CHAPTER 7

It's been a month since I came to camp Half-Blood and honestly it was the best time I had since I travelled back. Even though after travelling back I got to enjoy a week with Rachel but there was this itch I couldn't scratch. I realized what it was after spending a month in the camp, I wasn't in my element. I fought so many battles and two wars, it shaped into a warrior that lives for adreline rush. Remember when I mentioned that once you get sucked into war you never come back? Yeah, it was that.

I was claimed by Poseidon, just a week later, after I came to camp, when Clarisse and her half-brothers threw me in the lake, which came as a shock, surprise…and dread to many. Dread to those who knew about the prophecy, Ofcourse (Someone with horse body and another who happened to be god). I think that was one of the major shifts from original time-line that created the series of events which wrote a different history.

Anyways, since my claim, there were few who were a little bit suspicious, namely god of wine, dude with the scar across his face and certain blond girl who kept narrowing her stormy eyes at me, making my heart race. I knew Chiron was watching me too but atleast he had the decency to be as subtle as possible.

Charles, Selena, Grover and Katie didn't care about my claim. Since I came here, I made really good friends with them. I got to know things about them that I never really got to know in past, some were hysterical and some were not.

I tried connecting with Annabeth on some level but her walls were so high I was finding some difficulties to pass that barrier and on top of that she seemed more distant with me for some reason. Was that because of Poseidon and Athena rivalry? I really don't think it was that since she didn't care, I know that. There was something else and I needed to find about that because I can't have her distant with me.

Luke was quite friendly at first but a little drawn back which was explainable and now since my claim it was like he was watching my every move like a hawk. I know he tried to be subtle but he was as noticeable to me as deer caught in a headlight. I tried approaching him and he would find some reason to get away from me. Was that Kronos? Nope, if that was the case then he would've been friendlier towards me than now, so he could use me.

What I didn't want was to made friends with Mark. Yeah, same guy who stole my girlfriend. I know I told it was mutual breakup with Annabeth and me but still this guy took my girlfriend, Ofcourse I wasn't going to be friendly with him. He also never forgot to rub it on my face or glare at me. It was hard to be friendly with him. What I didn't expect was him to initiate and insist, as subtly as possible, to be my friend. I expected him to be buff dude, as expected from child of Ares, glaring anything that moves but actually he was funny, always smiling, perky, weird and a little dumb (as also expected from child of Ares). He and Mark I knew were very different. Was that due to me breaking the time-line? Or he was always like that but something changed in him that made him something like the one in past? Well, time will tell that. Thankfully, he hadn't initiated contact with Annabeth. Did I ever tell you Mark was seven years older than me and Annabeth?

For a month I enjoyed my time but also laying baits for my plan and pushing some boundaries to create events that needed to happen. This is what I came here for, not to just enjoy my time with them. I needed to keep them alive and…ah… also to change mind of psychopaths. I still couldn't think how I am going to do that.

I IM'ed my mom just the next day I came to camp, which gave her a fright but she quickly understood where I was. Which meant she got teary eyed realizing that. I gave her brief version of how I got here omitting few parts but I don't think she bought all that, thankfully she didn't mention it. I wanted to tell Rachel too. In my original time-line that wouldn't have been possible since I was connected with The Lady Fates but since I am not this time, I wanted to tell her but Chaos interrupted me and asked not to do that saying she has her own path to make and it was necessary she do that. Thinking about it now, I realize it was, it really was. I mean it saved my life and everyone countless of time even though she changed forever.

"Hey Perce, watcha' thinkin'?" Voice came behind me.

I didn't realize I had been staring at bon fire for past half an hour. I shooked my head metaphorically of course and cleared my thoughts away.

"Hey…nothing, just thinking." I smiled at her.

"Penny for your thought?" Katie asked me mischievously.

"It's…been a crazy month. From seeing those monsters, fighting them to now…"

"Yeah, I could relate to that. It was same with me… one time you are a weird teen and next thing you know you are among the weirdoes who are not actually weirdoes but half-bloods, sons and daughters of gods."

I chuckled.

"I bet you didn't actually realize that gods were there…" She said, popping a cherry into her mouth.

Oh, you have no idea… Chaos snickered.

"You could say that." I replied.

"Come on wipe that thinking face and come with me I have something to show you." She said and took my hand dragging me towards strawberry field.

I let her drag me through horde of campers and towards strawberry field.

Ooh, is someone gonna get some action tonight…Chaos teased.

'Chaos!'

Remember to not freeze when she makes her move.

'Wha..! She's not gonna make a move, she's just showing me something.'

In a strawberry field? What possible things she could show you.

'I don't know… she's child of Demeter, maybe there's something beautiful or exciting that I don't know about.'

Yeah, the only thing something beautiful and exciting there would be her kissing you. She snickered.

'Shut up!'

It always starts somewhere secluded. She laughed.

Then series of scenes flashed over my eyes and all included Katie kissing me and declaring love with me in different possible ways and some of them were too embarrassing. I felt my face heating up. Thank god it was night and Katie couldn't see my face blushing or I would've been toast.

'What is wrong with you?!'

Don't tell you didn't like that.

'I didn't!'

Oh… you should've told me. Do you bat for same team then?'

'What..?'

You goofball you should've mentioned it before. You had me fool for years too.

'Uh, I did?'

You know I could've helped… I mean Nico too geared up his ball and came forward.

"What're you talking about?'

That you are gay, silly.

I choked on air, scaring Katie at sudden sound. I didn't realize it was quite here.

"Hey, are you Ok?" Katie asked me worried.

I managed to nod through coughing on air.

"Do you need to go back? Maybe it isn't good idea to…"

"No…I'm fine, I think I swallowed something."

"Oh, really?"

"Ah, yeah… you were gonna show me something?"

"If you are not ok, then that' fine…" She worried over me like a protective mother hen.

"No, I'm fine, see… let's go."

We passed the canoe lake and around the big house towards the strawberry field. Tranquility blanketed this part of camp. Artemis's moon graced field with her brilliant light. Berry's sparked in moonlight, cool breeze blew carrying strawberry, soil and wet leaves scent. It was fresh and enticing. I could've sat here all night lost in my own thought.

We sat at the edge of field facing camp border silent for few minutes basking the night its moonlight and cool breezing blowing pass through us.

"You fine, now?" She asked.

"Yeah." I said turning towards her, smiling.

"You know I occasionally come here at night, sit here and contemplate through my thoughts. It always refreshed me."

"Hmmm."

"And do this…"

With that she placed her palm over the soil and focused. Nothing happened for few moments then suddenly, brilliant blue light went through the field, up though the stem, then to the leaves making it glow in brilliant blue.

It was beautiful.

I didn't know she could do that. Every day I am finding something new about them. Instant like this make me think that I made the right decision in making close friends with them even though it wasn't planned.

Beautiful things come unplanned. Whoever said that must be a genius or really experienced.

"I never knew you could do that." I said, still in awe of the display.

"Not many does."

"How do you do that?"

"I just willed them to be in different color and made that color waved, child of Demeter remember?"

"I'm really impressed." I said imitating a gentleman

"Why, thank you, kind sir." She went along with the act, acting like a high society posh lady from medieval period.

That got us to chuckle.

She lay back on the ground besides me and immediately lighting seized and gestured me to do the same. I did.

We were silent for few minutes enjoying the night and its sky. I was worried that the harpies would come any minute and attack us for being out at night.

"Don't worry, harpies won't find us here." She mentioned.

I looked at her surprised.

"What other abilities do you have that I should know about?" I asked in all seriousness.

She laughed.

"No silly, you just had that 'Harpies-gonna-come' face."

"I have that face?"

"Remember two weeks ago when harpies suddenly attacked those guys who tried to be sneaky at night, you started having that face since then."

I chuckled remembering that incident. Somehow it was funny now, but it gave me fright them. I thought someone let the monster in.

Aww look at that… kiss her already man!

'Shut up!'

"Ok let's talk about you now." She said turning her body towards me.

"Me? What do you wanna know about?"

"You seemed to have eyes on certain blond girl with scary stormy eyes. Care to mention that?" She asked, her eyes got the teasing glint.

I flustered as expected.

"I do-do not." I stuttered.

"Aww you look so cute all flustered. Don't me give me that crap, I know something is going on and Selena got her itch too."

"Selena's itch?"

"Yeah she gets that whenever love is happening around. Daughter of love goddess remember."

"L-love…I don't know what you are talking about."

"Oh, come on. You are always watching her from the distant, you almost every day tried approaching her. If that isn't a crush then I don't know what it is."

"C-crush. I don't have crush on her." Damn, this stutter.

"Please, your blushing face, your eyes darting around is enough to tell that my prediction was right on spot."

I didn't know what to say to her anymore. I couldn't tell her the real reason and I couldn't agree with her cause that would mean a lot of teasing.

"I just wanted to made friends with her since she was the only one my age, you know but she kept shutting me out for some reason and Luke too. What's up with that?"

Smile wavered on her face. She lay on her back again watching the starry night.

"They went through some things that made them close to people they don't know. Give them time, they'll open up soon."

There was silence for few minutes. I contemplated how I should put this question to her that would give me my answer.

"You know I lived with an abusive step-father who would beat me at every opportunity… I came very close to being eaten by a cyclops and I actually fought an Empousa and a bull guy… I know what closed off meant but this wasn't that."

Her head snapped towards me, her eyes wide in shock and horror.

"What?!" she got up and faced me.

"Shh, don't shout."

"You fought Empousa, Cyclops, bull guy and you survived."

"No actually I didn't fight Cyclops I mean I was 9 years old when that…"

"9 years old!"

I placed my palm over her mouth to muffle her scream.

"How are you still alive?"

"That wasn't why I mentioned all this…. Just answer my question. I know what closed off meant and this wasn't that."

She took deep breath and steadied herself.

"Everyone has different way of dealing with the problem…"

My expression was enough to tell that I wasn't buying her spewing out crap.

She sighed but again her burrow furrowed as if another thought came to her.

"Why are you insisting on getting to know?"

That made me still again. Chaos was suggesting me to tell her this but honestly I didn't want to give this explanation. Since I didn't have any good one than that I reluctantly agreed to use her explanation.

"Umm… ok, I got a crush on her and I just wanted to know so I could get through her extremely high walls."

That did the magic and a slow teasing smile appeared on her face.

"Wait…So all that thing you told me before was a lie?" She asked.

If I told her a lie and agreed then that might potentially ruin my friendship with her and possibly other and I didn't want that.

"Umm… no, that was actually true."

We went silent for few moments again.

"Ok I'll help you break her walls…. Oh, this is so exciting!" She gushed jumping up and down and clapping in excitement.

Shit! That wasn't the goal.

'Damn it! This is your fault Chaos.'

How's that my fault? And isn't that a good thing that you would get Annabeth again?

'No! Not like this. I had different plan.'

Oh ho, so you did have plan of getting her back, hmm. She teased.

'One problem at a time please.'

"Umm Katie so, why don't you just explain why she's distant from me, then that would make me approach her easy."

She got her thinking face and then nodded to herself.

"There was this unclaimed camper named Clovis. He disappeared all of a sudden. Luke and two others were on quest at that time but only Luke returned. Luke actually came back a day before you arrived. So Chiron stopped all quests. Then you arrived and told about those woods warnings, it made his resolve about stopping quests harden. Luke wants to go on quest again, this time alone to find them but Chiron won't allow him. I think if Luke is suspicious, then Annabeth would be too. They are close since Thalia's death"

Clovis? Son of Hypnos Clovis? He and other two disappeared? Questions were just building up and up with no explanations.

"When did… Clovis disappeared? If you don't mind my asking."

She stared me for few minutes before answering me.

"Around a week before you arrived."

That made my breath hitch, my heartbeat spiked. Dread settled through my veins realizing what situation was I in. It wasn't as enjoyable as I perceived. That was just layer. Truth was everyone was observing me in their own way even Charlie, Selena, Grover and Katie.

I realized Grover came to that school in hope to find all of them but found me. That's why he was a little suspicious of me when he met me.

It wasn't a co-incident that a son of one of the big three appeared just after the disappearance of three campers, all unclaimed. They know it and I do too.

It wasn't a co-incident I arrived just a week after Clovis and two days after two unclaimed campers disappeared.

It wasn't a co-incident that Clovis disappeared on the same day I travelled back in time

Mystery is building up guys. Can anyone crack it before Percy does?

Remember how this was only going to be 2 more chaoter for this one and a half years... yeah there gonna be more. But I promise you wont be bored with it.

It's been a month since I last updated. Its just all college work that I got busy with.

Anways, please remember to leave a review amd share this story with your pears if you liked where this is going.

Next update on 22/09/19

Untill next time, enjoy the chapter.

Cheers.