Chapter 49

It had been two weeks since Kayla had been asked out by Clarisse. Fourteen days, three hundred and thirty six hours, twenty thousand, one hundred and sixty minutes- blah, blah. Kayla knew it. She hadn’t skipped a beat with time lately. The new calendar she owned knew all about it. All organised and up-to-date, she was.

Dating Clarisse was not much different to when they had hung around all the time last summer. Just with kisses and more secret cuddles.

Yes, Clarisse still rained down hellfire if Kayla did something stupid- like missing the training dummy for Clarisse’s stomach when getting back into boxing training (which Kayla wasn’t even sure how she managed it) or when she cut off even more of Clarisse’s poor hair in sword practice.

Clarisse had… somewhat of an even higher temper since last year. High temper with everyone, but not Kayla. Not unless she did something stupid. Like mentioned.

Despite her high temper, Kayla hadn’t failed to observe her maturity and how much it had, well, matured. She was much more like an army general instead of some wannabe beefy bully. She looked it, too. Non-stop training since the Labyinth, and somehow she had already gained back all her muscle and more.

Curse Ares kids to being so prone to muscle growth.

Kayla was trying her best to be normal. Not that she was ever normal in the first place, but she liked to imagine. She didn’t do too bad when it was just her and Clarisse. Anyone else got this reserved, almost bitchy version of her.

To her, they all deserved it. Everyone seemed annoying and obnoxious. Maybe she’d say different about Malcolm, but she still hadn’t got to see him yet. He was at home until summer now. Maybe he thought Kayla was dead. Maybe he’d forgotten about her. Whatever it was, Kayla would just have to wait and see until this summer.

As of now, Kayla sat in boredom on the Ares table in the dining pavilion, infront of Clarisse, who was stuffing her face full of… Kayla wasn’t even sure. “I’m nearly finished,” She spoke around her food. Clarisse’s brothers were all spluttering their food while talking obnoxiously. They had gotten used to her. And thankfully, Kayla had learnt to drown them out.

They were fine with Kayla sitting at the table. You’d be surprised, but Clarisse’s brothers did have some sort of heart. A pig heart, but it was there. They daren’t tell her to move.

All but one.

“Get some more, take you time. Only Annie-beth begging for us.”

“Was that sarcasm?”

“No. Seriously, get twelve more eggs or something. Please. Win-win. You stock up on protein, I get no Annabeth.”

Annabeth, in question, had rocked up to camp out of nowhere this morning. Again. She’d already spoken to Kayla- “We’ll talk again later today. Bring Clarisse, I really need Clarisse.”

“Oh, fuck. Sherman’s here.”

“Scared?”

“I threw out his secret Nintendo cause he keeps threatening me with the room-“

Kayla barley got a word of anything, with how quiet and quick Clarisse said it all. But she got the memo with Clarisse comically dipping her head that Yang was coming closer. So, she sprung her wings up in protection. He must be behind her right now.

“Get off the Ares table, Kayla Graves! You know you’re not supposed to be here.”

She rolled her eyes in dismay. Then, the familiar feeling of a plucked feather happened. “Ow!” She shot upright. “Right,”

Behind her, Sherman Yang stood atleast six inches taller, a face full of ugliness and disarray. Her wings knocked off two cups of water, spilling onto his jeans, yet it went without bother. “You’re not getting your room back, you sweaty pig. Clarisse is back as cabin couselor, got it? And she’s doing a damn good job at it, too. Better than you.“

“You have nerve, Graves. Let’s take it into the ring, see what you have to say then,”

“Oh, I will so take it into the ring.”

“Sherman, don’t take it into the ring,”

“Be quiet, Clarisse! I want my stupid Nintendo back, you next.”

Behind her, she heard the slap of Clarisse face palming.

“Okay, let’s go. Right now. Go.”

“Let’s go, no powers allowed.” He added, waiting for Kayla to start walking. “No promises, I’m not playing my your stupid rules. I’m fighting you in the ring and that’s that. You asked for it.”

As she started to walk, Sherman gave her a push on the back, prompting her forward with some less than kind words.

“Ugh, Kay, you’re- come back, don’t appease him-“

“He asked for it.”

“Kay,”

“He asked for it.”

…

Clarisse watched like a hawk as her brother was promptly rushed to the infirmary after a ring fight that lasted… nine seconds, if she recalled correctly. It had been the most unfair yet satisfying thing to watch. Sure, Clarisse was all for long, grueling fights, but she had been so close to giving Sherman a piece of her mind.

Thankfully, her girlfriend had done it for her. He hadn’t even managed to place the tip of his finger on her before he fell to the floor in a cry, shrivelling up into a ball and passing out.

Clarisse had grimaced at the sight- she knew that feeling. And that was when Kayla wasn’t even claimed. She would hate to be on the receiving end of her horrid death glare now.

The cheers from people who had rushed to the ring and cheered them both on were migrating their respective ways after such a let down of a match. Some had swallowed in freight, others had snickered and face palmed.

“Get down from the ring,”

“I’m taller than you right here.”

“Don’t make me deck you. Come on.”

Thankfully, she listened. She twisted her legs around the ropes, ducked under and jumped to the floor. Ever so proud of herself, she was. “Aw, was little Risse intimidated by her super-duper tall girl-“

“Shut up, Kayla.”

A small side-eye as they started to walk back up to the cabins told her Kayla had listened immediately yet not for long. She upturned her nose. “Everyone already knows were together, you know. If we say anything or not.”

“I- never said I was bothered if people knew.”

“You don’t have to. I’m not that dumb. Everyone knows. And you know it.”

“Not everyone.”

“Well, don’t you want them to?”

“Can you stop twisting my words?”

“Mh, sure. If you stop acting like it’s embarrasing.”

“I’m not used to it,” She mumbled, looking around before slipping her hand down Kayla’s arms, until it fit into her hand. She sighed, taking a sharp corner for a quieter route. “I’m not embarrassed by you.“

“I know… sorry for twisting your words. I know you’re not. Are your brothers making it harder?”

“No, they don’t care. Except for Sherman, but that’s because he wants the room back, so he uses it against me.”

“Yeah, I know that much,” Kayla scoffed. “Maybe he’d be kinder about it if you didn’t drown all of his clothes in kerosene?”

“Wha- are you serious? That was the only way for him to back off. He’s lucky I didn’t make it to the fire pit. Sherman Yang is not kind. He’s- the worst.” She argued, bewildered at having such a thing suggested. Clarisse knew if she hadn’t done it, Kayla would have done it herself, in the middle of the night. Alone, probably listening to some upbeat music without a care in the world.

“Well hopefully after that, that ass-hole won’t be bothering either of us.”

“Who won’t be bothering you?”

“AH!”

A sharp sting made its way to Clarisse’s wrist as Kayla’s wings sent her lunging forward after a blunt hit to the back. Kayla cursed, kneeling down to her level and- no, she didn’t apologise. She told her in a half stressed, half regrettable voice to, “Get your dumbass up. Up, up.”

Lord, was she glad they had taken the quiet route, with the way she got up like a clown, brushing her knees free of dirt. “Annabeth,” She cleared her throat, “Thought you were waiting back at the cabins?”

“I was, but I thought you ditched me. I have news, Clarisse. And questions. Your cabin?”

“Mine? We usually use Kayla’s. Mine’s… in the heat of war right now.”

Kayla, as she glanced at her, was looking off into the distance trying to act uninterested.

“Well, I waited in there. Kayla’s entire cabin is full of dust. I don’t even know how she’s still sleeping in there.” Annabeth pointed, taking a bored stance.

“Dust- dusty? What? Ofcourse I’m sleeping there. Every night. There’s no dust.“

Annabeth gave them both a look that was scary enough to rid of a Chimera. “Right. And Percy is smart.”

“What does that even mean?” Asked Kayla in a quiet mumble as Annabeth started to walk infront without a word. They followed her back to Clarisse’s cabin, where she let herself in- all the way into Clarisse’s room. God, how was she not dead?

She watched how her nose scrunched up and her jaw clenched. After trying to firm the Ares cabin for more that five seconds; “Maybe dust would be better.”

“Ugh, just get in. My room is way better than all these pigs and their styes.” Clarisse shoved them both in, closing her door abruptly, taking a big breath with inflated nostrils. Okay, breathe. “So, go on.”

“I spoke to Chris.”

“Lies, he still won’t talk to anyone.” Kayla countered.

“Right, that’s why I sat infront of him for three hours as he spoke like a prophet. He won’t get better until Dionysus is back. Whenever that will be. And I’m trying to help Grover now, too. That’s not so important for you, but these meetings help.”

She took a step forward from her door, making her way over to her bed to plop down lazily. Kayla followed. “Help the goat in your own time, thats fine, did the Prophet say anything useful?”

“Nothing much, only that Luke and his army plan to fully infiltrate camp, oh- is that useful?”

“I knew it,” Clarisse whispered, averting her gaze.

“You- well, why didn’t you say anything?”

“To you, Kayla? You didn’t really need that theory in your head, did you?”

Annbeth sighed, placing down a folder of what was more than likely all about the Labyrinth. She took a seat on Clarisse’s desk chair. “No, Kayla is right. It’s no good keeping it to yourself just because of what’s happened. If you think you know something, share it. Why did you think it?”

“Just… it makes sense, doesn’t it? Ethan, he said stuff sometimes. And it always had me thinking. It’s part of the reason I thought he was lying the entire time. And he was. I was just- slow. Too slow.”

“He wants war, Clarisse.”

“Like I can’t sense that.”

“I mean- he wants it all. Now,” Annabeth frowned, grimacing,” Monsters, all here. Killing whoever won’t help. Kayla, maybe you’re at risk at-“

“Hey, don’t you tell her that. Don’t even.”

Their eyes swerved to Kayla, who perked up like a deer in headlights. She sat up slighly on the bed, stuttering like she’d just gained a speech impediment. “I- I mean, maybe, Annabeth is right?”

“You’re strong enough to protect yourself, Kayla. And in that ever so slight chance that happens, he knows you’re not going to help. Kidnapping you would be pointless.”

Kayla’s eyes drooped to her hands. She nodded with a defeated sigh. Well, anyone else would have thought Clarisse had told her some tragic family news with that reaction. Her head stopped to try and see Kayla’s dipped head more clearly. Her voice, merely a whisper. “…What’s wrong?”

“Oh, stop with all these ‘what ifs?’ Will you? Im just being logical. The main point is, Luke is planning to infiltrate camp. This is more than a group meeting for me to find out Labyrinth information now. This is serious, guys. Chiron is informed of what Chris told me, but I want to ask for cabin-counselor meetings to be put in place. Secret ones. We need a plan of attack, without sending everyone into a frenzy.”

“Most counselors aren’t in camp at this time of year. It’s just second in hands.” Clarisse furrowed her brows, shaking her head as she lifted it back up.

“Not them. Any counselors still left. Kayla, you’re a lone camper. You, Clarisse, Silena, Me, Charles and -“

“How will he infiltration camp through the Labyrinth? That’s impossible.” Kayla butted in, tucking her knees up.

“String,”

Annabeth nodded- she seemed proud of Clarisse for catching on so fast. “Ariadne’s string. I’m guessing you’ve heard Chris say it, too?”

“What? But I didn’t. That’s not fair.”

“Kay, shush. Before I found him in the Labyrinth, all he did was scream about string from a distance. Go figure. He stopped as soon as I found him. Started uttering for his mother, other stuff.” Besides her, Kayla pulled an alarmed, somewhat funny face.

“So Luke is planning it through the string. Alright.”

“None of this makes any sense, Chase. I know I went to the Labyrinth for Kayla, but Chiron made damn sure I scout the Labyrinth, too. And I searched all around camp before I even went to Chiron to ask for a quest. There’s no entrances, none. Not in camp. He’ll get the string, but it won’t help him get into camp.”

“Spirits can guide the Labyrinth, too.” Kayla spoke up.

“What? What do you mean?”

“The spirits only I can see. So, no luck for him. But if he gets someone like me, or me, I…”

“Oh, no.” Annaneth swallowed.

“What?” Clarisse sat, “Oh no what, Annabeth?”

“Okay, counselor privacy meeting starts now. When you two were gone, me and Percy finished our quest. We came back with a boy, a very, very vengeful boy. Due to, uh, difficulties. Well, no one knows, yet he’s a child of Hades. He can, no doubt.”

“Ha. Great. Vengeful, as in, there’s a possibility he might work with Luke?”

Annabeth silenced herself, face palming.

“There are way too many things to talk about all in one day here, guys.”

“We know, Kayla. I know.”

After a bit more talking, about a Nico, Grover’s personal problem, and the entire Camp is gonna go to war thing, Clarisse and Annabeth took it amongst themselves to sort out the meeting placements with Chiron.

He agreed. He knew how serious it was getting, and he feared he was the only one. He told them he thought the meetings may be good for camp-counselors only, and no one else.

“I just can’t believe there’s a Hades kid on the loose- an angry one. If only Jackson didn’t murder his sister, maybe this wouldn’t be, you know, seriously detrimental.“

“That’s a bit harsh, Clarisse. What’s done is done.”

Clarisse groaned. She threw another dagger into her framed dagger wall- which was currently covered with a printed out picture of Sherman Yang. “Hades kid, pft. Ofcourse he’ll help Luke. Why wouldn’t he? Hades…”

“Will you come and lay down? My head is pounding.”

“So is Sherman’s.”

“Don’t make me stare you down.”

“I’m coming, Jeez.”

Clarisse settled with a big flop that rattled the bed frame. Her eyes were already locked on Kayla, who was in her own world.

“I thought you’d be freaking out about this, you know. You don’t seem bothered. Like, at all.”

“I am, I’m so bothered, I don’t know how to react. I- I can’t…”

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Her head snapped up. The cuticles of her fingers were scabby and red. Stress habit.

“It means, I know you, Kayla Graves. I know you, and I-” She hesitated. “…And you’re not popping any funnies. It’s odd.”

“Look, just cause you’re friends with Annie now does not mean you start reading into everything, okay? Drop it. You sense war, not my goddamn feelings.”

Silence.

Out of all of Kayla’s comebacks, that might have been the smartest one. Granted, it wasn’t that smart. Her eyes squinted, she hummed, then pulled back slowly. “That is not deserving of a kiss.”

“Never said I wanted one.”

“See? This is a completely different mood from you! I’m supposed to be the snappy one, don’t steal that from me.”

“I’ll steal whatever I want from you.”

Stubborn. Stubborn, petty, childish girl. I hate that I don’t hate you anymore.

“And I w-would not let you. Drop the attitude. I didn’t even do anything this time.”

PLEASE vote🙏<3

Hello!! I have to ask, and I feel like this would help alot, but please vote the poll on if you’d like a darker narrative (Yk, since the Labyrinth) or if you’d prefer to keep the more Rick Riordan somewhat child friendly tone. There wouldn’t be a GIANT difference, but I’d like to know.