Ch. 1 Percy's POV
I can't believe what I just saw. Everyone was shuffling around uncomfortably. I noticed Annabeth in the middle of the crowd, she looked paler than a ghost. I walked over to her.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Hector asked for help...and I said no." She sounded shaky. "Did you see Shayla? I could have stopped that, but I was too stubborn. This is my fault."
"You had no idea those guys were going to attack them the way they did, don't beat yourself up about it."
Before she could say anything, the Stoll brothers came barrelling through the crowd of campers and crashed into us. Panting and wheezing, Connor (or was that Travis and the other one was Connor) gestured to Annabeth.
"Have you ever seen anything like that, Annabeth?" He said while trying to regain his breath. "He had TWO Gods claim him!"
"Never" She said simply with an ominous tone.
Chiron returned alone at the top of the hill with an expression I've never seen on his face before. I saw fear. It was subtle and I could tell he was trying to hide it, but the look in his eyes and the occasional twitch in his tail gave it away.
It was fear alright, and if Chiron was scared of something, that chilled me to the bone.
He gulped right before he spoke. "Children! It has been a long night with many terrors, but also a night of accomplishments." His voice changed into a more inviting and upbeat tone. "And so, in celebration of Blue team's victory, Mr. D and I would like to offer you all a toast! Everyone, please, make your way back to the mess hall."
Everyone shakenly nodded in compliance and slowly marched off towards the mess hall. This whole thing with Hector felt odd. I mean I was just claimed by this Poseidon guy and everyone bowed to me as if I was royalty. But when Hector gets claimed by TWO godly parents (one of them being Zeus: King of the Gods!), everyone reacts like they just saw Abraham Lincoln come back from the dead. Why didn't they give him the same treatment I got?
The only person who could be able to answer my question is Chiron, I thought.
I turned my attention back towards the top of the hill, where I just caught a glimpse of Chiron's tail and then it disappearing behind the mound of mud. I turned back to Annabeth.
"I'll meet you there, I just got to check something out"
I trailed Chiron and Mr. D through the forest, jumping from tree to tree as to not get discovered. I could only make out fragments of their conversation. They used words like disaster, apocalypse and war. They stopped at the edge of the forest.
"It's been a Millennia since a hero had that much power. Such power could rival my OWN, Chiron!" Said Mr. D. "And now, because of that Henry kid, every single camper knows it."
Chiron crossed his arms and scratched his beard. "Remember the incident at camp during the cold war? Remember how delicious your wine was that night?" His tone sounded like he was insinuating something.
"Indeed I do remember, my old friend" Mr. D said with a wicked smile. "How could I forget?"
They strolled off chuckling at something. This was way too much for one day, I thought to myself. Dinner and sleep are two things I need desperately right now. Later that night I met up with my cabin at the Hermes table and felt a touch of sadness when I saw a tiny bit of space beside me on the bench. That reminded me of Hector. Why did Chiron carry him off like that? I know he killed those guys but he was defending Shayla and himself.
Before I could think of anything else, everyone's cup including mine was magically filled to the top with a dark purple liquid.
"Campers! Every few decades we offer a single cup of Mr. D's famous celebratory wine to you the campers. Please, drink and enjoy." Said Chiron who appeared from nowhere.
Without thinking about, I took a sip. I could taste the alcohol, but there was an excessive sugary taste to the drink and a bit of something else. As I tried to think of what that third ingredient could be, my eyelids were suddenly heavy. Soon I rested my head on the bench and closed my eyes. I was out.
I woke up beside a single pillow and a strange feeling in my head. I felt like I had a hole in my head that should have been filled. I'd forgotten something, but didn't have a single idea what it was. I just couldn't stop staring at that pillow. Luke rushed into the cabin with Annabeth and Grover, he looked relieved to see me.
"There you are Percy. I've been trying to find you all morning, the Stoll brothers said you missed your first two activities" He said. "C'mon, you're not gonna miss my class!
"I'm coming, but do you know who sleeps there" I asked him with my finger pointing at the lone pillow beside mine.
"Nobody, you're the only one who sleeps in that corner, dude"
"Are you sure, there aren't any new kids that came to camp this week?"
"Nope, you're the only new kid this week" He looked puzzled. "The last guy before you, came to camp six months ago."
Annabeth and Grover both nodding in agreement with Luke.
"You alright, Percy?" Said Grover.
I paused thinking about the empty space in my memory, but decided not to pursue it. Although, I had a funny feeling that I'd remember someday.
"I'm good," I replied. "Now can anyone tell me anything about this Poseidon guy?"