"Who's reading next?" Artemis asks looking around.
"I will sis!" Apollo says happily.
"Don't call me sis."
She threw the book at Apollos head, who shrieked. He fumbled with the book for a moment before opening it up to read.
I Play Pinochle with a Horse.
"Chiron!" The demigods yell.
I had weird dreams full of barnyard animals. Most of them wanted to kill me. The rest wanted food.
Next to Annabeth, Percy's head lolled onto her shoulder as he fazed in and out of sleep.
"I wonder just how strong these effects are going to be." Athena wondered watching the boy. "Will they just feel the sensations, or will actual wounds appear?"
The demigods looked to each other.
"I certainly hope they don't." Annabeth says darkly.
"Why?" Poseidon asks.
Annabeth didn't answer, and no one liked what that entailed.
I must've woken up several times, but what I heard and saw made no sense, so I just passed out again.
Everyone watched, slightly amused, as Percy's eyes fluttered.
"Is he okay?" Jason asked.
"Yeah he's fine." Lee says with a slight chuckle. He was making sure to monitor his friend, knowing some of what happened to him over the years.
I remember lying … chin with the spoon.
Athena looked to her daughter. She had a feeling about her and the sea spawn's son's relationship. She was pretty sure she didn't approve.
"Why wasn't someone from the Apollo cabin there?" Will asked.
"Remember there was that fight?" Katie asked.
"Oh year, you're right."
When she saw my eyes open, she asked, "What will happen at the summer solstice?"
"Hey there." Annabeth whispered as Percy woke up briefly.
He just smiled at her and leaned more into her side.
I managed to croak… mouth with pudding.
And he was out again.
The next time I woke up, the girl was gone.
Nico laughed as Percy woke up again. This was entertaining. For the moment anyway.
A husky blond dude… backs of his hands.
"Did you really just say star star star." Artemis asked.
Apollo just smiled while his sister shook her head.
"I'm stealing that." Leo says.
When I finally came around for good,
Percy blinked and sat up slightly, rubbing his eyes.
"That was… weird."
"Entertaining to watch though." Thalia smirked.
Percy shot a fake glare at her, but he was smiling.
there was … one of my teeth hurt.
Percy groaned, rubbing a hand across his jaw. "I'm really going to hate this aren't I."
All the demigods looked to him sympathetically. They'd all been through war, but this was from Percy's point of view. It was going to be hell for him. Annabeth cringed thinking about the volcano and river Styx. That wouldn't be fun. For anyone.
On the table …hadn't slept in a week.
"Felt like it too." Grover said.
Dionysus hid his concerned face behind a magazine. He wished his satyrs took better care of themselves.
Under one arm… for some reason. And ...
Poseidon smiled sadly. He wished the same thing but sadly it wasn't true.
"You saved my life," … It hadn't been a nightmare.
Percy looked sad remembering how he had felt that day. It hadn't been good.
Annabeth rubbed his shoulder and held his hand. He gave her a small smile.
"The Minotaur…Half man, half bull."
"You really should know better, boy." Zeus says staring at Percy.
Percy just shrugged with a smile.
"He has to be a little crazy." Hazel says.
"He wouldn't be Percy if he wasn't." Clarisse says.
Grover …Is she really ..."?
The demigods winced. Some may not like their parents, or even really know them, but if they were that close with one they knew it had to have hurt. The closest they could understand is losing friends and that hurt enough.
He looked down. … beautiful in the sunlight.
"You got something to say?" Thalia says looking to Percy.
"Just wait a second." Percy tells her remembering his next thought.
My mother was gone. The whole world should be black and cold. Nothing should look beautiful.
Poseidon nodded in agreement, looking upset himself.
Aphrodite smiled softly. The boy truly loved his mother, she could feel it. It was strong.
"I'm sorry," Grover sniffled. "I'm a failure. I'm-I'm the worst satyr in the world."
Immediately there was a chorus of objection and Grover blushed.
"Don't you ever say that again." Thalia threatens.
Grover nods with a large smile.
The gods watched, interested in the close bond all the demigods seemed to have with each other and the satyr.
He moaned, … across the clear sky.
"Dramatic." Frank says.
As he struggled … dissolved into yellow light.
Percy slumped where he sat not looking at anyone. He hated that the book controlled how he felt and what he felt. He didn't like reliving the feelings of thinking his mom was dead.
Half of the present demigods had never seen Percy like this. It was disconcerting.
I was alone. ... I'd do something.
"You were twelve you couldn't join the army punk." Clarisse said, trying to lighten the mood.
Percy gave her a small smile but didn't say anything. She nodded at him.
Ares observed the interaction. Sometimes the two seemed to be enemies at most distant friends, but they respected each other. That kind of bond that came from battle. What happened to their children?
Grover was …wasn't your fault."
"Still isn't!" all the demigods yelled just to make sure he knew.
"Yes, it was. … my vision swimming.
Percy put his head in his hands sucking in a breath.
Annabeth rubbed his back soothingly as he hunched over.
"Don't strain yourself," … was going to be okay.
Percy sighed and sat back, still looking sad but not like he was about to be sick anymore. He laid his head on Annabeth's shoulder.
"I want one of those cookies." Apollo says wistfully.
"Shut up." Artemis says throwing a pillow at her brother.
Before I knew it… "I should've let you taste."
"Don't do that." Dionysus warns, flipping a page in his magazine.
"He's paying attention?" Hermes whispers to Apollo.
"I guess so."
His eyes got wide.. Home-made."
"Those are really good though." Connor says.
"Indeed." Travis agrees.
Percy smiles sadly, he missed those cookies. He missed his mom.
He sighed…"What do you mean?"
"You'd burn up." Ares sneers.
"I'm aware." Percy shoots back.
Ares shoots him a wicked grin. This kid was fun.
He took the empty … trying to walk that far.
Percy's legs shook slightly as he started rubbing them hoping to get the feeling to go away.
Grover offered … I caught my breath.
"Camp really is beautiful." Piper says.
"You have the Demeter cabin to thank for that." Will says. "They're the ones with the magic with plants."
We must've been … horses had wings.
"I miss camp." Piper says sadly.
"Yeah." The others on the great quest said.
"Camp, sleep, safety. Y'know." Percy mutters.
"We'll be back before you know it." Annabeth says, feeling the same way.
"It sounds amazing." Hazel says. "Nothing like camp Jupiter."
Down at the end …rail next to them.
"Oh, this should be fun." Clarisse smirks.
"Oh no." Percy muttered, remembering what he first thought of Mr. D.
The man facing me …out-gambled even my stepfather.
There was silence around the room before Poseidon snorted. And everyone was roaring with laughter. Even Zeus and Athena let out small chuckles. Hephaestus smirked, still tinkering.
Dionysus glared at Percy.
"That was brilliant seaweed brain." Thalia laughs.
"Glad to be of entertainment."
"That's Mr. D," …"Mr. Brunner!" I cried.
"He. literally just said it was Chiron." Nico says looking to Percy.
"Listen. I knew him as one name for months." Percy says defensively.
Nico thought for a minute. "Valid."
The Latin teacher … answers B.
"Awesome." Leo said. "I wish my teachers did that."
"Ah, good, Percy… to be glad to see you."
"You should be more welcoming." Aphrodite tells him.
"I'm not going to be happy about being somewhere I don't want to be." Dionysus says dryly.
"Uh, thanks." I scooted … alcohol, I was a satyr.
Apollo frowned, remembering the medical scan he had ran a while ago. No wonder Percy had stepped away.
"Annabeth?" Mr. Brunner … cabin eleven for now."
Travis and Connor groaned, remembering how the cabin used to be.
"What's wrong?" Hermes asked confused.
"The cabin used to be so crowded." Travis says.
"It was kind of a nightmare." Connor added.
Annabeth said, "Sure, Chiron." … her eyes ruined the image.
Annabeth glared at Percy. "Excuse me?"
Percy stuttered for a minute, looking panicky. "Umm. I just mean. I... um." He looked to Apollo. "Keep reading please."
Annabeth dropped her glare and winked at the others as Percy looked away. They all tried to hide their giggles.
They were startling gray… me down in a fight.
Annabeth blushed as the 'pretty' comment. But focused on the last bit. "You bet I was."
Percy smiled and kissed the top of her head. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
Athena glared at Percy. She did not approve of this relationship. Poseidon smiled; his son looked happy.
She glanced at … "You drool when you sleep."
Jason snorted at that. Percy pouted, his mood was picking up again.
Then she sprinted off … stand for something?"
"Nah, he's the wine dude." Annabeth teases.
Nico blushes. "We agreed to never speak of that."
Annabeth waved her hand giggling.
"It's still a running joke in the Apollo and Hermes cabins." Will tells him.
Nico groaned.
Mr. D stopped shuffling …"Oh. Right. Sorry."
"I sense sarcasm." Leo says.
"Of course, you do." Clarisse says. "Prissy has to be one of the most sarcastic people I know."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"I must say, Percy…"House call?"
"So, this is where your ego came from." Thalia smirks.
"I do not have an ego." Percy says.
"Mhmm."
"I don't!"
"My year at …take a leave of absence."
"Chiron is badass." Hermes says.
Most everyone nodded in agreement.
I tried to …to teach me?" I asked.
Thalia whooped. "Ego alert!"
The gods frowned. Chiron hadn't done that in centuries, why was he doing it now.
Chiron nodded… tiger-print Hawaiian shirt.
There was another round of snickers at the description. Dionysus just glared again.
"You do know how …director less and less.
"You were so close." Nico said sadly.
"What?"
"To being polite."
Everyone jumped as a quiet mutter of "Cereal." Was heard. Demeter had been so quiet.
"Well," he told me, … men to know the rules."
"No one plays that game anymore." Katie notes.
"Except Mr. D." Travis and Connor point out.
"I'm sure the boy … the same question."
"Yknow… He's kinda funny." Leo mutters.
The others looked at him and thought back. He was onto something.
The camp director dealt the cards. Grover flinched every time one landed in his pile.
Dionysus frowned behind a page. He didn't like when they were afraid of him but unfortunately it couldn't be helped most of the time.
Chiron smiled at me …keep me close to her."
"It never works that way does it." Hades says, looking towards Nico.
"Typical," Mr. D said. … film won't be sufficient."
There was silence.
"Oh, my gods that makes so much sense." Clarisse cackles.
"No wonder you were so clueless." Annabeth laughs.
"Dude it was awesome." Nico says. "Best film ever."
"Yeah, yeah laugh it up." Percy says, smiling.
"Orientation film?" I asked. … he tallied up his points.
"I think we all felt that way." Katie says. "I remember thinking he was crazy."
"I almost left to go home." Will admits. "It really is a lot."
"Mr. D," …chewed it mournfully.
"I want a can." Grover says suddenly.
"Next break buddy." Percy tells him.
"When is that break?" Hermes asks, "I want nachos."
"After the next chapter." Hera says.
"Wait," I told …That's a smaller matter."
"Smaller?" Zeus asks, looking offended.
Hades snickered at the look. His brother was entertaining.
"Smaller?" …on a cloudless day.
"You really should be careful about names." Jason says looking towards Percy.
"Eh... It's fine." Percy says.
Jason just looked at him, slightly concerned for how his friend's life was going to turn out.
"Young man… there was science."
"Science?!" Zeus shouts, again looking offended.
Poseidon smirked. "Brother leave him be. This was new at the time. It's a common conversation."
Zeus sat back muttering to himself.
"Science!" Mr. D … never told anybody-
"He... actually used your name." Travis says slightly shocked.
"Not the first time." Percy says.
Travis just looked more shocked at that.
"what will … you are, for all time?"
"That'd be cool." Leo says thinking of all the things he could do.
Thalia looked at him, thinking about being in the hunt. It was cool for a while, till you realized all your friends would be gone one day. "I'm not so sure about that." She said.
Leo just shrugged, still thinking about it.
I was about to … you or not," I said.
Athena looked mildly surprised; the boy had picked up on that fast.
"Exactly…over losing their mothers?"
"That was harsh." Aphrodite says.
"He needed to get a point across." Hera sniffs.
"Still harsh, using his mother that way."
My heart pounded. …them incinerates you."
"You will not." Poseidon tell him.
"Sure, sure."
"Hasn't happened yet." Percy says almost cheerfully.
Grover said, "P-please, … itself with red wine.
Zeus gave the other god a look.
My jaw dropped…More thunder.
"You and your thunder brother." Hades says.
"Should have been the god of dramatics." Poseidon says. "I still stand by that."
Mr. D waved his hand … from outer space.
"I want space coke." Connor says.
"Same." Said Leo and Travis.
"Yes," Mr. D confessed… a pouting little kid.
"Well, he's not wrong." Athena says.
Dionysus just shrugged.
"And ..." I stammered…"The god of wine."
"Finally, Perry." Dionysus says. "Took you long enough."
Mr. D rolled his eyes…was Aphrodite, perhaps?"
Aphrodite gasped. "I will not be compared to a drunk."
"Don't worry, you're better than him." Ares snarks, looking towards the wine god.
"He got his name again!" Travis exclaims.
"Twice in one day?" Will says. "Unheard of."
"You're a god."
"Yes, child."
"A god. You."
"Death wish." Jason mutters.
"Crazy." Frank agrees.
Percy just smiles at them.
He turned to look … elongating into dolphin snouts.
The seven snorted thinking about their battle on the Argo. That had been interesting.
Percy smirked. "Hey Mr. D do you like Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi more?"
Dionysus scowled at him while the seven cracked up.
It took a minute and everyone else being slightly confused until Apollo could continue.
I knew that if … life.
Everyone shivered. They seemed to forget the Dionysus was also a god, with great power.
Dionysus smirked at them all.
"Would you like to …"I believe I win."
"You did?" Hades asks, not believing it.
"Not quite, Mr. D," Chiron said. He set down a straight, tallied the points, and said, "The game goes to me."
Hades nodded. "I thought so."
Dionysus shot him a glare. He was glaring a lot in this chapter wasn't he.
I thought Mr. … Grover rose, too.
"I can never win against the centaur." Dionysus mutters. "I will one day."
"I'm tired…And mind your manners."
"Oh, we don't mind." The Stolls say.
"You should." Katie tells them.
He swept into the farmhouse… back to Olympus."
"Why so long?" Hazel asks.
"Ask daddy dearest." Dionysus says coldly.
Zeus refused to meet anyone eyes.
"Mount Olympus… Percy, just as the gods do."
"You really should have seen the film." Hephaestus says.
"Probably." Percy concedes. He wondered if Chiron would let him watch it when he got back.
"You mean the Greek gods are here? Like ... in America?"
"Well, certainly. The gods move with the heart of the West."
"The what?"
"Film." The demigods say.
"Would have helped so much I know." Percy says. "Too bad though you gotta deal with me being clueless."
Clarisse snorted.
"Come now, Percy. …"And then they died."
"Do we look dead to you?" Artemis says.
"No ma'am." Percy says. "But this was years ago, and I didn't know anything."
Artemis grudgingly nods. The boy had a point.
"Died? No. Did the West die…Olympus is here. And we are here."
"I never noticed." Leo, Travis, and Connor say.
"I don't know how you could miss it." Thalia says. "It's obvious.
"It really is." Annabeth says.
"If you're smart." Will teases.
"Hey!"
It was all too much, … Who ... who am I?"
"Percy with the deep questions here." Nico says.
"You're a hero." Grover says.
"Yeah you are." Clarisse says.
"Shut up guys." Percy says blushing.
"Just accept the fact already kelp head." Thalia says. "You are."
The other demigods nodded, and Percy's blush deepened.
The gods were confused. What had happened for them all to think so highly of this demigod. What had happened in the future?
Chiron smiled. He … adore chocolate."
Apollo smirked and looked at Hermes. "We should send him some."
"Do not." Artemis threatens.
And then he did rise … long, white velvet underwear,
"Why was that the first thing you thought of?" Annabeth asks.
"I have no idea." Percy admits.
but as he kept … fake human legs attached.
"One of my better creations." Hephaestus smiles.
"Cool." Leo says awed.
"We don't have centaurs." Frank says. "I don't think I've ever seen one."
"Most of them are wild. In two senses of the word." Thalia explains.
"Party Ponies!" Travis, Connor, Percy, and Will exclaim.
I stared at the horse … meet the other campers."
"That's it!" Apollo says snapping the book shut.
"I'll read next." Piper volunteers.
Apollo smiled and handed the book over.