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"Not all the ties, words in my mind When someone asks ," Apollo announced

Rachel doubled over like soht and her eyes glowed serpent green

When she spoke, her voice sounded tripled--like three Rachels were talking at once:

"Seven half-bloods shall answer the call

To storm or fire, the world must fall

An oath to keep with a final breath,

And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death"

At the last word, Rachel collapsed Nico and I caught her and helped her to the porch Her skin was feverish

"I' to normal

"What was that?" I asked

She shook her head, confused "What hat?"

"I believe," Apollo said, "that we just heard the next Great Prophecy"

"What does it mean?" I demanded

Rachel frowned "I don't even remember what I said"

"No," Apollo h you occasionally The rest of the time, our Rachel will beher, even if she has just issued the next big prediction for the future of the world"

"What?" I said "But--"

"Percy," Apollo said, "I wouldn't worry too much The last Great Prophecy about you took almost seventy years to complete This one ht about the lines Rachel had spoken in that creepy voice: about storm and fire and the Doors of Death "Maybe," I said, "but it didn't sound so good"

"No," said Apollo cheerfully "It certainly didn't She's going to make a wonderful Oracle!"

It was hard to drop the subject, but Apollo insisted that Rachel needed to rest, and she did look pretty disoriented

"I'm sorry, Percy," she said "Back on Olyhtened me I didn't think you'd understand"

"I still don't," I aduess I'm happy for you"

Rachel s the future isn't going to be easy, but it's my destiny I only hope ht

"Will you still go to Clarion Acadeuess I'll try to be a norht now you need sleep," Apollo scolded "Chiron, I don't think the attic is the proper place for our new Oracle, do you?"

"No, indeed" Chiron looked a lot better now that Apollo had worked souest rooive thea cave in the hills," Apollopurple curtain over the entrancereally ame room and one of those home theater systems"

Chiron cleared his throat loudly

"What?" Apollo demanded

Rachel kissed me on the cheek "Good-bye, Percy," she whispered "And I don't have to see the future to tell you what to do now, do I?"

Her eyes see than before

I blushed "No"

"Good," she said Then she turned and followed Apollo into the Big House

The rest of the day was as strange as the beginning Caasus, and chariot The wounded were cared for The dead were given proper funeral rites at the campfire

Silena's shroud was hot pink, but embroidered with an electric spear The Ares and Aphrodite cabins both claiether No one mentioned the word spy That secret burned to ashes as the designer perfume smoke drifted into the sky

Even Ethan Nakao of swords crossed under a set of scales As his shroud went up in flames, I hoped Ethan knew he had made a difference in the end He'd paid a lot et the respect they deserved

Dinner at the pavilion was low-key The only highlight was Juniper the tree ny tackle hug,everybody cheer They went down to the beach to take a h the scene reminded me of Silena and Beckendorf, which madeeverybody's table scraps Nico sat at the main table with Chiron and Mr D, and nobody see Nico on the back, co Even the Ares kids seemed to think he was pretty cool Hey, shoith an army of undead warriors to save the day, and suddenly you're everybody's best friend

Slowly, the dinner crowd trickled away So Others went to bed I sat at the Poseidon table byIsland Sound I could see Grover and Juniper at the beach, holding hands and talking It was peaceful

"Hey" Annabeth slid next toa huge

I stared at her "What?"

"It's August 18th," she said "Your birthday, right?"

I was stunned It hadn't even occurred to --the saive Luke the knife The prophecy had coht about the fact that it was my birthday

"Make a wish," she said

"Did you bake this yourself?" I asked

"Tyson helped"

"That explains why it looks like a chocolate brick," I said "With extra blue ceht for a second, then blew out the candle