──── VALLEY OF ASHES
❝ the family gathers 'round and reads it and then someone screams out
"she's laughing up at us from hell" ❞
﹙ percy jackson 𝒙 fem!oc: annabeth chase 𝒙 fem!oc﹚
﹙ the titan's curse; the battle of the labyrinth; the last olympian...
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FROST COVERED THE CHARIOT TRACK and the strawberry fields much like how it was when she left mere hours ago. The cabins were decorated with tiny flickering lights, like Christmas lights, except they seemed to be balls of real fire. More lights glowed in the woods, and weirdest of all, a fire flickered in the attic window of the Big House, where the Oracle dwelt, imprisoned in an old mummified body.
The spirit of Dephini always gave her the creeps.
"Whoa," Nico said as he climbed off the bus. "Is that a climbing wall?"
"Yeah," Percy said.
"Why is there lava pouring down it?"
"Cause it's fun," Giselle shrugged with a grin.
"Little extra challenge." Percy rolled his eyes, "Come on. We'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoë, have you met ─ "
"I know Chiron," Zoë said stiffly. "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."
"I'll show you the way," Grover offered.
"We know the way."
"Oh, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost here, if you don't" ─ he tripped over a canoe and came up still talking ─ "like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"
Zoë rolled her eyes, but Giselle guessed she figured there was no getting rid of Grover. The Hunters shouldered their packs and their bows and headed off toward the cabins. As Bianca di Angelo was leaving, she leaned over and whispered something in her brother's ear. She looked at him for an answer, but Nico just scowled and turned away.
"Take care, sweethearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters. He winked at Percy. "Watch out for those prophecies, Percy. I'll see you soon."
"What do you mean?"
Instead of answering, he hopped back in the bus. "Later, Thalia." he called. "Goodbye, Giselle, let me know when you want to visit next so you don't have to go by bus!"
"Will do!" the brunette called back, waving him goodbye.
Apollo saluted her, and them gave Thalia a wicked smile, as if he knew something she didn't. Then he closed the doors and revved the engine. Giselle turned aside as the sun chariot took off in a blast of heat. When she looked back, the lake was steaming. A red Maserati soared over the woods, glowing brighter and climbing higher until it disappeared in a ray of sunlight.
