You're Not Getting Away From Me

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: The Threat

Annabeth's POV

A group of counselors, praetors, a queen, and a lieutenant sat around the ping pong table in the Big House. I was beside Percy, still holding his hand. Everyone was silent. The tension in all of the leaders was unbearable. Breathing felt like the room was full of smoke. I gave Percy's hand a squeeze. He did the same back. Together.

Just when the quiet became too loud to handle, Thalia spoke. "Where is Chiron?"

"Here I am, dear. Be patient." Chiron came in, his tail swishing nervously. Is it possible his hair grayed more since the camp fire?

Everyone, unable to take the strain of silence any longer, started speaking at once.

"What's going on?"

"Are we in danger?"

"Who's responsible?"

"I'll kill them for ruining the summer."

"Am I going to have time to finish my s'more later?"

"Enough." Chiron spoke softly but his tone made everyone hush instantly. "I... I do know what's going on, or at least I have an idea." We all leaned forward slightly. Chiron sighed. "I believe this is the doing of Atlas."

Percy was the first to speak through the shock. "Okay, I'll bite. Isn't Atlas still trapped under the sky in California?"

"Correct. But he grows stronger and angrier every day. Somehow, over the course of about eight years, he has been able to send out messages or... forms of himself to others who want revenge on Camp Halfblood. Or at least certain demigods." At the last part Chiron looked over at Percy and I. Again, he gave Percy an upset glance. I ignored it for now.

"Forms of himself?" I thought out loud. I remembered what my cousin, Magnus, had told me about how the god Loki had visited him when he died or almost died. In reality, Loki had been chained to a rock with poison dripping into his face, but he had physically talked to Magnus, wearing a Red Sox jersey and eating Pop-tarts.

"How do you even know this Chiron?" Reyna asked.

"Dreams. Sources. And... nevermind."

"Chiron...?" I started. Nobody else might dare to question the centaur, but I knew him better than anyone else in the room. He just shot me a look that clearly said: later.

"I don't think there will be anymore attacks tonight, but starting tomorrow night, I want watchmen patrolling the borders. We will talk more tomorrow, but for now, everyone to bed."

The campers exchanged skeptical glances. A Titan wanted revenge on camp, our borders were useless, and he wanted us to go have a good night's sleep? Talk to you later? Really? But everyone obeyed. Just as Percy and I began to stand up, Chiron put his hands on our shoulders. He waited until everyone else had left to start talking.

"This particularly involves you two."

"What else is new?" Percy responded bitterly.

"But what does this all mean?" I asked.

"Letting you two go to New Rome together was a mistake on my part. It was too close to him. I knew that some sort of stirring was happening, but I allowed you to go west anyway. All it did was rouse him more."

I looked over at Percy. He just shrugged.

"Wait, so-" Chiron cut me off before I could ask more.

"All you need to know tonight is that you two need to watch out and be careful. I will explain more tomorrow."

Percy opened his mouth to say more, but I elbowed him. No need to push Chiron farther. We told Chiron goodnight and walked out the door together. We made it about halfway to the cabins before Percy stopped.

"Perce? What's wrong?"

"I love you." He pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head. I hugged back harder.

"I love you, too." We stayed that way for a long time, not wanting to let go.

"Will you stay in my cabin tonight?" Percy asked, obviously embarrassed.

"Well... technically, it's against the rules, but I doubt anyone will even notice or care tonight. So of course."

We walked to Cabin Three, hand in hand. For the first time all summer, I got to fall asleep with my boyfriend's comforting aura surrounding me, keeping me safe all night.