The Mist's Misfortune: The Child of Wisdom

6

"Well, if it isn't Annabeth Chase. The architect of Olympus." She said with her piercing glare.

"Well, if it isn't you. Hairbrush Lady." I tried being sarcastic but my broken bones won't allow me to. I winced in pain as Nico supported me with his right hand on my shoulder.

"Hah, even little Nico is here. How are you these last 5 months?" Her red curly hair flowed in the wind. Her eyes looked at Nico mockingly.

"What do you want Rachel?" Nico sneered.

"I've always hated Camp Half-Blood. Chiron telling me I can't date anyone? I should be free to do what I want. He, along with everyone in camp, serve my every need. Hahaha."

Something is wrong. Horribly wrong.

"This isn't you Rachel. You wouldn't do this." Nico pleaded.

"Oh, but I've changed. I serve the Dark Mistress now. I've never been happier! Everyone's doing what I want. Soon, you two will follow me, too." Rachel grinned.

"Rachel, snap out of it! She's just using you!" I said as I leaned on Nico. It made me feel powerless but I don't care. My heart was pounding. I could do this.

"Annabeth Chase. If it wasn't for you, Percy'd be mine. But I tell you, he'd be mine. He is under the Dark Mistress' captivity right now. She said she'll unite us forever!"

"S-she said she'll kill Percy. She's lying to you." I said with all the energy I could muster.

"I know you were smart. But come on, I won't fall for that lie." Rachel smirked.

"Rachel, believe me. You're my friend. I won't do anything that would hurt you."

"Hahaha. Won't? That word only was already a lie! You being with Percy already hurts me. You were never my friend." Rachel narrowed her eyebrows.

That's when I clearly saw her eyes. They were golden.

"Rachel! You're the Oracle! You're everybody's friend. You're an awesome girl. You don't need boys to tell you that you're awesome." Nico said. Clearly, he saw the golden eyes too.

Rachel screamed. She jerked her head back and her eyes turned to normal. "Ann-Annabeth. He-help me. Eve-everything I sai-said i-isn't true. Sh-she's co-controlling-"

Her eyes turned back to gold. "You can't do anything about it. I own this body now. Soon, my siblings shall own yours too."

The mind-controlled campers all surrounded us. I gave heavy sigh.

"Nico." I said.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"You up for some shadow travelling?"

"All the time. Where to?"

"Cabin 15."

"Okay." He gripped my shoulder and we disappeared in the darkness. We appeared inside a dark cabin. I immediately felt sleepy. So did Nico. I slapped him in the face.

"What?" He complained.

"Don't sleep." I told him.

There were three kids asleep in their bunks. I think they were the only ones not controlled. I slapped one of them. She sat up.

"I didn't eat the cookie." Tara said suddenly. Her blond hair was a mess. It was obvious that she hasn't woken up for a while. "Annabeth, you're here. I'm going back to sleep."

I shook her until she woke up again. "What? It's not like you need me or something."

"The whole camp's been controlled by eidolons."

"The whole camp? Wow, that's a lot of eidolons. Seriously."

"Can't you help them snap out of it?" I asked.

"They're controlled, Annabeth. If it's a coma, I could go to their dreams but if it's this. It's difficult. Besides. I need more sleep."

"Oh come on, Tara. Can you please try? With your siblings. It's for the camp."

"Fine. Good night."

"Nico. Can you still shadow-travel?" I asked.

"I told you, I can. But can you?"

"I still can. To Cabin 6 please. We can't risk getting caught by the enemy outside."

"Okay." Darkness took us again. Instead of Cabin Six, we were in the infirmary.

"Nico, why are we here?"

"You seriously need to ask?" Nico knocked on the table four times in a pattern. A guy went out from under the table.

"How'd you know I was there?" Will Solace asked.

"Blond hair. What are you doing there, anyways? Were you hiding?"

"Oh, I'm just cleaning up the dirt- of course I'm hiding. Some of the campers are controlled. For some reason, they can't get inside the cabins. I dunno why."

"Well, that's some good news."

"Now, why are you guys here?"

"Well, Annabeth jumped of a building. She only drank a small amount of nectar. All we had left."

"I see. Annabeth, you should rest."

"B-but the camp-." I tried arguing.

"No buts. You can't save the camp if you can't save yourself." Nico read aloud. "Wow, you have posters about that?"

"Shush. Now Annabeth. Go to sleep." Will said.

I went to a bed and closed my eyes as I drifted in the darkness. Then, I dreamed.