II

Percy

Two stupefied boys escorted Percy to his cabin . Before going in , Percy looked up so as to see the cabin's name … Neptune … He was feeling weird . He had lost his memory and the first he learned was that his was the offspring of a Roman god named Neptune . The name seemed something less than familiar … he sighed and entered his cabin . He had to admit it . He was very impressed . The cabin's wall was painted in a deep green color … same as the sea's water . The cabin was not as big as the other's but it was so beautiful in its own wild way . There was a big statue of a dude with a trident on his right hand . He seemed calm but his expression made it clear . He was unpredictable , just like the sea . Home sweet home Percy whispered .

He got out of the cabin . The two boys were whispering . Percy felt a bit uneasily but before he got the chance to do something like clearing his throat , the one of the two boys smiled at him and said

'' I bet you are hungry '' .

'' Yeah …. '' Percy said .

'' Look … '' the boy said '' since the dinner is over we aren't allowed to return to the dining area … but I can loot the kitchen and bring you some meat and bread , if you want '' .

'' Thanks … '' . He couldn't decide whether the guy was making fun or not .

'' Don't worry dude ... look , I am Jack , son of Mercury , should you need anything , just tell me '' . He smiled happily . Percy smiled back . '' I 'll be back in a few minutes '' Jack said . After that , he turned and started walking towards the dining area .

Percy turned over the direction of the other and when their eyes met , he understood that this was the guy he had thrown all the water to .

'' Eh … I am sorry for that little incident … ''

'' Bob … '' he said '' my name is Bob … and we shall talk again tomorrow about that little incident … at capture the flag '' . After making clear his intentions , Bob left him . Perfect . He was here for what two hours and he had successfully made an enemy already .

" Story of my life " he thought bitterly . Hey , where did this come from ?

The sky was amazing . It was full moon . So many stars . Now , he was getting romantic , too . Ok …

Jack returned after a while with some food and with some clean clothes , too .

'' Thank you Jack ''

'' Don't mention it , Percy ''

'' See you tomorrow dude … goodnight ''

'' Goodnight … and oh , Percy ? ''

'' Yeah ? ''

'' I hope we are at the same team tomorrow '' . He smiled and turned to leave .

''Why don't I fit here ? '' With this interesting thought , he entered his cabin , lied to a bunk and let himself to join the world of dreams …

In his dream , he was kneeling in front of his father's statue , praying to him . He had his sword on his right hand . He got up to his feet and stared his father's statue , uncertain of what was going to happen . Then Reyna burst into the cabin

'' Come on Percy ''

He didn't even blink . He grabbed his helmet and he and Reyna got out of the cabin . A few hundred meters away from the camp's borders flying into the air was a huge ship … Argo II .

'' Percy '' Reyna screamed '' we have to catch up with the others , don't just stand there '' . She started running . Percy followed her . After ten minutes they reached the rest . When the saw them they cheered and make road so that they could reach first line . He stood next to Kaya . She looked him anxiously but put a brave smile upon her face .

'' They 've landed '' she said

'' Get ready '' he shouted . He looked his arms . In the right one he had the tattoo of two horses and of a trident , the symbol of his father . To his left hand he had another tattoo with four letters … PQRS … a whole month and he could still remember the pain … he looked Kaya again . He must have gone dump looking at her 'cause she turned and told him

'' Shouldn't your eyes be over there ? '' she pointed towards the ship .

'' Don't I get a kiss for good luck now ? '' he asked back .

She smiled and kissed him . That sense he was on fire was weird since he was son of the god of the seas but he didn't complain . The taste of her lips , the smell of her breath that was just like the one of the strawberries . He couldn't explain it . He believed he could easily sit there the whole day kissing her and he would simply want more and more .

Then came the scream . Percy looked around confused and worried , trying to understand who got hurt . He looked the ship's deck . A blond girl with athletics look was observing him with hate combined with surprise . Next to her , stood a guy , blonde hair , with a scar on his upper lip . He knew that one . Jason son of Jupiter . Two more people he couldn't identify . And she again . She screamed something he shouldn't be able to hear since they were two hundred meters away from him . Everyone else was iced . There was no one apart from him and her . And what she said was simple and right

'' How could you ? ''

Percy got up so surprised he hit his head to the upper bank .

The next morning , Percy decided to practice his swordplay . Problem was he didn't have the finest idea where it was . He had examined his sword this morning and he was happy to see that it fitted perfectly to his palm and it had perfect equilibre , as the French say . He met Reyna while searching the pit .

'' Good morning Reyna '' he said

She smiled to him but from her expression he could tell she was worried about something . She didn't want to press her to tell him , so he remained silent .

'' Did you sleep well ?'' she asked interested .

'' You could say so ''

'' Eh ? ''

'' I saw a weird dream … ''

She nodded like she could perfectly understand

'' It's always like that for us … We even get messages from the gods … They visit us while we are asleep … some kids got their quests from the gods like that . Now , tell me about your dream ''

Percy described her his dream , omitting the part he kissed Kaya and the part with the shipdeck or with the tatooes . She was pretty impressed .

'' I think '' she said '' what you saw is the future if things continue like that .… very interesting … I will talk to Lupa about it … ''

'' Whatever you say ''

'' What did you say ? ''

'' I said " whatever you say "

'' No , you said " έαχαίριν '' . What the heck means that ? ''

'' I don't know ''

'' Weird … mmm … maybe you got amnesia ''

'' Haha … Yeah , make fun of the man ''

'' The phrase you said , I am almost sure it was Ancient Greek . And that's weird . I mean every camper can identify some words but saying something in this language while you wanted to speak English , it's pretty weird '' .

'' Everything is weird about me , Reyna … ''

She smiled and winked at him . But , he understood that this was just a mask . She was grieving . Maybe he wasn't the only one that had lost something … but he couldn't figure out what .

'' So … '' she started , attempting probably to change the subject of the conversation '' judging from the fact that you hold your sword , I guess you wanted to practice '' .

'' That's right '' Percy answered .

'' Then , you 'll fight against me , I 'll check your skills and things like that ''

'' No problem ' After two minutes they reached the battle pit . It was behind the dining area .

'' Let's practice , Percy '' she said while jumping the pit's finch '' I gotta warn you … I am the best swordsman at the whole camp after … Jason '' . Her expression became even more bitter when she told the name Jason , pretty difficult if to be sincere .

Ah … finally a name that made her sad . Maybe he was the reason of her grieve . As it seemed , he wasn't the only lost one . Reyna turned and stood two meters away from him .

All the campers at the arena stopped fighting and made a circle around him and Reyna . And then the fight began . Percy couldn't help being impressed . Reyna was simply terrifying . She moved like a typhoon ; death and power combined . She used moves unknown to him , pressing him so hardly , he had to be totally concentrated if to survive … . She used two golden knives . Consequently , her weapons weren't made from the same material that his sword was made , celestial bronze . Hey , how did he know that ? Her brown hair formed into a ponytail and a helmet covering her head except for her eyes . Her eyes showed no fear , just certitude that she would prevail . Percy believed that too .

But then something changed . Having memorized most of her moves , he could easily now block them . A wild smiled formed upon Percy's face and before two seconds passed , he was the one attacking and Reyna the one defending . It was so easy … not because he was fighting different style than her , no it was just the fact that he was better than her … more experienced … faster … more talented . With a pretty quick move he used his sword to throw the two knives out of Reyna's hands .

Reyna's expression was surprised . Apparently she wasn't used to losing . But then she smiled . '' As it seems you are a natural , Percy '' . The campers having watched the fight nodded in agreement .

'' I propose we stop fighting . Tonight we are playing capture the flag , we should maintain power '' she said .

'' Ok … well , Reyna I am a bit hungry … would you mind accompanying me to the dining area? ''

'' My pleasure '' she said after smiling .

. . .


After their poor meal , Reyna and Percy headed to the woods . They found a big rock and sat on it . It was so peacefully .
'' Anxious for tonight's game ? '' she asked .

'' Not really '' Percy answered '' anyway , we are in the same team … so … ''

Reyna laughed . The teams of the game were announced before the meal . The blue team consists of Mar's , Minerva's , Apollo's , Venus's and Neptune's cabins .

'' But this is your first capture the flag game '' she said after a while .

'' Not quite Percy said . Remember our fight ? ''.

'' Yeah '' .

'' Well … firstly, I wasn't sure how to react , I was just concentrated in not letting you tear me apart '' . Reyna smiled with that statement . '' But after a while '' Percy continued '' I remembered how to fight … how to move … it was like a déjà vu '' . '' Like living a fact that has happened before … got what I mean ? '' .

'' So you believe that you will be ok ? '' .

Percy nodded . '' That I believe '' .

Some minutes passed without talking . Neither Percy nor Reyna felt uncomfortable with silence . But after a while Percy decided to let his curiosity win his discretion .

'' So … what about Jason ?'' he asked

She didn't speak for a long time . Percy was almost sure that she wouldn't answer his question . But then Reyna looked at him and said quietly

'' Jason … you could say he was our leader '' .

'' Was ? '' .

'' He disappeared two hours or so before your appearance . Actually , when Lupa found you … well , she was looking for Jason . Jason was a son of sky '' .

'' Son of Zeus … ''

'' No … son of Jupiter . It's not the same thing you know . The roman gods are more united than the greek , they stand more for discipline and justice . They are better . Well , he and I … we were in charge when we attacked mountain Tam … a year ago . He fought with courage and prevailed in the battle with Titan Krios . But I don't know how the Titan war ended … ''

'' I feel I do but I can't remember . Stupid amnesia . ''

'' You will remember Percy … I am sure of that . It just needs time ''.

'' I hope you are right , Reyna '' . Percy sighed . '' We had better get going if we want to be ready on time for the game '' .

'' That 's right '' . '' Come on Percy '' . She stand up to her feet and helped Percy , too . '' You should choose a shield , too . It suits with your battle style'' .

'' You think ? ''

'' I bet '' .

. . .

Percy was standing next to Reyna . He was holding a shield and his sword in his two bare hands .

Choosing the appropriate shield had been kinda tricky . There were a lot of types … the ones for defense , for attack and those destined for both attack and defense . Unfortunately , none of them was good enough to be suitable to his battle style and to his hand's length .

They were ready to give up when Lupa showed up with a blue circled shield at her left arm .

'' This shield Percy was given to me from your father , destined as he claimed for his first son ever appearing to our camp . Therefore , Percy , this shield is yours . ''

Lupa handed him the shield and Percy took it with caution . It was light and it seemed like it was made for him . Perfect length . He admired the shield for a little while , then he turned towards Lupa's direction and said in a warm voice

'' Think I am gonna keep it , thanks a lot '' .

Lupa smiled to him and then she turned and left .

After Lupa's statement about his father and after he prevailed against Reyna in the battle arena , almost all the campers treated him , at least , more respectfully if not friendly .

Reyna looked at him and the said in a serious voice '' Here is our plan . Mar's cabin is playing defense … they will be the ones guarding the flag . Apollo's and Venu's cabin will be kinda messengers or something like that , they will warn us of the enemy's progress and state . If needed to battle they will provide cover by shooting some arrows . Minerva's cabin , apart from me , will try to be both attack and defense . But the two of us have the most dangerous and difficult job . We must capture the enemy flag . Sneak into the enemies base … that's the easy part . Get the flag … no problem . Get away … let's just say it's not as easy as the previous part '' .

'' We are a good team . We are going to win . That I am sure of '' .
Reyna gave Percy a smile .

When they had settled and they were ready to go … the bell ringed … and the game began …