Ainsley's POV
By the next day, the air around Camp was tense, brittle even. Percy and Beckendorf have yet to return, causing the camp to worry nonstop, but Silena and Annabeth were fretting worse.
I ran over to Pheo who was talking to Zayne, a quiver slung over her shoulder. "Hey, lovebirds," I called, laughing as Pheo whipped around with a startled expression. And did I see guilt? "Anyway, I want to talk to you Pheo."
She nodded and Zayne wondered away.
"Have you seen Mat?"
"No, sorry," Pheo replied, shouldering the quiver. "Why?"
"She's missing."
Suddenly, something sparked in Pheo's gray eyes. "I think I know where she might be!" Eagerly, I reached my mind out to hers, reading through her thoughts, and landing on one about my sister. She's probably with Nico!
Laughing, we bounded off toward the beach, since it was our favorite spot and Matilda might've brought Nico to show him. Pheo slowed and we hid behind some bushes, peering around, seeing Mat walking side-by-side with Nico, holding hands and talking. Was I offended Mat took Nico to our hang out? Yeah, but I knew a way to get back at them both.
Whispering the plan into Pheo's ear, she nodded and we waited as they walked on. Darting around, we raced toward them, kicking up sand, and pushed them into the lake. We burst out laughing, seeing both of them rising to the surface flailing.
Suddenly, I felt hands push into my back and I yelped, stumbling into the lake with my sister and her boyfriend. Splashing up next to them, gasping for air, I turned my head, glaring at Pheo who was cracking up. "That's what you get for calling me a lovebird!"
Sharing a glance at Mat, I gave a subtle nod and we swam toward the shore, scrambling out, leaving a confused Nico in the water. Rushing up to the laughing Pheo, we grabbed her arms, Pheo yelling, and tossed her into the lake.
Laughing, I helped Mat haul Nico out of the lake, watching Pheo flounder about wildly. "Payback happens!" I howled, laughing along with the other lovebirds.
"What the Hades happened here?" A voice rumbled from behind and I whipped around, startled, seeing Nico and Matilda also turn. Even Pheo, who thrashed to the shore, fell silent.