The walk back was weird, in a way. No one seemed to suspect what we did in the woods, which isn't surprising since it's Clarisse. No, the weird part was me knowing what we did in the woods and that it was only a matter of time until everyone found out. That was going to be awkward, no doubt. I could imagine the reactions even now...
Clarisse and Percy are together?! It's doomsday!
Soon after passing by the cabins we were back at the Big House. I then knocked on the door, a moment later Annabeth appeared, opening said door.
"Took you awhile, Seaweed Brain. Everyone else has left already to prepare for dinner." She said before noticing Clarisse. "Hey Clarisse, I'm glad to see you doing better. Percy helped you, right?"
"You could say that." Clarisse responded with a mischievous smirk.
Annabeth had a peculiar look in her eyes, as if trying to decode what Clarisse just said. She glanced between the two of us a few times, her eyes widening further and further each time.
"No way... you mean, you actually did it, Percy?" Annabeth whispered, dumbstruck.
"He sure did. Hello, sister." Clarisse replied smugly, placing an arm around my neck.
"Oh my gods...!" Annabeth muttered, her eyes wide as saucers and her jaw threatening to fall off.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen Annabeth completely speechless.
"Yeah, I'm still trying to process it as well," I admitted, unable to meet her eyes. "So uh, is the interrogation over?"
Annabeth recomposed herself and nodded. "Yeah, Reyna finished a while ago. I was actually about to go out and find you, but..."
She didn't finish whatever she was about to say, instead going silent and looking between the two of us like we were figurative unicorns.
Jeez, if Annabeth of all people is this stupefied, I can't even imagine how the rest will react when they find out.
"Well, I'm back, so tell me everything," I said before I remembered something. "Oh, but first, what happened with Katie? Is she ok?"
Annabeth then stepped outside, closed the door behind her, and leaned against the railing of the Big House.
"Katie should be ok, she was so happy to be proven innocent but also upset that everyone thought she tried to kill them all. It took some time, but she eventually calmed down and thanked me. Oh, she also asked me to tell you that she wishes to thank you in person. What that entails, I don't know." Annabeth detailed, making a face at the last part.
I immediately caught the meaning behind that reaction and blushed. "I—uh, doubt it's that, but I'll make sure to stop by the Demeter cabin tomorrow."
Annabeth huffed and crossed her arms. "Well, you technically still need one more. Tomorrow is the last day, and if you ask me, it looks like you're spoiled for choice between Katie and Piper."
"What if both offer? Do I say no to one?" I asked.
"Yes!"
"No more!"
Annabeth and Clarisse exchanged looks of understanding.
Oh no, they're communicating...
"I get it, but I'd feel like a real jerk. I'll tell you what: I'll only ask Piper, not Katie. However, if Katie asks to join, I'll let her. Is that fair?" I offered, glancing between the two hyper jealous girls.
"Why do you suddenly want to add more than necessary, Percy?!" Annabeth demanded angrily.
"I don't! I'm just being fair here! What am I supposed to say if both want to join? 'Sorry, only six are allowed'? Come on, it's not like I'm forcing anyone to join either, everyone who has joined did it because they love me," I argued back, crossing my arms. "Once the requirement is met, I'll have no reason to go after more girls anyways."
"Fine! But these two better be the last! No more after them, understand me?! I have enough girls trying to steal you from me as is!" Annabeth hissed at me.
"Ok, just calm down!" I snapped at her. "I doubt any others will even show interest, so you shouldn't need to worry."
"With how much of a womanizer you are, Percy? Please, it's only a matter of time until more try to join! If you somehow managed to convince Clarisse—no offense, Clarisse—then you can charm any other girl!" Annabeth rebutted, her knuckles turning white from how tightly she was gripping the wood railing.
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not a womanizer, come on."
Annabeth and Clarisse raised their eyebrows and exchanged glances.
"You currently have five chicks—likely soon to be seven—all in your personal harem because they like you. What else do you call that, Percy?" Annabeth asked me with a glare.
"That doesn't make me a womanizer! I have no control over how others feel about me, it just happens that way! Come on, you know I never tried to put the moves on another girl before this harem insanity, Annabeth!" I defended myself.
Annabeth then sighed in frustration. "I know you've been loyal, Percy. I'm sorry for getting so mad, it's just... you won't be spending as much time with me as I'd like as is, and our time together is going to keep getting smaller with every girl that joins."
I walked over and pulled her into a big, warm hug. "Annabeth, I'll always find time for you. Everyone else knows you're my number one, hell, everyone else bar Clarisse has admitted to being jealous of you. Don't ever think I'm going to neglect you, because I won't."
"I'm so angry with myself for even making you think you need to say that, Percy. Maybe my fatal flaw is jealousy, not hubris." She said in disgust at her actions.
"It's ok, Annabeth. It hasn't even been a week, it's likely going to take some time before we can adjust to this, assuming we ever do," I whispered softly. "I'm not really comfortable with it either yet, so don't be too hard on yourself. I'll promise you this: I won't try to recruit anymore girls into the harem, after tomorrow that is. I won't have a reason to anyways."
"That's a relief, Percy, but... what if more want to join? You have to admit you are popular with the ladies, you can't seem to stop attracting them." Annabeth said with a worried face as she looked into my eyes.
"I'll just say no. I doubt anyone else would even want to join, I certainly can't think of another girl that has an interest in me." I reassured her.
Annabeth then pulled away, gave me a look, and pointed at Clarisse. "Who's that, then? Because last I checked, you two used to hate each other."
I coughed into my fist while Clarisse blushed just slightly.
Why does she always have to be right, damnit...?!
"Ok, you've got a point. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do if another asked to join. If I wasn't sure they actually loved me, I probably would turn them down." I muttered sheepishly.
"What if it was Thalia?" Annabeth asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Thalia would never want to, she's with Artemis, come on," I deflected with a hand wave. "She also definitely doesn't love me, she literally jumped ship to the Hunters to avoid being the child of prophecy and pushed it onto me instead."
"Don't avoid the question, Percy!" Annabeth snapped at me. "What if it was Thalia?"
I gulped.
"...I'd probably say yes." I answered quietly before composing myself and glaring at her. "But that's not a fair question and you know it! Thalia would never break her oath! Even if she did, she's a good friend and I would be hard pressed to say no to seeing her more!"
"She wouldn't be just a friend at that point, Percy," Annabeth responded. "Also, how do you know she doesn't like you in that way? A few days ago you would have never thought Clarisse or Piper liked you either!"
"What do you want me to say, Annabeth? The whole point of this harem—according to my dad—is to give us all a way to be immortal together! I'm stuck with it, so are you! Would it really upset you if your best friend wanted to join? The likelihood of her doing so is zero anyways!" I shouted back at her, feeling annoyed.
Annabeth breathed in deeply and exhaled before looking back at me. "I guess I wouldn't be completely upset to see Thalia more often, if such a thing were to occur... Damnit, I'm doing it again! Why can't I control myself?!"
I moved to Annabeth's side and draped an arm around her shoulders.
"You've never needed to reign in your jealousy before, so it's untamed, I think. It'll be hard for you, but like I said, you'll manage it eventually. Also, I meant what I said about my promise; after tomorrow I'm not going to go after more girls, they'll have to come to me if they're interested. The way I see it, I have enough women in my life now as is." I promised her, though I knew she was right about me being popular with girls, so the chances of another girl never wanting to join again were likely zero, but I could hope.
"It's a good thing you're here to keep me in line, Seaweed Brain." She uttered softly, her head leaning against my shoulder.
"By Ares himself, the sexual tension between you two can be cut with a knife. Maybe you'll be less wound up if you just slept together." Came the aggressive voice of Clarisse as she leaned her shoulder against the wooden support beam, her arms and legs crossed.
"Is sex all you think about now? I thought your whole deal was combat and strength and stuff." I said dryly, a blush spreading across my and Annabeth's faces.
"Hey, I'm just saying. It's a good stress reliever." She said casually. "Plus, the sooner you two do it the sooner I get a turn."
Annabeth gasped while I groaned. "Clarisse, I thought I asked you not to bring that up until it was appropriate? You may be a sex addict, but we're not. We'll do it when we feel it's appropriate and not a second sooner."
"Considering we have the second step of the harem coming, there's a good chance that time will be soon..." Annabeth quietly announced, making me groan while Clarisse pumped her fist in the air.
"Do you really think it will involve sex, Annabeth? What if it's like, I don't know, I need to find a mansion for all of us to live in or something?" I suggested hopefully.
"Hera's tits! I've never seen a guy more afraid of sex than you, Percy! At least Chris showed interest in it, even if he was old fashioned, but you act like it would ruin your life! Grow a pair!" Clarisse barked at me, annoyed with my shrewdness.
"While I wouldn't phrase it like that, I agree with the sentiment, Percy. If this second step doesn't involve sex, then I don't know what it could be. I doubt it's what you suggested though, the gods likely already have a place for us to live in, they're just waiting for the deadline if I were to wager on it," Annabeth said, biting her lip in thought. "You need to accept that there's a strong possibility we'll be doing it very soon."
I facepalmed at their words. "I'm not afraid of sex! It's just that, well, we never really discussed it before this, Annabeth. Also, we aren't even technically legal, I just turned seventeen recently! That's why it bothers me, not because I think girls have cooties or something silly!"
"Technically, we're overaged by Ancient Greece standards." Annabeth softly corrected me.
"We don't live in Ancient Greece, Annabeth." I deadpanned at her.
"No, but the gods still abide by the rules from there, for the most part."
"What if I get one of the girls pregnant?! I'm not ready to be a dad at my age!"
"Aww, the great Percy Jackson is afraid of a baby?" Clarisse snorted at me. "Relax, Lover Boy, I'm sure we can get condoms if it really bothers you."
"We're also going to be this age forever appearance-wise, Percy. This may not be the time, but I do want kids eventually." Annabeth admitted the last sentence in an almost inaudible mumble, her face looking sunburnt from how red it was.
I felt my own face get hot. "I do too, but... we're so young still. Also, surely we won't be stuck as teenagers forever, right? I'd like to at least look twenty if I'm going to be a dad one day."
Annabeth shrugged. "I don't really know how immortality works, so I can't answer that. I'm assuming we can age up, I mean, the gods weren't born as adults."
I let out a sigh of relief. "You're right, I forgot about that. I definitely don't want to be stuck under the drinking age for all eternity, that would suck."
The conversation died off after that, thankfully. We remained in silence for a brief time before I decided to ask the big question.
"Alright, tell me how the interrogation went. What was Chris's full story?" I asked Annabeth with a serious face. "I already know about him being tricked by the Dealer guy, so you can skip that part."
She took a deep breath before speaking. "Ok, so... after Chris was tricked, the Dealer gave him a baggie containing a substance. The being then told Chris he needed to make sure you consumed it, and it could be done in any way. The Dealer explained it was magical, so Chris didn't need to force feed you it or anything like that. Instead the thing said Chris could turn it into a drink or put it into food or even burn it and let it's essence be absorbed into something."
"So that confirms Reyna's theory then, it was used like incense." I said quietly before motioning for her to continue.
"Right. So after that, the Dealer then told Chris it was your birthday a day from then, so it was likely you were going to get a cake or something and that's how Chris can make his move. Chris asked what if we weren't at camp on your birthday, but the Dealer assured him that we would be without a shadow of a doubt. Since we were at Camp Jupiter at this time, Chris could only wait for us to return. The day after when we did return, Chris silently followed me around, as he guessed if anyone was going to give you a birthday cake, it would be me. Obviously, he ended up being right as he caught me talking to Katie about the pies. Chris then waited for Katie to start making said pies, specifically for when she started on yours, watching through the windows of the cabin. He admitted that he would have knocked out Katie if needed, but she happened to leave the cabin to go to the bathroom after putting your pie in the oven. Chris then snuck inside, opened the oven, put the substance in, and left." Annabeth finished with a loud inhale and exhale.
"What's being done about Chris? Is he going to be allowed back into camp or what? It's clear he was forced into this." I asked.
"Chiron didn't feel comfortable releasing Chris into camp as he felt many would try to attack or even kill him, so he instead sent him away to Camp Jupiter. He already contacted the praetors and explained the situation, and they vowed to watch him. So, to sum it up: Chris is now living in Camp Jupiter for the foreseeable future." She explained, causing me to sigh in relief.
"Well, at least he isn't being punished, though I guess in a way this is kind of like an exile," I frowned, feeling bad for the son of Hermes. "He'll probably be forced to join the legion, but he'll be ok."
Clarisse then reminded us of her presence by groaning. "If only that idiot didn't give in to his fears... well, at least I can take solace in the fact that he's going to be safe."
I jogged over and put an arm around Clarisse, who laid her head on my shoulder. I gave her a small hug of comfort as she stared out into space.
"I know this is hard for you, but things will work out in the end. Chris will be fine, maybe one day you two can meet up and set things right." I whispered with care.
"Maybe one day, but right now, I'm pretty happy with where I am." She softly spoke while smiling at me.
I heard a cough and turned to see Annabeth looking straight into my soul.
All these years later yet her stare is still scary at times...
I spread my other arm and gestured for her to come and join the group hug. She looked at me as she bit her thumb before hesitantly walking over and snuggling up against my side as I placed my other arm around her.
Ok, now this is nice. We should do group hugs more often...
I then closed my eyes to enjoy the warmth of the two girls embracing me. However, they shot open a moment later as I had another important question regarding the interrogation pop into my mind, turning my head towards Annabeth.
"What was the substance you mentioned?" I asked.
"I don't know, Chris didn't get an answer when he asked. He only said it looked like a dark purple mass and it smelled really bad." Annabeth answered with a frown.
Well, it did smell awful in the oven...
"Does it really matter what it was? The identity of the freak who gave it to Chris matters more!" Clarisse interjected angrily.
"If we knew what they used on me, it could help us find out who is behind all this," I extrapolated before sighing. "But, it looks like that won't be happening anytime soon. Another dead end, ugh."
"They'll slip up eventually, Percy. No one is perfect, even my mother makes mistakes." Annabeth comforted me, kissing my cheek.
"Better hope they slip up before one of us is killed..." I mumbled. "We've had too many close calls as is."
"Well, their first plan already failed. They tried to make sure you didn't meet the deadline, remember? That is, unless you somehow manage to fumble both Katie and Piper, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth lightly mocked me, smirking.
"Oh, you just say the sweetest things!" I snarked back as I moved my arms to pinch both of her cheeks, making her giggle in pain and amusement.
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry!" She laughed before wincing in pain as I let go of her cheeks. "But honestly, even though I'd prefer if you just got one of them, I'd be foolish to think there was no chance you'll get both to join. Your boyish charm can make any girl swoon, even if you don't mean to, Percy."
"Is that a nicer way of calling me a womanizer again?" I asked with a suspicious glance.
"Well, you are one, even if unintentionally." She replied coyly. "I mean, like I already said, you somehow managed to seduce Clarisse of all girls here. I don't know how, but that's pretty good evidence."
"Hey, that's different, she already liked me! Tell her, Clarisse!" I said as I turned my head to the war demigoddess.
"Ah, I don't know what you mean, Percy. Annabeth is right, I was utterly helpless against you; how could you take advantage of an innocent maiden like me?" Clarisse mocked me as she put on a fake sad face, earning a groan and a giggle from me and Annabeth respectively.
"'Innocent maiden', huh?" I grumbled as they both laughed.
Actually, speaking of maidens...
"Did the Hunters ever visit, Annabeth? I remember when I spoke to Nico before I went crazy that he said the Hunters were coming within a day or two." I inquired.
Annabeth shook her head. "No, they didn't. When I talked to Nico after you were knocked out, he contacted Bianca and told her the camp was currently in disarray. She then told Artemis and they postponed their visit until the repairs were finished."
"Nico didn't tell her what happened?" I wondered in confusion.
"I asked him the same thing and his reasoning was that it would make you look bad if he told them you went berserk and tried to kill everyone. He promised Bianca he'd explain everything once they met in person again." Annabeth explained.
Thank you, Nico!
"I need to thank Nico when I next see him. Last thing I needed was to make Artemis go from begrudgingly respecting me to viewing me as an enemy." I said, relieved.
"Bleh, I'm glad those high and mighty bitches didn't visit, the last time I met them I wanted to strangle every single one." Clarisse grumbled, a scowl appearing on her face as she recalled the encounter.
Annabeth casted a glare at Clarisse for her comment. "My best friend is in the Hunt, and she is most definitely not what you said, Clarisse."
Clarisse snorted and glared back. "The Hunters don't care about anyone but themselves, the worst of them is their leader, Artemis. They're stuck up, pompous, entitled, and every other negative thing I can think of! Not to mention they're sexist for no reason! Only weaklings and cowards join the Hunt, that's a fact!"
"What did you say?!" Annabeth hissed as she left my side and stomped in front of Clarisse, furious.
Things were going so well...
"Easy ladies..." I cautioned as I quickly got between them. "No need to get confrontational."
"You're siding with her, Percy?! She just called Thalia a coward!" Annabeth raged, her fists balled tightly.
"Hah, because he knows she is! Remember what he said earlier? Thalia ran like a coward from the prophecy and only joined the Hunters to escape it, forcing Percy to bear the burden in her place! You think that's heroic?!" Clarisse sneered at her.
Annabeth was visibly shaking with fury, her lips were pulled back into a snarl with gritted teeth and her normally dull grey eyes looked like storm clouds. If I didn't do something quick, things were going to get ugly.
"Enough, you two! Annabeth, calm down—you know most people have bad experiences with the Hunt!" I said in a loud and stern voice, putting my hands on their shoulders before turning to Clarisse. "I know what Thalia did, I know what I said, but I can't hold it against her, she was scared! She's also helped us out many times, she is not a coward!"
They glared at me and each other for a few tense seconds before turning away, Clarisse folding her arms while Annabeth growled. Annabeth then turned back towards me with an intense glare.
"Percy, what do you think of the Hunt? Be honest." She asked, her anger simmering below the surface.
"I'll only do that if you promise not to fly into a rage again, you might not like my answer." I told her, making her stiffen but she nodded hesitantly.
"I won't." Annabeth promised.
I then set my jaw before exhaling through my nose. "To be honest? I don't like them that much either. Sure, they've helped us a few times, but it always felt more like they had to then anything. Nothing against Thalia, she's just fulfilling her duties, but still. Thalia is awesome, obviously, but every other member of the Hunt acts pretty much exactly like Clarisse described. Maybe a part of me is also still a tiny bit upset that they tried to take you from me back then. I was really worried you were going to join at one point, and I was so happy when you didn't."
Annabeth looked touched by the last part before furrowing her brows apprehensively. "What about Zoë and Bianca? You don't like them either all of a sudden?"
I blanched at that, I had somehow forgotten about them being revived!
"Oh right, I forgot they were revived for a second... I respect Zoë, I think she respected me in the end as well. I like to think I showed her not all men are bad," I said, remembering my time spent with the Hunter lieutenant. "Bianca, on the other hand? I mean, I don't hate her, but I viewed her abandoning Nico as extremely selfish and irresponsible. Of course, I did feel immensely guilty when she died after I promised Nico I'd keep her safe. To be honest, I didn't really get to know Bianca before her death, so I'm mostly ambivalent towards her. When the Hunters visit maybe I'll try and talk to her."
"Just talk to her, right?" Annabeth asked with a look.
"Huh? Well ye—wait, do you think I'm going to hit on her?! Isn't Bianca like, twelve still or something?" I asked, thinking about it. "Regardless, I wouldn't do it simply because of Artemis. I'm not feeling suicidal."
"And Zoë?"
"What about her? She probably wouldn't even want to talk to me much beyond a greeting or something. Also, Artemis. Also-also, I already promised I wouldn't try to add anymore girls, Annabeth! Why are you still on about this?" I asked in frustration.
"Because I know you, you can't help but sweep girls off their feet. But don't worry, I'll be there to make sure you don't accidentally seduce them." She said with a wink.
"I'm a demigod, not a gigolo." I countered flatly.
"I'm surprised you even know what that word means, Percy. Maybe you're not as innocent and naive as I thought." I heard Clarisse chuckle from behind me.
"Percy may act like an idiot, but he's fairly smart and knowledgeable when he wants to be." Annabeth quipped as I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." I muttered as I made a talking gesture with my hand.
Suddenly, a loud horn call was heard off in the distance, signaling dinner time in the pavilion. My stomach growled as if on cue, making me realize I hadn't eaten all day, maybe even since before the attack. I must have had so much on my mind I didn't notice I was starving.
"Wow, I just realized how hungry I am. Did you guys feed me at all when I was down in the basement?" I asked with a groan as I rested a hand against my belly.
"No, you wouldn't let us, though I certainly tried many times. You would just snarl and thrash about, refusing to let anything go into your mouth," Annabeth told me with a frown before perking up and grabbing my arm. "Let's go fill your belly, Percy. I don't want you starving to death, and this time I'll be the one feeding you."
"Can you not? I almost died of embarrassment when Calypso did it last time..." I muttered, my face flushed.
"You will let me feed you and you will like it, Seaweed Brain!" Annabeth sternly said with a pout. "I thought I was going to die of worry when you were locked in the basement, I want to make sure you don't starve yourself!"
I rolled my eyes but a smile crept across my face anyways.
"You never wanted to feed me before, why the sudden change? Wait—it's because you're jealous again, aren't you?" I muttered as I facepalmed, stifling a laugh. "Fine, I guess I'll let you feed me this time, Wise Girl. Just don't be over the top about it like Calypso was, please."
Annabeth swore she wouldn't, but she had this impish smile on her face that made me think otherwise. There's no way she'd do anything as embarrassing as last time, right? That's usually not how she rolls...
"Hold on a sec there, how are you going to do that when you guys can't sit together at dinner? I can believe you would be dumb enough to forget, Percy, but I expected you to remember the assigned seating, Annabeth." Clarisse asked in a derisive tone, her arms folded.
"Were you not at dinner last time? Er—the last time I ate?" I asked her.
She gave me a confounded stare. "I was... why?"
"You didn't once notice that all of us were sitting at the Poseidon table? You didn't see Calypso feed me?"
"Believe it or not, Percy, but I'm not interested in gossip or drama. My siblings are also rowdy as all hell, you know what our table is like. I was too busy trying to keep my food on my plate to gawk at you."
"Ok, well—we discovered that anyone in my harem can sit at my table, so you can as well if you want."
I then realized I just made a huge mistake telling her that. Because if she does join us, then as soon as she sits down, everyone will know that Clarisse is one of my concubines. If I thought the gossip was bad before...
"I think I will, Percy. It might be nice to sit with people who won't try to steal my food or knock it off my table for once." Clarisse said, a small smile on her lips.
What have I done to myself?!