read94- yay i'm glad you like it, thanks so much! i'm so excited for the leo/max plotline, it's really fun
radoddish- bill nye the science guy!
LovelyAstorxia- max is most definitely a little adult haha yay, i'm glad you liked it :))
"Apollo? That's Apollo?" Will cried.
"Daddy's home," Rosie muttered to him under her breath.
"Guys, that little girl is freaking me out," Nico said in an annoyed tone. "I don't like the way she's looking at me."
"I can hear you," the little girl grumbled.
The group of them stared at the girl and the teenager who was passed out on the ground. They all were all on the edge of hesitation, ever since the little girl muttered, "That's Apollo."
Apollo. Apollo. A god had crash landed into their camp- weirdly, not the weirdest thing to happen in the last few months. Still, the implication of this made Rosie's stomach churn.
"Someone should ask her who she is," Nyssa whispered. "We can't just stand here and stare at her."
"Who, though?" Julia asked.
Rosie slowly took a step back. Careful, steady...
CJ pushed Rosie forward. "Clearly, he knows you."
She glared back at the group. "I hate you guys," she muttered.
Rosie turned back to the little girl, who was scowling at them. She was small, and didn't seem to be quite grown into her limbs yet. The girl had a dark pageboy haircut, with cat eyed glasses. The green dress she was wearing was torn and covered in dirt splotches.
"Hi," Rosie started carefully, smiling tightly at the girl. "My name is Rosie. What...What's your name?"
"Rosie," the girl said to herself.
"Uh...no, that's my name. Unless you have the same name-"
"You're Percy's sister?"
She heard the group inhale behind her.
"Um….yes. I'm Percy's sister. How did you-"
"You guys should probably help him," the girl said, frowning down at Apollo. "He's unconscious."
"You're observant- I like that." Rosie sighed. She took a deep breath, facing her friends. "Okay, people, here's what we're going to do- Will, you and I are going to take our friends here to the infirmary. Jake, CJ- we're going to need some muscle power to get them there. Nico, you're going to talk to Chiron. The rest of you….the rest of you are going back to your cabins."
"Rosie!" Austin complained.
"That's our father," Kayla said angrily.
"Hey, you heard her!" Jake snapped at them.
"I know, guys, okay?" Rosie pleaded "I promise you'll get to see him when he wakes up. But right now...the less people involved the better."
Austin nodded tensely. "Fine, Reiger."
CJ and Jake helped to hoist Apollo up, carrying him to the infirmary. The girl lingered behind, reluctantly. Rosie glanced at her- she had some bruises and scratches that would definitely need to be looked at.
Will was the one performing their examinations. He went into doctor mode, taking Apollo's vital signs. Rosie and the girl sat on the exam table across from them.
"Interesting," he muttered, inspecting one of Apollo's arms intently.
"What?" Rosie asked, leaning closer.
"His veins," Will said, showing her an arm. "They're blue- human veins."
"He is human," the girl offered helpfully. "Lester Papadopoulos."
Rosie snorted, quickly shoving a fist into her mouth. "No way is that a name."
"She's right," Will said, pulling out a tiny card. "He has a learner's permit- Lester Papadopoulos, age 16."
Rosie bit her lip. "Unfortunate...but hilarious."
"Shit!" Will cursed suddenly, quickly dousing Apollo's lips with water. His lips were...steaming.
"What happened?" Rosie asked.
"I can't give him nectar, apparently."
"He's human human," the girl said impatiently. "He wasn't much help when we were attacked."
Rosie gave her a comforting smile. "I bet you saved his butt."
The girl sat up, looking proud. "I did."
"Girl power," Rosie said, holding her fist out for a fist bump.
The girl returned it hesitantly, looking like she was about to say something.
"I'm Meg. Meg McCaffrey."
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Meg. How old are you?"
"Twelve."
"This is bad," Will said suddenly.
"You okay, Doc?" Rosie asked.
"I don't know how to fix him. His injuries are entirely human. I can't give him any ambrosia or nectar, he'll explode."
Rosie shrugged. "Well, I mean, you could-"
"Rosie!"
"Kidding!" She said. "Totally kidding! Here's what we'll do- I'll leave you here to do your doctor-y thing, and Meg and I will take a walk around camp. We'll wait at the Big House for you whenever Lester wakes up."
"You're extremely annoying," Will said with a smile, taking out a syringe.
"So I've been told." Rosie motioned to Meg as she hopped off the exam table. "Come on, Meg, I'll give you the rundown."
A group of campers had congregated outside the infirmary. She saw CJ and Jake blocking the crowd.
"Guys?" She asked.
"Hey," CJ said, turning around. "People have questions."
Rosie groaned.
"Is it true Apollo's here?" Someone called out.
"Is he the reason people are disappearing?"
"Who is she?"
"Knock it off," Rosie told the crowd. The yells got louder, people clearly not happy with her answer.
Sherman Yang walked up to them, pushing past Jake and CJ.
"People are saying Pipsqueak here caused some chaos in the woods."
"Shut up, Yang," Rosie told him, blocking Meg from him.
"My girlfriend disappeared four weeks ago, Reiger. I can't just sit here and do nothing. If the gremlin knows something, I need to know."
Rosie sighed. "Okay, Sherman, I get it-"
Sherman suddenly screamed, dropping to the ground.
Rosie jumped back, realizing Meg was in front of her, leg extended out.
The crowd erupted into chaos, people angrily yelling and pushing.
"Oh my god!" Rosie cried. "Meg, did you just-"
"She just kicked him in the balls," Jake said in awe.
"You little jerk!" Sherman yelled from the ground, his face red.
Meg stood calmly, staring down at Yang with a cold expression.
"What do we do?" CJ yelled over the crowd of campers.
"I need an ice pack," Rosie muttered.
"What?"
"I need an ice pack for Yang's balls!" She yelled, aggravated.
She grabbed Meg's hand, taking her back into the infirmary.
Will gave them a panicked look, a wad of gauze in his hands.
"What's going on out there?" He asked with raised eyebrows.
"Sherman needs a ice pack for his balls."
"What?"
Rosie took a moment to compose herself, realizing the ridiculousness of her request.
"Sherman…" she took a minute to pause, her body shaking with silent laughter. "Sherman...Sherman needs- oh god, it hurts- an ice pack for his balls."
Will let out a baffled laugh. "What?" He looked at Meg. "Did you-"
"Maybe," Meg said, her mouth twisted into a smile.
Will suddenly let out a burst of laughter, making Rosie crack up again.
The two of them laughed until they were on the verge of tears.
"Are you guys alright?" Meg asked.
"I don't know anymore," Rosie laughed, wiping her eyes.
Will took a deep breath, composing himself. "Whew, that felt good. I'll take care of Yang's balls."
Rosie snickered. "Thanks. Meg and I are going to sneak out the back."
They snuck out of the back, wrapping around the back half of the camp to avoid the crowds.
"Sorry about Yang," Rosie told her. "Everyone's a little...on edge lately."
"Why?" Meg asked.
"Long story, one that needs popcorn for me to tell it. Chiron will explain everything."
"Who?"
"Camp director."
Meg glanced towards the woods with an uneasy look.
"Meg? You okay?"
"We were attacked there."
Rosie gulped. "In the forest?"
"By...blobs. Shiny blobs."
"Well…I'm glad you guys made it okay."
"It wasn't because of me," Meg grumbled. "It was Peaches."
"Peaches?"
"My...fruit baby."
"Fruit baby?" A second later, it clicked for Rosie. "Oh- fruit baby."
A Karpoi. She flashed back to being attacked by them on the Argo II.
"Meg...did you...make Peaches?"
Rosie had a growing feeling as to who Meg's godly parent was.
Meg frowned, looking down. "I didn't mean to."
Meg seemed….upset. Rosie understood the pain of being so young and causing so much...havoc with your powers. Rosie...wanted to comfort her somehow.
"Meg, I-"
"What took you guys so long?"
They had reached the Big House, and Nico was standing on the porch, waiting for them with an impatient look on his face.
"We...um, had a situation," Rosie said with a laugh.
"What? What does that mean?"
"I kicked someone's crotch," Meg muttered.
"Excuse me?"
"Nico, meet Meg. I think she's my new best friend."
"Pleasure," Nico said with a scowl.
"What's your problem?" Meg growled.
"Respect your elders," Nico snapped.
Of course Nico would have an issue with a twelve-year-old.
"Uh, anyways," Rosie said quickly. "Apollo is fully human."
Nico looked surprised. "He is?"
"Right in the midst of puberty."
"Yeesh."
"Pretty high up there on the list of crappy days, I would say."
Nico looked at Meg. "And where do you fit in all of this?"
"I'm his master." Meg said this in such a deadpan tone, Rosie thought she was kidding at first.
"What?" Nico asked incredulously.
Rosie grinned. "I think I've found my protégée."
"I don't believe you," Nico said to her. "Little kids lie all the time."
"Ask him for yourself," Meg said, pointing.
Will and Apollo walked up to the porch. Considering Apollo was upright, he looked a lot better.
"Hello!" Apollo greeted warmly, waving. He walked up to Nico. "Nicholas diAngelo, if I'm correct? Son of Hades?"
"So you are Apollo," Nico said, looking at him inquisitively. "You carry a large aura of death."
Apollo's face faltered. "Uh-"
"Excuse him," Will said quickly. "He's grumpy."
"And you!" Apollo made direct eye contact with Rosie. "Rosie Reiger! Big, big fan of your brother's work on the Argo II. Big fan of you!"
"Apollo," she said flatly. "You're...more acne-ridden than they described."
Apollo frowned. "Can we stray from the topic of acne? Please?"
"It's fascinating how real it looks," Nico commented.
"Guys," Will said, doing a good job of hiding his smirk.
"Now tell me, is Lester a family name?" Rosie asked with a smirk.
"Meg, put a stop to this," Apollo pleaded.
"I could, but I'm not going to," Meg said bluntly.
"Now, now, children, let's make fun of Apollo later."
Rosie couldn't remember the last time she had a conversation with Chiron that lasted more than thirty seconds. But there he was, in his pajamas, at the door of the Big House.
Meg's jaw had dropped as she turned to Rosie. "You didn't tell me he was a horse."
"Centaur," she corrected gently. "And I like throwing people in it."
After all, no one told her Chiron was a centaur when she first came to camp.
"Astute observation, Meg," Apollo said with a roll of his eyes. "Did his lower half being that of a horse's give it away?"
Meg punched Apollo on the arm.
"I'm glad you're here, Apollo," Chiron said. "We should talk about our disappearances."
"Chiron," Apollo said. "This is Meg McCaffrey, my new master and wellspring of aggravation. You were saying something about disappearances?"
"Welcome, Meg," Chiron said, giving Meg a small smile. "I understand you showed a great deal of bravery in the woods. You managed to bring Apollo here safely- I'm glad we have you here at camp."
"Thanks," Meg said, still staring at Chiron's lower half. "Do you ever hit your head on doorways?"
Chiron chuckled. "Sometimes, Meg."
"Disappearances," Apollo said, shooting Meg a stern look. "What's disappearing?"
"Not what," Chiron said. "But who. We'll chat about it in my office. You three." He looked at Nico, Rosie, and Will. "Sleep- it's been a long day. And from now on, we use the buddy system to roam camp."
Will turned to Nico. "Will you be my buddy?"
"Guess I'm being thrown to the wolves," Rosie muttered.
"You're a dork," Nico responded to Will, rolling his eyes.
Will grabbed Nico's arm, as Rosie followed them from behind.
"My life is over," Will moaned the next morning, looking at his untouched oatmeal.
"My name is Will. I have good hair but I'm super dramatic," Nico said in a monotone voice.
"You call that good hair?" Rosie asked.
Will reached across the table, swatting at Rosie. She laughed, ducking out of the way.
"How would you guys feel if your dads showed up at camp as a teenager?"
"I'd be like 'hey dad, great, now we have time to make up for all your mistakes'," Rosie said sarcastically.
Will gave her a look. "The day after you threaten to leave, a god stumbles out of the woods," Will said. "How about that?"
"Totally coincidental."
"You want to talk about that?"
"Nah. I promise I won't flee the coup again."
Someone slammed their lunch tray down next to Rosie, and she stiffened. The conservation came to a halt as Apollo sat down at their table...well, his table.
Apollo frowned, looking from Rosie to Nico. "Why are you two sitting here?"
"Nico and I can't be left unattended," Rosie said.
"We're too dark and morbid to be left alone," Nico quipped, a smirk on his face.
"Not after last time," Rosie said dramatically, shaking her head.
Nico sighed. "Don't talk about last time."
Apollo's face became panicked. "What happened last time?"
"Ignore them," Will said, shaking his head. "They have a club- dark demigods of the big three. They...float as they please."
"And where are the others?" Apollo asked.
Rosie stopped, her fork halfway to her mouth. Will and Nico exchanged worried looks.
"I mean.." Apollo trailed off, look at Rosie. "You were the eight! You all were legendary, and I don't say that lightly about demigods!"
"Well," Rosie started. "You ran into my brother?"
"Right, he said you would be here."
"Percy's finishing up his schooling- he and Annabeth are going to college in New Rome next school year. Frank and Hazel...they're doing the whole Roman legion thing at Camp Jupiter. And, um…"
"Jason and Piper are in LA for school," Nico jumped in. "They're living with Piper's dad. They took Coach, Mellie, and their baby Chuck with them."
"And what about Leo Valdez?"
"You remember him?" Nico asked.
"Of course! He made the Valdezinator."
Rosie smiled to herself. The lengths Leo went to just to get the stupid ingredients for the Physician's cure.
"Well...he's hard to reach these days," Rosie said flatly.
"Oh, right- the communication thing?"
"Nope," Rosie said. "He's dead."
Apollo paused. "Oh. Well." He shot her a sheepish smile.
"Any other questions, or can I eat my eggs?" Rosie asked.
Someone slammed down onto the other side of Rosie, and suddenly she was sandwiched. It was Austin. Kayla sat down on the other side of Nico across the way.
"Good," Rosie muttered under her breath. "More people."
"What did you talk about with Chiron in the Big House?" Kayla asked, leaning forward. "Did he tell you about the disappearances? Everyone is saying that we need to stay away from the forest. What happened there?"
Something sleeps in the forest.
Apollo suddenly became very interested in his cereal.
"Yes...Chiron told me about the disappearances."
"Guys-" Will started.
"So?" Austin pressed. "What's going on?"
"Er...perhaps I'll know more later on- when my godly powers return," Apollo said.
"Is that how it works? Your powers will return over time?" Austin asked.
"I-I think so. Yes. I...I must get stronger."
"It's okay, Dad," Kayla said. "We'll help you."
Rosie stood up suddenly.
"I have to go," Rosie said.
"To do what?" Nico asked.
"Dark and morbid things," she answered.
The entire camp was buzzing with the arrival of Apollo and Meg. Rosie blocked out most of the noise, going through her day as normal. She could tell Apollo wanted to talk to her. Everytime he showed up, she would instantly walk the other way.
"You're avoiding," Nico muttered at one point.
"Am not," she shot back.
"Are too."
"You can't just expect me to be best friends with him. I know him coming means trouble, so absolutely I'll avoid it."
She was sitting in her cabin that night, when someone knocked at her door. She hoped and prayed it wasn't who she thought it was.
It was Lester- of course.
"Oh, good, you're awake." Apollo took a tentative step forward, as Rosie quickly blocked his path.
"Oh my god," she said in aggravation. "What do you want?"
"I get it," he said. "You must be intimidated to talk to me- anyone would!"
"I'm really not," She retorted.
"I know I have an ally in you."
"You don't."
"Any friend of Percy's is a friend of mine."
"I'm not his friend, I'm his sister, that trumps whatever you and him have."
"Look, I need a powerful demigod on my side-"
"Okay, why are you here?" She asked sharply.
Apollo gulped, suddenly looking nervous."Don't get mad."
"Lester…" she warned.
"That, um, little boy? The overly energetic one from Hephaestus? He...he went into the woods."
"What?"
"I-I told him he shouldn't, but-"
Rosie pushed Apollo to the side, running down the stairs clumsily.
She ran to the Hephaestus cabin, slamming the door open.
Nyssa and Jake both jolted awake, gasping as their eyes focused on Rosie.
Nyssa rubbed her eyes. "Rosie," she began groggily. "What happened-"
"Help!" She yelled.
"Rosie, wait!"
Rosie ran back out into the night. Harley was in trouble- she needed to move.
Apollo was standing at the edge of the woods, lingering uneasily.
"You can't go in there!" He yelled, grabbing Rosie's arm as she approached the forest. "I certainly can't!"
"Get off me!" She pushed him off, running into the forest. "Harley!"
"Rosie, wait!" She heard footsteps coming from the Hephaestus cabin.
The forest was thick, Rosie running against branches, her limbs being scratched.
She ran deeper into the forest, hearing the eeriness of the wind.
Rosie….Rosie
Rosie tripped, sprawling onto the forest ground. She winced, placing a hand to her forehead, her hand coming back bloody.
Rosie got up with a groan, proceeded to run further in. Her heart was pounding so hard, she could hear it everywhere in her body.
And then she saw it.
Harley was standing, entranced, the beacon long forgotten at his feet. His mouth was wide open, his eyes…. fixed on a light in the distance.
"Harley!"
She didn't hesitate. Harley was in danger.
Rosie ran forward, grabbing Harley and yanking him backwards.
Harley let out a sharp gasp as he fell out of his trance and onto his butt.
"Rosie?" He asked groggily. His eyes became wider, looking at the beacon on the ground. "What happened?"
"Rosie!" She heard Jake's voice off into the distance.
"Rosie?" Harley said again, his voice becoming teary.
"Right," she muttered. "Right…"
Rosie couldn't pay attention to Harley. Something about that light...bothered her.
She felt a force pull her towards the light.
She didn't know why, but she felt compelled to shuffle towards that godforsaken light.
And so she did, ignoring the screams of her name behind her and Harley's crying.
Rosie….
Slow and deliberate, like a zombie.
She walked towards the light.
And it embraced her.
