SERENDIPITY ~ A. Chase

iii ~ Pitching Camp and Troublesome Decisions

She ruffled the boy's hair before staring at the card and pretending to inspect it to hopefully get the attention off of her.

It worked. Everyone seemed to now notice Bianca who was standing there awkwardly, trying to comprehend everything.

As eager as Percy was to search for Annabeth, he couldn't help but feel sorry for the siblings. He remembered the feeling when he was told he was a demigod.

Thalia seemed to understand too and some of the anger cooled from her icy blue eyes. She squeezed Cassie's hand before stepping forward.

"Bianca, I know it's hard to believe. But the gods are still around. Trust me. They're immortal. And whenever they have kids with regular humans, kids like us, well... Our lives are dangerous."

"Dangerous, like the girl who fell." Bianca said.

Cassie scowled and Thalia turned away, stepping back. Even Artemis looked pained.

"Do not despair for Annabeth. She was a brave maiden. If she can be found, I shall find her." Artemis reassured.

Her wording didn't ease Cassie's nerves. 'Was a brave maiden' made it seem like Annabeth was dead.

"Then why won't you let us go look for her?" Percy questioned.

"She is gone. Can't you sense it, Son of Poseidon? Some magic is at work. I do not know exactly how or why, but your friend has vanished."

Didn't stop Cassie from wanting to fall off the cliff and by some miracle find Annabeth.

Percy knew it was pointless because if Annabeth was in the sea, he'd sense it.

"Oo!" Nico raised his hand. Reminded Cassie of a little kind wanting to be called on by their teacher. His eyes still sparkled with the youthful anticipation. "What about Dr. Thorn? That was awesome how you shot him with arrows! Is he dead?"

"He was a manticore. Hopefully he is destroyed for now, but monsters never truly die. They reform over and over again, and they must be hunted whenever they reappear." Artemis clarified.

"Or they'll hunt us," Thalia added.

Bianca seemed to shiver at the memory of something. "That explains... Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley in D.C.?"

"And that bus driver. The one with the ram's horns. I told you that was real." Nico said.

"That's why Grover has been watching you. To keep you safe, if you turned out to be half-bloods." Percy informed.

"Grover? You're a demigod?"

"Well, a satyr, actually." He took off his shoes and sure enough, he had goat hooves. Bianca was just about ready to pass out.

"Grover, put your shoes back on. You're freaking her out." Thalia muttered.

Cassie couldn't help but laugh.

"Hey, my hooves are clean!"

"Doesn't make them any less scary." The brunette faked fear.

"Bianca, we came here to help you. You and Nico need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet. You need to come to camp." Percy was the only one taking it seriously at the moment.

"Camp?" she inquired.

"Camp Half-Blood. It's where half-bloods learn to survive and stuff. You can join us, stay there year-round if you like."

"Sweet, let's go!" Nico agreed, no hesitation.

"Wait. I don't—"

"There is another option," Zoe offered.