Heavens fallen to the sea

Chapter Six: Unseen Forces

Brandon woke the next morning to the steady hum of camp activity outside the Hermes cabin. He blinked against the early sunlight filtering in through the window, still groggy from the restless night. His thoughts immediately went to the day ahead. Today would be the first day he'd face the camp knowing everyone saw him differently—knowing they saw him as the *son of Hera*.

He dressed quickly, trying to push down the nerves that swirled in his stomach like a storm. The other Hermes kids, who had been surprisingly cool about him bunking with them up until now, were all giving him curious side-glances. They didn't say anything, but the shift in the air was undeniable.

Brandon kept his head down and left the cabin, hoping to get some air before the inevitable barrage of questions.

Outside, the camp was buzzing with its usual life—campers heading to breakfast, some already heading toward their morning activities. Brandon's eyes scanned the scene, searching for a familiar face. It wasn't long before he spotted Percy walking toward him, Annabeth at his side.

"You ready for this?" Percy asked as he approached, a half-smile on his lips, but there was a note of concern behind it.

Brandon shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I don't really have a choice, do I?"

Annabeth gave him a sympathetic look. "You'll be fine. Just remember, you've got people here who've got your back."

"Yeah, that's kind of the problem," Brandon muttered. "I don't know why you're both bothering. You don't even know me."

"Doesn't matter," Percy said simply, his voice calm but firm. "I told you last night. We're in this together."

Brandon couldn't help the small flicker of warmth that rose in his chest at Percy's words, but it was quickly overshadowed by the anxiety that was growing as they headed toward the pavilion for breakfast. He could already feel the weight of everyone's eyes on him, could already hear the whispers.

He was the subject of every conversation, the focus of every glance.

As the three of them walked into the dining pavilion, Brandon's stomach dropped. The whole camp seemed to go silent the moment he entered. Dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward him, some curious, some skeptical, and a few even openly hostile. A wave of heat rushed to his face, and he kept his gaze firmly on the ground.

Percy nudged him slightly, as if sensing his panic. "Ignore them. Just grab some food and sit with us."

Brandon nodded mutely and followed Percy's lead, heading for the serving line. The tension in the air was thick, but Percy and Annabeth stayed close, guiding him through the motions of breakfast like it was just another normal day. But Brandon knew it wasn't. Nothing felt normal about this.

They took their seats at a table on the edge of the pavilion, away from most of the larger groups. A few of the younger campers from the Hermes cabin glanced at Brandon, but no one said anything. They just kept watching him, like they were waiting for him to do something.

Brandon could barely eat. His stomach was still a mess, and his mind kept racing, thinking about how he didn't belong here—how he'd never fit in now that his secret was out.

"You're overthinking it," Annabeth said, breaking the silence between them.

Brandon looked up, startled. "What?"

"You're overthinking it," she repeated, her gray eyes sharp but not unkind. "It's natural for people to be curious. You're not the only one here with complicated family baggage."

"Yeah," Percy added, taking a bite of his food. "You should've seen how people looked at me when they found out I was Poseidon's kid