Chapter 17! Enjoy!

I stood in front of a curtained cave entrance, staring up at the foreboding carved rock. I gulped and raised a trembling fist to tap on the rock. I heard a girlish voice say, "Come in" and I stepped behind the curtain

Inside the cave was a complete parallel to what the outside suggested. It was that of a modern teenage dream; comfy furniture, a huge tv, guitars lounging around, music, which I had somehow not heard from the outside, blasting so loud I couldn't hear myself think, even a snack bar. There was art supplies everywhere, which I thought was a little out of place.

Suddenly the music died enough so that I could hear a girl behind me say, "Who are you?"

I turned and saw a girl that matched the unusual cave. She was tallish, but not quite as tall as you'd think, with an over-sized t-shirt and jeans riddled with paint and marker doodles. But the most striking thing about her was her bright green eyes and mane of bright red hair. She turned the nob on the stereo down more, and walked toward me with a gaze full of curiosity, like the way one might study a demigod, which is to say, like a bomb ready to explode.

"Um…Chiron sent me here," I said. "To see the oracle. Where is it?"

The girl's gaze steadied, and the corners of her lips curved up ever so slightly in amusement. "You mean where is she? Well, you're looking right at her" she held out her hand "I'm Rachel Elizabeth Dare".

"Jo Goodrace," I said, shaking her hand. "And I'll give you the casualty not to have to suffer my middle name".

Rachel chuckled. "Have a seat, please".

I sat, and Rachel sat beside me.

"Chiron sent you for a prophecy, correct?" Rachel said, as if this where a completely normal thing.

"I guess so," I said. Chiron hadn't told me that specifically, but if Rachel spoke about it in such a casual way…

"Ok then," Rachel said. She crossed her legs and put her palms open on her knees. "Give me your hands".

I placed my hands in hers, and then waited. Rachel seemed to be listening for something. After a while she said, "You nervous about your first quest?"

"A little," I admitted.

"It's ok," she said. "Everyone's nervous. I remember when I was first introduced to all this".

"So you're a half-blood too?"

"No, I'm just a mortal who can see through the mist," Rachel smiled. "But that's why I've been given the spirit of Delphi. To give prophecies".

"Oh".

Rachel closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she opened them again, but they weren't the bright green they had been. They were full of green light. Rachel opened her mouth, and a green fog slithered out, followed by a snake-like voice. I wanted to scream and run away, but Rachel's grip on my hands was like a vise.

You will travel to the land without rain,

And fight the army of Luck's bane.

A trap set by the unfortunate's foe,

A scar with which can never regrow.

The end will stray from what was planned,

And one will perish by a mother's hand.

Rachel collapsed on the couch, and finally let go of my hands. I dew them back frantically, staring down at the girl who had spoken the most dangerous thing in the world to me.

Rachel finally opened her eyes, sat up, and said, "Did—did I speak a prophecy?"

I gulped and nodded.

"Good," Rachel said. "Can you tell me?"

I shook my head. "That was crazy".

Rachel lowered her head. "It was something bad, wasn't it?"

I nodded.

Rachel looked at me, and I saw a somewhat guilty expression. But she smiled and said, "Hey, don't worry. Prophecies often have multiple meanings".

"Yeah," but I wasn't so sure.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Back at the Big House, I found Chiron, Leo, Grover, and Mr. D sitting at the table on the front porch. When I approached they looked at me expectantly.

"What did the oracle say?" Chiron asked.

I chewed my lip. "She…she said I'd go to the land without rain".

Chiron raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"That's it," I lied.

Chiron obviously wasn't satisfied, but didn't push me. He spoke to Mr. D, "So what do you think? Are they allowed to go?"

Mr. D looked up at me and sniffed. I scowled right back at him. Then he shrugged and said, "Well, I won't try and oppose the future. Go on your little quest, and I hope you have a tragic death. Oops, I mean good fortune".

Before I could charge the man, Leo and Grover dragged me away.

"Better not," Grover whispered.

So there's chapter 17! Hope ya liked it!