THE PROPHECY ² / Percy Jackson !

4

AN AETHOPIAN DRAGON HAD BEEN SPOTTED AT THE BORDERS. The magical boundaries had kept the monster out, but it prowled the hills, looking for weak spots in our defenses, and it didn't seem anxious to go away until Lee Fletcher from Apollo's cabin led a couple of his siblings in pursuit. After a few dozen arrows lodged in the chinks of the drakon's armor, it got the message and withdrew.

"It's still out there," Lee warned during announcements. "Twentyarrows in its hide, and we just made it mad. The thing was thirty feet long and bright green. It's eyes—" he shuddered.

"You did well, Lee," Chiron patted him on the shoulder. "Everyone stayalert, but stay calm. This has happened before."

"Aye," Quintus said from the head table. "And it will happen again. Moreand more frequently.""You did well, Lee," Chiron patted him on the shoulder. "Everyone stayalert, but stay calm. This has happened before."

"Aye," Quintus said from the head table. "And it will happen again. Moreand more frequently."

The campers murmured among themselves. Everyone knew the rumors: Luke and his army of monsters were planning an invasion of the camp. Most of us expected it to happen this summer, but no one knew how or when. It didn't help that our attendance was down. Weonly had about eighty campers. Three years ago, when I'd started, there hadbeen more than a hundred. Some had died. Some had joined Luke. Some had just disappeared.

"This is a good reason for new war games, "Quintus continued, a glint inhis eyes. "We'll see how you all do with that tonight."

"Yes..." Chiron said. "Well, enough announcements. Let us bless this meal and eat." He raised his goblet. "To the gods."

The demigods all raised their glasses and repeated the blessing.

Viviene took her plate  to the bronze brazier and scraped a portion ofour food into the flames.

"Athena," she murmured," please help me. I have a feeling this  year will need my knowledge."

Viviene headed back to her table and slumped into her seat.  She looked toward the Athena cabin and  connected eyes with Annabeth.

"Percy's table." Annabeth mouthed. Viviene nodded and got up at the same time as Annabeth, the two meeting halfway and walking up to cabin three's table.

Annabeth slid next to Grover and Viviene slid next to Percy. 

She layed down on  the bench and casually put her head into Percy's lap.

"I'll tell you what it's about," Annabeth  said. "The Labyrinth."

It was hard to concentrate on what she was saying, because everybody inthe dining pavilion was stealing glances at them and whispering. And Vivienewas laying her head in his lap. Like, in his lap.

"You're not supposed to be here," Percy said.

"We need to talk," she insisted.

"But the rules..."

"Oh, fuck the rules." Viviene grumbled. "The rule of not mixing is stupid anyways." She grabbed some toast, taking a bite out of it and  giving her boyfriend an innocent look. Percy rolled his eyes.