The Hidden Oracle

Your fault, Apollo. Your punishment.

My father's voice still rings in my ears.

Can you believe Zeus blamed me for the gods' battle with Gaea? Just because the earth goddess duped one of my progeny - Octavian - into plunging the Greek and Roman demigods into a civil war that nearly destroyed human civilization. I ask you, how was that my fault?

Now I'm cast out of Olympus in the form of a sixteen-year-old mortal boy! Sadly, I've been punished this way before. I know I will face many trials and hardships. I can only hope that if I suffer through them and prove myself worthy, Father will forgive me and allow me to become a god again.

But this time my situation seems much more dangerous. One of my ancient adversaries knows I am here and is having me followed. The Oracle of Delphi remains dark, unable to issue prophecies. Most embarrassing of all, I am bound to serve a demigod street urchin who defends herself by throwing rotten fruit.

Zeus could not possibly expect me to fix the Oracle problem by myself. Not in my present weak condition. It's time for me to drop in on Camp Half-Blood, where I might find some talented fodder... er, I mean heroes to help. No doubt they will welcome me as a celebrity! They will bring me holy offerings, like peeled grapes and - oh, gods - perhaps even bacon!

Mmm. Yes. If I survive this, I really must write an ode to the power of bacon...