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Chapter Seven

The Capture of A Goddess

The council was held around a Ping-Pong table in the rec room. Dionysus waved his hand and supplied snacks: Cheez Whiz, crackers, and several bottles of red wine. Then Chiron reminded him that wine was against his restrictions and that most of us were underage. Mr. D sighed in annoyance. With a snap of his fingers the wine turned to Diet Coke. Nobody drank that either.

Mr. D and Chiron (in his wheelchair form) sat at one end of the table. Zoe and Bianca di'Angelo (who seemed to have become Zoe's personal assistant) took the other end, in Ana's typical spot at the top of the table, causing resentment to rise in me at their audacity and self-importance.

Thalia and Grover and I sat along the right, and the other year-round head councillors—Beckendorf, Silena, and Lee Fletcher of Apollo—sat on the left. The Ares kids were supposed to send a representative, too, but all of them had gotten broken limbs during capture the flag, courtesy of the Hunters. They were resting up in the infirmary.

Zoe started the meeting off. "This is pointless."

"Cheez Whiz!" Grover gasped. He began scooping up crackers and Ping-Pong balls and spraying them with topping. He stopped sheepishly at the irritated glances he received from everybody.

"There is no time for talk," Zoe continued. "Our goddess needs us. The Hunters must leave immediately."

"And go where?" Chiron asked.

"West!" Bianca said, any former timidness already erased despite only a few days of being with the Hunters, her skin glowing silver like her sisters' all did. "You heard the prophecy. Five shall go west to the goddess in chains. We can get five hunters and go."

"Except that the prophecy was given to me," I pointed out coldly. "I'm supposed to lead this mission, and it's to get back both Artemis and Ana, who is also quite important, or am I the only one who remembers that she might still be the Child of the Great Prophecy?"

I shot Thalia an apologetic look as I said that, just in case, but she was calm. I thought we had made up for earlier, because she was resting a hand on my knee in comfort under the table.

Zoe glowered at me, and opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Thalia before she could.

"And anyway, Zoe, you're missing something, as usual," Thalia said, drumming her fingers on the table irritably. "The prophecy said that Campers and Hunters combined prevail. We're supposed to do this together."

"No!" Zoe cried. "The Hunters do not need thy help."

"Your" Thalia grumbled. "Nobody has said thy in, like, three hundred years, Zoe. Get with the times."

Zoe hesitated, like she was trying to form the word correctly. "Yerrr," she pronounced awkwardly. "We do not need yerrr help."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Oh, forget it."

"I fear that the Oracle was clear on the whole thing," Chiron said, trying to be diplomatic and keep us from actually using the weapons that we were all touching. "Campers and Hunters must cooperate, under Luke's leadership."

"Or do they?" Mr. D mused, swirling his Diet Coke under his nose like it had a fine bouquet. "One shall be lost. One shall perish. That sounds rather nasty, doesn't it? What if you fail because you try to cooperate, and the Hunters lose their tempers with the boy?"

"Mr. D," Chiron sighed, his exhaustion at the events of the past twenty-four hours slipping into his frustrated tone. "With all due respect, whose side are you on?"

Dionysus raised his eyebrows. "Sorry, my dear centaur. Just trying to be helpful."

"We must not delay," Chiron warned. "Today is Sunday. This very Friday, December twenty-first, is the winter solstice."

"Oh, joy," Dionysus muttered. "Another dull annual meeting."

"Artemis must be present at the solstice," Zoe nodded. "She has been one of the most vocal on the council arguing for action against Kronos' minions. If she is absent, the gods will simply debate and end up deciding nothing. We will lose yet another year of preparing for war."

"Are you suggesting that the gods have trouble acting together, young lady?" Dionysus asked.

"Yes, Lord Dionysus."

Mr. D nodded. "Just checking. You're right, of course. Carry on."

"I must agree with Zoe," said Chiron. "Artemis' presence at the winter council is absolutely critical, and finding Ana before the Titans can do anything to force her to help them is also vital. We have only a week to find them both. And possibly even more important: to locate the monster that Artemis was hunting. Now, we must decide who goes on this quest. Luke, who-?"

"I'll take Zoe, and she can choose another Hunter to come with us," I announced. Chiron's comment about Ana being forced to cooperate with the Titans had disturbed me. What did he think that they would do to her?

"They'll be the Hunter reps. Thalia and Grover are the others from here. Thalia is the most powerful demigod we have at the moment, and Grover's empathy link with Ana might help us track down where they're being held. Everybody be ready to leave at dawn. This meeting is over."

With that, I turned and stalked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me, and hurrying back to Ana's cabin to avoid being accosted by any angry Hunters. They wouldn't think to look for me there, and no one else would dare to tempt Poseidon's wrath by entering his cabin. I could sulk there until it was time to go to bed.

Except, of course, I forgot something. Chiron knew everything. He came into the cabin while I was flicking through the photo album that Silena, Katie and Lou Ellen had made Ana for her birthday last August. I was looking at a photo of Ana and I on the Fourth of July when he came. She was wearing a blue bikini, her brunette waves pulled out of her face and into a half-plait, and her eyes sparkled with happiness as she leaned into me and the fireworks display went off. Seeing her so light-hearted for once hurt when I compared it to her in my dream.

"I thought that I would find you in here," he murmured as he wheeled himself in and parked beside me. I glanced tiredly at him.

"Any tips on how to survive this mess?" I asked bluntly, not up to dancing around the topic. He sighed, looking down at the photo himself. Pain flashed over his expression as he gazed at photo Ana's happy expression. It was a rare sight to see her so cheerful and bright.

"Luke, I don't pretend to understand prophecies."

"Yeah," I shrugged grumpily as I remembered my first prophecy, and how the Oracle had rambled on about making a choice that would decide the fate of the world. I sure as Hades couldn't remember making any such decisions. All I had done was steal an apple and get a scar on my face. Nothing world-altering in repeating someone else's actions. "Well, maybe that's because they don't make any sense."

Chiron gazed at the saltwater spring gurgling in the corner of the room. "Thalia would not have been my first choice to go on this quest. She's too impetuous. She acts without thinking. She is too sure of herself."

"She's a good fighter," I snapped defensively. Chiron turned back to me, nodding.

"Yes, she is," he agreed. "But her fatal flaw is dangerous. You must keep an eye out for it."

I grimaced, hating to know that he was right about that. After all, power-hunger was a dangerous thing.

"Who do you think is better suited for the Great Prophecy?" I asked suddenly. "Ana or Thalia?"

"They are both very alike," Chiron mused thoughtfully. "However, Ana is humble, and cares far more about people and the effects of her actions on those who surround than Thalia does. Ana doesn't want power, she wants peace."

So, Ana then. Like what I thought, even if I'd never say that aloud to Thalia. I didn't speak, and Chiron eventually turned back to me.

"Try to get along with the Hunters," he begged. "It is vital, if your mission is to succeed. I know that it's difficult, but Zoe does have a reason to distrust men so much. She is a good person at heart."

"Yeah," I scoffed. "I'm sure. But not all males should be judged by the actions of one asshole."

He inclined his head in acknowledgment. "That is true," he conceded. "But for Ana's sake, try to cooperate."

He had me there. I'd do anything for Ana.

Chiron turned and started to wheel himself out of the cabin. "Go to your cabin and get some sleep, Luke," he ordered over his shoulder. "You have an early start tomorrow. And, ah, for what it's worth… I almost volunteered for this quest myself. I would have gone, if not for the last line."

"One shall perish by a parent's hand. Yeah."

I didn't need to ask. I knew that Chiron's father was Kronos, the evil Titan Lord himself. The line would make perfect sense if Chiron went on the quest. Kronos didn't care for anyone, including his own children.

"Chiron," I called, right before he slipped through the door. "You know what this Titan's curse is, don't you?" I had a few ideas, but nothing concrete. What kind of prison made for a Titan could be survived by a demigod, even a child of one of the Big Three?

His face darkened. He made a claw over his heart and pushed outward—an ancient gesture for warding off evil. "Let us hope the prophecy does not mean what I think. Now, good night, Luke."

Reluctantly, I returned to my cabin, and tucked myself into my bunk. My cabin was always stuffed with kids, even during the school year, but it still seemed strangely quiet as I lay in bed, thinking about the coming quest. I don't remember falling asleep, but I definitely do remember the dream.

I was back in that barren cave, the ceiling heavy and low above me. Ana was in an awkward sort of crouch, like she was worshipping a god in the ancient days, under the weight of a dark mass that looked like a pile of boulders. She was too tired even to moan. Her whole body trembled. At any second, I knew that she would run out of her little remaining strength and the cavern ceiling would collapse on top of her, crushing her and thousands of innocent mortals to death.

"How is our mortal guest?" a male voice boomed.

It wasn't Kronos. Ana had described Kronos' voice as raspy and metallic, like a knife scraped across stone. She 'd shivered at the mere memory of the voice that regularly haunted her dreams. This voice was deeper and lower, like a bass guitar. Its' force made the ground vibrate.

Ethan emerged from the shadows. He walked casually to Ana, knelt beside her to look her over, then looked back at the unseen man. "She's fading," he informed him, not sounding concerned despite his words. "We must hurry."

Damn that bastard and Annabeth both to the deepest, darkest depths of Tartarus itself. Damn them. No more would I let our history influence me. If I ever got the chance, I would kill them both.

The deep voice chuckled. It belonged to someone in the shadows, at the edge of my dream. Then a meaty hand thrust someone forward into the light. It was Artemis, and her hands and feet were bound in celestial bronze chains.

I gasped. Her silvery dress was torn and tattered. Her face and arms were cut in several places, and she was bleeding ichor, the golden blood of the gods.

"You heard the boy," said the man in the shadows. "Decide!"

Artemis' eyes flashed with anger. I cursed the fact that capturing the largest part of a god's essence rendered them powerless.

The goddess looked at Ana and her expression changed to concern and outrage. "How dare you torture a maiden like this!"

"She will die soon," Ethan told her, smirking triumphantly. "You can save her."

Ana made a weak sound of protest. Her head twitched, like she was trying to shake it, but she didn't have the strength. My heart felt like it was being twisted into a knot. I wanted to run to her, but I couldn't move. The dream kept me frozen in place, unable to do anything but watch the living nightmare play out.

"Free my hands," Artemis demanded, her shoulders slumping in resignation.

Ethan brought out his sword out, and with one expert strike, he broke the goddess' handcuffs in half.

Artemis ran to Ana and took the burden from her shoulders. Ana collapsed on the ground and lay there shivering, while Artemis staggered, trying to support the weight of the black rocks.

"M' la'y," Ana whispered. "S'ry."

Artemis shook her head. "You bare no blame for this, young maiden," she assured her as Ana slipped into unconsciousness, the goddess gasping slightly from the weight of whatever she was carrying.

The man in the shadows chuckled. "You are as predictable as you were easy to beat, Artemis."

"You surprised me," the goddess hissed, straining under her burden. "It will not happen again."

"Indeed it will not," the man said. "Now that you are out of the way for good! I knew that you could not resist helping a young maiden. That is, after all, your specialty, my dear."

"You know nothing of mercy, you swine," Artemis groaned bitterly, glaring resentfully at him.

"On that," the man said, "we can agree. Ethan, you may kill the girl now."

"NO!" Artemis and I both yelled. Ethan didn't move however.

"We can't," he informed the other man, grimacing in disappointment. "Lord Kronos demands that she be left alive for the moment. A backup plan, if you will."

Artemis sighed in relief, and I felt my own shoulders slump. Whatever they were going to do was bad, but at least it gave us time.

The man considered. "Then the dracaenae can guard her here. Assuming she does not die from her injuries, and they can keep her alive until winter solstice. After that, if our sacrifice goes as planned, her life will be meaningless. The lives of all mortals will be meaningless. Let them do what they will with her, as long as she lives. Having a child of the Big Three on our side would be a great boon for our side, especially if she is as powerful as she is rumoured to be."

Ethan gathered up Ana's listless body and carried her away from the goddess.

"You will never find the monster you seek," Artemis declared, glaring bitterly at the man. "Your plan will fail. And the girl is loyal. She will not give in."

"How little you know, my young goddess," the man in the shadows replied. "Even now, your darling attendants begin their quest to find you with several supposed heroes, as the half-bloods proclaim themselves to be. They shall play directly into my hands. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a long journey to make. We must greet your Hunters and make sure that their quest is… challenging."

The man's laughter echoed in the darkness, shaking the ground until it seemed the whole cavern ceiling would collapse.

I woke with a start as my wristwatch (one of the many modern items modified by Cabin 9 to be safely used by demigods) buzzed silently. Time to get ready to go.

Careful not to disturb any of my cabinmates, I grabbed my duffel bag, which was waiting, fully packed, on the end of my bed. Not even Travis and Connor would have dared to touch it. Not in the current circumstances.

As I made my way to Half-Blood Hill, I spontaneously went to wander along the beach. I paused for a moment and stared out over the ocean, which was dark and stormy, reflecting its' master's anger. Despite Ana's own beliefs, at moments like this, I could actually believe that Poseidon cared about her, strange though the thought seemed. A god who cared about his mortal child. Who'd of thought?

I spotted something strange in the waves. A sort of cow-serpent cross, splashing happily in the angrily swirling sea. The way it moved almost felt as if it were gesturing at me to follow it. I shook my head, adjusting my bag and turning away to hurry off. We were leaving in ten minutes, and I wouldn't put it past Zoe to go without me, quest leader or not.

Making my way through the camp, I happened to glance at the dining pavilion. I saw a figure—a boy hunkered down behind a Greek column, like he was hiding from someone.

It was Nico, but it wasn't even fully dawn yet. Nowhere near time for breakfast. What was he doing up there and not in bed?

I hesitated. The last thing I wanted was more time for Nico to tell me about his Mythomagic game, especially when I was nearly late due to my detour. But something was wrong. I could tell by the way he was crouching. And I was his counsellor. I had a responsibility to him.

I changed direction and went up to him, without Nico noticing. I was about to ask what he was doing when I spotted Zoe and Bianca. From the angle we were at, they couldn't notice us, but we could clearly see, and hear, the two of them.

"You should tell the others the rest of your dream," Bianca was saying. My eyes narrowed in suspicion. What were the Hunters keeping from us?

"No," Zoe refused. "It would not help."

"But if your suspicions are correct, about the General—"

"I have thy word not to talk about that," Zoe cut her off. She sounded really anguished. "We will find out soon enough. Now come. Dawn is breaking."

Nico scooted out of their way, and I used my Hermes abilities to slip away unseen.

"The lights of the Big House are on," Bianca called as the girls sprinted away from the pavilion. "Hurry!" And Zoe followed her out of the pavilion.

I could tell what Nico was thinking. He took a deep breath and was about to run after his sister when I grabbed his arm, calling out, "Wait."

He almost slipped on the icy steps as he spun around to find me. "Where did you come from?"

"I've been here the whole time," I replied simply. It was only a partial lie.

"How did you know Zoe and your sister were here?" I asked sternly.

He blushed. "I heard them walk by the Hermes cabin. I don't… I don't sleep too well at camp. So I heard footsteps, and them whispering. So I kind of followed."

I felt a twinge of guilt at being so wrapped up in my worries for Ana that I hadn't realized Nico was having more problems than he had been letting on, but didn't say anything about it.

"And now you're thinking about following them on the quest," I guessed instead.

"How did you know that?"

"Because if it was one of my sisters, I'd probably be thinking the same thing. But you can't."

He looked defiant. "Because I'm too young?"

"Yes," I answered honestly, "because you're too young, and inexperienced for this. You remember the manticore? There will be lots more like that. More dangerous. Some of the heroes will die. You wouldn't be a help on this, Nico, you'd be a hindrance, holding us back because we're trying to protect you."

His shoulders sagged at my harsh honesty. He shifted from foot to foot. "Fine," he whispered. "But I need you to promise me something."

I hesitated, because I had a feeling I knew what he wanted, and promising something like that, especially given the prophecy I'd received, was impossible.

"What is it?"

"Promise to keep my sister safe."

Gods, Bianca didn't deserve to have this kid as her brother. "I… that's a big thing to promise, Nico, on a trip like this. I can't—"

"Promise," he insisted.

"I'll do my best," I sighed. "I can promise you that."

"Get going, then!" he urged. "Good luck!"

I turned and used my shoes to fly up to the top of Half-Blood Hill, where everybody was waiting for me, along with one of the camp vans.

"Ready?" I glanced around. They nodded, faces tight with anxiety.

"May the Fates favour you all," Chiron murmured, his expression sorrowful as he watched us pile into the vehicle and drive away.