young god • percy jackson

03: I Hate Annabeth Chase!

xx

"PHOENIX, DEMIGOD DREAMS aren't always—"

"So if we were to contact Demeter and ask about her daughter? Contact Hades and ask about his Queen?" I countered stubbornly. "What would they find? Do you understand what could happen—No, of course you do. You were there. You were alive for the first winter, weren't you?"

Chiron was silent for a moment. He was choosing his next words carefully. I crossed my arms over my chest, waiting. Percy stood to my left, watching me. I hated that he just watched me.

"Listen, you showing up on our steps after your disappearance is unsettling and we don't know why—"

"To find Persephone!" I said, raising my voice. "Sir," I added, quietly.

He studied me for a moment. He glanced at Percy who simply shook his head. He didn't know what was going on either.

"You're eagerness will have you killed, Phoenix. Go back to your cabins. Sleep. We will finish this discussion after breakfast."

I stormed out of the house, Percy following quickly behind me. He called after me, grabbing my arm to get me to stop.

"He's right," he said, pulling on my sleeve gently so I faced him.

"I want to help Persephone. I need to," I said in a low voice. My anger was fading as fast as it had come on. I think I was going to cry. He made it too easy to talk. I hated him.

Percy gently squeezed my arm. "It's okay. We'll figure this out. But not at three in the morning."

I nodded, pushing back my hair. "Okay, fine."

"Now try and sleep, man. You'll need it for Capture the Flag tomorrow," he said.

xx

I sat at the Hecate table that morning, staring down at my plate. I didn't want anything. My plate stayed empty. 

I wanted to figure out my dream. I wanted to know what it meant. I wanted to know why I was here. Why I didn't remember the last few months. I wanted answers.

I got up and left before breakfast was over. No one really noticed.

Except the Son of the Sea God.

"Phoenix!" he called after me.

"Nix," I corrected.

He followed after me, despite me walking faster.

"Listen, I appreciate you helping last night and listening and stuff but I'm not in the mood—"

"I'm meant to be your tour guide," he said. I could hear the frown in his voice. I looked over at him.Why did he want to show me around? After the shit I put everyone through during the war...?

"I just want to figure this shit out okay? I'm missing the last couple months and that's terrifying. I can't contact my mom with my magic or an Iris Message. I'm scared. I don't have time for a tour," I said in a low voice, crossing my arms.

"Hera...Hera took my memories and picked me up and put me in another demigod camp—"

"Another demigod camp?"

"Camp Jupiter. Roman Demigods," he explained. "So I know how it feels."

I looked down at the ground. "I need to talk to my mom."

"The gods might be preventing it," Percy suggested.

"If something happened to Persephone...my mom was her hand maiden. She might not be safe either," I said. "And now that she has a seat on Olympus...Zeus might not want her to talk to me so much."

Percy nodded, looking over his shoulder at the dining pavilion. "We will get you your answers. You just need to be patient. Can you do that?"

I pressed my lips together. "I can try."

Patience was not and never will be my forte.

xx

I proved just how little patience I possessed when we played Capture the Flag later that day.

I could have burnt everyone to a crisp and marched over to take the flag, but no. I could have confused everyone with my magic, but no. Athena always has a plan. That's what this bitch, Annabeth Chase, insisted.

In the end, her dumb little plan cost us the flag.

I think it was mostly due to the uneasy tension between her and Percy. They kept trying to avoid each other, not wanting to be near the other. It didn't work out well. Besides me, they were the two strongest players on our team.

I called Annabeth out after words.

She was not a fan.

"'Oh! I'm a child of Athena'," I mocked, waving my sword around. "'I think I'm all high and mighty and can boss others around! I'm Annabeth Chase! My cap makes me invisible! It's a gift from my mommy!'"

"Phoenix," Chiron scolded. "Enough."

I ignored him.

"Come on, lay off," Percy said, green eyes pleading.

"Your plan was to kill everyone. This is just a game!" Annabeth said back.

"I wasn't going to kill everyone!" I said, voice echoing. I gripped my sword like I might decapitate her. "New flash, daughter of Athena! I can disappear too!"

I snapped my fingers and the mist hid me from everyone. Chiron drew and arrow. Coward.

I projected myself up a tree, remaining on the ground near Annabeth. "Go on. Shoot. Mother would love that."

Chiron shot my holograms shoulder, but it went straight through. I stood behind Annabeth now.

"Nice aim, Centaur," I said, becoming visible now.

Annabeth jumped forward. Everyone looked scared. Percy though...Percy looked like he wanted to know more and I hated it. I hated him.

"Didn't plan for that, hm?" I taunted. I swung my sword into the tree next to me.

I knew it was a nature spirit. I didn't give a shit. I watched as it disintegrated, withering away. I smirked, putting my sword away into the pocket dimension.

"If I tell you I have a plan. I have a plan," I said in a low voice. "Do not think you're anywhere near to better than me."

Chiron opened his mouth.

"Spare me the lecture. It won't happen again," I said, turning to leave.

I knew the Son of the Sea god watched as I left. I looked over my shoulder, winking at the boy in question. I watched his face turn red as I left the forest.