𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 ! [jason grace]¹ [DISCONTINUED]

S I D E ⬩ T W O

O C E A N U S

S I D E   T W O

( mark of athena )

⟶⬩⬥⬩⟵

          "ELLA!" FRANK STOOD suddenly, startling Piper into sending her plate of carrots flying. The vegetables hit Octavian in the face, causing Malia to cackle into Jason's shoulder. While Malia was dying with Leo and Piper, the others focused on what was going on with Ella. "Maybe it's not the best time—"

"The Mark of Athena burns through Rome," Ella continued, cupping her hands over her ears and raising her voice. "Twins snuff out the angel's breath, Who holds the key to endless death. Giants' bane stands gold and pale, Won through pain from a woven jail."

The effect was like someone dropping a flash grenade on the table. Everyone stared at the harpy. Even Malia, Leo, and Piper had calmed down enough to realize the gravity of the situation. No one spoke. Malia's mind was running in circles. She remembered Athena briefly asking her about something called the Mark of Athena, but she didn't remember why or when. Her eyes flickered to the blonde in question, but Annabeth avoided her eyes. Something was up.

Around them, the sounds of the feast continued, bu muted and distant, as if their little cluster of couches had slipped into a quieter dimension.

Percy was the first to recover. He stood and took Tyson's arm.

"I know!" he said with feigned enthusiasm. "How about you take Ella to get some fresh air? You and Mrs. O'Leary—"

"Hold on." Malia groaned as Octavian spoke up, gripping one of his teddy bears to the point where he was strangling it with shaking hands. His eyes fixed on Ella, and she could see the hunger brewing in them. Immediately, Malia was defensive of the harpy. "What was that she said? It sounded like—"

"Ella reads a lot," Frank blurted out. "We found her at the library."

"Yes!" Hazel said. "Probably just something she read in a book."

"Books," Ella muttered helpfully. "Ella likes books."

Now that she'd said her piece, the harpy seemed more relaxed. She sat cross-legged on Mrs. O'Leary's back, preening her wings.

Malia's mind was spinning with thoughts. She gave her brother a curious and questioning glance. Obviously, he and Frank and Hazel were hiding something about Ella. Just as obviously, Ella had recited a prophecy—one that most likely concerned Annabeth Chase, the only child of Athena within a hundred miles of the camp.

Percy's expression said, Help.

Malia nodded with a grin as she formulated the best way to embarrass Octavian the scarecrow.

"That was a prophecy," Octavian insisted. "It sounded like a prophecy."

No one answered.

Malia wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but she understood that Percy—as per usual, might she add—was on the verge of being in some serious trouble that she and Annabeth would probably have to get him out of.