CHAPTER 5: The Prophecy

June 13th, 1995

Dear Diary,

I'm going to leave Camp Half-Blood. The quest that Aphrodite sent me on will be my last. I refuse to be a pawn in her affairs and the lies she tells to Hephaestus and the trivial rivalry between the blacksmith and Ares.

I almost lost my life this time around! My Charmspeak wouldn't work on the celestial bronze automan, the robot almost speared me. Thank the gods Caleb was there to defend me.

I'm scared.

One day Aphrodite will send me on another petty quest to find some 'sacred' shoes or girdle and I might actually be killed by some scrap metal with mobility. I don't want to go down that way. I want to go down like a warrior should; fighting for a good cause.

And Caleb...mom has been pushing me to be malicious toward him. The other cabin mates in Aphrodite play tricks on him because he's from the Hephaestus cabin. They think it's funny. I don't.

I really, really like Caleb. He's my first and only boyfriend and I think that irks mom and my siblings.

"You're a child of Aphrodite plus you're hot and extremely powerful. You shouldn't be wasting it on Him. He's not even special. He's so normal. As an Aphrodite kid, you're in demand, dump Caleb and act like it." Said Avery, my supposed best friend.

I didn't care that Caleb wasn't gifted, he was great at combat and he made such exquisite things for me.

This last quest made me realize I don't have time to be engrossed in petty ideals. I was a spear away from being a kabob and I refuse to go down that way.

So Caleb and I are planning to leave and never come back.

Love Yours Truly,
Mary Tucker

We're all sitting in the Apollo cabin. Percy, Jason and I crowded on my bed. While Nico helps Will pack his stuff up.

"Will, you really need this," Nico says pulling out a rubber chicken and shaking it around.

"Oh my god, yes! You never know when you might need a rubber chicken at college."

Nico rolls his eyes and flings it over his shoulders. "No you don't."

I laugh a little. Watching Nico and Will was one of my favorite things to do. They were so cute.

I was just about to comment on them when the door to the cabin burst open. Rachel is standing there, red hair whipping all over the place and her green eyes glowing bright.

There's green smoke flowing from her mouth and she floats towards us.

"What's going on," I ask Jason as Rachel approaches us.

She doesn't look like herself. Something about her radiates an ancient aura.

"This can't be possible. The power of the oracle was supposed to be lost," Will says hoarsely.

Rachel begins speaking and the room falls silent.

"Five for a quest, a healer at her very best.
To seek Apollo's lost power, lest the world have darkness shower.
Sun, Sea, and Sky will unite, to find the Oracle in one week's time.
Siblings bond will be put to the test, only success can put to rest."

When she's done she collapses on the floor. Percy jumps off the bed and rushes to her side and puts her head in his lap.

"She's bleeding!"

I snap out of my reverie and grab my bag from under my bed. I stick my hand in the bag and pull out two jars of salve and I grab a pillow from my bed. I place it under Rachel's head and part her hair. The cut is deep and it's leaking a lot of blood. I rip my camp shirt off and press it to her head and apply pressure. When I've soaked up enough of the blood I apply the first salve, it stops the bleeding. I apply the second one and it begins to close the cut.

"Jason bring me my bag," I say pointing to the bag with my bloody hand.

He brings it to me and I pull out a roll of gauze. I begin wrapping Rachel's head to protect the healing wound.

"Someone take her to the infirmary."

Nico and Will lift her up and they take her out of the room. I stay there on the floor in Rachel's blood.

I don't even realize I'm talking until I'm finishing my sentence.

"Why would the oracle be lost?"

"It's not the oracle who is lost, but the gift of prophesies. We haven't had real prophecies since Gaea was defeated. Apollo has been quiet for almost 3 years," Percy says.

I feel a hand on my arm and I'm being pulled up from the puddle. A shirt is being thrust over my head and I'm thankful for it.

"You should go shower. When you're out we'll go talk to Chiron," Jason says.

I nod and I walk to the showers shakily.

What was going on?

When I make it to the Big House a meeting has been called. A few kids in purple shirts Id never seen were there. They looked warrior like. One kid was tall and Asian, his arm was wrapped around a darkskinned girl with curly hair and next to him was another girl who was tall and regal with black hair braided over her shoulder.

I take a seat next to Will. I glance around the room and see head counsellors for each cabin in attendance. A blond girl with piercing grey eyes gives me a head nod. I reciprocate.

The table we sit around is a huge ping pong table. Everyone's weapons clutter the table as they mumble to each other.

"Are you okay," Will whispers.

"Yeah. I've just been playing the prophecy over in my head. It doesn't make sense."

He frowns. "It's gonna be okay."

I look him in his eyes and nod. "I hope so."

"Okay lets start this thing," Jason says.

The table quiets down as he stands near Chiron.

"First off; Rachel's okay. She's in the Big House right now recovering. Kayla's with her now. Secondly; yes Rachel had a prophecy."

Everyone breaks into chatter. The blond in front of me scowls as she whispers something to Percy. Percy nods his head and stands up.

"Be quiet. We need to figure out a plan of action. It's obvious we have to go on a quest."

"What's the prophecy," Piper asks.

"Five for a quest, a healer at her very best./To seek Apollo's lost power, lest the world have darkness shower./Sun, Sea, and Sky will unite, to find the Oracle in one week's time./Siblings bond will be put to the test, only success can put to rest."

The room is silent while everyone thinks. The blond girl speaks first.

"It's obvious it's about an Apollo kid."

"It's Will," says one of the twins.

The girl rolls her eyes. "It's a girl."

"Kayla?" The other twin chimes.

Will scoffs. "Kayla is a better archer than healer. I think it's for Christian."

I think I was following the conversation very well until I heard my name.

"Huh?"

I can feel the blond girl scrutinizing me.

"It says a healer at her very best. You're one of the best healers I've ever met and I think everyone can vouch for that," Will states.

There's chatter as everyone agrees. I'd patched up everyone in the room, except the purple kids and the blonde, at least 4 times.

"Sun, Sea and Sky. That's obviously Christian, Percy and Jason," says Clarisse, "but the line about siblings. That's vague."

Piper nods. "That could mean anything. Technically being Greek aren't we all related?"

Leo scoffs. "If that's right I want to be wrong."

"No, I don't think it's about godly siblings. I think it refers to siblings of the same mortal parent," Nico explains.

"So like what," I say concerned.

I think Nico can read my face.

"It means I think you're siblings need to go on the quest as well."

Before I can object someone else is talking.

"But how can we find the oracle when she's already here? And why does everything have to end in darkness or death?!"

"We need to find Delphi and find the power that makes prophecies and it wouldn't be Gods if it wasn't dramatic," the blond girl says.

There's silence at the table.

Chiron speaks. "So it's settled then," he pauses, "Christian, Jason, Percy, Maya and Blaise will complete the quest and be back in one week."

No one objects and I'm angry. I was being volunteered for something I had no interest in and people expected me to drag my brother and sister in it as well. I stand up abruptly and my chair falls back.

"I'm not putting my siblings lives in jeopardy for anyone's quest and I don't appreciate my name being volunteered. I want nothing to do with this."

Before anyone can say anything I leave the room without a backwards glance.

I slam the door of the Big House and walk off the porch. I hear footsteps following me but I ignore them.

My arm is being gripped and I'm being yanked back.

I'm face to face with the grey eyed girl.

"Get off-"

"The way Percy and Jason talk about you and praise you I really thought you were someone that was worthy of the interest they give you, but you're not. Not even a little."

"You don't know me."

"I don't need to know you. You showed me who you truly are back there in the attic. You're a coward."

I yank my arm out of her grasp and shove her. "Who do you think you are?!"

She catches herself before she falls and glared at me.

"I'm Annabeth Chase. Daughter of Athena," she says stoically while raising her hands in a defensive position.

The name rings a bell but I don't care, she's taken it way too far. I raise my hands as well and we're going at it.

No punches are landed anywhere. Every time her fist comes close to my face I dodge her, she does the same.

"You're such a coward," she says attempting to knock me down.

I block a hit for my stomach and laugh. Where did this girl come from? Why did she think for one second she knew me?

"Oh you're, Annabeth; the know it all."

I see anger flare up in her eyes and I feel searing pain on the left side of my face. I stumble and fall down.

"Gonna cry?"

I don't reply. I take her down by her waist and when I'm on top of her I land a few hits to her face. She starts blocking them but that doesn't deter me. I don't care.

I feel strong arms pull me off of her.

I struggle against my captor. Annabeth is bleeding while Jason helps her up.

"Stop Christian," Percy whispers.

I stop struggling and go limp in his arms. He sets me down after a few moments. I can see the dark skinned girl fretting over Annabeth and Piper throwing daggers my way.

"What happened," he says steering me away from the others.

"She called me a coward," I whisper.

"You fought her for calling you a coward?" He looks at me intently and his green eyes twinkle with concern.

"No, that's not all. She grabbed me and wouldn't get off of me and she- she told me that I didn't deserve the praise you and Jason give me and then she called me a coward and it was all just too much. I'm not a coward!"

And I'm crying. Again. Like some kind of sissy.

I'm pulled into an awkward hug and Percy is awkwardly patting my head.

"It's okay Christian. You're not a coward and you not wanting to put your siblings' lives in danger doesn't make you one. And Jason and I will never not think you're awesome," he tells me.

I nod my head in his chest and wipe my tears away. He smiles at me.

"Better?"

"Better."

"Good. You've gotta patch up that bruise and I've gotta change my shirt."

I apologize for his wet shirt and he shrugs.

"I've been wearing this for a week. It's been dirty and plus you needed me," he says with a smirk. I laugh a little and we walk to his cabin.

"Don't mind Annabeth. She's very headstrong and sometimes a little rude."

I huff. "A little rude?"

He chuckles as he places another shirt over his head.

"Trust me, I dated her for a while, she's not that bad."

I try to imagine her and Percy together but it doesn't seem right. Percy is so nice and goofy and she seems so uptight and OCD. Maybe that's where that saying opposites attract comes into play.

"So you're not gonna go on the quest?" He asks sitting on his bed.

"No."

A blight light flashes and the smell of ozone wafts up my nose. I close my eyes tight as the light fades. When it's gone I open them and see a blonde man standing there. He's wearing cargo shorts, a shirt that says 'My Lyre is cooler than yours' and a guitar strapped to his back.

From the conversations I've had with my other siblings, I know this is Apollo, but he's older looking than I've heard. He looks about 21. Like a more godly version of Will. It's scary.

His face is set in a frown.

"You have to go on that quest."

I'm shocked and at a loss of words.

"I-I'm not going. I don't want to find Delphi-"

"You have to. Christian you are a very powerful demigod. You're the only one of my children that could withstand a quest of this magnitude. I'm not even supposed to be here, dude. I'm risking the wrath of Zeus, for you."

I roll my eyes at him and wonder if he rhymed at the end on purpose.

"You didn't help me save my mom," I whisper.

He looks down. "There wasn't much I could do in that situation that was beyond my control-"

"You have the best aim in all of the world! You have arrows that will always reach its target! You mean to say you couldn't have-"

"Watch your tone!" I shut my mouth. The Sun god's skin glows and his hair glows brighter.

When he cools down his image changes and I see him resembling me more. He looks more like a picture my mom has in her diary. His skin is more bronze and his hair is a bit darker and curlier, and instead of crystal blue eyes, they're bright hazel. His nose changes and his jaw line is more crisp and the little bit of roundness his face held has completely melted away.

In his new face I can see some of my features. Like my eye color, and my eye shape and even the glow radiating off of him reminds me of myself.

"I couldn't interfere with that, Christian, but I've been there for you. The car I sent you, helping you with the Minotaur, the medallion you're wearing." When he says that I hold the medallion. "I've been there for years. Those times when you needed just a little more strength to keep pushing that was my favor. So before you get bold remember that."

I nod my head slowly.

He smiles softly. "You're just like your mom," he pauses, "I need you to go on this quest. I need you to help me clear my name by finding the oracle. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir."

"You don't have to call me sir. I'm too young for that. Call me dad," he says touching the side of my face where I got punched.

"D-dad." The word feels so foreign on my tongue but it's reassuring and it feels right.

"Thank you, Christian. I will not forget this."

I nod my head and he begins to glow. I close my eyes and the light becomes intense. When I open my eyes he's gone.

"So you're not gonna go on the quest?" He asks sitting on his bed.

I whip around to face him.

"You just asked me that," I say.

He gives me a crazy look. "No I didn't. I just sat down."

I stare at him with my mouth agape.

"Are you okay?"

"You don't remember the light and Apollo?!"

"Christian." He looks worried.

"Yes. Yes I'm going."

When I say that he smiles. "I knew you'd come around. Do you smell that? It smells like ozone."

I shake my head no and leave his cabin.

"When did you heal your face?"

"I didn't."

"Well the bruise isn't there anymore," he says making some water float up so I could see my reflection. The bruise was gone.

"Apollo's touch!"

Percy looks at me from the corner of his eyes. "...okay."

When we make it back to the big house my brother and sister are there with back packs on their backs. They're dressed to leave.

"Are you okay? We heard what happened," Maya says.

I nod my head.

"Yeah. I'm okay. You guys are ready?"

"As ready as we can be," Blaise says.

I nod and make my way to the porch where Annabeth is sat with Piper, Jason and the purple kids Percy explained to me were Frank, Hazel and Reyna.

She's holding a frozen bag to her face. She's glaring at me.

"I don't like your methods of trying to make people do things. You don't know me, but I understand what it feels like to wanna protect those you love. I wasn't being a coward. I was being selfish. You don't know me, so don't assume you do and we'll get along just fine. I'm daughter of Apollo, Wise Girl, and I don't take shit from anyone," I say extending my hand.

She stares at my hand for a few seconds when I begin I contemplating to retract it, she smiles slowly and takes my hand in hers.

"Now that's the person Jason and Percy are always boasting about," she says with her split lip. I cringe a little and apologize.

"I deserved it."

"Yeah you kinda did," I laugh, "but let me fix it."

I touch her lip and it heals. I do the same to her cheek.

"I thought Apollo kids had to sing to make things heal?"

I shrug. "It's something I discovered a few days ago and I don't sing."

She nods her head and thanks me. I get formal introductions to the Camp Jupiter kids.

Reyna's hand shake leaves my hand pulsing.

Chiron calls for us and we walk out onto the front lawn of the Big House. The five of us going on the quest line up in front of him. The sun is just beginning to set.

"You know what you guys have to do?"

We nod our heads solemnly.

"It's best if you guys leave now. You have 7 days to complete the quest. Before you go, make offerings to the gods and we'll bid you farewell," he says.

We head to the dining pavilion and the fire is burning bright. I make my offering to Apollo and Hermes and silently asking for light to guide us when we're in the dark and safe passage.

"Guys!"

I turn around and Courtney is standing with Dionysus and Pollux.

She's frowning. "Where are you going?"

Blaise, Maya and I exchange looks. In the excitement the prophecy had caused we forgot to tell Courtney.

"Court, we're going on a quest."

"A quest? Am I going too?" Her eyes are glowing bright.

"No."

"But you guys are going."

I look to the other two for support but they avoid my gaze.

"Courtney. You can't come. It's for us-"

"Is this because I don't have a godly parent?! Because that's not fair. I know I'm not a demigod but I'm just as good at fighting as you three are and I'm smart," she yells and her little brown face starts turning red and tears pool in her brown eyes.

"I know you're a great fighter Courtney, but this quest isn't for you. We'll be back in a few days. I promise."

"Whatever."

A look of hurt crosses my face.

"Courtney," I whisper.

"Go. Leave."

Blaise pulls my arm. "Cmon. We gotta go. We're losing time."

I yank my arm out of his. I hug Courtney and she doesn't hug me back.

"I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you when I come back," I whisper in her light brown hair.

"Go," she says pushing me with one arm and wiping her tears with the other.

This time when Blaise yanks me, I go. I give Pollux a look and it seems he gets it, because he picks her up and soothes her.

When we make it out of the borders that protect the camp Jason slings his arm over my shoulder.

"It's gonna be okay. You know that, right?"

I nod my head.

"I've never had her act that way towards me. She's never been cold to me."

"She's seven. Don't take it too harshly. Her ego is hurt," Percy chimes in.

I nod my head but a line of the prophecy is on my mind. Siblings bond will be put to the test, only success can put to rest.

I shrug it off and worry about walking in the dark.

"Where is Delphi even located? I hope we're not really going to Greece or anything."

Jason smiles. "While you and Percy were off I talked to Annabeth a little. She said Delphi would of course be here in Western Civilization. Back in the day Delphi would be in the center of the world, where heaven and earth met each other-"

"Wouldn't that be where Atlas is," Maya says cutting him off. "Oops. Sorry."

"No it's fine. That's what I said too, at first, but she said no. There's a difference between the sky and the actual heavens."

"So Delphi is where Olympus and the Earth meets?" Blaise questions.

"Yea. Something like that. Basically Zeus sends out two eagles that meet each other and that's the center of the world and that's where Delphi should be," he finishes.

The whole group is silent and then Percy speaks.

"So we're looking for Eagles in America...where the national bird is the Eagle, because, you know, this place has a lot of Eagles."

I groan because he's right.

"Where the hell are we gonna find only two eagles?!"

When we make it to the edge of the clearing near the road I see the car.

"Oh my gods!"

I run up to the car and pull its doors open. It's horrifically dirty and super hot inside but it's a car!

"Guys, this is the car I told you about. The one that travels at the speed of light," I say looking at Jason and Percy.

"Good we might need that," Jason says.

"But Christian it's a four seater car, there's five of us," Maya points out.

I look at the second bench of the car and she's right. The middle seat is a cup holder area with speakers. It's kinda small back there too.

I start shaking my head. This magic car had to have some kind of button to press that would change it's shape.

"Well we can set off on foot or better yet, get some war chariots and ride off like that," Blaise says.

I give him a look.

"What?!"

"You're such an Ares kid."

"Don't hate me cause you ain't me."

"Wait. I think I can fix this. I've been working on a few things with the kids from the Hecate cabin. I can install it to the engine," Maya says.

I nod my head. She smiles and opens up the hood of the car. The moon is shining bright and illuminates everything.

"I think Hephaestus kids are essential for every quest," Percy says thoughtfully.

I nod. Maya has gotten us out of serious messes with her gift.

"We gotta hurry though. I'm pretty sure our scent has been picked up. We've gotta get on the move," Jason says watching the forest with Blaise.

"I feel like our time is coming up short," Blaise says unsheathing his kopis, a curved sword in the shape of a 'C' with a handle. "I feel something coming."

I tried to strain my ears to hear but I heard nothing. I turned my attention back to Maya as she did something to the engine.

I started fidgeting cause I could hear what Blaise felt coming. The ground shook and I turned to see Maya still tinkering away.

Not even 30 minutes out of camp and we're set to die. I voice this and Percy laughs.

"Perks of being a demigod."

"Maya you might wanna hurry up! I'd rather not face whatever is coming through these trees." I get my bow ready and knock an arrow that will explode with Greek Fire.

"Trying," she huffed. "There isn't enough light. Christian can you glow?"

I put the bow and arrow down. I tried to radiate light but that didn't work.

"I don't know how."

"Channel something light and yellow. Like the sun or Apollo. Come on. I just need a little light," she says looking at me like she could strangle me with her eyes.

"What kind of mechanic doesn't carry a flashlight," I ask incredulously.

"Can you two speed it up," Blaise snapped.

Maya looked at me urgently. I started thinking of the sun, and sunflowers, the beach and Apollo, but nothing was happening.

"Oh come on! You're always lighting up for your two boyfriends, Jason and Percy," she says.

"They're not my boyfriends!"

My face grows hot and she smiles triumphantly. "Get over here!"

She uses my embarrassment as light and installs the last piece. Before I know it the cars metal framing is melting away and I stare at it in horror.

Maya just smiles. "Wait on it."

The the frame work moves and morphs itself into a bigger shape, like a truck. The metal forms back around it and the car in front of me is a black Range Rover with tints.

"Bro you made a transformer," Percy says in awe.

"Come on. Let's get out of here," Jason says.

I crawl into the drivers seat and both Jason and Percy head to the passenger seat. They look at each other awkwardly.

"What's the problem!" Blaise yells from the backseat.

"Lemme sit in the front," Percy says.

"No way dude."

I rolled my eyes and Maya speaks up. She pushes them apart and gets in the passenger seat. "I did all the work. I deserve the seat."

That kinda settles it and the two boys jump to the back. We sped away just as a Laistrygonian giant broke through the trees. I floor the gas just to make sure he doesn't catch us.

"Talk about close," I whisper.

So I'm not sure if it took me long to upload this chapter, but I thank you for the wait! Please let me know how I'm doing. Thank you3 I'm super sorry to anyone who thought there was gonna be immediate smut. Bear with me! Oh yeah and I'll be starting each entry with a diary entry that will tie in with the story from now on.