We all look at Piper, our mouths full of burger.
"Three nights before the Grand Canyon trip," She says, "I had a dream vision. A giant, telling me I had to cooperate, or my dad would be killed."
The fire crackles loudly as we all look at her.
Finally, Jason speaks. "Enceladus? You mentioned that name before."
Gleeson Hedge whistles. "Big giant. Breathes fire. Not somebody I'd want barbecuing my daddy goat."
Jason glares at him. "Piper, go on. What happened next?'
"I... I tried to reach my dad, but all I got was his personal assistant, and she told me not to worry."
"Jane?" Theo remembers. "Medea was controlling her."
Piper nods. "To get my dad back, I had to sabotage this quest. I didn't realize it would be the four of us. Then after we started the quest, Enceladus sent me another warning: He told me he wanted you three dead. He wants me to lead you to a mountain. I don't know exactly which one, but it's in the Bay Area. I could see the Golden Gate Bridge from the summit. I have to be there by noon on the solstice, tomorrow. An exchange."
Theo grips her hand tightly and my heart wrenches. I feel so terrible about what I said. I want to apologize but there hasn't been a good time. And I need to figure out what she feels about me. I feel like we've had moments where there could be something, but she told Jason that we're just friends. I mean, at the moment we are, but what if that's all she feels? I'd give anything to be back in that sewer tunnel, her arm around my shoulders. I wanted to tell her then.
Jason scoots closer to her. "God, Piper, I'm so sorry."
I nod. "No kidding. You've been carrying this around for a week? Piper, we could help you."
She glares at us. "Why don't you yell at me or something? I was ordered to kill you!"
"Aw, come on." Jason insists. "You've saved us all on this quest. I'd put my life in your hands any day."
"Same." I agree. "Can I have a hug too? Or even a nice little hand hold?"
Theo's face wrenches, just for a second. That bothered her, but she pushes it away, squeezing Piper's hand again. "Piper, we're all getting visions trying to divide us. The giants just have more leverage on you. How can we be mad at you for that?"
"You don't get it!" Piper exclaims. "I've probably just killed my dad telling you about this."
"I doubt it." Gleeson burps. He's eating his tofu burger and paper plate like a taco. "Giant hasn't gotten what he wants yet, so he still needs your dad for leverage. He'll wait until the deadline passes, see if you show up. He wants you to divert the quest to this mountain, right?"
Piper nods uncertainty.
"So," Hedge continues. "that means Hera is being kept somewhere else. And she has to be saved by the same day. So you have to choose. Rescue your dad, or rescue Hera. If you go after Hera, then Enceladus takes care of your dad. Besides, Enceladus would never let him go even if you cooperate. You're obviously one of the seven in the Great Prophecy."
"So we have no choice." Piper says miserably. "We have to save Hera, or the giant king gets unleashed. That's our quest. The world depends on it. And Enceladus seems to have ways of watching me. He isn't stupid. He'll know if we change course and go the wrong way. He'll kill my dad."
"He's not going to kill your dad." Theo insists. "We'll save him."
"We don't have time!" Piper cries. "Besides, it's a trap!"
