The Beginning of the End (J. Grace)

V: I'm collecting kids and no one can stop me

Coach Hedge was at the helm as we gathered for dinner. Not a great idea, but sure, so long as he doesn't do anything reckless or stupid: that's my job.

This was the first time I'd sat down with all of them, just the eight of us. It was nice, really: I knew that the prophecy was actually happening, I'd had years to prepare for the time that my prophecy would come into play, so it didn't bother me as much as it seemed to be bothering Piper. I squeezed her hand reassuringly under the table; she smiled meekly at me. I have to say, though, the only thing I didn't find nice was that if we failed, the world would be destroyed and I'd die for nothing. That would suck.

In an awkward moment, both Percy and Jason had tried to sit at the head of the table; sparks literally flew from Lightning boy's hands. Like, calm down it's a chair, there's plenty. If they really wanted the same one so badly, they should have just sat on each other's laps. Now that would have been brilliant! Eventually, I got bored, smacked them both around the heads and took the chair for myself.

My reasoning? Bethy Baby was at the other head of the table and I wanted to spend dinner distracting her and trying to make her laugh.

Between Leo's ridiculous story about how he tricked Narcissus and me slapping the two boys, we were able to lighten the mood of everyone around the table.

"So where to now?" Iron Man asked with a mouthful of pizza. "I did a quick repair job to get us out of the lake, but there's still a lot of damage. We should really put down again and fix things before we head across the Atlantic."

Seaweed Brain was busy eating his blue pie, but managed through mouthfuls to say: "We need to put some distance between us and Camp Jupiter. Frank spotted some Eagles over Salt Lake City. We figure the Romans aren't far behind us."

Okay, ew, I don't need to see all his chewed-up food in his mouth. Just wait till you're finished eating, Perseus!

Dove looked down at the table guiltily. She hadn't touched her food, but, neither had I. "I don't suppose we should go back and try to reason with them? Maybe- maybe I didn't try hard enough with the stupid charmspeak."

I still don't get how she thinks her amazing charmspeak powers are lame. Like, come on that's awesome! I squeezed her shoulder gently. "It wasn't your fault, Dove. Or Leo's." She looked up hopingly, looking like a lost puppy.

I turned to the others for confirmation, and Lightning Boy came to my aid. "She's right. Whatever happened back there, it was Gia's doing; to drive the camps apart."

Piper still looked unconvinced. "Maybe if we could explain that, though- "

"With no proof?" Annabeth sighed, shaking her head and resting her chin in the palm of her hand. "And no idea what really happened? I appreciate what you're saying, I don't want the Romans on our bad side, but until we figure out what Gia's up to, going back is suicide."

Not for me, unless there's fire I thought, but kept that unhelpful thought to myself. I agreed with Wise Girl.

"She's right." Hazelnut concurred who still looked a little queasy from seasickness, but was trying to eat a little. That was good. The rim of her plate was embedded with rubies, I desperately wanted to ask her about that, but I don't think we're quite close enough for her to open up about whatever it is yet... but I still want to adopt her. "Reyna might listen, but Octavian won't. The Romans have honour to think about. They've been attacked: they'll shoot first and ask questions posthac."

I have no idea what that last word meant, but I agree! And, so did everyone else, by the looks of things. Even Piper.

"You're right." Dove decided after a lengthy pause. "We have to keep going. Not just because of the Romans: we have to hurry."