Ch.14 Troubles at the Camp
My day started nearly perfectly. I got to school on time as my mom dropped me off in her new Audi S4 Station Wagon... which I had bought from the unlimited-money Lotus Hotel and Casino card. My mom always wanted to buy a car but our conditions aren't that well off that we could own one... that was before I got a dozen unlimited-money cards. Of course, having unlimited money didn't mean I could spend as I wished to... my mom didn't support that sort of thought.
But she did allow me to buy some new things like a new soccer ball, a few pieces of new furniture, a new fridge, new clothing and a new car as she always wanted one. She wished to buy nothing more expensive than a Prius while an Aston Martin had caught my eye... as money was no concern now. We finally settled for an Audi S4 Station Wagon.
So, yeah. My day was going pretty well. It was the last week of school and a few of us were going to a nearby school to play a friendly match of dodgeball... for which I was obviously selected. Apparently, there was some stupid bet between our principal and the principal of Meriwether College Prep... and our principal lost which was the reason for our current trip (our PE teacher was a nosy git).
So, I with a dozen other kids travelled to Meriwether College Prep in a small school bus. We played games and sang songs as we travelled the way. I sat beside Tyson, a friendly Cyclops the whole way.
When I first saw Tyson, I was about to kill him before Alexander told me that the cyclops was still a young boy... probably seven or eight years old. He also seemed innocent enough. So, I gave him a chance and found that he knew nothing about himself or what he was. He lived on the streets and wasn't like the cyclopes I had killed in the past but more like those who worked for my father and Olympus.
So yeah... basically now he was my friend and I planned to send him to Atlantis to work in the forges under the ocean when I went back to the camp in a couple of days.
I still continued my lessons with Athena and Ares on Saturdays which was much more fun now that I could defeat Athena in one-on-one combat if I fought too carefully. Of course, she still won about nine out of ten times we fought and I managed those wins by a bare margin. She was incredibly proud that her student was doing so brilliantly. My win rate against Ares was much better because Ares didn't do strategic fighting and instead relied on pure instincts. I won against him quiet frequently... like fifty percent of the times. I had defeated them in a 2V1 battle once... when Athena had given me permission to use my powers whilst they fought in mortal limits. And that too had left me extremely tired.
I was improving by leaps and bounds under the tutelage of three war gods... two in the real world and the one in my head. And, a win was a win... especially in a two versus one fight against two of the top three most skilled Olympians in regards to combat... Only Artemis surpassed their combat ability in mortal forms because of her spending so much time in the mortal world, hunting the deadliest of monsters while in her mortal form as she was surrounded by her hunters... who were mortals.
Athena and Ares surpassed her in terms of divine power as they were much older than her but, her abilities of combat while in mortal form surpassed theirs. There was a reason that she was the huntress.
On another note, I had also managed to defeat Alexander a couple of times in the past fortnight. The first time I had done it was a couple of months ago... Alexander's expressions were just hilarious... They had flickered through a dozen emotions within seconds before settling on a face filled with pride.
If you're wondering how I, a thirteen-year-old, is capable of defeating gods who have much more experience than me, who had five years of experience. The answer was simple. I was a demigod. There was a reason that heroes were so important across the divine world. Our potential had no limits. We had inborn battle reflexes. We had no limits while we operated as in, we could fucking do anything as long as we had the nerve.
The gods didn't have all this. They didn't have inborn-battle reflexes and ADHD... Not in their mortal forms at least. They had limits to which they could do. And most importantly, they had to operate within the limits of the ancient laws as the Moirai gave them harsh punishments if they broke those.
Anyways, back to the trip. So, we reached the college and a few teachers welcomed us and gave us a tour of the campus. They apparently were a "progressive" school in downtown Manhattan, which means the students sit on bean bag chairs instead of at desks, and\ don't get grades, and the teachers wear jeans and rock concert T-shirts to work.
The kids were mostly rich brats... and bullies. At least a group of students who looked beefed up beyond measure did. Apparently, the leader's name was Matt Sloan. Then their PE period came and we were ushered into their gym-playground to play the game of dodgeball. On the opposite team, the bully, Matt Sloan led a bunch of big ugly brutes... which I immediately recognized as Laistrygonians Giants.
#This is not good Percy. They don't come as far as here from their home which is in the far north... This tribe has joined the Titan Lord and has come here to kill you... as usual. Extend your senses and see how many you've to clear from the room or use the mist heavily in order to confuse them enough. #
I immediately extended my senses to scan the whole playground and the surrounding area. I felt about a dozen mortals around me including Matt Sloan, my friends and the referee who was going to oversee the match. I felt seven monsters in the room... out of which one was Tyson who was standing next to me. And one demigod who had just entered the room... invisible.
The daughter of Athena, Annabeth Chase, who accompanied me to my quest and was my very good friend had just entered the room, invisible.
I shot a wink at her... or where I felt her standing and sensed that her steps faltered immediately. I smirked and turned back to the giants who were standing behind the mortal who was cracking his knuckles to look menacing. I just gave him one of my glares and he immediately gulped. I could be scary enough when I wanted to be. Training with Ares and Athena once a week taught that to you. Athena had a glare scarier than her Aegis after all and Ares literally represented the destructive nature of a war as one of his minor domains.
Anyways, Matt Sloan flinched and I used the opportunity to manipulate the mist making the referee believe that he needed to show the visitors the science lab and asked Sloan to accompany him. I stayed behind though to make short work of the Laistrygonians giants. And Annabeth was still in the room. So was Tyson who had seen me stay back.
One of the big baddies grinned before waving his hand. The doors of the exits sealed shut instantly. Tyson hurried to my side and said, "Scared. Smells funny."
I just nodded before walking towards them as the Laistrygonians converted to their true forms.
I smirked and willed myself in my battle attire. My Armor appeared on my Torso as the Warrior's crown appeared on my head. Simultaneously, the storm-rider appeared in my hand in Sword form whilst the Riptide stayed in my pocket. The pistol and Hestia's dagger were at my waist along with the throwing knives. My forearms were covered with Vambraces.
The leader of the Laistrygonians spilled a score of balls... huge balls made of pure celestial bronze perforated like wiffle balls with fire bubbling out the holes on the floor. He grinned evilly.
"Flesh!" they bellowed. "Hero flesh for lunch!"
Saying so, two of the giants picked up the cannon balls and took aim at me just before the cannon balls exploded, the fire in it instantly killing the two monsters. Well, somebody had failed to inform them that I was Hestia's champion too and could control fire.
As the giants turned to dust, their companions looked at them with wide eyes.
"So, I give you one chance to return to the hole you all came from before you meet their fate." I told the giants, waving my sword at the pile of golden monster dust which was rapidly disappearing.
One of the giants roared and picked up a ball and threw it at me with deadly accuracy before I could make it explode. As the cannonball soared towards me, Tyson shouted, "Percy needs help!" And jumped in front of me.
For a moment, I was scared that the canon-ball would kill him but, Tyson just caught it before hurling it back at the giant. The ball hit the Laistrygonian's chest and he exploded into golden dust.
Their leader roared. "My brothers!" He flexed his muscles and his Baby-cakes tattoo rippled. "You will pay for their destruction!"
Before he could do anything, I threw a throwing knife with deadly accuracy which embedded in his throat killing the leader instantly, just as a spear tip sprouted from the last one's chest.
The two Laistrygonians exploded into golden dust.
A moment later, Annabeth shimmered into view holding a spear and her Yankees cap in her hands. She looked in a worse condition than I had ever seen her... even during our quest she looked better than she was now. Her chin was cut. Twigs and grass were tangled in her ponytail, as if she'd slept several nights in the open. The slashes on the hems of her jeans looked suspiciously like claw marks. She had a few bruises too. Her clothes were muddy and dirty.
"What the hell happened to you?" I asked, looking at her deplorable condition as my Armor and weapons disappeared.
"Haven't you been having dreams?"
I gave her a blank look. I hadn't had a demigod dream in quite a while for now.
Her eyes looked stormy, like her mind was racing a million miles an hour. "Camp," she said at last. "Big trouble at camp."
"What happened?" I demanded. Last time I was there, about a month ago, all was well.
"I don't know exactly. Something's wrong. We have to get there right away. Monsters have been chasing me all the way from Virginia, trying to stop me. Have you had a lot of attacks?"
"Not a lot. Just a few normal monsters like Hellhounds and Dracaena. Nothing like the ones we faced on our quest."
"But how…" Her eyes drifted to Tyson. "Oh. Where did you find that thing?" She demanded with narrow eyes. Thankfully, it seemed that she had realized that Tyson wasn't hostile. Or, Tyson would be dead by now.
"You are pretty." Tyson said.
"Ah! Gross!" Annabeth said disgustedly.
"He's my friend." I told her firmly.
"Percy, you do realize that he is a—"
"Cyclops. I recognized him as soon as I saw him for the first time Annabeth. You think the mist would fool me when I could sense you enter the room whilst you were invisible?" I asked with raised eyebrows.
She flushed.
"He is one of the better types. Like those who work in the forges of Atlantis and Olympus." I stated while pointing at Tyson. "I plan to send him to Atlantis soon."
Tyson raised his hand like he was still in class. "What is all this? Who were those mean guys? And what are you talking about?"
Annabeth and I exchanged looks. "Big guy," I said, "have you ever heard those old stories about the Greek gods? Like Zeus, Poseidon, Athena-"
"Yes," Tyson said.
"Well … those gods are still alive. They kind of follow Western Civilization around, living in the strongest countries, so like now they're in the U.S. And sometimes they have kids with mortals. Kids called half-bloods."
"Yes," Tyson said, like he was still waiting for me to get to the point.
"Uh, well, Annabeth and I are half-bloods," I said. "We're like… heroes-in-training. And whenever monsters pick up our scent, they attack us. That's what those giants were in the gym. Monsters."
"Yes."
I stared at him. He didn't seem surprised or confused by what I was telling him, which surprised and confused me. Most would be bewildered if their views on the world were turned around.
"So yeah. Percy is a son of Poseidon and I am a daughter of Athena. See, we don't have time for this. We need to get going."
"Let us go big guy. Annabeth is right." I told Tyson. "We will explain everything to you on the way to the camp." I said, unlocking the exit doors with my knife.
'Alexander, remind me to IM my mom once we get to the camp.' I added to the god in my head as we walked out of the gym.
#What am I? A reminder machine? # Alexander huffed and I ignored him. I knew he would remind me despite whatever he said.
"The Armor looked cool." Annabeth said as we walked out of the school.
"Thanks." I spoke. "Here, have this." I added, handing her a piece of ambrosia for her injuries.
She thanked me as she ate the piece of godly food. Some of her injuries immediately started healing. Her bruises faded, the cut on her chin healed. She let out a sigh of relief.
"Here." Annabeth stopped us on the corner of Thomas and Trimble. She fished around in her backpack. "I hope I have one left."
What are you looking for?" I asked.
"Found one. Thank the gods." Annabeth pulled out a gold coin that I recognized as a drachma, the currency of Mount Olympus. It had Zeus's likeness stamped on one side and the Empire State Building on the other. "Stêthi," she shouted in Ancient Greek. "Ô hárma diabolês!"
As usual, the moment she spoke in the language of Olympus, I understood it. She'd said: Stop, Chariot of Damnation!
That didn't exactly make me feel really excited about her plan. She threw her coin into the street, but instead of clattering on the asphalt, the drachma sank right through and disappeared. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, just where the coin had fallen, the asphalt darkened. It melted into a rectangular pool about the size of a parking space-bubbling red liquid like blood. Then a car erupted from the ooze. It was a taxi, all right, but unlike every other taxi in New York, it wasn't yellow. It was smoky grey. I mean it looked like it was woven out of smoke, like you could walk right through it. There were words printed on the door- The Gray sisters.
I resisted the urge to groan out loud. She had summoned the Gray-sisters.
The passenger window rolled down, and an old woman stuck her head out. She had a mop of grizzled hair covering her eyes, and she spoke in a weird mumbling way, like she'd just had a shot of Novocain. "Passage? Passage?"
"Three to Camp Half-Blood," Annabeth said. She opened the cab's back door and waved at me to get in, like this was all completely normal.
"Ach!" the old woman screeched. "We don't take his kind!" She pointed a bony finger at Tyson.
"We will give you extra fare." Annabeth said. "Three more drachma on arrival."
"Done!" the woman screamed.
Reluctantly I got in the cab. Tyson squeezed in the middle. Annabeth crawled in last. The interior was also smoky Gray, but it felt solid enough. The seat was cracked and lumpy-no different than most taxis. There was no Plexiglas screen separating us from the old ladies driving. There were three, all crammed in the front seat, each with stringy hair covering her eyes, bony hands, and a charcoal-coloured sackcloth dress.
The one driving said, "Long Island! Out-of-metro fare bonus! Ha!" She floored the accelerator, and my head slammed against the backrest. A pre-recorded voice came on over the speaker: Hi, this is Ganymede, cup-bearer to Zeus, and when I'm out buying wine for the Lord of the Skies, I always buckle up!
I looked down and found a large black chain instead of a seat belt. I decided I wasn't that desperate… yet.
The cab sped around the corner of West Broadway, and the Gray lady sitting in the middle screeched, "Look out! Go left!"
"Well, if you'd give me the eye, Tempest, I could see that!" the driver complained.
"Wasp!" the third lady said to the driver.
"Give me the girl's coin! I want to bite it."
"You bit it last time, Anger!" said the driver, whose name must've been Wasp. "It's my turn!"
"Is not!" yelled the one called Anger.
The middle one, Tempest, screamed, "Red light!"
"Brake!" yelled Anger.
Instead, Wasp floored the accelerator and rode up on the curb, screeching around another corner, and knocking over a newspaper box. She left my stomach somewhere back on Broome Street.
#This is a shitty idea dude. I made it a point to never ride in this chariot after my first time. # Alexander stated.
Next to me, Tyson groaned and grabbed the seat. "Not feeling so good."
"Oh, man," I said, because I'd seen Tyson get carsick on school field trips and it was not something you wanted to be within fifty feet of. "Hang in there, big guy. Anybody got a garbage bag or something?"
The three Gray ladies were too busy squabbling to pay me any attention. I looked over at Annabeth, who was hanging on for dear life, and I gave her a why-did-you-do-this-to-me look.
"Hey," she said, "Gray Sisters Taxi is the fastest way to camp."
"And to the underworld as well it seems." I muttered.
"Don't worry," Annabeth told me, sounding pretty worried. "The Gray Sisters know what they're doing."
"We've had famous people in this cab!" Anger exclaimed. "Jason! You remember him?"
"Don't remind me!" Wasp wailed. "And we didn't have a cab back then, you old bat. That was three thousand years ago!"
"Give me the tooth!" Anger tried to grab at Wasp's mouth, but Wasp swatted her hand away.
"Only if Tempest gives me the eye!"
"No!" Tempest screeched. "You had it yesterday!"
"But I'm driving, you old hag!"
"Excuses! Turn! That was your turn!" Wasp swerved hard onto Delancey Street, squishing me between Tyson and the door. She punched the gas and we shot up the Williamsburg Bridge at seventy miles an hour. The three sisters were fighting for real now, slapping each other as Anger tried to grab at Wasp's face and Wasp tried to grab at Tempest's.
"WILL YOU THREE STOP IT?" I yelled putting a hell lot of war-command into my voice.
They ignored me and continued to fight.
Anger, who had the advantage of sight, managed to yank the tooth out of her sister Wasp's mouth. This made Wasp so mad she swerved toward the edge of the Williamsburg Bridge, yelling, "'Ivit back! 'Ivit back!"
Tyson groaned and clutched his stomach. "We're going to die."
"I don't think you will. They won't cause an accident. They're really wise." Annabeth said, trying to reassure herself.
"Yes, wise!" Anger grinned in the rear-view mirror, showing off her newly acquired tooth. "We know things!"
"Every street in Manhattan!" Wasp bragged, still hitting her sister. "The capital of Nepal!"
"The location you seek!" Tempest added.
Immediately her sisters pummelled her from either side, screaming, "Be quiet! Be quiet! He didn't even ask yet!"
"What?" I said. "What location? I'm not seeking any—"
"Nothing!" Tempest said. "You're right, boy. It's nothing!"
"Tell me." I commanded.
"No!" they all screamed. "The last time we told, it was horrible!" Tempest said.
"Eye tossed in a lake!" Anger agreed.
"Years to find it again!" Wasp moaned. "And speaking of that-give it back!"
"No!" yelled Anger.
"Eye!" Wasp yelled. "Gimme!" She whacked her sister Anger on the back. There was a sickening pop and something flew out of Anger's face. Anger fumbled for it, trying to catch it, but she only managed to bat it with the back of her hand. The slimy green orb sailed over her shoulder, into the backseat, and straight into my lap.
I almost jumped but Alexander took over and restrained my movements.
#Bargain. Information for the eye. # He told me immediately.
"I can't see!" all three sisters yelled.
"Give me the eye!" Wasp wailed.
"Give her the eye!" Annabeth screamed.
The taxi slammed against the guardrail and skidded along with a horrible grinding noise. The whole car shuddered, billowing grey smoke as if it were about to dissolve from the strain.
"Going to be sick!" Tyson warned.
Wasp yanked the wheel, and the taxi swerved away from the rail. We hurtled down the bridge toward Brooklyn, going faster than any human taxi. The Gray Sisters screeched and pummelled each other and cried out for their eye.
I took my handkerchief out of my pocket and picked the eye.
"Nice boy!" Anger cried, as if she somehow knew I had her missing peeper. "Give it back!"
"Not until you explain," I told her. "What were you talking about, the location I seek?"
"No time!" Tempest cried. "Accelerating!" I looked out the window. Sure enough, trees and cars and whole neighbourhoods were now zipping by in a grey blur. We were already out of Brooklyn, heading through the middle of Long Island.
"Percy," Annabeth warned, "they can't find our destination without the eye. We'll just keep accelerating until we break into a million pieces."
"First they have to tell me," I said. "Or I'll open the window and throw the eye into oncoming traffic."
"No!" the Gray Sisters wailed. "Too dangerous!"
"I'm rolling down the window." I half-sang.
"Wait!" the Gray Sisters screamed. "30, 31, 75, 12!" They belted it out like a quarterback calling a play.
"Thank you." I said tossing the eye into wasp's lap despite not knowing what those numbers were. But they had given me an answer... so I returned their eye like I had promised.
We were off the highway now, zipping through the countryside of northern Long Island. I could see Half-Blood Hill ahead of us, with its giant pine tree at the crest-Thalia's tree, which contained the life force or a fallen hero.
The old lady snatched it up, pushed it into her eye socket like somebody putting in a contact lens, and blinked. "Whoa!" She slammed on the brakes. The taxi spun four or five times in a cloud of smoke and squealed to a halt in the middle of the farm road at the base of Half-Blood Hill.
"Shit." Annabeth cursed. "We have to get out now."
I was about to ask why, when I looked up at Half-Blood Hill and understood. At the crest of the hill was a group of campers. And they were under attack by two Colchis bulls. They were as big as elephants made of celestial Bronze, forged by Hephaestus himself. Naturally, they breathed fire too.
As soon as we exited the taxi, the Gray Sisters peeled out, heading back to New York, where life was safer. They didn't even wait for their extra three-drachma payment.
What worried me most weren't the bulls themselves. Or the ten heroes in full battle Armor who were getting their bronze-plated booties whooped. What worried me was that the bulls were ranging all over the hill, even around the back side of the pine tree. That shouldn't have been possible. The camp's magic boundaries didn't allow monsters to cross past Thalia's tree. But the metal bulls were doing it anyway.
One of the heroes shouted, "Border patrol, to me!" A girl's voice-gruff and familiar.
'Border patrol?' I thought. The camp didn't have a border patrol.
"It's Clarisse," Annabeth said. "Come on, we have to help her."
I nodded and we ran up the hill, my mind already analyzing the situation they were in.
Clarisse's fellow warriors were scattering, running in panic as the bulls charged. The grass was burning in huge swathes around the pine tree. One hero screamed and waved his arms as he ran in circles, the horsehair plume on his helmet blazing like a fiery Mohawk. Clarisse's own Armor was charred as her spear cackled with electricity.
My war attire appeared on my body as the storm-rider appeared in my hand in sword form. "Tyson, stay here. I don't want you taking any more chances."
"No!" Annabeth said. "We need him."
I stared at her. "He's untrained. He got lucky with the dodge ball but he can't—"
"Percy, do you know what those are up there? The Colchis bulls, made by Hephaestus himself. We can't fight them without Medea's Sunscreen SPF 50,000. We'll get burned to a crisp."
"I know very well what they are Annabeth. And I won't get burnt to crisp even if they breathed Greek fire Annabeth... I am Hestia's champion if you forgot." Her eyes widened just before I charged ahead towards the bulls and Clarisse, who was yelling at her patrol, trying to get them into phalanx formation. It was a good idea. The few who were listening lined up shoulder-to-shoulder, locking their shields to form an ox-hide-and-bronze wall, their spears bristling over the top like porcupine quills.
Before the bull number one could hit them, I slammed into the bull throwing it off its feet. It turned to me and it opened its hinged mouth before a column of white-hot flame blasted out straight at me.
I just made a ball out of the flames and threw it at the bull before trying to sink my sword into the bull's neck. Trying being the keyword.
The storm-rider just bounced off the bull's metal hide. The fire didn't have any effect either.
#Crush its skull, Percy. Earth-shaker powers! #
The bull mooed angrily and opened its mouth again when I had another idea. I willed the fire in it to create a blast.
The good news: The idea worked and the bull exploded, dying instantly. The bad news: I was too close to the bull and it had exploded like a grenade.
I was thrown several feet back and rolled down the hill. My Armor and helm protected me against most of the shrapnel of the bull from injuring me but a few pierced my skin on my legs.
#PERCY! # Alexander yelled in my head.
I groaned in pain as I laid on the ground. My leg felt like it was on fire... because it literally was. My pants were burning. I willed the fire to extinguish.
#Don't move Percy. I am removing the shrapnel. # Alexander said.
I just tried to concentrate on the fight that was taking place on the hill. I saw Annabeth taunt one of the bulls into chasing her, then turned invisible, completely confusing the monster. It started looking around. Suddenly several spots on my leg gave pain signals as Alexander expelled all the shrapnel in one go. I screamed a bit in pain as tears clouded my vision.
Alexander healed the leg completely a few seconds later and the pain subsided to a dull throb as tender pink skin covered my wounds, making them look a few days old. I gathered myself and got up before I summoned my storm-rider from the ground into my head.
The bull was now charging at Clarisse.
"Hold the line!" Clarisse barked orders at her warriors. Whatever else you could say about Clarisse, she was brave. She was a big girl with cruel eyes like her father's. She looked like she was born to wear Greek battle Armor, but I didn't see how even she could stand against that bull's charge.
And I was too far away to help.
The bull crashed into her shield, and the phalanx broke. Clarisse went flying backward and landed in a smoldering patch of grass. The bull charged past her, but not before blasting the other heroes with its fiery breath. Their shields melted right off their arms and they dropped their weapons. The warriors immediately ran off in different directions.
The bull looked around and saw the prone form of Clarisse on the ground and charged. I knew I couldn't reach in time. But, Tyson could.
"I GIVE TYSON THE PERMISSION TO ENTER THE CAMP! TYSON SAVE HER!" I yelled, using my cabin head privileges and war-command. We could give someone temporary entrance into the camp. And I used the war command to make Tyson comply without questioning me.
Thunder shook the hillside. Tyson heard me and barreled straight towards the bull. He dove between Clarisse and the bull just as it unleashed a nuclear firestorm.
The blast swirled around him like a red tornado. I could only see the black silhouette of his body. But when the fire died, Tyson was still standing there, completely unharmed. Not even his grungy clothes were scorched. Cyclopes were completely immune to normal kinds of fire.
The bull must've been surprised because before it could unleash a second blast, Tyson balled his fists and slammed them into the bull's face. "BAD COW!"
His fists made a crater where the bronze bull's snout used to be. Two small columns of flame shot out of its ears. Tyson hit it again, and the bronze crumpled under his hands like Aluminium foil. The bull's face now looked like a sock puppet pulled inside out.
"Down!" Tyson yelled. The bull staggered and fell on its back. Its legs moved feebly in the air, steam coming out of its ruined head in odd places.
I ran up the hill to check on Tyson and Clarisse. Tyson was completely unharmed. Clarisse on the other hand had several small cuts, bruises and burns. I immediately removed Clarisse's helmet. A strand of her stringy brown hair was smoldering and her breathing was heavy. I immediately took out a small bottle of nectar from my pocket and made her drink it and soon helped the girl to her feet.
"Are you feeling better now?" I asked Clarisse just as Annabeth ran towards us, leaping over the downed bull.
"You both all right? Percy, your pants are horribly burnt." She said and I waved her off. My pants were burnt from my knees down. I was completely fine though.
"I am alright wise-girl." Clarisse grunted.
Clarisse wiped the soot off her forehead. "Percy, we need to carry the wounded back to the Big House, let Tantalus know what's happened."
"Tantalus?" I asked. Even Alexander was confused. Just what the hell was Tantalus of all people doing in the camp? He was supposed to be in Tartarus.
"The activities director," Clarisse replied.
#Activities Director? # Alexander said incredulously.
"Chiron is the activities director. And where's Argus? He's head of security. He should be here." I stated, clenching my sword tighter. Just what had happened here?
Clarisse made a sour face. "Argus got fired. You two have been gone too long... especially you Annabeth. Things are changing."
"What? But Chiron … He's trained kids to fight monsters for over three thousand years. He can't just be gone. What happened?"
"That happened!" Clarisse snapped. She pointed to Thalia's tree.
Every camper knew the story behind the tree. Six years ago, Grover, Annabeth, and two other demigods named Thalia and Luke had come to Camp Half-Blood chased by an army of monsters. When they got cornered on top of this hill, Thalia, a daughter of Zeus, had made her last stand here to give her friends time to reach safety. As she was dying, her father, Zeus, took pity on her and changed her into a pine tree. Her spirit had reinforced the magic borders of the camp, protecting it from monsters. The pine had been here ever since, strong and healthy.
But now, its needles were yellow. A huge pile of dead ones littered the base of the tree. In the center of the trunk, three feet from the ground, was a puncture mark the size of a bullet hole, oozing green sap.
A sliver of ice ran through my chest. Now I understood why the camp was in danger.
The magical borders were failing because Thalia's tree was dying. Someone had poisoned it.
#The Titan Lord has made his move on the camp Percy. #
"Since when is it like this?" I asked Clarisse.
"We noticed something was wrong about ten-twelve days ago. Someone poisoned the tree... probably Luke... Chiron can't recognize the poison and neither can Mr. D... So, Chiron was fired."
"Fired? But he can't be held responsible for this!" I exclaimed.
"I know... I know! But I can't do anything!" Clarisse said in a frustrated tone. "See. Let us just help the wounded for now."
I nodded and Clarisse, Annabeth, Tyson and I got to work.
The camp wasn't the same as it used to be.
On the surface, things didn't look all that different. The Big House was still there with its blue gabled roof and its wrap-around porch. The strawberry fields still baked in the sun. The same white-columned Greek buildings were scattered around the valley-the amphitheater, the combat arena, the dining pavilion overlooking Long Island Sound. And nestled between the woods and the creek were the same cabins-a crazy assortment of twelve buildings, each representing a different Olympian god.
But there was an air of danger now. You could tell something was wrong. Instead of playing volleyball in the sandpit, counsellors and satyrs were stockpiling weapons in the tool shed. Dryads armed with bows and arrows talked nervously at the edge of the woods. The forest looked sickly, the grass in the meadow was pale yellow, and the fire marks on Half-Blood Hill stood out like ugly scars.
After treating the wounded and sending an overly-excited Tyson with a guy from the Hephaestus to give him a tour and introduce the cyclops to the forges, I went straight to the Big House along with Annabeth.
We found Chiron in his apartment, listening to his favorite 1960s lounge music while he packed his saddlebags. Annabeth ran up and hugged him. "Chiron, what's happening? You're not … leaving?" Her voice was shaky. Chiron was like a second father to her.
Chiron ruffled her hair and gave her a kindly smile. "Hello, child. And Percy! Good to see you again."
"What the Hades Chiron! What the hell happened? Clarisse said you were—"
"Fired." Chiron's eyes glinted with dark humor. "Ah, well, someone had to take the blame. Lord Zeus was most upset. The tree he'd created from the spirit of his daughter, poisoned! Mr. D had to punish someone."
My eyes darkened.
#Sadly, Dionysus isn't wrong. Chiron is supposed to be the immortal guardian of the camp. He failed in his duties to protect the camp. Also, he is a son of Kronos and with the Titan Lord rising... it won't be a far-fetched thing that Chiron joined him. #
'But he won't harm the camp! He is training heroes for centuries. The notion that he would harm his home is ridiculous.' I told Alexander.
#It is. And the fact that he is so beloved and serving Olympus by training their kids for centuries likely prevented the council from executing him. He may not even be under suspicion... but, he failed his duties Percy which is a serious offense especially when the concerned guardian spirit is Zeus's daughter who had proved herself to be a Hero. #
"Chiron," I said. "What about the tree? What exactly happened?"
He shook his head sadly. "The poison used on Thalia's pine is something from the Underworld, Percy. Some venom even I have never seen. It must have come from a monster quite deep in the pits of Tartarus."
"This is the Titan Lord's work. He'd get Luke to do it, that traitor."
"Perhaps," Chiron said. "But I fear I am being held responsible because I did not prevent it and I cannot cure it. The tree has only a few weeks of life left unless we can find a cure."
"Then we will Chiron." I stated firmly.
He smiled at me and patted my head before he turned and closed his saddlebag and stopped his boombox.
"Perhaps my name will be cleared and I shall return. Until then, I go to visit my wild kinsmen in the Everglades. It's possible they know of some cure for the poisoned tree that I have forgotten. In any event, I will stay in exile until this matter is resolved… one way or another." Chiron said.
Annabeth stifled a sob. Chiron patted her shoulder awkwardly. "There, now, child. I must entrust your safety to Mr. D and the new activities director. We must hope … well, perhaps they won't destroy the camp quite as quickly as I fear. Percy... protect the camp. You're the best hero in the camp. The best fighter, the best tactician, and the most powerful demigod too. Do not act rashly though. Please protect the camp whilst I am not here."
I nodded solemnly.
"Who is this Tantalus guy, anyway? Is he the one I think?" I demanded. "Where does he get off taking your job?"
A conch horn blew across the valley. I hadn't realized how late it was. It was time for the campers to assemble for dinner.
"Go," Chiron said. "You will meet him at the pavilion... and yes, Percy. He is the one from the myths."
After leaving the Big-house, I Iris Messaged my mother and explained to her the situation I was in. After that, I went towards the dinner pavilion with Tyson in tow. On the way, I looked at the Hearth in the center of the inverted 'U' formed by the cabins, looking for the eight-year-old girl who was my patron. But I saw that Hestia wasn't there yet. She was probably tending to the hearth on Olympus. So, I continued ahead.
As soon as the last campers had filed in, I led Tyson into the middle of the pavilion. Conversations faltered. Heads turned. "Who invited that?" somebody at the Apollo table murmured. I glared in their direction, but I couldn't figure out who'd spoken.
From the head table a familiar voice drawled, "Well, well, if it isn't Peter Johnson. My millennium is complete."
"Good to see you too Lord Denisus." I replied nonchalantly purposely messing up the god's name.
Mr. D shot me a glare as he sipped his diet coke. He was wearing his usual leopard-pattern Hawaiian shirt, walking shorts, and tennis shoes with black socks. With his pudgy belly and his blotchy red face, he looked like a Las Vegas tourist who'd stayed up too late in the casinos. Behind him, a nervous-looking satyr was peeling the skins off grapes and handing them to Mr. D one at a time.
Next to him, where Chiron usually sat (or stood, in centaur form), was someone I'd never seen before-a pale, horribly thin man in a threadbare orange prisoner's jumpsuit. The number over his pocket read 0001. He had blue shadows under his eyes, dirty fingernails, and badly cut grey hair, like his last haircut had been done with a weed whacker.
"This boy," Dionysus told him, "You need to watch. Poseidon's child, you know."
"Ah!" the prisoner said. "That one."
His tone made it obvious that he and Dionysus had already discussed me at length... probably how dangerous I exactly was. I held good enough influence by being the son of Poseidon and the champion of Hestia. Also, I defeated Ares with some of the worst monsters in the Greek world last summer. Any sane person knew that I was a formidable opponent. Even the Titan Lord did. Alexander had predicted that.
"I am Tantalus," the prisoner said, smiling coldly. "On special assignment here until, well, until my Lord Dionysus decides otherwise. And you, Perseus Jackson, I do expect you to refrain from causing any more trouble."
"You just have your food Tantalus and I will mind my own business." I replied.
Majority of the campers snickered as Tantalus's face turned red in anger.
"Hold your tongue Demigod." He sneered. "You've caused enough trouble by bringing this monster here Perseus Jackson."
"Says the guy who was a prisoner in the fields of punishment till Yesterday... and deserves no better." I said with a smirk. Several people snorted as Tantalus's eyes burned with hatred.
He stood up angrily and shouted, "I will kill you for this insolence boy!"
I instantly was in my war attire, my sword in my hands. "Come Tantalus. My sword's vying for blood." I gave him a demonic-wolf grin as I twirled my sword, sending shivers down everyone's spine.
"STOP IT!" Dionysus commanded. "Jackson, go to your table and sit. You're not killing anyone today. Tantalus, come back here, NOW."
I smirked as the Armor and helm disappeared from my body. Clarisse, Annabeth, The Stoll brothers, Katie Gardener and a few others shot me various gestures of approval ranging from a nod to a thumbs up.
"Come on Tyson." I said.
"Oh no, the monster stays here. We must decide what to do with it." Tantalus said with an evil glint in his eyes,
"His name's Tyson. And he saved lives today by killing one of the bulls... he is loads better than you scum. He protected someone he didn't even know... unlike you who murdered his own son and fed him to gods for favors and revenge... and failed nonetheless."
Tantalus's eyes narrowed. He looked beyond murderous now. Behind him, the satyrs were shaking their heads vigorously, trying to warn me.
"I'll be watching you, Percy Jackson," Tantalus said. "I don't want any problems at my camp."
"You're the biggest problem at the camp Tantalus." I sneered back.
"JACKSON! ENOUGH! Go sit at your table and I want you to meet me after dinner. Am I understood?" Dionysus ordered, his eyes glowing with power. A faint purple aura had surrounded his body.
I knew better than to talk back. Dionysus was an overgrown brat, but he was an immortal, super-powerful overgrown brat. I just nodded and went to sit at my table.
A wood nymph brought me a plate of Olympian olive-and-pepperoni pizza. I took my dinner, as was customary, up to the bronze brazier and scraped part of it into the flames. "Poseidon, and Hestia" I murmured, "accept my offering."
'And I want to talk with you Aunt Hestia if possible.' I added.
The smoke from the burning pizza changed into something fragrant-the smell of a clean sea breeze with wild-flowers mixed in. I smiled, knowing that my prayer had been heard.
I went back to my seat and started on my meal.
'Alexander, any idea to cure the tree?' I asked the resident god in my head.
#Well... there are several things that could cure the tree technically... you've got the apples of immortality that could be crushed into juice and fed to the tree... but you'd require every apple on that tree to do that, I think. And Hera won't give you that even though she favors you. Even Hercules was given permission to pluck only two apples. And you would need several dozen. And taking it by force is just plain suicide... even if there were ten of you.#
'So, scratch that one. Next.'
#There is the water from the springs of Pontus which no one knows the location of. The water from those springs, in sufficient quantity can cure anything though.#
'And no one has seen it since thousands of years. Okay. Next.'
#Healing arrows of Apollo... which is impossible as it is a godly weapon. He can't use it as it will be direct interference and neither can mortals use them.#
'A little more feasible option please. Those arrows are anyways disasters waiting to happen. One small mistake and we'll kill all campers due to plague... or some new virus will be introduced into the world.'
#Yeah. Yeah. Um... there is the golden fleece... which was lost centuries ago too.#
'Alexander. Something. FEASIBLE. You're giving me impossible things! Like two are lost and no one knows where they are. One is a suicide mission and one is something that we're not doing. I am not taking the risk of a World-ending event to cure a tree and save a small group of people.'
#Why are you shouting at me bro? I haven't poisoned the tree!#
'Don't you have something in your vault? Like you've—'
#Percy, if I had such a powerful object then I would've told you immediately. I have objects with healing powers but none are powerful enough to cure the tree. That poison is something that I can't recognize. And it is very powerful and potent.#
I took a deep breath and focused on my Pizza. I would find something. I wasn't letting the tree die.
I looked at the head table where Tyson was standing nervously as Dionysus talked with Tantalus in furious whispers. I paid a little attention to them though. Dionysus was all talk till you actually pissed him off completely. In all of his years of punishment at Camp Half-Blood, he hadn't harmed a single camper. The worst he did was giving the concerned person a taste of his power for a few moments before curing them again.
Tantalus on the other hand was of a little concern to me. I could kill him within moments. And he couldn't do anything to me whilst I was under Hestia's protection. It did be a sin against the eldest goddess if he did something to her first champion. Of course, my father wasn't somebody to back down either... or someone you wanted to make an enemy of.
And not to mention that I had a god in my head. A god who was even older than the Olympians and as powerful as the Big three... probably a tiny bit more.
Tantalus had one of the satyrs blow the conch horn to get our attention for announcements.
"Yes, well," Tantalus said, once the talking had died down. "Another fine meal! Or so I am told." As he spoke, he inched his hand toward his refilled dinner plate, as if maybe the food wouldn't notice what he was doing, but it did. It shot away down the table as soon as he got within six inches.
"And here on my first day of authority," he continued, "I'd like to say what a pleasant form of punishment it is to be here. Over the course of the summer, I hope to torture, er, interact with each and every one of you children. You all look good enough to eat." Dionysus clapped politely, leading to some half-hearted applause from the satyrs.
I resisted the urge to kill him for his slip-up right there.
Tyson was still standing at the head table, looking uncomfortable, but every time he tried to scoot out of the limelight, Tantalus pulled him back.
"And now some changes!" Tantalus gave the campers a crooked smile. "We are reinstituting the chariot races!"
Murmuring broke out at all the tables-excitement, fear, disbelief. "Now I know," Tantalus continued, raising his voice, "that these races were discontinued some years ago due to, ah, technical problems."
"Three deaths and twenty-six mutilations," someone at the Apollo table called.
"Yes, yes!" Tantalus said. "But I know that you will all join me in welcoming the return of this camp tradition. Golden laurels will go to the winning charioteers each month. Teams may register in the morning! The first race will be held in three days' time. We will release you from most of your regular activities to prepare your chariots and choose your horses. Oh, and did I mention, the victorious team's cabin will have no chores for the month in which they win?"
I nearly choked on my Pizza. Was he serious? No chores for the winning cabin for a month?
I saw Clarisse was about to stand up and say something but I shot her a look and made her sit back. I had a plan forming in my mind already.
"And now," Tantalus said, "before we proceed to the campfire and sing-along, one slight housekeeping issue. Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase have seen fit, for some reason, to bring this here." Tantalus waved a hand toward Tyson.
Uneasy murmuring spread among the campers. A lot of sideways looks at me. I wanted to kill Tantalus.
"Now, of course," he said, "Cyclopes have a reputation for being bloodthirsty monsters with a very small brain capacity. Under normal circumstances, I would release this beast into the woods and have you hunt it down with torches and pointed sticks. But who knows? Perhaps this Cyclops is not as horrible as most of its brethren. Until it proves worthy of destruction, we need a place to keep it! I've thought about the stables, but that will make the horses nervous. Hermes's cabin, possibly?"
Silence at the Hermes table. Travis and Connor Stoll developed a sudden interest in the tablecloth. I couldn't blame them. The Hermes cabin was always full to bursting. There was no way they could take in a six-foot-three Cyclops.
"Come now," Tantalus chided. "The monster may be able to do some menial chores. Any suggestions as to where such a beast should be kenneled?"
Suddenly everybody gasped. Tantalus scooted away from Tyson in surprise.
Poseidon had claimed Tyson... which made Tyson my half-brother... which I didn't have a problem with... not exactly. Tyson was a good, loyal friend despite of what he was.
Tantalus roared with laughter. "Well! I think we know where to put the beast now. By the gods, I can see the family resemblance!"
His laughter stopped abruptly as he had to dive out of the way as half-dozen Ice-spikes slammed into the place he was sitting moments ago... courtesy of Percy Jackson a.k.a. Me.
"ARE YOU CALLING LORD POSEIDON, THE GOD OF THE SEAS, A MONSTER TANTALUS?" I roared.
Thunder shook the hill... courtesy of my father and myself working together unknowingly.
Tantalus eyes held fear. He looked like he was about to soil and wet himself at the same time.
"JACKSON! Come with me. NOW." Dionysus ordered as he came towards me before grabbing me by my shoulder and taking me to the Big House, straight to the guest room. As soon as we entered, the door shut behind us and Dionysus shoved me further into the room.
"What are you doing Jackson?" He hissed. "Do you believe that anyone wants Tantalus here?"
"Excuse me?"
"Perseus... What has happened is a huge blunder. My father saw it fit to remove the old Centaur from service due to the severity of his mistake... which I think was a foolish decision, as do you." He stated.
"Then why did you choose Tantalus... Like a criminal of all people?"
"Tantalus..." Dionysus sighed, "he was the best option that my father gave me. All the rest were minor gods or people even worse than Tantalus. If things get out of hand, I can kill Tantalus with a snap of my fingers. And I think even you, Chase and Clarisse could kill him if needed."
I looked at Mr. D in a new light... I never knew he cared so much.
"You see Jackson, I can keep Tantalus in control if needed, by weakening his curse a little by little. You may think I don't care for this camp...but I do. I was a demigod myself once Perseus Jackson. I avoid befriending heroes now because I cannot see them die if I am too attached to them! I saw enough of it during the Giant war!" He half-yelled.
#Who knew Dionysus cared so much?# Alexander stated.
"Anyways... Jackson, please do not kill Tantalus unless absolutely necessary. That will do more harm than good."
"Okay... I promise I won't." I replied.
"Thank you."
"Do you have any idea of what could cure the tree, sir?" I asked.
"None of which are feasible, I am afraid. I am doing as much as I can to keep the tree alive a little longer Perseus... but, we've got till the end of the summer at the maximum to save the tree. I am further being restricted as the tree has the spirit of a Hero in it... leading to more stringent restrictions." He sighed again.
"Thank you, sir."
He nodded. "Go and enjoy the sing-along. Oh, and you've Pegasus tending duty for the next week." He added.
I just accepted my punishment. I had no problem with it as I could get horses to obey me easily.
"Sir, can you keep Tantalus busy tonight? And the Harpies clear, post-curfew?"
The god raised an eyebrow before he nodded again.
I smiled and left. The night was clear for my plan.
At exactly midnight, I found myself at Zeus's fist... which was a fancy name for a big pile of rocks to be honest. And it had no resemblance to a fist whatsoever.
Why was I here? Because I had called a meeting of the cabin heads... in secret of course. I passed the message discretely during the sing-along that every cabin leader had to assemble at Zeus's fist at midnight for a meeting.
Annabeth arrived first, followed by the Stoll brothers and Katie Gardener. A few moments later, Charles Beckendorf and Silena Beauregard. They were followed by Clarisse, Will Solace and Castor (Mr. D's son).
The thing was, they all looked excited... and ready for battle.
"Hey Percy! What do we have to do? Where's the fight?" One of the Stoll brothers asked.
"Hey everyone." I said. "First thank you for coming here. And second... you've prepared needlessly. We aren't going on a top-secret mission or anything guys."
A few people let out noises of disappointment.
"We've a big problem at hand currently in regards to the camp." I stated.
"Tell me about it." Clarisse muttered sarcastically. I just ignored her and continued.
"That includes the poisoning of Thalia's tree, Chiron getting fired, Tantalus being a blood-thirsty asshole among others."
"Do you have something to cure the tree, Percy?" Silena asked.
"Nothing that we can actually use yet. But we'll get to that later. For now, my topic are the Chariot races."
"They're death traps!" Will Solace exclaimed.
"Yes. But the thing is that the winning cabin gets a month of no chores... which ironically may be the longest we have before the barriers fail and the tree dies. So, I have a plan. We're going to fix the race."
"What?" Several cabin leaders asked incredulously.
"Please hear me out first guys. Tantalus isn't going to allow border patrols under any circumstances... at least by his own free will. He has no interest in us and wants us wiped out. He will do his best to prevent us from protecting the camp. What we are going to do is, free a cabin completely of chores as the reward dictates and hence they will be free to do the border patrol. Simple."
"And what cabin will that be?" Annabeth asked curiously.
"Ares cabin."
"Ares cabin?" Clarisse asked in shock.
"Yeah. You guys have the best fighters along with the Athena cabin. The plus point is, that you've got superior numbers as compared to the Athena cabin. Athena cabin has like seven people while Ares has eleven in total. If we free the cabin from chores, they can take on Border patrol for the whole month, protecting the camp from attacks."
"That is a wise idea." Annabeth stated.
"But, Hermes cabin has more than twice their numbers Percy." One of the Stoll brothers said. "If Hermes—"
"— cabin wins we would have about two dozen campers to protect the camp." I completed his statement. "True. But the problem is Tantalus. Tantalus wants to give us hell as much as he can. He would play the unclaimed campers card and say that only Hermes kids are free of chores... which are nine in number, two less than Ares kids. He won't let off so many campers in one go."
"Percy's right." Katie agreed. "We can't take risks with that mad guy in the equation. Ares cabin does seem our best bet. We cannot let the camp fall under any circumstances. This is our home."
"Okay. Let me get this straight. We purposefully lose to the Ares cabin. After these guys win, they take over border patrol voluntarily and protect the camp." Castor said and I nodded.
"Sounds good enough for me." He said.
"I agree to this plan too." Clarisse said and every cabin leader nodded with her.
"And guys, please make those chariots properly." I added.
"Why?" Annabeth asked. "If we're fixing the match, there's no point in wasting time and resources on the chariots."
"Quite the contrary Annabeth. If those chariots are properly designed, we can use them in case we need to flee, which would be the worst-case scenario. They, along with the camp vans would be enough for the whole camp to relocate. This, I repeat, is the worst-case scenario. Also, they may be useful in the future. And if we slack off, Tantalus may get suspicious."
Annabeth's eyes gleamed.
"A plan worthy of Athena." Beckendorf mused and the others agreed to the sentiment.
"Also, do not tell this... about what we planned for the chariot race to anyone other than the ones who are going to race. It may cause problems and internal discord among campers." I said.
Everyone agreed by replying in affirmative.
"Hey Percy, what about the Cyclops you brought? Are... you sure that it is safe?" Castor asked after a few moments.
"Yes. I am. I will remind you all that both Olympus and Atlantis use Cyclopes for protection and forging. On that note, I want you to introduce him to the forges, Beckendorf. He will be a natural at forging as he's a Cyclops. Start making weapons in bulk. Especially ranged weapons and explosives."
"Done. Work will start tomorrow morning itself... adding to whatever we are already doing."
"Excellent. Annabeth, get the Athena cabin to research about things that may be able to cure Thalia's tree." I told Annabeth.
"Some of us are already on it." She replied promptly.
"Nice. Katie... team up with the Satyrs and do your nature magic to keep the tree alive for as long as possible. Will, stock up medical supplies and see if you can help curing the tree or at least keeping it alive." I ordered.
Both nodded in agreement.
"The rest of you, ensure that every single one of us is getting properly trained. I will be taking over the sword-fighting lessons from tomorrow. As usual Clarisse will take hand to hand combat and I leave the usual archers for archery training. Anyone wants to say something or ask something?"
"What do we do except for regular training?" Silena asked.
"Help. Wherever you guys can. Like moving things, making med kits, checking supplies... and all that."
"Superb." She said.
"And guys... I am sorry that I have to fix a game like this... and tell you to purposefully loose. But we don't have an option." I said with a guilty tone... even though I didn't feel guilty. Safety was more important than a game of possible death any single day. Fixing the race was a strategy that would make Athena weep with pride. It solved so many problems in one go
"No problem Perce." One of the Stoll brothers said.
"Anything for the camp."
"Camp's survival is more important."
"No worries, man."
"Alright. Alright. Thank you for your support." I said in response to the support I was getting from the cabin heads. "And now let us go to sleep everyone. We've got a long week ahead of us."
People nodded and we all sneaked back to our respective cabins.
The next few days passed pretty decently. The sense of danger still enveloped the whole valley. Most people were on edge... except for Tyson that is.
He was beyond elated. He had moved into the Poseidon cabin, giggling to himself every fifteen seconds and saying, "Percy is my brother?" like he'd just won the lottery. He was in heaven.
Thankfully, Beckendorf had found him a lot of work in the forge which Tyson enjoyed, He dragged me to show off what all he had made at least twice a day.
I, on the other hand, was busy. My own training with Alexander, training the campers in sword-fights, training activities at the camp, taking care of the Pegasus and Tyson, doing border patrol... So, I remained busy the whole day.
When I was free, I sat at the top of Half-Blood Hill and watched the dryads come and go, singing to the dying pine tree. Satyrs brought their reed pipes and played nature magic songs, and for a while the pine needles seemed to get fuller. The flowers on the hill smelled a little sweeter and the grass looked greener. But as soon as the music stopped, the sickness crept back into the air. The whole hill seemed to be infected, dying from the poison that had sunk into the tree's roots.
Another thing of note were my dreams... specifically dreams about my Satyr friend Grover Underwood. He was stuck in a cave... pretending to be a Lady Cyclops who was soon going to marry another giant Cyclops. Thankfully, Alexander figured who the 'Other giant Cyclops' was.
Polyphemus. The Cyclops whom Odysseus blinded while calling himself 'Nobody'.
And apparently, Grover had found himself trapped with this Cyclops, who lived in the sea of monsters... which currently was the place infamously known as the Bermuda Triangle. And, there was also the fact that Grover had found something powerful there. Something that replicated the powers of the god Pan.
What... I didn't know yet. Alexander suspected that it either was the golden fleece or a powerful shrine dedicated to Pan... or something else entirely.
For curing the tree, I had asked Hestia and Athena both. None had an idea as to what could be done to cure the tree that wasn't restricted by the ancient laws.
Anyways, I was currently doing the last-minute check of my chariot. It had been designed by the Athena cabin and Poseidon cabin working together... meaning Athena's kids, Tyson and I.
And to say that it was a work of art was an insult to the chariot.
It had all sorts of safety measures along with being highly weaponized. While I rode it, I hardly felt the bumps in the road. It could be technically ridden at supersonic speeds but, we didn't have horses powerful enough to do that. It also had been reinforced with shock-pads and celestial bronze. It had designs of the waves and trident on one-side while the other side there was an owl reading a book... with spectacles on. I was responsible for that... but in my defense the owl looked cute.
Yes... we would've won the race if we hadn't already fixed it.
Anyways, on the day of the race, I found myself doing the final checks of the chariot and talking to the Pegasi about the race and making them ready for it. Soon, I went onto the race track. Some chariots were already there, preparing for the race themselves
The morning was hot and humid. Fog lay low on the ground like sauna steam. Millions of birds were roosting in the trees-fat Gray-and-white pigeons, except they didn't coo like regular pigeons. They made this annoying metallic screeching sound that reminded me of submarine radar.
#Percy, they aren't normal birds! They are Stymphalian Birds! They will strip everyone to their bones if they aren't killed. Hercules used brass bells and made the most horrible sounds he could make before shooting them with arrows. #
"Of course, it had to be that asshole who has killed them." I muttered before I ran towards the Apollo cabin.
"Will, WILL!" I shouted and Will turned to see me. "I want all your archers ready in two minutes."
"What? Why?" He asked, flabbergasted.
"See those pigeons? They are Stymphalian birds. I am going to make the noise and I want you to shoot them all down at my signal. Also have a few medics and med kits ready. Go!" I said, slapping his back before rushing towards my chariot.
"Annabeth! Start driving towards the big house!" I said climbing on the chariot.
"Why?" She asked, startled.
"Just start!" I ordered and she urged our horses into a gallop towards the big house at full speed.
"See those pigeons? They are Stymphalian birds Annabeth." I told her as we moved at high speed towards the big house. Annabeth's eyes widened and she looked around frantically and spotted what I was talking about. "We're going to fetch Chiron's boom-box."
Annabeth nodded and urged the Pegasi to go faster.
The chariot rumbled through the strawberry fields, across the volleyball pit, and lurched to a halt in front of the Big House. Annabeth and I ran inside, tearing down the hallway to Chiron's apartment. His boom box was still on his nightstand. So were his favorite CDs. I grabbed the most repulsive one I could find, Annabeth snatched the boom box, and together we ran back outside.
Annabeth took the reins again and drove us towards the stands where archers were running around frantically and so were the campers as the birds had started their attack already. People were trying to shoo them away with whatever they could find. Tantalus on the other hand was chasing a chocolate pastry sitting calmly on his table.
I resisted the urge to kill him and instead did what I needed to. "Archers!" I yelled putting the power of war-command in my voice. "Prepare yourself!"
Annabeth got the boom box ready. I prayed the batteries weren't dead and pressed PLAY and started up Chiron's favorite-the All-Time Greatest Hits of Dean Martin. Suddenly the air was filled with violins and a bunch of guys moaning in Italian.
The demon pigeons went nuts. They started flying in circles, running into each other like they wanted to bash their own brains out. Then they abandoned the campers altogether and flew skyward in a huge dark wave.
"NOW" I shouted "ARCHERS. FIRE!"
With clear targets, Apollo's archers had flawless aim. Most of them could knock five or six arrows at once. Within minutes, the ground was littered with dead bronze-beaked pigeons, and the survivors were a distant trail of smoke on the horizon.
I looked around and saw that almost everyone was wounded or bleeding in some way or the other. The kids from Aphrodite's cabin were screaming because their hairdos had been ruined and their clothes pooped on.
I motioned the medics to rush in.
None of the campers had serious injuries beyond a few deep cuts and they were healed in a few minutes as most of the Aphrodite kids returned to their cabin to change.
Nearly fifteen minutes after the mess had been cleaned up, Mr. D arrived and started the chariot race... which the Ares cabin won as planned.
Of course, things couldn't be all roses. After the race, Tantalus had the brilliant idea to punish Annabeth, Tyson and I for the chaos before the race.
The way Tantalus saw it, the Stymphalian birds had simply been minding their own business in the woods and would not have attacked if Annabeth and I hadn't disturbed them with our bad chariot driving and Tyson with his 'Monster vibes'
I told him to go and chase a Donut which did nothing to help matters. But, the satisfaction of Tantalus's face turning red in rage was enough just before Mr. D dismissed me and Annabeth from the room.
"So, tell me Percy, what troubles you?" Hestia asked as I sat beside her in the afternoon after the chariot race.
I snorted "There is a list. The poisoning of the tree, the valley dying as the barriers fail, Tantalus, Chiron being fired, a few campers irritating me by telling me that I've a monster for a brother, the unclaimed kids shooting disdainful looks towards Tyson because he got claimed."
Hestia smiled. "My brother, Poseidon, has always followed his whims to do what he thinks is right. He's much like the sea. Powerful, helpful, destructive, untameable, unrestrainable, unbendable, a force of nature... everything that one associates with the sea. He's destructive when needed but, loving, calm and helpful most of the times. You know Percy, you remind me so much of him."
I raised my eyebrows. Whatever she had said... did fit me well.
"You even look so much like your father that sometimes the resemblance is uncanny... but that is a topic for another day. Whatever you told me Percy... it is common for most campers. Tell me what troubles you the most." Hestia said. She always seemed to know such things.
"Grover." I replied. "I have been having dreams. Grover is stuck on the island of Polyphemus and is currently pretending to be his future bride to delay the cyclops from eating him." I laughed bitterly.
"He apparently sensed me in the dream yesterday night and told me to come soon to help him. He also said that the Cyclops has it. What was that 'it', he didn't inform me but said that it is been luring Satyrs thinking that it is the god Pan who resides there. 'Its' magic is powerful enough to lure Satyrs into thinking that it is the lord of the wild who resides there." I said making air quotes.
"Do you know where he is?"
"The sea of Monsters of course." I replied. "But where is the question. The Sea of monsters is HUGE. And riddled with things and monsters! How am I supposed to find Grover in the huge death trap? And that still begs the question what did Grover find. I can only think of it as the Golden Fleece."
Hestia sucked in a sharp breath. "You mean to say that the Satyr... your best friend, stumbled upon the only thing that could probably save the camp. He went looking for Pan and he found the Fleece instead because they both radiate nature magic... It does make sense, Percy."
"Sounds too perfect to be true, doesn't it?" I said.
"It does. You also think that this is another trap by my father?"
"It definitely is a trap of some sort Aunt Hestia. But I am ready to deal with the trap if needed! My best friend is in danger and so is the camp. With the fleece, I can save both. But the problem is... I don't know where to start. Okay. Even if I go straight into the sea of monsters, what are the odds that I'll find this island, rescue Grover, take the fleece and reach in time to save the camp!"
"You are saying that if you had the location of the island, you could be off?"
"Yes."
"I will try to see the ancient texts left by Odysseus' crew, Jason's crew, Aeneas's crew and all the others to see if I can find the coordinates of the island or something to mark it."
"Coordinates would be... coordinates... Coordinates! 30, 31, 75, 12! You're a genius Aunt Hestia!" I said pulling her into a tight hug before spinning her around.
"Wait... what are you on about Percy? And what were those numbers? And where did you get them from?" She gasped once I put her down.
"Sailing coordinates!" I said excitedly. "When I travelled in the chariot of damnation, the Gray sisters gave those to me! They said, 30, 31, 75, 12 is the location you seek! They gave me sailing coordinates!"
#Genius Percy! We forgot about those numbers completely in all the chaos! # Alexander said.
"But you can't just go out into the sea of monsters, Percy. You need a quest. You need to consult the oracle."
"Tantalus is the one who assigns quests." I said. "He would never allow it."
"He wouldn't allow it if it is only you saying. If the whole camp does it, he would need to authorize the quest. The best time would be today's sing-along."
"You're a genius Aunt Hestia!" I exclaimed and she blushed at the praise before disappearing into the flames.
That night, after washing several dishes and utensils with Lava, Annabeth, Tyson and I found ourself sitting for the sing-along which was being led by the Apollo cabin.
They tried to get everybody's spirits up, but it wasn't easy after that afternoon's bird attack. We all sat around a semicircle of stone steps, singing half-heartedly and watching the bonfire blaze while the Apollo guys strummed their guitars and picked their lyres. We did all the standard camp numbers: "Down by the Aegean," "I Am My Own Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandpa," "This Land is Minos's Land."
The bonfire was enchanted, so the louder you sang, the higher it rose, changing colour and heat with the mood of the crowd. On a good night, I'd seen it twenty feet high, bright purple, and so hot the whole front row's marshmallows burst into the flames. Tonight, the fire was only five feet high, barely warm, and the flames were the colour of lint.
Dionysus left early after suffering through a few songs. He muttered something about how even pinochle with Chiron had been more exciting than this. Then he gave Tantalus a distasteful look and headed back toward the Big House.
When the last song was over, Tantalus said, "Well, that was lovely!" He came forward with a toasted marshmallow on a stick and tried to pluck it off, real casual-like. But before he could touch it, the marshmallow flew off the stick. Tantalus made a wild grab, but the marshmallow committed suicide, diving into the flames.
Tantalus turned back toward us, smiling coldly. "Now then! Some announcements about tomorrow's schedule."
"Sir." I said, gaining his attention.
Tantalus's eye twitched. "Our kitchen boy has something to say?"
I gave him my ever-frightening glare which made him flinch. "I indeed do have two things to say, Tantalus. One, you look like you could use a few sandwiches," Tantalus's eye twitched at the jab, "And two... I've an idea to save the camp."
Dead silence, but I could tell I'd gotten everybody's interest, because the campfire flared bright yellow.
"Indeed," Tantalus said blandly. "Well, if it has anything to do with chariots—"
"The Golden Fleece," I said. "I know where it is."
The flames burned orange. Before Tantalus could stop me, I stated several points to give the camp proof that I indeed knew where the fleece was... including my dreams of Grover. I also told the campers a short summary of how the fleece came to be and how it brought prosperity to the land of Colchis.
"The Fleece can save the camp," I concluded. "I'm certain of it."
"Nonsense," said Tantalus. "We don't need saving." Everybody stared at him until Tantalus started looking uncomfortable.
"Besides," he added quickly, "the Sea of Monsters? That's hardly an exact location. You wouldn't even know where to look."
"Oh, I would Tantalus." I said silkily. "30, 31, 75, 12."
"Ooo-kay," Tantalus said. "Thank you for sharing those meaningless numbers."
"They're sailing coordinates," I said with a smile. "Latitude and longitude. 30 degrees, 31 minutes north, 75 degrees, 12 minutes west. The Gray sisters gave Annabeth and I those numbers before we arrived at the camp. That'd be somewhere in the Atlantic, off the coast of Florida. The Sea of Monsters. We need a quest!" I declared.
"Wait just a minute," Tantalus said. But the campers took up the chant.
"We need a quest! We need a quest!" The flames rose higher.
"It isn't necessary!" Tantalus insisted.
"WE NEED A QUEST! WE NEED A QUEST!"
"Fine!" Tantalus shouted, his eyes blazing with anger. "You brats want me to assign a quest?"
"YES!"
"Very well," he agreed. "I shall authorize a champion to undertake this perilous journey, to retrieve the Golden Fleece and bring it back to camp. Or die trying."
My heart filled with excitement. I wasn't going to let Tantalus scare me... scratch that, he wasn't capable of scaring me. This was what I needed to do. I was going to save Grover and the camp. Nothing would stop me.
"I will allow our champion to consult the Oracle!" Tantalus announced. "And choose two companions for the journey. And I think the choice of champion is obvious."
Tantalus looked at Annabeth and me as if he wanted to flay us alive.
"The champion should be one who has earned the camp's respect, who has proven resourceful in the chariot races and courageous in the defense of the camp. You shall lead this quest … Clarisse!"
The fire flickered a thousand different colours. The Ares cabin started stomping and cheering, "CLARISSE! CLARISSE!
Clarisse stood up, looking stunned. Then she swallowed, and her chest swelled with pride. "I accept the quest!"
Her eyes met mine and I conveyed one single message with a look: 'I am coming with you on this quest.'
She nodded.
But, suddenly protests broke out. Annabeth protested, and the other Athena campers joined in. Everybody else started taking sides-shouting and arguing and throwing marshmallows. I thought it was going to turn into a full-fledged s'more war until Tantalus shouted, "Silence, you brats!"
His tone stunned even me. "Sit down!" he ordered. "And I will tell you a ghost story."
I didn't know what he was up to, but we all moved reluctantly back to our seats. The evil aura radiating from Tantalus was as strong as any monster I'd ever faced.
"Once upon a time there was a mortal king who was beloved of the Gods!" Tantalus put his hand on his chest, and I got the feeling he was talking about himself. "This king," he said, "was even allowed to feast on Mount Olympus. But when he tried to take some ambrosia and nectar back to earth to figure out the recipe-just one little doggie bag, mind you, the gods punished him. They banned him from their halls forever! His own people mocked him! His children scolded him! And, oh yes, campers, he had horrible children. Children-just-like-you."
He pointed a crooked finger at several people in the audience, including me.
"Do you know what he did to his ungrateful children?" Tantalus asked softly. "Do you know how he paid back the gods for their cruel punishment? He invited the Olympians to a feast at his palace, just to show there were no hard feelings. No one noticed that his children were missing. And when he served the gods dinner, my dear campers, can you guess what was in the stew?"
No one dared answer. The firelight glowed dark blue, reflecting evilly on Tantalus's crooked face.
"Oh, the gods punished him in the afterlife," Tantalus croaked. "They did indeed. But he'd had his moment of satisfaction, hadn't he? His children never again spoke back to him or questioned his authority. And do you know what? Rumor has it that the king's spirit now dwells at this very camp, waiting for a chance to take revenge on ungrateful—"
That was as far as Tantalus got before he needed to dive out of the way to save his life from being claimed by my Trident.
"ARE YOU THREATENING MY FRIENDS TANTALUS." I roared. A storm gathered over the valley. The flames in the bonfire rose to thirty feet in height. The winds started blowing faster and the Earth rumbled.
I closed the distance between myself and the criminal before lifting him up by the neck and punching him on his gut. Hard. I made sure that I wasn't using my earthquake powers as I didn't want to kill him yet.
From what Mr. D had told me, I didn't want anyone worse than Tantalus in this camp.
"Are you threatening the campers Tantalus? ANSWER ME!"
The man's eyes were wide in fear. I tightened my hold on his neck.
"If I get to know, that you as much as caused a single scratch on a camper in here, I will make sure that you wish you had gone to Tartarus. Am. I. Understood?"
He nodded frantically as a pungent smell reached my nostrils.
Tantalus had soiled himself in fright already. I looked around and saw several campers watching both with eagerness and fear. Most campers hated Tantalus... scratch that. We all did. Even Hestia hated Tantalus.
"Remember my warning Tantalus. I have fought monsters and beings much worse than you and won. If you think of harming my friends in any way or form... the fate that'll await you will make you plead for Tartarus. And that, is my promise."
He nodded frantically.
I nodded before releasing him. Tantalus gasped for air as tears clouded his eyes.
"Get out of my sight Tantalus. If I see you threatening the campers again, those would be your last words before your screams would begin. Shoo."
Tantalus picked himself up and fled from the scene.
I hated that guy. How dared he threaten my friends in such a public manner? If I hadn't been ordered to refrain myself from killing the guy, he would've suffered the same fate that I gave to monsters... as he was one himself.
The campers cheered once he was out of earshot.
I turned to them. "Campers. As Tantalus said, Clarisse will consult the oracle." I held up my hand to stop the protests. "Clarisse has done a lot for the camp and has risked her life numerous times to protect the camp. She is an excellent fighter and can handle herself. She will lead this quest. She has earned that right guys. And she is doing it to save our home! Not for glory. Saving the camp is the most important thing right now. Clarisse will go and consult the oracle before coming back and choosing two companions to go with her. This, isn't the time for disagreements amongst ourself as we are in a race against time to save the camp. Clarisse, go consult the oracle."
She nodded before giving me a smile. "Thank you, Percy. And thank you everyone. I promise to save the camp." She said solemnly.
Several campers clapped and I gave Clarisse a nod.
She ran off towards the big house before returning fifteen minutes later, wearing a steely expression on her face.
"The Oracle has issued a prophecy. I choose Percy and Annabeth as my quest mates." She said before looking around, daring anyone to protest.
No one protested. They knew that the two best campers going on this quest had the best chances to save the camp, despite their personal feelings. Also, they didn't want to get on either of our bad sides.
Soon, all the campers dispersed and we three went back to our cabins, having decided to meet after breakfast again, prepared for the quest we were about to undertake.
I was going for yet another quest, this time to save my best friend and my second home.
And... CUT!
In the next chapter, I will be completing the Sea of monsters arc. And I am going to write that chapter next instead of my HP one as I am too excited to write the next chapter.
I hope you like the chapter. Please Review, Favorite and follow the story.
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thompmil000: You'll have to wait and watch my friend.
: I swear on Styx that I am not going to kill Liza Cooper in the Titan's curse arc.
AG23: I don't have a PercyXAthena fic idea as of now. I first want to complete this and my HP fic before starting a new one.
PrinceSusanoo: Several hunters are man-haters. Artemis doesn't hate all men on principle though. It is more like she is wary of them. It doesn't meant that she'll accept Percy immediately though.
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A huge thanks to IamaSWITCHbot for beta-ing the chapter.
That's all. Thank you for your praises to my story.
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Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep Smiling! Keep reading!
HPfanfictioner66