MAIN TITLE: The Keeper of Fate

WARNINGS: See first chapter for warnings. Also, this chapter's flashback strongly implies sexytimes (I can't believe I actually just typed that) happening off-screen.

NOTES: Thanks to dreamin'BIG, Neela4232, KittyKat, angel2u, DuckInTheHat and Guest for reviewing this chapter!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the PJO series. Rick Riordan does.

Chapter 15: Chiron Brings Home a Body as a Souvenir

"Come on, Dess, take pity on our souls. Look, we even cleaned all the junk food wrappers off the floor! Just give us one extra point. I'm sick of doing kitchen patrol all the time, and so is everyone else. Please?" Connor Stoll actually falls to his knees, clasps his hands together, and begs.

I stare down at the pleading son of Hermes, unmoved. "Too bad. Two out of five. That's final."

"Please, just one more point. Please, Dess? Pretty please with a cherry on top?" Travis joins his brother on the floor. "I mean, you sort of owe me, don't you? 'Cause you promised me you'd get Katie to kiss me, but you never did."

"First of all, that was weeks ago. Second of all, I don't owe you anything after that prank you pulled with the ice pack and the ketchup. And lastly, Travis, I don't even like cherries."

"How can you not like cherries?" Travis demands.

"Easy. I just don't like them."

"You're inhuman!" Connor cries. "You're a coldhearted, cherry-hating machine that doesn't take pity on two dashing young men that desperately need your help!"

"I hate to break it to you boys, but the only dashing young man I see in here is Harley." I wink at the undetermined six year old, my lips twitching upward as the little boy blushes and grins at me toothily. That kid reminds of Tyson sometimes. He's so cute.

…Only you can't tell anybody I thought that. Clarisse would laugh at me–if she was here. Which she isn't. She went back to her mom's house a while ago. It's kind of weird, actually. Summer session isn't over, but I guess after that last quest Clarisse decided she wanted a break from all the crazy stuff. I don't blame her. If my mom wasn't a total psycho, I'd probably leave camp for a bit, too.

I exit the cabin, ignoring the Stoll brother's indignant protests. Mr. D's cabin is next, and then Aphrodite's (not looking forward to that), and then my cabin (which will be getting at least a three out of five, no matter how messy it is) and then Apollo's, and then–well, you get the idea.

I grip the papyrus inspection scroll in my hand as I wander over to cabin twelve. This is so not fair. I shouldn't even be doing inspection right now; this is supposed to be the head counsellor's job. Stupid Beckendorf and Gareth and their stupid catapults that need constant attention. Stupid Zeth and his stupid shyness. Stupid Jake and his stupid tendency to blow things up. I tried to tell them I was too biased, but they wouldn't listen.

Whatever. Complaining about it in my head is just going to annoy you, which sounds like fun, but for all I know, you could be a secret assassin that murders people that annoy you.

Anyways, I inspect the cabins, giving Pollux and Castor a four out of five because they're growing pretty purple grapes. Cheryl is in her cabin when I inspect it, but so is Silena. I figure Beckendorf would be pissed if I gave his crush a two, so I give them a four (it would've been five, but taking even just one step into that place makes me feel like I'm walking through a haze of perfume).

The Hephaestus cabin also gets a four, because we're awesome like that. Apollo gets three, because I've been getting really angry at the sun god lately and since I can't punish him for it, I'm taking it out on his kids. Artemis' cabin is empty, so I can't give her a zero even though I want to. Don't even ask why I don't like her. It's a long story.

Athena's kids are neat freaks, so I give them a five (like I could give them anything else with Annabeth, Fiona, and Malcolm all glaring at me). Ares gets a one, because Clarisse isn't here, Isabel is exempt from KP, and Elliot broke my favourite pencil crayon (it was one of those Silly Scent Crayola pencil crayons) which I foolishly let him borrow yesterday.

Demeter gets four, because I still feel kind of guilty about the time when Zeth and I ate Katie Gardner's carrots three years ago. Percy's place is kind of a pigsty because Tyson's not here to clean up, but since I'm making an effort to stop disliking the demigod son of Poseidon, he gets a two. I would've given him a three, but he still doesn't know my name. Hera's cabin is empty, which leaves– Oh, crap. Zeus. Which means Thalia.

Ever since that capture the flag game a few weeks ago, things have been pretty tense between Thalia and I. I mean, she doesn't act like a jerk or anything. She's a good person, I've always known that. But her entire world has been turned upside down since she came out her pine tree, and I get the feeling that she's trying to find out who she is.

Only she's going about it the wrong way. She's defining herself through other people. She's still Annabeth's big sister, no matter what. But she used to be Luke's best friend, and now she's starting to doubt that for the first time in her life. She thought she was my friend–and she was, she really was–but then she found out I've been 'deceiving' her this whole time. She keeps looking at what she is to other people instead of who she is as a person.

And from what I've seen, Thalia's a brave, rebellious, confident young girl who does her best to protect the people she cares about. I've been realizing lately that she's a lot like Jackson. He's the same way. Courageous, defiant, though maybe less self-assured. And he's not female. And he's more of an idiot than Thalia is, but that really goes without saying. Though I will say this for the son of the sea god: however loyal Thalia is, she's got nothing on Percy. That boy would go to the ends of the earth for the people he loves.

I take a deep breath, pulling myself out of my silent reverie. Then I knock on the door of cabin one. It opens and Thalia's standing there, staring at me in surprise. "What are you–"

Quickly, I hold up the scroll in my hand. "Inspection."

"Isn't that the head counsellor's job?" she asks suspiciously, like she thinks I'm lying and I'm really trying to play some sort of prank on her. Which I would never do in a million years. I mean seriously, she has the power to electrocute people.

"Normally, yeah. But the Hephaestus head counsellor was busy," I explain, knowing that she probably doesn't know who Gareth and Beckendorf are. "And none of my other oh-so wonderful brothers volunteered for inspection, so I got stuck with it."

Her doubt fades. "Oh. Okay, then. Come on in, I guess."

So I do. I've never been in Zeus' cabin before, and I have to tell you, just one look around the room makes me glad I don't live here. This place is like a tomb. No beds or desks or anything. Just bronze braziers, statues of eagles, and in the centre of the room, a massive statue of Zeus holding his Master Bolt. His expression seems to say "Obey me or I will incinerate you", which is probably exactly what he would do if someone challenged his authority. Thunder suddenly booms and I jump about a foot in the air. Lightning flashes across the ceiling.

Gods, this place is creepy.

As if reading my mind, Thalia smiles wryly and says, "Home sweet home, huh?"

Trying to regain my composure, I say, "Well, uh, at least it's not messy? …Where exactly do you sleep, anyway?"

An odd expression comes over her face. She looks almost nervous, like she really doesn't want to show me. Taking a deep breath, she walks over to one of the bronze braziers and pushes it aside. There's an alcove; small, but big enough to fit a sleeping bag and her backpack, which is so full it looks like it will burst.

Pointing to it, I ask, "Is that where you keep your clothes?"

She nods.

"Well, you don't have stuff all over the floor, so… Five out of five." I write the number down on the scroll. This is the only time I haven't been biased when inspecting a cabin. Huh.

I'm about to turn and leave, but then something on the wall of the alcove catches my eye. I realize that Thalia's taped up pictures of–what? I move closer and Thalia shuffles her feet uncomfortably. With a sigh, she steps forward and removes two of the pictures. When she's walked back to my side, she hands me the photos.

I stare down at a laughing Luke. He looks like the carefree, mischievious boy that I used to know, but without the shadow of bitterness hidden behind his easygoing manner. Annabeth is sitting beside him at a campfire, and I can almost hear her laughter ringing with innocence and love. The other photo has Thalia in it, and she looks so similar to the girl standing next to me that I feel sorry for her. Luke and Annabeth have both changed so much, but the daughter of Zeus really hasn't.

I hand her back her photos as she watches me carefully. I realize she's waiting for me to explode. But these pictures don't make angry. They just make me sad. They're like a window into an entirely different life; a life that Thalia lost, a life that Thalia had ripped away from her even though it was everything to her.

"I'm sorry, you know," I say suddenly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Luke and me. And for all the stuff I said."

Thalia glances at the ceiling, and then meets my eyes. "I'm sorry, too. But I really did feel stupid when I found out. I just–I just kept thinking about how I had been so sure that you were okay with talking about Luke, that it didn't hurt you to talk about him. But it did hurt you, didn't it?"

I swallow hard and then nod. "Yeah. But it's my own fault. Thalia, you needed someone to talk to. I could see that. And it couldn't be Annabeth or Percy or Grover or Chiron, so I thought it had to be me."

"I didn't think about it that way. I didn't realize that you thought you were helping me."

I shrug my shoulders. "So…are we friends again, or…" I let my voice trail off.

"I don't know. Maybe not right away. But someday, definitely. And someday soon. I kind of miss sneaking into the Aphrodite cabin with you and drawing zits on Cheryl's face so that when she wakes up and looks in the mirror she thinks she actually has acne." Thalia grins.

I smile back. "Same. Well, I have to show Chiron the results of the cabin inspections. I hope I'm not anywhere near the Ares cabin when they learn they have kitchen patrol."

Thalia laughs and says, "Well I hope you are. And I hope I'm there, too. That'll be hilarious."

"Thanks," I grumble, rolling my eyes. "I'll see you around."

"Yeah, see you," she replies.

I head over to the door and pull it open. Before I leave, I glance over my shoulder. Something about the sight of Thalia taping her pictures back onto the wall of a tiny alcove in this huge, empty room makes my throat constrict. I turn away and hurriedly exit the cabin. The door swings shut behind me and I blink back tears.

When I enter the Big House to give Chiron the inspection scroll, he's packing.

My jaw drops. "What the Hades are you doing? You're leaving? Why? You can't leave! I don't want to get stuck with Tantalus as activities director again!" My voice is wild with panic. I am not putting up with that cannibal again.

"Calm yourself, child. I am merely going away on a visit. I will return shortly. Tantalus will not be taking my place," the centaur says soothingly. "Mr. D will, as always, be in charge, and Argus will keep an extra eye on things." As if he doesn't have enough eyes already.

"Fine. But where are you going?" What could possibly be important enough that he needs to leave? It must have something to do with the gods–or camp. That's the only explanation I can think of.

Chiron studies me intently for a moment. "For now, all you need to know is that I am making a…house call, one could say."

"A house call?"

"Yes. I will tell you more when the time comes."

"When the time– What are you talking about?" I ask the old horse man.

"Put it out of your mind for now, my girl, and simply enjoy your summer," Chiron smiles, and then, picking up a small suitcase, wheels himself over to the door.

I follow him outside. Mr. D is on the porch, as is Argus. The wine god sneers at me for a second before turning to Chiron. "Well, have a–" he pauses and then continues "–good time in Phoenix, I guess. Remember, you only have two weeks. I don't want to spend the remainder of my summer babysitting these foolish brats." He throws me a nasty glare.

"Of course, Mr. D. I will do my best to return before that." He nods at Dionysus and gives me one last smile. He switches back to centaur form and canters toward Half-Blood Hill. Argus follows him and since I have no desire whatsoever to stay in Mr. D's company, I head over to the volleyball pit to join the Demeter versus Hephaestus game. The Demeter kids are totally cheating, making plants grow and wrap themselves around my brother's legs. Though I have to admit, I do get a real kick out of seeing Gareth fall flat on his face.

By the time it's my turn to serve, I've already forgotten what Mr. D said about Chiron having a good time in Phoenix (I'm assuming he meant Phoenix, Arizona)–the city where Clarisse's mom lives.

For the next couple of weeks, I take Chiron's advice and enjoy myself. Pranking Cheryl, hanging out with my brothers, playing capture the flag, and finally attempting to fulfill my promise to Travis (that last part isn't working out so well).

It's a lot easier to have fun knowing that the Fourth of July fireworks have long since passed. I spent the entire time sitting by myself, thinking about how it was the first time I'd watched the fireworks without Luke, so I was pretty miserable.

In a practically suicidal attempt to spite Apollo, I throw away the finished hunter's bow he wanted me to make. Instead I decide to forge something that I'll actually use. I attach little chunks of an amethyst to the anklet I crafted more than a month ago. I wear it all the time now, though I make sure that my brothers don't suspect that I made it.

Annabeth is really curious about why Chiron left. I told her everything he told me, and she's a little worried. See, Chiron only makes house calls if he thinks a child of the Big Three has been found. The last thing we need right now is to find out that either Zeus or Poseidon broke the oath twice, or–gods forbid–Hades followed his brothers' leads.

But I can't shake the feeling that this has nothing to do with a new demigod. I feel like I've forgotten to tell Annabeth something important, something that would help her put the pieces together. The problem is, every time I try to remember, the only thing that comes to mind is Dionysus. And that can't be right. I don't think Mr. D has ever said anything useful in the three years I've known him, and if he has, it wasn't in my presence.

Since trying to figure this whole thing out just gives me a headache, for the most part I just put it out of my mind and focus on other things. Thalia and I have been getting along a bit better lately, though that could be because we don't spend extended periods of time together. I haven't pulled a prank with her in ages. Still, she smiles when she sees me, so I'm sure things will be back to normal eventually.

The one troubling thing that I can't get out of my head is the fact that Gareth has been dropping hints that he's leaving soon. I know he wants to get out of here; he hasn't left since the winter solstice last year when the bolt was stolen.

He's not the only one thinking about leaving, either. Xavier from the Athena cabin and Elliot from Ares have been considering it, too. Actually, I think they've all been talking about getting an apartment together. They get along well enough, although Elliot is a couple years younger–he's Luke's age. He used to be pretty good friends with Luke. They used to do what Luke called 'guy stuff' together, which I figured meant they looked at pictures of half-naked girls and occasionally drank a couple of beers. Or, you know, they might've just stayed up all night playing Xbox. Wouldn't surprise me.

I didn't really care what they did, as long as Luke didn't discuss our sex life with Elliot. I know that's probably what normal guys do when they hang out, but I had to draw the line somewhere.

Sometimes I wonder, though, if maybe being normal was more important to Luke than I thought. I mean, despite his failed quest he once convinced Chiron to let him take me out into the mortal world for our one year anniversary, so we could do the things regular couples do on their anniversary.

I usually try not to think about that day–and that night–, but sometimes I can't help it. The memory haunts me. It bothers me, knowing that my first time was with him, knowing that I somehow can't bring myself to regret it.

I'm practically bouncing with excitement as I pull the tube closer to the slopes.

Luke laughs. "You know, I'm starting to think I shouldn't have brought you here. The idea of you going down a hill at fifteen miles an hour is a scary thought."

"Why? Because I might get hurt?"

"I was actually thinking about the damage you would do to other people, but that too," Luke teases.

I punch him. "If you're so worried, than go with me the first time."

"Sure thing." He smiles, his eyes meeting mine, and suddenly I'm glad that I won't be able to look directly at him when we're going down the actual hill. Otherwise I might let go of the handle on his tube, and that would probably be a disaster.

We push our tubes together, plop down on them, and grab one handle from each tube. An operator person comes over and nudges our tubes toward the slope. My excitement is building the closer we get. Finally we go over the edge, and then we're flying down the hill, and snow is whipping in my face, and then suddenly we've stopped.

For a second I just lie there, and then I pick myself up off the ground. Luke is already standing, shaking snow out of his hair. He grins at me, his eyes gleaming, and my heart aches. As if reading my mind, he grabs my hand. We're both wearing gloves, so I don't feel his actual skin, but it's good enough.

He tows me towards the path leading back to the lift. We drag our tubes behind us. When we've reached the path and we're out of the way of the other tubers (at least I think that's what they're called), Luke stops and turns to me.

"Well? What do you think? Did you like it?" His cheeks are flushed with excitement. He looks completely and utterly alive, more so than I've ever seen him.

"I got snow in my face, and my hair is all messed up, and my hands hurt from gripping the handles."

"Oh." His face falls.

"…Luke?"

"Yeah, Dess?" he responds dully, his voice filled with disappointment. I can see that he really wanted me to enjoy myself.

"…Can we go again?"

He grins again, and then we race down the path to the lift.

We go down the hill at least ten more times, sometimes separately and sometimes together. Eventually we leave, partly because we're hungry and partly because it's closing time. We came pretty late in the day, about an hour before they close, because there are less people.

Luke steals a car (don't look at me like that; we'll give it back) and then drives around for a while. Eventually he parks the car. He leaves the door unlocked and the keys on the front seat. We walk a couple blocks until we come to a restaurant. After assuring me that he's actually going to pay for the meal and we're not just going to take off the second we're done eating, I sit down.

We order food, and we eat, and we talk, and for the first time in a long time I feel normal. I'm an ordinary teenage girl on a date with a guy I'm crazy about. Luke plays with the bracelet on my wrist under the table and looks at me like he's thinking the same thing.

Luke, despite my doubts, keeps his word and pays. I don't feel too bad about this, because this restaurant isn't really expensive. It's not one of those really fancy ones where you have to book a reservation in advance. You can just walk in and order, which I like a lot better.

After we leave I'm a little worried that Luke's going to steal another car, but instead we just walk another few blocks. I wonder where we're going now, because it's already past ten and it'll take us like two hours to get back to camp (assuming we drive; taking public transport will take at least another hour, and walking…well, we're not walking, no matter what).

When we reach the hotel, I realize that we're not going back to camp tonight. I glance at Luke out of the corner of my eye, and I wonder why my heart is suddenly beating so fast and why my face suddenly feels hot. The answer becomes pretty clear when he books only one room–with only one bed.

I think he realizes I'm freaking out in my head, because he tells me that we don't have to share the bed. He tells me he doesn't mind sleeping on the floor, which is bullshit. He so doesn't want to sleep on the floor.

"No, it's fine, we can share the bed," I say, but I can't look him in the eye.

We find the room we were assigned (which has a bathroom attached to it, thank the gods), and after a quick game of rock-paper-scissors we decide I get to shower first.

"I'll probably be at the pool table when you're done," he says.

"Okay."

He leans in and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. "Love you."

"Yeah. Same."

He heads back down the stairs to where the pool table is–and where they serve drinks. Suddenly I'm very glad he's only eighteen and no one will sell him alcohol. Though I wouldn't be surprised if he just stole a bottle.

Shaking my head at my thoughts, I wander into the bathroom and take my shower. I take a long time, mostly because I keep freaking out about the fact that I'm soon going to be sharing a bed with Luke, something I've never done before. Eventually I get out and start to dry myself off with one of the blood red towels that the hotel people provided. I wrap it around my body and exit the bathroom, wishing I had brought my clothes in with me. It's not like it matters, though. No one else is here. Luke is probably still playing pool.

I'm in the process of gathering my clothes when someone knocks on the door.

"Dess? Are you okay? You've been in there for like an hour." Of course it's Luke.

My mouth it suddenly dry, and my clothes are slipping out of my hands. I don't bother to pick them up again.

"Dess, seriously, are you okay?"

I don't respond. I can't.

"…Dess, this isn't funny. You're scaring the shit out of me."

I want to tell him I'm fine, but my voice won't work.

"Dess, if you don't say something in the next five seconds, I'm opening the door." I can tell from his voice that he'll go through with it.

"Five, four–" this is the part where I'm supposed to interrupt "–two, one."

He opens the door, and when he catches sight of me standing there, completely unharmed, the worry on his face quickly melts into fury.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Why didn't you just answer me? I thought some monster had somehow gotten in and killed you! I thought you were injured, or unconscious, or dying–"

He stops, as if he's too livid to speak anymore. He looks at me then, really looks at me, and his angry expression abruptly vanishes. It occurs to me that my hair is dripping wet and thrown over my shoulder. My locks are pure black from the water, and they make my skin look a lot paler than usual. Or maybe it's the eye-catching red towel.

I don't know what to feel. I'm standing here clad only in a towel, and Luke's staring at me like he never wants to look away. Luke reaches back to grip the doorknob. My breathing is suddenly too shallow. Luke swallows hard, and I suddenly realize that maybe he's more nervous than I am.

I take a small step toward him. Just one step, but it seems to give him confidence. He tugs lightly on the doorknob and then lets go. He walks over to me as the door starts to swing shut. He brushes my hair back and leans in to kiss me.

If someone had been looking into the room through the doorway, the last thing they would have seen before the door closed was the blood red towel falling to the floor.

I walk through the strawberry fields, stopping only when I reach Dionysus' twins. They're sitting on the ground, making the plants grow. As I watch, Castor reaches out to touch a deformed, dull-red strawberry; it instantly takes on the shape and colour of a healthy strawberry.

"Hey, guys."

They glance up simultaneously when they hear me speak. "Hey, Dess," Pollux says. "What's up?"

"The sky. Duh. Anyways, Castor, Bridgette wanted to see you at the amphitheater. And Pollux, Annabeth told me to tell you that your dad is at the climbing wall and is two seconds away from vaporizing Percy Jackson and Grover Underwood. Again. She wants you to try and calm him down," I say, and Pollux groans while Castor grins.

"Thanks, Dess," they say in unison, though Pollux's tone is more annoyed than happy.

They wander off in the direction of the amphitheater and the climbing wall. As I start to follow them, I glance toward the Big House absent-mindedly. Then I freeze in my tracks. Unless I'm suddenly hallucinating, Chiron and Clarisse were just carrying an unconscious boy into the huge blue farmhouse.

Pollux and Castor look back at me. "Are you coming?"

"I– No, I have something I have to do right now, I'll see you guys at dinner or something…" I respond vaguely.

They glance at each other and shrug their shoulders. Then they continue walking.

I wait impatiently until they've disappeared from view. Then I turn on my heel and sprint towards the Big House. When I reach it I hesitate. Surely they won't allow me to simply walk in. They looked like they didn't want to be seen. I remember what Chiron said: "I will tell you more when the time comes."

But I'm curious. I want to know who that boy was. I want to know why Clarisse is back. Experimentally, I try the door handle. It's locked. I don't move. I stare at the door for a long moment, deliberating, until at last I decide to simply return to my cabin.

As I walk away, I glance up at the attic. Nothing moves, nothing stirs, but I can't shake the feeling that someone is watching me. I start to walk faster. Finally I can't take it anymore. I run, and I run, and I run, until I've left the mummy in the attic far, far behind.

Author's Note: I'm sure you guys can guess what's going on with Chiron, Clarisse, and the unconscious boy, and if you can't then I've epically failed at giving hints.

Reviews are appreciated.