Hey guys, here's the next chapter like I promised. Thanks for informing me that it's Zeus' Fist, not thumb. I feel so stupid.

Chapter 10

The Prophecy

I stared at the grinning boy on the ground before me, mortified by his actions. He chuckled and I held out my hand to help him up. Once my attacker got up we both glared at each other, but ended up roaring in laughter.

"Why did you do that?" I squealed, lightly pushing Jacen.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" He barely breathed out, for he was laughing like a hyena. "It's just that you were right there and I couldn't resist! I couldn't help myself!" I put on a really hurt face and Jacen stopped immediately. "Dahlia?" Jacen asked. "I'm sorry, I really am."

I glared at him and pretended to tear up. "It's okay," I whispered and Jacen pulled me in for a hug. For a kid of Athena, he really didn't know how to tell when someone was planning something. I held him tight with one hand, and with the other, I grabbed a bunch of snow from the top of a bush behind Jacen. I took the huge glob and smashed it against his head.

"Ha!" I screamed in delight as he recoiled backwards and tried to get the snow of the back of his neck. "That's what you get for sneaking up on me like that!" Jacen was smiling like a madman when he grabbed snow from the ground and threw it at me squarely in the chest. We began running around the small clearing, hiding behind Zeus' Fist and jumping over the frozen stream as we chucked snowballs at each other.

When I become tired, I plop backward onto the snow, staring at the ice sky. Jacen walks next to me and falls right next to me. We're both panting, taking advantage of our break from our snowball fight.

"You know what, Dahlia?" Jacen says. "I think you're my bestest friend." I smile, feeling snowflakes kiss my forehead. "You know what, Jacen?" I mimic. "I think you're my bestest friend too."

"Jacen, why weren't you at the claiming ceremony?" I ask curiously.

"Oh," Jacen starts. "Chiron wanted me to find some information about Ophis. It might help us when his army attacks. I was looking through the cabin bookshelves when I heard the conch shell, but I ignored it."

"Well, did you find anything good? Anything that can help us defeat him?"

"I found some really good info to help us. I learned that snakes are allergic to titanium, and can be killed with titanium weapons. If you hit a snake on the back of the head or step on their tale, they will also be knocked unconscious. They're also terrified of fire. It might not work with Ophis, what with him being a super-snakey-monster, but it could just make all the difference."

I'm elated by the news. Ever since I was attacked by Ophis, I was worried sick about how he'd be destroyed. I just knew that he'd have to be killed, the guy ate demi-gods his whole life! But now, we have some sort of start. Some way that we can beat him.

"You know Jacen," I sigh. "You have some new siblings."

"What?" he jerked, sitting upright and staring at me. But then a true look of happiness overcame his face. "I have a new brother and sister?"

"Yup. You've got quite a few, actually."

"Wow," he sighed dreamily and fell back down next to me. "That's truly wonderful."

I turn towards Jacen, leaning on my elbow. I trace little pictures in the snow next to him, when I hear him sigh.

"Dahlia?" he gulps. I look at his expression and it looks like he's seriously scared about something. Nervous about how he says his next words.

"What is it?" I ask, a little frightened by the look on his face.

"Dahlia, I've wanted to tell you… but I think I finally have the courage to." I breathe in deeply, trying to decipher what he possibly means. Jacen turns toward me and leans on his elbow too, staring into my eyes.

"Dahlia, I've known you for quite a while now and… well…"
"C'mon Jacen, spit it out. You can tell me anything." Jacen exhaled deeply and glared at me head on.

"Dahlia, I'm pretty sure that I'm in love with you."

I barely had time to process what he had just said when he smashes his lips against mine. For a moment, I'm just plain out confused, and flattered by this. No boy ever said he liked me before. I felt Jacen's hand cup my face when I knew what I was trying to remember about him earlier. "It's okay; I think he just likes you. That's all," I hear Rose's voice giggle. In half a second, I feel power coursing through my veins and I feel like I could lift a mountain. Anger fills my vision and I see red as I lift Jacen off of me and push him back with an incredible force. I can only see the look of true confusion on his face for a moment when he is thrown backwards through the snow and slams into a tree.

I'm breathing deeply and I feel absolutely dreadful of what I've done. But when I see Jacen emerge from behind the tree, with a look of deep sadness on his face, I totally lose it.

"Why?" I screech, tears flooding my vision. I feel absolutely furious; I swear I'm seeing red.

"What was that for?" Jacen screamed, throwing his hands in the air. "If you didn't want to kiss me, you could've just stopped me instead of throwing me halfway across a field!"

I'm frozen on the spot, in complete hysterics.

"You don't understand, do you?" I weep. "You don't understand…."

"What is it?" Jacen yelled, slamming his hand on Zeus' Thumb.

"Artemis asked me to join the hunt, and I accepted, that's what! And it's been only an hour and I've already broken the vow!" I collapse on the ground, totally shaking uncontrollably.

"But how was I supposed to know?" Jacen choked, tears flooding down his eyes.

"I'm sorry, okay! I lost complete control of myself!" I look up at Jacen, and he looks shaken from head to toe. But then we both stay as still as statues, quiet and just staring into each other's eyes. Both of us thinking how to dig ourselves out of this fight.

"But, Dahlia, it's not like you kissed me back," Jacen whispered now. "I'm sure Artemis will understand. "

"I hope," I choked. "But I can't be sure."

"Dahlia, if you weren't in the Hunt though…. And this incident happened…."

"No, Jacen. I'm sorry, I truly am, but I don't like you that way. I just don't, I can't." I feel horrific, like my stomach is being gutted out. Jacen's face is pure white and sickly, just staring straight into nothingness. He looks almost like he's been electrocuted. But I didn't ever like him, I really didn't. Sure, I thought he was kind of cute when I first saw him, but I didn't like like him, not at all. I don't know how things will be the same between us. How we could ever be friends the same way we were before? It would be too awkward, too strange. But we were best friends… and I have to get through this.

I shakily stand up and walk straight towards Jacen. We both stare into each other's eyes full on, not saying a word. His are misty, and I can tell he's apologizing. I am too. We both hug and I pull back again and walk deeper into the woods, leaving him behind.

That's when I find it. The oracle's home. Everyone always talked about it, so how could I not be curious? I had searched for it many times, but I finally find it. I didn't mean to. I was just walking, trying to run away from what had just happened.

I approach the cave and stop right before the dirty curtain. I want to pull it back, to talk to the oracle. I want some idea on when Ophis will come; it would be any day now. But if we were to form a plan, we need an exact date. Though I'm terrified. Would she be old and wrinkly and ugly? Would her body be of decay, how old is she? Is she dead? Is she even here? Or was the oracle out and about?

"H-Hello?" I asked shakily.

There was no response, just the rattling of trees. Oh well, I thought. Guess I'll just be on my merry way. I begin to walk away when a horrible ripping noise is made. I spin around to see the curtain torn to the ground and an older teenage girl standing straight up with a look of agony on her face. She isn't as scary as I thought she'd be. I thought Rachel Elizabeth Dare would be like a zombie. But her red hair glistened in the sun and she might've been pretty if she didn't look like she was about to hurl. That's when the green smoke began to coil from her mouth like a snake, covering the melting snow.

"I'm terribly sorry!" I squeaked, slowly backing away. "I didn't mean to bother you!"

The green smoke rose around me, taking the shape of human bodies. Their features slowly formed and they all surrounded me. I was already terrified when a shock of realization punches me in the gut. These aren't any people. These are my friends from back home, from the swim team. A feel like I'm going to vomit, I haven't seen them in so long. I want to hug them all, know that they are really there.

But they're not. I slowly turn, studying each of their ghostly faces. I try to choke back a sob, for I've cried enough today. But I feel a flood of dread as I touch my friend Morgan's face, the one who was first taken by the black hand, only to feel right through her head. My friend's mouths unhinge, and they speak in unison. But it's not their voice, for it sound like nails on a chalkboard.

The evil snake king has risen again,

Killing all under Gaea's hand.

A child of the water must sacrifice,

With a single chance to save more than one life.

(A/N ya, I know, not the best prophecy. But I had to make something!)

At the last word, my ghost friends vaporized into nothingness. "No!" I scream. "Come back, I need you guys!"

"What in the world?" a soft voice whispered. I turn around to see Rachel slowly getting up, a look of utter confusion on her face. "It happened again, didn't it?"

"Yeah," I say, my voice shaking.

"Oh gods," she muttered. "This is not good, this is not good…."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. But I fear that you are in extreme danger. Come, we must talk."

She beckoned me towards her cave and I entered, feeling as though the world was falling down. Twice in one day now I've been lectured on how my life is in danger.

A child of the water must sacrifice. Yeah, I wonder who that was.

So, this is chapter is finally done! Yay! Please review! I'm sorry for any mistakes I might have made in this, I was in a rush!