Our group was on our way out  when I spotted Hermes in a side courtyard of the palace. He was staring at an Iris-message in the mist of a fountain.  I nudged Percy. 

He glanced at the rest of the group. "We'll meet you at the elevator."

Raph looked at me and then at Hermes and then nodded. He kissed my forehead, and talking animatedly with Nico, they kept walking, Annabeth beside them listening. I watched for a second and then followed Percy.

Hermes didn't seem to notice us approach. The Iris-message images were going so fast I could hardly understand them. Mortal newscasts from all over the country flashed by: scenes of Typhon's destruction, the wreckage our battle had left across Manhattan, the president doing a news conference, the mayor of New York, some army vehicles riding down the Avenue of the Americas.

"Amazing," Hermes murmured. He turned toward us, and signed. "Three thousand years, and I will never get over the power of the Mist...and mortal ignorance."

"Thanks, I guess." Percy looked offended. And I sniggered silently.

"Oh, not you. Although, I suppose I should wonder, turning down immortality, you two, that was bold."

"It was the right choice." I signed. I had no regrets in turning it down.

Hermes looked back and forth between us curiously, then returned his attention to the Iris-message. "Look at them." He signed, "They've already decided Typhon was a freak series of storms. Don't I wish. They haven't figured out how all the statues in Lower Manhattan got removed from their pedestals and hacked to pieces. They keep showing a shot of Susan B. Anthony strangling Frederick Douglass. But I imagine they'll even come up with a logical explanation for that."

"How bad is the city?" Percy asked, watching with wide eyes.

Hermes shrugged. "Surprisingly, not too bad. The mortals are shaken, of course. But this is New York. I've never seen such a resilient bunch of humans. I imagine they'll be back to normal in a few weeks; and of course I'll be helping."

"You?" I signed.

He nodded and explained, "I'm the messenger of the gods. It's my job to monitor what the mortals are saying, and if necessary, help them make sense of what's happened. I'll reassure them. Trust me, they'll put this down to a freak earthquake or a solar flare. Anything but the truth."

He looked bitter. George and Martha curled around his caduceus, but they were silent, which made me think that Hermes was really really angry. I probably should've kept quiet, (ha. good one, I'm always quiet, but I shouldn't have said anything.) but I signed, "I owe you an apology."

Hermes gave me a cautious look. "And why is that?"

"I thought you were a bad father," I admitted. "I thought- well..Percy did too, I'm throwing him under the bus with me. We thought you abandoned Luke because you knew his future and didn't do anything to stop it."

"I did know his future," Hermes signed miserably.

"But you knew more than just the bad stuff—that he'd turn evil. You understood what he would do in the end. You knew he'd make the right choice. But you couldn't tell him."

Hermes stared at the fountain before he signed. "No one can tamper with fate, not even a god. If I had warned him what was to come, or tried to influence his choices, I would've made things even worse. Staying silent, staying away from him . . . that was the hardest thing I've ever done."

"You had to let him find his own path," I said, "and play his part in saving Olympus. I understand a bit more. Having the gift of sight is a curse at times, but I'm slowly understanding. 

Hermes sighed. "I should not have gotten mad at Annabeth. When Luke visited her in San Francisco . . . well, I knew she would have a part to play in his fate. I foresaw that much. I thought perhaps she could do what I could not and save him. When she refused to go with him, I could barely contain my rage. I should have known better. I was really angry with myself."

"Annabeth did save him," Percy insisted. "Luke died a hero. He sacrificed himself to kill Kronos."

"I appreciate your words, Percy. But Kronos isn't dead. You can't kill a Titan."

"Then—"

"I don't know," Hermes signed grumbled. "None of us do. Blown to dust. Scattered to the wind. With luck, he's spread so thin that he'll never be able to form a consciousness again, much less a body. But don't mistake him for dead, you two."

My stomach did a queasy somersault. "What about the other Titans?"

"In hiding," Hermes signed. "Prometheus sent Zeus a message with a bunch of excuses for supporting Kronos. 'I was just trying to minimize the damage,' blah, blah. He'll keep his head low for a few centuries if he's smart. Krios has fled, and Mount Othrys has crumbled into ruins. Oceanus slipped back into the deep ocean when it was clear Kronos had lost. Meanwhile, my son Luke is dead. He died believing I didn't care about him. I will never forgive myself."

Hermes slashed his caduceus through the mist. The Iris-picture disappeared.

"A long time ago," Percy signed, "you told me the hardest thing about being a god was not being able to help your children. You also told me that you couldn't give up on your family, no matter how tempting they made it."

"And now you know I'm a hypocrite?"

"No, you were right, Luke loved you. At the end, he realized his fate. I think he realized why you couldn't help him. He remembered what was important."

"Apollo said pretty much the same to me. The hardest part is staying your distance, he told me, the closer he got to me when I was a child, the more monsters attacked- different situation, same concept."

"Too late for him and me."

"You have other children." I signed. "Connor and Traves... and a cabin full of children..." I tried to keep the bitterness from my face. 

"Honor Luke by recognizing them. All the gods can do that."

Hermes's shoulders sagged. "They'll try, guys. Oh, we'll all try to keep our promise. And maybe for a while things will get better. But we gods have never been good at keeping oaths. You, Percy were born because of a broken promise, eh? Eventually we'll become forgetful. We always do."

"You can change."

Hermes laughed. "After three thousand years, you think the gods can change their nature?"

"Yeah," I said. "I do. Or you have another war on your hands."

Hermes seemed surprised by that. "You think . . . Luke actually loved me? After all that happened?"

"I'm sure of it." Percy said with a nod. 

Hermes stared at the fountain. "I'll give you a list of my children. There's a boy in Wisconsin. Two girls in Los Angeles. A few others. Will you see that they get to camp?"

"We promise," I said. "And we won't forget."

🔆

When we got into the lobby, we found Sally and Paul arguing with the bald security guy, who'd returned to his post. Sally was yelling and waving her hands around franticly.

"I'm telling you," Sally yelled, "we have to go up! My son and daughter-" Then she saw us and her eyes widened. 

"You..you called me a daughter!" I signed, my exhausted eyes filling with tears. 

Paul and Sally ran forwards and pulled Percy and I into such a tight family hug I couldn't breath. In that moment I felt safe. I was home again. I sighed in relief and closed my eyes for a moment, just enjoying family. Sally and Paul pulled away.

"We saw the building lit up blue," she signed. "But then you didn't come down. You went up hours ago!"

"She was getting a bit anxious," Paul signed, by the blank look on his face, I'd say he also said it as drily as possible.

"We're all right," Percy promised as Sally hugged Annabeth, and Dad had Nico in a tight embrace. "Everything's okay now." 

I slapped a hand over my mouth to hide the giggles. Nico looked like he wanted to melt into the floor when I saw him hugging dad back. 

"Not a single word!"

"Whatever you say..." 

"Yeah. Whatever I say." He spun on his heels, his face bright red and marched out the front door. Raph gave me a curious look, but I just smiled and shook my head like an exasperated mother. 

"Mr. Blofis," Annabeth signed, "that was wicked sword work."

Paul shrugged, "It seemed like the thing to do. But guys, is this really . . . I mean, this story about the six hundredth floor?"

"Olympus," I signed. "Yeah."

Paul looked at the ceiling with a dreamy expression. "I'd like to see that."

"Paul," my mom chided. "It's not for mortals. Anyway, the important thing is we're safe. All of us."

My dad looked disappointed, but then shook his head and clasped Raph's hand and then pulled him into a fatherly embrace too. I could see my dad whispering something to Raph, and Raph nodding back. Dad pulled him back into a tight embrace again, while Raph hugged him back just as hard. I was curious what he said, but I didn't want to pry. Raph didn't have the best male roll models in his life. 

I was about to relax. Everything felt perfect. Raph, Percy, Nico and Annabeth were okay. My mom and Paul had survived. Olympus was saved. I knew other campers were on their way back, Will and Kayla... I had seen Apollo going to talk to them and Auston and all the other survivors. He had also helped with some of the healing. 

But the life of a demigod is never so easy. Just then Nico ran in from the street, and his face told me something was wrong.

"It's Rachel," he said with his hands. "I just ran into her down on 32nd Street."

Annabeth frowned. "What's she done this time?"

"It's where she's gone," Nico said. "I told her she would die if she tried, but she insisted. She just took Blackjack and-"

"She took my pegasus?" Percy demanded.

Nico nodded. "She's heading to Half-Blood Hill. She said she had to get to camp."

"She'll never get through the defenses," Annabeth said. "Peleus will eat her."

I hadn't considered that. The Mist wouldn't fool Rachel like it would most people. She'd be able to find the camp no problem, I had figured the magical boundaries would just keep her out like a force field. It hadn't occurred to me that Peleus might attack.

"We've got to hurry." Percy glanced at Nico. "I don't suppose you could conjure up some skeleton horses."

He wheezed as he ran. "So tired . . . couldn't summon a dog bone." 

"Why is everyone so upset about this?" 

"She could die!" 

"Doubt it. She's a direct descendant of the Original Oracle. She's taking her rightful spot...the one my mom should have had." 

Nico blinked a few times. And then I saw the understanding on his face. Raph looked confused as well and I sighed. Percy had the memory of a goldfish sometimes. And I was shocked with Annabeth that she hadn't pieced it together. 

The three of us followed Percy and Annabeth to the river. He put his fingers to his mouth and whistled, three wake lines appeared in the gray water, and a pod of hippocampi broke the surface. They whinnied unhappily, shaking the river muck from their manes. They were beautiful creatures, with multicolored fish tails, and the heads and forelegs of white stallions. The hippocampus in front was much bigger than the others—a ride fit for a Cyclops.

"Rainbow!" Percy called. "How's it going, buddy?"

I turned and looked to the sky. 

Hey, Glitter?

Yes Lady. I am here.

Can you get me and Raph back to camp? 

Yes My Lady. On my way. 

"You guys go on ahead. I'll meet you there."

"You're not coming?" Percy asked shocked.

"I have my own ride." I signed, just as Glitter landed beside me, tossing her red, gold and orange fire mane. "Raph? Nico, I know you don't like them, you going with Percy and Annabeth?" 

Raph climbed up, and held a hand out for me. I grabbed it and jumped up in front of him. Glitter jumped into the air and galloped though the sky. 

I felt Raph's arms wrap around my waist, and he scootched closer. I hummed, silently in contentment. I leaned my head back. And closed my eyes. I was so tired. I felt his warm lips brush the scar on my temple.

A few minutes later we flew over the hill and Thalia's tree. Glitter let us down right by the big house. Rachel was standing at the foot of the stares that led up to the porch.

She turned around when she heard us.

"Nora?"

"Rachel. I see you got passed the barrier." I signed. She nodded.

"I felt like...a weird jelly like substance and then I was through."

I nodded and slid off the back of Glitter. It was surreal being back at camp, because everything looked so peaceful: no burning buildings, no wounded fighters. The cabins were bright in the sunshine, and the fields glittered with dew. But the place was mostly empty.

"So...is this real? I'm...I'm not dreaming?"

"Nope." I shook my head. I came over and sat down on the step, "sit with me a second."

She flopped down beside me. "So..so you know everything?" She sighed.

I nodded. "Raph can you translate?" Raph nodded and crouched down in front of me, his dark eyes watched me as I spoke. I told her all about what happened to my mother, what happened with Apollo and Hera. I told her about the pact between Zues, Poseidon and Hades, what Zeus tried to do to Nico and his family.

"Wait..." Rachel interupted. She pulled something from her pocket, a crumpled piece of paper.

"She asked if these words mean anything to you?" Raph translated while she handed the paper over. I flattened it and it took me a while to read her scribble. I hated dyslexia.

"To call a truce a promise must be.
To break the peace a war ensues.
Innocent lives be at stake.
The disparaging seeks vengeance.
The broken will be cursed.
The seeing shall die but live endless days,
Until she who sees brings peace to it all."

I looked up at her and raised my eyebrows then I smirked. "A dream?" I asked. She nodded glummly.

"It's been playing none stop in her head." Raph said after a brief second.

I nodded in understanding. "It's the last prophecy the last Oracle said. It was in the throne room when Hades was called and they tried forcing him to give up Nico and his sister became Zeus was scared. It was the reason my mother was killed."

Raph explained what I said.

"Am I going to die?" Rachel asked, her eyes big and round.

"You're here, aren't you? Chiron, I'm assuming was the one who invited you. You won't go mad like May Crestline. You are faited to break the curse. You have the Oracle of Pythia, of Delphi, in your blood."

"Why don't you take it?" She asked, "it was your mother that was supposed to. My...my aunt."

I shook my head. "I have her blood, I have the gift, sure. But it's not the same. I'm not drawn to it like you. My fate..." I turned to Raph, his dark broody eyes locked onto mine. "I have a different path-" I turned back to Rachel. "-once you take on the spirit of Delphi, no more boys."

Rachel nodded slowly. She chewed her lip slowly.

"If...if I do this...what happens?"

"Nothing really changes, I don't think. You'll be you still. School during the year unless you want to come be a year round camper. Though I suspect, you won't draw many monsters...but that's something you'd have to ask Chiron."

Raph tapped my knee and nodded. I looked behind me. Chiron was behind us. He winced as he tried to move. His left arm was in a sling, his two back legs were in splints, and his head was wrapped in bandages. Argus had pushed his bed on wheels out here. Argus nodded his head and left towards the beach.

"Nora is correct." Chiron signed. "You will still be a normal girl. But you will have regular visits and meetings with Apollo-"

"Isn't he like my uncle?!" Rachel interupted.

I nodded, "my father yes. You will just be at the mercy of the prophecies."

"I'm already at their mercy. The dreams and visions..."

"And the nasty gross smoke mist flavor!" I sighed making a disgusted face and shivered.

"What gross taste? It's like fresh baked apple pie!"

"Nah your crazy! It's sour green apple and hot souce mixed with corrosive metal!"

"No..." Rachel shook her head giving me a funny look. "Anyways...could you and Chiron explain the prophecy that's been in my head?"

Chiron looked at me expectantly, like he used to do in class when he expected me to know answers. I puffed my cheeks and closed my eyes for a second and though hard. I opened my eyes and tasted the sour Apple, hot sauce smoke. I shuddered for a second.

"Okay. The first line. To call a truce a promise must be: the promise between the big 3 gods, no more kids. They were always too powerful...so they claimed. Next, To break the peace a war ensues: not literal war- but fights between Hades and Zeus and Posiden- two of the three break the promise. Zeus had Thalia and Poseidon had Percy. Hades already had Nico and Bianca before the truce. There was war between the brothers- Zeus tried to kill the kids- Hades curses the Orical. Hades tries to kill Thalia- Zeus tries to kill Percy. They all try and kill me...but that's not the point. Anyways. Innocent lives be at steak: Nico and Bianca- but any of the big three kids; here you could throw in me and my mother...May Crestline, the previous Oracle...anyone who was sort of mixed up in the Oracle and brothers.
Next line... The disparaging seeks vengeance: pretty self explanatory. Hades wants revenge on Zeus for killing his mortal wife and trying to kill the kids. This could also mean Luke- his mom went nuts after the attempt to take the spirit of Delphi." I took another breath. "The broken will be cursed: Oracle of Delphi is broken, obviously, cause she's cursed. Anyone who try to take on her spirit become cursed and crazy. May was broken after she tried breaking the curse. Luke was also broken seeing his mom like that and thinking Hermes didn't care. So he took on the curse of Achilles and the Titans curse. The seeing shall die but live endless days: Spirit of Delphi stuck in Boho Hippy Grandma, my mom died, but saw the future. And lastly... Until she who sees brings peace to it all: this means you, Rachel. I'm positive, I'd bet my life on it, that you will become the new Orical. Also...don't want to brag...but I have The Sight, from Helios, and I've made the gods promise to do better."

I looked at Chiron and he smiled at me, I saw the pride in his eyes. "Very good Nora."

"Whoa." Rachel said, "an actual prophecy about me?"

I thought for a second. "Well looks like you know your fate, Rachel. Will you accept it or fight it?" I asked standing up. The unsure look in her eyes hardened to one of determination and resolve.

"Yes. Yes I do. For Auntie Evangeline. For all those who where cursed before me. It is my fate. It's my destiny. Daddy always said I was special and would do great things."