Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson

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I stopped all movement; tears streamed down my face.

There was a moment of silence as Luke listened to see if anyone had heard my cries.

"Are you going to listen to me now?" he finally asked in a quiet voice.

"Do I have a choice?" I managed through my tears.

Luke let out a heavy sigh. "I like you, Tori." he said. "I don't want to hurt you." My heart thudded in my throat. He liked me? Like, like-like, or just like? "Just hear me out, okay?" I waited, tears still pouring down my face. "Yes, I stole the master bolt." he said. My stomach flipped, making me feel sick, and before Luke could explain the method to his madness, I started coughing and choking.

Luke pulled his knife away and let me go. I was trying not to throw-up, but I kept coughing. I felt Luke's hand come around my upper forearm. He started to pull me somewhere. I stumbled, following along blindly, still coughing and spluttering.

Finally I just couldn't walk anymore and collapsed. I realized he had led me back to the small stream when I felt something damp under my hands and heard the noise of the creek. When I was done coughing I used the crisp, cold stream water to wash my face. I sat back with my legs underneath me and rested my hands in my lap. I looked down at my watery reflection and avoided Luke's burning gaze that I could feel on my face.

Thankfully his laser eyes weren't as powerful because I had a veil of my long, wavy, sun-kissed blonde hair. I was still crying and I didn't want him to see me at such a weak state. It was kind of humiliating, actually.

"Why—?" I choked reaching up to wipe away some of my tears, it didn't really make a difference though. I couldn't even finish my sentences! I guess I was still just getting over my shock of finding out that Luke had stolen Zeus's maser bolt.

I heart Luke let out another heavy sigh next to me.

"I'd really rather not say right now." he said.

"Oh?" I asked keeping my eyes firmly planted on my reflection in the stream that was gradually fading with the light.

"It's not that I don't trust you or anything, it's just… you're in a very fragile state right now and if I told you why I don't think you would take it very well." he explained. Was it so bad that I wouldn't be able to handle it?

I sighed. That told me nothing though.

I heard Luke shift positions and when I looked out of the corners of my eyes I noticed he had moved closer to me. My heart rate picked up involuntarily.

"Let's just put it this way, for now: your brother, Dan?" he told me. Just the sound of his name had me all worked up. My jaw clenched and the muscles in my hands tensed. I think I understood now. Luke reached up and rubbed my arm comfortingly. Little electrical zings flew up my arm and spread throughout my body.

I reached up and wiped more of my tears away and sniffled. Yeah, I was still crying, but less aggressively now.

"I want you to trust me, okay?" Luke asked softly. "And I'm trusting you to keep this a secret. You can't tell anyone about this. Can you do that for me?"

I thought about this, chewing my lip. I trusted Luke. I really did. He could've slit my throat back there if he really wanted to, but he didn't. Then again I didn't know why Luke had even stolen the master bolt in the first place. What was his big plan? I wanted to know! Did I trust him enough that I would keep his secret and wait patiently for him to tell me the big picture?

"Tori?" Luke asked for I had been silent for quite a long time.

I let out a small breath and turned to look at him.

"I… I trust you." I whispered. I blinked and more tears came rolling down my face. I turned my head away and wiped my tears from my cheeks. "I've… always trusted you."

Luke reached over and caressed my face while turning my head so he could look into my eyes. His lips parted slightly and I thought he was going to say something. Instead he started to lean forward. I didn't take my eyes off him as he came closer. My breath started to become fast and ragged. Was he going to do what I thought he was? Were we more than just friends after now?

All my internal babbling stopped when I felt his lips press up against mine. I slid my eyes closed and savored this moment. I'd never kissed a boy before—believe it or not—so this was a new, exciting, experience for me. Especially because I'd had a crush on him ever since I came to Camp Half-Blood. And now! We were kissing! We were actually kissing!

We pulled apart and I bit my lip, smiling largely. I was also, no doubt, flushed. That was… incredible.

Just then the conch horn sounded and I quickly remembered what was happening after the game. All my worries came back and I felt the weight of the world fall on my shoulders. Luke noticed the change and guessed correctly about what was on my mind.

"Percy will be fine." he assured caressing my face again. We stood up and started heading toward the pavilion.

"Are you sure? I mean a hellhound seems a little…." I couldn't think a good word that would sum it up.

"It'll attack right after the game ends. Everyone will have their bows and swords. The hound won't stand a chance. Percy will be perfectly fine."

More light started to flood though the trees of the forest as we got closer to the pavilion. My pulse started to pound, blood rushing through my veins.

Luke stopped just outside the perimeter and turned me to face him.

"Breathe, Tori, just breathe. It will all be fine. No one will get hurt."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I'm sure." Luke said in such a confident tone it was hard not to believe him.

I took a couple calming breaths. "Okay. Okay, I'm ready."

Luke smiled; the one I knew.

"Good because I'm starved."

Then we turned and headed out of the woods and towards the mess hall. We were a little late, but no one seemed to notice us. They were all too excited about the game tonight. I would usually be jumping and excited just like everyone else, but now that I knew what Luke had planned to do I wasn't that enthusiastic about it anymore.

When everyone was finished eating the conch horn sounded again. I jumped before looking around and standing up like everyone else did. Cheers rang out through the night as Annabeth and two of her siblings came running out with the Athena flag: a silk thing that glistened gray in the torch lights, with a painting of a barn owl above an olive tree. From the opposite side came Clarisse and her siblings, with their flag painted a bright red with a bloody spear and a boar's head.

I looked across the table and a couple of kids down at Percy and Luke (I didn't feel comfortable sitting right in front of them this time). They were talking. It looked like Luke was explaining everything that was going on.

Chiron stomped his hoof on the floors making me jump yet again. I turned my attention toward him.

"Heroes!" he started. "You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest if fair game. All magic items are allowed. The banner must be prominently displayed, and have no more than two guards. Prisoners may be disarmed, but may not be bound or gagged. No killing or maiming is allowed. I will serve as a referee and battle field medic. Arm yourselves!"

With a wave of Chiron's hands all the equipment needed was spread out across the tables in front of us, as well as my weapons. Hey, it was magic.

I grabbed my sword already in its scabbard, my bow, some arrows, and my switchblade which I slipped up the sleeve of my long-sleeved shirt. Then I got a shield and a helmet with a blue horsehair plume, the color of Athena's team. The Ares had red.

Annabeth raised her sword. "Blue team, forward!" she ordered.

Everyone cheered and we started our way toward the south part of the woods. The red team shouted taunts at us as they headed to the north side.

Yet another sound of the conch horn and the game began. There were screams and whoops of excitement followed by clanging; kids already locked in battle. I tried to keep on guard and pay attention but it was so hard to concentrate when you knew something like someone being attacked by a hellhound on purpose after the game ended.

Somehow during my inner monologue I managed to stray into enemy territory. I didn't go very far until Clarisse and a few of her siblings went blowing past me toward the creek.

"Pay attention, Tori!" Annabeth's disembodied voice hissed in my ear. I blinked slightly startled.

"Sorry," I muttered in what I thought was her general direction.

Annabeth took off her invisibility Yankees cap and smiled at me.

"No worries. I've got it all under control anyway. Wanna come help me help Percy?" she asked. Before I could answer she put her cap back on and, if I heard correctly, headed back toward the border. I followed her, wondering what she could possibly be talking about. But she seemed confident enough…. Like she knew we were going to win.

A few feet away from the stream I heard Annabeth mutter, "Heads up." right before an arrow came flying past us, about an inch from my face, and imbedded itself into a tree.

Did impaling count as maiming? I wondered…?

I arrived to the small river just as Percy barely mumbled, "No maiming."

I watched from behind a tree. What? If Annabeth was this confident then did I really have to do anything? Besides even if I tried I'd be too distracted and accidentally hurt me and the people around me. Standing and watching was probably the best for me right now.

"Oops," one of the guys said. "Guess I lost my dessert privilege." he joked right before shoving Percy into the stream. The Ares kids moved forward but something changed in Percy. His eyes lit up and he stood to meet them bravely. I took a cautious step forward and watched intently.

I watched in awe as he swung his sword hitting the flat of it against one guy's head so hard he knocked his helmet clean off. One down. My eyebrows rose. How strange….

Two of them came at the same time but Percy seemed to be ready for their attack. He slammed his shield up against one while he sheared off the horsehair plume of the other's helmet. The fear in their eyes wasn't hard to detect as they slowly backed up.

The fourth one that wasn't down looked hesitant, but Clarisse didn't seem to get the message. She charged forward with the tip of her spear crackling and sparking. Just as she thrust, Percy, somehow, managed to catch the shaft between his shield and sword, and just like that it snapped like a twig. My eyes widened. No way. He didn't!

Clarisse cursed. "You idiot! You corpse-breath worm!" she screeched, livid. Before she could say more Percy hit her square between the eyes with the butt of his sword. Clarisse went sprawling.

Suddenly I heard elated screams and cries of triumph. I looked up behind me just in time to see Luke, flag in hand, sprinting toward the boundary line with a few Hermes kids behind him and some Apollo fighting the Hephaestus kids off.

The Ares kids got up, stumbling slightly; Clarisse muttered another curse.

"A trick!" she growled. "It was a trick."

They tried to follow Luke, but it was too late. Everyone was already merging at the stream as Luke ran across onto our side. As soon as he set foot everyone erupted into cheers. I smiled and slowly made my way back to our side as the red flag shimmered and turned to sliver, except this time it had a caduceus, the sign of Hermes. People from the blue team crowded around Luke and soon enough he popped up out of the crowd on someone's shoulders.

Chiron trotted out from the woods and blew the conch horn. My stomach instantly dropped; the game was over. We'd won, yeah it was great, but now I had to stand by and watch Percy get attacked by a hellhound. Not as fun as you'd think.

A howl ripped through the forest and silenced all the cheering. A hand brushed my elbow and I jumped a mile. I turned to see Luke and calmed down just a bit. Faintly I heard Chiron say something in Ancient Greek. I looked back and saw the giant hound, close to the size of a rhino with glowing red eyes and fangs as sharp as daggers crouching on some rocks right above where Percy was. And it had its eyes trained on him.

"Percy, run!" Annabeth instructed as she tried to position herself in front of him. But it was too late, the hound was as fast as a cobra. It grounded Percy and started ripping and tearing. I tensed and Luke wrapped his hand around my arm to stop me from rushing forward. Blood started pouring from Percy's chest as soon as the hound slashed through his armor. However, simultaneously about 40+ arrows pierced the hound's throat. It fell over, dead.

Chiron came forward, his bow in hand, his face very grim.

"Di immortales!" Annabeth muttered. "That's a hellhound from the Fields of Punishment. They don't… they're not supposed to…"

"Someone summoned it." Chiron announced as Luke walked forward a little. "Someone inside the camp."

"It's all Percy's fault!" Clarisse wailed. "Percy summoned it!"

"Be quiet, child," Chiron told her in a very serious tone even Clarisse had to listen to it.

All eyes turned to the hound that was now sinking into shadow; curling in on itself and then disappearing back to the Fields of Punishment.

I walked up to Luke.

"I thought you said it wasn't going to hurt him!" I hissed in his ear.

"Wait for it." he muttered back.

"You're wounded," Annabeth said, "quick, Percy, get in the water."

No way.

But that would explain—

"I'm okay." Percy objected.

"No, you're not," she rebutted. "Chiron, watch this."

Giving up, Percy sluggishly stepped back into the creek. You could just see the instant change, his eyes brightened, and he straightened up. You could even see the wounds on his chest mend themselves. All the campers simultaneously gasped.

Percy looked embarrassed. "Look, I-I don't know why—" He looked down. "I'm sorry…." he apologized. I rolled my eyes. Then I noticed a green light above his head with a spinning trident. It was confirmed.

"Your father," Annabeth murmured. I gritted my teeth, turned and started to walk away. That's all he had to do! I didn't think it took very long, and it certainly wasn't hard for a god with so many duties. It made me so angry!

"Tori," Luke asked quietly just as Chiron announced, "It is determined."

"I'm not going back and you can't make me." I told him bitterly.

"You don't have a choice…." Luke said putting a hand on my shoulder.

I jerked my shoulder out of his grasp.

"Everyone has a choice, and this is mine." I told him storming off as Chiron's voice echoed through the forest: "Poseidon, Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God."

I continued past the Hermes cabin because I knew that soon after everyone would be going to bed and I didn't want to hear all the chatter about what just happened because no doubt it would be the main gossip for a month, maybe more if life really wanted to torture me. Instead I went to the beach and plopped down heavily on the sand. I'd wait until the last minute to go back to the cabin.

I heard noise behind me not a moment later and turned my head slightly toward the direction I thought I'd heard the noise.

"Tori?" I recognized Luke's voice. I turned my head back around to the shore without a word. Luke came up and sat down next to me. We sat there in silence for a few moments.

"It's not as great as you think." he said sourly.

I looked at him through the corners of my eyes. "Oh?" I asked bitterly.

"Poseidon is just using him." he told me. "Zeus thinks Poseidon stole his mater bolt. But since one god can't take another god's symbol of power, Zeus believes he got Percy to steal it for him. If it isn't returned by the summer solstice they'll be a war. Poseidon's so desperate to prove his innocence he claimed Percy so Percy could do all the dirty work for him." His tone was absolutely disgusted.

"At least he knows who it is." I muttered, bringing my knees up to my chest and resting my chin on them. "Strike that. At least his father actually claimed him."

Luke sighed. "Come we should get back to the cabin. The harpies will be out soon." I didn't want to quite yet, but Luke convinced me and we headed back to the overcrowded cabin. People were just settling into their bunks.

The next few days I wasn't really paying any attention to. I was just going through the motions. Like I had predicted Percy was now the only thing anyone could talk about, whether it was good or bad it was always there! It was driving me absolutely crazy. At least he wasn't in the Hermes cabin taking up space anymore. (Not that it really made a difference.) Although, I'll admit when you see someone sitting by their lonesome selves looking at all the other fully occupied tables you tend to feel bad for them.

That was Percy. All by himself at a large table specially made for the children of Poseidon. On top of that, everyone avoided him. I didn't know if it was out of fear or some other irrational emotion, but they avoided him and gave him weird looks. The Hermes cabin refused to take sword-fighting lessons with him now, so Luke was doing a lot more one-on-one with him.

What Luke had said that night when Percy was claimed kept repeating in my head, though. Percy had until the summer solstice to find the master bolt (which I figured Luke would give to him in some inconspicuous way sometime) and return it to Mount Olympus. The only problem? Chiron hadn't given Percy a quest yet and the deadline was nearing. Finally, though, with a storm rising (big, dark purple clouds and thunderous booms), ten days before the summer solstice Chiron called Percy to the Big House.

The next day, Grover, Annabeth, and Percy were at the peak of the hill with Chiron getting ready to take off into Manhattan. I was watching from the base of the hill, the ground was soggy and wet from last night's rain. So much for being protected from the weather here unless we wanted it. It was relatively sunny right now, but there was a cold breeze blowing more dark clouds our way.

I shivered. Just then Luke passed me and ran up the hill with something in his hands. He was running up too fast for me to see exactly what he was holding. Luke stopped next to Percy. They chatted and then Luke handed over the thing he was holding before saying another word or two, and then jogging back down.

"What'd you give him?" I asked.

Luke stopped, looked cautiously up at Percy who was now talking to Chiron again. He leaned in to murmur in my ear, "I'll tell you about it later." right before jogging off again. I sighed, looked up at Percy and Chiron once more and then followed Luke. He went deep into the forest before finally stopping. I waited patiently as he made sure that we weren't followed and we weren't being listened to.

"I gave him a pair of flying shoes." he said. "They're enchanted." I waited but he didn't say anymore.

"To do what?" I asked.

"Why don't we start from where we left off." Luke suggested sitting down on a large rock. I chose to stand, it was the wretched ADHD thing. I felt like I just couldn't sit still for even a little while. "I'm done with the gods using us like puppets. They don't deserve to be ruling any more. They should've been overthrown hundreds of years ago." he spat standing up again. "And the quest that Hermes gave me. Pathetic. A complete waste of time. I wanted to bring Olympus down after that day, but I knew that I wouldn't be strong enough, so I waited. And then—" he broke off suddenly and looked at me.

"Continue." I pressed.

Luke turned away again. "Kronos—" The air seemed to turn colder.

I gaped. "What?" I hissed. "Kronos—Luke! What are you thinking?" I asked in a loud whisper. Luke quickly swiveled around to face me again.

"Tori, you have to understand that the gods don't deserve the thrones they sit on." he told me through clenched teeth. "They use us as pawns, and they're so conceited. They may be immortal but that doesn't mean they're invincible."

I barely heard or comprehended a word he said. I was still freaking out about the whole Kronos thing. He was in the deepest depths of Tartarus. How…?

"So, you stole the master bolt? Why?" I asked.

"Kronos convinced me to steal something that no one would dare take." Luke smiled a devilish smile I'd never seen before. "It was too easy, stealing Zeus's master bolt. And… Hades's helm of darkness too." My mouth dropped open.

"Two? You stole two—!" Two? He'd stolen two godly symbols of power? Oh gods. This… this wasn't… I couldn't believe…!

"Tori—" Luke started.

I held up my hand. "Just tell me about the shoes." I choked.

"I don't think—" he tried again.

"No, tell me about the shoes."

There was a pause before Luke let out a heavy sigh. "They're enchanted to fly into the pit of Tartarus when Percy enters the Underworld."

That just had me asking more questions!

"Why—Do I want to know?" I asked looking pleadingly at Luke.

"Probably not." he told me truthfully.

I let out a sigh and turned around trying to digest all this information.

"Oh gods." I groaned.

"Tori—" Luke started.

"I just need some time to myself." I told him turning around and facing him again.

He nodded. "I understand. I just need you to promise me—" I cut him off by quickly stretching up on my toes and giving him a chaste kiss. I pulled back and stared at his lips (as weird as that sounds) for a moment before stepping back and looking up at him.

"Is that promise enough?" I asked. He nodded. I smiled. "Good. I'll, um, see you later then."

Kronos! How could Luke be working with Kronos! It didn't make any sense. What about the helm and the bolt? Where was Luke keeping them? You couldn't just hold gods' symbols of power without getting caught, could you? And what about the shoes Luke gave Percy? I didn't think that he would be able to use them though. With Zeus and Poseidon fighting right now, Percy wouldn't be safe in the skies.

Then again, maybe that was a good thing. If Luke's plan didn't work then there wouldn't be war between the gods and Kronos wouldn't rise. I know, I sound weird. I'm not going to tell anyone about Luke's plan, but I wasn't for it either. I was hoping that I could talk some sense into him and get him to turn his back on Kronos. It was probably very far-fetched and naïve, but right now it was my only plan.

I loved Luke. I didn't want him killed if I ratted him out. But I didn't want him to hurt himself trying to help Kronos rise! What was I going to—

A hot spout of lava hitting my thigh jolted me out of my thoughts, followed by hitting the ground from about a two-story building height, seeing black, stars, and then having my vision come back.

"Tori! Tori! Are you all right?" someone was shouting. I blinked and realized a bunch of blurry figures were standing over me. For a split second I forgot what had happened.

"Tori, are you all right? What happened?" I heard Chiron's calm, composed voice.

My eyebrows furrowed. "Ow." was all I managed to say.

"Can you get up?" Chiron asked. I blinked as my vision started to clear.

"I-I don't know…. I can-I can try…." I murmured looking up at all the campers surrounding me. Some offered their hands and I took them gratefully. At first I didn't feel anything as I got up. It wasn't bad, then when I put more pressure on my right leg, burning pain seared up my leg and throughout my body. I went toppling over, catching myself with my hands, slightly dazed.

"Ow." I said again.

"Let's get her to the infirmary." Chiron ordered. Two campers, Travis and Conner Stoll, grabbed my arms and draped them over their shoulders before standing up. Together we hobbled toward the Big House, me still dazed. They laid me down in a cot and stepped back, Chiron filling their places.

"What… what happened to my leg?" I asked faintly, starting to look down.

"I don't think that would be wise." Chiron warned quickly. My eyes snapped back up to him.

"Is it that bad?" I asked feeling sick. Chiron opened his mouth to answer but my stomach flipped. "Hold that thought." I said quickly before promptly leaning my head over the side of the cot and throwing up.

"Clean-up on aisle five." I heard Travis mutter before both Travis and Conner start snickering.

"Why don't you two boys be of some use and go get the mop and bucket to clean this up." Chiron asked turning his torso to look at them, which was an odd movement because he had to slightly move his whole body as well.

They repressed their groans and headed off.

"Oh and while you're at it, why don't you get this young lady a glass of water and some ambrosia." Chiron turned back to look at me. I couldn't hide my smile. He smiled and winked. I chuckled.

They came back quicker than I expected with all the things Chiron had asked of them. He stepped back so Connor could clean up the mess I'd made. Travis handed me the glass of water and set the ambrosia on the side table.

"Sorry about that." I muttered taking a drink of water and looking at Chiron over the rim of my glass.

"That's all right. You're probably in shock. You might want to eat some of that ambrosia." he suggested.

I set the glass down and picked up the small bowl of ambrosia. The taste danced across my tongue, and my taste buds rejoiced and so did my body. Especially my leg, it felt so much better, like it was being rubbed with soothing aloe. The burning went away and so did the smell of burnt flesh.

"What… exactly… happened?" I asked. When I tried to remember all I got was the blue sky as I fell.

"From what I heard, you were rock climbing and you were doing fine, but then you stopped and got caught by a blast of lava. I guess the heat made you panic and let go of the wall." Chiron explained.

I set the bowl aside.

"Great." I groaned flopping back onto the pillow. "Will I be okay if I just eat the ambrosia?"

"Well, I think you'll be fine. But I'd want to watch the wound closely. It should heal like a sunburn, but if it gets worse just tell me, okay?"

I sighed, but nodded before closing my eyes again.

"Tori?" I recognized Luke's voice. I bolted upright, making my head spin, as blood rushed up to my cheeks.

Chiron didn't fail to notice.

"Maybe I should… give you two a moment." he said. "Come along gentlemen, thank you for cleaning up and helping Tori." Connor and Travis exchanged a look (I turned even redder) and left.

Luke got down beside me and took one of my hands.

"I heard what happened. Are you all right?" he asked looking genuinely worried (not that he wouldn't be).

"Yeah, I'm fine." I chuckled. "I got… distracted on the climbing wall and wasn't watching."

Luke smiled. "I'm glad your okay." he told me reaching up to brush some hair out of my face. I shivered at his touch.

"So am I." I agreed.

Sorry it was a bit uneventful. This was more of a filler chapter…. Hope you enjoyed anyway!

.happiness.

~ See you at Camp Half-Blood!