Percy of the Huntsmen

The Spy Exposed

Percy and Adam stood on top of Zeus's Fist, overlooking the training of the campers.

"They've progressed much in these last few days. Well done, Percy," Adam said. Percy had been placed in charge of the training.

"Thank you, Alpha. Er, Adam. I just feel as though they won't be half ready by the time Kronos invades."

"Oh, they won't be ready. Make no mistake, we are not on the gods' side. Demigod casualties will be extremely high in this battle, and the more the better. We will work with them in a vague alliance, as sworn on the River Styx, but there is a fine line between fighting against Kronos and fighting for the gods.

"There is the problem of the spy. She will be killed."

"I got that covered. Tonight, we're going on a bogus mission in which Selina will die."

"Good. Make sure it works."

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"Thalia, Selina, Nyssa, and Clarisse." Percy rattled off the campers' names. "You scored the highest in each of the tests I have put you through. We're leaving on a special ops mission to destroy Luke's ship, the Princess Andromeda. Nyssa, as the only Hephaestus child here, you will be in charge of the explosives. Do you guys have any form of aerial transport besides the Pegasi?"

"Yes," Nyssa answered, "some of my brothers have created a chariot that flies on its own. It only seats four people though, not enough for all of us."

"It'll work just fine. Prepare yourselves, we leave a half hour before sunset."

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Percy's four companions boarded the flying chariot. They were all dressed in Huntsman black, as suited a stealth mission.

"What about you?" Thalia asked Percy. She was gripping the chariot's sides so hard her knuckles were turning white. "How will you reach the boat?"

"I can fly all on my own, remember." Percy's wings extended from the tattoos on his back to full length. "Please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times. Wait, Nyssa, you do know how to drive this thing, right?"

"Of course I do."

"Okay then, let's move."

They didn't fly more than an hour before they could see Luke's ship.

Percy flew in front of the chariot and turned around, flying backwards so he could talk to his team.

"Here's the plan: Nyssa and Thalia, you plant the explosives in the front of the hull. Make sure to use enough to blow the ship to hell. Clarisse, follow behind them about twenty feet or so. Make sure no monsters follow them. Selina, you and me are paying a visit to Kronos himself. We might be able to end this thing before it even begins. Is everyone clear on their roles?" The group nodded. "Great, 'cause here we are."

When they reached the ship, Percy tied the chariot to the ship using the mooring lines.

He took Thalia's hand to help her off of the chariot. "Change of plan," he whispered, "tell Nyssa and Clarisse that you're planting the explosives in the engine room. Have Clarisse go on ahead of you to take out the engine room workers, if there are any."

Thalia looked confused, but relayed the message.

Once everyone had went on their way, Percy turned to Selina. "Let's cut to the chase. We both know where your loyalties lie."

Selina tried to reach for her pocket, but Percy pulled his dagger out in a flash and pressed it to her neck. "Don't touch that pennant if you want a chance at life." Percy reached a gloved hand into her pocket and pulled out a scythe charm on a gold chain. "So, this is how you've been communicating. Fascinating. I assume you told him of our mission plans?"

"Yes." Selina's voice was shaking with fear. Daggers tend to do that to people.

"Thanks," Percy grinned. "Your last act in this miserable life you lead was at least helpful to me." With that he sliced the life across her throat. He caught her body and tossed it overboard before any blood hit the deck.

Percy ran to where he knew the engine rooms were. Gold dust littered the ground, courtesy of Clarisse no doubt.

"Kronos isn't on board this ship for some reason. How's it going in here?" Percy asked the trio.

"It's great, the bombs are set." Thalia answered.

"How long do we have before they go off?"

Nyssa answered this time. "Two minutes."

"We'd better get running." Percy said.

About a minute and a half later, the group arrived at the stern of the ship.

"Quick, get in, get in!" Percy waved his hand at the chariot. "We've got less than thirty seconds left before the bombs go."

They got almost forty feet away from the Princess Andromeda before Thalia noticed something was off. Honestly, Percy thought she of all people would catch it faster.

"Wait!" She yelled. "Selina's missing!"

"We've got to head back for her!" Nyssa yanked on the controls, turning the chariot around.

"How is that possible? She was right behind me when I met you at the engine room." Percy said.

At that moment, the ship blew. Nyssa had brought enough celestial bronze bombs and Greek fire to blow through the bare hull of a ship, and in the engine room their effect was multiplied exponentially. In half a second, the entire ship was in thousands of tiny pieces. The monsters on board never saw what hit them.

"No," Thalia slumped. Nyssa teared up slightly, and even Clarisse looked a bit sad.

"She'd been giving me dating tips for Chris, y'know, before he left." For Kronos, her unspoken words hung in the air.

"She was better than the average Aphrodite kid. But we'd best head back to camp," Nyssa said. "Beckendorf will be devastated at the news."

Percy turned around and flew in front of the group, his face turned away so they couldn't see the slight grin playing on his lips. He wondered how different their reactions would be if they knew that she'd been willing to sell the demigods out this entire time.

Selina's death was going to be quite useful. No one, save the Huntsmen, knew that she was a traitor. Plus, a martyr is the strongest morale-booster that an army can possibly have, and now they had one.

Percy's thoughts turned to the future. He almost wanted the upcoming battle to happen soon. The quicker it was over, the quicker he and Thalia could spend time together. He really didn't know her very well, come to think of it. He knew her tastes, her bravery, and had been on the receiving end of some affection from her, even if it was coated in friendly insults. But he wanted to really get to know her.

And you want tell her how you feel, you cowardly idiot the voice in Percy's head told him.

After the final battle, he'd definitely tell her.

Once they had a little peacetime together.