I PLAY PINOCHLE WITH A HORSE
I had weird dreams full of barnyard animals. Most of them wanted to kill me. The rest wanted food.
Everyone laughedthe tense atmosphere disappeared slowly.
I must've woken up several times...only it was pudding.
"ambrosia?" Someone asked.
"His favourite flavour is butter popcorn?" Annabeth asked.
"You didn't know?" Thalia asked. Annabeth shakes her head in no.
Apollo unconsciously stored that information for later.
The girl with curly blond hair hovered over me, smirking as she scraped drips off my chin with the spoon.
Everyone looked at Annabeth smirking. Annabeth blushed.
"Why are you feeding him? It's the job for Apollo's cabin." Athena frowned at her daughter.
"It's because he is the one." Clarisse said smirk evident in her voice. Everyone snickered. Annabeth glared at Clarisse but didn't answer her mother. Aphrodite smiled at the crush.
When she saw my eyes open, she asked, "What will happen at the summer solstice?"
"You thought he knew?" Chris asked shocked evident in his voice.
"I didn't know at that time that he didn't know anything. I assumed that since he fought minotaur he would know something." Annabeth said. Chris nodded.
I managed to croak, "What?" She looked around, as if afraid someone would overhear. "What's going on? What was stolen? We've only got a few weeks!"
"What?" Almost everyone asked other than the those who were there at that time. "Something is stolen" Hermes asked eyes shining. His kids looked at each other and decided not to say anything.
"I'm sorry," I mumbled, "I don't..." Somebody knocked on the...forehead, the backs of his hands.
"Argus" Hera said fondly. Zeus rolled his eyes.
When I finally came around for...smelled like strawberries.
Everyone sighed at the discretion of the camp. Last they saw camp like that felt yearsago. Everyone's hands went to their trident bead of that year.(everyone who were already at the camp that year) And last they saw camp was in destruction because of the war.
There was a blanket over my...and nasty and every one of my teeth hurt.
All those who fought in wars felt the same. Even Roman's felt bad. As they were also responsible for the destruction, they looked at the Greeks with apology written on their face. When Greeks noticed the looks they nodded and accepted it. But weren't yet ready to forgive. Gods were confused as to why. Poseidon and Apollo wanted to ask how Percy knew about scorpion thing, but didn't not wanting to know. Since nobody looked in their direction Aphrodite started reading not wanting to know why.
On the table next to me was a tall drink. It looked like iced apple juice, with a green straw and a paper parasol stuck through a maraschino cherry.
"Nectar?" Piper asked. Jason nodded.
My hand was so weak I almost dropped the glass once I got my fingers around it.
Apollo pressed his lips. That's not good.
"Careful," a familiar voice...BLOOD. Just plain old Grover, Not the goat boy.
Everyone snickered. "Goat boy." The stroll brother snickered loudly.
So maybe I'd had a nightmare. Maybe my mom was okay. We were still on vacation, and we'd stopped here at this big house for some reason. And ...
Everyone looked down. They were too thinking that it all had been a dream. But they knew it wasn't.
"You saved my life," Grover said. "I... well, the least I could do...hadn't been a nightmare.
"Spoil of war?" Reyna asked. Grover nodded.
"The Minotaur," I said.
Gods pressed their lips.
"Urn, Percy, it isn't a good idea—"
Gods nodded.
"That's what they call him in the Greek myths, isn't it?"...tree on top. Even that looked beautiful in the sunlight.
Demigods had a dreamy look on their faces. Gods looked confused. "There is no pine tree at camp" Hermes and Apollo said. Campers looked at each other.
"You will find out soon." Annabeth said.
My mother was gone. The whole world should be black and cold. Nothing should look beautiful.
Everyone's eyes dropped. They all were thinking about the people who they had lost. They thought about the wars, other who died before that remembered those who they had lost till than. Apollo noticed Will just looked at Michael. Who was silently wondering about Lee.
Beckendorf too was sad as he remembered his talk with Percy. Leo moved towards his half brother. All the rest demigods were fingering their beads which were around their necks looking on on the brink of crying.
Michael noticed Will looking at him, he understood why when they got here Will and Percy had started crying. Will tried to hide into Apollo's side trying to escape from the questioning look. Apollo didn't know what to say. So did the rest of the gods. What demigods didn't know was they could hear the prayers the demigods made under their breaths. They were shocked. Apollo felt like he wanted to cry. Oh his kids. He heard so many names. His children he pulled his children close and tried his best to not cry. But both Son's of Apollo were crying. He felt an arm around his shoulder and looked up and saw Poseidon rubbing his back and comforting Michael at the same time. On his other side he saw Nico snuggling into Will's side. Just than Michael jumped on Will. And they sat there cry Apollo had tears running down his face. He didn't notice both Poseidon and Artemis and moved where they were sitting. He just felt a squeeze on his shoulder and than arms around hugging him. He looked at his sister and spoke softly "so many. Sis. So many. I-". "Shh. Zoe And many more hunters as well." She added softly. Apollo turned so he could put his head on Artemis shoulder. Artemis too was emotional about her hunters. She sobbed. Dionysus was looking at his son who just didn't looked like he was there. He heard a Name Castor. His son's twin. That's why he didn't had so many demigod children in the first place. This hurts. Athena heard too and was shocked. Ares looked at his daughter who was holding Chris like her dear life. Hermes was just shocked each name was like an arrow to heart. He didn't know what to do but he pulled both the twins unconsciously and looked at Chris and saw he was crying. He reached over and tapped his shoulder when Chris looked up and saw Hermes asking to hug him he too went to his father Travis moved to sit with his twin so Chris can sit properly both Connor and Travis didn't understood why but when they saw faces of the gods they knew they heard their prayers.
Zeus looked at the hearth and saw that it looked mournful and decided not to say anything. Hestia could see just how much they had lost. Hades too heard his daughters name. He looked at Hazal who looked back at him and casted her eyes down. Oh he understood now why she is alive Nico probably brought her back when he was looking for his sister. He looked at his son. Who was sitting looking at Son's of Apollo. When Nico felt eyes on him he looked up at his father. "Bianca?" Hades asked even when he knew the answer. Nico looked away. "She chose rebirth after year from her death." Nico spoke softly. Hades pulled his son and daughter both into hug. And put his head over Nico's. Hephaestus too heard names as well with the name of his son who sat next to him. He put a hand over his son's shoulder, Beckendorf looked at his father "It's alright father. I already knew that. If you should know I went to Elysium. Nico passed the information after my...passing. I accepted it." Beckendorf said confidently without any regret. Hephaestus nodded and and started making something to give his son so he could be saved if possible. Aphrodite looked at hearth and realised that Piper was in for second war not the first. But she heard few names as well. Everyone of the Gods heard their future kids name, both roman and greek. They all moved to sit with their children at least those whose children were here. And kids of minor gods looked at them with jealousy. When Hestia saw that she changed her appearance and to around 30 years of age and movedto them. When they saw her coming they brightened and moved to give her a place to sit. Poseidon looked at the children and at the Gods. He understood they heard the names of those who died in the wars. He looked around and saw Apollo, Artemis and Hermes were the worst of them all. He wanted to comfort them. He was relieved that his son was alive and the future is better he looked again at the kids he understood that price was a lot bigger than he thought. He saw Athena move from her place and go towards her daughter who looked surprised and subconsciously made a place to sit. Reyna looked at them. Annabeth looked at her and than back at Athenaand whispered "Mother can Reyna sit with us. I promise future you won't mind." Athena looked at daughter of Bellona. Her eyes calculating and looked at aura around her. She saw her aura in daughter of Bellona. She didn't understand why she accepted her in future but nodded her to come sit on her other side. Reyna was surprised and bowed to her than sat next to her. Reyna knew she is a respected goddess in Her Greek form. She understood why, and she respected her. Athena was still looking curiously at her. Annabeth beamedat Her mother and than looked at Reyna smiling. Reyna looked at Annabeth and inclined her head in respect to her and smiled. Athena looked at both girls smiling she knew she made the right decision. Annabeth put her head on Piper shoulder and calmed. When they all relaxed they all were sitting in different place than they started. Hestia waved her hand and all the kids had their favourite drinks and cookies in their hands. Even the Gods had their favourite food in-front of them. Only Apollo couldn't even pick his. He felt like drowning in his emotions. My kids. Oh my kids. Why? Why? So so many. I can't. I need to escape. Artemis was sitting with Thalia now. So Apollo was sitting their without any emotions on his face. He didn't know how to comfort his children when he couldn't even bring himself out of grief of his future kids.
Zeus looked at his children(godly one's) and looked that they were fine well other than Apollo. He looked at his mortal kids and sighed at least they were alive even when they looked sad. Zeus looked at Poseidon. Poseidon looked up from where he was staring at floor when he felt eyes on him. He saw Zeus looking at him. Zeus eyes flickered to Apollo and back. Poseidon looked at Apollo and nodded back to Zeus. Poseidon moved closer to his nephewand pulled him into a side hug. When Apollo felt the hug he let the person pull him into hug. Apollo placed his head on Poseidon's shoulder. Poseidon rubbed Apollo's back in comforting manner. Apollo sighed. "I'm alright Uncle." Apollo mumbled. Poseidon whispered "you need to lie better than that.For a God of truth one would think you would know how to lie." Apollo looked at his Uncle offended "I know how to lie." Poseidon looked at Apollo in relief and said. "Really." Poseidon smirk playing on his lips. Apollo scrolled and sat up straight and looked away from him arms folded on his chest. Poseidon smiled and started teasing "are you going to pout." And yes he was but he didn't looked at him. "Awww so baby is angry." Apollo moved away from Poseidon and glared at him. And did what a mature person would do and stuck his tongueat Poseidon. Poseidon smiled.Zeus sighed in relief. Poseidon picked up Apollo's glass and offered to him. Apollo's eyes flicked between the glass and Poseidon and accepted it.
Apollo looked a bit better and looked at his kids who were talking softly he moved towardsthem and swinged his arm around their shoulder in comfort and put his head on Michael. Both Will and Michael sighed at the warmth which was coming from their father. They were relived. Michael moved to the other side of Apollo which made Apollo sit between Michael and Will again. All the kids slowly started to talk with their parents telling them stories of their childhood and of camp. Everyone's mood improved slowly and when Hestia saw that they were alright she asked Aphrodite to read. Aphrodite nodded and picked the book again.
"I'm sorry," Grover sniffled. "I'm a failure. I'm—I'm the worst satyr in the world."
Thalia "you Grover are the best and bravest satyr I ever met."
"Don't ever think anything less." Annabeth said with confidence in her voice. Grover smiled at them.
He moaned, stomping his foot so...Styx!" he mumbled. Thunder rolled across the clear sky.
Everyone rolled their eyes at Zeus.
As he struggled to get his hoof back in the fake foot, I thought, Well, that settles it.
A few people smiled at the satyr.
Grover was a satyr. I was ready to bet that if I shaved his curly brown hair, I'd find tiny horns on his head.
Connor and Travis looked at Grover. Who was clutching his hair like he couldn't imagine that. Hermes saw the look"boys no shaving the hair of any satyr." Hermes said narrowing his eyes at them. They both looked down and said"yes dad." Hermes added softly "but you can die their hair but not everyone's." They looked at him with sparkling eyes. Hermes smiled at least their mood improved.
But I was too miserable to care...have to live with ... Smelly Gabe? No.
"Chiron would never let you." Annabeth said.
"Yeah. He care too much about Percy to ever leave him." Thalia said.
That would never happen. I would live on the streets first. I would pretend I was seventeen and join the army. I'd do something.
Grover shakes his head at that.
Grover was still sniffling. The poor kid—poor goat, satyr, whatever—looked as if he expected to be hit. I said, "It wasn't your fault."
"Yeah it wasn't. If anything it was fathers fault." Thalia said to Grover. Zeusgrumbled under his breath. "She is right." Poseidon said nodding his head and gave a smile to the satyr. Grover looked surprised at that and blushed.
"Yes, it was. I was supposed to protect you."
"Did my mother ask you to protect me?". . .
"No. But that's my job. I'm a keeper. At least... I was."
"You are the best keeper their is." Annabeth said. "You were the one who found all the children of Big three. And brought them to camp." She wanted to add that he is the one who found pan but pressed her lips and said the same with her eyes. Hermes looked at the Satyr in surprise and hope that he could find his son too. He misses himdearly. Grover smiled at Annabeth.
"But why ..." I suddenly felt dizzy, my vision swimming.
"He should be resting more." Apollo said and pressed his lips.
"Don't strain yourself," Grover said. "Here." He helped me hold my glass and put the straw to my lips. I recoiled at the taste,
"Why?" Apollo asked to no one.
because I was expecting apple juice.
"Oh!" Apollo smiled sheepishly. Than blinked. "But Apple juice is nice." He said whiningly.
It wasn't that at all. It was chocolate-chip cookies. Liquid... buttery and hot, with the chips still melting.
Everyone smiled at that. Gods were smiling at the thought that he his favourite food was his mother's cookies.
Drinking it, my whole body felt...and told me everything was going to be okay.
Leo sighed. He felt more close to Percy right now. Percy understood how it felt to lose the only person who wanted nothing from you but still gave everything to protect them. He remembered how Percy's mother treated him when he was missing. He was in awe of her. He admired her to let her son walk into the war even if she knew there is a chance he would not make it.
Before I knew it, I'd drained the...so wistful, I felt guilty.
Hestia, Hermes and Poseidon smiled at the gesture. Artemis was surprised at the boy's reaction.
"Sorry," I said. "I should've let you taste."
Artemis has never met a boy who had felt guilty and genuinely meant it.
His eyes got wide. "No! That's not what I meant. I just... wondered."
"Chocolate-chip cookies," I said. "My mom's. Homemade."
Everyone who had tasted them were looking dreamily into space. Others looked at them in jealousy. Having never tasted them. Poseidon looked at the dreamy looks on the demigods face and smiled softly.
He sighed. "And how do you feel?"
"Like I could throw Nancy Bobofit a hundred yards."
Everyone chuckled.
"That's good," he said. "That's good. I don't think you could risk drinking any more of that stuff."
Gods nodded.
"What do you mean?" He took the...wobbly, trying to walk that far.
Apollo wanted to say let him rest. But he knew this has already happened.
Grover offered to carry the Minotaur horn, but I held on to it. I'd paid for that souvenir the hard way. I wasn't going to let it go.
They all pressed their lips knowing that yes she was alive but they still felt what he meant.
As we came around the opposite...hallucinating, some of their horses had wings.
Everyone sighed. It had been a long time since they stopped to see the camp. Roman were imagining everything and smiled softly. Gods were smiling at the discretion. It is a beautiful sight.
Down at the end of the porch...leaning on the porch rail next to them.
Annabeth smiled.
The man facing me was small, but porky. He had a red nose...cherubs(Hermes snickered at his half brother's discretion, Dionysus glared at him). That's it. He looked like a cherub who'd turned middle-aged in a trailer park(more people snickered at that, including few gods). He wore a tiger-pattern Hawaiian shirt(he still looked same), and he would've fit right in at one of Gabe's poker parties, except I got the feeling this guy could've out-gambled even my stepfather.
"Of course i can." Dionysus said rolling his eyes.
"That's Mr. D," Grover murmured to me. "He's the camp director...the scraggly beard.
"Mr. Brunner!" I cried.
Everyone snickered. Others who hadn't listened to others before looked up in surprise.
The Latin teacher turned and...the multiple choice answers B.
Everyone smiled.
"Ah, good, Percy," he said. "Now...one thing I had learned from living with Gabe(Dionysus pressed his lips) it was how to tell when an adult has been hitting the happy juice. If Mr. D was a stranger to alcohol, I was a satyr.
A few laughed. Poseidon and Apollo wonder if he was scared of D because of that thing.
"Annabeth?" Mr. Brunner called to...for now."
Annabeth said, "Sure, Chiron."
"Can't believe percy got Chiron to teach him at school." Connor said.
"Yeah. Well, he needed him more than us. I mean he was attacked by a fury." Chris said being the voice of reason(sometimes). Stroll brothers nodded. And thought that it would be worth it if they had a teacher like Chiron at school.
She was probably my age, maybe...would look like, except her eyes ruined the image.
"What! Why?" Annabeth said offended.
"A stereotypical California girl would have blue eyes." Dakota said. Annabeth nodded.
They were startling gray, like storm clouds; pretty, but intimidating, too, as if she were analyzing the best way to take me down in a fight.
"Were you?" Reyna asked.
"Yeah" Annabeth replied with a smirk.
She glanced at the minotaur horn in my hands, then back at me. I imagined she was going to say, You killed a minotaur! or Wow, you're so awesome! or something like that.
Demigods giggled at that.
Instead she said, "You drool when you sleep."
Everyone laughed at that.
Then she sprinted off down the lawn, her blond hair flying behind her.
Aphrodite smirked. Percy was checking her out.
"So," I said, anxious to change the subject. "You, uh, work here, Mr. Brunner?".
"Not Mr. Brunner," the ex—Mr. Brunner said. "I'm afraid that was a pseudonym. You may call me Chiron."
All the greek smiled at their teach proudly.
"Okay." Totally confused...using them for no reason."
All the Greek demigods snickered. Gods looked confused.
"Oh. Right. Sorry."
"I must say, Percy," Chiron-Brunner...I've wasted my time."
"When was the last time Chiron made a house call?" Leo asked.
Dionysus looked thoughtful. He shrugged his shoulders.
Hermes answered "3 centuries nearly."
All the demigods were surprised and looked at each other and thought to themselves that Percy is seriously lucky. Poseidon was surprised and smiled at the thought.
"House call?"
"My year at YancyAcademy, to..."You came to Yancy just to teach me?" I asked.
Athena made a face. Poseidon felt prideful for his son.
Chiron nodded. "Honestly...alive, and that's always the first test."
Demigods nodded. Apollo asked "what does that mean?" Will looked at his father. "Not every demigod makes to camp alive dad. Some die before they even reach or are discovered." Gods were shocked at the news.
"Grover," Mr. D said impatiently, "are...little man in a tiger-print Hawaiian shirt.
Everyone was silentfor few moments than Hermes burst out laughing. Soon followed by Apollo than Ares, Hephaestus had twinkle of amusement in his eyes as he looked at his brother. Poseidon, Hades and Aphrodite were shaking with laughter. Dionysus glared at them and at the book. Jason, Nico and Piper were also shaking with silent laughter others were laughing behind their hands trying to look as serious as possible.
"You do know how to play pinochle?" Mr. D eyed me suspiciously. "I'm afraid not," I said.
"I'm afraid not, sir," he said.
"Sir," I repeated. I was liking the camp director less and less.
Dionysus narrowed his eyes at the book.
"Well," he told me, "it is, along with... asked the same question."
"All are valid questions." Leo mummered.
The camp director dealt the...Did your mother tell you nothing?"
"Not really." Piper said.
"She said ..." I remembered her...orientation film won't be sufficient."
"He hadn't seen the film?" Annabeth looked shocked.
"Orientation film?" I asked. "No,"...forces you call the Greek gods—are very much alive."
Everyone nodded. Leo and fee others were the only one who looked that no that's not enough.
I stared at the others around the...telling me there's such a thing as God."
All the gods groanedannoyed.
"Well, now," Chiron said. "God—capital G, God. That's a different matter altogether. We shan't deal with the metaphysical."
"He wouldn't understand that. Chiron is complicating this even more." Apollo said shaking his head.
"Metaphysical? But you were just talking about—"
"Ah, gods, plural, as in, great beings that control the forces of nature and human endeavors: the immortal gods of Olympus. That's a smaller matter."
"SMALLER!" All the Olympian gods said offended.
"Smaller?"
"Yes, quite. The gods we discussed in Latin class."
"Zeus," I said. "Hera. Apollo. You mean them."
Apollo brightened at the mention of his name. Artemis rolled her eyes. Will and Michael looked at their father and smiled.
And there it was again—distant thunder on a cloudless day.
Everyone looked at Zeus.
"Young man," said Mr. D, "I would really be less casual about throwing those names around, if I were you."
Gods nodded.
"But they're stories," I said. "They're—myths, to explain lightning and the seasons and stuff. They're what people believed before there was science."
"Science." Gods said distastefully. Demigods looked at each other and tried to keep their laughter hidden. Annabeth and Reyna exchanged a amusement look.
"Science!" Mr. D scoffed. "And tell me, Perseus Jackson"—I flinched when he said my real name, which I never told anybody—
"His name is Perseus." Almost all the demigods said. Who didn't know that which almost no one did. Poseidon raised an eyebrow at the name, so did the rest of the gods. Poseidon looked at the kids "you didn't know?" Frank took up the courage to answer. "No. He doesn't really talk about himself that much." Poseidon nodded. "He is named after my son!" Zeus said. Grover looked around and sighed. "Percy's mother named him after Perseus your son because in Greek history only he is the one who had happy ending and passed away because of natural causes. All the other Hero's had a tragic story and end. She wanted Percy to at least have a happy ending even if he had a tragic story. She named him in hopes that he would at least have Perseus luck in life." Grover explained. Demigods and gods thought back and nodded that is true only ever Perseus had a peaceful ending all other had horrible, tragic story.
While everyone noticed that Apollo wondered why Percy flinched at his full name. And why he never told anyone. He couldn't find the answer to that.
"what will people think of your 'science' two thousand...Existing, just as you are, for all time?"
Poseidonsat upright to listen, Apollo looked at Poseidon from the corner of his eye.
I was about to answer, off the top of my...believed in you or not," I said.
Athena was surprised that sea spawn picked that up.
"Exactly," Chiron agreed. "If you...losing their mothers?"
Everyone winced. That was a wrong thing to say.
My heart pounded. He was trying to make me angry for some reason, but I wasn't going to let him. I said, "I wouldn't like it. But I don't believe in gods."
Gods grumbled.
"Oh, you'd better," Mr. D murmured. "Before one of them incinerates you." Grover said, "P-please, sir. He's just lost his mother. He's in shock."
Gods rolled their eyes. Hestia was the only one who understood.
"A lucky thing, too," Mr. D grumbled, playing a card. "Bad enough I'm confined to this miserable job, working with boys who don't even believe."
Demigods narrowed their eyes at Dionysus.
He waved his hand and a goblet...jaw dropped, but Chiron hardly looked up.
"Dionysus." Zeus thundered. "Old habits father." Dionysus replied.
"Mr. D," he warned, "your... "Old habits! Sorry!" More thunder.
Thalia rolled her eyes.
Mr. D waved his hand again, and...took a fancy to a wood nymph who had been declared off-limits."
Hera glared at Zeus. She didn't know this. Zeus sensed the glaredand cursedunder his breath. Hades and Poseidon were grinning at their brother's predicament.
"A wood nymph," I repeated, still staring at the Diet Coke can like it was from outer space.
"I like the sound of it." Travis said.
"Outer space Diet Coke." Connor nodded approvingly.
"Yes," Mr. D confessed. "Father...tearing them down.' Ha.' Absolutely unfair."
Demigods muttered under their breaths that it unfair to them more than it is to him. Zeus glared at his son. Dionysus ignored him. Hera's glare hardened even more. Zeus turned to his wifeand gulped.
Mr. D sounded about six years old, like a pouting little kid.
All the younger gods laughed at Dionysus who scrolled at them.
"And ..." I stammered, "your father is ..."
"Di immortales, Chiron," Mr. D said. "I thought you taught this boy the basics. My father is Zeus, of course."
Everyone rolled their eyes at Dionysus. "It's not like he know about us. He's been just told that gods are real how could he have processed it." Apollo looked at him. Dionysus shrugged.
I ran through D names from Greek mythology. Wine. The skin of a tiger. The satyrs that all seemed to work here. The way Grover cringed, as if Mr. D were his master.
Athena raised her eyebrow to see if he can figure it out.
"You're Dionysus," I said. "The god of wine."
Athena nodded. At least there is hope for this sea spawn.
Mr. D rolled his eyes. "What do they say, these days, Grover? Do the children say, 'Well, duh!'?"
Few demigods snickered. Grover groaned. He knew what happened next.
"Y-yes, Mr. D."
"Then, well, duh! Percy Jackson. Did you think I was Aphrodite, perhaps?"
Aphrodite looked offended and glared at him.
Dionysus ignored this and flicked pages of his magazine.
"You're a god."
"Yes, child."
"A god. You."
Aphrodite smirked. Dionysus looked up from his magazine and glared.
He turned to look at me straight... a rubber room for the rest of my life.
Poseidon pressed his lips. He knew Percy needed to see that to believe him but Dionysus didn't needed to show that to a twelve year old.
Dionysus smirked and relaxed back into the sofa. Nico always liked Dionysus but what he did in giant war made him lose respect for him yeah he might have been in his roman from but he needn't to fo that. Both of his children were looking smugly and proudly at their father. Anyone who hadn't seen Dionysus using his power looked impressed.
"Would you like to test me, child?" he said quietly. "No. No, sir." The fire died a little. He turned back to his card game. "I believe I win."
Dionysus perked up.
"Not quite, Mr. D," Chiron said. He set down a straight, tallied the points, and said, "The game goes to me."
He flicked the page again. Apollo rolled his eyes at the action.
I thought Mr. D was going to...being beaten by the Latin teacher.
Greek campers snickered.
He got up, and Grover rose...performance on this assignment."
Dionysus looked at the Satyr. Yes it wasn't perfect but he did good job.
Grover's face beaded with...be okay?" I asked Chiron.
Dionysus looked surprised at the question.
Chiron nodded, though he...he's allowed to go back to Olympus."
Dionysus grumbled.
"MountOlympus," I said. "You're...same forces, the same gods."
"And then they died."
Everyone was shaking their heads.
"Died? No. Did the West die? ...as if I were part of some club.
"Perspective." Reyna said under her breath but Athena heard her and nodded.
"Who are you, Chiron...tonight, and I simply adore chocolate."
"Who doesn't." Everyone said.
And then he did rise from his...Percy Jackson. Let's meet the other campers."
Everyone smiled. Gwen spoke from beside her mother. "I'll read next." Aphrodite smiled and gave her the book.