Chapter 6

"Chiron, can I talk to you?" Percy asked, walking over to the centaur, after the camp counselors meeting. Chiron frowned, folding his hands into his lap, and nodding.

"What's on your mind, Perseus?"

"I've been talking to Reyna," Percy faltered for a few seconds, before pressing on. "And she offered me a Praetorship."

"Isn't Frank Zhang the Praetor, along with Reyna?" Chiron asked. Percy nodded.

"Yes, but Frank's stepping down."

"So Reyna offered the position to you," Chiron confirmed. When Percy nodded, he pressed on. "Are you going to accept the position?"

"I already have," Percy said quietly. "I leave tomorrow morning around three."

"Is this three in the morning, or three in the afternoon?"

"Morning."

"I see," Chiron said, slight shock in his voice. "And have you told anyone else?"

"No," Percy admitted quietly. "And I know the Gods are going to be here tonight, but I don't think I'm going to come to the campfire. I think it's best if I go to bed early."

"Of course," Chiron said, nodding. "Perhaps I should say something at dinner?"

Percy shrugged. "You can if you want."

"I think I will," Chiron said, leading Percy out of the Big House. "This is a big offer for you Perseus. You're moving across the country. Have you told your mom?"

Percy groaned. "I forgot. I've had so much on my plate, what with Annabeth-"

"What's wrong with Annabeth?" Chiron asked.

"I told Reyna about my nightmares before I told Annabeth, so she's sore over it."

"I see. May I ask why you told Reyna?"

"She noticed I was tired during one of our conversations, and I told her why. Then we started talking about what could be causing it."

"Does she know?"

"She's not sure," Percy admitted, as they stood out on the porch. "But she thinks the Romans might have a cure. She says one of the campers at Camp Jupiter suffered something similar a few years ago, so she wants to try the cure on me."

"And if it doesn't work?" Chiron asked, making sure Percy wasn't pinning his hopes on something that might not even work.

"Then we're going to assume it's something that only affects Greeks, or children of Poseidon or Neptune, and go from there."

"Do you think it's what Reyna believes it to be?" Chiron asked. Percy shook his head with a quiet groan, as he looked out across Camp, towards the ocean.

"Gods I hope not."

"And why would that be?" Chiron asked, confusion in his voice.

"The thing that Reyna thinks it is, is as old as Kronos himself, and it's very hard to get rid of it. Very few people live through it."

"I see," Chiron said, paling slightly. "What is this thing? Perhaps I know of it."

Percy shook his head. "Trust me, you won't. It took Reyna and I weeks to figure it out, and she even traveled to Mount Othrys to interrogate Atlas."

"That's quite dangerous," Chiron exclaimed. Percy nodded.

"Yes, but it got us the information we needed," he sighed, running a hand through his hair, and looking across Camp, as he went on. "Whenever we find out what's wrong with my, I promise I'll send an Iris message, and let you know."

"Thank you," Chiron said. "I'd like to stay in touch with you as long as I can."

"So would I," Percy muttered, as he stepped down from the porch, and walked off.

"Can I have everyone's attention?" Chiron called that night at dinner. Once everyone was silent, he smiled. "Thank you. Now, as I'm sure you're all very aware, the Gods are here with us tonight."

There was a moment of applause for the Gods, during which time, Poseidon leaned across the table, as asked Percy in a whisper,

"Did you tell anyone about the nightmares?"

"Yeah," Percy whispered back, fidgeting in his seat slightly, as Apollo stood, and started making some bold statement, or a horrible haiku. Percy wasn't sure what the difference was anymore.

"Who did you tell?" Poseidon pressured. Percy held back a sigh.

"My mom, Annabeth, Chiron, and Reyna."

"Reyna?" Poseidon asked, leaning back slightly. "Why did you tell the Praetor of Camp Jupiter?"

Percy waved him off, as Apollo finally stopped talking, and sat back down.

"I'll tell you later," he promised, though he knew everything was about to be explained by Chiron.

"Thank you, Lord Apollo for that...wonderful...what was it again?"

"Ode to Me!" Apollo answered cheerfully.

"Yes," Chiron said, trying not to laugh. "Thank you for that. We shall all cherish it in our hearts for years to come," turning to the rest of the campers, and Gods, Chiron went on. "Now I'll let you get back to your meals in just a moment here, but I have an announcement to make. Percy Jackson, would you stand up please?"

All eyes turned to Percy, as he slowly stood, and became the center of everyone's attention. Poseidon was frowning, but before he could ask what was going on, Chiron spoke. "Percy, would you like to tell everyone what you told me?"

Percy nodded, and took a shuddering breath, before speaking.

"For the past few weeks, I've been talking with Reyna, who's in charge of Camp Jupiter," Percy hesitated, looking to Chiron for guidance. Chiron gave him a nod, and a soft smile, and Percy gave a weak thumbs up, before continuing. "Reyna has offered me a Praetorship, since Frank Zhang is stepping down.

"Dude, seriously?!" Jason cried. Percy chuckled at the ex-Praetor's outburst.

"That's why you told her about the nightmares, isn't it?

Everyone turned to look at Annabeth, who had stood when she asked her question. Percy shrugged.

"I never technically told her," he explained. "She noticed."

"Are you going to accept the offer?" Annabeth asked. Percy sighed, running a hand through his hair, before nodding.

"I already have, actually. I leave tomorrow morning at three."

"Why did you accept?" Annabeth asked, an accusatory tone to her voice. "What's wrong with Camp Half-Blood?"

"There's nothing wrong with Camp," Percy explained slowly. "There's...something wrong with me, and it's something that could very well kill me,"

Everyone winced at the statement, well aware of the son of Poseidon's all too recent trip to Tartarus. Percy ignored them, and pressed on. "Reyna thinks the Romans might have the cure, so she suggested I go to Camp Jupiter-"

"And stay forever?" Annabeth interrupted, crossing her arms over her chest. Percy shook his head.

"That wasn't the original plan," he said softly. "Just...Frank didn't want the position anymore, and Reyna's too suspicious of the Romans to pick one of them."

"But why you?" Annabeth asked, slight anger in her voice. "Of all the people she could have chosen, why you?"

"Why not?" Percy shot back, trying not to get angry. "I was already going to be there, so why not just stay and help?"

Annabeth narrowed her eyes, before turning away, and rushing out of the Dining Pavilion. Percy sighed, and dropped back to his seat, hiding his head in his hands. The Dining Pavilion was tense with silence, until Apollo spoke.

"Anyone wanna hear a haiku?"

I know that might be a bad chapter, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry if any of my character are OOC, but I promise, there's a reason for Annabeth acting the way she is.

Also, to defend myself, it is 3:14 in the morning as I'm writing this, and I've been throwing up for close to an hour, so if the ending of this chapter seems cruddy, I'm sorry.