Chapter 3

With sunrise the day after came the arrival of the Hunters of Artemis.

Annabeth brightened as they arrived with the sun chariot. Already up and once again poking around at the new intended statue of Apollo, Annabeth was quick to close down her laptop and descend from the third floor of Athena cabin. Many of the young Athena campers were trying to scramble out of the door themselves, eyes wide as they looked over to the flatter area near the lake where Apollo had set down his sun chariot.

Annabeth hadn't slept well during the night, plagued by nightmares that she could hardly remember once she'd woken. All Annabeth could recall was the same horrible feeling from three centuries ago; the dread which had frozen her when the Primordial Tartarus himself had emerged before her and Percy in his terrible new form. The same nightmare that had struck often over her life of watching Percy in Tartarus stumbling around hallucinating and bloody, barely able to stand as he saw monsters where there were none. Dying of hunger and thirst in the depths of the earth.

Apollo stepped out first with a blinding smile and perfect looks, as always, the Hunters filing out behind him. Annabeth spotted Thalia amongst them and immediately made her way over to her with a brilliant smile of her own.

Thalia greeted Annabeth with a wide smile herself, throwing her arms around Annabeth and laughing. "It's been a long time!" Thalia exclaimed as she tried to crack Annabeth's ribs. "How have you been? You've heard the news?" She asked as she pulled away sharply, peering intently at Annabeth.

Annabeth paused. "About a possible quest? Yes, I've heard," she said.

Thalia smiled, but her smile was grim and wary. "It'll be good to get Percy out, but it's been three centuries now," she said. "It's not likely that he's the same person as before."

"I know," Annabeth murmured. "I've considered that. But he's still Percy," she said. "That much wouldn't have changed."

Thalia nodded slightly, though her eyes remained grim. "Yeah," she said, pulling back and slinging an arm over Annabeth's shoulder. "Now," she said. "Lady Artemis asked Apollo to drop us off here in case one of us is needed – it's the Pit, after all," Thalia added with a faint shudder. Fear gleamed in her eyes. "It'll be a nasty quest. Might need all the hands we can get," she said. "That, and Kampê was spotted in the area yesterday. Lady Artemis is needed on Olympus, but we figured we should stay in the area in case Kampê turns up again."

"Yeah, Chiron said," Annabeth said. "Any ideas what she's doing over here?"

"None," Thalia muttered. "We've been trying to catch her for decades," she said in frustration. "Ever since that Greece fiasco. And on Olympus."

Annabeth grimaced slightly. The first sighting of Kampê since three centuries prior had been in Greece, 130 years ago. She'd caused havoc in Thessaly and the gods were still tight-lipped about what had actually happened during that period. All Annabeth had been told was that some old relic had been stolen from a supposedly secret and protected chamber. Kampê had blown straight through those protections and flown off with whatever she'd taken. Something similar had occurred on Olympus that Zeus had thrown a fit over, though with no sign of Kampê having been present. Even despite being Olympus' architect, Annabeth had no idea what had happened on Olympus. "Maybe you'll get her this time," Annabeth offered half-heartedly. They hadn't succeeded yet and she honestly doubted that this time would be any different. Kampê was entirely different to any other monster that the Hunters had taken down, she was in a class of her own.

Thalia snorted in amusement. "Maybe," she agreed. "But she's a tricky one," Thalia muttered. "We're sure she's getting help from somewhere. It's just… odd," she said. "No other monster gives us as many problems as her."

"You two talking about Hera?" Apollo mused as he approached the two, hands in his pockets and generally looking entirely uncaring about anything. Particularly the wide-eyed looks directed towards him from many of the campers. Annabeth's lips twitched slightly while Thalia snorted in amusement.

Lightning flashed in the cloudless morning sky.

"Of course not," Annabeth hurriedly said. She cleared her throat. "I'm still working on your statue, sorry, Lord Apollo," Annabeth added. "I can have it done-"

"Don't worry about that," Apollo cut her off. He paused briefly. "Or, well, do worry, but that's not what I wanted to speak with you about." The sun god glanced up at the cloudless sky briefly, looking oddly serious. "I'm not sure of father is going to be permitting the quest or not, but if he doesn't… well, he likes to think he can command prophecies and Fate, but even he can't do that," Apollo said, ignoring the thunder which rumbled across the valley. "You might find that a prophecy will be issued with or without his agreement," Apollo said, his gaze flicking in the direction of where Rachel stayed full-time. He seemed faintly concerned. Since she'd first moved in three centuries ago, her cave had been fully furnished with everything she might have wanted; Apollo was more than happy to provide his Oracle with anything she asked for. "I think Olympus has missed Percy Jackson, you know. Everything just seemed more entertaining with him around. Just a suggestion," Apollo said with a bright smile before he returned to his sun chariot.

Annabeth shared a glance with Thalia. "Thank you," she called after the god as Thalia's arm tightened across Annabeth's shoulders slightly. "You missed Capture the Flag last night," Annabeth said to Thalia with the god now gone. "Athena cabin won."

"Thanks to Zeus cabin, or so I heard," Thalia said in amusement. "You told me you were teaming up with Zeus cabin, remember?"

As Annabeth watched, Apollo flashed a bright smile and a wave towards all the campers gaping at him, before he drove off into the sky in the sun chariot. Over the mutters, Chiron yelled, "Close your eyes, demigods!"

"Have you had breakfast?" Annabeth questioned.

"No," Thalia said as they turned their attention away from the rising sun. It was odd being half-immortal. Directly staring at an immortal's true form was still foolish, but Annabeth had found that a half-glance at least did no harm to them. It was never enough to catch a proper glimpse of their true form unless she wanted to die, much to her displeasure.

"The Poseidon cabin overturned the canoes again two days ago," Annabeth said to Thalia as they started towards the open-air pavilion. "Athena cabin were the victims." Thalia huffed out a quiet laugh, and Annabeth frowned at her. "It's not funny," she said tiredly. "They do it every week. Someone's going to drown eventually."

Thalia shrugged. "I'll be honest," she said. "Overturning canoes isn't exactly the most destructive a son of Poseidon can be. Let them have their fun," Thalia said. "For demigods, there's no knowing how long they have left."

Annabeth took a deep breath. "Percy never tried to drown his campmates."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Maybe not you," she said. "But I remember him trying to drop the entire creek on me once before Chiron intervened. Poseidon's kids have had big shoes to fill for the past three centuries. That's a lot of stress on their shoulders, it's no surprise they've turned to trying to take it out on the other campers here." Thalia's smile was rather dry. "At least if Percy does get out he'll be able to help them with that. Maybe get them under control too."

Annabeth snorted. "Good luck to him," she said.

"Nah, they worship him," Thalia said with a faint smirk. "Him they'll listen to."

The campers moved out of their path, other Hunters following behind Annabeth and Thalia at a respectful distance to allow them some privacy with their conversation. "We can hope," Annabeth muttered under her breath. "Felix seems ready to anyway."

Thalia's eyes furrowed slightly. "Felix… he's still here?" She asked, clearly recalling the name.

Annabeth smiled. "Somehow, yes," she said in faint amusement as she remembered that Thalia had met him when she was last at camp eight years prior. Felix had only been at camp for a year then, now he was up to nine years and nine beads on his camp necklace. "He decided to stay here in the end. Never went back to his foster family."

"Good for him," Thalia muttered under her breath. "I hope you've expanded the pavilion again since I was last here," she added.

Annabeth nodded. "We had to," she said with a small smile. "Demigods were having to squash onto the benches again. With the cabins expanding we thought it would be a good idea." She eyed Thalia briefly. "What happened with Kampê?"

"She killed a few nymphs in Ohio two days ago," Thalia said with a heavy frown. "A river nymph here reported she flew over them yesterday." Thalia scowled. "It's about time that we finally killed that bitch," she grumbled.

Kampê had been a sore spot for the Hunters for a while now, ever since she'd first emerged from Tartarus 130 years prior and the whole Greece incident occurred. "Are you ever going to tell me what she was doing or what she stole?"

Thalia grimaced. "I can't," she said. "Sorry," Thalia added. "But nothing's come of it yet and nothing is ever likely to. The immortal she stole for – they're not about to do anything anytime soon," Thalia reassured Annabeth. "That's all I can say. Besides, the gods are still alert. After what happened three centuries ago with the Titans and the Giants they're not going to be surprised again."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow, but she nodded slightly. "As long as you're sure," she murmured doubtfully. With Zeus' tendency to ignore a problem until it became urgent she very much doubted that the gods were prepared for anything.

When they stepped into the pavilion there was a line of demigods already sacrificing their food and Annabeth's smile softened when she heard more than a few sacrifices going to Percy through Hermes along with a select god. Percy wouldn't have received anything since Hermes' altar down in Tartarus had been destroyed two centuries ago, but it was still a nice action from the demigods. Felix was in the line along with his siblings, River and Darren. Annabeth noted the dark bruise on his left arm, either from Clarisse's weapon training session two days before or from Capture the Flag and his fierce fight with Michael. Said son of Zeus patted Felix on the back and ruffled little Darren's hair, saying a quick greeting to River as he led his four siblings to the back of the queue.

Thalia smirked. "You'd think Kelp Head saved the world or something," she joked.

"There's a statue of him in Poseidon's cabin," Annabeth said to Thalia. "Poseidon insisted. And on Olympus too in Poseidon's Temple."

Thalia snickered. "Yes, I've seen the Olympus one," she said in amusement. "Lady Artemis says some beings sacrifice things on it now too, not only at the camps. Not that anything will ever reach him. He's not exactly a god."

Annabeth had known that. Poseidon had always allowed it; his fondness for Percy was well-known, lingering even over the past three centuries. "Zeus isn't the happiest that Percy's still so popular," she said with a small smile tugging at her lips. Percy's impertinence had driven Zeus up the columns of his throne room before he'd been stuck in Tartarus.

Annabeth sat with Thalia and the rest of the Hunters for breakfast at Artemis' bench, patiently waiting for the queue of demigods to go down before she could sacrifice her own food. The goddess wouldn't mind since it was Annabeth. Lady Artemis had always been rather fond of Annabeth, even if she'd refused many times over to join the Hunt. Thalia and the Hunters had ignited their own brazier dedicated solely to Artemis in the centre of their table and were simply sacrificing food into that one instead of the larger one in the centre of the pavilion. Annabeth made sure to sacrifice some to Artemis.

Thalia elbowed Annabeth in the side as they spotted Rachel making her way over to the head table at camp where a nymph was swift to summon her some breakfast. "She's been painting," Thalia muttered to Annabeth under her breath.

"I see that," Annabeth said, lips twitching slightly. It had been hard to miss the dark circles under Rachel's eyes, the unkempt hair and the paint dried on her clothes and fingers. It was a regular sight to see the Oracle covered in paint, less so for her to appear so tired.

"And something's keeping her up," Thalia said lowly.

Annabeth hummed as she watched Rachel sit down, looking utterly exhausted. "Dreams," she said. "What do you think she's seeing?"

Thalia smiled. "Why don't you go ask her?" She questioned. Thalia's eyes flicked up to the sky. "I'm sure dad will get over it. Like Apollo said, he can't control Fate. If the Oracle gives a Prophecy then he can't do anything about it. There's no knowing what the vote on Percy will be," Thalia quietly said. "I don't want to risk them voting no."

Annabeth grimaced. "They won't like it," she pointed out.

Thalia shrugged carelessly. "They'll get over it," she said.

Annabeth hesitated briefly, but as she was looking over to the high table Rachel looked up and caught her eye. The Oracle glanced over to Chiron briefly before returning her gaze to Annabeth and nodding slightly.

"Go," Thalia hissed to her. "The gods love you for redesigning Olympus after the Titans basically destroyed it," she said. Both of them grimaced, knowing that Thalia really meant Kronos. Annabeth couldn't think about that Titan without thinking about Luke. How the son of Hermes had begged for her help before he'd hosted Kronos. That Titan taking Luke's face for himself – those golden eyes. Sometimes Annabeth still struggled to look Hazel in the eyes; they were far too similar to that Titan's for her to be comfortable. Whenever the Roman visited Camp Half-Blood, all the half-immortal Greek campers struggled to meet her eyes too. Annabeth knew it wasn't Hazel's fault that she had similar eyes, but that didn't stop her chest from tightening and breathing quickening at the sight of them. "They'll forgive you," Thalia said.

"Lord Zeus is more likely to forgive you than me," Annabeth pointed out. "You're his daughter."

"You're the one who should get the quest though," Thalia said firmly to Annabeth. "It's Percy, Annabeth, you're-"

"You don't think I know that?"

"You're the only one with the right to ask the Oracle," Thalia continued with a faint frown at Annabeth.

Annabeth frowned back at her oldest friend. "Others have the right too, but-"

"Would you two please stop squabbling?"

Annabeth stilled along with Thalia, letting out a long breath. "Rachel," she greeted as she turned to face the Oracle, who'd somehow managed to sneak up on them. Rachel's eyes had an ethereal glow to them already, which made Annabeth sigh.

Thalia smirked. Annabeth suspected that Thalia had heard Rachel approaching. "It's good to see you again," Thalia said to Rachel as she rose and hugged her.

Rachel sighed. "You too," she said with a tired smile. Up close, it became even more obvious to Annabeth how worn Rachel looked. The bags under her eyes made Annabeth grimace. "It would be good to catch up again," Rachel said. "But I think it will have to wait." Rachel turned to face Annabeth. "Please," she said, "ask me a question, Annabeth. Thalia's right; this is your prophecy to ask for."

Annabeth swallowed. "You look as if you haven't been sleeping well," she said, carefully avoiding asking a question.

Rachel's gaze sharpened. "No," she said. "I haven't. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I can't remember the last time a prophecy bothered me this much before." She grit her teeth. Rachel would also never get old; Annabeth highly doubted that was the reason behind her sleeplessness. "I've made a dozen paintings the past two days alone," the Oracle grated out, frustration rising in her tone. "And every time I sleep I see things," Rachel added, her voice breaking slightly and sharp terror momentarily flicking across her face. She took a deep, steadying breath. "Ask, Annabeth," she instructed.

In truth, the thought of having to go back into Tartarus left Annabeth frozen even before Rachel had looked so scared. The place had haunted her ever since Percy had insisted on staying behind to get her out. Returning to Tartarus now after three centuries of nightmares about that place was the last thing she wanted to do. But if she received a prophecy then it would have to happen. A hand squeezed her shoulder and Annabeth questioningly looked back to Thalia.

"Come on," Thalia quietly said to Annabeth. "I think it's about time we got Kelp Head out of there."

Annabeth nodded slightly. That much was true. Annabeth couldn't leave Percy down there if there was a chance to get him out. "Okay," she breathed out. Annabeth turned to Rachel, whom hadn't taken her eyes away from Annabeth yet. "Rachel… how do we get Percy out of Tartarus?"

The glowing poisonous green eyes instantly brightened and it was the Oracle that opened Rachel's mouth to answer:

"Nine enter the depths of the earth,"

Annabeth instantly became aware that the pavilion had fallen into silence as the voice of the Oracle spoke. On the head table, Chiron looked grim, but he'd clearly noticed the three speaking with each other already because he didn't look surprised at all to hear a prophecy.

"find the Hero and prove their worth."

Felix and the other two Poseidon kids were sitting at their bench now and Annabeth watched as Darren pumped at the air with an excited grin as excited mutters struck up around the pavilion.

"But stir a foe to wrath and incite,

for through the sea's escape war shall take flight."

Annabeth paled. Thalia grimaced next to her and the whispers died out. Annabeth pressed her lips together. That wasn't enough. It gave them no directions on finding Percy. At least prophecies before had given them the vaguest of information to get started. "But how do we find Percy?" Annabeth asked, her tone tight. She wasn't sure she wanted any more after the Oracle had mentioned another incoming war. Then again, after three centuries of nothing but silence, Annabeth supposed they were due their third at this point.

"As storm arises and the sky falls,

time marches within the eternal halls."

The daughter of Athena narrowed her eyes. "Percy, Rachel," she insisted.

The Oracle's eyes brightened further and green mist seeped from her mouth.

"Kings face deceit and death to collide,

lest in the abyss the gods shall reside.

For if they fail to answer the call,

upon Olympus the end will befall."

Annabeth shut her eyes. That she knew was what Zeus would've been worried about with a prophecy and disturbing Tartarus to bring Percy out. But still… that wasn't enough for her. Rachel still had the poisonous eyes of the Oracle, was still staring at Annabeth with glassy eyes. "I take it that was a Great Prophecy," Annabeth said, sounding particularly calm despite how much she wanted to scream and be sick. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, storm clouds brewing over their heads – the gods were watching and Zeus was displeased. Annabeth had known that if she was half-immortal she'd have to face another Great Prophecy eventually if she survived long enough. She'd hoped they would have longer, and that she'd no longer be involved. But it seemed that the Fates enjoyed terrorising her. "But what about Percy? I need to know how to get him out of the Pit."

"Delve into the deep abyss,

where it seems naught is amiss.

If the Hero is to be found,

in the realm where monsters and gods abound.

Where one has dealt eternal woe,

and another to suffer a fatal blow.

Make a truce with foes and allies,

to coincide with a god's rise."

Rachel crumbled. Annabeth was frozen as she stared. Fortunately, Thalia wasn't. She lunged for Rachel and grabbed her before she hit the ground, carefully lowering her down.

Chaos erupted in the pavilion as both Hunters and Campers started shouting, trying to be heard over each other. All the blood had drained from Annabeth's face, leaving her pale and shaking. That was it. That was the one.

The sound of thunder in the background strengthened. Annabeth looked up as rain struck over the valley, instantly dousing the pavilion despite the camp's barriers. Campers shouted and ran for cover, many running with their plates full of breakfast still. Thalia's gaze was grim as she looked up and met Annabeth's eyes from where she crouched with Rachel.

At the head table, Chiron looked even more concerned. His tail flicked behind him and his white horse half clopped hooves anxiously against the ground. "All immortal campers are to immediately report to the Big House," Chiron called loudly over the commotion as campers rushed for their cabins.

Thalia grimaced. "Annabeth – Annabeth!" Annabeth's wild gaze snapped over to Thalia, finding herself shaking slightly. "Annabeth, help me with Rachel," Thalia said. "We need to get her inside too."

Annabeth was still shaking even as she moved, finding herself in autopilot as she helped Thalia lift Rachel's unconscious form.

"I'll go to Camp Jupiter," Nico called over a rumble of thunder. "Get the others over here."

Thalia nodded in his direction. "Go," she agreed. Nico nodded back to her, his gaze grim himself. His eyes flicked over to Annabeth.

"Just breathe," Nico said to Annabeth. "Remember what Mr. D says," the son of Hades added. Annabeth and Nico had grown close in the past three centuries since they'd both survived Tartarus and found the other to be the only one they could speak to about their experiences down in Tartarus. Annabeth knew they'd be the only ones who could understand Percy's experience too when he got out.

Nico stepped sideways into his own shadow and disappeared as Clarisse joined Annabeth and Thalia in lifting Rachel. "I'll help," Clarisse said to them as the three started towards the Big House. Annabeth was grateful for the help, she was still shaking; her mind raced over the two prophecies, dread pooling in her gut.

"Well, I guess dad was right to be worried about a prophecy," Thalia finally muttered when they reached the Big House in silence.

A rumble of thunder rattled all the windows, the rain coming down horizontal now. Annabeth was glad to reach the sheltered porch of the Big House and step out of the puddles swiftly turning the grassy area to mud. She was soaked through, shivering now from more than memories threatening to drown her and drag her under.

"In here," Chiron said to them from inside. "I've prepared a bed for Rachel," he said. The centaur observed the three of them, his brown eyes lingering on Annabeth briefly and his expression turning grim. "Once you have ensured she is well, we will meet. And… I believe it is prudent for me to share what I can about the events in Greece with Kampê one-hundred-and-thirty years ago." His gaze flicked to Thalia, whom frowned heavily.

"You think…?"

"The only gods within the Pit are Titans and Primordials," Chiron said. "And the prophecy directly referenced them. I believe that it would be foolish to ignore the prospect. If one intends to rise from the Pit, then you must all be prepared as best you can before you enter."

Clarisse grunted. "Can't imagine what kinds of gods Prissy's managed to insult while he's been down there, could be any one of them."

Thalia cackled. "Or all of them," she said in amusement, though she still seemed unnerved with what Chiron had said. She clearly knew more than Annabeth did.

Annabeth was lost. All she knew was that Kampê had taken something belonging to the gods. She'd been told no more than that and her mother had warned her against seeking out more information, stating that Zeus had banned all discussion. Zeus still seemed to like doing that, as if not speaking of a problem would cause it to vanish and resolve itself. He'd done the same with the latest of his demigod children when Hera had found out about them.

"This is going to kick off a war," Annabeth slowly said.

"The quest has been given," Chiron stated. "It cannot be taken back. We must all deal with the consequences of what is to come," he added.

Lightning flashed out of the windows, illuminating the darkened room.

"Sorry, Lord Zeus," Annabeth muttered in apology as the sky continued to rumble with the King of the Sky's anger.

I like making prophecies, they're fun to play with. So many possibilities XD. Hope everyone enjoys the chapter!

DuranTheKnight: thanks! I hope you enjoy it!

Guest: aha yeah, I don't know how quick updates will be. As and when I can write, really. It's definitely fun looking back and comparing the first few chapters of the original with this one XD. The main antagonist of this one will be different to the original though, and a heavily updated plot. XD