The Sleeping God

To be honest, my head was only just starting to pound as I swam through the opening (and, of course, my prickles reacted negatively to that). If I had been at full strength, I fully believe I would've made it fine to the light I could see several yards away. I was a relatively strong swimmer, or at least I liked to believe I was, as that was part of training at camp.

However, I was not at full strength. My side was burning now. My prickles were taking up half my mental energy. This slowed me down tremendously. Huixing and Ellery's lights grew further and further away from me. My head began to pound like taiko drums in a theater, to the tune of my heartbeat. My lungs were starting to scream. In a panic, I grasped out for anything that might help me move forward.

It was a small cave-like tunnel, I think, because I slammed my palm into a sharp rock. I nearly exhaled but managed to keep the stale air in my lungs, despite the pressure it put on my chest and the way it made my head pound.

Trying to ignore my now-throbbing hand (on top of everything else), I reached out again, grasping at any hand hold I could find to pull myself forward, trying not to cut myself again.

Still, I wasn't moving nearly as fast as I wanted to.

My vision was going fuzzy. The lights in the distance swirled in a way that reminded me of a kaleidoscope. My body screamed in several different ways—my lungs for air, the new cut on my hand, my side, my pin-pricks.

I slowed to a stop.

I refused to breathe, though. I would rather pass out and hope I drowned while unconscious.

The last thing I remembered was someone grasping my good hand.

I jolted awake with a gasp. Before I could do much else, Huixing appeared in my field of view. She smiled gently.

"You're safe," she said.

I looked around, trying to calm my pounding heart and push away my pin-pricks. I was in a familiar bedroom but my brain was still waking up.

"Where?" I asked, my tongue feeling too big for my mouth.

"Ellery's apartment. He has more medical supplies than mine."

"So does mine," I mumbled, still trying to gather my bearings. I was sitting up in a bed, propped up with pillows behind me. Beside me was a nightstand with a small lamp, alarm clock, and phone charger. Both the lamp on the nightstand and overhead light was on for some reason. I blinked, my eyes still adjusting to so much stimulus.

Huixing shrugged, bringing my attention back to her. "His place was closer."

"Could you move, please?" Ellery's voice came from just behind Huixing.

Huixing exhaled and rolled her eyes, stepping aside to reveal Ellery, sitting in a chair he'd pulled up to the edge of the bed, redoing the stitches in my side.

With a jolt, I remembered cutting my hand and brought my hand up to inspect it: a thin, pink line crossed across my palm. I reached up with my uninjured hand to gently stroke it.

"Nothing a little nectar couldn't fix," Huixing said. I noticed she was holding a mug. It steamed with something, but I was too tired to ask.

Instead, I nodded, looking back down at my side.

"You tore them," Ellery said, before I could ask, and confirming my suspicions.

He was still, ridiculously, wearing a suit, but he'd shed his jacket (which was hanging on the back of the chair he was currently sitting in) and rolled up the sleeves of his button-down.

Huixing had clearly changed but that was an outfit I'd seen her wear before. Had she gone home at some point to get a clean pair of clothes? Looking down at myself, I saw I was in my usual jeans and tank top, some of which was rolled up so Ellery could stitch me up. Had she had time to pop over to my place as well? The thigh bag Will had given me was missing though, and I hoped it was hanging somewhere else to dry and not lost.

Huixing carefully perched on the armrest of Ellery's chair, making sure to stay out of Ellery's way. Even so, Ellery shot her an irritated look and shifted before continuing his work, quipping, "That's not better."

"Hush," Huixing scolded. She held out the mug she'd been holding. "It's hot chocolate."

"Thanks," I mumbled, reaching over to take it. It was pleasantly warm, and I shivered when I realized how cold I was. My prickles certainly liked the warmth.

"What happened?" I asked before taking a sip.

"There was an opening at the end of the tunnel," Huixing explained. "And another section on dry land. When we realized you'd fallen behind, I dove back in and swam you the rest of the way. You were half-conscious when we pulled out, and then fully passed out soon after. We treated your wounds as best we could—at least got the bleeding to stop—and then continued on. Ellery carried you on his back, I navigated."

"Were you able to use the map again?" I asked, skeptically.

Huixing shook her head. "No, but I'm lucky." She grinned and winked.

I rolled my eyes and hid my smile behind my mug, but then caught sight of the clock and stiffened. My side protested, my prickles rose like a tidal wave, nearly overwhelming me.

"The time—" I started, panic seizing me. It was currently 2am.

"We checked in with Hargrave before midnight," Ellery assured, keeping his eyes on his stitch-work.

"Your brother and his fiancée are fine," Huixing added softly, with a reassuring smile.

I let myself ease back into the pile of pillows but found it hard to relax after that, with adrenaline coursing through my body now. And my chronic pain was now agitated. It was comforting in some way to know they were still safe, though. At least I didn't have to worry about that right at the moment.

What the Colossus was going to do, however….

I frowned and glared down at Ellery. I knew it wasn't exactly his fault but it was easier for me to direct my anger at him than the emperors. I was angrier that he'd kept information from me until the last minute. That probably sounds a bit strange but I had done this to camp before. I had knowingly sent danger their way. I think I had become numb to it. (Which, yes, wasn't exactly a good thing.)

Of course, I would help in any way I could. And that didn't relieve any guilt I felt. But I was always caught between two bad choices, and I always had to choose what I felt I could live with. Dan and Anya being punished if I had disobeyed…I could not live with.

Now, I also had to come up with a way to warn them without tipping them off how I knew. I suppose I could've told them I had a demigod dream, as that was very common, but a bit of a risk. There was no guarantee, considering my betrayals in the past, they would trust what I said. If they did, they would most likely think I was lying about the dream part, and assume I had betrayed them yet again. (Yes, the latter was technically true. No, that didn't stop it from hurting so much.)

Ellery finished up and sat back, breaking me from my musings. "I'll drive you back tomorrow morning. You should sleep for a few more hours."

I frowned. "And you?"

He shrugged. "I'll sleep if I feel tired enough."

"Why do you always ignore me?" Huixing complained, twisting on her perch to glare at him.

Ellery made a face but didn't look up at her. "I don't ignore you."

Huixing rolled her eyes and began, in a mocking, high-pitched voice, "'I'm sorry about sending you into the Labyrinth, Tori.' 'I would never lead you into something purposefully dangerous, Tori.' 'You're free to stay overnight at my place, Tori.' 'I'll drive you back to Camp Half-Blood, Tori.'"

Ellery shifted so he could glare up at Huixing. "Like you're any better." His voice became mocking as well, "'I can't believe you sent me off on a useless training exercise while Tori was in the Labyrinth.' 'Tori got injured and I could've been there to help her.' 'I'll always side with Tori.' 'You should let Tori rest more.'"

"I don't sound like that," Huixing growled.

"I was doing the same voice you used for me," Ellery objected.

They started in, and I fought the urge to either throw the mug at them, or toss the rest of my hot chocolate on them. My head began to pound with a headache. My side ached. My prickles began to invade what was left of my mental energy.

"Guys, please," I begged, instead of throwing hot liquid on them, my voice wavering for added effect. I hadn't meant to do that but it was effective. They both stopped mid-sentence and looked over at me. "I'm tired, and cold, and in pain."

They pointed at each other.

"He started it," Huixing said just as Ellery said, "She started it."

I gripped my mug and grit my teeth. "Are you two twelve?"

"I'm going to sleep," Ellery said abruptly, standing, forcing Huixing to stand as well. She barely had time to step away before Ellery brushed past her, and grabbed his jacket as he walked around the chair.

"Isn't this your bedroom?" Huixing asked as he headed swiftly to the door.

"I'll sleep on the sofa," he said as he disappeared through the door, not giving us a backward glance.

Huixing huffed, crossing her arms. "He's so oblivious."

I looked over at her. I wasn't usually good with spotting romantic and/or sexual tension, but in this instance, it was hammering against my head (much like my forming headache).

"Right," I intoned.

"Anyway," she said in a far too chipper tone for two in the morning and after a near-death experience. She seemed to have missed my comment or was completely ignoring it. "Guess we're sharing the bed. If you don't mind, of course."

I shook my head. "I don't mind." I carefully set my now empty mug on the nightstand. "Could you grab me some pain meds, first?"

"Sure." Huixing headed into the ensuite bathroom and rummaged around in Ellery's medicine cabinet for a few moments before I heard her find a bottle of pills and shake some out. She came back out and handed me the pills before taking my mug for water.

Once I had taken some pain meds, she helped me stand. We turned down the bed; I threw some of the pillows to her side as she turned off the overhead light and closed the door. Then we crawled under the sheets. Ellery had a king-sized bed, so that left plenty of room for both of us.

I had to slowly and painstakingly reach over to turn off the lamp on the nightstand. By the time I got settled in again, Huixing had fallen asleep.

As we were exiting Ellery's apartment 3 hours later (and after Huixing and Ellery insisted I eat breakfast and take a little more ambrosia; Will's thigh-bag had been drying and it was now back on my thigh), Hargrave was waiting for us. A large, black SUV was parked at the curb, still running. Hargrave was standing on the sidewalk, just outside of it. Flanking his right side was a merc. Strangely, Hargrave was holding a pot with red and purple hyacinths.

My prickles reacted negatively, and I groaned internally as soon as I saw him. I was afraid I was going for another fun SUV ride, but no one gestured for me, or Ellery or Huixing for that matter, to get into the SUV.

"I thought I'd congratulate you for a job well done," he said once we were in earshot.

I gritted my teeth, fisting my hands, which were in my jacket pockets. I wanted to snipe back at him but knew that would only get my brother and Anya hurt, so I held back.

"I have another small request for you, before you head back to camp, dear," Hargrave said, grinning at me. I waited. He held out the pot. "Take these with you. Give them to your father, will you? I think he'll like these, don't you?"

I simply stepped forward enough to take the pot from him, then stepped back toward Ellery and Huixing.

"My, you three are quiet this morning," Hargrave said. "You should be proud! Another mission completed. You work well together. I'd say we made a good choice, pairing you up."

He was once again met with silence. Realizing we had nothing to say, Hargrave sighed and shrugged.

"C'est la vie, then." He turned and the merc opened the back door to the SUV for him. "I'll be seeing you."

We all waited until he'd driven off to move.

"Hyacinths," Ellery said, glancing at the pot in my hands.

Huixing reached up to rub the soft petals between her fingers. "They're beautiful."

I stared at them, wondering what kind of game Hargrave was playing. Even though they were obviously a reference to Hyacinthus, they made me think of Luke. Not for any comparison to Hyacinthus, nor to his myth, but…perhaps I had more in common with my father than I thought.

I didn't like that.

"Let's go," I muttered, shifting the pot in my hands, so I could see a little better.

The drive back to camp was pretty silent.

"How is your side?" Huixing asked from the back. I was in the passenger's seat again, holding the pot in my lap.

"Feels better," I said, staring out the window. "Still sore." I turned away from the window and looked at Huixing through the rearview mirror. "While I'm at camp, will you two do me a favor?"

Huixing nodded. "Of course."

"What is it?" Ellery asked.

I relayed what I wanted them to do, and finished just as Thalia's tree came into view. "I'll check back in when I can. I have a feeling I won't be needed at camp for very much longer."

"You know how to contact me," Huixing winked. Then her gaze went over to Ellery. "How does impersonating a doctor sound to you?"

"I've done worse," Ellery said, as he slowed to stop on the curb.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the car door. "Thanks, guys." I carefully stepped out with the flowers.

"Stay safe," Huixing said, leaning forward from the back, nearly catching Ellery in the chin.

"You know, you could just move to the passenger's seat," Ellery said.

Huixing pulled back to look at him. "I like sitting in the back. It makes me feel like you're my chauffeur."

"Get out," Ellery said.

"Make me," Huixing replied.

Ellery narrowed his eyes.

"Knock it off," I snapped. "Only one of us is allowed to be injured at a time."

Huixing sat back and Ellery turned away, looking out the driver's side window as they both muttered, "Sorry."

"Goodbye," I said.

"See you," Ellery replied.

Huixing leaned forward again and shouted, "Bye Tori!"

Ellery turned as Huixing sat back again, opening his mouth and I slammed the door shut just as he began speaking. As I turned to make my way up the hill, I heard shouting.

I greeted Peleus, letting his warmth soothe my prickles. I patted his snout and he grumbled contentedly as I hummed a little tune.

Several moments later, with the shouting still going strong, the car pulled back out into the road. It made a sharp U-turn, and began heading back into the city. I frowned. I hoped their bickering wouldn't get them killed while I was gone.

I'm honestly surprised we'd completed so many missions successfully before. Surprised their bickering hadn't gotten us all killed yet.

"Good to see you, too, big guy," I murmured to Peleus. "But I have to go."

Peleus grumbled and whined.

"I know, I know, I'm always off somewhere." I sighed. "One of these days, I'll have a proper sit-down with you and sing you a song, okay?"

Peleus grumbled again, pulling away and wrapping up around Thalia's tree again. He was such a baby sometimes. I did miss him. Being around him too long made me think of Audrey II, though, and that was too painful right now. I just hoped she was okay.

I made my way down to the cabins at a slow pace. Dawn had yet to break—but I could feel it coming—so no one was up and about. I didn't need to worry about running into anyone. Especially with this pot of flowers in my hand. I felt like that would've been too suspicious. If it had been any other type of flower, I think I would've been fine. But hyacinths? That was a little too on the nose.

I skipped over the Apollo cabin proper and went straight to the infirmary. I slipped inside quietly, glancing around, just in case. It was dark and I couldn't see anyone in any cots, so I went over and set the pot of flowers in one of the window sills, so they could get some light.

As I was reaching up to stroke one of the petals, I heard a shriek from outside. Without really thinking, I had exited the infirmary and began running toward where I thought the sound had come from. When I realized, I didn't know where I was actually going, I stopped and listened. One of my hands went to my belt of throwing knives, just in case I had to react fast.

Whoever was screaming began cursing in Italian. And it was coming from across the green, near the forest.

I took off in that direction, ignoring the way my side protested and how my prickles burned, and paused again when I saw the forest. I scanned the tree-line and a few yards to my right saw two people in the grass. I jogged over, not seeing any immediate danger.

More campers appeared, half-awake and half-dressed in battle armor, as I came up to Chiara shoving an unconscious Apollo off her and sitting up, still muttering to herself in Italian.

"Are you okay?" I asked, taking in the scene.

Chiara started and looked up at me with wide eyes. "I-I'm fine," she managed.

I offered her a hand and helped her to her feet. We both looked down at Apollo.

"I guess we should help him up," I said.

Chiara laughed before reaching down to grab one of his arms. I did the same, grabbing his other arm. The other campers had finally arrived, looking more confused than concerned, their weapons half-lifted, eyes still a little glazed from being woken up so abruptly.

Chiron galloped over a moment later. Stress often aged him, and the stress of everything going on at camp and in NYC had aged him older than I'd ever seen him before. You knew it was bad when Chiron looked his age (which was about 4000 years old).

"It's fine," Chiara said as we put Apollo's arms over our shoulders. "I just got startled. You can all go back to your cabins. Sorry to worry everyone."

Everyone who'd come exchanged glances and looked around, just in case there was a stray monster, I suppose, before deciding it was too early anyway. Grumbling and muttering under their breaths, they slowly began to disperse. In pairs, of course.

Except for one pair. (And Chiron.)

Will and Nico stood by, both still in their pajamas. Will held a short-sword and Nico held his Stygian iron sword. Their curly hair very messy and unkempt, as neither of them had even had time to run their fingers through.

Will was frowning at me. "You're back."

"You don't have to look so displeased about it," I muttered. (Ugh, I would have to take some pain meds. Or, oh, I still had some vials of the pain elixir Lou Ellen had made for me before I left yesterday.)

Will blinked, his frown clearing. "S-sorry. It's not— What happened?" He nodded to Apollo, propped up between Chiara and I.

"Here, Chiara," Nico began, sheathing his sword. "Let me take him." He stepped toward us.

"Oh, uh, thank you," Chiara stuttered as she and Nico switched places. She looked at Will, then. "Um, I—" She frowned. "I'm not sure why I was out here. But suddenly Apollo appeared in front of me. Said something and then passed out. He fell right on top of me! I was so unprepared, I fell over, too! So rude!"

Will put a gentle hand on Chiara's arm. "Tori will walk you back to your cabin—the buddy system, and all. Nico and I can take D—Apollo to the infirmary." Will glanced and frowned. "Where's Meg?"

Chiara shook her head. "I did not see her come out of the woods. Oh, dear. Do you think…" She trailed off, not wanting to say it out loud. No one did.

"She's alive," Nico said. "I can feel that much. Once we get Apollo to the infirmary, we can go looking for her."

"I'm afraid not," Chiron spoke for the first time since we'd arrived. "We cannot risk losing more campers to the forest. It's too dangerous."

"But Chiron," Will objected. "Meg is out there, and she's still alive! We need to go look for her!"

Chiron shook his head, looking solemn. "I'm sorry, Will, but it's too dangerous. We…have to hope she can survive long enough for Apollo to tell us what happened. This was his and Meg's quest, we must trust that he will be able to complete it."

Will and Nico began to object but Chiron interrupted them, his voice stern but weary, exhausted, "I'm sorry, but that is my final word on the matter."

The grass around Nico's feet withered and browned. Will huffed but said nothing more. Instead, he turned to me.

He looked at me expectantly. I tried not to roll my eyes as I handed Apollo over to him. I stepped back, next to Chiara, as Will and Nico began dragging Apollo to the infirmary. I took this moment to quickly down a vial of elixir. My prickles quieted down, to my relief.

Chiron was now looking into the forest with a pained expression. I could imagine what was going through his head at the moment; I could empathize to a degree with the kind of decision he had to make just then. (Then I felt bad for judging him so harshly on how he trained demigods. It was clear he was doing the best he could in bad situations, where his only options were "bad" and "worse.")

I turned to Chiara. "Shall we?" I asked. She nodded and we began to head back to her cabin.

Half-way there, Damien ran up to us, half-dressed and a little wild-eyed. But he only had eyes for Chiara.

"Are you okay?" he asked, breathless. "Sherman said—" He broke off abruptly, noticing my presence. "I…I-I mean, what were you doing going near the woods without your buddy?" He mashed his eyebrows together and frowned but I could see the relief on his face. "Chiron said—"

Chiara huffed and crossed her arms. "I know what he said. It's not my fault whatever is in the woods can put people into trances." She scoffed then muttered under her breath, "Idiota."

Damien opened his mouth to respond and I turned away, heading back to the Apollo cabin. They started bickering and walking back to Chiara's cabin. I slipped into the Apollo cabin but didn't close the door fully. Instead, I turned and peeked out across the green through the small sliver I left in the door, to see Chiara and Damien standing on the Tyche cabin's porch.

They glanced around to make sure no one else was watching. Damien hesitantly reached up to brush his knuckles against Chiara's arm before letting it fall to his side, telling her something. Chiara nodded and responded, reaching over to take Damien's hand, giving it a quick squeeze. Then Damien, now red, even from where I was standing, leaned forward and kissed Chiara's cheek, before turning and practically running back to his own cabin.

Chiara turned to watch him go, her eyes wide, face as red as Damien's.

I silently closed the door, smiling sadly. They were about the same age me and Luke had been, when our friendship had turned into something more romantic.

When I turned around, I came face-to-face with a disapproving expression from Nico. Will wasn't with him.

"He's checking on Apollo," Nico said, as if reading my mind.

"Don't look at me like that," I said. "I don't need that from a fifteen-year-old."

"Our relationship is different from yours and Will's," Nico said.

"Not that different. I consider you like a younger brother to me, Nico."

"And I consider you like an older sister, but I felt your life force waver." His frown deepened. "And your death aura…" His expression became complex, upset and confused, but curious.

"What does that mean?"

Nico shook his head. "I don't know. Nothing good. Not if you continue down the path you're currently on. You're hurtling toward a brick wall, Tori."

"I don't know what to tell you, Nico." I shrugged, helplessly. "I told you the circumstances. I can't do anything about it."

Nico opened his mouth to respond but Will walked in from the side door. He shut it and leaned against it, letting out a long, slow breath.

"Dad's going to be fine," Will said, more to himself than either of us. Then he looked up and between us. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," I said quickly. Nico shot me a look. I shook my head ever-so-slightly.

Nico huffed and looked at Will. "You don't need to worry about it." He didn't say "now" or "yet" but it hung in the air. And Will picked up on it. His eyes went to me and he scrutinized me.

For some reason, I was more afraid he was going to ask me about my fractal burns than my side. Instead, he straightened up and his expression softened.

"I'm glad you're back," he said in a neutral tone. "May I look at your stitches?"

I think my little pep talk had helped. I gave him a small smile. "It's good to see you. And yes, you may."

We went back into the infirmary. I took a seat in a cot farthest away from Apollo, so as not to wake him. I shed my jacket, and lifted my turtleneck and tank top to reveal my healing wounds. They didn't look as sore, but they certainly still felt really sore.

Will pulled up a chair. Nico took a seat in the cot opposite the one I sat in. We had a stare-off as Will took a moment to examine my new stitches.

"They look clean," Will said, bringing my attention back to him. He'd sat back and was frowning, despite his declaration.

"Then why the long face?" I asked.

Will rolled his eyes. "You ripped your stitches, didn't you." It wasn't a question.

"I put them back," I defended.

My brother shook his head and wagged his finger at the stitches. "That's not your work. I know what your stitches look like."

"You know what my stitches look like?" I repeated, exasperated. Nico snickered. Will gave me a look. "Fine, someone else replaced them. At least I replaced them. That should count for something, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure." The corners of his lips turned up slightly. "Did you visit a doctor?" he asked, skeptically.

"No, I have a demigod friend," I explained. "Also trained in medicine. As far as any of us are trained in it, anyway."

Will snorted.

A gentle knock sounded from the front door of the infirmary. We all looked just as Rachel poked her head in. She sidled in, quietly closing the door behind her. She was still wearing that velvet green dress from the school she was currently attending. And she looked pretty haggard. Her vibrant red, curly hair hung loosely around her face, and her eyes looked sunken in.

She scanned the cots, her eyes briefly lingering on Apollo's unconscious form, then spotted us and made her way over.

"Apollo's going to be fine," Will said as she came within earshot. Or, rather, came within earshot when Will was speaking low, so as to not wake Apollo. "We don't know where Meg is right now. Chiron won't let us go into the woods to find her." Will paused, swallowing. "But I think Apollo needs as much rest as he can get."

"She's still alive, though," Nico assured.

Rachel blinked. "Oh. Right, thank you. I…" She trailed off, looking sheepishly at me, of all people. Her eyes flickered to Will and Nico. "Well, I was actually looking for Tori." She gestured noncommittally to me with one of her hands.

I felt the same surprise that passed over Will and Nico's faces.

I barely had a relationship with Rachel. I don't think I'd ever actually talked to her before. I mean, I had said hello and maybe made small talk now and again, but I had never really sat down and really talked to her. Mostly because she was a busy person. Not just because she was the oracle, but also because her father was a business mogul, so even though that gave Rachel more freedom than most teens had, that also meant she was out and about—rebelling against her dad in her own little ways. So, she rarely visited camp, and if she did, she didn't stay long.

I knew she had a cave on Half-Blood Hill that Apollo had made for her after she'd accepted the oracle. And, of course, a few things I'd picked up here and there from her friends (like Percy and Annabeth), but other than that I didn't consider us remotely close.

So, it was very strange she had come looking for me. To talk to me, even.

I lowered my shirt and donned my jacket again.

"Here, why don't we go to your…cave," I said. "Best not wake the sleeping god, eh?"

The walk over was silent. Awkwardly silent. But it was clear she didn't feel comfortable bringing up whatever she wanted to talk to me about in such an open space. When we got to her cave, I let her enter first, then followed.

Keeping my hands in my jacket pockets, I looked around the dimly lit cave. It was strange that she could call this cozy. Caves always evoked a certain coldness, and dampness to me. Not to mention the echoing sounds. Of course, this cave didn't feel anything like what I was picturing.

Still, it looked like Rachel had painted over her previous works with white paint. And she hadn't been in here for months, as far as I could tell, so it didn't exactly feel welcoming, either.

"Um, please," Rachel gestured to the rather pathetic-looking sofa. "Have a seat."

I gave her an awkward smile before going to sit down, leaning back and stretching my legs out underneath the coffee table, which sat at a very inconvenient angle, since if you put anything on it, it'd immediately slide off and onto the floor.

The sofa was surprisingly comfortable for how pitiful it looked. Rachel had taken a seat on the stool she usually sat on when giving prophecies as the Oracle. I wondered if that counted as blasphemy.

"What did you want to talk about?" I finally asked after a pregnant pause.

"I—" She tried but closed her mouth and shook her head before shrugging and looking down at the floor.

I took a deep breath. "Why did you come to me?"

Rachel laughed, a little breathless, and a little hysterical. She shrugged. "I guess…I don't know. After everything you've been through, I thought maybe you might be the best person to ask. You seem…pretty knowledgeable."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," I said.

Rachel laughed, this time it was more relaxed. "I also felt the most comfortable talking to you." She gave me another sheepish look. "Partly because of your relationship with your—well, with Apollo."

I frowned. "Apollo?" Usually, and inscrutably, people said they wanted to talk to me because of my relationship with Luke, and everything that'd happened there (namely, the fact that he'd died).

Rachel nodded. "I guess…it feels easier talking to someone who, one, doesn't like Apollo, and two, isn't my friend. Not to say I hate you, or anything. Just that…it's a little embarrassing, I guess? Or, I know what my friends might say, and I don't want to hear it. You have a very different perspective, in part due to your…tense relationship with your d—uh, Apollo."

"Different perspective?" I asked. "I…I'm sorry, I don't exactly follow."

"I-I know, I'm sorry. Um, well, lately I've just…" She trailed off, looking at a loss for words. She looked helplessly at all the white paint on the walls of the cave. She let out a harsh breath. "Ever since Python took Delphi, I've felt…uninspired, I guess."

"Why?" I asked, still not quite sure where she was going with this, or why she'd come to me.

Rachel's eyes blazed with a fierceness I hadn't seen since she'd arrived in the infirmary. "Because Python took Delphi, I just said it." Her tone was harsh, but her eyes were filled with unshed tears.

"I don't understand the connection."

Rachel exhaled, irritated. "Becoming the Oracle always felt…right. It was my Fate. My…destiny. Deciding that was an easy decision after meeting Percy. The universe felt like it made sense. I…I could paint and make art from the things I saw. It…inspired me. But now that Python has taken Delphi back…it's all"—she gestured to the walls—"blank. And…and I h-hate it! The universe has been sent careening down a path not even the Fates can predict because Python can bend Fate to his will. I…I'm lost."

"You're sixteen, that's a normal thing to feel," I said.

Rachel barked a laugh, but there were tears in her eyes. "That's…not really what I meant. Doesn't it scare you? The uncertainty? The fact that a malevolent, giant snake monster can control the Fate of the universe?"

I shrugged. "Not really." Rachel blanched. I sat forward, bringing my legs closer, setting my feet on the ground. I curled my hands into tight fists as the ache in my chest grew, expanded (and my prickles reacted to this). "Rachel, I lost Luke. He died in my arms. My world was sent careening out of control the moment he took his last breath. And I've been trying to pick up the pieces ever since." I shrugged again. "So, the Fates exist. So, the gods are real. That doesn't mean anything to me anymore. Because the world, the universe, has always been chaotic and messy. It doesn't matter who controls it.

"Sure, having Python being in charge of it isn't ideal, much in the way that having the Titans assume reign over the world wasn't ideal, either. Or the giants. But, and you should know better than most, prophecies always have double-meanings and more than one interpretation. So, it…it just doesn't matter to me."

Rachel didn't seem to know what to say. And I really couldn't blame her.

I tried to soften my tone as I said, "You were an artist long before you became the Oracle, right? Even before you started to have prophetic dreams about Percy."

Rachel nodded mutely.

"Wouldn't it stand to reason, then, that you're still an artist, even though you were the Oracle and now you're not? Temporarily, anyway."

Rachel frowned, her eyebrows furrowing.

"You feel like you've lost some part of yourself but that's not true," I said. "When you became the Oracle, you were adding something to a whole person. Without it, you're only taking that away, not taking away some part of yourself. Besides which, you're going to a school you hate. A school that, by the looks of it, stifles your creativity." I paused to let that sink in. "Isn't there anything you've wanted to draw or paint without the pressure of being the Oracle? Or being stifled by your school? Or your father's expectations?"

"Oh." Rachel blinked, her eyes widening.

I stood. "I'll let you mull that over."

I went back to the Apollo cabin and slept after that. I was exhausted from everything. And, of course, Will wasn't wrong about needing to rest. Sleep was the best medicine, after all.

By the time I entered the Apollo cabin, my side felt sore and burned so bad, at first, I thought I'd somehow contracted poison again. My prickles, of course, didn't like that, and responded in such a way that I could barely think past the pain.

I think I managed to take some pain meds, or at least downed my last elixir, before I collapsed, fully clothed, including my jacket, onto my bed and fell asleep. (Or fell unconscious.)

Help me.

The whisper came loud in my ear, like someone was kneeling next to me to tell me a secret. I jerked away instinctively but felt frozen in place. I couldn't see anything. I couldn't even tell if I was standing or sitting or lying down.

My eyes were open. They…felt like they were open anyway.

Instantly, I began to panic. I didn't like to be restrained. It reminded me too much of being cuffed down in the mental ward, after seeing my mom attacked and killed by a hellhound.

Please, help me.

The whisper came again, this time in my other ear.

Through all my panic, some part of my brain noted that, 1) the second whisper sounded like it had come from a different person and 2) neither whisper sounded…well, they didn't sound like the wailing ghosts of the damned like you'd see in horror movies.

They sounded like prayers. Desperate, yes, but low and reverent like a prayer would be.

She's still alive.

Another whisper, but it sounded further away. Reminiscent of two people sharing a secret.

She's a traitor.

I flinched at the venom in that whisper.

I want to wake up, I thought. Please, I want to wake up.

I began to struggle. I tried to scream, but even my vocal cords seemed paralyzed. My heart began to pound. The whispers grew louder, overlapping. I couldn't make any of them out anymore. My prickles suddenly washed over me, like a sneaker wave.

I struggled harder, mentally screaming. My chest felt tight. My pin-pricks began to invade my mind, drowning out everything else.

I felt like was drowning—

I jolted awake to loud voices and a bang.

Automatically, one of my hands went to one of my throwing knives, as I looked around and gathered my bearings, and tried to push away the overwhelming rush of my chronic pain that invaded my mind.

I suppose it was lucky I was a little too groggy to respond how I usually did, which was to blindly throw a dagger at where the sound had come from, because I realized I was still in the Apollo cabin.

My breathing was ragged. My throat felt raw. But before I could think any longer about the weird dream I had, I noticed there were three others also in the Apollo cabin.

Apollo, Nico, and Will were on the other side of the cabin, arguing. I suppose they hadn't noticed me, too caught up in their conversation. Despite how heavily I was breathing.

I slowly sat up, careful of my side. Usually sleep helped my chronic pain. I guess having a stressful dream negated that. I'd have to take another elixir if I had one. At least pain meds were abundant in our cabin.

"No," Apollo was saying, drawing my attention to the three of them. "You have to stay here and protect the camp."

Will's expression turned guarded and weary. "Protect the camp from what?"

"I—I'm not sure," Apollo said. I felt a cold trickle of water slide down my spine. Because I knew. "You must tell Chiron the emperors have returned. Or rather, they never went away. They've been plotting, building their resources for centuries."

"Emperors," Nico echoed. His eyes flickered to me so suddenly, I froze like a frightened animal. I swallowed hard. Neither Will nor Apollo seemed to notice, thankfully. They were too caught up in their current conversation.

"I mean the Roman ones," Apollo explained, mistaking what Nico said as a question.

Will stepped back, like Apollo's words had slapped him. "You're saying the emperors of ancient Rome are alive? How? The Doors of Death?"

"No," Apollo choked. "The emperors made themselves gods. They had their own temples and alters. They encouraged the people to worship them."

"But that was just propaganda," Will said. "They weren't really divine."

Apollo laughed bitterly. "Gods are sustained by worship, my son"—I jolted at how weird that was to hear him say; he must've been in his old god mindset, which meant whatever he was worked up about was pretty serious—"They continue to exist because of the collective memories of a culture. It's true for the Olympians; it's also true for the emperors. Somehow, the most powerful of them have survived. All these centuries, they have clung to half-life, hiding, waiting to reclaim their power."

Will shook his head, his curls shaking. "That's impossible. How—?"

"I-I don't know!" Apollo burst. His chest was heaving but he held up a placating hand, though it looked like it was more for him than for Will or Nico. "Tell Rachel the men behind Triumvirate Holdings are former emperors of Rome. They've been plotting against us all this time, and we gods have been blind. Blind." Apollo threw his coat on. "The Beast is planning some sort of attack on camp. I don't know what, and I don't know when, but tell Chiron you must be prepared. I have to go."

Apollo started toward the door at an alarming speed. I jumped up from where I sat. Will got to him first.

"Wait!" he exclaimed. "Who is the Beast? Which emperor are we dealing with?"

"The worst of my descendants." Apollo gripped the doorknob so tight, his knuckles turned white. "The Christians called him the Best because he burned them alive. Our enemy is Emperor Nero."

Will froze, stunned. Nico glanced over at me. Apollo turned and exited the Apollo cabin. I rushed after him, ignoring Nico.

Apollo was half-way through the green by the time I caught him.

"Wait," I called. He froze, and turned toward me as I reached him. My side ached and my prickles buzzed in irritation.

"Tori, I don't have time—" Apollo began to say.

"You said you wanted to talk to me when you got back," I interrupted.

"I-I know." He glanced anxiously at the woods. "I know. And we will. I-I promise. I just…I need—Meg is in trouble. I don't have much longer." He turned without waiting for a response from me but I reached out to grab his arm.

When our bare skin met, however, I was thrown into another flashback.

I was maybe twelve, getting home late from school, having gotten detention. I'd had to take a cab as my mom had still been working and she hadn't wanted me to stay at school alone so long. (Dan was also out, but with friends, rehearsing for our school's talent show.)

As I came up to the door, lifting my key to the deadbolt, I heard muffled voices shouting.

I froze, holding my breath, straining my ears to hear what the voices were saying.

"No, Apollo!" I recognized my mom's voice. I felt my fight-or-flight instincts kick in but instead of doing either, I froze. The part of my mind that was 24 wanted to kick down the door, but the part of me that was 12 couldn't move, hand still hanging aloft with my key in my hand.

I heard a low voice respond, but it was so quiet, I couldn't make out individual words. I assumed that was Apollo.

"Stop saying that!" My mom interrupted. "You must be able to do something! You can't give me the gift of children only to tell me that I will lose one of them."

A cold, large stone dropped into my stomach.

Apollo replied, once again, too low for me to hear.

"And what of my son?" My mom asked, her voice harsh but rough, like she was holding back tears. "What will become of my son?"

I don't think Apollo responded. At least, I don't think he did because I couldn't hear his low baritone voice humming through the door. Despite this, after a long moment of silence, my mom shrieked.

"Mom!" I shouted, my body snapping out of its paralysis. I shoved my key in the door and turned the deadbolt, barely able to take it back out as I burst through the door.

Before I turned the corner to see her, I blinked and suddenly I was back on the green in Camp Half-Blood.

I gasped and released Apollo's arm like it had stung me.

Based on Apollo's expression, he'd seen what I'd just seen. But it didn't matter to him in that moment.

"I'm sorry," he said, stepping toward the forest. "Meg—I…I have to go save her. Please."

I let him go.

The first time Apollo had finally met my eyes since I'd shown up to camp and for some reason, my body felt strangely cold.

"Tori?" Nico's voice broke through the blood rushing in my ears. I turned to face him, surprised he was out on the green with me. Will wasn't with him. Still in the cabin?

Before he could ask whatever it was he wanted to ask, I cut him off, "Excuse me," I managed in a small voice. "I have—I just need a moment alone." Without waiting for a response, I quickly made my way to the Apollo cabin infirmary. I tried to keep it together long enough to get through the green, but I could feel myself crumbling and began jogging. I felt Nico's eyes burn into my back.

Clamping my hand down over my mouth, so the sobs building up in my chest couldn't escape, I broke into a sprint, practically launching myself onto the steps that led up to the infirmary.

I threw open the door, rushed through the infirmary—not stopping to close the door behind me—and straight to the walk-in storage closet we kept extra medical supplies. I locked the door and immediately turned, leaning heavily against it, before sliding down to the floor.

Tears were already streaming down my face as I pulled my knees to my chest and began sobbing into my arms. My side ached at the way my whole torso heaved but I was too upset to really care. Besides, it wouldn't matter for much longer because my pin-pricks were threatening to take over all my senses.

Some small part of me felt so pathetic over how I currently felt, but that was something Rowan and I were working through. To fully process my emotions, I needed to accept them as they came, as they were, and then begin to break them down, understand them, and work through them. So long as I didn't act out due to my emotions, all my emotions were okay to feel.

Still, this was certainly something I would be speaking about with Rowan. But I knew they were busy, and getting another appointment with them so soon and suddenly would be difficult.

So, for now, I sobbed. I let the waves of emotion wash over me, let the tears come freely.

I don't know how long it took, but once I'd calmed down enough I could speak (my hands still shook, tears still steamed down my face), I called to make an appointment as soon as possible.

Besides, even if they had a spot open for me right at this moment the Colossus was going to attack camp at any moment. I needed to find a way to warn them what we were up against without revealing I had caused this.

I had to help them prepare. I had to do damage control on something I had created.

Whoo! Another chapter on the books! So to speak lol

just chugging along thru life 😎 this past week i was sleep deprived the whole time but i think i've finally caught up this weekend, and even managed to finish this chapter!

As always, hope you enjoyed! Comments are appreciated!

Thank you for reading,
TheBrightestNight