history of man | pjo

Chapter Two: My Best Friends Trick Me into Agreeing to a Deal with the Devil

"The new kid seems to be fitting in," Mr D told me, placing down a few tiles.

"Annabeth thinks he's the one," I told him, placing down my own tiles, messing up some of his as we played.

"I think that we have bigger things to worry about than that prophecy at the moment," Mr D said frustrated as he picked up a tile from the bag.

"Why's he made now?" I asked, placing down the only tile I could play. Not having to look at Mr D to know what he was talking about.

"Someone stole his lightning bolt," Mr D told me, "Though no one can know that's what happened."

"He thinks it's Jackson," I filled in the gaps of what he was telling me.

"The timing of it all is a little odd," Mr D said, placing down a tile.

"Chiron was with him at the time," I said simply, trying to figure out what I could do to let the god win the game.

"You know how he is," Mr D said.

"Who convinced men that women were the emotional ones?" I asked him as I picked up a tile.

"I believe it was him," Mr D said with a small smile. "But I think the better question is why?"

"I assume so they can maintain their fragile grasp on power and can justify the exploitation that is inherent in sexism," I told him with a sly smile.

"Sounds about right," Mr D said, putting a tile around. "But Helen," Mr D said looking at me, "If you know who took it, I won't be mad if you tell me."

"I spent the winter solstice in bed crying because your son broke my heart," I told him with a blank expression. "If I found out who took it I swear I'll tell you."

"Juan is not my smartest child," Mr D told me as I picked up a tile. "And I know you are smart enough to know that I know you're trying to let me win."

"I'm not," I defend myself with a laugh.

"Helen, you could have won three moves ago. You are the only one at this camp aside from my children whose names I remember. You're also the only one that I like, if you beat me at this stupid game then you do," Mr D said with a smile.

"Fine," I said, placing down all of my tiles to prove he was right.

"Atta girl," Mr D said with a smile. "Now onto more serious matters. Your 20 and frankly I don't think you should be in the Cabin's anymore, so what's your favourite colour?"

"Dark blue," I told him. I didn't even try to figure out what the god was planning as I answered.

"Great, I'll get Chiron to pick up some paint when he drops off the next batch of strawberries to the market. You get to move to the Big House," Mr D told me.

"What do you want from me?" I asked him. "Nothing from a god comes without a price."

"Help me run this camp, please it's horrible and we need someone new to help," Mr D whined.

"No," I told him with a sharp look. "I fully intend to leave this place one day, as soon as I can figure out how and I don't want to have to come back to be a person in charge."

"Think about it, Helen. I believe you could do great things as a member of staff, and you'd get paid for being here," Mr D told me.

"What use is money when I can't leave camp or use the internet?" I asked him.

Mr D just looked at me silently as he tried to figure out an answer.

"I have to go help Luke try to figure out the new kid's weapon of choice," I told him. "If I find anything about the lightning bolt I'll tell you right away."