A/N: Hello everyone!
GUYS GUYS GUESS WHAT? WE'RE THE 26TH MOST REVIEWED STORY ON THE PERCY JACKSON FANFICTION PAGE? ARE YOU EXCITED? I'M EXCITED GAH!
Anyway, I know I said I'd have this update done a few days ago but I got slightly distracted by the new season of Teen Wolf which just came out and then the most wonderful Stiles/OC fanfic of all time Blood In The Water by it-belongs-in-a-museum was updated and HOLY COW, GUYS, ANY STILES FANS SHOULD BE READING IT OKAY?
*ahem* Okay then.
So this is a little different- I got a teen tiny bit carried away and instead of writing a normal chapter, I wrote a thirty page chapter which NO ONE WAS EVER GOING TO WANT TO READ. Instead, I chopped it into 4 more modest-length chapters, but it does mean they kind of blend together a little. My muse has gone nuts and this is all set up for a later adventure I'm hoping to send Leo and Calypso on *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*
Anyway, hope you enjoy it and thankyou very much to everyone who's been reading, reviewing, following and favouriting!
Shy
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
- PART 2 -
The first time Annabeth Chase actually spoke to Calypso, it was because of an emergency.
The former goddess didn't kid herself at being stealthy- she was well aware that people had recognised her reluctance to speak to Annabeth. The problem was they misinterpreted it as awkwardness because of Percy and his choice to leave Ogygia. The real reason was so much more complicated than they knew and she greatly preferred to avoid it where possible.
It was the day after she'd spoken to Piper and snapped at the camper in the Dining Pavilion. People still gave her a wide berth but both Rachel and Piper were insistent that locking herself back in her room was not the answer.
Even when Dionysus chortled uproariously at the sight of her when she came to breakfast the following morning and no fewer than eleven different campers visibly paled and clutched the weapons at their side when she passed their tables.
She later admitted that trying to escape to her rooms after eating with the intent of barricading herself inside from embarrassment until, quote: 'the end of time itself', was not one of her finest moments.
"I knew they hated me." She bemoaned, tugging on her braid nervously.
"They don't hate you." Rachel sighed, rolling her eyes. "You know, one day, you're going to look back at yourself at this moment and cringe at how lame you're being right now."
"Is that a fact?" Calypso nearly growled with irritation. "Well then you have my permission to lord it over me on that day, on the condition that you be quiet now."
"Ooh, I think I like this Calypso, she's got a backbone!" the Oracle teased with bright eyes even when Calypso threw her a withering glare.
"You just have to find something to keep your mind off them." Piper told her fearlessly. "Like Leo when he's here."
She bit her lip ever so slightly, suddenly wondering about this 'train' and how quickly it was capable of moving. "Percy said he'd be back in a few days." She replied in a low tone.
"Well you can't just avoid everyone until then." Piper retorted with a shrug. "It'll just give Dionysus more fodder for gossip."
"Oh? And what do you propose? I could help in the arena, except the last time I fought in a battle, I had a Titan's blessing. Or I could work in the Forge, making silly little mechanical toys!" Calypso complained, although she paused at her bedside to run her fingertips over little Damocles who trumpeted a tiny squeak and gently twirled his helicopter blades in response. "Then again, I could always try the Big House. Dionysus would simply loveto have me assist him, I'm sure."
"I'm sure Cabin 6 could use you with their history research. I mean, you did kind of live through parts of it." Piper suggested but Calypso visibly twitched at the idea of coming anywhere near Annabeth's home territory. "Or not…"
"Hyperion help me, I hate this." The ex-goddess sighed, tugging on the ends of her hair violently.
"How about we just walk around for a while?" Rachel suggested, idly. "I mean, you haven't really explored camp yet, how do you even know what there is to do?"
Calypso begrudgingly ceded to the point and allowed the girls to yank her out of the cave and into the cool Autumn day. She figured camp wouldn't be too terrible as long as she had the two brave girls beside her. Imitating them wouldn't be too hard, right? Act brave and bravery will come, she thought.
"What about the stables?" Piper suggested as they passed the Amphitheatre, a distance clash of bronze resounded from within the enormous structure. "How much do you like pegasi?"
"They're sweet until you upset them." The former goddess admitted at the worn wooden half-door of the stables.
"True." Rachel agreed, lifting the latch and swinging open the door for them. "But so are nymphs."
"And Cyclopes. And hellhounds." Piper added, grabbing a handful of oats from a wide trough near the front. Calypso followed her to one of the cubicles in which a beautiful cloud-grey horse with snow-white wings was happily munching a carrot with her strong teeth. "And pretty much everything with any kind of teeth."
She didn't speak horse- that was a skill only Poseidon's children were ever given. But she used to play with the hippocampi in her old home and she found being around them was not unfamiliar, even though it had been so long since she'd been near one.
"This is I-feye-ne, I think…" Rachel said, squinting at the Greek characters hammered in bronze that were attached to the stable door. "I'm kind of getting better at the letters."
Despite herself, Calypso smirked slightly. "Irene, actually. It means peace."
Rachel peered at the characters again and scowled when she spotted her mistake. "It's that damn Rho! It looks too much like the Phi!" She rubbed her head and winced as she spoke and almost as quickly, Calypso's smile drooped.
"Are you feeling well, Rachel?" she asked in a low tone while Piper murmured quietly to the mare who ruffled her wings happily in response to the oats.
The Oracle tossed her curls back and beamed in a slightly tense fashion. "It's fine. Just a little tired."
Calypso hadn't wanted to say anything in front of Piper but a quick look assured her the demigod was still distracted. "You were walking in your sleep last night." She said, her voice quiet.
Rachel paused, her mouth slightly open as if to deny it but she seemed anxious. "I- I was?"
"Is that not normal for you?" Calypso asked, hesitantly.
She glanced away with a slight frown. "No. But I'm sure the Oracle was just…restless last night, that's all."
"You were holding your sketch pad." Calypso corrected in a concerned voice. The sight had frightened her at first since she was unused to sleeping in the same room as someone else, let alone having them walk around in the middle of the night. She decided to keep the fact that Rachel's eyes, which usually glowed like twin Greek fires when the Oracle took over, had been clouded over but dull and dark at the time.
"Really?" Rachel echoed, her brow furrowed. "I couldn't find it this morning. Did you see where I put it?"
Calypso began to reply when Piper turned her head and rolled her eyes. "Fine, I can see this isn't much of an interest for you." She acknowledged good-naturedly. "Come on, we'll figure something else out."
Rachel cast her a pointed look as they left which Calypso read loud and clear to keep quiet but she didn't have much more of an opportunity to speak with her. The rest of the morning was yet another tour of Camp Half Blood. Calypso admitted it was more in depth than the one she'd received from Leo but there was no added benefit of sneaking kisses and holding his hand while they walked though, so she felt they rated on a similar level.
Thinking about Leo made her stomach clench uncomfortably; she knew very little about this world's modes of transport but Percy had made the 'train' seem very fast indeed. Could he be home in a matter of weeks? Or even days? She'd peeked at one of Rachel's maps in the Cave and Chicago seemed quite a distance away. Maybe a few days was too soon to expect him, she wondered idly as they passed a rough trodden road that led down a gentle slope to a wide, open plateau beyond.
The sight made her pause, her gaze settling on the small clusters of demigods who walked up and down the rows of crops which traversed the field, thin leafy green lanes with tiny red fruit attached. A picturesque sight, maybe one of the prettiest she'd seen since arriving in this strange new place. But familiar too; she recalled studying mortals tending to their crops in a similar fashion when she lived with her father on land in her youth.
"Those are the strawberry fields." Piper's voice startled her out of her thoughts. When she turned, there was a thoughtful expression in the demigod's eyes. "The camp grows them for income."
"Income?" she echoed, the unfamiliar word tingling in the back of her mouth like another language entirely. As she watched, two young godlings tended to one of the bushes, calling a satyr over to them to help. Before her eyes, the satyr's panpipes spit out a few short notes and the leaves shook with pleasure, glowing with vitality.
"It's how the camp makes money to supply everything they need." Rachel elaborated, scratching the back of her forehead impatiently. "The strawberries are so good, restaurants all over New York pay top dollar for them."
Calypso frowned. "The gods do not provide resources for their children?"
Rachel rolled her eyes. "The gods have a 'no-interference' policy when it comes to camp."
She snorted and turned back to look over the fields. "How lazy of them." Almost on instinct, both girls glanced upwards but it seemed her comment had gone unheard. Calypso forced her eyes to remain still but the urge to roll them was strong. "Honestly, they have this whole camp walking on eggshells." She complained as she wandered closer to the path leading to the fields.
"Well, when your extended family can cause earthquakes and hurricanes with their tantrums, you tend to be a little sensitive." Rachel retorted, pointedly.
Piper cut in, tilting her head. In the cloudy light, her eyes took on a sort of swirling ashy colour. "Are you sure you want to go down there?" she asked, nodding toward the fields.
Calypso shrugged. "It's probably the only activity I'd be any good at." She replied, holding her hands out. "Growing things has never been a problem for me."
Rachel rubbed the back of her neck, the shadows beneath her eyes seeming deeper than earlier. "The Demeter kids run the fields." She stated, bluntly. "But Dionysus' children help too."
"Lord of the Vine and all that." Piper added in explanation.
Calypso wished the words didn't make her pause but they did, just for a moment. Did she really want to head straight into the figurative lion's den, where the whispers would be at their peak?
But what the satyrs and demigods were doing- that was what she used to do. All on her own, on an abandoned island, she'd created her an oasis. Magic still ran through her veins, she could sense it. It might not be as strong as she was used to, but there had been mortal sorcerers before. Powerful ones. Perhaps all she required was practise. And where better to do so than in a garden?
A second later, she tossed her hair back like Rachel had done earlier and lifted her chin like Piper did when she spoke. Act brave and bravery will come. "Dionysus has never frightened me." She stated, simply. "I won't let him or his brood keep me out any longer."
"Atta girl." Piper grinned, slapping her shoulder and gesturing for her to lead the way toward the fields. "I'll introduce you to Miranda."
Even Calypso had to admit, up close, most of the plants looked divine, even better than the fruit she once grew on Ogygia. Plump, juicy berries clung to the vines, which practically glowed with health themselves. No wonder so many people were willing to trade for them- the smell was intoxicating enough.
Miranda Gardiner, the supporting counsellor of Cabin 4, was a little taller than Calypso but she didn't let it intimidate her. She'd faced far bigger, she kept reminding herself though she did pause to wonder what the girl would think if she knew she was being compared to old gods and Titans.
There was a small greenhouse set up at the edge of the fields where most of the supplies and tools were kept and Miranda stood behind a long wooden bench with as many notches and scratches as a battle-worn soldier. She looked to be coaxing a slightly smaller seedling to health while her siblings watched with not-so-discreet looks from outside. Calypso had gotten so good at ignoring them, she almost didn't notice. Almost.
"So you're the Titan girl everyone's been talking about." Miranda observed idly as she dusted the crumbling dirt from her hands. She was a pretty girl, her skin dark as the rich soil she worked with and her teeth flashed white when she spoke. Her eyes were certainly her mother's however. In a word: scrutinising.
"This is Calypso." Piper took the lead with a pleasant smile. "We've been looking for something for her to do around camp and the fields caught our eye." The way she said 'we' and 'our' was particularly odd to Calypso- she couldn't remember the last time someone had included her in a group but it filled her with a warm trickling feeling in her chest.
Miranda shrugged. "It's getting close to fall, we could use the help. You ever had any experience with gardening or plants?" she asked, her tone even and calm although her eyes flitted over Calypso from head to toe.
She doesn't trust me, Calypso noted. Unsurprising but it still jabbed her a little. She kept having to remind herself that most of these campers had the most experience with Titans on opposite sides of the battle field. Of course they were wary.
So instead of replying, she took a deep breath and searched in her chest for that thrumming energy she'd been practising collecting. Keep calm, Calypso, she told herself. You've done this before. Take it easy. Keep calm.
One hand extended over the sapling, she muttered a few words beneath her breath and watched as that energy flitted around her palm, reaching out to the sapling's. Plant energy was always pleasant to work with- fresh, gentle, calm. It took very little strength to coax it to stretch, to strengthen, to grow. She made certain to contain her strength so she wouldn't frighten the other campers but the sapling sprung up quickly anyway, its fruit suddenly heavy and ripe beneath her fingers. Miranda gently lifted the plant to her gaze, studying the thickened roots and healthy leaves.
"Some experience." Calypso replied with a small smile and a nod to the strawberry plant.
Miranda tilted her head, thoughtfully. "Not bad at all." She admitted, eyes darting all over Calypso's face and hands. "Can you keep it up though? Most of my brothers and sisters tire pretty easily using magic like that."
Her hands flexed as she studied them but Calypso shrugged. "I haven't really tried, to be honest."
"Well, who knows, we could have another Katie Gardner on our hands." Miranda murmured and gestured to the wall behind her. "There are gloves and trowels on that shelf and boots by the door. You can grab them and we'll test you with seeding."
As she gathered her things, she caught a glimpse of Piper retreating back towards camp. "Does she not like gardening?" she asked Rachel, confused but the redhead followed her gaze with a shrug.
"One of her brothers was waving to her, I think she's needed for some kind of counsellor business." Rachel explained before her smile turned sly. "She was going to say goodbye but you were kind of in the middle of your little display. Neat trick by the way."
Calypso smiled slightly. "Thanks. I'm just glad it didn't backfire and make the damn thing explode."
Far from fearful, Rachel looked intrigued. "You could do that?"
"It was a…problem for me when I was learning." She admitted, bashfully. "My self-control wasn't as developed."
"So you could've made the plant explode in Miranda's face?" Rachel snickered, grabbing a pair of bright green boots from beside the door for her.
Her face burned bright red across her cheeks as she yanked the plastic boots on. "It was a small possibility."
"Maybe I should hang out with you for the rest of the day." Rachel proposed, innocently. "Just to make sure everything's okay."
"I swear, if you try to coerce me into blowing something up, I'll do it to your bed first." Calypso told her, sternly then followed Miranda towards the newly tossed soil.
The Oracle pouted in reply but drifted after her nevertheless. "You're no fun, Titan girl."
Miranda introduced Calypso to Laura and Gareth who had been working on the new crops and they exchanged wary hellos before explaining the work that was needed. Rachel didn't pretend to understand much of it since they talked about trying to encourage the little seedlings to take root and all that kind of magicky stuff but Calypso seemed to get it.
Unafraid of a little mud, the Oracle sat herself down beside Calypso while she worked, slowly at first but picking up speed. There didn't seem to be a lot of Demeter kids out in the fields today and next to none of the Dionysus children but Rachel supposed there were only a few year-rounders left to tend to the crops anyway.
After her first few seeds began to sprout, Rachel could see her friend's confidence grow as well. "See, now you're getting the hang of it." One of the girls, Laura, said, cheerfully and Calypso hesitantly smiled back.
The work was kind of interesting to watch at first. The soft green-ish blue light that floated from her fingertips wasn't the same as the Demeter kids'. Theirs was more like a fine emerald mirage, so subtle that Rachel was certain if she didn't know what to look for, she probably wouldn't have spotted it. In that respect, Calypso's magic stuck out like a sore thumb. It was gentle but far brighter than the magic she'd seen from any except a few Hecate children. It looked like the reflection sunlight on water, constantly undulating and rippling. Rachel sensed power in it. Part of her was more than a little curious about her ability to 'explode' things but so far, she'd only seen Calypso use her power on plants. The redhead watched the light appear and fade with each new plant, the way Calypso's lips moved gently, the words inaudible and wondered what the limits on her powers actually were.
Could she change shapes like the Hecate kids? Charm people like Aphrodite's brood? Call on water like Percy or lightning like Jason? Tethys was a primordial ocean goddess after all: maybe storms were a specialty of hers? The possibilities made her daydreaming a little more interesting since Calypso was too focused for much conversation.
The quiet was nice anyway, Rachel decided. Especially with the sensation of tiny pick-axes chipping away at the inside of her skull. She'd popped some aspirin when she'd woken up that morning but the Oracle had seemingly laughed in the face of the medicine and continued with the growing pressure mounting inside her head. At least, she kind of hoped it was the Oracle. The persistent headaches and trouble sleeping were disconcerting enough without some other force behind it.
She stretched out on her back, listening as Gareth and Calypso made small talk and Laura chimed in every once and a while, trying to soak in the peacefulness. Thinking of her strange recent headaches, she could apparently add sleep-walking to her list of symptoms too. The Oracle hadn't called on her body while she was sleeping like that in a while although she didn't really allow herself to worry too much.
Her relationship was deeper than simply playing host- the Oracle's spirit was entwined with hers, it fed off her memories, her joys, her sadness, her talent and her vision. In return, Rachel was stronger, more vibrant and lively, like she'd been given an extra shot of energy.
It would never hurt her in any way, she was confident. But she wished she knew what was causing it so much distress.
She flipped over onto her stomach, keeping a careful ear out for the ex-goddess nearby but Calypso seemed to sense her desire for quiet and was tentatively chatting with the Demeter kids. A smile stole its way on to her face but Rachel could hardly help feeling a little proud. Dealing with gods had become far easier since she'd taken on an ancient clairvoyant spirit, which meant she was one of the few campers who hadn't been on tiptoe around Calypso when she first arrived. Particularly when the former goddess was as genuinely kind and wary as Calypso had been.
Rachel had always been a fan of trusting her gut and her instincts told her there was no way to fake Calypso's nerves and incredible reluctance to associate and integrate with regular society. She was simply too…twitchy.
Then there was the way she looked and spoke to Leo Valdez, as though he had simultaneously pulled her hair like a ten year old and swept up the moon from the sky just for her. They were a cute couple, Rachel mused to herself. Even if their little spats left her slightly bewildered at times.
She glanced at the berries brushing against her crossed arms, studying the richness of colour and play of light across the dimpled, seeded surface. She wished, not for the first time, that she'd had the foresight to bring her sketchpad with her. Or at least find it. Her trusty companion had been AWOL since last night and with Calypso's mention of the Oracle's nighttime wandering, she was beginning to worry where it might've ended up.
At the thought of it, the pain in her head suddenly flared and Rachel cringed, twisting to her knees while she grabbed the sides of her head. But while normally the pain tapered off, this time the headache only amplified itself, quickly spiralling into one of her worst migraines yet.
"Rachel?" she could hear the sound of boots in the dirt and when she squinted through her scrunched eyelids, she saw Calypso's face carved into a mask of worry. "Rachel, can you hear me? What's going on?"
Another voice called out in concern. "Is she okay?"
"She's not looking good." Someone else noted worriedly.
Calypso took on a steely expression. "Is there a healer anywhere nearby?" she demanded and Rachel wanted to tell her that she'd already seen the Apollo Cabin and it hadn't helped at all.
"No but we can find someone." A voice said, eagerly. "Janice, go get help, okay? No, just go grab someone! The Oracle's in trouble!"
That was the last Rachel heard before the piercing buzzing in her head became an inferno of noise and her vision was swept away in a hurricane of light and colour.
A/N: So that's it! I'm posting these three chapters consecutively, mainly because I know you are desperate for a Caleo reunion and I'm not cruel enough to make you wait so long without it :)
I hope you enjoyed this chapter- I really wanted to give Calypso a place of her own at camp and where better than with the green thumbs?
Special shout-out to Stormfire76 who has not only reviewed nearly every chapter of this story, but has written legitimate essays on each one. Thankyou very much for the dedication and enjoy!
Anon reviews!
Cecld16: NAW THANKYOU! He'll be back very soon I promise!
Hannah: Last chapter was pretty Percabeth heavy but I am so in the Caleo headspace right now, my muse is on freakin' fire! Can't wait to get back to them either but thankyou for being so patient!
Theguywhoships: Soon, I promise! They will be back in the same 300m vicinity very shortly :D As for being sweet enough to cause diabetes…I will try my very hardest to rot your teeth out. Until then, thanks for reading!
Deathtoaster: Firstly, someone (*coughcough* Hope Garrit, one of my other lovely reviewers) told me to tell you that your name was very cool (which it is) And Secondly, reading your lovely reviews makes my parents and sister send me strange looks as well. In the end, I am just so thoroughly overwhelmed that you guys are enjoying it so thankyou and I hope you enjoy the new chapters :)
Guest: that's cool, the amount of times I sneak into a change room at work to read an update on my phone, it's a wonder I haven't been caught! Anyway, I am thrilled you're enjoying it but I hope you have a nice big sleep to make up for all the late night reading ;) Thanks for leaving such a sweet review!
Starry: NAW MY GOSH YOU ARE JUST SO NICE AND I LIKE YOUR REVIEWS VERY MUCH THANK YOU :3
Ralph: It's all cool friend, Caleo and more chapters are on their way. I got distracted by TeenWolfSeasonFour-itis, which is a very real, very serious affliction that I am struggling through. That being said, enjoy the new updates!
Hope Garrit: I live on the western side of Australia where it never snows. Ever. Sometimes it hails and during winter it rains and storms and blows electrical lines and tree branches around like dust but no snow. Is it snowing where you are?
Ramone: It has been many days. Teen Wolf is addictive and I'm afraid it's an ongoing problem I have. That being said, enjoy the new updates friend!
Leona Valdez: You are most welcome friend :)
Chanchito: Settle down, this is a space of no anger, just feels. AND OH THE CALEO FEELS THAT ARE COMING YOUR WAY MY FRIEND. Enjoy the new updates!
That's all for now guys! Hope to see you in a little while but I'm taking a bit of a break to work on some new chapters after these next couple and most importantly ANSWER SOME DAMN REVIEWS BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE HILARIOUS AND I LIKE TALKING TO YOU. Anyway, enjoy and thankyou!