Nobody, but Kurayami and his group dared move. To them, it was just a mummy that spoke, so not that scary. Then her voice hissed inside everyone’s head. Apparently, everyone could hear it, because several clutched their hands over their ears.

“I am the spirit of Delphi, Speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python.” Then she turned unmistakably toward 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. They 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: .

“6 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 one withstand, one shall perish by a parent’s hand. The Dog God of the fallen shall challenge the dragon.”

Then, as everyone was 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 she’d been in the attic as if she might sit by this creek for a hundred years.

The least the Oracle could’ve done was walk back to the attic by herself. Instead, Grover and Percy were elected to carry her. Kurayami found it funny. The whole camp was pissed at Percy for losing the game to the Hunters, and then there was the new prophecy from the Oracle. It was like the spirit of Delphi had gone out of her way to exclude Percy. She’d ignored his question and walked half a mile to talk to Zoe.

Kurayami had a thoughtful look on his face while the girls knew it meant him. He was the owner of the Dog god and was a Fallen, so it made sense. They saw he was thinking of what to do as he brought them to come with him. Esdeath sat on his lap and looked up. “What will you do?” She looked down and rested his chin on her head.

“I would say ignore prophecies, but you know what happens when they are ignored.” She just had to agree. “What will Chiron do?” He thought about it. “Well, I am part of this prophecy meaning there will be a dragon. Seems I got my work out for me.” Lavinia leaned on his shoulder. “Any clue what dragon it is?” The girls looked over with interest.

“We are in the Greek Pantheon, so let’s guess it is Ladon.” They all looked a little weird. Akeno made a good point. “I thought all the evil dragons were dead?” He patted her hair and nodded. “They are, but evil dragons can resurrect if given time.” Natsume smiled. “You want to take Ladon for yourself right?”

He grinned. “Of course. That is an evil dragon and one of the best at barriers. He will be a good asset for Grigori.” Suddenly a hunter was actually a pretty nice girl named Nora. She was a human-turned hunter, but she treated everyone with respect and came to get them.

“Excuse me, Dionysus is calling a council of cabin leaders to discuss the prophecy, that includes you as Chiron said you are part of the prophecy.” She looked about 10 and was a small petite girl who looked European. She looked around and smiled. “What does it mean to be the Dog god of the fallen?”

He smiled and patted her hair. “There is a story behind Shin the dog at my side. I am a Fallen angel, so it refers to me.” She nodded and walked away. “Hey, can I ask you something?” The girls looked down and he agreed. “Go ahead.” She looked up. “If you are going can you keep my sisters safe?” He frowned and she took his hand. “Please.” He sighed.

“I make no promise, but if I can avoid it I will help. Let’s go.” She led them to the council spot that was held around a Ping-Pong table in the rec room. Dionysus waved his hand and supplied snacks: Cheez Whiz, crackers, and several bottles of red wine. Then Chiron reminded him that wine was against his restrictions and most of the campers were underage.

Mr. D sighed and yet Kurayami took a bottle and popped it open and began to drink the entire bottle. The campers all watched as a big bottle of wine went down his throat and Kuroka took a bottle and drank a bit. She didn’t like to drink much but it seemed that it tasted great. Dionysus smiled. “In a few years let us drink.” Kurayami nodded. “Sounds good. That was great.”

Chiron frowned. “He is underage.” Dionysus scoffed. “He has the body of an adult and the stomach for good wine. He is fine.” He and Chiron sat at one end of the table. Zoe and Bianca took the other end. Kurayami and his group all stood by Chiron and Dionysus as they were allowed.

Thalia and Grover and Percy sat along the right, and the other head councilors—Beckendorf, Silena Beauregard, and the Stoll brothers—sat on the left. The Ares kids were supposed to send a representative, too, but all of them had broken limbs during the capture of the flag, courtesy of the Hunters. They were resting up in the infirmary.

Zoe started the meeting off on a positive note. “This is pointless.” While she was annoyed Grover was focused on eating. “Cheez Whiz!” Grover gasped. He began scooping up crackers and Ping-Pong balls and spraying them with topping. Kurayami just about puked at the cheese and looked a bit green.

“There is no time for talk,” Zoe continued. “Our goddess needs us. The Hunters must leave immediately.” As if a bucket of cold water was splashed on her she froze as Chiron was right.

“And where?” Chiron asked. “West!” Bianca said. She looked very different after just a few days with the Hunters. Her dark hair was braided like Zoe’s now, so you could actually see her face. She had a splash of freckles across her nose, and her dark eyes were very nice.

She looked like she’d been working out, and her skin glowed faintly, like the other Hunters, as if she’d been taking showers in liquid moonlight. “You heard the prophecy. 6 shall go west to the goddess in chains. We can get five hunters and go. As for the Dog God, I have no clue. Is there a god of dogs?”

Dionysus was ignoring her and talking to Kurayami about wine and he looked back. “He means Kurayami.” Bianca looked at Shin. “Why?” Dionysus yawned. “As I am in a great mood I shall explain. The dog that follows Kurayami around is not a dog.” They all looked at Shin and while he looked a little freaky he was still a dog.

“That is what happens when you take a God-killing sword and mix it with a guy cursed to become a dog. Shin or better known as Canis Lyacon the false god.” Everyone froze when they heard a God-killing sword. Bianca shook her head.

“Wait, what god is killing swords? How do you even combine a sword and a cursed person?” Kurayami sighed and proceeded to explain about the God of the bible, sacred gears, and more importantly the Longinus. It was no secret knowledge as a few of the hunters were sacred gear holders even if they were not strong ones. When they all heard his words they looked at Dionysus who nodded.

“Not much point keeping it secret, but the Greeks are not the only gods out there. There are even gods we would not mess with like Indra from the Hindu pantheon. That guy is a monster.” Kurayami just had to agree. “Even I would think twice of fighting him.” Zoe frowned. “So you are the dog god. I will not go with a man.”

Chiron frowned. “This is not up for debate, girl. You will need Kurayami’s power as you will be fighting a dragon. Out of all of you, I believe he is the only one who shall rise up to the challenge.” Zoe frowned but agreed. If it will save Artemis she will stand his presence. Chiron sighed as even he was getting sick of her attitude.

“Now girl, choose what hunters and what campers shall go. What will your classes do?” He was asking the girls with Kurayami as he didn’t know what they would do. They just shrugged. Lavinia was kind of the older sister and spoke up. “We will go back to Japan as Kurayami can deal with this. We rather just let him go on his own adventure as he takes us on all of them. We don’t mind.”

They all agreed one after another and Kurayami and the girls all left the meeting to just spend some time. Kurayami was forced to give them all a very intense kiss and when he was kissing Akeno he felt a gaze and saw Percy close to puking as he saw him french kissing Akeno. He just was more intense and Percy ran away in disgust.

Akeno was gasping for breath, but she was happy. Akeno waved. “Bye, brother. Come back soon.” Esdeath smiled. “Bring back Ladon. I want to fight an evil dragon.” Vritra formed around Raynare. “May I make a request of you Kurayami?” Kurayami nodded. “Get my soul fragments here in America. It is in Texas. I shall give you a way to find it.”

Vritra gave him a small orb and explained that the closer he gets it will burn brighter. After a goodbye hug, they all went to Japan and he was left with Shin. “Hey, Shin. Seems we have our own adventure now.” The dog nodded and they went back to the main group where Percy tried to avoid eye contact. It made Kurayamu smile as he was in no way ashamed.

He returned to the meeting and the more Zoe spoke the more annoyed he became. “Artemis is being held, hostage! We must find her and free her.” She wanted to just rush out and find Artemis, but how even Shin lost her scent. Kurayami held his face as he just wanted to punch her.

“You’re missing something, as usual,” Thalia said. “Campers and Hunters combined prevail. We’re supposed to do this together. Kurayami is part of it as well.” However, Zoe did not want to take more help out of pride.

“The Hunters do not need thy help.” Zoe glared at Thalia and it got boring. Seems he was not the only one sick of her old way of speaking. “Your” Thalia grumbled. “Nobody has said thy in, like, three hundred years, Zoe. Get with the times.” Kurayami broke out laughing and Zoe blushed in shame. Zoe hesitated like she was trying to form the word correctly. “Yerrr. We do not need yerrr help.”

Thalia rolled her eyes. “Forget it. Seems it is too hard for the old lady.” Zoe had tick marks on her face as she was called old. Even an immortal does not want to be called old. Chiron being the voice of reason was once again correct. “I fear the prophecy says you do need our help,” Chiron said. “Campers and Hunters must cooperate. Kurayami as expected is the outlier as he is not part of our branch, but seems to be everywhere.” Kurayami patted him on the shoulder. “I just need it.” Chiron scoffed.

“Or do they?” Mr. D mused, swirling his Diet Coke under his nose like it had a fine bouquet. “One shall be lost. One shall perish. That sounds rather nasty, doesn’t it? What if you fail because you try to cooperate?”

“Mr. D,” Chiron sighed, “with all due respect, whose side are you on?” Dionysus raised his eyebrows. “Sorry, my dear centaur. Just trying to be helpful.” Thalia took a deep breath to try to stop being blinded by her negative feelings toward Zoe.

“We’re supposed to work together,” Thalia said stubbornly. “I don’t like it either, Zoe, but you know the prophecies. You want to fight against one?” Zoe grimaced, but she could tell Thalia had scored a point. Even Kurayami had to be careful of fate, but not for long. “We must not delay,” Chiron warned. “Today is Sunday. This very Friday, December twenty-first, is the winter solstice.”

“Oh, joy,” Dionysus muttered. “Another dull annual meeting.” Zoe raised a great point. “Artemis must be present at the solstice, she has been one of the most vocal on the council arguing for action against Kronos’s minions. If she is absent, the gods will decide nothing. We will lose another year of war preparations.”

“Are you suggesting that the gods have trouble acting together, young lady?” Dionysus asked. “Yes, Lord Dionysus.” Mr. D nodded. “Just checking. You’re right, of course. Carry on.”Chiron. nodded. “I must agree with Zoe, Artemis’s presence at the winter council is critical. We have only a week to find her. And possibly even more important: to locate the monster she was hunting. Now, we must decide who goes on this quest.”

Suddenly Percy spoke, and the attention went to him. “Three and two,” Everybody looked at him and even Thalia even forgot to ignore him. “We’re supposed to have five,” He said, feeling self-conscious. “Three Hunters, two from Camp Half-Blood adding Kurayami. That’s more than fair.”

Thalia and Zoe exchanged looks. Thalia agreed. “Well, It does make sense,” Zoe grunted. “I would prefer to take all the Hunters. We will need the strength of numbers.” Kurayami raised his hand. “Tyrant will do the job of most of the hunters along with my pets. We got more than enough on numbers.”

Zoe muttered about the scaly lizard. “You’ll be retracing the goddess’s path.” Chiron reminded her. “Moving quickly. No doubt Artemis tracked the scent of this rare monster, whatever it is, as she moved west. You will have to do the same. The prophecy was clear: The bane of Olympus shows the trail. What would your mistress say? ‘Too many Hunters spoil the scent.’ A small group is best.”

Kurayami raised another good point. “I got good news. Shin has both the beasts and Artemis scent, but he says the smell suddenly stops. We can use his nose to lead most of the way. Zoe looked at the dog and thought taking Kurayami wouldn’t be so bad.

Zoe picked up a Ping-Pong paddle and studied it like she was deciding who she wanted to whack first. “This monster—the bane of Olympus. I have hunted at Lady Artemis’s side for many years, yet I have no idea what this beast might be.”

Everybody looked at Dionysus because he was the only god present and gods are supposed to know things. He was flipping through a wine magazine, but when everyone got silent he glanced up, “Well, don’t look at me. I’m a young god, remember? I don’t keep track of all those ancient monsters and dusty titans. They make for terrible party conversation.”

Kurayami sighed. “I will call my grandpa. He should know more.” They all looked at Kurayami oddly and he made a big call in a video call and soon Azrael picked up while eating. “Hey, grandpa. I have a question.” Azrael nodded. “What is it?” Kurayami asked about the bane of Olympus and Azrael nodded. “I know what it is.”

Zoe and everyone froze waiting for him to say it. Azrael noticed. “Oh, my bad. I won’t tell you. What fun would that be?” He hung up and Zoe was pissed. “So much for his help” Kurayami looked at Chiron for help. “You don’t have any ideas about the monster?”

Chiron pursed his lips. “I have several ideas, none of them good. And none of them quite make sense. Typhon, for instance, could fit this description. He was truly a bane of Olympus. Or the sea monster Keto. But if either of these were stirring, we would know it. They are ocean monsters the size of skyscrapers. Poseidon would already have sounded the alarm. I fear this monster may be more elusive. Perhaps even more powerful.”

“That’s some serious danger you’re facing,” Connor Stoll said. “It sounds like at least two of the five are going to die.” It was a good point that Typhon was in the top ten. “One shall be lost in the land without rain.” Beckendorf said. “If I were you, I’d stay out of the desert.” There was a muttering of agreement.

“And the Titan’s curse must one withstand,” Silena said. “What could that mean?” Chiron and Zoe exchange a nervous look, but whatever they were thinking, they didn’t share it. Kurayami also knew what it was, but it seems the stronger you are the more of a joker you are. None of them said a thing.

“One shall perish by a parent’s hand,” Grover said in between bites of Cheez Whiz and Ping-Pong balls. “How is that possible? Whose parent would kill them?” There was heavy silence around the table.

People glanced at Thalia and Percy wondering if it was them. Chiron had had a prophecy about the next child of the Big Three—Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades—who turned sixteen. Supposedly, that kid would make a decision that would save or destroy the gods forever. Because of that, the Big Three had taken an oath after World War II not to have any more kids. But Thalia and Percy had been born anyway, and now they were both getting close to sixteen.

“There will be deaths,” Chiron decided. “That much we know.” Like usual Dinoyus was as negative as always. “Oh, goody!” Dionysus said. Everyone looked at him. He glanced up innocently from the pages of Wine Connoisseur magazine. “Ah, pinot noir is making a comeback. Don’t mind me.”

“Percy is right,” Silena Beauregard said. “Two campers should go.” Zoe spoke sarcastically. “Oh, I see, and I suppose you wish to volunteer?” Silena blushed. “I’m not going anywhere with the Hunters. Don’t look at me!”

Zoe scoffed.”A daughter of Aphrodite does not wish to be looked at, what would thy mother say?” Silena started to get out of her chair, but the Stoll brothers pulled her back.

“Stop it,” Beckendorf said. He was a big guy with a bigger voice. He didn’t talk much, but when he did, people tended to listen. “Let’s start with the Hunters. Which three of you will go?”

Zoe stood. “I shall go, of course, and I will take Phoebe. She is our best tracker.” Travis Stoll asked cautiously. “The big girl who likes to hit people on the head?” Zoe nodded. “The one who put the arrows in my helmet?” Connor added.

“Yes,” Zoe snapped. “Why?” The Stoll brothers looked at each other and nodded. “Oh, nothing,” Travis said. “Just that we have a T-shirt for her from the camp store.” He held up a big silver T-shirt that said ARTEMIS THE MOON GODDESS, FALL HUNTING TOUR 2002, with a huge list of national parks and stuff underneath. “It’s a collector’s item. She was admiring it. You want to give it to her?”

Kurayami knew it was a trick and Shin’s nose burned, but he hid it well. They got a thumbs up in his book. Zoe didn’t know them as well as Percy did. She just sighed and took the T-shirt. “As I was saying, I will take Phoebe. And I wish Bianca to go.”

Bianca looked stunned. “Me? But… I’m so new. I wouldn’t be any good.” Kurayami agreed. “I agree. You should take one of your sacred gear users instead.” Zoe insisted. “She will do fine, there is no better way to prove thyself.”

Bianca closed her mouth as she did not think she should be the one to go. “And for campers?” Chiron asked. His eyes met Percy, but Kurayami had a good guess about what it was about.

“Me!” Grover stood up so fast he bumped the Ping-Pong table. He brushed cracker crumbs and Ping-Pong ball scraps off his lap. “Anything to help Artemis!” Zoe wrinkled her nose. “I think not, satyr. You are not even a half-blood. Shin can do your job better.” Grover once again was replaced by a dog-like Titus last time.

“But he is a camper,” Thalia said. “And he’s got a satyr’s senses and woodland magic. Can you play a tracker’s song yet, Grover?” The satyr patted his chest. “Absolutely!” Zoe wavered while Kurayami didn’t know what a tracker’s song was, but apparently, Zoe thought it was a good thing.

“Very well, two trackers are better than one” Zoe said. “And the second camper?” Thalia stood and looked around, daring anyone to question her. “I’ll go.” Percy frowned and stood up. “Whoa, wait a sec, I want to go too.” Kurayami shook his head. “Annabeth would be better, so no.” Annabeth nodded. “I can use magic, and touki. I can help better than Thalia.”

Thalia said nothing, but she knew how strong Annabeth had become at Grigori. Chiron was still studying Percy. “Oh,” Grover said, suddenly aware of the problem. “Whoa, yeah, I forgot! Percy or Annabeth have to go. I didn’t mean… I’ll stay. One of them should go to my place.”

“They cannot, he is a boy. I won’t have Hunters traveling with a boy. As for Annabeth, we can’t go over the number.” Kurayami frowned. “You traveled here with me and I am a guy.” Zoe nodded. “That was a short-term emergency, and it was ordered by the goddess. I will not go across the country and fight many dangers in the company of a boy.”

“What about Grover?” Zoe shook her head. “He does not count. He’s a satyr. He is not technically a boy.” Kurayami broke out laughing as it was too funny; he wasn’t even considered a boy. “Hey!” Grover protested.

Percy spoke up. “I need to go. I just have to.” Kurayami looked at him. “If you can beat one of my pet’s you can come.” Zoe knew he was just trying to get Percy to stay on his own terms. Percy gulped as all his pets looked strong. “Not Tyrant. I can’t fight a dragon.”

Nobody rose to his defense. Mr. D looked bored, still reading his magazine. Silena, the Stoll brothers, and Beckendorf were staring at the table. Bianca gave him a look of pity as just looking at Kurayami’s pets, he had no chance. “No,” Zoe said flatly. “I insist upon this. I will take a satyr and the Fallen if I must, but not a male hero.”

Chiron sighed. “The quest is for Artemis. The Hunters should be allowed to approve their companions and you stand no chance against his beasts. He only said it out of kindness. Thalia and Grover will accompany Zoe, Bianca, Kurayami, and Phoebe. You shall leave at first light. And may the gods”—he glanced at Dionysus—”present company included, we hope—be with you.”