Sorry about the long delay on this one, folks - I HATE Tantalus with a passion so I find it rather difficult to get past that part of the book without wanting to throw something. As a result, there's rather less book text in this chapter than some of the others. Additionally, for some reason, the underlining disappeared when I copied the text over, so if there's a mention of the people from 2010 that haven't been underlined, please let me know - I'm fairly sure I got them all.

Will picked up the book and turned to the next chapter.

Chapter Five

I Get a New Cabin Mate

"Oh, good," Amphitrite said. "You are going to claim him."

"Not sure if that's the best idea," Apollo said, frowning. "Don't get me wrong; I'm glad Tyson's going to stay, but these kids haven't just read what ours have. They're going to be difficult."

"I know I was," Percy admitted. "But he's my brother. And that's all there is to it."

"Will," Annabeth said, "if the coma doesn't help, will you know if Thalia's okay?"

"Yeah, I'm monitoring her," Will assured her. "I'll know if it happens again, don't worry."

Ever come home and found your room messed up?

Annabeth snorted. "Yes, Percy, that's a perfect analogy."

… That's kind of the way I felt seeing Camp Half-Blood again.

Will paused. "I don't know, Annabeth, it's not far off. And I was there for the whole thing."

On the surface, things didn't look all that different … But there was an air of danger now.

"Oh dear …" Aphrodite murmured, hugging Silena closer.

… Somebody had messed with my favourite place in the world, and I was not … well, a happy camper.

"None of us were," Will said. "It was … weird. Really weird. I remember Lee saying that it had never been like that in his memory, not even before the boundary line."

… Nobody stopped to talk … Some did double-takes when they saw Tyson …

"We're lucky that's all they did," Annabeth said.

… but most just walked grimly past and carried on with their duties … The camp felt like a military school. And believe me, I know. I've been kicked out of a couple.

Apollo frowned. "Okay, but is that the fear of what's happening - or is that Tantalus?"

"If it's him," Hermes said grimly, "I will not be happy. Who's idea was it to use him?"

None of that matted to Tyson. He was absolutely fascinated by everything he saw.

"Bless him," Silena murmured. "I hope we keep him."

… 'You live with friends in the cabin?'

"I wish," Percy sighed. "Gets rather lonely."

"You snore," Annabeth said bluntly. "It's probably for the best."

"You snore," Percy shot back.

Annabeth turned a bit pink. "Okay, fair point."

… The embarrassing truth: I was the only one who stayed in that cabin because I wasn't supposed to be alive.

"If Thalia was awake, she'd say you were being overdramatic," Annabeth said.

"If Thalia was awake, she'd agree with me," Percy said. "Why do you think we get along so well? We both know exactly how it feels. Her more than me to be fair - I spent three years waiting for someone to decide that I shouldn't exist and just wipe me from existence like they did her."

"No one's going to do that," Amphitrite said soothingly, half to him, half to Sally.

"You know what I find hilarious," Nico said, to no one in particular. "Is that prophecy said that Olympus could be destroyed or saved. And everyone just immediately jumped to the conclusion that it would be destroyed. It's just … If you know that demigods could have a reason to want Olympus destroyed, why not make sure that reason is taken away, and then you don't have to worry about it."

"Because that would involve looking at a situation and admitting that it wasn't right," Hestia answered gently. "And some people - not mentioning any names - aren't very good at that. However, I believe that is the Fates' whole reason for doing this."

Will cleared his throat. "Can I continue?"

… The 'Big Three' pact had only been broken twice … Neither of us should've been born.

Sally hugged her son close to her.

Thalia had got herself turned into a pine tree when she was twelve.

Percy pulled a face. "Not the best wording."

"You're only saying that because she's not awake to defend herself," Annabeth said.

Me … Well, I was doing my best not to follow her example.

"You're doing just fine," Amphitrite said.

I had nightmares about what Poseidon might turn me into if I were ever on the verge of death - plankton, maybe. Or a floating patch of kelp.

Annabeth sniggered. "It's not funny," she said. "But …"

"It is a bit funny," Percy said, his lips twitching. "I feel like plankton might have a quieter life."

"Seriously though," Annabeth said, getting her giggles under control, "I didn't realise it was bothering you so much. You could have said something."

"You had your own things to worry about," Percy said dismissively. "And yours were actually happening."

When we got to the Big House, we found Chiron in his apartment, listening to his favourite 1960s lounge music while he packed his saddlebags.

"At least you're still there at the moment," Apollo said frowning. "You should be able to give some kind of explanation."

"Not much of one, I shouldn't think," Chiron said heavily. "Or I wouldn't be leaving at all."

"It's ridiculous," Hermes said. "No one could possibly believe that you would ever do anything to put Camp in danger. It's madness!"

"Hermes …" Zeus said warningly.

"Tell me I'm wrong," Hermes challenged. "You don't get it either!"

Zeus glared at his son for a few moments longer, then sighed. "No," he admitted. "It does seem strange. But then this version of me hasn't heard everything I have."

"In other words," Apollo said, "he's still in denial. Brilliant."

… As soon as we saw him, Tyson froze. 'Pony!' he cried in total rapture.

There were a few snickers, and Chiron sighed. "I suppose I can let him off."

… Annabeth ran up and hugged him. 'Chiron, what's happening? You're not … leaving?'

"I likely won't have a choice, Annabeth," Chiron said grimly.

… Chiron ruffled her hair and gave her a kindly smile. 'Hello, child. And Percy, my goodness. You've grown over the year!"

Apollo shook his head with a fond smile. "You know how frustrating that is?"

I swallowed. 'Clarisse said you were … you were …'

'Fired.' Chiron's eyes glinted with dark humour. 'Ah, well, someone had to take the blame.

"It's useless someone taking the blame when it's not them that did anything," Hermes grumbled under his breath.

Lord Zeus was most upset. The tree he'd created from the spirit of his daughter, poisoned!

"So no one knew it was actually Thalia?" Jason asked.

Chiron sighed. "No. I believed she was dead, especially given the way her spirit protected the boundary afterwards."

"That wasn't actually me," Zeus admitted. "I couldn't save her, exactly, but I could make sure that she didn't die. A pine tree can't bleed to death after all. But I did not create the boundary line - Thalia must have done that herself."

Annabeth smiled. "That's so her though."

"Yeah," Luke agreed. "That wouldn't surprise me in the slightest."

Mr D had to punish someone.'

"But that makes no sense," Apollo said. "Punishing someone who didn't do anything isn't going to do a damn thing."

"Yes, but I didn't do anything either," Dionysus pointed out. "I don't want to take the blame for it. Giving Chiron a vacation while things get sorted out is hardly the worst thing I could do."

"Yes, but Tantalus?" Apollo asked. "I'm sure you do care about the campers in your own way, but they don't know that, and now you've got an activities director that thinks torturing children is fun."

… 'But this is crazy!' Annabeth cried. 'Chiron, you couldn't have had anything to do with poisoning Thalia's tree!'

"Of course he didn't," Hermes said with a sigh. "I shouldn't think anyone believes that for a second."

'Nevertheless,' Chiron sighed, 'some in Olympus do not trust me now, under the circumstances.'

"Who?" Hestia demanded, her usually serene eyes ablaze with fury.

"I never found out," Percy said.

… Tyson was still staring at Chiron in amazement. … 'Pony?'

There were a few stifled giggles, but they were half-hearted.

… 'Chiron,' I said. 'What about the tree? What happened?'

Everyone sat forward, Malcolm's pen poised over his notepad.

… 'The poison used on Thalia's pine is something from the Underworld, Percy. Some venom even I have never seen. It must have come from a monster quite deep in the pits of Tartarus.'

Malcolm sighed, putting his pen down again.

"What was it?" Luke asked, glaring at his future self.

"It was a plant," he answered, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I was told to use half a leaf dissolved in water - anymore was too dangerous. I only used a quarter as it was."

"Good job too," Will muttered.

'Then we know who's responsible. Kro-'

"Don't say the name!" Several people shouted.

"He's not Voldemort," Percy grumbled. "He's not going to suddenly appear if we say it."

"Names are power," Annabeth said. "How do you not know this by now?"

… 'Perhaps,' Chiron said. 'But I fear that I am being held responsible because I did not prevent it and I cannot cure it. The tree has only a few weeks of life left …'

"You said you gave her the smaller dose," Luke said tersely.

"I did," Luke said with a frown.

Annabeth sighed, rubbing her temples. "Luke, I know that he was messing with your head and all, but how has it still not occurred to you that maybe Kronos wanted Thalia dead?"

"He made it pretty clear he didn't," Luke said. "Something about confusing the prophecy."

"I hate to point this out," Percy said. "But a year earlier he wanted me dead to destroy the prophecy. Why would he suddenly want two of us? Honestly, I think we're lucky you did give her the smaller dose, or she'd probably be dead already."

"Well, that's not going to help anyone right now," Rachel said gently. "Let's just … keep going."

Will nodded and found his place again.

'… unless … Only one source of magic would be strong enough to reverse the poison, and it was lost centuries ago.'

Persephone frowned. She was fairly certain that if it was an Underworld poison, there might be an antidote. Of course, no one would ever ask her husband for help.

In any case, she was also fairly certain that Luke didn't actually know what the poison was, so asking was not going to help anyone at this point.

'What is it?' I asked. 'We'll go find it!'

"That's not very fair," Clarisse grumbled. "You got the last quest."

"It's not a competition," Aphrodite said gently. "It's whoever's best suited for the job. If the quest involves overland hand-to-hand combat, you would be a good candidate. If it invoices oversea travel, Percy would have an advantage and therefore be a better one, especially when the outcome is this desperate."

Clarisse scowled, but could not deny her point.

Will continued, reciting Chiron's warning to Percy and Percy's subsequent arguments, but no one interrupted for a while. Then again, no one had any doubt that Kronos was involved - not when Luke had already confirmed it - so nothing was being said that surprised anyone.

… The poisoning had to be his doing. Who else would be so low as to attack Thalia's tree, the only thing left of a hero who'd given her life to save her friends?

Luke flinched as though the words had been a physical blow.

Piper slid her hand under Jason's gripping it tightly, in case he was going to react, but the punch appeared to be the extent of it.

Annabeth was trying hard not to cry.

Annabeth swallowed hard, feeling tears burning in the back of her eyes and throat. Percy slipped an arm around her waist, kissing her forehead when she slumped against him.

… 'Stay with Percy, child,' he told her. 'Keep him safe. The prophecy - remember it!'

"Still don't know how I was supposed to do that," Annabeth grumbled.

"What, keep me safe?" Percy asked.

"Yes," Annabeth said, with a hint of exasperation. "You have the self-preservation of a lemming."

"You know, lemmings don't actually leap off of cliffs," Percy said.

Annabeth gave him a very dry look. "I know that. I was being metaphorical."

… 'Would this be the super-dangerous prophecy that has me in it, but the gods have forbidden you to tell me about?'

"That's the one," Nico said with false cheeriness, "only it might not be you at all."

No one answered.

'Right,' I muttered. 'Just checking.'

There were a few weak chuckles.

'Chiron …' Annabeth said. 'You told me the gods made you immortal only so long as you were needed to train heroes. If they dismiss you from camp-'

Several people cried out in protest, but Aphrodite tucked her daughter closer to her and said simply, "Most people in Olympus will not agree that Chiron had anything to do with this. He will be alright."

Chiron bowed his head to her. "Thank you, my Lady."

'Swear you will do your best to keep Percy from danger,' he insisted. 'Swear upon the River Styx.'

"Don't do that," Percy and Luke said in unison.

Annabeth pulled a face. "Well, that was weird."

'I-I swear it upon the River Styx,' Annabeth said.

"Okay, you don't have any self-preservation either," Luke said tiredly. "Don't make oaths you might not be able to keep."

"Thank you, Luke," Annabeth said dryly, "but since you were going to be the most likely reason I couldn't keep it, you don't get a vote."

Percy winced on Luke's behalf. "Ouch."

… 'Perhaps my name will be cleared and I shall return … In any event, I will stay in exile until this matter is resolved … one way or another.'

Will stiffened, but relaxed almost immediately. "Sorry," he said, when several people turned to him. "She moved, but she's stopped again, so it's not a seizure. Unless I start panicking, don't worry."

"Easier said than done," Luke muttered, still giving his future self a dirty look

… I must entrust your safety to Mr D and the new activities director. We must hope … well, perhaps they won't destroy camp quite as quickly as I fear.'

"Still beggars belief," Apollo grumbled. "Ridiculous idea … honestly."

'Who is this Tantalus guy, anyway?' I demanded.

Annabeth sighed. "Still haven't learned your mythology?"

"Again," Percy said, "I apologise if I cannot remember every single name and what they're known for. We don't all have a photographic memory." He gave her a smile. "Besides, you always tell me, so I don't need to."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, but couldn't help smiling. "Maybe I'll stop."

"You won't," Percy said. "You enjoy it too much."

'Where does he get off taking your job?'

"That's what I'd like to know," Hermes grumbled.

… 'Go,' Chiron said. 'You will meet him at the pavilion. I will contact your mother, Percy, and let her know you're safe. No doubt she'll be worried by now.

"I should think I started worrying the moment the school called," Sally said. "On saying that, they seem utterly useless at everything else, so maybe they didn't even notice you were gone."

Just remember my warning! You are in grave danger. Do not think for a moment that the titan lord has forgotten you!'

"Can he?" Percy asked dryly. "I don't want to deal with it."

"If you don't, I have to," Nico said. "I'm volunteering you as tribute."

"Technically," Annabeth said, "Percy has to volunteer himself. Also, when did you read that and how long did it take you?"

"Last year," Nico answered. "And not that long. Dyslexia wasn't a thing when I was a kid so I had to learn how to work around it."

With that, he clopped out of the apartment and down the hall, Tyson calling after him 'Pony! Don't go!'

Silena made a little sad noise in her throat, but said nothing.

I realized I'd forgotten to tell Chiron about my dream of Grover.

"Tell Annabeth," Grover said immediately. "At least that's two people figuring it out."

… Tyson began bawling almost as bad as Annabeth.

"I was not bawling," Annabeth protested. "I was crying."

"Is there a difference?" Percy asked, bewildered.

"Of course there is," Annabeth said. "Crying is more dignified."

Percy rolled his eyes. "Either way, I needed to get you some tissues."

I tried to tell them things would be okay, but I didn't believe it.

"Who would?" Chris muttered.

The sun was setting behind the dining pavilion as the campers came up from their cabins.

Will glanced ahead and grinned. "Brace yourself, Percy; you start describing people again."

Percy groaned. "I'm just going to apologise now to anyone I inadvertently offend."

… Annabeth was still pretty shaken up … she went off to join her siblings from the Athena cabin - a dozen boys and girls with blonde hair and grey eyes like hers.

"I seem to have downgraded," Annabeth said teasingly.

Percy rolled his eyes. "I didn't write this!"

… Next came Clarisse … She had one arm in a sling and a nasty-looking gash on her cheek, but otherwise her encounter with the bronze bulls didn't seem to have fazed her.

Aphrodite gave a little sigh of relief; thousands of years of dealing with Ares meant that she knew he rarely worried about his kids - she was fairly sure he cared … maybe … deep down - but she always felt that they deserved someone to worry about them, like a parent, even if they didn't know about it.

So she did it for him.

Some one …

Will paused, choking over a laugh. "How did I not see this?"

Percy thought back. "I think you might have been helping in the infirmary."

"What?" Travis asked eagerly.

Someone had taped a piece of paper to her back that said, YOU MOO, GIRL! …

The Stolls howled with laughter, and even Clarisse cracked a grudging smile. "I'll take it as a compliment," she said. "If I find out who did it, I might change my mind."

… But nobody in her cabin was bothering to tell her about it.

Clarisse rolled her eyes. "There's no respect anymore."

"In fairness," Silena said, "you do have a tendency to shoot the messenger."

After the Ares kids came the Hephaestus cabin - six guys led by Charles Beckendorf …

Travis and Connor gave a little whoop.

"Huh," Beckendorf muttered. "We got another one."

Percy frowned. "When did …?" He trailed off, unable to ask about the sole sister in Cabin 9.

Luckily, Annabeth didn't need him to finish the sentence. "Last summer."

"Oh yeah," Percy said.

… a big fifteen-year-old African American kid. He had hands the size of catchers' mitts and a face that was hard and squinty from looking into a blacksmith's forge all day.

Percy grimaced and began to apologise, but Beckendorf started laughing, something that most people didn't expect.

"That's dead on," he said, grinning.

"It's not very flattering," Percy said apologetically.

Beckendorf shrugged. "Like you said, you didn't write this. It's accurate, so that's okay."

… Rumour was he could make anything. Give him a chunk of metal and he could create … Whatever you wanted.

Piper smiled sadly. Leo had been the same, and she knew he had always been a bit in awe of the older brother he'd never met - rather like her and Silena, only her feelings on the matter were soured by Drew's venom on the subject (she still hadn't quite figured out whether Drew genuinely hated Silena or if she was simply still hurt by the betrayal).

Maybe he was even now swapping ideas and techninques with Beckendorf in Elysium.

Beside her, Jason covered her hand and squeezed. She squeezed back but didn't look at him.

She couldn't.

They had found, since Leo died, that they could hold it together - as long as they weren't looking at each other.

But it was immensely comforting to know that, even without looking at her, he had known exactly what she was thinking (because he was thinking the same thing) and exactly what she needed (because he needed it too).

The other cabins filed in … From the meadow came a dozen satyrs … the Hermes cabin brought up the rear.

"Is that intentional?" Sally asked curiously.

"There isn't really a set arrival order," Luke answered, "but we're usually last - mostly because we have more people to round up but also because I have to check the line going out the door and make sure that no one's carrying anything they shouldn't be, right Travis?"

Travis's eyes grew wide. "Me? Are you talking about me? I'm insulted, Luke. When do I ever have anything on me I shouldn't?"

"Where would you like me to start?" Luke asked dryly.

Last summer, it had been led by Luke … Now the Hermes cabin was led by Travis and Connor Stoll.

The boys gave a whoop and high-fived each other.

Luke looked vaguely worried. "Who's idea was that?"

Annabeth shrugged. "They'd been there the longest, I guess. They do a good job for the most part."

"What about the rest of the time?" Katie asked.

Annabeth smiled. "They try to start a prank war and the two of us team up and remind them why it's a bad idea."

They weren't twins … I could never remember which one was older.

"I am," they both said in unison.

"Travis is," Luke said wearily. "He's got a scar behind his left ear."

"Luke!" Connor protested. "Don't tell them!"

… I'd always thought it was funny that the god of thieves would have kids with the last name 'Stoll' but the only time I mentioned it to Travis and Connor, they both stared at me blankly like they didn't get the joke.

"No, we got it," Travis said. "It just gets old after the first fifty times."

As soon as the last campers had filed in, I led Tyson in … 'Who invited that?' Somebody at the Apollo table murmured.

Will frowned. "He helped keep the Camp safe."

"Most of the campers won't know that," Lee pointed out gently. "They'll just see a monster - sorry, Percy."

Percy shrugged. "It's okay. I get why people weren't happy about it, but I could have done without them saying it to his face."

"Or yours," Annabeth added.

Percy glanced at her. "Annabeth, you were the one who said it to my face. In any case, I could deal with people giving me crap about it. Tyson … he's not … it's like trying to talk to a toddler about existential ideas. He doesn't understand. So, yeah, I'd rather they take it up with me."

Will carried on with the chapter, reading through Mr D's introduction and then Tantalus as well. The more he read, the more tense the atmosphere became.

… 'Oh, go sit down, Johnson,' Dionysus sighed. 'I believe that table over there is yours - the one where no one else ever wants to sit.'

"That's a little unfair," Hera said, frowning. "I was under the impression that campers weren't allowed to sit at tables other than their own."

"We're not," Percy confirmed. "Although Thalia, Nico and I tend to sit at the same table if we're all at Camp, rather than all three of us sitting on our own."

… 'Tyson saved the camp,' I insisted. 'He pounded those bronze bulls. Otherwise they would've burned down this whole place.'

'Yes,' Tantalus sighed, 'and what a pity that would've been.'

Dionysus snickered.

"This is getting ridiculous," Apollo erupted.

"Apollo …" Zeus began.

"Did you not listen about Kronos's methods?!" Apollo demanded. "He's recruiting demigods by convincing them we don't care - do you really think that kind of thing is going to change their minds?"

"Who else was I going to get in?" Dionysus asked.

"Anyone!" Apollo answered. "Anyone other than a man who boiled his own children in a stew!"

"Apollo," Artemis said, her voice lacking the sharpness that usually accompanied her when she spoke to her brother.

Apollo seemed to relax a little, but he still looked upset. "Why not call one of us?"

"There are rules …" Zeus began.

"So we're only allowed near Camp if it's a punishment?" Apollo asked. "How does that work?"

"Apollo," Artemis repeated, reaching over to press her brother's hand. "He is still in the Fields of Punishment. Leave it."

"Easy for you to say," Apollo grumbled. "You don't have kids at Camp."

"I know," Artemis said, her voice still unusually soft. "This isn't going to happen this time."

'Leave us,' Tantalus ordered, 'while we decide this creature's fate.'

"They wouldn't have him killed, would they?" Silena whispered to her mother. "I know that he's technically a monster, but he saved us."

Aphrodite shook her head. "I don't think so. I think the worse case scenario is to order him to leave."

… 'I'll be right over here, big guy,' I promised. 'Don't worry. We'll find you a good place to sleep tonight.'

Sally had been silent for a while. The only thing she was now not happy with about Camp was the way the Camp Director seemed completely uncaring about the wellbeing of the children in his care. Her only consolation was that Chiron was there and he did care, but now he was gone.

And now she had another child to worry about.

Tyson nodded. 'I believe you. You are my friend.'

"Oh," Katie said softly.

Which made me feel a whole lot guiltier.

"It wasn't your fault," Annabeth said quietly.

Percy took her hand, squeezing gently.

… 'Poseidon,' I murmured, 'accept my offering.'

And send me some help while you're at it, I prayed silently. Please.

"Be careful what you wish for," Annabeth murmured with a smile.

Percy nudged her with his shoulder. "Yeah, thanks." He had forgotten that prayer in the immediate aftermath of Tyson's claiming.

… 'Yes, well,' Tantalus said … 'Another fine meal! Or so I am told.'

Will couldn't help grinning as he read about the food scooting away from their temporary director.

'And here on my first day of authority,' he continued, 'I'd like to say what a pleasant form of punishment it is to be here. Over the course of the summer, I hope to torture, er, interact with each and every one of you children. You all look good enough to eat.'

"Any of my children get hurt," Hermes said to Dionysus, his voice pleasant enough, "I'm going to hold you personally responsible."

… 'And now some changes! … We are reinstituting the chariot races!'

"They're doing what now?" Aphrodite asked, startled.

Chiron was frowning. "We stopped doing those for a reason."

"Chariot races?" Sally asked. "They sound harmless enough."

"Not the way we do them," Clarisse said, looking rather concerned. "I mean, I love a bit of bloodthirsty competition, but … what about everything else that's happening? Is it really the time?"

… "Now I know,' Tantalus continued, raising his voice, 'that these races were discontinued some years ago due to, ah, technical problems.'

'Three deaths and twenty-six mutilations,' someone at the Apollo table called.

"Of course," Sally said calmly. "That's the obvious activity for a summer camp."

"At least they were discontinued," Amphitrite said, "although whoever thought that would be a good idea …"

"I think," Hermes said wearily, "that would be the guy that also thought it would be a good idea to have his children for dinner."

"You keep bringing that up," Dionysus said, sounding annoyed.

"You put him in charge of our children," Hermes said. "Of course I keep bringing it up."

'Yes, yes … Teams may register in the morning! Oh, and did I mention, the victorious team's cabin will have no chores for the month in which they win?'

"Oh, he's good," Lee said, sighing. "That'll get rid of almost all objections."

… Then the last person I expected to object did so.

'But sir!' Clarisse said. … 'What about patrol duty? I mean, if we drop everything to ready out chariots-'

"Camp's already not safe," Aphrodite said, frowning. "So Chiron was removed because someone suspected he might have had something to do with the tree - however ridiculous that is - and yet his replacement is making the camp even more vulnerable?"

Even Zeus looked troubled. "At least we know this will not happen this time."

It was the first time he had actually acknowledged that things would change, and that in itself caused several of the gods to relax a little.

'Ah, the hero of the day,' Tantalus exclaimed. 'Brave Clarisse, who single-handedly bested the bronze bulls!'

Clarisse frowned. "But I didn't."

"He's singling you out," Aphrodite said, "which I don't like."

… 'Not to worry, my dear! This is a summer camp. We are here to enjoy ourselves, yes?'

"Normally, I'd agree," Sally said. "But the circumstances seem to suggest that now is not the time. And I wouldn't count an activity that could kill people as particularly enjoyable."

… 'And now … one slight housekeeping issue. Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase have seen fit, for some reason, to bring this here.'

Percy grimaced, shifting in his seat. "I'd forgotten how much I hated him, you know."

… 'Now … Under normal circumstances, I would release this beast into the woods and have you hunt it down with torches and pointed sticks.

Silena looked faintly nauseas. "Some people must have seen what happened on the hill, surely."

Aphrodite patted her hand. "They would have done, but not everything we heard about. It sounds like that's not going to happen."

But who knows? … Until it proves worth of destruction, we need a place to keep it!

Apollo raised an eyebrow. "That's … nice of him."

"No," Percy said. "That was so he could keep rubbing my nose in it."

… Hermes's cabin, possibly?'

"Couldn't even if we wanted to," Travis said promptly. "It's unlikely we can fit a normal sized camper, let alone a Cyclops.'

… Suddenly everybody gasped … All I could do was stare in disbelief at the brilliant green light - a dazzling holographic image that had appeared above Tyson's head.

"When he asked for help," Amphitrite said, "I think he meant get rid of Tantalus."

"I do what I can," Poseidon said, "although the timing may be an issue."

… Being claimed was a rare event.

"It shouldn't be," Apollo grumbled.

Some campers waited in vain for it their whole lives … But now, they followed Tantalus's lead, and Tantalus roared with laughter.

"I think most people were too scared to do anything but," Will said.

'Well! I think we know where to put the beast now. By the gods, I can see the family resemblance!'

"He wasn't completely wrong," Annabeth said fairly. "Aside from the obvious, there are a few physical traits you have in common."

Everybody laughed except Annabeth and a few of my other friends.

"Will, thank you for not laughing," Percy said.

"I was in shock," Will admitted.

Tyson didn't seem to notice … He was too innocent to understand … But I got it.

I had a new cabin mate. I had a monster of a half-brother.

"That's the end of the chapter," Will said.

"I can't remember if I said this," Percy said, more to the floor than anyone in particular, "but I was really horrible to Tyson in the beginning. Not to his face," he added hastily, "or to anyone else for that matter, but in my own head. I was really unfair, and I was wrong. And I don't care what he is. He's my brother."