Chapter 5: The Oracle arrives with sickness
"And this is where you will be staying". Mitchell, my new half-brother showed me my new bed. It was a neat twin sized bed with a green cover. At the bottom of the bed there was a chest that already had my name on it to store my belongings. There was also a curtain that separated the boys and the girls.
After I was claimed, the Aphrodite kids welcomed me, some with open arms and others cautious looks. Mitchell was the only other guy in the cabin. Right now there was Mitchell, myself and 8 other girls, I was told there would be more Aphrodite campers once camp officially starts in the summer. I couldn't really complain so far everyone seemed decently nice. The one complaint I would have is how pink the cabin is, It's kinda eye hurting.
"So if you don't mind me asking, are you the head cabin counselor?" I asked.
Mitchell started to shake his head vigorously."Me? No way, that spot belongs to Piper, she only comes during the summer, the rest of the year she stays with her dad. While shes away we kind of just take care of each other". That last part sounded nice, the children of the love Goddess taking care of each other.
I looked at the mirror that was next to my bed, I still was wearing the outfit that Aphrodite 'blessed' me with. My black eye was still there, I guess I deserved it. There was some powder on my face covering my black eye. I tried to rub it off. "It's makeup," Mitchell said. "Aphrodite's blessing might last a while, but you can change your clothes". Not going to lie, I did not like the makeup, it made my face feel weird and itchy. Mitchell showed me to a changing area and I switched into some pajamas that were given to me by my new half siblings. Unfortunately it was a pink shirt with black pants.
I didn't know who to expect to be my godly parent, I thought Hades would be cool. The first day I arrived I didn't think about it often since it could have been any of the Gods. I was surprised by Aphrodite but tried to accept it. The first couple weeks were hard to adjust to. No one in the cabin would really talk to me except for Mitchell. Slowly however they opened up their circle to me, and I opened up to them. They would tell me the gossip that was going on in the camp. A majority of it I could care less, although some of it was pretty juicy.
I got use to the rest of the camp and their routine. Starting with breakfast, camp activities, freetime, then dinner and some sort of camp game and finishing with the bonfire sing-along. It was about three weeks in when I saw a familiar satyr.
"Timber!" I yelled running over to him.
"Ah Adin, how are you?" I shook his hand and embraced him.
"I was worried about you after the chariot accident."
"Yea can't have any nectar, doctor's orders. It took weeks with healing magic to get back up. Hey I heard you were claimed by Aphrodite, congrats." Another satyr walked up to TImber and handed him a bag before leaving.
" Yea, its been interesting. Are you regretting getting back in the game?"
"Ha ha no, as a matter of fact i'm heading back out right now. This time however I get to go to Boston. That's more my area!" He sounded excited. I was impressed, the man or satyr just got over a serious injury and is already heading back out. "This time don't be jumping out of chariots". He laughed and we shook hands again before he walked off.
Weeks went by and talk was going around the camp as the summer session was starting soon. My half-sisters got all the camp gossip and got together for their nightly 'talk' session.
"Do you think Danny is going to come this year?"
"I heard Akria from the Hecate cabin got a new piercing".
"Connor said there might be a new camper from the big three".
"Ooooooo". Everyone went.
"Well today I overheard Mr. D talking to Chiron. He said he's been called back to Olympus." That grabbed everyone's interest.
"But he's still punished, shouldn't a part of him still stay here?"
"The only time he's left camp is during both the Titan and Giant war."
Everyone went silent. I haven't heard much of the wars, only the shortened TL:DR version. Sabrina told me one day during free time about the Second Titan war. How a forbidden child of the big three would stop Kronos a second time. Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, fulfilled the prophecy. One night before lights out, Mitchell told me about the Giant war and how seven demigods would rise up and unite Romans and Greeks to defeat Gaia. Piper the head cabin counselor was one of the seven.
"Lights out," One of the older campers said. Everyone got to their beds and the lights went off. There was some whispering for a while that kept Mitchell and I up. It eventually died down and I was eventually able to fall asleep.
I started to dream, which is the first time since I got to camp. I was at the carnival. In front of me were rides scattered around and games lined up the sides of the path. Standing next to me in a white t-shirt and jean shorts was Sydney. She was staring straight ahead and looked excited before she spoke." Hey let's go on that one!" she pointed to a ride, it was one of the rides that spins around really fast and sticks you to the sides.
I opened my mouth to talk to her, I wanted to tell her I was sorry. The words I spoke weren't the ones I wanted. "Sure, Ok." I replied and we started heading to the ride. She was ahead of me running along, occasionally looking back at me to make sure I was keeping up. She was beautiful and looking at her again made me feel nostalgic. We made it to the end of the line and just as we did someone got in front of us.
He was scrawny and very tall, his skin was pale and looked almost ghostly. "Hey excuse me,we were here first." I told the man, trying to sound calm although I felt a little bit angry.
"Oh, were you? My apologies". He looked at Sydney for a good moment before walking away. I was surprised he actually listened to me.
"That guys a weirdo". I said to Sydney.
"Says the guy who can only eat 'raw vegetables' because cooked ones. 'Take away the earthly flavor'". She joked about my preference of uncooked veggies but I enjoyed her teasing and they do taste better raw.
We both continued talking as the line got shorter. The ride was going and we were going to be the next ones up. I scanned the carnival as the night was now dark. My eyes fixated on Sydney and I could see all the carnival lights reflecting on her. It looked like fireworks were going off around her yet she was the only thing I was focused on, which was hard due to my ADHD. She looked me in the eye which snapped me out of the trance.
"Hey, I know this is bad timing but I'm going to grab some more tickets. It will be real quick". We were about to go on next but I just nodded and she ran off. A minute went by and the ride stopped, letting the riders off slowly. I looked around for Sydney, she was nowhere. "Hey are you going on or not?" the ride attendant asked me. I decided to go on since Sydney was nowhere in sight.
I got strapped in and I saw the creepy guy from earlier walk by the line again. Then the ride started, I was spinning around faster and faster as the ride was raised. I was stuck to the side and started to feel sick. Eventually the ride slowed down and I exited. Waiting for me was Sydney. "Where did you go?" I asked. She just shrugged, "Got lost". I looked down and saw a gash that looked like it was healing.
"What happened to your leg?" she looked down and mouthed something before replying. "Oh this? It was just from some piece of metal that was sticking out of the blenches. No big deal dude". She sounded tired but also disappointed. I didn't want to start to annoy her as well so I dropped it.
"Come on Adin, let's get out of here". She gained a sunken look in her eye like she just got some bad news. "How about a funnel cake before we leave"?
"I have a better idea," she pointed to a photo booth which advertised itself for ten dollars.
Just like that my dream was over, the exact memory of the carnival night. I wanted to cry, it was such a happy memory. I was glad I got to experience it again. I got out of my bed and changed, exiting the mens area everyone looked at me. They all had smiles and some were giggling."So who's Sydney"? Someone asked. I could feel my face redden and I remembered that I occasionally sleep talk.
I spent the whole of breakfast trying to convince my cabin that Sydney was indeed a friend. None of them believed me of course. Breakfast was interrupted by Chiron walking in. He got everyone's attention which usually meant he had an announcement. "Good morning campers, just a quick announcement. As some of you might have heard Mr.D is no longer going to be the Camp Director and we will now be searching for a replacement."
"What!" someone shouted. The whole dining pavilion went up with madness. People started commenting on how his punishment isn't over. There was both excitement and confusion throughout the camp. The Dionysus cabin seemed very uncomfortable and a little sad.
The rest of the day felt like a rest day. No one was training or attending the usual day time activities or at least not taking them as serious. The mood was generally up and everyone was in high spirits. In my free time Sabrina and I met up at the Big House, it became a routine as I got used to camp life. Sabrina being a medic for the camp got special permission to be inside while I waited out on the deck.
While waiting I saw Argus, the head of security at camp escorting a girl who was probably a few years older than I was. Argus was a giant with a hundred eyes. When I first met him It was in passing, some of his eyes were following me and I couldn't tell if he winked at me or if that's just how he blinked. The girl had red hair with freckles spread across her face and was wearing some type of school uniform. She also seemed somewhat pale in the face.
"Hey Argus." I greeted him as I waited and he waved and gave a friendly smile. The girl glanced at me but didn't pay me much attention. They walked in the Big House and I waited for a few more minutes before Sabrina walked out.
"Hey, ready for some volleyball?" she asked.
"Yea, lets go." I learned that I was pretty good at volleyball, and it was Sabrina's favorite sport too. We started walking to the court near the beach. Sabrina started to talk about the campers she had to attend to. Not a lot of injuries today, most were probably taking it easy to celebrate Mr. D leaving.
We started to play a game of volleyball with other campers. I was in the back with Sabrina by my side. The ball had just been spiked down when I was able to save it and Sabrina set it up. Another camper ran up and spiked it, gaining a point for our team. I got up and started to wipe the sand off of myself. I fixed my hair too, which prompted Sabrina to mutter "Aphrodite kid" behind my back.
I got up and saw Chiron and the red haired girl from earlier walk over to us. "Sabrina, can you come here?" Chiron asked. Sabrina cheerfully ran over and gave the red haired girl a hug. I focused back on the game as I turned around smack a volleyball right to my face. I fell down and felt my face stinging. Luckily the volleyball was in the air and someone was able to save it. "Come on Adin, lets get that checked out too." Sabrina told me. I definitely had worse injuries, but I think Sabrina wanted me to come along.
We headed to a cave nearby, Chiron and the girl didn't seem to mind me tagging along. Everyone else caught me up to speed about what was going on. The red haired girl was the camp's oracle, Rachel Elizabeth Dare. She was riding on the back of Chiron with Sabrina and I walking to the sides. There was also
By the time we made it to the cave the stinging in my face stopped. The cave was surprisingly cozy, with enough room for someone to live in it and run around. There was a couch with a small flat screen tv. A refrigerator to the side of the cave. It would be the perfect man cave except with all the paintings scattered around.
"Apologies Rachel, I called you here since Mr. D left suddenly and we could use the oracle."
"Don't worry about it Chiron, I just started feeling a little sick last night. I also really missed my cave and wanted to see it again"
"Here allow me." Sabrina said. She was already inspecting and poking my face, even though I told her I was fine. She moved to Rachel, her face was pale compared to the rest of her skin tone. Sabrina started to touch and poke Rachels face which seemed to annoy the oracle.
"Mhhh, it doesn't seem to be a magical illness, did you check for the flu"? Rachel just rolled her eyes, "My roommate at my school started showing signs a couple days ago. Is that seriously it"? She sounded disappointed and twitched a little.
"There's a flu kit back at the Big House, I can-" She stepped back and was startled by a sudden glow. Rachel's eyes started to glow a ghastly green. A wave of fear came over me and I took a step closer to Chiron. Rachel stood up and spoke, her voice sounded like a mix of her own and older female voices.
The fledgling doves story starts
Adversaries come together to play their parts
Poseidon's son will tell all
The road to Athens, you will not stall
Find the war goddesses daughter before it's too late
The truth is held below the gate
"A quest!" Chiron stated. "This is a relief." He continued and everyone shot him a glance. "Were you expecting one"? Sabrina sounded confused. I was still a little creeped out on how Rachel basically just got possessed and I felt a little behind. "Let me explain to you all what has been happening".
Sabrina and I both sat down on the couch next to Rachel and Chiron stood in front looking stressed. "As the three of you know Mr. D was pardoned from his punishment here". Everyone nodded, I felt like everyone else knew where this was going. "Well," Chiron continued "There has been arguments between the Gods recently. Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase have been missing for a little over a week. No Iris message can be sent to them. Camp Jupiter hasn't seen them either and the Gods are worried". The Gods worried about two demigods? I'm still new but I know enough that our parents wouldn't be worried if we went missing.
"Why would they be worried about them? Percys disappeared for months before, what makes this different?" Rachel asked. Chiron nodded in agreement. "It seems that Zeus and some other Gods are worried about a revolt, a revolution against the Gods".
"Percy would never!" Rachel shouted and stood up, although she wavered and sat back down. I looked at Sabrina, her eyes still on Chiron.
Chiron put his hand up to stop Rachel. " It is just rumors. I know those two can get into trouble, but they would never start a war. They have both made enemies with Gods, I wouldn't be surprised if this was some form of revenge. Come we must let the rest of the camp know of the quest."
The four of us made our way to the dining pavilion. Sabrina sat down with the Apollo campers and I sat down with the Aphrodite cabin. "What happened, why are you late?" Mitchell said as I sat down and a wood nymph laid down a plate. "Just at the infirmary with Sabrina". Mitchell gave a grin, luckily it seemed that was an answer he wanted to hear.
I ate my food and thought about the prophecy and quest that Rachel spoke. The quest is supposingly to stop a war between the Gods. Also to find both Percy and Annabeth. I heard about the both through the other campers. Percy Jackson the forbidden child and Annabeth Chase, the girl who found the Athena Parthenos.
"Attention everyone, attention!" Chiron yelled trying to get everyone to quiet down. "A quest has been issued"! The whole pavilion erupted in cheer which made the pavilion even louder. No one knew what was going on with the Gods except for Sabrina, Rachel and I. Chiron nodded at Rachel who stood up from her eating spot and recited the prophecy.
The fledgling doves story starts
Adversaries come together to play their parts
Poseidon's son will tell all
The road to Athens, you will not stall
Find the war goddesses daughter before it's too late
The truth is held below the gate
There was dead silence besides the nature sounds like the trees swaying and the birds chirping. I drank from my cup that was filled with vanilla cola. Then a kid from the Athena cabin pointed at me,"Well Adin sounds like the fledgling". I choked on my soda and some of the campers looked at me. I learned during history that Aphrodite's sacred animal was a dove, and a fledgling means 'baby' bird.
"Umm are you sure its me"? The camp looked around waiting for someone to object. I looked at the Ares cabin, Glen was picking at his food and looked unhappy. If there was anyone who I thought would oppose me going it would be him. He was wearing his iconic leather jacket. He also was wearing a headband which made his brown fluffy hair lay over it.
"So its decided then, Adin Peterson you will be the one to lead this quest. You will choose two other campers by the end of the day to join you". Chiron gave me a look, he already told me about the Gods having problems. He probably is relieved he doesn't have to worry about anyone else in the camp finding out. Everyone cheered and some of the Aphrodite kids patted me on the back. I just got used to camp life. I thought I got used to being a demigod. Now I'm leaving on a dangerous quest and if I fail, a potential revolution will soon start between half-bloods and our parents.