Daughter Of Light- Book 1: PJO

Chapter 17: A Council of War

I had trouble sleeping after that. I tossed and turned.

"Hey Nora?"

"I'm sorry Will if I'm keeping you awake." I whispered.

"I can't either. Can...can I umm..." He finally sounded like the 13 year old boy he was.

"Nora can I come snuggle?" He whispered so quietly. He rushed on, like he needed to explain everything. "Like in a brother way? Cuz...like that would be weird. Especially if we're siblings and-"

"Will!" I hissed. "Shut up and get your ray of sunshine butt over here."

"Oh ya...okay." he got up, his blanket wrapped around himself and shuffled over. He awkwardly lay down beside me. I rolled my eyes and pulled him closer.

"Dude. Your like 13. It's okay to hug your sister."

"Your not weirded out by this?"

"A sister comforting her brother? No. It's not romantic- that would be weird. I'd probably call you a brother right after Percy. Then Lee. "

"Very true." He whispered. "Also...Nora?..." He trailed off.

"I know, Will. I ain't your...type."

"Really?"

"Ya. I can...I dunno, feel it? I'm sorry if I forced anything you weren't ready for."

"Only cabin 7 knows."

"Not my secret to tell." I whispered, giving him a tight hug, even though he was absolutely tallee then me.

"Sleep. Apollo's stupid guitar solo is gonna wake us up soon." I whispered into his curly blond hair. "Well talk about nightmares tomorrow."

"Deal." He yawned.

🔆

I was still feeling shaky the next morning when Chiron called a war council. I had asked Percy about dreams. And he said dreams were normal for demigods. I groaned. We met in the sword arena, which I thought was pretty strange- considering I was told war councils usually happened in the Big House around a ping pong table.

Trying to discuss the fate of the camp while Mrs. O'Leary chewed on a life-size squeaky pink rubber yak. I could hear the rest of the camp going about their day.

Chiron and Quintus stood at the front by the weapon racks. Clarisse and Annabeth sat next to each other and led the briefing. Tyson and Grover sat as far away from each other as possible. Also present around the table: Juniper the tree nymph, Silena Beauregard, Travis and Connor Stoll, Beckendorf, Lee Fletcher, Raph and Will and of course myself. Even Argus, our hundred-eyed security chief- That's how I knew it was serious. Argus hardly ever shows up, apparently, unless something really major is going on. The whole time Annabeth spoke, he kept his hundred blue eyes trained on her so hard his whole body turned bloodshot.

For the first few minutes I just sat and stared. It was the weirdest thing I had ever seen. I even saw an eyeball on his tongue. I shuddered and ripped my eyes away, that creeped me out- how would he kiss someone? He'd see the inside of their mouth. I shook my head and had to find something else to look at and keep my mind focused. I pulled the marker out. My hands became fidgety. I was starting to feel anxious when a hand slid into my lap.

My ADHD brain started doodling on the hand immidiatly. I could feel my muscles relax. And then I saw the titanium ring and I froze. My stomach exploded with butterflies. That was Raph's ring. Raph had his hand on my knee and I had started doodled all over the back of his hand. I froze not knowing what to do. I glanced up at him. His dark eyes were already looking. The corner of his mouth twitched, the closest thing I had seen to a smile, that was a smirk. He inclined his head so slightly I almost missed it. He turned his eyes back to Annabeth who was talking.