the sight I was seeing. There, sitting on a clearing just out of the edge of the bushes and hidden beneath the darkness.

A pumpkin.

And not just any pumpkin. A carved Halloween pumpkin smacked in the middle of the woods and above the innocent looking vegetable, was a floating figure of a ghost. Chains stretched from its arms and legs, his clothes from one would wear casually in medieval times with his tunic and khaki pants now looking torn and in rags, his translucent white hair tied on his back and one look at his face I knew who he was. I've been him once in my dreams.

Stingy Jack 'o Lantern.

Before either of us could say anything thing to break the tension. Several Wisps began lighting itself around the apparition, even more than the one that had chased me before.

"AAAAAAAAAGGGHH!"

James and Sirius screamed.

I cursed again before dragging the two back into a run.

We ran wordlessly as we desperately tried to escape from the purple-blue fires, but it soon surrounded us, giving us nowhere to run. The two boys raised their wands, they didn't hide the small whimper that escaped their lips but didn't stop them from trying to fight back. I was gritting my teeth as hard as my hand was clenching around Riptide.

I was about to swipe the nearest blue fire with it, but then an arrow flew past me and hit the fire instead, extinguishing it.

It took us by surprise that we were gaping at it for a moment before another flurry of arrows hit the blue fires and gave us a pathway to escape to. We took it after a brief exchanged with our eyes and hesitation, deciding it was worth the risk.

At the end of the pathway was another centaur, and I would have been wary if he wasn't currently saving our butt. The centaur lowered himself and shouted, "Hop on!"

We didn't question him as we did. We rode onto him, and our savior rode us to safety, which was by the edge of the forest. The three of us panted heavily from adrenaline, climbing down off the centaur, I looked up at him and thanked him.

He was unlike the rest of the group of centaurs I saw with James and Sirius, he looked younger and smaller, probably on the teenage side of his age, but still bulky enough to carry all of us. He had white-blonde hair and despite leaving in the wild, his hair looked really stunning like those celebrity you see having unrealistic hair in a shampoo commercial. He had shiny gold coat for his horse body that just makes him more of a stud. He probably makes all the girl centaurs go 'Waaaaaa!'

"Anytime, Young Half-Blood," he said to me, and we both knew what kind of half-blood he was referring me as. "This isn't a safe place for you to be in, especially with two younglings by your side and especially not at this time."

"Who are you?" James suddenly piped up. "You're being... nice to us. Not that it's bad, but your friends didn't really inspire a friendly welcoming."

"My name is Firenze," he introduced us, "and you must excuse my pack. We are territorial in nature. The Hogwarts Headmaster from long ago had accepted this plane as our home, so we don't take unwanted visitors too kindly."

"So, I'm guessing us coming here is like having kids barging into our own houses without a care in the world." I surmised.

"In your point of view, yes."

James and Sirius looked abashed from what their action could be considered, at least the centaurs were civil. Gods forbid if they had been chased by a herd of Hodags. Sirius suddenly perked up and took a step beside me, "The Will 'o Wisp though, what do you know about them? There was even a ghost...and the fire suddenly appeared...and YOU!" Sirius suddenly pointed at me, much to my surprise. "You, you just came out of nowhere with your sword - wait... YOU DO HAVE A SWORD!"

"This is the thanks I get from saving your wizarding butt? You're welcome just so you know." Before they could ask me further, I turned to Firenze to ask the question that really matters. "Had this been going on for long? The Wisps and that ghost hanging around in the middle of the forest?"

Firenze's face turned downcast, biting his lips as if unsure what he should say to me. He looked up at the sky, only the starry sky lighted the moonless night. His blue eyes glazed over them as if searching for guidance or an answer of some sort. "Mars is bright tonight," he finally said.

Well, that was random. "What?" the three of us responded together.

He looked down back at me, "The Wisps has been here for months, it was decided that we would not aid nor inform anyone about its existence in the forest."

"Even when it obviously caused people to get hurt?" James pointed out, an angry undertone made its way from his words.

"You must understand we're just as vulnerable to the Wisps effect as everyone else. The Wisp kept us from even coming closer to the ghost."

"Wait, won't you be in danger now? Telling us all this," Sirius pointed out.

A resigned sort of smile made its way to his lips, and as if on cue, the bush and leaves rustled, and we all turned to find another centaur popped out. My stance returned and curled my hand around the sword tightly as the one I recognized as the leader came out.

He took one look at the scene and saying he wasn't happy is an understatement, "Firenze, what did you tell them, surely you have not tried to defy the heavens? You know what must come."

"No, Bane, but I must confess that I told them where the Foolish Fire are nesting."

"Are you mad, Firenze?!" the one called Bane said, "Are you trying to endanger us, you Fool?!"

"It has seen me rescued the Youngling, and I would not live up to my honor if my fear let them get endangered!"

Bane didn't have a retort for that, they exchanged hard gaze with one another, even though Firenze looked smaller compared to his leader, he didn't let himself be intimidated, and I mentally applaud for him.

Bane turned his gaze to us three, and we all gulped in synch. "I would have offered a warning to those three," he began to say, "but you humans are lucky because I will only address to you, Half-Blood; that this incident will be on your shoulder and so you are not welcome in this forest. If I ever see you set foot here again. I will not give you mercy just because of your age."

He then turned his back and walking deeper into the forest, until not even his shadow remains.

Once he was indeed well gone, Firenze looked back at us with a solemn look, "You must go, the forest hides dangers as many as their secret."

With those cryptic last words, he followed Bane into the darkness and disappeared.

Silently, the three of us agreed that it had been a long day and decided to go back to meet our own bed. There were many questions left unanswered tonight and don't get me wrong, James and Sirius were persistent with their questioning with me, but unlike me, they weren't used to running for their lives. Hence, they were easily tired. I managed to direct their focus to the image of our respective comforting dorm. But what I couldn't get out of my head was the words he uttered as he looked up at the sky.

'Mars is bright tonight.'

It shouldn't have bothered me. But it did. Maybe because of all planets Firenze chose to say, it had to be Mars. The Roman name of Ares, the god of wars.

And to me, those were forbidding words that sounded more like 'War is coming. '

I just really, really hope I'm wrong about this.