ETERNAL! | percy jackson

chapter three - back at camp

CHAPTER THREE
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"HOLY SHIT," Annabeth cheered as Estella walked into the Big House. The blonde quickly ran up to her and engulfed her in a hug. "I can't believe you're here, I missed you so much!"

Estella sighed into her arms. "Me too. It's been a long few months."

Annabeth tensed and suddenly backed away. Her grey eyes were stern and on Althea. "Who's this?"

"My step-sister, Althea," Estella said knowingly. She and Annabeth had Iris messaged a few times, so Estella was able to do quite the complaining about her stepsister. "Turns out she's a demigod! Yipee."

"Hi," Althea said awkwardly. "I'm just super excited to be here."

"Wait," Annabeth said, looking between them. "Did you get attacked?"

"Yeah, by some Empousai."

Annabeth's eyes widened. "Did you say Empousai? They attacked Percy too at his high school. He only got away because a girl friend of his helped."

Estella paused, feeling her heart skip a beat. In her time of talking with Percy, in no way shape, or form did he mention he had a girlfriend. "What do you mean? He's seeing someone?"

Annabeth realized her mistake, and she quickly put her hands up. "No, no. I mean, I hope not. Her name is Rachel, and she's a mortal that can see through the Mist."

Estella simply nodded, the sinking feeling still lingering in her gut. "Well, do you know where Chiron is?"

"I'm not sure. But I know he's going to Grover's hearing soon. You should come."

"Grover's... hearing?"

"With the Council of Cloven Elders," Annabeth said, which didn't make anything clearer for Estella. "How about you settle and come after?"

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ALICE AND JULIA greeted Estella when she walked in.

They looked much older than the last time she saw them. They were both a few inches taller than her, as Estella stood at five foot four. Julia, who once had her hair in butterfly braids, now let out her curls in a loose bun. Alice seemed more muscular now in comparison to last year, also.

Estella couldn't help but grin and hug them. They were her friends before Percy and Annabeth, and she was more than happy to live with them. She hoped that Althea would get along with them, too.

"Oh my god you look so beautiful," Alice gushed. She gently touched her face. "Seriously, what do you use?"

Estella sheepishly laughed. "Aphrodite gave me a blessing, actually."

Julia's eyes went wide. "No way- a goddess blessed you? That's like the highest honor!"

"Yeah, I still can't believe it even now," she said. Althea coughed, and they all turned to her. "Alice, Julia, this is my step-sister Althea. She's unclaimed, so she'll live with me in my room."

"Another sister? Sweet!" Connor said from down the hall. He slapped an arm around Althea's shoulders, and she tried not to look disgusted. "I'm your better Head Counselor."

"Now we all know that's a lie," Travis said, holding a bag of trash in his hand. "I'm the one who's cleaning for our inspection!"

Althea's eyes moved from person to person, and Estella could sense she was getting overwhelmed. Estella gently moved Connor away from the new demigod, giving her some space. "I'm going to take Althea to our room. I'll see you guys in a bit."