𝐏𝐘𝐑𝐑𝐇𝐈𝐂 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

04 - elia is just peachy (read: terrified)

𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪

"MY DEARS," Chiron called as the two girls re-entered the arena. "You made it."

Elia kept her face confident and calm, though she really wanted to throw up all of her breakfast right there. The blonde made eye contact with Percy, who furrowed his eyebrows with a silent question. Elia forced a half-hearted grin as Annabeth focused on Quintus, announcing, "I got the prophecy. I will lead the quest to find Daedalus's workshop."

Nobody cheered. Don't get it wrong, they all loved Annabeth and wanted her to have a quest, but this one seemed insanely dangerous. After what having to spend time with Chris Rodriguez, Elia didn't even want to think about her best friend descending into that horrid maze.

Chiron scraped a hoof on the dirt floor, looking anxious. "What did the prophecy say exactly, my dear? The wording is important."

Annabeth took a deep breath, moving to stand at the head of the table. "I, uh... well, it said you shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze..."

Everyone waited with bated breath as Elia slid back into her seat beside Percy.

"The dead, the traitor, and the lost one raise."

Grover perked up, a newfound light in his eyes. "The lost one! That must mean Pan! That's great!"

"With the dead and the traitor," Percy added, looking worried. "Not so great."

"And?" Chiron asked. "What is the rest?"

"You shall rise or fall by the ghost king's hand," the dark-skinned girl continued, toying with her braids nervously, "the child of Athena's final stand."

Elia clenched her fists anxiously, shifting in her seat. Annabeth did happen to be a daughter of Athena, and a final stand didn't sound good.

"Hey...we shouldn't jump to conclusions," Silena spoke up, trying to look hopeful. "Annabeth isn't the only child of Athena, right?"

"But who's this ghost king?" Beckendorf asked.

No one answered. For some reason, Elia's thoughts pulled forward the image of a familiar young boy, a tug in her gut as she frowned softly.

"Are there more lines?" Chiron asked. "The prophecy does not sound complete."

Annabeth hesitated. "I don't remember exactly." Elia understood her hesitation. The last two lines both seemed particulary dark and foreboding, with the mention of 'final breath' and 'losing a love', and the clenching of Annabeth's jaw seemed to convey that she was remembering the same things.

Chiron raised an eyebrow, knowing that the daughter of Athena nearly never forgot things easily.

Annabeth shifted on her feet, pulling one of her blonde-steaked braids down into her face. "Something about... Destroy with a hero's final breath."

"And?" Chiron asked, waiting for the rest.

She straightened, diverting the topic. "Look, the point is, I have to go in. I'll find the workshop and stop Luke. And... I need help." She turned to Percy expectantly. "Will you come?"

The son of Poseidon didn't even hesitate as he grinned crookedly, sending flutters through Elia's stomach. "I'm in."

She smiled timidly before turning to Elia. "Elia?" she said gravely, her tone changing for everyone to notice. The surrounding counselors gave the two concerned looks.