Hey guys! thanx 4 the reveiws! Heres the next chapter Enjoy
(Also its going be harder to work on these chapters with school back on so it'll take a little longer. Thanks 4 being patient :)
Hera was standing in a misty fog. She was wearing a simple white gown that was elegantly decorated with peacock feathers. She had that look in her eyes as if to say "Now don't cross mother, she knows best." I had a feeling like I needed to defend myself. So, I pulled out Riptide.
"You wouldn't dare attack me now would you Percy." She said. "You do want your memories back, don't you?"
"You stole my memories!" I asked but as more of a statement.
"It was necessary."
"So who am I? What am I doing here?"
"You will have to find out."
"Why would Juno want to take my memories?" I asked accusingly.
She frowned, "You are a Seaweed Brain."
Something about that shocked my heart. Seaweed Brain. Why is that so dam familiar?
"I have been and always will be Hera to you." She said with a smile.
"Why though?"
"I cannot tell you but I will give you a clue. Think of what I am the goddess of and you will find your answer."
"How is that helpful?"
"Listen," She said demandingly. "I need you Peruses Jackson. As much as I hate to admit it. You must free me from my prison. It has taken me a full month to gain this much power to speak to you. You will go on a quest to free me and if you fail all will be lost. I am loosing strength, hurry."
I thought of saying, "You're a real inspiring person." But, well if you were facing a furious goddess I think you'd rather be on her good side.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," She said glaring at me.
Great she can read my mind.
"Goodbye Percy. I will see you by the winter solstice. Make sure you talk to Lupa." Then as she turned to leave she added. "And do watch out for Aphrodite dear, I do not want us destroyed because she wants to play her games."
With that she vanished and I woke up thoroughly annoyed. I sat up and got out of bed. I had fallen asleep in my destroyed clothes so I quickly changed. It didn't feel right wearing these clothes. It almost felt like treason. It was still dark outside. I wish I knew the time but I didn't have a watch. Then there was a knock on my door.
"Come in," I said.
Reyna walked in holding a bag of medical supplies. "I need to treat your burns from the fire. And breakfast is in thirty minutes."
In response my stomach growled. Dam! I didn't have dinner last night. I stood up and checked myself but I was unhurt. There wasn't even any redness or bruises. Reyna looked at me like I was crazy.
"That's impossible." She said. "We were surrounded by flames. That beam fell right on top of you!"
"Weird." I said. "I'm fine." This was creepy. I should've been toast. Literally.
"Okay," she said slowly, "Another mystery to your name. Are you sure you're alright? You look like the Fates have cut your life string."
"Just a dream." I said rubbing my head.
"Demigod dreams aren't just dreams. They mean something."
"But why would Hera I mean Juno," I quickly corrected my mistake. "Want to talk to me."
"Juno contacted you?"
"Yeah she said she had been trying for over a month to get enough power."
"A month," She whispered. "That's the same time they closed Olympus."
"Wait they closed Olympus?"
"Not really important but usually we get some contact from the gods. Mercury stops by to deliver mail to Lupa being the messenger of the gods and all. We lost all contact, even Apollo wouldn't give out prophecies. We'd received a message that Jupiter had sealed the gates. Not even mortals could get into the… "
"Empire state building."
"How did you…?"
I just gave her an annoyed look.
"Besides the point. Anyways, she said that I needed to free her from a prison."
"The queen of the heavens is trapped! Well what do we do?"
"I don't know. She said we had to hurry, and something about the winter solstice."
"But that's only four days away!"
"Yeah and I kind of want my memories back."
"She took them?"
"Yeah…" I sighed this day was even worse than yesterday.
"We'll have to talk to Lupa when she gets back from hunting Lycaon. For now don't tell anyone."
She raced out of my cabin and I muttered, "That's the second time I'm not allowed to tell anyone something even I don't understand." I got up and walked to the door figuring it was about time for breakfast. Outside it was bright and sunny. The sky was cloudless. I began following the crowd of campers not quite sure where the dining hall was. I saw Hazel and was about to say thanks for the clothes but she disappeared behind a cabin. Curious I switched directions and followed her. By the time I got there I heard voices whispering. I plastered myself to the wall and tried to listen to what they were saying.
"Dakota you have to see what I found!" I heard Hazel whisper.
"I already told you not now." Dakota tried.
"Just look," she said. I heard rustling of paper and Dakota gasp.
"No way it can't be."
"Look its him and he's with a faun and some other girl. She has your eyes." Hazel insisted.
"This newspaper is like four years old. How'd you even get it?"
"I keep in touch with my mom. Also I am the daughter of the god of thieves, that includes sneaking out every once in a while. I was helping my mom clean out her attic and this fell out of a stack of papers."
"So what does it say?"
"Percy Jackson, age twelve, a thought to be fugitive was really kidnapped along with his two friends, Grover and Annabeth. This kidnapper fled the scene after brave Percy battled him rifle to shotgun on the beach. There have been sightings all across the United States. From New York to Nevada to San Francisco."
"Look there's another picture." Dakota said.
"It looks like…"
"Mars?"
"Percy was kidnapped by a god?"
"I don't know. This is really strange." Dakota said. "Hide this someplace safe. We're going to need it but not right now."
I stepped out from my hiding place but no one was there. I looked around but it was if they'd never been there. I checked all the way around and looked into the woods and on the roof but they were nowhere to be seen. I knew somehow I needed to find that newspaper. Of course them reading that gave me more questions than answers but it was a start.
I raced off and merged in with a group of Hephaestus. I saw Gwen and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around obviously a little spooked because she had drawn her sword.
"Whoa," I said cracking a smile, "I just wanted to know where I sit. Is that a crime?"
Apparently she didn't find it funny. "Neptune table," She said pointing to a wooden table to the right of the pavilion.
"Thanks," I said and walked over to the empty table. Before I could ask where the food was Reyna walked up to the middle of the pavilion. Everyone quieted down. She had a clipboard stuffed with papers.
"Roll call!" She shouted.
Everyone stood up. One by one they began rambling off their cabin names.
"Apollo present."
"Venus check."
"Vulcan here." And on and on. I didn't know when to call out my name but thankfully I didn't have to because Reyna already marked me down.
"Okay everyone. We'd like to welcome the Vestal Virgins as they will be staying with us while Vesta is at Olympus. And also as you all know we have a new camper, Percy Jackson Son of Neptune." Reyna started.
No one said anything.
"Alright onto the next order of business. Minerva cabin will be in charge of the cabin rebuilding."
There was a lot of cheering from that table.
"Venus campers we need at least three of you to give pegasus lesson today at ten. Apollo cabin needs two people for beginner archery at noon and we'll need six people for sword lessons throughout the day. Cabin schedules are posted at the coliseum. Also patrols need to be stepped up as more monsters have been spotted around our borders."
Most people groaned at that. Reyna flipped through the sheets on her paper.
"That will be all for today except for the First Legions leader meeting today at four. Oh and of course keep a look out for clues about Jason's disappearance."
People looked sad at this. He must be really important around here. Wonder what he did. Whatever it was it must've been important.
Suddenly the plates filled with food like magic. It must have been out of habit but I got up and walked to the small fire in the center of the pavilion. I scraped off a section of the my food and said in a low voice. "For Poseidon."
I got a lot of funny looks as I walked back to my seat. I tried to ignore them but it was hard. They were all staring at me as if I was mad. Slowly they began to turn back to their food muttering things like…
"Crazy…"
"He's mad…"
I was going to ask where I could get the schedule when Reyna came up.
"Why did you put your food into the fire?" She asked
"It seemed right. They are our parents." I said then as if repeating someone. "They like the smell."
"You've got to be kidding. Our parents don't care for us."
"That's not what the goddess said." I thought to myself.
" Anyways that's not why I came over. You've never got a proper tour. We've got just enough time before your first activity."
"Alright," I said standing up.
She lead me all over camp. We saw the stables where Alcippe and her friends were very friendly. The coliseum that was a one hundredth scale replica of the real one. We even went to the forge where the Vulcan kids were working hard at repairing and creating swords and shields of all sizes. You could tell that Reyna's heart wasn't into the tour though, she was constantly distracted.
"Are you okay?" I asked her.
"Yes, I am fine." She answered then looked sheepish. "Well not really. With Jason gone everything's been different. He wouldn't have let that fight get out of hand. We need our praetor. I need him."
"Oh," I said a little guilty, it felt like I had been intruding.
She checked her watch, "You better get to your first activity." She turned and walked away.
I discovered that the camp was structured. Everything was in a perfect order, we had exactly five minutes to get from each activity. It was supposed to increase discipline. Also if you didn't pass your tests at the end of each week… well it's not a good thing.
I found out that I had pegasus lessons first. I headed over to the stables and was met by a very peppy Venus camper. His name was Joey. He looked younger than me by a few years but he seemed to know what he was doing. He told me to pick out a pegasus so I immediately went over to Alcippe.
"Oh I wouldn't ride her." He said a little worried.
"Why not?" I asked.
"She's not the…uh… friendliest one." He said nervously glancing at the dark bay mare.
Alcippe looked at me. Can you believe this guy? I make one slip up and I'm scarred for life.
I laughed. "I think I'll take my chances."
Joe shrugged like it was my decision to kill myself.
I found I had a natural talent. I was glad, it felt like neutral territory. I was in Zeus or Jupiter's region but my father had created the horse so I was good. After words I got a lot of praise from those who'd been watching apparently Alcippe didn't let many people ride her. Joey said that next time we'd work on battle tactics from the sky. I was surprised that a Venus camper, of all people, would be talking about battles.
I brushed down Alcippe after words. Thank you Lord she said.
"You really don't have to call me that."
Whatever you say Lord.
I scowled which made her laugh. I think I've had that conversation before.
Second I had Latin which Dakota was teaching and I understood absolutely none of it. I think Dakota gave up on me saying he'd have to talk to Lupa. Also it was a lot harder to do when he kept staring at me. None of it seemed to connect anyway. The dyslexia didn't help. I could barley read English let alone Latin.
After I went down to the coliseum for archery. That was the ultimate fail. I couldn't shoot the arrow in any direction. Reyna didn't complain though even when she had to pull a stray arrow out of her hair. If I had been aiming into the woods I would've gotten a bulls eye except that the target was fifty yards to the left.
Luckily I had sword fighting next so my day wasn't a total loss. Bobby just had to be teaching it so he wasn't cutting me any slack. It was miserable at first. The armor didn't fit and we were allowed to actually hurt each other which didn't seem right.
"Hey you." He called me.
"Yes Bobby." I said
"Your next. We have to… asses you."
"Great," I muttered. I walked up to him and pulled out Riptide in pen form.
"Are you going to write on him?" someone snickered.
I ignored them and motioned for Bobby to make the first move. He lunged and I pulled the same trick the first time we'd met. I sidestepped and uncapped Riptide. It glowed as it expanded. There was a collective gasp from the group. He tried to strike we again but I parried easily. It went on for a while. There was a confused look on Bobby's face. I kept on defense, playing with him. A crowd was beginning to draw around us.
"What style is that?" He asked. He looked as if he'd never seen any of the moves I was throwing at him.
"Greek." I responded smugly.
Suddenly something from the crowd was thrown at my head. I ducked slightly off balance. Bobby took his chance and tried to cut my arm. Luckily it didn't work. His blade made contact with my skin alright but it ricochet off and the force of the blow traveled back up his arm. The crowed stared in surprise. Honestly it freaked me out too.
"My turn," I said. Then I attacked. I didn't use all of my force and I really didn't want to hurt him so I just tried to get him to surrender. Of course not. Instead he pushed me harder. I easily matched his pace. Thrust, block, lunge. Duck, side cut, overhand. I tried the disarming move and it worked beautifully. Bobby went to use his clenched fists. I swung my sword at his head and at the last second changed my grip. The flat of my sword smacked his head and he fell backwards. I had my sword pointed at his throat and his eyes were glazed with hate.
I capped Riptide and held out my hand. Bobby looked at me with disgust but took it and I pulled him to his feet.
" It's not over yet." Bobby said. "Nobody and I mean nobody gets away with this."
For some reason this cracked me up. "Nobody!" I laughed. I got a lot of strange looks until one of the Minerva campers started laughing with me.
"I get it! Like Nobody the person, but nobody." He said. He got a lot of blank looks. "Like from the story about Odysseus and the Cyclopes."
That got most of the people laughing. Bobby just turned beat red and he stalked off.
"Hey can you teach us that?" One asked.
"Yeah that was so cool."
"I've never seen that tactic before."
I was about to say yes but I saw Hazel disappear through the coliseum doors. "Um… sure guys but how about tomorrow." Then I sped off trying to catch up to Hazel.
"Hazel!" I called.
She spun around and her blue eyes pierced me, I stumbled back a little. Something about those eyes and blond hair filled me with fear. I shook my head and ran up to her.
"I was just looking for you." She said. "Reyna wants you to meet her at Lupa's den."
"That's great but I wanted to ask you about that news…"
"Sorry Percy," She cut me off. "I really have to go now."
"But.." I tried but she raced off. "Dam."
I turned around and headed for Lupa's den. When I got there I saw Reyna carrying boxes of stuff into the cave.
"Need help?" I asked.
"Sure." She said.
I took half of the boxes and followed her inside. She went down a hallway I'd never noticed before and unlocked a door that read "Files".
"What is this place?" I asked.
"The file room. We keep records of every demigod that's ever been here. Also, recent monster attacks etcetera. Oh and most importantly mortal papers and stuff about us. We have to make sure no one knows about this place. Not that they could get in but it could be disastrous."
"Wait did you say…" I started. But a bark from behind us cut me off. We followed Lupa out into the main room.
"Now Percy tell me about your dream." She said.
I told Lupa as much as I could remember except for that little thing about Aphrodite. It seemed pretty unnecessary at the moment. When I had finished Lupa growled.
"Well then it seems time for you to receive a quest."
"But Lupa," Reyna asked, "How can he if Apollo isn't giving out prophecies."
Lupa smiled and gave me a knowing look. "Reyna there are other ways to get a prophecy. Now take that spray bottle over there and create a mist for us." She did as she was told. With the bright light from the afternoon sun coming into the cave a small rainbow formed.
"Now Percy," She said, "Give me that gold coin in your pocket." It was creepy how she knew about that but I handed it over. She took it in her mouth.
"Oh Iris, goddess of the rainbow, accept my offering." She tossed the coin into the mist. It shimmered than vanished into thin air. "Apollo's oracle."
The mist formed a picture but it was hard to tell what it was. There was a green mist blocking our sight. Lupa motioned with her tail to me. As if I'd done it before I walked up and asked.
"What is my destiny?"
A voice spoke from the green mist. It sounded more like three voices intertwined. It was so familiar I was amazed I couldn't put a name to it. Then it said:
Child of the sea, beware of the earth
The giants revenge the seven shall birth
The thief and the sun will break the chains
Juno released and memories regained.