Alaster POV
The word of the bathroom incident with Percy began to spread practically automatically. Annabeth and I were still dripping wet, but I still can't help but think that he's a son of Poseidon. I mean what are the odds that the prophecy involves a half-blood of the Big Three and Percy, who just so happens to have water powers, shows up at camp.
Annabeth and I showed Percy more places around the camp: the metal shop, the arts-and-crafts room, and the climbing wall.
Finally after a long and uncomfortable time drenched in water, the tour finally came to an end and stopped at the Cabins.
"I've got training to do"Annabeth said flatly.
"So do I"I said just as flatly.
"Dinner's at seven-thirty. Just follow your cabin to the mess hall"Annabeth said
"I'm sorry about the toilets"Percy said
"Whatever"
"Meh"
"It wasn't my fault"
I looked at him, he had to be kidding. How was him making water shoot out of the toilets not his fault?
"You need to talk to the Oracle"Annabeth said
"Who?"
"The Oracle. She's a what, not a who"I said
"I'll ask Chiron"Annabeth said
Percy stared into the lake. I looked to the lake as well.
Oh come on...
There in the lake was two teenage looking girls sitting cross-legged at the base of the pier, about twenty feet below. They wore blue jeans and shimmering green t-shirts, and their brown hair floated loosely around their shoulders as minnows darted in and out. They smiled and waved at Percy.
Naiads.
Percy waved back but I pushed his hand down.
"Don't encourage them,"Annabeth warned. "Naiads are terrible flirts."
"Naiads,"Percy repeated. "That's it. I want to go home now"
I rolled my eyes. "You still don't get it, do you? You are home, Jackson. This is the only place on earth where you're safe, where kids like us are safe"
"You mean, mentally disturbed kids?"
"No. I mean not human. Not totally human. Half-human"I said
"Half-human and half-what?"
"I think you should know by now"I said
Percy paused. He should know it by now, maybe he just didn't want to admit it."God. Half-god"
Annabeth and I nodded. "Your father isn't dead, Percy. He's one of the Olympians"
"That's...crazy"
"Really? Is it? What's the most common thing gods did in the old stories? They went around falling in love with mortals and had children with them. Do you think they've changed over the millennia?"I said
"But those are just-"Percy cut himself off. "But if all the kids here are half-gods—"
"Demigods,"Annabeth said. "That's the official term. Or half-blood"
"Then who're your dads?"
Annabeth's hands tightened around the pier railing. Eugh...that's a very touchy subject for her. I pray for Percy, honestly.
"Cabin one"I said
"Meaning?"Percy said
"Zeus. God of the sky, thunder, lightning, kingship, honor, and justice"I said
"My dad is a professor at West Point,"Annabeth said. "I haven't seen him since I was very small. He teaches American history"
"He's human"Percy said
"What? You assume it has to be a male god who finds a female attractive? How sexist is that?"
"Who're your moms, then?"Percy said
I was kind of expecting the question...but I'm not going to talk about my failure of a mother.
"None of your business"I said
"Cabin six"Annabeth said
"And that is?"
Annabeth straightened. "Athena. Goddess of wisdom and battle"
"And my dad?"Percy said
"It's undetermined. No one knows yet"I said
"Except my mother. She knew"Percy said
"Maybe not, Percy. Gods don't always reveal their identities"Annabeth said
"My dad would have. He loved her"Percy said
"Maybe he did. Maybe he'll send you a sign. Like a big billboard that has YOUR MY SON on it"I said
"You have to wait for your father to claim you. That's the only way. Sometimes it happens"Annabeth said
"You mean sometimes it doesn't?"
I clenched my fists. "The gods are...let's just say occupied. They have a lot of kids and they don't usually...they don't usually care about their kids. They ignore us until we're worthy in their eyes"
Just then I felt a wave of guilt, all those unclaimed demigods in the Hermes Cabin, not being seen as worthy enough in the eyes of their parent.
"So I'm stuck here,"Percy said. "That's it? For the rest of my life?"
"It depends,"Annabeth said. "Some campers only stay the summer. If you're a child of Aphrodite or Demeter, you're probably not a real powerful force. The monsters might ignore you, so you can get by with a few months of summer training and live in the mortal world the rest of the year. But for some of us-"
"Especially kids like me, children of the Big Three"I said
Annabeth resumed. "But for some us, it's too dangerous to leave. We're year-rounders. In the mortal world, we attract monsters. They sense us. They come to challenge us. Most of the time, they'll ignore us until we're old enough to cause trouble-about ten or eleven years old, but after that, most demigods either make their way here, or they get killed off. A few manage tips survive in the outside world and become famous. Believe me, if I told you the names, you'd know them. Some don't even realize they're demigods. But very, very few are like that"
"So monsters can't get in here?"Percy asked
I shook my head. "Not unless someone summons them or they're stocked in the woods"
"Why would anybody want to summon a monster?"Percy asked
"Practice fights. Practical jokes"Annabeth said
"Practical jokes?"Percy said
"The point is, the borders are sealed to keep mortals and monsters out. From the outside, mortals look into the valley and see nothing strange, just a strawberry farm"I said...
"So...you both are year-rounders?"Percy asked
We nodded. Annabeth and I took, from under the collar of our t-shirts, leather necklaces with five clay beads of different colors.
"We've been here since we were seven,"she said. "Every August, on the last day of summer session, you get a head for surviving another year. We've been here longer than most of the counselors, and they're all in college"
"Why did you come so young?"
I thought back to that night...that night that Jason...the night my mother-the night Thalia and I ran away.
"None of your business"Annabeth and I said in unison.
"Oh."We all stood for a minute in uncomfortable silence before Percy spoke up again. "So...I could just walk out of here right now if I wanted to?"
"It'd be suicide, but you can"I said
"You need Mr. D's or Chiron's permission. But they would've give permission until the end of the summer session unless..."Annabeth said
"Unless?"Percy said
"Unless you were granted a quest. But that hardly ever happens. I've gone on a quest before, it's not all that's cracked up to be, but I got an epic reward from Hephaestus for it"I said
Percy turned to Annabeth. "Back in the sick room, when you were feeding me that stuff—"
"Ambrosia"
"Yeah. You asked me something about the summer solstice"Percy said
Annabeth's shoulders tensed."So you do know something?"
"Well...no. Back at my old school, I overheard Grover and Chiron talking about it. Grover mentioned the summer solstice. He said something like we didn't have much time, because of the deadline. What did that mean?"Percy said
Annabeth clenched her fists. "I wish I knew. Chiron and the satyrs, they know, but they won't tell me. Something is wrong in Olympus, something pretty major. Last time I was there, everything seemed so normal"
"You've been to Olympus?"Percy asked
"We've both been. I've been to Olympus twice, the first time was when I finished my quest"I said
"And some of us year-rounders—Luke and Clarisse and Alaster and I and a few others—we took a field trip during winter solstice. That's when the gods have their big annual council"
"But...how did you get there?"Percy asked
"The Long Island Railroad. You get off at Penn Station. Empire State Building, special elevator to the six hundredth floor. You are a New Yorker, right?"
"Oh, sure"Percy said
"Right after we visited, the weather got weird"I said. "The gods started fighting. Ever since then I've been having dreams...dreams that involve my Dad..."
"I've overheard the satyrs talking. The best I can figure out is that something important was stolen. And if it isn't returned by summer solstice, there's going to be trouble. When you came, I was hoping...I mean—Athena can get along with just about anybody, except for Ares. And of course she's got the rivalry with Poseidon. But, I mean, aside from that, I thought we could work together. I thought you might know something"
Percy shook his head.
"I've got to get a quest"Annabeth muttered to herself. "I'm not too young. If they would just tell me the problem..."
"I need to go too. If this has something to do with my Dad then I need to go"I said
GROWL!
Percy's stomach growled.
"Go on. We'll catch up with you later"I said
Percy nodded and left.
"All right. I guess I'll see you around. Have a nice life"I said before walking away from Annabeth.
Once it was time for dinner I headed towards the pavilion. Since I was the only Zeus camper I didn't have to make anyone fall in a line and follow me.
I marched up the hill towards the mess hall pavilion. The satyrs joined the Cabin members along with the Naiads and Dryads. There was also a little girl who was about nine or ten years old who was skipping up the hill. It was strange, over the past five years I've been here she's never looked older than nine or ten.
At the pavilion, torches blazed around the marble columns. A central fire burned in a bronze brazier the size of a bathtub. Each cabin had its own table, covered in white cloth trimmed purple.
Three of the tables were empty: Hera, Artemis, and Poseidon.
I sat down at table one alone.
Chiron pounded his hood against the marble floor of the pavilion, and everybody fell silent. He raised a glass: "To the gods!"
Everyone else, including me, raised their glasses. "To the gods!"
The wood nymphs came forward with platters of food: grapes, apples, strawberries, cheese, fresh bread, steak, mashed potatoes, and barbecue. My glass was empty, but I knew what to do. All I had to do was tell it what type of drink I wanted.
"Gold Pepsi"I said, the glass immediately filled with fizzing Pepsi which was a golden color. The color doesn't affect the taste of the drink at all, it's more of a design if anything else.
I drank a toast to my late sister and brother, like every other dinner and got up with everyone else to put a portion of my food in fire that was at the center of the pavilion.
I had to put a portion of my food into the fire for the gods, they like the smell of it.
I approached the fire, bowed my head and scraped some mashed potatoes and grapes into the fire. "Zeus"
I walked back to the Cabin One table and began eating. Once I finished eating along with everyone else, Chiron pounded his hoof again for our attention.
Mr. D got up with a huge sigh. "Yes, I suppose I'd better say hello to all you brats. Well, hello. Our activities director, Chiron, says the next capture the flag is Friday. Cabin five presently holds the laurels"
Ugly cheering emerged from the Ares table.
"Personally,"Mr. D continued, "I couldn't care less, but congratulations. Also, I should tell you that we have a new camper today. Peter Johnson"
Chiron murmured something.
"Er, Percy Jackson"Mr. D corrected. "That's right. Hurrah, and all that. Now run along to your silly campfire. Go on"
Everyone cheered. We all headed down towards the amphitheater, where the Apollo Cabin, as always, led the sing-along. We sang camp songs about the gods and ate s'mores and joked around, well more everyone else than me. I was never really one for sing-alongs personally.
When the sparks from the campfire were curling into a starry sky, the conch horn blew again, and we all filed back to our cabins.
I walked into the Zeus Cabin and was immediately welcomed by the ten foot statue of my dad. I took off my leather jacket, pants, combat boots, my t-shirt, spiked bracelets, and earring.
I put on my white t-shirt that had a lightning bolt on it and plopped onto my bed. I don't know why...but I had a feeling that things were gonna be much interesting from here on out.
The next few days I trained for Capture the Flag. I took Annabeth's advice and began training with others, and I won every single time. Once or twice everyday I'd challenge Annabeth...and lose, but I did much better than I did the first time.
On the day where Capture the Flag was supposed to commence I was walking when I came to a stop.
"Seventeen years ago, Zeus fell off the wagon. There was this TV starlet with a big fluffy eighties hairdo-he just couldn't help himself. When their child was born, a little girl named Thalia was born, and six years later...a boy named Alaster was born as well..."
I looked around silently and saw that it was Grover, he was talking to Percy...
"Zeus himself got off easy because he's immortal, but he brought a terrible fate on his daughter and son"
"But that isn't fair! It wasn't their fault!"
"Percy, children of the Big Three have powers greater than other half-bloods. They have a strong aura, a scent that attracts monsters. When Hades found out about the girl and the boy, he wasn't too happy about Zeus breaking his oath. Hades let out the worst monsters out of Tartarus to torment Thalia and Alaster. A satyr was assigned to be their keeper when she was twelve and he was seven, but there was nothing he could do. He tried to escort them here with a couple of other half-bloods they'd befriended. They almost made it. They got all the way to the top of that hill"
Grover pointed across the valley, right at the pine tree where Thalia had sacrificed herself. "All three Kindly Ones were after them, along with a hoard of hellhounds. They were about to be overrun when Thalia told her satyrs to take the two half-bloods and her brother to safety while she held off the monsters. Alaster refused to go and had to be dragged away.
The satyr didn't want to leave her, but he couldn't change her mind, and he had to protect the others. So Thalia made her final stand alone, at the top of that hill while her brother cried and watched her die. As she died, Zeus took pity on her. He turned her into that pine tree. Her spirit still helps protect the borders of the valley. That's why the hill is called Half-Blood Hill"
I clenched my fists, I remembered that all too well. I was weak back then, I couldn't do anything without Thalia's help. When I got my first quest I was over the moon, I had thought that I would finally get to do something all myself to prove myself as a true Son of Zeus. But I had to take two others with me. I chose to take Charles Beckendorf and Silena Beauregard.
It's true that I led the quest...but I still wanted to do something to prove myself.
I walked away towards the Archery Field.
This night after dinner, there was much more excitement in the air.
It was finally time for Capture the Flag.
I stood at my table and cheered as Annabeth and two of her siblings ran into the pavilion carrying a silk banner. It was ten feet long, glistening gray, with a painting of a barn owl above an olive tree.
Coming from the opposite side of the pavilion, Clarisse and her goons ran in with a banner, the same size, but gaudy red, painted with a bloody spear and a boar's head.
Those were the flags.
Since I had lost my fight with Annabeth, I was on her team, which this time Athena was leading.
The teams have been announced. Athena made an alliance with Apollo, Hermes, and Zeus (of course) the two biggest cabins and the cabin which held the strongest demigod in all of camp.
Ares allied themselves with Dionysus, Demeter, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus. It wasn't a bad line up especially with Aphrodite. Drew Tanaka and Silena both had the ability to Charmspeak, which makes them very worthy adversaries, I'm not too worried about Demeter power-wise. Hephaestus and Dionysus might be a problem as well.
Chiron hammered his hooves on the marble. "Heroes! You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game. All magic items are allowed. The banner must be prominently displayed, and have no more , than two guards. Prisoners may be disarmed, but not be bound or gagged. No killing or maiming is allowed. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. Arm yourselves!"
Chiron spread his hands, and the tables were then covered with equipment: helmets, bronze swords, spears, oxhide shields coated in metal.
I grabbed a helmet with a blue plume and put on my head, I put on a chest plate and uncapped the orange side of my highlighter and my spear expanded from it. I pressed the ring on my finger and Aegis appeared.
Once I got all ready I saw Annabeth. I still didn't know what my position was going to be so I walked over to her and asked her.
"You're with Luke"Annabeth said
My eyes widened. "What!? Why am I with Luke!?"
"It's all apart of the plan. Don't worry about it"Annabeth said
"I don't want to work with him"I said. "I haven't even spoken to the guy in like...two years"
I was ignored. "Blue team, forward!"
I groaned as everyone else cheered and shook our swords and weapons and followed Annabeth down the path to the south woods.
I walked until I saw Luke and stood next to him.
"Hello?"Luke said, almost like he was surprised.
"Hi"I said
"I'm taking this is part of Annabeth's plan?"Luke asked
"Yup. I'm supposed to go with you or something"I said
"We're supposed to go around the flank"Luke said. "Clarisse-"
"Clarisse's gonna go after Percy for payback, isn't she?"I asked
Luke nodded.
"Of course she is. She's predictable like that"I said
We finally stopped walking a few moments later we all turned heel, preparing for the sound of the conch.
A few moments later, the conch blew.
I let out a battle cry as I charged forward. But soon I realized that I was supposed to follow Luke, great, I'd miss out on all the fun.
I ran around and looked desperately for about a minute or two, but I finally found him. I ran after him. I ran as fast as I could and eventually I was right next to him.
"They're not gonna let us get through them easily!"I said
"So, you got a plan?"Luke said...which was really unlike him, he's almost never asked me if I've got some sort of plan...that's weird...really weird.
"Um..."I tried to think of something as we ran. "Okay! So once we take out the two guards and we get the flag, we'll charge at them while we run back. I'll use my wind and lightning powers to make a path for you, once the path is clear then you can make it back"
We ran for a few more moments before we finally found where the flag was. There was indeed two guards.
"We attack on two different sides. Me from the back and you on the front. I'll take down both of them with lightning while you grab the flag and then we get out of there as soon as possible"I said
"All right"Luke said
I quietly moved to the back of them and I looked right at Luke. I nodded and we both jumped at them.
I summoned lightning, not enough to kill them, just to make them not conscious for a little while. The two guards immediately fell down to the ground and Luke grabbed the flag.
"All right let's go!"I yelled
We ran as fast as we could. It wasn't long though when two kids from both Hephaestus and Ares cabin charged at us.
I took in a deep breath and blew out a strong wind, blowing all four of them off their feet.
More campers charged at us, I was able to blow some away, I was able to knock some of them on the ground with my spear and Aegis. Soon enough though, reinforcements from Hermes and Apollo cabin emerged to help.
Luke kept running with the Hermes and Apollo campers while I kept our enemies occupied.
"A trick!"Clarisse shouted. "It was a trick"
Clarisse and other Ares campers staggered after Luke, but it was already took late. Everyone, including me converged on the creek as Luke ran across into friendly territory.
I exploded into cheers along with my side as the red banner shimmered and turned into silver. The boat and spear were replaced with a huge Caduceus, the symbol of Hermes Cabin.
Capture the Flag was over. We won.
I looked around and saw Percy trying to get out of the creek. I walked towards him to try and help him out.
"Need a little hand?"I asked
"Not bad, hero"Annabeth's voice emerged, but she wasn't there. "Where the heck did you learn to fight like that?"
The air shimmered and she appeared holding her Yankees baseball cap that she must've just taken off her head.
You set me up"Percy said, I could sense him getting a bit angry. "You put me here because you knew Clarisse would come after me, while you sent Luke around the flank. You had it all figured out"
Annabeth shrugged. "I told you. Athena always has a plan"
"A plan to get me pulverized"Percy said
"I came as fast as I could. I was about to jump in but..."She shrugged. "You didn't need help"
Wait...Did Percy just beat Clarisse?
"How did you do that?"I asked when I realized something else...something that must've been a sword cut on his arm...it was healing.
"Sword cut,"Percy said. "What do you think?"
"No. It was a sword cut. Look at it"Annabeth said
Percy looked at his scar...it got smaller and smaller until it disappeared.
"I-I don't get it"Percy said
Oh gods...Percy's in water, he's healing in water.
"Step out of the water, Percy"Annabeth said
"What-"
"Just do it"
Percy came out of the creek and almost fell over.
"Oh, Styx"Annabeth cursed. "This is not good. I didn't want...I assumed..."
Before she could say anything else, a canine growl emerged. A howl ripped through the forest and the cheering from the campers died instantly.
My eyes widened as I saw what it was. On top of the rocks just about us was a black hellhound that that the size of a rhino, with lava-red eyes and fangs like daggers.
It was looking right at Percy...
I held up Aegis and my spear.
"Percy, run!"Annabeth yelled
I went to attack but the hellhound jumped right over me. I turned heel immediately and ran after it.
The hellhound pounced on Percy. I didn't know what came over me but I ran and jumped into the air with a battle cry. As I plummeted, I thrusted the spear right through the hellhound's head.
As I took it out, the hound fell dead.
"Di immortales!"Annabeth said. "That's a hellhound from the Fields of Punishment. They don't...they're not supposed to..."
Luke came over, the banner in his hand forgotten.
"It's all Percy's fault! Percy summoned it!"Clarisse yelled
"Oh shut up, Clarisse. When would he have had the time? When you and your goons were trying to take his head off?"I said
"Be quiet, children"Chiron said
We all watched as the body of the hellhound melted into shadow, soaking into the ground until it was gone:
"You're wounded"Annabeth told Percy. "Quick, Percy, get in the water"
"I'm okay"Percy said
"No, you're not"Annabeth said, I looked closely and I say multiple cuts on Percy's chest. "Chiron, watch this"
Percy stepped back into the creek, the whole camp gathered around.
The cuts that were on Percy's chest began to close up. Campers gasped at the sight.
But then something else happened. Something was glowing...it was a glowing green Trident.
"I knew it"I said in awe.
"Look, I—I don't know why"Percy said. "I'm sorry..."
"Your father,"Annabeth murmured. "This is really not good"
"It is determined,"Chiron announced.
The campers, including me, began to kneel.
"My father?"Percy asked, bewildered.
"Poseidon"Chiron said. "Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God"