Curse of the Triblood

Chapter 25

Percy POV

When we finally got together to discuss what happened and the prophecy, we were in the war room. As someone who has been to a war room and has been to Aphrodite's love and war room, this was pathetic. We were surrounding a Ping-Pong table while Ritz crackers and cheese were being surveyed. Mr. D snapped his fingers so that a bunch of Diet Coke was given to everyone. Marcus and some other campers were told to bring the Oracle back to the attic as we all talk together.

"This is pointless. Our goddess needs us. The hunters should leave now to help our Lady Artemis.

"Where would you go?" Chiron asked.

"You heard the old dead lady, west," I replied as I spun Olethros in its coin form. As it floated in my grasp, I could see the reflection of everyone in the room through the golden coin. "Seven shall go west to the goddess in chains."

"Seven hunters will go and save the goddess," Bianca said. It was surprising how much she looked like a hunter now.

"Yes, Artemis is being held, hostage. She will need our help!" Zoe decreed.

"You're missing something, like always," Thalia pointed out. "Campers and Hunters combined will prevail. We have to work together."

"Absolutely not! The hunters do not need thy help!" Zoe yelled.

"Sorry to say this Zoe but thy is an outdated term," I said drinking some Diet coke. Silena faces palmed seeing me not care one bit about a fight. "The word you want to say is your."

"Yeer, yooorr... Curse this language it changes too quickly," Zoe cursed.

"I like it. Keeps you on your toes," I admitted.

"You do need our help. Campers and hunters must cooperate," Chiron said.

"Do they? One will be lost. Someone else's last stand. Sounds like working together could be counterproductive," Mr.D admitted.

"Well, if we work together we could prevail. It says so in the prophecy," Silena told us.

"We should hurry this up though. Today's Sunday. This Friday is the solstice. Lady Artemis needs to be there. I like being alive and having two of the five gods, both Artemis and Aphrodite, that I know like me and will want me alive, not at the meeting is definitely not good for me," I told them.

"Six gods," Mr. D announced. "I for one like our card games while tolerating you, Peter Johnson. Keeping you alive for a few more decades might be good for me."

"Gee thanks," I replied sarcastically. I took a sip of Diet Coke.

"Artemis was one of the more vocal gods for an attack against the rising titan army. We need her if we want anything done in the next meeting," Thalia told them.

"How do we decide who goes on this quest?" one of the Stoll brothers asked.

"Three and four," I said out loud. Everyone looked to me to continue. "Three hunters and four campers."

"Why will there be four campers?" Bianca asked.

"Because I'm going no matter what," I told them. "The other three can be chosen by whoever. But I am going."

"Like we would let a boy come with us," one of the hunters said.

"The bane of Olympus shows the trial," I told them. "Does anyone know what Olethros means in English?"

"Bane," Thalia realized.

"However slight Persues might have a connection to this quest. It would be safe to bring him. A powerful tri-blood, son of Poseidon with the knowledge and blessings of Athena herself could help immensely either way," Chiron added.