Betrayed But Never Forgotten

The new kid

      Annabeths pov

      

The shrill blast of the conch horn – three sharp, urgent bursts – shattered the peaceful evening. I threw my architecture book aside, not even bothering to mark my place as I snatched my celestial bronze dagger and Yankees cap from my nightstand. My feet hit the wooden floor running.

The night air hit me like a wall as I burst out of Cabin Six. Above us, storm clouds churned ominously within the magical borders of camp, their dark masses illuminated by occasional flickers of lightning. The sight sent a chill down my spine – weather didn't enter camp unless something was very wrong.

All around me, cabin doors slammed and voices called out in the darkness. Through the chaos, I spotted Percy emerging from his cabin, Riptide's celestial bronze blade already gleaming in his hands. I fell into step beside him as we sprinted toward Half-Blood Hill, our feet pounding against the grass in unison.

"What kind of monster do you think triggered the alarm?" Percy asked between breaths, his sea-green eyes scanning the darkness ahead.

"Could be anything," I replied, my mind already racing through possibilities. "Might not even be a monster – could be a new camper, or worse, an army." The recent war with Gaia had taught us to prepare for anything.

As we crested the hill, the scene before us made my blood run cold. A Chimera – full-sized and terrifying – was charging up the hill, its lion's head roaring, snake tail whipping through the air, while the goat head in the middle bleated with an almost manic glee. The monster's massive paws tore up chunks of earth with each bound.

Its target was a lone figure – just a teenager – desperately scrambling up the hill, wielding nothing but a broken tree branch like a club. Even from here, I could see his hands shaking.Chiron galloped up beside us, his hooves thundering against the ground. His ancient eyes assessed the situation in seconds. "Percy, Jason – handle the Chimera. Everyone else, secure the demigod!"

The two boys shot down the hill like arrows loosed from a bow. Jason's coin flashed in the darkness as it transformed into his Imperial gold sword, while Percy charged straight ahead, Riptide humming with deadly purpose. The Chimera, sensing the greater threat, wheeled to face them, its three sets of eyes gleaming with murderous intelligence.

The Apollo cabin, led by Will Solace, rushed forward to help the newcomer. As they brought him closer, I got my first good look at him. He was tall, maybe sixteen, with windswept blonde hair and striking purple eyes that seemed to crackle with energy. Despite his ordeal, he carried himself with an almost regal bearing.

"What's your name?" I asked gently, keeping my voice calm despite the battle raging behind us. Most new demigods were in shock by this point, babbling about hallucinations or having nervous breakdowns. But this one just flashed a confident smile.

"Nick Alan," he replied, as casually as if we'd met at a coffee shop.

A deafening roar pulled my attention back to the fight. Percy rolled away from a jet of white-hot flame that turned the grass where he'd been standing to ash. He came up in a fluid motion, driving Riptide deep into the Chimera's lion head. The monster howled in pain and staggered backward – right into Jason's waiting blade.

But the Chimera wasn't finished. Its snake-head tail lashed out, catching Jason in the chest and sending him flying. He hit the ground hard, his sword skittering away in the grass. The monster lunged for him, but Percy was faster. He leaped forward, bringing Riptide down in a devastating arc that separated the Chimera's heads from its body. The monster exploded into a shower of golden dust that sparkled in the moonlight before dissolving into nothing.

Percy capped Riptide and moved to help Jason up, but Jason pushed his hand away, climbing to his feet on his own. His face was a mask of barely contained frustration as he retrieved his coin and stalked up the hill, Percy following with a concerned expression.

"Nice fight," I told Percy as he slipped an arm around my shoulders. The familiar weight was comforting after watching him battle another monster that could have killed him.

Just then, a collective gasp rose from the gathered campers. Above Nick's head, a brilliant blue lightning bolt blazed in the darkness – the claiming symbol of Zeus himself. Nick's grin widened as if this was exactly what he'd been expecting.

"All hail Nick Alan," Chiron intoned solemnly, bowing his head. "Son of Zeus, King of the Gods, Lord of the Sky."

We all knelt, though I couldn't help watching Jason's reaction from the corner of my eye. He was smiling, but something about it seemed forced. The last thing we needed was another child of Zeus with something to prove.

As I studied Nick's confident – almost arrogant – expression, a sense of unease settled over me. I'd learned to trust my instincts over the years, and right now they were screaming that our troubles were just beginning.