Hi, I know that I haven't updated for a veeery long time. My excuse is that my last document that had a lot of dialogue and all my information deleted just as I was saving it. But I will continue the story.

Also, I wanted to start a new fanfic but I don't know what you, the reader, likes to read. So on my profile page, there will be options. Just PM or review me the one you like or want me to write about.

Also, I read all the reviews. Most of you wanted me to either update, make the dialogue longer, or both. So here's the answer to the reviews: Here's an update and I will try to make it longer. It should get longer once the action really starts though.

Without further ado... The story.

3rd POV

(Reminder: All story content will be bolded. Also, Percy and Annabeth in here is from the past and does not know what will happen to them yet.)

She slipped it out of her pocket. "Kind of against the rules, but if it can be our secret ..."

Athena, goddess of wisdom, stood and walked to Annabeth, "Annabeth Chase, why the heck do you have a cell phone." The terrified child stammered something under her breath.

Percy Jackson stood up, "For your information, we needed to use her phone to call each other."

"You probably made all the monsters appear!"

"They were already chasing us!"

"That is true but did you know that cell phones with demigods make the monsters travel 3 times as quick to the caller?"

Percy stopped talking and sat back down. He felt like the deaths were his fault again. He thought, 'Since we used the cell phones, there were more monsters. Then... Not everyone would've died if the monsters didn't come as fast. It's all my fault.'

Poseidon walked to Athena, "Owl brain, they needed the cell phones to communicate. Besides, I was there fighting but you-"

Athena snarled and turned to Poseidon, "Excuse me Salt Water but not as many of my children would've died. Just because your child didn't die doesn't mean that the others didn't."

Demeter stood up, "I agree with Athena."

Hades nodded, "Me too."

Dionysus looked up from his magazine, "I agree with Athena since my son shouldn't have died from that fatal wound in the Battle." One by one, all the gods besides Zeus and Poseidon agreed with Athena. Poseidon was about to attack all of them but knew that he would be overpowered.

Hades continued to read the chapter after a few death stares at Poseidon.

Piper took it gratefully, trying not to let her hands shake. She stepped away from Annabeth and turned to face the commons area.

She called her dad's private line, even though she knew what would happen. Voice mail. She'd been trying for three days, ever since the dream.

Hades raised an eyebrow and interrupted his own reading, "Before any of you accuse me, I don't think that I sent the Dream. I rarely care about dreams at all." Poseidon closed his mouth. The god of seas was going to accuse Hades but it happened in the future so he knew that he wouldn't be angry... yet.

Wilderness School only allowed phone privileges once a day, but she'd called every evening, and gotten nowhere.
Reluctantly she dialed the other number. Her dad's personal assistant answered immediately. "Mr. McLean's office."

Travis gasped, "McLean. Is Piper related to that superstar, Tristen McLean?" They all looked at Leo who was the only one who was enjoying the suspense.

Leo shrugged, "Not telling!" He was trying really hard to grin. Ever since the Talk with his dad a few minutes ago, it really began to become hard.

"Jane," Piper said, gritting her teeth. "Where's my dad?"

Jane was silent for a moment, probably wondering if she could get away with hanging up. "Piper, I thought you weren't supposed to call from school."

Leo snorted, "School?! As if. That Wilderness School was hardly a school. It was more like a pri-" Hephaestus glared at Leo and Leo trailed off from his sentence. Hestia, goddess of the hearth, looked at Hephaestus with surprise. Hades continued reading as if nothing much happened.

"Maybe I'm not at school," Piper said. "Maybe I ran away to live among the woodland creatures."

Leo began laughing but was once again silenced by his father by a glare. Hestia gave Leo a look of sympathy.

"Mmm." Jane didn't sound concerned. "Well, I'll tell him you called."

Drew continued to brush her hair and check out her reflection. So did the rest of the children of Aphrodite. Meanwhile, their mother was interested in the book, which was kind of shocking. Annabeth, Athena, and the rest of the children of Athena narrowed their eyes. They seemed to figure out who Piper's mother was. Athena glanced at Aphrodite and nodded to her children. The other demigods and gods didn't know yet though.

"Where is he?"

"Out."

"You don't know, do you?" Piper lowered her voice, hoping Annabeth was too nice to eavesdrop.

Percy and Leo burst out laughing.

Annabeth turned to them and glared, "What's the problem?" Leo stiffened his laughter but a glare from Hephaestus made him stop laughing. Now Hestia was mad.

She stood up and stormed to Hephaestus, "What did you tell Leo?" The others watched in amusement and in concern. Hestia rarely drew attention to herself and when she did, she was unstoppable. Hephaestus finally began to say the truth.

Flashback

Leo and his dad walked to Hephaestus' room. With a wave of his hand, the door locked and the traps were set.

Hephaestus turned to Leo with an angry look on his face, "Look, I know that your mother was killed by you and I should hate you a little for that. But instead, I despise you so much that you are nothing but a monster to me." He whipped the crying Leo. Then he made Leo's wounds invisible but he left Leo emotional and the remaining physical pain left.

Hephaestus said, "Never laugh again son. Never." He dragged Leo back and made Leo fix his smile.

Hestia and the others growled but Hades quickly kept reading to avoid the war.

"When are you going to call the police, Jane? He could be in trouble."

"Piper, we are not going to turn this into a media circus. I'm sure he's fine. He does take off occasionally. He always comes back."

Aphrodite looked very angry at Jane and muttered under her breath, "I'm going to ruin her makeup and dresses." Annabeth stiffened her laughter since Aphrodite actually looked deadly.

"So it's true. You don't know—"

Annabeth nodded, "Good thinking Piper."

"I have to go, Piper," Jane snapped. "Enjoy school."

The line went dead. Piper cursed. She walked back to Annabeth and handed her the phone.

Athena and Poseidon immediately glared at each other again. Hestia sighed.

"No luck?" Annabeth asked.

Percy rolled his eyes, "Annabeth, that's a stupid question."

Annabeth jumped up and took out her knife and held it under Percy's chin, "What did you say?"

Percy stammered, "Annabeth, that's a stupid question."

The knife dug deeper, "Try again, what did you say?"

"That's a s-s-stupid question."

Connor interrupted, "Annabeth, you're killing him." Annabeth didn't seem to hear him since she was too focused on Oercy.

Percy asked, "What am I saying wrong?" Everyone besides Percy and Annabeth face palmed. Poseidon lent over and whispered something.

Percy said, "Oh."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow, "Well, Percy? What did you want to say for yourself?"

Percy whispered, " Annabeth, that's not a stupid question?" Annabeth finally lowered the dagger and Hades kept reading.

Piper didn't answer. She didn't trust herself not to start crying again.

Annabeth glanced at the phone display and hesitated. "Your last name is McLean? Sorry, it's not my business. But that sounds really familiar."

"Common name."

Leo snorted but quickly stopped when someone gave him a look.

Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Looks like future me is really stupid. Sure, McLean is common but I would have figured it out already." Percy opened his mouth to say something stupid but Hades gave the son of the sea a stern look and he close down his mouth.

"Yeah, I guess. What does your dad do?"

"He's got a degree in the arts," Piper said automatically. "He's a Cherokee artist."

Leo rolled his eyes in response and the children of Hermes laughed their heads off. Aphrodite giggled when she heard this and she squealed.

Her standard response. Not a lie, just not the whole truth.

Athena nodded with approval, "Piper seems smart so far but I don't trust her mother." She glanced at everyone but glared at Aphrodite when no one was looking. The goddess of love gulped.

Most people, when they heard that, figured her dad sold Indian souvenirs at a roadside stand on a reservation. Sitting Bull bobble-heads, wampum necklaces, Big Chief tablets—that kind of thing.

Leo fell off the chair, laughing his head off. Soon, everyone besides his father and Athena fell over, laughing. Hephaestus sighed before chuckling for a few seconds, no time wanting to feel left out. Athena refused to budge since she was stubborn.

"Oh." Annabeth didn't look convinced, but she put the phone away. "You feeling okay? Want to keep going?"

Piper fastened her new dagger to her belt and promised herself that later, when she was alone, she'd figure out how it worked.

Dionysus looked up from his magazine, "What? How a dagger works? That's very simple." He yawned, before looking back into his magazines.

Percy said in pure shock, "You were listening?" This time, everyone ignored him but Annabeth jabbed him in the arm before rubbing it. Stupid Achilles Heel.

"Sure," she said. "I want to see everything."

All the cabins were cool, but none of them struck Piper as hers. No burning signs

Hephaestus explained, "That's for me only technically."

Zeus crossed his arms, "Mine is lightning but I can still burn stuff."

Athena sighed, "You two. Stop it now. We shouldn't want a new argument-"

Dionysus looked up from his magazine, "Me too!"

The goddess of wisdom sighed and Annabeth muttered, "Too late I suppose." Cabin 6 nodded in agreement.

—wombats

This time, everyone laughed, including Athena.

or otherwise—appeared over her head. Cabin Eight was entirely silver and glowed like moonlight.

Artemis nodded, "Mine although I still hate the hate that my cabin was originally built by men. Then I changed it and it was build by my Hunters. Zoe led the building as I recall." The Hunters looked down, most of them knew Zoe and was sad about the reminder about the fact that she was gone.

"Artemis?" Piper guessed.

"You know Greek mythology," Annabeth said.

Percy rolled his eyes, "Duh, of cou-"

Athena interrupted, "'Duh' is not a word Perseus Jackson." Her voice had some warning in it and the yo all knew that it was dangerously to have a goddess of wisdom as one of your enemies.

Percy, being stupid, didn't listen, "Sorry Lady Athena but duh is a word in my dictionary." Hades hurried to continue reading the book.

"I did some reading when my dad was working on a project last year."

Travis and Conner blurted out loudly, "Lies!" The whole Hermes cabin laughed.

"I thought he did Cherokee art."

Annemarie, another daughter of Hermes, shouted out, "Busted!" Hermes and his children laughed again.

Piper bit back a curse. "Oh, right. But—you know, he does other stuff too."

Athena shrugged, "That's possible, if you want to be honest. I've seen people being a librarian and a butcher before. Of course, there are other combinations."

Piper thought she'd blown it: McLean, Greek mythology. Thankfully, Annabeth didn't seem to make the connection.

Hermes shouted, "Burn!" To add to the effect, Hermes made his chair light up with flames, although it didn't burn the chair.

"Anyway," Annabeth continued, "Artemis is goddess of the moon, goddess of hunting. But no campers. Artemis was an eternal maiden, so she doesn't have any kids."

Artemis rolled her eyes, "And for a good reason too. Guys are just so..." She said some words that are not allowed to ever be seen in this raging of this story.

"Oh." That kind of bummed Piper out. She'd always liked the stories of Artemis, and figured she would make a cool mom.

Artemis growled, "How dare she think that I'm her mother! I am sworn as a maiden!"

Athena shrugged, "Gods and goddesses almost never keeps their promises as proven by Lord Zeus."

"Well, there are the Hunters of Artemis," Annabeth amended. "They visit sometimes. They're not the children of Artemis, but they're her handmaidens —this band of immortal teenage girls who adventure together and hunt monsters and stuff."

The Hunters of Artemis and the said goddess both smiled and nodded in agreement.

Piper perked up. "That sounds cool. They get to be immortal?"

Thalia shrugged, "That is only one cool perk."

"Unless they die in combat, or break their vows. Did I mention they have to swear off boys? No dating—ever. For eternity."

Thalia nodded, "Yeah, that's another great perk. Boy are really annoying."

Percy said in annoyance, "Why is everyone teaming against me now?"

Annabeth shrugged, "Because you're stupid."

"Oh," Piper said. "Never mind."

The Hunters sighed.

Annabeth laughed. For a moment she looked almost happy, and Piper thought she'd be a cool friend to hang out with in better times.

Leo shuddered, "No, she isn't." Hades continued reading quickly before another argument could start.

Forget it, Piper reminded herself. You're not going to make any friends here. Not once they find out.

Now Annabeth was really curious, "About what? If Piper was here, I would tell her to tell us since we need to know. Besides, how could anyone prevent something's if we don't know what the problem is?" Everyone besides Percy nodded in agreement.

Percy shrugged, "We could always wing it."

Annabeth turned to Percy, "Percy, winging it doesn't no always work."

Percy smirked, "Works for me." Annabeth smacked him on the head, although Percy didn't feel anything.

They passed the next cabin, Number Ten, which was decorated like a Barbie house with lace curtains, a pink door, and potted carnations in the windows.

Drew sighed in pleasure, "It's really lovely. Don't you think so sisters and brothers?"

Lacy nodded, "It is very pretty Drew."

Drew rolled her eyes, "Its not pretty, it's astonishing."

They walked by the doorway, and the smell of perfume almost made Piper gag. "Gah, is that where supermodels go to die?"

Everyone carefully didn't say anything, not wanting to suffer the charmspeak of Aphrodite. Leo quickly looked at Aphrodite who was fuming.

Annabeth smirked. "Aphrodite's cabin. Goddess of love. Drew is the head counselor."

Drew smirked, "Wonderful, I will make sure that the cabin is even better than it was." Leo careful didn't say anything to Drew.

"Figures," Piper grumbled.

"They're not all bad," Annabeth said. "The last head counselor we had was great."

Everyone besides Leo smiled with the thought of Silena. Leo shrugged when poeple looked at him, wondering why he wasn't smiling with them. Athena and her children obviously knew why though.

"What happened to her?"

Leo rolled his eyes, "If Pipes was here, I would tell her that she obviously died and-"

Percy began sniffing, "Stop." Leo looked around and saw a few others sodding along with him. Obviously, that wasn't the right thing to say. Did Leo care? Nope.

Annabeth's expression darkened. "We should keep moving."

They looked at the other cabins, but Piper just got more depressed. She wondered if she could be the daughter of Demeter, the farming goddess.

Demeter and Katie wondered if Piper belonged to her cabin.

Demeter asked Leo, "Is Piper one of my daughters?"

Leo shrugged, "Read to find out."

Then again, Piper killed every plant she ever touched.

Demeter gulped, "Never mind. Piper seems like she needs more cereal."

Athena was cool.

Athena shook her head, "Not mine. I always keep track of my children, even if they don't notice."

Or maybe Hecate, the magic goddess. But it didn't really matter. Even here, where everyone was supposed to find a lost parent, she knew she would still end up the unwanted kid.

Percy laughed, "At least you didn't need to get dunked into the toilet Piper!"

Annabeth's response was better, "Everyone's here does feel u wanted at first but it gets better."

She was not looking forward to the campfire tonight.

Apollo said, "Campfires are very fun

We sing, dance, laugh, and enjoy

I am so awesome."

Artemis rolled her eyes, "Is it just me or are Apollo's haikus getting worse?"

Elizabeth, a hunter, said, "Not just you Lady Artemis, I think they are getting worse too."

"We started with the twelve Olympian gods," Annabeth explained. "Male gods on the left, female on the right. Then last year, we added a whole bunch of new cabins for the other gods who didn't have thrones on Olympus—Hecate, Hades, Iris—"

Hades looked at the book again and again and again and again and-

Percy asked, "Is there something wrong Uncle Hades?"

Hades asked, "You actually were serious about adding my cabin?"

The son of the sea nodded, "Unlike some people, I do respect and keep my promises." He glared at Zeus who pretended that he couldn't hear that.

"What are the two big ones on the end?" Piper asked.

Annabeth growled, knowing exactly who it was.

Annabeth frowned. "Zeus and Hera. King and queen of the gods."

Zeus and Hera smiled a little when they heard that. The demigods rolled their eyes, not really fond of them.

Piper headed that way, and Annabeth followed, though she didn't act very excited.

Annabeth rolled her eyes, "I wouldn't even be pretending. I hate Hera."

Hera frowned, "Mind your manners girl."

Hera continued, "I can kill you whenever I want and I am the queen of the gods."

Annabeth rolled her gray eyesight, "Whatever, Lady Hera, but Percy's and I both saved you from fading, I don't think killing would be a good comeback." Hera didn't say anything else's.

The Zeus cabin reminded Piper of a bank.

Zeus crossed his arms, "Hey!" Poseidon and Hades laughed.

It was white marble with big columns out front and polished bronze doors emblazoned with lightning bolts.

Zeus whined, "That does not even look like a bank!"

Leo shrugged, "It kind of does to be honest Lord Zeus."

Zeus grumbled, "Whatever."

Hera's cabin was smaller but done in the same style, except the doors were carved with peacock feather designs, shimmering in different colors.

Hera nodded and no one dared to comment on that. Actually, Percy was going to say something but Annabeth glared at him.

Unlike the other cabins, which were all noisy and open and full of activity, the Zeus and Hera cabins looked closed and silent.

"Are they empty?" Piper asked.

Leo said sarcastically, "Nooooo..." Hephaestus glared and Leo wiped the smirk off his face, leaving himself with a small grin.

Hestia turned to Hephaestus, "Hephaestus, I don't get why you don't honk that Leo should smile or make any jokes. The past is in the past and his mother died years ago. Please... I know that his mother would want you to-"

Hephaestus roared, "Don't you dare tell me what to do you minor goddess!"

Hestia's voice had some warning in it, "What did you just say?"

Hephaestus said, "Don't you DARE TELL ME WHAT TO YOU MINOR GODDESS!" He obviously had the same issues as Percy. Hades continue de reading before a godly battle would happen.

Annabeth nodded. "Zeus went a long time without having any children. Well, mostly. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, the eldest brothers among the gods—they're called the Big Three. Their kids are really powerful, really dangerous. For the last seventy years or so, they tried to avoid having demigod children."

Percy rolled his eyes, "As if that worked out."

Annabeth sighed, "Percy!"

"What?"

"Stop being stupid."

"Wh-What did I say?" Annabeth sighed with the rest of the demigods and the gods.

"Tried to avoid it?"

"Sometimes they ... um, cheated. I've got a friend, Thalia Grace, who's the daughter of Zeus. But she gave up camp life and became a Hunter of Artemis. My boyfriend,

Athena glared at Annabeth, "You do not receive my blessing to become his girlfriend and vice versa. I don't want you to marrying a rash boyfriend in your life. You should be successful in your life."

Annabeth nodded, "Yes mother."

Percy, he's a son of Poseidon. And there's a kid who shows up sometimes, Nico—son of Hades.

Percy looked around, "Where's Nico?"

Zeus looked uncomfortable, "Well... uh... I kind of banished all sons and daughters of Hades from Olympus?"

Percy shouted, "What?!" Zeus motioned Hades to deep reading but Hades was angrily.

Hades frowned, "Listen brother... My son will be allowed in Olympus! Everyone who has a goodly parent or is a god or goddess may enter. If I am correct." Zeus shrank down from his seat.

Except for them, there are no demigod children of the Big Three gods. At least, not that we know of."

"And Hera?" Piper looked at the peacock-decorated doors. The cabin bothered her, though she wasn't sure why.

"Goddess of marriage." Annabeth's tone was carefully controlled, like she was trying to avoid cursing.

Annabeth nodded, "I am probably cursing in the future."

Leo nodded, "Yeah. I know. Hera tried to kill me-"

Hera shouted, "Silence child!" As angry as Hestia was, she decided to not interfere.

"She doesn't have kids with anyone but Zeus. So, yeah, no demigods. The cabin's just honorary."

"You don't like her,"Piper noticed.

Annabeth cursed, "Hera, I can tell that you are going to do something worse. The book kept mentioning you so you probably had something to do with it." Hera shrugged and didn't say anything.

"We have a long history,"

Annabeth rolled her eyesight, "Long doesn't even begin to describe it."

Percy smirked, "Duh."

Athena sighed, "Perseus Jackson! For the last time, 'duh', is not a word!"

Percy shrugged, "Whatever."

Ares started chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Athena glared at Ares before saying, "Percy, you have proven yourself loyal to the gods and goddesses so I will not kill you today."

Annabeth admitted. "I thought we'd made peace, but when Percy disappeared ... I got this weird dream vision from her."

Athena shrugged, "That can be important Annabeth."

Annabeth nodded, "I know. No dreams should be ignored. Ever."

Hera smiled, "Thanks for listening to your advice."

Annabeth rolled her eyes (how does her eyes not get tired?), "I was probably doing it for my future boyfriend, Percy. I would never listen to you Hera. If he becomes my boyfriend of course." Hera kept silent.

Travis couldn't help but shout, "Burn!" The whole camp began laughing. The gods and goddesses joined.

Demeter turned to Hera, "You need more cereal." Everyone laughed harder but Hera was fuming.

"Telling you to come get us," Piper said. "But you thought Percy would be there."

"It's probably better I don't talk about it," Annabeth said. "I've got nothing good to say about Hera right now."

Annabeth nodded, "Nor now."

Piper looked down the base of the doors. "So who goes in here?"

Percy shrugged, "I could but most people don't like Hera-"

Hera exclaimed, "Perseus!"

"So they don't exactly care about her cabin." Peacocks began forming and began to charge at Percy. Percy didn't move as the peacocks pecked his legs. He simply picked up the peacocks and gave them to Hera. Hera glared and made the peacocks disappear into thin air.

"No one. The cabin is just honorary, like I said. No one goes in."

"Someone does." Piper pointed at a footprint on the dusty threshold. On instinct, she pushed the doors and they swung open easily.

Tiana, another daughter of Athena, said, "That's not a good idea. I don't think that they should go in."

Annabeth stepped back. "Um, Piper, I don't think we should—"

Travis laughed, "Once a daughter of Athena, always a daughter of Athena." Tiana walked to him and slapped him before returning to her seat.

Connor asked, "Why didn't you say anything? Are you deaf or something?"

Tiana raised an eyebrow, "I prefer to not waste my energy to speak to two stupid and ignorant boys." She glared at every boy in there that's stupid, which was almost everyone.

Artemis saw her opening, "Tiana, would you like to join the Hunt?"

Tiana nodded, "Anything to get away from those boys."

The demigod took a deep breath and said, "I, Tiana Goldsberg, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept enternal maidenship, and join the hunt."

Artemis turned to the silver flame dedicated to her, "I accept." The flames burst and a bright light flashed. After a few minutes, the lights faded. Tiana looked liked a Hunter now and turned to Artemis.

Artemis looked at Athena before announcing, "Lady Athena often talks to her children in dreams, one at a time. Each time one of her children joins the hunt, she speaks to them personally in a vision since Lord Zeus usually doesn't allow face to face contract. Since we aren't in Olympus, Athena can say what she wants to say to the new Hunter and her child." Everyone looked at Athena, admiring her. The gods and goddesses were wondering if they should do the same. Artemis had made it sound like Athena cared for her children, unlike some who just leave them alone.

Athena shrank to human size and walked to Tiana, "Very well Lady Artemis. Tiana, are you certain that you want to be in this hunt?"

Tiana nodded, "Yes mom. I think that this is the right choice for me."

Athena nodded, "Remember, you have one day to turn back with consequences. After that, it would be too late to turn back. If you think that this is where you belong, I think that you should join. Chose wisely."

Tiana nodded, "I'm certain this is where I belong. Thanks mom."

Athena nodded, "Very well. I will watch over you and the hunt, like I always do. I will talk to you sometime again, assuming that you would still be alive. Be careful Tiana." Athena returned back to her seat and Tiana sat with the other Hunters who were welcoming her. Hestia smiled, glad that she wasn't the only one that looked after everything. It could be overwhelming at times.

"We're supposed to do dangerous stuff, right?"

Percy nodded, "Yeah, my life has been nothing but dangerous."

Annabeth sighed, "That's because you are too reckless to go with a plan Percy."

Percy shrugged, "My plan isn't to just wing it."

And Piper walked inside.

Hera's cabin was not someplace Piper would want to live.

Hera shrugged, "Well, I don't plan on cheating my husband at any time. Unlike some husbands who cheat on their wives." Everyone glanced at Zeus.

It was as cold as a freezer, with a circle of white columns around a central statue of the goddess, ten feet tall, seated on a throne in flowing golden robes. Piper had always thought of Greek statues as white with blank eyes, but this one was brightly painted so it looked almost human—except huge. Hera's piercing eyes seemed to follow Piper.

At the goddess's feet, a fire burned in a bronze brazier. Piper wondered who tended it if the cabin was always empty. A stone hawk sat on Hera's shoulder, and in her hand was a staff topped with a lotus flower. The goddess's hair was done in black plaits. Her face smiled, but the eyes were cold and calculating

Annabeth nodded, "Sounds like Hera for sure. She's always cold."

Hera frowned, "Annabeth Chase, it is Lady Hera."

as if she were saying: Mother knows best. Now don't cross me or I will have to step on you.

Hera's eyes widened in surprise "I would never step on my children."

Hephaestus rolled his eyes, "But you would throw them off the cliff."

There was nothing else in the cabin—no beds, no furniture, no bathroom, no windows, nothing that anyone could actually use to live. For a goddess of home and marriage, Hera's place reminded Piper of a tomb.

No, this wasn't her mom. At least Piper was sure of that. She hadn't come in here because she felt a good connection, but because her sense of dread was stronger here. Her dream—that horrible ultimatum she'd been handed—had something to do with this cabin.

She froze. They weren't alone. Behind the statue, at a little altar in the back, stood a figure covered in a black shawl. Only her hands were visible, palms up. She seemed to be chanting something like a spell or a prayer.

Apollo stammered, "Bu-But m-my Ora-Oracle is d-de-dead!"

Leo raised an eyebrow, "Don't worry you will have a new Oracle because Percy helped you with something to break Hades' curse from the last Oracle. But that Oracle didn't come back to life. She is dead. But there should a new one named Rachel. I think you will, grow fond of her. Before you ask, she is completely mortal."

Percy gasped, "Rachel become the Oracle?"

Leo nodded, "Yeah."

Annabeth gasped. "Rachel?"

The other girl turned. She dropped her shawl, revealing a mane of curly red hair and a freckled face that didn't go with the seriousness of the cabin or the black shawl at all.

Percy nodded, "Thats definitely Rachel. I would know her anywhere."

She looked about seventeen, a totally normal teen in a green blouse and tattered jeans covered with marker doodles. Despite the cold floor, she was barefoot.

"Hey!" She ran to give Annabeth a hug. "I'm so sorry! I came as fast as I could."

They talked for a few minutes about Annabeth's boyfriend and how there was no news, et cetera, until finally Annabeth remembered Piper, who was standing there feeling uncomfortable.

Athena raised an eyebrow, "Annabeth, next time, introduce her to the new camper. You're being quite rude there."

"I'm being rude," Annabeth apologized. "Rachel, this is Piper, one of the half-bloods we rescued today. Piper, this is Rachel Elizabeth Dare, our oracle."

Percy smirked, "Looks like she did do that in the future. And she introduced them better than what she said to me the first time. She had told me when we first met that I drool in my sleep."

Annabeth nodded, "Yes Percy, you do drool in your sleep and you shouldn't. You are sixteen and wouldn't it be a little... Strange? If you kept drooling in your sleep?"

Grover laughed, "Sorry Percy but its true."

Percy jumped, "Grover! You're back!" They hugged.

"The friend who lives in the cave," Piper guessed.

Leo laughed, "Her first words are, 'The friend who lives in the caves', not 'how are you' or 'nice rob meet you. Typical Piper."

Rachel grinned. "That's me."

"So you're an oracle?" Piper asked. "You can tell the future?"

Thalia nodded, "Oracles can always tell the future. For demigods, it's just random things that had either happened, is happening, or will happen. It serves to protect the demigod. Meanwhile, prophecies sent them on crazy adventures where you need to be alert every single second."

"More like the future mugs me from time to time," Rachel said. "I speak prophecies. The oracle's spirit kind of hijacks me every once in a while and speaks important stuff that doesn't make any sense to anybody. But yeah, the prophecies tell the future."

Percy quoted, "'That doesn't make sense to anybody'. All of my prophecies were like that. It's actually really sad about the fact that it's now normal for most demigods. Our lives opere the definition of crazy."

"Oh." Piper shifted from foot to foot. "That's cool."

Leo shrugged, "I can tell by her reaction that she thinks it's very strange and creepy."

Rachel laughed. "Don't worry. Everybody finds it a little creepy. Even me. But usually I'm harmless."

Travis laughed, "She said always."

Percy thought for a moment before saying, "She did hit Kronos with a plastic blue hair brush before." Connor's mouth opened I now shock.

"You're a demigod?"

"Nope," Rachel said. "Just mortal."

"Then what are you ..." Piper waved her hand around the room.

Athena nodded with approval, "Good question. It's about time when we find out why they are in Hera's cabin." Hera glared a tree Athena.

The goddess of wisdom rolled her eyes, "Sorry. Lady Hera."

Rachel's smile faded. She glanced at Annabeth, then back at Piper. "Just a hunch. Something about this cabin and Percy's disappearance. They're connected somehow.

Annabeth stood up and stormed to Hera, "You made my friend who's saved Olympus from the Titan of time and you made him disappear?! Are you completely out of your mind or something?" Hera didn't reply.

I've learned to follow my hunches, especially the last month, since the gods went silent."

Percy screamed, "Again?! Zeus, you promised to keep the borders open!"

"Went silent?" Piper asked.

Rachel frowned at Annabeth. "You haven't told her yet?"

Percy winked, "Too busy thinking of me I guess. After all, I am adorable to all ladies." Tiana was fuming. She drew an arrow and targeted two milimeters from Percy Andy hit the wall, sending him a warning, and the Hunters laughed.

"I was getting to that,"

Percy laughed, "Sure you were."

Annabeth said. "Piper, for the last month ... well, it's normal for the gods not to talk to their children very much,

Some of the demigods muttered, "My mother or father didn't even claim me, never mind giving me a message."

Percy shuddered, "Trust me, you don't want any messages."

but usually we can count on some messages now and then. Some of us can even visit Olympus. I spent practically all semester at the Empire State Building."

"Excuse me?"

"The entrance to Mount Olympus these days."

"Oh," Piper said. "Sure, why not?"

Leo stated, "I bet that Piper is completely thinking that this is a weird dream and wonders how crazy it couldn't get."

Annabeth nodded in surprise, "Leo! That's actually a smart suggestion!"

Leo put a hand to his heart, "Are you implying that I'm not smart Annabeth?"

Annabeth laughed, "Of course not!" (A/N- should there be a Lebeth? Leo X Annabeth in other words?)

"Annabeth was redesigning Olympus after it was damaged in the Titan War," Rachel explained. "She's an amazing architect. You should see the salad bar—"

Percy shook his head, "No way I'm going into the creepy salad bar with all those healthy and green food. There is no blue salad. Otherwise, my health would be perfect!"

Athena and Demeter whispered a few things and Demeter nodded before disappearing. A few minutes later, Demeter appeared with blue salad and blue cereal. She gave them to Percy who regretfully ate it slowly.

"Anyway," Annabeth said, "starting about a month ago, Olympus fell silent. The entrance closed, and no one could get in. Nobody knows why. It's like the gods have sealed themselves off. Even my mom won't answer my prayers,

Athena turned to her cabin, "Sorry then. There must have been something on my mind. Something that kept me away."

and our camp director, Dionysus, was recalled."

"Your camp director was the god of...wine?"

Dionysus began dancing, "You said was! No more punishments! Yay!"

"Yeah,it's a—"

"Long story," Piper guessed. "Right. Go on."

"That's it, really," Annabeth said. "Demigods still get claimed,

Percy's eyes widened with shock, "Hades's underpants! You kept your promise!"

Hades raised an eyebrow, "Huh?"

Annabeth stifled laughter, "Sorry Lord Hades. Percy has some really bad sayings."

but nothing else. No messages. No visits. No sign the gods are even listening. It's like something has happened —something really bad. Then Percy disappeared."

Leo glared at Hera. Athena followed Leo's gaze and narrowed her eyes, thinking.

"And Jason showed up on our field trip," Piper supplied. "With no memory."

"Who's Jason?" Rachel asked.

"My—" Piper stopped herself before she could say "boyfriend," but the effort made her chest hurt.

Aphrodite squealed, "Jiper! Team Jiper!" Everyone facepalmed besides Percy.

Percy asked, "What? What's Jiper? Is there a person named Jiper?"

Aphrodite giggled, "No silly! Jiper is the name for Jason and Piper! I will make sure that they will get married! They seem so perfect with each other!"

"My friend. But Annabeth, you said Hera sent you a dream vision."

Hera growled, "It is Lady Hera." No one said anything.

"Right," Annabeth said. "The first communication from a god in a month, and it's Hera, the least helpful goddess,

Hera crossed her arms, "Excuse me Annabeth?"

Annabeth shrugged, "Even though you might like it, the wisdom can hurt a lot. There's a reason why people say ignorance is a bless but it's true, you are the least helpful goddess."

and she contacts me, her least favorite demigod. She tells me I'll find out what happened to Percy if I go to the Grand Canyon skywalk and look for a guy with one shoe. Instead, I find you guys, and the guy with one shoe is Jason. It doesn't make sense."

"Something bad is happening," Rachel agreed. She looked at Piper, and Piper felt an overwhelming desire to tell them about her dream, to confess that she knew what was happening—at least part of the story.

Athena nodded, "Piper should tell them everything... From the dream. Most demigod dreams are true so I'm guessing that this one would also be true."

And the bad stuff was only beginning.

Leo said with sarcasm, "Such optimism Pipes!"

Annabeth asked, "Pipes?"

Leo laughed, "Yeah, that's my nickname for her."

Athena sighed, "Its 'yes', not 'yeah'."

Leo shrugged, "Whatever."

"Guys," she said. "I—I need to—"

Before she could continue, Rachel's body stiffened. Her eyes began to glow with a greenish light, and she grabbed Piper by the shoulders. Piper tried to back away, but Rachel's hands were like steel clamps.

Free me, she said. But it wasn't Rachel's voice. It sounded like an older woman, speaking from somewhere far away, down a long, echoing pipe.

Athena's eyes widened, "Someone is trying to send a message!"

Leo glared at Hera, "And think that we all know who it is."

Tiana nodded, "It's definitely Hera."

Hera asked, "And how do you know, daughter of Athena?"

Tiana shrugged, "Because Leo is from the future and he's glaring at you. Of course, he might be lying but my Athena sense is detecting that it's the truth."

Free me, Piper McLean, or the earth shall swallow us.

Athena's eyes widened, "The earth. No... It can't be... Leo, is it Gaea?" Leo nodded but didn't say anything.

It must be by the solstice.

Percy asked, "What's up with the solstice! Every quest has a deadline and every deadline there is, is on the solstice!"

The room started spinning. Annabeth tried to separate Piper from Rachel, but it was no use. Green smoke enveloped them, and Piper was no longer sure if she was awake or dreaming. The giant statue of the goddess seemed to rise from its throne. It leaned over Piper, its eyes boring into her. The statue's mouth opened, its breath like horribly thick perfume.

Percy nodded, "Definitely Hera."

Annabeth nodded, "That subtracts points for Hera in my favorite Olympian chart." Annabeth took out the chart and a pencil and began to edit the list.

It spoke in the same echoing voice: Our enemies stir. The fiery one is only the first. Bow to his will, and their king shall rise, dooming us all. FREE ME!

Athena bit her lip, "It sounds like Hera has been captured by something. The fiery one... Something to do with the bane of Hephaestus maybe? He is the god of fire after all."

Piper's knees buckled, and everything went black.

Hades stopped reading, "That's the end of the chapter. Who's next?"

Percy raised his hand, "I will."

Annabeth asked in total shock, "You can read?!"