PERCY POV
I pulled on a black shirt and black jeans and looked in the mirror, well my new hair color stood out. I sighed and walked out forcing my hair to dry out, useful thing water powers...
Anyway after I had left to take a shower, everybody had asked what the hell happened, I shoved their questions to Nico, who said that Jason, me, and him managed to hold Erebus off until Artemis (who happened to be in the area) came and gave us help in fighting him off. I made my way down the steps before running into a camper holding my washed clothes. She smiled, I grinned, "Thanks, can you put them in my room? It's the first one on the right."
She nodded and continued up the stairs. I went down the stairs and noticed a slight crowd around the big house. I walked outside and noticed shouting in the middle. It was two campers arguing over some sort of object glittering on the ground. I walked up to the middle and saw a pink pearl in the ground.I saw it gleamed a bit brighter and over it was a note. Nico and Annabeth were the two arguing over the Pearl.
"Let me give it to Cynex, it literally has his name on it!"
"Or we can use to see why the hell have the gods taken an interest in him."
"What is this about!" I yelled.
Nico flinched and pointed at the Pearl, Annabeth turned away from me her arms crossed. I picked up a note which lay next to the Pearl. It read:
Dear CY,
I was wondering if you could ever so kindly take this? I would be much obliged if you could crush it and go wherever it takes you.I know who you actually are and I could save you all the trouble, or I could increase it tenfold.
With lots of love,
Everyone's favorite goddess, Aphrodite
My face and mood soured. I sighed and picked up the Pearl. While Aphrodite didn't scare me as a virtue of fighting, knowing her, it was probably something much more...lecherous. I was about to crush it, but Nico grabbed my hand.
"Dude, what is it?"
I gave him the rundown, his eyes widened and he began to laugh, "Jesus, Cy! How do you do this to yourself?" he began to laugh so hard he fell to his knees coughing, he tried to get up, and I smacked him over the back of the head, He fell clutching his head.
I grinned, "Shut up."
And I crushed the Pearl. Suddenly a typhoon of pink surrounded me and I found myself on Olympus. In front of a pink mansion. I groaned and stepped inside. Aphrodite was standing there in a turquoise sea dress. She gave me a seductive smile and motioned for me to sit down, I opted to stand. She pouted and said, "You can take off the bracelet, Percy, I could tell it was you instantly. It was originally my magic that was used to create the first image changing item."
I pulled off the bracelet and shoved it in my pocket and scowled, "Look I have stuff to do and I would appreciate if we could cut straight to the chase of this conversation."
She smirked, "My, my, Percy. Have we forgotten how to address a goddess? But if that is what you want fine." she smiled wryly, "I want you to how shall I say...have some FUN with me!"
Her charmspeak washed against my barrier but instead of just holding it back, it sent cold fury through me. I turned and began walking to the door, without changing my expression. She got up and teleported in front of me. I stopped and stared with the most uncaring on my face. She walked over to me.
"Oh come on!" she cried, exasperated, "Why the hades are you not affected by my charmspeak?!"
"Cause I am not a shallow person. NOT someone who tramples on other people's feeling for games and enjoys watching people's heart break. NOT someone who goes after what I want with no regard for everyone else. I am NOT like your kids, but most of all I AM NOT LIKE YOU." I replied coldly.
She looked incredulous, "What?"
"You heard me." I said.
"Are you using rage to suppress any good feelings for me?" she said smirking.
"Nope." I said offhandedly, "I am just calling it as I see it."
"Oh come one Percy! You won't regret it!"
"I am fairly certain I will. Now I am leaving." I said.
As I turned to it, I noticed she had an almost excited look on her face
"What's with the face?" Ii said, fiddling with the bracelet, attaching it to my wrist.
She sighed, "You are able to resist my charmspeak, and that makes you a challenge, I like that. I will find a way Percy."
"Short of chaining me up, you won't." I said.
I stepped outside and began to walk away, a mad look on my face. Several nymphs saw me and giggled, several minor godlings and others stared at me like I was a fascinating peice of art in an museum. I went to the elevator and hit the floor one button. When I got out the man at the desk stared but with more of a surprised expression but I ignored him and left. I needed to get to camp, so I decided to call an old friend. I whistled a loud taxicab whistle. Soon a black Pegasus landed and he nuzzled my shoulder affectionately.
"Boss!" Cried blackjack.
"Hey blackjack." I said grinning, "Hey wait a sec I am in disguise."
"You want to know how I know how it's you?
"Sure."
I can clearly tell it's you by the way you smell, plus you're the only one who I would let ride me! So I know whenever it's you."
"Cool! I mean I always knew you were amazing, but Jesus, Blackjack but you are too cool." I shook my head, "Anyway, I need a ride back to camp can you help me?"
"Sure boss! Anytime!" He nickered.
I climbed on and he flew low and fast over the city, I laughed in exhilaration and exhultation, I forgot how much fun this was and how the wind felt against my face. Soon we arrived at the gates to and he set me down. I slid off still laughing and I patted him on the neck, "Thanks, Blackjack. That was fun."
"Heh, no problem, boss!"
"You'll never stop calling me boss will you?" I said, shaking me head and grinning.
"Nope!" He said cheerfully.
I walked toward the pavilion and glanced at my watch. There was probably a few late campers still trying to finish their food. I hurried over and sat at the front table I sat down and looked at my plate after a few seconds. Toast, milk and cereal. I began scarfing it down, I was hungry, and frankly I was going to abuse the food capabilities here as much as I could. I yawned and put down my spoon, and drank the last bit of milk, sighing. I got up and went to the practice field. As I got there I noticed some of the other campers with Nico practicing by themselves. I closed my eyes and focused. I felt the shape and size of the training dummies, and I began hacking and slashing. Keeping my eyes closed I occasionally flipped over them slashing from overhead. When I opened my eyes, the training dummies didn't exactly resemble humanoid anythings, I smiled and de-materialized my Olympic blades. I walked past the sword training class and sat down on the bleachers, I waited and thought back to my fight with Erebus.
I had done well but I wasn't satisfied, he was able to beat me up and nearly kill me, if Artemis hadn't come when she did...well I would be dead right now. I was probably strong and short of becoming a god, I don't think unless I found more challenging opponents, or at least did some training that would increase my abilities, I would improve. I leaned forward and rested my head on my hands closing my eyes and thinking. Suddenly in a moment that I was particularly proud of I thought of it. The Amazons! He'll they hated men, not quite as much as the hunters but enough to put me through a regime that would normally be considered hell. I sighed though, I hoped they served as well as camp half-blood did.
I went to Nico, "Hey, buddy could you do me a favor? I need to go to Seattle."
His eyebrows went up, "Why in gods name would you want to do that?"
"Umm...well it has to do with my level with training do far, I am not strong enough. I want to be able to fighter harder than before, and here I can't fight stronger opponents. So decided to go to the Amazons to train with them, you know, if they will let me-"
"Jesus Christ! P-Cy, do you have a death wish? I know you may feel a bit under the weather because you lost but-"
"I know what you say makes sense but that isn't that, it's logic, besides I know that of he can beat me then I have to become even stronger than I am. I am nowhere near strong enough." I sighed and rubbed the back of my head, "Just tell everyone that I am going to train...and that I need to leave, okay?"
Nico sighed, "At least tell someone else, so that if you die I don't have to break the news..." He said sarcastically.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Nico."
"Bro, I am kidding, but on a more serious note if it gets too hostile, don't stay there."
"Right. Got it."
I walked over to the sea and threw a coin into the sea spray and said, "O Iris accept my offering, and show me Thalia at the hunters camp!"
The haze and mist shifted and when it solidified it showed Thalia at the hunters camp sharpening her arrows. She glanced up and saw me, "Percy? Are you all right? Artemis told me what happened."
"I am fine but I need to find some more powerful opponents and d well one group springs to mind but they are the well... Amazons. I was hoping that I could go there to you know uh train..." telling this to Thalia was really hard and I didn't even want to imagine telling Artemis I mean, we are kinda dating.
She stayed silent for a beat and then the next thing she did was yell at me, "Percy? Are you insane? They may not hate men quite as much as the hunters do, but for the love of god, Percy! They won't like you there, they'll y to slice you in half!"
Several hunters looked at Thalia with a confused look.
"Can it be worse than that week I had to stay with the hunt?" I asked.
She thought about it, "Okay fine, no. But regardless Percy-"
"Look, I just tell them who I am and that I want to chat with Hylla, hopefully I come out unscathed."
"Hopefully?" You could hear the skepticism in her voice.
"Yeah well you can um...tell Artemis for me because I have got to go." I said hurriedly and swiped my hand through the mist cutting the call.
I sighed and whistled, this time I was calling Mrs. O'Leary. She bounded out of the shadows and licked my face, I winced as dog slobber washed my face with the familiar yet painful sensation of being brushed with a Brillo pad tongue. I managed to push her far enough for me to get up and I told her to follow me. I went to the big house and got my bag, filled it with clothing and my other provisions and began to walk out but I ran into Chiron.
He looked at my bag and gave me a sad look, "Going again Cynex?"
"Training reasons, Chiron, the campers aren't good enough to strengthen me. I need to get better so I'm heading to a group of warriors who can."
"Who?"
"The Amazons, I know, I know," I sighed as he opened his mouth to protest, "but I think I can get them to accept."
I walked over to Mrs. O'Leary and climbed on her back. She dashed for the shadows and I felt the shadows envelope me as we melded to them.