Chapter 41 It's starting
Annabeth's POV
(three hours to give us Luke castellan or your borders will fall!)/
Pandemonium broke out, everyone was yelling and nothing was happening. I grabbed Luke's arm pulling him to his feet and raised my voice above everyone else.
"CABENS 9,10,12,15,16, AND 17 GET EVERYONES ARMOR! THE REST OF YOU I WANT A PERIMETER SET UP BY THE BEACH, WOODS AND HALF BLOOD HILL! I NEED 7 RUNERS THAT CAN RELAY INFORMATION TO EACH LINE AND ONE IN THE MIDDLE THAT CAN TAKE A MESSAGE TO THE BIG HOUSE! COUNSELORS WITH ME!"
I started striding to the big house pulling Luke along with me, the other counselors not far behind, when Sarah stepped in front of me. Stopping short I sead,
"I don't have time to talk or answer questions right now. Go find the second for your cabin to get further orders or an explanation."
She shook her head,
"Where are you taking him?"
She demanded pouting at Luke, I frowned slightly confused. It appeared Luke had given an almost in perceptible shake of his head as if trying to make Sarah stop. But that didn't make any sense.
"Sarah it doesn't concern you we're I'm taking him, now go.."
She interrupted,
"Actually I think it does concern me. Where are you taking my boyfriend and what are you going to do with him?!"
I stared at her, not really sure if I'd heard her right or not, Luke? Boyfriend? How? Behind me Nico said,
"Luke Castellan is your boyfriend?"
"Yes!"
"Luke Castellan the undead warlord is your boyfriend?"
"Yes now what do you want with him?!"
"Interesting choice."
Clarice turned on Nico.
"Did you know he was back? Why didn't you tell anyone this is your fault Nico!"
"Do you realize how many souls escaped from the doors of death?! My father is still counting… how is this possibly my.."
I pinched the bridge of my nose and snapped,
"We don't have time for this! So you two cut it out. Sarah, we are going to ask him questions, we need to know what we're up against."
Clarice interjected.
"And make a decision on whether or not to hand him over to them."
I glared at Clarisse as Sarah shouted,
"You can't be serious about that can you! You can't give Luke up to whoever is chasing him; they'll probably try to kill him!"
"Annabeth one question."
I looked at Corner, he had his hands up as if in surrender like he really didn't want to ask whatever was on his mind.
"How will we know if he's telling the truth?"
Travis nodded,
"This could all be some elaborate plan to kill us all. You know how he is."
Before I could come up with an answer and make it sound like it could work… because I was thinking the same thing could be entirely possible, Luke spoke for the first time since claiming sanctuary.
"Sarah can help with that."
Ignoring him I looked at Sarah,
"How?"
She fidgeted with her fingers, rubbing her thumb across the top of her nails.
"I well, I can tell when someone is lying or just half telling the truth. It's like a voice yelling inside my head that someone is not being honest."
I scrutinized her face looking for any sign she might be lying. Her lips were pressed tightly together and her hands were whilst clinched figedted by her sides. Her eyes were filled with unsertteny but to her credit she held my gays, I could feel the others eyes on me watting for my verdict.
"Sarah you haven't been claimed yet have you?"
Surprise and fear flickered across her face, her eyes darting to Luke then back to me as she shook her head.
"And you are twenty-fore correct?"
"Yes."
From slightly behind me Jason sead,
"Annabeth, I believe we have more pressing things to…"
I held up my free hand to stop him, my mind was raising if she was telling the truth and if I could convince her then maybe we wouldn't have to reveal Piper's strength just yet.
"Sarah, how long have you been able to tell when someone is lying?"
"Since I was about twelve."
Her eyes jumped between mine and Luke's again as I asked,
"Jason, how are Roman demigods claimed and around what age?"
"Age doesn't really matter as for how it can vary from god to god. Sometimes it's a blessing like what happened to Piper other times it's a sign or the symbol of the god in question like with Leo's claiming."
"Can they be Determined by a sudden onset of powers?"
"In some very rare cases."
"Fine, Sarah, do you understand the importance of an oth on the River Sticks?"
She glanced from me to Luke who looked as if he was trying to give her a silent warning.
"Yes… I've been told if you break one it will result in really bad karma."
Clarease scoffed,
"If you mean bad karma as in it's probably better to die than face the wrath of the Sticks then yea."
Sarah's face paled slightly but she met my eyes and nodded, completely ignoring Luke's warning gase. Jason stepped close to me murmuring,
"Annabeth, what are you thinking? we could just have Piper…"
I shook my head to stop him, I didn't want to chance Luke overhearing whatever Jason was about to say. Piper had to stay a secret for now. Under normal circumstances Piper would be the best option for getting the truth out of someone. Her strength should be kept secret. After all Luke had experience with powerful charm speakers Kelly the Impusa for one. For once Luke would have now way of knowing what he was walking into and I'm willing to do just about anything to make sure he stayed in the dark. If this is a trap I want him thinking he has everything under control. Keeping my hand locked around Luke's wrist I addressed Sarah.
"Well if you know the consequences of breaking an oath on the River."
She nodded
"Then if you are going to come and be of assistants in the emergency meeting you must swear on the River Sticks that you are telling the truth about your power and that you will tell us truthfully if, when, or what he said that alerted you to any verbal dishonesty. Also that you will keep any and all information that you hear discussed in the meeting confidential until we see fit for that information to be shared with the camp. Do you understand my terms of the binding oath?"
All eyes were on her as she nodded,
"I understand, and I swear on the River Sticks to abide by your terms."
Thunder boomed and everyone not expecting it flinched, I groaned internally knowing that small action just revealed to Luke how many new and unexpected counselors we had.
"Let's go. We are wasting time we don't have."
With that we all begin moving towards the Big House nun of saying a word. I was thankful for the quiet. It helped me sort out everything that was happening. I needed to have some kind of plan by the time we got to the Big House. I knew they would look to me for what to do next, after all out of everyone here I knew Luke the best. It was hard not to look at him. I wanted to study his face, to see what he was thinking. But as much as I wanted to, I couldn't. I had never been able to read Luke's expressions. He was always too good at hiding what he was thinking, I had learned my poker face by watching him. I had learned a lot of what I knew by watching him. Unfortunately Luke was also good at reading people… especially me. I had always been like an open book to him, he had always been one step ahead of me, toying with my emotions. The last thing I needed was to look at Luke and have him see exactly how scared, overwhelmed and unprepared I felt. It would be bad enough if the others found out how I felt but if Luke figured it out he might see my weakness as an opportunity to attack. I couldn't afford for that to happen… never again.
My foot landed on the first step of the Big House.
my mind was still reeling, Luke is alive, and we had three hours until the prophecy started to unfold.
Truth and lies the travelers disguise, though camp decides if he lives or dies.
That line had to be talking about him. Luke always hid behind truths mixed in lies, and we had three hours to determine his fate. Which meant the other linens would also be filled soon.
We crossed the porch, my stomach churning with every step.
in an attempt to gather myself I forced myself to think about what needs to happen next. After all I'm a dotter of Athena, my emotions do not control me.
with my free hand I reached for the door to the Big House.
And I'm the Head Counselor for cabin six, I have to be the voice of reason during a crisis. We filed into the ping-pong room, once the door was closed I gave orders.
"Percy, Jason please escort Luke to his seat, between the two of you and Sarah you take my normal seat on the other side of Percy. Connor, Leo, go prepare a room for our guest, using procedure whiteboard. "