The Mark of Athena Chapter 5

Percy:

"Yo guys? We got a problem here" He said.

Percy had called them all onto the deck on the Argo II. All the cabin leaders and praetors had gathered around him on the deck, giving him anxious looks.

"What's up man?" asked Grover.

"Listen guys. I had a dream." said Percy.

"This can't be good." muttered Leo.

"It's not." agreed Percy. "Gaea has Nico. She lured him into Tartarus. We need to go down there to rescue him."

Leo laughed. "I thought you said Tartarus." He said, looking around. "Oh."

"We're going down to L.A. To the Underworld, then down into Tartarus." said Percy.

There was a lot of muttering, and people looking around.

"Now?" asked Annabeth.

"Of course now!" said Percy. "What, you want to go next weekend? Or during Thanksgiving break maybe? We round up everyone who can fit on the ship and go!"

"Look that sounds like a great idea and everything," began Rachel, the camp oracle. "But there's something you guys should know." She said with a painful look on her face.

When everyone kept on looking at here she took a deep breath and began. "A few hours ago, when we were just hanging out after Octavian left, I had a vision. We can't go and save Nico. It's against the prophecy."

No one spoke. "Oh yeah." she added. " And Camp Half Blood is under attack."

"Whoa whoa whoa back up." said Jason. "Tell us more slowly."

"OK." replied Rachel. "I got a message from camp just before we landed. Chiron told me that a huge army was around 2 hours away from camp. The army was similar to the one that attacked here a few days ago. I got that message about 2 and a half hours ago."

"And you just forgot to tell us this?" asked Jason, not trying to hide the irritation in his voice.

"Chiron told me not to tell you until we decided what to do."

"And about Nico?"

"The prophecy says we can't save him." she said looking miserable.

"Tell us the exact words." said Annabeth.

"I can't." replied Rachel. "No one was around me to hear it, and the voice speaks through me, but it doesn't tell me anything. All I saw was pain. And death. If we go to rescue him, one of us won't make it back."

Again no one spoke.

"I'm going." said Percy, determined.

"I'm coming too. He's my brother." said Hazel.

Everyone turned to look at her. So far that was the only thing that she had said.

"Percy, you guys, you can't do this!" Interrupted Annabeth. "Someone going to die!"

"We can't leave him." said Percy simply.

"I want in then." said Jason

"I'm coming too." Frank stepped forward.

"I'll come if you want me." said Grover, looking nervous.

"Hold on guys!" said Percy. "We can't all go! Someone has to go back to camp and help with the invasion."

He turned to Annabeth. "I need you to take everyone but me, Hazel, Frank, and Grover back to camp."

"What? No! I'm coming with you." she replied.

"Yeah. I'm coming." said Jason.

"We don't have time for this" said Percy, voice rising. "Me, Hazel, Frank, and Grover know him best, and we need Annabeth to lead back at camp."

He turned to Annabeth, holding her close. "Don't worry, nothing's going to happen to me."

"Leo, I need you to take us to L.A. How long will it take?"

"At the rate of our ship? About 30 minutes." Leo said.

"Then let's go."