𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐄- 𝙟𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚¹

TWO

02. NIGHTMARES

— PHOEBE COULD REMEMBER when she first got claimed. she and percy had been twelve, and the two of them had just been ambushed by clarisse in capture the flag. then, a hell hound had tried attacking them, which they had barely survived. and then, a trident lit up over their heads, and they learned that they were never meant to have been born.

leo's claiming was a lot less chaotic, though he was extremely confused. "what did i do?" he asked, backing towards the lake. then he looked up and yelped. "is my hair on fire?" he ducked, but the symbol followed him, bobbing and weaving so it almost looked like he was trying to write something in flames with his head.

phoebe smiled to herself as she watched the boy freak out. "this can't be good," butch started. "the curse-"

phoebe silenced him with a look, shaking her head at him. it wasn't the time or place to discuss the curse; not now, not in front of new campers, especially when one had just been claimed into the cursed cabin.

"butch," annabeth said sternly, turning to leo. "you were just claimed-"

for what felt like the hundredth time that day, jason interrupted. "by a god," he said, glancing at phoebe. "it's vulcan, isn't it?"

phoebe frowned at him. something didn't make sense, how he had 'forgotten everything', yet still knew so much about claiming and storm spirits. she was suspicious of his perfect posture and his perfect hair and his perfect face; he was too regal, too perfect, and he knew too much for someone who had just found out he was a demigod. phoebe didn't trust him one bit.

everyone turned towards jason. phoebe watched as annabeth raised an eyebrow at him curiously, seeming almost as skeptical as phoebe. "jason," she asked carefully. "how did you know that?"

now, jason looked embarrassed. "i'm not sure," he said, looking back and forth between phoebe and annabeth. "really."

leo cleared his throat, bringing the attention back to him. "sorry, but, vulcan? i don't even like star trek! what are you guys talking about."

"nobody likes star trek." phoebe murmured under her breath before speaking louder. "vulcan is the roman name for the greek god hephaestus, god of blacksmiths and fire. he's your father."

the bright symbol over leo's head had faded, but he kept swatting the air as if he were afraid it was following him. "the god of what? who?"

"your father, hephaestus. the god of blacksmiths and fire and building stuff." phoebe repeated, like it was obvious.

annabeth turned to will, who was still standing front row. "will, would you take leo and give him a tour? introduce him to his new bunk mates in cabin nine?"