That very night, Rhea was taken directly to Cabin Three. Her hand gripping her arm that felt numbed now that she had stepped out of the water, while over her shoulder was a bag that held the Minotaur horn, some clothes, a toiletry bag and Murphy's Pokeball, which he was in fast asleep.
Leonidas on the other hand, stood beside her, hissing at the door as it slammed shut behind them. Nudging him softly with her body, she limped over to one of the six bunk beds and place her bag down onto the floor before sitting down. Rhea couldn't help but grimace in pain, looking at where red angry lines mark the skin of her arm, where Clarrise had struck her with her spear. "I should really get this check out," she thought with a grimace, but looks up to the door. "I think I can wait til tomorrow morning,"
She didn't feel like leaving the safety of her Cabin, possibly the only safe place from the other campers' eyes, and the only safe place besides maybe Atlantis from any stray lightning bolt can shoot her down. It was now known that she was a Forbidden Child of Poseidon, and not only that, but a child of Amphitrite. Which means that she had more godly blood than other Demigods.
She sighs at this, not really looking forward to tomorrow but she was exhausted. Rhea was all about to just flop backwards, when the door of her cabin was knocked on. Biting at her lip, Rhea turns her gaze to Leonidas, who hisses at the door, sparks of electricity dancing off his frame. Slipping off her bed, Rhea walked over to the door, gently pushing it open a crack to leak through. Green eyes blink as she spotted Hilbert and Bianca standing outside.
"Hey Rhea," Hilbert smiles sadly, "May we have permission to come in," he gestures to Bianca, "Bi wasn't able to check you over with how people reacted to your claiming," he grimaces, looking at her sadly.
Rhea stares at them, before she silently nodded her head, taking a step back to allow the two entry. Though, all three of them, and Leonidas who had been watching the two warily all tense when they felt a pressure building up when Hilbert and Bianca stepped inside, but it faded away when Bianca raised her hands, holding up the medical kit that she was carrying. Nodding her head, she users Rhea to the bed.
The three sat in silence as the Bianca checked her over and Rhea couldn't help but feel panic growing in her throat as the daughter of Apollo frowns, "How bad is it?"
"It could be worse…" Bianca mutters, wrapping the arm up in bandages after rubbing some sort of ointment that made Rhea squirm with how it stung. "The nerves haven't been too damage that it will cause major problems but you will feel pain when the weather starts getting colder," she then stops, blinking at Rhea who was gazing at her with slight temptation, "That… wasn't what you were asking about. Was it?"
Hilbert sighs when Rhea shakes her head, "Athena's Cabin is up in a stink for you punching Annabeth, nice swing by the way," he grimaces as Bianca punches him in the arm, "Ares' Cabin is mad that you made a fool of themselves… again. Everyone else… is scared," he grimaces as he admits that, "The last time a Forbidden Child was born, Lord Hades did everything, sent the worst of the worst after her. Everyone is afraid he'll do it again… and is afraid Lord Zeus shall let him,"
Rhea sighs, her tail curling around her legs. Murphy chitters unhappily at how upset she was. Leonidas growls angrily at Hilbert before nudging Rhea's side softly.
Realizing what exactly he has just said Hilbert sputters, "I mean… he probably won't do that! I mean Lady Amphitrite is also your Godly parent so that means you're an official princess of Atlantis… if Lord Zeus tries that I'm sure your father will declare war on him! Though," he trails off, frowning, "Being the daughter of Lady Amphitrite is also making people concern...there has only been one demigod who had more divine than standard and that was Mr. D,"
Rhea frowns at this, "But his divine parent was only Zeus?" she flinches as thunder rumble above her and she curls closer to Leonidas.
Bianca sighs, "Yes, but he grew up in the flesh of Lord Zeus' thigh, it made his already divine blood more powerful. Its one of the theories on why he had been able to shift from mortal to immortal," she shakes her head, looking at Rhea in concern before she stand up, grabbing Hilbert on the arm, "We better get going before we overstay our welcome. If you notice anything wrong, come to the infirmary at the Big House. One of my siblings or myself will look at you,"
Rhea nodded her head, watching as the two strode out of her cabin and once more finding herself alone. She swallows, arms trembling and feeling her eyes burn from tears that wanted to shed.
"Rhea…" head snapping, she now finds her brother, Triton, standing in the middle of the room. With a choked sob, Rhea quickly stands up and runs to him, wrapping her arms around his middle. Triton held her close, holding her so tightly as he places his hand on the back of her head, allowing Rhea to push her face into the crook of his shoulder, "Θα είναι εντάξει, αδερφή"
Rhea wished he would have told her the truth, because her time at Camp soon became miserable. Sure, she had a whole cabin to herself, with only Leonidas and Murphy to share with. Sure she got to sit at her own dinner table, pick all her own activities, call "lights out" whenever she felt like it and not listen to anybody else.
It wasn't because she was lonely, well she was lonely inside Cabin three. Hilbert had been right about the Athena and Ares Cabin hating her. Athena for her smashing her fist into Annabeth's face and Ares for beating their best five siblings in combat. But also because they got into trouble.
It turns out this isn't the first time one of Annabeth's plans has gotten someone hurt. Rose Williams, a daughter of Demeter had her leg broken, Finsley 'Finn' Miller, son of Palaemon, the God of Sharks and Harbors had been beaten black and blue by the meaner children of Aphrodite after he broke the heart of one of their sister by breaking up with her. Rhea had definitely believed that he didn't deserve having his teeth knocked out of his jaw or the slight scars on his face for it. From what Rhea had been told, Finn had broken up with her after realizing that he was gay, and didn't want to lead her on or force to be in a relationship that didn't make him happy. She had also been told that those siblings had been given the riot act from not only Silena and Chiron but also there mother.
Annabeth, of course, was not given any punishment, even though she had planned it all. Ethan had explained that Annabeth was Chiron's favorite, since he practically raised her. At this Luke had sigh and nodded his head in agreement.
But for once, Annabeth had gotten into trouble. Chiron originally was just going to punish the Ares Cabin (thankfully with not just losing desert privileges) by having them not allowed to be part of Capture the Flag for the rest of the summer. But then, to everyone's amazement, the unofficial leader of the Unclaimed, Alabaster, stood up from the Hermes Table and declared that Annabeth needed to be punished too. He had explained that it was her fault that Rhea (who had slowly slid down to hide under her table as this was all happening at breakfast) was all by herself to be attacked by Clarisse and her siblings.
"This is the third time she got someone hurt because 'Athena always has a plan.' The third time, Chiron. Either punish her or none of the Unclaimed shall participate in Capture the Flag until you do or she dies,"
After that proclamation, Mr. D has risen up from his seat, and did so. He took Annabeth's title of Cabin Leader and gave it to her brother, Damian Write, who in Rhea's opinion should had gotten it as he was older than Annabeth. But it gave them more reason to glare angrily at Rhea's way every time she was in their line of sight.
It had also made lessons with Annabeth really awkward. Every time Rhea said something, Annabeth would scowl at her, as if Rhea had just poke her between the eye. She also seem very distracted, after lesson, Annabeth would walk away, muttering to herself. "Quest…Poseidon… dirty rotten… got to make a plan,"
Rhea really hope that plan wasn't Annabeth stabbing her with her knife… Or Atalanta pecking her eyes out.
The Hermes Cabin was split, Luke and his siblings, Chris and Ethan, they still hand around her. Chris and Ethan helping Luke with her sword (or more like trident since she now revealed she did in fact had a weapon) lessons. The other though, those Unclaimed, they steered cleared of Rhea, and like those of Athena's Cabin and Ares' Cabin, glower at her.
"It's not your fault, Rhea," Luke had said, gently patting her on the shoulder after she had tried to talk to one, who had snapped at her to go away. "There just… upset. Many of them have been waiting to be Claimed, some even for years and you? You have only been here for a week? It upset many. Just give them time,"
Time. Rhea may not have that much time if Zeus has his way. The thing that made Rhea really miserable was all the pity looks that everyone else gave her. Silena and her sister Drew, who was the same age as him, Charles from the Hephaestus Cabin, many in the Apollo Cabin, and many more would give her looks of pity.
One night, Rhea came to her cabin to find a mortal newspaper dropped on the porch, a copy of Castelia Daily News, opened to the Metro page. The article took Rhea almost an hour to read, because she grew more angry causing the words to float around the page even more.
GIRL AND MOTHER STILL MISSING AFTER FREAK CAR ACCIDENT
By Eileen Smythe
Sally Jackson and daughter Rhea are still missing one week after their mysterious disappearance. The family's badly burned '78 Camaro discovered last Saturday on an Undella Bay road with the roof ripped off and the front axle broken. The car had flipped and skidded for several hundred feet before exploding.
Mother and daughter had gone for a weekend vacation to Montauk, but left hastily, under mysterious circumstances. Small traces of blood were found in the car and near the scene of the wreck, but there was no other signs of the missing Jacksons. Residents in the rural area reported seeing nothing unusual around the time of the accident.
Ms. Jackson's husband, Gabe Ugliano, claims that his stepdaughter, Rhea Jackson, is a troubled child who has been kicked out of numerous boarding schools and has expressed violent tendencies in the past.
An Officer Jenny has reported they do not believe that daughter Rhea is suspect of her mother's disappearance, but some officers has stated they have not rule out foul play. Below are recent pictures of Sally Jackson and Rhea. Police urge anyone with information to call the following toll-free crime stoppers hotline.
Rhea couldn't help but swallow dryly spotting the phone number circled in black marker. Wadding up the paper and throwing it away, she flops down into her bunk bed, pulling Murphy into her arms. "Lights out," she whispers miserably, closing her eyes shut.
That night, Rhea had her worst dream yet.
She was running along the beach in a storm. This time, a city shined behind her. Not Castelia. The sprawl was different: buildings spread farther apart, palm trees and low hills in the distance.
About a hundred yards down the surf, two men were fighting. They looked… unnatural though at the same time still human. Muscular with beards and long hair. Both wore flowing Pantheon tunics, one trimmed in blue, the other in green. The one in green had one arm that seem to be completely made of water, his black hair flowing down his back. Two horns were emerging from his head, like ram horns...like Rhea's horns. The other in the blue had the same black hair, though it only reached his shoulders, and he too had horns, though shape like a bulls. Unlike the one in green, he had wings emerging from his back, dark red feathers with the underside feathers being a blue, reminding Rhea of a Braviary. He also wore a laurel wreath that was shaped to be lightning bolts.
They were grappling with each other, wrestling, kicking and head butting each other, scaled tails slapping the ground in their anger and each time they connected, lightning flashed, the sky grew darker, and the wind rose.
"I have to stop them," Rhea though, but she trembles, not really knowing how. She ran, but it seems like the wind was blowing her back, keeping her away from the two fighting gods. But she growls, her heels digging into the sand as she tried to push herself to get closer.
Over the roar of the storm, she could hear the blue-robed one yelling at the other, grabbing him by the throat, "Give it back! I order you to give it back now or this is war!"
"I don't have it!" the green one yells, denying the accusing as he swipes his claws against his accuser's face. It didn't leave any damage, but it forced him to let him go of his throat.
The waves got bigger, crashing into the beach, spraying Rhea with salt, "Stop it! Please! You must stop fighting!" she calls out, trying to be heard over the storm.
The ground shook underneath her, and laughter came from somewhere under the earth. The voice was so deep, and it felt so dark that it turned her blood to ice. She somewhat recognize it, and she couldn't help but take a step back.
"Come down, little hero," the voice croons at her the sand splitting beneath Rhea's feet, "Come down!"
Rhea cries out as a crevice straight down to the center of the earth opens up and she slips. Her cry pulls the attention of the one in green, and his green eyes widen in fear. "Rhea!" crying out in panic, the man turns his back from his opponent, much to the other's shock. Launching himself forward, almost like a tidal wave he reaches out his hand to her, but Rhea screams as the darkness swallows her and she begins to plummet.
Rhea woke up in a scream, jerking out of bed and making Murphy and Leonidas to jump up, looking around for threats. Rhea pants, her fins pinning down and her tail curling closer to her body as she slowly realizes that she was still in her bed in cabin three. She could tell it was morning, and yet it was still dark outside and thunder rumbled loudly.
Rhea brings her head up as she hears a clopping sound at the door, a hoof knocking on the threshold. Sighing, Rhea pushes herself up and quickly changes, before she opens the door to see a worried Grover. "Mr. D wants to see you," he quickly informed, eyes flickering to the Big House and the giant unnatural storm that was brewing overhead.
Biting her lip, Rhea quickly returns Murphy, but kept Leonidas out of his Pokeball, following Grover to what she hopes wasn't her death. For days, she'd have been expecting a summons to the Big House. She, Rhea has been declared a daughter of Poseidon, and while she had been declared as a daughter of Amphitrite, she was still a child of one of the Big Three who weren't supposed to have demigod kids anymore. It was a crime for her just being alive. The other Gods surely have been debating the best way to punish her for existing and now Mr. D was ready to deliver their verdict.
Over the camp, the sky looked like ink soup coming to a boil. A hazy curtain of rain was coming towards them. "Will we need an umbrella?" Rhea mutters to Grover, looking at it nervously l.
"No," Grover replies with a shake of his head, "it never rains here,"
Leonidas snorted at that, eyeing the storm as well. Rhea shakes her own head as they walk pass the volleyball pit, the kids from Apollo's cabin playing a morning game against the satyrs. Pollux and Castor, Mr. D's twins were walking around in the strawberry fields, making the plants grow. Everybody was these, but still trying to go about normally. Though Rhea noticed they too were keeping their eyes on the storm.
Walking up the front porch of the Big House, Dionysus sat at the pinochle table in his Raikou pattern Alolan shirt with his Diet Coke, his Liepard eyeing her as if she was a Pichu she was trying to hunt. Chiron sat across him in his fake wheelchair. Both of them playing against invisible opponents, two sets of cards hovering in the air.
"Well, we'll," Mr. D slowly drawled, without looking up, "Our little celebrity,"
"I don't think you make a good Professor Snape, sir," Rhea replied, but she stayed where she stood, not moving any closer.
Mr. D snorted, "Oh come closer already… and don't expect me to kowtow to you, princess or not you are mortal no matter if you are old Barnacle Beard and his wife's kid,"
A net of Lightning flashed across the clouds, thunder shaking the windows of the house and all Dionysus did was shake his head, "Blah, blah, blah,"
Chiron feign interest in his pinochle cards while Grover cowered by the railing, clutching Lily so close to his chest that the Petili squeaked slightly.
"If o had my way," Dionysus mutters, "I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We'd sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this curses camp: to keep you brats safe from harm,"
"Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D,"
"Nonsense," Dionysus laughs, waving a hand, "Girl wouldn't feel a thing. Nevertheless, I've agreed to restrain myself. I'm thinking turning you into a Finizen, send you back to your farther and mother,"
"Please don't, Finizen and Palafin are jerks," Rhea stated before Chiron could say anything.
Mr. D smiles before he shrugs, "Oh, alright but there is only one option left. But it's deadly foolish," Rhea watches as Dionysus rose, and seem to stumbled a bit. The smell vinegar filled her nose and she saw his form shifted. Shades of purple, blue and brown painted under his eyes, making it look like he hardly got any sleep. His face too looked pale, sunken in making the bags under his eyes even more darker. His purple hair was a messy, not just because of the curls but it looked matted and was all but tangled. He blinks, shaking his head and he turns, frowning as he notices Rhea's gaze, "Staring is rude you know," he let out, making Rhea jump. She shakes her head, gazing back at Mr. D, who now seem normal, with the added feature of bull horns emerging from his curls and the long purple scaled tail with a tuft of black fur on the end. His own feathered wings, a bright purple twitched in annoyance, "I'm off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the girl is still here when I get back, I will turn her into a Finizen. Do you understand," Chiron sighs at this and nodded his head, making Rhea raise her eyebrows. She then jumps when Mr. D turns to her, "And Rhea Jackson, if you're smart at all, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do,"
Dionysus picked up a playing card, twisting it in his hands and it became a plastic rectangle. At first Rhea thought it was a credit card, before she realized it was a security pass. With a snap of his fingers, the air seem to fold and bend around him. Something, suddenly appeared over his head. A Pokemon that had two tails, each one having a red jewel encrusted in them. Its face was partially magenta with four long, drooping appendages, another red gem encrusted in its forehead. Once his Lipeard strode up to him, all three suddenly vanish, leaving only a smell of vinegar lingering behind.
Chiron smiled at her, but Rhea noticed that he looked tired and strained, "Sit, Rhea, please...and of course Leonidas and Grover.
As they did so, Chiron laid his cards down, showing the winning hand that he hadn't been able to use. "Tell me, Rhea. What did you think of the hellhound,"
Rhea shivers, taking a deep breath, "It scared me," she replied honsetly, "If Triton hadn't train me to react...I'd be dead,"
"You shall meet worse, Rhea. Far worse, before you're done,"
Rhea blinks at her old teacher, confusion and fear burning in her, "Done...done with what?"
"You're quest, of course. Will you accept it?"
Rhea stares at him, at first not comprehending what he was saying. "Are...are you serious right now? Do you want more reason for Atlantis to call for war," Chiron blinks, and Grover looks at her in confusion, "Atlantis law states that no younglings will fight, no matter how dire the situation is. It has been that law since the fall of the Titans, since farther took control,"
Chiron coughs a bit, "That is Atlantis law, Rhea...not Olympus…"
"And I understand that but Triton told me that it was a law even Uncle Z agreed too, especially for their mortal children...and I know that the age about adulthood is different on the surface than its under the sea...its 18 here, since Luke was put on a quest and he is 20 now? I am 12, I am not legally allowed to go on a quest,"
Chiron sighs, "Laws changed Rhea...I know, but times have changed. It is… rare that Demigods reach the age of adulthood in these times. The suppression that Lady Hestia has created is new and is only given to those who have reach adulthood or youngsters who wish to try to go on a journey or for school," Rhea blinks at this, Luke and Chris having told her that the Suppression was for adults, not the children. "Lord Zeus had to change the age from 18 to 11,"
Rhea stares, "All of Atlantis is going to be so angry at this," she mutters, looking up at the sku as thunder rumbled across the valley. The storm clouds had now reached the edge of the beach and as far as Rhea could see, the sky and sea were boiling together, "Father and Uncle Z...they're fighting over something valuable," at this Chiron and Grover exchanged looks, "something that was stolen, aren't they?"
Chiron sat forward in his wheelchair, "How did you know that,"
"Triton hinted at it somewhat...I know it happen around Christmas...that was when the weather grew all crazy… like the sea and sky are fighting. Then I talked to Annabeth and she'd overheard something about a theft… and I've also been having dreams…"
"I knew it," Grover whispers, staring at her with wide eyes. "This must be her quest. It must be!"
"Hush, satyr," Chiron order, shaking his head, "Only the Oracle can determine," he stokes his bristly beard, "Nevertheless, Rhea, you are correct. Your farther and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise, a lightning bolt,"
Rhea couldn't help but squeak, "A lightning bolt… you mean Uncle Zeus' master bolt. His symbol of power which all other lightning bolts are patterned?"
"Correct," Chiron praise, looking please, "The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheered the top off Mount Orthrys and threw Kronos off his throne. The master bolt which packs enough power to make a Gyrados attack look like a child knocking over some blocks," Chiron takes a deep breath, "And its stolen...Lord Zeus believes you to be the thief.
Rhea's mouth dropped open and Leonidas was looking at the old trainer like he was crazy. Before she could speak, Chiron held up his hand, "During the Winter Solstice, at the last council meeting of the Gods, Lord Zeus and Lord Poseidon had an argument of the usual nonsense, 'Mother Rhea always like you best,' 'Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters,' et cetera. Afterwards, Lord Zeus realized his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. He immediately blamed Lord Poseidon. Now a God cannot usurp another God's symbol of power directly, that is forbidden by the most ancient of divine law. But Lord Zeus believes your farther convinced a human hero to take it,"
"Meaning me," Rhea groans, rubbing her eyes, "But I didn't! Sure I knew of the Godly world since I was ten. But I never even been to Olympus...heck I don't even know where it is!"
"Patience and listen, child," Rhea frowns at Chiron before she huffs, stroking Leonidas's head as he places it on her lap. "Lord Zeus has good reason to be suspicious. The forges of Cyclopes are under the ocean, which gives Lord Poseidon some influence over the makers of his brother's lightning. Lord Zeus believes Lord Poseidon has taken the master bolt, and is now secretly having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies, which might be use topple Lord Zeus from his throne. The only thing Lord Zeus wasn't sure about was which hero Lord Poseidon used to steal the bolt,"
"And now that farther as openly claimed me," Rhea closes her eyes, fighting the urge to scream.
"You were in Castelia over the winter holidays. You could have easily snuck into Olympus,"
"Uncle Zeus is crazy," Rhea stated, with no utter hesitation. Grover and Chiron glanced nervously at the sky. The clouds didn't seem to be parting around us, as Grove had promised. They were rolling straight over our valley, sealing us like in a coffin lid. Glaring at it, Rhea stood up, taking a deep breath, "I, Rhea Jackson, Daughter of Poseidon swear on the River Styx that I did not steal Uncle Zeus' Master Bolt nor have anything to do with the stealing of it!"
Thunder crashed and roll, but as Rhea stood standing, not in pain or dropping dead, she raises an eyebrow to the sky. When the clouds just grew darker, she sat down, sighing in annoyance, "Crazy...he is crazy,"
Grover was paled, staring at her with wide eyes. But Chiron was frowning, "That was very dangerous," he scolded at her.
"No it wasn't" Rhea dryly remarked, "I did not steal it, I know I did not steal it and knew I had nothing to do with the thief. Swearing on Lady Styx means that I am absolutely telling the truth and Uncle Zeus can't say I'm still lying,"
"He is paranoid, Rhea. You can't blame him. Lord Poseidon did tried to unseat Lord Zeus once. I believed that was question 38 on your final exam," he looked at her, as if he actually expected her to remember.
Sighing, Rhea shrugs, "Something about the Golden Net? Him and Hera alongside with a few other Gods trapped him and wouldn't let him out until he promised to be a better king, right? Because he was getting as paranoid as his father was and may I remind you that it was Hera's idea!"
"Correct, but Lord Zeus has never trusted Lord Poseidon since. Your farther of course denies stealing the master bolt, and he took great offense to it,"
"And he won't just… swear on the River Styx like I did?"
"Rhea...even if he did Lord Zeus wouldn't believed him. You being here, your very existence is proof of that," Rhea frowns at this and she sighs, "Most thinker observers would agree that thievery is not Lord Poseidon's style. But Lord Zeus has demaned that Lord Poseidon returns the bolt by the summer solstice. That's June 21, ten days from now. Lord Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date. I had hope that diplomacy might prevail, that Lady Hera, Lady Demeter or Lady Hestia would make the two brothers see sense. But your arrival has inflamed Lord Zeus' temper. Now neither God will back down and unless someone intervense, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Lord Zeus before the solstice, there will be war,"
"And that would be bad," Rhea whispers, thinking about it. Nature at war with itself. Olympians force to choose sides between her uncle and farther. Destruction...Carnage...millions dead, Rhea couldn't help but shudder. She looks up at Chiron, "I'm guessing that my quest is me finding where the bolt is and returning it to Uncle Zeus,"
Chiron nodded his head, "What better peace offering it is. To have the daughter of Lord Poseidon and Lady Amphitrite to return Lord Zeus' property," he looks at her, "Do you accept?"
Sighing, Rhea nodded her head, "Better than be turned into Finizen…"
"Then its time you consulted the Oracle," Chiron announced, "Go upstairs, Rhea Jackson, to the attic. When you come back down, assuming you're still sane, we will talk more,"
"That is so comforting, Chiron… you really suck at pep talks you know that?"
Four flights up, the stairs ended under a green trapdoor. Pulling the cord, the door swung down, a wooden ladder clattered into place. Holding her breath, Rhea climbs up and enters the attic. The whole place was filled with warm air smelling like mildew, rotten wood and reptiles.
Looking around, Rhea saw armor stands covered in cobwebs; once bright shields pitted with rust; old leather streamer trunks plastered with stickers saying ITHAKA, CIRCE'S ISLE, LAND OF THE AMAZONS. A table stacked with glass jars of picked things- served hairy claws, huge yellow eyes, various other parts of monsters. The deeper Rhea went, the floors creaked under her feet but she kept looking around until finally by a window, under the sunlight and sitting in a dust old chair was the most gruesome memento of all: a mummy, though not the wrapped in a cloth kind, but a human female body shriveled up to a husk.
Rhea swallow, "Hi…" she grimaces at the way her voice cracked, "I'm Rhea...nice to meet you," she stares at the woman, wearing a tie-dyed sundress, lots of beaded necklaces, "I was told a quest isn't a quest until you've said so… which is weird since you look more like a Halloween decoration…"
Rhea jumps as the body sat up, opening her mouth, green mist pouring frim her mouth, coiling over the floor in thick tendrils, hissing like twenty thousands of Ekans. "Oh geeze," Rhea whispers stumbling back a bit before she freezes as a voice slither into one ear and coiling around her brain, "I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Apollo Loxias, the One Who Speaks Crookedly., slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seeker, and ask,"
Rhea stares at her, before taking a deep breath, "Hold fast...brave the storm," she mutters to herself before looking up at the Oracle, "What is my quest," she asked with as much courage she could grabbed. She watches as the mist swirled more thickly, collecting right in front of her, taking shape before a sneering man was staring down at her.
"You got to be kidding me," Rhea said with annoyance at the sight of Gabe.
He stares down at her, clutching a bottle of beer, "You shall go west and face the God who has turned. And you shall find what was stolen and see it safely returned. You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend," at this Rhea stares with wide eyes, feeling her heart being grabbed and her fins shooting up in horror, "and you shall fail to save what matters most in the end,"
Gabe began to dissolve, the mist slowly retreating, coiling into a huge green Ekans and slithering back into the mouth of the mummy, "Wait!" Rhea calls out, her eyes filled with fear, "What do you mean? What friend? What will I fail to save?"
But the Oracle ignored her, reclining back into her chair as her mouth closes tightly as if she hadn't open it in a hundred years. The attic was silent again, abandoned, nothing but a room full of mementos. Rhea could stay as long as she wanted, until cobwebs covered her too and yet she will learn nothing else.
Her audience with the Oracle was over.
"Well?" Chiron aksed as Rhea slips back into the chair at the pinochle table.
Rhea was silent, looking at her hands, "She said I would retrive what was stolen,"
Grover sat up at this, chewing excitedly on the remains of a Diet Coke can, "That's great!"
But Chiron pressed on with a shake of his head, "What did the Oracle say exactly? That is important,"
Ears still tingling, Rhea repeated what she had been told, except for the last two lines. What friend would betray her...and the last line...fail to save what mattered most. "What kind of Oracle would send me on a quest and tell me, Oh, by the way, you'll fail." Anxious to change the subject, she looks at Chiron, "So where am I going? Who's this God in the west,"
"Ah think, Rhea. If Lord Zeus and Lord Poseidon weaken each other in war, who stands to gain,"
Rhea bites at her lip, "The Titan King I guess...unless the stories about him gaining forgiveness are true…" she blinks as Grover drops the remains of his can in horror. "What?"
"No," Chiron shakes his head, face pale but he looked deep in thought, "No, its someone who holds a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided eopns ago, whose kingdom grows powerful with the death of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing him into an oath to have no more children, an oath that both his brothers have now broken,"
Staring at him blankly, Rhea couldn't help but pray to her Uncle Hades for forgiveness… "Are you...serious, Chiron! In all the stories, Uncle Hades did nothing! Heck out of all the Gods, Hades is the most nicest one of all! What is up with you all! First I hear you disrespecting Lady Demeter who may I remind you, almost killed the whole planet after Persephone was taken and Lady Aphrodite who started the Trojan War and now your vilifying Lord Hades like Disney did in that movie?!" as she ranted, Rhea's nose twitched at the smell of pomegranates filled the air and she sneezes.
"A fury came after you Rhea," Chiron reminded her, "She watched you until she was sure of your identity and then tried to kill you. Furies obey only one lord: Lord Hades,"
"Yes, but...Lord Hades hates all Heroes," Grover protested, "Especially if he found out that Rhea is a daughter of Lord Poseidon,"
"A hellhound got into the forest," Chiron continued, "Those can only be summoned from the Fields of Punishment, and it has to be summoned by someone within the camp. Lord Hades must have a spy here. He must have suspect Lord Poseidon will try to use Rhea to clear his name, making his very much like to kill this young half-blood before she can take on the quest,"
"But a quest to.." Grover swallows, "I mean, couldn't the master bolt be in some place like Vertress City. Vertress City's very nice this time of year,"
"Lord Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt," Chiron insisted, making Rhea want to follow the urge to smash her head in the table, "He hid it in the Distortion World, knowing full well that Lord Zeus would blame Lord Poseidon. I don't pretend to understand the Lord of the Dead's motives perfectly, or why he chose this time to start a war, bit one thing is certain. Rhea must go to the Distortion World, find the master bolt and revealed the truth,"
Grover was trembling, eating the pinochle cards like potatoe chips. But Rhea was still frowning, "Great now I have to clear not only my dad's name but Uncle Hades… there has to be more of this…" she couldn't help but feel sorry for Grover. He needed to complete a quest with her so he could get his searcher's license, whatever that was, but how could Rhea ask him to do this, especially when the Oracle said she was destined to fail.
"So let me get this straight," Rhea mutters, "I'm suppose to go to the Distortion World and confront the Lord of the Dead,"
"Check," Chiron nodded.
"Find the most powerful weapon in the universe,"
"Check,"
"And get it back to Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days,"
"That is about right,"
"You are way too calm about this. Vas a hacer que nos maten. ¡Vamos a morir porque estás acusando al tío Hades de esto!" Rhea snaps at him, before looking at Grover, who gulped down the ace of hearts, Lily nuzzling into his stomach to calm him, "You don't have to do go...I can't ask that of you,"
Grover shifted his hooves, "Oh...not its just...satyrs and underground places...did I mention that Vetress City is very nice this time of year?" he says weakly before he takes another deep breath, standing up and brushing the shredded cards and aluminum bits off his T-shirt, cradling Lily in one arm, "you saved my life, Rhea...if you're serious about wanting me along. I won't let you down,"
"Thanks, G-man," Rhea mumbles, holding back the urged to cry. Grover had been the only friend she ever had for longer than a few months. And while she wasn;t sure what good a satyr could do against the forces of the dead, she knew, without a doubt that Grover wouldn't betray her.
"You will be betray by one who calls you a friend," Shaking the voice out of her head, she turns to Chiron, "So where do we go? The Oracle said west,"
"The Distortion World has many entrances around the world, all accessible by reflection. The one in Unova, is in Los Rayo,"
"Los Rayo...the home to Pokestudios," Rhea mutters, "And if I'm right...we can't take a plane,"
"Correct...that will be Lord Zeus' domain...you will never come down again alive," overhead lightning cracked and boom, rain pouring down on the meadow that was never suppose to have violent weather. "But first...you must pick one more person to accompany you, as quests always have three members… wait by the dining pavilion while I gather some volunteers,"
"Geeze," Rhea mutters as she stands up, looking at Grover, "I wonder who would be stupid enough beside us to volunteer for a quest like this," she mutters, but it got her thinking.
"You will be betray by one who calls you a friend,"
WOoooooo I did it! I finished this chapter and it was 6k words! Gosh it took me forever but I got it all done!
So some changes, Rhea swore on the River Styx that she wasn't the one to do it, clearing her name, because she is a smart girl. Zeus is still accusing Poseidon because even if he did it, Zeus would trust him because like him, Poseidon can completely avoid, Styx punishment since he is a King. So rhea still has to go on the quest, more because Chiron thinks its hades who is behind this all.
And Rhea doesn't beleive that. Between her mom and Triton she is very imformative about the Gods, and Hades was pretty chill...so she is just looking at Chiron is like...Zeus isn't the only crazy one.
Also if you haven't notice Poseidon's look from the dream...I may have gotten inspired from the Epic animations on youtube...everyone giving him a water arm is so cool. And I got inspired by those songs!
So, anyway...please leave a review! Please!
Θα είναι εντάξει, αδερφή- it will be alright, sister
Vas a hacer que nos maten. ¡Vamos a morir porque estás acusando al tío Hades de esto!- You are going to get us killed. We are going to die because you are accusing Uncle Hades for this!