𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀, percy jackson!

𝐈𝐈. tantalus is brat

Act two : Chapter two!

༄.°

Caught up in the chaos of setting his school on fire and battling flaming bulls, Percy hadn't had a moment to really notice Adira—until now. He allowed his gaze to linger. The first thing he noticed was her hair. It was darker and longer now than he remembered, and for some reason, it seemed to suit her even more now. He was used to seeing it tied back in her signature braids, but today, her long, loose curls spilled down her back. It was as if the sunlight had woven itself into those dark strands, casting a faint shimmer that made it almost impossible to look away.

She hadn't grown much over the past few months, at least not compared to him, and he couldn't help but notice how he now stood a bit taller. One thing that captivated him all over again were her eyes. Dark, steady, with those flecks of gold that glinted in the light.

He wanted to talk to her. He wanted to ask her how she was doing, how her trips to New York had been, and whether she'd seen anything interesting while she was there. Most importantly he wanted to tell her about his dreams about Grover.

But now it was time for dinner.

⚓࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ🧭

The sun was slowly setting behind the dining pavilion as the campers came up from their cabins. Percy, Adira, Annabeth and Tyson stood in the shadow of a marble column and watched them file in.

The Athena cabin arrived next, and Annabeth, still looking pretty shaken, hesitated before joining her siblings. Adira leaned in, "We" and gestured between the two of them, "definitely need to catch up later."

Annabeth's eyes flicked toward Percy. "Yeah, I saw some... interesting things today," she said, giving him a knowing look.

"Oh, really?" Adira raised an eyebrow, curiosity lighting up her face.

Percy immediately cleared his throat, heat creeping up his neck. "Not so interesting if you ask me," he said quickly, hoping to divert the topic before Annabeth could say anything about the photo in his notebook. That was something Adira didn't need to know about.

Adira gave Percy a skeptical glance, "Well, I'm not asking you," she said, before smiling at Annabeth. "Catch you later." The blonde girl joined her siblings.

Then Clarisse came, leading the Ares cabin. One arm in a sling and a nasty-looking gash on her cheek, while Malachi who followed her seemed to have no injuries.

Percy couldn't quite put his finger on it, but every time Malachi entered the scene or opened his mouth, a familiar irritation bubbled up inside him. There was something about the guy—maybe it was the way he seemed to hover around Adira, always trying to engage her in conversation. The more Malachi chatted her up, the more Percy felt that knot of annoyance tighten in his chest, as if he had a sudden urge to throw a punch.

"Do you think we should tell her?" Adira whispered to Percy, pulling him away from his thoughts, her voice low as she gestured toward Clarisse's back. A poorly taped piece of paper fluttered there, scrawled with the words YOU MOO, GIRL! In obnoxious block letters.

Percy glanced over, then snorted. "Nah. She'd probably yell at us anyway."

After the Ares kids came the Hephaestus cabin. Six guys led by Charles Beckendorf, a boy Adira didn't really talk to, but rumor was he could make anything. Give him a chunk of metal and he could create a razor-sharp sword or a robotic warrior or a singing birdbath for your grandmother's garden.