[Third Person Pov]
Upon receiving the prophecy, Chiron immediately called for a meeting to take place inside the Big House. Campers, counselors, and various mythical beings hurried to gather as word spread quickly through the grounds. They all managed to squeeze inside and find seats where they could. It was a rare meeting that brought together gods, demigods, satyrs, and centaurs alike. The gathering took the entire camp by storm, creating a buzz of anticipation and nervous energy that filled the air.
Some of the cabin members who could not fit inside stood outside instead, listening closely by the windows or lingering on the porch steps as they waited for any updates or decisions that might emerge from the discussion.
“A goddess receiving a prophecy for a quest,” Chiron began at the start of the meeting, his gaze directed respectfully toward Artemis. “I cannot say that it has happened all that often. This is quite the special occasion.”
“Bah,” Mr. D said, waving his hand dismissively as if he wanted nothing more to do with the entire situation. “Everyone’s just overreacting. I say we leave the brat to his fate. Who cares whether he lives or dies—”
“Dionysus,” Artemis interrupted him in a cold tone that sent a shiver down everyone’s spine, as if the winter breeze had managed to sneak its way inside the Big House itself. Her voice was deep and layered in a manner that demanded reverence and immediate attention. “If you have nothing useful to say or add to this meeting, then keep your mouth shut.”
“Oooh, sounds like someone is in a pissy mood~ I wonder what could have caused it,” Dionysus replied in a sing-song tone, one arm resting casually over the headrest of his chair.
Artemis closed her eyes and took a slow, measured breath before ignoring him completely.
“Have you come to a decision on who the six champions you have chosen for this quest will be?” Chiron asked quickly, hoping to steer the conversation forward before Artemis decided to take more drastic action against her half-brother. “There are many skillful campers this year, all of whom I can personally vouch for as more than capable enough to accompany you on your quest.”
“Why is that even a question?” Phoebe, the substitute lieutenant of the Hunters, scoffed with clear disdain. “Our lady is obviously going to choose from her Hunters, as it should have been from the beginning.”
Artemis gave her a pointed look, raising one brow, and Phoebe immediately flinched as she realized how her words had sounded. “Forgive me, Lady Artemis! I didn’t mean anything bad by it.”
“If you had accompanied me, many of you and your sisters would have been dead,” Artemis said plainly, not looking at her or the rest of her Hunters as she spoke. “I do not regret my decision to undertake that journey alone. The current events have proven exactly why I did not take any of you with me.”
Artemis then turned her attention toward Chiron. “I do not have six picks, but I do have three whom I feel confident taking on this quest.”
She glanced over the group that was present for a moment before returning her focus to Chiron. “The three I have chosen so far are Thalia, Annabeth, and Bianca.”
“Wow, all girls. What a shocker,” Nico sarcastically remarked while rolling his eyes.
“Nico!” Bianca reprimanded him sharply and offered an immediate apology for his behavior, clearly not wanting to get into any trouble with a goddess.
“Bianca isn’t going,” Annabeth said with clear finality in her voice.
“What?” Bianca blinked in surprise, unable to believe she had heard that correctly. After all, she had just been feeling quite proud to have been chosen by a goddess for such an important task.
“I’m sorry, Bianca, but Lucian made it explicitly clear that he is prohibiting you from going on this quest,” Annabeth explained, shooting her an apologetic glance.
Bianca stood up abruptly, slamming her hands on the table. The area around them seemed to darken as frost began creeping over the windows. Everyone’s breath became visible in that moment as Bianca expressed her rising anger. “I don’t think Lucian is in any position to tell me what I can or can’t do right now!”
Wait, what do you mean Lucian told you?” Charles asked, looking at Annabeth with clear suspicion in his eyes.
“He came to me in a dream,” Annabeth replied, a grim look flashing across her face. “He was being weighed down by something heavy. I couldn’t really see what it was, but he made it explicitly clear that if there was a quest, I was not to let Bianca or Nico go, no matter what.”
“What?!” Nico shouted, clearly caught off guard by the fact that he had been included in the prohibition as well. “That’s bullshit! Why can’t we go? Did he tell you why?”
“I didn’t get a chance to ask because I woke up right after,” Annabeth sighed, shaking her head slowly.
Nico’s eyes welled up with tears of frustration. “That’s just not fair! Lucian is my brother! If anyone gets the chance to go and rescue him, it should be me!”
The aura of death around him intensified, causing most of the people in the room to recoil slightly and look at him with a mix of fear and wariness. A faint speck of green light flickered within his dark pupils. He clenched both his jaw and his fists tightly. “I’m stronger than most of you by a large margin. If I wanted any of you dead, I wouldn’t even need to move a finger.”
No one in the room doubted his words, especially while feeling the heavy oppressiveness of his aura pressing down on them. “I’m clearly fit to be a part of this quest, so why… Why doesn’t he believe in me?” Nico’s voice cracked toward the end. He bit his lip hard in frustration. “Have I not proven to him that I’m capable?”
Bianca shared the same deep frustration as Nico, though she managed to keep her emotions more contained. It was obvious that between the two of them, Nico looked up to Lucian the most.
“I’m sorry, Nico. You too, Bianca,” Annabeth said apologetically. “But Lucian already gave his orders.”
“Fuck his orders!” Bianca snapped the moment she heard Annabeth’s words. “Lady Artemis already picked me to be part of this quest and join her. Lucian isn’t only Nico’s brother—he’s my brother too, damn it! And in case you haven’t realized, Lucian isn’t here right now, so he can’t make me stay!”
“I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to trust Lucian’s judgment on this,” Artemis said, mirroring Annabeth’s serious expression as she gave Bianca an apologetic look. “Lucian must have had his reasons for not wanting you or your brother to accompany me on this quest. I will respect his decision and not take you with me.”
Everyone in the room stared at Artemis in surprise, not really expecting her to side with the restriction. Bianca and Nico exchanged a look filled with hurt. “Fine…” Bianca growled through clenched teeth.
“If I’m not going to be a part of this quest, then what’s the point of me staying here? I’m leaving,” Bianca announced, glaring coldly at everyone in the room before marching toward the door. “Let’s go, Nico.”
Nico started walking away as well, but he paused for a moment. He glanced over at Markus and asked, “You coming?”
“I’m sorry. Lucian forbade you two from going, not me,” Markus muttered solemnly. “I’m still his lieutenant, and more than that, Lucian is my best friend. If there’s any chance I can be a part of this, I have to try.”
“Okay… Good luck,” Nico said. It wasn’t a side remark, nor was it said sarcastically. Nico meant it genuinely.
Markus smiled faintly and nodded his head in thanks.
Nico walked past Bianca, who was holding the door open for him. Once they were both outside, she slammed the door shut behind them without looking back, too angry to care if she had offended anyone in the process.
Everyone left inside the Big House let out the breath they had been holding. The heavy pressure that had filled the room lifted, as if a scythe had finally been pulled away from their necks, giving them all a chance to breathe again.