Demigod of Prophecy

Percy and I began training more and more in addition to the other activities we were supposed to do at the camp. Somehow, in between, Will Solace and I got closer, which Percy didn't seem to fond of. My days and afternoons were spent in training and other activities with Percy and Annabeth. My nights were with Will. I learned so much in the two weeks after I got to Camp Half-Blood that it was almost as if I had always been there. Almost.

We were at the beach for the Fourth of July fireworks when everything got weird. Percy and Annabeth were curled up together and I was hanging out with Will and his siblings. Then, from he direction of the Big House, a weird mist started rolling onto the beach. It freaked me out a little and Will just held my hand to keep me calm, but the rest of the campers seemed to know what was going on.

Fire and Water at peace at last
Their daughter must learn the secrets of her past
In the end, the war she'll face
Within the land of the enemy's base
Alone she will face these foes
And handle all her parents' woes
If luck is not a lifeline to toss
Then all will suffer in her loss.

My body turned to ice. Everyone at the camp started to stare at me. Even Will just started to stare at me. It was obvious this was the prophecy I'd been told would come, but I wasn't ready for it. I'd had two weeks training.

"Mr. Beckendorf, if you and one of your brothers would be so kind as to return the Oracle to her resting place," Chiron called out to the son of Hephaestus, trying to get the attention off of me. "The rest of you, I believe now would be a good time to turn in for the night. Selene, Percy, Annabeth, I think we should talk."

Will started to get up with his cabin. I wouldn't let go of his hand.

"Stay with me, please, Will?" I asked him.

He looked from me to Chiron and back. I knew Chiron wanted everyone to go to their cabins, but I needed Will with me as much as Percy, who was going to have to see me off, needed Annabeth to steady him.

"Okay," he said to me.

I shocked him by doing what I had wanted to do for almost a week and hadn't. I kissed him. Will and I had gotten close, but I didn't want to rush anything. Seeing as how he was staying at my side, disobeying Chiron for me, it was obvious something was already there.

"Will, your cabin is already leaving," Chiron said as we met him, Percy and Annabeth.

"He's staying, Chiron. I told him to stay with me. I need him here," I said, not looking at my brother, not wanting to see him mad at that moment.

Chiron let it go.

"Alright then, well, the time has come. Percy, Selene will leave first thing in the morning. I would advise you take some extra time with her tonight for last minute training," he said before turning to me. "Selene, I'm sorry to say this, but you will be embarking on this journey alone, per the Oracle. I truly hope that we have prepared you for this and that you make it home safely."

I just nodded at him, not trusting my voice.

"Will, I suppose, since Selene elected to keep you with her, it would be a good idea for her to have some last minute lessons from you in healing magic and archery tonight in addition to anything Percy and Annabeth choose to teach her. I will make sure that the four of you are given leeway to stay up past curfew," Chiron said. "Do you need anything else?"

"We're gonna need to be able to eat after we train, Chiron," Percy said. "Our powers drain us pretty quickly."

"Of course, I will make sure that the pavilion is ready for you. I will also have supplies gathered for Selene to take with her in the morning," Chiron said.

We all nodded agreement and he left.

"Percy, I'd like you and Annabeth to train me first, so Will and I can practice later," I said, finding my voice again. "This way Will can rest for a while now, and you can rest more before I wake you in the morning."

"Are you sure?" asked Will.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Then I'll see you later?"

"I'll come find you," I said and kissed him good-bye.

He walked away and after I watched him disappear I turned to my brother and Annabeth. Percy was obviously annoyed that I kissed Will not once, but twice. I didn't care, I was about to go on a massively dangerous quest, I would kiss him if I wanted to.

"Why didn't you tell me-" he started.

"Let's go to the sword arena," Annabeth cut him off.

Percy and I followed her to the sword arena. He had Riptide in his pocket. I had my weapon around my neck. It was a necklace, most of the time. When I needed it, it turned into different weapons based on what I needed, constantly balancing to my needs. My father apparently had good taste in jewelry and weapons.

We practiced for about an hour before Percy dragged me back to the beach to work on my water manipulation skills. By the time we finished there, we were both starving and exhausted, so we went to the pavilion to get food with Annabeth. After we ate, I had to say my first good-bye, because Annabeth wouldn't be up when I left in the morning.

"You'll be fine, Selene. You've picked things up here really quickly. I'm sure that you'll come back safe," she said to me.

"You take care of my brother, okay? Promise?" I said back to her.

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on Seaweed Brain. I promise," she replied.

She gave me a hug and left the pavilion, leaving me alone with my brother.

"You're an idiot, Percy."

"What did I do?"

"You don't see Annabeth the way you should, as someone you should be with," I said.

"We're just friends, Selene," he said.

"And that's why you're an idiot, Percy."

He rolled his eyes at me.

"I'll see you when you get back to the cabin later," he said as he walked away.

I walked down to where I instinctively knew I'd find Will, the archery range. Sure enough, he was there, shooting arrow after arrow like life depended on his expertise. I just stood to the side for a few minutes watching him. His shoulders were more tense than normal. The prophecy and my actions were getting to him. When his quiver was empty, he put his bow down and his head and shoulders sagged.

"Will?" I said, finally coming closer to him. "Are you okay?"

He quickly tried to pull himself together.

"I'm fine."

"You don't have to be. This is a lot. I just kissed you right before I'm going off on this quest, it wasn't fair."

Will closed the distance between us and took my hand.

"I'm glad you did. I wanted to kiss you, but I didn't want to pressure you. You've had so much going on," he said.

"I like you, Will. A lot."

"I like you, too, Selene."

"But you know I'm leaving in the morning."

"I guess it's bad timing."

"Really bad timing."

"I think you can make it back to us."

"I hope so."

"You're tough, and a natural talent with weapons. You can do this."

"You have a lot of faith in me, considering you've only met me two weeks ago."

"You've made a strong impression."

"This sucks."

"All of us have to do things that we don't like, Selene."

"I feel like my life is just gonna be endless chaos from now on. I got used to camp and now the prophecy came up and I'm out."

"So do what you have to and come back to us."

"I will."

Will leaned down and kissed me. When he pulled away from me, we just stood there looking into each other's eyes for a few minutes. Finally, we got down to work and started practicing.

We practiced shooting until we were too tired to soot anymore. From there, Will and I sat down and he went over different types of healing techniques and cures he thought I should know. At the end of the night, he walked me back to my cabin, kissing me good-night before going back to his cabin.

I couldn't sleep that night. My mind kept racing about the upcoming quest, my first quest, a quest that I would be going on alone. I kept thinking about everything that could go wrong and wondered if anyone would care if I didn't make it back. When I realized the answer was that demigods who'd known me for two weeks were the only ones who cared, I got mad. My mother should have been on that list of people who cared, but she wasn't anymore.

In the morning I got up and started packing for the quest. Chiron had left the additional supplies for her outside the cabin before she'd gotten back the night before. Just before five, Percy started to wake up.

"You sleep like the dead."

"Good morning to you too, Selene. How long have you been up?"

"All night. I couldn't sleep."

"Too nervous?" he asked. I nodded. "You'll be alright. I'm sure you will. You're tough."

"I'll be alone."

"I know. But I still think you'll be just fine," he said as he hugged me.

Percy helped me finish packing and getting ready for the quest. When we finished, we left cabin three to head to the top of Half-Blood Hill, where we were meeting Chiron. I was surprised when I opened the door to find Will standing outside waiting for us.

"What are you doing up so early?"

"I wanted to see you off," he replied.

I kissed and hugged him before falling in step between Will and Percy. We walked in silence to Thalia's tree, none of us sure what would happen once I left. After we met Chiron and he gave me some final supplies, Percy and Will said good-bye.

Will kissed me. It was a longer kiss than the other kisses we had shared and it made me feel warm, which was nice.

"You better come back to me. We have a lot to figure out about all of this," he said to me. He kissed me again before leaving.

Percy looked like he didn't know what to say to me.

"I just found out I have a little sister and now you're leaving."

"What happened to you're sure I'll come back?"

"I am, but this is new. I'm a big brother and I have to let you go off on a dangerous quest. It's weird."

"You did your best to get me ready, Perce."

"I hope it was enough."

"You did all you could. You even kept me going when I wanted to give up. Like a good brother. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Selene," he said as he hugged me, bringing me closer to him. "You better come back."

"I will. I promise, no matter what, I'll find a way."

"I'm gonna hold you to that," he said.

Percy kissed my head and let me go. After giving him what I thought was a reassuring squeeze on his hand, I started down Half-Blood Hill on a quest that sent ice into my veins.

Notes