Annabeth Chase and the Last Olympian

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Trying to figure out the prophecy proved to be a total waste of my time. I typed the words over and over again on my laptop, hoping that the keystrokes would help me think of something. It was no use. When the lines started to swim around on my computer screen I finally gave up. Prophecies were never meant to be deciphered. All I could do was hope for the best and wait for the prophecy to come to me, instead of searching for it.

 I shut my laptop and helped Mileva pick up some drafting pencils. She smiled at me gratefully.

 Without warning, Eva and Malcolm burst into the cabin carrying empty crates.

 "It's done!" Eva exclaimed, her tanned skin sparkling. "No more plans! It's all done!"

 Malcolm dropped his crate on the ground with a huge thud. "It's true. Eva and I just delivered the last batch of weapon drawings to the Hephaestus cabin!"

The cabin cheered loudly. Over all the noise, I nodded approvingly. "And we have more than enough maps­." I gestured to the overwhelmed file cabinets. "Maybe it's time for a break."

The room buzzed even more at the thought of a break. I myself couldn't wait to get back to training. Being in charge of war plans was hard and exhausting work. All I wanted was to feel the smooth handle of my knife between my palm and fingers and the exhilaration that came with training.

I raised my hand and the room went silent. I smiled. "Ok. I think you're all fine with having a break. So we will. Everyone is free to do what they choose as long as it involves some variety of training. We'll meet again for lunch and you are free to do what you please afterwards as well."

Everyone filed out of the cabin but I stopped Eva and Malcolm. "How did the weapon plan exchange go?" I asked.

Malcolm sighed. "See, we gave them everything that we had sorted through. But they're really just as busy as we are. If not busier."

"They weren't too happy to see that we had two more crates filled with plans." Eva added. "With Beckendorf gone, it's been really hard for them."

"We shouldn't be expecting too many more awesome inventions like the video shield," Malcolm said. "They're pretty overwhelmed. I think all they're doing right now is making some extra weapons in case ours get broken or something. That's all they really can do right now. We're running out of time."

I sighed. I expected as much. "That's ok. I just hope it's enough. Maybe we should stop at the Hephaestus cabin just in case they need anything.

The second I opened the Hephaestus cabin door, a flying missile shot over my head. I heard a muffled "Sorry!" from inside the cabin. Jake Mason, the temporary counselor greeted us at the door.

"I would tell you to come in, but..." he gestured to the chaos behind him. "Yeah. Is there anything I can help with?"

A low voice yelled, "Tell them we don't need any more of their freaking weapon plans!"

Jake sighed. "Don't listen to her. She's just stressed."

I was glad Jake wasn't as cranky as his other cabin mates. "We were wondering if we could help you, actually," I said, standing taller so I didn't look as short compared to him.

Jake smiled nervously. "That may not be a good idea." He closed the door and I could barely hear him say "Should we tell them about the curse?" and another voice answering "They'll find out soon enough."

Jake opened the door again. "Thanks for the offer, but we are doing just fine," he said, as another flying missile shot over his head. 

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, whatever you say."