Piper could tell immediately that Annabeth didn't have her heart set on the tour.
She told Piper all the great things here at camp and how fun it was. They even passed a miniature coliseum, where Annabeth said they practiced sword techniques and archery. Sometimes they even had public duels. Piper might've believed the hype if Annabeth didn't sound so dull talking about it. The search for Percy the past three days has drained her of any positive energy.
Annabeth explained that camp was a strawberry farm in Long Island, New York. Freaking New York! They traveled almost across the entire country on a flying chariot in two seconds. As scary as it was, Piper was never going to get an economy class flight ever again. Or first class for that matter.
Ever since her dad became a famous actor, every trip they took was first class. Piper was kind of sick of it. Now her dad was busy filming the new 'King Of Sparta' movie. Contacting him now would be impossible. She loved her dad and she was glad he found his passion in acting. But was it too much to ask for him to make SOME time for her? It didn't help that he refused to talk about her mom anytime she asked. That drove the wedge between them deeper.
"So." Piper said as they walked past the lava wall, "My mom is a goddess. Any idea which one she could be?"
Annabeth turned to look at her. "You took the news surprisingly well."
Piper shrugged, "Any news is better than no news. So, any ideas?"
"Hard to say." Annabeth mused, putting her mind to it. Piper could tell she was a smart girl with a million thoughts in her head. She figured Annabeth humored her question to distract herself from her own problems. "Only way to know for sure is to wait until you get claimed. But, you're too old to still be unclaimed." Annabeth muttered.
"Gee, thanks."
"I mean older than 13." Annabeth corrected, before cracking a smile."The gods promised they'd claim all their kids by the time they turned 13."
"How hard is it for them to keep track of their kids?" Piper asked with absurdity.
"Believe me," Annabeth said, "Some of them have A LOT of kids."
"Then, which goddess has the most kids? Maybe she just forgot to claim me. " Piper said, though she hated the idea.
Annabeth winced, "Well, except the ones that are married or vowed eternal maidenhood, the goddesses have almost as many kids as the gods. Sometimes even more."
Piper sighed in defeat, "..Let's just continue the tour."
Annabeth showed Piper the cabins, each one was dedicated to a specific god, and their kids would sleep in them. There were twelve cabins formed in a half circle while others were built around in their own area.
"We used to have all the unclaimed or minor god kids sleep in the Hermes cabin." Annabeth explained, "Now most minor gods have their own cabin, or at least shrine so they don't feel left out. The Olympians finally agreed to acknowledge them after Percy–" Annabeth's face darkened at the mention of her lost boyfriend. "Most kids now get claimed within a day or two after arriving."
Piper decided to change the subject. "What about the two big cabins?" Piper asked, pointing to the two cabins at the center of the semi circle.
"Those are for Zeus and Hera." Annabeth said.
"Are they empty?" Piper asked. Annabeth looked bothered by the question. Her gaze lingered to the first cabin. The one for Zeus.
"Hera's cabin has always been empty. Goddess of marriage and chastity. She never cheated on Zeus, and any children she has with Zeus are god's by default. No affairs with mortals, no demigod children."
"Zeus on the other hand…" Piper trailed off. Almost every Greek myth she remembered mentioned how Zeus mingled with a mortal woman and got her pregnant.
"Just because they're gods, doesn't mean they're perfect." Annabeth said. Piper noticed she was glaring at Hera's cabin.
"...You don't like Hera."
"We have a…difficult history." Annabeth admitted, "I thought we had made peace. But after Percy disappeared she appeared in one of my dreams."
"She's the one who told you to come and get us?" Piper guessed. "You were hoping Percy would be there."
"It's probably best if I don't talk about it." Annabeth said, glancing at the cabin. "I have nothing good to say about the goddess right now."
"Someone has been going inside."
"What?" Annabeth asked. Sweat began to form on her forehead, "No. No one goes inside Hera's cabin. It's simply honorary-"
"Look." Piper said, point to some footprints just in front of the front entrance of the cabin. She stepped forward and pushed the double doors open, which were surprisingly light.
"Piper, we shouldn't. It isn't a good idea to go in another gods cabin without–"
"Demigods are supposed to do dangerous stuff, right?"
"...Dangerous and stupid stuff." Annabeth agreed reluctantly. Piper grinned and walked inside.
"This isn't depressing at all." Piper muttered as she walked inside the cold empty marble white cabin. It was definitely not designed for anyone to live in. There were no beds in sight, no windows, no furniture. Not even a bathroom. The floor was freezing and each step echoed like they were in a cave. The cabin felt more like a tomb.
It didn't help that in front of Piper stood a ten foot tall status of the goddess, sitting on a throne. The statue stood out as it was painted to look eerily similar to a regular human wearing golden robes and a laurel crown. At the statue's feet sat a bronze brazier, lit with flames. Piper wondered who tended to it.
Then Piper froze. A strange feeling twisted her gut. She glanced at Annabeth.
"We aren't alone."
"What?" Annabeth asked like the suggestion was ridiculous. Then Piper saw her. Behind the statue was a small altar, where a girl dressed in a black shawl was kneeling barefoot, as if praying to the goddess.
"Rachael?" Annabeth asked with a gasp,
"Oh! Hey!" The girl turned. She dropped her shawl to reveal curly ginger hair and freckles that dotted her pale skin. Piper thought she looked like the average student attending California's Art University near Santa Monica. She wore a green blouse and tattered jeans with doodle marks on them. She couldn't be any older than 17. "I came as fast as I could." Rachael said, rushing towards Annabeth to give her a hug, which she reciprocated.
"Have you seen anything? Got any news?" Annabeth pleaded after separating from the hug. "Please tell me you have good news."
"I'm sorry Annabeth." Rachael said with a frown, as if struck with guilt. "I haven't gotten any visions about Percy. In fact, I haven't seen anything since the gods went silent."
"Silent?" Piper asked. She had been standing awkwardly while the two reconnected. But she felt the need to butt in at the mention of gods.
"Sorry, I was being rude." Annabeth said, "Let's back up a bit. Piper, this is Rachael Elizabeth Dare, our oracle. Rachael, this is Piper. She's one of the demigods we rescued today." Rachael turned to Piper and gave her a warm smile, waving at her.
"You're the friend that lives in the cave?" Piper asked before she could stop herself.
Rachael didn't seem bothered by the question, "Yup, that's me."
"You're an oracle? Does that mean you can tell the future?"
"I wish it was that simple." Rachael said, "It's more like the oracle's spirit mugs me and forces me to say prophecies that nobody understands from time to time."
"That's…cool." Piper shifted her feet nervously, not sure how to react. She certainly wouldn't want an old spirit to possess her to spew nonsense.
It better not be contagious. Piper thought.
"I get that reaction a lot." Rachael said with a laugh, "Everyone finds it a little weird. Especially me. But trust me, I'm a harmless regular mortal. Unless I have a hairbrush, then I can fight titans."
"What?"
"Nothing. Inside joke." Rachael said quickly. She turned to Annabeth. "You want to tell her?"
"I was getting to that." Annabeth looked at Piper, "For the last month, the gods have been unusually quiet. We're used to them not talking to us, since there's an ancient rule that prevents them from interacting with their children too much." Piper wanted to say how dumb that rule sounded. But judging by Annabeth's expression, she felt the same way. Piper allowed her to continue. "Some of us are even allowed to visit Mount Olympus. I spent all last semester at the Empire State Building."
"And the Empire State Building is relevant because…?"
"It's the entrance to Mount Olympus these days." Annabeth said casually.
Piper pursed her lips. "Sure," She said, "Why not."
"But for some reason the gods have locked Olympus. Only the gods can enter. They won't answer our prayers and no one knows why. Even our camp director, Dioynsus, disappeared."
"The camp director is the god of wine?" Piper asked with an eyebrow raised.
"It's his punishment. Long story." Annabeth continued, "Then, as you know, Percy disappeared. And we have no one to call for guidance. Not even Poseidon, his dad."
"Then Leo showed up three days ago at the wilderness school, and Reyna is teleported on our bus today without any memories." Piper added.
"Who's Reyna?" Rachael asked.
"My friend." Piper said, though she wasn't sure how true that statement was. Were they really friends if their memories were fake? "Annabeth, you said Hera appeared in your dreams?"
"Right." Annabeth said. Her eyebrows knitted together in annoyance, "The first contact from a god in a month, and it's from the most useless goddess, contacting her least favorite demigod. She said I'd find answers if I headed to the Grand Canyon and found a demigod with one shoe. Instead, I find you guys. The demigod with one shoe turns out to be Reyna. I was hoping she'd have answers, like Hera said. But her wiped memories left more questions than answers. I'm not sure what to do."
"Something bad is starting…" Rachael whispered. Then her body stiffened. Her eyes glowed with a venomous green light and she grabbed Piper by the shoulders.
"Rachael, what're you–"
Free me… Rachael said, though it wasn't her voice. Whoever spoke through Rachael was old and ancient.
Free me, Piper Mclean. Or the Earth will swallow us. It must be by the solstice.
Piper felt the room spin. Rachael began to spew green smoke from her mouth, causing her to struggle more against the ginger's grip. Annabeth tried to help, but it was no use. Rachael's cold hands were like steel clamps. The green smoke obscured her surroundings, leaving nothing visible but the giant statue. Piper's eyes widened in horror as it leaned down to her and spoke in the same voice that took over Rachael.
Our enemies stir, Piper Mclean. The fiery one is the first to stir. Bow to his will, and their king shall doom us all. FREE ME!
The smoke swirled around her and evaporated with a quick poof!
Piper found herself sprawled on the cold marble floor, blinking back into reality. Piper looked up, Annabeth and Rachael were looking down at her worriedly, but their voices were muffled. Piper glanced at the statue. It was bad to its original spot, sitting on the throne, as if it hadn't moved.
"Piper! Piper!" Annabeth cried.
Piper blinked again. She rose, then winced as her head ached with a splitting headache.
"I'm…I'm okay." She said slowly. With the help of the other two, she got to her feet. "Rachael, did you–"
"I'm really sorry Piper, but I couldn't control my body." Rachael said with guilt and exasperation in her voice. "I really hate when the oracle's spirit randomly decides to use me as a vessel. Did you…see anything?"
"I…I did." Piper admitted. "It's a little hazy, but–"
"We need to get you to Chiron. You can explain what you saw to him." Annabeth said. "Can you walk?"
"I'm fine." Piper said, though she certainly didn't feel fine. Her vision kept spinning. A lump had begun to build in her throat, threatening to suffocate her.
"Rachael, come with us." Annabeth said, "We're heading to the Big House."