Epilogue
Posted: Monday 18th March 2024

Apollo and I left Olympus together. He sensed that there was something happening at Camp Half-blood.

"The oracle is being handed over," he said excitedly, "Hades' curse has been lifted, the oracle can finally pass on as it is supposed to."

"Cool," I said, not really knowing what he was talking about. I had never met the oracle, but I had heard about her during my time at camp. The mummified hippie in the attic of the big house was a scary story that older campers all shivered at the thought of it.

Apollo took my hand and the next thing I knew I was standing outside the big house. Annabeth, Percy, a short pale boy who I hadn't met before and Chiron were stood there, all staring towards the porch where the mummy itself stood beside a girl with flaming red hair.

Apollo had appeared at the same time as me, he was floating closer to the girl and the mummy.

"Woa!" Percy almost jumped out of his own skin when I appeared beside him, "Ariadne? Apollo!?"

Apollo shot Percy a wink and pressed a finger to his lips.

"Rachel Elizabeth Dare," Apollo said, "you have the gift of prophecy. But it is also a curse. Are you sure you want this?"

The girl nodded, "it's my destiny."

"Do you accept the risks?" Apollo asked.

"I do."

"Then proceed."

Rachel took a breath, "I accept this role. I pledge myself to Apollo, god of oracles," I shuddered as I remembered the pledge I had spoken earlier that day during the haze of pain, "I open my eyes to the future and embrace the past. I accept the spirit of Delphi, voice of the gods, speaker of riddles, seer of fate."

A green mist emerged from the mummy and uncoiled itself, passing from the mummy and curled around Rachel's feet. The mummy evaporated to mist and Rachel collapsed as mist swelled, almost obscuring her from view.

Annabeth, Percy and the other boy rushed forwards, but Apollo gestured for them to stay back.

"Stop! This is the most delicate part, either the spirit takes hold or it doesn't."

"And if it doesn't?" Annabeth demanded.

"Five syllables," Apollo counted them out on his fingers, "that would be bad."

Percy rushed forward anyway and the mist began to evaporate. Rachel's eyes fluttered open.

Apollo grinned and floated down to land on the ground and stood beside me, "ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce the new Oracle of Delphi."

"You're kidding," Annabeth said.

"Your life aura almost faded completely, I could see you dying," The boy who I didn't know said to Rachel. I realised from his words that this must be Nico Di Angelo, the son of Hades.

"I'm alright," Rachel said, "Please help me up, the visions are a little disorienting." Percy obliged her and helped her to her feet.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked her.

She smiled, "yes. This is my fate. I saw it, I was meant to be the Oracle."

"You can tell the future now?" Percy demanded.

"I guess," Rachel said, "when someone asks me a question I - oh no -"

"It's starting," Apollo said.

Rachel's eyes glowed and when she spoke it sounded as if she was speaking at the same time as six other people.

"Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,

To storm or fire the world must fall,

The joy of the sun will delve the depths,

And discover what she least expects.

An oath to keep with a final breath,

And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death."

Rachel collapsed and Percy and Nico caught her.

"What was that?" Percy demanded as they helped Rachel regain her footing.

Apollo looked troubled, but donned his trademark smile, "I believe we just heard another Great Prophecy." When he saw the expressions on everyone's faces he laughed lightly, "I wouldn't worry too much. A Great Prophecy can take years to come true, it probably won't happen in your lifetimes."

"It didn't sound so good," Percy said.

"No it didn't," Apollo smiled wider, "she's going to make a wonderful Oracle."

Percy blinked at the god and then looked at me, "where did you come from?" He asked, "last we heard you were dying on Olympus."

"It's nice to see you too Percy," I rolled my eyes.

"She came with me," Apollo said proudly, "Rachel isn't the only one who gained a new title today. You're looking at the immortal Champion of Nyx."

I blushed.

"Immortal?" Annabeth cocked her head and looked at me.

"Not totally," I said, "at least I don't think."

"No," Apollo confirmed, "champions of gods have immortality unless killed. The Hunters are Artemis' champions, Ri's immortality is similar to them."

"Ri," Annabeth repeated, looking from me to Apollo and back again, "do the two of you know each other?"

Apollo beamed and looked at me, as if he was asking for my permission. I shrugged.

"Ariadne is in fact my wife," Apollo said, he threw an arm around my shoulders as he spoke.

"Your wife," Percy repeated, he looked at me, "you married a god? When? How?"

I spoke quickly, "It was an accident-"

"A happy accident," Apollo added.

"Not at the time!" I swatted at him, "it was right after I got out of Tartarus, about a year before I came to camp."

"You've been married to a god this whole time?" Percy demanded.

I laughed, "yeah. You remember my first day here? When I fell into the lake?"

"Yeah," Percy and Annabeth said.

"He pushed me out of the sun chariot," I said.

Percy burst into laughter and Annabeth smiled.

"I knew there was something fishy about you!" Annabeth said triumphantly.

"Hey I don't think I'm the fishy one here," I looked pointedly towards Percy.

Annabeth laughed.

Apollo took my hand in his and for the first time since I had left Tartarus, I felt tentatively optimistic for the future, for just a moment, the shadow of Nyx was the furthest thing from my mind.

And that's the end of Book 1! I'm publishing the title part for Book 2 straight after this and Book 2 will follow shortly!
Have a good day all! Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
~Em xx