THE STRANGEST PART about dinner and the bonfire wasn't the sacrifices of food or the strange songs. It was the fact that it didn't bring back a single memory.

From her seat by the fire, Elle stared intensely at the ocean. It was dark, but the moon was bright. She could see the dark silhouettes of waves crashing upon the sand. She could feel the familiar pull in her gut, the ocean drawing her in. The sea was stormy tonight. Elle wondered what that could mean. Did her father know she had made her return to Camp from wherever she'd been? Was he too unsettled by her arrival, or was he troubled by Hera's capture? Could it be both?

Elle didn't remember anything about Poseidon. She wondered if he cared about her and Percy, or if he ignored them. The thought of Percy sent a pang through her heart.

At dinner, everyone sacrificed a portion of their meal to their godly parent. Elle had burned her best bite of cheeseburger and several fries with a prayer: I don't remember him well, but wherever he is, take care of Percy. Please. Elle wasn't sure how likely it was Poseidon had even heard her message, but it didn't hurt to try.

A soft whisper from Jason pulled Elle from her thoughts.

"Hey, uh, there's a guy who's been staring at you for the past twenty minutes now."

Elle turned her head, following his gaze.

Across the amphitheater sat Aris. In the firelight, his wine-colored eyes glowed red. His lips were pressed together tightly, his mouth pulled downward in a troubled frown.

Elle shifted uncomfortably. He was her friend — she remembered that much. When she'd passed by his cabin — Cabin Twelve — she'd been hit by a vision of them flipping through magazines and chatting happily. As she crossed by her own cabin, a flashback struck her.

Twelve-year-old Elle and Aris sat on the porch steps of Cabin Three.

"You know," Elle started, "you're the only person who talks to me like I'm a human being after the whole being claimed thing. They're all wary of me — like they think I'm up to something."

Aris flashed her a grin. Gods, Elle barely knew him and she was already a sucker for his grin. "You're still the same person... although you are a little fishier."

Elle snorted. "That's not a word and it was a terrible joke."

Aris' grin grew wider. "What are you talking about? That was high-quality humor!"

"Sure. Keep telling yourself that, Aristotle."

At the sound of his full name, Aris gasped at her. "I told you that in confidence, Traitor! No wonder they're wary of you: you spill everyone's secrets!"

Elle shook her head with a laugh. While she pretended to be annoyed by the boy's bad jokes, it was exactly what she needed.

"You're such a dork."

"Do you know him?" Jason whispered again, dragging her back to reality.

Elle forgot he was there.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I know him. Or, I knew him."

Finally, she tore her eyes away from the son of Dionysus. Instead, she gave Jason a small, pained smile.

Whatever song the campers were singing ended and Chiron stepped forward.

"Very nice, everyone! And a special welcome to our new arrivals." Chiron, as expected, did not single anyone out, as that would lead to having to explain Elle's arrival. "I am Chiron, the camp activities director, and I'm happy you have all arrived here — and with most of your limbs attached! In a moment, I promise we'll get to the s'mores, but first—"

"What about capture the flag?" a voice yelled. Grumbling broke out, specifically from a bunch of kids under a red banner emblazoned with a boar's head.

Ares' children, Elle thought.

A sudden vision of a man (who she presumed to be Ares) crossed her mind. He stood on a beach, sword held high. Beside her stood Percy. They were standing in the ocean, water reaching their knees. In his hand, he held Riptide, and in her own hung Maelstrom.

Were we... fighting Ares? Were they insane?

Elle blinked and returned her attention to Chiron.

"Yes, I know the Ares cabin is anxious to return to the woods for our regular games, however, until the dragon is brought under control, that won't be possible. Cabin Nine, anything to report on that?"

Elle, along with the rest of the camp, turned her head to face the Hephaestus cabin. Elle wasn't sure who he was looking at, but Leo sent someone a wink and a finger gun — Piper, probably.

A girl Elle didn't recognize stood uncomfortably. "We're working on it."

This time, grumbles broke out among everyone.

"How, Nyssa?" demanded someone.

"Really hard," was the only response she gave.

She sat down to a lot of yelling and complaining, which caused the fire to flare chaotically.

A vague memory of a bronze dragon appeared in her mind, followed by that of a boy. He was tall and strong with a friendly smile. Somehow, Elle remembered his name.

Beckendorf. Charles Beckendorf.

A pang of sadness washed over her, although she wasn't sure why (another thing to add to the ever-growing list).

"We will have to be patient," Chiron said. "In the meantime, we have more pressing matters to discuss."

All eyes turned to Elle. Of course. She was their pressing matter.

Not for the first time today, Elle wanted to throw up.

'Cause that would be a great first impression. Elle Jackson, back from whatever mysterious place she was — first thing she does? Vomits in the bonfire as her sacrifice to the gods.

Before Chiron had the chance to speak, Drew stood to her feet.

"It's the Great Prophecy, isn't it?" she called out.

Like magic, Elle no longer had eyes glued to her. Everyone had shifted to face Drew, who looked unbothered by the sudden attention. In fact, she seemed to bask in it.

"Drew?" Annabeth said in confusion. Elle assumed Drew didn't often add value to a conversation.

Big surprise.

"Well, come on," Drew said as though it was obvious. "Olympus is closed. Percy's disappeared. Hera sends you a vision and you come back with four demigods in one day, including her." Drew pointed directly at Elle, drawing many gazes back to her. "I mean, something weird is going on. The Great Prophecy has started, right?"

Eyes were on Rachel now.

"Well?" Drew demanded. "You're the oracle. Has it started or not?"

Rachel sighed softly before standing. She raised her chin, staring out at the camp of demigods. "Yes," she said. "The Great Prophecy has begun."

Okay, now Elle really had to throw up.

During dinner, she'd been able to pester Annabeth into not only breaking Camp rules and sitting with her and Jason, but explaining things such as what the Big Three meant and what a Great Prophecy was. In short, the Big Three weren't supposed to have children and a Great Prophecy was bad.

Well, my life is just fucking fantastic.

Around her, the camp was in chaos. Everyone was shouting, pushing, and arguing, fighting to be heard above others.

Chiron stomped his hoof three times. Almost immediately, the talking dwindled to silence.

Rachel took another step toward the audience.

"For those of you who have not heard it," Rachel said, "the Great Prophecy was my first prediction. It arrived in August. It goes like this:

"Eight half-bloods shall answer the call,

To storm or fire the world must fall—"

As though he'd been electrocuted, Jason shot to his feet. His eyes looked wild.

"Jason?" Elle grabbed the corner of his shirt gently, attempting to subtly yank him back down. "Jason, what—?"

"Ut cum spiritu postrema sacramentum dejuremus," he recited. "Et hostes ornamenta addent ad ianuam necem."

An uneasy silence followed. No one moved, no one spoke.

"Jason—"

"You... you just finished the prophecy," Rachel stammered. "–An oath to keep with a final breath/And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death. How did you—?"

"I know those lines." Jason winced, his fingertips coming up to brush his temple. "I don't know how, but I know that prophecy."

Elle's eyebrows crinkled in worry.

"In Latin, no less," Drew called out with a giggle. "Handsome and smart."

"Now's not really the time, Drew," Elle said, releasing Jason's shirt from her hand, leaving the edge crumpled.

No one spoke, but the fire had changed to an ugly, nervous shade of green.

Jason sat, embarrassed. Elle gently grasped his hand, giving it a soft squeeze of reassurance before letting it go.

Rachel still looked shaken. She glanced at Chiron for guidance, but the centaur gave no signal. He simply stood grim and silent, watching their fates play out before him, as though he couldn't do a single thing about it. Elle had a feeling he genuinely couldn't.

"Well," Rachel said shakily, "that's the Great Prophecy. We hoped it might not happen for years, but I fear it's starting now. I can't give you proof, it's just a feeling, but like Drew said, some weird stuff is happening. The eight demigods, whoever they are, have not been gathered yet. I get the feeling some are here tonight. Some are not here."

Elle's fingernails dug into her palms as she clenched and unclenched her fists. The insides of her hands were littered with various crescent-shaped marks, some recent, others faded scars from her unknown past.

Elle's eyes found the small scar above Jason's mouth. She stared at it, wondering what it was from before she realized she was staring at his lips, and quickly looked away.

"Anyway," continued Rachel, "we don't know what the Great Prophecy means. We don't know what challenge the demigods will face, but since the first Great Prophecy predicted the Titan War, we can guess the second Great Prophecy will predict something at least that bad."

"Or worse," someone muttered.

The campfire burned dark purple.

Rachel didn't give them time to worry over what that could mean. "What we do know is that the first phase has begun. A major problem has arisen, and we need a quest to solve it. Hera, the queen of the gods, has been taken."

Shocked silence. Then, fifty demigods started talking at once.

Elle took the opportunity to turn to Jason.

"How're you doing, Superman?" she asked.

"Feeling like I'm about to throw up. You?"

"The same."

Chiron pounded his hoof again, and again, the campers fell into silence.

Rachel explained the story. Starting from the incident at the Grand Canyon, she walked them through each event, all the way to Elle and Jason's visions at the Big House and their similarities with the message Hera gave Piper.

"Jason," Rachel said, "um... do you remember your last name?"

The boy looked self-conscious, shaking his head.

Rachel tried to sound comforting. "We'll just call you Jason, then." Then, to the rest of the camp, she said, "It's clear Hera herself has issued Jason and Elle Jackson quests."

Elle was torn between laughing and wrinkling her nose at Rachel's wording. It sounded like they were both named Jackson. If they hadn't been discussing the possible end of the world Elle would've chuckled.

"Do you accept?" Rachel asked.

Elle almost protested. She was tired and she was lost. The last thing she wanted to do was go on a dangerous quest for a goddess who threatened her. But Elle knew this was the only way to get her memories back. The only way to save Hera and prevent whatever issue was arising. The camp needed her, the world needed her, but most of all, Jason needed her. This quest was for them both. Without the other, they couldn't accomplish anything.

All it took was one shared glance between them to reach their final decision.

"I agree," Elle said, once again pulling the attention to her. She stood, and Jason stood with her. "Hera brought Jason and me here for a reason. I accept the quest."

Although she knew was he was going to say, she didn't speak for Jason. This was his fate. He deserved a final chance to back out.

But he nodded, meeting her eyes for a brief moment before facing the demigods. "Elle's right. Hera needs us, and we need to help her."

"You must save Hera to prevent a great evil," Rachel continued. "Stop some sort of king from rising. For reasons we don't yet understand, it must happen by the winter solstice, only four days from now."

Fan-fucking-tasic.

"That's the council day of the gods," Annabeth said. "If the gods don't already know Hera's gone, they will definitely notice her absence by then. They'll probably break out fighting, accusing each other of taking her. That's what they usually do."

It was sad, in Elle's opinion, that a group of pubescent teenagers and small children could handle the disappearance of a goddess better than a group of immortal gods.

"The winter solstice," said Chiron, speaking up again, "is also the time of greatest darkness. The gods gather that day, as mortals always have, because there is strength in numbers. The solstice is a day when evil magic is strong. Ancient magic, older than the gods. It is a day when things... stir."

The way he said it made the inside of Elle's stomach stir. If she hadn't just eaten the best cheeseburger of her life at dinner, she would've barfed by now, but she was not letting go of that burger.

Even still, the anxiety of it all made her feel absolutely sick. A memory of her throwing up at boarding school appeared in her mind, the feeling of Percy holding back her hair as she vomited at recess. She'd had some sort of public presentation to give that day... Elle couldn't remember the finer details (what else is new?).

"Ohhh-kayy," Annabeth said with a pointed glare at the centaur. "Thank you, Captain Sunshine." Her tone returned serious as she gazed back at the campers. "Whatever's going on, I agree with Rachel. Jason and Elle have been chosen to lead this quest, so—"

"Why hasn't he been claimed?" yelled a boy from the Ares cabin. "If he's so important—"

"He has been claimed," Chiron announced. "Long ago. Jason, give them a demonstration."

Elle furrowed her eyebrows. Jason glanced at her in similar confusion. She was about to shrug when it clicked.

"The coin," she whispered. "The sword."

Stepping away, Elle watched as Jason took three steps toward the crowd.

He reached into his pocket. Coin flashing in the air, he reached out an arm. When he grasped the weapon in his hand, no longer was it a coin. He was holding a lance: a golden rod nearly seven feet long, a spear tip at the top.

Gasps rung through the amphitheater. Rachel and Annabeth stepped back beside Elle to avoid the point of the weapon.

"Um, Jason? I thought you had a sword."

"Um, it came up tails, I think," he answered Elle. "Same coin, long-range weapon form."

In her mind, it seemed rather inconvenient to have a fifty-fifty chance of getting the weapon you wanted. But apparently, it wasn't as inconvenient as she thought, because someone shouted, "Dude! I want one!"

"Better than Clarisse's electric spear, Lamer," A Hermes kid muttered rather loudly to his brother.

"Electric," murmured Jason in thought. His head turned up to Elle. "Back away," he told her.

She stepped back more, Rachel and Annabeth following.

Jason raised his lance, thunder ringing strong through camp. A hum of electricity hung in the air, raising the hair on Elle's arms. She took another step back for good measure.

Bolts of lightning arced across the sky, hitting the tip of Jason's golden spear.

The amphitheater shook, smoke filling the air. When it cleared, and the ringing in everyone's ears subsided, Elle took a good look at the camp.

Everyone sat frozen in shock, ashes coating everything like gray snow. The fire was gone, in its place a steaming pile of cinders.

Jason lowered the lance, red creeping up his neck. "Um... I'm sorry."

Casually, Chiron brushed burning coals out of his beard. He grimaced sorrowfully. "A little overkill, perhaps, but you've made your point. And I believe we know who your father is."

"Zeus," Elle whispered to herself in shock.

"Jupiter," Jason said, not hearing her. "I mean, Zeus. Lord of the Sky."

Annabeth pursed her lips, annoyance igniting behind her stormy eyes. Elle knew that look — she could recognize it even with limited memories. That was Annabeth's I'm-sick-of-all-this-bullshit look. She wore it when she was twelve, and she still wore it now.

"Hold it!" she shouted, raising her arms. "How can he be the son of Zeus? The Big Three made a pact not to have mortal kids. How could we not have known about him sooner?"

Chiron didn't respond, but Elle knew he had the answer.

"The important thing is Jason's here now," Rachel said, lowering Annabeth's raised arms. "He and Elle have a quest to fulfill, which means they will each need prophecies of their own."

Looking at the blond, she stared at him for a moment, as if memorizing his features. Then, she closed her eyes and swooned. Two campers dashed forward before Elle could, catching her arms and easing her onto a three-legged stool a third camper dragged over.

Green mist began swirling around Rachel's feet. When her eyes opened, they were glowing emerald green. Smoke curled from her mouth, and when she spoke, the voice was not her own. It was ancient, raspy. It was the oracle.

"Child of lightning, beware the earth,

The giants' revenge, the eight shall birth,

The forge and dove shall break the cage,

And death unleash through Hera's rage."

Elle thought she was done, but Rachel immediately rounded on Elle, glowing green eyes meeting her own.

"Daughter of sea, you know what's at stake,

The goddess, king, and brother shall awake,

Memories lost will soon be found,

When tears fall on sacred ground."

On the last word, Rachel slumped in the chair, the two campers rushing to lift her and carry her out of sight to rest.

"Is that normal?" Piper asked, breaking the silence. All eyes landed on her. She shifted uncomfortably. "I mean... does she spew green smoke a lot?"

"Gods, you're dense!" Drew sneered. "She just issued two prophecies. Why don't you just—"

"Drew shut up." Elle's voice was quiet and hollow, not at all frightening, but Drew fell silent nonetheless.

In her mind, she broke down the prophecy the best she could, tapping into the analyzing skills she learned in eighth-grade English class.

Daughter of sea, you know what's at stake.

Did she? Elle knew it had something to do with giants. She knew it was worse than Kronos. But what could...

Like that, it hit her. Giants' revenge, worse than Kronos, things stirring, goddess awakening, the king, the last chapter... everything fit together like some sort of sick, twisted puzzle.

Elle didn't even realize conversation had been happening around her until she heard the gasps around her.

Following their wide eyes and open mouths, Elle saw Piper. Suddenly, she was dressed in a long, sleeveless white gown and gold armbands circled around her biceps. An intricate necklace of amber, gold, and coral glitter on her collarbone. Her dagger was shiny as if brand new, hanging by her side. The choppiness of her hair was gone, now long and lush, braided so it fell around her shoulder. If Elle hadn't known Piper, she would've assumed she was staring at Aphrodite herself.

For a moment, Piper seemed to vanish, replaced by a young version of Elle. Elle's blue eyes seemed to sparkle, standing out against her white, Ancient Greek-style dress. Her dark hair had been curled to delicately fall along her bare shoulders. A silver, laurel wreath crown sat atop her head. 

Around her, everyone else fell to their knees in a low bow. Elle cleared her head, following in pursuit.

"Hail, Piper McLean," Chiron announced gravely, as though he were announcing her death. "Daughter of Aphrodite, lady of the doves, goddess of love."

a/n: oh look, another chapter i hate.

thanks for reading!