A web of fates | Percy Jackson and the Olympians

V| back at Camp

Camp Half-Blood in the winter was gorgeous and Daphne could tell the snow surprised Percy. His eyes widened and his mouth hung ajar, his reaction made Daphne smirk.

See, the camp has the ultimate magic climate control. Nothing gets inside the borders unless the director, Mr. D, wants it to.

After much begging from Valentina, Ellis and Daphne, the snow had been allowed to fall lightly.

Frost covered the chariot track and the strawberry fields. The cabins were decorated with tiny flickering lights, like Christmas lights, except they were balls of real fire.

More lights glowed in the woods, and weirdest of all, a fire flickered in the attic window of the Big House, where the Oracle dwelt, imprisoned in an old mummified body.

Daphne wondered if the spirit of Delphi was roasting marshmallows up there or something.

"Whoa," Nico said as he climbed off the bus. "Is that a climbing wall?"

"Yeah." Theo nodded.

"Why is there lava pouring down it?"

"Little extra challenge. Come on. I'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoë, have you met-" Percy began.

"I know Chiron," Zoë said stiffly. "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."

"I'll show you the way," Grover offered.

"We know the way."

"Oh, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost here, if you don't"-he tripped over a canoe and came up still talking - "like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"

Zoë rolled her eyes, but Daphne guessed she figured there was no getting rid of Grover. The Hunters shouldered their packs and their bows and headed off toward the cabins.

As Bianca di Angelo was leaving, she leaned over and whispered something in her brother's ear. She looked at him for an answer, but Nico just scowled and turned away.

"Take care, sweethearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters. He winked at Daphne and Percy. "Watch out for those prophecies, Daphne, Percy. I'll see you soon."

"What do you mean?" Percy asked but Daphne just narrowed her eyes at the gods.

She knew all about her prophecy and not because of the Olympians or even Chiron. Luke had told her everything she needed to know.

Instead of answering, Apollo hopped back in the bus. "Later, Thalia," he called. "And, uh, be good!"

He gave her a wicked smile, as if he knew something she didn't. Then he closed the doors and revved the engine.

Daphne turned aside as the sun chariot took off in a blast of heat. When she looked back, the lake was steaming.

A red Maserati soared over the woods, glowing brighter and climbing higher until it disappeared in a ray of sunlight.

Nico was still looking grumpy. Daphne wondered what his sister had told him.

"Who's Chiron?" he asked. "I don't have his figurine."

"Our activities director," Percy said. "He's ... well, you'll see."

"We'll take you to him." Theo nodded, gesturing his head to the Big House.

"If those Hunter girls don't like him," Nico grumbled, "that's good enough for me. Let's go."

The second thing that Daphne could tell surprised Percy about camp was how empty it was.

Most half-bloods only trained during the summer so just the year-rounders would be here- the ones who didn't have homes to go to, or would get attacked by monsters too much if they left.