Chapter 8

"Meeting the Roman and Bugging my Wise Girl some more"

Percy

Nightmares plagued my rest, as expected; I couldn't steal five seconds of shuteye before a strangled scream tore past my lips and I bolted upright in a cold sweat. Eventually, despite the weariness that clung to my every pore, I gave up and leapt down from my place on the top bunk, determined to gather my wits by the lake or something.

That morning when I went down to breakfast, my grumpy mood wasn't faked. I couldn't help but dwell on the dream that had been haunting me for weeks, nor the terrible visions that had followed.

In the dream, I was back in Tartarus, being tortured by Fear and his children. It was my normal nightmare, until the gods suddenly pulled me up onto Olympus, and told me I had failed. I watched, helpless, as my old life went up in flames, and I was burned alive. Taunts and insults in the voice of Gabe were screamed at me, and I could feel words being carved into my chest. It was terrifying, and something I would give almost anything to be rid of.

"Trent! Wake up!" a voice yelled, pounding at the door.

I looked up and got to my feet, brushing my hair back. I quickly pulled on my now trademark smirk and tossed on some clothes, which had been left in my drawers from last summer. I wondered if anyone would notice...

"Now!" the voice yelled, before moving on.

I rolled my eyes and pocketed my swords, before heading out the door. I would think on the Primordial War issue later...I stood in front of the door for a moment, soaking in the sight of camp. Despite my holey memories, the warm sense of home still hit me, and I felt my shoulders relax. I began to walk towards the dining pavilion.

"Settling in?" a voice asked, and I jumped, hand going to my pocket, before I saw who it was. Leo.

"Careful." I said in calm, even tone. "If I hadn't looked, you would've up a hole."

Leo smirked. "I fought as a leader in the Second Giant War. It'll take more than a startled newcomer to off me."

My own smirk grew. "Is that so?"

Leo nodded, and tiny flames danced in his curly hair. "Yep." His face and eyes darkened as the memories hit. "Not the greatest time of my life."

I nodded.

"You seem in a good mood today." Leo commented. "Not nearly as hostile and snarky."

I inwardly snorted. I was so not in a good mood. "Just tired."

"Not enough energy to keep up the jerk act?" Leo said knowingly.

I froze.

Leo sighed, running his hand through his hair. "I know that you are acting like a jerk on purpose, Trent. I don't know why, other than that you might be protecting yourself. I do that with humor, so I can tell. But...if you need anyone to trust..."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Memories of Leo flashed past my eyes, and I stumbled for a moment.

"You okay?" Leo asked.

"Yes." I snarled, and Leo's eyes narrowed, before softening.

Crap.

Leo looked at me closely for a moment, before shrugging. A smile lit his face, and he began running towards the dining pavilion. "Hurry! The Romans are coming today!"

I stared after him. The Romans?

Sure enough, by the time I reached the pavilion, it was crowded. People in purple shirts were seated on extra tables that hadn't been there before. I quickly made my way to the Poseidon table, but not before getting food and sliding off a tiny offering when no one was looking.

Travis Stoll, son of Hermes, invited Toby to eat with him. His mischievous younger brother, Connor, sat on his right while we ate weakly on his left. Toby was easing his food down, but I could tell he was restraining himself. He knew better than to scarf down a buffet after he'd gotten used to a piece of bread a day.

Eating normal food felt wrong going down my throat. The last time I'd stuffed warm fried chicken past my lips had been . . . actually, I wasn't sure. All I was really sure about was the spicy fried skin of the meat with the succulent, juicy and all-around greasy breast finding every somewhat edible flap of skin and cartilage and yanking it away.

But I didn't have that problem. My appetite was completely dead. I stared at my plate with an American cheeseburger on it and the only thing I could think of was how disgusting it was going to taste after getting used to fast food out of a garbage can.

"Blue Pepsi." I whispered, despite knowing how dangerous that was to my cover.

Instantly, the glass was filled with blue tinted Pepsi. I took a sip and smirked. Perfect. Then I realized Travis was staring at me.

"What?"

"Is he your brother?"

I rolled my eyes.

"No," I told him shortly. "But we've known each other for forever, so we're pretty close."

"Well, I just wanted to told you, last night your friend had a nightmare, I did try to told you but then Annabeth caught me" he said as he shoved another hotdog in his mouth.

"Huh, that's pretty weird; he never had a nightmare before. Maybe I should check on him" I said as I take a sip from my blue Pepsi.

"You sound like a concern big brother!" Travis said. "Are you sure you guys, aren't siblings?!"

"We're not." I said flatly. "And besides, I'm not even completely convinced I buy this demigod garbage in the first place." Travis laughed and choked on his hotdog. I turned back to see Connor hitting him on the back hard, grinning up at me.

"What my brother means to say between desperate gasps for air," he glanced down at his older sibling evilly and hit him twice as hard as he had before.

Travis spit out the piece of hotdog and spit at his brother, who dodged. An indignant Chris Rodriguez called out when the organic projectile landed on his plate. It was immediately whisked away and replaced with a fresh rack of ribs. He grinned triumphantly and started shoveling it in his mouth. Connor laughed.

"Anyway, half-bloods don't usually believe it for a while. This goes against everything we've always been taught, so it doesn't sit right. But pretty soon you'll start to realize the truth to it all. Probably the minute you get claimed, actually. If not before."

Travis nodded. "I know it wasn't real for me until Connor and I got flying shoes hovering over our heads."

It was Toby's turn to choke.

"What?" he asked, holding his throat and coughing. I patted his back gently and she waved me away.

"Relax," Travis chuckled. "There's this glowing light that appears over your head when you're claimed. It's awesome, though. We haven't had a claiming in months but the Poseidon claim Trent"

"We were hoping with Matthew, but he's still too young."

Interjected a brunette from across the table, glancing over at a self-conscious boy wearing a blue checkered shirt. He was idly stirring his soup, looking crestfallen. He couldn't have been younger than Toby.

"Yeah," Travis said dejectedly. "Whoever his godly parent is really is sticking this one out to the letter."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Toby asked.

Travis jumped and looked back over at me, looking surprised. Then his expression relaxed and it was back to his usual expansive grin.

"The gods are now required to claim their mortal children by the time they turn thirteen or sooner. They can't have twenty-something who've been here forever moping around cuz their godly won't step up to the plate."

"I've never heard about that from any of the myths." I said suddenly, forgetting myself.

Travis nodded. "You wouldn't have. It's a new rule. Got implemented five years ago."

I knew I was close to what it had to do with me, so I pushed.

"Why?"

Travis' expression darkened. For a moment he was silent. Then; "Because Percy Jackson turned down immortality for it."

As soon as my old name left Travis' lips, the table's temperature dropped abruptly. Everyone was suddenly very interested in their plates or shoes or cups. It was like Nico had gotten very angry very fast and sucked all of the shadows from the Mess Hall into one place.

I growled and stabbed my pancake.

"Percy?" a voice said in shock. I threw down my fork and turned around, glaring.

"For the last time, I am not-" I exclaimed but then got cut off by Toby.

"He's not Percy, he's Trent and the new guy here also doesn't mention Percy to him because he will get more sensitive" said Toby.

I then glare at him but he only took out his tongue at me, sometimes I wonder if he really helping or not. The girl stepped back, her golden eyes widening. A big Asian boy wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"I-I'm sorry." said the girl. "You just look a lot like someone I used to know."

Hazel, great, now I made Hazel sad, Nico's going to kill me for this. Percy or not he will send me back to Tartarus again and the worse there's Frank. Man he will nail me with his spear, why do I have to be the bad guy here.

"Yeah, Perry Johnson, right?" I said. I blame Dionysus for this, maybe having his attitude to my act would come in handy. "Some big shot, I hear." I snorted, before taking a chug of my blue soda.

Hazel's eyes darkened. "Percy Jackson." she gently corrected.

"Well, I'm Trent. Not Percy Jackson." I told her harshly. "So, please, leave me alone."

Hazel and Frank nodded, before turning away, throwing glances back at me. I angrily swallowed another gulp of soda, before attacking my eggs. Toby looks at me with that why-are-you-so-cranky look, I just shrugged and ate my egg, and I did want to ask him about the nightmare he got.

"So, Toby" I said as I went to his table. "I heard last night you didn't sleep well"

"What do you mean?" he asked acting dumb like he didn't know what I talked about.

"I mean, you had nightmare last night" I said taking a sip in my soda. "What was it about?"

"What?" he asked. Seriously kid, you don't have to play dumb anymore, I already know the truth.

"The dream, nightmare, whatever you name it" I said.

"It's about you, Annabeth, and me stabbing myself" Toby muttered under his breath, thinking that I won't hear anything.

"What?!" I asked.

"It's nothing, I just had a rough day, maybe that's why" said Toby.

"Blue soda?" came Annabeth voice a few minutes later.

I threw up my hands in frustration. "Can't I eat breakfast in peace!? This is the first time I've had a real breakfast since I could remember! I'd like it if I could enjoy it!"

Annabeth eyes widened, and then narrowed. "No need to be rude."

"Jeez Toby, why you're so sweet and your friend here so rude?!"

"Seriously I had no idea" he said. "He's been really sensitive today, considering everyone thought him as Percy"

I snorted. "Said a kid who everyone thought to be Luke"

"Hey!" he said.

"So, blue soda?" she asked.

I drained the glass. "Just something I thought of, okay? I like soda, and I like the color blue, so I figured I might as well try out these magic glasses."

"You don't talk like you lived on the street."

I glared at her. "What, is this an interrogation? Are we playing 20 Questions?"

"Calm down."

I stood up and went to storm away, but Annabeth grabbed my shoulder. I flinched.

"You okay?" she asked.

"None of your business, Princess." I snarled, but Annabeth pushed me back down into my seat.

"Chiron's giving an announcement after breakfast. Stay here." Annabeth stood to leave, before looking back at me. "And...I was just curious. Percy used to drink his soda blue too."

"I'm not Percy." I said, looking down at my now-empty table.

"I know."

Annabeth walked away.

"What was that about?" asked Toby. "You guys look like going to start a war between your dad and her mom"

"I had a rough that alright, just like you when you had a rough day and got nightmare" I said. "Besides, I surprised that you're already starting to trust this Demi-God thing"

"I didn't have any nightmare last night, how many times I had to said anyway" he said. "And I still hesitated about this stuff; it's kind of weird when everything you learn from the book came alive in one day"

"Agreed" I said. I still remember the last time I arrived at Camp Half-Blood; everyone said that the gods of Greek are real and I still having a hard time believing it.

I leaned back in my chair, watching as Chiron and some Roman girl- Reyna? - spoke. It was nearly lunch and the sun pounded against my exposed neck. Beside me was Leo, who was playing with a small ball of fire. Around us were orange-clad Greeks and purple-clad Romans. We were in the clearing around the cabins, waiting for Chiron to fully explain what little he had told us at breakfast.

"Where's Annabeth?" I asked, looking up at the clear blue sky.

Leo's fire went out and he looked at me strangely. "Why do you care?"

Toby shrugged. "Trent thinks its fun to bug her, go figure"

Leo snorted, running a hand through his hair. "Should've figured that's what he would think. She went to visit Percy's mother, Sally."

Toby raised an eyebrow, "Why? Isn't that just you know, kind of awkward or something"

Leo threw his hands up in the air. "I dunno. They're pretty close, I heard."

I leaned forward, letting the chair's front feet hit the ground and traced the empty chess board in front of us. "So, do people play on this thing often?"

Brown eyes met my own. "Dude. What's up with you?"

I smirked. "What?"

Flames danced in Leo's hair. "You...you aren't being a jerk, and you seem happy! What happened?"

I shrugged, leaning back in the chair. "Dunno. Just got a good feeling, you know?" I watched as Reyna shook Chiron's hand, and as the pair turned to us. "Oh, joy."

Leo turned, eyebrow furrowed in confusion, before seeing what I saw. "Oh-"

"Campers and soldiers," called Reyna in a clear voice.

The chatter that had filled the clearing died down quickly. The young leader drew her up and gazed around the crowd with powerful, strong eyes. "I am glad to announce that the Romans of Camp Jupiter have accepted the Greek's invitation to the second annual Games. For those of you who don't know, the Games were established at the end of the Giants War, to keep the bonds we forged in the fire alive, and for us to remember our camaraderie and to test our skill. We- the Romans- will be here for the next two weeks as the Games go on. Please sign up at the Big House for volunteer opportunities to help set up the Games. Thank you."

There was a bit of clapping as Reyna stepped back. Chiron trotted forward, a light glimmering in his eyes. "Campers of Camp Half-blood. If you have any questions, please ask your cabin leader or myself." he smiled. "Training for the next two weeks will not be mandatory, but highly suggested. Also, Poseidon has sent some young Cyclops to do dishes and other important jobs, so that training and events can go on smoothly."

There was quite a bit of cheering at that, until Chiron cleared his voice and stomped his hoof. "The first event will take place in two days, at noon. It will be sword fighting," he paused as murmurs rippled through the crowd, "followed by archery."

The Apollo cabin cheered.

"The final event has been decided. Having won the coin toss, I have chosen Capture the Flag-"

Yet another loud cheer ripped through Chiron's speech.

"Very enthusiastic." I whispered dryly to Leo, who was cheering with the others.

The son of Hephaestus gave me a wounded look. "Hey!"

"Wait," Toby muttered, half sticking to the act and half honestly lost. "What's capture the flag?! Isn't that just a little kids game, you know you capture the flag of another opponent and you win like that"

"Trust me kid, this isn't your normal Capture the flag" Leo assured him.

"Toby, and don't call me a kid" he corrected irritably.

"Sorry" Leo said.

"As the event." Chiron finished. He shook his head fondly as the Greek demigods spoke amongst themselves and withdrew.

"Dismissed!" called Reyna. "Except for centurions and...Cabin leaders."

Leo stood as the crowd of demigods departed, but I caught his shoulder. "Hey," I said, sticking my hands in my shorts pockets. "Am I cabin leader?"

Leo nodded, scanning the crowd. "Yep"

How'd you like it? I'm so sorry it took me long to update but that's how it's gonna be. I'll probably update this one at least twice a week and the others once a week.

But thanks for the REVIEWW! Especially the one that said "I am in love"

I think that said he or she in love with the story!...