I love this chapter purely because Percy is a complete dumbass and we all love her for it, also, I love the Hermes kids, they're terrible influences really, not that Percy's much better. Honestly, it's a miracle Annabeth hasn't murdered her for being a dumbass.
Together, hand in hand Percy and Annabeth walked down into the valley to find summer in full session- most of the campers had arrived a few days earlier so they were already slightly behind.
All around there was activity, the Satyrs were playing their piped in the strawberry fields, campers were having lessons on the pegasi, swooping over the woods, whoops of laughter distant but audible.
Smoke rose from the forges and hammers rang as kids made their own weapons- Percy spied Beckendorf in there, presumably taking a break from helping Silena nurse Chris.
Percy's gaze shifted and she saw that the Athena and Demeter kids were having chariot race around the track, and over at the canoe kid some kids in a trireme were fighting a large orange sea serpent.
"We'll head to the Big House." Annabeth stated firmly, pecking Percy's cheek, "Hopefully Chiron will be there and even if he isn't he's bound to be around somewhere."
"Genius." Percy's voice was teasing, "Why didn't I think of that-"
"Oi-" Annabeth shoved her gently, "I dunno why I put up wi-"
"Hey! Stop the flirting!" Percy turned her head in the direction of the voice and grinned.
"Hey Con." he was stood with Travis and Mikey in the Big House driveway- Travis was crouched down in the camps SUV, and Mikey was peering in to watch him as Connor clearly took on the role of look out.
"Causing trouble boys? Are you corrupting Mikey?"
"He is a son of Hermes, it's a right of passage-"
"True enough." Percy grinned, "Luke taught me-"
"We know!" Travis lifted his head and grinned in Percy's direction, "He told us."
"Refused to teach me though." that was Mikey, when he turned his head to look at them Percy let out a snort- his face was streaked with oil much like Leo's often was- he was eleven years old now, and gods but he had the Hermes kid crooked grin alright- and that mischievous glint in his eyes. "He's grown up to be far too boring- where's Leo then? Isn't he supposed to be coming with you?"
"You look up to him far too much." Percy snorted, "He's as much of a troublemaker as you guys-"
"He has some good ideas." Connor acknowledged, "and he's inventive, gotta love a mad scientist-"
"Yeah, I do. I also want to strangle him when he makes my alarm clock blare ridiculous songs at five in the morning-"
"Genius I tell you. Genius" Connor cackled, "So, where is our favourite son of Hephaestus."
"He'll probably be here later tonight, monster attack made Annabeth and I head here early-"
"You okay?" Mikey asked instantly, his eyes wide.
"We're fine. Demon cheerleaders are nasty though."
"Demon cheerleaders?"
"Yep." Percy nodded deathly seriously, painfully amused by the shocked look the younger son of Hermes was giving her. "Scary."
"Hot?" Connor raised an eyebrow.
"Connor Stoll!" Annabeth glared, "What the actual frick?"
"Ooh, look at Anniebeth watching her language in front of the children." Travis poked his head up again, grinning playfully, "And it was just a question."
"Y'know I wasn't exactly rating them in terms of their hotness boys-"
"C'mon." Connor grinned.
"You two need to get your minds out of the gutter." Percy huffed, "Is Chiron in there?"
"No, he was off doing something, I dunno what, I know he said he needed to talk to Luke about getting him to take on some extra responsibilities now that he's back."
"Right- where is Luke?"
"We saw him and Thalia heading towards the woods earlier."
"We'll head there then." Annabeth decided, threading their fingers together, "C'mon Seaweed brain."
Annabeth started towing Percy away- and Percy let her before, after taking a couple of steps, glancing back to call out "They were both tens-" and Connor and Travis let out whoops, Mikey cracked up laughing and Annabeth punched Percy's shoulder.
"Percy!"
"What!" Percy grinned, "They asked me, and I mean, objectively speaking when they were in their cheerleader disguises-"
"Oh you are so dead-" and Percy wrenched herself forward with a laugh, sprinting away as Annabeth chased her, looking back towards the other girl- which was why she ended up quite literally crashing into someone and sending them both to the ground- and as she lifted her head she heard familiar laughter.
"Some things never change hey Jackson-"
"Thalia." Percy's head snapped up and she grinned as she looked at Thalia, who was stood with her arms crossed, a light grin on her lips. Her hair had been chopped up again so it was still short, and she was clad in a leather jacket- though it was bigger this time and- "Is that Luke's jacket?"
"She claimed it." and Percy's gaze moved again and she grinned, Luke was sitting up now, a raised eyebrow and a slight smile gracing his features. "Do I want to know why you were running-"
"I annoyed Annabeth."
"Ah yes." Thalia reached down and grabbed Percy's elbow, hauling her to her feet, "Some things never change." she hugged Percy tightly and Percy hugged back. "You look good kid."
"You do too Thalia. How you doing-"
"Great, as usual." Thalia winked and turned her head to look at Luke, who was holding out a hand hopefully.
"You gonna help me up too?"
"Hm, let me see." Thalia tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Nah, I don't think I will-"
"Betrayal thou doth sting." Luke gasped the words dramatically as he pushed himself to his feet. "Truly you wound me-"
"You are such a loser Luke."
"PERSEPHONE JACKSON!"
"Uh oh." Percy dove behind Thalia quickly, "Thal's, save me from the wrath of my annoyed girlfriend-"
"What did you do?" Luke looked far too amused.
"I said that some demon cheerleaders were hot-"
"You-" Thalia blinked before grabbing Percy's arm and yanking her in front of her, "Oh no, no hiding behind me you deserve it."
"What demon cheerleaders?" Luke looked bewildered, "I mean- what?"
"Empousa-" Percy grinned, "They attacked today- got away fine but Connor and Travis asked if they were hot-"
"My brothers are morons." Luke deadpanned. "Total morons."
"And your sister's not too bright too-"
"Mean!"
Then Annabeth was there, launching herself at Percy. "I'm gonna murder you- Let me go Luke!"
"Sorry, as much as my sister is a dumbass I'm afraid I'm obliged to stop any murderous girlfriends." Luke had caught Annabeth by the back of her shirt and he was holding her back in a way that made Percy think of a puppy being held by the scruff of it's neck by it's mother.
"I have to murder her Luke-"
"Nope, sorry, can't let you do that." Luke's voice was filled with laughter and his eyes crinkled in the corners as he shook his head, "Percy, say sorry for being a dumbass-"
"But-"
"Say it-"
"Sorry for being a dumbass."
"Good girl." that came from Thalia, who looked like she was just barely stopping herself from cackling at the look on Percy's face as she ruffled the younger girls hair.
"Ugh." Annabeth rolled her eyes- but she was smiling. "Fine, I won't murder your little sister. Now can you please let me go."
"Good." Luke let Annabeth go and she straightened up, brushing herself off, her gaze focusing on Percy.
"You're such a freak Percy."
"You love me for it though-"
"Gods only know why." Annabeth rolled her eyes and moved forward, grabbing Percy's tee and yanking her into a kiss- which made Luke groan loudly and quickly cover his eyes.
"Gross! Baby sisters aren't allowed to kiss in the presence of their big brothers-"
"Oh real mature." Thalia laughed as she slid to his side and elbowed him lightly. "So guys, where's Sally and Leo- and don't tell the annoying little shit I asked-"
"Why, terrified he'll start flirting again?"
"It wouldn't be so bad if he was good at it." Thalia snickered, "But his lines are just so bad and he keeps calling himself the great Flameo."
"It's a good name-."
"Also there's the fact that he's only like fourteen and I'm officially eighteen now."
"Practically ancient in comparison." Annabeth snickered, "He flirts with everyone-"
"Other than me. He doesn't flirt with me." Percy stated brightly.
"That's because he's your newest sibling, that'd be weird." Thalia pulled a face.
"He doesn't flirt with me either-"
"He hasn't spent that much time around you." Percy pointed out, "You were around him for like a week over Christmas, and you spent most of that time with me. Though he may avoid flirting with you because you're my girlfriend-" she paused, "Also 'cause you can be majorly scary."
"I-" Annabeth paused before shrugging, "Actually that's a compliment."
"Thatta girl." Thalia grinned, "I've taught you well."
"It's good to see you again." Annabeth darted over to Thalia and hugged her tightly, "I missed you-"
"I missed you too Annie. How are things with your dad?"
"Not too bad."
"Has he killed any monsters lately-"
"No." Annabeth laughed at Luke's question. "But I told my brothers about what dad did and now it's their favorite story ever.
"Of course it is." Percy snickered, "Your dad was amazing Annabeth- like next level badassery."
"So, where were you two heading before you unwisely pissed off Annabeth?" Luke raised an eyebrow at Percy, who gave a small shrug.
"Looking for you guys actually. We were hoping to check in with Chiron about the whole empousi thing- just about some threats one of them made, but- well they said he was
asking you to step up and take on more responsibilities.
"Oh yeah." Luke nodded, "Mr. D's away and he's got a new guy to help but... I don't think he's fully confident in him since he seems to want me to deal with most of it. So... do I want to ask what the Stolls were doing?"
"They were in the driveway of the Big House with Mikey-"
"Don't say anything else." Luke held up a hand quickly, "I've changed my mind I don't want to know what they're up to because it's bound to be something bad." he looked as if he was fighting down the urge to laugh as Thalia snickered.
"Don't act all innocent Jackson you're just as bad as them you just hide it better-"
"I am no-"
"You not only pick pocketed your wallet back from the guy who stole it but you also stole his wallet and the guys watch Luke-"
"Impressive." Annabeth remarked lightly with a nod, "Very impressive Luke."
"Thank you." Luke gave a mock bow before he straightened up, "You could check the amphitheatre- but word of warning, there's a friendly Hellhound there-"
"A friendly Hellhound?" Percy raised an eyebrow, "Uh, no offence Luke but... really?"
"Yeah I know-" Luke blushed slightly as Thalia snickered.
"Luke tried to attack it-"
"He-"
"Yeah, the things owner was not happy." Thalia looked incredibly amused at that.
"That-" Percy blinked, "I know Nico says he met a few Hellhounds when he was down in the Underworld with his dad that were friendly enough but... a friendly one up here? Now this I gotta see-"
"Just don't try and stab it." Luke rubbed his shoulder. "His name is Quintus apparently, he's the one who I'm kind of working with now to help run things. I think Chiron is hoping that the more I step up the less help he'll need from Quintus so he'll be able to send him away- he just doesn't trust the guy."
"At the moment it's hard to know who too trust." Percy admitted quietly, a sad smile crossing her lips as she shook her head. "It's bad. Real bad isn't it-"
"It really is." Luke sighed. "There's been a few kids go missing- we don't know why but... we suspect that they've defected-"
"Gods." Percy closed her eyes and shook her head, "I've said it before and I'll say it again. I hate Alabaster. He knows how to charm people."
"Not everyone." Thalia's voice was firm and reassuring. "There's still a lot of us loyal to camp. We won't be defecting to join Kronos-"
"There's a lot of kids who still resent the gods." Percy pointed out quietly, "And I mean I get why-"
"Maybe so." Luke's voice was soft, and a very slightly amused smile played across his lips, "But most people here aren't loyal to the gods. They're loyal to camp. And to the people in it."