The library itself was a beige two-storied building located at the city center, just next to the town hall. Students went to and fro from the library, with their faces scrunched into masks of concentration.
"Someone must be assigning essays right now." he remarked as they stood inside, close to the librarian's massive desk up front.
"Indeed. Mrs. Sloan's english paper is due tomorrow." A perky lady, who looked to be in her early twenties, looked his way. Her blue eyes seemed to bore into him and a certain knowing light twinkled in her eyes.
"Anything I can help you with? We'll be closing pretty soon, and I've got to do inventory on what we have back in the romance section," she said.
“Yes, um,” Dionne paused, eyebrows furrowing when she realized that she didn't really know what to ask for.
Seth backed her up,
"Yeah, we're here to find our destiny--.".
Oisin interjected, gesturing to both of them.
"They're the two Argus was talking about."The blond librarian raised her eyebrows. "It's been a while since that day." She nodded at the trio. "Come with me, to the back room, please. I've been expecting you"
As they followed her, Seth could feel anticipation welling up in his gut, eager to be privy to the details to his currently uncertain future. She led them into a study and shut the door behind them. She gestured to the leather sofa and sat in her own chair, facing them.
"Now we mustn't waste time. Argus told me that when you two would show up, there wouldn't be much time between now and until the time you must prove yourselves as demigods. Monsters will soon invade this quiet town in search for you. They will hunger when they smell your scent and perhaps will stop at nothing until you are theirs."
The raven haired teen sat quietly, trying to calmly process the information. Yet, her words kept circulating in his mind. Monsters? Like the Lamia? They'd invade the town in search for them, maybe even killing innocents along the way.
"Can't we fight them?" He asked.
"You can, but you'd die in the process," the librarian said, opening the door to the empty study room in the back of the library. "Go on -- there's nothing in there. Just some tables and chairs."
“What are we doing in here then?” Dionne asked, stepping into the room. The light flickered on, illuminating the empty desks.
“Is there a secret passage or something?”"No. But there are answers," the young librarian said, stepping into the room behind them and closing the door with a soft click. "All right, let's see if I can still do this properly."
“Do what, exactly?” Dionne asked, eyebrows knitting as the woman closed her eyes. The librarian's age seemed to melt away before coming back all at once in the form of a soft glow that spoke of lost wisdom and ancient experiences.
"Consult the gods," she answered simply, gently. Her voice seemed to take on a silent echo -- or maybe it wasn't so silent. Dionne wasn't sure anymore. But when the librarian's eyes opened again, they glowed. Her mouth opened, unmoving, but the thunderous echo in Dionne's ears said differently.
The peacock queen has laid her claim
Thus begins the clock-like game
Twelve trials have been prepared
Between fate and oceans shared
By blessed hands is havoc wreaked
Eastward lies the haven you seek
The gates will open after the final hour
Upon the discovery of true power
Then all at once the echo was gone, leaving Dionne wide-eyed and frozen in her spot as the librarian slumped over, hands reaching for her head as if to support it.
"The prophecy is delivered," the woman gasped, covering a haggard cough before looking up with somber eyes. "My dears, I'm afraid your future is a lot worse than I imagined."
"Eastward lies the haven you seek..." Seth quoted. Could it be the camp mentioned in his dream?
"Camp Half-Blood" Oisin clarified.
"A haven for demigods. By the sounds of this prophecy, we will be travelling there. But twelve trials...?"Seth looked to Dionne,
"Twelve trials huh...the only thing that comes to mind is Hercules and his twelve labors. What do you think of the first line Dee?"Dionne paused, mind flashing back to the dream earlier that week -- the chairs, the peacocks, the woman... The feather. Shaking off the slight tremble in her hands, Dionne retrieved the feather from her coat pocket, holding it up.
“I think,” she started haltingly,
“the 'peacock queen' might be Mrs. Sloan.”"She wants us? What for?" Seth said, a little incredulous.
Oisin and the librarian exchanged looks. Oisin in particular, paled and shuffled his feet.
"I thought something was up with her...I just couldn't figure it out. She concealed herself very well. The fact that she takes interest in both of you might not necessarily bode well for either of us. This gives me an uneasy feeling, even when I saw the feather before." He said to no one in particular, his hands shaking.
It seemed the satyr seemed reluctant to share what was on his mind.
"Ozzy...What do you know about her?" Seth asked apprehensively. The satyr looked at him with wide eyes.
"Seth, normally the olympian gods and goddesses don't interfere in the lives of their offspring too much. But the fact that she -- I mean, Hera" he murmured her name as if he was scared he'd be overheard by the goddess herself.
"--Look Seth...When she wants something, let's just say she gets it. Whatever she wants!" Oisin exclaimed, his voice a few octaves higher than normal.
Like some sort of Mafia Queen? He thought, picturing Mrs Sloan in a black dress and ordering men in pinstripe suits to do her bidding.
“We're dealing with a goddess?” Dionne asked, eyes wide.
“What chance do we have then? We're just humans!” she paused, frowning.
“Half-gods... Does that mean our parents — our godly ones, that is — will help us?”“You may try to seek help from your parents, once you do figure who it is...but I’m afraid I cannot guarantee that they would be able to help as much as you would like. The gods are bound by rules imposed on themselves in order to have checks and balances, the lack of which resulted in epic clashes between themselves as well as the demigods. When two gods go to war against the other, their children are expected to support them and wage war against the opposition. A classic example would be World War II where Zeus and Poseidon battled against Hades for control of the world. I don’t think I need to go too much into detail as you know the outcome, but the massive destruction and death toll the war caused resulted in the three eldest of the gods, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, to form a pact. This pact would prevent them from siring any further children.” The librarian explained. Seth could see pity in her eyes as she glanced at them. She cleared her throat.
“There is not much time, you will come to realize this in the near future. The clock is now ticking and a great stirring has begun. Dark forces are trying to awaken once more after centuries of slumber to oppose the gods--” The ground shook beneath them and the light fixtures above rattled, paint chips fell on their heads. Seth gingerly picked white paint from his hair and nervously glanced out the window.
“--A dance…” The librarian spoke with urgency now, “you will find the infamous Nemean Lion there. You mustn't let it rampage through the town. After you deal with it, you’ll find the way.”
Seth sputtered,
”A dance? He glanced at Dionne.
“The school dance, then,” Dionne said, sighing.
“That’s the only ‘dance’ I can think of. I’m already going. Seth?” she asked, looking over at the boy beside her.
“If this isn’t a sign from god — the gods, rather — that you should go, I don’t know what is.” Seth smirked.
”Yeah, I guess you got me.” he said, leaning against the table.
”Sorry, I got nervous the first time around...I was gonna say yes back there…” He felt cotton-mouthed as both Oisin and the librarian looked at him with raised eyebrows. Seth cleared his throat, his face feeling a little warm.
”I should probably let my Mom know too…and outfits?” He looked to the blonde.
”Should we go shop for outfits?”“Yep. Just…” Dionne trailed off, finding herself feeling rather unsteady — on her feet, in the world, in her existence. But, at the same time, it was thrilling — all that was happening, although intimidating and perhaps dangerous — was more interesting than anything that had happened in her life.
“Off we go then? The mall would be fine for this — I have my credit card, and you can take on a mental IOU if you need. Do you want to call your mom before or after?”
@dfa
Remram
Achronum