G(r)eek Tragedy

12.

Eithne's patience was running thinner than one-ply toilet paper at a chili contest. She expected Capture the Flag to be thrilling among demigods who didn't even know the meaning of half-assed, but so far, nothing had happened. Silena and Thalia spirited their respective teams away to where all the action was happening. Now, Eithne was left to guard the flag with three jitterbug idiots, a stone-faced giant, and Nico.

Eithne sighed through her nose, trying her best not to pick up a rock and throw it at Percy's stupid head. He was perched at the top of Zeus' Fist, eyes glued to the forest on the opposite side of the boundary line. With the light breeze, you could barely hear the sounds of a fight in the distance, likely Silena's decoy doing their best to give the Hunters a taste of Tartarus. 

It made Eithne a little anxious too, but at least she wasn't itching like a junkie for an opportunity to disobey Thalia. Her piercings and bruise-colored wardrobe made the demigod look rough around the edges to say the least. Percy had to be about as sharp as a beach ball to want to go up against her.

The rest of the team was not doing too well either. Travis and Connor were busy tossing rocks in the bushes below, prodding Beckendorf for the finer details of their plan to welcome the Hunters of Artemis to camp. They were a bit hush-hush, but Eithne gathered it had something to do with squeaky toys and cocoa butter. 

And even though Nico was right next to her, she could have been playing beer pong with Dionysus for all he cared. He was too busy mooning after Percy, leaning on his sword to hold him up. Eithne half-expected Nico to bust out the glowsticks, and a banner with PERCY IS DEEP-SEA IMPRESSIVE! written in blue glitter.

Gods, Silena better be stringing those girls on a shish kebab.

Without warning, Nico thrust his sword into Eithne's hands. The added weight made her stumble, and she shot him an irritated glare once she regained her balance. But Nico didn't seem to notice.

"Be back," he muttered.

Not waiting for a response, Nico climbed up the boulders toward Percy. Pebbles tumbled down in his wake as he fumbled and slipped.

"What's happening," Nico shouted, his heart picking up a few beats at the tension in Percy's muscles.

Their co-captain remained creepily still and silent. Then, with an abruptness that startled Nico so much he lost his footing and tumbled back to the base, Percy whirled around to face them. Eithne reached over and hauled Nico up by his elbow, awkwardly balancing the two swords in her grip as she brushed the dirt and snow off his butt.

"Can you guys hold the fort," Percy questioned, gaze locked onto Charles Beckendorf.

Beckendorf stood like a sentinel, hands in his pockets, legs wide, and muscles bulging as if he were carved from the very stone beneath their feet. Eithne couldn't help but imagine his poor mother giving birth to a baby that big.

Beckendorf snorted, his amusement not quite reaching his stern expression. "Of course."

Percy nodded and leaped off Zeus' Fist to the solid ground below. He didn't waste a second, making a clear beeline for the boundary line. The Stoll brothers erupted into cheers, Connor draping an arm over Eithne's shoulder. He squeezed her against his side with a wide, excited smile. She pushed him off, still too embarrassed by the dining room incident to look either Stoll in the eye. The two were a package deal after all, and she had no doubt Travis told his brother everything.

She moved back to Nico, gently elbowing him with the sword he passed her. He fumbled with it, dropping it to the ground with a pout. 

The forest stretched around them, but an unsettling edge clung to the peace. Eithne could feel the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. She turned, a quiet warning gnawing at her.