And here is the next chapter!
Good news! I didn't burn alive, but definitely developed a fever. Let's just say that's not fun.
It took all my power to not hang out with Percy in the days following his claiming. He looked so alone, and everyone was shunning him, but that was the point. Percy had to feel alone right now, and it wouldn't work out if I decided to hang out with him.
I got a newspaper one day and flipped through it, finding a specific article. I hesitated before circling the phone number. I didn't really want to upset him, but…
I dropped the newspaper on his porch and ran off, knowing that he would find it.
I opened my book to the bookmark and read the article at the same time as him. I knew it made him super angry, but I had no choice.
Then the article was finished and I read the next part.
I wadded up the paper and threw it away, then flopped down in my bunk bed in the middle of my empty cabin.
"Lights out," I told myself miserably.
That night, I had my worst dream yet.
I sighed. My time 'relaxing' at camp was about to come to an end. I just needed a good night's sleep tonight.
I was surprised when dreams came to me. And that they weren't the normal kind.
They were the demigod kind.
I was standing at the edge of a pit.
Not just any pit, I realized, this is the entrance to Tartarus!
I backed away from it. This shouldn't be happening.
So… said a cold voice echoing up from the abyss. I shivered, Percy had been right in his description of his voice. You're the one they sent back to try to prevent my rise.
Sent back? I realized what he was saying. Kronos knew. He knew that I wasn't a Seer, and he knew where I was actually from. But how?
I had Luke try to kill you, the voice scraped at my ear, it would have been a mercy compared to what the gods have planned for you.
"No." I said, my voice shaking, "you're wrong."
Am I? Kronos laughed, and I nearly had to cover my ears from the sound, You would be better to die now, in a world where no one knows your name, and have people wonder what the girl who could tell the future knew, than the tortured existence you will lead. My monsters will never stop hunting you down, I'm giving you an out. A chance to go to Elysium and to never have to worry about this again.
I shuddered. I'd already died once, and I didn't want to do it again. But what if he had a point? I was warned that This would be extremely difficult. What if I wasn't up to the task?
"No." I said, "I'm going to beat you. I'll be the reason for your downfall. And when I do, you'll know that you made the biggest mistake of your life underestimating me."
Kronos laughed again, we'll see about that, little mortal. We'll see.
Remember to tell me how I did!