Chapter 4

A New Prophecy

Annabeth was very happy to see Jason and Piper finally arriving at the Camp. As they arrived shortly after lunch they were able to sit down at the currently unlit campfire and chat a little bit.

„We thought you would arrive yesterday.", Annabeth said. „We stopped by at Camp Jupiter.", Piper answered. „You know they are recreating these prophecy books. Well there was one for our millenia, so they just asked us to stay as they were almost done with it. We already went through the prophecies on the way here." Piper pulled out a whole bunch of paper. While she was trying to find the right pages Jason continued. „We already found all the prophecies related to the war against the Titans and Gaea. Sadly, they are not in any real order exept we know they will happen or had happened in this millenia." „Here we go...", Piper said, holding up a different looking sheet of paper. „Most of the prophecies are smaller ones that dont seem too related tot he end of the world. Like here is something about the god of swiss cheese being attacked. But one of them sounded very bad, but as I said, these prophecies can happen in like nine days or 900 years."

„Oh come on, Piper. Read it out!" Piper cleared her throat.

„The Darkness is free

He´ll fall upon humanity,

Son of him will arrive

Ending Darkness and bring light

Will be the one the enemy fears the least of all

If they fail the gods will fall."

Everybody went pale exept for Piper and Jason, who said: „As there is no ,Son of Darkness´ i don´t think this will happen any- whys everybody looking so scared?"

„Jason, Piper", Annabeth said, her voice filled with fear. „Would you please follow me?" Ignoring the constant stream of questions they provided Annabeth walked over to Benjamin. „Hey, Ben. That are Jason and Piper." Ben greeted them. „Nice to meet you"

„Jason, Piper, this is Benjamin, the son of Erebos", Annabeth continued. „The greek god of Darkness."

As they once again sat all around the campfire Percy started talking. „I think we should have another hut elder meeting. Now."

Chiron, although being confused at first, quickly realized the importance of this topic. As they all gathered aroung the Ping Pong Table, he started speaking: „Jason and Piper have brought a new prophecy to us. A prophecy regarding Benjamin."

„How do we even know it´s him mentioned in the prophecy?", Clarisse asked. „Well, Clarisse", Percy said. „How many children of Erebos did you meet?" Clarisse went silent.

„I talked to my father yesterday", Nico said. „He told me a bit about Erebos. Mostly all he told me that Erebos is extreamly powerful and that the only thing stopping him from going rampage were Gaea and Tartaros barely being able to hold him between them."

„Didn´t we destroy Gaea´s power by destroying her phisical form?", Jason asked.

„That is what im concerend about. Gaea not holding him in anymore means it´s just a question of time until Erebos gets powerful enough to attack. I talked to my father a bit more and he told me he knew the place it would be easiest for Erebos to go through up to the surface. Its in Miami, Florida." Everyone looked at Chiron for further instructions. „I think we should send a team of three down to Miami. I want one of them to be Ben, so as he´s pretty new I want two more very experienced people." Everyone looked to Percy and Annabeth. She quickly answered: „How about Piper and Jason? They surely would like to go."

„I guess, we could", Jason said. „But we need to talk to Ben about this though"

Annabeth followed them while they searched Ben, finding him in the Hermes hut reading a book. After they told him about the mission he said: „So I´m going to Miami trying to prevent my dad from escaping and litterly destroying the Earth, togheter with these two I have met like an hour ago?"

„Well, … yes."

„Why can´t someone I know a bit better go on this mission too? Like you, or Nico?"

Before Annabeth could say anything Jason said: „How about you, Nico and me? Is that OK for you, Ben?" Ben nodded. „But when are we going?"

„I don´t know we will have to see what to take with us anyway. Also we will have to talk to Nico about this.", Jason said. „Where actually is Nico?"

„I have no idea. I wish he would be here now", Ben said. Suddenly, they heared a sound from the bush next to them. Nico fell out of the bush, cussing. Everbody jumped back. „Were you in that bush all the time?", Annabeth asked. „Or did you just Shadowtravel here?"

„I did nothing", Nico said, clearly annoyed. „I was in my hut when I got brought here. It was Shadowtravel but I wasn´t trying to do that. Also, it didn´t take any energy from me so it wasn´t me."

„I think it was me", Ben said ashamed. „I wanted Nico to be here."

„Nico", Jason asked. „Is it possible to transport other people via Shadowtravel without being near them?"

„Certainly not. Maybe I just Shadowtravelled accidentially or -"

„Well, that´s easy to find out.", Annabeth interrupted. „Ben, try out to get Percy here."

„O-Ok but I can only try", Ben said. Immediatly Percy fell from a tree they were standing next to.

„What the-"

„That´s unbelievable", Nico said. „Ben can transport people by Shadowtravel. I never have seen such a thing. Not even Hades can do something like-"

„I´m not a son of Hades", Ben said.

„Well", Jason told Nico. „We needed you here to ask you if u want to join Ben and me on a mission to Miami."

„Are you sure?", Nico asked. „I´m by far not the strongest companion available."

„First of all", Annabeth said. „Nico, you are extreamly powerful. Second, Ben wished for you to be on the mission."

„Oh-"

Later that day everyone met up at the campfire for a round of Capture the Flag, led by the Athene and the Ares hut. They ended up with the huts of Athene, Poseidon, Hades, Hermes, Apollo and a few more smaller huts against Ares, Zeus, Aphrodite, Hephaistos and the rest.

As the horn announced the beginning of the game Ben stayed close to Annabeth, Percy, Nico and Will, who were tasked with capturing the enemy flag. „We will go around the east, as their defense is weak there – the Hypnos-Kids"

As they ran to the place the Hypnos-Kids were they just saw a ton of sleepy teenagers barely staying awake. „This is too easy…", Annabeth said. „This must be -"

„A trap." Clarisse came out behind them, together with the entire Ares hut, who were now surrounding them.