Reincarnation in the PJO verse: Volume 1

『A Real Page Turner』

Diedre took it upon himself to leave before Percy to go to Camp Half-Blood. Of course, there were tears from his side but what would he do other than laze around at his place? Growing up, he didn't attract many monsters, maybe the demigody scent being diluted with the fact that he was fully human before.

So he packed up and decided to take a ferry across to Long Island and then trek to the Camp. Maybe he would get in some walking before a monster came by. 

It wasn't too long before he arrived at the drop-off spot from where he had to trek. He rarely encountered monsters even while walking, unlike the horror tales they have within the camp.

And even though he knew what was coming, he couldn't save Beckendorf's death, which was crucial in some sense. To ignite Percy's passion, for Silena to come out and for the ship to stay put for a while.

♫♫♫

As soon as he arrived at Camp, he was put to work in the infirmary. Diedre usually wasn't tasked with infirmary duties but the last battle had left a huge gap in their healers and fighters and Diedre would happily fill the gap.

He looked around to see that most of the workers there were nymphs, trying to fix some partially healed broken bones or trying bandages. Diedre also joined in with them, offering a smile to the campers who still lay injured.

But before he moved forward from one, he felt a thump on his back as he saw Kayla grinning at him, asking how his summer was.

God, Apollo kids had a mean arm for slapping things. He wished he was more resistant to all the thumps he got on his back.

♫♫♫

Diedre jumped between duties in the infirmary, teaching archery and mediating between the Ares and the Apollo Cabin as days passed. And one bright morning, the news of Percy came.

Diedre ran to the pavilion along with Annabeth and Chiron to greet Percy, awaiting the news that would be dropped onto him. 

"What happened?" Annabeth grabbed his arm. "Is Luke—"

"The ship blew up," Percy said. "He wasn't destroyed. I don't know where—"

Silena Beauregard pushed through the crowd. Her hair wasn't combed and she wasn't even wearing makeup, which wasn't like her.

"Where's Charlie?" she demanded, looking around like he might be hiding.

Percy glanced at Chiron helplessly.

The old centaur cleared his throat. "Silena, my dear, let's talk about this at the Big House—"

"No," she muttered. "No. No."

She started to cry, and the rest of them stood around, too stunned to speak. Diedre tried to move towards Silena to try and comfort her but then remembered, it wasn't only going to be her that was hit so hard. Percy, too had faced the loss straight on.

And maybe in some deep part of himself, Diedre couldn't help but not go towards her.

Finally, Clarisse came forward. She put her arm around Silena. Clarisse was dressed in her bloodred combat armour, her brown hair tucked into a bandana. She was as big and beefy as a rugby player, with a permanent scowl on her face, but she spoke gently to Silena.

"Come on, girl," she said. "Let's get to the Big House. I'll make you some hot chocolate."

Everyone turned and wandered off in twos and threes, heading back to the cabins. Nobody was excited to see Percy now. Nobody wanted to hear about the blown-up ship.