Death's Daughter

Chapter 6

The green smoke curled back into Rachel's mouth and she collapsed. Luckily, I caught her. She came to a moment later and stood up.

"Always gets to me. So, what was your prophecy?"

I opened my mouth to relay it back to her but closed it instead. I just shook my head.

Rachel smiled warmly at me. "It's okay if you don't want me to know." She looked at my obviously ashen face. "Whatever it was, you'll be okay," she said soothingly. I just nodded. "Okay. Let's head down to the campfire. Hopefully they're still at it. Wouldn't want you to miss your first campfire."

I followed her down the hallway and out of her cave. We descended to the campfire. I suppose it was alright, but I couldn't focus. That prophecy was stuck in my mind. "You must descend to the land below, At your side, a friend and foe, Help you shall recieve when they are near, As you conquer your greatest fear, The answers you seek will be yours to hold, With companions hot and cold."

My greatest fear. Ever since I found out my dad was alive, I worried I would have to confront him. Was that what the prophecy was talking about? Do I have to question my dad about my mom's death? And who are my companions? A friend and a foe. Hot and cold.

There was too much to think about. Plus, everyone was leaving. So, I headed back to my cabin, absorbed in my own thoughts.

Nico was waiting for me when I returned. "So, how was it?"

I sighed as I plopped on my bed. "I don't know. I'm so confused."

He sat at the end of his bed and smiled. "Go ahead. Tell me the prophecy. Maybe I can help."

So, I told him.

"Hmm. Have you made many friends so far?"

I rolled my eyes. "Only you. No one wants to talk to me that much."

"Then that may be me. Your friend on the quest. And I would be the cold one. People definitely see me as cold." He paused. "That leaves your foe: the hot one."

"No, no, no! It can't be him!"

Nico's eyes widened. "Who?"

"Leo!" He frowned at me. "With the whole Hades thing and how we keep acting toward each other. Yep, I would call him a foe. Plus, his whole fire abilities."

Nico looked like he wanted to say something, but I waved him away. "It's fine. I'm going to get some rest. It's late." He nodded.

I laid on my bed with my face in my black pillow. I was wishing for sleep and dreading tomorrow.

•••

When I got up the next morning, I knew it was early. The sky was a pale gray and the birds hadn't even began their singing. I looked across the room. Nico was still fast asleep. I grabbed my clothes and changed in the bathroom. I brushed my hair and teeth and tip toed out the door. I walked across the foyer to Cabin 9: the Hephaestus cabin. I knocked on the door. I stood outside shivering for a moment. Note to self: Don't wear shorts early in the morning. Getting impatient, I pushed open the door. I stood there, confused. I mean, Hades cabin is pretty plain with little décor and maybe six beds. But this was ridiculous. Tools and blueprints lined the walls and that was it. There weren't any beds, and there were a lot of Hephaestus kids. I walked around the room, looking at the blueprints. Then, I heard someone cough behind me. I spun around to find a boy lying in a bed.

Well, it was more of an entertainment device than a bed. I sighed. "Leo."

He had his arms folded over his chest. "What do you want? I was sleeping."

"Obviously." He was wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of red plaid flannel pants, which I assumed were his pajamas, and his hair was even wilder than usual. "Listen, I need to talk to you."

He groaned. "Fine. Give me a minute." He pressed a few buttons on the bed and it spiraled down beneath the cabin. A moment later he came back up wearing the same outfit he was in when we first met. White shirt under a bomber jacket, suspenders, and a leather tool belt.

"What? You only have one outfit?"

Leo looked away. "No. A... friend made it for me."

I had a feeling that his "friend" was a little more than a friend, but all I said was "oh".

Leo's hand suddenly burst into flames and he looked at me. "Well, are we going or not?" I nodded, and he walked out the door.