{BOOK 3} Percy Jackson's Sister

Scorpion Rodeo! Scrodeo?

       "You coming?" Percy asked, lacing up his shoes.

      "Stables?"

      "Blackjack gets lonely," Percy shrugged.

      "I got something I gotta do," I said. "Here."
       I threw a small bag at Percy, which he didn't catch in time so it just hit him on the head.

    I smiled. "Sugar cubes for Blackjack, if Porkpie's there give him half."

    "Yes, ma'am," Percy closed the door behind him.

     I was still kind of uneasy about my dream with Silena and Justin. I decided I would talk to Silena first. If I attacked Justin with too many questions, he'd think I don't trust him. Which, if I was being completely honest, I didn't completely. He and Silena were hiding something and I had to find out what it was.

    On my way to the Aphrodite cabin, I was stopped by Nyssa Barrera, daughter of Hephaestus.

    "Water works," she called out, running to my side.

    "Barrera," I called back. "Que ondas?"

    "You remember that project you gave Beckendorf last year?" she asked.

    "You mean the one he swore would be done before I got back from my quest and I'm still waiting on?"

    She cracked a smile. "You really stumped him this time, he spends most of his free time trying to figure that one out. He refuses to give up though."

    "Necio," I rolled my eyes.

    "I'm saying, Nyssa shrugged. "You been to the arena lately?"

     I nodded.

    "What do you think is the deal with the boxes?" she asked.

     I shrugged. "No idea, guess we'll find out later."

    "Yeah, but don't you want to know now?"

     We smirked at each other.

     "Race you there," I said.

      We both darted for the arena.

-

     When we arrived, we were met with disappointment. Campers were getting lessons from Cabin Five but the boxes were nowhere in sight.

    Justin spotted me and he waved with a smile. The kid he was teaching took that opportunity to knock him down. I laughed.

     I looked back at Nyssa and she was frowning.

    "What's wrong?" I questioned.

    "Huh? Oh, nothing. I'm just disappointed the boxes aren't here."

    "Guess we'll have to wait and see."

    "Yeah, guess so," she said in a still distracted tone.

    

-

That night after dinner, Quintus told us to get dressed in combat armor like we were getting ready for capture the flag, but something was bothering us all. Everyone seemed to have noticed the crates but no one seemed to have been able to figure out what was in them.

   "Right," Quintus stood at the head of the table. "Gather 'round."

     His black and bronze clothing caused an eery reflection on his face, making him look ghost-like. Mrs. O'Leary leaped at his side, happy as ever, seeing if she could scrounge up any of our leftovers.