𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 ༄ ᴘercy ᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱᴏɴ

like a horror film

We leave before midday.

My khal stood by the door as we left, his eyes dark and unhappy as he watched me. It was clear that he didn't approve of this.

A part of me wanted to run into his arms and hug him and cry and scream and tell him I was sorry. Instead I looked away.

I wasn't a child anymore. He didn't have to waste his life looking after me. Even so, as I saw his face crumple as I turned around, something sharp lodged in my heart and stayed there.

We took the bus down to the coast in relative quiet - in all honesty, I think we were all too tired and wary to speak. We only left Camp yesterday, yet already had the near death experience checked off this quest's bucket list.

The beach is incredibly loud when we get there. Men and women decked out in bikini's and speedos stroll languidly across the beach, their chatter and laughter blending together in a cacophony of noise. Music blared from speakers so loud it was overwhelming. Little kids toddled around whilst lifeguards watch with scowls from their posts. The waves lapped gently onto the shore, a sharp contrast to the chaos of the beach.

I nudge Percy. "Feel at home yet?"

"You have no idea." He tells me, his posture relaxed as he looks out across the sandy beach. The wind is making strands of his hair fly back and forth in a way that's oddly endearing, and there's a small smile on his face that makes me want to smile too.

I stop that thought immediately. What the hell was that?

"Right," I say, clearing my throat out. "- well, channel that lovely feeling into a finding a boat. Can you sense one?"

He shoots me a look. "Can I sense a boat?"

"Can you?" I question, raising an eyebrow.

"Believe it or not, birdy, my father did not give me the ability to sense where someone parked their canoe."

"Have you tried?" I question, folding my arms and staring at him.

"Well no, but if I did have that power, I would've been aware of a tingly feeling whenever there's a boat in the vicinity." He spread his hands diplomatically. "No tingles."

"The son of Poseidon can't even sense boats? Come on, that can't be true." I protest. Surely, he must have had at least some connection with them?

"Oh - I'm sorry - I completely forgot that you'd know my abilities better than I do-"

"Guys!" Annabeth sighs. "There's a sign saying the port is in that direction." She says, pointing to my far right.

I open and close my mouth, feeling a little silly for not having noticed it sooner - some quest leader I'm making. Annabeth and Kai immediately head in that direction, whilst me and Percy take the rear.

"We could've found it quicker if you just sensed it-" I start, but he interrupts me.

"We could've found it quicker if you just sensed it -" He mocks, raising the pitch of his tone.

My jaw drops as he tries and fails to hide a grin. "I do not sound like that!"

"You do. A dying horse."

"Ass!"

"I don't know why you'd think being a dying donkey is any better." He grins, and I roll my eyes. I shove on his arm harshly, pushing him into a bush where he fumbles and falls, as I run ahead to Kai and Annabeth.

I can hear his gasp of indignation but I know that if I wait for him, he'll no doubt pull me with him.

Kai and Annabeth are conversing about what boat we should borrow when Percy catches up, out and breath and a small scowl on his face, though he's clearly trying to stop a smile. I grin at him, unable to help it.