Chapter 47 All Hades breaks loose

Sarah's POV

I had been warned that half bloods could have some really terrible dreams which could tell how the world might end or something,though no one told me how weird they could be. In my dream I was standing at the bottom of an old dried up well, that had mosaic tiles decorating the floor and walls. In the light that poured in from far above were a pair of ancient scales, the kind used in those movies about Rome. They moved up and down as if trying to find which side was heavier. Then a young woman literally appeared out of thin air. She was very elegant dressed in a long white gown with long amber colored hair. She smiled at me but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Eyes that are the same color as mine. When she spoke her voice was gentle, yet hard at the same time.

"Well done Sarah, you have finally found me. No easy task for any demigod, especially my children. We have but only a few minutes before you are needed elsewhere. However, with the time we have, you may ask me whatever questions you wish, and I will answer you truthfully."

I stared at her blankly. I didn't understand what was happening. Who was this lady? How did she know my name? Where did she come from? Where am I?

"Do I know you?"

"No, not really. For even though you have sought me and found me, you never really knew me."

"Yep clear as mud."

She laughed,

"The truth is often hard to discern, or as you say clear as mud. I am Veritas the Roman goddess of truth and you Sarah are my daughter."

I stared at her, unable to find words that made sense.

"Uuhh, umm, wait… you're …I'm…"

I mean really, who does that just shows up in your dream and says by the way, I am a Roman goddess, and your long lost mom. You've never met.

"Why are you showing up now? Why are you here? Why are you telling me I was looking for you I wasn't, and if you're Roman, does that mean I am too?"

"To answer your questions, perhaps in reverse order. Yes Sarah, you are Roman however these days you choose the legacy you wish to lead. You will have that choice soon enough. Whether you realized it or not, you were in a way looking for me. You searched for the truth about your boyfriend did you not? When you found the truth you didn't run from it, or ignore it you confronted it and tried to understand it. Which is what led you to me, the goddess of truth. My demigod children are different from other half Bloods. On their twelfth birthday, I give my children the tools they will need to find me. If they choose to search for the truth of who they are, and confront it, they will also find me. Unfortunately this means some of my children will never be claimed."

"But I thought that Percy made all the gods swear to claim their kids when they turned twelve."

"He did."

"Then why don't you? Isn't that breaking your oath?"

"No, a child of mine must understand the importance of truth which is why they must find me to be claimed."

"But.."

"How many of your brethren speak lies, just as easily as they breathe? How many say one little white lie is harmless? How many /tweak the truth/ to make something easier to say or bear? Regardless of how innocent a lie might seem, a lie is a lie. The truth cannot be true if it is also not. Hence the question, true or false. My children must understand this. This reality is hard, and not always seen as fair but then again, the truth can be seen in the same light."

I nodded slowly, what she said made sense. I had met so many people who had lide about all kinds of things for so many different reasons.

"You understand then?"

"Yes, I believe I do."

"Good. Hold out your right arm."

Not knowing what was happening I did as she asked. My mother took my hand and turned it over, palm up. She held her other hand above my forearm saying something in Latin, which apparently caused literal fire to engulf my forearm! I yelled in surprise and pain trying to pull away but Veritas's grip was like a steel trap. Just as suddenly as the flames came they were gone. Leaving me staring at my arm that was literally steaming! As my knees slowly stopped working I heard my mother saying.

"The SPQR stands for senators, Senatus PopulusQue Romanus

. The symbol is for your parentage. The stripe will mark you as a full member of the Roman legion, should you choose that path. Yet it is also for the act of valer you'll perform, for after tonight there will be no time for such ceremonies, and I want to ensure you get the honor you'll deserve."

Then everything went black, and suddenly I was no longer a crumpled heap of a person at the bottom of a random well. Instead I was in a beautiful garden, sitting at a cute little table, which was decorated with lace doilies and fine china. My arm still hurt though I didn't dare look at it, which was easy enough because the woman sitting across from me provided a good distraction. Her dress looked like an old timey ball gown that you might see on someone's Pinterest board. On top of that her feachers kept changing, blonde, brunette. Blue eyes, green eyes, somehow with every change she looked prettier. The woman poured a cup of tee as she said.

"My dear young lady, I'm so pleased you found the time to stop by. I'd offer you some tee if you weren't still dreaming. I've heard it's bad for your health to eat in dreams."

"Umm, who are you?"

The woman's eyes twinkled with a light I couldn't place.

"I'm Venus, the Roman aspect of Aphrodite."

Realities seem to flicker momentarily. We were in a limo, not a garden. The goddess was dressed, as if she was going to attend the met gala. And everything reverted back. I gripped the edge of the table feeling nauseous, but I managed to ask.

"Pipers, mom?"

"Yes dear but we're not here to talk about my daughter. I'm more interested in your love life."

"Sorry?"

"My dear young lady of course I am. You found yourself in a very… interesting relationship, of course I'm going to be following it. That's kind of what I do after all."

"Are you going to be offering me advice?"

She covered her mouth with a gloved hand, concealing, a smile and a small laugh. Which I figured, didn't bode well.

"Advice, no, Sarah I don't have any advice for you. I leave that to my children."

"Then why?"

"Do I want to talk to you?"

I nodded.

"Castolon is a young man I've been interested in for a long time. He's had an unfortunate love life. I kept putting women in his life. Perhaps I thought a well grounded woman would help, well ground him. Perhaps I hoped it would help him not go down the path he inevitably did."

"You mean you knew what was going to happen to him and you didn't do anything to stop it."

"Unfortunately us god's cannot get involved in our children's fate. we may influence them slightly, but in the end, it's the Fates that weave, well their fate. Believe me, I tried to help as best as I could. I made him fall for Thalia Grace, and then she died, and then she undyed, and then she became a Hunter. Swearing off love all together. I tried to help him realize how special Annabeth Chase was to him. Of course I was always on team Percabeth, but who can blame me for trying to start a love triangle. Unfortunately, those feelings didn't really hit home until he was dying on the throne room floor. She could've changed him, you know she possibly was the only one that could have saved him. At least that's what Hermas believes, and I do agree."

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

"Sarah, I was the first and only Olympian to know of Luke's return. But I didn't say anything that would've gotten the poor young man sent right back to punishment. And the reason I didn't say anything was because of you."

"Me?!"

"Of course, I noticed the way he was watching you, I thought to myself now, here is a golden opportunity. The story that ends in tragedy can be rewritten maybe even to a happily ever after. You see Sarah, it is hard for the gods to change. It is easier for half bloods, but they still find it quite difficult. If Luke were to travel his road of redemption alone, who's to say he would ever make it. After all, he still carries in his heart anger towards us, and who can blame him. A demigod's life is never easy. Luke has always needed a reason. Now he needs a reason to step back onto the path of a hero, and I believe you could be the exact reason he needs."

"Umm…"

"My dear girl, don't sell yourself short. The only reason Luke came to the camp is because of you. In his heart, he considered fleeing the city, leaving you in the safety of camp half blood. But he understood those that seek him would stop at nothing to spill his blood again. He was afraid that if he left, that would put you in danger. So he came to the camp and risked his life so that his former army couldn't get you. A few years ago Annabeth Chase was the only one that could've saved Luke castellan; she chose Percy instead. Now you have a chance to save Luke, and I'm very interested to see what your choice will be. One last thing because I understand you have a few more stops to make tonight. First, let's not tell anyone about our little chat. My daughter Piper has a tendency to, well she doesn't like it when I talk to her friends… the last thing is a little tidbit of information I think you should know. I have influenced Luke in many ways during the course of his first life. However, I had nothing to do with your current relationship. You didn't get any help for me in snagging Luke castellan. Good luck, Sarah. I do hope your story ends happily. Far too many heroes' stories end in tragedy, I would like to see you be an exception."

Before I could say anything, the garden dissolved. Leaving me standing in a dark room with four different doors, and a two faced God, standing in front of me, tossing a key in the air, smiling and laughing as he chanted.

"Choose, you'll have to choose a door soon, which way will you go? Will it be the right one or will it be the wrong one?"

The scene melted away. Leaving me alone in the dark. Then I heard a voice that filled me with terror. It was low and cruel. It echoed all around me, resonating with the darkness.

"A monster has been summoned from my domain to attack a place called Camp Half Blood. Tell me Iapetus is this place that the son of the sea God and the daughter of wisdom came from?"

I didn't hear a response but something must've replied to the voice because it laughed. But the laughter didn't carry any joy or humor, just murderous intent. It made me want to cry and curl up in a ball. When the laughter stopped, the voice spoke again.

"In that case, I will reinforce the monster. Two puny mortals will not be allowed to defy me. Maeonian Draconian I call you forth from my debts, go to camp, half blood in the world above. Destroy the two demigods that dared to defy me and all they hold dear! And to the one

that listens in the shadows take with you this message Torturous is rising, and I will claim your mortal plane of existence. Your world will sink back from which it came."

I woke up screaming in utter chaos. Shouts came from outside as my cabin mates were scrambling around, throwing on random pieces of armor, and grabbing weaponry. I sat on my bed staring at the commotion, trying to make sense of everything. A massive BOOM! came from outside, and I was yanked off my bed. A breast plate was attached to me, and a sword and shield were shoved into my hands. As some fourth year camper yelled at me.

"Don't just sit there! We're under attack!"