Still reeling from Chiron's unexpected reaction, I frowned and looked towards Jason who had also frozen. "Chiron what are you talking about? Do you know Jason?" But Chiron could barely speak, stammering for a few moments before I cleared my throat then raised my voice. "Chiron! Pull yourself together, what's going on?" I heard his hooves skitter the way Snow's did whenever she was surprised or nervous, but then Chiron recovered himself and invited both myself and Jason inside. Jason seemed like the last thing he wanted to do was follow Chiron, but I nudged him forwards. "It's alright, nothing's going to happen to you. Chiron probably just…I don't know. But I promise no one here is going to hurt you Jason. Just go in, I'll be right there with you." I had no idea what Chiron had been talking about that Jason should be dead, but I wasn't about to let him bolt and run so I ushered him into the Big House and told Snowstorm that she could either wait outside or head out as she pleased. She decided to go graze for a while, leaving me to head inside after Chiron and Jason. I think if I had been anyone else, Chiron would have asked me to leave, but being one of the eldest people at camp and a senior, I guess I had certain privileges. Like listening in on certain conversations.
The moment I stepped inside the Big House, all I could smell were grapes. I switched my vision for sight so that I could see what had happened, only to find a jungle of grapevines growing everywhere as I turned around. They were up the walls, on the ceiling, in the lights, and now there were even dozens of different kind of masks from all kinds of cultures and periods in history, all of them looking straight at me and freaking me out. I hate masks. The Pac-Man arcade game seemed pretty cool though, but most disconcerting of all was the live leopard head that was mounted on the wall above the fireplace and for a moment I didn't realise it was alive until it snarled. Both Jason and I jumped backwards and I gave a shriek, our arms launching to grab at one another as we stared in alarm at the leopard. "Now, Seymour. Jason is a friend. Behave yourself." How Chiron seemed to know that Jason was the one the leopard had a problem with I didn't know, but the thing was creepy and I kind of wanted to throw it on the fire to make it disappear. Clearing my throat awkwardly I let go of Jason as he hastily did the same and I brushed myself down, letting my sight fade again.
"That thing is alive!" Jason announced, like it wasn't already obvious.
"You must excuse the décor. All this was a parting gift from our old director before he was recalled to Mount Olympus. He though it would help us to remember him. Mr D has a strange sense of humour." At this, Jason correctly assumed that Mr D was Dionysus. I listened to Chiron as he started to pour out lemonade, but I heard the glass rattling from where his hand must have been shaking so I smoothly walked on over, avoiding the table and the vines that were starting to crawl across the floor in order to take over with a gentle word to him. I felt his hand come to rest upon my shoulder in thanks as I poured out three glasses of lemonade from the pitcher, measuring it by the sound the liquid made as it rose closer and closer to the top. As I did so, Chiron explained that Seymour had been liberated by Mr D at a garage sale in Long Island since the leopard was Mr D's sacred animal and had been rather miffed that someone had stuffed the leopard's head. He'd given it life, which to me sounded like a really sucky thing because now poor Seymour was stuck living as only a head mounted on a wall when he could have been resting in peace, but then again Mr D had always been a little eccentric in some respects. I dreaded to think what had happened to the previous owner. Having finished pouring out the lemonade I handed one to Chiron then carried both mine and Jason's over to him, and when I handed Jason his glass, I noted with a sense of pride that he seemed impressed, asking me how I'd managed to do it.
"I've been blind a long time, I figured out how to do a lot of stuff. I can only switch to sight for a certain amount of time each day, so I tend to just stay like this. Hope my eyes don't freak you out or anything."
"No, not at all. Sorry if that was insensitive." I grinned, deciding that I liked Jason and couldn't understand why Chiron seemed so nervous. Sipping at my own lemonade, which was always way better than any stuff you could buy in the outside world because it was made here at camp with fresh lemons grown by the satyrs and dryads, I then turned towards Chiron with an expectant look because now Jason wasn't the only one who wanted answers. We all sat down on the leather chairs, though I think I was the only one who actually drank their lemonade as both Chiron and Jason seemed far too at ease to even remember they had a drink. Chiron began by tentatively asking where Jason was from and I turned my head to listen to Jason's response, though I guessed it before he even spoke. "I wish I knew." Called it. However, Jason did tell Chiron what had happened from the very beginning of that day, how he'd woken up on the bus with a bunch of kids he didn't know with no memory at all and the only reason he knew his name was Jason was because that was what Piper and Leo had called him. Neither Chiron nor I spoke or interrupted Jason who was soon on a roll, telling us about the trip to the Grand Canyon and the attack of the storm spirit who had been impersonating a student, how they had fought and Hedge's rather heroic actions to save Leo twice before getting snatched up himself, how Jason had flung himself after Piper and discovered that he could fly before then recalling everything leading to the point where they had plummeted into the camp lake. Once Jason was finished, I felt Chiron's eyes then slip towards me.
"As far as I know, he's not lying. I don't think he's trying to fool us with his loss of memory. I don't sense any deception, just a lot of confusion which is understandable all things considered." Telling Chiron the truth, I then gave Jason what I hoped to be an encouraging smile as Chiron sighed heavily.
"I see." He then directed his words to Jason. "And you must have some questions for me."
"Only one. What did you mean when you said that I should be dead?" Now I leaned forwards with interest because this had been bugging me too.
"My boy, do you know what those marks on your arm mean? The colour of your shirt? Do you remember anything?" Chiron questioned but once again, Jason could only answer no. "Do you know where you are? Do you understand what this place is, and who I am?" This, however, Jason could answer.
"You're Chiron the centaur. I'm guessing you're the same one from the old stories, who used to train the Greek heroes like Hercules. This is a camp for demigods, children of the Olympian gods." Whoever Jason was, he seemed to at least know his ancient history, and as I deliberated on the tattoo I had seen before, I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps, just maybe, that there were more than just the Greek gods out there. I remember Chiron telling me a long time ago that the gods moved with the power of the west, wherever the height of civilisation was, and at some point that had been in Rome. What if they took on Roman personas? Becoming alive when the Romans started to worship them, and when they had kids, they were Roman demigods. Since we Greek heroes existed, it didn't seem too farfetched for Roman ones to exist too. Still listening to the conversation even as my thoughts rattled around in my head, listening as Chiron asked Jason if he believed that the gods still existed. "Yes." Jason responded with unexpected certainty. "I mean, I don't think we should worship them or sacrifice chickens to them or anything, but they're still around because they're a powerful part of civilisation. They move from country to country as the centre of power shifts – like they moved from Ancient Greece to Rome."
"I couldn't have said it better." I started when I heard Chiron suddenly switch to Latin, shocked further still because I could understand him. I hadn't studied Latin in a long time, but I had been able to speak and understand it a lot better than the other campers because it had once been one of my many lessons to make up for the other activities that I couldn't do, so I learned it more than anyone else. Mostly I was surprised I still remembered it. "So you already know the gods are real. You have already been claimed, haven't you?"
"Maybe, I'm not really sure." Now my jaw dropped when I looked at Jason, because he also answered in perfect Latin. "Quis erat…what was that?"
"You know Latin. Most demigods recognise a few phrases, of course. It's in their blood, but not as much as Ancient Greek. None can speak Latin fluently without practice. In fact, Lily here is one of the few present at camp with a higher proficiency than most." To this I offered Jason a greeting in Latin which he naturally returned, though I sensed his further bewilderment and confusion at his own understanding. "I taught your namesake, you know, the original Jason. He had a hard path. I've seen many heroes come and go. Occasionally they have happy endings. Mostly, they don't. It breaks my heart, like losing a child each time one of my pupils dies. But you – you are not like any pupil I've ever taught. Your presence here could be a disaster." Now my brow furrowed as Jason muttered that Chiron must be a really inspiring teacher.
"What do you mean by that, Chiron? What's going on that you're not telling us?"
"Not now, my dear. I promise I shall give you answers, but now is not the right time." Chiron responded to me gently, and out of respect for him I didn't push the issue. "I had hoped that after Percy's success…"
"Percy Jackson, you mean. Annabeth's boyfriend, the one who's missing."
"And Lily's younger brother." Chiron added as I shifted in my seat and struggled not to let my heart clench out of worry. "I hoped that after he succeeded in the Titan War and saved Mount Olympus, we might have some peace. I might be able to enjoy one final triumph, a happy ending, and perhaps retire quietly. I should have known better. The last chapter approaches, just as it did before. The worst is yet to come." All warmth drained away from me then as I clenched up, flashbacks hitting me all at once of the war and my time trapped under Kronos's command which caused me to veer forwards and almost vomit. It still made me sick just thinking about it, and the nightmares just wouldn't go away. Almost every night I saw those horrific golden eyes and heard that cold, grating voice that seemed to permanently haunt my own mind. My reaction was so sudden and strong that both Chiron and Jason moved towards me, Jason's hands going to my shoulder and back as I struggled to hold back the bile that had jumped into my mouth, swallowing it away.
"I'm fine…I'm fine…"
"I apologise, Lily. I should not have mentioned it." Chiron said to me softly and poured me some more lemonade, as if knowing that I needed something to wash out the taste of bile from my mouth. Jason asked what was wrong with me, to which Chiron rested his hand upon my head as I stayed hunched over for a little while to recover myself and suppress the memories of a time that I so wished I could forget. "A lot of sacrifices were made in the war, and none sacrificed more than Lily. I will say nothing more of it now as it is her business. Lily? Lily dear, can you sit up yet? Shall I ask for someone to take you back to your cabin to rest?" Stubbornly I shook my head, grasping hold of Chiron's arm to give it a strong squeeze so that he knew I was alright.
"No, I'm okay now. It just…hits me all at once sometimes." Waving both of them off, I chugged down the fresh glass of lemonade then set it aside. "You were saying something about the end of the world and something worse than the Titans?" Judging by the feeling I was getting from Chiron, I knew he didn't believe me when I said I was fine, but thankfully Jason jumped in then and asked if Chiron would go back to the part where he was supposed to be dead, and I was rather grateful that he did because it meant now Chiron was distracted from me. I wonder if Jason did that on purpose? I like the guy more and more.
"I'm afraid I can't explain, my boy. I swore on the River Styx, and on all things sacred that I would never…but you're here, in violation of the same oath. That, too, should not be possible. I don't understand. Who would've done such a thing? Who…?" Just then Seymour started to howl and I was suddenly bombarded with a tingling sensation that felt like something was rattling me from the inside out which caused me to grasp at the armrest of the chair as Chiron continued speaking, but next thing we knew, Jason was up on his feet and had his sword drawn which naturally mad me rise up as well, my hand darting for Amaryllis. "…would dare bring you here?"
"Probably the lady in the mist." Jason offered, and seeing that I sensed no hostility from him, I let my hand drop from my Amaryllis charm as Chiron's voice lifted with surprise.
"Weren't you just sitting…why do you have a sword drawn?"
"I hate to tell you this, but I think your leopard just ate a goddess." From over the fireplace, Seymour gave another cough like he'd just swallowed some dust. "Time seemed to stop just now and someone appeared, a woman in dark robes and a goatskin cloak though her face was hooded so I couldn't see it. She said that she was my patron, and that she wanted me to free her from some prison or other. She said that she was the one that brought me here. She also said that I belonged to her because my father gave me to her, and that I was named after her favourite mortal or something. I think she was the one who took my memories, because she said unless I release her, I wouldn't be able to get them back. I have until sunset on the solstice to free her, otherwise I won't ever get my memory back. That's in four days."
"Oh dear, that does explain a lot."
"Then why don't you explain a lot to me? Please." He added as an afterthought, however I began to sense some people urgently running towards the house so I gave Chiron a warning, and a few moments later two people burst inside and, judging from the scraping sound of boots against the floor, I guessed they were dragging someone inside. I activated my sight and saw Annabeth with Rachel supporting Piper, who was completely out of it as Jason leaped to his feet. "What happened? What's wrong with her?" He sounded immensely worried, grasping at Piper and helping to support her as I too got up to move closer and see what was wrong.
"Hera's cabin. Vision. Bad." Annabeth managed to croak out, out of breath from the running so I hurried to pour out more drinks of lemonade because she sounded like she needed it, Rachel too, and maybe something sugary would bring Piper back around as Rachel sniffed with a tearful voice.
"I think…I think I may have killed her."
"Oh don't be silly, I'm sure she's just out of it." I tried to console her, helping Jason lift Piper up and set her on the couch so that she was vertical and placed a pillow under her head. I held her slightly upright before settling her though, trickling a little lemonade into her mouth and Piper managed to move her lips and her tongue poked out in response to the sweetened liquid, so I smiled. "You see? Just knocked out. She'll be fine once we get some nectar or ambrosia into her. Don't panic Rachel. You too Jason. Chill out." This was all well and good but Jason seemed incapable of calming down, calling Piper's name and trying to wake her up but she remained unresponsive except when I fed her little drops of lemonade. It meant she wasn't dead, at the very least. Chiron did not make the situation any better when he came closer and placed his hand upon Piper's brow, grimacing and informing us all that her mind was in a fragile state before then asking Rachel what had happened.
"I wish I knew. As soon as I got to camp, I had a premonition about Hera's cabin. I went inside. Annabeth and Piper came in while I was there we talked, and then – I just blanked out. Annabeth said I spoke in a different voice." Both Chiron and I immediately asked if it was a prophecy. "No, the Spirit of Delphi comes from within. I know how that feels. This was like long distance, a power trying to speak through me." This did not settle any of us as Annabeth returned with the medical supplies which I promptly took off her to start taking care of Piper as she turned to Chiron.
"Chiron, what happened back there – I've never seen anything like it. I've heard Rachel's prophecy voice. This was different. She sounded like an older woman. She grabbed Piper's shoulders and told her…"
"To free her from a prison?" Jason guessed, causing both Rachel and Annabeth to stare at him openly. Chiron suggested that Jason explain to the others what he had experienced when Annabeth questioned how he had known that, so Jason once again recollected what had had experienced not too long ago. Judging from the timing, it must have been simultaneous. Holding Piper's head still, Chiron dripped a few drops of the healing liquid into her mouth for her to swallow as I brushed at her hair lightly, focusing more on Piper than worrying about some goddess who was hijacking our Oracle and the newcomer to send out messages. "So does this happen often? Supernatural phone calls from convicts demanding you bust them out of jail?"
"Your patron, not your godly parent?" Annabeth ascertained, ignoring Jason's question.
"No, she said patron. She also said my dad had given her my life." I remembered then why I had initially hated the gods so much, and a pang of that old hatred came back a little. I really hated the way they messed with our lives, like it's our fault we were born.
"I've never heard of anything like that before. You said the storm spirit on the skywalk – he claimed to be working for some mistress who was giving him orders, right? Could it be this woman you saw, messing with your mind?" This was a good question and we all looked at Jason expectantly, but whatever was going on, he seemed to feel that this wasn't it.
"I don't think so. If she were my enemy, why would she be asking for my help? She's imprisoned. She's worried about some enemy getting more powerful. Something about a kind rising from the earth on the solstice…" Chiron had to reassure Annabeth that this wasn't a reference to Kronos, and I too had felt that same pang of fear to think of Kronos rising again, mostly because the first person he would probably aim to kill would be me, and it would not have been a quick death. Our teacher tried to persuade us to leave this for now because Piper needed her rest, but Jason was adamant to get the answers he wanted, growing frustrated since very little was probably actually making any sense to him. It was Rachel who determined the culprit behind the hidden message, suddenly realising that it must have been Hera who had contacted both Rachel and Jason since it had been in her cabin, it had been her voice, which meant that Hera who was the one demanding help. Wonderful. "I think Rachel's right. The woman did seem like a goddess, and she wore this – this goatskin cloak. That's a symbol of Juno, isn't it?"
"It is? I've never heard of that." I could hear the contempt in Annabeth's voice.
"Of Juno, Hera's Roman aspect, in her most warlike state. The goatskin cloak was a symbol of the Roman soldier." None of us knew how Hera had been imprisoned, but Annabeth didn't seem all that cut up about it and even suggested thanking the person who had done it, though Chiron chided her in warning. "Annabeth, she is still one of the Olympians. In many ways, she is the glue that holds the gods' family together. If she truly has been imprisoned and is in danger of destruction, this could shake the foundations of the world. It could unravel the stability of Olympus, which is never great even in the best of times. And if Hera has asked Jason for help…"
"Fine." Annabeth finally snapped. "Well, we know Titans can capture a god, right? Atlas captured Artemis a few years ago. And in older stories, the gods captured each other in traps all the time. But something worse than a Titan…?" Jason then announced that Hera had told him that she had been trying to break through her prison bonds for a month, making Annabeth look up. "Which is how long Olympus has been closed. So the gods must know something bad is going on."
"But why use her energy to send me here? She wiped my memory, plopped me into the Wilderness School field trip and sent you a dream vision to come pick me up. Why am I so important? Why not just send up an emergency flare to the other gods – let them know where she is so they can bust her out?" It was Rachel who answered, explaining that the gods couldn't interfere too much in the mortal world and that's why they needed heroes to kind of do all the leg work for them, though although Annabeth agreed this was true, she couldn't understand why choose Jason and why take his memory?
"And Piper's involved somehow. Hera sent her the same message – Free me. And, Annabeth, this must have something to do with Percy's disappearing."
"I wonder…" I began to speak, staring intently at Jason as my mind whirled like a whirlpool in my head. "I wonder if they switched places. What if Hera had grabbed Percy, our greatest hero, and switch him with Jason, who is clearly not a stranger to monsters or fighting. Wherever you came from, I'd bet you were also a hero there, probably the best, and that's why you were chosen. More to the point, you're supposed to be Hera's champion since she's your patron. It's probably expected of you to go rescue her." Nothing more was really brought to light after this because we had nothing else to work with, and Rachel wasn't giving us any prophecies or quests to work with, so all we could do was wait for Piper to wake up and hope maybe she had some more answers. I left before anyone else with a murmur to Chiron that I needed some air. There was a lot to take in and think about, so I left the Big House and made my way down towards the beach where the scent of the ocean always calmed me down. It no longer terrified me as it once did, and as I sat down to think, I left the sound of the waves roll over me. Whatever was coming for us next, I was prepared to do whatever it took to find Percy and bring him home safely, and also protect everyone here at camp. I didn't know what could be worse than a Titan War, and I really didn't want to know, but if it was coming, then I had to be prepared. After all, this was what it meant to be a hero. Right?