ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｔａｎｓ　ｃｕｒｓｅ

THE NEXT MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST, Lucia found Grover and Percy sitting in a meadow watching the satyrs chase the wood nymphs through the snow.

The nymphs had promised to kiss the satyrs if they got caught, but they hardly ever did. Usually, the nymph would let the satyr get up a full head of steam, then she'd turn into a snow-covered tree and the lovesick satyr would slam into it headfirst and get a pile of snow dumped on him.

"I have to tell you two something" Lucia sat down, Percy and Grover looked at her taken aback when she approached them. Percy's eyes flickered to her new Orange Camp Half-blood shirt and looked back up at her with a ghost of a smile. It became nonexistent when she said "I dreamt of Annabeth"

When Lucia told them about her nightmare, Grover started twirling his finger in his shaggy leg fur. "A cave ceiling collapsed on her?" he asked.

"It was dark, I think it was a cave but I'm not sure... What do you think it means?" she tried to press for some answers

"Demigods have weird nightmares all the time luz, it comes with the job description" Percy explained "I don't know what it means but I dreamt the same thing"

Lucia struggled with the idea that Percy and her shared a dream, but after how vivid her dream was and how afraid she'd felt for Annabeth last night she knew it was more than that. she knew she had to push her logical brain aside and come to terms with the fact things are never going to make 100% sense again.

Grover shook his head. "I don't know. But after what Zoe dreamed—"

"Whoa. What do you mean? Zoe had a dream like that?" Percy stopped him

"I... I don't know, exactly. About three in the morning she came to the Big House and demanded to talk to Chiron. She looked really panicked."

"Wait, how do you know this?" Lucia asked

Grover blushed. "I was sort of camped outside the Artemis cabin."

"What for?"

"Just to be, you know, near them."

"You're a stalker with hooves."

"I am not Lu! Anyway, I followed her to the Big House and hid in a bush, and watched the whole thing. She got really upset when Argus wouldn't let her in. It was kind of a dangerous scene."

Argus was the head of security for camp—a big blond dude with eyes all over his body. Lee mentioned he rarely showed himself unless something serious was going on. Lucia wouldn't want to place bets on a fight between him and Zoe Nightshade.

"What did she say?" Percy asked.

Grover grimaced. "Well, she starts talking really old-fashioned when she gets upset, so it was kind of hard to understand. But something about Artemis being in trouble and needing the Hunters. And then she called Argus a boil-brained lout... I think that's a bad thing. And then he called her—"

"Whoa, wait. How could Artemis be in trouble?"

"I... well, finally Chiron came out in his pajamas and his horsetail in curlers and—"

"He wears curlers in his tail?" Lucia snorted "How many does he use? or is it like really huge ones?"

Grover covered his mouth.

"Sorry," Lucia said. "More important things than giant hair curlers, Go on."

"Well, Zoe said she needed permission to leave camp immediately. Chiron refused. He reminded Zoe that the Hunters were supposed to stay here until they received orders from Artemis. And she said..." Grover gulped. "She said 'How are we to get orders from Artemis if Artemis is lost?'"

"What do you mean lost? Like she needs directions?"

For the first time since she sat down, Lucia looked at Percy her expression read 'are you serious right now fish brain'

"No Aquaman, He means Gone. Taken. kidnapped"

"Kidnapped?" Percy tried to get his mind around that idea. "How would you kidnap an immortal goddess? Is that even possible?"

"It happened to Persephone." Lucia pointed out

"But she was like, the goddess of flowers."

Lucia looked offended. "Springtime." she corrected.

"Whatever. Artemis is a lot more powerful than that. Who could kidnap her? And why?"

Grover shook his head miserably. "I don't know. Kronos?"

"He can't be that powerful already. Can he?"

"The one who ate his kids?" Lucia asked trying to wrack her brain through her limited knowledge of greek mythology "The Titan?"

Percy quickly took the time to explain to her their past quests. Although she listened intently she couldn't stop her stomach from twisting with the knowledge that this all took place when she couldn't reach him, that it happened without her.  After he explained everything he went through her anger thinned she understood why he disappeared now... still in its place was an overwhelming sadness. She knew it was stupid and dangerous but she wished she would have been there with them, she really did.

He explained that the last time They'd seen Kronos, he'd been in tiny pieces. Except they hadn't actually seen him. Thousands of years ago, after the big Titan—God war, the gods had sliced him to bits with his own scythe and scattered his remains in Tartarus, which is like the gods' bottomless recycling bin for their enemies.

Two summers ago, Kronos had tricked Percy, Annabeth, and Grover to the very edge of the pit and almost pulled them in. Then the last summer, on board Luke's demon cruise ship, they'd seen a golden coffin, where Luke claimed he was summoning the Titan Lord out of the abyss, bit by bit, every time someone new joined their cause. Kronos could influence people with dreams and trick them.

"I don't see how he could physically overcome Artemis if he's still like a pile of evil bark mulch".

"I don't know," Grover said. "I think somebody would know if Kronos had re-formed. The gods would be more nervous. But still, it's weird, you two having a nightmare the same night as Zoe. It's almost like—"

"They're connected," Lucia said.

Over in the frozen meadow, a satyr skidded on his hooves as he chased after a redheaded tree nymph. She giggled and held out her arms as he ran toward her. Pop! She turned into a Scotch pine and he kissed the trunk at top speed,

"Ah, love," Grover said dreamily.

"I've got to talk to Zoe," Percy said. he looked towards Lucia "I'll tell you what happens"

Lucia nodded in appreciation

"Um, before you do..." Grover took something out of his coat pocket. It was a three-fold display like a travel brochure. "You remember what you said—about how it was weird the Hunters just happened to show up at Westover Hall? I think they might've been scouting us."

"Scouting us? What do you mean?"

He gave Percy the brochure. It was about the Hunters of Artemis.

The front read, A WISE CHOICE FOR YOUR FUTURE! Inside were pictures of young maidens doing hunter stuff, chasing monsters, shooting bows.

There were captions like: HEALTH BENEFITS: IMMORTALITY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU! and A BOY-FREE TOMORROW!

Lucia plucked it from his hands, she opened it up to read through it, intrigued. The only reason she said no was that she wanted to know more about the commitment before she well commits.

"Stop!" Grover karate chopped it out of her hand before she could even turn the page and he then gained composure "as I was saying... I found that in Annabeth's backpack,"

Percy stared at him. "I don't understand."

"Well, it seems to me... maybe Annabeth was thinking about joining."

He didn't seem to take the news well. He frowned before focusing on Lucia

"Are you still considering it?" He asked

Lucia nodded "Yes, that's why I was looking at the brochure before Grover decided to go all Jackie Chan on me"

Lucia watched as he stopped, he didn't show much of a reaction but If you looked closely he had a look in his eyes that said he wanted to strangle the Hunters of Artemis one eternal maiden at a time.

☼

FOR THE REST OF THE DAY, Lucia decided to keep busy, even if her mind didn't quite leave her dream of Annabeth. She went to Target practice, and Chiron was the instructor. Quickly he helped her perfect her form and before she knew it, she was shooting closer and closer to the bullseye.

"You're a natural child of Apollo," He said proudly "Keep practicing you'll be one of our bests in no time"

Lucia couldn't help but smile at the centaur's compliment.

After the archery fields with Chiron, Lee came to take her to the infirmary where she was met with a blonde ten-year-old boy no older than Nico. He had big blue eyes and golden shaggy hair, and he looked up at Lucia with a white smile. At first, Lucia questioned how a 10-year-old was the lead healer but after watching her brother, Will Solace, work she quickly knew there was no one better for the job.

She only spent the day learning the basic rules of the infirmary but nonetheless, she paid extra attention. Will, who seemed to really like her, wouldn't stop telling her about all the herbs and hymns he would teach her about. He was extra excited to teach her how to make a tourniquet. why? she had no idea but she entertained her kid brother and told him she couldn't wait.

That night after dinner, it was time for Capture the flag. Aurora explained it was going to be a small game: only thirteen Hunters, including Bianca di Angelo, and about the same number of campers.

Zoe Nightshade looked pretty upset. She kept glancing resentfully at Chiron like she couldn't believe he was making her do this. The other Hunters didn't look too happy, either. Unlike last night, they weren't laughing or joking around. They just huddled together in the dining pavilion, whispering nervously to each other as they strapped on their armor. Some of them even looked like they'd been crying. Lucia guessed Zoe had told them about her nightmare.

On the campers' team, was Charles Beckendorf from the Hephaestus cabin, a few from the Ares cabin, the Stoll brothers, Nico, a few Aphrodite kids, Thalia, Percy, and Lucia who was currently figuring out how to strap on Armor.

"Why are you making me do this, I know brothers tease their sisters but do you really want me to embarrass myself in front of the entire camp" Lucia squeaked at Lee who tried to straighten out her armor for her

"You need to realize you are a demigod" Lee insisted "You were made for this. You're going to be fine"

"Why? out of all the apollo kids you chose me to represent the cabin? Just yesterday I didn't even know how to pull a bowstring!" She tried begging again "If I mess u—"

"Then don't." Lee said, " I believe in you."

Before Lucia could argue that he shouldn't believe in her, Thalia came to collect her to start the game and walked her over to Percy and their team.

"I'll show them 'love is worthless,'" Silena Beauregard grumbled as she strapped on her armor. "I'll pulverize them!"

"I'll take the offense," Thalia volunteered. "You take defense."

"Oh." Percy hesitated, "Don't you think with your shield and all, you'd be a better defense?"

Thalia already had Aegis on her arm, and even their own teammates were giving her a wide berth, trying not to cower before the bronze head of Medusa.

"Well, I was thinking it would make better offense," Thalia said. "Besides, you've had more practice at defense."

"Yeah, no problem,"

Lucia didn't know if it was her 'truth child' gifts or if it was how long she knew Percy that showed he was lying, but she knew he was.

"Cool." Thalia turned to help some of the Aphrodite kids, who were having trouble suiting up their armor without breaking their nails. Nico di Angelo ran up to Lucia with a big grin on his face.

"Lucia, this is awesome!" His blue-feathered bronze helmet was falling in his eyes, and his breastplate was about six sizes too big. She smiled at how endearing he looked.

Nico lifted his sword with effort. "Do we get to kill the other team?"

Lucia pulled his sword down like a mom taking away scissors from her child

"Well... no," Percy answered

"But the Hunters are immortal, right?"

"That's only if they don't fall in battle. Besides—"

"It would be awesome if we just, like, resurrected as soon as we were killed, so we could keep fighting, and—"

"Nico, this is serious. Real swords. These can hurt." Percy tried

Nico stared at him, a little disappointed, and Lucia realized that Percy had sounded a lot like Sally, his mom. she thought about her and wondered how she was. she always wanted to apologize for not being there when she came for her at the graveyard but when she called she never answered. Lucia learned from Percy that they moved after his first quest and changed landlines.

she just wished she knew that then

Percy patted Nico on the shoulder. "Hey, it's cool. Just follow the team. Stay out of Zoe's way. We'll have a blast."

Chiron's hoof thundered on the pavilion floor.

"Heroes!" he called. "You know the rules! The creek is the boundary line. Blue team— Camp Half-Blood—shall take the west woods. Hunters of Artemis—red team—shall take the east woods. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. No intentional maiming, please! All magic items are allowed. To your positions!"

"Sweet," Nico whispered next to Lucia. "What kind of magic items? Do I get one?"

Lee stepped towards Lucia handing her a basic long bow, and a quiver of golden arrows. "Use these"

Lucia nervously accepted the gift

"Awesome" Nico smiled at Lucia "You're like katniss!"

Lucia didn't have the heart to break it to him that she was the complete opposite when Thalia said, "Blue team! Follow me!"

They cheered and followed. Lucia had to run to catch up. She saw as Percy tripped over somebody's shield, and came to the conclusion he was really frustrated over Annabeth. She couldn't help but feel worried about her too. She wanted to ask him about it but shoved that thought away as soon as it came.

They set their flag at the top of what one of the Stoll brothers explained to be Zeus's Fist. A cluster of boulders in the middle of the west woods that, if you look at it just the right way, looks like a huge fist sticking out of the ground. It was a good place to set the flag. The top boulder was twenty feet tall and really hard to climb, so the flag was clearly visible, like the rules said it had to be, and it didn't matter that the guards weren't allowed to stand within ten yards of it.

Percy set Nico on guard duty with the Stoll brothers, and Lucia was assigned to a tree as a lookout by Thalia

"How good is your aim?" She asked

"I've been practicing two days" Lucia answered honestly

Thalia nodded then turned and told the team. "We'll send out a decoy to the left, Silena, you lead that."

"Got it!"

"Take Laurel and Jason. They're good runners. Make a wide arc around the Hunters, and attract as many as you can. I'll take the main raiding party around to the right and catch them by surprise."

Everybody nodded. It sounded good, and Thalia said it with such confidence you couldn't help but believe it would work.

Thalia looked at Percy. "Anything to add, Percy?"

"Um, yeah. Keep sharp on defense. We've got four guards, two scouts. That's not much for a big forest. I'll be roving. Yell if you need help."

"And don't leave your post!" Thalia said.

"Unless you see a golden opportunity," Percy added.

Thalia scowled. "Just don't leave your post."

"Right, unless—"

"Percy!" She touched Percy's arm and shocked him. Everybody can give static shocks in the winter, but when Thalia does, it hurts. Her dad is the god of lightning. Lucias heard rumors of her frying off people's eyebrows.

"Sorry," Thalia said, though she didn't sound particularly sorry. "Now, is everybody clear?"

Everybody nodded. They broke into our smaller groups. The horn sounded, and the game began.

Lucia watched from the branch of a Juniper tree as they all ran.

Silena's group disappeared into the woods on the left. Thalia's group gave it a few seconds, then darted off toward the right.

Percy climbed Zeus's Fist.

Lucia caught a glimpse of Silena and her two scouts. They ran through a clearing, followed by five of the Hunters, leading them deep into the woods and away from Thalia. The plan seemed to be working. Then Lucia spotted another clump of Hunters heading to the right, bows ready. They must've spotted Thalia.

Lucia's mind was racing. Thalia would never get through, but the Hunters were divided. With that many on either flank, their center had to be wide open.

Percy seemed to have the same idea as he looked at Beckendorf. "Can you guys hold the fort?"

Beckendorf snorted. "Of course."

"I'm going in."

The Stoll brothers and Nico cheered as He raced toward the boundary line. Lucia didn't know what came over her as she scurried down the tree. She quickly explained the position of the hunters to Beckendforf before running after Percy. She knew he wasn't in real danger but something in her gut told her to go after him.

'unless you see a golden opportunity'

...please dont fry off my eyebrows thalia

"Where are you going?!" Nico yelled but she didn't hear him, her focus was on following Percy.

He was running at top speed and Lucia watched in awe. He leaped over the creek into enemy territory. Lucia decided to be more sly and hide behind a tree. She could see their silver flag up ahead, only one guard, who wasn't even looking in his direction. Lucia heard fighting to her left and right, somewhere in the woods.

The guard turned at the last minute. It was Bianca di Angelo. Her eyes widened as Percy slammed into her and she went sprawling in the snow.

"Sorry!" He yelled. He ripped down the silver silk flag from the tree and took off.

Lucia kept hidden and followed. She notched an arrow in case she had to cover him. They were about ten yards away before Bianca managed to yell for help.

ZIP. A silvery cord raced across his ankles and fastened him to the tree next to him. A trip wire, fired from a bow. He sprawled harshly in the snow. Lucia was suddenly glad she decided to wait it out instead of running all willy-nilly.

"Percy!" Thalia yelled, off to his left. "What are you doing?"

Before she reached him, an arrow exploded at her feet and a cloud of yellow smoke billowed around her team. They started coughing and gagging. Lucia could smell the gas from across the woods—the horrible smell of sulfur.

"No fair!" Thalia gasped. "Fart arrows are unsportsmanlike!"

Lucia took notice of the flag in Percy's Hand. It was a few more yards to the creek if she ran fast enough... Before anyone knew it in a flash of light, Lucia was on her feet, she grabbed the flag from Percy and ran, her boots stomping the ground.

"Luz?!" Percy exclaimed in confusion before he started cheering "Go! Luz! Go!"

Arrows whizzed past her ears but Lucia was able to hear their proximity and dodged them. A Hunter came out of nowhere and slashed at Lucia with her knife, but Lucia blocked her off with her bow and pushed her into the creek.

"Sorry!" she cried as she ran faster

Lucia heard yelling from their side of the creek. Beckendorf and Nico were running toward her. They were chasing someone—Zoe Nightshade, who now raced toward Lucia like a cheetah, dodging campers with no trouble. And she had their flag in her hands.

"No!" She yelled and poured on the speed. She didn't really believe she could make it but there was a thrill in trying.

Lucia was two feet from the water when Zoe bolted across to her own side, slamming into her for good measure. The Hunters cheered as both sides converged on the creek. Chiron appeared out of the woods, looking grim. He had the Stoll brothers on his back, and it looked as if both of them had taken some nasty whacks to the head. Connor Stoll had two arrows sticking out of his helmet like antennae.

"The Hunters win!" Chiron announced without pleasure. Then he muttered, "For the fifty-sixth time in a row."

"A valiant effort," Zoe said to Lucia, reaching a hand out to her "Thou has Grand Potential as a hunter"

Lucia blushed. "Congrats on your wi—"

"Perseus Jackson!" Thalia yelled, storming towards the boy who now stood next to the creek glaring at Zoe. She was so mad that blue sparks flickered on her armor. Everybody cringed and backed up because of Aegis. Lucia made her way closer to Zoe cautiously.

"What in the name of the gods were you THINKING?" she bellowed. "You even influenced the new girl to do something stupid! See what I mean by dont leave your post!"

He balled his fists. "I got the flag, Thalia!" He raged. "I saw a chance and I took it! Lucia almost made it! Don't blame her for actually doing something!"

"I WAS AT THEIR BASE!" Thalia yelled. "But the flag was gone. If you hadn't butted in, we would've won."

"You had too many on you!"

"Oh, so it's my fault?"

"I didn't say that."

"Argh!" Thalia pushed him, and a shock went through his body that blew him backward ten feet into the water. Some of the campers gasped. A couple of the Hunters stifled laughs.

Lucia tried to step in but Zoe held her back "It is not thy fight"

"Sorry!" Thalia said, turning pale. "I didn't mean to—"

A wave erupted from the creek, blasting into Thalia's face and dousing her from head to toe. Lucia gasped

He stood up. "Yeah," I growled. "I didn't mean to, either." Thalia was breathing heavily.

"Enough!" Chiron ordered.

But Thalia held out her spear. "You want some, Seaweed Brain?"

Seaweed brain seemed to strike a nerve as he yelled "Bring it on, Pinecone Face!"

He raised Riptide, but before he could even defend himself, Thalia yelled, and a blast of lightning came down from the sky, hit her spear like a lightning rod, and slammed into his chest.

"Percy!"

Percy sat down hard. There was a burning smell; it was his singed clothes

"Thalia!" Chiron said. "That is enough!"

Percy got to his feet and willed the entire creek to rise. It swirled up, hundreds of gallons of water in a massive icy funnel cloud.

Her worry for Percy suddenly shifted to worry for Thalia

"Percy!" Chiron pleaded.

He was about to hurl it at Thalia when they saw something in the woods. Percy lost his anger and his concentration all at once. The water splashed back into the creekbed. Thalia was so surprised she turned to see what he was looking at.

Someone... something was approaching. It was shrouded in a murky green mist, but as it got closer, the campers and Hunters gasped.

"This is impossible," Chiron said. He'd never heard him sound so nervous. "It... she has never left the attic. Never."

A withered mummy walked forward, a corpse of a woman that had the foulest stench. Lucia's hand fell to her nose and she furrowed her eyebrows at the sight.

"Please tell me that's not a zombie?" She asked nasally

No one dared to move or answer. Then her voice hissed inside Lucia's head. Apparently, everyone could hear it, because several clutched their hands over their ears.

I am the spirit of Delphi, the voice said. Speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python.

The Oracle regarded Lucia with its cold, dead eyes. Then she turned unmistakably towards Zoe Nightshade. Approach, Seeker, and ask.

Zoe swallowed. "What must I do to help my goddess?"

The Oracle's mouth opened, and green mist poured out. Lucia saw the vague image of a mountain, and a girl standing at the barren peak. It was Artemis, but she was wrapped in chains, fettered to the rocks. She was kneeling, her hands raised as if to fend off an attacker, and it looked like she was in pain. The Oracle spoke:

Six shall go west to the goddess in chains,

One shall be lost in the land without rain,

The bane of Olympus shows the trail,

Campers and Hunters combined prevail,

The Titan's curse must two withstand,

And one shall perish by a parent's hand.

Then, as they were watching, the mist swirled and retreated like a great green serpent into the mummy's mouth. The Oracle sat down on a rock and became as still as a rock as if she might sit by this creek for a hundred years.