Chapter 6
The Welcomed Hero
"Your Majesty, King Zeus, God Zeus, Uncle Zeus, whatever I may call you, Why are you doing this?" I said, in the verge of breaking down to tears. Percy was standing at his side. He radiated the aura of authority, power… of royalty… His eyes were Electric Blue and he stood tall. He doesn't seem like himself. Just a few minutes ago I was fine, everything was fine. The campers were happy and so was I but now… The flames of the campfire were 20 feet high but a certain flame was just 5 feet and the color of lint… I was pretty sure that was my emotion. The other campers were happy for Percy, but I wasn't. I wasn't ready to let go of Percy yet. I couldn't… They can't take him away from me. Zeus stroked my hair and said nothing.
A few moments later he said, "I'm sure Athena is very proud of you." He says before He raises his lightning bolt and in a flash the two of them were gone. My feet were trembling. "No… He can't leave me. Percy promised he won't leave me…" I said in between my sobs. Luke was hugging me and the flames of the campfire swiftly turned from joyous to sympathy to sadness. I cried on to Luke's shoulders as he, together with my brothers and sisters, soothed me and I slowly fell asleep.
I slowly fluttered my eyes open. Man, some dream I had. I slowly got up as I said, "Percy, you wouldn't believe the dream I….had…" My voice trailed off as I looked around and saw my brothers and sisters eye me sadly. A girl who I knew was Kristina came up to me and rubbed my back, soothing me, saying nothing in particular. She just wanted to be there for me. So it wasn't a dream. Percy had really gone to Mount Olympus. I fought back tears as I grabbed my dagger and ran for the woods. Why did he leave me? I promised we would get through this craziness together! He promised we'd grow to be the greatest demigods known! Why, Percy? Why did you break your oath? My vision was blurry but I didn't care. I slashed and hacked all the monsters I could find but it did me no good. I saw a small spider climb up a tree. I was too full of anger to be scared. I threw my dagger at it and killed it. My dagger glinted in the sunlight. I leaned on the tree and cried. I don't care anymore… I cried for what felt like many hours but I was sure it was just half an hour or so.
As I calmed down I stood up and plucked my dagger from the tree, twirled it in my hand and placed it back on my strap. I just made a decision. I will let the chips fall where they may but I will still hold on to our oath. One day, we WILL be the greatest demigods known to both man and the immortals. I will get Percy back someday. I walked back to my cabin, head held high. I will grieve no longer. I washed my face and decided to swim in the lake. As far as I knew, the Naiads were one of the most annoying creatures I've known. Surprisingly, they seem kind now. Maybe because they understand how I feel. I swim together with them and together with the current my heavy heart also flows away.
I was just floating, relaxing, trying to get my mind of things when I was splashed. "Hey!" I exclaimed and wiped my face. "Such a serious mood you got there, Princess." A sarcastic voice said. My heart speeds up. He sounded a lot like Percy but… No… I spun around and there I really did see Percy. I wadded through to water to him, "Percy!" I hugged him and he hugged back. I pulled away and said, "Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be on Mount Olympus?" I rattled on. "Well… Yeah. I will be going there but not after I say this…" He trailed off. There was a moment of silence before I said, "Say what?" Another moment of silence which irritated me a bit and I was about to smack him when he kissed my forehead and said, "I didn't forget my promise Annabeth, I WILL be coming back. Wait for me…" I closed my eyes and when I opened them he was gone. I smiled and screamed, "I will be holding on to that promise, Jackson!" and I smiled as I heard his laughter. I hopped on the dock and grabbed my towel. I walked steadily towards my cabin with a smile on my face. I passed by some campers with a puzzled look on their faces.
"Hey, Annabeth. Why do you look so happy?" A camper, Kathy, asked. "I mean, not that I was expecting you to be sad or anything but uhh… um… Who am I kidding? I expect you to be sad 'cuz Percy is gone but why do you look so happy?" she said, sounding genuinely shocked. I chuckled and said, "He promised he'd come back. As far as I know, he NEVER breaks his promises." I saw her smile and she patted my shoulder before she walked on. I felt really proud of myself as I changed into something more comfortable. I lied down on my bunk bed and thought about the things he would be doing up there. Would he miss me? Would he remember me? I hope he comes back soon… I thoughts were interrupted when my brother, Collin, snapped his fingers in my face. "Yoohoo! You still breathing?" he teased. "Yeah yeah, I'm up." Just as I stepped out Chiron blew the conch signaling dinner and we raced to the mess hall.
So far everything is normal as though nothing peculiar happened. I was fine with that. At least no Aphrodite or Ares kids have rubbed that fact that Percy is gone in my face so everything is cool.
"Awww, Annabeth is lonely now that Percy is not around? Boo hoo~" taunted Michaela, daughter of Aphrodite. "I guess I spoke too soon." I mumbled as I listened to her cackle. That is so not a lady-like action.
"Don't mind them." Andrew said, he is the eldest of us Athena kids. He is blonde, grey eyes, about 5'5", pretty handsome, well built and strong. Not to brag but most Aphrodite girls are drooling over him. "They're just bored!" Andrew continued, shooting Michaela a dirty look. She blushed in embarrassment. HA! Bitch… Well… yeah… I said a "bad word" I learned that from being around the Ares and Aphrodite kids all the time. They bully me which makes building up enough anger to fuel my strength when we play Capture the Flag pretty easy. After we ate we sang and the camp fire grew up to 20 feet that the front row's marshmallows burst into flames. The look on their face was so funny we all laughed. By far, it was the best dinner ever but also the worst. Best because I had so much fun, worst because it was the first dinner I had without Percy.
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
A year has passed… I know right? A year, can you believe that? I actually got through a year without getting killed. I decided I'd be in camp ALL YEAR. You know, a year-rounder. I can't seem to get myself to step out of the camp's borders.
"Hey, Annabeth! Yoohoo!" Kaylee said as she waved her hand in front of my face. "Hmm… Oh. Oh! Hey, Kaylee." I said with a sheepish grin. "Are you even listening?" She said with mock frustration. "Uh.. I guess…" I mumbled. She hit the back of my head lightly and said, "I really shouldn't have left you alone with those Ares and Aphrodite kids! You're always spacing out." She ranted. I blushed a bit. "I'm okay with you spacing out every so often but please, Annabeth… At least know where to space out." She said gesturing to the kids around her. I remembered we were in practicing Archery. Perfect…
"HEY! DID YOU HEAR?" Joshua, a Hermes kid, shouted as he ran to us. "What? Hear what?" Kaylee asked. "About Percy…" He paused as he tried to regain his breath. "What about Percy?" I asked. "Well,… They said that he is having a…well… 'Coming of Age' ceremony tomorrow." He said sounding unsure as he peaked at me once in a while. Coming of Age? Oh yeah.. Percy's birthday is tomorrow… "It is rumored that the Coming Of Age Ceremony is only given to the 'Welcomed Heroes'…" He continued. "Welcomed Heroes? What do you mean Welcomed Heroes?" I asked. He scratched his head and said, "Welcomed Heroes are the heroes that the gods know are coming and they sort of planned it. These heroes are usually brought to Mount Olympus to be trained as a pure daughter or son of a god." "Meaning?" Kaylee prodded. "Meaning that Percy is a Welcomed Hero therefore there is 95% chance that he will be offered a position as a god." Joshua said, excitement very clear on his voice. Murmurs erupted through the crowd. "Percy? A god? That's so cool." "Hey… Wasn't Hercules a Welcomed Hero?" "No! It was Theseus!" "I think it was Perseus. He had a non gory death!" I didn't stay long to hear their childish argument, I ran towards the Big House hoping to find some answers. As I reached the porch I was about to turn the knob when I heard voices. I pressed my ear against the door to hear better.
"… They have come back. Percy is reborn again so is Annabeth and Grover! You can't deny that the gods planned this because Hades cannot just let a hero be born again without any form of permission from Zeus and the others!" "I know that, Chiron! But Zeus ONLY came for Percy! Maybe there was some sort of mistake for Annabeth… Now, Grover… He has the some power of the great god Pan. He is reasonable enough!" "Annabeth, Percy, Nico and Grover ALL got some power from Pan! Nico is currently helping his father manage the underworld! Grover is here and he will be going on a quest soon. Annabeth… well I don't know if the gods will get her but Percy… He has… You know…" I got really irritated! Percy has what? "Shhh… I think I hear something…" My heartbeat went crazy as I backed up from the door and made a run for it. I headed for our cabin and I plopped down on my bed. I stared at the ceiling trying to regain my breath. I have to get some answers! But I know I can't get it from Chiron OR Mr. D… I heard muttering just outside the window and I slowly inched towards it. "You're lying!" "I'm not! I heard it loud and clear! They were going to invite Luke, Annabeth, Grover, Kaylee and Juniper to Percy's Coming of Age Ceremony!" My heart leaped and I sat on my bed thinking… I smiled. I've got an idea….