Hey everyone, welcome to chapter six! Today everyone processes what Cat shared in the last chapter, we get some huge reveals, Nico gets some time to shine and we finally get a glimpse at what he's hiding, Cat has a vulnerable moment, andddd I finally don't end with a cliffhanger!

I'm super excited for this chapter, so I won't keep you any longer. I hope you enjoy it just as much as I do!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Percy Jackson universe, sadly. I'm merely borrowing them to play in my sandbox for a bit! Cat is my very special OC, however, as is Quentin, Episis, and any other odd names you don't remember. Alex and Jane are OC's created by some talented friends of mine.

Percy Jackson

Instantly, the already quiet room was smothered in an oppressive silence, as each person tried to process Cat's words. It lasted only for a second, and it was soon shattered with an explosion of questions and voices filling the air.

Percy alone was completely silent, completely frozen. The world narrowed, all the voices turning into a blurry cacophony of noise. He sat, dazed, unable to compute what his sister- if he could still call her that- had just said. He had just as many questions as the others, but they were silenced by the pure shock filling every corner of his mind. He wanted to speak, to say something, anything, but his mouth refused to comply. Shaking his head dazedly, he tried to clear his mind and process the impossible story Cat had shared. He barely saw Annabeth's concerned glance as he stood. In fact, he barely saw anything. The world was a blur, the sounds and sights a background attraction compared to the emotions screaming for attention in his head. He stumbled slightly as he walked towards the door, pushing it open and stepping into the living room. Somehow he found his way outside and into a porch chair, his head resting in his hands, though he didn't remember placing it there.

When his mind finally cleared and the world came back into sharp focus, he became aware of another presence on the porch. Looking up, he met Nico's level gaze as the other boy stood from his perch opposite him. Percy eyed him cautiously, unsure what to make of his appearance here. As his senses returned to him, he realized his face was uncomfortably wet, and he realized in surprise that he'd been crying. He quickly wiped his face with his sleeve, and returned his attention to Nico.

The dark-eyed boy said nothing, merely extending his hand, his face expressionless. Percy clasped his friend's hand and stood up, hoping Nico hadn't seen too much. Nico turned and made his way back inside, still silent, and Percy followed him. Percy shot Nico a grateful look before he pushed the door open and reentered the room. Immediately, the loud voices of the others assaulted his ears. Evidently he hadn't been outside for too long. Nico returned to his seat, folding his arms calmly as if nothing had happened. Annabeth met Percy's eyes as he sat down, reaching for his hand and squeezing it. He squeezed her hand in return, smiling gently to reassure her. She relaxed and turned back to the conversation, if such noise could be called that.

Leo was the main source of questions, unsurprisingly. The others seemed to have run out of steam, but apparently no one had the energy to quiet Leo. Percy glanced at Annabeth, but she just shrugged.

"I think we're all just using the time to think," she whispered.

"And Leo doesn't think, ever. So he's talking." Percy finished, gaining a hesitant smile as Annabeth leaned back, still holding his hand.

"For the love of all the gods, shut up!" Alex screeched, the sudden noise causing everyone to jump.

Leo stopped talking instantly, his mouth hanging open. He shrank backwards into his chair, away from the fierce glare Alex had fixed on him. "You are completely impossible. None of your questions will be answered if you keep babbling like a toddler! If you have to talk so much, leave the room and do it elsewhere. Spare us the agony of listening to your squeaky half-man voice!"

Percy snorted so hard that he coughed, and he decided right then that he liked the daughter of Hades. Leo shrank even further backwards, seeming to meld with his chair in his attempt to escape Alex.

Annabeth stepped in before Alex found a way to actually meld Leo to the chair, raising her hands in a placating gesture. "Alex is right, Leo. None of your questions will be answered if you just keep talking. Pick one question and ask it." She turned to Alex, who was still glaring fiercely at Leo, obviously trying her best to meld him to the chair through sheer willpower. "Alex, I think you've made your point."

Alex huffed slightly, shooting Leo a final glare before conceding. She settled into her chair, folding her arms calmly as if nothing had happened, practically mimicking Nico. Cat took the opportunity to sit down as well. The crystals she had formed out in the air (which was just one of the things on Percy's 'what in hades' list) shimmered and vanished.

Leo sat upright again, looking cowed but still bursting with questions. He turned to Chiron, an indistinguishable look in his eyes. "Okay, I want to know what you mean by 'quest'. You've said it like nine times, but there hasn't been a prophecy and there's there's no monsters murdering us, no angry gods or big storms, so what's the deal?"

Chiron sighed for about the fifth time that morning, and Percy could see Alex visibly restrain herself from a sarcastic remark. "I had hoped to wait, but yes, a quest. Long ago, during the Titan reign, I was told of an ancient myth. It was one very few believed to be true, even that long ago. Almost all the records had vanished, and the one that remained was fragmented, with unknown origins. It told of Episis, though not by name, and of her daughter, who was supposedly still alive. I thought nothing of it at the time, nor indeed for a very long time, until many years ago. Apollo came to me, telling me to speak with his Oracle. This was at the very beginning of this camp, during the time of Hercules, and so I went. The Oracle told me the daughter of Episis and Chaos would one day come to the camp, and that I must send her on a quest. She said little else, only warning to beware the events that would happen after she arrived. I was shocked, to say the least, but I heeded her warning, remembering the ancient myth, and went on my way."

"After many years with no sign of her, and many other prophecies, heroes, and quests, I mostly forgot the myth and the Oracle's warning. Then the Oracle visited me again in my dreams, telling me the time was nearing, and giving me slightly more insight. She said the child would have no memories, but that a-"

Chiron paused, and Percy noticed Nico shooting him a warning glance. Chiron gave the briefest nod and continued on like nothing had happened. Percy's eyes narrowed as he studied Nico. He could not shake the feeling or ignore the obvious signs that Nico knew a lot more than he was telling. Chiron's voice brought him back to the situation at hand, and Percy added Nico to the growing pile of things he needed to handle later.

"A time would come when she would regain those memories, and that was when I was to send her on her quest. Many years passed again, but this time, I did not forget. Every girl that came to camp, I feared she would be the one. The Oracle warned me several more times and told me what the purpose of the quest was, but nothing more. When Catalia arrived at camp, I suspected she was the one, but the Titan and Giant wars drove it from my mind, though I had a nagging fear the time had come at last. And last night, I was proved right."

Cat's mouth was slightly ajar, and for the first time, it was she who was shocked. Percy found himself angry, and it was a welcome feeling. The anger, however unprovoked and small it may be, burned away the painful knowledge about his sister that he could not come to terms with.

"You mean, all this time, you knew, and you let her wonder about her parentage? You didn't warn either of us, didn't tell us anything! Why?!" Percy knew he was projecting other emotions onto the situation, and forced himself, yet again, to stay calm. Some other time, when he was alone, he would sort through… everything and get it out of his system. But until that time, he needed to keep it together and handle this responsibly.

"No, Percy. I didn't know, I feared. As for why, every time the Oracle spoke to me, she made me swear I would never speak of it until the daughter of Episis had regained her memories." Chiron said, in a patient tone that only served to infuriate Percy further, but he just nodded and quieted. He looked at his sister, but she still wouldn't meet his eyes. Sadness and confusion washed over him again, cooling his short bout of anger.

Annabeth leaned forward, reiterating Leo's unanswered questions. "So… this quest. Is there a prophecy? What are we questing for? Why such a large group? And how do you know who to send with Cat?"

Chiron's gaze grew serious, telling Percy it was truly time for answers now. "Yes, there is a prophecy, but I have not read all of it, but the part I have heard instructs who to send. As for the reminder of your questions, I suspect we will learn the answers, or at least the beginning of the answers, when we read the prophecy."

Cat, who had been oddly silent for the past few minutes, spoke up, the unfamiliar accent still gracing her words. "Where is the prophecy, Chiron? I'm sure we'd all like to hear it." Percy nodded in agreement, and Chiron sighed. Glancing across the table at Alex, Percy held back his laughter at her murderous expression. She looked ready to strangle the centaur if he sighed one more time. Alex raised an eyebrow at Percy, then frowned and turned away.

Chiron gestured to Nico, who was already standing. "Fetch the prophecy, if you please."

With a nod, Nico departed the room in the direction of the attic, the door closing quietly behind him. Deciding this was obvious enough to question Nico's involvement, Percy turned on Chiron, ready to demand answers. But upon meeting his mentor's gaze, he instantly dismissed any notion of asking questions. He had seen the look in Chiron's gaze enough to know when it was futile to question him. The only answer he would receive was a vague promise of answers later on, or a blatantly firm refusal to share whatever secret the two had.

Frustrated, Percy instead focused on his sister, who finally met his eyes. She smiled at him, but it was strained and tired, the polar opposite to her usual carefree grin. Percy finally let himself realize that his little sister… wasn't exactly little. In fact, she was thousands of years older than him. She had a family, an entirely different life, separate from him. Sure, he'd always known she probably had a family, and he'd prepared himself to deal with that. He'd wanted to be happy for her, and celebrate her regained memories. He'd thrown many balled up letters in the trash for years, planning what he'd say when she regained her memories. He'd planned what to say if she had another family or life to return to. He'd written letters full of sweet things to help her if she had terrible trauma in her life. There was a whole backpack full of letters and plans for every situation he could think of. But not this. How could you prepare for something like this? How could you prepare for not even knowing your little sister?

As he looked into her eyes, he wondered if the girl he knew was gone. Cat had always seemed so young and innocent, though with wisdom in her eyes he couldn't understand. Being her big brother had given him a purpose, someone to protect and care for. Someone to fight for. But now, all that was gone. She had lived lifetimes, and now that she remembered that, she likely wouldn't have any need for him. If he was honest with himself, she probably didn't even care about him. What was eight years compared to eight millennia? She was practically a goddess, and gods had no need for mortals. Finally, he tore his gaze away, praying to every god he could think of that last night wouldn't be the last time he had a little sister.

Nico di Angelo

Climbing the stairs to the attic, Nico allowed a rare smile to cross his face, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. And it was true, a burden had been lifted, at long last. For years, he had watched Catalia, wondering if she would ever remember, and if she did, if she would remember him. He remembered the last night in the garden as if it were yesterday.

Nico was lying on the soft green grass, laughing as she spun crystals through the air, creating soldiers and monsters battling through the rustling leaves. He clapped excitedly as the greatest hero turned bravely to face the charging monster, his sword raised high and shield discarded next to him. After a great battle, the monster fell to his knees as the battle-weary hero pulled his sword free and raised it high in victory. Nico cheered, clapping again as she made all the figures bow before the crystals swirled back to rest on one of the glimmering trees. He sat upright as she joined him on the grass, his smile fading as he saw her expression.

She warned him that she might lose her memories of them, even once she regained all the others. His eyes welled up, and he realized she was saying goodbye, and he was losing his friend. He knew this was coming, but he'd hoped they still had time. She smiled sadly, and wrapped her arms around him in a final hug. She pulled back, whispering her final goodbye, words Nico would remember for years afterwards. Then she blinked, a strange expression crossing her face, and Nico knew it was time. The garden, and all its beautiful scenery, seemed to melt and shatter around them, somehow peaceful and chaotic all at once. Nico reached out his hand, begging her to stay, but he knew she couldn't. She smiled again, and the ground under her feet shattered. Before he could say goodbye, she fell, eyes closed and her colorful hair flowing as she drifted down towards the earth. Nico woke up before she'd landed, but she'd reassured him that it wouldn't hurt.

He'd been so young then, more like a little brother to her than a friend. He hadn't truly understood what those dreams meant until he was much older, when he finally realized the role he had been given. Sometimes, he'd wondered if they were just dreams, figments of his imagination and nothing more. But those thoughts had vanished the second he found her. He hadn't recognized her when he'd first arrived at camp - she'd looked so different, so much younger. He'd been so angry at life, and the dreams had been shoved aside as fake. It wasn't until he'd returned from the whole labyrinth fiasco that he'd realized she was there. It had been agony, keeping the secret for years, and there had been many times when he wanted to blurt it all out to her, tell her the truth, but he had stopped himself each time. The need to keep that secret was yet another reason he had chosen not to stay at camp.

A loud crash snapped him out of his thoughts and back to the present, reminding him that he had a job to complete. Nico picked up the book he'd knocked to the ground, shaking his head to clear his mind. He looked around the attic, trying to recall where the scroll of parchment was hidden. He hadn't been up here for a year, but Chiron had seared the nook where it lay into his brain.

"Aha. There you are." He muttered, retrieving the prophecy from a vase full of dead flowers, wrinkling his nose at the smell. Not wanting to linger in the vaguely creepy attic any longer, he hurried back down the ladder and returned to the game room, handing Chiron the prophecy and returning to his seat. As he passed Catalia, he met her eyes, hoping for a spark of recognition, but as always, she just smiled at him.

Chiron cleared his throat and unrolled the scroll, coughing a little as dust rose up. Nico leaned forward eagerly, having waited years to hear the prophecy. Despite his numerous attempts, Chiron had forbidden him from even touching it until the time came.

"Seven members across seas and skies

Fire and flame, a void of darkness and pain.

A vengeful power waits to rise,

Eternal flame burns the rain."

Chiron paused for a second, looking at the apprehensive faces before him. Meeting Catalia's eyes with a grave look, he went on to the next stanza.

"Episis' heir faces a losing battle alone,

Daughter of the Earthshaker, locked in stone.

Son of fire trapped in flame,

Wisdom's queen without shame.

Hero of past destroyed by demons of old,

Children of death harbor secrets never told."

Chiron paused again, catching his breath and collecting his thoughts. Nico looked up and met Alex's eyes, wondering what secrets she kept hidden behind her mask of indifference. The line regarding him and Alex was the only part of the prophecy that made sense to him. As prophecies tend to do, the ominous words had already raised more questions than they answered. Sighing, Nico turned back to Chiron as he read the last stanza, slightly surprised at the length of the prophecy.

"These must save the living and the dead.

On the anniversary he rises again.

The sky shall fall and all will perish,

Lest his vengeance is stopped.

Beginning and end together bonded,

Victory won only through loss.

Only then will the world be saved."

Chiron's last words rang in the air, leaving Nico's mind swirling with a whole host of questions. He wasn't really sure what he had expected, but it certainly wasn't that.

"Woah…" Leo whispered, sounding uncharacteristically worried. "I gotta admit, I have no clue what any of that means...but it doesn't sound good." Nico nodded in agreement. The last stanza had stuck the most, ringing a bell in his mind. The answer was just at the edge of his mind, but try as he might, he couldn't discern it.

Catalia stood up before anyone else could speak, her face rigid and eyes blazing. Chiron flinched the slightest bit as she confronted him, but stood his ground.

"You knew. You knew for eight years what I would have to face if you were right. You knew, and you didn't warn me! Not a single word, not even a cryptic look! No, you just left me wondering about my family. Wondering if someone even wanted me. You just sat there and watched all my memories come back. And then you just casually drop this on me!?" She spat, her voice trembling with barely controlled fury. Nico's full attention was on Catalia, watching apprehensively. Apparently, she knew what the cryptic words meant… and it wasn't good.

Chiron spoke gently, laying his hand on her shoulder. "I wish I could have, my dear. I am sorry that you must face him again, but know you will not be alone." His words were kind, but did nothing to dampen her hot fury. Nico watched, more than a little shocked at her reaction. He'd never seen her this angry, and he suspected she was turning fear of their unknown enemy into anger. From experience, he knew the brief respite wouldn't last long. The rush of anger would cool, and the buried emotions would return, even stronger than before.

Catalia pulled away from Chiron, anger and pain twisting her face. The old centaur seemed startled, but he made no move to stop her as she ran from the room.

"What the heck was that?" Percy asked Chiron incredulously. "Why did she blow up? Who is he? Why does she have to face him? What does the prophecy mean?" Nico glanced out the window, watching his friend's figure vanish behind the circle of cabins towards the woods.

Chiron heaved another sigh. Nico, feeling movement beside him, turned his attention back to the conversation at hand. Nico grabbed Alex's arm as she half rose from her chair, pulling her back down with a slight smirk. Evidently Chiron had sighed one too many times.

"Your sister knows what the prophecy means, at least a part of it. I will explain what she is aware of- only if you all promise to stay under control." His stern tone left no room for argument, and Percy nodded stiffly, the others following suit. "Good. The prophecy, among other things, warns that her father is rising again. Unless he is stopped, Chaos's vengeance will consume the world. That is your quest."

Nico froze, horror chilling his veins. Gaea was one thing… Chaos? He was a whole other level - an immeasurable and impossible level. The gears in his mind slowly turned as he realized what that meant for Catalia. He jumped to his feet, making up his mind. Helpful things would be discussed and learned if he stayed here, but he would not abandon his oldest friend to face her emotions alone.

Chiron glanced at Nico, nodding his head briefly before turning his attention back to Percy. Released from the meeting, Nico followed after his friend, running towards the forest. He let the physical excursion and his worry flood his mind, blocking out all other thoughts. Later, he would deal with the impossible quest that had been shoved upon him and the others. Right now, he was fulfilling his promise and helping the girl he'd sworn to protect.

Cat Jackson

No. No. No. I must be wrong. I have to be wrong. Gods, let me be wrong. Not him. Anything but him. Tartarus would be easier, for pity's sake!

The words running through her mind were also coming in whispered gasps from her mouth, although unintentional. She knew she was going into shock, and likely a panic attack, but there was nothing she could do but try to drown the emotions with denial. Chiron's words had struck her like a bullet, ripping through her barriers and breaking the dam around her heart. She couldn't stop the memories she'd regained from playing again and again in her head, reminding her over and over how terrible her so-called father was - is. She wished she didn't remember any of this - wished she could erase the memories of black waves of pure rage ripping through the world. She remembered the screams, the horror, and the destruction. The terror of Chaos slamming his power against her mother's protective walls again, and again, and again. But even worse than the actual event was the agony she'd felt afterwards, knowing that she alone, out of the entire world, was alive.

She sucked in a trembling breath, trying desperately to calm herself. This was the second time in less than twenty-four hours that she'd cried her heart out - the first being last night after the claiming.

Footsteps crunched through the leaves near her, startling her from her thoughts. Cracking her eyes open she scanned the trees around her, blinking hot tears out of her eyes as they spilled down her cheeks.

Nico appeared a few seconds later, jogging towards her, his face set in grim lines. Cat scrubbed her face hurriedly, trying to erase any trace of her tears before she faced her friend. It was in vain, and she knew her face would still be red and blotchy, her eyes bloodshot, and her sweatshirt covered in tear stains. Sliding down from the tree she had perched herself in, she dusted her legs off and stood. Nico stopped in front of her, but she avoided his gaze, staring determinedly at her hands as she picked at her fingers.

Gentle hands enclosed hers, and she found herself enveloped in a hug. She stiffened in surprise at the gesture, unsure how to respond. Coming from Nico, a hug was the last thing she'd expected. Slowly, she relaxed into his slightly awkward and stiff hug, her eyes flooding anew with tears. She disentangled her arms from the uncomfortable position they were trapped in, wrapping them as best she could around his back and squeezing tightly. Cat stood in the awkward hug for several minutes, sniffling quietly into his shoulder. Finally, they separated, and she met his concerned eyes with one last hiccupping sob.

"It'll be okay." Nico said quietly.

Cat could barely contain a heaving sob at his words, and she looked down at the ground to hide her tears. The simple words told her everything she needed to hear. They were a reassurance, an encouragement, and an acknowledgement of what lay ahead of them. But most importantly, it was a promise that this time, she wouldn't be alone.

Credit: A massive thank you to my wonderful beta, StarOfOlympus for the help and encouragement on this entire story. I couldn't have done this without you!

Ta-da! I hope you enjoyed it! Now I'm going to get back to frantically editing chapter seven, I've gotten behind on my work. Please leave a review and let me know all your thoughts, it would make my day! See you next Wednesday :)