cacoethes |PERCY JACKSON| [book 2]

XXX

THEY ARRIVED IN LONG ISLAND  just after Clarisse, thanks to the centaurs' travel powers. Percy rode on Chiron's back, while Selena sat with Annabeth. Selena didn't know what to say to Percy just yet. 

When they got to camp, the centaurs were anxious to meet Dionysus. They'd heard he threw some really wild parties, but they were disappointed. The wine God was in no mood to celebrate as the whole camp gathered at the top of Half-Blood Hill.

The camp had been through a hard two weeks. The arts and crafts cabin had burned to the ground from an attack by a Draco Aionius (which as near as Percy could figure was Latin for "really-big-lizard-with-breath-that-blows-stuff-up"). The Big House's rooms were overflowing with wounded. The kids in the Apollo cabin, who were the best healers, had been working overtime performing first aid.

Everybody looked weary and battered as they crowded around Thalia's tree.

The moment Clarisse draped the Golden Fleece over the lowest bough, the moonlight seemed to brighten, turning from gray to liquid silver. A cool breeze rustled in the branches and rippled through the grass, all the way into the valley. Everything came into sharper focus—the glow of the fireflies down in the woods, the smell of the strawberry fields, the sound of the waves on the beach.

Gradually, the needles on the pine tree started turning from brown to green.

Everybody cheered. It was happening slowly, but there could be no doubt—the Fleece's magic was seeping into the tree, filling it with new power and expelling the poison.

Selena let out a small laugh before hugging Annabeth tightly. Thalia's tree was going to be okay.

Chiron ordered a twenty-four/seven guard duty on the hilltop, at least until he could find an appropriate monster to protect the Fleece. He said he'd place an ad in Olympus Weekly right away.

In the meantime, Clarisse was carried on her cabin mates' shoulders down to the amphitheater, where she was honored with a laurel wreath and a lot of celebrating around the campfire.

Nobody gave the trio a second look. It was as if they'd never left. In a way, Selena guessed that was the best thank-you anyone could give them because if they admitted they'd snuck out of camp to do the quest, the others would have to expel them. Then Selena wouldn't have anywhere to go.

The next morning, after the party ponies headed back to Florida, Chiron made a surprise announcement: the chariot races would go ahead as scheduled. They'd all figured they were history now that Tantalus was gone, but completing them did feel like the right thing to do, especially now that Chiron was back and the camp was safe.

Two days later, the race began. And in the end, Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson won. Selena was happy for them, but that also meant she was on guard duty that night.

After dinner, Selena put on her armor and kept her dagger at her side. Around her neck was a whistle to signal the other campers and Chiron if anything were to attack. She sat in a tree next to Thalia's tree, keeping out of sight but close enough to attack anything that got close.

It was around midnight when it happened. The base of the tree began to glow blue. Selena hopped down from her tree and stood by the Fleece, "What the-?"

A figure formed at the base and Selena's eyes widened as she recognized the girl. "Oh, my Gods." The girl had short black hair and freckles across her nose. She was built like a long-distance runner, lithe and strong, and she wore clothes that were somewhere between punk and Goth—a black T-shirt, black tattered jeans, and a leather jacket with buttons from a bunch of bands I'd never heard of. Selena raised the whistle to her lips and blew before kneeling next to the dark-haired girl.

Campers ran up to the tree and circled around them, but far away enough to make it seem like they were wary, "Where's Lee? We need nectar and ambrosia." Selena looked up at the campers who just stood there, frozen and scared, "Well? Hurry!" She yelled at them and two left to go get what she needed,

"You're going to be okay." Selena whispered to the girl, stroking her hair, "Everything is going to be okay now."

Chiron, Annabeth, and Percy approached, "It healed the tree," Chiron said, his voice ragged. "And poison was not the only thing it purged."

Annabeth kneeled beside Selena, "Is... that's... it's her."

Selena looked up at Chiron, tears in her eyes, "It... she ... just suddenly there ..."

Percy stared down at her in confusion. He leaped off Chiron's back and ran toward the unconscious girl. "Percy, wait!" Chiron called out.

He knelt beside Selena. 

"It's true," Grover said, panting from his run up the hill. "I can't believe ..."

Nobody else came close to the girl. They were scared. Percy put his hand on her forehead, "She needs nectar and ambrosia," he said.

"Lee's coming," Selena told him before someone approached her from behind and handed her a bottle full of nectar. She gave them a thankful nod and poured some of the nectar down the girl's throat. 

Percy took her by the shoulders and lifted her into sitting position, resting her head on his shoulder as Selena kept feeding her nectar.

"Come on!" Percy yelled to the others. "What's wrong with you people? Let's get her to the Big House."

No one moved, not even Chiron. They were all too stunned. Then the girl took a shaky breath. She coughed and opened her eyes. Selena smiled as she made eye contact with the electric blues of the girl's.

She stared back with wild eyes, "Who—"

"It's Selena." She smiled before the girl looked over at Percy,

"I'm Percy," He said. "You're safe now."

"Strangest dream ..." She mumbled,

"It's okay." Selena squeezed the girl's hand.

"Dying."

"No," Percy assured her. "You're okay. What's your name?"

Selena knew. Even before she said it.

Even Chiron, Annabeth, and Grover, who should've been celebrating this moment, were too shocked, thinking about what it might mean for the future. And Percy and Selena were holding someone who was destined to be either Percy's best friend, or possibly his worst enemy.

"I am Thalia," the girl said. "Daughter of Zeus."

_________________________________________________

AHHHH! Book 2 finished! Don't worry, won't be long now until book 3 is published. I've finished writing the next two books in the series, just need to proof read a bit before publishing. Can't wait!!!

Here's the cover for book 3