The Beginning of the End (J. Grace)

III: Basically, it's all Jason's fault

Jason's PoV:

So basically... this is all Jason's fault, isn't it?

The moment he revealed that his father was Jupiter, all of the colour drained from Elara's face and she no longer looked stable on her own, quick feet. Her breathing became rapid and there was a terrified look in her eyes -like a cornered, hunted animal.

He shared a fleeting glance with Leo and Piper, who were equally as clueless as he, but Annabeth appeared to understand immediately.

The daughter of Athena was before her best friend within seconds and was repeating the same thing over and over again in an attempt to calm her down:

"It's going to be alright, okay? The first line is happening now, but you could still have a few more months, even, before it really starts. Listen to me, it's going to be alright, okay?"

But her words were clearly having no affect as a distant look made its way across the daughter of Hermes' face and her eyes became increasingly panicked.

"Be ready to catch her if she blacks out." Annabeth told the three over her shoulder, taking her eyes off of her best friend for only a moment, before turning her attention back and trying to comfort her.

Piper and Leo went either side of her and Jason went behind. He could see as clear as day that she was trembling at a horrifying speed and her legs were starting to buckle. He placed his hands on her waist so that she wouldn't fall to her knees.

Then, her breathing stopped momentarily and one word escaped her lips in a frightful whisper: "Luke."

Her eyes rolled back and her body slumped back against Jason, who didn't hesitate to scoop her up bridal-style into his arms. "We should take her to Will." He decided and started walking that way with Annabeth by his side, constantly looking over to ensure that she was alright.

Tentatively, Elara reached her hand up and Jason took it in his own. She held onto him as though he were her life line.

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"What did I do?" He asked Annabeth while the four were waiting in the infirmary for Elara to wake up. They had been sat there for only five minutes, but with the silence it had felt like an eternity.

"It's not your fault." She whispered, looking over her friend's peaceful face. Elara still hadn't let go of Jason's had. When Will had tried to make her let go, they could all see tears beginning to prick at the corners of her eyes; so, he had decided to leave her be.

"What is it about being the son of Jupiter that made her pass out?" He pushed, needing answers. He had to know. He just had to.

After a lengthy pause of no response, Piper decided to take matters into her own hands. "Annabeth," She started and the daughter of Athena lifted her head in response to the charm speak. "Please, answer Jason's question."

With a sigh, she revealed to them what had happened. "It's the prophecy. The prophecy she got on her first day at camp. The ancient oracle (the one before Rachel) came running out of the Big House, pointing her finger at Elara and screaming. I could hear it from here and they were at the cabins." She took a deep, shaky breath. "We thought she had more time than this." Staring down at her lap where her hands were clenching and unclenching in fists, she continued. "The first two lines were:

In a time when the Earth is rising,

You shall fall after meeting the son of lightning."

None of them could find the words to express their shock and horror: where was she going to fall? How far? Was it literal or metaphorical? Had she already fallen -off that cliff?