νεκρός || Annabeth Chase x Fem!OC

Vol. 5-4: haaaavvee you heard the news that you're deeaaaaddd

PIPER

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It didn't take me long to realize Tempest and Annabeth's hearts weren't really in the tour.

Annabeth talked about all this amazing stuff the camp offered- magic archery, pegasus riding, the lava wall, fighting monsters- but she showed no excitement, as if her mind were elsewhere. She pointed out the open-air dining pavilion that overlooked Long Island Sound. (Yes, Long Island, New York; we'd traveled that far on the chariot.) Annabeth explained how Camp Half-Blood was mostly a summer camp, but some kids stayed here year-round, and they'd added so many campers it was always crowded now, even in winter.

Tempest tried to downplay the awesomeness of the whole place, though. It felt like she was trying to ward me off. She told me about Drew, that evil bitch back at the lake, and how I can always clobber her as long as no one is looking (Annabeth didn't like that). She told me that the naiads like to drown the campers they don't like (Annabeth mentioned that Tempest is always feeding the naiads candy). Tempest also told me that sometimes, kids are mutilated during games and events (Annabeth tried to redirect that one, but she didn't succeed).

Besides, it was also obvious there were... issues. I didn't have any problem with Annabeth and Tempest being together. My problem stemmed from that stormy look in Annabeth's eyes and Tempest trying to beg me for help with her gaze. Horrifyingly, it was the same look Mingus used to give me when Leo walked in the room. It was scary to know the two of them might start fighting at any minute. I didn't want to be around for that.

I wondered who ran the camp, and how they'd known me and my friends belonged here. I wondered if I'd have to stay full-time, or if I'd be any good at the activities. Could you flunk out of monster fighting? A million questions bubbled in my head, but given Annabeth and Tempest's mood, I decided to keep quiet.

As we climbed a hill at the edge of camp, I turned and got an amazing view of the valley- a big stretch of woods to the northwest, a beautiful beach, the creek, the canoe lake, lush green fields, and the whole layout of the cabins- a bizarre assortment of buildings arranged like a Greek omega, Ω, with a loop of cabins around a central green, and two wings sticking out the bottom on either side. I counted twenty cabins in all. One glowed golden, another silver. One had grass on the roof. Another was bright red with barbed wire trenches (I figured that's where Tempest went). One cabin was black with fiery green torches out front.

All of it seemed like a different world from the snowy hills and fields outside.

"The valley is protected from mortal eyes," Annabeth said. "As you can see, the weather is controlled, too. Each cabin represents a Greek god- a place for that god's children to live."

She looked at me like she was trying to judge how I was handling the news.

"You're saying Mom was a goddess.

Annabeth nodded. "You're taking this awfully calmly."

I couldn't tell her why. I couldn't admit that this just confirmed some weird feelings I'd had for years, arguments I'd had with my father about why there were no photos of Mom in the house, and why Dad would never tell me exactly how or why my mom had left us. But mostly, the dream had warned me this was coming. Soon they will find you, demigod, that voice had rumbled. When they do, follow our directions. Cooperate, and your father might live.