Sunlight | Luke Castellan

XX. asterías

   "RISE AND SHINE, loser!"

I groaned as the cabin flooded with sunlight, Percy's feet thudding across the floor as he pulled back the curtains to every window. I went to bury my head under my pillow, but it was ripped from my hands. My brother shook my bunk aggressively, and I shot up groggily with closed eyes.

"Perseus Jackson, I am going to kill-" I stopped quickly when I opened my eyes to see not my brother holding my pillow hostage, but Ethan. The camper snickered at my unkempt hair and tossed the pillow across the room to Lee, the blond sharing the mischievous expression as he reclined against the wall. "This was my one morning to sleep in!"

"Well, you only turn eighteen once, Jackson," the son of Apollo hummed. He hugged the pillow against his chest. "You're lucky that Cassie and Silena convinced Clarisse to let us be the ones waking you up. The Ares kids take birthdays very seriously."

"Like your brother would even let her back into the cabin," Ethan snorted. He seemed back to his normal self, the behavior I'd witnessed a few days prior nowhere to be seen. I scanned the room for the boy, but Percy was strangely absent. "He's out with Annabeth, don't worry."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Lee questioned, and he exchanged a glance with the other camper. I could tell it had stung a little once he found out. "I didn't take you as the type not to celebrate."

"It was normally something I'd just do with my mom," I explained blearily. I pulled the bunk covers off and hopped down on the floor, attempting to comb my hair with my fingers until I could grab a brush. "When did Percy tell you all?"

"He dropped the bomb two days ago during his archery lesson with Cabin Eleven."

"Yeah, right after he almost skewered me with an arrow," Ethan added, clearly not still holding a grudge. I couldn't help but snort. "I'm being serious. Your brother is the worst archer I've ever seen."

"He's trying his best."

"What, to shoot anything but the target dummies?"

"Be nice," Lee chastised, leaving the wall to return my pillow back on the bunk. He took note of the sheathed silver weapon hanging over the side. "You're ruining celebration plans by keeping the duel on for today."

"That's why you kept asking to reschedule?" I scoffed in amusement, pausing my efforts to pull my hair into a ponytail. The blond gave a shrug of his shoulders. He'd pestered me all of yesterday to push it back, but I had refused. I'd been waiting for my turn to take him and Luke on since he'd recovered, and with Percy back, it would be my brother's first time to see me truly wielding a weapon. "I leave tomorrow afternoon, Fletcher."

My mother's letter had finally arrived. Apparently, her new interest in sculpturing had been a success, and The Poker Player had been bought by an art collector living in Soho. The money had been enough not only for a deposit for our new apartment to move in early, but also to pay for her first semester at NYU.

Don't worry about college application fees, she had written. No matter where you go, your first year can be handled. I can't wait to have you home again and hear about your time at camp. Your friends have been asking non-stop about when you'll come back.

That letter neatly rested on top of my duffle bag close to Lee's feet, though I hadn't started to pack. Every time I went to place something inside, I froze. I knew the day would come, but it felt bittersweet. This left what looked like a clothing landmine field circled around my bunk, one that would have failed cabin checks if the other counselors decided to include us in the inspections.