"Nice to have you back, Mr. Spock," I said. Leo smiled. He left Nico and me alone when he walked back over to Calypso's side. Nico turned around and glared at me. I just smiled back down at him.
"Will!" someone shouted from the left. Everyone moved to look at the speaker, including me and Nico. I saw who it was and felt a frown sweep across my face.
"I'll be right back," I said, grabbing Nico's hand and squeezing it once. Nico blushed a little bit and returned the squeeze lightly. I counted that as a win. Bracing myself for annoyance, I jogged over to where Apollo was standing.
"What?" I asked, hoping Apollo heard the exasperation in my voice. But of course, he didn't.
"Hey there, m'boy! How're you today?"
"Fine. What did you need?" I rolled my eyes at my father's perky attitude.
"Well, you see, I have this big problem," Apollo started.
"You're telling me," I mumbled under my breath. Apollo either didn't hear me or didn't care.
He continued on.
"The gods and my other children are really on my case about the Oracle. They will not get off my back until the Oracle is restored. The thing is, right now, of course, the Oracle is in America because of Western Civilization blah, blah, blah. Anyway, the Oracle moved to a place called Delphi, Indiana, since it was in Delphi back in Greece. Additionally, just like back in Ancient Greece, Python guards the Oracle. When Gaea took over Delphi in Greece, the Oracle stopped working. And then when Gaea was destroyed, the Oracle was able to escape to America, only to be imprisoned by Python. I am able to sense the city where the Oracle is being held, but I cannot pinpoint its exact location. As long as the Oracle remains guarded, no prophecies shall be told."
"I thought Rachel was the Oracle. How can she be guarded when she's at camp?" I asked, pointing over to the redhead standing with all the rest of the campers.
"Usually, she contains the spirit of the Oracle of Delphi. The actual Oracle, which is what takes over Rachel when she spews a prophecy, is what's captured right now. Rachel is only housing the Oracle."
"Okay," I started. "I understand that now, but why are you telling me this?"
"I'm telling you this because I need you to go and free the Oracle."
"What!? You want me to kill Python? Why can't you go and do this yourself?"
"Since I killed Python the first time, it can sense me when I'm coming. I would never be able to get close enough to Python because it would move away whenever I would come near it."
"But you know I can't fight! I'm just a healer, and I can't even do that right now because of you! You are a freaking god! Just strike it down!" I could feel my face reddening as I threw my hands in the air.
"It's not that easy, Will!" Apollo said, raising his voice.
"Okay, fine. So you can't do it, but somehow a quest containing three demigods is going to be able to kill Python? How does that make any sense?"
"Oh," Apollo said, smiling after chuckling lightly. "I forgot to tell you. It won't be a quest. Only you can go and free the Oracle. You mustn't bring anybody else with you."
"Oh. Let me guess. I have to go all by myself because you are too high and mighty to let the other gods know that you need help from a mortal!" I yelled.
"Yes, that is true, but take it as a compliment, Will! I trust you to keep this between us and also to kill Python! I can't even trust any of your siblings!" Apollo said.
"I'm not gonna do it, Apollo. It will be impossible for me to kill Python. Also, you forget that you left my mother after you found out she was pregnant and then never showed up again. The first time I saw you was after the Second Titan War! When I was fourteen! That's some great parenting, Apollo!"
"Yes, I did do that, but that's what gods have to do! We can't get attached and Zeus doesn't allow us to talk to our children in excess. Also, you forget that I am a god and that you do not want to cross me, even if I am your father." Apollo's face was going red with frustration.
"Fine," I huffed, crossing my arms in front of my chest. I spun around and walked back over to where Nico was watching us with confusion, curiosity, and worry etched across his face. I studied Nico as I walked over. I don't know why I noticed this now, but I never realized that Nico's skin tone was back to the shade that it was when he first showed up to camp. I gazed at the light sprinkling of freckles splayed across Nico's nose. Could he be any cuter? I thought.
I grit my teeth angrily as I shook the thought of Nico's cuteness out of my head. "We need to talk."
Fear flashed behind Nico's eyes and he involuntarily took up a sort of defensive stance.
"I have to leave," I began. I told Nico what Apollo had told me and watched his eyes get bigger with every word.
When I finished, Nico looked appalled. "There's no way I'm going to let you go alone."
