{𝟑} 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 | 𝙻𝚞𝚔𝚎 𝙲.

11.

Ψ 𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦...𝐦𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧? Ψ

𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞. I watched everyone get into their teams for capture the flag so I decided that I would go off to the side and watch. I walked over to the seating arrangements as I looked around and moved the snow from them.

But at that moment I suddenly heard "hey!"

My head spun around as I saw Thalia looking over at me with a smirk. "You're on our team."

She began walking back immediately as I climbed down from the seats and followed her "no I'm not."

Thalia stopped walking and I almost bumped into her back as she turned around to look at me, "Percy told me about you...about Luke...a lot of kids here talk gossip even if you don't care about it." She laughed out loud.

I stared at her as she looked me up and down. "I heard Luke taught you how to sword fight. No powers, just skill." She issued and I laughed at her.

"Knowing you are on a team with Percy...yeah, not interested." I told her as I began walking back till, she spoke.

"I know about your dad...I bet you would love to know what he wrote." She brought up.

I stopped at her words; it struck me...she knew? She knew...what Poseidon said about me? My mind told me to turn around and say yes. But I hated that my body agreed with it.

Facing her once again I walked over till my body was as close as I wanted and I said "what did you say?"

She smirked and told me "You know...the letter he left Percy to make him, Annabeth, and almost all the camp see you in a different light and yet...Poseidon just ruined your life. I know the feeling."

Thalia smiled at me as I grabbed the sleeve of her stupid leather jacket as I said "I help you. You tell me."

Listening to my words and deal she simply gave me one nod as I let go of her and she told me "get ready. We have a game to win."

Watching her walk away I followed behind to grab some armor, I had seen Sebastian with Silena getting him suited up. She didn't let him out of her sight, almost like a clingy girlfriend but instead a clingy little sister.

Percy was just giving me the side eye and arguing with Thalia about how she made, and I quote.

The worst mistake ever...

Like father, like son. I was Poseidon's worst mistake and Percy's too! Beckendorf just looked at me curiously while the Stoll brothers were more lenient since we have bunked for the last 2 summers.

I wrapped up my shin and wrist guards as I looked through the swords.

I spotted one sword and smiled recognizing it. Luke, Chris, and I would train every day, both would be...up my ass about getting my blocks and getting my targets right. Pulling the sword from its place I slowly moved it around and smirked gently as I placed it into its holder on my belt.

As I walked out and stared at a tree, I pulled out the sword and began practicing a bit. I hadn't done much sword training for a while. And Luke is the best of the best, so even I may be rusty. But thankfully I learned from both Luke and Clarisse.

The words Offense and Defense are burned into my mind because of those 2.

Glory and revenge, as well. I aimed for the tree trying my best to remind myself of what to do.

"Whoa!" I heard and I almost jumped but turned around seeing that little kid from a few days ago.

He was one of the new Demi-Gods to camp as he smiled pointing at me "that was awesome! Please teach me!" He begged looking at me.

The kid was adorable, wearing an oversized helmet and gear. It was cute, kind of like a baby wearing their moms' high heels.

I smiled, bending down to his height, "tell you what...we aren't going to use real people to hurt but what if I show you a thing or two someone special once taught me? He was once the best swordsman at camp."

His eyes brightened and he smiled, and I smiled back at him "just no hurting people, okay? At least not unless it's a monster trying to kill you." I answered while adding an extra knot to his wrist guard.

"My name is Nico if you don't remember! You're so cool! I mean my sister is cooler..." He laughed out loud and I smiled at him.

"Well. You must have an amazing sister then." I replied while he nodded quickly to my response.

"Can I follow you?" He asked me and I smirked at his question.

My eyes looked up as I whispered "check this out..."

Nico nodded and looked up at me as I stared intensely at the snow, it began forming into a large chunk of ice. It froze quickly and soon enough snow puffed and snow fell around us. He smiled and looked at me as I looked at him, the kid was 10 years old and all I could think of...

Was how I wanted to be treated at 10.

"Cool!" He laughed out and I smirked standing up as I spotted Percy looking over at us.

He seemed nervous and frightened, and Nico began touching the snow, as if it were different from the snow already piled up on the ground.

"Heroes!" Chiron shouted, making us all look his way. "You know the rules! The creek is the boundary line. Blue Team–Camp Half Blood, shall take the west woods. Hunters of Artemis–red team–shall take the east woods." He announced.

"I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. No intentional maiming, please! All magical items are allowed. To your positions!" Chiron finished as I began making my way as Nico followed behind me.

Like Tyson, it was like a duckling to its mother, but he was actually the height of a duckling following its mom.

"Blue Team! Follow me!" Thalia shouted as we followed her, Nico asked me urgently "are you gonna use our magic?!" He brought up curiously.

I laughed out "magical items Nico. I don't have one but don't get discouraged. You don't always need magic in a fight." I assured him as he gave me a small nod as I pet his little head.

Not caring much for orders I ignored Thalia's, the only thing I recalled of my order was to win. So, I was going to do that just for her. Besides I already overheard Percy arguing with her enough for one day. I didn't need anything that could distract me.

It was time to win.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Nico is adorable, Hayley has only one thing to focus on.

She needs to win in order to get Thalia to unzip her mouth, and Percy is getting on my nerves.

And I'm the one writing this!