In A Flash of Lightning (Percy Jackson)

Chapter 9

Right after my realisation Luke began demonstrating this complicated manoeuvre. It results in your opponent's sword on the ground. The rest of the cabin were trying to hide their smiles when Luke said that Percy and him would keep sparring until Percy got the move right. I'm not sure if he was trying to prove something or maybe test a theory. But never the less they began fighting.

Of course a smile broke out on my face when I watched Percy keeping up to Luke. Countering all of his attacks and in a matter of minutes Percy took a chance and aimed for the hilt of Lukes sword. Twisting with all his might in a downward strike, then the blade clattered to the floor as Percy aimed the tip of his at Luke's unprotected chest. I began clapping, giggling with excitement.

"Perce that was amazing," I exclaimed walking forwards as the others stood there stunned. Percy began stumbling out an apology but the grin on Luke's face showed how impressed he was. They tried again but Luke quickly disarmed him, Percy sighed claiming it was just beginners luck. However I had a different theory.

"Imagine what you can do with a balanced sword," Luke states clapping the boy on the back. The smile never left his face. After the training we had free time which was great, so Percy and I decided to sit down in the shade by the volleyball nets where a few Apollo kids were playing.

"Did you manage to get ahold of you mom?" He asked as I laid there looking for shapes in the clouds.

"Yeah, apparently demigods aren't allowed to use phones as it sends their voices to monsters but Chiron set up this thing called an Iris Message. It's like a magical FaceTime. Mom's fine but she's worried about us and your mom. Said if anyone could find Sally it was us," I replied looking over as he laid down next to me.

"If we could get out of here we could start looking. But everyone's watching us as if we might bring forth the destruction of the universe," he says with a sigh. I gently took his hand that rested between us, rubbing the pad of my thumb across the back of it.

"When have we ever abided by rules. If we can't leave with permission then we'll have to sneak out. Just have to wait for the right moment," I replied looking into his eyes, there was this unrecognizable emotion then a smile bloomed onto his face. "Why are you looking at me like that kelp head?" Raising a brow at him.

"You have a butterfly in your hair," he states sitting up letting go of my hand, I stayed where I was as he leaned over gently pulling his fingers through my hair that was fanned around me like a halo. After a few seconds he lifted his hand to show me a monarch butterfly resting on the tip of his index finger.

I sat up on my elbows and the insect left his finger and landed right on my nose. It tickled as my eyes crossed to get a better look at it. A smile on my face then it flew away.

~~~~

Across the clearing Luke stood watching the two interact, mixed emotions raced through him. A hand on his arm brought him out of his memories.

"She reminds you of her too?" Annabeth's voice hit his ears, causing him to look down at the girl he loved like a little sister.

"Very much, it's like she's here with us again. These last five years, not a day went by where I didn't miss her. To throw her life on the line for us, and not being able to do anything about it still hurts. I always feel sad looking at her tree," he admits watching the two joking around by the volleyball nets.

Naomie was laying in the grass as Percy looked over at her. Then he sat up slowly before reaching down, taking something out of her hair. He heard Annabeth giggle as the butterfly went from Percy's finger to Naomi's nose.

"The fates seem to have big plans for them. Hopefully good ones, and Aphrodite definitely has a part in it," Annabeth states watching them closely, a look of determination in her eyes. Luke knew that Annabeth thought these two were the key to her getting a quest, but only time could tell.