9 Percy
The water was cool and refreshing. But it was crowded, full of all kinds of fish, sharks and shrimp. Even the coral seemed to be crawling forward to him. The fish stared with wide eyes an Percy.
"What?" he demanded.
The group muttered a few "nothing"s and "nevermind"s all ending with a whispered "master."
"Why are you calling me that? Poseidon is your master." The fish snickered in unison.
"Don't you know?" one asked.
What? Percy thought. The fish snickered again. You can read my thoughts! Oh, just great.
One fish, one of the tiniest and wimpiest of the group anxiously hurried on, "Oh, if you just think abou-" Then a larger fish nudged him and the poor yellow coral fish fell silent.
Testing. Testing. Percy thought, willing his thoughts to stay his. He tried a stretch: Fish are stupid creatures. A few corals moved their fans from side to side, as if looking for a missing person, but the fish remained glaring at the yellow coral fish.
So tired he thought… I wish I was at home on my favorite spot on the couch…
Following their own command, the waters around him turned solid, and he found himself sitting on what looked like a big, wobbly, see-through throne. It looked nothing like his old couch back in Manhattan, which was deformed and stained on both sides of the cushions. But it felt like home, exactly like it. The fish nodded approvingly.
"So how exactly did I become…what did you call me? Master?"
"Controlling the sea for so long, holding so many people, we were impressed. You aren't officially our master. We may defy you," the big fish bragged. "But we, um, think you're cool!" it ended lamely.
"Right. So hey, you wanna help me out?" Percy asked, thinking of some way to cheer up Annabeth.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" the fish chanted. "Help Percy Jackson!"
"Can you get me a pearl?" Percy asked.
The fish scowled menacingly and snarled together, like a grumpy choir: "Stupid demigods, always giving us orders! GO FIND YOUR OWN- censored- PEARLS!"
They sped off but the water throne stayed solid. The yellow coral fish remained, wiggling its tail nervously.
"They're just grumpy. You really are their master."
Percy was still confused. "And Poseidon?"
The little fish, that seemed so insignificant, shook his head wisely. It reminded Percy of Ella, the red harpy, who was in a peculiar relationship with Tyson. "Of course, your father will always be our true master. But when you controlled the water for so long those days before, it became a part of you. But the gift will only be of use here. It will not aid you in Rome, which is where you are headed, according to the rumors." It ended the last sentence in a slightly higher pitch, questioning.
"Yes. We're going to both Rome and Athens. Thank you…uh…"
"Stanley," the fish provided.
Percy tried to keep a straight face. "Thanks Stanley."
The ground began to rumble, like gravel under feet. It was even more violent than the shake of his blurry memory, before his three-day coma. Gaea is learning that you are more rebellious and powerful than she thoughtl, Percy. She might not consider you a pawn anymore…
The voice was like Poseidon's, but more feminine. It was the voice of currents. They were warning him. Stanley raised his eyebrows- er, eye ridges- like: That's you cue!
Percy swam up to the surface. If he got onto land he would be more vulnerable to Gaea's tricks. But Stanley had already left and the auras of the water currents seemed to have also fled. What choice did he have? And then he saw Annabeth on the shoreline, standing gingerly on her tiptoes, periodically picking her feet out of the sinking sand.
When he got to shore, he enveloped her in a hug. Her voice in his semi-conscious state had been like a taunting. Like he was a donkey and Annabeth was the carrot dangling in front of his face that kept him going, kept him from losing his grip.
"Listen, how do you feel? Reyna wants us to leave as soon as possible. For Camp Half-blood. Then Rome." Annabeth's voice was worried, but excited, too. She must miss their old camp more than him. But probably because she hadn't yet seen the perks of the Roman camp. No doubt she'd been standing by his side for all three days.
"I'm okay. But I think we should hold another meeting. I didn't think…this soon…and you haven't even seen the camp. You haven't met my friends, and then there's a lot of other things to work out…" Percy trailed off, suddenly remembering Hazel. "Hey, how's Hazel doing since, you and Leo came back…?"
"Hazel…she seemed like she was waiting for you to wake up. Other than that, she's been locked up in her room, not talking to anyone, not even Frank. That, I suppose, is not normal?"
"No. I think we need to figure that out, too. This is too fast."
Annabeth smiled a devious smile. "Well? What are we waiting for? Let's go ruin Reyna's plans!"
Percy had to smile at her enthusiasm. However forced it was.
They walked to the Praetor's housing area. Jason had moved back in; the door was slanted open and inside you could see him, sitting with Leo, heads bent in conversation. When they knocked on Reyna's door, she opened immediately.
"Ah, Percy. Glad to see you back. Now we can proceed with our plans." She acknowledged them both with a nod.
"That's what I'm here to talk about. This is too fast, Reyna. We need more planning." Reyna frowned but stepped back from the door to let them in. They sat on a purple couch and waited for a response.
"What are your arguments?" she asked, getting straight to the point.
"We haven't had time to discuss strategies, roles, get organized. We need to make sure the Romans and Greeks get well acquainted to avoid disputes. And then… we have some issues…between campers. They can't be left to be figured in the midst of war. They will be distractions." Annabeth stated, with the confidence of a professional lawyer.
Reyna's expression had soured. "Those issues might be better left untouched," she said, deliberately bitter. "Don't argue about that with me on that topic Annabeth. Do not. You have no right."
Percy was confused on how he should react. Annabeth, though, had humbly turned her gaze downwards. "I know. But I wasn't speaking of that." She looked up and said, "There are other matters, Reyna. You of all people should know the state of you campers."
