ROSE

I had never felt as nervous as I did now.

As I walked into Chiron's office, a million thoughts were racing through my head.

Was I in trouble? Did something bad happen? Was the world ending? What was going on?Chiron's office looked the same as it did last time I had visited, with its bronze-shielded walls, boombox playing terrible Italian opera, computer, desk, and basically everything else that was there before. The last time I had been here was three months ago with Dionysus, Kai, Amethyst, and Alexander, when we had talked about the Mist and the prospect of launching a quest to repair it.

Now here I was again, discussing with Chiron about the Mist and the potential of starting a quest to fix it. Oh, how the times have changed.

"As you know, Rose, the Mist has completely vanished, and we do not know the reasons as to why," Chiron said, pacing behind his chair. "Because of this discovery, I invited you into my office."

A brief passage of time occurred after this statement, with Chiron now facing towards me and stopping his pacing before speaking once more.

"I'll just jump straight to the point. Rose, I want you to lead the quest to bring back the Mist."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Ever since I had returned from the first quest, I was excited at the idea of leading my own quest. Even though I had almost died multiple times on my previous quest, I enjoyed going on an adventure and exploring the great unknown. Many campers felt the same way, which is why what happened in the counsel meeting happened. Everyone, at some point in their life at camp, has wanted to lead or participate in a quest, particularly the former.

But as great as that all sounded, leading a quest would mean a butt-load of responsibility that I wasn't sure I could handle. I mean, I had just arrived at camp three months ago and was still a newbie by most people's standards. Was I even qualified to lead a quest of my own? In the last quest, it was Amethyst and my friends' hard work that had ultimately saved the day while it was my naivety and inexperience that frequently ruined our chances at success.

I then realized that I had been so caught up in thought that I had been staring at Chiron's desk for the last ten seconds without uttering a single word.

"Earth to Rose, hello?" Chiron asked, visibly perplexed.

"Oh, sorry," I muttered. "Zoned out for a second there."

Chiron chuckled. "That's okay. So, what is your answer? Will you lead this quest?"

I sighed. "Look, I'm really flattered that you thought of me for this, but I don't know if I'm qualified to lead. Wouldn't Kai or Amethyst be a better option? They've been here longer and would probably know how to lead better than me."

"Rose, do you know why I picked you to lead?"

I shrugged and suggested jokingly, "Because of my amazing charm and valor?"

"Not exactly, though you do possess both of those traits. I picked you because of your courage and bravery. You could've run off and not went on the quest with Amethyst, but you persevered. You are more than ready to lead, Rose, and at the end of the day, this is your quest. You know the Mist better than most."

"What about Lou Ellen? She's the head counselor of the Hecate cabin. One could surmise that she knows a lot about the Mist."

It wasn't just even Lou Ellen though. Oliver had schooled me in almost, if not all, of our practice sessions and spent most of his time practicing his magic. And making out with Drew, but… Ew. Millicent and Devin have also proven to be better and more experienced than me, so, what was Chiron on about?

"Lou Ellen rightfully deserves to be the head counselor, but her impatience and jealousy stops her from being a true leader, a leader that can succeed on a quest. Rose, I know you can do this. You just need to believe you can."

I smiled. "Then I accept. I'll lead the quest."

Chiron nodded. "Good. Now, you must head up to the Cave of the Oracle and get your prophecy."

I nodded and exited his office, now trying to recall where the Cave of the Oracle was situated exactly but being too elated with the realization that my dream was finally coming true. While I was still nervous about leading a quest, I had to do this. And anyways, if there was a problem with the Mist, it had to do with my godly mother, Hecate.

I still didn't like her very much, but she was my mother. I'd lived the first fourteen years of my life without knowing her at all and having nothing but disdain for what she put me and my family through, but I felt obliged to do this nonetheless. Whatever mess she'd gotten herself into, I needed to fix it. That's what being a loving daughter was all about, even if that love was likely not reciprocated.

When I exited the Big House, I tried focusing my thoughts and remembered back about a month ago, when Arthur, Geneva and I visited to go clean the place up after Ares' attack - and more specifically, the route we took to get to the cave.

As I walked down said route, I chuckled as I recounted what had happened all those weeks ago.

What was funny about the whole situation was that none of us knew where the cave actually was and Chiron, who had tasked us with cleaning it up, didn't bother elaborating on its location. The three of us essentially walked in a circle until Kai joined up with us and led us to the cave.

Cleaning up the messy insides of the cave had been a truly difficult process, made more difficult by Arthur falling into a trench and injuring his ankle.

The enjoyment I got from the memory quickly turned to sorrow at the thought of Arthur. I had lost Marianne, my half-sister, only two months prior to Arthur's death.

I had gained, and lost, so much over the last three months. I could only hope this quest wouldn't go downhill and we could finally restore the Mist.

I regained focus as I realized that I was at the entrance of the cave.

A red velvet curtain covered the entrance and two torches each carried in respective metallic holders were to the sides of the curtain. When I entered, Rachel was asleep on the couch, muttering something under her breath and drooling on her blanket.

Inside, there was an easel with an art palette laid on the ground, along with two red couches and some paintings on the wall. There were also bones and littered swords on the ground, making it kind of a maze to walk through. Very weird design choice, but whatever.

"Hello?" I said.

Rachel woke up with a start. Her frizzy red hair was in a mess and her shirt was covered with paint stains. Overall, she looked like a total wreck, fitting the general messiness of the cave.

"Oh, good morning, Rose! Sorry about the mess," Rachel apologized, trying to put herself together.

"Good morning, Rachel," I replied. "Um, what's with the paintings?"

A very strange and unconventional question, but I thought maybe it'd be impolite to just barge into someone's residence and demand they give me a prophecy without trying to socialize a little bit. I call that having manners.

"Oh, since I'm the Oracle, I'm blessed with terrible nightmares and incomprehensible dreams that are supposed to tell me about the next prophecy," she explained. "And since I can't understand them and typically forget them within a day, I decide to write them down on the walls."

"That sucks," I said.

"It really does. Can't ever get a good sleep. Anyways, what can I do for you?"

"Well, I'm sure you've heard that the Mist is broken, and Chiron asked me to lead the quest to repair it. He sent me down here so I could get my prophecy."

"Ah," Rachel said. "Nice."

The two of us stood in silence for a good few seconds.

"So, how's this supposed to work?" I asked.

The one time I had seen Rachel give a prophecy, she did it just as we were leaving campfire time and on her own accord. Kind of. Oracle stuff is weird.

"Eh. I think you need to ask me to show you your destiny, but I could be wrong. When I'm in Oracle mode, I literally never remember what happens."

"Interesting," I muttered, a little taken aback with the whole ordeal. "So, uh, Rachel, show me my destiny."

About three seconds later, Rachel said, "This doesn't seem to be-"

Just as she was about to finish her sentence, she was suddenly enveloped in a green mist and her eyes became swirly, as if she had become possessed. She levitated at least three inches off the ground, almost hitting her head on the low cavern ceiling.

"FIVE DEMIGODS SHALL TRAVEL EAST," Rachel/The Oracle said. Her voice was eerie, ancient, and raspy, like a ghost with a breathing problem.

"TO THE LAND WHERE THE GODS ONCE USED TO FEAST."

"WITHIN SEVEN DAYS THEY SHALL BRING BACK THE MIST, THE DAUGHTER OF HECATE SHALL FALL INTO DARKNESS' MIDST."

"ONE SHALL DIE BY ONE'S OWN FIRE, DARKNESS RISES THROUGH ATHEN'S SPIRE."

I was so concentrated in thought that I barely realized Rachel had fainted onto the ground.

I felt as if someone had just told me I was adopted. The prophecy was the worst thing I could've heard.

First of all - based off the second and sixth line - Erebos and his lackeys were in Athens, Greece, halfway across the world, and based on my dreams from three months ago, that's where he was chaining that one blond lady and where he would be rising in the next five years.

Secondly, I had just been told that both Kai and I would die within the next eight days. I would fall into Erebos' grasp, and Kai would die of his curse - or in other words, dying of his own fire. Unless the prophecy was talking about someone else, but who could that be? Some other daughter of Hecate? Well I was leading the quest, so it had to be referring to me. And one dying of own's fire? Sounds exactly like what Kai's curse foretold.

The only ray of hope in the entire prophecy was the third line, and even then, prophecies often had double meanings. What if we bring back the Mist only for it to collapse right back in our faces? What if the prophecy wasn't even talking about the Mist and rather a large gas cloud that's been hiding for fifteen years?

Oh gods, I was losing my mind.

I stormed out of the cave, emotions crashing through me like a storm. I wasn't gonna take what I was told lightly. What in Hades could I do to prevent what was already destined to occur? Right now, I needed time alone to think of some plan of action regarding the prophecy.

Apparently, nothing would go according to plan for me today as Amethyst, Alexander, and Kai were awaiting me outside.

"So? What did Rachel say?" Amethyst asked.

"I bet the prophecy was about me achieving my dream of riding a skateboard," Alexander said dreamily.

Kai patted him on the back. "That's a very likely possibility."

I pushed past them, and began heading towards the forest. I needed to be alone with my thoughts.

"Rose, what's wrong?" Kai asked. "Did Amethyst steal your chocolate milk or something?"

I ignored him, continuing towards the forest.

"Rose, answer us!" Amethyst pleaded.

Finally, I had had enough.

"What don't you get about me wanting to be alone?" I shouted.

"Jeez," Alexander muttered. "Someone fell out of the right side of the crib today."

"That's not even how the saying goes," I snapped. "Look, just leave me alone. I don't feel like talking right now."

Amethyst shook her head. "You're clearly mad about something. Why don't you just tell us what happened?"

"You don't want to know," I said.

"Nah, I think you're wrong about that," Kai said. As I kept walking forward, he suddenly dropped down in front of me. "You're not getting out of this situation, Sleepy. Just tell us."

"By Zeus' name, you're insufferable," I groaned.

"That's what I'm known for." Kai grinned. "Now, spill the tea."

I took a deep breath. "You really want to know? Fine, here it is. The prophecy was, 'five demigods shall travel East, to the land where the gods used to feast. Within eight days they shall bring back the Mist, darkness rises through Athen's spire.'"

I decided not to tell them about the two lines about Kai and I dying. I figured it was best for them not to know, even if it made my emotional reaction a lot less believable.

Amethyst hesitated. "That's the entire prophecy?"

"Yes," I lied. "Happy now?"

Amethyst bit her lip, like she wanted to press me for more answers. "Yeah, sure."

"Then why were you so angry? The prophecy doesn't say anything that's even remotely scary," Alexander said.

"I have my own reasons," I said. "See you guys later."

For the rest of the day, I went through my schedule. I tried to make as little conversation as possible with my friends throughout the day and mostly succeeded, save for an encounter with a very distressed Oliver, who seemed to have gotten some time to himself and away from Drew's incessant whining.

At campfire time, we did our basic singalong with the Apollo Cabin before Chiron walked up in front of us. Usually I enjoyed singalong time, but considering the news I had received, I couldn't feel a single wink of happiness. Additionally, I hadn't gotten a single clue as to how I'd get around the prophecy's negative implications.

"So, as you all probably know, the Mist is gone," Chiron introduced. "After a discussion with every cabin counselor during a senior counsel meeting, I have decided to launch a quest to recover the Mist."

The campers murmured amongst themselves, with some of them talking about leading it. The camp counselors, who already knew about this news, were bouncing off the ground in anticipation. Like I had said earlier, many people would kill to be on a quest, and cabin leaders were no exception. They also had a higher chance of attaining the leadership role than most people, further amping up normal cabin members.

"I have declared Rose Morgan Evergreen the leader of this quest. Come on up Rose," Chiron announced.

The campers gave me a light applause, while a good sum of them complained about not being picked and booed my selection as leader.

Typical camper behavior, really. Family until someone bests them in Capture the Flag or gets a quest role ahead of them. At least Alexander drowned them out with his ear-shattering claps and Kai's clamorous woops, but as you can guess from the description of them, those got annoying real quick.

Chiron patted me on the back as the noise stopped once more. "So, Rose, go ahead and choose the people you want to take on your quest. Remember, this is an important mission to partake in, so I will allow you to have up to five picks."

Conveniently the exact number Rachel demanded.

"Um, I'll take Amethyst and Alexander," I said.

"You still have two more picks," Chiron told me.

I hesitated. I would have picked Geneva and Kai as my last picks normally, but given Arthur's death and the prophecy respectively, I didn't think it was a smart choice to pick either.

Was Geneva even here? A quick and nervous scan of the crowd revealed she was, and she was raising an eyebrow at me, maybe less curious as to why I haven't picked her and more so why I haven't picked Kai.

"What are you doing, Rose?" Kai asked. "Pick me!"

I shook my head. I couldn't put him on a quest just so he could die. That'd make me a terrible friend.

Kai furrowed his eyebrows. "If you don't mind Chiron, I'd like to talk to Rose alone."

Before I could say no, Chiron nodded and said, "Sure."

I reluctantly followed Kai as he led me towards the forest. I audibly heard some of the campers groan about the occurrence, not wanting more of their time to be taken, with some crying about how it was unfair Kai got to talk to me alone and they didn't. Again, this is just how campers are.

"What?" I asked, kind of annoyed.

We were stopped dead in front of the forest and not too far away from the campfire, and Kai took a seat on a log.

"The prophecy said something about me dying, didn't it?" Kai guessed. "That's why you don't want to pick me."

Dang. He knew me way too well. In fairness, my exclusion of those two lines probably incriminated me a little too much.

I looked at him in shock as I took a seat next to him. "How'd you know?"

"Rose, the last two lines of the prophecy you gave us didn't rhyme at all. Also, all three of us knew that you heard something far worse than you let on about the prophecy. Apparently, I'm the only one that had the balls to confront you on it."

"Yeah. The fifth line said 'One shall die by one's own fire'."

Kai nodded. Tears began to form in the corners of his eyes.

I was about to apologize, but he waved away my concern. He put on the best smile he could. "I figured as much. Rose, I have to come on this quest. If I'm going to die, I might as well die fighting. And you can't stop fate, Rose. I'm going to die whether or not I come on the quest."

It should've made me feel better, but it only reminded me that my death was imminent.

Kai put his arm around my shoulder. "Also, as my last wish before I definitely die on this quest-"

"Please don't make jokes about that," I pleaded.

"-bring Geneva on the quest."

"Why would I do that? It'd just remind her that Arthur died on his quest and I don't think she'd want to lose any more friends."

"I know that, but Geneva isn't going to get anywhere if she bottles her anger up and stays here," Kai reasoned. "Plus, based on what the prophecy says about my death, I think she'd get more sad knowing that more of her friends died and she couldn't protect them."

I'll admit it; he had a point.

"I guess you're right," I said, managing a weak smile. "Thanks. Oh, and about the entire line?"

Kai smirked. "Don't worry. I won't tell anybody. It'll be our secret. Well, before I die. Then everyone's going to know and it won't really be a-"

"Kai!"

"Sorry," he muttered.

I laughed weakly and quickly embraced him before heading back to the campfire, Kai behind me.

I was ready to make my final picks.

I walked in front of the campfire again, Kai sitting back down with the other campers and giving me his classic grin. "For my last two picks, I choose Kai and Geneva."

From across the field, Geneva looked at me angrily. Usually, I would've gotten scared, since Geneva had the wrath of an angry dragon, but I had to bring her on this quest. I owed Kai that at least.

"It's settled then," Chiron said. "Tomorrow morning, you five will leave. I'll call Oman to give you a ride. Campers, head to sleep."

It'd be nice to see Oman again. Last time we saw him was actually a good month or so back, when he was still in a boot because of Ares crashing his plane during the quest. The second he was permitted to take off the cast, he flew off without saying goodbye, apparently telling Chiron that he wanted a little break from his leg being broken and saying he'd be back whenever Chiron needed him.

As the campers began to disperse, Geneva began walking towards me. I was fully prepared to get whacked upside the head like a pinata as I took a deep breath and racked my brain for answers to her rage.

"Before you get angry, let me explain," I said, trying to calm her down.

Geneva's angry face loosened up. "Rose, I'm not mad at you. I just… I don't know if I'm ready to go on a quest right now."

"I know that, Geneva," I said. "But Kai convinced me to include you, and I completely agree with what he said."

"Oh, did he now?" Geneva said, giving me a fake-smile and turning towards the campers, trying to locate where Kai was. I made a mental note to give Kai some bandages in the morning.

"Look, I know that after Art- his death you don't feel like doing anything, but this quest is a way for you to relieve yourself. You need this, Geneva. Staying angry and chopping trees down is not how you should keep living. I hope this quest allows you to find peace of mind."

Geneva considered my response.

"I don't expect you to be all joyful about this, but please just consider going on the quest. I really need you to come."

Geneva gave me a curt nod. "I'll think about it. Goodnight, Rose."

"Goodnight."

With that, I headed towards the Hecate cabin and went straight to sleep.

I had a long couple days ahead of me.