The Fourth Chance (book 1)

Chapter VI

        "Who are you?" the girl demanded. She didn't say it impolitely, just authoritatively.
        "Greetings," I said to the girl, trying to show her I was not a threat to her or anyone else. "My name is Grace. I've come here on a quest."
        "My name is Reyna," the girl said in a proud voice. "Welcome to Camp Jupiter. What quest is it?"
        I told her my prophesy, hoping she could help me. She paced the room a few times, as though deciding whether or not to give me the information I needed. Finally giving in to what I hoped was her better nature, she said, "It sounds kind of like the Prophesy of Seven."
        "What's that?" I asked, interested.
        "It's a prophesy written in the Sibylline Books, or, at least, in the part we could read. It goes: Seven half-bloods shall answer the call. 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." The way she repeated it caused the room to get colder, which sent chills down all of our spines.
        "Why does my prophesy remind you of the Prophesy of Seven?"
        "Because it mentions seven and nine. My guess is you're supposed to help the others in the prophecy. The only thing is, they're in Rome. The original Rome."
        "What?!" I asked, surprised. "How in the cosmos am I supposed to get to Rome?"
        "Excuse me, but I have an idea," said a quiet voice that came from behind me.
        Reyna and I both swivel our heads, searching forte source.
        Behind me stood Eli, his hand was in the air like he had a question. He had been so quiet and I'd been focussed on my conversation with Reyna that I'd completely forgotten he was there.
        "Oh! Reyna, this is Eli. What's you're idea, Eli?" I said and tried to cover my surprise.
        "Um...," Eli said, awkwardly clearing his throat. "Well, we could fly there on an airplane. Or a boat."
        I shook my head. "I'm terrified of falling from heights and airplanes and I get extremely seasick. If you knew how faulty airplanes are and how many have vanished in the past ten years, you'd be terrified of them, too."
        Reyna and Eli looked at me as though I were insane.
        "Besides," I tried to add, casually, "Rome is half way across the world. It would take a lot of time and money to get there from here. And even if we did, I'd recommend starting back at Camp Half-Blood. Or at least the East Coast. It'd be faster and a shorter distance." They considered what I had just said and both nodded in agreement.
        "Grace is right," Reyna said. "You need to go back East to get West."
        Eli gave me a confused look and I clarified. "We need to go East to go West. The world is a sphere. It's like spinning right instead of spinning left. You'll end up in the same pace." Eli thought for a few seconds, then nodded. I wasn't sure if he actually understood, but he didn't waist any more time on it.
        At that moment, two guards entered with the rest of the guys.
        Reyna took note of them. "I'm assuming you'll set out immediately in the morning," she said.
        I nodded a reply.
        "At least, let me allow you to stay here for the night. Get some rest and eat some food," she continued.
        I considered her offer do a moment before accepting. "Where will we be staying?"
        "We have a few empty homes that you could house in for tonight. You may need to stay and plan a little longer tomorrow. After all, it's late and you all look like you need rest."
        "Alright," I agree. "How many bedrooms are in one house?" I ask, hoping we can all fit in one.
        "Two or three usually. There's almost always one with bunk beds, and another with twin beds. The third is a Queen sized. There are smaller homes too. With just one or two rooms. So you can stay in one of each," Reyna said, helpfully.
        "Alright, then. Let's do that," I said and jokingly acted like a tourist checking into a hotel.
        "Alright. I'll see you at breakfast, then. George can show you to the houses," Reyna commented, smiled a little, and motioned to the guard that originally brought us in.
        "Thank you, Reyna," I said, politely, before I followed George out the door.