▬▬ HELLFIRE▬▬
iii. NINE NIGHTMARES

▬▬▬★▬▬▬

AFTER THE PROPHECY, the campfire quickly dispersed. Taea has been in the bathroom for almost all of it, and Sam was starting to wonder if she was actually coming back. It was a lot to process. He wasn't sure he even wanted to do this quest, but now he felt like quietly, everyone was counting on him. It was nerve wracking. Would anyone be mad at him if he just... quit?

A rustling from the bushes answered one of his questions, at least. Taea, in all her pint sized glory, came from them, tripping over the leaves.

"Hey, kiddos." Taea smiles, placing down her coat, a flimsy white cardigan falling apart at the seems on the ground, "Sorry I'm a little late. What's crackin'?

Taea looks around, confused. Her eyes travel to the empty logs and dimming light where the campfire used to be. "Wait..." She mutters to herself, before turning back to her friends, "What'd I miss?"

"Nothing much, just the whole campfire. A prophecy. There's a child of Zeus, apparently. Also, we're all going to die.." Jamie deadpans.

"Oh." Taea says quietly.

"Oh my God, Taea," Andy lightens up his face towards his older friend, patting the seat next to him, which Taea takes, "you should have seen it."

Sam starts to lose track of his words as Andy yaps away, probably exaggerating every detail. A gorgeous warrior with revolving eye colour, a handsome blonde who's the child of Zeus, a small semi-cute elf kid (Sam notices he doesn't really have anything nice to say about that one). A tale of fire and death that's bound to violently kill Sam, his trusted friend and his dear, dear sister. Jamie steps on Andy's foot when he says that.

Every now and then Mara and Will chime in, but Jamie, despite being one of the people actually going on the quest, stays silent. Sam would like to join the recap, but he can barley understand what's being said.

"And he's going on a quest with Jamie and the three new demigods!" Mara enthusiastically turns to Sam, "Isn't that awesome?"

"I don't know, I guess..." Sam trails off, fidgeting with his fingers, "it's just, it's a little weird, I guess. It's kind of overwhelming."

"That's so cool, Sam! Why are you complaining?" Tara's face rises and falls like a cartoon, her big brown eyes widening, "You get to go on a quest with a freakin' child of Zeus, for Athena's sake! That's a once in a life time opportunity!"

"Yeah, emphasis on once in a lifetime." Andy pointed out. Sam has noticed he had seemed rather shaken the whole night. He would have to ask him more about that later, "Anyone remember the whole 'certain death' gist of the prophecy?"

"Well," Taea turned towards her friend, smile dropping a little, "Jamie's going and she's not being a scaredy-cat about it."

The brown haired boy sputtered. "I-I'm not being a 'scaredy-cat'! I'm just saying, maybe you guys shouldn't go on this quest."

Taea pouts, sticking out her bottom lip. "Then why did you describe it so cool?"

Andy scoffs. "It's not my fault I'm a good storytel—"

"No, I'm going." Jamie interrupted her brother, "No offense to those kids, but they're all new demigods and have no experience. That Aphrodite girl literally walked into a tree this morning. If they go alone, they're definitely going to kill themselves by mistake."

"I agree." Mara added diplomatically, "Both of you guys have been here for three years. You definitely need to go on that quest."

"Sam," Taea starts, her head rolling to the side a little, "have you ever even been on a quest?"

"One that didn't end in disaster? No." Will snickers. Sam scoffs, before jabbing him in the stomach. Even while sitting down, Sam is still taller then him.

"Shut up, Will." He growls at his friend, before facing Taea and making a much nicer expression, "Yes, Taea, I have been on a quest. Did that quest end well? If you call one of your companions on the quest getting their hair burnt off and me losing half the digits on my right foot 'ending well', then yes, it ended extremely well."

"You lost half of your toes?" Jamie questions, grimacing.

"As one does when a fire breathing bull blows up the train they're on." Sam defends himself. Jamie's repulsed expression doesn't drop.

"That's disgusting." The daughter of Hebe interjects, crossing her arms. "I'm never going on a quest."

Andy smiles softly, patting her on her shoulder. "You don't really get a say in that."

"Vinny tells me when there's a problem you don't like, ignore it and it will eventually go away." The girl says, holding her finger up, rejecting the notion like a child.

"Doesn't he wear light up sneakers?" Will asks, laughing lowly, his freckles scrunching up, "Why are you taking his opinion into account?"

Taea's face changes from grumpy to childishly angry. "I like his light up sneakers..." She grumbles.

"Quests aren't as terrible as Sam's was." Jamie says lightly, smiling towards Taea, "Actually, Sam's quest was such a major disaster that nobody even recognizes it as anything except the day Juliet Daranger started wearing a wig."

Will casts a questionable look towards a girl across the pavilion, her hair a bright shade of blonde, curling at the ends. "That's a wig?"

"Hey, Sam. Um, just wanted to let you know... maybe don't come back to the Aphrodite cabin yet. Drew's still pissed at you. Oh, and if you see that new girl, Piper, tell her to stere clear of Drew within a 500 mile radius unless she wants a high heel up her ass."

"You would think for a girl who hates quests so much, she wouldn't get so prissy about missing this one."

"Come on," Andy scoffs, "we all know she's only going on this quest for that Zeus kid."

"The fact that Zeus had another kid still freaks me out." Sam shakes his head, looking at the floor.

"Just give it a couple years, and I promise, a Artemis kid will be rapping on our door any second now."

"Wouldn't be surprised." Mara laughs, "Why not throw in a Hera kid while you're at it?"

"There's a difference. They're maidens. That would against their nature." Taea says, "The big three, except Hades, I guess, all broke a sacred oath."

"Athena and Hestia are maidens," Sam points out, "and they have children."

"Yeah, but Athena has them from her head," Taea taps her head," and Hestia has children through a fire." She casts a look at the dwindling fire, "Artemis and Hera's whole shtick is they've sworn off kids— especially demigods, in general."

"I'm just saying." Mara puts up her hands in defense, "Nothing would surprise me anymore."

"It's getting pretty late." Andy nods towards nothing, sitting up, "I'll see you guys tomorrow, yeah?"

"See you." Will smiles.

"Jamie," Andy itches uncomfortably, glancing between the campfire and his cabin in the distance, "can you..."

"What?" She asks.

"Never mind." Andy shakes his head, "See you."

"Wait, Andy." Mara pipes up, quickly gathering her notepad and pencils, "I'll go with you."

The two walk off into the distance, causing a silence between the remaining four.

"I'm pretty sure he wanted you to walk him back to his cabin, Jam." Taea says, visibly concerned, hugging her knees.

"I told you not to call me that. And sh— I mean, he didn't." Jamie's face panics before she corrects herself, coughing, "Andy's 15. He doesn't need me to walk him to cabin like a four year old. He's a big boy"."

Will stiffens, forcing a laugh and picking up his things. "I'm going to head to the infirmary." He says to his friends, giving a small wave, "Later, alligators."

"Sleep tight, dork." Sam says in fake sweetness, batting his eyelashes.

"I'll think of you, Remes." Will coos.

"Gross!" Sam laughs, standing up to push will onto the shoulder, "You're a pervert!"

"Am not!" Will blows a raspberry, running away. Sam smirks, before chasing his friend off.

"Are too!" Sam giggles, running. They spend a moment just doing that, yelling tangled 'Am not' and 'Are Too's until their laughing slowly fades, the two boys bumping shoulders on a sugar high as the darkness surrounds them. Slowly, it becomes quiet.

"Do you ever wonder what would happen if you didn't come back from a quest?" The blonde boy whispers.

"Oh, jeez." Sam reaches behind his back and scratches his neck, "That's... pretty dark, Sunshine."

"Uh, yeah." Will looks down, "Sorry. I just... I didn't want to sound scared in front of Jamie and Mara but... I'm scared for you. What if you don't come back? Because you're going on a quest with newbies? It's just... Gods, it's really scary for me, Sam. And I'm not even going on the fucking quest." He laughs darkly, "How lame am I?"

"Hey, you're not lame. Don't think that. I'm... I'm scared too." Sam says, digging deep into his heart for any shroud of fear he can find. But he can't. This sort of still feels like a dream he'll wake up from. He's not sure what to feel. "Thanks for worrying about me. But I'll be fine. Always am, right? I'll live." He smiles, "I still have 8 toes."

Will's face softens a bit. "Yeah, you do."

The light of the infirmary caresses both of their faces, causing Sam to smile in memory of all nights they've spent here. He was truly lucky to have Will as a friend, questionable crushes and all. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Will nods, before slowly opening the door and disappearing.

The walk back to his cabin was odd. Even thought it was dark as can be, for some reason, Sam kept feeling like it was light outside. Maybe the neon-ness of the Infirmary portion of the Apollo cabin was rubbing him the wrong way. He finally reached his cabin, turning the knob carefully so he didn't wake anyone.

He climbed up to his bed cautiously, before tucking himself in, clothes and all.

That night, Sam dreamed. It wasn't like his normal dreams. This was a dream of war and fear and loss and desperation and depression. It wasn't a dream of sight, it was a dream of emotion. So much emotion, swirling in Sam's stomach up to his throat and drowning him slowly and choking him under their depths, dragging him down to only be met by—

At first, he's exhausted. Sam is so tired. He's fought so, so much. He wants to rest more then anything in the world. His back hurts like he's carried something on it his whole life. But mostly, his heart hurts. He feels like something is missing. He's not sure what, or who, is gone. But he knows something is. He stares at his hands, his face compacting. It unease's him, not having the missing piece of the puzzle.

Next, he's bittersweet. Everything is faded, like an old photograph. In the distance, there's a boy. Sam is sure he's seen him before. His smile is warm and inviting. Sam runs up to meet him, laughing and smiling, but when he gets there, the boy is gone. A crevice forms in his heart. The ground starts to tumble and Sam's breath quickens. A warm embrace surrounds him as he dies.

Then, he's desperate. He's clawing for a person he's not even sure exists any more, he's homesick for a home he never had. People are looking at him like he's crazy. He grips his own hand, hoping that maybe— maybe this will make him come back. But it won't. It never does. Sam is so horribly alone. He knows that he's crying, but he can't feel the tears drop down his cheek. Maybe this is more of an inside alone.

He's pretending, now. Everything he's ever had has been taken from him. He's tried his best to cover it up, the old streets and the blood, but it's about to crumble over him. He doesn't want to die, much less by the small enemy threatening to do so. All he can do is smile while it breaks him and sit upon his cracked throne, hoping the rug isn't yanked from under him. Everyone is counting on him. He can't give up simply because of this. Yet, secretly, he's terrified. Every piece of wall that falls from his castle makes him shake. All he can honk about is that sickening smile. His enemy knows he's won. He has won. And it scares him more then anything.

God, then he's scared. He's terrified. He's shaking because of a secret deep within him. He feels small and insignificant. A small dot in a tapestry, a tapestry he so desperately wants to claw out of. But he can't, no matter how much he screams, he slashes, he's doomed to stay there, forever. Shadows gripping his throat and filling his voice till he can't breath anymore. He's repulsed by himself, by the world. He feels like he's missing a piece of himself that he can never get back. He falls, his back catching wind. The dark, the unknown, is asking him to come home. It's holding out its arms, waiting for him. He greets it, a small vessel wrapped in a scarred body.

Sam is lost. Nothing is there. No sound, no sight, little feeling. He feels a girl with an odd smile and electric blue eyes. But she's so out of reach, so far. He turns around, to be met by a woman with blonde hair and half lidded eyes. She smiles at him, like she knows she's the only thing in the world right now. Then she disappears slowly, leaving him alone again.

Then he's hurting. So many different memories swirl around Sam, ones he can't touch, yet knows. He can't remember them, but yet, he knows all of them. It's so hot. Lightly, he can hear laughing and rattling. His chest is contracting and opening so quickly. He collapses to the floor, struggling to breath, desperately trying to grip onto any person he can. But no ones there. He can hear laughing now, faded. He wants to be apart of that, so badly. His chest is causing oceans inside him, and all he can do is listen.

Finally, he's in withdrawal. Withdrawal of a life he never had. Of a father he's never met, but is still his. Kind wrinkles etched into his face, the ones Sam used to trace with his fingers when he was a child. But he didn't. He's never felt this man's face, heard his heartbeat. And yet he has. He's spent evenings crying, laughing and screaming because of this man. A father, so far away. He's clutching his blanket close to his chest in his sleep, hoping he can come home. Praying he can come back home.

Sam wakes up, facing the wall of his bunk bed.  His heart is racing, his breath ragged. He tries to sit up, but he can't, he's too shaken.

"Sam? You awake?" Comes a surprisingly un-groggy voice from under his bunk bed. It's his bunk mate, Cindy. She's always been a night owl. Her perky voice fills his ears like a cold splash of water to the face.

Sam nods to himself, trying to stop shaking, "Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Just had a nightmare." His breathing is heavy. He's not even sure he can describe it as a nightmare. It was just so overwhelming, scarily so.

"Alright." Cindy says, before going silent again. 

The Aphrodite boy is left to stare into the dark of his cabin, heartbeat slowing. He's sure he's never had such a overwhelming dream before. Sure, he's known for his empathy dreams, he's even shared a few with his friends sometimes, but this was another level.

Only a few of those dreams felt familiar, yet they didn't. If he knew people feeling those things, he would.... he would have felt it early then now. I would have, right? Gods, that was so much.

Sam is still sweating, his heart rate is still nowhere near calm. He's trying to breathe, but every breath is like a war. He's hoping Cindy doesn't think he's a freak. He tries to count to ten in his head, but he can only get to 4 before he loses track. Everything is too much.

Veronica-Rhea and Lacy are both having nightmares. He can feel their fear, sense their discomfort. Vic is in the bathroom, repeatedly splashing her face with water, confused and disoriented. He can feel so much, and he doesn't want too.

He passes out from exhaustion. He sleeps the rest of the night dreamless, but there's something going on in the background— like a distant memory.

▬▬▬★▬▬▬

When Sam wakes up the next morning, the first thing he feels is the light shining directly in his face. Lacy forgot to close her blinds again.

At breakfast, it's quiet. Well, the unusual quiet. There's Drew chattering away with her sisters and brothers, but Veronica-Rhea talking about the cultural importance of MCR is gone. Sam didn't see her exit the room this morning, either. Where is she?

Cindy coughs conspicuously. "Did you have a panic attack or somethin' last night?" She quietly slides her words to Sam, like a under the counter drug exchange. Her voice is so smooth it takes Sam to register what she said.

"What?" Sam looks at her like she's crazy, scoffing and shaking his head, "No."

"You sure? I'm not judging or anything, I know people have anxiety, duh, but still." Cindy's voice softens a little, showing more empathy then the average 12 year old, "You were really scared."

"I wasn't." Sam states, raiding his shoulders on instinct, "You're wrong."

"Don't get defensive." Cindy scrunches her face up in confusion. Her black bangs swing to the side. "I was just sayin'."

Sam childishly crosses his arms and turns, feeling oddly built up, like he has walls around him. He glances at Cindy again, before and sighing and licking up his bag.

"Uh, where are you going?" Drew questions, looking Sam up and down like a piece of rotting meat, "You're not too important for breakfast because of your quest, Remes."

"I'm done."

"You didn't eat anything."

"I'm not in a hungry mood this morning." Sam says, getting up from the table and heading towards outside, "See you guys later."

"What's his deal?" Sam hears someone say, but he doesn't care enough to answer back.

"Guess who?" A happy voice says as they grip their hands over Sam's eyes, clearly on their tippy toes to reach them. Sam would recognize that voice anywhere.

"Short, tanned and average looking?" Sam questions innocently, gripping the hands over his eyes and pulling them off. 

"I'm not short." Comes Will Solace's disgruntled voice as he comes from behind the other, "You're a freak of nature, 6'7."

"I'll make myself 6'7 if you keep denying your shortness, Blondie." Sam scoffs, knowing full well that Will was by no means small. (The boy had even been asked if he was wearing heels underneath his sneakers once).

"Hey, hey, no need to be drastic here." Will laughs a little, before looking a little closer at Sam. He tilts his head to the side a little, looking concerned. "You okay? You look a little pale."

"I'm fine." Sam puts on a smile, "Just had a bad dream."

"Ugh, those are the worst, right?" Will sighs dramatically, placing his hand on his face, "I had this dream where I was in this fields of flowers, and they were all mad at me. Don't ask me how, I just know. Then all these trees popped out of Hades knows where and stared screaming, and my ears bled. Then there was a cow somewhere, I don't know where. The trees started to grab me, and then..."

Sam waits expectantly. "Then?"

Will blinks blankly, shrugging. "Then I woke up."

"Psh," Sam scoffs, pushing his friend lightly on the shoulder, "boring."

"Boring?!" Will gasps, placing a hand on his heart in mock pain, "Oh, you wound me, emo-meter. What was your dream about, then?"

"Eh...." Sam trails off, not sure where to start. The dream was so vivid that he still remembers it, but he's not sure he can explain it to Will. Not in a way that will stick, anyhow.

"TMI?" Silk asks.

Sam smiles, grateful for a way out. "TMI."

"Got it." The other boy nods, before sharply turning around, "Hey, there they are! Yo! Guys!" He yells at the figures of five other demigods.

Mara, Veronica-Rhea, Andy, Taea and none other then Rachel Dare are chatting it up on a bench near the forest.

"Rachel, hey." Sam waves to the red haired girl. She looks good, especially considering what happened last night.

"Hey, Sam. Pretty bold move of you and that Hephaestus girl last night." Rachel nods in acknowledgement, before turning back to Taea and continuing a conversation, "Anyway, Taea, like I was staying, how are you? I've barley seen you since I quit knitting class."

"I'm fine. And we miss you in knitting. Especially Debbie." Taea gushes, her face turning soft, "But what about you, are you okay? That prophecy looked pretty intense."

"Intense? That was nothing. I've given four quests in a day before."

"What? I thought one prophecy would make you weak for a while."

"This is just my theory, but I think the more important the prophecy, the more it takes off me. Like the prophecy of seven? I had to stay in bed for a while after that. Jason's quest is important, b—" Rachel stops suddenly.

"Rachel?" Veronica-Rhea says, looking at the green eyed girl.

Just like last night, Rachel's eyes glow a viper green, poisonous smoke oozing out of them like a smoke machine. Her voice becomes groggy, as she speaks—
"Youth's spawn shall bear the pain,
To lead three heroes into the land of flame,
Trust thy enemy and be wary of friends,
And aid fellow siblings before Hera's end."

And then she collapsed.

Will's face scrunched up in confusion. "Did she just—"

"—her eyes went green—"

"—sounds like she smokes—"

"—what the fuck, guys?"

"Are you okay?" Taea asks, helping her off the floor. The girl looks around. People are noticing, "What just happened?"

"I did that. 'That was nothing, I've given way more prophecies before'." Rachel coughs, before shaking her head, "I jinxed myself."

"D-Does anyone remember what she just said?"

"Kind of?"

"Something about spawn, land of flame, trust your enemy, help your siblings before Hera's end?"

"No, no, it's fine." Rachel waves them off, looking lightheaded in Taea's arms, "I know it."

Taea looks concerned. "Be careful—"

"I'm fine, alright?" Rachel says, her voice light and airy "We need to go to Chiron, now."

"We're going to stay here, okay?" Will says, grabbing the attention of the Aphrodite boy, "Make sure she's alright, Sam. Remember the medical tr—"

"I got it, Nag." Sam says, nodding, "She's going to fine."

▬▬▬★▬▬▬

Chiron's office, or the Big House, or whatever the hell its called, is hotter then Sam would have thought. The Stoll brothers had described it as a Victorian torture chamber, which, duh, Sam shouldn't (and didn't!) believe, but he still somewhat expected a grand, white office that's 40 degrees.

Chiron, in all his half horse glory, trotted carefully down from his table to Rachel. "Another prophecy?" He asked, like he was the one predicting things.

Sometimes Sam thinks Chiron has a language with a select few of the campers, like now, with Rachel. The two are exchanging looks that Sam can't really decipher. It drives him up a wall.

"Yes." Rachel nods, "And I think it has something to do with the child of hell one, from a few months ago?"

Chiron looks to the side, like he considers this, before clearing his throat. "Before we begin, Rachel, can you repeat the prophecy?"

It's the first time Sam's heard Rachel say a prophecy without going all Oracle-y, and be much prefers this version. She says it with a kind voice and clasped hands.
"Youth's spawn shall bear the pain,
To lead three heroes into the land of flame,
Trust thy enemy and be wary of friends,
And aid fellow siblings before Hera's end."

"Wait, youth's spawn?" Mara drawls, "Isn't that..."

Something clicks like a switch in Sam's kind, a lift in the dark. He, like everyone else in the room, slowly looks at the daughter of the goddess of youth.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Taea asks, worried. Her fingers trace her cheek, "Is there something on my face?"

"She was with me when it was delivered, sir." Rachel says, studying Taea, "It would make sense if it was her quest."

"My... quest?" Taea laughs, "No. No. I don't have a quest. I'm not getting my toes burned off." Taea says seriously, before turning to Sam and laughing nervously, "Uh, no offense."

"None taken."

"And three heroes. Sam and Jamie have their own quest, but Veronica, Mara and Andy..."

"No! Absolutely not! I'm with Taea! I don't want a quest." Mara says violently, before casting a sharp look at Sam, "Especially not at the same time Stupid McDumb here is going on a suicidal one just for the kicks of it!"

"Weren't you saying I should go on the quest?" Sam crosses his arms.

"Yeah, well, I changed my mind!" Mara growled, voice cracking.

"And Will was there too. Maybe Mara doesn't go on the quest. Or me. Hopefully me." Andy tells them, crossing his fingers.

"Have you even met Will?" Sam says, "Him and quests don't mesh. I doubt he could fight a raccoon."

"'aid fellow siblings before Hera's end'..." Andy repeats, before his face drops, "Oh no."

"Oh my gods." Veronica-Rhea says, in realization. Sam is pretty sure he's being left out of the loop.

"What?" He asks.

"Which demigods would be making sure Hera doesn't die?"

"Oh," Taea smiles, "those new demigods and Sam and J— Oh. Ohhhh."

"Nine demigods going to free Hera?" Veronica-Rhea itches in place, "That doesn't sound good."

"Technically, Ms. Pu'uwai's quest isn't to free Hera." Chiron says diplomatically. Sam forgot he was there. For a horse man, he's very conspicuous, "Its to lead three heroes into the land of flame and help her siblings free Hera."

"Help her sibl— it's the same thing!" Mara says exasperatedly.

Andy laughs nervously, before turning to Chiron "Do we get a day in wether we want to go on this quest or n—"

"No."

He falters. "Alright."

"What about the child of hell thing?" Sam asks, suddenly remembering it, "What was that about?"

"A few months ago, around February, I delivered a prophecy with no stated hero. Because we couldn't know who's quest it was, I just sort of... scraped it. And hoped in the future, it might unveil itself, or be related to another prophecy."

Everyone in the room remains silent.

"I believe they're waiting for you to repeat it." Chiron coughs.

Rachel's eyes light up. "Oh! Yeah. Sorry."

She clears her voice, before speaking,
"Heroes shall die no matter the fight,
A burning bright arrow, sisterhood to unite,
The child of hell will laugh as love's world burns,
Heartbroken, victory shall never return"

"One line in and that's already my new least favourite thing." Sam says, crossing his arms.

"I think I know what two of those lines mean!" Taea practically glows with excitement, bursting out her words, "Well, arrows? Sisterhood? That's obviously the hunters of Artemis!"

"Yeah, but why is the arrow burning?"

"Artemis's brother is the god of the sun..." Andy points out, looking to the side, unsure, "maybe it has something to do with that?"

"That's Helios." Mara mutters to herself.

"Maybe it's a literal arrow that's on fire." Sam shrugs.

"And for the last part," Taea continues like no one had spoken at all besides her, " Vinny tells me that whenever a battle is lost Nike's, she's the goddess of victory, heart breaks. And also if Nike leaves a battle field, that means there's no hope and it will drag on forever."

"Your boyfriends just a bucket of sunshine, isn't he?" Andy says sarcastically.

Taea smiles sappily, missing the point. "He really is."

"The child of hell... hm." Andy says, looking around, "I think we're all thinking the same thing."

"Is it 5'0 and Italian?"

"You know it."

"But the underworld isn't hell. Why wouldn't the prophecy just say 'the underworlds child'? Why go biblical?" Veronica-Rhea says, concentrated.

"Guys. Listen. It's may not be clear, but I think these are linked. The land of flame? I'm pretty sure that's Tartarus. And the child of hell? Well, uh, let's not point fingers, but we're all pretty sure that's di Angelo." Mara says, crossing her arms. "It's a known fact only Hades kids can survive in Tartarus."

Sam looks over to Veronica-Rhea, who's oddly  quiet, rubbing her chin in deep thought.

"Yeah, but 'laugh as love's world burns'?" Andy says, "That doesn't exactly paint him out to be a good person."

"He has tried to kill Percy Jackson." Rachel adds, crossing her arms.

"Percy Jackson's tried to kill Percy Jackson!" Sam bursts out, confused.

"Okay, so maybe I'm biased, but the 'be wary of friends' part of it? That doesn't paint someone to be a good person, either." Andy And if we're betting on betrayal, my moneys on that kid."

"Let's not point fingers here, yeah?" Taea dyas nervously, "We haven't all met Nico, but I'm sure he's a very nice young m—"

"I mean, before Jason came here we all didn't think their could be a child of Zeus, besides Thalia. So maybe this 'child of hell' thing doesn't apply to Nico at all? Maybe there's another Hades kid."

"Maybe there's a monster who's parent is Hades." Taea chirps in, clearly trying to steer clear of blaming another demigod.

"So..." Andy looks like he's in thought, "Nico?"

"You're lucky Will isn't here." Sam growls.

"But I'm lucky that you are?" Andy cocks an eyebrow, before Sam raised a elbow slowly. "Hey! Message revived, Remes!"

"Why are all of you so adamant about this kid being the villain?" Sam says, feeling oddly protective of Nico. Sure, he doesn't really like the kid, but he's Will's crush all the same, and if Will likes him, Sam guesses he has to too, "He can barley lift a milk carton. What'd he do to you?"

"He can control skeletons." Andy says.

"Death is scary." Mara adds.

"Hades is his dad." Rachel says simply.

"Seriously?" Sam says, looking at his friend, "That's why?"

Mara, Rachel and Andy shrug.

"Since the second prophecy doesn't have any specific heroes, maybe that means Nico is the hero of that one." Veronica-Rhea interrupts the four, Taea by her side.

"Usually, the hero is in the first line." Rachel snaps out of her Hades-hating spell, "Like yours," she looks at Taea, "and Jason's. But that one, it doesn't have any 'hero'. The first line is literally 'heroes will die'."

"I don't think it's a heroes quest." Mara says, "It just seems like a prophecy."

"Especially since Taea's is like 'aid your siblings' and 'be wary of friends', like a instruction guide," Veronica-Rhea's shoulders relax, "but that one is just like 'people will die' 'the child of hell will laugh'."

"That could be it..."

"No. That's definitely it." Sam agrees, "Don't think there's any dead heroes who are going to fulfill that quest."

"I'm going to go." Taea sighs, shaking her head, "This is a little too much."

"I'll go with you." Andy smiles, patting her on the back.

"I'm going to go to my cabin, alright?" Sam says to her, smiling, "I'm here if you need me."

"Thanks, Sam. I'll be fine, though." The daughter of Hebe shrugs, before exiting the house with Andy.

For some reason, Sam doubted that.

authors note
hola bitches 😌✨ i hated writing this chapter bc too!!! many!!! characters!!!! but im excited for the quest bc jason/piper/jamie/leo/sam dynamic is FUN and i can also sneak in some sweet sweet sam/leo moments

if u understood the dream scene and what/who each paragraph is about, tell me what u think it's about! i think i was pretty obvious, but who knows :)

anyway im excited for taea's quest i love my bby girl 💞 i wrote this whole thing on notes so idk how long it's going to be compared to the other chapters but we'll see!

as always, sorry for any spelling mistakes but im stupid and can't spell so it's inevitable xx