A web of fates | Percy Jackson and the Olympians

VIII| the city takes a long nap

"Theo!" Annabeth exclaimed, rushing into Cabin Twelve, waving her phone around in the air (don't tell Chiron!)

Theo was sat next to Ellis, trying to pry the alcohol bottle of the boys hand.

"Annabeth?" He blinked, staring at her sister wondering what she had just found out.

Ellis rolled his eyes, keeping a firm grip on the bottle that Theo was desperately trying to pull from him.

"What is it?" Theo asked, watching as Annabeth came over to the two of them, waving the phone.

"I got a message from Percy. We need to head into the city, right now." The girl rushed out, looking over at Ellis.

He was still drinking away his issues, more specifically the grief of losing his brother.

"We'll be there in two seconds." Theo promised which was good enough for Annabeth as she closed the cabin door. The son of Athena turned back to Ellis. "Come on man. The drinking's got to stop."

Ellis grimaced, his expression falling slightly. He gave a defeated sigh, setting the bottle down on the floor.

"I know," the boy mumbled, "it's just... it's not easy, you know. Losing Castor... It's not easy.

He ran a hand over his face, not looking at Theo.

"I know," Theo said softly.

He understood slightly how Ellis was feeling. The son of Athena had lost Beckendorf a mere few days ago. That hit him hard.

He had worked closely with Beckendorf for years at Camp and had viewed him as a brother as well as a mentor.

"Come on, we can win this war. That's what Castor would want you to do. We're doing this for him and Beckendorf and everyone else."

Ellis sighed. "Yeah, you're right," he admitted grudgingly.

He pushed himself up onto his feet, his whole body screaming for him to crash back into the bunk and start drinking again.

But he wouldn't. He pushed the thoughts away and stood up fully, running a hand through his messy hair.

Theo smiled, it was progress at least. "Let's go."

Nearly forty campers had begun piling themselves into the Delphi Strawberry vans.

"Clarisse still refusing to join with the rest of your cabin?" Asked Theo, walking towards Oliver - who looked ready to go into war.

Oliver gave a nod, a grimace on his face.

"Yep, she's still refusing to join us," he confirmed, "She's a stubborn ass, honestly. All of this over a chariot."

Theo frowned, he had hoped that Clarisse would've gotten over herself by now but clearly she hadn't.

"Let's hope Percy has some good news," he muttered, getting into one of the vans followed closely by Oliver.

Theo sat next to Annabeth, who was hastily messaging and trying to call Percy on her phone. Valentina sat opposite with Silena, the Aphrodite girl as quiet as she had ever been before.

Oliver sat down beside the two of them, folding his arms. Ellis slumped on the seat beside him, still looking a bit miserable. He was quiet, not wanting to talk.

For the most part the journey was quiet, and they were driving closer into the city. When they reached the midtown tunnel, Annabeth got a call which she quickly answered with a relieved look on her face.

"Percy, where have you been? Your message said almost nothing! We've been worried sick!"

Theo gestured for her to put the phone on speaker, which she quickly did. Everybody in their van sat up a bit straighter, waiting to hear Percy's voice.