Ch48
That night Magnus had another dream. He was on a field of some sort when he heard a loud roar that burst through the area. The roar was loud and all of the animals in the area fled in terror. He felt the fear in his bones as he looked around him. A gust of wind was blowing trees in every direction and he felt fear in his body as he heard the sound of an approaching creature.
He looked up and his eyes widened. In the air was a large black dragon, it was bigger than any monster he had ever seen. It landed on the ground not far from him and let out a deafening roar. He covered his ears as his body shook in horror. The dragon was tall as a descent sized building and its eyes were full of anger while its teeth looked like it could take him out in one bight.
The dragon let out a large roar and opened its mouth. Hot red flames bellowed from its mouth and spewed all over the surrounding areas. Animals ran in terror and even from a distance he could feel the heat and hatred the creature emitted.
What the hell is this thing? But he already knew the answer. The dragon was as described by his sword and dad, it was Fafnir the dragon slayed by the hero Sigurd. He looked in horror at the creature and despite being a book nerd that dragon terrified him. Fafnir was huge and everything about him was menacing. Fafnir then leapt into the air and let out another roar as it flew off. That thing, I have a bad feeling about this. His father and the others have warned him about Fafnir and how it would most likely come after him and the camp.
The dream then shifted and he was at some kind of war council. "Lord Kronos has said we shall march soon be ready all of you," said a one eyed Asian guy. He heard of him; it was Ethan Nakamura. The guy was tall and imposing as he stood in front of the crowd, he stood behind a banner of Kronos as he pointed to a map on his desk.
Ethan Nakamura was standing in front of a group of enemy demigods and right besides him was either a guy or a girl he couldn't tell. The person had green hair and the brightest outfit he had ever seen a subject loyal to Kronos wear. The outfit screamed fashion disaster to him and he guessed that the person was a female. The person had a wicked smile on their face that sent a shiver down his spine, something about her felt familiar he couldn't explain it though.
"Yes," the green haired person said. "We take Olympus and storm it while those foolish Gods are preoccupied!" The person who he believed was a girl drew her dagger and raised it to the cheers of the crowd who cheered her message.
"We will destroy anything that gets in our way," Ethan Nakamura said. "We will but an end to Olympus's tyranny and bring forth a new age!"
The green hair girl cheered while a dark smile spread across her face. He felt a chill down his spine, whoever this person was he knew that she (or he) meant nothing but trouble.
He woke up feeling like he had a headache as he stared up at the blue ceiling of the Poseidon Cabin. He sat up and rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath, "Well that can't be good," he sighed as he looked up and saw Percy who looked a bit glum, "Hey Percy how did you sleep?"
Percy looked up at him and smiled, "Hey it was alright I had a weird dream," he said as he explained his dream. Percy talked about how he dreamed of Rachel and the weird painting she was drawing and the dreams she apparently was having. "I really do think that we should defend Olympus," Percy said.
He nodded, "Makes sense, Olympus is defenseless now that the Gods are away dealing with Typhon. By the way I had a dream too." He then explained his dream of Fafnir and Ethan and his army. When he was done Percy's face looked tense, "Well it looks like we are going to have more problems if Fafnir comes."
He nodded, "But don't worry, I have Gram with me and Balmung should be ready soon. If I visit my father I should be able to pick it up and bring it back in time."
Percy nodded, "Great with two swords I feel like our chances will improve greatly. But still a dragon, that is something I doubt many people here can take out."
"Yeah if it comes it would be wise to take it out as soon as possible. You've hear the stories too right? Fafnir was really strong; Sigurd even made his armor out of his body," he said.
"Yeah I remember Blitz and Hearthstone telling me the stories too. Isn't the dragon from the Hobbit based off of him?" Percy asked.
"Yeah apparently Tolkien was a demigod," he said. His father and Blitz mentioned it to him; he thought it was pretty cool, he even read Tolkien's works in Swedish in his spare time.
"Yeah well the sooner we get things done the better," Percy said as he looked around as if to double check that they were alone. "It shouldn't take me long to get the thing Nico told me about but how long will it take for you?"
He sighed, "I'm not sure, around a week I guess in my father's time then a bit to learn how to control it. It is not an easy process apparently but my father said he thinks I can do it."
Percy sighed, "Well we will need all of the help we can get, but don't stress yourself out too much. I don't want you dead after all.'
He couldn't help but laugh, "Same with you man." Percy laughed with him and the two got ready for breakfast.
At breakfast he offered his cellphone which he used for emergencies to Percy but he said not now. The two ate a rather depressing breakfast at the Poseidon table. The mood at the camp was pretty depressing in general with the all that was going on.
Man its hard to believe that so much has changed he thought as he looked around. There were less people, some had passed away over the years and others well they went over to the other side.
After breakfast, he and Percy helped Annabeth with cabin inspection since she helped them with their chore of sorting through reports. He and Percy had already cleaned their cabin in the morning, they didn't have much trash but they still gave themselves a good score which his cousin believed was too generous, whatever that meant.
While they were doing the inspections he talked with Percy and his cousin about the state of things. Little battles were happening everywhere as monsters roaming the country in increased numbers. None of them had heard from Thalia, Zoe, or any other hunters so they didn't have a clue what was going on with them.
They passed by the other cabins as they did inspection. Aphrodite as usual got a high score while the other cabins got ok scores. As they were doing the inspections some members of the Apollo Cabin flew by on the chariot he got for them.
"Good thing we helped solve that dispute huh?" Percy said.
"Yeah I know man," he said as they entered the Athena Cabin. His cousin's siblings went out of the cabin as they did the inspection. Overall it was good except that his cousin had left a bunch of notes and materials out so the Athena Cabin ending up getting a slightly lower score.
As they were looking through the cabin they saw Daedalus's laptop. Percy cleared his throat, "So did you get anything good out of that?"
Annabeth sighed, "There is just too much in there. I could spend years just trying to figure it all out."
His cousin then began to organize some papers as she avoided their gaze, "You know this whole thing with Silena and Beckendorf has made me think of what's important, about losing people who are close to you.
He and Percy froze and exchanged a look with each other. "Yeah I get what you mean," he said as his cousin and Percy looked at him. "We are losing a lot of people important to us, but we will always have their memories inside of us."
Annabeth nodded, "Yeah, well lets go and submit these reports."
He and Percy nodded as they went to the Big House. "Have you guys heard anything from Grover?" He asked.
"No, not even with our empathy link," Percy said.
Annabeth sighed, "No, and Juniper is very worried."
They stepped out of the Big House when Percy spoke up, "Hey Annabeth I had this dream about Rachel," he said.
Magnus noticed his cousin tense up at the name while Percy recounted his dream. "Well what do you want me to say?" She said as she gripped a scroll tightly in her hands.
Percy looked at him nervously and he nodded at him, "What if this was all a distraction and Kronos is going to hit Olympus directly while the Gods are distracted in the West?"
He nodded, "Yeah I came to the same conclusion too. It was just like in Rachel's dream."
Annabeth glared at him as if she wanted him to shut up. "Guys," she said, her voice tight. "Rachel is just a mortal."
"But what if the dream is true? Those titan's said Olympus would be destroyed in a matter of days," Percy said.
"Well we will just have to be ready," She said as her nostrils flared. He looked at his cousin and noticed that she was shaking.
Tread carefully Percy he thought as he gave his friend a nervous look. "But how? I mean we are out numbered and my soul might get reaped," Percy said.
Annabeth then threw down her scroll with such force that it surprised him and Percy. "I knew you shouldn't have told you the prophecy," she yelled her voice full of anger and hurt. "All it did was get you scared. You run away from things when you are scared," she shouted.
He was stunned by his cousin's tone, "Hey Annabeth that's unfair-" But she paid no attention to him as she got in Percy's face.
"Yes you are a coward Percy Jackson," she yelled. Her face was red and he swore he saw tears fall down her eyes. "If you don't like our chances maybe you should go to Rachel."
"That's not fair," Percy protested as she pushed him back and stormed off.
"Hey Annabeth what the hell? You can't just talk to him like that," he yelled at her.
Annabeth turned around and he froze under the glare she was giving him. "Oh yeah maybe you should both go with Rachel since you enjoy her company more," she yelled loudly.
"What do you have against Rachel? She has done nothing to you. Besides we are doing our best here you shouldn't be treating Percy like that," he yelled back. He didn't mean to yell but he did not like it when she called Percy a coward and he was getting tired of the way she talked about Rachel.
There was a small crowd of campers forming as Annabeth walked up to him. Her face was red and tears were falling down her eyes. She walked right up to him, they were face to face. He saw a mixture of anger, fear, and sadness in her eyes. "Oh really?" She said loudly. "Why don't you both go with Rachel and enjoy your time with your girlfriend," she said as she pushed him.
He nearly fell back but more out of surprise that his cousin pushed him, "What the hell is your problem?" He yelled back as more campers were starting to gather around. He noticed Percy look around awkwardly. "You can't be treating people like this."
"Like what?" Annabeth yelled at him. "You both act like cowards the way you keep secrets to yourselves."
He chuckled, "That's rich coming from you. How long have you hid the prophecy from Percy?" He yelled back as he felt his blood boil.
"That's none of your business the prophecy doesn't concern you," she yelled as tears fell down her face. "YOU RUIN EVERYTHING!" She yelled.
The words stung, "What do you mean by that?" He yelled as he ignored the crowd of campers gathering around them.
His cousin glared at him, "You were always jealous of Luke when we traveled together."
"Me jealous of that asshole? You were the one who was hero worshiping him," He yelled. "I can't believe you still defend him after all that he has done!"
"YOU WERE JUST JEALOUS THAT HE WAS A BETTER DEMIGOD THAN YOU AND THAT HE WAS CLAIMED," She yelled at him as she got in his face. "MAYBE YOU AND PERCY SHOULD JUST LEAVE. GODS MAGNUS YOU RUIN EVERYTHING. SOMETIMES I WISH YOU WOULD JUST LEAVE."
He then felt a stinging sensation across his face followed by a gasp from Percy and the crowd. It took him a few seconds to realize that Annabeth had slapped him. He stared in shock as his cousin stormed off past the crowd leaving him and the crowd speechless.
"Hey you can't treat him like that Annabeth," Percy said as he walked up next to him. "He didn't do anything wrong, if you have a problem with me just say it."
Annabeth glared at both of them, her eyes looked close to crying, "Why do you both always take each other's side? If you don't want me fine, do what you want. Why don't you both go to the Caribbean with Rachel," she spat as she turned around and stormed off.
Magnus felt hollow as his cheek still stung from where his cousin slapped him. The pain of her words hurt him more than anything he had felt in a long time.
"Hey are you ok man?" Percy asked as he placed a hand on his shoulder.
He looked at Percy and saw sympathy in his bright green eyes. He cleaned his face when he realized that he was crying, "I don't know," he said. Annabeth had never laid a hand on him or had spoken to him with that much anger.
"Come on lets go back to the cabin," Percy said as he patted his back. He nodded as Percy and him headed back to their cabin. He felt the eyes of the campers who saw the whole ordeal around him but heard their murmurs about what had happened but he and Percy ignored them.
"Hey Magnus are you ok?" Will asked as he came up to him.
"Yeah I'm alright," he said.
Will smiled at him, "Well if you need anything you know I'm here."
He smiled at him, "Thanks Will, but for now I just want to be alone."
"I understand be safe," Will said as he hugged him. He felt people stare at him as Will hugged him, it must have looked different Percy also had his hand around his shoulder and awkwardly joined the hug, though he could tell Will didn't mind.
"See you around Will," he said as Will nodded and left to join his siblings.
When he and Percy got to the cabin Percy handed him some tissues. He hadn't realized that he was crying, he cleaned his face and thanked Percy. "You know I think I will visit my father tonight, for you know."
Percy nodded, "I understand, I feel like I might get going tonight as well." Percy gave him a sympathetic look as he sat down next to him. "I don't think you ruin everything; in fact everyone here appreciates you for being here."
"Thanks," he said as he smiled into Percy's green eyes. "I know she was probably mad but still I've never seen her that mad."
Percy sighed, "Me either, but thanks for standing up for me."
"No problem man," he said as Percy hugged him. He returned the hug and for a second he wished he really could go on a nice vacation with Percy. "Well I say lets get going. I'm going to bring the essentials."
Percy nodded and they both got ready. He packed his belongings in a bag and got the horn his dad gave him for when he needed to go to Alfheim. They both planned to leave after the burning of Beckendorf's shroud since he meant a lot to both of them.
They spent the rest of the evening talking about their plans. He honestly didn't know how long he would be in Alfheim but he assured Percy that he would come back. During the ceremony where they burned Beckendorf's shroud he avoided contact with other people. When he and Percy were done they returned to their cabin and Magnus grabbed his bag.
"Be safe dude," Percy said as he hugged him one last time.
"You too man I'll be back I promise," he said.
"You better," he said. He then walked out of the cabin and went to a private place in the trees and activated Sigurd's armor. The armor had a feature that concealed his presence so he activated it and made his way to the border. He reached the border without any difficulty and crossed it. He took one last look back at camp, Good luck Percy and be safe Annabeth. He walked a bit longer before the camp was out of site before he deactivated the armor and pulled out the horn his father gave him. He blew the horn and a faint sound came from it followed by a bright flash of light.
Annabeth felt numb as she ate her dinner with her cabin. The memory of her fight with Percy and Magnus was fresh in her head. Part of her was still angry and a part of her felt ashamed of what she did. Yeah she shouldn't have treated them like that and if anything Magnus standing up for Rachel made her even more upset. She couldn't believe that she laid a hand on Magnus, yeah it was out of anger and impulse but still she felt ashamed at what she did. Magnus I swear I'll apologize she looked at the Poseidon table and was half expecting him and Percy to appear but they didn't appear. Maybe they are late she thought as she waited apprehensively.
"Has anyone seen Percy or Magnus?" Chiron called out in a serious tone. There was a series of murmurs from the table as she felt the eyes of many people on her. She didn't shrink from them, everyone knew of that fight she had with Percy and her cousin.
"I saw Percy," Juniper said as she stood up. "He went with that death boy Nico."
Nico? What would he do with him? She thought.
"And Magnus was he with him?" Chiron asked.
Juniper shook his head, "No but I think I saw him in the woods for a minute but he suddenly disappeared."
Disappeared? She felt a pit in her stomach as the murmurs increased in the area.
"Maybe Magnus is the spy," a person from Ares said. "I mean he isn't claimed and he just happens to vanish?"
She slammed her glass on the table in anger spilling its contents as she stood up and glared at the Ares Cabin, "My cousin isn't a traitor!" She yelled as Silena broke down in tears.
"But he so happens to leave now? Your cousin has every reason to join Kronos since he isn't claimed. You admitted it yourself he felt inferior because he wasn't claimed and he was close to Percy and a lot of people including Beckendorf," Clarisse said seriously. "He in a way has the most reasons to work for Kornos and have the opportunity to do so."
She got up and felt her hand go to her knife as her siblings had to restrain her. A lot of the other campers were murmuring either agreeing or disagreeing with Clarisse while Silena broke down in tears as her siblings comforted her.
"That's enough!" Chiron said loudly. "I trust Magnus and know he is not a traitor."
Clarisse rolled her eyes but she could tell that Clarisse still thought that her cousin was a traitor. My stupid mouth and my stupid pride she thought bitterly, if only she hadn't said those things. Magnus forgive me for saying those things she thought as she resisted the urge to break down in tears as the rest of the campers murmured about her cousin.