Chapter 10: Angry

I snapped awake having gone the night with no dreams. I stood up, got dressed and walked to the Poseidon cabin. I knocked on the door, but no one answered it. I put my ear to the door to see if Percy was awake.

All I heard was Percy mumbling, "No I won't let go of you. I love you too."

Then a bloodcurdling scream and Percy yell, "NO! NO!"

I barged in the door and Percy was shaking in his bed. I shook him until he woke up.

"Ari?" He asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Sorry," I said and blushed, "I was outside and I heard screaming."

He nodded, "Thank you for waking me. Those seem to be happening more and more frequently."

I nodded and decided I wouldn't mention it again.

"Are you okay?" He asked, "Do you want to talk?"

I nodded, "No and yes. I wanted to ask you something actually."

"Okay," he said, "What?"

"Back then I had a friend Priam, a brother of yours, he was almost exactly like you, but more angry. He hated his father because at the time there must have been at least thirty Poseidon kids. I guess my question is how do you not hate the gods? How do you stay so together?" I said.

Percy gulped, "When I first came to camp there was a boy named Luke. A Son of Hermes. He hated the gods and resurrected Kronos. He then gave his life to take Kronos down."

"That doesn't answer my question. And it doesn't make sense. You start the story acting like he is a bad guy. Then you tell me he saved the world. So is he a villain or a hero?" I asked

Percy smiled, "What defines a person? Rashness in anger or heroics in the end. I am not angry at the gods because I leaned anger doesn't help you."

"You can't just avoid anger." I argued.

"No," he agreed, "You can't, but you can put it to good use. Let's go to breakfast now."

We walked out of the cabin, Percy still in his pajamas, and went to the pavilion. Nico was already at the Hades table so I sat down next to him.

"How are you not angry at your father?" I asked, "How do you not hate him?"

"I learned a long time ago not to hold grudges. They are my fatal flaw. So the real answer is I am and I do. I am angry at my father. I do hate him, but I try not to stay angry about it."

This boy may look like him, but Nico wasn't anything like Nik. Nik could always put a smile on your face. Nico was just gloomy. I missed Nik. I missed Cassia. I missed Priam. I knew Cassia for four years. She was my only friend. She is long since dead. I only knew Nik and Priam for two days, but Priam and I were fast friends and Nik… I loved Nik. I hadn't known him for long, but I knew I loved him.

I stood up and walked to the rec room. The meeting wouldn't start until after breakfast so I waited in here. The room was quiet and I liked it. It gave me a place to think. I remember Hazel saying she, Percy, and the guy Frank had freed my father. He probably hadn't even rewarded them for freeing him. My father didn't believe in returning favors. Not that he owed me anything.

"Ari are you okay?" a voice asked

I looked up and saw Hazel standing over me.

"Ya," I nodded, "I'm fine. Just thinking."

She frowned like she didn't believe me, but said, "What are you thinking about?"

I decided to go with the truth, "My father."

She nodded like she understood and we sat there in silence until people began coming in for the meeting. Nico sat down on the other side of me.

"Children," Chiron said, "We are here to discuss the prophecy and the quest."

"Why?" I asked, "It is pretty straightforward. I go west."

"One problem." Jason said, "Reyna said that if a demigod ever goes to California on a quest that they have to check in with her."

"Alright," Chiron said, "So Jason will go with you and also…"

"Me," Nico cut him off, "I will go. I can shadow travel us to Camp Jupiter and from there we can travel normally."

"Fine." I said, "Not happy blondie's going, but it will work."

I walked out of the Big House and Annabeth ran after me. She handed me a bag.

"Here," she said, "It is full of Nectar and Ambrosia and some Drachmas."

"Cool," I said going through the bag, "But why are the Drachmas gold?"

She looked confused for a second then seemed to realize something and said, "The gods don't like to use less than pure gold."

"Oh," I said feeling stupid, "That makes sense."

I met Nico and Jason on the top of the hill. Nico grabbed my hand and after a moment's hesitation he grabbed Jason's. Then it all went black.

(A/N I am so sorry that this took so long next will be a totally awesome, or horribly painful scene at Camp Jupiter. Review.)