XII PIPER
THIS WAS THEIR THIRD MEETING since the House of Hades. Everyone was tired of meetings. So they decided to have a 'gathering' on the upper deck instead, which they all agreed was very different from a 'meeting'.
"I hate meetings," was the first thing anyone said. (Leo, of course.)
Piper glanced around the crew. Frank clutched at the railing, scowling at nothing. She wondered if he was okay. Leo's eyes continually trailed over to the horizon, every so often snapping back to the group. But they would eventually trek off again. The only demigod not present was Hazel, and Piper wondered where she was. Although her queasiness had become easier to handle throughout the trip, the youngest of the group was probably feeling sick from all their travelling.
"What's up?" Annabeth asked, hands on her hips. Her eyebrows were coated in grease from fixing the engine, as if an empousai did her makeup.
"Well, my mom spoke to me," Piper started. "Me and Jason."
"Okay, I'm already lost," Leo interrupted. "What?"
Piper bit her lip. "So, this'll sound ridiculous, but Aphrodite sent me a letter. I mean, a mental telepathic conversation would have made more sense, honestly."
"Telepathic conversations aren't that crazy," Frank offered offhandedly, leaning against the railing. Piper wondered what he meant by that.
"And what did she say?" Percy prompted.
"Cassandra," she said simply. "While you were away, Hazel, Frank and I met a girl who called herself Cassandra. She gave us a… what would you call it? A mini, ambiguous, completely ludicrous and senseless prophecy."
Percy shrugged. "All prophecies are like that. Don't feel so bad."
"It was just listing off a bunch of people," Frank offered the group. "Giver, maintainer, protector, and murderer."
"That last one sounds violent," Leo noted.
"I think the proper term was 'slayer'," Piper corrected. "But my mom also mentioned places. I think it was… 'one backwards the way you came, one to where it all started, one down south and out of way, and one just cross the shore.'"
"Of course," Annabeth cried, speaking up for the first time since the beginning of the well-pronounced 'gathering'. "How did I not put it together earlier? I'm so stupid."
"Okay, stop right there," said Percy. "Just tell us what you marvelously figured out, and refrain from calling yourself an idiot for several minutes beforehand. I know smart people like to do this, but it annoys everyone."
"You have no idea how much it annoys us," Leo helped, nodding as if it were all very wise.
Annabeth almost rolled her eyes, but caught herself and just started explaining. "Vesta helped us. Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. Vesta, the protector of the family. The protector of life. The protector of the original hearth—where it all started."
"And?" Jason prompted.
"That's where we'll find her," Annabeth said, folding her arms surely. "Up on Mount Olympus."
*winces at the shortness of this chapter* I'll put the next chapter up soon, I promise.
Who do you think's POV will be next? There's only Frank, Annabeth and Jason left.
