Inferno (Leo Valdez x OC) (2)

Ella reads too much; we should introduce her to fanfiction

I locked eyes with Annabeth. She looked terrified as her hand twitched towards her pocket.

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." Octavian gripped one of his teddy bears, strangling it with shaking hands. His eyes fixed on Ella. "What was that she said? It sounded like-"

"Ella reads a lot." Frank blurted out. "We found her at a 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 lap, preening her wings, occasionally glancing at me and muttering under her breath. The only words I managed to catch was 'timing'.

Annabeth glanced at Percy curiously as he looked between us, a pleading expression on his face.

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

I glanced at Percy again and sighed. "Octavian for all you know that could be some poetry from years ago. The only reason you think it's a prophecy is because it rhymes. Even if it is a prophecy, how do you know it's not from some fairytale? Or novel? People use prophecies in stories a lot."

"It mentioned Athena!" Octavian snarled. "Coincidental that a Greek goddess is mentioned as soon as you graecus come to our Camp, with a daughter of Athena, don't you think? That was a prophecy!"

Annabeth forced a laugh. "Really, Octavian? Maybe harpies are different here, on the Roman side. Ours have just enough intelligence to clean cabins and cook lunches. Do yours usually foretell the future? Do you consult them for your auguries?"

Her words had the intended effect. The Roman officers laughed nervously. Some sized up Ella, then glanced at Octavian and snorted. The idea of a chicken lady issuing prophecies was apparently just as ridiculous to Romans as it was to Greeks.

"I, uh..." Octavian dropped his teddy bear. "No but-"

"She's just spouting lines from some book." Annabeth cut in. "Like Hazel and Anwen suggested. Besides we already have a real prophecy to worry about."

I turned to Tyson. "Percy's right. Why don't you take Ella and Mrs O'Leary and shadow-travel somewhere for a while. Are you okay with that Ella?" I smiled at the harpy.

"Large dogs are good." Ella said. "Old Yeller, 1957, screenplay by Fred Gibson and William Tunberg." She stared at me. "Anwen Edris will come as well." She nodded. "The Wild is not safe here."

I frowned. "What do you mean the Wild is not safe here?"

Ella hummed to herself. "Anwen Edris will come as well." She repeated.

I glanced at the others. Annabeth was studying the harpy.

"Great!" Percy said. "We'll Iris-message you guys when we're done and catch up with you later."

The Romans looked at Reyna, waiting for her ruling.

Reyna studied Ella then stared at Anwen. "Fine." She said at last. "Go."

"Yay!" Tyson went around the sofas and gave everyone a hug, even Octavian, who didn't look happy about it. Then he climbed onto Mrs O'Leary's back with Ella and the hellhound bounded out of the forum. They dived straight into a shadow on the Senate House wall and disappeared.

I sighed and stood up, stretching. "Welp, I'm just gonna go find wherever they went." I muttered and trudged out of the forum, Hoots trailing behind me.

Eventually we found the hellhound playing with the elephant once again. Tyson and Ella were sat to the side, Tyson was watching them playfight excitedly while Ella muttered to herself.

The harpy knows too much.

I glanced back at Hoots with a raised eyebrow. About what?

Us. Me, Tarian, the others.

I frowned. When was the last time you saw the others?

Hoots ruffled his feathers. I see them all once a year. Except two.

What do you mean?

The fifteen is now thirteen.

I paled. Who?

Years ago, Sarff went out to stop an oil spill. We waited for her return for days. We sent lookouts, even I joined the search and stopped watching over you but all we found was the oil spill. She never came back.

I looked down. You said thirteen, who else?

Hoots huffed.

I looked up at him as tears pricked my eyes. It was Calon wasn't it?

Hoots bowed his head. He went missing during the search. They were always close.

They were the strongest, weren't they? Who became the leader?

No one. The others still hold out hope of their return.

I felt a tear trace its way down my cheek. "Canmoliaeth i'n harweinwyr sydd wedi cwympo."

Hoots nodded.

"Anwen!" Tyson called.

I turned to see Tyson frowning at us. "Anwen? Are you okay?"

Ella stared at me. "The two long lost to the tides of time, will never be saved for woes of their lives. The Wild will call out a final plead, to be answered or to never be seen."

I froze. "What... what did you say?"

Ella blinked and tilted her head.

A shrill sound pierced the air causing me to clap my hands over my ears as light flashed in the corner of my eye.

I turned in time to see an explosion blast a new crater in the forum.

HOW DOES RICK RIORDAN WRITE PROPHECIES THAT ACTUALLY SOUND GOOD. 

That man is truly magic, I don't know why I can't get mine to sound right. 

Anyways, hey guys, hope it's going okay over there, I am surrounded by chaos. I'm just trying to peacefully sit in my room writing but nooooo. My sister has to come in every two seconds to show me parts of shatter me that she thinks are adorable. IF IT ISN'T PERCABETH MOMENTS THEN I DONT CARE. Unless it's Stydia but no one talks about Teen Wolf anymore :(

Anyways, so sorry if the chapter is a bit short, I tried my best. If someone has tips on how to write a prophecy, they would be much appreciated.

I hope you are all having a good day and if not then I hope reading this made you feel better, even just a tad.

Bye from Corgi :)

P.S. (feel free to skip) Just a reminder that all characters (apart from Anwen) belong to Rick Riordan, this is merely a fanfiction based off the Heroes of Olympus series.