The Nightshadow Alliance

Chapter 8 || A Goddess Decides to be Helpful

The campers sat in the dining pavilion, but before they made their offerings to the gods, Chiron had an announcement to make.

'Campers!' he said, 'Let us join ourselves with camp Jupiter, and close the long-distance gap by asking the gods to create a portal between the two camps. I request everybody to also sacrifice some portion of their food to the goddess Hecate and let us hope she helps us by making this portal.'

Chiron still doubted if the gods would indeed hear their pleas, as Olympus was closing itself off. He hoped for the best, but worst-case scenario, they'd have to find other means of reaching each other. He watched as the campers sacrificed some of their food in the name of the gods.

Some of the newer campers looked up expectantly, as if waiting for the goddess to show up in front of them. They were disappointed.

-oOo-

As the campers went to the amphitheatre, A young woman emerged, seemingly out of thin air. Her dark sleeveless gown, the high-set Greek ponytail, and the power she radiated was enough to make everyone kneel to the ground.

Chiron bowed before her, the campers following suit.

'Lady Hecate. We are honoured that you grace us with your presence.'

'Rise. Zeus has temporary closed Olympus, so make it quick,' Hecate said

'My lady, on behalf of Camp Jupiter-' Hecate's form shifted slightly, before coming back to its original form. '-and Camp Half-blood, I request you to please create a portal between the two camps, for ease of communication.'

'If that is what you wish, then be it.' Hecate smiled serenely. 'Goodbye, demigods. And good luck.'

She disappeared with a flash.

'Did she do it?' someone asked.

'It might turn up tomorrow, or it's somewhere we can't see right now,' an older camper told him.

-oOo-

The next day, Leo woke up to people milling around a seemingly empty plot of land. As he made his way through the crowd, he saw a door. A black door, with twin white torches, crossed over each other. A faint purple aura surrounded the door.

A portal, he realized. Just like Hecate had said.

Chiron arrived at the scene, and the sea of people parted to give him way. He studied the door with interest, before dispersing the crowd. He signalled Leo over to him.

'Call Piper, Nico, Thalia, Percy, Annabeth. The old crowd. It's time for you all to be reunited, and I'm sure Thalia won't pass on the opportunity to meet her brother again,' Chiron said with a small smile.

Leo grinned. He couldn't wait to meet his bro Jason again.

-oOo-

Piper was bouncing on her heels at the prospect of meeting Frank and Hazel, and even Reyna. But most of all, she couldn't wait to meet Jason again.

Her boyfriend had been at Camp Jupiter, planning for shrines for all the gods, just like he had pledged. He told her that he was going to make action figures too, just like he promised Kym.

She remembered some of the plans she had seen when they had last met. They were extremely complicated, as Jason was taking help from the Athena campers, and the Hephaestus/Vulcan campers. To her, they looked like a jumble of lines and colours, but he clearly could make more sense of it.

All those notes written in his not messy, but not really neat either, Latin handwriting was also quite overwhelming for her. She wasn't the best when it came to the dead language. But then again, none save the Romans were.

When Leo had first told her about the portal, she couldn't believe him. She hadn't thought Hecate would actually go through with what she had said. Maybe the gods did care after all. Or maybe they were just terrified the demigods would wage war on Olympus.

She lingered near the door with Leo and Thalia, waiting for everyone else to turn up. Percy and Annabeth were the next to come, Annabeth scolding Percy, and said demigod looked down sheepishly. Nico was the last to come. He was wet, and scowling fiercely, glaring at Percy over and over again. Piper could guess what had happened.

'Everyone here?' Leo said.

'Yup' Percy said.

'Let's go then!' Leo said, opening the door.

Piper looked in, unsure what to expect. She saw a hallway, lined with lit reed torches, which were the only source of light. In the distance, she saw a glowing window.

Thalia took the lead, closely followed by Nico. Leo walked behind them, dragging Piper along with him. Annabeth and Percy brought up the rear. She could hear Annabeth talking excitedly, but with a tone of sadness to Percy. Piper looked around and realized why.

The walls had intricate pictures carved into them, of different events, from different times. She caught a picture of the original Jason sailing on the original Argo and saw her Jason defeating a horrid monster. She saw Percy and whom she assumed to be Luke.

She saw Hazel going against a giant, along with her horse, Arion. Piper saw herself fighting against Mimas in her brothers' temple. She shivered at the thought of that disgusting ear. There were more carvings too, big and small, and Piper couldn't even recognize them all.

When they arrived at the end of the corridor, there was another door, identical to the one they entered. It had "Camp Jupiter" inscribed on it.

Leo bounced to the door, looking excited.

'Three... two... one!' He opened the door and stepped out.

He was immediately met with a sword to the neck.

'Not again!' Leo whined. 'Why does everyone show up with a sword to my neck?'

Percy pushed his way to the front. 'Stand down Dakota. You guys didn't realize what this is?'

Then Piper remembered who the guy was. Dakota, the centurion of the fifth Cohort. Dakota hesitantly removed the sword from Leo's neck, before saying,

'Hey, aren't you the guy who blew up half the camp?'

Piper stifled a laugh. That was one way to put Leo's actions. Said person shifted from foot to foot.

'Um... yeah. Will that scary Reyna girl still want to kill me?'

'You've met before, haven't you?' Dakota asked. Leo nodded. 'Then if she wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead. Now come on, you guys should tell the praetors you're here.