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Post by Percy Jackson on Dec 2, 2011 22:55:50 GMT -5
I
O L I V E R [/size][/center] It all began with a dream. Bad things always started with dreams, even if the dream wasn’t necessarily anything bad. Oliver should have taken it as a bad omen from the start but like any seventeen-year-old kid he ignored it. There were always more pressing issues at hand for Oliver, after all he was a son of the messenger God Hermes. After his twelfth birthday and about the fifth near death experience in his life, Oliver was found by a creature called a satyr and taken to the only safe place for demi-gods like him. It was a summer camp called Camp Half Blood and it was just about the coolest place in the entire world.
Oliver grew up at Camp, his mother urging him to stay year round in order to ensure his safety. And it wasn’t until his fourth month at camp that his father claimed him rightfully as a son of Hermes. The cabin was always over crowded in the early years as they took on every child of the minor Gods or those who hadn’t been claimed yet. Oliver didn’t mind though, he saw them all as his brother’s and sisters after all he didn’t have any back home. There was never an uneventful summer around at Camp Half Blood especially when Percy Jackson came about during his second summer. From then on everything was crazy and intense, the betrayal of Luke Castellan and the Battle of Manhattan, Oliver was afraid to admit it but he wasn’t as hurt by Luke’s betrayal as the rest of camp was. He didn’t admire Luke for what he did in relation to Kronos but Luke was still his brother and Oliver harbored loyalty to him.
The weird thing was that the dreams Oliver had were about Luke but Luke was dead and had been for two years. Each night though Luke was present in his dreams and he was almost always talking to some guy in a leather jacket. The conversation was different each night but Oliver never remembered it after waking up.
He pulled his orange camp shirt on and half heartily fixed his blonde hair as it stuck up in all directions. There was no point in trying to keep it in line most of the time. With training sessions it went wild and matted to his head from sweat. The coolest part about camp was the sword training. Oliver wasn’t good at archery and had nearly hit Mr. D, which could have brought Oliver’s life to a quick and painful end if it hadn’t been for Chiron. Oliver skipped out on archery whenever he could finding some excuse not to go or just blatantly ducking out and spending time in the cabin or at the lake. He would prefer the extra kitchen duty over archery, he liked his head where it was an not on a shelf in Mr. D’s quarters.
“Hey there Knight.” Traci placed her hands on her hips. She was waiting for him to arrive at the arena. Oliver regarded her rolling his eyes and smiling in a cocky fashion.
Traci Spencer, probably the prettiest girl in the Athena cabin at least in Oliver’s eyes. She had a dark complexion and long black hair with intense brown eyes that always seemed to be judging Oliver. Oliver would be the first one to admit he wasn’t exactly the smartest demi-god at camp, but Traci liked to be the one to bring it to Oliver’s attention.
“What’s up Spencer, ready to taste dirt today?” He taunted.
She arched her brow and scoffed at his overconfidence. “Don’t get a head of yourself now, the last three times you said that I had you on the flat of your back within five minutes.”
“Not true, the last time I lasted seven minutes.”
Traci laughed, “Right, well let’s see if you can beat your record then.”
Oliver loved her laugh even if it was mocking him. She was tough and didn’t take crap from anybody, much like the rest of the girls from her cabin. Annabeth Chase was another one who wasn’t afraid to kick your butt just to prove a point. She was pretty but completely spoken for by Percy.
“Are you going to stand there with that dumb look on your face or are you going to attack me?” Traci was already in a fighting stance her celestial bronze sword just waiting for a chance to send Oliver to his knees.
Oliver twirled his sword and smiled bouncing on the balls of feet for a moment before lunging at Traci. She was prepared and blocked. The two were matched in equal combat for about two minutes before Traci started to gain the upper hand. Oliver struggled to keep up with her footwork and stumbled to the ground but rolled out of the way of Traci’s sword. She had a deadly look in her chocolate eyes but Oliver still couldn’t help but smile and for a moment he hesitated and the next thing he knew Traci’s blade was inches from his throat.
“Four and a half minutes.” She huffed reaching her hand out to him. “You’re slacking.”
“I let you win that one, Feathers.”
She scowled at the nickname. “Just like you let me wing the other ones?”
“Naturally.” Oliver beamed.
“Beat by Traci again Oliver?”
A moment that should be only somewhat embarrassing was just made more so by the unwelcome company of Caleb Davis, the son of Ares who had to stick his nose into everything and had it in his head that Traci was his.
Oliver stood and brushed off his jeans and eyed Caleb carefully. He was already making eyes at Traci. She didn’t appear to be interested though much to Oliver’s pleasure.
“Don’t you have an eleven year old to flush down the toilet.” Oliver said.
A thin smile crossed Caleb’s face for a second. He looked to Oliver with discontent, as though he were plotting a way to shove Oliver into a toilet and drown him.
“Don’t try and act all brave Oliver it doesn’t suit you and I was wondering if Traci here wanted to spar with me.” He flashed her a gleaming smile that may have been charming if it wasn’t filled with natural malice. It seemed to be an Ares thing. Caleb always looked mad or like he was plotting something. He was kind of small for an Ares kid and wasn’t exactly buff and tough feature wise but he was probably one of the best around camp with a sword, or a spear, or even in archery. He liked to rub that fact in Oliver’s face.
Oliver clenched his fists wishing he had the nerve to actually punch Caleb but there was no way he could do it. Oliver wasn’t impulsive like that. He just watched Traci from the corner of his eye trying to read her expression. She shrugged and gave a friendly smile.
“Sure, Oliver and I were just finishing up. You don’t mind do you Oliver?”
“No, I guess not. I’ll just umm, go and see who else needs a partner. It’s cool.” Oliver replied trying not to sound disappointed. He grabbed his sword and sulked off giving one last glance back to the pair of them. Caleb silently made eye contact with him a smug proud look in them.
The only person without another sparring partner was one of the Aphrodite kids, he never had a partner though. His name was Daniel, from what Oliver could remember, and he always sat off to the side watching from behind his designer sunglasses his sword sitting next him untouched. Daniel came to camp earlier that summer, his first year and he never liked to do much of anything that meant getting sweaty. Then again, that was most of the Aphrodite kids.
Swallowing his pride Oliver walked over casting a shadow over Daniel.
“Hey, you need a sparring partner?”
Behind his sunglasses Daniel’s eyes scanned Oliver but his head didn’t move a fraction of an inch. “I think I’m alright.” he replied.
His voice was more effeminate than any other guy at camp; Oliver wasn’t judging he just noted it as an observation.
“That’s why we’re here though, to learn how to fight.”
Daniel folded his arms across his chest and continued to focus on the others. “Maybe that’s why you’re here. I’m here because my father decided to dump me off at this place instead of risking another expensive renovation bill this summer.”
“Renovation bills?”
“Being a demigod doesn’t come without a price, like monsters trying to kill you every second of the day. It’s worse in the summer when I’m at home. There was this ‘mailman’ and…well, my dad wasn’t exactly happy when he got back from work to find we had a new skylight.”
Oliver remembered monsters being a problem when he was younger but Daniel were sixteen, how he had managed to avoid coming to camp this long Oliver had no idea. He sat down next to Daniel after feeling awkward for standing. They sat in silence.
“Sorry about that, I mean the whole thing about your dad just sending you here.”
Daniel shrugged his voice indicating indifference, “Whatever,” he looked over “Why are you sitting here?”
“Cause I got tired of standing?” It came out as a question.
“Fair enough. I didn’t catch your name.”
“Oliver, son of Hermes.”
Daniel nodded, “Nice name I had a cat named Oliver once after Oliver Twist.”
“Who was that?”
Oliver knew this was the wrong thing to say judging on the look that Daniel was now giving him. It was looks like these that made Oliver feel dumb. If people could just learn to poker face it all the time, he wouldn’t be so afraid to talk about topics other than demigod related stuff. He shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat.
“It’s a novel.” Daniel said slowly but he apparently didn’t feel like trying to explain the entire thing to Oliver. “Never mind. I’m Daniel, but everyone calls me Danny.”
“Danny, cool. Well I think training is over anyway now, lunch and then arts and crafts.”
“Oh good, the two things I actually don’t mind doing.” Danny replied getting to his feet. He grinned at Oliver and gingerly picked up his own sword. “It was nice talking with you. You’re the first person besides my siblings to do so.”
Oliver’s brow furrowed. The summer began two weeks ago and Oliver was the first person to actually speak to this kid? At first Oliver thought it might have been an exaggeration or some kind of figure of speech but Danny looked genuinely touched and thankful that Oliver had taken the time to try and make friends. Oliver sat there for a minute after Danny left, the kid was nice and absolutely no reason for anyone not to speak to him. He wasn’t like the other kids of Aphrodite, most of them were more concerned about their looks and some were even fond of tearing others down.
Oliver didn’t have a hard time fitting in when he arrived even though he was shy, yet oddly rambunctious at the same time. It also helped that his cabin was the most jammed packed so it would have been impossible to not speak with anyone. Luke had been the first one to greet him and with that single thought in Oliver’s mind he instantly began dwelling on the dreams again. They remained a secret though Oliver knew it would be nice to have answers. He didn’t want to tell Traci knowing that she would freak and try to get him to talk to Chiron. The last thing Oliver wanted was to have all of the attention on him. He was happy just blending into the background.
“I heard you got beat by Traci Spencer again.” Jordan, one of Oliver’s siblings brought up the topic at lunch. The table erupted in giggles. “I’d say you fight like a girl, but that wouldn’t be fair to Traci.”
Oliver wanted to reach across the table and slam Jordan’s head face first into his peanut butter and jelly. He took a bite of his cheeseburger and sulked in silence.
“Jordan, you’re one to talk I heard you wet yourself climbing the wall yesterday.” Avery one of Oliver’s favorite sisters came to his aid. “Don’t deny it either, I made sure to get pictures. Oh and I saw the pants in laundry yesterday. Nice Winnie the pooh undies by the way.” She smirked.
He didn’t have a problem with her standing up for him most of the people in the cabin were afraid of Avery and rightfully so. She was just as tough if not tougher than any guy at camp with the attitude to match. Oliver made a note to never get on her bad side.
Jordan turned a brilliant shade of red and mumbled under his breath before returning to his food. Avery smiled affectionately at Oliver from two spaces down. She switched spots so she was next to him. Oliver returned the smile but it didn’t meet his eyes as it usually did. Avery tilted her head, “I didn’t stick my neck out for you to not say thank you.”
“Oh, yeah. Thanks.”
Avery pushed her plate away and leaned on the table. “What’s wrong?”
Shrugging off the question Oliver took a sip of his grape soda, and then another before Avery took the cup from his hands and placed it out of his reach. She stared at him in one of those ‘don’t lie to me’ kind of ways. As much as Oliver liked his sister, he wasn’t so sure about telling her about the dream especially since it dealt with Luke.
He lowered his voice to a whisper and leaned in, “If I wanted to talk to someone about…something I want to keep secret who would I talk to?”
Avery slapped Oliver upside his head. It stung and caught him completely off guard a few others looked up but were still too involved in their own conversations.
“Don’t be dumb. If you need to talk about something I am right here and willing to listen.” she said.
Oliver frowned and rubbed his head, “Yeah. I know Ave, but I mean I guess I need advice, but I can’t talk to you guys cause I need…and impartial person. You know?”
“No. I don’t know, what are you hiding? You know I can get it out of you.” Her threats weren’t just empty promises either. Oliver flinched at the thought thinking she was going to hit him again.
“Avery, really you’re awesome but I need to talk to someone who isn’t a Hermes kid, or demigod, or God, or half man half horse.” Oliver prayed to Hermes that avery wouldn’t try to beat it out of him here in front of everyone. She studied him considering and reading him like she was trying to see directly into his head. Avery turned and pulled her plate back toward her.
“That kind of leaves out everyone at camp except of course Rachel.” She poked at her food.
The Oracle, Rachel Elizabeth Dare of course she was the perfect person to talk to about this kind of situation. Oliver felt dense for not thinking of her before. Of course he had never really spoken with Rachel and she was only here in the summer so he doubted that she even knew him. Excited by the idea Oliver sat up in his seat and edged closer to Avery.
“Where would I find her?”
Avery was clearly suspicious about Oliver’s intentions but she didn’t press him for more information. “Arts and crafts next right? She’ll probably be there and if not try the lake. Cameron said she likes to paint pictures out there, just watch out for paintbrushes. I hear it’s her weapon of choice.”
Oliver felt a surge of confidence just thinking about the possibility of getting answers in regards to his dream. He ate as fast as he could and for once Oliver couldn’t wait for Arts & Crafts. |
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Post by Percy Jackson on Dec 21, 2011 17:42:16 GMT -5
II
O L I V E R [/size][/center] Oliver had no interest in playing arts and crafts with everyone today. He spotted his target, Rachel right from the start. She was wearing an odd tie-dyed Camp shirt that was splattered with additional paint. Rachel was one of the only ones actually working on a piece of artwork instead of a weapon or armor. Her back was turned to Oliver and the others, too busy with her own masterpiece to actually care about the demigods. Oliver set down his work on fixing his leather armor. It had a lot of nicks in it from being struck by Traci more times than he could count. The repair work would have to wait.
As he approached the Oracle she was muttering to herself about what color would look best to the vibrant purple she just placed on the canvas. Oliver stared at the painting for a moment, unable to figure out exactly what it was meant to be other than a bunch of colorful splashes. He cleared his throat. She jumped and whipped around. In doing so, the paintbrush newly filled with yellow splattered across Oliver’s face. He blinked glad that it didn’t actually go into his eyes.
“What do you think you’re doing?’ She scolded him as if he were in the wrong.
“I guess Cameron was right, you’re dangerous with a paintbrush.” Oliver started to remove the paint with his t-shirt. He had plenty of others.
Rachel pursed her lips and lifted her brow. “Yes well, don’t sneak up on me like that.”
“Right. Check, never sneak up on an Oracle with fully loaded paintbrush.” His tone suggested sarcasm, and Rachel didn’t seem to notice or really care.
She set the brush down in a jaw of murky water. “Well good, now that we have that out of the way. Is there something you wanted…Oliver wasn’t it? You’re a kid of Hermes.”
Oliver finished cleaning his face, those a few splotches remained. His eyes grew wide, “Did you see that in a vision?”
It was to Oliver’s luck and advantage that Rachel was still holding that paintbrush of death. She wasn’t able to keep the look of “are you really that dumb?” off her face, and if she was armed Oliver would have been bruised in the arm.
“You know what, I’m not even going to dignify that with a response. I’m just going to let you tell me why you came over to bother me and prolong my artistic process.”
His face turned a light shade of pink. “Right. I wanted to talk to you about something.”
Rachel immediately rolled her eyes and turned her back on Oliver. Apparently things like this happened all the time to her. She picked up her paintbrush again; this time Oliver took two steps away.
“I’m not your guys personal fortune cookie. ‘Hey Rachel when will I meet the Edward of my dreams?’ ‘Yo Oracle girl, am I going to be rich and famous when I grow up?’ ‘Can you make my acne go away?’ That one is my personal favorite. And the answers are, no he’s not a real person you psycho freak, you probably won’t amount to anything, and I’m not the Genie of the Lamp for back off Aladdin!” She angrily jabbed her paintbrush on the canvas causing the fine hairs to splinter and spread every which way.
Oliver stood awkwardly on the spot. Had he just witnessed a minor Oracle breakdown? He swallowed and tried to speak again after a few moments. “Yeah, well it’s nothing like that. This is important.”
Rachel scoffed and continued with her work. “It’s always important to you all.”
“No but, this is really important.” he lowered his voice to a whisper and leaned in. “It has to do with Luke.”
“Luke?” She turned quickly once again splattering Oliver with paint, this time it was a deep shade of red and it caught him across the chest. So much for the shirt. “Luke as in, Luke the demigod who opened his body like a Motel 6 for the titan Kronos? Luke the one who betrayed Camp Half-Blood and nearly killed everyone? Luke the son of Hermes who in the end sacrificed himself to save the rest of the world? That Luke?”
“Yeah is there another Luke?”
“Well there is Lucas Jennings the son of Hypnos but he’s like twelve and just arrived. Annoying little sleepy twit in my opinion.”
This conversation wasn’t getting as far or staying on topic as much as Oliver had hoped. Rachel took a deep breath and stepped closer keeping her voice low just as Oliver had because now half of those in the Arts & Crafts area were watching them.
“What about Luke?”
Oliver took a deep breath and explained the strange reoccurring dreams he had been having of his sibling. Rachel’s expression was solemn, grim almost. She listened attentively and all the while Oliver could see that the wheels in her head were turning trying to figure out what it all meant.
“Okay, so you’ve been dreaming of your dead brother. That’s not at all weird! You miss him and you’re just wanting him—“
“Rachel, we both know these aren’t just dreams. Time is passing in them. I may not be too bright but even I know that this is happening. I just don’t know what to do. And I don’t want to tell Chiron about it.”
Rachel bit her lip. “Oliver, I know a lot of people want Luke to be back but how would it even be possible?”
“I don’t know, but I want to go look for him. There is a reason I’m seeing him in my dreams. It’s like a message or something.”
Rachel suddenly went ridged and an eerie green mist started to circle at her feet and work up her body. Oliver quickly backed off.
When she spoke her voice was different than before, her eyes usually green to begin with now shone a brilliant emerald color swallowing not just the iris.
Blood moon in harvest skies, a shadow rising in the west,
Brings fear and terror to all, the heart of hero will be laid to rest,
Son of the messenger, take care the son of war,
The prodigal son will return once more.
Rachel’s eyes returned to normal and the mist dissipated. Her knees wobbled for a second before they buckled and she collapsed under the weight of her own body. Oliver reached out just in time to catch her kneeling on the ground beneath her painting. Everyone was silent and staring. The Aphrodite boy Oliver had met before, Daniel, was the first one by his side to help.
“Was that a prophecy?” someone else called out. The other campers began murmuring. Some were outraged by what happened others were running to inform Chiron.
Rachel stirred a little but didn’t try to move much.
“Did she hit her head?” Daniel asked.
Oliver shook his head still in shock and running over the prophecy in his mind. Because she had spoken it to him, or in his presence did that make it suddenly Oliver’s quest? He hadn’t exactly been looking for an official quest but now he supposed he was stuck with it. |
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Post by Percy Jackson on Jan 1, 2012 0:26:17 GMT -5
III
O L I V E R Twenty-minutes later the entire camp was seated in the amphitheater. Everyone was silent as Chiron, Percy, Annabeth and Rachel talked near the fire. Oliver sat off to the side staring at the ground. He could feel the eyes of every camper on his back and front. It was almost painful especially when he glanced up and saw Traci sitting with the rest of Athena cabin. Oliver didn’t let his eyes linger long but she appeared to be concern more than the everyone else who looked at him like a ticking time bomb.
Percy turned to Oliver now and what little murmuring there was ceased. “Oliver, you remember what the prophecy that Rachel gave you?”
Oliver swallowed, “Yeah, but I didn’t mean to get one.”
“It’s alright. Can you repeat it, for everyone to hear?” Percy asked.
Great. Just what Oliver needed, even more attention. He stood up slowly and took a deep breath. He made eye contact with Rachel momentarily but couldn’t read her expression. He recited the prophecy that spoke about a blood moon, fear, terror, and the son’s of the messenger and war. The Ares cabin perked up upon hearing the line and just before Oliver got the last syllable out the camp erupted in chatter. From the Ares kids they demanded that the prophecy was about them and should involve one of their own. Chiron stamped his hooves and the amphitheater quieted down.
“Thanks.” Percy said to Chiron. He then addressed everyone else; “Oliver was given a quest by the Oracle. And because she spoke the prophecy to him that makes this his quest and no one else! However, as tradition he can take two companions of his choosing.”
He looked back to Oliver. Oliver was still standing enormous amounts of butterflies going crazy in his stomach.
“I don’t want a quest though.” Oliver said. His hands shook.
“The quest should go to a child of Ares they were mentioned in the prophecy!”
“So was Hermes! Another Hermes kid should be in charge!”
Chaos ensued again. Percy looked to Annabeth for help. She sighed and shook her head. Chiron, once more stomped the ground and bellowed for everyone to be quiet. Oliver walked closer to Percy and the others so that only they could hear him.
“I didn’t want this. I can’t run a quest, I’ll get people killed!”
Annabeth put her hand on Oliver’s shoulder. “This quest was meant for you Oliver, no one else.”
He looked back and forth between Percy and Annabeth. “Did Rachel tell you about the other thing? The Luke—
“
Percy put his finger to his lips. “Yes.” his expression and Annabeth’s alike were grim. “It’s probably not the best thing to tell the camp about that…yet.”
“But, the prophecy it’s vague I don’t know where to go!” Oliver said desperately.
Annabeth took Percy’s hand and smiled reassuringly at Oliver, “We’ve been on plenty of quests where we had no idea what direction or place to head. You’ll figure it out. And if you keep having these dreams about…Luke.”
Oliver noted the difficulty Annabeth had saying Luke’s name a loud. Percy squeezed her hand tighter.
She swallowed and continued, “If you keep having dreams about Luke, just concentrate on those what the surroundings are.”
Percy slapped Oliver on the back nearly causing him to fall over. He nodded and looked over to Traci in the crowd again.
“I can pick anyone right?” Oliver asked looking to Chiron.
Chiron nodded, “Yes, two companions to assist you in this quest. But Oliver, I would advise you to think carefully as to whom you believe would be best for this.”
Oliver felt pressure building in his chest again. He turned to the rest of the amphitheater and cleared his throat.
“For my quest, I guess I choose. Traci Spencer, Daughter of Athena.”
Traci stood up with a round of applause from her siblings. He glanced and saw Annabeth flinch slightly. No doubt she was afraid of what the fates may have in store for her sister on the quest. Traci gave Oliver a thin smile and went to stand beside him.
Oliver looked around crowd and for a moment he was going to call out Avery’s name but then he spotted the Aphrodite boy Daniel amongst cabin nine. He hesitated. A small voice came out of nowhere in his conscious and screamed for him to say Daniel. Oliver barely knew the kid and it wasn’t fair to choose him for a possibly deadly quest. Then again choosing Traci wasn’t fair either. Still, the more Oliver tried to ignore the voice the louder it got.
“And Daniel Hart, son of Aphrodite.”
The amphitheater was dead silent. Daniel sat with wide fearful eyes as all heads turned to him. One of his sisters pushed him to his feet. Oliver gave him a lopsided grin. One that read I’m sorry and please all at the same time. Daniel’s lips twitched as he nodded and walked down to take his place next to Traci.
Oliver turned to his chosen companions. “You guys don’t have to accept if you don’t want to.”
Traci shook her head and gave her usual cheeky grin. “Are you kidding me Knight? If I don’t go with you, you’ll be dead ten minutes after leaving camp.”
It was nice to hear Traci joke but there was genuine worry in her eyes. Daniel lifted his head a little glanced back at his siblings and the rest of camp.
“Yes, well how often are children of Aphrodite chosen for a quest?” Daniel asked. “If I turn this down everyone will think what they always think, we’re useless. Besides, I don’t suppose you two would be bad company.”
Chiron clapped his hands together and gestured to the trio.
“We have our quest members. Oliver, Traci and Daniel will leave first thing in the morning but for now, everyone else back to their schedules. Tonight we dine in their honor.”
The amphitheater slowly cleared out. The kids from the Ares cabin shot extra dirty looks at Oliver on their way out. Caleb made sure to stop once Chiron was out of sight.
“Good luck tomorrow Knight. Try not to get the others killed.” he spat and pushed passed Oliver with force.
Oliver rubbed his shoulder.
“I should go and pack.” Traci said. She gently touched Oliver’s arm and followed the others out.
“Same.” Daniel said without so much as a goodbye or a smile.
Oliver sighed; soon he was the last one in the amphitheater. At least he thought he was. Percy walked up beside Oliver.
“Are you here to tell me that I made a mistake in my team?” Oliver mumbled, “Cause if you are I really don’t want to hear it.”
“Nope, not here to do that. You just looked a little, out of it.” Percy replied.
Oliver pinched the bridge of his nose and went to sit down. He buried his face in his hands and tried not to cry in front of the camp leader.
“I can’t do this Percy. I’m going to get Traci and Daniel killed. I don’t know what I’m looking for, or what I’m doing! I’m going into this blind and it’s going to end in a disaster.”
Percy moved over and sat beside Oliver leaning forward on his knees. “You can’t think like that. Do you know how many quests I have been on?”
“Four?”
“Well, yeah but that’s just number. Do you know how many of those quests I thought everything was hopeless and I thought I was going to get the people I cared about killed?” Percy asked.
Oliver lifted his head, “None of them, you’re the great and powerful Percy Jackson. You’re basically a God. The Gods wanted to make you a God and you had the balls enough to turn them down! Who does that but a major bad ass? You can’t compare me to you.”
Percy opened his mouth but closed it again.
“I’m just a son of Hermes.” Oliver said, glum.
Percy looked offended and scoffed. “Just a son of Hermes? The bravest and the biggest hero I have ever known was a son of Hermes. He saved the whole world. I don’t know about you but that doesn’t sound half bad for just a son of Hermes.”
Oliver’s frown tried to pull into a smile. He didn’t bring up the key fact that the same son Hermes they were talking about was also the same one trying to basically destroy the world. It was still one of the nicest compliments anyone ever gave him.
“Thanks Perce.” |
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Post by Percy Jackson on Jan 4, 2012 22:18:00 GMT -5
IV
O L I V E R Oliver didn’t get much sleep the night before. He felt sick to his stomach and ended up skipping dinner. There was no possible way he could face the camp or his friends after the meeting. Even with Percy’s words of wisdom Oliver still felt like he was doomed to fail. His bag was packed shortly after returning to his cabin and Oliver spent the rest of his time just lying in his bunk. The rest of Hermes cabin tried to congratulate him but he chose to ignore them and eventually they got the idea to leave him be.
He sat on the edge of his bed just starring at the opposite wall. The sunlight was just barely starting to peak through the windows.
Everything was silent except for the occasional snore and grunt from his siblings. Oliver tried to tell himself everything would be okay but no one could promise him that. Not even the Gods could make such an outstanding promise.
Outside was peaceful and serene like a photograph with the sky painted an excellent color of pink and orange. Oliver dragged his feet as he headed toward Half-Blood Hill. He was walking to his doom as dramatic as it sounded.
“Oliver, wait up.” Avery jogged out from behind the Hermes cabin. Her hair was tied back in sloppy ponytail and she was sporting blue pajama pants and combat boots. It was something Avery could pull off.
Oliver slowed but continued on his trek. “What are doing up?”
“You think I’d let you wander off on a quest without saying goodbye to me?” With a few strides she was able to catch up.
Oliver smirked, “I’m sorry.”
“No big deal, I’ll just walk with you until the hill.” Avery crossed her arms hugging them close to her body. She was wearing only a thin night tee barely warm enough for the cool morning air.
“No, I mean I’m sorry I didn’t choose you to come along. I was going to but—“
“Don’t mention it.” Avery smiled nudging him. “I wasn’t expecting you to select your own sister.”
Oliver tilted his head, “You’re not mad at me then?”
“If I was mad at you I would be shoving you in the dirt right now.”
Wasn’t that the truth? Oliver had felt Avery’s temper before when he was younger. It wasn’t something he would like to revisit. The two became close though and Oliver thought of her as a full sister not just half sharing an immortal father.
Avery heaved a sigh and kicked a rock in her path. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll get to go on a quest one day.” she got a far away look in her eye as if she were imagining how it would all go down. She smiled in the end. “It’ll probably kick your quest’s ass.”
Oliver scoffed picking up on playful tone in her voice, “I doubt it.”
“A bet then. Ten drachma says that I get a quest or go on a quest before the end of the summer, and it will be one that no one in camp will ever forget.” Avery held her hand out to seal the deal.
Oliver shook his head a little at the ridiculous bet. Regardless of how childish it was he smirked and shook her hand. “Ten drachma it is.”
They walked side-by-side talking about mundane things that hardly related to the quest or what may lie ahead for Oliver. And for those last five minutes of the walk to the Half-Blood Hill, Oliver nearly forgot why he was heading there in the first place.
“Here we are.” Avery said. She looked reluctant to let Oliver leave. While Avery was not much of a hugger Oliver could see that longing look in her eyes. It was as though she was struggling with the idea of giving her brother a hug.
Oliver glanced up the hill; Traci and Daniel were both waiting by Thalia’s Pine.
“Try not to get killed.” Avery joked. Instead of hugging him she decided a friendly arm punch would work. Oliver rubbed his arm a little and returned the punch.
“That’s kind of top of my list.”
They stood awkwardly their eyes darting around both nervous to actually say the parting words.
Oliver rocked on his feet and waved. “Well, bye.”
Avery waved. Just as Oliver turned his back she reached out and grabbed his arm. Surprised, Oliver stopped and faced her again. Her eyes had tears brimming the lids threatening to fall. Oliver’s brow furrowed. He had no idea that she was this worried about him and his quest.
“Bring Luke back, will you?”
Oliver’s heart caught in his throat. He swallowed, “W-what?”
Avery leaned in and whispered. “I’m not dumb Oliver, I heard Percy and Annabeth talking. This is about Luke and h-he’s alive again isn’t he?”
Oliver didn’t speak.
“Just promise me if you can, bring him back safe. For m—for the Hermes cabin.” Avery blinked and the tears that had built up rolled down her cheeks. Oliver didn’t know what to say. He drew his lips tight and nodded without a word. He pulled back from Avery and went up the hill not once looking back at his sister. Oliver would do his best to bring back Luke. He would save his brother. If there was anything left to save.
“Ready to go then Hero?” Traci asked once Oliver reached the top. She was smiling but the smile didn’t light up her face the way it usually did. This meant that she was forcing it. Oliver nodded and as with Avery, said nothing else.
They set off down the other side of the hill.
Once they reached the bottom Argus was waiting for them with the van. Oliver had always been a little freaked out by the one-hundred eyed creature. They piled into the van and rode in complete silence into the city. It was from that the trio was on their own.
“Well we’ve made it this far.” Traci was the one to break their silence. “Now, the prophecy said we have to head west correct?”
Oliver cleared his throat, “Yeah. West.”
“There are an awful lot of places to the West.” Daniel said, “Do we even know where or what we are looking for?”
Oliver realized he hadn’t filled them in on the Luke side of the story. If they knew about Luke they probably wouldn’t have come with him.
“I’m kind of hungry, I didn’t eat dinner or breakfast. Why don’t we stop for some food before we get moving.”
Daniel looked to Traci and rolled his eyes, “You’re avoiding the question.”
“No. I’m not, I’ll tell you guys over breakfast. We need to figure out how we’re going to travel west anyway.” Oliver replied.
“This seems like something that should have been thought out before hand.” Daniel commented walking past the both of them.
The quest hadn’t been underway for more than an hour and Oliver already felt like a failure. Traci gave him an encouraging smile as they crossed the street to Bob’s Pancake Shack.
The place was a complete dive but the prices were cheap and at least it was food. There were only half a dozen people in the place and four of them were workers. The three teens sat down at a booth in the corner. And after their waitress, a tall orange haired woman with rather large mole on her lip took their order they were left alone with their glasses of water.
Oliver kept his voice low so no one else with curiosity would hear them. He retold the dreams he had, everything about Luke, and what Percy and Annabeth thought. By the time he finished their food had arrived. Traci and Daniel were quiet for a minute while they cut up their stack of blueberry pancakes.
“The final line of the prophecy stated, the prodigal son will return once more. It meant Luke, Luke Castellan. How is that possible?” Traci asked pushing her piece of pancake around in the puddle of syrup.
Oliver shrugged, “I don’t know maybe it means him. I never thought about that. I don’t know how it’s possible but Percy and Annabeth are convinced. And if they think Luke is back or coming back, that’s good enough for me. They have more hero cred than I do.” He took a large sloppy bite of pancake and scramble eggs.
Daniel looked disgusted by Oliver’s eating habits. He took a smaller bite and waited until he swallowed before adding to the conversation.
“Are we sure we want to go and collect Luke? Follow me on this one. Maybe I am wrong but, didn’t he help Kronos come back and wasn’t he like two steps away from taking over Olympus and thus destroying the world as we know it?”
Daniel had a point but Oliver immediately turned defensive. Despite what Luke had done and all the people he betrayed Oliver still felt loyal to his brother.
“He also saved the world, and was the hero of the last Great Prophecy incase you forgot Daniel.”
Traci put her finger to her lips. An old man at the counter was glancing in their direction. He wore a dirty trucker hat with greasy stained jeans and an equally torn and filthy red flannel shirt. She leaned closer to Oliver and Daniel lowering her voice just above an audible whisper.
“Both of you stop. Fighting isn’t going to get us anywhere. Daniel, Oliver is right. Luke did a lot of bad things in the past but he was the one to save everyone. Everybody deserves a second chance and this may be Luke’s.”
Oliver smiled at her thankful that she came to Luke’s defense. Daniel frowned. It was clear that he still wasn’t fully convinced that Luke deserved to be saved. Oliver would show him otherwise give in time. He just needed to be able to count on Daniel in the here and now.
“Also.” Traci continued cutting up her food more. “The guy at the counter is starring at us. He has been listening to everything we said in the last fifteen minutes.”
Oliver glanced up and the man with the trucker hat was still looking at them. He was sneering at them in a hungry way that made Oliver very uncomfortable. Something wasn’t right and that demigod sense was telling Oliver that they needed to get up and leave, now.
“Okay, here’s the plan. We get up slowly and casually walk out. Don’t draw any attention.”
Daniel was looking over his shoulder at the trucker who just stood up and was making his way toward them. “Oliver, I think it’s too late for that. Have you got a plan B, maybe a plan C should that one fail?”
Oliver slid his hand into his duffle bag and took a hold of his sword. He only hoped the others were just as ready with their weapons. Traci’s hands went under the table no doubt looking for her weapon. They gradually looked at the man who was now hovering over their booth. He emitted a strong foul odor. It was a wonder that they didn’t smell him before. Oliver struggled not to make a face.
He leaned on the table flashing his yellow rotted teeth at them.
“Can we help you sir?” Daniel asked bravely. There wasn’t a shred of hesitation. Oliver was envious.
The man chuckled his rank breath overflowing to the air around them. It was so thick that Oliver was surprised that it hadn’t manifested as a cloud. It caused Oliver to cough. It felt rude but he saw Traci and Daniel do the same.
“Sir? Bah, pretentious little twit.” He said in a low growling voice. “You can help by filling my stomach. You see I haven’t had anything to eat in quite a long time. Neither has my family.”
The more the man talked the worse the stench got. It started to make Oliver feel light headed. Something was very wrong but the fumes from the man’s breath made him loose grip on his sword in coughing fit.
The man laughed again, “What’s the matter boy? My breath too strong for you?”
Three others walked out from the kitchen all smiling equally evil grins and their gaze was almost paralyzing. Oliver looked away still choking on the man’s breath. Traci and Daniel were in the same state. Daniel had his hands over his mouth trying to block it. Oliver was sitting on the end of the booth closet to the man besides Traci. Her eyes watered and it made Oliver realize that his burned as well.
“You demigods should never have come in here.” The man straightened up. “Too bad, hind sight and all. My family will get to feed now.”
The three others surrounded them laughing. Each exhale of breath was just as thick and toxic as the last one. The three of them coughed harder, Oliver felt as though he was going to cough up a lung next. His vision started to blur as his head felt lighter. The quest was going to end just as soon as it began. |
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Post by Percy Jackson on Jan 5, 2012 22:38:28 GMT -5
V
T R A C I The fumes from the trucker man’s breath were making Traci sick to her stomach. Then combined with the three others, the waitress and the two pudgy cooks made Traci feel like she was going to vomit and pass out. And it seemed that Oliver was a step a head of her. Across the table Traci saw Oliver’s eyes start to roll to the back of his head. Thinking fast Traci gave him a swift kick with her boot under the table. His eyes shot open and he bounced upward in his seat. She would apologize later, if they survived.
Traci took the plates from the table and flung them at the man and the trio of diner freaks. The surprise of the attack caught them off guard and they backed away. Traci reached for her sword. Daniel took out his knife and was already standing on the seat next to her. Oliver, still a bit sluggish was now holding his sword at least.
The trucker was wiping the syrup from his eyes. “Bob I assume?” Traci said brandishing her sword at him.
He laughed, foul breath still leaking out. “You’re a smart one aren’t you?”
“Traci, now may not be the time to get acquainted with them.” Daniel said. Compared to Traci and Oliver’s sword his knife looked sad.
“Don’t look them in the eye!” Traci advised. “They’re katobleps, their gaze can kill and their breath is poisonous.”
Oliver gagged again, “Oh now you tell me. All I’m going to do is look in their eyes now!”
“Don’t be an idiot Oliver.” Daniel said. He picked up his duffel and took a spot beside Traci with his knife.
Bob flicked a piece of egg from his shoulder. “This one is smart! She knows what we are, I’m going to enjoy eating her.”
“I want some pa! I want the blonde one he’s cute.” The waitress snorted like a pig. Her brothers shoved one another to get to Traci.
“I want her pa! Can we please have her?” The fat cook with the apron stained with grease and food licked his lips at Traci. She shuddered.
Bob glared at his children, “No! I said I would have her you two can have the other boy.”
“Nobody is getting the ‘other boy’, over my dead body.” Daniel spat.
Oliver leaned forward, “I think that’s the point Daniel.”
Traci stepped forward and swung her blade. She wasn’t about to become anyone’s meal. Bob gave a snort and accepted it as a challenge. “Oh ho, the little girly demigod has some fight in her.”
“Darn right I do!” Traci lunged and struck Bob across the arm with her blade. He let out a roar releasing a new cloud of the noxious breath.
Oliver and Daniel followed Traci’s lead. She didn’t want say what she was thinking, but she was probably the best fighter of the group. It was presumptuous and very egotistical to say it. It didn’t need to be said because it didn’t matter who was the best fighter. This wasn’t a competition.
“Don’t stand there and stare, get them!” Bob bellowed.
Traci hacked at the arm of the pudgy cook as he greedily reached out for her. The blade made contact but only slice him. He snorted in pain but Traci followed through with another diagonal slash and this time the cook burst into a shower gold dust. This enraged the others and they came at the demigods with more force.
Traci didn’t worry about Daniel, he was swift and managing to dodge the swipes of the waitress. Oliver on the other hand was good with a sword though bad under pressure. He was clumsy and took a fall backward over a chair. Their only chance was to get out and make a run for it.
“Oliver!’ Traci tossed a salt shaker at Bob who was hovering behind Oliver his arms raised, like some stereotypical Dracula preparing for the first bite. Bob staggered back and now turned his rage on Traci.
“Cover you eyes and run!” Traci shouted. She took out a small handkerchief wrapped up in a tight ball. The boys didn’t think twice and did as they were told. When they reached the door she slammed it to the ground and it exploded. Tiny bits of celestial bronze flew through the air. The monster shrieked in pain and the rest of Bob’s family turned into dust.
Traci made a mad dash out of Bob’s Pancake Shack. Oliver and Daniel were waiting. They stared at her concerned. Traci was aware that she was bleeding from tiny cuts. They hardly hurt so she ignored them for the time being.
“Guys! We need a car, now!” Traci exclaimed.
Daniel took a deep breath dragging in fresh air to his lungs or perhaps ready to take the plunge in what he was about to do next. He went over to a woman just getting out of her car, shortly after the woman walked away smiling and waving to Daniel. He had the keys in his hands. “Who knows how to drive?” he asked dangling the keys from his finger.
Traci and Oliver both exchanged a look. “I do.” Oliver said.
They got into the blue dodge intrepid and sped off putting as much distance between them and the monsters at the pancake shack.
Oliver looked over to the passenger seat. “That was some quick thinking. Traci how they hell did you know they were cat-o-whatever.”
“Katobleps, They’re from legend in Africa. Giant bull like animals, their gaze is said to turn people to stone or kill them same with their breath.”
“Wonderful, Medusa wannabes.” Daniel said from the back.
“Right. I didn’t think they were really prevalent in Greek history. It’s weird but at least we’re away from them.” Traci said sinking into the car seat.
Oliver eyed her for a moment before staring back at the road. “Traci we should pull over and look at those cuts. What the hell was that thing anyway?”
Blood started to drip down her arm. “An idea I had for a quick get away weapon. Filled with tiny shards of celestial bronze.”
“Like those ninja smoke bombs?”
Traci laughed at the analogy. It was something Oliver could obviously relate together which was fine. She thought it was cute. “Yes. Trouble is you have to be in close range for it to work hence all of the little cuts. I’ll be fine though, a few Band-Aids and I’ll be good to go.”
Daniel poked his head out from the back and handed Traci a box of orange Band-Aids and a small flask containing nector. “Sweetie, it’d be easier to stop the bleeding if we wrapped you up like a mummy. Here, drink some of this I have a feeling if that was just a pancake diner the actual ghouls the prophecy talks about are going to be more difficult than trying to get one of my sisters to go a day without putting makeup on.”
They all laughed and fell silent. Once they were two towns away Oliver pulled over into a gas station. Apparently the car Daniel chose to borrow was running on less than a half tank of gas.
Oliver made a face in at his friends as he pumped the gas causing for more fits of laughter. Traci thought it was strange for them to be laughing and enjoying themselves so much on a quest. She supposed it was better to laugh now rather than later, because she had no idea if they would be able to.
“Daniel,”
“Call me Danny.” he said with a grin.
Near death experiences appeared to bring the three of them closer. She smiled and nodded, “Danny it is then. I was wondering, how was it you got that lady to give us her car?”
Daniel’s lips twitched in the backseat. He picked at the hem of his shirt for a moment. “I knew her. She ended up being a friend of my mom. I just went up and asked if I could borrow her car for a bit and she said yes. She was just helping her friend’s son.”
He looked back up at Traci and smiled. His lips stretched across his face giving him an almost Cheshire Cat appearance. Traci was skeptical but it hardly mattered how they obtained the car. They had transportation and that was all that mattered.
Oliver came back with a bag full of snacks and drinks for everyone since their breakfast had been so rudely cut short.
“This quest is off to a good and dangerous start, why not keep on going?” Oliver mumbled as he pulled out of the parking lot.
“Oliver, I’ve been thinking. We have no idea where to go other than west. And as helpfully vague as that is it’s not something we can we go on.”
Oliver frowned. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Oh so we’re agreeing that this quest is going nowhere fast?” Daniel said between bites of his granola bar.
Traci smirked but seeing that Oliver only looked more upset she turned in the seat toward him. “We don’t have anymore information about Luke, yet. We need to get some from someone who may be likely to give us some.”
“Okay, Riddler help us out here cause I don’t think Ollie is getting it.”
Oliver glanced to Daniel at the nickname. Traci would remember to call him that later. “I don’t know the full details but I have heard rumors around camp, and admittedly I took a peek at Annabeth’s journal one night.”
Oliver chuckled, “You bad girl you.”
“Shut up and listen for once will you? Before Rachel became the Oracle there was another clear sighted mortal who was sort of up for the role. She didn’t cut it though. It’s possible that maybe bits of the Oracle are still running through her, or at the very least if Luke is back I’m willing to bet she would be the first to know or one of the first.”
“Well this a nice turn of events, a perfect solution.” Daniel said giddy with excitement. “Who is this mystery woman that would know so much about Luke?”
Traci took a deep breath held it and on the exhale said, “May Castellan. Luke’s mom.”
Oliver wasn’t looking at the road any longer. “What?”
“Ollie, not to be a backseat driver but could you please keep your eyes on the road?” Daniel sounded like a mother himself in that moment.
“Luke’s mom, she lives in Connecticut. It’s not far and it may be the only lead we have got. It’s your call though Oliver since it’s your quest.”
Oliver swallowed and was quiet. His grip on the steering wheel tightened. Traci hated for him to think that she was trying to take over his quest. She was just along for the ride and help where she was needed. Her assertive and leader by nature qualities would have to be pushed aside.
Oliver did a U-turn scaring Traci as she held onto whatever she could. Daniel let out a small shriek of surprise from the back. He looked at them both a mischievous smile on his face. Traci sighed a little relieved as he said, “Alright. Let’s go see May Castellan.” |
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