daughter of the mist

SOM 10: ...clarisse?

I sat there, my mouth hanging open. Why did I allow myself to think that Tantalus would actually send Percy and Annabeth on a quest? I should've known.

I wanted to tag along. I really did. But any hope that I would be allowed to go had vanished. Percy and Annabeth were only two years older than me, and they had gone on their first quest when they were only a year older than me. Plus, I was almost turning 12 anyways....

clarisse was 15. She was a lot older than me. And she would probably laugh in my face if i asked her.

Honestly, the thrill of a quest wasn't that tempting...I mean, I would tag along if I could but now, I don't really care if i missed anything...at least i would hear about it after.

The bonfire shot higher and burned about a thousand different colors, startling me and dragging myself out of my thoughts.

"CLARISSE! CLARISSE!" The Ares cabin shot up and started cheering for her as Clarisse stood, looking shocked.

She swallowed and her face shone with pride as she said, 'I accept the quest!'

Please. Like anyone would reject a quest.

"WAIT!" interrupted Percy. "Grover is my friend! The dream came to me!"

"Sit down!" yelled Sherman Yang. "You had your chance last summer!"

"Yeah he just wants to be in the spotlight again!" added another Ares kid

My brain was split into two sides. One side wanted Percy to get the quest. I mean, he does have a point, pointed out that side. Grover's his friend and the dream came to him.

Oh come on! argued he other. He went on a quest last year! After he just got to camp!

I shoved away the thoughts, frustrated. Who cares? I yelled inside my brain. He's not going to get the quest anyways.

Clarisse shot Percy an ugly glare before turning back to tantalus. "i accept the quest! i, Clarisse, daughter of Ares, will save the camp!"

see? i told myself. clarisse's going on the quest, not percy.

I was fine to sit this one out. Maybe I would get the chance to go next time.

the ares kids cheered louder. clarisse looked super proud of herself.

annabeth protested and other Athena kids followed her.

soon, the campers were yelling and arguing, taking sides. i just stood there, stunned as everyone had a s'more war.

"SILENCE YOU BRATS!!" yelled Tantalus, his sharp words slicing through the fight that was happening.

"Sit down." he ordered us.

i'm already sitting. i thought.

"And I will tell you a ghost story," he bared his disgusting teeth.

Everyone reluctantly sat back down in their seats.

i gritted my teeth as tantalus began his ghost story. "once upon a time, there was a mortal king who was beloved of the gods!"

"this king," he continued. "was even allowed to feast on Mount Olympus."

That sure sounds familiar. Anything more self-absorbed than telling a story about yourself for a ghost story?

"But when he trued to take some ambrosia and nectar back to earth to figure out the recipe—just one little doggy bag, mind you!—the gods punished him!

"They banned him from their halls forever! His own people mocked him! His children scolded him. And oh yes campers, he had horrible children." he said bitterly.

"Children. Just. Like. You!!" he snarled, pointing his finger at several campers.

I rolled my eyes.

"do you know what he did to his ungrateful children?" he asked in a whisper. "do you know how he paid back the gods for their cruel punishment?"

"he invited the Olympians to his palace...just to show that there were no hard feelings. No one noticed that his children were missing," he said evilly. "And when he served the gods dinner, my dear campers, can you guess what was in the stew?"

No one said anything. They all knew the answer. And it was sick.

"Oh, the gods punished him in the afterlife..." he croaked out. "they did indeed."

and you deserved every single bit of it.

"but he'd had his moment of satisfaction, hadn't he? His children never again spoke back to him or questioned his authority...and do you know what?"

"Rumor has it that the king's spirit now dwells at this very camp, waiting for a chance to take revenge on ungrateful rebellious children."

He let the threat hang in the air for a moment.

"and so," he spoke slowly. "are there any more complaints before we send Clarisse off on her quest?"

Silence. Not even Percy or Annabeth said a word.

Wow. My fourth day back here and it was already this bad.

tantalus nodded towards clarisse. "The Oracle, my dear. Go on."

Clarisse shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting around. "Sir—"

"Go!" snarled Tantalus.

Clarisse quickly bowed awkwardly and ran off to the Big House.

"What about you, Percy Jackson?" Tantalus turned to Percy. "No comments from our dishwasher?"

Is dishwasher seriously the only insult you can think of?

Percy stayed silent, but the angry look in his eyes said everything for him.

"Good," said Tantalus.

"And let me remind everyone—no one who leaves this camp without my permission. Anyone who tries...well if they survive the attempt, they will be expelled. Forever. But it won't come to that. The harpies will be enforcing curfew from now on, and they are always hungry."

"Good night, my dear campers." He smiled sickly at us. "Sleep well."

he waved his hand and the fire was extinguished, leaving the rest of the campers in darkness.

I looked at Tantalus one last time before following the other campers to the cabins.