Hi guys!

This chapter might be a little short, but there's action in it, so I guess it shouldn't be too bad.

Enjoy!

After the Second Prophecy

Chapter Three: Arai Suck

Basically, breakfast went relatively well.

Apart from a couple of beaned heads, there were no fights or squabbles. Once breakfast was over, the demigods trooped to the Fields of Mars.

"Those who are going to Camp Half-Blood, come to my right!" Annabeth called, waving her arms. "Those who are staying, get to my left!"

The demigods moved. There were a couple of good-byes and such, but really, everything went smoothly.

Nico, Jason, Piper, Percy, Annabeth, Leo and Calypso were going back to Camp Half-Blood.

"Five of the Seven are leaving," Hazel murmured sadly. "I'm going to miss them,"

Reyna remembered Annabeth's kindness to the younger girl. Frank grunted.

"How are we going to get to Half-Blood?" a Roman yelled.

"Oh! We're going to take a train there. It'll be a long trip. There are no bathrooms, so I'd advise you to use the bathroom before we leave," Percy replied carelessly.

"How long will the trip be?" another Roman asked.

"Um... six hours?"

The demigods going to Camp Half-Blood made a mad rush to the bathrooms. The remaining demigods gawped.

"Ah..."

Reyna cleared her throat.

"Today, we will be focusing on the repairs. Can the Hephaestus campers stand to one side? The Athena cabin can help out with Temple Hill. Annabeth will send the blueprints later. The Demeter campers can start fixing the greenery. If you don't know what to do, you can help moving away the debris. Set your own goals, but Camp Jupiter must be completed after two weeks. Is that a deal?"

There were mumbles of agreement.

"Let's get going!" Reyna said.

Suddenly, Reyna spotted something climbing high in the sky, heading towards Camp Jupiter. It was a dark cloud from afar, but the cloud moved quickly. Soon, Reyna could see the alarming details: old grannies with grimy hair and patchy bat wings.

"The arai!" Percy yelled. "What are they doing here?"

The Romans and Greeks alike whirled around. The arai descended and soon, the Fields of Mars was a battlefield.

A centurion beside her stabbed an arai. Then, he doubled over, screaming as blood poured from a nonexistent wound from his chest. Gwen whacked an arai out of the air, only to stumble back in pain as her legs broke like wishbones.

The arai were the curses. Kill one and suffer a curse. Demigods were falling left and right.

Reyna roared in rage. She raised her javelin and threw it, skewering five or six arai like a shish kebab. There were so many arai and they were packed so tightly together it was impossible to miss.

Immediately, Raina clutched her neck as blood poured down. She briefly remembered flying after the Argo II before the final battle, riding Scipios as she beheaded gryphons left and right.

Nearby, she saw a centurion fall, an arai's claws tearing open his throat. His body was laced with dozens of wounds, gushing blood. He opened his mouth to scream, but only a horrible gurgling noise came out.

Reyna screamed. She stumbled forward and picked up her javelin, slicing the arai. The arai shrieked as they disintegrated like bags of drink mix.

Reyna paused to look up.

"Gwen!" Reyna yelled as she sprinted forward.

Gwen was utterly defenseless, her sword had skittered away. She was trying to protect her face as a arai tore at her arms. Her useless legs were thrashing wildly in.

Reyna leaped forward. In one expert stroke, the arai burst.

You have chosen the Earth Mother's curse.

Reyna felt a horrible sense of dread settle in her stomach.

Filthy demigod. You brought the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood, uniting the demigods. The Earth Mother has fallen, but not before cursing you. You shall fall, far more spectacularly than any other. The darkest part of your mind will be unleashed, and you will be alone again... for the rest of you life.

Reyna felt a burst of pain, like liquid fire shooting through her veins.

Beside her, Jason screamed her name. Piper was sobbing, clutching Jason's arm. Suddenly, Reyna wanted to pulverize Piper, but she was in too much pain.

"Jason," she croaked.

Jason roared. Percy did too. The water in the aqueduct rose. Thunder flashed. A hurricane, like the one they created together at Charleston appeared, washing away the arai. The arai shrieked as they were blown away. The Hephaestus campers threw bags of Celestial Bronze dust into the water, disintegrating the arai.

The pain faded, as if it was never there at all. Reyna stood up, shaky but alive.

"Reyna, are you all right?" Jason asked. Reyna was suddenly mystified by Jason's hands on her shoulder and arm, helping her up.

"I'm fine," Reyna said. Piper looked relieved. She started crying. Seriously, must the pretty little princess be such a drama queen?

"All right, let's go treat the wounded," Reyna called. Apollo campers ran about, bringing ambrosia and nectar.

For some crazy reason, Reyna smiled... a strange, smile.

So... the darkness in her mind has been released.

I'll try to update as soon as possible. Please R&R, and give me ideas about what to write next! Thanks!