I do not own PJO.
Chapter 4.
I stood there and cried into his shoulder for a while. So long, the other Hermes campers and Percy decided to leave the cabin and let us have our privacy. I didn't even know where to start with Sean, but I didn't have to. He began talking first.
"Peggy, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. But back then, I didn't know you were a half-blood." Sean said, still holding me tight in a hug. He was so comforting, like the brother I never had.
"It's ok, Sean." I stifled out between sniffles. "I didn't know either. I only found out today, after I… I was attacked."
"No, it's not ok." He said, his voice becoming harsher, "I should have sensed you were a demigod, then I could have protected you." Now, he was beginning to cry.
"Hey, it's not your fault, Sean. Let's just both calm down and then we can talk." He nodded silently and slowly steadied his breathing. After a few minutes, we both had stopped crying and sat down on his bunk bed.
"How did you find out?" I asked, the remanence of dried tears on my cheeks.
Sean's face turned to a puzzled look for a second before he explained, "Well, it wasn't quite as dangerous or exciting as most of the other camper's experiences were. I was at Goode, and I was friends with another demigod. They had known about the Greeks for about a year when they met me. They sensed I was a half-blood because of my dyslexia, ADHD and my extreme physical abilities. Once they had confirmed I was one of them, they brought me to camp." He tacked on a half-hearted smile.
"So, who was it that took you to camp?" I questioned but I could tell there was something wrong.
Sean turned his face away from me. "I don't want to talk about it." I felt bad, he had just gotten done crying about the fact I was a demigod and now I forced him into another touchy subject. "He's… he's dead now. He died in the last titan war." His voiced faltered. Now I was feeling twice as bad! I had just brought up a friend who had practically saved his life by taking him to camp-but died so recently.
"Oh wow. I'm sorry." I placed my hand on his shoulder and rubbed gently.
"It's fine." He sniffled and wiped his eyes with his palms. "How did you figure it out?"
"Well, it involved your sister a little-but don't worry! She wasn't in any danger." He nodded and looked at me, waiting for the rest of the story. I told him about the old woman following me, going out to lunch with Alethea, how the old women attacked and finally how Percy had saved me. "I was hurt pretty badly but luckily Will from the Apollo cabin healed me. I still have scars though." I pulled my blond hair back behind my shoulders and showed Sean the claw marks.
"Oh my gods, Peggy! Do you realize who you were attacked by?" I shook my head no; did it really matter who I was attacked by? Sean spoke in a hushed voice, "The kindly ones!" I raised my eyebrows. The who now?
"The kind ones? I don't get it."
"The kindly ones. Also known as the furies." I gave him a look that said: so? "Peggy, I don't really think you're understanding the situation here. If they went after you, they must've been sent out by one of the Olympians; Probably one of the big three."
"Why would a god want to kill me, exactly?" I asked. I was new to the Greek mythology world but I was sure that half-bloods weren't attacked by gods on the regular.
"I'm not sure. It could be the god who sent them has a rivalry with your parent, or maybe they didn't mean for the kindly ones to kill you." Sean was rubbing his face next to his mouth, as if going through all the possibilities. Suddenly, he jumped a little as if realizing something. "We need to stop talking about this now. The gods do not like to be questioned." Could gods really be listening in on this conversation? They were. I could feel their ears pressed up against our every word.
Not wanting to keep thinking about the eavesdropping gods, I asked him a question. "So, Sean, does Alethea know about you being a demigod? Hang on, is she one as well!?"
Sean raised his upper lip as if the thought disgusted him. "Eww, no. She's not a demigod. Gods usually only have an affair with a mortal once. And no, she doesn't know that I'm a half-blood, however, I was planning on telling her soon."
"How would you tell her?"
"I'm not quite sure, but I'll be sure to be patient and wait for the prefect time to tell her. It might help if you were there as well-seeing as you're her best friend." He smiled at me.
"Oh, wow. I don't even know the first thing about the gods. But if you really want me to…" I said, skeptical of what would happen if I tried to tell her about this strange world.
"Peggy, it would be immense help if you would tell her with me." There was a sudden sound which resonated throughout the camp. It was a loud, deep sound. "That'll be the dinner call. You will be eating with me at the Hermes table. Also, there are some dinner traditions that we have which you'll need to learn."
"Traditions?" I quizzed him. Did they pray to the gods instead of God?
"You'll see." Sean put on a smile, took my hand and we walked out the door and up to a large pavilion.
When we arrived to it, I noticed many things. The pavilion was an open-roofed Greek building. It's white granite columns perfectly reflected the light. It was near the ocean and had a wonderful view of the water. In the center of the pavilion there was a large brazier with flames inside. There were many tables neatly placed around the floor; each looked very similar except for a small symbol in the center of them. Some of the symbols included a lyre, a hammer, a staff with two snakes (the kind you see at hospitals), an owl and a lightning bolt. I assumed that each of the different cabins ate at their respective tables.
I looked around a little more and saw some new people I hadn't noticed before. There were girls who had many elf-like features and flowers in their hair who passed out food. Over at one table, sitting near where Chiron was standing was a man. I didn't want to say he was overweight but I can't lie-he was. He had messy grey-black hair and a look in his eyes saying, 'the best of my life is over'. Gross. I decided it would be best to take my mind off that and look somewhere else.
The elf-girls where passing out plates of food to the tables. There was beef brisket, rolls, strawberries and a large array of chesses.
"We'll be sitting at the Hermes' table, over there." Sean nudged me towards the table with the staff engraved in the top. "Quickly! Before all the food is gone!" Campers were filing in with their cabinmates and sitting down at their respective tables. I noticed there were a few empty tables. The one with the lightning bolt, the crescent moon, and the peacock feather. Curious.
We sat down at the Hermes table and it was completely packed. I was practically sitting on the floor. I filled my plate full of barbequed brisket, hot rolls and strawberries. After a long, insane day like this one, I needed to eat. I wondered if we were meant to pray to the gods so I looked around at others. I saw some people getting up with their plates and walking towards the center of the room-the brazier.
"What are they doing, Sean?" I asked.
"They're making sacrifices to the gods. We put some food into the fire and say a prayer to any of the gods but usually our parent." Sean stood up and walked over to the brazier and I followed. Once we had reached the side of it, Sean used his fork to slide some food of his plate and into the fire. I decided to sacrifice a little brisket and cheese. I didn't know exactly who to pray to or what to say so I just addressed my physic letter to whoever was listening. Whoever might be out there listening, please help me. Let me know I really am and what my purpose is.
"Sean, why do we burn food for the gods?" I asked. I thought gods liked sheep or chickens to be sacrificed for them. Why my dinner?
"I believe it's because they like the small. You'd think burnt cheese wouldn't smell good but somehow it has an amazing aroma!" He retorted. I took a quick sniff of the smoke coming from the brazier and he was right. It smelled delightful, like cheesecake.
We walked back to our table and began to chow down on our food. Everything was delicious. All the kids at the Hermes' table were so kind and polite, even though I had just arrived at camp that day.
All of a sudden, thoughts started to hit me. Oh my gods! What had happened to Alaine? Had she gotten home safe? What was Thea thinking about right now, after I didn't show up back at school? My head was spinning with questions. First, I was attacked. Then, I find out the Greek gods are real. Next, I figure out I'm the daughter of a god. Finally, my best friend's brother turns out to be a demigod! My whole sense of reality had been turned upside-down. I sighed, and rubbed my hand on my forehead.
"What's wrong? You look dreadful." Sean had noticed my confusion and mental catastrophe.
"I'm sorry, it's just a lot to take in. Mind if I ask you another question?"
"Go for it."
I decided it would be best to ask him one of the simpler questions to start off. "So, why are some of the tables empty? Do they not come to dinner or something?"
"Multiple reasons, I guess. Some maiden goddess vow never to have children, the big three hardly ever have kids because they are just too powerful and other half-bloods may just be out and about because it isn't summer yet." As he talked he gestured toward different areas of the pavilion in which there were hardly any kids sitting.
Suddenly, many of the people stopped talking, however, one voice rang out. "Hello you miserable children! I have a few announcements to make before we head over to the camp fire sing-along." It was that large-less than desirable- man from earlier who sat next to Chiron. "Firstly, we have a new camper: Peggy Barnes. Please welcome her kindly as I do not care to do so." I was liking him less and less the more he blabbed on. Alas, I smiled and waved at the mention of my name. "Next off, we have received word from the other gods that they may commission a new quest for a few demigods. Something about a lost child, not that I care much! That concludes announcements, let's head over to the fire."
A murmur broke out as campers began to stand up and walk over to the fire. There were multiple conversations going on about quests, the gods and this illusive missing child.
We all filed into the campfire area and sat with the rest of our cabinmates. I sat next to Sean because he was basically the only person here I knew-besides Percy of course.
"Campfire sing-alongs are so fun. And the coolest part is the flames reflect the mood and how fired up the campers are." I looked toward the fire and saw the flames dance, gain height and glow brighter as the singing began.
I was having fun, for once I felt like I truly belonged. Only, the fun didn't last very long.
There was a sudden flash of lightning, dangerously close to a few of the campers. The flames licked at their last breath and were finally extinguished.
Be sure to tell me what you think of the story so far!
Happy reading my friends!
I do not own PJO.