It had been around a week since the friendly dual, Jason was back at Camp Jupiter to hang out with his friends there and work on projects.
Nico had been busy; doing what? Who knows.
Percy was sitting on the roof of cabin 3, staring up at the stars; Hearing someone climb up beside him, he looked over to see one of the people he cared about the most: Annabeth Chase.
The blonde settled down next to him grasping his hand. Studying him carefully as he gazed up at the stars, after a long silence she suddenly spoke "What are you thinking about?" She asked softly.
Percy looked at her with a weak smile. "I was just thinking about Bob, or Iapetus, whichever."
Annabeth's gray eyes narrowed with concern. "Why? I mean, obviously he was a good friend in Tartarus. But why else?"
"Zoë's constellation, she was his granddaughter; and technically she is some of the stars." He pointed out.
"You've been doing some deep thinking." Pausing as she saw a small smile cross his lips. "It's after curfew Seaweed Brain, we should head to bed before we're turned into a shrub or stuck cleaning bathrooms for a month." She said, ruffling his dark hair.
A grin spread across his face, his sea green eyes flashed thankfully. "See ya tomorrow, Wise Girl." He said, then climbed down the cabin, and waited to see if she needed help climbing down.
She was quickly on the ground with ease, rolling her eyes she purposely stomped on his foot; then kissed his cheek "Sleep well." she whispered, then quickly made her way to the Athena cabin.
Percy watched her with a smile, then silently slipped into his own cabin praying that no one saw him or Annabeth.
Meanwhile in cabin 13...
Nico was wide awake, sitting on the floor across from him was Althea-who had gotten special permission from Chiron to sleep there just for the night- watching him with pure amusement.
And they had a guest; a skeleton kitten. It was climbing on him while he watched it with a ghost of a smile. It had jumped in his lap, it's nonexistent eyes seemed to watch him intently as if he was suddenly the most interesting thing ever to walk the earth.
"Looks like you have a new friend Nico." Althea noted, a weak grin was spreading across her pale tired face.
It had climbed onto his head and started purring, kneading his hair with its skeleton claws; it's purring seemed to fill the room like a radio.
Nico looked up at it, which was easy because now it was trying to look at his facial features. "You. Cat are a skeleton, you aren't supposed to purr. And besides, I'm the Ghost King; no one purrs at me."
It rubbed it's head against his fondly, a loud purr still coming from seemingly no where as it tried to eat his hair.
"Alright you pile of bones, it's time to go." Nico sighed. With a simple wave of his hand it crumbled, then dissolved, then the power disappeared as if had slipped through the floor.
"Well that was fun." Althea said tiredly rubbing her eyes a little. She was now sitting there boredly, getting up she moved to one of the empty bunks on the side where Hazel slept when she visited. Putting a sheet up for privacy, then climbed under the new and improved non-red bedding. Sighing a little when she curled up in the warm blankets.
"Light's out." Nico said quietly before going to his own bed.
The next morning the camp seemed alive again, campers were rushing around with their friends. Although one camper from Cabin 9 was alone off to the side, they seemed to be headed for the forest. Then a group headed right for them.
"Leo! Where are you headed?" Piper asked curiously.
"Bunker Nine. I've got a new project that I'm working on." Leo said in annoyance, his hands were flying around as he was connecting wires on a mini bomb. How safe.
Percy looked interested "Can we come see?" he asked curiously.
"Fine, fine we better hurry though so we get back for breakfast."
With that they headed off to the bunker, Althea was trailing behind them unsure what to do.
Nico beckoned to her once his gaze fell on her, rolling his eyes a little.
She quickly walked over to him. "Yes?"
"Relax a little." He advised.
"I'm not sure what to do though."
"Just kinda follow us around Thea, it'll be okay." Nico said trying to get her to relax around them.
Althea smiled as she followed. 'Thea' was some nickname he had given her last night. "You do know that Thea, is basically Theia?… Who was a Titaness."
"Yes I know."
She didn't try to start a conversation again after that, there was nothing left to say.
Then they made it to the bunker. The place was an organized mess, if that is possible. There was lab looking stuff on one side, metal everywhere else.
Leo walked up to a place where there was all kinds of chemicals, explosives, and a bunch of tiny glass capsules. He carefully placed some of the capsules on a small conveyor belt that went into metal box, pressing some buttons and keys it started to move.
What came out was the same capsules, but they were filled with green light. '
Leo held on up for everyone to see. "It's greek fire, this way we can keep it on us but not have it in jars." He proudly.
Percy raised an eyebrow "Um, what if it broke in your pocket? It's glass, should break easy."
"The glass is strong enough to not break unless it hits something hard. But I'm working on that!"
The son of Poseidon frowned "So, if I'm hit in battle, or trip, I'll die?" he shook his head to himself "Really trusting you right now man."
Leo groaned loudly. "I'm working on it!" facepalming as he spoke.
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "That's enough Percy, you'll just have to die." She said in a dry unamused tone, although she looked as if she was trying not to laugh.
"Okay, let's go now." Leo told them flatly, starting to usher them out. Then he just happened to glance at some boxes which Nico was sitting on boredly."Get off of that! Those are fragile!"
The son of Hades jumped down with a sigh, and followed the others outside.
"It's brilliant Leo, really." Piper told him trying to relive the tension, putting a light touch of charmspeak in her voice. "How did you come up with it?"
He shrugged, not wanting to admit he had a really strange dream with it in it.
Percy grabbed Annabeth's hand, then started to run back to camp just because why not? They were closely followed by a chorus of snorts, chuckles, and smiles the others charged after them.
A bright smile on Leo's face, Calypso was coming today after having to go to Olympus for a council with Zeus; maybe, just maybe she would be there when he got back. He could barely contain himself so he dashed off ahead of everyone else.
Sure enough once he got back to camp he saw her, Calypso's caramel colored hair was in it's usual braid that was on one of her shoulders, a brown forehead band around her head; she was dressed in jeans and a simply white shirt. Then there was her smile, oh her smile, it fit her perfectly with her beautiful features. Leo's heart did a nose dive in his chest, and started to go to her, once she spotted him delight and joy sparked in her dark almond shaped eyes.
Sprinting over to him they wrapped one another in a tight bearhug.
Then she pulled away so she could looked right at his face "Zeus has proclaimed that I'm free to stay! I won't have to live in the shadow of what I did anymore" She said announced.
Leo had faint tears beginning to form in his eyes, because he hadn't seen her in the last few months. "Perfect!" Then she pulled him back into her embrace.
The other Half-Bloods were smiling, smirking, and basically watch the pair interestedly.
Finally deciding to have breakfast, the nymphs started to bring out food for the campers, giving out fruit, pancakes, extra lean breakfast meats, and other healthy breakfast things.
Kinda gross if all you want is some spicy biscuits and gravy.
There was a commotion in the dining pavilion when Althea went and joined in with the Athena cabin as they went to add their burnt offerings to the fire.
Going back she sat with them, her black hair sticking out among the gray eyed, blonde children of Athena.
(Althea's POV )
I had just sat down next to Annabeth and her siblings, feeling someone's gaze on me I turned; looking at me was Dionysus he looked at me disapprovingly, ha. So I gave him a bit of challenging look nothing serious, I don't care that he is a God I'm not afraid of him.
He went back to eat the skinned grapes that Satyrs were handing him frightfully after shaking his head at me as if trying to decide what to turn me into.
I felt a little dizzy and suddenly tired, I glanced around to see if anyone had noticed what had just happened.
Nico was looking right at me, then shook his head as if he were trying to clear it, muttering something to himself.
I shrugged them went to eating my food which was strawberries, some fancy egg sandwich, not too appetizing. After picking at it for sometime a bell was rung to signal that breakfast was over.
Everyone quickly left to get their cabins cleaned for inspection. I was about to head off when I felt someone grab my arm.
Ah, my brother. Nico was looking at my face closely "What was that?" He demanded, glancing around to make sure no one was watching us as he started to drag me off to Cabin 13.
"What on the planet earth are you talking about?"
"Don't act like you don't know. You were challenging Dionysus's authority I saw it." He said flatly waiting for an explanation.
I gave him a sharp look. "What is it to you? He was getting on my nerves." I felt as if cool flames were coursing through me; Nico was being a pain, I could easily make him regret it, but… Why? I don't what to hurt him, why am I thinking like this?
"He's a god, and you are… a Half-Blood. And why aren't you sitting at the Hades table?" He asked in a softer curious tone.
"You say it like it's a disease." Then I paused "Sitting there doesn't feel right, none of it does." I looked at the ground awkwardly. "Plus only you know that I'm Hades kid." I pointed out.
His expression seemed soften, but not too much "We'll figure this out okay? Anyways, at free time Percy is going to be given surf lessons. You should come watch with me, it'll be good to have a good reason to laugh at him."
"Okay whatever. I'll be there. Now let's go clean up the mess we made last night."
Together we walked silently to Cabin 9. Walking inside I looked around, what a nice mess. There was pillows everywhere, blankets thrown on the floor, some candy wrappers that Nico had got, a brutally murdered punching dummy.
Hearing Piper going around to inspect the cabins we made a mad dash around the cabin, putting the blankets and pillows were they belonged, stuffing the wrappers in our pockets, sweeping the floor and making our beds as Piper stepped it.
She looked around the cabin "Looks good, but you should dispose of the dummy later. You guys are free to go." She said motioning to the door.
Nico lead the way out, throwing the wrappers in the nearest trash can before dragging me off to the beach where some of the others were.
Leo was trying to bet with the Stoll brother which is always a brilliant idea.
Percy was arguing hopelessly with a nereid on how to get on a wave.
And Annabeth was trying to unsuccessfully not to laugh at him.
Nico pulled of his jacket and threw it on the sand. "Good luck Percy!" He called, then looked around as if he was trying to find a certain son of Apollo. Who of course not there.
I walked over to the salt water, sticking my hand in it I shook my head. Water was Poseidon's thing, besides I liked to be on the ground.
Then the waves started. They were small at first, but gradually they grew taller and bigger.
(End of POV )
Percy suddenly could see the waves, laying down on the surfboard he started to paddle out to meet them. Quickly scrambling to his feet as it started to rise… Only to fall right off after becoming imbalanced. Sighing he swam right back to try again like most people would.
After a good amount of the day spent messing around Percy flopped down on the beach. "I like skateboards much better." He mumbled when Annabeth walked over to him and started curling his hair around her finger. Handing him his shirt to put back on as she did so.
Then the urgent sound of a bugle cutting through the camp loudly, it was sounding that all of the campers were to return to the main part of camp immediately, the sound of several feet thundered through the camp as everyone dropped what they were doing. Satyrs and Nymphs had been gathered out of curiosity.
Percy shoved through the group being closely followed by his friends, he was prepared to take the charge as he often did as a well respected camper. His orange Camp Half-Blood shirt was covering him once again with his camp necklace, the bronze Riptide was gleaming at his side just in case.
Freezing once he saw why they had been called, then set the example to those around him by getting down on one knee and bowing
"Welcome, Lady Artemis." He said reverently, hearing the other campers around him to the same.