𝕱𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖑𝖞 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖊 - a Leo Valdez slowburn

Chapter eight

Chapter eight. 

[Sneak peek at the other Camp]

"Once you find love, you'll be happy, they say,

but don't you think you need to be happy to find love?

Quite the paradox, I find."

"Are you coming?"

Annabeth glanced over her shoulder at Piper, who was waiting impatiently for her. She nodded, looking back at the sea. "I'll be there in a bit," she replied. Piper shrugged. "Just don't wait too long, or supper'll be done." "Mhm." The daughter of Athena could hear Piper's steps walking away from her.

Leah had informed camp of pretty much everything. There was an army of what – 800 non-mortals in Romania? They were by far not all demigods, form what Annabeth had gathered, but they were powerful, and would be a force to be reckoned with. The best thing her Camp could do was make them an ally, she'd decided.

Leah had also told them about Camp Jupiter. Jason had too, of course, but you couldn't get the detail from an ex-amnesiac as well from a person who knew an adult who'd gone there – who'd not only trained with Lupa and at Camp Jupiter, but lived there to study at New Rome too. Simone di Genova, a daughter of Justitia.

And there had been someone from Camp Half-Blood too. One of Annabeth's siblings, in fact. Julia Schmidt. Annabeth remembered her. Julia had bunked with Malcolm before she'd moved to Europe with her family, somewhere in the East. Romania fit the description, she guessed.

Annabeth sighed, dragging a hand down her face. "I'm too tired for this," she muttered. She got up from the sand, dusting off her shorts. It'd become no-jacket weather once again, and new demigods had started trickling in for the summer, even though it was a good month away from vacation.

She said hello to a demigod who'd strayed from dinner early on her way. They were new, a daughter of Hermes, Annabeth remembered. What was their name again? She'd have to ask Piper.

She sat down at the Athena table on the edge, next to Malcolm. Her eyes were dazed as she willed her drink to appear, sipping from the coke. Blue, of course. In remembrance of her boyfriend.

"Hey." Malcolm poked her in the shoulder. "You good?" Annabeth shook her head, snapping out of whatever daze she'd been in. "Yeah," she agreed unconvincingly. "I'm- I'm just fine." Her brother's face fell, his expression morphing from confused to concerned. "Is stress getting to you? You can always take a day off-"

"I'm fine, Malcolm," Annabeth snapped. Her eyes widened once she realized what she'd said. "Di immortales," she muttered hurriedly. "Sorry," she apologized, "but I'm good. Don't worry about me." She plastered as much of a smile she could on her face.

Malcolm raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Your eyebags are getting darker," he pointed out bluntly. She looked at him dully, getting up to burn a portion of her food with the rest of the other children of Athena. "Thanks," she replied sarcastically, getting in line. "That's exactly what a girl wants to hear." Malcolm laughed at her antics, poking her between her shoulderblades.

"You're tense," he noted. "No I'm not," she protested. "Want me to make an arrangement with Chiron?" Yes, Annabeth wanted to say. But Percy was out there. And the Argo II was still being built. And she needed to plan the peace talks with Camp Jupiter. And of course there was also Leah with those freedom fighters – the new generation of hippies, Annabeth had gathered – in Romania. She sighed, walking back to the table.