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The Son of Hypnos

Jason's POV

Jason, Theo, and the redhead, who introduced herself as Rachel, put Piper on the couch while Annabeth rushed down the hall to get a med kit. Piper was still breathing, but she wouldn't wake up. She seemed to be in some kind of coma.

Jason: We've got to heal her. There's a way, right?

Seeing her so pale, barely breathing, Jason felt a surge of protectiveness. Maybe he didn't really know her. Maybe she wasn't his girlfriend. But they'd survived the Grand Canyon together. They'd come all this way. He'd left her side for a little while, and this had happened.

Chiron put his hand on her forehead and grimaced.

Chiron: Her mind is in a fragile state. Rachel, what happened?

Theo: Better yet, what were you girls doing in the Queen Bitch's cabin?

Zoe: I would like to know that as well.

Rachel: I wish I knew. As soon as I got to camp, I had a premonition about Hera's cabin. I went inside. Annabeth and Piper came in while I was there. We talked, and then—I just blanked out. Annabeth said I spoke in a different voice.

Chiron: A prophecy?

Rachel: No. The spirit of Delphi comes from within. I know how that feels. This was, like, long distance, a power trying to speak through me.

Annabeth ran in with a leather pouch. She knelt next to Piper.

Annabeth: Chiron, what happened back there—I've never seen anything like it. I've heard Rachel's prophecy voice. This was different. She sounded like an older woman. She grabbed Piper's shoulders and told her—

Jason: To free her from a prison?

Annabeth: How did you know that?

Chiron made a three-fingered gesture over his heart, like a ward against evil.

Chiron: Jason, tell them. Annabeth, the medicine bag, please.

Chiron trickled drops from a medicine vial into Piper's mouth while Jason explained what had happened when the room froze—the dark misty woman who had claimed to be Jason's patron.

When he was done, no one spoke, which made him more anxious.

Jason: So, does this happen often? Supernatural phone calls from convicts demanding you bust them out of jail?

Zoe: Your patron? Not your godly parent?

Jason: No, she said patron. She also said my dad had given her my life.

Annabeth: I've never heard of anything like that before. You said the storm spirit on the skywalk—he claimed to be working for some mistress who was giving him orders, right? Could it be this woman you saw, messing with your mind?

Jason: I don't think so. If she were my enemy, why would she be asking for my help? She's imprisoned. She's worried about some enemy getting more powerful. Something about a king rising from the earth on the solstice—

Theo: (turns to Chiron) Please tell me this isn't Kronos again.

The centaur looked miserable. He held Piper's wrist, checking her pulse.

Chiron: It is not Kronos. That threat is ended. But...

Theo: But what?

Chiron closed the medicine bag.