Chapter Text
Shockingly, I made it three months before anything happened. And to be fair, all the shit that occurred was all in one week, and not my fault. To start off the week, I’d been fighting off a monster and Bianca and Nico saw it. That led to me explaining the world of Greek myths to them. Bianca had been skeptical but Nico was ecstatic. The reactions that I expected honestly.
But then came a few days after. What was wrong with that? Grover showed up at Westover.
“Percy.” Nico tugged on my arm.
“What?” I asked, giving him my full attention.
He pointed through the crowd, “Do you know that kid, he keeps staring at you.”
I looked over to where he had indicated, “Fuck.” I muttered,
“I thought Bianca was trying to get you not to swear.” Nico pointed out.
“Not important right now, let’s go.” I pulled the kid away from the crowd, going to the library to find Bianca.
She’d been spending hours of free time in the library, trying to figure out who could be their dad. I could understand the curiosity, though Bianca had practically forced me to admit why I was so bitter about talking about the gods. She had me there.
“So do you know that kid?” Nico asked again as we entered the library.
“Unfortunately.” I muttered,
“What do you mean, unfortunately?”
“It’s a bit hard to explain, let’s find Bee, yeah?”
That got him off the topic, thank Poseidon. Bianca was in her usual corner practically invisible from the stacks of books in front of her. She raised her head when she heard us come over.
She cocked her head to the side, “I thought you two were getting lunch?”
Nico grumbled something under his breath. Probably swear words, but who was I to judge? I was just as bad, (worse) if not worse (so much worse).
“We can get something later after the crowd is gone.” I promised him.
That cheered him up a bit. Bianca chuckled and gestured for us to sit. Nico brought out his Myth-o-Magik cards and began a game with me. I was still shit at the game, but I knew the basics.
I heard the library door open and the clicking of hooves on wood. Fuck. I refused to look up from our game, trying to decide whether or not to play the Hades card.
“Percy.” Bianca broke me out of my internal debate.
I made a noise of acknowledgement, not glancing up.
Nico piped up, “That’s the kid who was staring at you.”
Why me, I thought. I turned around and saw Grover just in front of our table. I internally sighed, turning back to the game.
“What do you want, Grover?” I grumbled, ultimately playing the card.
“What are you doing here?” He shot back.
I bit back a groan, “Am I not allowed to live my life?”
Nico played his card, Demeter, removing my card from play.
“You little shit.” I muttered, trying to choose my next card.
“Language.” Bianca said absentmindedly.
I rolled my eyes putting Poseidon’s card in play.
“Can you look at me when you’re talking to me?” Grover muttered.
“Not likely, Neeks put that card away, I can see it.”
Nico grinned smugly playing the card despite my wishes. I glared at him selecting Hecate to play next. I could feel Grover’s eyes on me though I ignored it. The scrape of a chair being pulled out resounded across the library. The satyr sat, watching our game.
“What are you doing here?” I asked the satyr, “Shouldn’t you be kissing the gods asses.”
“Language.” Bianca muttered again.
I didn’t need to look at him to know he was glaring, “You know why I’m here.”
“Then shouldn’t you be looking instead of antagonizing me?” I snarled, standing and setting my cards down on the table.
I walked out of the library Nico following in suit. We got our lunch, and remained in the cafeteria in order to avoid the goat.
“How do you know the new kid?” Nico asked, “And why were you two so hostile.”
I swore under my breath, balling up my wrappers, “We went to the same school for a while. We had a falling out last summer.”
I’d evaded the topics of my quests, and parentage, since I’d revealed the world to them. Nico still liked to pesture me for details, wanting to know about my “heroics.”
“What happened?”
“I made a choice he didn’t approve of, he never forgave me.”
If I were to be honest, I didn’t really care. Even before I left camp I’d been an outsider. The only child of the Big Three in years. Now, everyone would know I’d been working with (for) Luke. It didn’t change much.
“Don’t you wanna fix it?”
I shrugged, “It’s his choice.”
Nico fingered the figurine he’d brought along from the library, “You were avoiding him, that shows you at least don’t wanna bother him.”
“More like I don’t want him to bother me, let’s go find Bianca. The dance is tomorrow.”
He groaned, I felt similar, school dances were a magnet for disaster. Any monster could slip inside, and even if you weren’t a demigod some sort of drama always occurred.
The topic of the dance brings us to the thing that triggered all the other bad things going forward. See, a week ago a new vice principal showed up, Dr. Thorn. I’d spent enough time around monsters to know when one showed up. I’d warned the di Angelo’s about him just to be safe. I had a sickening feeling he would make his move soon.
I got the feeling Luke wasn’t very happy with the progress I’d made.
The next day we didn’t have classes, that night was the dance. Nico grabbed his cards before we left, after we met up with Bianca we walked to the gym.
The dread I felt was sickening. I knew something was going to go wrong, something always went wrong. I couldn’t change that, but I could do my best to look out for the kids.
Music played loudly and the di Angelo’s and I made our way to a corner of the gym. Nico shuffled his cards between his hands. I kept an eye out for the satyr. I didn’t spot him. Yet.
“Hello kids.” Dr. Thorn walked towards us, “Are you enjoying yourselves.”
I glared, but held in the sarcastic remark (like a true saint), “Sure, it’s great.”
Nico smiled, playing with his cards and admiring the art on the Ares card. Personally it was my least favorite card, but he liked it so I didn’t mind.
Dr. Thorn’s disguise rippled, I squinted my eyes trying to see through the Mist that hid his actual form.
“Shouldn’t you check on the other students.” Panic was pooling in my mind.
“Yes, have a nice night.” The monster walked away.
“We need to go.” I hissed at the di Angelo’s.
Bianca blinked, trusting my judgement she nodded. Nico grabbed her hand as they chased after me. We made it to the hall before I saw a flash of furious gray eyes. I was pinned to the ground with a thud. Then smacked into the ground again.
“That was unnecessary.” I grumbled, “Nice to see you too, Malcolm.”
The son of Athena growled, and I could feel my hands being tied behind my back.
“What the hell! Let him go!” Nico yelled,
Bianca held him back. Good. No reason for them to get hurt as well.
“Nico, Bianca, meet Malcolm Pace. Malcolm, meet Nico and Bianca di Angelo.” I muttered.
“Sure, whatever, what have you been doing here, traitor. Pulling them over to Kronos’ side.” Malcolm snarled.
“Traitor? Percy what’s going on?” Bianca sounded nervous.
I grunted trying to get Malcolm off my back, “Remember when I told you I didn’t like the gods. People don’t like that.”
“As if.” Malcolm scoffed, “You got my sister killed.”
I winced, “It wasn’t my intention.”
I was smacked into the ground again. Honestly, that’s just rude.
“Malcolm,” A girl’s voice hissed, “We aren’t here to kill him.”
“Thanks for the confirmation.” I muttered, “Just leave the kids alone.”
“Leave him alone!” Nico yelled, this time breaking free of Bianca’s grasp and tackling the son of Athena off of me.
I sat up, facing the stranger. The girl had spiked black hair with a streak of blue. Electric blue eyes glared at me. I studied her, she couldn’t have been older than 15. An idea popped into my head.
“Hello Thalia.” I smirked,
Thalia held her spear tighter, “And you are?”
I shrugged, “Not important, now there’s a manticore running around the school. If you brought more demigods than you two he's probably found them by now.”
Nico shuffled over to behind me. I’d never been so glad I taught him to untie knots and pick locks. Not that we told Bianca that. But that was a conversation for later.
Thalia paled, “Where was it last spotted.”
“The gym, he was interrogating us, that’s why we were running.” Nico supplied, as he unbound my hands.
“Watch the prisoner, Malcolm.” She ordered before running off.
“Prisoner? Is that anything to call an old friend?” I directed it to Malcolm,
The son of Athena growled, “Can it, Traitor. I’d hate for you to lose that tongue of yours.”
I rolled my eyes, “As if you’d manage.”
The knot came loose. I shot up drawing Riptide and sweeping the feet out from under Malcolm.
“Let me make this clear, I’m not running, I’m going to help them deal with the manticore. If you’re going to get in my way, stay put.” I hissed, running out the main door where commotion could be heard.
Nico and Bianca followed after me. I was too focused to tell them to stay with Malcolm. Even then, after the display of brutality Malcolm had given them, they weren’t likely to listen to him. After all, I was the one that taught them.
Silver arrows shot from the tree line, Thalia struggled against the monster formerly known as Dr. Thorn. I cursed sprinting towards it. I slashed it in its underbelly. Grinning when Thalia noticed who’d saved her ass.
“This doesn’t mean we’re not bringing you in.” Thalia shouted.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Nico stay back with Bianca, if you can get your hands on a bow, shoot it.” I ordered.
The kid nodded, stepping back to where.. the Hunters of Artemis were. Gods, what is my luck today?
“You cannot defeat me.” Snarled Thorn, “Even if you manage, Castellan will hear of this treachery.”
I grit my teeth, “Seeing as you tried to kill me, I don’t think he’ll mind.” I shot back.
A hunter with a silver circlet jumped forward attacking with a hunting knife. She didn’t see the tail headed for her. I tackled her out of the way, hissing in pain when the stinger hit my arm. Manticore poison, while not deadly, hurt like hell.
Malcolm slid into the battle, drawing his duel wielding knives. He was able to get on top of the monster, slicing it where it couldn’t reach.
“Permission to kill, my Lady?” Asked the huntress who I’d saved.
“No!” Thalia and I cried out.
A young girl with red hair nodded, “Permission granted, Zoë, open fire.”
The manticore fell off the cliff taking Malcolm with him. Light fading from gray eyes flashed into my mind. I collapsed to my knees, closing my eyes tightly trying to rid myself of the image. Not again.
“What the hell?!” Thalia cried, “You better have a damn good reason for sending my friend off a cliff!”
Zoë growled, “Mind your tone.”
The girl raised her hand, silencing the huntress, “Peace, Zoë. Worry not for the fate of your friend. He will endure.”
“Do you even care?” I whispered coldly, “Do you even care that he might die.”
“Death and life go hand in hand. It is evitable.” The girl said.
I stood sharply, walking closer to the girl, “That doesn’t mean we should die the moment it’s called for. I don’t care that you’re a goddess, I don’t care that you're immortal. There are lives at sake and you just don’t care!”
“Watch your mouth, traitor.” Hissed Artemis’ Luntinent.
I whirled around to face Zoë, “Make me, Hesperide.”
The immortal grabbed her knife ready to run it through me. Thalia went between us.
“He has a point, Zoë.” Thalia said, voice low.
Zoë glared, “Of course you would side with a boy, much less a traitor of Olympus.”
Thalia looked ready to punch the shit out of the immortal huntress. Only stopping to breathe when she noticed me still behind her. The daughter of Zeus turned back to me.
“You’re coming with me, Traitor.” She muttered, pulling me to where the Hunters were making camp.
“Rude, I have a name.” I grumbled.
She tied me up again. Nico sat next to me on a log. He was still playing with his cards. Worry twisted his young face. That hit me harder than expected. He shouldn’t be plagued with this so young.
“What you thinking, Neeks?” I asked,
He shrugged, “I’m thinking that these Hunters are assholes. They only refer to you as a traitor, and me as a boy. Bianca followed Artemis into her tent.”
I snapped upright, “Oh hell no!”
I ran to the tent and walked in immediately. Bianca was sat next to Artemis, Zoë flanking the goddess.
“Bianca, for Nico’s sake, don’t.” I pleaded.
Bianca’s eyes were downcast, “I can’t get playing this role, Percy.” She whispered,
I closed my eyes, breathing before I responded, “I can’t stop you. But you’re the one explaining it to Nico.” I walked out, not wanting to listen as she did what I knew she would.
I sat by Nico again. He looked at me, questions were clearly plaguing his mind. I shook my head. He started to work on the ropes again. I smiled and allowed him to untie me. The kid needed something to do after all.
Artemis, Zoë, and Bianca walked out. Bee came over to Nico and I, the other two talked to Thalia and a demigod I didn’t recognize. I tuned out Bianca’s explanation, only listening again when Nico hugged my arm. I looked up at the girl, who looked away ashamed.
“Give him time.” I told her.
She nodded, walking over to her new sisters. I watched her go with a sick feeling. Something had been set into motion.
“My brother will bring you and my Hunters to camp.” Artemis announced.
I held in thousands of curses and things that were not appropriate for Nico to hear. Thalia eyed me carefully before walking over.
“You’re Percy Jackson?” She checked.
I nodded, “Told you that in the hall.”
She looked around, studying Nico before she spoke again, “Then you knew Annabeth Chase?”
I froze, closing my eyes, “Yes.”
Thalia nodded, seeming satisfied for now. The sun started to rise. Then it parked. Apollo stepped out wearing a massive grin. I groaned, I’d have way too many encounters with gods tonight.
“Little sister!” Apollo beamed.
“Apollo is hot.” Thalia whispered under her breath.
I eyed the god, “He’s the sun god?” I offered.
“Not what I meant.” She hissed.
“Hello, Apollo.” Artemis sighed, “I need you to give my Hunters and some of Chiron’s campers a ride to Camp Half-Blood.”
“Can do.” Apollo grinned.
I stood up, Nico still holding onto my arm. I cursed quietly, knowing what would have to happen.
“C’mon, Neeks.” I nudged him, “I’ll show you camp when we get there.”
Thalia looked at me, clearly disbelieving my statement.
“Is camp good?” Nico asked quietly.
I thought for a moment, my experience hadn’t been positive but Annabeth had loved it. It had been her home. So I told him yes. That brightened his spirits a bit. Apollo changed the sun chariot into a minivan and everyone loaded inside. I sat in the back with Nico dreading the return.
We landed on the Sound, Chiron stood there waiting for us. I hid in the crowd.
“Welcome, was the mission successful?” Chiron asked.
What do you think? My thoughts muttered.
“Well.. we got him. But.. uh… Malcolm, didn’t get back.” Thalia stammered,
Chiron closed his eyes, seemingly praying to the gods. The centaur looked to the back of the group, “Perseus, come out please.”
I stood still. Fuck no. I’m not moving an inch.
Chiron sighed, “There are things we must discuss, Perseus. I need you to come here.”
Nico looked up at me. He didn’t want me to leave. I let out a resigned sigh.
“C’mon, kid.” I pulled him forward,
Chiron looked at me tiredly as I came forward. Asshole, you’re the one who wanted to see me.
“Follow me.” He ordered, and he began walking to the Big House.
With dread filling my mind I followed, Nico holding onto my arm.