Chapter Thirty-Seven - I Avoid A Lecture About Prophecies
Posted: Sunday 23rd June 2024

Chiron cleared his throat, "Well, you know the Oracle of Delphi stopped working during the war with Gaia. In fact, all known methods of divining the future suddenly failed."

"Because the original cave of Delphi was retaken," Apollo added.

"Yes, we had hoped that once the war was over the Oracle might start working again," said Chiron, "When it did not... Rachel became concerned."

"Who's Rachel?" Meg asked.

"Rachel Dare, the Oracle," said Apollo.

"I thought the oracle was a place?" Meg asked.

"It is, it's a cavern filled with Volcanic fumes and the people would come to hear my priestesses speak wisdom. I gained possession of it many years ago by slaying Python. Whilst I was... indisposed... last August, Python was released from Tartarus and reclaimed the cave. That's why the Oracle has stopped working."

Chiron nodded, "In any case, we currently have no source of prophecy."

"Who cares?" Meg said, "so you can't tell the future? Most people can't."

"Who cares?" Apollo repeated, "Meg McCaffrey, prophecies are-"

"The point is," I cut Apollo off before he could go on a tirade on the importance of prophecies. "Prophecies are like seeds, they're the catalyst for pretty much any event. No prophecies, no growth. No garden."

"Oh, that would suck," Meg said.

"Anyhow," Chiron sidestepped, "prophecies are not our only problem. Travel and communications have become difficult in the last few months. We haven't heard from our friends at Camp Jupiter in weeks. No new demigods have arrived, Satyrs aren't reporting from the field. Iris messages don't work. Even mortal communication methods are proving troublesome. For a while I was able to convince myself this was just an inconvenience, but then the disappearances started."

"Disappearances?" Apollo asked, "tell me more."

"Three in the last month. None since Ariadne arrived a week ago. First was Cecil from the Hermes cabin. Then Ellis Wakefield and finally Miranda Gardener." Chiron said, "something is very wrong Apollo. These problems might not be as alarming as the rise of Kronos or the awakening of Gaia. But in a way I find them to be more unsettling because I have never seen anything like this before.

Apollo seemed lost in thought, "these demigods... before they disappeared did they act unusual in any way? Did they report hearing things?"

"Not that I am aware of," Chiron said, "why?"

Apollo bit his lip and was silent.

"Any thoughts?" I prompted, my bitter tone was evident to everyone in the room. Meg was looking between myself and Apollo with a perplexed look.

"I think," Apollo said, too lost in his own thoughts to notice me, "that our first priority should be restoring me to my divine state. Then I can assist you with these... problems."

"What if the problems are all connected?" Chiron offered, "What if the only way to restore you to Olympus is to reclaim the Oracle of Delphi?"

"I don't think that would be possible in my current state," Apollo said, "I am bound to Meg, I'll do her budding for a year or so, then Zeus will judge that my sentence has been served and restore me."

Meg frowned, "I order you to go to this Delphi place."

"No!" Apollo complained, "you should assign me easy tasks! Once I'm a god we can talk about Delphi."

"We may not have a year If demigods keep disappearing" I interjected, "And have you forgotten that the reason you were incapacitated last summer? Letting Python take over Delphi is because of your own arrogance?"

"I was not the one who opened the doors of death!" Apollo protested, "I did not aid Gaia and her forces!" That blow stung, and it appeared to me that Apollo knew it would. Of course, I had aided Gaia before I broke free of Nyx.

"Hey look! He's awake!" Meg grinned, Seymour the leopard head had woken up and was letting out hungry noises.

"Ariadne, why don't you show Meg how to feed Seymour dinner?" Chiron suggested, "we will meet you outside."

I got the distinct impression that I was being lumped with babysitting duty so that Chiron could speak to Apollo in private, but I did as I was asked.

"What about you has got Apollo's knickers all in a twist?" Meg asked as she hurled some of the snacks into Seymour's mouth. "Do you know eachother? Are you a demigod?"

"You could say we know eachother," I said, watching the leopard chew and swallow and once again pondering where the food went as he did not have a body. "Yes, I'm a demigod. My mother is the goddess of night."

"Nyx?" Meg asked, "That's pretty cool." She saw my slightly confused expression and smiled, "my stepfather used to tell me stories."

"My father told me stories too, a long time ago." I smiled, the memory of my father had not come to the forefront of my mind in a long time and I was surprised that the memory of him was still able to offer me some comfort.

"So are you mad at Apollo or something?" Meg threw some more food to the leopard.

"We argued the last time we spoke, yes." I said.

"You know I can just command him to tell me right?" Meg grinned at me.

"He's my husband," I said. I more than anyone did not like the idea of this twelve year old being able to force anyone to do anything that they didn't want to. Nyx had imposed her will on me and it was a near unbearable feeling.

"So that's his baby?"

"Yes it is."

A horn sounded off in the distance, saving me from the rest of this conversation, and saving me from having to speak to Apollo.

"That means dinner," I said, "you must be hungry after all the excitement."

*

Unfortunaley, after I had sat down at the Apollo table I remembered that Apollo would likely sit there too. Before I could move he sat down beside me.

I remained silent however as Austin and Kayla distracted Apollo with questions. Will and Nico spoke amongst themselves, giving me the excellent excuse to sit quietly and eat my dinner.

"You two," Apollo said eventually, gesturing at Nico and I, "shouldn't you be at your own tables?"

"Technically yes," Nico said, "but if I sit alone at my table things happen. Cracks open us in the floor, zombies climb up and start roaming around. It's a mood disorder, I can't control it. I have a note from my doctor."

"I'm his doctor," Will offered.

"Chiron decided it wasn't worth arguing about," Nico said, "as long as I sit at a table with other people, like uh, these guys for instance, the zombies stay away. Everyone is happier."

"It's the strangest thing. Not that Nico would ever misuse his powers to get what he wants." Will said sincerely.

"Of course not," Nico agreed.

"And you?" Apollo asked. I could tell that this whole conversation was simply a way to get me to speak to him and I wasn't happy that it was working.

"I don't have a cabin," I said, "and technically there is a child of Apollo inside of me. Plus my doctor wants to keep tabs. You know, make sure I'm eating."

"I expect to see a clean plate," Will said, "Kayla told me you didn't eat anything this morning."

"Yes sir!" I mock saluted at Will and lapsed back into silence as Apollo continued asking questions.