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This chapter is now revised. (1/2015)
Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Confrontations
Percy's POV
In a blink of an eye, Seth bolted.
No one stopped him. I was tempted to follow him, but Lee placed a hand on my shoulder, and shook his head at my unsaid thought. I lowered my gaze and nodded.
Everyone was whispering. Some of the things I heard were said out of curiosity, while others were better left unsaid. I couldn't help but remember what it was like during my claiming. All the whispering and gossip, and then my permanent change of residence to Cabin 3. Those first few days were awful.
"About time!" one of the Stoll brothers, Travis or Connor (I didn't know which), announced. "Seriously, I was wondering when his mom would claim him, especially when it's so obvious."
I was surprised. "Wait, you guys aren't surprised?"
The older campers didn't answer, but gave suggestive smiles. Even some of the senior Aphrodite campers were rolling their eyes.
"Well, no duh." Silena said with a look that stated 'Do you think we're stupid?' "We may not like Artemis, but even we know what she looks like, and Seth is like, her identical twin. We knew since the day he arrived."
I turned to Lee and Will, both sported knowing looks. "Were you guys aware of this?"
Lee shrugged, "I had my suspicions. His archery is top notch. I had thought he was our half brother."
"But Apollo never claimed him," Will said. "That's when we knew for sure. It was the only possibility."
"But didn't you guys have any doubts? About his…you know." I said quietly.
Will was solemn. "That's his business. If Seth wanted to tell us, he'll tell us."
"You don't seem surprised either, Percy," Lee pointed out. "I suppose he told you?"
I nodded. It was kind of strange that the senior campers were so open about Seth's case. Maybe it was because they knew him longer, and Seth's polite and kind nature made him very well-liked by campers of all cabins. I wished they were just as open-minded when I was claimed. Their treatment made me a little envious. "Annabeth found out during our quest two years ago. She and Seth confirmed it for me."
"I hate to break this group discussion and all," Thalia started. "But don't we have a prophecy that we should address?"
The Hunters nodded eagerly at Thalia's words.
"We should go to the Big House immediately," Zoë said. She darted a glance at Chiron. "Shall we?"
Chiron nodded. "Campers, please return to your cabins. Cabin councilors, we have a matter we must urgently address. Also, one or two campers must carry the Oracle back to the attic."
Everyone was leaving, as if the whole incident of Seth's claiming and his standoff with Zoë was just pushed aside. I clenched my fists and made my way past campers and went straight towards Zoë Nightshade. She narrowed her eyes when she saw me approach.
"What did you say to Seth?" I demanded. Zoë was silent as she took in my distraught. "I have never seen Seth so angry and he wouldn't be starting fights unless he had a good reason. SO. WHAT. DID. YOU. SAY. TO. HIM?"
I was on the verge of drawing out Riptide if necessary, even if I didn't like the idea of pointing a sword at a girl's throat.
"I think I would like to know the answer to that as well." Thalia sneered. Even Lee and Will stayed behind to hear her response, their eyes narrowing at the thought of Zoë hurting their cousin.
If Zoë was intimidated, she didn't show it. "Like I said, I only told him the truth."
"What truth?!" Thalia nearly shouted.
"Thou must first understand that… that boy has insulted the Hunt many times on previous accounts. As the Hunt's lieutenant, I cannot possibly let that pass. He has also hurt my Lady deeply, and that is unforgivable."
"Well maybe if Artemis had enough sense to change her decision that night then maybe Seth wouldn't have resorted to hating her." Thalia retorted, "You can't possibly think Seth would be so naïve as to forget that."
Zoë clenched her teeth, "Thou doesn't understand! My Lady would never…" She paused, and quickly shut her mouth, as if afraid to give anything away.
Her expression became stoic. "It doesn't matter now. The important thing is that the boy insulted the Hunt, and the Hunt takes offense."
"Oh, so it's a matter of pride now?" Thalia scoffed.
"Wait, what do you mean it 'doesn't matter'?" I questioned. "You're hiding something, aren't you?"
Zoë hesitated. "No, I'm not." She was lying, and everyone knew it.
I narrowed my eyes. "Yes, you are, but why are you not telling us? As his friends, we have every right to know."
"I can't tell you."
"Can't? Or won't?" Will said, his tone bordering on dangerous.
Zoë snapped, "I can't tell you. My Lady made me swear an oath-!"
"So you do have something to hide?" I accused.
"Whether or not I had something to hide, I wouldn't be able to tell thee," Zoë snapped. "I swore on the Styx."
The atmosphere suddenly grew darker and heavier.
"So you can't tell us. But you still haven't told us what you said to Seth." I pointed out.
This time, Zoë really looked hesitant as we all paid extra attention to what we're here for.
Zoë sighed, and gave each of us a steady stare. The fact that she was still dripping wet from head to toe didn't help ease up the tension.
"I'll admit that I did not predict how strongly he reacted..."
"Now that's a surprise." Thalia muttered sarcastically.
"This... is what happened," Zoë began.
-o-
A few moments prior…
Zoë was furious. She couldn't believe that she allowed such a rude, annoying, and beyond brash simpleton outsmart her plans and humiliate the Hunters.
She stomped her way past her Hunters, and glared at the menace. She wished that her glare was enough to incinerate him, but unfortunately, she wasn't capable of the feat. He was adjusting his quiver and was about to reach for his bow when Zoë took it before he did. He was slightly startled before he saw who it was and smirked.
"Playing around, Zoë?" Seth said. "That's not like you."
Zoë bristled. How was it that this…this male abomination knew exactly what to say to annoy the Hades out of her? The fact that he looked like her lady did not help the matter. With that familiar dark auburn hair, silver eyes, and light complexion, Zoë thought Seth was tainting her Lady's sacred image. Why couldn't her Lady have a daughter instead? It would have made things so much easier.
"How I'm like does not pertain to thee in the slightest." She snapped, keeping the bow just out of his reach when Seth tried to snatch it from her.
He frowned. "What do you want Zoë? Are you here to lament about your loss? Don't bother, you know that I did not cheat and my plan simply out-smarted yours. It's common sense."
Again, Zoë struggled to keep her temper in check and gave a forced smile, Seth immediately looked at her warily, "Actually, I'm here to give thee my condolences."
"Your…condolences?" Seth said suspiciously.
"Actually, it's more of a celebration," she said. "How is that girl, Lucy was it? How is she doing?"
Seth blinked, not expecting the change in topic. "What?"
Zoë resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his ignorance, and smiled. "Why, thou hasn't heard? She is adopted now isn't she?"
"Yes, but what does that have anything to do with your 'oh so obvious' hatred of me?" Seth tried to say casually. Zoë smiled again. Was that a tone of bitterness?
"She has a wonderful family now, doesn't she? In fact, I believe her adopted parents are even buying her a- what was it again? Oh yes, a cute little white poodle. Isn't it nice that she finally belongs somewhere she knows she is well cared for?"
"What are you getting at?" Seth snapped. "Of course I'm happy for her. Why wouldn't I be?"
Zoë smiled. She now knew his weak point. "The same can't be said for thee, can it?"
Seth paled. He looked like he just got punched.
Zoë continued, relishing in her victory. "It's such a shame. A nice boy like you couldn't even get what everyone else has- family. Every one of the hunters has someone they care for outside of the Hunters, even I have relatives of my own. But what does thou have? Certainly not my Lady, despite her attempts at reconciliation, all she really wants in the end is to use you and be done with it. In fact, I won't be surprised if she claims you anytime now."
Seth gritted his teeth. "H-how can you say that? You can't k-!"
"Thou is saying I don't know my Lady?" Zoë mocked. "I've been her lieutenant for centuries. Of course I would know her better than anyone. Better than you."
Seth was stern. "I don't care if you know her or not. In fact…" He huffed and stood up. "I don't give a shit about you or Artemis! Quit wasting my time! I have better things to do than to listen to your petty insults." He turned around and walked away from her, leaving her with his bow.
"It's no wonder no one cares about thee," Zoë said just loud enough for Seth to hear. "Does thou want to know why? It's because in everyone's eyes, thou is nothing more than a SELF-DENIED FREAK!"
"And that is when he decided to attack me." Zoë finished.
No one said anything for a moment, but inside I was bristling with anger. No wonder Seth acted the way he did. I would have behaved the same way if someone insulted me like that. Then, there was the prophecy and Artemis claiming him. Now, I knew why he looked so terrified. He probably thought what Zoë said was the truth. That Artemis was using him and planned to put him in the waste bucket with no recycling plan.
The silence was broken when Thalia stepped forward, and slapped Zoë in the face.
Zoë drew a look of surprise, before she forced herself to look blank. She didn't say anything surprisingly. Thalia was fuming.
"Thalia…" I started.
"What?" Thalia challenged, glancing at each of us. "Don't tell me I was the only one thinking of it. Each of you looked ready to snap. I only did all of us a favor." She glared at Zoë. "Anyone who would use someone's family against him deserved that and more. What you just did to Seth is beyond sickening!"
"I'll have to agree." Lee started, his face contorted into something unrecognizable. "That was despicable! To think you would use such cheap, underhanded tactics…" He couldn't continue. He looked ready to tackle Zoë to the ground, but refrained himself.
"I regret holding him back," Will said with a glower. "I should have just let Seth do what he pleased. He was right. You're really a monster."
Zoë swallowed, wincing slightly. "Think what thou want to think. I protected the Hunt's pride, dignity, honor-!"
"Honor?" I spat. "You call that honor? What you did was anything but honorable! In all honesty, I think you really don't know Artemis as well as you like, Zoë Nightshade."
She narrowed her eyes. "And why is that?"
"Artemis personally told me to look after Seth." I recalled, suddenly remembering that day at the Academy. "If she really wanted to use him and toss him away like garbage like you claimed, I'm very sure she wouldn't have told me this. Did it even occur to you that Artemis really does want Seth to acknowledge her?"
Zoë didn't answer, but I could tell that she was thinking over my argument, her eyes lowered in concentration.
Grover came up behind us. Noticing the tension and the glares that were on our faces, he hesitated.
"The Council is about to start. Lord Dionysus and Chiron are waiting for most of you." He said nervously. He gave me a glance that asked 'What is going on?'
"We're coming." I answered. "Has Seth turned up yet?"
Grover shook his head. "No one knows where he is. Believe me, I tried looking for him, but nothing. We'll just have to hope he'll turn up on his own."
If he ever decides to turn up I thought.
-o-
Mr. D and Chiron (in wheelchair form) sat at one end of the table. Zoë Nightshade took the other end. She had already changed into another set of dry clothes. Thalia, Grover, Lee, and I sat along the right, and the other head councilors, Beckendorf, Silena Beauregard, and the Stoll brothers sat on the left. The Ares kids were supposed to send a representative too, but all of them had gotten broken limbs during Capture the Flag, courtesy of the hunters. They were resting up in the infirmary.
Zoë started the meeting off on a positive note. "This is pointless. There is no time for talk. Our goddess needs us. The Hunters must leave immediately!"
"And go where?" Chiron asked.
"West!" Zoë said impatiently. "The prophecy clearly states that 'Five shall go west to the goddess in chains'. We get five hunters and go."
"You're missing something, as usual." Thalia muttered, glaring at her. "Campers and Hunters combined prevail. We're supposed to do this together."
"No!" Zoë said stubbornly. "The Hunters do not need thy help."
"Your," Thalia grumbled. "Nobody has said thy in, like, three hundred years, Zoë. Get with the times. Or are modern curses all you are good at?"
Zoë glowered at her. "There are a lot of things that I am good at, better at than even you."
"Would you like to test that?" Thalia sneered, getting up. Chiron gave a grunt.
"Thalia, please," Chiron said sternly. "We are here to discuss only the prophecy. If you have other matters, take them outside and don't bother coming back in." Thalia and Zoë instantly grew silent. "To pick up what Thalia had mentioned, I fear the prophecy says you do need our help." Chiron said to Zoë. "Campers and Hunters must cooperate."
"Or do they?" Mr. D said, swirling his Diet Coke under his nose like it had a fine bouquet. "One shall be lost. One shall perish. That sounds rather nasty, doesn't it? What if you fail because you try to cooperate?"
"Mr. D," Chiron sighed, "with all due respect, whose side are you on?"
Dionysus raised his eyebrows. "Sorry, my dear centaur. Just trying to be helpful."
"We're supposed to work together," Thalia repeated. "I don't like it either Zoë, but you know prophecies. You want to fight against one?"
Zoë grimaced, but I could tell Thalia had scored a point.
"We must not delay," Chiron warned. "Today is Sunday. This very Friday, December twenty-first, is the Winter Solstice."
"Oh, joy," Dionysus muttered. "Another dull annual meeting."
"Artemis must be present at the Solstice," Zoë said. "She has been one of the most vocal on the council arguing for action against Kronos' minions. If she is absent, the gods will decide nothing. We will lose another year of war preparations."
"I must agree with Zoë," said Chiron. "Artemis' presence at the winter council is critical. We have only a week to find her. And possibly even more important: to locate the monster she was hunting. Now, we must decide who goes on this quest."
Zoë grunted. "I would prefer to take all the Hunters. We still need strength of numbers."
"You'll be retracing the goddess' path," Chiron reminded her. "Moving quickly. No doubt Artemis tracked the scent of this rare monster, whatever it is, as she moved west. You will have to do the same. The prophecy was clear: The bane of Olympus shows the trail. What would your mistress say? Too many Hunters spoil the scent'. A small group is best."
"Chiron," I said, "don't you have any ideas about the monster?"
Chiron pursed his lips. "I have several ideas, none of them good. And none of them quite make sense. Typhon, for instance, could fit this description. He was truly a bane of Olympus. Or the sea monster Keto. But if either of these were stirring, we would know it. They are ocean monsters the size of skyscrapers. Your father, Poseidon, would already have sounded the alarm. I fear this monster may be elusive. Perhaps even more powerful."
"One shall be lost in the land without rain," Beckendorf said. "If I were you, I'd stay out of the desert."
There was a muttering of agreement.
"And the Titan's curse must one withstand," Silena said. "What could that mean?"
I saw Chiron and Zoe exchange a nervous look, but whatever they were thinking, they didn't share it.
"One shall perish by a parent's hand," Grover said in between bites of Cheez Whiz and Ping-Pong balls. "How is that possible? Whose parent would kill them?"
No one answered.
I remembered a conversation I'd had last year with Annabeth. I'd asked her, if I was so potentially dangerous, why didn't the gods just kill me?
Some of the gods would like to kill you, she'd said. But they're afraid of offending Poseidon.
Could an Olympian parent turn against his half-blood child? Would it sometimes be easier just to let them die? If there were ever any half-bloods who needed to worry about that, it was Thalia and me. I wondered if maybe I should've sent Poseidon that seashell pattern tie for Father's Day after all.
"There will be deaths," Chiron decided. "That much we know."
"Oh, goody!" Dionysus said.
"I shall go." Zoë announced. "As the lieutenant, it is my duty to serve my mistress. I also volunteer Phoebe to go with me as well, she is our best tracker. "
"The big girl who likes to hit people on the head?" Travis Stoll asked cautiously.
Zoë nodded.
"The one who put arrows in my helmet?" Connor added.
"Yes," Zoë snapped. "Why?"
"Oh, nothing," Travis said. "Just that we have a T-shirt for her from the camp store." He held up a big silver T-shirt that said ARTEMIS THE MOON GODDESS, FALL HUNTING TOUR 2001, with a huge list of national parks and stuff underneath. "It's a collector's item. She was admiring it. You want to give it to her?"
I knew the Stolls were up to something. They always were. But I guess Zoe didn't know them as well as I did. She just sighed and took the T-shirt.
"We have two hunters," Chiron stated. "How about we first announce two campers?"
"Me!" Grover stood up so fast he bumped into the Ping Pong table. He brushed cracker crumbs and Ping-Pong ball scraps off his lap. "Anything to help Artemis!"
Zoë wrinkled her nose. "I think not, satyr. You are not even a half-blood."
"But he is a camper," Thalia said. "And he's got a satyr's senses and woodland magic. Can you play a tracker's song yet, Grover?"
"Absolutely!"
Zoë wavered. I didn't know what a tracker's song was, but apparently Zoë thought it was a good thing.
"Very well," Zoë said reluctantly. "And the second camper?"
"I'll go." Thalia stood and looked around, daring anyone to question her.
"So we have four participants," Chiron announced. "Who else-?"
"I will," I said immediately. "I would like to volunteer."
"No way," Zoë protested. "Thou art a boy. I won't have Hunters traveling with a boy."
"You traveled here with me," I reminded her.
"That was a short-term emergency, and it was ordered by the goddess. I will not go across country and fight many dangers in the company of a boy."
"What about Grover?" I demanded.
Zoë shook her head. "He does not count. He's a satyr. He is not technically a boy."
"Hey!" Grover protested.
"Why shouldn't he volunteer?" a voice said at the corner. I widened my eyes. Seth was leaning back in one of the chairs as everyone gaped at him. His clothes and hair were dried. His eyes were a little puffy and bloodshot, otherwise he looked fine.
"Since when were you in here?" Lee exclaimed. Seth stared at him blankly.
"What are you talking about? I was here the whole time. You guys were just so concentrated on your heated discussion that you didn't notice."
"Isn't this supposed to be a council for cabin leaders?" Zoë said to Chiron. "He shouldn't be here."
Seth narrowed his eyes. "That might have been the case if Artemis didn't claim me. But since she did, I have every right. You represent the Hunters Zoë Nightshade, not Cabin 8. "
Zoë glared at him steadily. It was like another fight was about to break out. Surprisingly, Zoë decided to keep her mouth shut and sit back down.
"As I was saying," Seth continued. He gave me a glance. "I don't see any logical reason why Percy should be denied permission. Putting aside Zoë's obvious bias, Percy is more than capable of being on this Quest. He has the experience, leadership, and power to handle the danger. He's a good team member to have around and he'll watch your back. Does anyone here, besides Zoë, think otherwise?"
There were no protests. I sighed in relief, and smiled gratefully at Seth. I was flattered by his compliments. He gave a silent nod.
Chiron looked at Seth thoughtfully. "Are you sure about this, Seth? Do you not want to go on the Quest yourself? I believe that your mother, Artemis, would have wanted you to go."
My face fell. Chiron wanted Seth to go instead of me?
Thankfully, Seth refused. "Be that as it may, I am also fully aware of the danger this Quest entails. Therefore, I will not be volunteering. Not this time."
Zoë protested. "Thou would even deny your own mother's request for help?!"
Seth glared at her. "Would you rather I go on this Quest or him? Last I checked, we're not exactly all rainbows and sunshine."
Zoë clenched her teeth, and stayed quiet. Seth did strike a point. He was the last person Zoë would want anywhere near her, making me a slightly more preferable option.
"It's decided," Chiron said. "Thalia, Percy, and Grover will accompany Zoë and Phoebe. You shall leave at first light. May the gods-" He glanced at Dionysus. "Present company included, we hope – be with you."
-o-
After the council was over, I found Seth organizing his things in Cabin 11.
He raised an eyebrow questionably when he noticed me. "Something wrong Percy?"
"I just want to thank you for standing me up back there." I said, "If you hadn't said anything, Zoë would never let us hear the end of it."
He rolled his eyes, which were starting to look normal as well. "It was nothing. Somebody needed to stand up to Zoë- her sexism is beyond ridiculous. Besides, you had the whole camp to back you up. So you had nothing to worry about."
I nodded, his words made sense. Even if Zoë didn't like it, I had the other councilors to support me.
"What about you?" I asked cautiously. "Are you alright? I heard what Zoë said to you, forced it out of her actually."
"Forced her?" he said incredulously. He stopped packing. "I would have liked to see that." He didn't say anything else afterwards. He hadn't answered any of my questions.
After an awkward silence, I tried again. "So, what's it like to finally be claimed huh?"
He thought about it. "Not as bad as I thought. Most people already had their suspicions. But of course the newer campers are skeptical of me, except Nico. He actually got more hyperactive around me than I thought possible. Michael actually called me a freak-!"
"What?!"
He sighed and waved off my exclamation. "Relax. It's nothing I haven't heard before. " His tone was slightly bitter, but he smiled. "Well, at least he was honest about his opinions of me."
I gave a hesitant nod. Reminding myself later to inform Lee and Will about their half-brother's little comment.
"Make sure you find Annabeth." Seth said. "Bring her back safely. I'm counting on you."
"I will." I replied, "But why didn't you just come for yourself? I'm sure Annabeth would have liked that."
Seth hesitated. "As much as I care for Annabeth, the risks are too high for me."
"You mean the 'One shall perish by a parent's hand' part?"
He nodded. His face suddenly paler than usual. I realized then that despite Seth's seemingly calm facade, Seth was actually scared. He and Artemis really were too much alike. Not just in appearances, but in personality as well. They both masked their true emotions very effectively, too effectively.
"I know you probably won't believe me, but even if you went on the Quest, that line couldn't possibly be meant for you."
"How do you know that?" he said quietly.
"Artemis told me to look out for you." Seth gave a snort.
"But it's true!" I insisted. "She told me to look out for you since I'm your best friend."
He didn't respond, but continued to stuff his things in his bag.
I continued, "Don't you see? That line couldn't possibly apply to you. Artemis cares about you Seth, she really does. You should have seen her when she told me that, and she wouldn't have told me this if she really wanted to get rid of you."
He shook his head, "I don't know, Percy. All I've ever done is caused her trouble. Insulted her and openly disown her as my parent. Why would she still care for me? She has no reason to."
He looked at me for an answer.
I looked at him carefully. "You…don't really hate Artemis do you?"
Seth blinked, "I-What do you mean by that? Of course I do!"
"Well, you just seem a little…hopeful."
Seth scoffed. "That's it?"
"Yeah. That and because you look like a long lost puppy looking for an owner."
"I-I do not!" he replied stubbornly, "A puppy? Pff- yeah right."
"Whatever, but just know that what Zoë said is wrong, okay? You're not a freak. You're just… special."
"Sure." He didn't sound certain but I could tell he didn't want to talk about it, so I let the subject drop.
He lifted his bag up to his shoulders, and took one last look around Cabin 11.
"This place had really grown on me," he said quietly. He walked out of the cabin and closed the door behind him.
"So how are you going to do it?" I asked him curiously. "Any bed arrangements in mind?"
He widened his eyes. "Don't even get me started on that! I swear, they're already thinking of ways of silently killing me in my sleep."
I laughed. "They wouldn't do that-!"
"Yes, they would!" he insisted. "Just read the stories! Artemis even turned a man into a jackalope and let his own dogs tear him apart!"
He shuddered involuntarily.
"Come on Seth," I reasoned. "The Hunters must have some respect for you at least."
"On a microscopic level," Seth mumbled.
"Even they can't deny the fact that Artemis claimed you." I pointed out. "I mean, even if they don't like you that much, harming you should be out of the question. Artemis wouldn't like that."
He narrowed his eyes at me, his face looked...angry. "and just how are you a sudden expert on how Artemis thinks?"
I widen my eyes at his sudden hostile tone. "I'm not saying I'm an expert-!"
"But you are hinting it," he said quietly, and then he scoffed, "how about you worry about your own perfect dad for a change? And let me worry about mine- oh wait, I don't have one."
"What has gotten into you?" I questioned, my own voice rising. "I'm only just trying to help-!"
"I don't need your help!" he snapped. "How many times do I have to say it? Instead of minding my business, how about you go on that quest with your friends- I'm sure Annabeth is just waiting for her hero."
"Fine!" I yelled, "I was about to leave anyway! So quit acting like some selfish jerk!"
"Oh, so I'm selfish?" Seth yelled, his silver eyes flashing, "I have always put others before myself FYI and I can't be selfish for one moment? You're such a hypocrite!"
"Then you are a liar!" I retorted. "I don't know what I said to get you this angry, but you clearly need help! Why don't you see that I'm really trying to help you?"
"Just leave!" he shouted.
There was a moment of silence as each of us glared at the other. Eventually, Seth broke away from my gaze.
"Please...just go," he said quietly. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
"Seth..."
He interrupted, "I need to be alone."
He opened the door to Cabin 11 and quickly shut the door behind him, leaving me out here by myself.
-o-
A/N: Be aware that this chapter is in Percy's POV. That's all I'll say.
