✓ | The Crown of the Dead

Surprise Brothers and Haikus

From the Big House, I retired to the Hades cabin. I couldn't stand the continuous hustle and bustle of the on-going party. I needed some time to take in what I'd just experienced. I needed even more time to shower, sleep, eat, and sleep some more.

Lee disappeared into the crowd, muttering something about more catching up to do. I didn't look for anyone to talk to. I hurried back over to the cabins, threw open the door to thirteen, and flopped onto the large black bed.

My body sunk into the mattress. I let out a low sound of pleasure.

I could lie down. I could rest. I could sleep. I didn't have to worry about schoolwork, or monsters, or quests, or anything. I could lay low the whole summer.

That's when it hit me that I no longer had a choice should I stay or go. The words of Chiron replayed in my head a dozen times as I raised my chin off of the comforter.

I was to stay at Camp Half Blood in the summers with Lee, in order to keep myself safe from harm.

I rolled over as this prospect fully formed in my mind.

For some reason, I wasn't really angry.

For some very very odd and out-of-place reason, I kind of liked having an excuse to stay at Camp Half Blood.

I liked my friends. I liked Charlie and Blake and Essie, and Annie and Silena. (Wasn't sure about Luke, however. He was whatever.) I liked the other campers I'd exchanged words with. I liked the atmosphere. Delta would be here. My brother would be here.

Could I possibly learn to call Camp Half Blood my home?

My eyes caught something sitting in the corner of the room-- a package from an express delivery truck. I wrinkled my nose in confusion. Who would send me something, and why?

I harnessed the strength to heave myself off of the bed, placing my socked feet on the floor. I shuffled across the wood and snatched up the package, turning it in my hands.

This thing must've been delivered quickly. The stamps and stickers were enough proof of that.

I flipped it over to take a peek at the address, and when I did so, my breath hitched. I stared at the package in wonderment.

I tore in open violently, not even thinking to be cautious about what was inside.

I didn't have to be. Because I knew what it was.

I pulled the packaging away from my Papa's aviator jacket, tossing it down onto the ground haphazardly. I held the jacket up and it fell open from its neat position-- a notecard slipping out of its folds and floating down onto the floor.

I bent to pick it up, reading it carefully.

Left something.

-Gramma

I was certainly not going to burst into tears. Nope. Wasn't going to do that. I pulled the jacket on in one swift motion, burying my body in its fabric.

It smelled like home. Like the home I couldn't go back to.

"Oh, my. She seems to be having a moment. Maybe we should come back later."

I spun around swiftly, my hands held up in defense mode. "Hello?!" I shouted, much louder than I needed to, considering the size of the cabin.

"Hello!"

Standing in front of me was a teen boy-- nineteen or twenty in age. He had on an orange tank top and Bermuda shorts. His hair was sunkissed and shaggy.

He looked scarily like Dad.