Warning: Certain ancient Greek names matches words use of foul language but no foul language was intentionally used. Also if you haven't read them yet read 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Early Adventures' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Titan's Curse' and 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Magical Labyrinth' as well as the one shots 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Stolen Chariot' The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Sword of Hades', 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Bronze Dragon' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Last Olympian' and 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Staff of Hermes' before reading this story as stuff that happened in them will be mentioned. Lastly, any one who wants to do a Demigods and Olympian reads story using 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon' is allowed as long as you inform me about it.
A/N: I'm going to MAKE THIS CLEAR. Just like I mention on my bio page about every other fanfiction I done: I DON'T OWN THE PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIAN SERIES OR IT'S CHARACTERS as the rights goes to Rick Rioran. Also I suggest you guys start paying attention to the Author notes and my warnings that I left on EVERY chapter of EVERY story. Because I KNOW I warn all of you about the first chapter before it started.
Sorry if this chapter is too much like the book
Piper's POV Part XVIII
I didn't remember much about the rest of the night. We told our stories and answered a million questions from the other campers, but finally Chiron saw how tired we were and ordered Jason Leo and me to bed.
It felt so good to sleep on a real mattress, and I was so exhausted, I crashed immediately, which spared me any worry about what it would be like returning to the Aphrodite Cabin.
The next morning I woke in my bunk, feeling reinvigorated. The sun came through the windows along with a pleasant breeze. It might've been spring instead of winter. Birds sang. Monsters howled in the woods. Breakfast smells wafted from the dining pavilion—bacon, pancakes, and all sorts of wonderful things.
Silena was the only one still in the cabin which confused me.
"Morning?" I asked. "Where is everyone?"
"At breakfast," Silena said.
"Why aren't you with them?" I asked.
Silena shrugged, "I thought it might be good for you to have some company. Besides, I got this feeling you wanted to talk to me about something."
I looked down. "Actually there is one thing—" I told her about what I been hearing about her. When I was done I half expected Silena to tell me it was nothing, but she looked down.
"The hardest thing about being a Child of Aphrodite, is that some of us can be fooled by charming looks and behavior," Silena said. "Before Charlie and I started dating, I was tricked by—someone who was working for the Titan Lord Kronos. He persuaded me to gather information of the activities in camp for their army."
"You were a spy?" I asked.
Silena nodded. "After I started falling for Charlie, I tried to back off so many times, but the Titan Lord kept me in. Finally, I decided to use it to my advantage and be a secret double agent. But in the end, I only been able to stay here was because Percy made the gods swore an oath to Pardon Demigods that turned."
My eyes widened. Now it made sense. Silena was in my shoes before. She was used just like how the Giants tried to use me.
"Look, Piper, I don't blame you for hating me at first—"
"I don't hate you," I said, "You said it yourself, you tried to back out, and when you couldn't you made good out of it. If it wasn't for Jason and Leo, I don't think I would have been able to do that."
Again, I expected Silena to say something or question me, but she nodded.
"Piper, how would you feel to be my second-in-command," Silena offered out of nowhere.
"What?"
"I'll be leaving with Charlie to start a normal life in the real world—possibly after this summer, but I don't want to leave things to Drew. She acts like she knows what it takes to be a child of Aphrodite, but truth is I think she just wants to be a tyrant," Silena said. "But if you're my second, you can take over once I leave."
I was in total shock. Silena entrusting me with Cabin Ten when she leaves.
"I-I'll be honor," I said.
Silena smiled. "Good."
…
That afternoon I had changed into a comfortable camp clothes standing behind Silena as second-in-command in our activities. The look on Drew's face when she found out was priceless. She tried to say she was cheated out of it, but as Silena pointed out—since I completed my first quest I have done one more quest than Drew and thus deserve it.
Silena basically showed me the ropes of being Head Counsellor of Cabin ten, since (in her terms) sometimes Aphrodite's kids can be difficult to work with since many that do participate in activities try to do them without breaking a nail or ruining their make up. As annoying as it sound to me, I quickly accepted it since these were my siblings.
Eventually I had leave them behind for an appointment at the Big House.
Chiron met with me on the front porch in human form, compacted in his wheelchair. "Come inside, my dear. The video conference is ready."
There was only one computer in camp, and it was Chiron's office—which was shielded in bronze plating.
"Demigods and mortal technology don't mix," Chiron explained. "Phone calls, texting, even browsing the Internet—all these things can attract monsters. Why, just this fall at a school in Cincinnati, we had to rescue a young hero who Googled the gorgons and got a little more than he bargained for, but never mind that. Here at camp, you're protected. Still… we try to be cautious. You'll only be able to talk for a few minutes."
"Got it," I said. "Thank you, Chiron."
He smiled and wheeled himself out of the office. I was hesitant before clicking the call button. Chiron's office was cluttered, cozy feel. One was covered with T-shirts from different conventions—PARTY PONIES '09 VEGAS, PARTY PONIES '10 HONOLULU, et cetera. I didn't know who the Party Ponies were, but judging from the stains, scorch marks, and weapon holes in the T-shirts, they must've had some pretty wild meetings. On the other shelf over Chiron's desk sat an old-fashioned boom box with cassette tapes labeled "Dean Martin" and "Frank Sinatra" and "Greatest Hits of the 40s." I couldn't help but wonder which 40s they meant since Chiron was so old.
Most of the office wall space was plastered with photos of demigods, like a hall of fame. One of a newer shot showed a teenage guy with dark hair and green eyes, standing next to Annabeth, both of them arm to arm. I realized it was Percy Jackson and that this photo must've been taken after the one Jason had.
Percy looked like a cross between an athletic swimmer and a skater dude. He had a look of a troublemaker but at the same time you could tell there was intelligence in him. Obviously Percy wasn't my type, but I can tell from the photo that he and Annabeth really love each other.
The other photos were older, but I recognized many famous people: businessmen, athletes, leaders, even some actors that my dad knew.
"Unbelievable," I muttered as I wonder if my photo would go on that wall someday. For the first time, I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself. Demigods had been around for centuries. Whatever I did, I did for all of them.
I took a deep breath and made the call. The video screen popped up.
Gleeson Hedge grinned at me from my dad's office. "Seen the news?"
"Kind of hard to miss," I said.
Chiron had shown me the newspaper at lunch. It was about what I already knew or guessed would happen: my dad's mysterious return, Jane finally being fired, Gleeson Hedge becoming my dad's life coach and head of security, and of course the hiring of a mysterious girl that came out of nowhere.
"Mellie and I agreed to keep your dad out of public eye for the next month so he can adjust to what he been through," Hedge said.
"Sounds good," I agreed, "Just don't get too comfortable out there in Hollywood, Gleeson."
Hedge snorted. "You kidding? These people made Aeolus look sane. And your dad agreed to give me summer off to look after you. Oh, that reminds me. Mellie wanted me to thank you for getting her a job with your dad. Also the Park Service Bay Area just got an anonymous gift of a new helicopter. And that ranger pilot who helped us? She's got a lucrative offer to fly for Mr. McLean."
"That's great. And tell Mellie it's the least I can do for what she did for us," I responded.
"Come on, you old goat." I heard Mellie said in what I swear was a playful teasing voice, "Stop hogging the screen."
"What?" Hedge demanded, "Oh All right. Mr. McLean? She's on!"
Hedge left the screen, and a second later, my dad appeared.
He broke into a huge grin. "Pipes!"
He looked great—back to normal with his sparkling brown eyes, his half-day beard, his confident smile, and his newly trimmed hair like he was ready to shoot a scene. I was so relieved.
"Dad, hey!" I said. "You feeling okay?"
"Yeah!" Dad said, "I take it you're in that camp you told me about?"
"Yeah! I'm actually in my Activities Director: Chiron's office," I said.
"The centaur who trained Greek Heroes?"
"The very same," I said.
"I love you Piper," Dad said. "Call me as often as you can, and see if you can come home for Christmas—or does demigods celebrate Christmas?"
"They do!" I heard Coach Hedge yelled in the background. "At least those who celebrated it before finding out they're demigods do."
I couldn't help but laughed. "I'll see what I can do, Dad."
"Good," Dad said. "Because I'll be happy to arrange you a ride back to camp after New Years if you want too. And Pipes…"
"Yes?"
He touched the screen as if trying to reach through with his hand. "You're a wonderful young lady. I don't tell you that often enough. And now that I know the truth, I know you'll be great hero one day. It's a shame Grandpa Tom never found out the truth"—he chuckled—"he always said you'd be the most powerful voice in our family."
I smiled as I touched his fingers on the screen, "I'll do my best, dad."
"Good, oh, and if any of your half-siblings want anything, tell them I'm willing to help them out as long as it's within my power," Dad said with a wink, "After all, they're part of our family, right?"
"Right," I said.
Mellie said something in the background, and my dad sighed. "Studio calling. I'm sorry, honey." And he did sound genuinely annoyed to go.
"It's okay, Dad," I managed. "Love you."
He winked. Then the video call went black.
Forty-five seconds? Maybe a full minute.
I smiled. It seemed that finding out the truth helped dad improve for the better. I wished he didn't bring up about offering my half-siblings stuff, but the fact he accepted them as part of the family as well made me feel better.
…
At the common area, I found Jason relaxing on the beach, a basketball between his feet. He was sweaty from working out, but he looked great in his orange tank top and shorts. His various scars and bruises from the quest were healing, thanks to some medical attention from Apollo Cabin. His arms and legs were well muscled and tan—distracting as always. His close-cropped blond hair caught the afternoon light so it looked like it was turning gold, Midas style.
"Hey," he said. "How did it go?"
It took me a second to focus on his question. "Hmm? Oh, yeah. Fine."
I sat next to him and we watch the campers going back and forth. A couple of Demeter girls were playing tricks on two of the Apollo guys—making the grass grow around their ankles as they shot baskets. Over at the camp store, the Hermes kids were putting up sign that read: flying shoes, slight used 50% off today! Ares kids were lining their cabin with fresh barb wire. The Hypnos Cabin was snoring away. A normal day at camp.
I noticed some of my siblings from Aphrodite Cabin were watching us while trying to pretend they weren't. I swear I saw them exchanging money like they were placing bets. I didn't see Silena among them, which was reinsuring, but I will deal with the others later.
"Get any sleep?" I asked Jason.
He looked as if I'd been reading his thought. "Not much. Dreams."
"About your past?"
He nodded.
I didn't push him, knowing it was a subject that shouldn't be pushed. I finally accepted that the feelings I had for Jason was real, despite the fake memories of the three months I thought we were together, and I cared about Jason too much to do anything that might hurt him.
Jason spun his basketball. "My memories aren't good for everyone here in camp. It could end up turning bad.
"We'll figure it out," I promised.
"Maybe," Jason said as if he wanted to believe me. "Annabeth and Rachel are coming in for the meeting tonight. Thalia contacted me last night to let me know she and the Hunters would be too. I think it's best to wait until then to explain…"
"Okay." I plucked a blade of grass by my foot. I knew there was dangerous things in store for both of us. I knew I might I have to compete with Jason's past, and we might not even survive the war against the giants. But right now, we were both alive, and I was determined to enjoy this moment.
Jason studied me warily. His forearm tattoo was faint blue in the sunlight. "You're in a good mood. How can you be so sure things will work out?"
"Because you're going to lead us," I said simply as I wrapped my arms around Jason and felt the urge to kiss him, which I did. In all my fake memories, most of the time it Jason was the one who kissed me first, and I have to say, it felt nice to be the one who did made the first move. I moved back and stared at his confused sky blue eyes as I continued what I said earlier, "and I'd follow you anywhere."
At first Jason was still in a daze, but he smiled slowly. "That's a dangerous thing to say."
"I'm a dangerous girl."
"That, I believe."
This time Jason pulled me back into a short sweet kiss, which I liked very much. I didn't even think about my siblings who were probably either paying up or getting cash that I would be scolding at later.
When we broke, Jason got up, brushed off his shorts before offering me his hand. "We better go see what Leo wanted to show us?"
I smiled as I took his hand and stood up. "Yeah. We better go."
The two of us headed off to find Leo, hand to hand as a real couple.
A/N: That's right, I got Piper and Jason to kiss. I found it annoying that Rick Rioran showed when Annabeth and Percy officially became a couple, when Frank and Hazel officially a couple, heck even when Calypso kissed Leo, and yet we never found out when Jason and Piper officially became a real couple.
