The Hidden Oracle

Though Apollo has been betrayed before, no betrayal has stung like Meg’s. Nero reminds Apollo that the god has known Meg only for a few days, whereas Nero has long been her “protector.” Meg is a member of Nero’s Imperial Household. The oak gateway to the grove is scarred from Nero’s previous attempts to infiltrate it, which include having forced the geyser spirit Paulie to open the grove. After Paulie failed, Nero strung him up with the captured demigods. Apollo tells Meg that her stepfather intends to burn Paulie and the demigods as human torches. Nero’s history is one of arson and murder. The emperor did nothing as a great fire destroyed much of Rome, killing tens of thousands of people. Instead of rebuilding the city, he built himself an extravagant palace on its ashes. Making the early Christians into scapegoats for the fire, Nero fed them to the lions and burned them as human torches. He even burned Christians in his backyard to illuminate his garden party. He installed an extravagant statue of himself as Apollo in Rome. Nero makes the mysterious statement that “the statue was the perfect choice” (279), refusing to divulge more on the subject.

A confused Meg hesitates from obeying Nero’s command of opening the grove, but Nero dismisses her concerns, assuring her that if she and Apollo cooperate with him, “the Beast will not have to act” (280). Though it is obvious that the Beast and her stepfather Nero are one person, Meg remains in denial about the truth. To Meg, Nero is the person who gave her a home and taught her to defend herself. Apollo realizes Meg is so traumatized she only yearns for safety and acceptance after her father’s murder, even if the acceptance comes from her father’s killer. Nero reminds Meg that Apollo is in her service. A torn Meg commands Apollo to help her open the gates to the Grove.

Bound by his service to Meg, Apollo can feel his very muscles compelling him to obey her order. As Apollo and Meg place their hands on the fused oak trees, the bark seems to grow warm under their hands. The oaks respond to Apollo and Meg’s power, and the trunks begin to move, revealing the grove, which is at the very heart of several concentric circles of oak trees. Meg steps across the threshold, and the trees erupt in voices that stun everyone, except for Meg. The voices deliver their message to Meg and stop speaking. Meg now knows that Nero does plan to burn the grove down. Referring to the grove is “the mouthpiece of a senile Titan queen” (285), Nero declares it must be razed. Just like he built himself a new palace after ancient Rome burnt down, Nero plans to build his household of palatial homes after burning down the grove, Camp Half-Blood, and Long Island itself. Shocked, Meg asserts that she can never support the burning of forests, being a daughter of Demeter. Nero counters that Meg is his daughter alone, lights a match, and steps toward the stake on which Austin is tied.

Though Apollo tries to rush to Austin’s aid, the real hero of the moment is Peaches. Sensing Meg’s protectiveness toward the trees and the campers, the tiny grain demon jumps on Nero’s arm and bites the match away from the emperor’s hand. Meg finally stands up to Nero and forbids him from burning the grove. Nero warns her of testing the patience of the Beast. Apollo realizes the unfairness of Nero’s statement. Nero has convinced Meg that his anger and cruelty are her fault, whereas the truth is Nero alone is completely responsible for his beastly actions. Apollo recalls how Zeus used to employ a similar tactic and warn Apollo to stay on the right side of his punishing lightning bolts. Identifying with Meg, Apollo can now understand why she is so temperamental. “She never knew what might unleash the Beast” (290).

Meg must make a choice between good and evil. A decisive Meg tells Peaches to act, and the little demon rips the matchbox from Nero’s hands. Nero instructs Vince and Gary to detain Meg but not to hurt her, while he burns down Peaches, Apollo, and the grove. At Meg’s defiant shout “No,” the entire Grove of Dodona shouts back with her, the sonic blast knocking down Nero and his minions. Apollo focuses his mind against the crescendo of the trees by humming “Y.M.C.A.” Meg races off into the grove along with Rhea’s wind chimes and Peaches. Apollo stays back to rescue the hostages. Nero splashes flammable liquid on the ground near the captives. Vince and Gary turn upon Apollo. In a burst of superhuman strength, Apollo breaks Vince’s spear and attacks the two Germani. He beats them unconscious and faces Nero. Telling Apollo that his “wrecking crew” will arrive any moment, Nero ignites a cigarette lighter and drops it on the ground. As the grass catches fire, Nero flees, and Apollo hauls the captives to safety. By the time Apollo rescues the last captive, Miranda Gardiner, the raging fire is inches away from the grove. Apollo cries to the dark trees for help. In his fevered state, he senses dryads or tree spirits respond to his call for help and emerge from the trees. The brave dryads raise their arms and invoke the earth to snuff out the flames. They draw the rest of the flames into their bodies, turn ashen, and die. Apollo is filled with grief at the sacrifice of the dryads. He also realizes how cruel his own demands for sacrifices from demigods and mortals have been. Apollo is filled with remorse at his past actions.

Austin wakes up, and Apollo uses Gary’s snapped spear to break him free. Wishing his surge of superhuman strength during fighting Nero and his bodyguards would return, Apollo tells Austin to free the other captives and runs into the grove to help Meg.