Hello, my loyal fanbase! (Or whatever you want to call yourselves.)

It seems that a lot of you are curious about one particular character in this story: Dylan. Allow me to explain, before my head explodes from all the math homework my stupid Algebra teacher gave us. Dylan is the same Dylan from the real books. Only, this Dylan does not have wings. It's all gonna be explained later on, trust me. Also, I got a question as to why Max "cried out and recoiled" in the last chapter. As for that, it was a typo. I had other ideas, but then I changed my mind and I forgot to delete that part. Sorry! XP

Fang: Wow. And you call yourself a writer.

Me: A good writer finds her mistakes! Luckily the reviewer caught it!

Percy and Fang: Whatever.

Me: Oh! And Iggy came by today is his cupcake car. (It's on max-dan-wiz. Trust me. It's really funny.) I kidnapped him.

Iggy: Why the hell am I here? Why is Fang here?

Fang: You and I were both kidnapped by a sadistic fangirl.

Iggy: Who the hell is that guy? *points to Percy*

Fang: Percy Jackson.

Iggy: From the movie?

Fang: And the book.

Me: Ahem? *points and nods meaningly at readers*

Guys: Oh, right.

Me: Also, I would like to clarify that I will be updated less often, as our school gets out on May 27, so we have STAR testing, CSTs, district, and finals much earlier than we're used to. So don't expect me to update every single week.

Disclaimer: I know James Patterson, but I am not him. Therefore I do not own Maximum Ride. Nor do I own Percy Jackson and its various characters. The prophecy that is in here (not the one from TLO) I do own. *sigh*

Chapter 10: The Seven Half-Bloods Revealed

MPOV

Chiron escorted all of us to the Big House. Inside, the game room had been converted into a meeting room. The ping-pong table was used as a regular table. Snacks were spread out on it, but no one bothered to touch them, even the flock.

"What's going on, Chiron?" asked Regina de Anda, leader of the Aphrodite cabin.

"There is a very pressing matter that needs to be discussed," he answered, his face grave. "One that leads back to last summer."

Those who had been campers last summer looked solemn. Whatever this was, I knew it couldn't be good.

Then, a girl with frizzy red hair that was pulled back in a ponytail, freckles, and piercing green eyes walked in. "Sorry I'm late," she said. She sat down next to Chiron and waited patiently, munching on some crackers.

Chiron cleared his throat. "May I introduce Rachel Dare, the Oracle."

My eyes widened. This was the girl who had predicted the next Great Prophecy?

Rachel smiled at the flock and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you all. I've heard a lot about you."

I nodded and said, "Likewise."

"So," Chiron said, "one of our spies was killed last night."

Percy nodded, looking grave.

"Who was it?" asked Katie Gardener, leader of the Demeter cabin.

"Sam Wright," I answered, remembering my dream.

Everyone looked at me.

"How did you know that?" Percy asked.

I looked up, making sure to keep my face emotionless. "Last night I had a nightmare about it. Someone, I'm not sure who though, killed him."

"How did you know Sam?" Jake asked. "There's no way you could've met him."

I shot an apologetic glance at Fang before saying, "Um… A while back I… well… I sort of dated him."

Everyone's eyes got about as big as dinner plates. Apparently, they hadn't seen that coming.

"Sam was a son of Apollo," Clarisse told me. "He went out on a scout mission just before you got here. Apparently, some weird stuff was going on in Alaska. We haven't heard from him in six weeks."

I processed this. What could possibly be going on there that drew the attention of the immortals and their kids? Did it have something to do with my dream? Was this all connected somehow?

Suddenly, a man walked in. He was very good-looking. He had golden hair, tan skin, and a brilliant smile. He wore a pair of Ray-Bans and pearly white Vans. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought he was a movie star.

"Hello everybody!" the man, he had to have been about eighteen or nineteen, said in a deep, musical voice.

Dylan and Will Solace, the leader of Apollo cabin, both stood and bowed. "Father," Andrew said.

My eyes widened. This was Apollo?

Apollo smiled, and it seemed to light up the room. "Yes, yes. You don't have to bow or anything. It's just little ol' me. Actually, on second thought, go right ahead!"

I frowned inwardly. This guy was so conceited.

Apollo took off his sunglasses and smiled right at me. "And you must be Max. Father's told me a lot about you."

Something about that made me blush. Either that, or it was because the guy was so good-looking. Of course, Fang was way better-looking.

Apollo sat at the table next to Rachel and kicked his feet up. He leaned back in his chair, hands behind his neck, and said, "The Fates have seen it, Chiron. It is time."

Chiron went pale. He looked to Rachel and said, "Do you still have it?"

She nodded, set down the cracker she was eating, and tugged a leather necklace out from her collar. A small pouch was attached to the cord. She opened the pouch and pulled out a really small sheet of parchment. It didn't look really old, just like it had been opened and closed several times.

Chiron took the parchment from her and handed it to me. "It is time for the next Great Prophecy to be fulfilled," Apollo said, his voice mysterious. I rolled my eyes sarcastically.

I unrolled the parchment and stared at it. This scrap of paper was someone's destiny? Wow.

Note the sarcasm.

"And not just by anyone," Chiron said. "By you Maximum."

My eyes got wide and I looked up at Chiron. "You mean to say that this is my destiny?"

"Just read it," Apollo said. "It'll explain everything… To a certain level, at least."

I stared hard at the paper. I took the deepest breath I could manage, and began to read.

"'Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,'" I recited.

"That's you, the flock, and Dylan," Apollo said.

"'To storm or fire the world must fall,'" I said, my voice starting to go hoarse. I was liking this less and less.

"That's reassuring," Jake Mason muttered. "After we saved it just last year."

Annabeth shot him a glare, then gripped Percy's hand.

"Just wait," Apollo said. "It gets even better."

"'An oath to keep with a final breath,'" I said, my breath catching in my lungs. And air sacs. An oath. Did that mean what Fang and I had promised so long ago now, after the flock had reunited, that we would never leave each other again? But we had made a lot of promises in the past, most of which we couldn't even remember now.

I could feel the tension in the room. I felt totally freaked out to read the last line. If this prophecy had been dark, then it would probably be nothing compared to the last line. Or at least I hoped. But I was no coward.

"'And foes bear arms to the doors of Death,'" I finished, my voice now a whisper.

All was silent.

"Well," Apollo said, rubbing his hands together. "Best be off. Don't want to keep the Council waiting."

With that, he disappeared in a flash of light.

"Whoa," Travis Stoll said. "That was intense."

"We already know about the seven half-bloods thing," Andrew said. "But what about the rest?"

"'To storm or fire the world must fall,'" Fang said. "That probably means the world's going to end."

Katie frowned. "But… does that mean that Kronos is back?"

Percy shook his head. "No. He can no longer reform. His spirit is too weak. It would take him another two thousand years just to be able to contact mortals through dreams."

I frowned.

"'An oath to keep with a final breath,'" Eric, leader of the Hades cabin, muttered.

"Uh oh," Iggy said sarcastically. "Looks like you're on the chopping block, Fang."

Both Fang and I glared daggers at Iggy, but it was one of those instances when stuff like that is lost on his blindness.

"There's one thing that really bothers me about this," I said.

"What's that?" Clarisse asked.

I looked up at everyone. "The last line. 'And foes bear arms to the doors of Death.'"

Annabeth nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."

"Does that mean that the Underworld is under attack?" Angel asked.

Katie frowned and thought. "It could be."

I frowned deeply and rubbed my forehead. Grrrrr… This was one of those times when I missed the Voice and its mysteriously vague Confucius-like statements.

Relax, the Voice chimed. And besides, the Oracle's prophecies are often more vague than even I. It takes a great mind to truly decipher the meaning of even one of the stanzas.

I nearly groaned out loud. Voice. Long time no annoy.

I missed you too, Maximum, said the Voice equally sarcastically.

Then, it was silent.

"So…" Rachel said. "Does that mean that another quest is underway?"

Chiron nodded gravely. "Unfortunately yes." He looked to the flock and Dylan. "Max, you will lead this quest. Normally, it is only three to a quest. So don't expect to come back in full numbers."

All of us nodded, putting on brave expressions.

"So…" Rachel said, motioning to us. "What is it that you have to ask?"

I thought for a moment. Whatever this Great Prophecy was, I bet it had to do with why Sam had been killed.

After a few moments of silence, I asked, "What is our fate?" I know. Cliché. But I had to ask.

All the lights in the room suddenly went out. Green smoke began to swirl around me and Rachel. What the h-e-double toothpicks was going on?

Then, Rachel began to recite.

"You shall dive into the Mist of the Darkest Mountain/ And find the one whose heart was stolen. / Four shall be lost in the lake of Demons/ All shall seem lost at the moment gravest/ But out of the dark one shall appear/ So victory came on wings, without a moment to spare."

The mist disappeared. The lights came back on.

"Whoa," Gazzy said.

I nodded. "Yeah. Whoa."

*cue ominous music* I know, I know: I'm horrible with the cliffhangers. Please do not kill me! If you do, then no more A$h, and that means no more story. Would you want that?

Review please! Anonymous reviews are welcome, and so are flames. But please don't be a total a**hole. How would you like it if I went into your fics which you are so proud of and said, without reading it, "This sucks. Go get a life."? You wouldn't, would you? So please, think of the authors before you flame.

Peace, Love, Happiness, and Maximum Ride.

-A$h, Fang, Percy, and Iggy