Cursed

-2-

Rachel Spills the Beans


I just love being woken up at four in the morning.
​That's how my Saturday started, with a pesky sister leaning over me yelling about how I'd "slept in enough". That's also about when the whole camp woke up. I suppose yelling back didn't help matters and I probably could've avoided starting a fight that Annabeth had to break up, but still...
​"Really, Percy?" Annabeth and I were sitting on the dock. I'm pretty sure the entire camp is determined to keep me away from Maggie, but Annabeth had made it her mission.
​"Yeah, yeah. I know." I couldn't seem to look at her, my head in my hands. "I really didn't mean to, it's just-"I sighed at myself.
​"I know, Seaweed Brain." She leaned down and kissed my cheek. "It isn't that big of a deal, though."
​"Yeah?" I sat up; it seemed like a big enough deal to me. "Isn't Chiron ordering a restraining order on us?"
​"Quite possibly, but you'll be fine. You've got me, remember?"
​"I guess so..." I leaned in to kiss her, but she shoved me off the deck instead. "What happened to that part about you being there for me?"
​She was too busy laughing to answer, so I pulled her in then she started splashing me.
​"For being a daughter of Athena that was pretty dumb." I caused a tidal wave to come crashing down on her head. We she came up, she almost drowned because she was laughing so hard. We kept splashing each other until a voice interrupted us. It was Jake Mason.
​"Uh, Annabeth, we need your help." He kept nervously looking back and forth from me to Annabeth.
​"Is it-"she sounded just as nervous and started glancing at me too.
​"Yeah, you should hurry."
​ I watched in fascination as this continued on, then I realized that there was something going on.
​"Hold up! What's going on and why do you keep looking at me like I'm not supposed to know what's going on?"
​"Because you can't come! You have to stay here!" Annabeth shouted, looking somewhat sympathetic and hoping that I would actually listen as she pulled herself off the deck and, still dripping wet followed Jake up the hill.
​Naturally, I followed them.
​I crept along behind them for a while and tried to hear them over the roar of camp. I only caught bits and pieces of their conversation;
​"- attacked her-"
​"-Chiron?"
​"-can't let Percy know-"
​I may not be the smartest demigod at camp but I knew something was up... and I wasn't supposed to know about it. Which looking back on it was pretty obvious from the very start. But hey, don't judge.
​I followed them all the way to the infirmary and I was still just as in the dark as I was earlier.
​Why were they at the infirmary and why wasn't I supposed to know about it? I suddenly wished I had Annabeth's cap of invisibility but I knew that wasn't an option now- the infirmary was pretty big and I didn't know my way around half of it despite the number of trips I've taken here. Besides, most of those don't even count because I was knocked out.
​Anyway, finally they stopped and crowded around a gurney. I almost didn't want to see who it was, but I did catch a glimpse of a bloody leg.
​"Oh my gods!" Annabeth almost screamed covering her mouth. "What did that?"
​I forgot to be quiet and blurted, "Did what?"
​Annabeth whipped around to see me standing there.
​"Percy?! I told you to stay!" Annabeth was too worried about the person to be too shocked.
​Jake looked at her, "Well he's here now... I think he deserves to know..."
​Annabeth just nodded and stepped aside.
​I'm not going to lie... I had to make a conscience effort to not throw up. Lying in front of me was my sister... but not. Her face was a little cut up and bloody but her arm had a huge gash in it and her midriff had what looked like giant claw marks and her leg... it was the worst. It looked like it had been used as a chew toy for some giant dog-
​"Mrs. O'Leary." I whispered.
​"I found her in the arena... fighting Mrs. O'Leary." Jake told me.
​"Where is she?" I asked. I know I should've been more worried about Magdalyn but Mrs. O'Leary was something that might not heal or come back if she'd been beaten.
​"She's fine. I managed to get the other campers that were there to put her back in her pen while I grabbed Magdalyn."
​"Why am I not supposed to know, again?"
To be honest I didn't understand the whole restraint thing but it wasn't working too well either way, so...why bother?
​Jake didn't seem to know either.
​"Um... reasons?" he decided.
​"Well, Percy." Annabeth cut in. "I'm going to go talk to Chiron, so this time- stay. Here."
​I nodded. I needed answers and as smart as Annabeth was, she didn't have those answers.
​I waited until she left then turned to Jake.
​"So were you there when she-" I looked at Maggie.
​"Yeah... she held up pretty well at first."
​"Wait- start at the very beginning."
​"Do you really see this as a story?" His face was priceless.
​"No. I just want the details." I retorted, feeling slightly guilty inside.
​"Okay... so when I went into the arena around nine I think it was? Well, she was in there drenched in sweat surrounded by straw dummies that looked worse than I'd ever seen them. I stopped by and asked how long she'd been there and if I could join her."
​I eyed him... "Continue."
​"Well then she stopped and told me she'd been there since five and that sure I could train with her if I thought I was better than the dummies. So after about thirty minutes, Mrs. O'Leary started getting annoyed that she couldn't play too and she started howling."
​I grimaced. How had I missed that much noise?
​Seeing my face, Jake nodded. "Yeah. I guess Maggie didn't realize what it was and she went full warrior. I told her to calm down and that it was just your dog. She looked skeptical but calmed down a little. Then I went to let Mrs. O'Leary out and that's when all Hades broke loose."
​The door opened and some satyrs came in carrying another camper, probably a newbie, with minor burns and scrapes. Apollo kids and the satyrs bustled around- I wasn't too worried about the guy, he'd be fine with the magic those goats could work.
​"What happened then?" it was getting good, not that my sister being mauled by my dog is a good story it's just-
​"You're too excited."
​"Probably... but?"
​"Fine. Well, Maggie didn't like the look of that dog and Mrs. O'Leary didn't like the look of her either. So Mrs. O'Leary swiped at Maggie and Maggie took a stab- and missed!" he added, seeing my face. I tried to calm down a little more.
​"Then I tried to pull Maggie back, but she slashed my leg an-"
​ "Wait, what now?"
​"I'm fine now, it wasn't that deep."
​"Um... okay..."
​"Anyway, she kept attacking Mrs. O'Leary until Mrs. O'Leary grabbed her leg and slung her around. I butted her in the snout so she'd let go then grabbed Maggie and carried her here. By that point other campers were there and ready to help with a quite angry Mrs. O'Leary. Then I went to go get Chiron and Annabeth." He finished.
​"You butted my dog in the nose."
​"Oh my-"
​"Percy!"
​I turned to see a white stallion with a human torso on top- Chiron... "Hey?"
​"I see you've found out." his old eyes looked a little dull as if he was so done with my disobedience he couldn't even.
​"Uh... yeah." I felt kinda bad about the whole thing now.
​"May I have a word?" he asked gesturing to the door.
​I glanced back at Jake and Maggie.
​"Yeah, sure."
​Once we got outside, Chiron looked even worse.
​"Percy, I had a dream."
​"About what sir?"
​"Hades and Poseidon were hiding something from the other gods, you and your mother."
​"Oh... but did it show what they were hiding?"
​"No, but they were hiding two different things."
​"I don't mean to be rude but, why are you telling me this?"
​"Because if Zeus and the other gods don't find out what they're hiding then there will be another chance at war."
​"That... wouldn't be good, huh?"
​"No. It would not."
​I sighed. No chance of peace, ever.
​"What should we do, sir?"
​"I'm not sure, and I don't think this can be resolved between the two of us."
​"Fair point... so a camp leader meeting?"
​"Yes..." Chiron looked deep in thought. If Annabeth were here we would know exactly what his old eyes were hinting. Unfortunately, I wasn't Annabeth and she wasn't here. But I still had to know...
​"What are you, er, thinking?" Gods I'm so stupid.
​"Huh? Oh, right... it's just Dionysus. He could be valuable and maybe even have information about what they're hiding."
​"Oh, right...If he'll cooperate." I muttered under my breath.
​"Go find Annabeth and inform the camp leaders- I think she went... never mind. She's running around here somewhere."
​I nodded and raced off. I easily spotted Annabeth's blond curls climbing quickly up the rock wall. I cheered her on as she beat her personal record and scampered back down.
​She jogged over to where I was waving her over.
​"Hey, what's up?" she asked wiping her brow.
​"Well, Chiron talked to me and..." I paused not sure where to start. "Anyway, there's a camp meeting tonight after dinner and we need to tell cabin leaders."
​"Okay! Let's go!" she intertwined her fingers with mine as we walked around informing leaders.
​After informing everyone, we walked around camp aimlessly, just taking in its natural beauty. We soon found ourselves on the north shore. We turned spotting the breathtaking sunset over our camp.
​She smiled at me and I smiled back, for a second there was peace and I almost didn't want to think about it before I jinxed us. And by jinxing I mean giving the fates any ideas to ruin my life anymore.
​"Percy?" Annabeth looked troubled over at me. "Are you okay?"
​I realized I'd been scowling.
​"Yeah, it's- I just want to enjoy the peace." I lied; she didn't deserve my complaining about my practically perfect life, compared to hers anyway.
​She didn't seem to buy my lie, I hadn't expected her to, but she let the subject drop.
​"Me too." She leaned in for a kiss. I pulled away after a second; smiling at how gorgeous she looked in the diming light. The dinner bell rang and we made our way slowly to the pavilion.

- - - - -

​ "Is that everyone?" Chiron sat in his wheelchair at the 'head' of the ping pong table. I nodded as Jake Mason sat down last. I made eye contact.
​"Is she okay?" I mouthed, wondering about Maggie. He had offered to stay with her for me, since he knew I was busy. All the time.
​He nodded, returning his focus to Chiron.
​"Welcome to this meeting. I have news, whether good or bad... I don't know yet. I'll let you decide, I suppose." Chiron began.
​He proceeded to tell about the dream he'd had as I zoned out. Annabeth prodded me in the ribs after she caught me not really paying attention.
​"Well, what should we do?" I asked after Chiron finished his story. I was tired and just wanted to go to sleep and have some peace and quiet. I'd almost forgotten what those words meant.
​"That's up to you." He gestured to the group.
​"First off," Annabeth spoke up. "We can't let the gods know if they already don't."
​"We don't." Dionysus muttered lazily, he was reading a magazine and I was surprised to hear that he was paying attention. "But yes, Annie- whatever, it would be bad if anyone else knew."
​"Shouldn't we at least talk to Poseidon and Hades?" Katie Gardner asked, while aimlessly growing flowers on the table. "That couldn't hurt anything, right?"
​"No, I suppose not..." Chiron mused.
​"So, a quest?" the Stolls asked the same time?
​"Hmm... Yes, but whom should we send and to where?" Chiron exhaled. "I wish I had answers."
​Annabeth vigorously nodded in agreement, making me laugh to myself.
​She turned to Dionysus, who had moved onto another magazine.
​"Any ideas?" she asked the god.
​He looked up her, a strange fire in his eyes.
​"Sir?" she added quietly. It took a lot to scare or even shake Annabeth but the look the wine god was giving her had made the room go silent; we were all scared.
​Suddenly he shrugged and went back to his reading, making Annabeth groan and put her head in her hands in surrender.
​"So, no?" she muttered.
​"I don't have any ideas, no, but the redhead might." He answered pointing at Rachel Elizabeth Dare.
​Annabeth's head shot up as we all looked over at Rachel. Rachel herself looked more than uncomfortable as she paused from trying to reach the bowl of jelly beans from across the table. She nervously looked around at our anxious faces, waiting for her to say something. I swear we sat there for ten minutes before Chiron exhaled, making us all jump slightly.
​"Guess you were mistaken my old friend." He told the god, who just grunted in response.
​"Well, if none of you have any other..." he sighed, obviously looking for the right word. "Ideas?" he decided finally. "Then we'll send you off."
​Annabeth sighed in agreement while the rest of us mumbling something or another. I was just exhausted and realized that we'd been there for hours, the sky black through the window.
​The table lurched forward abruptly, as Rachel shot out of her seat, spilling the handful of jelly beans she was about to pop in her mouth. Green smoke billowed all around the redhead as she opened her mouth and the voice of the spirit of Delphi spoke in the silent room.
​
​The son and daughter of the sea
​will determine the hero to be.
​To barter with the man of death
​ensures you're taking your last breath.
​She must be freely given; as a gift
​to end the curse and heal the rift.

​Rachel, herself now, gasped and fell back into her chair, half landing in her chair and half falling onto Travis who was seated next to her.
​"I'm never mistaken." Dionysus spoke finally getting up and leaving the room.
​"Well, if I'm not wrong, I think we have our answers." Chiron looked over at me. The son and daughter of the sea. Yeah, that was Maggie and I. It's always me, isn't it?
​"Annabeth can come too." I spoke out loud. "A quest is meant for three."
​Annabeth looked over at me appreciatively, grabbing my hand.
​Chiron looked worried. "Ah, about that..."
​"What?" Annabeth looked curiously at him
​"Normally, yes Percy, the quest would involve three campers but with such precise direction from the prophecy, I'm afraid miss chase will be staying here."
​"We're dead." I muttered. Annabeth had saved my life multiple times on quests and was now my other half. You don't just go breaking things in half. It's not cool. But of course I didn't say any of this and bitterly nodded. I turned to leave and Annabeth trailed after me.
​"I'm sorry, Percy." She grasped my hand tightly as I walked her to her cabin.
​"Yeah, well we tried. I just really don't want to leave you again." During the battle, I hadn't really gotten to visit with her other than discuss strategies and war stuff. Then afterward we officially became a couple but have still been really busy around camp.
​"Maybe I can finish the design on the Hecate cabin?" she thought. "I'm thinking of..." I tried to listen as she rambled on about her plans, I really did, it's just... that stuff puts me to sleep.
​We took a small detour so Annabeth could finish talking and I wouldn't fall asleep while she talked but we finally arrived at the Athena cabin.
​"Sounds like you'll be busy at least." She nodded, deep in architecture thoughts.
​"Goodnight." I gave her a quick kiss then left to go to my own cabin.
​"Night." She smiled making my heart leap; she was so beautiful. I was lucky to have her I thought to myself as I entered my cabin and headed straight to bed.

- - - - -

​My morning didn't start like it had yesterday, for which I was thankful, but it still didn't start great. A loud banging woke me up and realized someone wanted in. a loud someone. I didn't feel like dealing with whoever it was and simply rolled over to ignore the noise.
​"Oh for goodness' sake!" I heard a familiar voice shout as Annabeth barged into my room with Jake at her heels. It was still dark out and I was beyond awake now that my heart had jumped out of my chest and was flopping on the floor.
​I calmed my nerves down and wondered what could be going on for Annabeth to break down my door. The possibilities were endless.
​"Percy, it's Maggie; she's not breathing."
​I leapt out of bed still fully dressed from the night before and followed them to the infirmary.
​"What happened?" I asked Jake, who I was sure had been there with her all night. He was obviously really into Maggie, even though he wouldn't admit it.
​"Well, she was sleeping on a high dose of ambrosia when suddenly she jumped awake grabbing my arm and looking me dead in the eye, and saying 'he's coming; prepare' then collapsing again, but not breathing." He panted as we ran into the infirmary to my sister.
​I thought about the message my sister had breathed last, realizing it was similar to Athena's. Annabeth looked at me, noticing it too.
​Will solace was already working his magic on her when we got there. We stood back, not wanting to get in his way as he checked over her wounds, shaking his head and muttering to himself. Finally he turned around and shook his head again.
​"What is it, is she okay?" The three of us launched into a series of questions.
​"Guys! She's stable now and she's breathing fine, still under the ambrosia from earlier. I don't know what caused her outburst because the thing is... there isn't anything wrong with her."