The Exit - Luke Castellan

Chapter 1

Luke Castellan was giving the new kid Percy Jackson the usual speech. As the consular of cabin 11 it was his job to help all the unclaimed kids settle in. Everyone had been talking about Percy Jackson, the new kid that already killed a minotaur and many people were watching them with interest.

Amara watched Percy get threatened immediatelly by the leader of Cabin 5, Clarisse. Amara had always disliked Ares' kids and their egos but she knew Luke knew how to keep them in line. Percy stared at Amara. Luke noticed the young boys distraction and smirked. 

"That's Amara, she's my girlfriend", he explained.

"She looks..", Percy drifted off. She was beautiful there was no point in denying that but she had something different about her, something dark. He long black hair reached her waist and she had a peral headpiece in it, a moon pendant hanging on her forhead. Her fingers were painted black and their orange uniform was covered in a long black cloak with flared long sleeves. Amara stared back at him her gaze intense.

"She's something isn't she?", Luke smiled proudly, "she may seem scary but she's actually one of the few people you can fully trust".

Percy nodded still stuck in some sort of trance. Finally he snapped out of it. "So why do don't they mess with you? The Ares kids I mean"

"They know better", Luke replied.

"Luke's the strongest swordsman in camp", Chris added.

"So they leave you alone becaue of glory? So if I get glory, Clarisse won't mess with me either?", Percy asked a plan forming in his head.

"Exactly", Luke confirmed.

"And people think I'm a big deal", Percy continued

"Well sorta"

"So my father will have no choice but to claim me?"

Luke hesitated "you can't force the gods to do anything. Amara for example she's Aphrodites kid but she refused to claim her because Amara's dark beauty didn't fit her image. Amara swore herself to Hecate instead who excepted her. Just because you parent is your parent doesn't mean you'll be claimed by them".

"Well it would make it harder for him to pretend I don't exist right?"

"Well maybe", Luke agreed.

"Great where do we start?", Percy asked enthusiastically.

Amara watched Luke try to teach Percy to shoot an arrow which lead to him almost shooting the kids around him. At Hephestus' cabin Percy tried fordging a sword which caused a fire. 

At lunch Percy was sat with Luke and Chris. "Is there a Greek God of disappointment? Maybe we should ask him if he's missing a kid?"

"Oiyzs...but she's a a godess and her whole thing isn't really disappointment, it's more like failure", Chris replied.

Suddenly Amara came up to them giving Luke a peck on the cheek. "Great motivation speech Chris", she told him rolling her eyes. Luke put an arm around her as she sat down next to him with her lunch. "Don't let these idiots talk you down. I'm Amara but I'm guessing Luke told you that already"

Percy nodded momentarily too stunned to speak as Amara was looking straight at him.

"We're gonna find the thing that you're good at", Luke assured him.

"Why didn't you try sword fighting first when he litrally just killed a minotaur with one?", Amara asked as if it was the most obvious thing to start with, which in all fairness it was. 

Luke stared at her opening his mouth to say something when the bell rang.

Amara laughed at Luke's annoyed face. "It's your turn"

"Turn for what?" Percy asked.

"Burnt offerings. The Gods like the smell so it gets theirattention before you say a prayer", Luke explained.

"They like the smell of burned Mac and Cheese?", Percy asked.

"Hecate prefers herbs", Amara replied.

"They like the smell of begging", Chris added.

Luke chuckled "You burn what you'll miss the most. Then they know you really mean what you're about to say and the'll listen"

"Hecate just likes the cleansing", Amara shrugged continuing to eat her carrots.

The next day Amara was walking with Luke and Percy listening to their conversation. She wasn't much of a talker herself. Amara's hand was intwined with Luke's who absentmindely was rubbing circles with his thumb.

"You're gonna love this. Camp-wide mock warfare, all glory to the victores. Annabeth's the head counselor of the Athena cabin. She's led our team to three straight wins. It's been  a long time since anyone has won a fourth", Luke explained. 

Amara smiled proudly at their little sister.

"She was there at the bathroom", Percy told them, "She said she'd beem waiting for it to happen"

"Annabeth sees the world different from everyone, always six steps ahead of everyone else. You should cut her a break", Luke defended her. Amara gave his hand a squeeze still looking at Annabeth with a proud expression.

"Whose side are you on?", Percy questioned.

"Her's", Luke replied with no hesitation and Amara added "Always"

"She's our little sister", Luke explained which caused Percy to give them a confused look. 

"Maybe I should back up", Luke sighed before starting the story, "Before the camp I was on the road me, Amara who I had been my neighbour and a forbidden kid we met along the way. Her name was Thalia". At this Amara looks down sadly. Luke notices and pulls her into his arms placing a kiss on her head.

"What do you mean forbidden?", Percy asked.

"A long time ago Zeus, Poseidon and Hades agreed their children were becoming too powerful so they made a pact not to father anymore", Amara started playing with Lukes fingers "And it held for a long time until Zeus broke that pact. Until Thalia. A forbidden kid attracts trouble. Monsters everywhere, it's just a constant battle to stay alive. One day we uh, find this little girl hiding in an alley. Annabeth. We were worried about taking her in, exposing her to all that danger. Then we saw her fight", Luke smiled but it dropped when he added, "Thalia didn't make it. But Amara, Annabeth and me we did and we've been family ever since."

Amara looks uncomfortable talking about this and starts fidgeting with her fingers. Noticing this Luke pushes his large hands in hers again so she can fidget with them instead.

"She's been watching me since I got here. Why?", Percy asked.

"Annabeth is the strongest warrior in camp. The only way left to prove herself is to go on  a quest.", Luke explained.

"What does this have to do with me?", he looked confused.

"Chiron has been promising her for years. One day a demigod would arrive who fated to go on a quest that even Chiron couldn't prevent and when that happened she could join him. Every new arrival Annabeth watches, looking for a sign they're the one. Usually she gives up after a day or two, but she's still watching you"

"Can you ask her to knock it off?", Percy asked irritated.

"Yeah, sure, but what if she's right?".

Then the horn was heard. It was time for capture the flag.