He Stoll My Heart - Connor Stoll.

Ch.18: Back at Camp

A/N: This chapter takes place during TLO, ch.22 ("I get dumped")

- - -

Rose carried Valentina Diaz bridal style out of the elevator and carefully placed her in the van.

"Thank you," said Valentina, wincing as she unwound her arms from Rose's shoulders.

"No worries, focus on not straining yourself," Rose told her. She walked out of the van.

"Everybody's in the vans," Connor said. "We can go back to camp."

"Good. Have you seen Annabeth? I need to talk to her quickly, before..."

Before the Romans leave Mount Tam.

"She left early for camp with Percy, Nico, and Brina," said Travis, shutting the Empire State Building door behind him. "Uh, I think the helicopter girl stole Percy's dog? No, his pegasus, Jack Black, or something."

"Blackjack," said Katie tiredly. "Jack Black is an actor. Gods, what now? What other game-changing thing is Percabeth gonna do?"

"It's fine," said Rose. "Whatever they're doing, it's probably not important. It's not like the gods are going to start off the next great demigod war so soon after this one."

- - -

"WHAT!?" Rose exclaimed, right after lunch, in the dining pavilion, after Annabeth explained what had happened.

Apparently, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, the "helicopter girl" had become the oracle of Delphi and spewed out the Second Great Prophecy, all in less than ten minutes.

"Are you freaking kidding me!?" said Austin Lake.

"One day!" Jake Mason complained. "Just one day to relax and rebuild stuff! Is that so much to wish for!?"

"I can't believe this!" Valentina Diaz shrieked, waving a crutch in the air in disdain.

Chiron quickly slammed his hoof against the gravel and everyone begrudgingly quieted down.

"Rachel, please repeat the prophecy for the campers," said Chiron.

Rachel nervously stepped forward.

"Seven half-bloods shall answer the call," she recited.
To storm or fire, the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death."

Everyone was quiet.

Rose was bitter.

Watch from the sidelines, her mother had said. How very fitting.

She'd missed it. The Second Great Prophecy was important to her future, her mother had said so, and she'd missed it (granted, there had only been four people present, but still).

She shoved her hands in her pockets and left the dining pavilion to brood.

- - -

She was now sitting on the stairs of the Big House, where Rachel had spoken the Prophecy, lost in thought.

The Jarlan 5 were intact and uninjured, but the things they'd seen in battle had been a bit much and they needed some time to unwind and process the events. Chiron had told Rose he'd take care of them. Chiron had seen many heroes rise and fall, he was probably the most qualified person she knew in hero psychology. They'd be okay.

She twirled a white lily in her fingers, gently stroking the petals and poking the exposed pollen in its stamens.

"Hey Rose, Connor said you needed to talk to me?"