Chapter 16! So, I've recently been thinking about the Kane Chronicles, which I think is the best trilogy (notice I said trilogy and not series in general) in the world! You know when in the last book, Carter and Sadie mention something about magic as far as long island? Am I the only one that thinks Rick Riordan should write a crossover?! Well, I thought, that might be a little cliché for professional writing, so I looked at the crossover stories on fanfiction. But, as it turns out, most of the stories (or at least all of the many I tried reading) either have such poor grammar I have trouble comprehending it, or they try and make messed up romance (ie: Percy/Sadie and Sadie/Nico) or both! It got me upset. So, I thought, why not do something about it? So, I'm thinking I might someday write a crossover story for pjo-HoO/Kane Chronicles. But even if I did, it would be just a thought to tuck away in my mind for now cause I'm already writing two fanfiction stories at once, AND I'm working on editing a novel that I plan to publish. Does anyone think I should write a crossover story?
Anyways, enough with my rambling. Let's turn the spotlight on Jo!
The next morning Chiron called an immediate war meeting right after breakfast. I sat distanced from the other camp counselors in the rec room. No one would look me in the eye. They all regarded me as though I had been infected with small pox. My first war meeting was not exactly the most memorable.
Chiron wheeled into the room, for it was way too small for horse-form, and called the meeting to order.
"I'm sure by now you've all heard about the situation and know why you're here," he said.
I shrank away even further.
"And I am sure that many of you are confused—"
"Just cut to the chase Chiron!" Clarisse interjected. "We all know we're here because a camper has betrayed us. And we all know who it was".
Everyone's eyes turned on me.
I tucked my legs up to my chest, wanting to disappear. I cast my eyes down, wishing myself away.
"Clarisse," Chiron scolded, "I know that…situations lead…toward someone's betrayl, but I will not tolerate assumptions against your own kind!"
Clarisse fell reluctantly silent. "Go on Imp," she muttered to me. "Tell them what happened".
I looked into the ancient eyes of Chiron, and stuttered, "I—I don't…I didn't do anything".
Chiron silenced cries of protest from the other demigods. He leaned in towards me. "Jo, if you did not summon Typhoeus, then who did?" he didn't seem angry or doubtful. I noticed with a shock that he was silently pleading that I was innocent.
"First of all," I said, "Who is Typhoeus?"
"Typhoeus," Chiron said, "was a fire-breathing dragon with a hundred heads that never rest".
My eyes widened.
"He was created my Gaea, as a sort of last effort to kill the Olympians in the first Titan war. The dragon sent many of the gods fleeing, and even managed to capture Zeus".
I put a hand over my mouth. "Oh, no," I said. I was horrified at the suspicion I was forming.
Chiron kept him tone calm, but deadly serious. "Jo, does this beast sound familiar to you?"
I looked at Chiron and managed to swallow the lump in my throat. "Yes".
The campers around me gasped. I stole a glance over at Percy and Annabeth. They were looking at me in disbelief and horror.
"But," I said, silencing the crowd of demigods, "I didn't summon him purposefully".
"Typhoeus can only come to earth anymore if he's summoned," Clarisse said, her voice dripping with hatred. "If you didn't summon him, who did?!"
"You didn't hear the last of what I said," I said, tears misting my eyes. "I said purposefully".
Clarisse backed off, but only because she was confused. The other campers seemed perplexed too. Only Chiron seemed to have an inkling of understanding.
"Let me explain," I said. "As you all know, my mother is Ate, the goddess of mischief".
The campers all nodded.
"Well, what you don't know is that Ate also has some influence over Luck as well. Therefore, I've been bound to an unfortunate life".
A camper from Demeter, Katie Gardener, spoke up, "But what does that have to do with anything?"
"There's more," I said. "I was born on Friday the thirteenth".
The campers gasped again. Even Chiron seemed surprised. "Jo," he said, "Why didn't you tell us this before? Do you realize how dangerous that is?"
"The cursed cabin," someone said. "It's because of you. It all makes sense".
"Yes," I said, lowering my head in shame, eyes dropping tears in spite of myself. "And I think that's how Typhoeus got into the camp. I think I did summon him, but not intentionally. I'm so sorry".
The campers were silent. The only one who wasn't, of course, was Clarisse. "What are we going to do Chiron? The girl's too dangerous to live here at camp. What if she summons more monsters" She lowered her voice "What if she summons the Titans or Giants back?"
Chiron considered this before speaking. "No camper is worth losing, no matter what the dangers. But I do agree that something must be done".
"But what can we do?" one of the Stolls said. It was Connor, or maybe it was Travis.
"Yeah," the other—Travis, or maybe Connor—said. "We can't just change her birthday".
"But there is something that I can do," I said. I told them about my dream, how I was supposed to prove myself to Ate before I could be accepted by her. "Maybe if she accepts me, she'll help with the situation of my aura".
Chiron had fallen silent. I looked at him, but as usual, I couldn't tell what he was thinking. I looked to the faces of some of the older camp counselors; Percy, Annabeth, the Stolls, Katie. They all held the same expression, like they knew something.
"Chiron," Annabeth stepped up. "Do you think she could be the one?"
Chiron looked at me, then at Annabeth. "Annabeth, I'm not sure".
"It has to be her," Annabeth persisted. "Who else could it be?"
Chiron looked at me once more, then said to the other newer camp counselors; Lacy from Aphrodite, Clovis, Butch, "I think it might be best for you to check on your campers. Lunch will be in three hours".
When they left, the only people left were me, Percy, Annabeth, the Stolls, Leo, Clarrise, Katie, and a few satyrs.
"Well?" Percy said. "Is she?"
"Am I what?" I asked.
Chiron seemed as though he couldn't tell me. Percy started talking for him though. "A month ago, just before you showed up, we noticed a disturbance in the mist".
I nodded as I remembered being told about the magic veil.
"Weird things were starting to happen in the mortal world," Percy continued. "Monsters started to feel more comfortable around mortals, and there were these freak accidents…"
"Freak accidents?" I asked.
"Mortals would be minding their own business, and then something involving magic would cause chaos," Annabeth chimed in. "One day, a mortal was driving in his car, and a hellhound jumped in front of his car, and he died from the impact of hitting it. Yet the hound was unharmed".
"And it's not just magic," Travis said. "Odds have been out of wack in general. And not in a good way".
"But what does that have to do with me?" I asked.
"The counselors that have been here the longest," Annabeth explained. "We've all been having the same dream. In my dream, I was standing in a dark room. I thought I was all alone, except then I saw one other person with me. I couldn't see her face, but I could see her eyes, like big silver drachmas. She would say to me, 'It's a trap. Go, they only want me'. I would protest that I was there to help, but the girl would insist, 'I'm the only one who can fix it. Besides, I need to make my mark'". Annabeth looked at me. "It wasn't until you came that I thought to tell it to Chiron, to find out that other people had been having the same dream".
"Are you suggesting some sort of adventure?" I asked.
"A quest," Annabeth said. She looked at Chiron. "Right?"
Chiron nodded. "I think she may be the one".
"But where will I go?" I asked.
"Arima," Annabeth said.
"Where now?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's the place that Typhoeus used to live," Annabeth explained, "Before the Olympians defeated him".
"Oooooh," I said.
Percy raised his hand. "But Arima was located in Syria".
"Yes," Annabeth said.
"So…um…isn't Syria a little far to go?" he asked.
"Yes it is," Annabeth said. I looked at her face and could tell she was trying to be patient with Percy.
Percy wasn't getting it, whatever it was Annabeth was trying to communicate. "Only one quest has sent us around the world, and it was really dangerous, and…oh, wait. Western civilization".
Annabeth nodded.
"Ok, western what?" I asked.
"Western civilization," Annabeth said. "You don't know about that?"
I shook my head.
"Oh, well, over time, the gods moved to the U.S. You know that right?"
I nodded.
"Well, the gods weren't the only think that moved. If they moved, their home, Mount Olympus, had to move too. And also the main entrance to the Underworld, as well as all the other important monuments in mythology".
I nodded again. It made sense. "So where's the new Arima?"
"The Mojave desert," Annabeth said. "Arima is always located in the west, away from the gods and mortals alike. The Mojave Desert is in California, close to Las Vegas. If you go there, you may find out what's been happening with the Luck on earth".
"Well, then," I said, "I guess I had better start packing my bags".
"Wait," Chiron said. "It will be dangerous. Any quest is too dangerous to go alone. You may have two people accompany you" he turned to the rest of the campers "Will anyone go with Jo?"
No one answered. Not even Percy or Annabeth. I looked around, but the room was silent.
"I'll go," I voice said. I looked and saw Grover trotting up.
"Very well," Chiron said. "Anyone else?"
"I'll go," said Leo, standing up and walking over to me. he smiled and said to me, "You didn't really think I'd let you go on a life-threatening quest on your own, did you Chica?"
I rolled my eyes.
"It looks like we have a quest," Chiron said. "You need to speak with the Oracle, Jo. Come back to me when you have".
So I walked out of the Big House, unsure of what the Oracle would hold about my fate.
So there it is! I'm so happy for spring break this week! I might update another chapter this week because of that.