𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒: 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐈𝐭 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬
June 6, 2019
IF IT WEREN'T FOR OLIVIA, PERCY WOULD'VE PROBABLY STRANGLED TANTALUS.
She always seemed to be looming whenever Tantalus tried to mess with him, and apparently, she was enough to scare whatever skin was left off his bones. Maybe it was a Hades thing. He did seem to recognize her despite her not showing any sign she knew who he was before he got to camp.
Even then, the next few days weren't all that great. Tyson had moved into the Poseidon cabin with Percy, giggling to himself every fifteen seconds, "Percy is my brother?"
"Aw, Tyson," Percy tried to explain. "It's not that simple."
But Tyson didn't seem to get it. As far as he was concerned, he'd achieved Elysium. And Percy couldn't help but feel...
Ashamed. Embarrassed.
There. He admitted it. He was embarrassed. It was like his first week at camp all over again. The campers had gone right back to treating him like a laughingstock.
It was one thing to know that cyclopes were Poseidon's children, but it was a completely different thing to know they were Percy's siblings by that rule. He'd never actually realized that until Tyson was in the next bunk from his.
And that drew Percy back into something he'd thought he'd escaped when he was here. The endless teasing and the terrible taunts. He'd gone from Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon and hero who'd retrieved Zeus' lightning bolt last summer to that one sorry son of a bitch who had to call the hideous ugly monster his brother.
"He's not my real brother!" Percy tried to tell the other campers. "He's more like a half-brother on the monstrous side of the family. Like... a half-brother twice removed, or something."
No one listened.
If he was being honest, Percy was pissed with Poseidon. Being his kid had suddenly turned into a sick joke.
The girls tried to make him feel better. While Alice was always either tormenting Tantalus or staring at Percy (for some reason), olivia was kind enough to swallow her pride and take Tyson around camp once in a while. She didn't seem too keen on being left alone with him, but Percy appreciated the sentiment nonetheless.
The morning after they arrived at camp, Olivia and Annabeth had a brilliant idea: Annabeth and Percy could team up for the chariot race.
"I mean, your dad created horses and her mom made the chariot," Olivia said. "You guys would be fantastic."
It was a nice distraction. Even through they all hated Tantalus and were worried sick about camp, the race could serve as something to keep them off the terrible stuff going on until they came up with a plan to save Thalia's tree.
Olivia seemed to have an idea of what could, but she seemed unsure if she should mention it, which wasn't like her. But when Percy asked her, she mumbled something about Chiron and moved along.
They were walking towards the canoe lake when Tantalus suddenly appeared out of nowhere, his grimy face contorted in anger. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Anywhere away from you and your nasty ass breath," Alice groaned. "Seriously, dude. I know you can't eat, but that doesn't mean your mouth isn't hot as hell. Go brush your teeth."
"You insolent little brat," Tantalus growled, leaning closer to Alice. "You think you can just disrespect me? A king?!"
Alice responded by spitting on his face. The spirit's eyes opened wide with unabashed surprise before he glared at her. He raised his hand as if he was about to slap her. Annabeth moved to stand in front of Alice, but suddenly, a grapevine wrapped around his wrist and dragged him back.
"I would be very careful with her if I were you," Mr. D said, leisurely walking up to them. Tantalus' pale skin seemed to get paler. "After all, her father is the man in control of this place."
"M-my lord," Tantalus stammered, nervously looking at the god. "Apologies. I did not mean to raise my hand against-"
"My only daughter?" Dionysus finished. "Of course not. It's all forgiven. Just get to the kitchen. I would like you to go over the meals they are experimenting with. One of them was recommended to me by Apollo, who got it from his hellspawn of a flame. Alisha Anworth. You know her, I believe."
Tantalus looked mortified, his head hung in embarrassment as Dionysus walked off, giving Alice a pat on the head as he walked past her. Tantalus looked like he wanted to shove the daughter of Dionysus down a river, but he knew better than to do anything, so he just walked away.
"What does he mean by your mom knowing Tantalus?" Alice asked.
"It's because of... the thing," Olivia said.
"Oh," Alice said shortly.
"She knows?" Percy questioned.
"He sent a hellhound to deliver a letter to my mom," Olivia said. "Don't worry too much about it."
She walked off, with them following her. Soon after, Percy found himself sitting by the canoe lake with the girls, Olivia sketching chariot designs for them. Suddenly, some jerks from the Aphrodite cabin walked by.
"Percy, need to borrow mascara for your eye-oh sorry, eyes?" one of them taunted.
"Hey, how about you worry about your eyebrow?" Alice asked, sitting up. "Oh sorry-eyebrows."
The two stared at Alice, spluttering as they put hands to their eyebrows, running off and crying.
"Just ignore them, Percy," Annabeth advised. "It isn't your fault you have a monster for a brother."
"He's not my brother!" Percy snapped. "And he's not a monster, either!"
"She's not wrong, you know," Olivia said. "Cyclopes are monsters. And he is your brother."
"You get it," Annabeth mumbled to her. "He's acting all high and mighty like he doesn't think the same thing as us: that he doesn't want Tyson here."
"Exactly," Olivia huffed. "At least I'm trying to be civil with Tyson. Jeez."
"Well, she gave him permission to enter the camp," Percy shot back.
"Oh, so you didn't want him here, either?" Olivia challenged.
"I never said that," Percy denied. "I just said Annabeth let him in!"
"Because it was the only way to save your life!" the daughter of Athena shouted. "I mean... I'm sorry, Percy, I didn't expect Poseidon to claim him. Cyclopes are the most deceitful, treacherous-"
"He is not! What have you got against Cyclopes, anyway?" Percy demanded.
"You don't get it, Percy," Olivia jumped in.
"Yeah, because you've been around them so much in the past," Percy said sarcastically.
Olivia tensed. "You know what, Percy?" she demanded. "Just drop it."
"You're treating him like he's this horrible thing," Percy brought out. "He saved my life."
"And that's why I'm trying," she said.
Olivia scoffed. Percy narrowed his eyes at her. "I don't know who you think you are, but you have no right to treat Tyson like an annoyance."
"I'm trying to be nice!" Olivia shouted. "And I'm doing better than you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded, standing up.
"You think I don't see you?" she challenged. "I see you deny that he's your brother, Percy. You're ashamed of him. Don't deny it."
"You threw a tantrum over him being here!" Percy shouted.
"I threw a tantrum? You can't even admit that he's your brother!" Olivia shrieked, throwing down her sketchbook. "I didn't tell you he was a monster because he was terrible! That's just what he is by definition! And Poseidon claimed him, making him your brother! Own up to it, you sorry excuse of a hero!"
"Where is this coming from?" Percy demanded.
"From you!" Olivia retorted, the grass at her feet withering slightly. "Because you're being a jerk, Percy! Just like you were when I moved away!"
"Yeah, because you just dropped it on me with no warning!" he yelled. "Of course I was mad!"
"But that wasn't my fault!" Olivia screamed. "I didn't ask to move away! You took your anger out on me when I didn't deserve it and then you ghosted me! Do you think I'm supposed to just pretend everything is okay now?"
"I thought we were friends, Olivia!" Percy snapped.
Olivia shut her eyes, taking a deep breath. The grass around her stopped decaying. The shadowy look descending upon her suddenly vanished when she reopened her eyes. "So did I, Percy," she sighed. Her fingers twirled around the golden ring on her hand. "But I guess I was wrong."
"What are you even mad about?!" Percy yelled. He seriously didn't get why she was so aggressive this year in a way she hadn't been last year. Olivia wasn't always this easily angered. Sure, he'd been unfair when he didn't respond to the letters she sent. He should've just sent the letters he wrote even if he thought they sucked. But right now, he got the feeling that Olivia was mad about something else.
"You!" she replied. "I'm mad about you! Because I tried so hard to stay friends with you and you tossed that away until I was needed again! And friends don't do that to each other!"
"Then maybe we're not the friends you thought we were," he huffed.
Olivia stumbled backwards as if he'd actually hit her in the chest. Her brown eyes became glassy with tears as she blinked rapidly. Percy regretted the words the moment he realized he said them. Olivia's face crumpled in despair as she fidgeted with her yellow scrunchie. "Maybe... maybe you're right, Percy."
"Sunshine," he called.
She shook her head, holding a hand out. "Don't... don't call me that right now, Percy," she murmured. "You're... you're just like Luke. Because you're both liars who tell the ones who look up to you how much you care, but when you're hiding away from them or they just aren't there, you know you know you don't mean what you say."
That struck a nerve. Percy didn't expect that line from her. But he knew he deserved it.
Olivia picked up all her stuff, stood up straight, and turned to Percy. "Go do whatever you want Percy," she said quietly. "Your future is out of my hands, anyways."
She walked away, very obviously wiping tears from her face.
Annabeth shook her head. "You can make the chariot yourself," she said dryly. "Like she said. Do whatever you want."
The she left, Alice trailing behind her, while Percy stood there, feeling worse than he did when the conversation started.
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June 7, 2019
THE BOY FROM THE HERMES CABIN KEPT STARING AT PERCY. Eventually, he had to ask him, "Is there something on my face or something?"
"No, I'm just wondering what Olivia sees in you," the boy said, running his hand through his short hair. His dark eyes regarded Percy with mischief. "I'm Justin Lane, son of Hermes. Nice to meet you, dude."
"Nice... to meet you," Percy said slowly.
An arrow whizzed past them, just barely avoiding Percy's face. They looked towards the archery range where Lee Fletcher from the Apollo cabin stood, looking quite suspicious since he was the only one that currently had his bow in his hands.
"He's had it out for me all day," Percy grumbled.
"You hurt his sister's feelings," Justin explained. "He's mad at you for it."
"Yeah, but I think attempted murder is a bit too far," Percy responded.
Justin shrugged. "Hey, at least you didn't piss off Alice. Her family's worse by a long shot."
Percy sighed. "Look, why are you here?" he asked.
"You looked like you could use someone," Justin said. "So here I am."
Percy gave him a weird look. "Uh, thanks."
Justin stood, patting him on the back. "Anytime, man," he said. "But I'm supposed to be helping Aurora with something and she's scary when she's mad at you for being late. So, uh, see you around."
He booked it down the path, leaving Percy more confused than anything else. "Olivia has weird friends," he said to himself, dodging another arrow from Lee in the process.
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June 8, 2019
LEE HAD TO DRAG OLIVIA TO THE RACETRACK THE NEXT MORNING.
The daughter of Apollo was thankful for her braids, which were currently working as a defense against the hot and humid air. A light fog at her feet added to the dramatic mood. Olivia huffed as she followed after her older brother.
"I don't even wanna be here," she said. "Can't I go back to bed?"
"No," Lee said.
"Why not?" Olivia whined.
"Because I said so," Lee responded. "I'm the oldest. What I say goes."
Olivia could hear Tantalus in the background announcing the rules, drawing her eyes towards Charles Beckendorf, leading the Hephaestus team onto the track. They had a chariot made of bronze and iron-even the horses. The Ares kids made their chariot bloodred, pulled by two horse skeletons. Clarisse climbed aboard with a bag full of insane weapons.
Apollo's chariot was trim and graceful and completely gold, pulled by two beautiful palominos. Michael was armed with a bow, having promised not to shoot regular pointed arrows at the others. The chariot the Hermes canon made was green and old-looking, but the Stoll brothers were taking charge of it, so Olivia suspected them.
Which only left Annabeth and Percy's chariots, the two having decided to go their separate ways and work on different chariots.
Gray-and-white pigeons sat in the trees, screeching horridly. Olivia blasted one down, but before she could get a closer look at it, Alice called her name.
"Ali?" she called questioningly. "What's up?"
"Can we please, please talk?" Alice asked. She had a look in her eyes that never meant anything good. She was worried about something. Really worried. "I've been putting this off because you've been really mad lately, but I need to talk to you."
"Sure," Olivia said. She led Alice to the seats. The racetrack had been built in a grassy field between the archery range and the woods. The Hephaestus kids used the tamed bronze bulls to plow an oval track, and the seats were rows of stone steps. Tantalus, the satyrs, a few dryads, and the campers who weren't racing all sat there.
"I wanted to talk to my dad first," Alice muttered, "but he doesn't get up before ten."
"Yeah, that's common camp knowledge," Olivia said, looking back at the chariots and back to Alice. "Can't blame him, to be honest. I don't particularly like some of the charioteers here, either.
"Liv, this is important," Alice said, looking unnerved as she stopped in her tracks. "I think something might be wrong with me."
Olivia's brow furrowed. "Alice?" she called. "Are you okay?"
"Olivia, I... I'm," Alice spoke, her voice trembling. "Liv, I think I'm cursed..."
"How?" Olivia asked.
"I keep hearing this sound in my head," she said slowly. "Like, a sharp hiss. You know, when you open a can of soda?"
Olivia nodded. "Yeah..."
"I've been hearing that sound a lot," she said. "It started after Thalia's tree was poisoned, but I have no clue what it is. I tried to tell my dad a bunch of times since it started, but he's not listening."
"Oh," Olivia murmured thoughtfully. She carefully considered the possibilities before answering. "Well, I don't think it's a curse, Alice. It might just be your powers. You know, like how Rory killed every plant she came into contact with when her powers started manifesting? Maybe it's like that. Your powers are expanding somehow. I'm just guessing, though. You should still ask your dad about it later."
Alice nodded, running her hand through her short hair. "Of course," she said, but it didn't look like she believed Olivia. "Right. Got it."
As the conch horn sounded, Olivia pulled her to their seats. "Come on," she said, pulling back slowly. "I'm sure the race will be exciting."
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YOU COULD SAY THE RACE HAD BEEN EXCITING.
At first, it'd been an event to remember. With everyone racing around, it'd been enough fun to take Olivia's mind off of Thalia's tree. And then it was ruined, because nothing good ever stayed good.
Stymphalian birds had shifted the course of the event. Pecking away at everyone and pooping all over them. Olivia tried blasting some away with light beams, but there seemed to be too damn many. While everyone screamed in fear and pain, Tantalus chased breakfast pastries around the stands, every once in a while yelling, "Everything's under control! Not to worry."
Olivia could hear the Aphrodite cabin screaming and sobbing over their hair and clothes. She eventually gave up on taking the birds down from where she was and grabbed Alice to try light beaming away. They reappeared about twenty feet from the stands. They could see Justin and Aurora hidden beneath a cluster of plant bushes, Aurora frantically growing plants around the campers to help. Alice began helping by growing vines to block the birds' paths and Olivia generated light in her hand as she prepared for one last hit.
And then the All-Time Greatest Hits of Dean Martin started playing. Olivia turned in shock, her light blast shooting through the vines and bushes and burning them into nothing. Percy and Annabeth had Chiron's boombox, and the violins drowned out the screams of the campers.
The Stymphalian birds started flying in circles, crashing into each other and squawking. Olivia brought a hand to her head, where the hair clip Zoë had sent her was poorly attached. She took it out and in an instant, the silver bow appeared with her arrows, slung over her back.
"Now!" shouted Annabeth when the birds started flying away towards the sky. "Archers!"
Olivia notched her arrows and fired with the flawless aim she'd been trained to have. Her siblings joined her, and they to were able to shoot down the birds with quickness and haste. Just a few minutes later, the ground was littered with dead demon birds, and those who'd escaped were already on the horizon.
So they'd saved the camp was saved. It hadn't stopped the damage. Most of the chariots had been completely and utterly destroyed. Olivia knew she'd be busy after the race, but she hadn't expected this-everyone was wounded and bleeding from multiple bird pecks.
The kids from Aphrodite's cabin were still screaming because their hairdos had been ruined and their clothes pooped on. And then the stupid, stupid man that was Tantalus reappeared.
"Bravo!" he proclaimed. "We have our first winner!"
He walked over to what was left of the finish line and awarded the golden laurels for the race to a shocked Clarisse.
Then he turned and smiled at Percy. "And now to punish the troublemakers who disrupted this race."
And for once, Olivia found herself too selfish to make a comment. She knew she'd inevitably get over herself and find some way to avenge Percy's dignity, but right now, her anger towards him consumed her.
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