(RECAP: His job was done; a statement of power was delivered to his enemies. So he decided to finish this. He thrust his hand towards the giant, making him fall backwards with a sickening crunch. The impact and the effects of the storm were so severe that Polybotes disintegrated the moment he hit the ground. When he turned back, he saw his army smiling and the terrified looks in the campers' eyes. Well, apparently he had some explaining to do.)
Ch. 14
PERCY'S POV:
Ugly. That's how these deaths looked. Even if they were monsters and Giants, I'd killed them in a pretty brutal way. Usually I wasn't so violent, but End needed to realize that if he enjoyed pissing me off again then he should be prepared for the consequences. I could tell from the campers' faces that they were freaked out at my raw display of power and heartlessness. Oh well, apparently they don't understand the meaning of family. I chuckled darkly at that thought. Of course they didn't, otherwise I wouldn't have been kicked out.
"What was that! You have that kind of power?" Piper asked wide-eyed, pointing to where the fight had just ended.
"Yes, Ms Mclean. Of course, I do. I'm a member of the Primordial Council, second in power only to Lord Chaos. I'm not sure what else you were expecting from me." I replied with a raised eyebrow.
"You... What! Member of the Primordial Council? You mean the primordial Council?! When did that happen?!" Jason exclaimed.
"About 25 years ago. Why what's so shocking about that? You weren't informed about that by Chiron? " I said the last statement looking at Chiron.
''I'm pretty sure I would have told them if I was informed in the first place," Chiron said.
"What? So the Gods didn't tell you? Strange. Well. Now you know. So we're on the same page? "
"Of course we aren't! You being a member of the Council is beside the point! How could you deliver such a brutal death? You kill every monster so brutally?" Annabeth replied, looking at me like I was a disgusting piece of spoilt smelly food. That pissed me off. After all she had done to me, she had no right to judge me.
"Miss chase, if you've got a problem I'll leave. But I won't change my ways just because you are far too soft to do what needs to be done. Or perhaps you should leave, war is not for the faint-hearted." I said coldly.
She seemed taken aback at my cold outburst. She was about to say something but I interrupted
"You have no idea what Filos means to me. End dared attack him. And unfairly on top of that. My army is like my family, and he dared to attack that place as well. He needed to be reminded what kind of an enemy he was dealing with. Now if you'll excuse me, I don't have time for you, I need to train people to save their lives."
With that, I sped up to the training arena where the scheduled class was waiting for me, and I began teaching. The rest of the day was uneventful, boring. I was missing Skylar already. None of my missions were so long, and even if I was gone for a lengthy period of time, I didn't visit my ex-home where my ex-girlfriend and ex-teacher had banished me for the 'good' of others. I needed someone who could understand me. Of course there was Elmont, but he was busy. Since this place brought past memories he had taken most of my jobs on his head. All I had to do was train the bunch of campers assigned to me. Besides,the bond me and Sky had was a totally unique one, irreplaceable and unbreakable. I missed her so much. Her advice, her support, her laugh, her eyes that always sparkled with hope, her.. Everything. Just her presence gave me hope. Funny. This feeling.. Its like a deja vu. I felt the same when I used to miss Annabeth before my life spiralled into a mess. Wait, what? Does that mean.. No of course not, but... Is it possible? Am I falling in love with Skylar? Do I have feelings for her? Whoa... I need to stop thinking about this and concentrate on the war otherwise I'll go crazy. Anyway I just have to wait another day. I survive tomorrow, I can see her and my army the day later.
Right now, I need to address the problem Filos told me about. The Spy. I went to Chiron to request a meeting of cabin leaders ASAP. He agreed, and ordered a kid passing by to summon the head counselors in the ping pong table. I told him I'd be back in a minute, I had something to take care of. Army related stuff.
When I entered the ping pong table, almost everyone had arrived. The 2 Roman Praetors - Frank and Reyna sat on their chairs that were specially built for them by the Heaphestus cabin. Queen Hylla also had a chair built for her by the Heaphestus kids. Then there were the Greek cabin leaders. We were waiting for the Stoll brothers and Thalia Grace. Soon the stoll brothers came, grinning like madmen. Hmm.. Another successful prank I guess. Some people can never change, I chuckled mentally. Thalia was the last one to arrive, but her expressions weren't half as cheery as the Stolls. She was pissed off at something. She took her seat in Artemis' chair.
"Thalia, what's wrong?" Annabeth asked with concern eminent in her voice.
"Nothing. Let's begin the meeting, shall we?" Thalia said, trying to compose her expressions. She did a good job, but people who knew her for a long time couldn't be fooled, her eyes gave her away. And in here, almost everyone knew her for a long time, so nobody was fooled. Well, she'll tell us if she needs to. Annabeth was looking at her friend skeptically.
But we didn't have time for this. I cleared my throat.
When I got everyone's attention, I began
"You all know that there was an attack at camp today. The threat is neutralized for now, but it's just the beginning."
"You always keep saying that. What else are you expecting? I think the next war will be it. The final battle. The rest of the Giants, Gaea, the Titans, End, everyone will attack together." Clarisse said.
"She's right, we need to prepare for the big battle," Travis said.
"Which we would have if Commander Stormbringer here wouldn't have called for an abrupt meeting," Jason added, looking pointedly at me.
"Which is exactly why I suggest you all stop speaking and give him a chance to tell us the reason," Chiron said, a bit irritated that there were constant interruptions.
"Thank you, Director Chiron. The war is indeed a problem, but that will have to wait. We have a far greater problem, one that can tip the war in our enemies' favour."
"And that is..? " Nico said.
"The same problem you had during the Titan War of New York. We have a spy." I replied.
I was greeted with multiple responses ranging from "What!" from Clarisse to "Impossible!" from Jason to "Not again!" in unison from the Stolls. Chiron was deep in thought and so was Annabeth, considering my statement. But the most shocking one wasn't a statement or silence. It was the expressions. From Thalia. For a second as soon as I said it, she became deathly pale, all the colour from her face drained. These expressions lasted for only a second before she composed herself. In fact I was just lucky to have had glanced at that same instant otherwise I'd have missed that completely. What is she hiding? The way she turned deathly pale it almost seemed like she was herself the spy. But I know her. Despite what she did to me, she has a sense of honor and she could never knowingly stoop so low. But she certainly knows something about this spy business. I decided to let go of this for a while. I decided to catch this spy myself. I had a plan. But I found it difficult to trust the campers again. And it would be unfair to the campers if I told the army, so I decided to share it only on a 'need to know' basis.
I cleared my throat and began "Okay listen. I just notified you about this so that you don't share anything discussed here out of this room. No strategies leave this room. You just keep things in mind and order your cabin mates to do things accordingly. No telling them the complete plan. Remember. Everyone should know only bits and pieces, nothing enough to pass on the info to our enemy and get us in trouble. Okay?"
Everyone nodded, even Thalia. She seemed to have composed herself and was now behaving her usual self. Oh well. First I gotta take care of this spy, then we'll see about her. Filos had told me the spy was a son of Hermes, but he wasn't absolutely sure. So I didn't speak it out loud. Such sensitive info could create gaps in the army and it was ill-advised in the middle of a war.
After everyone left, I stayed back to have a word with Chiron.
"Director Chiron, if you could give me a minute?"
"Of course Commander, and it's just Chiron if you don't mind." He said politely. Gods, I had missed his fatherly tone so much. I'd thought he would be wary, but he was smiling at me instead. Before I started tearing up, I returned his smile and began. "Chiron it is. So, Chiron. I'm sure you remember that the Council's Army is going to arrive tomorrow by dawn?"
"Of course I remember Commander. We have a welcome party awaiting their arrival, and all their needs have been taking care of. The nymphs have been ordered to make more food; the harpies are cleaning the part where you said you made them a cabin today just like you did yours, the-"
"I'm not much worried about their reception Chiron. It's fine. They're assassins, not celebrities. I just needed to tell you that Skylar is coming with them. And so is someone very special and dear to me"
"Who is Skylar? And what do you mean someone special and dear to you? "He asked confused.
Oh, of course, the way I said it, it sounded like Sky was just some ordinary person. I wouldn't blame Chiron for forgetting her name. He must have heard it like, once or twice in his long existence.
"By Skylar, I meant Princess Skylar Void, daughter of Chaos and member of the Primordial Council. That rings a bell?" I smiled kindly at him.
But he considerably paled. "Wh...What? You mean her? The Lady Skylar? I don't understand. Why would she come? Have we offended her?"
"No, you haven't. She's going to be a part of this mission. She is a good friend of mine and has offered her aide in this mission."
"Oh. Okay, Commander. It would be our honour to host Her Majesty the Princess of the Universe." Chiron said before continuing, "You still didn't answer my other question, who is this special person close to you that will come with them?"
"That is for me to know and you to find out. Don't worry. It's nobody troublesome. "I assured him.
"Oh okay."
I nodded and was about to leave when a wicked thought crossed my mind. Well, let's have some fun with Skylar as welcoming shall we? I chuckled mentally at the thought.
"Uh... Chiron, please bear in mind, Princess Skylar appreciates formalities and gets very angry if somebody addresses her wrongly. I hope you understand." I said. I was laughing hysterically inside, just imagining her face when the whole camp would bow down to 'Lady Skylar'!"
Well, that reminds me, I need to begin phase 1 of my plan. I went to my cabin, entered and locked my room. After applying sound proof barriers, I IMed Skylar. She had just returned from her baths and was wrapped in a towel. I blushed and was about to swipe my hand through the image when she saw me.
"Percy! Hi! Uh...Ohh... " she blushed realising she was semi-naked.
She hurriedly went inside blushing uncontrollably. I couldn't say anything though. My own face must've resembled a tomato. She returned wearing a blue top and black ripped skinny jeans. She looked so beautiful. Her wet hair, her sparkling eyes, her perfect lips... Ohh no not again. I quickly averted my gaze from her face, but not before I saw her blushing as well. From anger or embarrassment, I couldn't tell.
'Uh. Oh.. Uhh... You called Percy, what happened? "
I quickly regained my composure and said
"Yes. Listen. I know you're coming tomorrow. But I need your help with something. Remember I told you Filos has information that there's a spy within the camp?"
When she nodded I continued "I need your help in capturing this spy. Listen..."
I narrated my whole plan. At the end of the plan, she was grinning from ear to ear.
"Not bad Percy. Not bad at all. Let's just hope whoever this spy falls for it."
"So, see you tomorrow? "
"If the preparations are done, then yeah see you tomorrow. Otherwise maybe the day after. All the best."
"You too." With that, she swiped her hands on the mist and the IM disappeared.
Well, all I had to do was wait. The rest of the day was as usual uneventful. Night came, and I fell asleep thinking about how stunning Skylar looked in her blue top and jeans with her wet hair lose.
The next morning I woke up right before dawn. I wasn't surprised to see the whole camp up to this early and training with my army. They were all waiting to welcome the Princess. If she could make it that is.
I IMed Fritz, Skylar's bodyguard and PA to check how long before they landed. Fritz appeared before the screen. I could feel Hazel watching intently, curious as to who I was IMing this early in the morning.
"Hey, Fritz. How long till ya'll reach here?"
"Oh about another 5 minutes or so, we're just landing."
"Excellent. Is she with you?"
"Oh. No. She couldn't make it. Said she had some errands to run. But she insisted I assist you, took someone else as bodyguard I think."
"Oh. Okay. She'll be here by tomorrow then. Umm... Fritz... Is he with you?" I asked. "Yes sir, he's with me, dancing somewhere around here I think." Fritz smiled warmly.
"Oh, I can't wait now!" I said excitedly.
Hazel had watched everything, and I could say I'd piqued her interest. It's not every day that I'm so excited at the prospect of someone arriving after all. She went to the big house immediately, probably to tell them that the guests were gonna be here any minute. Everyone came out in a few, and as if just on queue, a ship landed just outside the camp's borders. Slowly everyone disembarked from the ship and neared the camp borders. An army of 160 trained assassins. The most elite of the elite, the best warriors in the universe. Clad in deep black armour, a shade of black that would make Hades envious, the army looked truly intimidating and deadly. The stood in perfect formation, with Fritz leading the charge. Yeah, he also happens to be my first in command for the Council's Army along with Skylar's bodyguard.
"Is that... A kid?". Jason said, pointing towards a figure clinging on to Fritz's legs as if holding on for dear life. The kid looked barely 7 years old.
Murmurs started spreading around the camp. What was a kid doing here? Did he belong to the army? Was he a lost camper that the army had found?
Fritz cleared his throat and extended his arm to Chiron who now was standing near the borders, ready to welcome the allies.
"Good morning Centaur. You must be Chiron. I'm Fritz, the second in command of the army you see in front of you." He said authoritatively but kindly.
"Mr Fritz. Thank you for coming to help us. Indeed I'm Chiron, and these are the immortal campers, the best fighters of the camp. Welcome to our camp, it's a pleasure to meet you." Chiron said respectfully, bowing down a little.
"You don't need to bow centaur. We are allies, we should be friends, comfortable with each other. Not wary of each other." Fritz assured him.
Good going, Fritz. Make them more comfortable. They need to trust all of us, otherwise, this war is lost even before it fully begins!
"Uhh... Mr Fritz, if you don't mind me asking, who's that?" Annabeth said pointing to the child.
There was my cue. I went forward and announced happily
"That, Miss Annabeth and all of you, is the special guest I was talking to you all about. His name is Andrew, and he's my-"
Just before I could complete my statement, Andrew rushed towards me with outstretched hands, smiling delightfully and screaming "Daddy!"
I hugged him dearly. Everyone had their mouths agape. Excluding the army of course. They just watched the events with affection eminent in their eyes. "Explain," Frank said, pointing at the child.
"What's there to explain? He's my son. He's almost 7, and the most adorable mortal to ever exist!" I said.
"Since when did you have a child?"
"Where's her mother?" Questions from everyone started flooding in my ears.
"Guys. I've been his father since he was born. His mother and father were both in the army. They died during a battle. And left him. I believe they died while I was leading them so it was my fault. When I went to see him after his parents died, he looked so cute and adorable in his crib that I couldn't resist myself. I took him in my hands, took him to my HQ and never looked back. I love him more than anything, I could do anything for him. He was crying since the day before, saying he missed me a lot, so I had him brought here. He'll return home during the war of course, but until then he's here." I completed my speech.
They had content expressions after my explanation. The Council's Army was welcome just like The Army of Peace was. I was with Andrew the whole day. But then Clarisse called me into her cabin to check on a few plans and weapons. Now no way in hell was I going to bring my kid inside a cabin full of armed buried mines and whatnot. So I told him to wait outside. Little did I know that what was about to come would make the Ares cabin look like a garden of flowers.
When I went outside, Andrew wasn't there. I thought he must've gone inside one of the cabins. I checked each and every cabin but found no trace of him. That's when I started panicking. "Andrew! Andrew!" Now the whole camp was out searching for my son. The forests were searched, so were the borders. The rec room, training arena, the big house, everything. But to no avail. Where could he go?
Just then I got my answer.
"Where could the kid go? Oh, wait... Maybe End has captured him! Commander! You should probably give up! Leave with your army while you still can!" A kid of Hermes said, laughing mockingly at me.
I remembered his name.
"James," I growled. "So you are the Spy. Where is my son? What have you done, where have you taken him? I asked menacingly, taking out my sword.
"Haha hell yeah that's right. And I chose to reveal myself right now 'cause you have no choice but to retreat or let the poor kid die, so these campers have already lost the war. They stand no chance against my masters or his mighty army." He said, confident he'd won the war. And he may just have hit my sore spot. I did publicly announce I could do anything for Andrew. I meant it. Literally. Anything.
(A/ N: PLEASE REVIEW, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS APPRECIATED.)