Sunburn- phoebus apollo

--viii. clarisse blows up everything

"YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE," Clarisse said.

They'd just finished a ship tour they didn't want, through dark rooms overcrowded with dead sailors. They'd seen the coal bunker, the boilers and engine, which huffed and groaned like it would explode any minute. They'd seen the pilothouse and the powder magazine and gunnery deck (Clarisse's favorite, no surprise there) with two Dahlgren smoothbore cannons on the port and starboard sides and a Brooke nine-inch rifled gun fore and aft--all specially refitted to fire celestial bronze cannon balls.

Everywhere they went, dead Confederate sailors stared at them, their ghostly bearded faces shimmering over their skulls. They approved of Annabeth because she told them she was from Virginia. They were interested in Rhea and Percy too, because their last name was Jackson--like the Southern general--but then Percy ruined it by telling them that they were from New York. They all hissed and muttered curses about Yankees. Rhea turned and hit the back of Percy's head for being stupid.

Tyson was terrified of them. Rhea felt bad and decided to comfort him by holding his hand, as she was the big sister in the situation. Which was weird, considering how tall Tyson was.

Finally, they were escorted to dinner. The CSS Birmingham captain's quarters were about the size of a walk-in closet, but still much bigger than any other room on board. The table was set with white linen and China. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, and Dr. Peppers were served by skeletal crewmen. Rhea's stomach growled at the sight of all the food and dug in immediately. 

"Tantalus expelled you for eternity," Clarisse told them smugly. "Mr. D said if any of you show your face at camp again, he'll turn you into squirrels and run you over with his SUV."

"Did they give you this ship?" Percy asked.

"Course not. My father did."

"Ares?"

Clarisse sneered. "You think your daddy is the only one with sea power? The spirits on the losing side of every war owe a tribute to Ares. That's their curse for being defeated. I prayed to my father for a naval transport and here it is. These guys will do anything I tell them. Won't you, Captain?"

The captain stood behind her looking stiff and angry. His glowing green eyes fixed on Percy with a hungry stare. "If it means an end to this infernal war, ma'am, peace at last, we'll do anything. Destroy anyone."

Clarisse smiled. "Destroy anyone. I like that."

Tyson gulped.

"Clarisse," Annabeth said, "Luke might be after the Fleece, too. We saw him. he's got the coordinates and he's heading south. He has a cruise ship full of monsters--"

"Good! I'll blow him out of the water."

"You don't understand," Annabeth said. "We have to combine forces. Let us help you--"

"No!" Clarisse pounded the table. "This is my quest, Wise Girl! Finally I get to be the hero, and you three will not steal my chance."

"Where are your cabin mates?" Percy asked. "You were allowed to take three friends with you, weren't you?"

"They didn't... I let them stay behind. To protect the camp."

"You mean even the people in your own cabin wouldn't help you?"

"Shut up, Prissy! I don't need them! Or you!"

"Clarisse," Percy said, "Tantalus is using you. He doesn't care about the camp. He'd love to see it destroyed. He's setting you up to fail. Right, sis?"

Rhea blinked, halfway through her bite of a cheeseburger. She nodded her head.

"No! I don't care what the Oracle--" Clarisse stopped herself.