By lunch time, the guys are back from their perusal of the border with no notice of a breach, the ladies are finished in cabin fifteen and Butch is up from his nap. The campers all seem to be consumed in thoughts of the missing hunter, as not a single person, not even Chiron, Iris or Aphrodite, says anything to Butch when he sits down at the Aphrodite table to talk with Drew over lunch. It is clear that Drew has still not gotten any sleep.
"I'm worried about you," Butch tells her softly, so no one else can hear.
"I'm fine," she says poking around at the food on her plate but not really eating.
"You can't stop eating and sleeping," he says.
"When my sister is found," she says staring absently at the plate.
"Are you still mad at me?" he asks.
"I wasn't mad. I'm just disappointed," she says finally looking at him.
"So you don't wonder about me? Wonder if I'll still hook up with girls when you're not around?"
"Will you?" she asks.
"If we're together, I promise I won't," he says.
"Then that's all I need," she tells him.
"So you won't try to check my cell phone, or ask my friends, or sneak around with a pair of binoculars watching me at Johnson and Wales," he asks with a chuckle.
"You're making fun of me," she says.
"I'm just trying to get you to smile and maybe relax just a touch," he says then runs his finger gently down her arm.
"I'm scared," she says softly.
"I know, I'm a little scared too, but we'll figure this out," he says then puts his arm around her.
Nico is the first to notice the two guys walking across the lawn toward the dining pavilion. "They're here," he tells Thalatta, as he points in their direction.
"That is Lord Hypnos?" Crystal says not able to take her eyes off of him. "He's so cute."
"Excuse me," her husband says leaning away and giving her a look that says are you kidding me!
"Not cuter than you honey," she tells him catching what she just said to her husband of not quite two weeks.
"His brother is even better looking," he whispers to her.
"I thought they were twins," she says.
"They are but Death is just a little hotter than Sleep. Maybe because Death combs his hair," he says with a smile.
"Lord Hypnos," Chiron says cantering over to greet the god of sleep.
"Master Chiron, it has been too long," Hypnos says.
"Yes well, you really should get out of bed and visit more often," the centaur tells him with a laugh. "Clovis welcome back to camp," he adds.
"Thank you Master Chiron," the teen says with a yawn.
"Sleepy already?" Chiron says.
"I've been up all day," Clovis says likes it's killing him to be out of bed.
Hypnos looks around at the few campers in attendance then says, "I assume we will have a meeting after lunch is finished?"
"Yes, and Clovis if you are going to eat…"
"Might as well since I'm up," Clovis says then walks over and plops down at his dad's table just as a plate of food appears along with a glass of warm milk.
While lunch is finishing up, several of the campers make their way over to Lord Hypnos and introduce themselves.
"Lord Hypnos," Percy says when he and Annabeth take a turn and walk over with Sophia.
"Percy and Annabeth, at last we meet, awake," the god says.
"Have we met while we were asleep?" Annabeth asks since she doesn't really remember.
"No but I am aware of people when they are sleeping," he explains. The look on Percy's face causes the god to chuckle then says, "Don't worry, I don't share stories."
"Thanks," Percy says and shakes Hypnos' hand.
"Maybe you should," Annabeth says looking at her husband.
"Not to worry my dear, Percy's dreams have always starred you," the god assures her.
"Better," she says then kisses her husband.
"You're daughter is adorable," Hypnos continues taking Sophia's hand.
"Thank you," Annabeth says.
"We're pretty proud of her," Percy says, as Nico and Thalatta join them.
"Well, well the two of you have been busy since last we met. May I?" the god says then holds his hand out to touch Thalatta's belly.
Thalatta takes hold of his hand and gently places it where the baby is kicking.
"That feeling always amazes me," he says with a smile.
"You miss a lot when you're always asleep," Nico says giving his friend a hard time.
"Duty calls," Hypnos says with a grin.
"Must be terrible to have to sleep all day for your job," Percy says thinking he'd like that gig for a little while.
"It's not all that great," Clovis says speaking up for the first time.
"Here we go again, he's going to complain about meeting girls," his dad says giving him a hard time.
"How can I when I'm always in bed asleep?" his son asks.
"It's never stopped me, after all you and your siblings are all here," Hypnos says laughing.
"But you're a hot god who can get girls in your sleep. I'm not," Clovis says with a little pout.
"You're cute Clovis," Lacy says now joining the conversation, "You just need a make-over. I could help you with that."
"You'd do that?" Clovis asks surprised an Aphrodite girl is even talking to him, even if she is a young one.
"Sure," she says sweetly.
"We should get to our meeting," Aphrodite says now joining the others.
"No hi Hypnos, it's been eons, great to see you again," the god says to the goddess.
"Yes, yes, all of that, you know I don't have much time for you, Love," Aphrodite says. "It's only called sleeping together it doesn't actually involve sleep."
"Yes, but you know there's that other thing, beauty sleep," he says with a chuckle.
"Do you really think I need beauty sleep?" she asks sounding offended.
"No of course not, Beautiful," he says then offers her his arm to escort her to the big house for the meeting.
Once everyone has arrived, all of the counselors in camp are there along with a couple of other campers who are very involved in the matter.
Chiron calls the meeting to order saying, "We all know why we are meeting today. I am going to turn the meeting over to Lord Hypnos to tell us what needs to be done."
"I believe I met most of you at lunch, so I'll dispense with any introductions. Nico has informed me of the events, as we know them. Unfortunately I have no idea as to how this has been done. I am, however, prepared to do whatever I must to figure it out. I have no intention of letting a shade or anyone else get away with kidnapping via dreams. I understand that Lady Artemis is currently out hunting for Glaucus, as well as Alecto. While I have complete trust in their abilities, I want to find Lady Aphrodite's daughter…"
"The Hunter of Artemis," Cecilia the hunter representing Lady Artemis' cabin points out.
"Yes, you must be one of Artie's girls," Hypnos says.
"I am one of Lady Artemis' hunters," Cecilia says offended.
"Forgive me young lady. I am just tired. I meant no disrespect," the god says then continues. "I want to get the hunter back before she can be violated in any way. I plan to go after Glaucus myself. I am requesting three campers accompany me.
"I want to go," Drew says.
"No Drew you're exhausted," Butch tells her.
"Actually Drew, you have the most important role in my entire plan, but I need you to stay here at camp with Clovis," Hypnos explains.
"What can I do here at camp?" Drew asks thinking he's just putting her off.
"I need you to stay here and sleep. Glaucus chose you for a reason. I do not believe he is done communicating with you. If he planned on having you as his wife, I'm sure he developed some type of feelings for you. He'll want to reach out to you and prove that you messed up by stopping his plan. I need you to sleep, so that he can communicate with you. When he does, I intend to have it set up so that Clovis will see and hear your dreams. He will then communicate with me. I believe he will lead us right to him," Hypnos explains.
"I'll do whatever you need," Drew says bravely.
"You promise he won't be able to hurt her?" Butch asks the god.
"I'll stay with her the entire time," her mother says then takes her daughter's hand.
"I have been informed that some of you are working on a project for Lord Hades. I do not want to pull any members of that team off of that task. This means Nico you, Leo, and Annabeth," he says looking at each of them as he says their name, "Along with Tyson, are to stay here. Percy, I was hoping I could count on you."
"Absolutely," Percy says without second thought.
"If I'm working on Underworld security and you are on this quest, who is going to watch our daughter?" Annabeth asks looking at her husband.
"Shelly and I will have you covered," Thalatta says, as she is one of the campers whose presence was requested.
"I'll go," Piper now volunteers. "Jennifer is my sister. I think someone from Mom's cabin should go."
"Thank you Piper. I've been told you charmspeak. I believe that might come in handy and since Drew needs to stay here…"
"I'll go too," Jason offers.
"No, I'm going," Butch says, as if it's not up for debate. "Glaucus came after my girl. I'm going to find him." Aphrodite gives Drew's hand a little squeeze to show she was right about her opinion of Butch.
"Normally I would think you're too close to the situation, but since Glaucus can manipulate horses and we'll need to travel by pegasi, I will need someone with your equestrian expertise. That is another reason why I requested Percy," Hypnos tells him.
"Thank you my Lord," Butch says.
"Well then, we need to get Drew and Clovis to my cabin and get them set up to go to sleep. The rest of you prepare for our quest. We will leave as soon as Glaucus communicates with Drew. I don't believe it will take long after she goes to sleep," the god explains.
"Thank you for your assistance, Lord Hypnos," Chiron says and calls the meeting to a close.