Disclaimer: the song is Riptide by Vance Joy in the chapter. And the title's from Bea Miller's S.L.U.T.
CHAPTER 17: Sweet Little Unforgettable Thing, So Incredible
10:17 AM
Good news, I didn't pass out for long. Just a blink.
Bad news, I woke up on defense/offense mode. It didn't help that fucking Apollo was hovering over me, staring- analyzing, whatever.
My fear and panic turned to anger, and anger turned to, well, nothing good.
"I will stab you in the your fucking face," I growled. So, yeah, I wasn't all there. My instincts were haywire. He felt like the Oracle, Delphi was all over him. His golden eyes didn't help much. It also didn't help that he was strikingly beautiful, handsome. Just like the Fae. Beautiful and brutal. Marvelous and merciless.
I could feel his power. I could feel the destructive devastation, the catastrophic calamity. The word Apollyon -destroyer- didn't come from thin air.
He was talking, his mouth moving, but I couldn't hear anything beyond my heart going all tachycardiac on my ass. I couldn't smell anything but the tang of blood, my blood, and the bitter taste and stench off the Oracle in my mouth.
I tried to move, but I was in ropes.
Not again.
Not again.
No more.
No more.
All my near-non-existing rationality left me. All I could do was protect myself from the threat. I looked around for liquids. The closest that wasn't blood was a floor away. I was too tired for bloodbending. A dagger appeared in my hand-my precious Kýma. I cut the ropes and launched myself off what was holding me.
I was furious. How dare they restrain me? I looked around and my eyes met gold. The danger. My target. My prey, 'cause I sure as hell ain't his.
He raised his hands as if talking to a scared, cornered wild animal. I snarled at his glowing hands- the glow that had me passing out earlier. Nothing mattered as my mind locked on the audacious humanoid condescending me.
Kýma was in my hand, Ana was in the other. All the other weapons and accessories weren't there.
He took them, he took them so he could hurt me while I was vulnerable. He took what was mine. He wants to hurt me. He's paying.
I watched his every move. He started to lose the confidence he oozed minutes before. Dunno what he saw in me, but I'm glad he at least started to take me seriously.
I was not going to make the first move. He will. I know it.
I didn't notice the other occupants in the room, or the barrier I unintentionally raised- borrowed it from Marlowe. Marlowe who was standing guard and was hissing at everyone and thing coming close- she wasn't a little cat anymore, she was huge a dark, dark navy blue tiger with stripes in bronze, pitch black claws, larger than a horse, build twice as much as an ox. Her trademark snowy eyes, and bejeweled body were there. She was a sight for sore eyes.
I didn't notice when a white barrier joined my own. Hell, I had no idea who was there or where there was.
A tiny part of me was shaking its head and cussing the shit out of my recklessness, but another was cheering me on and enjoying a tub of popcorn, while simultaneously booing me. Also a part was holding the reins on some very better-left-hidden-for-as-long-as-possible stuff tightly. Some of it slipped through. Not much to be noticed, but the several immortals I registered their presence somewhere would definitely notice.
Did I care? Not one bit. Would I have said the same thing if I was fully there? Probably not, but I would've been a teeny bit disappointed.
The god smirked. I hissed, the sound not nearly human. He came at me, I sidestepped and Ana was out. He deflected.
I was glad I ignored Marlowe's telling me not to wear the Hermes sandals, and that I finally convinced my sweater to turn to something more useful. Like a bulletproof sports bra with tiny hideouts for blades of all sizes. And thanks to this god's Oracle my shirt was barely a shirt- ripped tatterings of orange cloth. I growled again, the sound coming from somewhere deep in my chest.
Apollo didn't have any weapons out. I was insulted. I got angrier- at this point I was wondering why the hell was I mad in the first place?
So while it all went down, I was recuperating. Charging. I slashed at his stomach with Ana while he parried Kýma. He took a pure, white and hot greatsword out. Stupid desicion.
So, yes, it gives him longer range, but it takes two hands. Dumb shit.
I smiled. It wasn't nice. I saw my opening and attacked with a new flurry and flair. Dueling was always like a dance, and elegant one that needs a lot of practice, skill and aptitude. It was therapeutic.
Everything blurred to white, bronze and blue. Hypnotic. The offensive and defensive roles went back and forth.
Back and forth. Hit and parry. Jump and duck. Kick and stab. Roll and punch. Shuffle and repeat.
So you know besides the part of me that was drowning in pushy instincts and the one laughing and throwing mental popcorn at me? Well, a part of me was taking a battering ram to rationality's suite door, trying to wake it up. It didn't work. So dynamite it is!
My head is a weird space.
"So, uh…," I suddenly spoke up. I realised with a start that I had pointier canines… Fuck. "How ya doin'?"
Apollo didn't even twitch. I snorted, "I see where Sabrina gets her manners."
I rolled in between his parted legs. He turned around quickly, to avoid backstabbing. Bitch led his precious right into my awaiting elbow. I rammed it again when he faltered. Ana was vibrating with glee when I kept ramming her business end into his genitalia. Again and again.
"Low blow, Percillia," he groaned, holding onto it. His hands glowed white for a sec. He took a deep breath. "Well, don't you look good, cousin?"
I smiled cheekily, "I always look good, Sunshine." I put Kýma in my waistband holster on my lower back. Ana turned to a beautiful cuff on my shoulder. I wrinkled my nose at the tattered shirt. They poofed in a cyan-white flame, in my gloved hand. The sports bra can function as a halter, crop top for now. My shorts and sandals were good.
I couldn't do shit about my tiny fangs, but my claws retreaded, but instead of stubs it left long, sharp nails. Why not?
Blinking, away from Apollo mind you, don't wanna blind myself- he's the god of the sun (and don't forget my special aura detector sight)- thank you very much, my eyesight was better. I'd bet that I had a natural, feline-kohl-eye look. Not complaining, it'll make me even more capable and above all the more beautiful.
Now, I don't like to describe myself as vain, but beauty is a valuable weapon. So, yes, at times I'd get vain.
My ear twitched. I blinked and turned to Apollo, who came to stand next to me on silent feet. Pointy ears too. Noice.
"You feeling better now I suppose," it was more statement than question. "Your eyes are back to normal." His voice was oddly warm.
"How so?" I hummed it was quite peaceful, now that I calmed down. My hair was down. It was thick, long and wavy from the braids. And thanks to the new eye adjustment, I can see all the colors in it. The dark blue and green. The red and purple. But never brown, dunno why. The black however was dominating and sucking the light and color out of it all.
"Your eyes aren't glowing. They aren't cat eyes. Or demon-eyes," he listed. Demon-eyes, pupilless, irisless and entirely a dark sea-green. It happened a lot more often than I'd like.
I turned to look at him, eyes wide, head cocked and a tiny pout, "Could you please braid my hair?" I blinked my eyes.
He looked stunned for a moment. Sheesh, dude, yes, I'm aware of how cute I am. Now braid my fucking hair. He shook his head, as if clearing it. He muttered something about mood swings and Snickers and the Oracle.
"Thank you, Sunshine!" I beamed up at him. Dude was frickin' huge, and in a golden wife beater and ripped jeans. His golden blonde hair was long, tied at his nape. His golden eyes were nothing like Kronos's, or Hazel's. They were his and unique. Warm and sunny. But also scorching and withering.
I grabbed his hands and tugged him behind me as I made my way out of the basement. Marlowe was on my heel. She'd chased everyone out and was back into a small katze again. I took him to the living room.
Imma spare you the gory details. I shoved him onto an overstuffed, floofy armchair. I plopped onto in his lap and handed him a brush I'd pulled from my tatt-pouch.
I started to purr as he dragged the brush through my hair. He chuckled.
"What?" I didn't open my eyes.
I could hear him shaking his head, "I still don't get how you're not dead, little cousin." He sounded incredulous and disbelieving, "And I am serious about this. You attacked and fought a god-"
"And won," I smirked. His hands never faltered.
"You did not. It was a stalemate," he sounded so sure, I couldn't help but snort. "Everyone knows that kicking a man in his dick annuls the duel. It's a big no-no."
I stayed silent. And stopped purring. I made it an uncomfortable silence. He broke first. Immortals and patience. "We're gonna rematch," he grumbled low that no one other than someone sitting close and has uber-natural hearing can hear. He continued, though, "You attacked a god, and lived to tell the tale, you attacked the ancient spirit of the Oracle of Delphi, and, again, lived to tell the tale. You interrupted a god. And now you're somehow having him braid your hair, while seated in his lap." He shook his head again. I decided not to point out that he was using the third person to talk about himself. "And that is just the tip of the iceberg."
I hummed. It was turning into a tune from a song. I was humming and vocalizing some parts, I didn't sing the words. I was too drained and still recuperating from the visit to the Oracle.
I threw the thought out. Not now.
The gist of it, words have power in them, and they use power. So humming and vocalizing it is.
Sunshine started with the braiding, a fishtail braid. Haha, very funny, cuz. But that's about it, there was a lot of twisting and turning and looping. He started to mumble under his breath. My humming continued. I realized that he was singing.
"Oh
Oh and they come unstuck
Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong,"
His voice was breathtaking. The god of music and the arts, indeed. It was strong and soft and full of emotion. I continued humming, and him singing. I vocalized and crooned with him, never uttering a word.
"I just wanna, I just wanna know
If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay
I just gotta, I just gotta know
I can't have it, I can't have it any other way
I swear she's destined for the screen
Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen, oh,"
He fishtailed a braided crown around my hair. It took a while.
"Oh lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong
I got a lump in my throat because you're gonna sing the words wrong."
He finished singing and with a flash of light, he finished my hair off. He gave me a mirror. My face was just as I expected from earlier, exotic. My hair was elegant and simple. I raised the mirror a bit. A pure white circlet- the same glowy metal as his great sword- was nestled into my braid. A white laurel wreath, a symbol of his. His support in this shitstorm.
I smiled, it was genuine, at him. He looked dazed.
"You're still not dead, Nixie," drawled my favorite drunkard.
"Morning to you, too, Dio," I purred with a smile at him. He was college-age, thank god- gods (there were two in the room for fuck's sake). No headaches. I quite enjoyed being in a good mood. It was less stressful. And the purring doesn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon.
"You okay, brother?" Dio asked Apollo. It was mocking as if there was something else under there. Probably was.
He shook his head. "I just can't wait until Father meets her," he snorted.
I ignored them, as if they weren't talking about me.
I looked around and was surprised to see Chiron wheeling in through the door. The armchair was facing away from the door. I liked to be surprised every now and then, my instincts and senses were too sharp sometimes.
I smiled and gave him a hug, I was feeling affectionate today, "Morning, Chiron."
He looked pleasantly bewildered, "Good morning to you too, Perci." He looked like he was waiting for me to blow up.
Wait.
Yesterday was my official claiming. Wow…too much happened, with little sleep.
And he also was there in the basement when I woke up. Come to think of it, Dio too. And a couple of other faces, I trusted enough to turn my back on, trusting they wouldn't hurt me.
I walked to Dio's room to get us drinks. I'm definitely not using the ones I have in my tatt-pouch. Those are for the quest.
As soon as I left the three fell into a hushed discussion. I couldn't hear it. It was way too low, even for enhanced senses. I bet they could barely hear the other.
11:14 AM
I was mixing cocktails for the four of us at the mini bar. They moved to the lounge while I was up in Dio's room. They needed time to talk in privacy.
I paused for a second. That was fucking weird. Since when did I give a fuck?
Oh, right. Since the Oracle scared the shit out of me and my nerves needing to calm down. I remember this peacefulness. It only came after some traumatic event. It balances the intense emotions I felt, Mama would say. So I could look back at it with a calm, collected and composed perspective to weed it into what I want and take what I need without reliving the intensity again. Oh, well.
Dio groaned when I came in with a bottle of rum. One out of his collection. With no wine. Sunshine and Chiron were amused.
I got some fresh strawberries, courtesy of the Mad Twins, and lime, from little Esmerelda in Cabin Four. I was glad the campers weren't avoiding me thanks to who my sperm donor is.
Ooh, ooh, ooh! I used the Taj-tab for ordering. Al-Tajir was a thriving establishment. The campers were all invested in it, someway or another. It was nice to see it all blossom and the demigods benefiting. (And believe it or not, some gods were adapting it too.)
"That business seems to be doing well," Apollo commented.
"It is," I answered with a nod, tittering around the bar for glasses and shakers and what not.
"I'm curious though..." I raised an eyebrow when he trailed off. "How did you all get the money for it?"
I gave him a hard look, that honestly felt reprimanding. So they know that most of their children are wasting away… Is it to keep them needed? Or is it just another way to mess up their already fucked up life?
"Money's going around," I replied coolly. I took a deep breath and smiled. "And so are loans. Some of us have it better than others"- I scoffed at how lightly I putting it- "I'm not the only one loaning out money. Everyone has a skill or things to do or offer in our free time. It's all monitored by myself, the Stolls and the Cabin Heads. Weekly, ledgers are sent out to us automatically," I paused inspecting a glass. Was that blood? I'm using extra large juice glasses. I doubt they can't hold their alcohol. I added, "I like to know how and where my money and investments are at all times."
"You talk like you have the experience? Like you know what you're talking about," Apollo's interest was odd, but the flash of guilt from earlier had me nodding and not overreacting. I liked the calm.
Chiron and Dionysus stopped their discussion and were listening.
"I do," I got a club soda out the fridge. The Stolls and I were here more often than not.
They looked at me, inquiring. Wanting more than what I gave them. How? was the unasked question
"I own many companies worldwide," I was picking mint leaves from the stem. My statement was met with shock and disbelief.
"Excuse me?" Dio cleared his throat. He almost choked on a strawberry, "I thought you said that you owned companies. As in plural. You," disbelief and skepticism was more than obvious.
I smiled, ruefully at him. "I did say that, yes. Besides my mother's own fortune, and that's excluding her inheritance, I've made one for myself," I unconsciously rubbed the colts at my thighs. I was behind the bar so they didn't see it. "We both have enough money to build ourselves an island if we want. And we'd still have a lot to go around," I stated matter-of-factly and shrugged at their piercing gaze. I don't like talking about my money, don't like flaunting it.
It was silent, the only sound was my moving around the bar. "Take a picture. It'll last longer," I said breezily.
"You're odd today," Dio sounded confused.
"It's the trauma," I answered his non-question in the same nonchalant matter. They all descended into uncomfortable silence.
"What are you making?" Chiron asked, clearing his throat.
"Strawberry Mojitos," I hummed. I scratched Marlowe's tummy. She was feeding herself strawberries. She was cute. And she scares the shit out of the three immortals. (I'll know why when I need to.)
"How do you know how to make 'em? Where'd you learn?" Apollo seemed genuinely interested. All their eyes were following me as I moved.
"It's not my first time making cocktails," I was pouring the mojitos.
"Obviously," he rolled his eyes. I smiled. "Where'd you learn?" He repeated.
My stay in Russia wasn't all doom and gloom. And, yeah, they drink a lot in Russia. "Sometimes weapons and training aren't the only skills necessary to keep you alive in the real world," my voice lowered a bit. My smile didn't falter.
I plopped down and started sipping out of a straw. I hummed in appreciation.
"You are going to turn me into an alcoholic," Chiron smiled teasingly. "These are too good. And heavy on the booze," he tried to sound stern. Tried.
"This is actually not half bad," Dio grunted, with a shrug.
Apollo snorted, "I don't drink Strawberry Mojitos, but I'm definitely starting too."
"I just want my wine," Dio grumbled like a toddler.
"Your restrictions," Apollo smiled at him, a not-nice smile. Dionysus smirked back, and turned begging eyes on me. Seriously, what the heck?
Sitting next to each other I could see faint resemblance. Bone structure, mostly. It was enough to rule them related somehow. But with Dionysus's dark looks and Apollo's golden ones, it was not easy to spy.
After another round of drinks. And me laughing at Apollo's shocked face. We settled down.
"How?" Sunshine took his tongue back from the cat. He was still staring at his brother. Who was guzzling down wine like no tomorrow out of a straw. Ha.
"Living with the Fae makes you look at things differently. They can't lie, but they sure do not let it disadvantage them. Words can be misleading, they can be omitted, and most importantly twisted and used against you. You learn to look closer, look for loopholes or something useful, you look for warped and honeyed words. You ravel and unravel words." I looked at them all in the eyes- purple, gold and brown, "But I'm sure you know this by now." I know they talked about me. Chiron needed to know this. My updated file said so, but Chiron has yet to read it. They understood, so I towed that thought to another highway. I shrugged, "Immortality is bound to get boring. Riddles and tongue twisters seem rather entertaining to most of my kin- both sides."
"How old are you?" Apollo's question caught me off guard.
I frowned a bit and tilted my head to the side, "Twelve."
"How old are you really?" His eyes were narrowed and focused at me, like he was trying to see something that wasn't there. Tough luck, buddy.
"Really twelve," I raised an eyebrow at him and rolled my eyes. "What? I can't be mature?"
"It makes you not you, Nixie. Maturity," Dionysus said around the straw in his mouth. "Impertinence and immaturity suit you better."
"Everything suits me," I answered matter-of-factly. "They sure don't suit you though, hun."
He only grumbled and continued to sip his wine, "Bitch."
I met Apollo's piercing gaze, "Don't you have somewhere to be, Sunshine?" I gave him a look. Drop it, hun. You're getting nothing out of me.
He raised an eyebrow. I glared, and it was like hallelujah! went off in his brain. "Shit," he cursed softly. "Shit, yeah, yeah. Thanks for reminding me."
I shook my head and my lips twitched upwards, "Bye, Sunshine."
We sat in silence in a while, Apollo better be in Cabin Seven with his children right now, and not fucking with another poor human's life.
"So," I got the two immortals' attention. "I have my quest and my prophecy. I only need companions now, huh?"
Chiron's eyebrows rose, "Do you have a destination first?"
"The Oracle was pretty clear I go west," I said calmly and shrugged. I took only the words that were spoken from the memory, not the who's and what's and how's.
"Can you tell me the entire prophecy?" He questioned softly. It wasn't pity, but it was damn near toeing the line.
I considered him and Dionysus. Pros and cons were playing volleyball in my head. The pros were winning. I shrugged. I had nothing to hide.
"You shall go west, and face the god who has turned,
You shall find what was stolen and see it safely returned,
You shall be betrayed by someone who calls you a friend,
And you shall fail to save what matters most in the end."
My voice got a bit ominous as it went, it sounded more like a chant. And with me saying it out loud, it was like it was sealed now. No going back. No refunds. I sighed.
I plopped next to Dionysus. I put my head on his lap, he settled his hand on my sturdy braid.
Chiron and Dio were deep in thought. They were concentrating on the words. Analyzing each word. Making and dismissing theories.
I closed my eyes in the quiet and peace.
What's gonna happen is gonna happen. I'll take it all in stride. Everything will be clear when it happens. And like I said before, the Oracle was notorious for the plot-twists out of fucking nowhere. So, I'll wait and see. I have a destination, an objective, and a suspect. Yes, west is vague. It could mean anything from the nextdoor bathroom to the Pacific and beyond.
12:12 PM
Someone was talking to me, I couldn't make out who. I'd slipped too far in thought. Marlowe was on my stomach, a purring factory.
"… up, Mariana." That was Chiron's voice, it was coaxing.
"I thought I made it clear to not call me that, centaur," Marlowe hissed, furiously. She was rubbing her furry face with my cheek. "If she smells anything, even the smallest bit suspicious, she'll go after it. And she will not stop until she gets to the bottom of it. I do not want her exhausting herself or her resources and drawing them out too thin to soon. Chaos knows what they have in store for her."
I opened my eyes and raised an eyebrow. They looked like deer in headlights. I cut them both off. "If the next thing that comes out of your mouth's a lie or an excuse, I don't wanna fuckin' hear it," I said haltingly. I didn't move my head from my comfy pillow.
They looked guilty. I snorted and sat up. I wanted coffee.
I watched Chiron and Dionysus, who reverted back to sumo-size, I have a better handle on that specific aspect from the Fates' gift. They were playing Pinochle, Chiron was winning. And Dionysus was getting the floor wiped with his ass.
"I would like to recommend someone for your quest," Chiron said, his eyes never leaving his cards. I swear…just put him in a casino in Las Vegas. He'll be the richest man, eh, centaur, in the world.
"Shoot." I listened to Marlowe as she apologized for not being up in the attic with me. She said she called Apollo here, his Oracle, his responsibility. And according to her, the Oracle took it way too far, and Apollo was frantic when he came here. Something was wrong with the Oracle. He came to me as soon as he could pass through the odd darkness.
They still don't know what or who it is, besides the obvious. Kronos, nevermind how evil and fucked up, does not have that much control. It was a trippy thought. They were discussing it in Olympus now, according to Dio. He'll be joining soon, after my quest is affirmed and on the road.
"Percillia," Chiron called. He looked worried. I was spacing out a lot, eh? Damn it.
"Yeah," I tilted my head curiously. I was on top of the bar, my feet on the table. With this point of view, I could see all their cards.
Observing how people play these games tells you a lot about them.
"I was saying," he was trying to sound exasperated. I smiled behind the mug. "That Annabeth would be a great addition to your quest."
"Of course Annie's coming," I frowned at him. I accidentally kicked Dio in the face. He growled and snapped his fingers.
I glared at him as purple ribbons and green vines tied my feet and legs together. I bared my teeth at him, "Fucker."
Chiron sighed loudly, while Marlowe snickered. "You know you're allowed two others on your quest, correct?"
I grunted and crossed my arms. It was weird, getting used to the fangs all over again. I mean, thank fuck they ain't that long, but still.
He only looked at me expectantly. I sighed and flopped my arms beside me, "What?"
He looked perplexed, "Who else are you taking?"
"Seven more."
Silence…
"What?" Dio hissed and his head snapped my way as if I slapped him. He was glaring.
"Percillia, dear," Chiron was coaxing me, as if talking to a baby. He was testing my patience. Then again, so was I. "You know we follow the Number Three tradition. It is sacred-"
"Spare me the sanctimonious bull, Chiron," I was done playing games. "Three sets of three. Eight campers, including myself. I believe the 'Number Three tradition' is fulfilled thrice. That means three times," I said with a saccharine smile, which probably looked far more sinister with my kohl-lined eyes and fangs. Okay, I was pissed.
Dionysus was angry for some reason. "Shit on tradition more would you. I think you left a bit of it intact," he spat. I raised an eyebrow.
Chiron looked troubled, "I think you don't understand how dangerous quests are. And that your putting your fellow demigods in grave danger. A demigods scent is enough to attract unwanted attention. Three is pushing it. But nine of you is catastrophic. You'll stand no chance out there-"
"Exactly," I cut him off, not caring for decency. Bye-bye, sweet calm. "They will stand no chance. They do not know enough to survive. And I'm done sugarcoating it, and I'm sorry, but motherfucking Kronos's already made the first move. You and I both know it wasn't Hades who stole the Bolt, remember what happened at the Met?" I raised my eyebrow. I didn't care about the shocked face of both, Chiron and Dionysus. I didn't care about Marlowe's frantic attempts to calm me down. I sneered, "Kronos already weaseled his way deep, and now that it's out, he won't stay hidden much longer. The Campers can barely lift a sword for more than an hour of training, barley anyone besides Cabin Five and Six can hold themselves in a fight, let alone the goddamn war that's knocking on our doors!"
They knew I didn't approve of how things were run here, not if war's two steps around the godsdamned corner. I took a deep breath to try to calm down. It didn't work.
"There are spies here, you know it, I know it, we all do," I said sweetly. Which immediately turned into a snarl, "Why do think I stayed in Camp? I could easily leave, go and get my Mother from whichever hell they've taken her. Nothing offered here is all that tempting or I haven't seen before and better. No, I'm not leaving my brothers and sisters to die, because of your incompetence." I laughed bitterly, "They need better training, better life accomodations, better morale and all you immortals are doing jack shit to make it better. A demigod's mortality rate is so low it's embarrassing, not only heartbreaking." I shook my head, "They're more street children than children of godsdamned gods! Oh, wait. Street children have a better chance at living than a demigod does," I said my words dripping with false pity.
I was pacing. At some point I'd broken through Dionysus's binds. I was vibrating.
"They die before they even reach Camp borders to even start to learn what the hell is going on in their fucked up life. That's if they know others like them or Camp Half-Blood even fucking exists! And if they do reach here they're bitter, resentful, and so, so broken," I barely managed to get the words through my clenched teeth, without punching something.
I wasn't the only thing vibrating. I was sending little tremors in the ground. Tiny earthquakes. So I could do that, lovely.
"You go around making a mess of things and you expect us demigods to go around and clean up your fuck ups for you. You destroy and we fix it up again. And what do we get? Nothing. Absolutely fucking nothing from you. Not even a cheap pharmacy birthday card, or any child support funds to at least attempt to fucking aid us in surviving in the godsdamned real world." I shook my head and barked out a harsh laugh.
They're faces were as pale as the porcelain pythos shattering, triggering the glass all around. I was shaking with restrained fury.
I looked at their near fearful faces incredulously with my eyebrows raised, "You think the couple dozens you have here are all demigods out there? Fuck no! And honestly, if some stranger comes up to you with the offer of a better life, be it genuine or not, desperation will make you say yes. You'll sell your soul to the fucking Devil, if it means you get to live, not just survive, just passing day after day," I said in a hearbroken whisper. My head was cocked to the side, as I focused on them.
I crooned, my voice dripping with sweet, sweet venom, "So I don't want you to be surprised when half this godsdamned Camp turns on you and leaves. Because if there is one thing I know about my grandfather, and I know a-fucking-lot, is that he could be the most charming and persuasive person you've ever met. And he'll do what-the-fuck-ever to get what he wants. And if that just happens to be demigods…. In these conditions? He'll have 'em either as his supporters or as rotting corpses," I hissed. Marlowe seemed resigned, she sat silent on a mutilated couch's arm, watching me with begrudgingly approving, snowy eyes. The sapphires under her eyes gleaming.
I was silent for a second, thunder boomed outside. I looked to the window, to my reflection. No visible weapons 'sides my colts and athame. Jewelry on my hands and forearms and neck, Apollo gave 'em back. Loose strands of my hair were floating on a non-existent breeze, Apollo's pure white, laurel, metal circlet flashing. Regular ripped, short, short denims. Hermes' gladiator sandals. Claws and furious, glowing, sea-green, demon eyes. Framed with thick lashes, and kohl. Tattoos on full display on my tanned, golden skin. My skin that was peppered in scars.
Scars, lots and lots and lots of scars. Criss-crossings of faded white, flecks and spots. Raised and jagged pink. And- underneath my collarbone, unseen under the halter top- a white star, a birthmark, proof….
Barely anywhere unharmed or unscathed, except my face.
And damn it all to high hell if I still did not look as terrifyingly beautiful as it could get. And boy was I angry. And hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And boy was I scorned.
"You treat your children like shit." I laughed, it was a tinkling and agonizing sound at the same time, "That is, of course, if you mind looking their way at all. Hell, you treat other immortals like shit! You Olympians treat everyone like fucking shit…."
I giggled, it sounded as mad as I thought it would. "But, then again, who cares? Certainly not any of you, though," I smiled a winning smile, glass shards and various liquids swirling around me in the background. I sighed, disappointedly and shook my head. "But back to my main point, I'm taking seven demigods with me, and I'm taking a satyr. They need at least some fucking iota of experience and if I can give it to them I will." The determination and conviction in my voice was both terrifying and awe-worthy. "If they can't survive out there, trust me, they won't survive at all. The seven that are coming with me will at least have enough perspective and experience from the harsh outside to help me with the training." I dare you to disagree.
The two immortals in front of me sat silently, watching my every move. They didn't disagree.
"I'm training the kids, they're still young, and learn twice as fast and are building muscle memory. But the others…," I shook my head. "The others are used to slacking and shitting up what they're doing. They don't care anymore. There's no fucking point. When they're old enough to get kicked out of Camp, they'll die from incompetence, no money, no food, no shelter, no fucking nothing. Absolutely nothing! And I am trying so fucking hard to change that." My throat closed up. Breathing was difficult, it didn't help that I was raising my voice above the booming thunder. I'm fucking glad he's watching, I just hope the rest of the esteemed council was too.
You know when you're just so damn angry, you want to cry? My tears however burned before they even made it out.
"That small business? Al-Tajir? Fuck, you should've seen how happy the smiths were that they were needed, that they were included, that they were important and essential for success, how happy Cabin Eleven was when I suggested they suppervise the project with Cabin Six…." They just looked so happy and grateful.
I breathed in the scent of the rain that was pelting the place. My father or myself? I didn't care much. Let's say combined effort.
My voice became all formal and I stood absolutely still, which was a very unnerving sight, considering I'm the most ADHD person you'll meet. "I'm taking Annabeth Chase, Grover Underwood, Clarisse La Rue, Travis Stoll, Connor Stoll, Drew Tanaka, Michael Yew, and Nyssa Barrera. They're all informed, and they've been packing accordingly. They should be done and here by three." I didn't wait for their approval.
I threw a final bomb, at least I hope it's the final, "I've also appointed spies of my own, people to watch camp when I'm not here, since none of you can do your jobs. They'll be reporting to me."
That seemed to do the trick. Dionysus's face was turning as purple as a plump, juicy grape. It didn't look good on him.
I cut him off, sneering, "No, you can't track how they do it and there's no schedule. I believe you know that I'm keyed into the Camp wards? I'll know if there are any intruders, and in that case I would love to forewarn that you expect a message from me. And you'll know when you see it, or if. My cabin is open for the little kids and only them, I keyed them into the Cabin ward I put up. No one else can go in, and if there is ever any ill-intentioned intruder, they'll be fried good, courtesy of Thalia Grace. She and I happen to be close." Fuck, I didn't want to include her into all of this. I didn't even want them to know we even knew the other existed.
They looked as if I slapped them, a real good bitch-slap. Thunder stopped mid boom. I bulldozed on over them, cutting them off again. Immortals and patience.
"No, I'm not fucking telling you how," I growled. "She and I will be monitoring camp borders at all time. She'll inform me if any thing is out of order or if anything slipped by me. But I hope asking you to put up patrols isn't much of a hasle," I hummed delightedly at the idea of them saying no.
I glowered, "Clarisse is setting a schedule with Annabeth right now, we just need your approval…. And if we don't have it, we'll still carry on, but it'll be under your radar. And I believe that you'll like to be informed and not in the dark. So I recommend that if you have any more suggestions you discuss it with them when they make their way here to discuss the specifics of our quest," I said as diplomatically as possible. My fangs and claws shortened back a bit but were still there. My eyes were normal again, as normal as possible, blue and green were storming and clashing in my irises still.
"Now, I don't fucking care, but I damn well know what I'm talking about. I've seen shit most of y'all couldn't even stomach or believe. Yes, I'm young and, yes, you're immortals and much, much older…," I sounded tired there for a second. Memories hitting full force. But a scowl made its way back on my face, derision in my sweet, sweet voice.
"But I've met my fair share of immortals. So sorry-not-sorry if I hurt your precious, little godly egos. So suck it up and get your heads out of your ashy, old, saggin' asses…," I turned and looked behind me at the invisible rainbow, my eyes are glowing, I know it. The fuckers were watching. It's what got Dionysus angry before all this started, not only were they listening in, they had an exclusive, live broadcast to the 'Diss the Gods Show- Starring Percillia Jackson.'
I smiled a nasty and fangy smile, pairing it with my pretty, ring-clad, long and sharp nailed middle finger.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go get my stuff and take care of some weapons I left out, incase any of my little ones decide they want to visit my cabin while I'm on a world-altering quest. Ciao." I walked out with a charming smile on my face. I flicked my hand and the door opened. (I had the water on the doorknob pull it. No matter how my core was drained, I ain't gonna fuck up my own grand exit.)
As I walked I heard loud voices, it escalated to shouting. Thunderclouds filled the once partly cloudy sky, the rain never touched me. And just as my Cabin door closed behind me, even my enhanced hearing that could hear their shouting match all the way here, everything went silent.
Everything. The birds, the woods, the Hearth, the rain, the forges, the arena, the armory, the studios, the stables, even the sea. It all went silent.
That is, until Uncle's bone rattling thunder clap shattered it.
3:00 PM
An hour and a half later and true to my word, Annabeth and her brother and Second, Malcolm, along with Clarisse and her seconds, Mark and Sherman, were seated with Chiron around the coffee table in the living room. The lounge needed lots of TLC. I already commissioned some campers from the Hephaestus, Apollo and Aphrodite Cabins to look it over. I paid them in advance for their efforts, the cost for materials and transportation and what not will be when I see the place better than before. I don't like my money wasted.
Besides, I destroyed it, I'm bound to somehow fix it, not including destroyed egos.
Speaking of tinkering, my automatons are ready, just final inspection from the head counselor and they'll be mine. And honestly? After seeing a humanoid broze automaton that could rearrange itself into a bipedal spider, with swords for legs and shock web shooters…. I can't wait to try the rest out.
I just talked with Beck and he agreed to let his eight-year-old brother, Shane, store them in my Cabin. Shane was keyed in.
They were finalizing a couple stuff, pointing at the maps strewn all over the coffee table. And unless my eyes are fooling me, maps of landscape, airscape, waterscape and even an underground-scape of Camp Half-Blood and some of the entirety of the Sound. Hell, what the heck do they need the blueprints of each building on the terrain for?
I smirked, good, good. They were taking my words to heart. And so soon with no life threats. I was beaming.
"Where the Hades your bags at, chica?" Nyssa's hello was heartwarming. The girl was built, she looked sixteen rather than her thirteen. Her mocha skin was glistening with rain, her muscles flexed as she crossed her arms. And damn if she wasn't pretty.
She was in her usual. Bandana, cutoffs and an orange, Camp Half-Blood wife beater, but they were sans-grease now. She was eyeing my deflated, tiny backpack suspiciously. I'd shrunk all my shit and put them in my tatt-pouch. The backpack had a space extension potion dropped on it. "You told us to pack for everything," she grunted pointing to the mountain of luggage.
I blinked. This was going to be a long day.
Michael and the Stolls were nowhere insight, neither was Grover. Drew was lounging on the couch sharpening her fans, she was basically drowned in her very own mountain of designer suitcases, a Channel backpack was on her lap.
I have a feeling they brought everything they could shove into all of their Cabin's suitcases.
Sigh…. I hollered from them all to get their asses here.
Not a minute later, all eight of my companions stood in a line in front of the impending avalanche, now that Drew, Clarisse and Annabeth's were added.
I shuddered at the thought of lugging those around all across the country. "I said everything essential, not everything open ended. We're not moving in together. Ah, ah, ah," I raised my voice over their complaints. "I said expect anything. Anything could happen. We could be mountain-climbing glaciers, or running around in the Texas heat. It's still unknown"
I looked them all in the eye if this started out this wrong, I'm suing… someone.
I needed to know that they'll listen to me when absolutely necessary, "We aren't going on a field trip and I'm not your mamma. I want this ridiculousness not there in…"- I looked at the clock- "You got fifteen minutes. I wanna leave Camp no later than four."
And still no sign of Dionysus.
3:19 PM
The luggage was down to a reasonable total. We were all seated around a dining table Nyssa put together in minutes.
I'd told them the prophecy. They all jumped to the third line, the 'betrayed by someone who calls you a friend' one.
I think getting them to work together was going to be the hardest part of this quest, and we're looking for a lightning bolt for choclate's sake! They were throwing accusations at each other.
I locked gazes with Chiron- we'd talked during the bags' fiasco. We cool. He nodded, and rolled away from the table.
"Enough!" I yelled as I banged on the table once. It turned to sawdust. "Let me make one thing clear for each and every one of you," I pointed at them all, my eyes meeting each of theirs. I was serious, and exhausted. "None of you. None of you would be here in this room at this moment if I suspected any of you turn on me or backstab me." They looked skeptical. I glared.
"Now, I'm only gonna say this once," I leaned back in my chair, calming down after they sent apologetic looks around. "I trust you all here explicitly, I trust you with my life. And I need you all to at least have some level of trust amongst you all, or this quest is gonna be a pain in all our asses."
"So where we goin'?" Clarisse, never one for mushy feeling. Neither am I, but here I am with two heartfelt passionate speaks in one day. Halle-frickin'-lujah!
"The Oracle said west?" Drew said, putting her hair up in a high ponytail.
"Uh-huh," was my curt answer.
"West could mean anything west from Camp," Annabeth reasoned. I'd braided her her curls into a dutch braid, some strands were framing her tanned face.
"True," I still kept it short and sweet. The others were deep in thought.
"Texas?" Michael pitched in. He was still shaking the wood shards out of his black hair.
Nyssa slapped the back of his head. "Why the Hades would Zeus's Bolt be in Texas?"
I mean it could, but it doesn't seem right.
"Yee-haw!" came simultaneously from Travis and Connor. Annabeth silenced them with a glare.
"Wh-what's so important about the west anyway, Chiron?" Finally, someone's asking the right questions. I nodded at Grover and turned my attention to Chiron. I pretended to not see Clarisse holding a knife to Drew's throat, as she was about to dump a roofie in Nyssa's water bottle.
Chiron gave them the evil I-am-a-teacher-respect-me-when-I-explain-important-stuff glare. Since I knew what he'll be explaining, I drifted in my head. "The Underworld…."
I sent a briefing to Thalia, a recap of events, in confidence- it's way too hard to get info out of a tree, than it is out of a person. She needs to know what's going on. She'll be on her own for a while.
"Sure, sure, Fishbreath," came her reply.
"Fuck you, Pineconeface," I threw back at her. We both laughed. "Sorry I outed you during the rant, my bad…. Check on the geezers and the little baby, see how they doin'."
"I'm not a baby!"
"Jay!" I sent him an excited vibe. "How'd you know I was referring to you? I could've been talking about Nico."
"Come on, Perce," Nico groaned.
Thalia, Bee and I laughed at them.
"What are you all laughing about?" Hazel's voice joined, and soon her laughter.
I chatted with my cousins for a while via mindchat.
"Perci, Perci, Perce!" I blinked.
"What the Hades, Prissy? We're discussing important shit here," Clarisse pointed Lamer at my chest.
I pushed the electric-red tip away, "I know."
She growled. Travis raised his hand, Clarisse pointed her spear at him, "What?"
"So we going to Hollywood?" I admired his bravery.
The entire group cheered. Nyssa, Anna and I groaned.
"What part of this isn't a field trip don't you understand?" Nyssa growled at them, pointing a heavy looking, glowy sledgehammer at them.
"Remember the Summer Solstice deadline," Anna glowered at them. They shrunk in their seats. "If the Bolt isn't returned to Lord Zeus by the twenty first, not only will there be another World War, according to what Perci told us last night," she took a deep breath. (My dream excursion worked.) It didn't help that with saying his name, he can overhear us. Not good. "The Crooked One" -nice save- "will easily be able to use the Olympian's separation and the weapon he stole in his favor," she shivered, they all did, even Chiron. Seems like we weren't the only ones with daddy issues. "The war will be over before it even started."
"I'm surprised you accepted it all in a couple hours," I smirked proudly at her. "It took the gods more than a decade. You get a pat on the back." They all flinched at the thunder booming. "Oh, can it you overgrown ostrich!" I yelled at the ceiling. The boys were stuck between trying to not laugh and flinching along with Clarisse and Drew, Annie and Nyssa winced, Grover downright whimpered.
"I liked it more when you kept in nice and short," Grover threw a can at me. I threw it back, and watched as he caught it in his mouth and started chewing.
"I second that," Nyssa raised her hand. Hands came up despite my dark look. Even Chiron!
I threw my hands up in the air, "Ugh! Fine." I crossed my arms and legs and settled for brooding.
So, to-do list:
1-Get the Bolt
2-Get the Helm
3-Get Mama
4-Get through this in one piece
5-Try not to kill anyone
Gotta sort my priorities. Mama's a big girl, I have no doubt she's giving Uncle Hades hell. I smiled.
I also realised I haven't told them about Uncle Hades's Helm…. Or did I? Dunno
Chiron was explaining something or another. I didn't pay attention. I was planning a route of sorts. We've got about two weeks till the Deadline. The Bolt could be anywhere in the States, that is, if Kronos didn't think big and sent it overseas. He has the assets and followers.
But no, he'd want it with him when he rises to boast, he can't resist. And with the Helm too… he could make on hell of an entrance. So they're both in the US. Mexico, Alaska and Canada are out of the question then.
He'd want it near, but not too close. A thought hit me. "Hey, Chiron?" I cut him off. I'm pretty sure we all know how the Trojan War went down.
"Yes, Percillia?" He frowned when he saw me frowning in concentration. The others, sensing it was important, stopped bickering- sorry, reenacting the War. I wasn't often serious.
"You said that important locations translate to wherever the gods move with the, uh, Flame of Western Civilization and what not, correct?" I didn't wait for him to answer. The thread of thought was already hard to hold in the chaos of my mind. "Olympus went to the Empire State Building. The Underworld to L.A …," I trailed off.
Chiron was frowning, trying to catch my flow, Sorry, but unless you can survive turbulent twisters then it's pretty hard to follow. "What are you getting at, Perci?"
Annabeth's mind was going a mile a minute. "So if Olympus is in the east… what are you looking for in the… west?"
I looked my mentor in the eye. "Where the hell is Mount Othrys now? It's west somewhere, I know that for sure. But where in the west…." I opened my mind to Marlowe, she was in the basement, sealing it off in case the kids find a way to it.
A look of horrible realization hit Chiron and a couple others.
"Hey Marlowe?"
"Yes, little one?"
"Mind opening a map of Ley Lines I could look at?" I sounded sheepish, why I don't know.
I could feel her curiosity, "Of course."
A second later, I had a world map spread out in my mind. I could hear Chiron explaining to them what Othrys was- the goddamned Titans HQ, that's what it is. Annabeth was looking through some book I have no idea where she conjured it from.
"It is definitely in California," Chiron was thinking out loud. Seriously, how has he never put thought in this before?
"California Coastal Ranges?" Annabeth piped up.
"Definitely," I zoomed there. "Ley Lines intersect a lot in Cali. Lots of overlapping near the mountains."
"That's brilliant," Chiron whispered. "I haven't heard of Ley Lines in a long, long time. Do you have a map?"
"Looking at it," I replied distractedly.
"Could it be Mount Diablo?" Connor suggested hesitantly. Clarisse was guarding both Anna and I's thought process, nothing good happens if it's interrupted.
"No," Michael was the one to answer. He was looking at a map on the coffee table under the rubble of the dining one. "Diablo's west-central, not coastal."
Nyssa was fiddling with something. Grover was obediently silent and munching on the broken table. The Stolls and Mike were pouring over the maps.
"Dammit," I growled in frustration. Their heads snapped to me in shock. "What?"
"You growled," Grover bleated. I glared. "It sounded like a tiger," he bleat-whimpered.
Right, the sound wasn't even half human. Damn the Oracle. "It is."
"I knew you looked different," Drew whispered, eyeing my lips. Or the fangs biting them.
"Tattoos?!" ADHD sucks, even Annabeth got sidetracked.
"I've had them for a while. Covered them up," I waved my hand dismissively. "And can we discuss my exquisite looks later. Thank you."
"Perci, dear, calm down," Chiron oddly managed to calm me. I sighed and dropped my head on Rissa's shoulder, my feet in each of the Stolls laps. I gave them wide, kitten eyes. They sighed. I purred as they started rubbing them, my sandals off.
"Now, tell me what frustrates you," Chiron rolled closer.
"Like I said, a lot of Ley Lines overlap and pass through the coastal ranges in California. Through California in general. And the West Coast as a whole, but that's beside the point. There are a lot Native American Reservations, they all have their own magic and set of gods. They're sprinkled in the mountains, it's hard to pinpoint where Othrys is now." I groaned, rubbing my forehead. Drew handed me some lavender oil to rub. I knew I kept her around for a reason, she's a wicked chemist, though she usually sticks to essential oils and perfumes.
"Can someone explain what Ley Lines are, I'm lost," Nyssa joined in.
"Ley Lines represent magical currents. Where they overlap is usually where the highest concentration of magic is. Where more than three overlap, it's usually a monument, or a random place- but that's rare- that's faced some sort of divine intervention. Or it's a place where magic is generated. Or like we know it, the Mist," Connor answered. I looked at him questioningly. "Alabaster talks too much." I nodded in sympathy. I knew how Hecate's eldest is. But I was impressed he even bothered to listen or remember.
Travis was grinning at his blushing brother, but he was proud.
"More details please, isn't the Mist, well, invisible…and mist…," Drew voiced, she sounded interested. Huh, I don't know why I chose her… wait I do, shit, no refunds.
"Can we do this later?" I asked. Connor looked real uncomfortable. They nodded begrudgingly. "Okay so back to where I was going to… Othrys is in the west and since it's the Titan's seat of power-"
"Kronos is more likely to want his new toys near him," Annabeth completed the thought. I nodded.
"But that's the dumbest thing he could have done," Clarisse piped up, she was analyzing this whole thing from a strategic point. She was also good at back rubs. "It's too obvious. He wouldn't be that dumb. The weapons aren't on Othrys, waiting for him to rise." I agreed on that thought. They were near him, but not that near.
Ooh, and apparently I did tell them about the Helm…?
"He could be hiding it in plain sight," Drew countered. She shifted. "He would've thought that we'd think the same and look the other way."
"And the fear factor," Grover added hesitantly. "He- he scares the g-gods, what does that say about us puny mortals? I wouldn't want to touch him with a ten mile pole, if I could help it."
"Both are plausible conclusions," I cut any brewing arguments or debates. "Now we have a specific destination in mind. California. I'd bet a thousand bucks Uncle Hades knows where Othrys is. We either find the weapons there, or we track them from there. So now we'll be heading to Hollywood, to visit my Uncle"
They all nodded in agreement. They looked scared, not many- if not many were counted on a hand- journeyed to the Underworld and lived to tell the tale. But they managed to hide it well enough. It was basically suicide.
"Oh, and before I forget," I took out a vial, and smirked at their horrified faces.
"Oh, come on," Travis groaned.
"No more potions, please," Connor whined. The rest nodded like bobble-heads and grumbled.
I shook my head. "Everybody grab a backpack that you'll be carrying around." Everyone hauled a backpack on. I turned to the luggage and poured a drop on a bag. It shrunk.
"Shit," Nyssa was staring wide eyed at it. It was the size of a fist. She bent and picked it up and turned to look at me, "How do I reverse this?"
"Just think it and it will grow back," I explained as I repeated the same with everyone else's. "It's a shrinking potion of sorts, as in you don't need a counter potion to enlarge. It purely depends on the person's will and power aptitude."
4:04 PM
I was glad that Camp had something to offer us, a white SUV with tinted windows and an ugly, as fuck, logo for the strawberry business schtick.
Chiron trotted up beside me. I was too short to talk to, so he lifted me onto his back.
"You handled them well," he complimented.
"Did I though?"
"Yes, you did. You kept them more or less focused on one goal."
I doubted it.
We watched as my companions manhandled each other. And winced at Drew's loud, shrill voice. This was going to be hard.
"You're right," he admitted, somewhat in shame.
I didn't go for sarcasm. "About?"
"My incompetence. No, no, no, listen to me. I was lenient, too lenient. Now look at them, they barely coexist together. Can barely stand each other. There's been Cabin Feuds you know?" I nodded, I did know. Read about it. "They were worse than normal feuds by far, a civil war more like it. And over the littlest of things. We don't encourage you all to blend together. You are all together, yes, but are still isolated, confined to your own Cabins. Your only friends are your siblings, no outsiders. You mingle, yes. But not nearly enough."
He was silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts.
"They barely know each other. No way or time to build trust. And if war is as close as you say… then I'm afraid this might turn into an every man for himself scenario," he shook his head sadly. "I commend you on the work your doing with the younger kids. It will be hard… to get everyone together. You nearly terrified them all with your skills and your interacting with all the Cabins. You helped them open their eyes to all the other possibilities. You helped them a lot. I am glad you're here."
I hugged him from the side, his tweed jacket smelled like coffee and chocolate. "Don't worry, Chiron. We still need you. And you'll do the right thing, I know it." I jumped off his back and turned to look at him. "Just don't forget," I looked him in the eye. "And no horsing around!"
I hightailed my way down the hill laughing at his indignation, it soon turned to laughter. I looked back and saw him waving.
We all waved back.
As I got in the white Campe SUV, I glimpsed Luke Castellan's disappointed form. I'm glad he came late. I don't need Annabeth's crush turning her mind to mush. Or the hero worship that'll have someone slip and pour him all the information on the quest. And I definitely don't need or want to deal with his annoying charm.
"Where to?" Grover asked, the lucky fucker got shotgun.
"Montauk," I replied, grinning at Nyssa. She was the only one that looked barely legal.
"On it, chica," she smirked. I think she was the type to pass the speed limit more than it was appropriate, let alone legal.
Grover groaned and looked back at me, "Please, no titanium or steel."
I laughed, "No worries, G-man. Got the keys this time."
He smiled back.
"Why am I in the middle?" Drew pouted. She was in the back row squished between Anna and Rissa.
"Because I want to sit near the window," Rissa drawled unimpressed. She'd call her prissy but that's my nickname.
"So do I," Annabeth answered from beside the other window. She was reading some architecture book in Ancient Greek.
"Then why does she," Drew sneered at me. "Get to sit here."
"What else would you expect from her?" Michael called from where he sat in the first row with the Stolls.
"Not sitting on me, honestly." She really needs to stop complaining or I'm gonna have to resort to drastic measures.
I snickered. I was laying across all three girls. I put my headphones on and turned the music up, drowning out the noise.
I was petting Marlowe from where she laid across my stomach… who happened to appear out of nowhere. She was leaving Chiron a map of the Ley Lines, he'll contact us with any new discoveries if he managed.
Oh, and cue the panicked, surprised screams.
"Are you still willing to come?"
"Of course."
"It is not safe. It is dangerous, deadly at times. You will do things you never knew you could. You'll cross lines you never dared to come near. I can't promise you that you won't die. But if you do survive, you will never be the same, that I can promise. So, I will ask again, this is your last chance to back out. I know it's not easy. It's okay to be scared and for you to back out…. Are you still willing to accompany me on this dangerous quest, where we will be isolated and alone, where we cannot ask for nor receive help?"
"Yes."
Sooo, how ya doin? Good I hope. Lots happened, Perci went loco and attacked Apollo, they then drank Mojitos together... And lets not forget Perci's rant. That thing alone took two pages without all who said and what did. I got a little carried way, pardon.
So Vault166, I don't know if you're still reading or not but I did follow with my promise and mentioned your automaton...
Ooh, and NicoleR85, I'd like to thank you...you've reviewed almost every chapter and you make my day and I'm always looking forward to your reviews, thank you again. And you were the only reviewer last chapter, seriouly people?! I know it's annoying when an author asks for reviews but I now understand them... So please, please review!
I'm sorry snuffles-bambi I got carried away and this is a long chapter... Ooh, ooh and Guest, first of all thanks for the review, and I hope you got your full of Perci insulting the gods... she kicked one in the nuts and another in the face.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review. If you have any ideas, thoughts, questions please don't hesitate to say or ask.
And finally Perci's getting goin'. I honestly thought I'd never get there. So watcha think about the questers? Too much, shocking, okay, good, exciting? Any who-
-3anona, out!