The road winds, I rewind
"We're almost there!" Percy said. He had to shout to be heard over the rush of wind hitting his face. The girl gripping his waist groaned, though Percy didn't have time to worry if she'd throw up on him. The warm weather meant longer and brighter days, which meant less shadows for the pack to use to their advantage.
From above them, he heard the flap of wings. From behind, the thunder of footsteps.
"Gods above," he grunted.
Percy wrapped Onyx's reins around his fists and whistled as he tugged on them to the left. His hellhound obeyed, body pitching downward as he dove just in time to avoid the talons of the Sphinx that had been chasing them since upstate New York. And it wasn't like she and her stupid sister could be just any monsters. No, they just had to be freshly promoted lieutenants in Kronos' army.
"It's getting closer!" the other girl shouted.
Percy risked a glance back. The second Sphinx seemed to prefer land over air. She was huge, much bigger than an ordinary lion, and she was hot on Andrea's heels. The satyr that called camp for backup, plus the young girl riding with him, both had panicked looks on their faces.
Percy yanked on Onyx' reins, being thrown forward as his hound slowed down. He uncapped Riptide just as the bigger Sphinx lunged for him. Letting go of the reins, he pushed the girl riding with him to the side and drove his blade into the monster's chest. She let out a half-human, half-animal shriek and fell, tumbling across the sun-baked asphalt. Bad news was that Riptide was yanked out of his hands when she fell.
"You'll pay for that!" The smaller Sphinx shouted, keeping pace with them from above.
Sure I will, Percy thought.
The crest of Half-Blood Hill was already appearing in the distance. Percy felt in his pocket and was surprised by how quickly Riptide returned to him. He just needed to get to the stretch of trees that circled the base of the hill.
The Sphinx dove again and Percy swore he felt the ghost of feathers against the back of his sweat-soaked neck. Thankfully, the girl behind him learned how to duck fast.
They were almost there, just a few more seconds. Percy breathed deep, one hand with a white-knuckle grip on the reins while the other lifted to his mouth. He let out a perfect cab calling whistle. The shadows under the leafy trees darkened and began to solidify. Beneath him, Onyx was panting hard from multiple shadow travel jumps and a full on sprint to Camp Half-Blood. Even then, he was still running as fast as he could.
A shadow fell over him.
The shade below the trees darkened, becoming nearly pitch black, until a flurry of red eyes and white fangs erupted from the darkness. One of the girls screamed. So did the smaller Sphinx as a hellhound, Percy didn't see which, tackled her mid-air. Onyx and Andrea didn't stop running. After months of training, they knew to only stop once they were within the camp border.
At the top of the hill, Percy finally tugged on the reins and urged Onyx to slow down. His hound did so, collapsing onto his belly. Percy dismounted, lending a hand to the girl he helped rescue. By his side, the satyr and the girl's twin sister also dismounted. All three seemed frazzled, with wide eyes and windswept hair. (And reminding Percy of his own rough introduction to Camp Half-Blood.)
It must have been a wild last day of school, to say the least. Now that their lives weren't in imminent danger, he was already beginning to see similarities with the Demeter kids that came to camp early. It was the freckles against their olive skin, the flannels and dirty sneakers. He wouldn't be surprised if the two newcomers turned out to be Demeter's daughters.
"Get them to the Big House," Percy said to the satyr. He uncapped Riptide and tore down the hill to make sure the Sphinx was dead.
At the base Half-Blood Hill, his hellhounds were basking in the shade. Most of them were dusted with gold, making their black fur shimmer in the light. Mrs. O'Leary sat by the road, licking her chops while her tail wagged. Percy smiled and sheathed Riptide.
"Hey girl, good job."
She woofed and accepted a scratch behind the ear for her efforts. Onyx butted his nose under Percy's arm, asking for his own pets as well. He smiled as he obliged. Meanwhile, Mrs. O'Leary got to her feet and shook the gold dust from her fur. Percy was honestly glad she had been accepted into the pack so easily, he just didn't have it in him to be wary of her. As a group, they all trekked up the hill. While descending the other side, a massive shadow fell over them, followed by the scent of sulfur and smoke.
Kampê landed in front of them, shaking the ground as she did so. With her bat wings spread wide, she effectively eclipsed Percy in her shadow. Most of his pack remained quietly wary of Kampê, with only Mrs. O'Leary letting out a nervous keen.
"Hey, Kampê." he said. Percy patted Mrs. O'Leary's side to calm her down. He said to her, "Go on, girl. Go rest."
Mrs. O'Leary left quickly. The rest of the pack remained. Kampê folded her wings neatly. She was in the experimental armor Beckendorf had designed, made of cascading sheets of bronze and thick leather straps that accommodated her wings and legs. Plus the various animal heads that sometimes burst from her waist. She smiled at him, her snake eyes narrowed with interest.
"Another successful mission, I take it?"
Living among modern kids had done Kampê some good. Instead of speaking the primordial language she used to, and immediately outing Percy's own knowledge of it, she became accustomed to speaking in Ancient Greek. Still a headache for the less experienced campers to understand her, but then again, it was only the older kids who were even brave enough to approach her.
"It went alright, I'm just glad to be back."
Lately, whenever a satyr or a camper out in the world needed backup, it was almost always Percy they asked for. His mom drove him and Clarisse out to Georgia to help recover a camper in March, then he raced to southern New Jersey with his pack in April for another.
As Percy made his way deeper into camp, Kampê accompanied him, though walking alongside her was an interesting experience. She didn't have control over the vipers that grew out of her legs, but they also learned to stop hissing and lunging at campers whenever they got too close. Didn't make it any less unnerving, at least in Percy's opinion.
All around them, Camp Half-Blood was starting to come to life. About a dozen kids had arrived early, and everyone was expecting a massive influx of campers any day now. Strangely enough, Percy was actually dreading the return of the summer campers. He had grown to enjoy the quiet, private life that came with being one of the very few people in the camp for most of the year. Distantly, he knew it was a selfish comfort. Camp Half-Blood needed campers to defend it, to prepare for Luke's inevitable attack whenever it may come. And the other campers needed a safe place to spend the summer, but it didn't stop him from yearning.
Outside the stables, he and Kampê parted ways. Percy fumbled with the buckles on Onyx and Andrea's saddles. They were lightweight but big to accommodate the size of his hellhounds. Beckendorf had designed them with the help of his recently arrived brother, so Percy was still getting used to them. He did admit though, riding with a saddle was a lot more comfortable than being subject to every bump and jolt from riding an oversized dog. Andrea gladly shook out her glossy fur as Onyx rolled on his back in the green grass outside the stables. Seems they also needed a longer adjustment period.
After handing out treats and belly rubs, Percy headed for the cabins. Air conditioning within Cabin Three was a boon after being baked by summer sun for hours. Drawing the curtains closed and making sure his door was locked, Percy peeled off his orange t-shirt. He wrinkled his nose, his sweat making his shirt cling to him even through his underlayers.
In all honesty, it was way too warm to be wearing layers, but he couldn't afford anyone catching onto his secret. Percy peeled off his thermal top next, the thin fabric custom woven as a favor from Silena. It was designed to keep him cool in warm weather, but the downside was that it could tear a lot easier than his winter thermals. He surveyed the damage, finding only a few tears by the sleeve hems. Honestly, he could probably fix those on his own.
So long as he wore something dark with long sleeves to absorb his blood and keep it from shining gold, he was fine with being a little toasty in the summer. Percy chucked his clothes in his laundry bin and pulled out a fresh undershirt and t-shirt to wear.
Outside, he saw the Ares kids putting fresh barbed wire on their roof and a few satyrs and campers kicking around a hacky sack in the center of the cabins area. A few others were playing with his hellhounds by the strawberry fields.
"You're back," he heard a voice say. Percy spun on his heel, finding Nico standing in the shade of his cabin's porch.
"Yeah, I just got here," he replied, "and you're getting good at sneaking up on me."
Nico smiled. His hair was now long enough to wear in a short ponytail, though he refused to let anyone cut it. His dark brown, second-hand aviator jacket was tied around his waist. The thing was a gift from Percy and his mom, a few sizes too big for Nico so he could grow into it, but he seemed too attached to the jacket to let it go even with the rising temperature.
Nico hopped off the porch, an inch or so taller than he was in late winter. He asked, "Does Chiron know you're back?"
The two of them started strolling through camp. Percy said, "Chiron should be busy with the two new demigods I found."
Nico nodded, but didn't say much else. Percy had the theory that Nico also liked camp the way it was. But then again, he never got to see Camp Half-Blood in full swing yet.
"Oh, yeah," Nico said, his smile fading just a touch, "Quintus wanted to know when you'd come back."
Percy's budding good mood stalled. He groaned, blowing snow white bangs out of his face. "Of course he did. Do you know why?"
Nico shook his head.
"Alright, then. Guess I'll go see what he wants. Wanna come?"
Nico nodded, following Percy to the arena. It was no secret they both preferred Quintus' hellhound to the man himself. When he first arrived at camp, Percy was immediately skeptical of the adult Greek demigod. He knew Nico was also uncomfortable around Quintus, but for another reason. The other boy claimed Quintus felt like an "old soul", someone far beyond their years. Maybe it was just because he was the only middle-aged Greek demigod Percy ever met.
Without thinking, his hand went to his pants pocket, just to be comforted by Riptide's presence. At the arena, as usual, Quintus was hacking away at some training dummies. Since his arrival, newer ones had to be made of copper-woven fabric to be more durable.
"Quintus!" Nico shouted. The older man paused and turned, smiling. As usual, he hadn't broken a sweat.
"Ah, Percy! Perfect timing, I'm in the mood for a living opponent. How about you?"
He just got back from a rescue mission, but Quintus was staring at him like he was fully expecting Percy to say yes. Nico glanced toward him, but Percy didn't share his look as he pulled out Riptide. Quintus' smile widened.
"Excellent!"
Percy pulled on some armor and met Quintus at the center of the training grounds. Riptide was a comfort to have, especially when Quintus wasted no time going on the offensive. The grind of metal against metal soon became deafening. Percy retreated back a few steps and gritted his teeth.
"So," Quintus spoke as if neither of them were wielding weapons, "How'd things go?"
"Fine," Percy replied, voice partially deafened by the clash of their blades.
"How many?"
He ducked, rolling with his momentum over one shoulder and back onto his feet. Riptide gleamed in the light.
"Two," he said, the twin girls in mind.
Quintus nodded approvingly. In that brief moment, Percy lunged. Feint to the left, a swing toward the right. Quintus saw through his ruse and blocked with insulting ease. Still, Percy pushed forward with his momentum and braced all his weight on his front leg. He swept his back foot out in an arc, knocking Quintus off his balance.
The older man grunted, stumbling back to catch himself before he fell. From about five feet away, he flashed another grin at Percy. "Excellent strategy, my young Padawan."
Something about Quintus always made his pop culture references feel a touch out of place. Not his age, but something else. He still couldn't place it, but Percy just had the feeling that they never suited Quintus to begin with.
Their match ended the way they always did. Riptide skittered across the marble floor. Percy, panting hard, raised his hands in defeat. His bangs were plastered against his sweat-soaked forehead. It irritated him the way Quintus lowered his sword with another passive smile, not even with a drop of sweat on his brow.
"Good job," he said. Percy only nodded in response as he went to get his sword. Looking around, he spotted Nico sitting in the stands by the exit. He hopped off his seat and left with Percy, walking side by side.
Before they left, Percy glanced back inside the arena. Mrs. O'Leary had appeared from the shadows, happy to receive a few belly rubs from her master. And if Percy squinted, he could just make out the strange purplish tattoo that peaked over the edge of Quintus' shirt collar. Something about that tattoo also set Percy on edge. From what little he could see, it looked less like ink and more like scarred skin.
It was early March when Quintus first came to Camp Half-Blood. Percy remembered because that was around when he started to have his dreams, the particularly weird ones. Mixed in between nightmares of being trapped under the sky, stranded in the woods alone and with no pack, of infinite abyss, or of being starved and desperate for even a drop of warm crimson down his throat, there were dreams involving the scent of smoke and the taste of warm butter on his tongue. They were so fuzzy when Percy woke up, but he swore he could taste wine in the back of his mouth or feel a fullness in his belly when he woke up.
Quintus came after those dreams started, and at first, no one had any idea what to make of him.
Percy was running drills with his pack, testing how high in the air and how far they could leap. It was good information to know in case they had to go on rescue missions. Beckendorf had just clocked Onyx at about thirty feet for his forward leap when a familiar conch horn sounded. It wasn't the call for lunch, which meant it was an emergency.
Percy and Beckendorf shared a look. Onyx crouched down so the other boy could climb on his back and the three of them raced toward the Big House.
Chiron was standing, fully out of his wheelchair and at his full height. Percy's mom was behind Chiron, conch in hand. Next to her, sitting on the porch's table, was her crossbow. And about ten feet away from the front steps of the Big House was a man Percy had never seen before.
He turned at the sound of their approach and his eyes widened. Percy urged Onyx to stop. He and Beckendorf dismounted, standing close to the porch and only a few yards to the man's left.
"Who's this guy?" he asked, voice low.
"We don't know," his mom replied. She exchanged the conch for her crossbow.
Despite the mounting strangers arriving, the man smiled. Unnervingly enough, his eyes remained fixed on Onyx and Percy. "A hellhound, here? Amazing! Are they yours?"
It took Percy a moment to realize the man was talking to him. "He's-"
"State your name and purpose," Chiron said. Despite being unarmed, Percy thought a centaur in any capacity would be intimidating. He was sure Chiron could trample someone under his hooves if he had to.
"My name is Quintus," the man said. His salt and pepper hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, his eyes fixed on Chiron but his body still angled toward Percy. From his hair and crows feet, he looked like he could be in his late forties. But his well-toned physique hinted that he was still physically fit. Honestly, if Percy saw this man on the streets of New York, he would almost believe Quintus was a famous actor. The man pressed a hand to his chest. "I'm a demigod, just like these two boys here… or at least I assume so."
He let out a short laugh, at ease while Percy and his mother shared a glance. Chiron took a step forward.
"I'm certain I never trained you. What is your parentage?"
At that, Quintus' smile tightened. "Ah, what a funny story that is."
He spread his arms wide in a gesture of peace. Or to show he was still empty-handed. Chiron and Percy both didn't buy it.
"I assume I'm a legacy of some kind. I never even found out I had godly blood in me until adulthood. Which, if I'm to understand, I should be thankful for."
Legacy? Percy remembered hearing the term tossed around at Camp Jupiter. They even had a town of older demigods. But how would they even know about Camp Half-Blood? Unless Quintus truly was a rogue demigod that survived to adulthood.
"So you've come for sanctuary?" Chiron asked, the edge in his voice lessening. Percy honestly couldn't tell if Chiron was letting his guard down or only pretending to do so.
Quintus shook his head. "Partially. Mostly, I'd say I'm looking for work. Do you have any roles that need filling?"
The man continued to set Percy on edge. It wasn't that he seemed unhinged, no. The opposite, in fact. He was too calm, too composed. Chiron looked away from Quintus and met Percy's gaze. He seemed to be trying to communicate something. Follow my lead.
Percy gave the slightest incline of his head to signal he understood.
Chiron then said, "Very well then. Welcome Quintus, to Camp Half-Blood. All demigods and legacies are welcome here. However, I'd like to assess your abilities so we may best know where to place you."
Chiron led them to the arena, which was empty. Quintus immediately went over to the sword rack, picking one up from its place and holding it with startling familiarity.
"You've fought with a sword before?" Percy asked.
Quintus chuckled softly. "I have. You tend to pick things up over the years."
Percy stepped forward and unsheathed Riptide. To his side, Chiron didn't object. So Percy and Quintus met in the center of the arena. Percy took a breath, poised and confident in his sword fighting skills after a few solid years of practice. But in the end, it was like it didn't even matter.
Quintus had him disarmed within minutes of their first round. Percy grit his teeth and challenged him again. Quintus beat him once more, though he took longer to disarm him. Their third match ended in a draw that Chiron called.
"You're an excellent swordsman for someone self-taught. We'd be happy to welcome you as an instructor if you so wish."
Quinus wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead and accepted. Meanwhile, news of the stranger in camp spread fast. The lowest stands had become occupied by the other campers and a few satyrs, all of which witnessed Percy lose to this man multiple times in a row. Clarisse in particular seemed unnerved by the fact that Percy lost so easily, and twice at that.
Nevertheless, Quintus became part of the camp.
At dusk on his first day, he approached Percy after dinner was over. "So, the hellhounds around camp. Was it you who trained them?"
Percy wondered if Quintus was some kind of spy for Luke. The dining pavilion was quickly emptying out, but he caught sight of Nico behind one of the pillars. His mom was also pointedly still in the pavilion, pretending to gather the dishes from the head table.
Percy said, "Yeah, I trained them. They won't hurt people though, not unless they think someone's a threat."
That only made Quinus smile wider. "Percy, is it? I'm impressed. Here I was thinking I'd be the center of attention, but look at you."
Percy frowned, brows furrowing. "What do you mean?"
Quintus gestured toward Half-Blood Hill. "Come with me. And bring your hellhounds if you'd like."
He walked off and Percy had no choice but to follow. He whistled, summoning his pack away from their leftovers. Even though a few of them looked like they wanted to stay behind and finish their meal, they followed him dutifully. Keeping at a distance was Nico, though if the older man noticed he made no comment. At the top of the hill, the fireflies were starting to come out and the sun was sinking lower and lower into the sky.
"I regret not mentioning it sooner, but you did take me by surprise." Quintus said. Percy blinked, wondering what Quintus meant by that. But before Percy could ask, Quintus cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "Mrs. O'Leary! Come here, girl!"
The sound echoed down the hill. Without warning, the shadows stretching over the sprawling grass warped and began darkening. The hounds by Percy's side started pacing, growling, and finally breaking into a chorus of barking as a hellhound as big as Onyx burst from the shadows.
It woofed, ears perked up and tail wagging so hard it was shaking the lower half of the hound's body. Quinus crossed the border and the hound nearly bowled him over with how eager it was to sniff his clothes. Percy's jaw dropped.
"You tamed a hellhound?"
"You ask like it's impossible," Quinus replied. He patted the side of the hound's neck. "This is Mrs. O'Leary. We've been together for a long, long time and I was hoping to convince Chiron to let her stay with me in the camp."
By his side, Ruby was pawing at where she knew the border was. She looked like she wanted to leap at this new hellhound, though Percy couldn't tell if she was motivated by aggression or a desire to play.
"Go," he said.
The pack came pouring over the border, sniffing this new hellhound and barking at her. They weren't attacking, and more importantly, Mrs. O'Leary wasn't attacking them. Percy really should have gotten Chiron's input, but a part of him just couldn't say no to another hound. He gave permission for Mrs. O'Leary to enter the camp, though Percy was still surprised at how quickly his pack accepted her, even though they had been wary of Quintus when he first arrived.
And just like that, Quintus and his hound became a part of Camp Half-Blood. Despite being in his forties, he kept up with a gaggle of hyperactive kids with ease. Not even the Stolls could pickpocket him and not even Clarisse could beat him in a fight (which at least made Percy feel a little better about himself).
But there was also the thing. The thing that made Percy's skin crawl and his gut churn when Quintus was around. The thing that constantly reminded him to never let his guard down, at least not entirely, around the older man.
Percy's mom began staying at camp more and more as the weather got warmer. She sometimes spent the weekends with them, sleeping overnight in the Big House. And when she came, it was always with either little bags of candy or freshly baked blue cookies. Percy had to quickly get over how these small treats that were once just for him were now for the camp, especially upon seeing Nico's eyes widen at the taste of his first blue chocolate chip cookies.
But what he didn't like were those early Sunday mornings before his mom had to leave camp. More than once, Percy wandered into the Big House to say goodbye, only to walk in on Quintus and his mom in the kitchen. Chatting, laughing, mingling.
The first time it happened, Percy almost felt a sense of betrayal. Didn't his mom know better than to trust Quintus? He could still be an enemy in disguise!
His mom caught him standing in the doorway. "Oh Percy, good morning sweetie."
He was so fixated on his mom and Quintus fraternizing that he didn't even remember his obligation as a son to protest his mom's pet names.
Quintus said, "Your mother was just telling me about the book she's writing. I tend to prefer nonfiction, but I think I might just try a historical fantasy if it's her writing."
His mom rolled her eyes but she still smiled at him. Percy remained quiet as he walked around the kitchen island where they were seated to grab one of the leftover cookies sitting in his mom's plastic container. From the angle he was at, he could better make out the top of Quintus' strange tattoo as it poked out from under his shirt collar. It looked too angular to be a birthmark, but too much like scarred flesh to be a tattoo.
Quintus asked his mom, "Have you considered including automatons in your writing? I hear they're quite popular in certain fantasy genres."
"Oh, I don't know. I'm not the most tech savvy person, I don't think I could pull off making them feel realistic."
Quintus' eyes gleamed, like he wanted to say more. Percy cut him off, "Mom, don't you have to work this afternoon?"
She bit her lower lip, that spark in her eyes dimming a bit. "Oh, maybe I should get going." She looked at Quintus, "I'm not allowed to stick around, you know. It would embarrass Percy too much for his mom to hang out with him."
She said it lightly, jokingly, but it made Percy feel bad just a bit. He'd never be ashamed of his mom.
Quintus said, "Ah, I see. But before you go, I was hoping to ask you something."
Percy's mom paused while grabbing her purse off the counter.
Quintus said, "I hope it's not too personal to ask. I understand Percy is the child of Poseidon, but," he paused as his eyes flickered toward Percy, "...you just seem like maybe you have a bit more to you."
Percy tensed, gut tight and shoulders squared. Ready to pull out Riptide in an instant. His mom cocked her head to the side, confused. But Percy didn't miss the way she clutched her purse to her side. The older man's eyes returned to Percy's mother. "By chance, do you have a godly parent of your own? Or are you a legacy, even? I assumed so when we first met."
His mom's shoulders melted with relief as she adjusted her purse. She let out a short, nervous laugh and replied, "Oh no, not me. I'm just a mortal."
"Just a mortal?" Quintus repeated, "I'd hardly agree with that when your sight is as clear as mine."
It took Percy half a second to realize Quintus was speaking of the ability to see through the Mist. His mom gave Quintus a half-smile tinged by a hint of sadness. Her sight was what led her to Percy's dad, as well as everything that came after.
"Mom, is your suitcase packed?" Percy asked.
She blinked and cocked her head toward him. "Yes, I left it in my room."
"I'll go get it for you."
He left the kitchen, hearing Quintus say something about a dutiful son. He grabbed his mom's suitcase from the second-floor guestroom and met her on the front steps of the patio. Next to the Big House, parked alongside the camp's vans, was Mom's car. She had started to come so often that Chiron insisted she simply park within the camp rather than by the road.
As Percy loaded Mom's suitcase in the trunk, Percy blurted out, "He likes you."
She gave him an incredulous look. "I'm not sure if it's that."
"He likes talking to you."
The easygoing aura she had in the kitchen was ebbing away. Her dark brown eyes hardened a bit. Taking a quick glance over her shoulder, she said, "I think maybe he was trying to fish for information about you."
So she didn't fully trust Quintus.
"What do you think his deal is?"
His mom shook her head. "I don't know. Chiron trusts him for now, but I'm still worried…" She trailed off, maybe lost in thought. "Just be careful, Percy."
He nodded and accepted a hug goodbye. Percy stepped to the side and waved his mother off as she backed out of the driveway and disappeared around Half-Blood Hill.
He was dreaming again, he could already tell. Wandering aimlessly through the nonsensical scenery of his mind, seeing bits of Camp Half-Blood. At other times, Percy was back in the Labyrinth, as if it were trying to weave its way into his dreams and pull him down into the darkness below his feet.
When his dreams changed, Percy wasn't sure where he was. It was a big, circular room with towering walls that led to clear blue skies above his head. All around him were tables and benches with a hearth at the center and a forge built into the wall. He saw an old man with a younger one, both of them leaning over a table before the scene was ripped away from Percy.
He was weightless and intangible as Camp Jupiter emerged all around him. It was night, the sky cloudy overhead. The streets were empty save for the few torches still lit, casting flickering orange light over the roads. In the distance, at the top of a nearby hill, Percy could see light and a thin trail of smoke.
He didn't need to move his feet. Instead, he drifted like a ghost through the dark until he was standing outside the temple to Zeus. Within it, there was a small group of figures. They surrounded a burning brazier, voices warbling in the wind. Percy approached them.
The first one he saw was blond, tall and gangly but with an unmistakable coldness in his eyes. The fire did nothing to make Percy feel warm in Octavian's presence.
A figure approached the group with a silver tray. Piled high were bunches of grapes and cooked meat with cheese. Octavian took the tray in both hands and issued a prayer.
"If you can hear me…"
And he let the food fall into the fire. The flames flared up toward the sky, growing brighter and smelling of savory steak and the sweetness of fresh fruit. Percy didn't know why he did it.
He didn't understand the point of this dream. But his third creator spoke to him.
Take and eat, my child. Fill yourself and sup at the kind flames until you are content.
The flames looked anything but kind. But Percy's dream body moved without his consent. His hands came outward and dipped into the fire. Instead of being burned, he raised his hands and brought them toward his mouth. Cupped in his hands was a ball of fire, as if it were a tangible thing he could hold and eat. But it wasn't. It had no weight like a solid but trembled with his movements like a liquid.
Percy drank and ate the flames and let them fill him with a warmth that burned through his whole body. In the brazier, the fire crackled and twirled in the light breeze as Octavian's eyes widened.
The next thing Percy knew, his eyes were snapping open as the sunlight hit his face. He blinked, rolling on his side and propping himself up on his elbow. He took in the sight of his familiar cabin: the pale blue glow from the fountain built into the back wall and the hellhounds of varying size snoring away on some of the many unused bunks.
And across from him, Nico was still sound asleep. In the months since their excursion into the Labyrinth, he had basically moved into Percy's cabin. The Stolls hadn't said a single word about it to Chiron, either because they felt Nico was better off with Percy or because they got a kick out of someone getting away with breaking camp rules on the regular.
But Percy didn't mind the company. The hounds snored louder than Nico did, and with summer now on the horizon, he couldn't imagine forcing the other boy to share the crowded Hermes cabin with more than a dozen other kids. Some time in early spring, they even pinned some bed sheets over Nico's bunk to keep excess light out. They had learned that Nico slept better when undisturbed and felt safer when he had a small, enclosed space to rest in. Now, Percy couldn't imagine his cabin without his hounds or Nico's little hideaway.
Percy reached for the nightstand at the head of his bunk and grabbed the water bottle sitting there. He drank half of it in one go, the cold water jarring after the flames that filled his belly in his dreams.
When he set the bottle down, a dull thunk filling the relative quiet of the cabin, he heard the sound of rustling. Ruby's head poked out from between Nico's makeshift curtains, sleepy red eyes meeting Percy's.
"Huh..?" Nico pushed his makeshift curtain aside, even though he was still laying facedown on his bed. "Five more minutes?"
"It's still early, you can rest a while longer."
Gods, Percy felt like his mom. Or Annabeth.
Nico made a grunt in acknowledgement and let the curtain fall. Ruby tucked herself back inside Nico's bed while Percy pushed aside his own bedsheets. He didn't think he'd be able to lay in bed with his thoughts for long, so he got dressed with the intention of taking an early morning walk. When Percy cracked the door open, Cass perked up and followed him out. Sleeping on massive doggy beds outside the cabin, Onyx and Andrea both startled at the sound of footsteps. Onyx yawned and licked his chops.
"Walkies?" Percy asked.
That got their attention. The saddles were back in the stables, but Percy enjoyed climbing on Onyx's back and burying his fingers in the hellhound's fluff. The sun was just barely over the horizon, the sky not yet fully blue. Together, Percy took the pack the long way around camp. They strolled past the strawberry fields as a breeze blew by. It was nice out, even in the early morning.
Out of habit, Percy had them walk around the length of the border until they reached the beach. A part of him wished he brought his water bottle or some breakfast. The cloudy sky was actually beautiful, bright but not too harsh. The wind was cool and gentle without being sharp or biting. And the water…
Percy slid off of Onyx's back and toed off his sneakers. He flung his socks to the side, cracking a side-smile at how intensely Andrea sniffed them. Then Percy tugged his shirt over his head and began walking toward the water. Cass raced ahead of him, jumping into the frothy waves before yipping and running back up the stretch of sand. Percy gave her a scratch behind the ear and laughed. He teased, "Too cold for you?"
She whined, following him to the edge of the water and circling his feet, as if trying to dissuade him. Percy brushed her off. "I'll be fine, don't worry."
Then he plunged into the waves. The water felt refreshing and cool against his skin. Percy willed away his magical immunity and gasped at the sudden sting of cold seawater against his skin. He dunked his head under the waves, getting used to the temperature with each passing second.
When he reappeared, Onyx was barking for him and Cass was treading the edge of the water. Andrea was at least more relaxed than her siblings, laying on the damp sand and watching Percy like a lifeguard. He smiled and waved, taunting them. Cass was the first one in the water, her tongue lolling out of one side of her mouth as she doggy paddled to him.
"Good girl!" Percy said, scooping his arms under her belly to help keep her afloat. Later, she'd probably need a bath to clean the sea salt from her fur. But for now, Percy swam with her while Onyx was next to test his luck in the waters. With how big he was, the upper half of his body was still dry by the time he reached Percy.
It was those little moments when they weren't bothered by anyone else that Percy felt at ease. Being in the water made him feel better, too. For just a little while, he really could feel like a kid on summer vacation.
He was so busy taunting the hounds, diving under the water and reappearing at a distance, making them chase after him, that he didn't notice the shape cutting through the waves. By the time Percy sensed something big approaching them, it was almost too late. Andrea had been barking for some time, ears perked and standing at the edge of the water, but Percy had assumed she was just getting excited.
Then he sensed it. He turned around, spotting a splash of white foam and flurry of colors in the corner of his eye before being tackled beneath the surface of the water. His lungs filled with seawater as he kicked, trying to right himself. Two massive arms wrapped around Percy and lifted him half-out of the water.
"Big brother!" A familiar voice exclaimed.
Percy wheezed, though a smile was already forming on his face. "Tyson?"
He was set down, faced with a single brown eye and a wide, crooked smile. Percy asked, "Ty! What are you doing here?"
Tyson continued grinning as he said, "Dad sent me away for summer camp! I get to live with you again!"
"Really? That's great," Percy said. And he meant it. It was a surprise for sure, and he would have at least appreciated an IM beforehand, but he would gladly take in his half-brother.
Tyson's eye skimmed over him. "I like your new hair!"
Percy touched a loose lock of wet hair, still as white as snow. "Thanks, Ty."
How he got his hair was a long story, one he didn't necessarily want Tyson to learn about. Behind them, Rainbow the Hippocampus whinnied. Tyson reached to stroke his mane before undoing the straps for the saddlebags attached to the creature's sides. He waved off his friend before turning to Percy again.
Percy was about to ask how a year of working in an underwater forge went, but paused when he saw Tyson's face. His brother's grin was replaced by a more serious expression, uncanny and abnormal for Tyson.
Percy's little brother leaned down and whispered to him, "Dad also told me to give you a message. Need a safe place to tell you."
He swallowed. "Right. We can talk in our cabin. But first, I've got a few friends I want you to meet."
They turned toward the shore, where three nervous hellhounds treaded the beach.
"Bad doggies… inside the camp?" Tyson asked.
"Yeah, about that," Percy explained how he found the pack and had them for almost a year at this point, though it felt like much longer. To his credit, it only took Tyson a few wet doggy kisses before he started warming up to them. He especially liked Onyx and Andrea, mainly because he could wrestle in the sand with them. And even though the beach was now full of barking and laughter, Percy found that he didn't mind it. He was glad to have Tyson back in his life, even if just for a summer.
That was, until a shadow fell over them. The scent of sulfur followed and Percy's stomach sank. He thought he'd have time to warn Tyson beforehand that Camp Half-Blood was very different from when he'd left it.
"Huh?" Tyson glanced toward the sky before he choked on a gasp. He shouted, "Need to go!"
He grabbed Percy's arm, nearly pulling him off his feet in the process, as he retreated farther into camp. The hounds were barking, confused and alarmed by Tyson's sudden haste.
"Hang on," Percy said, stumbling as he caught his footing.
The shadow descended and Kampê landed before them, inside the camp boundaries. Tyson immediately pulled out a small, bronze gadget from his pocket. Percy thought it was a laser pointer at first glance. Tyson clicked the button on one end and the thing expanded into a two-handed bronze war hammer.
"Intruder," Kampê hissed in Ancient Greek, eyes narrowed, "What is such a little cyclops doing here?"
Percy moved around Tyson to stand between the two. "Hang on, both of you."
But Tyson refused to lower his hammer and Kampê remained just as wary.
"Kampê, this is my brother, Tyson. He'll be staying for the summer," still feeling a sinking feeling in his stomach, Percy turned to Tyson and said, "Ty, this is Kampê… our new head of security."
His brother's big brown eye had never looked more calf-like, wide and uncomprehending as he stared at Percy nervously. "What do you mean?"
Percy swallowed. "It's kind of a long story. We uh, I met her recently and things just spiraled from there."
He really should have warned Chiron ahead of time. It was just that… well, planning ahead had never been one of Percy's strong suits. The day after he and Nico came back from Camp Jupiter, Percy had a lot of things to worry about. The health of his hounds, Nico's healing wounds, his own exhaustion, and the stained armor currently hidden under his bed. So Percy wanted to find a way to tell Chiron, he really did.
He just never got the chance, because on the morning four days after the battle at Camp Jupiter, a massive shadow flew over Camp Half-Blood. A horn was sounded, the one that signified a camp-wide emergency. Percy and Nico were in the middle of shadow-travel practice in the woods when it went off. When they emerged from training, they saw everyone running toward Half-Blood Hill on the other side of camp. Percy hailed a ride from Onyx to carry him and Nico to the hill. When they arrived, Clarisse was already there and standing poised alongside Chiron. They didn't even have enough kids at the time to form a full phalanx or even a line of shields, so it was just the Ares kids with their own modified three-point formation. Beckendorf and Silena took up stations at the mounted heavy-duty crossbows set up at even intervals around the perimeter. The Stolls, wielding spears and shields, nodded to Percy as he dismounted.
Before them, unfazed by their meager defenses, was Kampê herself. Her eyes immediately darted toward Percy. She grinned, though it made her look no less menacing. At least her weapons were still sheathed.
"I have arrived," she said in ancient Greek, and Percy noticed she spoke it slightly less fluidly than her native language, that of the primordials.
"And for what reason?" Chiron demanded, his ancient Greek flawless to Percy's ears. His teacher had his bow raised, arrow gleaming with a milky coat of poison. It wasn't a tactic Chiron used often, usually preferring his precision marksmanship to such gimmicks.
Kampê took his hostility in stride. "To offer my services, of course."
She did something that stunned everyone save for Percy and Nico. Kampê lowered her head in a short bow. Nico reached out to squeeze Percy's arm. They both knew who she was really here for.
Kampê straightened and spoke, "Kronos, the old fool, was not wise enough to realize how powerful I truly am. He wasted my time and efforts, therefore I will ally myself with those worthy of my skills. I've come to be your harbinger of both destruction and victory, and I look forward to crushing Kronos' forces beneath my feet alongside you little demigods."
Besides him, Clarisse's eyes gleamed with blatant distrust. But at the same time, she seemed intrigued. Chiron took a step forward, only a few yards separating him from Kampê.
"You can't expect us to trust you."
Kampê met his eye. "I swear upon the Styx, my intentions are true. Your enemy is my enemy."
A ripple went through the crowd of campers. Looks were exchanged, whispers filtered through the air. Clarisse was gritting her teeth.
Chiron continued to press her, "I cannot guarantee that any pay you receive will be as handsome as you may expect."
At that, Kampê scoffed. "Payment is for mercenaries. I seek only the glory and joy in humiliating the Titan lord."
To illustrate her point, she spread her leathery wings and beat them against the wind, sending the scent of sulfur scattering over the hill. She didn't lower herself to his level, but Kampê bore down upon Chiron. She said, "I will not be turned away, centaur. If you are truly so dubious of me, give me some task and I will surely prove myself."
From Chiron's perspective, it was a gamble. Kampê could very well still be scheming, or acting with an ulterior motive. She should most certainly not be allowed inside the camp right away. For everyone else, they were at a standstill. Kampê was one of the most terrifying creatures in all of Greek mythology. But here she was, offering her help to all of them. For Percy, who Kampê already swore loyalty to, he knew he needed to step in but he just didn't know to what degree.
"Or," Kampê said, attention shifting to him, "You could, as the young monsters say nowadays, consult my references."
All eyes shifted to Percy, a feeling that made his skin itch. He stepped forward, breaking away from Nico's hold, and said, "Chiron, Kampê is telling the truth. She broke off her partnership with Kronos, she's really here to help us."
His heart was beating faster than he wanted it to. Chiron spared him a dubious look. "How can you be so certain?"
"I saw it happen… while I was in the Labyrinth."
It was a partial-truth at best. Chiron's attention shifted his attention back to Kampê. He said, "Hear me well, Kampê. I expect your full cooperation and nothing less," his voice was more steely than Percy had ever heard before, "For now, you stay out of our boundaries. You help us patrol. Should any of Kronos' forces arrive, I expect you to help us deal with them."
It was also a testament to how desperate Chiron must have truly been to secure their camp that he was willing to take on Kampê's offer at all. She only gave him a shrewd smile, saying, "It would be my pleasure."
And from then on, managing Kampê was like juggling knives. Except the knives were also on fire and covered in poison and perfectly able to bite Percy in the ass at literally any moment. He, Nico, and Kampê all knew why she was really there.
But for all her braggadocio, Kampê was really perceptive. She rightly anticipated that Chiron would be the one she needed to persuade, not Percy, and so she feigned ignorance when it came to her link to him. No need for Percy to reveal how deep his ties to her already were.
She left Peleus the guard dragon alone, per Chiron's command. She also killed a wild drakon that was caught wandering the woods around camp and dropped its skin at the border for Chiron to inspect. Meanwhile, Percy and Nico met up with her after curfew for debriefing. Revealing the full extent of how he and Kampê met was off the table, as that would mean revealing information Percy had on the Labyrinth and possibly even Camp Jupiter.
Thankfully, Percy never had to think of cover stories to fully explain himself. Chiron began sending Kampê on missions to prove her loyalty. And sometimes, she was gone for days at a time. Everyone got the sense that Chiron was making her do top-secret work, but she spoke freely about it with Percy in private. It turned out Chiron wanted information on Kronos' forces, their allies, the Princess Andromeda. So Kampê delivered.
Yes, Kronos' forces were gathering and even worse, organizing. Yes, he was still gaining the aid of more and more minor gods, though none of which were as formidable as herself, she insisted. And no, the monster-infested cruise ship was not anywhere on the northeastern coast of the country. By her third mission, it was clear that Kampê was itching for more serious work. She was no longer interested in performing tasks to gather information she already knew.
Rather diplomatically, Chiron named Kampê head of security. Argus relinquished the title willingly, though it was clear to everyone that Chiron still trusted the hundred-eyed man with the safety of the camp far more than he did with Kampê. And yet, it was sufficient for her. Kampê got a cozy cave in the woods to call her own, and a forest full of prey to hunt in her spare time.
Honestly, Percy thought she was pretty good at the job. She was terrifying enough to send any wild monster running (though none were ever successful from escaping her once she gave chase). And more importantly, if the Labyrinth was ever going to be used against them, she was going to be a huge advantage. Chiron had to know that as well.
The idea of her with all her poisonous snake legs hanging around campers did make him uneasy, admittedly. Percy was just grateful that Kampê also preferred to distance herself from most of the other camp-goers.
But her true motives were clear; many of her actions were a performance. She was loyal to Percy, so she still took her job seriously. Just not for the reasons everyone else believed. Kampê saw Camp Half-Blood as his camp, and viewed Chiron as just a figurehead to sufficiently placate. Meanwhile, her true interests were in carrying out Percy's command.
Percy did feel bad that he was going behind his teacher's back to such a degree, but he really didn't have a choice. Thankfully, he and Chiron shared pretty much the exact same goals and interests.
He gave Tyson the abridged version of why Kampê was now their head of security with the intent of telling the full truth later.
"So… you know," Percy said. He was still standing between Tyson and Kampê, the pack pacing and eager for the tension in the air to diffuse, "She's just here to help us out when there's trouble in camp. Promise."
"Trouble in camp?" Tyson asked, hefting his big war hammer, "What kind?"
Percy gestured for him to follow. "We can talk about it back in my cabin. And about… what you wanted to tell me."
He looked at Kampê, "Great response time, by the way. But I can take things from here."
She gave Tyson one last look, eyeing up his hammer before deciding she could trust the cyclops now inhabiting the camp. "Very well."
Kampê spread her wings and took off, heading back toward the woods. Percy exhaled in relief, pushing his hair out of his face as he and Tyson made their way back to the cabins.
"By the way," Percy said, "don't be surprised by our new roommate."
Tyson gaped at him. He had yet to put his hammer away, carrying it over one shoulder like it weighed nothing at all. Then he grinned, far too childish for someone hefting such a heavy weapon. "New sibling? Another child of Poseidon?"
"No, not like that," Percy said. He rubbed the back of his neck, "Nico came to camp while you were away and uh, he doesn't like staying at the Hermes cabin. So he's been living with me. But you'll love him, don't worry."
It was honestly Nico that Percy was more worried about. He didn't know how the younger boy would react to having a cyclops roommate, though Percy supposed he'd find out soon enough. He went through their cabin door first, his brother and the hounds trailing after him.
"Nico, get up! I want you to meet my brother."
"Huh?" There was the sound of sheets rustling on the other side of Nico's curtains. Ruby leaped to the floor as he stuck his head out. "Why didn't you-"
Nico's words died in his throat as Tyson appeared by Percy's side. Tyson collapsed his massive war hammer and waved, grinning as wide as ever. "Hello, new roommate!"
"Nico, this is my half-brother Tyson," Percy said, "Ty, this is Nico."
He made sure their cabin door was shut and locked so no one could disturb them. Ruby was enthusiastically sniffing at Tyson's legs, and Percy's brother was delighted by the new doggy available for petting.
"By the way Tyson, Nico is the son of Hades."
Nico audibly gasped, unused to Percy sharing his secret so willingly. Tyson froze, smile slowly fading. He turned his gaze from Percy to Nico.
"Another one of the Big Three?" Tyson asked, awed.
"Percy…" Nico said, alarmed. He was glancing from Percy to Tyson and back again, and maybe Percy could have handled this with a little bit of tact. But hey, he always preferred being direct with people.
"It's okay, I'd trust Tyson with my life. He can keep this a secret, right big guy?" Percy clapped Tyson on the back. His brother was still staring at Nico. Without warning, Tyson grabbed Nico and squeezed him in a bear hug. Nico let out a yelp, his feet just barely touching the floor.
"Secret's safe with me!" Tyson said, "Promise, cousin!"
Percy nudged Tyson, reminding him that most people were a bit more fragile than he was. Nevertheless, Tyson was smiling as he set Nico down. Then he asked Percy, "Why is this secret?"
"Because," Nico said, face red from getting one of Ty's classic bear hugs, "the more people who know who I am, the more danger I'm in. Plus… there would be no cabin for me to stay in otherwise."
Oh. Percy hadn't even thought of that, but it was true. Hades didn't have a cabin at camp. For Nico, secretly living in Percy's cabin was the best he was going to get.
"Anyways," Percy quickly said, "Ty, you said you had something you needed to tell me?"
Tyson's jovial air dulled a bit. He started fiddling with his laser-pointer-hammer again, turning it over in his hands. "Right. Secret message from Dad."
Percy sat down on his bunk, Tyson sitting next to him and making the bunk groan. Nico sat across from them, Ruby at his feet.
Tyson said, "Dad is busy fighting the old sea gods."
Percy's brow raised. "What do you mean?"
"It's war," Tyson said, sending a shiver down Percy's back. "And it's bad. The sea gods that ruled Dad are with Kronos now. They hide the Titans' ships from Dad and attack Atlantis."
Nico and Percy shared a look. All Percy knew of was Luke's land forces, he had no idea a war was already being waged underwater.
Tyson continued, "Dad is doing his best, but it's hard work."
Tyson clicked his laser-pointer. It expanded into a bronze hammer again, making Nico let out a startled gasp. Ruby and the hounds all jumped to their feet at the sight of it as Tyson cradled the weapon in his hands. He said, "Dad pulled me out of the forges. He said he wanted me to spend the summer here."
Percy felt a drop in his stomach. If Poseidon wanted Tyson away from Altantis, that meant the situation was truly dire. Bad enough to make their dad want to send his son away. Or maybe, to send help for Percy. As far as he knew, the Olympians hadn't yet found out that Kampê was currently the camp's head of security. Maybe his dad thought the camp would need all the help it could get, which was also worrying.
But as Tyson toyed with his hammer, collapsing and expanding it again, and as Nico sat across from them nervously petting Ruby, Percy felt like he had things secured. At least for now. There was no way in Hades he'd keep the Labyrinth secret from Tyson for long, no matter how upset Chiron would get at him.
Percy would also have to tell his brother about his connection to Chaos. Sooner or later, his brother would notice there's something very not right with Percy.
He had Kampê. He had Tyson. He had Nico and his pack and the camp's trust. Percy should have felt confident that they could protect themselves.
However, he couldn't help but like he was a pawn on two different chess boards, one belonging to Kronos and the other to Chaos… and all the other pieces were rapidly falling into place.
Notes:
If you skimmed/skipped the notes at the beginning of the chapter, pls go back and read them!
Anyways, thanks for reading y'all. This fic still holds a special place in my heart and my white-haired, jaded Percy has been so much fun to write. Pls stay safe out there
EDIT: thank you all very much for the support! I'm honestly so flattered there would be people at all interested in my original writing ,)
Actions
Top Previous Chapter Next Chapter Bookmark Comments (83)
Kudos
confinesofpersonalknowledge, marthajanehathaway, Cosmic_voidpunk, Chipbeam, GamingChickens, alluvise, zumulu, AlmostDiedAtFireBeachColombo, simply_simp00, ShadowRiptide, Harry2547, Megajew1, Gabrielle_Nightingale, ThatDesertWarlock, CaramelCookiePanda10, Starrydestruction, Willow_Ford, Rogue_Zale, Heuxelchen, de_bos_Atlas, niconiconyx, Axientyisme, thatgirlyouknow12, Octosaysello, DarwinsBlueberryJuice, Niemand385, Moonlight_Flower125, Celestine373, Zychrzejcgk, Gracy41772, Kurama587, Dauntlessofthesea, Drop_Dead, Cosmotes, PhoNix_15c9g3, Amnine, Happyowl626, CornaVoid, TakesTooLongToMakeAnAccountOnAO3, CheerForQueer, Whyyouhaveexistentialcrisis, Everythingcovered, thequestionisalwaysmangos, yourlocalbitch, helloooomyfriends, AdharaHBlack, ElizabethStarkweatherGray, nayithan, Golden_Spectrum, Itrustcatsmorethanpeople, and 3721 more users as well as 1697 guests left kudos on this work!
Comments
Post Comment
Comment as 013Zainey1989(Plain text with limited HTML ?)
Comment
10000 characters left
Footer
Customize
Default
Low Vision Default
Reversi
Snow Blue
About the Archive
Site Map
Diversity Statement
Terms of Service
DMCA Policy
Contact Us
Policy Questions Abuse Reports
Technical Support Feedback
Development
otwarchive v0.9.353.5
Known Issues
GPL by the OTW