After Time

Fourteen

Andromeda

Losing Beckendorf was bad enough. Learning about the incredibly dire situation in Atlantis was bad enough. Having to tell the other campers about those things was bad enough. Learning that I had spent four years stressing over the prophecy that was literally in arms reach was frustrating.

I quietly sat down in the chair next to Percy in the War Room. Michael Yew, Son of Apollo, was scowling over at Clarisse, shouting angrily. I wasn't sure if she cared. She probably did, but she was too busy trying(futilely) to cheer up Silena Beauregard, Beckendorf's girlfriend. The girl in question looked completely broken, staring down at her untouched cup of hot chocolate.

Eventually, Micheal had apparently crossed the line and Clarisse whirled around and shouted back. I didn't get any more peaceful from there.

"HEY!" I interrupted the argument. Everyone in the room stopped and looked at me. "What're you shouting for?"

Michael continued scowling. "Last week the Apollo and Ares cabins went to raid a camp of monsters. While there, we found a chariot that was able to fly. The Ares Cabin found the chariot, but we led the charge," he explained. "That makes it ours. Those are the rules we've always used. They told us they wanted it, and we said no."

Percy glared at the son of Apollo. 'That isn't what happened and you know it,' he signed.

Michael seemed to get the gist, but Annabeth still took the liberty of translating. He rolled his eyes, cocking his head in Clarisse's direction. "You trust her word, Jackson?"

'Certainly more than I trust yours.'

I looked at my brother in surprise, "You're taking Clarisse's side?"

He nodded, barely looking at me.

"Alright, enough! Some things are more important than 'loot,'" Chiron said.

Clarisse rolled her eyes. "Yeah, always more important than what Ares needs," She grumbled. "We're just supposed to show up and fight and not ask questions and then go home when the fights are over!"

"That would be nice," Connor muttered.

Percy stood up angrily, his chair crashing to the ground behind him. 'Watch it, Stoll.'

"You know what? Fine," Clarisse looked around. "If none of you can give my cabin even the simplest amount of respect, then you don't deserve the help that you consistently take for granted. You can fight in this war without Ares! Until you give us the respect we deserve, then no one in my cabin is lifting a finger to help. Have fun dying."

The counsellors were all too stunned to say anything as she marched out of the room.

"Andy, what does the prophecy say?" Chiron quickly changed the subject.

I blanched, I had forgotten I was holding the paper. I carefully unravelled the page and inspected the words. I could barely read it with my dyslexia. I silently cursed whoever wrote the damn thing out in cursive,

"A half-blood of the eldest gods,

Shall reach sixteen against all odds,

And see the world in endless sleep,

The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap,"

Percy finched and stumbled back into his chair, which was still lying on the ground. Pollux lept up to prevent him from falling over. Riptide seemed to get heavier in my pocket. When he gave it to me, Chiron said the blade had a bloody history. Was it possible my sword could get me killed?

"A single choice shall end their days,

Olympus to per-pursue-"

"Andy?" Katie Gardener said gently from my side, "I think that's preserve." I nodded slightly.