The Rise of Gaea

Annabeth 32

     Annabeth hovered outside the Big House as Percy, Luke, Thalia and Athena discussed what had happened during the battle. She was meant to be guarding so that Percy could have privacy, but she would rather be with him.

     "Hey, Annabeth." Rachel, the camp's oracle, walked over.

     "Hey, Rachel. How are you?" Annabeth used to be uncomfortable around Rachel, as she was Percy's first girlfriend when Annabeth had failed to give enough hints, but now the two girls were close.

     "Well, thankfully the gods recognized how important prophecies are, so they all worked together to defeat Python. Now I have my power back!"

     "The gods... worked together?" The concept was foreign to Annabeth.

     Rachel flipped her red hair over her shoulder. "What other choice did they have? Turn Apollo into an average mortal and make him do it? That would hardly be as effective."

     Hoofsteps alerted the two girls to Chiron's presence. "Hello Rachel, Annabeth." He sighed, looking out over the camp. "What are we going to do now?"

     He had said it as if to himself, but green smoke wreathed around Rachel, and Annabeth rushed to catch her as she collapsed.

     In the hoarse, rasping voice of Delphi, Rachel intoned,

          "Survivor of two

          Another must thwart.

          Destiny lies

          On the grounds of Hogwarts.

          Savior protect

          And contest win

          The Son of Zeus

          Sets unrest a-spin.

          Minion's ties cut

          Though they replenish

          It is the Dark Lord

          The Little Three must vanquish.

          But they will need help

          To make him meet his end.

          A stinging assist

          From a group of friend."

     Annabeth blinked at her in surprise. Another Great Prophecy? Now?

     Her brain whirring, she noted the strange mention of a place called 'Hogwarts', a reference to Jason (the son of Zeus), and a survivor of two Great Prophecies... oh Olympus, no. 

     Percy couldn't be involved in yet another Great Prophecy!

     Chiron looked flabbergasted. He mouthed 'Hogwarts' like it was familiar to him, and then turned quickly away. "I need to make a call." He trotted hastily off.

     Annabeth helped a groggy Rachel to her feet. "You okay?"

     "Yeah, I think I just need to sit down."

     They sat on a bench outside the Big House.

     The words 'Dark Lord' echoed in Annabeth's head. It seemed there was another villain on the prowl.

     Sadly, like all prophecies, this one was vague. Who was the 'savior' who must be protected? Who were the 'Little Three'? What was 'Hogwarts'?

     "Chiron definitely knows something we don't." she said aloud.

     Rachel nodded thoughtfully. "Something about the Hogwarts place. Then he had to make a call. I wonder who he was calling?"

     Annabeth shrugged. "Who knows? So, what's the scoop around camp?"

     Rachel smiled mischievously. "Well, rumor has it that Will Solace and Drew Tanaka's rivalry escalated to the point where the sexual tension exploded."

     Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Says who? They've always hated each other."

     "Says me." Rachel pointed to the grass behind the Apollo cabin where Will and Drew were sitting, Drew with her head on his shoulder.

     Annabeth grinned. "I see." She raised an eyebrow at her friend. "Talked to Apollo recently?"

     Rachel didn't meet her eye, her freckles disappearing as blush rose on her cheeks. "Yes." She said lightly.

     For quite some time, Rachel and Apollo had been involved in a cautious, hesitant sort of relationship. The Oracle of Delphi was meant to be a single woman, a virgin, so neither party was planning on ruining that.

     It was strange to see the playboy god acting so sweet and faithful, and he absolutely adored Rachel.

     Running footsteps made Annabeth look up to see Reyna barreling towards them.

     The Roman praetor was disheveled, dirt on her cheek and a leaf stuck in her hair. Most noticeably was the scared, miserable look in her eyes that reminded Annabeth that Reyna was only 14.

     She had never seen the girl look so vulnerable, and the tear tracks on her face meant something was clearly wrong. Reyna skidded to a halt before them, breaths ragged from her rapid flight.

     Annabeth leapt up. "Reyna, what is it?" she asked in concern, wondering if perhaps the praetor had been attacked by something.

     More tears streaked down Reyna's face. "Nico is missing."