We all waited for Annabeth to come back. Percy was getting anxious, his pacing around the area came to a sudden halt. He turned and just left. I watched him go. I could feel his anxiety and stress from here.

I found a sunny little patch in the corner of the area and sunk down. I pulled the few yellow wild daisies and started to braid them together. Will came over and sat beside me. He didn't say anything, but sat beside me. He was wrapping his wrist in a tender bandage and then unwrapping it.

I glanced up and watched Mrs. O’Leary ate her lunch, which consisted of a hundred pounds of ground beef and several dog biscuits the size of trash-can lids. I wondered where Quintus got dog biscuits that size. I didn’t figure you could just walk into Pet Zone and put those in your shopping cart.

Chiron was deep in conversation with Quintus and Argus. It looked to me like they were disagreeing about something. Quintus kept shaking his head.

On the other side of the arena, Tyson and the Stoll brothers were racing miniature bronze chariots that Tyson had made out of armor scraps. I saw Selina laughing at something Beckendorf was saying. I smiled watching, their relationship looked so easy.

Something reflected in the sun and I saw Raph. He was swinging his sword around, going through some sword forms Quintus taught us yesterday. It was fascinating watching him. His body twisted and turned with ease, his muscles tensed and flexed. The dark look in his eye was scary when he had a weapon in his hand. I had heard Percy was the best swordsman at camp, it would be an interesting match up.

"Hello...earth to Nora!"

"Huh? What? Yep..." I blinked and looked around. Will was smirking at me.

"Can I help you?"

"Lost you for a minute." He grinned, "view is spectacular." I smacked him, making him yelp and then chuckle. "I asked if you were okay, and ready for this..."

"Oh..." I shrugged, "never done this before it's all new. I'm terrified, Will. I hardly know what I'm doing. I hardly know the legends and who's who and what's going on."

"Well seems like you're doing great, better than most."

"Fake it till ya make." I shrugged.

"You're not alone. That's why you have three people in a quest group. Raph and I won't let you down."

"Will....you and Raph meet me like 48 hours ago." I voiced my fear.

He shrugged and leaned back onto his hands. "You're family."

"My dear,” Chiron called. “You made it."

I looked up and saw Annabeth and Percy walking into the area. Both looked very shaken and upset. We all clumped back together.

Annabeth looked at me first. I couldn’t tell if she was trying to warn me, or if the look in her eyes was just plain fear, but I felt the anxiety in her, it radiated off of her. But she closed her eyes and swallowed,  then she focused on Quintus.

"I got the prophecy. I will lead the quest to find Daedalus’s workshop."

Nobody cheered. I mean, everyone liked Annabeth, and we wanted her to have a quest, but this one seemed insanely dangerous, I mean so was ours.

Chiron scraped a hoof on the dirt floor. "What did the prophecy say exactly, my dear? The wording is important."

Annabeth took a deep breath. "I, ah…well, it said, you shall delve into the darkness of the endless maze..."

We waited.

"Okay...and?" I encouraged.

"The dead, the traitor, and the lost ones raise."

Grover perked up. "The lost ones! That must mean Pan! That’s great!"

"And Helios!" I added. High diving Grover.

"With the dead and the traitor," Percy added. "Not so great."

"Okay Debbie Downer." I rolled my eyes. But I felt my stomach drop, and my heart jumped into my throat.

"And?" Chiron asked. "What is the rest?"

"You shall rise or fall by the ghost king’s hand," Annabeth said, "the child of Athena’s final stand."

Everyone looked around uncomfortably. Annabeth was a daughter of Athena, and a final stand didn’t sound good.

"Hey…we shouldn’t jump to conclusions," Silena said. "Annabeth isn’t the only child of Athena, right?"

"But who’s this ghost king?" Beckendorf asked.

No one answered. I thought about the Iris-message Percy told me about, the one of this Nico, son of Hades summoning spirits. I had a bad feeling the prophecy was connected to that. I glanced at Percy and caught his eye. He looked like he was thinking the same thing.

"Are there more lines?" Chiron asked. "The prophecy does not sound complete."

Annabeth hesitated. "I don’t remember exactly."

Chiron raised an eyebrow. I scoffed quietly, Annabeth was known for her memory. She would never forget something she heard, she was hissing something. She glanced at me, of all people, I couldn't read her expression, but it made me uncomfortable. I knew there was something more to the prophecy she got, and part of it somehow, she thought connected to me. My stomach twisted.

Annabeth shifted on her bench. "Something about…Destroy with a hero’s final breath."

“And?” Chiron asked.

"Something about...ancient blood flowing in veins..." Not important right now." She folded her arms. "Look, the point is, I have to go in. I'll find the workshop and stop Luke. Nora and her quest will go and find Helios, and see if they can keep eyes open for Pan. And…I need help.” She turned to Percy, "Will you come?"

He didn’t even hesitate. "I’m in."

She smiled for the first time in days. I felt slightly jealous, Percy didn't hesitate. He was all in. I trusted my team...I think. I hoped. They were more reluctant, with good reason. They didn't know me, I didn't know them. Percy and Annabeth had been through a lot of life and death situations together. They had learned to trust each other. I hoped to have that level of trust with someone. I felt intense eyes burning a hole in my head. I glanced up and saw Raph staring at me with his dark intense eyes.

"Grover, you too? The wild god is waiting."

Grover seemed to forget how much he hated the underground. The line about the "lost one" had completely energized him. "I'll pack extra recyclables for snacks!"

"And Tyson," Annabeth said. "I’ll need you too."

"Yay! Blow-things-up time!" Tyson clapped so hard he woke up Mrs. O’Leary, who was dozing in the corner. He looked at me with a big crooked grin.

"Will Percy's little Big sister help blow things up?"

"Absolutely my BFC! You and me will make things go boom!"

"Yay!"

He reached across the circle of the war council and pulled me into a bone crushing hug so tight I swear my ribs broke again.

"Wait, Annabeth," Chiron said. "This goes against the ancient laws. A hero is allowed only two companions."

"I need them all," she insisted. "Chiron, it’s important."

I didn’t know why she was so certain, but I was happy she’d included Tyson. I couldn’t imagine leaving him behind. Unlike satyrs, Cyclopes had no problem underground, from what I've learned in my pre camp reading.

"Annabeth." Chiron flicked his tail nervously. "Consider well. You would be breaking the ancient laws, and there are always consequences. Last winter, five went on a quest to save Artemis. Only three came back. Think on that. Three is a sacred number. There are three fates, three furies, three Olympian sons of Kronos. It is a good strong number that stands against many dangers. Four…this is risky."

Annabeth took a deep breath. "I know. But we have to. Please."

I could tell Chiron didn’t like it. Quintus was studying us, like he was trying to decide which of us would come back alive.

Chiron sighed. "Very well. Let us adjourn. The members of the quest must prepare themselves. Tomorrow at dawn, we send you into the Labyrinth."

Quintus pulled me and Percy aside as the council was breaking up. I glanced at Percy and he narrowed his eyes at the older man, like he was suspicious.

"I have a bad feeling about this," he told us.

Mrs. O’Leary came over, wagging her tail happily. She dropped her shield at our feet, I scratched her head quickly before Percy threw it for her. Quintus watched her romp after it. He looked at me, and then to Percy and I saw real concern in his eyes.

"I don’t like the idea of you going down there," he said. "Any of you. but if you must, I want you to remember something. The Labyrinth exists to fool you. It will distract you. That’s dangerous for half-bloods. We are easily distracted."

"You’ve been in there?" I asked.

"Long ago." His voice was ragged. "I barely escaped with my life. Most who enter aren’t that lucky."

He gripped my shoulder and then gripped Percy's, "Children, keep your mind on what matters most. If you can do that, you might find the way. I know it sounds cliche, but believe in yourself and follow your heart. If it's true, it will help."

I glanced at Percy. He had the same slightly confused and guarded look as I did. Quintes was going to say something, but I caught sight of a face I hadn't seen in a long time.

"Miles!" I cried.

I rolled away from Quintus's grip and raced over to my old art teacher who was actually my protector. He turned at his name. And I slammed into him.

"Nora! Kiddo! You're in one piece!" He cried hugging me tight.

"Haha. Man, you've missed a lot!"

"So I've heard! Tell me everything!"

We walked out of the arena and I talked. I told him everything from the demand cheerleaders to me leading a quest into the Labyrinth tomorrow. It took me a solid hour of talking.

"Holly Hera! I did miss a lot!"

I could see the worry on his face, but he gave me a smile that was full of confidence.

"Look kiddo, I've watched you for a year. You will do fine. Remember to stay true to who you are and trust your team."

"Thanks." I groaned and ran a hand down my face. "I better go to talk to Annabeth, she had some books she said she would lend me about the maze and stuff."

"Go. Go get ready." He patted my shoulder, "I'm proud of you kiddo." I gave him a grateful smile. I turned and jogged off to the Athena cabin. I got there just as Malcolm, one of Athena's sons, the second in command was heading up the steps.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"Annabeth inside? I needed a book about something."

"Dunno, but come on in. I was actually looking for her t-"

He stopped talking mid sentence. Standing my a desk, Annabeth was wrapped in Percy's arms. He was rubbing her back and murmering something quietly into her hair. I was going to just back out and let them have their moment, but Malcolm cleared his throat. The pair jumped apart.

"Um, sorry," Malcolm said. "Archery practice is starting, Annabeth. Chiron said to come find you."

Percy was shifting from foot to foot "We were just looking at maps," he stammered. His face was beat red.

Malcolm stared at me. "Okay."

"Tell Chiron I’ll be right there," Annabeth said, and Malcom left in a hurry. I leaned against the door frame.

"About those...maps and books?" I asked, with a small smirk.

"Oh shut up Nora." Percy groaned.

Annabeth rubbed her eyes. "You go ahead, Percy. I’d better get ready for archery...." Annabeth sounded quite upset. I knew her prophecy was hard, but she didn't seem like the girl to break so easily. There was something she wasn't saying. I frowned when she glanced at me and almost looked...guilty.

"Can I...still borrow that book? I've got a quest to lead and I've seriously only been at camp a solid 48 hours. I'm freaking out a bit..."

"Oh...yeah... Sorry..." She picked up a book so thick it looked like an Oxford dictionary.

"Thanks." I gave her a tight smile.

She just nodded. I turned and left, leaving Percy and Annabeth. I heard Percy speak quietly- sometimes this super sonic hearing was awful.

"Annabeth?" Percy said. "About your prophecy. The line about a hero’s last breath-"

"You’re wondering which hero? I don’t know."

"No. Something else. I was thinking the last line usually rhymes with the one before it. Was it something about—did it end in the word death? Also...there was something in the prophecy about Nora, wasn't there. Or a whole new one. You were up there a long time."

There was a pause and then she said even quieter, and I stopped walking. Listening hard.

"How...how well do you know her?"

"She's my sister. Whatever your getting at, I trust her."

"And if it came down to one of us?"

"Annabeth! Don't ask me to pick between you or my sister. She's my sister!"

"You're not related!" Her voice was sharp.

"Does it matter by blood or not? Blood doesn't mean anything. You should know that! So just tell me straight up what's going on!"

"You’d better go, Percy. Get ready for the quest. I’ll—I’ll see you in the morning."

I quickly started walking, I didn't want to be here when Percy came out, or Annabeth. I knew something else went down inside the attic of the big house. She was keeping something from me. A prophecy about me and she was keeping it to herself. At least Percy had my back. But if it came down to it...and he had to choose me or Annabeth...I knew he'd pick her. They had history, they had chemistry. He loved her.

I had a feeling...I might not be coming back from this quest alive. I disappeared into the woods, and found a small patch of sun and sunk down, sitting in the grass. And finally, after 48 hours of keeping it together, after being hunted on a few occasions, breaking ribs, talking to an actual goddess, weird vision dreams... everything, I let the tears fall.

If I lived and came back from this I wasn't going to be the same person.

🔆

Ooo DRAAAAMA!
What could this extra line or new prophecy be about?  Hmmm. Any ideas?