Chapter 37 whispers Sarah's POV
I spent the rest of Saturday night and all of Sunday surrounded by whispers. They whispered about Percy and Annabeth, they whispered about the prophecy. They whispered about a new engraving in the dining pavilion floor and how it must be a bad omen. I even heard some whispers about me. Some said it couldn't be a coincidence that I showed up right before the prophecy was delivered, others said I was too old to be just a new half blood. Mostly they whispered about what happened in the stables, how Percy's horses didn't seem to trust me and even tried to attack me. I tried not to pay attention to the rumors surrounding me but it was hard not too, it was kinda like being back in middle school except instead of the popular kids spreading rumors about you, it was highly skilled teenage warriors talking about you behind your back. All these thoughts rolled through my head, distracting me from my Greek homework, when a pair of voices interrupted my train of thought.
"You know Phill, I was thinking about what we overheard D'Angelo and Solace talking about."
"And what would that be Tim?"
"You remember how D'Angelo said there was something off about her story?"
"Yea, like the way she had supposedly acquired the address to the camp in a god's handwriting."
"Exactly, I mean how hard is it really to forge a god's handwriting? Especially a god like my dear old dad's, you remember how good Luke was at it don't you?"
"How could I forget? But Tim you might really be onto something, especially considering the summons that went out…"
The pair's low casual voices no longer carried far enough for me to hear them. But the small bit of what I had overheard left me feeling like someone had dumped a glass of ice water down my neck. I didn't know what they meant about a summons, but they were guessing a little too close to the truth of things for my comfort. What Chiron had told me a few days ago rang in my head.
"If you don't ask you may never know."
Almost like my body had made up my mind before I had, I stood, my feet carrying me towards the arena where the sound of sword play rang through the air. Hesitating at the entrance I watched the power couple as they danced around each other. There blades, nothing but blurs of movement, despite the odd attire they had chosen for their workout gear. Long sleeves were visible underneath their full armor, weights were attached to their ankles and arms despite the heaviness of the bronze armor. In addition a backpack was on both of their backs looking like it had been filled with rocks, and a mask covering their nose and mouth must've made it hard to breathe. Why they had chosen to train like that in the summer heat I didn't know, but how fast they were still able to move was incredible. Before long they lowered their weapons, pulled off their helmets and masks, and turned to get a drink from the cooler when they saw me. We just stood there looking at each other until Percy stuck out a hand and a water bottle shot out of the cooler into it like Thor's hammer. Taking a swig he passed the bottle over to Annabeth then walked over to me.
"Hay Sarah, is there something we can do for you?"
"I think so, I have a question and so far I've been told that Annabeth is the best one to ask."
Annabeth tossed the now empty bottle into the recycling bin as she asked,
"What question do you have for me?"
"I've heard a name brought up in conversation a few times, then I saw it on the floor at the dining pavilion, and I was wondering who is Luke?"
As soon as I asked the question I knew it was a mistake. Annabeth stood so stil she could have been a statue, Percy flinched and looked at her then at me, and back to her. After what felt like an eternity she opened her eyes, which somehow had turned to a much fiercer gray. Her tone wasn't exactly angry but it was sharp.
"That name belongs to someone I don't like to talk about, whoever told you to ask me should have known that. The inscription under his name covers everything you need to know. If you're still curious then you can try to talk Chiron into telling you the story."
Turning her back to me, she began to walk away, calling over her shoulder as she went.
"You should go back to your classes, learn everything you can."
Her tone made it sound like it wasn't just a suggestion, I looked up at Percy but he only nodded in agreement. I didn't know what to do, she had told me the truth… at least as far as she knew. It's not like I could tell her that I had to know more than the inscription said, and Chiron had practically told me to ask her. How was I supposed to figure out what Luke was hiding from me if no one would tell me about him. I can't reveal that he's alive and I can't just ask him because if he was willing to tell me he wouldn't be lying to me. It's incredibly frustrating that I'm here at my boyfriend's old home talking to his old friends, and yet no one will tell me about him. Everyone acts like his very name is taboo or something, and I don't know why. What am I missing? What is the big secret?! I started to open my mouth to say something I would probably regret, but Percy shook his head warningly at me. Biting my tongue to keep myself from saying something dumb I left the arena.