Week Twenty Three: The Descendant: An Accompanist?

  Will shook his head. “On the contrary. Even though The Detectve may seem incapable she’s more capable for this quest than anyone here. Her quest is against Zeus but technically Prometheus did defy the Gods. So anyone from their camp could be bad for her quest. I don’t want to send her out alone but I do believe she needs someone special for this job. Maybe she’ll even meet them along the way of her journey.” Will shrugged.

  Percy nodded. “It would make sense.”

  Jason agreed.

  Piper and Annabeth held a silent conversation. Glancing over at the two, Nico wondered how Elli would have reacted to the behavior. Giving each other a nod, the two smiled.

  “What is it you two?” Rachel asked anxiously. “What do you think?”

  “Will’s right.” Annabeth nodded. Piper smirked. “I don’t want Elli to go at this alone. If anything, we can always come to her rescue.”

  Turning the pages in a book, Chiron signaled the group for attention.

  Annabeth looked up at Chiron. “What is it, Chiron?”

  “It occurred to me that if Aletheia/Veritas sent Elli to Camp Half-Blood but proclaimed to be neither Greek or Roman then there must be something else. There’s hardly anything about Aletheia or Veritas in any of my books so I looked up Prometheus’s story and Zeus.” He paused, directing to the page in the book.

  “Rumor has it, Aletheia may be the child of Zeus and Hera.”

  Jason looked up in amazement with all the others. “She could be my cousin?” He questioned, a look of joyfulness gleamed in his eyes. “I might have a cousin?”

  “Might.” Chiron replied. “But remember this is a rumor, a possibility. No one has confirmed it. Aletheia may be the Goddess of truth but she sure did well keeping a low profile over the millennium.”

  Piper smiled. “That would mean that she’d be family to Hera and Zeus. She wouldn’t have to worry about not having family.”

  “Maybe.” Nico added, not wanting to sink the mood but it was all speculation, there were many Gods and Goddesses that were minor but they still had information in books. Aletheia was the most up in the air Goddess that he had interacted with, as Elli had told him, she could lie but she’d feel it. However, no one else would.

  “The Goddess could have lied about the whole neither Greek nor Roman aspect.” Nico commented.

“Elli told me that she can sense truths but she can still lie. She’d feel herself do it but we wouldn’t know the difference.” With everyone’s attention, Nico continued. “The Goddess of Truth could have the same ability considering Elli inherited it.”

  “After all.” Nico said after looking over everyone. “Why be a Goddess of Truth and hide from the world? Chiron said it himself, he has hardly anything except speculation over this Goddess. If we get lucky we can ask Camp Jupiter what they know about Veritas but I doubt they have much else either.”

  The thought angered Rachel. “So you’re saying that she could have lied to us about her name? About herself? Elli could be a spy for who know what?”

  Nico glared. “Elli’s not a spy. She was running for her life…”

  “…and came back with Tucker.” Annabeth took over, Nico’s explanation. “Rachel, if Elli was a spy then she wuoldn’t have been claimed. She may be able to lie to us but who here can say that they haven’t lied before?” She said glancing around the table getting guilty looks in return.

  “Exactly.” Annabeth sighed.” If Elli was a spy then for what? Prometheus? She’s still new to this whole being a demigod process to don’t raise flag too fast. Besides, what is there to spy on?” Annabeth asked again. “We’re open to Camp Jupiter and we’re finding kids faster than before. Jason’s building shrines for all the minor Gods and Goddess and yet we find children for them too!” Annabeth gave a small smile as Jason.

  “If there was anything from us to steal, I wouldn’t know what. She received a quest not of our descent, is that enough to say that she’s against us?”

  Rachel smirked. “I don’t know what it is, Annabeth.” She sighed. “This whole truth or not ability with her makes me feel uncomfortable, I mean, she can learn who everyone here is, all the detail with a simple look, touch, with words coming out of someone’s mouth, if that doesn’t make you on edge, then I don’t know what would. She’s practically looking at directly into our souls.”

  “Even so,” Piper interjected. “that doesn’t mean we can’t trust her.”

  “Well.” Jason shrugged and looked at Percy for approval. Percy nodded. “I see what you mean, Rachel.” Percy continued for Jason.

  “But at the same time.” Jason replied. “It’s who she is. You can’t change that.”

  Rachel sighed. “I’m saying she makes me feel uneasy is all.”

  Nico glared. “She makes you feel uneasy?” He barked, making Rachel look at him with fright.

“Who do you think she’s been picking to pieces since she’s got here?” He crossed his arms. “Tucker?”

  Rachel looked at Nico amused and so did the others, they didn’t expect him to speak with such aggravation.

  “I’m sorry that she makes you feel uncomfortable Miss prophecy but what can she see from your life that’s worse than there’s if anything, looking into your life might be a breeze verses looking into all of ours at once.” Nico hissed. “You should realize who’s the real enemy here, Rachel, and if you don’t then let me tell you, it’s not Elli.”

  Chiron sighed and everyone gawked at Nico, even Will had a interested look on his face.

  “Nico is right. Did Elli have a dream of some sort that she mentioned to any of you?”

  Racheal sighed. “There was one.”

  Everyone faced her.

  “She said that she saw a lady and her dad, but when her dad talked his eyes changed colors, he was clearly unconscious.”

  “A lady?” Chiron nodded. “Any other descriptions?”

  “Not really.” Racheal shrugged. “Unless I’m missing something?” She said, her gaze going from each individual to the next. When she came to Nico’s gaze, he frowned and she frowned back. Looking away from each other she glanced at Will who was still looking at Nico.

  “Not much of a description, huh?” Chiron smirked. “Nico, do you believe you could get this for us?”

  Nico looked up at Chiron. “You mean, a better description of the dream?”

  Chiron nodded and Nico shrugged. “I’ll see what I can do but no promises.”

  Chiron nodded again. “The attempt will be enough, she trust you Nico and she knows you. You’ll be able to communicate better with her than anyone else.”

  “Which goes without saying.” Will sighed. “I’m sorry that I’m no going to allow Nico to push himself any farther but who should go with her? I can’t. I’m healing the wounded from our last battle still.” He frowned. “If anyone has the lack of experience I’d say it’s Rachel but she wouldn’t do much good for Elli’s quest.”

  Racheal nodded, feeling a hostility from both Nico and Will. What was it with those two? She shrugged it off. “I’m out of the question but turning back to that suggestion. If she’s technically or possibility family with Hera and Zeus shouldn’t she try to go with one of them? Maybe Aletheia might admit something to her then?”

  Percy smirked. “Yea…” Percy coughed out a laugh. “Hera doesn’t have any demigod children remember?”

  Annoyed, Rachel glanced over at Percy.

  “Goddess of marriage right? No affairs? Husbands job?” He said and then nodded at Jason. “No offense.”

  Jason grinned. “None taken.”

  Sighing, Rachel looked over at Jason. “Well, I know that the quest is over Prometheus but maybe having you there might benefit her since... Isn’t he like… pinned with Zeus’s lightning bolt?”

  Jason shrugged. “I don’t actually know the story of Prometheus.” Jason laughed nervously. “All I know is that he did something bad.”

  Turning to Chiron, the group awaited for an answer.

  “There is much to learn of Prometheus.” Chiron replied simply. But what the Goddess said about the relation between Prometheus and Olympus is true.”

  Amused, Percy looked at Chiron in a daze. “Hold on, we’re talking about Prometheus? You mean, the one who wanted me to give up? He’s still chained to that rock?” Percy asked in amazement.