Entry 026

(Written in 09.2014)

Percy Jackson and the Olympian Fanfiction – PJO Word Challenge 14: Smirk;
Part 2 to PJO Word Challenge 13: Wonder

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“What?”

“I don’t know how much you know,” Travis continued, without so much as glance at us. “But we’re here to give you the whole package.”

“From history to fun facts to touring the actual sites, it’s a non-miss-able trip to the never-before-seen pieces of Camp Half-Blood.” Connor winked.

You’re right, I probably would not miss a single moment in this “trip”. I turned to see how Annabeth was doing. Never for a thousand drachmas did I imagine she would be smirking. What could she be playing this time? Please, gods forbade, not again with the play-along trick. I mumbled a prayer to the God of Trickery - What was his name? Do- something. Ugh, never mind.

“Then what are we waiting for? Lead the way!” Annabeth’s voice was clear as a bell even in the boiling anticipation of a roomful of demigods.

I couldn’t help but made a face when I heard that. This could not be good.

The first stop, surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, was Thalia’s tree.

“It really is the whole package, huh?” I grumbled. Somehow it seemed inaudible to the leading brothers.

“May I introduce the first wonder – Thalia’s tree!” Connor gestured towards the tree, under which Peleus, the dragon Chiron hired to guard the tree and the Golden Fleece, curled up contently…that was before we arrived and all that chattering filled the air. Now he was standing up to his full height and two columns of snow white steam bellowed from his nostrils with a snort. I could almost hear it said: what in Hades are you kids doing here? Ok, not my most creative moment, though it would be a real wonder if he could gulp the bunch of them in one mouthful. I shot him a pitiful look. Poor Peleus.

“Everyone knows about Thalia’s tree.” Annabeth pointed out to the Stolls, whose smirks, to their credit, only tugged higher.

“You’re smart, Annie! That’s exactly why we didn’t plan on wasting your time on this worn tale of how Thalia died, came back and lived on forever.”

“And how she disappeared from the face of Camp Half-Blood.” Travis added in his ghost story voice that won him the champion last year.

This was scary. Did not get me wrong: I had listened to that voice at least a dozen times at the darkest nights. But Annabeth remaining silent when she was called Annie, and by the Stolls of all people? That, let me tell you, was beyond scary.

“But you don’t have to worry about that.” It was remarkable how he could change his tone so quickly. “What you have to worry about is perhaps Peleus – I wouldn’t get on his bad side.”

“Especially that fleece, our very own second wonder!”

“Yes, the Golden Fleece, brought here by Clarisse, the magic that fueled Thalia’s comeback.”

“Okay, questions?” A dozen hands flew up. “No? Good, next stop.”

“Um…what are you guys doing here?”

“Rachel Elizabeth Dare, the Oracle of Delphi. I will leave you at that, wouldn’t want to bore you to death, do I?”

“Can somebody tell me what this is about?” She added when she saw me. “Hi, Percy, Annabeth.”

“Behind that beaded curtain is a room full of modern conveniences,” Travis turned his head and held up a hand to shield his mouth like he was telling us a secret, not that he lowered his voice, at all. “And a set of stairs that leads to a dungeon where she meditates and mumbles nonsensical words to…things.”

“Why am I not surprised that I have never found a place like that?”

“Well, kids, let’s move out and clear the area before you catch sight of her fearsome green eyes and gruesome fangs.”

Rachel rolled her eyes at the leaving pack, caught Annabeth’s eyes and winked. They have been really good friends ever since the war. Not that I objected, it was a relief they got alone finally, but now I felt like there were secrets even I was not allowed in. Plus, no doubt they talked about me behind my back, and not my bravery I could guess.

“Next stop: the Fist of Zeus” How can he be so cheerful on this site? I shuddered at the memory of the awful war of labyrinth.

“I thought you said the Fist of Zeus!” The little boy looked barely twelve, but I remembered clear as day the dozen hellhounds chasing after him two nights ago.

“Ryan, I was just going to tell you that this was the Fist of Zeus.”

“Anyway,” Travis said. “You will learn of its history pretty soon. Where do you think all the campfire stories came from?”

As we got closer to the arena, my bad feeling got stronger. Not Mrs. O’Leary! Without a doubt, the barks reached us before we even stepped inside, and the newer campers immediately pulled out their weapons.

“Wow, kids, calm down. Put away your swords and whatnots. We wouldn’t want our fifth wonder evaporated!” Conner announced.

“The monstrosity that you will see is fully lovable, if you don’t mind being drenched in coats of saliva. So no swords please!”

Or you’ll have to get through the best swordsman of Camp Half-Blood, I added mentally.

“Ready?” Travis pulled on the gate. “Ta-da!”

Mrs. O’Leary was as energetic as always, but before she could gave me a slap of soggy dog saliva, Travis slammed the gate shut. “There you go! Next!”

“Welcome to Uncle Leo’s Spectacular Amazing Massive Party Hot-spot!” Leo stood with his arms open in front of a wall of stone that emerged from nowhere in the forest.

“Kids, meet Leo. He’s like the coolest guy ever if you need a joke or two. No offence, Percy.”

“None taken.”

“Good. Leo, if you would.”

“Aye, captain.” Leo summoned his flame and pressed it on the stone. “Come in, kids.”

The look on the kids’ face as they crossed the threshold into the bunker was priceless. The way they turned their heads and pulling their body in a 360 was enough to make me laugh. I suspected the same of me if I visited this place when I was their age.

“You know you looked just like them on your first visit here, don’t you?” Annabeth whispered in my ear, as if she’s just read my thoughts.

Before I can start an argument with a Was not!, I stopped myself. It never went well to have an argument with Annabeth.

“Wow, look at that.”

“That’s cool!”

“Look at the man hanging at the ceiling!”

Immediately, Leo pulled the lever by his side and laughed nervously as the unconscious demigod (who looked suspiciously like the kid from the Hypnos cabin) disappeared up to the ceiling.

“He’s gone!”

“Where did he go?”

“Let me try!”

Travis was quick to interfere with the crowd. “Well, we don’t want to be late to our next stop, right? Let’s move out!”

As I left, I glimpsed the wink Travis and Leo exchanged, and I wondered what would happen to the Hypnos kid. But, hey, it wasn’t my responsibility to look after the Stolls and their mischief.

“Heroes, we have finally come to the greatest wonder of all!” Conner stretched out his arms and inhaled deeply like his life depended on it.

“Ah, yes, my brother. The wonder of wonders is in front of your very eyes.”

Travis elaborated, or as I put it, sighing and looking at me with troublingly batting eyes that looked as if he was trying desperately to blink away any sand in his eyes. Probably not so wonderful.

“It’s just the canoe lake.” Someone in the crowd complained, but Travis was there to answer to it.

“Oh, Gods. Oh, no, little one. This lake marks the birth of the greatest wonder of wonders you will ever witness in your lifetime.” Which I would never know by this rate. It really was just the canoe lake. The lake we’ve had since…since forever. The only thing about it was the naiads, and we only ever came…well, the girls only ever came for beauty advice.

Oh, wait…no. Oh, boy. They were not going to announce it to the new kids, were they?

Just as I was torn between standing there or stepping in to save myself the embarrassment, I was dragged at the wrist by an invisible force, which, without much guessing, would be Annabeth, who I imagined must be smirking because she obviously had a plan that involved ordering me around so she could boast and I quote: as long as I tell him what to do, he’s alright.

“Don’t fuss, Seaweed Brain, just follow my lead.” Annabeth’s breath felt hot against my ear. If I was also invisible, I’d have dragged her into the lake and reenact the “famous” scene right this moment. But no, my father was not smart enough to make me a set of camouflage armor; well, at least Tyson’s got a stick.

(To Be Continued)