Annabeth climbed the hill and saw the red velvet curtains.
"Rachel!" she called as quietly as she could. Soon enough a red-haired girl in green pajamas peeked out.
"ANNABETH!" she yelled happily
"Shhhhhhh!!" Annabeth reminded her "I am not supposed to be here... I came for a prophecy, please, do not tell anyone" Rachel's smile faded, her eyes turned bright green and green smoke came out of her mouth.
*After the prophecy has been told*
"Well, that doesn't sound that bad..." Rachel tried to make her friend feel better.
"I am fine, Rachel, thank you, I just need time to think." Annabeth wished Rachel good night and left the cave with pain in her eyes.
On her way back to the cabin, she saw a shadow in the woods nearby. She blinked and the shadow was gone.
Cabin 6 was already in sight when somebody behind her coughed. Annabeth froze. She couldn't decide if to put the "I am going to kill you" or guilty look so she went with the first one. Wrong look. Malcolm was slightly taller than her, he was looking down at her with an emotionless face. Annabeth got suddenly interested in the ground, her brother headed to the Big house and she followed him. Before they knocked, Malcolm turned and grabbed his sister's arm and threw her on the rocking chair. She yelped but then stayed silent.
Malcolm was a good guy, he respected her privacy, decisions, ideas and so on, but he had anger ...problems. When he was young, on his way to camp he met a witch that cursed him for some reason. The curse was that every night on full moon he won't be able to think straight and would hurt anyone in his way. Through the years he managed to get a little control of it, but he still left his cabin at night on full moon, so he doesn't take any risks. Annabeth was the only person to know, since he trusted her, she never told anyone about it, not even her boyfriend, the famous Percy Jackson.
Malcolm started whisper/yelling at her to explain why she was out of bed tonight.
"Malcolm, please breathe and calm down" she pleaded "I promise I have a good reason"
"And what is the reason?"
"Sorry can't tell you"
"Annabeth!" he yelled in frustration. In a few seconds, the door opened, and a white stallion stepped out. Chiron looked at them and pointed at the couch inside the house.
He stood in front of them and asked
"So, what are you two doing out of your cabin in the middle of the night?"
"I wanted to get some fresh air." Annabeth said
"Hmm." Chiron looked at her bruised arm and then at her brother. Annabeth noticed and explained that she fell in the dark and landed on her arm. The centaur looked at Malcolm suspiciously, they didn't know if he bought the story, it was obviously a hand grip, but he nodded.
"And what are you doing out of the cabin" he asked Malcolm. Malcolm was also a child of Athena, so he easily thought of an answer.
"I saw her sneaking out and I followed her"
"Very well" Chiron sighed "Malcolm, you are excused" The boy bowed awkwardly and left in hurry, but before he closed the door he mouthed "Thank you! Sorry..."
"Now tell me about this quest, and don't pretend. I know about your visit to Rachel, the green light from her cave was visible from here" he said it in calm but worried voice "I felt great power from this prophecy, like" Chiron obviously didn't want to say the next words aloud "like another Great Prophecy."
Annabeth closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I am sorry Chiron, but I can't tell you, I only need permission from you to go on this quest" she said hopefully.
"How do you expect me to give you permission, when you are not talking" this was one of the few times Chiron raised his voice at her, but he quickly calmed down, he understands that is a god sends you on a quest, with that kind of power, it won't be good to decline. "When are you supposed to leave for this quest?" he asked.
"There isn't exact timing, but the best choice would be by the start of next summer." she answered. Annabeth knew that she could say any time, to escape the punishment, but she figured it would double when she returns, she also wanted to watch over Malcolm, his curse is getting worse, and travelling to Bulgaria in the winter isn't the best idea.
"Very well, you will begin your punishment now." Chiron said. "You will help the cleaning harpies for a week, you can leave your cabin ONLY for classes, till the end of summer." he paused "And since you must prepare for that quest, you are not allowed to leave camp until the quest."
"WHAT?"
Hello demigods, mortals and godlings, I am sorry I haven't posted for sooo long! Here is a longer chapter!
