Thank you to everyone for all of the follows, favorites, and reviews.
When I decided to use Latin for the chapter titles, I did not realize what six would translate to. I think it works though. Enjoy.
Leo didn't know what to think about the drink. Sure, it filled up with whatever he said. That was kind of suspicious though. Did they give him the dead guy's cup as well?
Then, there was that whole curse thing. So not cool. One thing that was cool was his cabin. They had treated him really well even though they seemed to be in a really bad mood. Curses could do that to someone.
He looked down at his hands. Leo could make fire appear in his hands. Maybe, he would be able to do something about the insane dragon that was running around and destroying things. There was no way he would let his siblings destroy it.
Leo looked up and looked around for Reyna. She was sitting next to Chiron but not touching her food. Chiron was not meeting her eyes which set an odd feeling through the pavilion. If anyone talked too loud, everyone would glare at them.
Leo had tried to approach Reyna, but Nyssa just grabbed his arm and pulled him away. She said something about them having to sit at their own table. It made sense to Leo, but that didn't mean he liked it.
"Where is Piper?" Leo wondered to himself. He glanced around for her before taking another sip of his drink. His mind was racing on how to find the dragon.
One of his biggest problems was that his siblings had no humor. He had been cracking jokes for the majority of dinner, and there had been almost no reaction. It sucked, but Leo would live. He could just save all of his good jokes for Piper and Reyna.
Leo was already done with his food. He had scarfed it down simply because it was delicious. His other siblings were eating solemnly like they had just come back from a funeral. When everyone finished, they all stood.
"Where are we going?" Leo questioned. He went to the end of the line. Harley glanced back at him,
"Campfire," Harley answered. "And, don't even think about asking me about my motorcycle."
Leo scoffed. That was his best joke. He followed his other siblings to a banner that resembled what had been over his head.
"This is where they sacrifice the newbies," Harley whispered.
"How are you alive then?" Leo questioned. He crossed his arms.
"I wasn't the only one that came in my first day," Harley replied with a shrug. Leo knew they were messing with him. Well, he hoped.
They all sat down. Leo stared at the ground and watched his knee bounce up and down. He heard people start to sing.
Leo looked up and saw campers in the front with instruments. This was not cool. The campers started singing about pieces of armor. Leo looked around for Reyna.
Thankfully, Reyna looked unamused. She had her arms crossed and was not singing. Her backpack was on her shoulder. She really seemed to love that thing.
Leo stared out into the distance and just prayed that the campfire would pass by quickly. That's all he really wanted. He watched the fire become gold, and the flame grew higher which was kind of cool.
It wasn't that Leo disliked campfires. He just couldn't sing well, and there was no way he would let anyone hear it. Leo glanced around again.
He smiled as he saw Piper being led to them. Some girl with red hair followed behind her. For some reason, Piper looked shaky.
After the singing was done, a half horse man walked to the front. That was a terrifying yet awesome thing. Leo glanced at Harley and spoke, "Who is that?"
"Chiron, he's a centaur," Harley replied quietly. Leo nodded and looked back at the front. He heard Chiron saying hello to everyone, but the words didn't register with them.
As Chiron spoke, there was something in his eyes. He kept giving Reyna an odd glance that a few of the campers seemed to pick up on. That only made Reyna tense up more. Percy was by her side, but there was a few feet of space between them like they had been arguing.
"When do we get to kill people?" a boy yelled. Leo glanced at the group of buff kids who looked like bullies. A girl nudged the boy. "I meant play capture the flag."
"We can't do anything until our dragon situation has been resolved," Chiron answered. He looked towards the banner that Leo was under. For a moment, Leo could have swore that Chiron's eyes focused on him. He glanced at Nyssa. "Do you have any news?"
"We're doing our best," Nyssa responded. Leo saw Piper staring at them, so he shot a finger gun at her. Harley nudged him.
"It's not good enough," the boy retorted. Others campers started yelling their opinions and some insults. Chiron stomped his hooves to catch everyone's attention. It took some time, but everyone quieted down.
"Capture the flag will return," Chiron promised. "We have other things we must discuss."
"Have you found Annabeth?" someone called. Chiron glanced at Percy who stepped closer to the fire. He seemed to age twelve years.
"I didn't find her," Percy began. The gold in the fire disappeared. The fire shrunk till it was only a few inches high. "Everyone is looking for her though. She will be found. I swear that is true, but Chiron is talking about a quest."
"Has the Great Prophecy started already?" a girl asked from the stands. Leo turned and stared at the group of really hot girls. They reminded him of Isabel though which put a sour taste in his mouth.
"Yeah Drew. I think it does," Percy admitted. He glanced at the red head near Piper. "Is it Rachel?"
Rachel stepped forward. She looked around at the campers. After taking a deep breath, Rachel spoke, "Yes."
Leo thought a nuclear bomb had gone off. Campers started all talking at once. Some looked like they were having flashbacks and wanted to bolt. Others stared ahead before looking at the ground.
"Last August," Rachel called over everyone. She stepped forward, and some demigods stepped back. "I received the Great Prophecy. It goes: Seven half-bloods shall answer the call. To storm or fire the world must fall."
"Ut cum spiritu postrema sacramentum dejuremus," Reyna interrupted as she stepped forward. Everyone turned to stare at her. Reyna looked surprised by her own actions. "Et hostes ornamenta addent ad ianuam necem."
"Bro," Leo mouthed as he looked at Piper. "Your girlfriend is a Catholic priest."
Piper was too busy staring at Reyna to notice. That was a shame. Leo made a mental note to remember the joke for the future. Everyone was dead silent as they focused on Reyna.
"An oath to keep with a final breath. And foes bear arms to the doors of death," Rachel finished. "How did you know that? In Latin no less."
Reyna opened her mouth but winced in pain. She put a hand to her temple and spoke, "I don't know. It was in some kind of book, but I don't remember."
The campfire turned to green like it was nervous for them. Reyna sat down and kept the hand to her temple. It was hard to tell how she felt.
"The first Great Prophecy led to a war," Rachel began. She glanced back at Reyna. "My guess is that this time will be worse."
"Much worse," Chiron muttered. The fire turned to purple. Someone needed to get that guy motivation lessons. Everyone seemed extremely disturbed by what he had said.
"Olympus is closed, and the gods have not contacted us since. I can feel that some of the seven are here. Not all though," Rachel said. She looked around at everyone.
Rachel told them about the Chimera. She talked about Hera's cabin and Piper passing out. Then, she talked about Reyna's conversation with someone named Ares. Leo only stared as he listened. It seemed like his friends had an interesting day.
"Reyna," Rachel continued after taking a deep breath. "Do you know your last name?"
Reyna shook her head but sat up straighter. Everyone's eyes seemed to be on them. Rachel spoke, "You have been given a quest by Hera."
Leo probably would have bolted. Everyone was staring at Reyna. She nodded as if to motion for Rachel to continue. There was no way Reyna was human if she was that calm.
"Hera must be rescued by the winter solstice. We do not know what took her, but you must find that out and save her. The council of the gods will happen then, and if Hera is not there, it will spell disaster."
"It is a day of great evil," Chiron interrupted. "Evil things stir that day. Ancient magic rises. Strength in numbers is the motto."
"Why is she leading an all important quest if she hasn't been claimed?" someone yelled. Leo glanced at the row next to him and glared. He didn't know much about this camp, but they were not going to insult Reyna.
"I was claimed," Reyna said. She brought up her tattoo for everyone to see. "This marks me. I don't know where or how I got this, but this represents my mother."
"Is Reyna correct?" Percy asked as he looked at Chiron.
"Reyna's mother is a powerful goddess. When she learns the identity of her mother, I believe everything else will become clear to her," Chiron responded.
"You won't tell me though," Reyna assumed. Chiron met her eyes and didn't respond. The fire became an even darker shade of purple. It cast a shadow over Reyna's face that made her look like one of the Roman emperors that Leo had seen in movies.
As if the night wasn't weird enough, Rachel swayed. Two people rushed forward to grab her. Another grabbed a stool that she could sit on. Rachel sat on the stool, closed her eyes, and opened them only to now have green eyes. Mist came from her mouth.
Rachel spoke in an ancient voice, "Child of war, beware the earth. The giant's revenge the seven shall birth. The forge and dove shall break the cage. And death unleash through Hera's rage."
Someone was nice enough to catch Rachel as she collapsed. They took her out of sight and to safety. Leo looked at Reyna. Her cool demeanor was still there.
"What was that?" Piper questioned into the silence. Everyone turned half of their attention to her.
"You are so dense," a girl hissed. Leo knew her name was Drew. Some of the girls next to her nodded their agreement. Percy stepped forward.
"That's what happens when we get a prophecy," Percy answered. He shot Drew a dangerous look. "Should we really free Hera? She hasn't really helped any of us, and the prophecy says that she will unleash death."
"It is my duty to rescue Juno," Reyna said. "She took my memories, and I need them back. The solution is simple."
"Tradition calls for three people to go," Percy said. "I would offer, but I'm not a child of the forge or dove. I also need to find Annabeth. The choice of the two companions is up to you."
Reyna's eyes flickered around at the banners. Her eyes focused on one with a dove then the one that Leo was under. Leo met her eyes, and they both seemed to understand.
"You'll need air transport if you want to avoid the earth," Nyssa began. She started to stand. Before Leo knew what he was doing, he was on his feet.
"I'm the hammer," Leo stated. Reyna nodded once to show her support. Her eyes were already scanning everyone underneath the dove banner.
"You don't have transport," Nyssa argued. Leo bit his tongue, so he wouldn't give away his secret. He knew exactly what he would do.
"I have an idea," Leo swore.
"You might die painfully," Nyssa warned. Leo smiled at her to show he wasn't afraid. His nerves were still in his seat.
"I'm the third member," Piper said as she stepped forward. "I got the vision of Hera. It has to be me."
"You will never represent the dove," Drew sneered as she turned towards Piper. "You shouldn't even be here!"
Leo found himself agreeing. He didn't want to, but despite the fact that Drew had only said about a dozen words, she was pretty persuasive. Other campers seemed to share his view. Reyna was the only one who didn't. Her eyes narrowed in what was anger or confusion, but they were almost the same thing on her.
"I am suppose to go," Piper said, and Leo agreed. Who was this random hot chick anyway? Why did she think she was better than Piper?
"What can you do?" Drew demanded. She also had a point. Before Leo's confused mind could torment him anymore, he saw a reddish aura appear from Piper. She was wearing a white, sleeveless gown which was so unlike her. She wore makeup, and her hair perfect.
Everyone was staring. Drew looked ready to feint from rage and her mouth opened and closed like a fish. Reyna was staring as well, and her mouth had almost fallen open. She closed her mouth and swallowed painfully. Piper was stuttering words that barely made sense.
Chiron bowed. Everyone followed his example. Chiron spoke in a somber tone, "All hail Piper McLean. Daughter of Aphrodite."
Leo looked at Reyna and raised a suggested eyebrow. She glared slightly but stared at Piper. Leo used the distraction to slip out of the stand and run to the forest. He had to get their ride. That was all that mattered.