The Secrets You Never Told

Chapter 3

Back at camp (3rd P.O.V)

"What the Hera just happened?!" Nico questioned, not really sure he wanted to know the answer. Not that anyone could answer anyway since most were still just standing there in shock and no one actually knew what had taken occurrence.

"What do we do?" Jason muttered under his breath repeatedly pacing in panic.

Grover just sat there feeling so much insecurity, sadness and fear from his empathy link with Percy that it was overwhelming him.

"Wait," Calypso cried out suddenly, "where'd Leo go?"

That outburst caused all of the people present to look around and see that Leo was indeed missing from the group.

"That's it! We need to go find them!" Annabeth said determinately, daring someone to challenge her.

"No," started a strong voice from the back, startling them all. He was challenging ANNABETH?! "Leo probably went after Percy right?"

"Yes Sun Boy, and we should be doing the same" Thalia growled.

"No," came the cool, soothing yet worried and determined voice of Will Solace once again. "I'm not as close to you guys as you guys are to each other but if Leo went after Percy ALONE without telling anybody it must have been important, right? Have some trust in Valdez and let him try."

There was a silent pause as they thought that over.

They looked at each other then back at Will before Reyna finally amended saying "fine". The others gave nods (some more hesitant than others).

...

Meanwhile (Leo's P.O.V)

I ran around the camp looking around to try and find where Percy may have gone. 'If I was a son of Poseidon... that would be WICKED! No no, stay focused! Stupid ADHD! Now if I were a son of Poseidon where would I go? Ah-ha! Somewhere with water duh! Let's try the lake!' I think to myself.

I run towards the lake and thought about what had occurred in the cabin. 'The horror on Percy's face, the way he flinched and had cried out, all symptoms to... no please no.' I repeat mentally as I realize what it could be that was hurting Percy. At those thoughts, I pick up my pace to a sprint and soon I can see the light glistening off the lake.

I look around. Nothing, nothing, noth- wait there! I see a silhouette on the docks. I moved silently towards it because if it is Pery I don't want to scare him off.

As I get closer I can see that it is Percy but... he seems so different. His aura of strength, happiness and courage had fallen and was replaced by a sad brokenness that was almost unbearable to be around. In a way, Percy reminded me a little of what Nico was like before he had Will. The pain he was emitting was so unlike the sassy, confidence he usually showed.

I was a few steps away when I saw tears streaming down his face. I froze. Percy never cried... well at least I had never seen him cry. It scared me more than I was willing to admit that the strongest of us had broken down.

Taking a deep breath, I took a step forward, reaching out to put my hand on his shoulder and hesitantly said in a soft voice, so unlike my usual overly cheer one, "Percy?"