Ch33
Percy sighed as he sat in his ship as it slowly headed towards the camp. Ogygia had been fun but he had a quest to do and he had a lot of things to think about. The only problem is how will I explain Magnus to Annabeth. The memory of his friend panged his heart. At first he thought that he had landed with her but Calypso had said no one else had arrived with him and he thought the worst. Then when Hephaestus came he brought him some other news.
"Your friend is out of the reach of Olympus. The Asgardians have taken him back home when you both flew out of the volcano," Hephaestus said as he drank some soda.
"What why?" He asked
"Because he is their son and they would do anything to get him back," Hephaestus said giving him a sympathetic look. "It has happened before, sometimes the son of another pantheon comes and lives among our children but he can never stay. Sometimes they do but many wars have been fought over them. We Olympians would do the same too, who knows though maybe they will let him come down back here but I wouldn't get your hopes up."
The memory had been a sting to him. Magnus was one of his best friends and they had done a lot of things together. He was his only friend who was both a part of his mortal and demigod life and to have him taken away made him shake with sadness and anger. Though he would probably want to stay even if he gets the chance to come back. I mean he saw me and Annabeth kiss, he probably feels super betrayed. He is like a sister to her; I should've handled the situation better.
The memory of the kiss with Annabeth still flashed through his head. At first, he thought it was nothing more than a heat of the moment thing but then she pulled him in again and his body felt weak against hers. He looked surprised and probably felt betrayed at what I did he thought as he remembered the shocked expression on Magnus's face when Annabeth kissed.
He had mixed feelings about Annabeth. When she kissed him a part of him felt overjoyed while another part wanted to push her away. After all, how could he hook up with his best friend's cousin who was basically his sister? No I can't betray him like this, if I ever get the chance I will explain things he thought yet he knew that his heart was feeling something else. He was very much conflicted between Magnus and Annabeth as he had strong feelings for both of them.
He continued to think about Magnus and how he would explain what happened with Annabeth. I can't just lie to her but at the same time, I can't just tell her that her cousin is a Norse demigod. He shook his head not sure of what to do and that was when he heard the sound of a large war horn.
He got up and turned around and his eyes widened as he saw a large Viking ship approach him. He saw someone waving at him and he nearly jumped out of his boat, "Magnus!" he said in surprise as he willed the boat he was on to go near the ship.
When the boat got close enough he saw Hearthstone and Blitz waving at him. "Hey guys long time no see," he said as he waved back. He had met them before and they often told him things about Norse Mythology along with Magnus, they were pretty cool.
Magnus then jumped onto his boat and waved at the dwarf and elf. "See you guys around," he said as the ship took off.
Magnus turned to Percy and there was an awkward moment before they both ran and hugged each other tightly. Magnus felt a bit different; for one thing, he was a bit more muscular and he felt a bit colder for some reason even though it was midday.
"I missed you too Percy," Magnus said as they both pulled away. "How have you been?"
"Good, I was with Calypso on the island of Ogygia. How about you? You look great," he said as his eyes went up and down Magnus's body. His camp shirt looked small on him and he appeared to have grown some muscles. His face was the same though his eyes appeared to be looking at him, his hair was neatly combed down and he looked like some sort of rock star.
"Yeah thanks, I kind of met my dad and stayed in his realm," Magnus said as he explained how he was in a place called Alfheim and about his dad Frey who was a Norse god. Overall it was pretty cool to learn about a god from another pantheon. "Overall he is cool he said we could come back. So how was Calypso?" Magnus asked as he sat down on the ship.
He sighed as he talked about his time in Ogygia with Calypso and when he was down Magnus smiled at him. "What?" He asked.
"Nothing, I promise I won't tell Annabeth," Magnus said with a smile.
Percy felt his face redden as he remembered the kiss with Annabeth. "Magnus I am sorry I didn't know she was going to kiss me." He avoided his friend's gaze but was surprised that Magnus let out a small laugh. "It was probably just a heat of the moment thing I swear," he said quickly
"Don't worry Percy. She kissed you besides I don't have a problem if you like Annabeth that way," Magnus said. Percy looked at Magnus in surprise and saw him scratch his head. "Like if she likes you and treats you well I don't mind if you both you know get together."
Percy felt his face redden. "I mean I don't know how I feel about her yet."
Magnus smiled, "Don't worry dude you'll figure it out eventually. Though lets keep this conversation between us," he said with a small smile
"Thanks dude yeah please don't tell her she probably won't let me live it down," he said as they both laughed and shared a high five as they headed towards camp as they talked about their time in their respective places.
He couldn't place his finger on it but something about Magnus seemed different. Yeah he appeared a little livelier but he also seemed a bit more reserved then usual. No what am I thinking he is still the same person he thought as he looked Magnus over, though it looks like he has been spending time in the gym. He noticed that Magnus appeared slightly more muscular, his biceps were slightly bigger and his pecs looked pressed against the shirt. He wasn't bulky but he looked toned at looked good. He forced himself to look away when their eyes met.
"So Percy did you enjoy being with Calypso?" Magnus asked as he stretched on the boat.
"Yeah she was really nice. She liked gardening," he said as he felt Magnus's eyes on him.
Magnus smiled, "Well she sounds cool. She sounds like a person my mom would like to be around."
"Yeah I think so too," he said with a sigh. "Too bad she is stuck there forever though."
Magnus frowned, "Well maybe we can help her once the war is over?"
"That sounds fun dude," he said with a smile.
When they got to the camp it seemed deserted. No one was around and that was when he noticed the smoke from the amphitheater, it was too early for roasting marshmallows so they ran towards it.
Before they got there they heard Chiron's voice. "We must assume that they are dead. After so long a silence it is unlikely our prayers will be answered.
They both stared as they saw Annabeth take two long burial shrouds with tridents on them and set them in the flames. They watched her face which looked as if it had been close to tears. "They were the bravest men I have ever met. Magnus was the only family I ever had for the longest time in my life while Percy was the bravest friend in my life." Then she saw them her face went blood red. "They are right here!"
Heads turned and everyone gasped. He and Magnus waved nervously with awkward smiles as various campers came to greet them. Beckendorf came and Will Solace came and hugged them both. "We missed you guys," Beckendorf said with a wide grin.
"Well I don't believe neither of us has been so happy to be back," Magnus said with a nervous laugh.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BOTH BEEN?" Annabeth said pushing past various campers.
"Um sorry we got lost," he said as he and Magnus exchanged an awkward look.
"LOST? YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN GONE FOR TWO WHOLE WEEKS," Annabeth said as she went and hugged them both fiercely. He personally thought she was going to break a rib by how tight she hugged him.
"Annabeth perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more private. The rest of you back to your normal activities," Chiron said. Without hesitation, he picked both him and Magnus up and placed them on his back and made his way to the Big House.
I didn't tell them the whole story because I just couldn't bring myself to talk about some of the more personal stuff. I explained how I had caused the explosion at Mr. St. Helens and how I got blasted out of the volcano. My palms felt sweaty as I told them how Magnus and I had been marooned on some island and how we were trapped there until Hephaestus had found us and told us we could leave and how a magical raft brought them home. He was lying through his teeth but he had to think of something since he did not want to talk about Calypso and couldn't say anything about Alfheim.
He felt nervous as he told the lie, he knew he shouldn't talk about Magnus being with his father, especially around Annabeth. He watched as Annabeth and Chiron watched him closely while Magnus avoided their gazes and only nodded. "So anyway Hephaestus told me how to get through the labyrinth," he said as he explained how he could use a mortal with clear sight to pass through the labyrinth and his suggestion of Rachel Dare.
When he told them Annabeth's jaw dropped. "But that is crazy it will be cowardly to have a mortal with us. This is my quest," she said looking at Chiron.
Chiron sighed as he looked at both of them, "There is a precedent Theseus had Ariadne and other demigods have used mortals for help."
"Yeah and from what I know of Rachel she seems trustworthy," Magnus said as Annabeth shot her cousin a glare. "Rachel seems tough too she should handle it."
Annabeth looked exasperated as she looked at him and Magnus. "Wait you both were marooned on the same island? I thought Ogygia only could hold one hero at a time?" She said looking at them both suspiciously.
Crap should have made up a better lie he thought as he and Magnus exchanged a nervous look, he didn't' say they went to Ogygia but he should have thought of a better excuse, after all it was Annabeth. Magnus eventually cleared his throat and looked back at his cousin. "Well not always I mean me and Percy were there and we are back now," he said with a nervous laugh.
Percy looked at Chiron and he could tell that he didn't exactly believe his story. However, Annabeth's expression looked stone cold as she looked at them both. "Fine I get it," she said in a cool tone. Her face was wrong, he had seen her angry before but now she looked furious as if she were trying to hide some sort of pain. "If you both want to keep your secrets that's fine, but you don't need to lie about it if you went to Ogygia just say you don't need to lie about it. I am tired of being the third wheel and am sick of you both lying to me." Her fists were shaking, her face was red with anger as if they had hurt her.
"Annabeth its not like that," Magnus said standing up to meet his cousin's glare
Annabeth gave her cousin a hard look and Percy swore he saw shock in Magnus's eyes. "Oh really?" Annabeth said loudly. "Then what's it like? You both just ran off and had some fun adventure while I was worried sick about you both and make up some story about being on some island?"
"Annabeth its not like that really," he said trying to calm her. "We were both on an island together and Hephaestus helped bring us back."
Annabeth glared at him and just chuckled, "Of course not, I mean you both can have your secrets I don't mind," she said coldly. "I mean do you both honestly think I don't notice how you bot hide things from me? But like I said if you guys don't want to tell me your little secrets I don't care."
He turned to Magnus who looked hurt by his cousin's words. He put a hand on his shoulder as Chiron spoke up. "Annabeth dear maybe they are correct, there is nothing that says more than one hero can visit at once."
Annabeth only continued to glare at them, her face red with anger and sadness. "Fine, you both can keep your secrets not that I care anyway. You both are so annoying it was driving me crazy." She then turned to her cousin and glared at him. He watched as Magnus took a step back from his cousin's glare, "Magnus, Chiron was right I should keep this quest at three and since we will have to work with a mortal you can stay here at camp," she said as she turned around and stormed off.
Magnus looked shocked and hurt as he stared at where Annabeth was. "I'm going to the cabin," Magnus said quietly as he took his bag and headed off to the cabin.
Percy and Chiron only nodded as they watched him leave. Chiron sighed as he looked at him with a sad look. "She will calm down; she is just frustrated that's all."
"But how could she treat Magnus like that? That's stupid its no like," but he couldn't finish the words. The sight of Annabeth glaring at him was like a dagger to his heart and he knew that Magnus probably felt ten times worse.
Chiron sighed. "It hardly matters, she is very territorial about her friends and the fact that Magnus went away and can't tell her where makes her feel frustrated." Their eyes met and he knew that Chiron had guessed about Magnus meeting with his father, it was hard to hide anything from a guy who had been training heroes for ages. Besides we are the only ones who know that Magnus isn't a Greek demigod.
"We won't dwell on your choices," Chiron said with a light smile. "You both came back and that is what matters."
"Tell that to Annabeth," he said.
Chiron smiled at him, "In the morning I will have Argus take you both to Manhattan. You both might want to see your mother she is understandably distraught."
He felt his heart skip a beat; he hadn't considered his mom's feelings when he was on Calypso's island. "Ok, oh any sign from Grover?"
Chiron shook his head and sighed, "No nothing. Also Christ Rodriguez is worsening and Quintus has disappeared into the labyrinth it appears. Anyway prepare yourself for tomorrow and try and comfort Magnus, Annabeth has a right to choose her companions and reject them."
He nodded as he left him and headed back to his cabin. He sighed as he entered the Poseidon cabin and found Magnus laying on his bed with a box of tissues on his nightstand. "Hey man how are you doing?" He asked as he approached his friend's bed
Magnus turned to him, his were red and dull, "I've been better."
He gave his friend a sympathetic smile, "Sorry about what happened, I probably should have thought of something better to say to her. I just didn't want to tell her that you know you were with your dad."
Magnus sighed as he sat up in his bed. "No you did the best you could," Magnus gave him a weak smile, his face was red and he looked understandably upset. "Its just that I don't know about keeping this a secret any longer. She obviously is onto us and is hurt by it. I mean I know it will probably endanger her if she knew the truth but still I just feel wrong about doing this I never have kept a secret like this from her before."
Percy nodded as he sat down next to Magnus. "I do too man but we did make a promise on the Styx to not tell her. We will think of something, I think she is just overwhelmed about everything that has happened recently; besides you have a right to your privacy and should tell her when you feel it." A part of him did not want to keep secrets from Annabeth but another part was pretty sure she kept her own secrets from both of them.
Magnus smiled at him, "Yeah I know, its just that I have never seen her that angry before, at me at least."
"Yeah I imagine," he said as Magnus let out a sigh. "Look it looks like you will be staying here for the remainder of the quest." He noticed Magnus flinch at that and he felt bad for saying it since he had already been on this quest for a while now. "As much as I want you on this quest Chiron said Annabeth has a right to choose her companions and if she still does not want you to come tomorrow I'll try and talk some sense into her."
Magnus smiled at him, "Thanks man. Are you planning on talking to Rachel?"
Percy felt his face redden as he avoided Magnus's eyes, "I mean I may stop by my mom to let her know I am well but maybe yeah."
"Well good luck man," Magnus said as he patted his back. "Hopefully Annabeth doesn't get too pissed off at her."
"Yeah hopefully," he said with a sigh. Hopefully, she is in a good mood tomorrow. "Anyway if you end up not going just try and help out here at camp, I think you will be needed the most here."
"Yeah everyone is kind of down," Magnus said with a sigh.
"Anyway goodnight man," He said as he headed to bed.
"Good night," Magnus said as he cleaned up his bed before going to sleep.
The next morning when he woke up he had to force Magnus out of bed and convince him to shower and get ready. He had hoped Annabeth would let him on the quest but the glare she gave them both at breakfast said all that needed to be said. "Its alright Percy I'll just stay here," Magnus said as he ate his food looking a little more broody than usual.
"Yeah it looks like she is still mad," he said with a sigh. After breakfast, he convinced Beckendorf to take care of Mrs. O'Leary since he knew that Magnus would not be up for the task at all.
When he was ready to go he met Argus at the van and found Annabeth already there waiting for him and to his surprise Magnus was also there. "Hey Percy I just came to see you off," he said.
"Thanks man, be safe here," he said as he gave him a hug. They both looked at Annabeth who was avoiding their gaze.
"Bye Annabeth," Magnus called out. Annabeth just ignored him and Magnus looked a little more hurt.
"Don't mind her I'll talk to her later," he whispered. Magnus nodded but still looked hurt. I'll see if I can bring some falafel for him or something to cheer him up. Magnus smiled at him and headed off back to their cabin leaving him with Annabeth.
"You know he was pretty upset last night after you chewed us out," he said to her as they both got into the car.
Annabeth only rolled her eyes avoiding his gaze. Ok this is going to go either really good or really bad he thought as the car started and they began their journey back to the city.