Hello hello! Would have released sooner, but I was getting BOMBARDED with math tests :( Hopefully I pass, but on an actual related note, a 6k word chapter! Pretty proud of this one.

Huge thanks to Anaklusmos404 and Robotdocter for the consistent reviews!

Enjoy!

CHAPTER 5: AN ETERNALLY MESSY FAMILY

"So," Percy said, hoping he didn't get shot at by a hunter, "what's this all about?"

Apparently, Artemis wasn't in the mood for explanations. Her eyes remained fixed on the horizon, her expression one of contemplation.

"I will call my brother," she said abruptly.

Right. Her brother, which could be any one of Zeus' fifty-odd kids. "Who?"

Artemis turned, her gaze piercing through the dim light of the tent. "Apollo," she said, her voice carrying an edge of annoyance. "He shall transport you demigods and my hunters."

Percy's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Apollo?"

"Yes," Artemis confirmed. "Apollo."

Percy's thoughts raced. "How do you plan to get in touch with him?"

Artemis raised an eyebrow. "It's almost dawn. He's the god of the sun," she drawled. "I think he'll notice his twin sister in the middle of nowhere signalling for help."

That didn't really answer his question, but Percy wasn't going to argue with the man-hating goddess.

A sudden flare of light illuminated the clearing, and Percy squinted against the brilliance. When his vision cleared, Apollo stood before them, his radiant presence filling the space. His golden hair glowed like the sun itself, and his eyes sparkled with the light of a thousand dawns.

"Artemis," Apollo greeted, his voice smooth and melodic. "You called?"

"I did," Artemis nodded. "My hunters and these demigods need to go to Camp Half-Blood."

"No problem!" Apollo checked the demigods out. "Let's see… Bianca, right? I've heard all about you."

She blushed and replied, "Hi, Lord Apollo."

"Hades' girl, yes? That makes you my cousin. And you're from the past! Man, I remember one time-"

"Brother," Artemis interjected. "You should get going."

"Oh, right." Then he looked at Percy, narrowing his eyes. "Percy Jackson?"

"Yeah. I mean… yes, sir." It felt strange to call a teenager 'sir,' but he had learned to be cautious around immortals; they tended to take offense easily, and then things tended to blow up.

Apollo studied Percy, not saying anything, which felt a little creepy.

His eyes flashed golden. "Perseus-Ra."

"What?"
Apollo smiled that brillant smile. "I must have mispoke!" he finally exclaimed. "We'd better load up, huh? The ride only goes one way - west. And if you miss it, you miss it."

With a clap of the god's hands, a flashy sports car appeared.

Percy glanced at the car, which could seat only two people at most. There were about thirty of them. "Cool car," Nico remarked.

"Thanks, kid," Apollo replied.

"But how will we all fit?"

"Oh." Apollo seemed to notice the problem for the first time. "Well, yeah. I hate to change out of sports-car mode, but I suppose…" He took out his car keys and beeped the security alarm button. Chirp, chirp. For a moment, the car glowed brightly again. When the glare faded, the sports car had transformed into a large yellow bus.

"Right," he said. "Everybody in." Zoë ordered the Hunters to start loading. She picked up her camping pack, and Apollo said, "Here, sweetheart. Let me get that."

Zoë recoiled, her eyes flashing with anger. "Brother," Artemis chided, "you do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart."

Apollo spread his hands. "Sorry. I forgot. Hey, sis, where are you off to, anyway?"

"Hunting," Artemis replied. "It's none of your business."

"I'll find out. I see all. Know all."

At the 'know all' comment, Apollo glanced at Percy, as if he was saying I know what you are.

Artemis snorted. "Just drop them off, Apollo. And no messing around!"

"No, no! I never mess around."

Artemis rolled her eyes and looked at them. "I will see you by winter solstice. Zoë, you are in charge of the Hunters. Do well. Do as I would."

Zoë straightened. "Yes, my lady."

Artemis knelt, touching the ground as if searching for tracks. When she rose, her expression was troubled. "So much danger. The beast must be found." She looked at Percy as if he was the beast she was hunting, and sprinted towards the woods, melting into the snow and shadows.

Apollo turned and grinned, jangling the car keys on his finger. "So," he said, "who wants to drive?"

The Hunters piled into the van, cramming into the front to stay as far away from the other demigods as possible.

Bianca, Nico, Grover, Drew and Percy sat at the back.

"This is so cool!" Nico exclaimed. "Is this really the sun? I thought Helios and Selene were the sun and moon gods. How come sometimes it's them and sometimes it's Apollo and Artemis?" He turned to Bianca

"Dunno," Bianca replied eloquently. "Ask the god up the front."

"But how does it work?" Nico asked. "I thought the sun was a big fiery ball of gas!"

Bianca sighed. "Hey, do you understand how the mist works?"

Nico shook his head. "No."

"Well then, just think of it as a really powerful, really dangerous solar car."

"Can I drive?" Nico asked eagerly.

"No Neeks, you can't." Bianca said.

Nico responded to the nickname by sticking out his tongue.

"Cut it out you two!" Grover said.

As the bus rumbled to life, Percy leaned back into his seat, trying to wrap his mind around everything that had just happened. Apollo, driving a bus that was also the sun, Artemis on the hunt for some mysterious beast, and now him, stuck in the middle of it all.

"So, Perseus-Ra, huh?" Drew whispered from beside him, her smirk impossible to ignore. "That was… interesting."

Percy tensed at the name Apollo had let slip. "Probably nothing. Just Apollo being Apollo," he muttered, though the unease gnawed at him.

Grover, who was sitting nearby, must've overheard. "Apollo doesn't make mistakes, Percy. If he called you that, there's a reason."

Percy's stomach tightened. He glanced over at Grover and asked, "You think he knows something I don't?"

"Maybe," Grover said cautiously. "Gods are tricky like that. They'll drop hints but never tell you outright."

"Great. Just what I need - more cryptic gods." Percy sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

"More?" Bianca raised an eyebrow.

Nico, oblivious to the tension, was still marveling at the fact that they were riding in a bus that was apparently also the sun. "This is awesome!" he said, pressing his face against the window. "I wonder if we'll see any planets on the way!"

"Don't count on it," Bianca said dryly. "This is a one-way trip to Camp Half-Blood. And you're not driving."

Nico pouted, but then quickly shifted his focus to the conversation between Percy and Grover. "What's this about 'Perseus-Ra'?" Nico asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Probably nothing," Percy repeated, but his voice lacked confidence.

Drew raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, right. You think Apollo just casually calls people after Egyptian gods for fun?"

Don't panic don't panic don't panic- Percy was panicking.

Percy frowned. "I don't know. It's just… weird."

Grover nodded. "You've been through a lot, Percy. Maybe there's more to your story than you realize."

Just what did he mean by that?

Up the front, Apollo was driving the bus with a bit too much recklessness for Percy's liking.

Nico moved a bit further up the front, trying to ask Apollo a question. Bianca followed suit, and Grover did as well, citing his job as a protecter. Or rather, wanting to be closer to the Hunters.

Which left Percy and Drew were sitting at the back of the bus.

"Who's your godly parent?" He asked, trying to make small talk.

Then he realised that was a bad idea. A really bad idea.

Mainly because Drew was sure to ask the question back, if not only out of politeness. And his godly parent was a secret that could destroy the relative peace he had found, and endanger the lives of everyone on the bus.

Not to mention that his grandad was also a catastrophic, potentially world-ending secret.

Percy felt like the world's biggest idiot.

"Aphrodite."

"What?" Percy asked.

"Aphrodite," Drew repeated. "My mom's Aphrodite. Dad's mortal. What about you?"

"Right," Percy said, suddenly remembering that he was screwed.

His mind spun with half-baked excuses, but none of them seemed believable enough to satisfy her. He couldn't just blurt out the truth, not here. Not now.

"Well?" Drew asked, raising an eyebrow. "You do know who your godly parent is, right?"

She had that look - one Percy had seen on so many people before, the curiosity laced with suspicion. He could tell she wasn't going to let it go. Not easily, at least.

"Uh, yeah. Of course I do." Percy fumbled with the hem of his jacket, desperately trying to find an exit from the conversation. "It's just… complicated."

Drew rolled her eyes. "Everything's complicated in our world. Try me."

Percy felt like he was trapped in a shrinking room. He couldn't outright lie, but the truth would blow everything wide open. He glanced out the window, watching the scenery blur by, wishing that something - anything - would cause a distraction.

Drew leaned closer. "You're acting weird. You're not like, a big three kid, are you?"

She was teasing, but Percy could feel his throat tighten.

Being a big three kid would have, ironically, been more normal than being the first Egyptian demigod.

How was he supposed to explain that his parent wasn't just any god, but Sobek, the ancient Egyptian crocodile god of strength? That his grandad was possibly even more dangerous - Poseidon.

"It's a long story," Percy muttered, glancing around nervously.

Drew crossed her arms, tilting her head in a way that reminded Percy of a hawk sizing up prey. "I've got time. You're being sketchy."

Percy swallowed hard. There was no easy way out of this, no clever excuse that wouldn't make Drew more suspicious. He could see it in her eyes - she wasn't going to let it go until he gave her something.

And she knew he was strong - she had been there for the manticore.

"Alright," Percy muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He glanced around the bus, making sure no one else was paying attention. "But you can't tell anyone. Seriously, Drew. This is… big."

Drew leaned in, her curiosity fully piqued now. "Okay, okay. Lips are sealed." She mimed zipping up her lips.

Percy hesitated for a second longer, his mind racing through the possible consequences. He wasn't just putting his life at risk by telling her - this could endanger everyone on the bus, and maybe more. But if he didn't tell her, she'd keep pushing, and that might be even worse.

"My godly parent…" he started slowly, carefully choosing his words, "is Sobek. The Egyptian god."

Drew blinked, her expression frozen in place, like she hadn't heard him correctly.

"What?" she finally asked, her voice a mix of confusion and disbelief. "Like... the crocodile god? From Egyptian mythology?"

Percy nodded, his stomach twisting into knots. He could see Drew's mind working to process the information, but the shock in her face said it all.

"Yeah," Percy continued, lowering his voice even more. "And it's not just that. My grandad… well, let's just say if people found out, it could cause chaos. We're talking major pantheon war level chaos."

"Who's your grandad?"

"Poseidon." Percy said slowly. "My mom's Sally Jackson."
"The Sally Jackson?" Of course his mom was famous. Just his luck. "The one who practically became a legend for hiding from the gods? That Sally Jackson?"

Percy nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. It was all out in the open now. There was no turning back.

"No way," Drew whispered, her eyes wide. "So, you're like… half-Egyptian, half-Greek royalty. That's insane."

Percy swallowed, feeling the weight of it all press down on him. "It's not as glamorous as it sounds," he said softly. "If anyone finds out about this, it could start a war. The Egyptian gods and Greek gods don't exactly play nice together. And my dad's not exactly the most friendly god out there."

Drew's mouth opened, but no sound came out for a few seconds. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious," Percy said. "That's why I've kept it secret. If anyone knew about me - about Sobek - it could spark something huge."

Drew sat back in her seat, stunned. Her confident, teasing demeanor was gone, replaced with a kind of quiet awe. "Holy Aphrodite…"

Percy nodded grimly. "Yeah. Exactly."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The bus rumbled along, the sounds of chatter filling the air, but it felt like they were in their own little bubble of silence.

"So… what does that mean?" Drew asked finally, her voice quieter than before.

"I don't know," Percy admitted, his voice low. "I've tried to stay under the radar. But if someone finds out - like the gods - things could get really bad. And it's not just me. My family… well, let's just say we're not exactly normal."

"You're not… dangerous, are you?"

"I'm not, at least not to you," Percy assured her. "But my dad is. Apparently he almost destroyed Manhattan because I was being bullied. That's what my aunt told me, at least. I've never actually met the guy."

Drew sat there, wide-eyed, absorbing everything. She glanced around the bus as if expecting some Egyptian god to suddenly materialize and turn her to dust.

"I don't know what to say," she muttered. "That's… huge."

"Yeah, it is," Percy said. "And that's why you can't tell anyone. Promise me."

Drew hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I promise."

Percy exhaled in relief, though the knot in his stomach remained. He had told her, but now the secret was out, at least to one person. And in his world, secrets had a way of coming to light.

Contrary to what every teacher who had ever taught him would say, Percy wasn't dumb.

Sure, math was his mortal enemy, and history bored him half to death (unless it involved ancient battles), but when it came to the important stuff - like survival - he was pretty sharp.

And when it came to family? Well, that was a whole different battlefield.

The problem with his family, though, wasn't that they were messy. Messy would have been manageable. Percy could handle messy. His room back at home with Mom was messy. His locker at school was messy. But his family? They were chaotic.

And that chaos was of the godly, world-ending variety.

Take his grandad, Poseidon, for example. Sure, he was the god of the sea, which was pretty awesome when you're surfing. But he was also a storm god. The kind of guy who could wreck entire coastlines just because he was in a bad mood.

The kind of guy who did wreck entire coastlines when he was in a bad mood.

Then there was Sobek. His mom had never talked much about him when Percy was younger - probably because no one in their right mind wants to explain to their son that his dad's side of the family has a crocodile god with serious anger management issues. Sobek wasn't exactly the cuddly, warm-hearted type either. More of the "I'll destroy your puny civilisation for fun" type.

And speaking of Egyptian gods, there was the slight issue of his eccentric godmother And speaking of Egyptian gods, there was the slight issue of his eccentric aunt, Hathor.

Hathor, the goddess of joy, motherhood, and music, sounded harmless enough at first glance. A fun aunt, right? Except when she wasn't. Hathor also had a darker side - a lioness avatar named Sekhmet, who had a bit of a reputation for nearly wiping out humanity during one of her "bad days." Percy wasn't exactly sure how to navigate a relationship with a deity who could swing from loving to lethal depending on how the wind blew.

It was like having an aunt who gave you candy one day and threatened to incinerate your entire neighborhood the next.

And if that wasn't enough, his godmother was the god of air and night. Nephthys was often overlooked by Egyptians, but Percy knew better. She was the goddess of the night, the protector of the dead, and not someone you wanted to underestimate. Though she was more nurturing than her sister, Hathor, Nephthys had a dark edge that came out when it mattered. It was hard to feel at ease knowing that his godmother had ties to the afterlife, especially when he had enough on his plate without worrying about ghosts.

Percy sighed, leaning his head against the cool glass of the bus window. If dealing with one pantheon of gods wasn't enough, trying to balance between the Greek and Egyptian gods made him feel like a plate spinner in a circus - except the plates were giant, magical gods that could shatter the world if they fell.

And Percy? Well, he was stuck right in the middle of that fun family reunion.

Most kids had to deal with grounded parents, maybe a strict curfew. Percy had to deal with ancient deities who could sink continents or drown entire civilizations.

That's why he had kept his lineage secret for so long. If anyone knew that Sobek and Poseidon were both part of his family tree, it could cause a disaster on a global scale. Gods didn't exactly have a reputation for playing nice, and Percy was just one wrong move away from finding himself in the middle of a divine tug-of-war.

And now Drew knew.

Percy was a dead man walking.

THE SON OF SOBEK

"Ok, so we need to give you a fake godly parent," Drew said, matter of factly.

In Percy's opinion, she seemed to be taking the whole 'illegal Egyptian demigod' thing pretty well. Her suggestion caught him off guard. "A fake godly parent? How is that supposed to work?"

Drew leaned in conspiratorially. "Look, you need to lay low, right? So, we give you a cover story. Something believable that won't raise any eyebrows. Everyone at Camp Half-Blood has a godly parent, so you need to blend in."

Percy rubbed his templesl. "And who exactly am I supposed to say my parent is? People will get suspicious if I suddenly pick a random god."

Drew crossed her arms, thinking it over. "Well, it can't be one of the Big Three - that would only make things worse. And it has to be a minor god, someone powerful enough to explain your abilities, but not too well-known. Maybe a nature god, or a lesser sea deity…"

"Wait," Percy interrupted, "you're serious about this? You really think a fake godly parent will keep me out of trouble?"

Drew gave him a pointed look. "It's better than telling everyone you're the son of a different pantheon. I mean, come on Egyptian gods? That's asking for disaster."

She wasn't wrong. If word got out about his dual heritage, the consequences would be catastrophic. He was already walking on eggshells trying to balance both sides of his family without tipping the scales into full-blown war.

Percy sighed. "Fine. But who?"

Drew grinned, clearly enjoying this. "How about Triton? He's Poseidon's son, but not one of the Big Three. You could claim he's your dad, and it would explain your water powers."

"Triton?" Percy repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that make me Poseidon's grandson? People might still connect the dots."

Drew waved off his concern. "Nah, Triton doesn't get enough attention for people to make that connection. Plus, it's close enough to the truth to explain your powers without causing suspicion. No-one really cares if you aren't the child of an Olympian, minor gods don't usually claim their children. And let's be real - you've got that whole ocean vibe going on."

Percy considered it. Triton wasn't a bad cover, and it would keep his connection to Poseidon somewhat hidden. Still, the idea of lying about his godly parent felt wrong, like he was digging himself deeper into a hole he'd never get out of.

But what choice did he have?

"Alright," Percy finally agreed. "Triton it is."

Drew clapped her hands together, satisfied. "Perfect! Now you just have to act like Triton's your dad. Don't overthink it - just go with the flow."

"Go with the flow?" Percy muttered, shaking his head. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one pretending to be something you're not."

"Hey," Drew said, nudging him lightly. "You'll pull this off, no problem. Can't be harder than beating a manticore."

Percy hoped she was right. He wasn't exactly looking forward to lying to the people he'd fought alongside, but if it kept them safe - and kept the gods from tearing him apart - it was a risk he'd have to take.

As the bus rumbled along, Percy leaned back in his seat, the weight of his secret heavier than ever. He couldn't help but wonder how long he could keep up this charade before everything came crashing down.

Drew glanced at him, her playful smirk softening into something almost sympathetic. "Don't worry, Percy. We'll figure it out. Just… try not to get us all killed in the meantime, okay?"

Percy laughed, though there was no real humor in it. "No promises."

"Last time you said that you decided to fight a manticore, crocodile boy."

The bus landed on Long Island, near a hill with a pine. "Real funny, Dove."

Drew raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Dove? Really?"

"Yep," Percy said, popping the 'p'. "You hate it, meaning it's a great nickname. Now come one Dove, we gotta get off."

Drew groaned, rolling her eyes. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Percy grinned, happy to have shifted the conversation away from his tangled family history. "I've been told."

As the bus doors swung open, the cold air hit them like a wall. The familiar sight of Camp Half-Blood stretched before them, with the towering pine tree marking the entrance to safety - or at least what passed for safety in their world.

Drew shot Percy a glare as she grabbed her bag. "Just because you came up with one decent nickname doesn't make you clever, croc."

"Croc?" Percy scoffed, following her off the bus. "Wow, real original. I'm crushed."

She responded by flicking him in the arm with a perfectly manicured nail.

They walked together toward the camp, the sound of the Hunters unloading their gear behind them. Percy could see the other campers going about their day, completely unaware of the chaos he was about to bring into their lives.

"Alright, Dove," Percy said, shifting his bag over his shoulder, "now that we're back at camp, how do we handle this? The whole 'Triton's my dad' thing?"

Drew paused, thinking it over. "We ease into it. No grand announcements. If anyone asks, you just casually mention it. People are more likely to believe it if you act like it's no big deal."

Percy nodded. "Sounds… doable. What about the others? Bianca, Grover, Nico."

Drew tilted her head. "That's trickier. You'll just have to be a good actor." She hesitated.

"Right. I'll talk to them."

As they neared the camp's borders, Percy felt a sense of unease settle in his chest. He was at Camp Half-Blood, but things were far from normal.

This was where his mom had been.

With his true heritage hanging over him, and a looming beast hunt with Artemis on the horizon, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the calm before the storm.

"Hey," Drew said, nudging him again. "You're not alone in this, okay? We'll figure it out."

Percy glanced at her, surprised by the sudden show of affection. "Thanks, Dove."

"Stop calling me that," she muttered, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

Together, they crossed the border into camp, stepping into the uncertain future waiting for them both.

That future was apparently a girl with spiky black hair and electric blue eyes, proclaiming herself the daughter of Zeus.

She scowled at the hunters of Artemis, glowering. They levelled her with glares of their own. Zoë was at the front of the group, her expression cold and unimpressed. The tension between the girl and the Hunters was thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Thalia Grace," Zoë said, looking thoroughly bored, "daughter of Zeus and former tree protector of Camp Half-Blood."

Thalia's glare deepened as she turned her attention away from the Hunters and locked eyes with Percy. She sized him up like she was looking for cracks in his armor. "You don't look like much."

Percy raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her bluntness. "Nice to meet you too, Thalia."

Drew, standing next to Percy, rolled her eyes. "Here we go again. Another child of Zeus acting like they own the place."

Zoë shot Drew a sharp glance. "Watch your tongue, daughter of Aphrodite. Not everyone here has the luxury of vanity."

Drew smirked but didn't respond, crossing her arms as if unimpressed by Zoë's sharp words.

Thalia, however, didn't seem to care about the back-and-forth between Drew and Zoë. Her electric blue eyes were fixed on Percy. "So, who's your godly parent?"

"Triton," he responded automatically.

Thalia frowned but didn't respond.

Percy sighed, feeling like he was being judged from every angle. "Yeah, I get that a lot," he muttered, as if he was used to being judged for his immortal dad.

Which he kinda was, to be fair.

Before anyone could say more, Grover jogged up, looking nervous. "Uh, hey guys! We should really get inside before things get..." He glanced nervously between Thalia and the Hunters.

Bianca and Nico were behind Grover, marvelling at the camp.

Thalia crossed her arms, still glaring at Percy. "Just stay out of my way," she said, before turning and heading toward the Big House.

Zoë watched her go, her expression unreadable. Then, with a sharp nod to her Hunters, she followed Thalia.

Drew gave Percy a sideways glance. "So... do you always attract this much drama, or is this just a special day?"

Percy groaned. "It's pretty much my life."

THE SON OF SOBEK

If there was one thing Percy learnt during his time in the chaotic world of demigods, it was that every day had the potential to be a disaster waiting to happen.

Today seemed no different

As they walked toward the Big House, the camp buzzed with energy - kids training with swords, others playing some card game with a pudgy old man, and a few lounging by the lake, laughing and splashing water at each other.

Percy couldn't help but feel like an outsider, even among the familiar chaos. It was a strange blend of excitement and anxiety, being surrounded by demigods who had grown up in this world while he was still trying to figure out his place in it.

"Is it always this lively?" he asked Grover, who was hurrying to keep up with the group.

"Pretty much," Grover replied, glancing back at the activities. "But watch out for the kids who look like they just stepped off a battlefield. They're usually on high alert. Children of Ares, y'know?"

"Great," Percy muttered. "Just what I need."

Bianca, walking beside him, piped up. "Don't worry. You'll get the hang of it. Just stick with us, and you'll be fine."

Nico nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! You'll learn all the camp rules. Like not to get on Thalia's bad side."

"Noted," Percy said dryly, remembering Thalia's glare.

Hey, she couldn't be that dangerous, right? Thalia might have been a daughter of Zeus, but his father was older than Olympus. He'd be fine.

As they reached the porch of the Big House, Drew leaned against the railing, crossing her arms. "So, any plans for your big reveal? You know, the part where you tell them you're not who you say you are?"

Percy felt his stomach twist again. "Yeah, about that… I think I'll just take it one day at a time. No need to rush into this."

"Smart move," Drew replied, her smirk returning. "Let's keep the drama to a minimum… for now."

Percy muttered something about annoying daughters of Aphrodite.

"Hey, newbie!" Came a voice. Percy turned to see a bulky girl who looked like she'd just stepped off a battlefield.

Drew sighed. "Meet Clarisse, Daughter of Ares." Percy blinked. "Like… the war god?"

Clarisse sneered. "You got a problem with that?"

"Course not," Percy said, recovering his wits. "It explains the dumb look."

Clarisse growled. "We got an initiation ceremony for newbies, Prissy."

"Percy."

"Whatever. Come, I'll show you."

"Clarisse-" Annabeth tried to interject.

"Stay out of it," Clarisse snapped. Drew looked pained, but she stayed silent.

Clarisse had him by the neck, dragging him toward a cinderblock building. He kicked and punched, but Clarisse's grip was like iron.

Percy was fuming. His dad was the god of strength! He shouldn't be manhandled this easily. As she dragged him closer to the cinderblock building, Percy grit his teeth, deciding enough was enough.

"Let go," he growled, feeling a familiaer surge of power rising inside him. He didn't want to reveal anything too soon, but he wasn't about to be humiliated like this either.

Clarisse grinned an ugly smile, her grip tightening. "What's wrong, Prissy? Too weak to fight back?"

In an instant, Percy twisted in her grip, using her own strength against her. With a fluid motion, he broke free, sending her stumbling forward a few steps. "I said, let go," Percy repeated. "Or do you not understand English?"

Clarisse spun around, her eyes wide with shock before narrowing into a murderous glare. "You're gonna regret that, newbie."

She stabbed forward with her spear - where in all Hades had she gotten a spear from?

But Percy was ready. His right arm erupted into scales, blocking the spearhead, though he felt a jolt across his arm. His eyes glowed, and the ground beneath him rumbled in response. Water surged from seemingly nowhere, pooling at his feet.

Clarisse's sneer faltered for a moment as she took a step back, but her grip on the spear tightened. "You think you're tough because of a few fancy tricks?" she growled, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

Percy's heart raced. His arm still gleamed with scales, and the glow in his eyes pulsed like an underwater current. He hadn't meant to reveal his powers, but there was no backing down now.

"Yeah, something like that," Percy said, his voice colder than he intended. "Now, back off."

Clarisse snarled and lunged again, but this time Percy was ready. He sidestepped, the water following his movements like it was an extension of his body. He swiped his arm toward Clarisse, and a wave of water slammed into her, knocking her off her feet and sending her spear clattering to the ground.

For a moment, there was silence. Everyone stared, wide-eyed, at Percy.

Clarisse stood up slowly, drenched and furious. "You're gonna pay for that, water boy," she spat, but before she could charge again a voice rang out from behind them. "Clarisse! Let him go."

It was Drew, standing between them.

Clarisse sneered. "Fine," she spat, shooting Percy one last glare before storming off. "But don't think this is over, newbie."

Drew whistled softly, looking Percy up and down. "Well, Triton's son, huh? That was impressive."

Percy frowned. "Why'd she just… listen to you?"

Drew winked. "Charmspeak. It's an Aphrodite thing. I'll show you later. And why'd you keep antagonising Clarisse?"

"She tried to break my neck!"

She sighed. "You really don't know when to keep quiet, do you?"

Percy shrugged. "What can I say? It's a gift."

Drew shook her head, though the hint of a smile played on her lips. "Yeah, well, your 'gift' almost got you skewered by a spear. Try not to make a habit of it."

Percy rubbed the back of his neck. "Noted. But seriously, thanks for stepping in."

"Don't mention it," Drew said, her tone more casual than before. "I'd rather you not kill her or something."

He gaped. "I wasn't going to kill her!"

"Could have fooled me."

"I hate you."

Drew ignored him. "Plus, you're the new guy, and trust me, Clarisse loves picking fights with the new blood. Better you learn that now."

Percy glanced around, noticing the campers who had gathered to watch the fight were starting to disperse, whispering amongst themselves. He could already feel the weight of their stares, the questions forming in their heads. Great, just what he needed - more attention.

"So, charmspeak, huh?" Percy asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the fight. "You can make people do whatever you say?"

"Pretty much," Drew said, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "It's not as easy as it sounds, though. You have to hit the right tone, and it only works on certain people."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "And Clarisse?"

Drew smirked. "Oh, she's a challenge, trust me. But even the toughest warriors have their limits."

Percy couldn't help but chuckle. "Guess it comes in handy."

"More than you'd think," Drew replied, giving him a sidelong glance. "Speaking of which, you should probably lay low for a bit. Clarisse isn't going to forget what just happened."

"Not exactly scared of her."

Drew looked at him seriously for a moment. "Just... don't get yourself killed. I'm not sure how good your powers are, but Clarisse isn't the type to let things go."

"I'll be fine," Percy said. "I've dealt with worse than a daughter of Ares."

"Sure you have," Drew teased, though her expression softened slightly. "Just be careful, croc boy."

"Thanks for the warning, Dove." He studied her face. "You're thinking something."

"Oh, it's nothing. Just thinking camp will be a lot more interesting with you around."

"Oh yeah?" Percy said. "And why's that?"

Instead of saying anything, Drew responded by blowing him a kiss and heading back toward the pavilion, leaving Percy standing on the porch of the Big House, wondering what in the world he had just gotten himself into.

Chapter is finished! Hope y'all liked it! Btw, if you're enjoying this fic, check out my other PJO fic Eternity. It's not that bad, I promise.

Review responses:

MultiversalCosms: Thanks for the pairing ideas! Percy will show up the hunters next chap...

ayden672: It's called foreshadowing! But thanks.

Robotdocter: Oh no, feel free to rant! I love long reviews, I read them all! And Percy/Drew is probably locked in atp, it's definitely the fave.

merendinoemiliano: Thank you so much!

Anaklusmos404: Appreciate it man! Made the last chapter short, but this one's long, so makes up for it I guess. Percy's getting claimed next chapter, so look out for that!

Poseidon Olympus: Thank you for the advice, I'll keep it in mind!

DevilishSlipper: Ok, so Percy know's he's a son of Sobek, and the di Angelo's know they're children of Hades. Thanks!

That's about it! Love you all, feel free to review!