WORTH | jason grace¹

5

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5. To The Campfire

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"Come on, Rachel. Loosen up!" Lorna tried to get away countless times.

She had dinner alone, without Percy, and then Rachel came to bring her back to the infirmary.

Rachel ignored her and looked through a book.

"I didn't even know you liked reading. Why do all my friends like reading? There must be something wrong with my taste." Lorna sighed.

"Speaking of taste," Rachel slammed the book shut. "do you have one now?"

"What? Do you see the boys at this camp. No! Plus I don't think Percy would appreciate that."

"But Percy isn't here. And that Jason dude, he's fine. He seems to like you."

Lorna cupped her burning cheeks. "No way. Plus Jason and Piper. . . I don't want to interfere. Their lives are chaotic."

Piper finally opened her eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Rachel asked.

"Where—" Piper's voice died when she saw the guy at the door. 

"That's Argus," Lorna said, "our head of security. He's just keeping an eye on things ... so to speak."

Argus nodded. The eye on his chin winked.

"Where—?" Piper tried again.

"You're in the Big House," Rachel said. "Camp offices. We brought you here when you collapsed."

"You grabbed me," Piper remembered. "Hera's voice—"

"I'm so sorry about that," Rachel said. "Believe me, it was not my idea to get possessed. Chiron healed you with some nectar—"

"Nectar?"

"The drink of the gods. In small amounts, it heals demigods, if it doesn't—ah—burn you to ashes." Lorna explained.

"Oh. Fun."

Rachel sat forward. "Do you remember your vision?"

"Something's wrong with the goddess," Piper said. "She told me to free her, like she's trapped. She mentioned the earth swallowing us, and a fiery one, and something about the solstice."

In the corner, Argus made a rumbling sound in his chest. His eyes all fluttered at once.

"Hera created Argus," Rachel explained. "He's actually very sensitive when it comes to her safety. We're trying to keep him from crying, because last time that happened ...well, it caused quite a flood."

Argus sniffled. He grabbed a fistful of Kleenex from the bedside table and started dabbing eyes all over his body.

"So ... What's happened to Hera?"

"We're not sure," Rachel said. "Annabeth and Jason were here for you, by the way. Annabeth had an idea—something that might restore his memories."

"That's ... that's great."

"Don't worry." Rachel squeezed her arm. "Jason seems like a good guy. He had a vision too, a lot like yours. So did Lorna. Whatever's happening with Hera—I think you three are meant to work together."

Rachel smiled like this was good news but that seemed to make Piper cry.

"Hey," Lorna said. "No need to cry. You'll figure it out."

Piper wiped her eyes. "How can you know what I'm facing?"

Lorna shrugged. "I don't know exactly how you feel cause I'm not you and I've never knew anyone with amnesia but, I know how it feels to lose someone." Lorna smiled bitterly.

"You're going to be claimed at the campfire. I'm almost sure. When you know who your godly parent is, things might be clearer." Rachel said.

Piper sat up in bed. "I hope it's Athena."

"I do too." Lorna said. "But then again, when it comes to the gods, anything can be possible."

"You and Annabeth are very similar." Rachel said.

"Another hunch? You don't know anything about me."

"You'd be surprised."

"She's lying. Rachel's just saying that because she's an oracle She's supposed to sound all mysterious." Lorna said.

Rachel laughed. "Don't be giving away my secrets, Piper. And don't worry. Things will work out—just maybe not the way you plan."

"That's not making me feel better."

Somewhere in the distance, a conch horn blew. Argus grumbled and opened the door.

"Dinner?" Piper guessed.

"You slept through it," Lorna said. "Time for the campfire. Let's go find out who you are."