What just happened: "You asked for it." He shrugged. "Unfortunately for me, I am Crius L'Hora, son of Cronus." The silence that fell was thicker then the storm clouds outside. I was right.
Then, unlike in the cliches, everyone did not start talking at once. Isis nudged Maria. "Do you really still want him to come with us?" Maria told her to shut up. Julian shrugged; Scott laughed, but sarcastically, as if he didn't truly believe it; Abigail snorted, "And that makes no sense. As we all know, Kronos has been in Tartarus for the past eleven years or so. Therefore it's impossible for him to have a son. Honestly. The things people say to get attention." But it made sense. All of it. The strange watch, the blond hair, the curved sword held limply at his side, the golden light, the way time slowed when he must've rescued us. And his eyes. I had been pretty sure they were blue, at least when I first saw him, but now they were gold. Crius really was a child of Kronos. Yeah, say that ten times fast.
"Listen," I said. "It is possible." I knew the stories, the stories of Kronos' rise to power, of the war that stopped him from taking over the world. "But why don't you tell us yourself?" I asked Crius.
"'Cause you won't like it." Always the optimist.
"You've said that before. It's getting repetitive. Don't you have more than one response?" demanded Scott.
"But he has a point. We didn't like it last time," muttered Isis. "But I still need to know..." The air in front of us shivered, blurring the flower print wallpaper. Everyone reached for weapons, and Isis whispered something that created a shimmering barrier in between us and the disturbance. And something I'd never noticed before: her eyes sparkled blue-violet when she did that. The blur formed into the figure of a young woman, with curly red hair and green eyes... oh no. Why was she here? She had to come now, with more of her cryptic prophecies of death and doom. Like, if I can't change the future, why get me depressed about it in the mean time? I'll never understand the gods.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare, the Oracle of Delphi, stepped into the room. "I thought I'd never get away. Lord Apollo is trying to prevent me from giving you prophecies, on orders from the almighty Zeus, of course." She tossed the four wallets that I had seen before, the ones that contained the Great Prophecy, to Maria, Scott, Julian, and Abigail. "So? Ask your question."
Scott and Abigail looked at each other like, What in Hades are we supposed to do? Maria bit her lip, and Julian blurted out, "What's going to happen to me?" She started to change, like before. Her voice went rough and green light streamed from her eyes.
"Two silent wars fought, one of love, one of hate
In your bloody past, you'll discover your fate
A choice to be made for the peace of the land,
And a choice about those who vie for your hand."
"Jeez. I wouldn't want to be you. Bloody past. Choices. Silent wars," commented Abigail.
Scott disagreed. "'Those who vie for your hand.' That means multiple girls like you. That's sweet."
"Shush. We haven't heard our prophecies yet. Maria?" Abigail deferred.
"Er... okay. I've got one." Her dark blue-green eyes shifted nervously. "Will I ever be at peace with my parents?" Rachel's hard expression softened like she understood. It could've been my imagination, but I swore I saw a tear in her eye. Maybe I'm hallucinating after getting a freaking concussion, but I don't know.
"The loner shall lead when her father will call
She will fight for her life, for her god give her all
When tragedy strikes, her tears will fast fall
And victory shall be hers, in large and in small."
Well. Better then mine. At least she gets victory in the deal. I get to fail and lose a friend, but she loses someone and succeeds. Abigail and Scott put their dark heads together and came up with something to ask the Oracle. Abigail asked, "What is my quest?"
"They come for their friends, twins of the of night
The princess of darkness for truth she will fight..."
Rachel's voice stopped as if her throat was blocked. She heaved like she was about to spit out a hairball. She grabbed the pen that lay on a table nearby, and wrote the rest of the prophecy in thin, jerky handwriting, so different from her regular script. More reasons why not to be the Oracle. It said:
The prince battles for protection of his realm
Preventing the theft of the shadow's helm
She will save the day, at such a cost
A power gained, something greater lost.
Or that's what I later read, after several tries and battles with my dyslexia.
Then she whispered, desperately, "Lord Apollo blocked my voice so I couldn't tell you. He'll be angry. I must go." And with that she disappeared. So she shows up, gives us more questions than answers, gets a powerful god angry at us, and leaves. Thanks a lot, spirit of Delphi!
We were not given long to ponder the potentials of the prophecies, because when you get a god ticked off, he doesn't let you prepare for his revenge. A huge snake, as long as the basilisk in Harry Potter and as wide as a great blue whale, with fangs the size of my leg, burst through a window showing the stormy sky and showered us in glass shards. Guess the owner hadn't invested in safety glass, if only so the shards were less-sharp cubes. Someone screamed. The serpent's head spun around. I yelled, "Oi, snake-eyes!" and waved my arms. It coiled up, prepared to strike at me. I was still wearing my new jacket, the one that turned me invisible. I pressed the owl pin and jumped as far as I could. It exhaled, like it was sighing, but great clouds of black smoke billowed from its slit nostrils. In a few seconds, I could barely see two feet in front of me. Holy Olympus. This was not good. The Python of Delphi was trying to kill us. I drew my borrowed practice dagger, letting the celestial bronze glow slightly alleviate the darkness.
"How do we kill this thing?!" That was Maria. Then she cursed. "How did it see me?"
It didn't, it's a snake; it can smell you, feel vibrations from your movement, and it can "see" heat. But the killing part was more difficult. The last one to kill the Python was Apollo himself with his famous godly bow. As none of us were gods, Hunters of Artemis, or children of Apollo, we needed to try another tactic. I called out, "I'll distract it. Force the head down and aim for the eyes!" A blackish-brownish tail the size of a tree branch nearly decapitated me, but it gave me an idea. Hoping very much not to die, I grabbed the tail the next time it swung around, stabbing my dagger through the thick scales, and held on for dear life.
I heard the tinkling of a chandelier, then a thud and "Ow" in Crius's dry voice. The head, which had been swinging towards me, gave a sudden dip down. There was an inhuman shriek of pain, and the serpent reared, crashing through the ceiling and the roof and plummeting through the floorboards to the concrete foundation. The tail thrashed, banging me against a wall. I considered letting go and using my momentum to carry me to the top of some tall cabinets I'd spotted earlier. Too risky. I still couldn't see a thing. I twisted the blade. The Python gave a bellow of pain and rage. I released the dagger and dove, clinging to the very tip of the tail. Those giant fangs sunk into its flesh, exactly where I had just been. Unfortunately, pythons, not even monstrous ones, are not venomous, so this one didn't die when it bit itself. They kill by squeezing things to death.
The tail began to coil up around me. I stabbed out with my knife but it was no more then a pinprick. I climbed, wriggled, pried, braced, everything, but nothing helped. The Python was stronger. Its inexorable strength was going to defeat me. Even as I hacked at the scales I could feel my breath slipping away, my lungs being constricted. I gasped for air desperately, but my struggles grew weaker. The great snake twitched, causing the coils to tighten, but then they fell limp. With a few shudders, the Python fell, quite loudly, to the floor and disintegrated into monster dust and a couple extra-large scales. The wind from the storm blew the smoke away but brought in the rain.
I collapsed, panting, with a pain in my ankle, (probably sprained from my fall in a rabbit hole) my ribs, (several bruised, if not broken) and my back. Gingerly, I felt the newly injured section that covered most of my back. Ouch. I'd have a major crop of bruises tomorrow. Then I felt blood dripping down my arm. The skin of my right shoulder was almost entirely scraped off. Apparently while I was being squeezed to death, I was pressed against the dagger. Someone passed me a canteen of nectar, which I drank gratefully. Liquid fire coursed through my veins, and I felt well enough to want to get up and kill something.
I got up and walked over to where the others were gathered, surveying what used to be a kitchen-den in the process. One partially demolished door probably led to the outside world. The other door led to the bedroom where I had been deposited. Abigail looked like a rose bush attacked her and Crius looked like he'd been through a cheese grater. The others looked normal, as normal as one can be after fighting a giant snake. As I approached the group, Julian was saying, "Shouldn't we get out of the rain? I'm wet!"
"No, really?" I said, drenching my voice in sarcasm. "Let's move inside, shall we?" Maria scowled at me; apparently she didn't mind the wetness like us normal folk.
Isis sighed. "C'mon. There's an wood fireplace in the other room." We all huddled around the warmth, eating potatoes and bagels we toasted over the fire. It was a quiet meal, with Isis more withdrawn then usual, Maria in an angry silence, Scott busy stuffing his face, and Abigail and Crius barely conscious. At last Isis spoke. "Today I came very close to... to dy... to breaking my oath. I-"
"What do you mean, you came close to dying? We all did!" burst out Maria angrily, as I said, "Close to dying? Get used to it, lady." Blame our ADHD. Anyway.
"A while ago, when I first started to travel with the twins... No, I'm not starting this right. I should start at the beginning. I lived with my dad. When I was ten, a satyr and three half-bloods showed up. The satyr could tell who I was, and took me with them. One of them was thirteen, one eleven, and one was my age. The half-bloods, I mean. The youngest one was nicer and I thought..." She paused, her face unreadable. I squirmed mentally, fighting the urge to ask her what happened; she'd talk when she was ready, and I'd do no good by rushing. Finally she continued. "The satyr was killed. We were fighting a Cyclops. One of the evil ones. They could've saved him... but they were too busy saving their own lousy skins. After that, I didn't trust them. They'd let a friend die, and they didn't seem to care. Things were rough. We were moving slowly, running out of food and supplies. One morning I woke up, and they were gone. They'd left."
"You don't know that for sure. They could've been taken or kil-" She shook her head.
"I followed them. I caught up fairly quickly. They were fighting a giant scorpion. I killed it just as it was about to kill them. I got stung. They left me. They just left me lying there. Said that their own lives meant more to them then mine. That I wasn't worth the trouble for them to save me. I would've died... But another couple half-bloods came along. On a quest. They saved me and got me home, but they gave me a card with the address of Camp Half-Blood, in case there was trouble."
"I went home, but I swore on the River Styx that I'd never let anyone I traveled with die. My dad welcomed me back. Everyone else labeled me a troublemaker and a runaway. I had a couple close friends who didn't care. The "tough kids" wanted me to hang out with them. Then two new kids came. Scott and Abigail. I'll let them tell their story themselves-"
"Dan rahsh ooh ih," inserted Scott. He swallowed a large mouthful of food. "I mean, damn right you will."
She gave a brief sad smile before continuing. "I watched them. I knew they were important half-bloods. I finally convinced them to come with me. And today. Today so many of you came close to being killed. I almost failed you."
"Nonsense. If I die it's my own fault and no one else's. Don't blame yourself," yawned Crius.
"If it was only you in danger, I wouldn't," she retorted icily. She pushed a strand of dark hair out of her face. "But I will never let what happened to me happen to anyone else." I felt chills run up my spine that had nothing to do with the wetness. Those jerks left her to die after she saved their lives. No wonder she's sad all the time. That's horrible. But it reminded me of something.
"Your prophecy. If you break your oath, it said you'll die, right?"
"None of your business. I... yeah, it did."
"What exactly did it say? You could be misinterpreting," suggested Abigail.
"Uh, You'll lead the chosen to a garden of gods, bind them together in spite of all odds. By your oath you will- No, that's enough for you to know. Good night." She rolled over so that her back was towards us and faked snoring, but as she turned I saw a teardrop glittering on her cheek.
"Well, that was lovely sharing of feelings," snorted Maria derisively. "You'd better not ask me to do the same." She meandered over a patch of floor to claim it as hers. Julian shrugged.
"So that's why she's so overprotective. Figures." He leaned closer to me and whispered, "I call her Mother when she starts nagging us about saying safe. She hates it."
"I heard that," she murmured softly. I stared. I could barely hear him and yet she could from where she was! No one else seemed to think this was at all unusual, and I knew it wasn't that my hearing was going. I let the others have the bed and found a blanket to curl up on. As I dozed off, I noticed Crius gazing sadly at Isis's back, shaking his head slowly.
"I suppose you'll never forgive me, no matter how bad I feel about it."
In my dream, I was in a grassy area with red rocks and short, scrubby trees all around. It was pouring, and thunder rumbled in the distance. A strange collection of people sat around two soaked picnic table. A woman in a park ranger's uniform with eyes the color of the clouds overhead -the color of my eyes- was deep in discussion with a tired-looking man in a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts, his dark hair shot with silver. Two girls about my age, one with auburn hair and incredibly old eyes, the other small with mousy hair, were arguing with a tall dark man, his face hidden by shadows. Next to him were a young woman bedecked with flowers and an older lady with a dress that seemed to be made of wheat. A teenaged girl in punk clothes and a silver circlet and an angry young woman armed to the teeth listened to a pale woman with hair the same dark red color as Iris's, her eyes sparkling with electric blue magic. A man in a dark, sinister trench coat with a hat over his face stood off to the side.
Mother Athena stood up. "Silence. I would like to start this meeting now. Mr. DiAngelo, your report, please."
Nico appeared out of a shadow next to his father. "Sure. I spied on Zeus's forces, and I have four pieces of news. Do you want to hear first, the bad, the worse, the even worse, or the worst?" Catching the look on Athena's stormy face, he said, "Okay, okay. The bad news is that they are sending Phobos to stop the quest. The worse news is that they're sending Deimos to New York City to terrorize all the people, including camp. The even worse news is that Ares is going to lead an army at dawn to Hades and loose the dead upon the world."
"Which entrance is he using?" asked Hades.
Nico looked at him. "The New York one." He gave his father a look that said, "Tell you later."
Athena didn't miss it. "We'll all discuss it later. Now back to the matter at hand."
"The worst news of all is that Eris is being sent to the meeting of representatives of the major world leaders to start a major mortal war." The air erupted in speculations, curses, and proposals. In the midst of it all, I heard Athena mutter, "I doubt Eris has been sent by anyone but herself."
Hestia cut off Demeter's reply. "We've been through this before. It's highly unlikely that she would be able to influence Zeus into doing what he did, and until we're out of danger the matter will have to wait." The authority in her voice seemed odd in such a small girl.
"We have no time to fight amongst ourselves. Everyone calm down," yelled Lady Artemis over the din. Once things settled down, she asked, "Where is Iris?"
"Taking our preposition of peace to Lord Zeus," replied Athena. "And-"
"Actually, I'm right here," came a musical voice from a shining rainbow. "Lord Zeus told me to tell you to stuff your prepositions. He thinks that it's a trap. I also brought your message to his followers. None of them could be convinced. All said they wanted to be on the winning side of the war."
"Even my brother?" asked Artemis, her stern voice wavering just a little.
"Even Apollo. He said to tell you that he's sorry and that you really should join him."
"He's a jerk but... anyway. Anything else to say?" Iris shook her head. "Next; Lord Poseidon, anything to report?"
"There have been an unusual amount of storms over the oceans, but that is to be expected. I stopped a squad of various monsters traveling on a train with the questing group with an earthquake."
"They have found the seventh member of their group and are safe for now. My daughter has done well. The Oracle has told everyone their prophecies, and they survived being attacked by the Python," reported Athena. "Uncle Hades, what have you to say?"
"I wish to send half of our force to Hades to stop the invasion."
Athena paused, thinking it over. "No. We can't spare that many of our people. I will, however, give you a squad of half-bloods. Send one of your children to command the dead to ambush the invasion force."
Hades' face darkened even more, but he complied. "Nico, go. You're in charge." It wouldn't be enough. But looking at Hecate, I had an idea. Her assorted demons were on our side now, since she had allied with Hades. They wouldn't be missed by Athena, and they could help. And the Kindly Ones could be called upon to defend their territory. As if I had spoken out loud, Athena cocked her head, as if to say "Hm, possibly."
She reached a decision. "Hecate, can your demons assist Mr. DiAngelo to defend Hades?" She nodded. "Hades, call the Kindly Ones to help as well. Iris, tell Mr. Windsor and Miss Blackthorn to ready their cabin-mates." I recognized those names. Paul Windsor and Melanie Blackthorn were the Poseidon and Hades counselors at camp. Iris, Nico, and Hecate disappeared, each in their own way. (Rainbow, shadow, or blue-violet sparks.) The man in the trench coat lifted his hat, and I found I couldn't see his face; it kept shifting and shimmering- then the scene dissolved.
I was inside a thundercloud. Don't ask me how I knew, I just knew. It was dark inky gray, and the only light came from strands of lightning that flickered about. Standing (On what? No idea. It defies the laws of nature.) around a map of the U.S were Zeus in his pinstripe suit, Ares in full battle armor, two big ugly dudes in gangster-like clothes with Ares' flaming eyes, and a woman with an absurdly evil smile. Now, dealing with monsters that disguise as humans for a while, I've seen lots of evil smiles and heard lots of evil laughs in my day. But this woman had it down to an art, like Evil with the capital E. Even in the dream I could feel the auras of the gods and goddess. There was power, so much that I wanted to bow down to it, anger, like I wanted to punch someone's face in, fear, and from the goddess, I saw every flaw my friends and my parents had. I felt like I wanted to get in their faces about everything and make them change the way they were. All combined, it was generally not a good feeling.
Zeus tapped on a spot on the map. "The half-bloods are here. They will be unprepared. Keep them from reaching here at all costs. You may all go, if you wish, and send the army and Apollo on ahead. It's not too far out of the way for any of you. Get moving." And then I woke up.
AN: Gods, that took forever. I was on vacation in Washington state and Colorado, my computer had a virus, and I had soccer camp. Yes, I know the chapter's long, but you'll live. It had to be like that. I'd like to thank Stef.235 for enjoying this story.
Now, please review. I want your theories and predictions. What did Crius do to Isis? What are the last two lines of her prophecy? What do any of the prophecies mean? What will happen next? Tell me your thoughts. I'll answer you the best I can without revealing too much.