Xenomorphic

Chapter 21:The Lightning Thief Part 2

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Meanwhile, before Asteria ripped a hole through the Big House

The campers and Hunters were all in their respective cabins, chatting about the recent CTF game, the Hellhound, and how Asteria was finally getting a quest to put an end to this madness. The main topic of conversation was who the daughter of Poseidon was going to pick for her quest mates.

The Hunters hadn't the faintest idea, because they hadn't been here long enough to see who Asteria's friends were. The campers all thought it was a tossup between some combination of Clarisse, Beckendorf, Silena, Drew, and the Stoll brothers. Most people were placing bets on Clarisse and Drew.

All conversation among the demigods was abruptly silenced by the deafening shriek that erupted seemingly from everywhere, shattering the windows of each cabin. When the ear-splitting sound faded, it didn't take long for everyone to rush outside to see what the Hades just happened.

Then Asteria came barreling out of the attic with all the force of a condensed typhoon, before shooting up into the sky.

Thalia broke the silence. "Um...does she usually do that?"

"No," Drew shook her head. She could feel the boiling emotions that Asteria had just radiated. Anger, rage, fury, every synonym for mad spilled out from the girl in an endless torrent. Whatever the Oracle had shown Aster, it had triggered something really bad. "She doesn't."

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Asteria came back down to earth sometime later, making sure she didn't burn up upon reentry. She made quite the entrance too, dive-bombing straight into the canoe lake, sending a tidal wave washing over most of the camp. The soaking-wet campers helped brighten Asteria's mood.

She made her way to the Big House, very much aware of the crowd following her. They all had the same basic thoughts running around in their head: what happened, what was the prophecy, why did you blow up half the attic. She ignored them, and they were smart enough to not push anything.

Entering the Big House, she saw Chiron sitting with Dionysus on couches around a table, playing pinochle. Well, the wine god was sitting, the centaur was in horse form, with his legs curled up beneath him.

"Well if it isn't Miss Anger Management Issues. Have you calmed down yet, or do you need to crush something's skull underfoot?"

'Shut up, Dionysus.'

"My, my. Such disrespect. Maybe I should turn you into a dolphin, so that you and your father could be together always."

"Let's not be rash, Mr. D," said Chiron. "I admit, your, ah, outburst last night was most irregular, Ms. Jackson, but we need to know the prophecy."

Instead of saying anything, Asteria showed Chiron and Dionysus what happened last night, using her telepathy. When the replay was over with, Dionysus had the decency to cough in embarrassment, and Chiron had the familiar look of sympathy.

"Well, I'm off to Olympus for some emergency meeting. Ciao." The wine god vanished, leaving the scent of grapes in the air.

"Do you have a plan then, Ms. Jackson?"

'Yeah. Go to the Underworld and try to get my Uncle to give me back the Bolt before the earth is scorched.'

"As good a plan as any, I suppose. Do you know where the entrance is?"

'DOA Recording Studios, Las Angeles. Valencia Boulevard.'

"Any ideas on who you want with you?"