Ahlan Wa Sahlan Ya Habibi.
I am sorry that I didn't upload the new chapter on time, Sue me. I was busy with my college and studies. I have tests and assignments, e.t.c keeping me busy. Sorry.
An important announcement before the start of chapter. No more Percabeth from now on.
Anyways, enjoy the chapter.
Percy's POV
Percy was on his way to the dining pavilion when he sensed something strange. Again his guardian senses saved his sorry ass. He heard a whoosh sound and Involuntarily his arm stretched out and grabbed the shaft of an arrow just before it could gaze his arm. "Damn it Kelp-head!" Thalia stomped her foot and lunged at Percy with her spear ready. Percy side stepped at the last moment and overthrew Thalia and sat on top of her with her arms pinned down. "I almost had you kelp-head", she protested.
"In your dreams pinecone face!" , Percy smirked. Thalia blushed and looked away.
Percy suddenly realised their position and stood up immediately. He offered her his hand, which she took reluctantly. "What are you doing here?"
"We were passing by so Artemis sent me along with the hunters to stay for a week in the camp." Thalia explained as she brushed off her jeans.
"Cool", Percy exclaimed. "Some romans are coming as well. I guess we will have a game of Capture the Flag".
Thalia rolled her eyes. "Which you will lose like you always do".
Percy smirked. "That my dear cousin, we will see. I was headed to Big House, are you coming?"
"Yeah, sure". Thalia replied and together they walked towards the Big House.
"They are here!" Travis informed Percy at the door.
Percy nodded and entered the room. Inside he saw Jason, Reyna, Chiron and Mr.D sitting around the ping pong table. Other camp counsellors were standing behind them. Chiron was in the middle of conversation with Reyna and Mr.D was asking a satyr to pour them wine while another one was serving them coffee. They stood up as Percy entered which made him uncomfortable. "Please don't do that again." Jason took a step a forward and gave Percy a man-hug. He was wearing a T-shirt of Orange and Purple colour and on the chest was marked SPQR and the icon of Pegasus, like the both camps' hybrid. Reyna put her cup of coffee down on the table and shook Percy's hand. She was wearing purple Camp Jupiter shirt. With the medals on chest and purple cloak she looked breath-taking beautiful. Hey eyes were so dark that they shone with a strange light and with braided raven black hair she looked... well, gorgeous. She had everything that a perfect girl must have. A hint of smile appeared on her lips, more like a smirk. Thalia elbowed him gently and Connor snickered. Percy realised that he had been holding her hand for too long and let go of her. For the first time in many years, the son of Poseidon actually blushed.
"Have a seat Perseus". Chiron offered. Percy nodded and sat down. Percy looked around. Every cabin counsellor was present. The young Athena girl who Percy saw yesterday in the dining pavilion was grinning at Percy. Percy smiled back and motioned for her to come closer. She looked at Annabeth for approval and Annabeth nodded at her. She rushed to Percy's side and sat on his thigh. Chiron smiled at Percy. She was barely 8 and definitely not eligible to attend the meeting but Percy didn't object. He liked that little girl.
"What's your name?" Percy asked.
"Emily", She said with enthusiasm.
Percy summoned a chocolate bar from his pocket and offered it to her. She took the bar and studied Percy. For an 8 year old girl she seemed pretty clever.
"Are you real?" She asked. Percy laughed and the campers smiled. "What made you ask that Emily?" Percy asked.
"Because I have heard a lot about you and it doesn't seem possible for an individual to accomplish so much in a lifetime. Did you really defeat the time lord?" She asked with a gleam in her eyes.
The memories of his fallen friends and fellow campers made him sad but he managed a smile. "Sort of".
"Did you really jump into tartarus with Annabeth?"
Percy's smile wavered. Chiron cleared his throat. "Emily my child, why don't you scout the camp and tell me if someone is making any trouble?" She looked at Chiron's troubled face and figured out the danger warning and nodded. "I am sorry to bother you. I should go".
Through the corner of his eye Percy noticed Reyna observing him. He regained his composure and sat back on his chair. He looked at Reyna. She was still observing him and giving him a look of sympathy.
Chiron broke the silence. "Reyna we formally welcome you in Camp Half-Blood. Percy is here, so we can continue with the meeting."
Reyna nodded. "Very well. So after the war with Gaea the both camps had promised to work together as a team and help each other out. We both kept our promises and many demigods were exchanged for training programs. I think we need someone to teach our campers sword fight."
"Good for you that Percy is here", said Chiron. "I hope he won't mind to help his friends with that".
Percy addressed Jason. "Why don't you teach them? You are good with sword".
Jason shook his head. "I would love to Percy but I have a job already. I am the Pontifex remember?"
"Well in that case, I won't mind to teach them what little I know", Percy replied.
"Little?" Nico chuckled.
"I would help you with the classes once in a while when I am not travelling to different places". Jason offered.
"That would be better bro. Because I would like to kick your butt in front of your fellow campers", Percy smirked.
Jason smiled. "Or I could do the same bro".
Percy kicked back and laughed. "One chance grace. All I need is once chance."
Reyna shook her head in disbelief at the childishness. (I love their bromance by the way.)
"Back to the topic?" Chiron asked with a hint of smile on his lips.
Percy sat straight and tried to look as serious as he could manage with the crazy thought of kicking Jason's butt in front of Camp Jupiter. "Yeah, sorry".
"Thank you Percy for your help. Camp Jupiter appreciates that..." Percy cut her mid sentence. "No problem Rey. Any time".
The rest of the people looked at Percy in shock because:
1) NOBODY called Reyna 'Rey'.
1) NOBODY interrupts when Reyna speaks. Everyone knew that. But Percy was being Percy speaking without thinking.
To everyone's amazement Reyna smiled at bit. "What I was saying was that there is another problem. The journey between both camp is too long to travel for daily or weekly basis and the expenditures and amount of time it would take is something at we cannot afford forever."
Percy thought for a minute. Smile crept on his face. "Leave that to me".
"This is crazy" said Nico.
"And stupid", offered Reyna.
"But I love how awkward this is" said Jason.
"Just concentrate on focusing the direction of your energy on that spot in front of you and let me do the rest. I have seen how it is made, just trust me". Percy said.
Percy had led them to the beach and told them his idea of making a magical door to connect the two camps together. It would take seconds to travel from one camp to another. Currently they were joining hands and waiting for Percy to do something, but what he doing was: 'Muttering some ancient Greek spells and cursing himself for forgetting some lines.' They whole camp was watching and it was starting to get awkward until no one but Annabeth stepped in.
"Let me help with the spell, I know that". She offered.
Percy was about to say some rude words but Nico spoke first. "Yes Percy that's a good idea. We aren't getting anywhere with this. Let her say the crazy ancient spells and just concentrate on the power".
Percy didn't say a word. Annabeth took that as the permission that she wanted and stood beside him. She gently took his hand and started muttering in Ancient Greek. It felt strange to hold Annabeth's hand for the first time. For the first time Percy felt the weird sensation, he didn't feel the spark, the jolt that he used to feel, the excitement and the joy was gone. Now she felt alien to Percy. Her touch wasn't something that Percy enjoyed to feel anymore. Without any problem he continued to build up energy and power to create the magical door. His body heat started to rise and his eyes glowed from the effort. Reyna shared her strength with Percy and with last effort he managed to focus all the power to a spot and the door glittered into existence.
The crowd of demigods burst into cheers and Percy looked at Reyna with crazy grin. She replied with a smiled.
Campers dispersed. Only Reyna, Percy, Jason, Nico and Annabeth were left examining the door.
"Its mechanism is something that I don't understand. It must've drained a lot of energy make something like this." Annabeth said.
"Indeed", Reyna said and turned to Percy. "You are much much stronger than the other gods around Percy, I felt it when I was sharing my powers with you but something else happened".
Percy looked at her in confusion. "Like what?"
Reyna looked at the mark of Bellona at her forearm. "I don't know exactly. But it was like rather giving you strength, I received some from you. It is quite the opposite of what normally happens."
Percy closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. In fact he was trying to share his strength.
"Whoa you did that again", exclaimed Reyna.
"How does it feel?" Percy asked.
"Its like I am being injected with caffeine and good feelings" she said slowly for only him to listen.
"I don't mind to have emotional connection with you", Percy blurted.
Reyna's cheeks turned a little pink to Percy's amazement. Percy realised that how weird he sounded but thankfully no one was paying any attention to their conversation or Jason would've teased him his whole life for saying that.
"Oh gods I am sorry, I didn't want it to sound like that. W-What I meant to say is that I won't mind..." Percy stuttered and blushed.
Reyna laughed heartedly and Percy's heart melted. He felt the weird sensation and desire he hadn't allow himself to feel in ages.
"It is alright Percy. I understand what you meant to say. Would you mind to show me around?"
It felt strange because she had been to Camp Half-Blood many times. Not that Percy complained.
"I would love to", Percy replied. "Lets start from the dining Pavilion. I am very hungry and you must be too".
"You are always hungry". Reyna complained. They were walking side by side and for a moment their hands brushed against each other and looked into each other's eyes. Reyna looked away in painted expression. Percy frowned at her reaction. She was acting differently.
"What's wrong?" Percy asked.
"Nothing. What are you talking about?" Reyna looked at him in confusion but Percy knew better.
"You are hiding something. Is something wrong? Tell me?" Percy asked her.
"No Percy everything is fine", though it was a lie and Percy felt it.
But he didn't want to press her. "Okay but if you want to talk about something, I am here okay?"
"Okay", she replied. "Wait, what made you think that I would talk to you about such things, not someone else?"
Percy smirked. "If anyone had asked you that, you'd kick their butt".
"You are over-confident Percy". She said.
"No I just know you better than anyone". "I hope that you would accept my application to be your boyfriend. I am the most eligible candidate." He laughed at the last sentence.
Reyna came closer to Percy, much closer to his comfort and looked him into his eyes. "You can't handle me Jackson". She walked away, leaving Percy there dumbfound.
"Hey did you just flirt with me? Don't walk away like that. Answer my question Reyna." Percy protested and jogged after her to the pavilion. Campers were in the middle of dinner when Reyna and Percy arrived. She shrugged her shoulders at Percy and sat on the chair beside Chiron. Everyone was looking at them in confusion. Percy followed and sat beside her.
"Everything alright?" Chiron asked.
"Yes", said Reyna.
"No", said Percy.
After dinner campers headed to sing along around the campfire. Percy stood up last from pavilion and headed to the beach to meet Daphine. Promise was a promise after all.
She was sitting on the sand with her bare feet touching the incoming waves.
"Sorry I am late", he apologised.
"No, its alright. It's me who came early". She replied.
Percy nodded and sat beside her. He was in a good mood and involuntarily started digging with his heels on the sand. They didn't talk for a full five minutes.
"Do you know why I asked you to meet me here?" asked Daphine.
"Honestly I have no idea Daphine". Percy replied.
Daphine pursed her lips. "Usually I don't interfere in people's lives and matters but your case is different. You are a nice guy Percy and you deserve the best".
"What are you talking about?" Percy asked.
"I know about you love life and everything related to it Percy, a daughter of Aphrodite after all. What I did today, i mean at the beach was just an experiment to see Annabeth's reaction. Now I have the results." She said.
Percy looked at her. "What do you think?"
She sighed. "I am not being judgemental here but based on my knowledge and conclusions I think she isn't the right choice for you. I don't have anything against her but I think she doesn't deserve you after all what you have been through. Her fatal flaw isn't an excuse to dump you. At this moment she wants you back. Its more like a revenge than love for her right now."
"So you think I should pair up with you?" Percy asked to see her response.
She blushed furiously. "What? No I didn't say that. As much as I would love to but it isn't what I want. There are some other people who need you more than me. I am not that much selfish".
Percy examined her face. "You are sincere Daphine but I am not some one's property to be used for personal desires and joys".
"But you sure are a cure for the pain of heart". She suggested.
Percy shook his head. "I don't know about that".
Daphine put her hand on his shoulder. "Just know that there is someone beside Annabeth who can fill the gap in your heart. You both will complete each other and i promise that it will happen soon".
"Who is it you are referring to?" Percy asked.
Daphine stood up to leave. "That is yours to find out about. The answer is clear. Just follow your heart and heal the heart that wasn't healed before." With that she left.
"Great", Percy muttered. "Now I have to ask whom for the answer? Cupid?"
"You don't have to". A voice behind him said.
Another chapter finished, I know the parts including Reyna would sound weird, she isn't like that. I know that. I have planned something and that's why she is acting like that. Don't worry on the matter of plots your author won't let you down.