✦ ༉‧₊˚⋆˚( ᵖᵉʳᶠᵉᶜᵗ ʷᵒʳˡᵈ )˚⁺✧₊˚.*♡

🍦— 001. welcome back to camp half-blood.

IF YOU EVER COME IN a situation to train with Violeta Wu, be prepared to have bruises all over your body. It wasn't that Vivi was a bad with her dagger ─ she wasn't. With her superspeed and godly reflexes, the girl would be unstoppable for a demigod who wasn't her grandmother who had over fifty years of experience fighting even in her older days.

Vivi's fingers wrapping round the comfortably fitted hilt of her dagger, and stepped forward as she drew it, cutting upwards at Violeta in a fast, reflexive attack. Violeta, caught off-guard by the unnatural speed of the attack, was nonetheless prepared, the cut glancing off a sword in her hand, blocking the attack. Vivi jumped back, landing on the ground with her hands in front.

She went again, down and across from her right shoulder, aiming for Violeta's face. The woman lurched back, her nose a mere inch from the girl's blade. But she still was prepared. Violeta fell backwards onto her back; Vivi didn't expect the move and fell forward, the woman's legs kicking her so she lost her balance.

Violeta flipped the two over and pinned her granddaughter's hands on either side of her body, winning the fight once again.

Vivi pouted, "That's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair, my dear." the older woman said, standing up and helping her granddaughter, "Your form is better, just keep your eyes sharp for sudden attacks."

"Yeah, like I have that spider tingle for it."

"Still quoting Spider-Man." Violeta asked, handing Vivi a water bottle.

"Always." the girl smiled.

"When do you want me to take you to Camp?"

Vivi thought. It was the beginning of the summer. School ended and Vivi was actually happy how her first year at new school turned out. She made some friends there; some people who she met were nice, some were bitchy, but overall it was okay. Of course, she didn't speak of her other part of her life, but she knew they were suspicious when she spoke about her life. At least they didn't question her, but went on like nothing happened.

The only crazy, if you could say that, thing that happened at her new school was back in February. It was not a monster attack, thank gods, but still, Vivi didn't expect it to happen.

She doesn't like to brag, but Vivi knows she is pretty ( a narcistic side of her is showing ). A lot of people at her school asked her if she got a partner or maybe even a crush and she would just shrug it off. 'How come someone as pretty as you doesn't have a boyfriend or girlfriend?' was a question they asked at least two times a week.

It grew her confidence, the compliments they gave her, but to get forty-two Valentine's Day cards and a bunch of chocolates was a bit too much. Sure, she loved the attention from time to time, but she didn't expect so many people to be giving her something for that day. Some were her age and in her grade, some were older students, some younger. Vivi felt overwhelmed but at the same time she loved it. Narcistic behavior, she knows.

Of course she had to Iris-message Annabeth when she got home that day and the girl couldn't stop laughing when Vivi showed her everything ─ from cringy notes and cards, to self-made chocolate that had her throw up ( just one though, the rest were okay ).

During the school year, Vivi would Iris-message Isa to see how the girl was doing as she was alone at the Camp. The two girls would chat about everything and anything ─ from how Vivi's school was to how Isa picked strawberries with Katie Gardener the other day. She was really starting to miss Camp Half-Blood.

"In the morning would be okay," Vivi said, "Before your shift starts."

She was going back to her second home.

The Camp had changed since she left. Not that the scenery changed ─ the green Half-Blood Hill was still there, Thalia's pine tree stood with the Golden Fleece hanging from its branches, magically protecting the camp from its enemies. The guard dragon Peleus had grown up and was currently curled around the tree trunk, lending up smoke signals as he snored. 

The canoe lake glittered and the climbing wall glowed from the lava pouring down its side. Twelve cabins ─ one for each Olympian god ─ made a horseshoe pattern around the commons area. The strawberry fields were filled with children of Demeter picking the small strawberries, the armory was empty, and the four-story Big House with its sky blue paint job and its bronze eagle weathervane also looked empty.

In some ways, the camp hadn't changed. But you couldn't see the war by looking at the buildings or the fields. You could see it in the faces of the demigods and satyrs and naiads coming up the hill. There weren't as many at camp as the summer ago. Some had left and never come back. Some had died fighting. Others ─ they didn't talk about them ─ had gone over to the enemy.

The ones who were still here were battle-hardened and weary. There was little laughter at camp these days. Even her brother, when she arrived at the Camp, didn't play any pranks on her. 

"Well. . . this looks cozy," Vivi said, putting down her suitcase.

"A lot of campers didn't come back," Connor said, dragging Vivi's other suitcase.

"I see that. The cabin looks more empty then ever."

"Well, some ran away, some, you know, changed sides," Connor said, falling on Vivi's bed, "I'm glad you came back."

"Duh, I ain't leaving you all alone. We're family now."

Her brother groaned, but couldn't hide the small smile on his face, "It's too early for you to be sappy."

"I'm not sappy!"

"Yes you are," Connor said, turning on his side so he could speak with Vivi as she took her stuff out, "Did you hear? Percy and Beckendorf went on a mission."

Vivi's heart stopped. Her head snapped up to  look at her brother, "You're telling me that just now!"

"I thought you knew!"

"How would I know?"

"Thought Percy would tell you."

"He would be the first person not to tell me so I don't loose my shit!"

"Well, he's right," Connor said, "You're loosing your shit."

Vivi glared at him, "Ó, nǐ wánchéngle ( Oh, you're so done. )." and she tackled her brother.

And so, as their 'bonding time' or more like detention, Chiron made the two do the lookout duty after seeing them running though the Camp with Connor screaming for his life and Vivi chasing him with her dagger in hands.

"If you just played nice, we wouldn't be here." Connor said, picking leaves of the branch he sat on and throwing them down at Vivi.

The girl brushed them off her head, "If you told me earlier about Percy, then ─ "

"He's there!" Connor cut her off.

"What?" Vivi asked, and looked where her brother was pointing.

Their beach is on the North Shore of Long Island, and it's enchanted so most people can't even see it, and usually people don't just appear on the beach unless they're demigods or gods or really, really lost pizza delivery guys. ( it's happened ─ but that's another story ). And there, coming from the water, was Percy Jackson.

Vivi stood up immediately and ran towards the boy, not caring that her brother fell from the tree and blew the conch horn to signal the Camp, she only cared about the boy who had stolen her heart without even him knowing.

He had grown up since she last physically saw him. Sure, they lived close, but with their schools being on different sides of the city, they never got to see each other. His hair had grown a bit more since their last Iris-message and Vivi was living for it.

"Percy!" she yelled and felt her body collide with Percy's; his, suddenly, really strong arms wrapping around her body with his head resting in space between her neck and shoulder. He smelled like ocean and sea water, comforting and calm, but still dangerous.

"Percy!" Connor yelled, running towards the pair. "What happened? Where's Beckendorf?"

Vivi too, wondered where the older boy was. Then she saw Percy's expression, and stomach twisted.

"Oh, no. Poor Silena. Holy Zeus, when she finds out. . ."

Together, the three of them climbed the sand dunes. Percy grabbed a hold of Vivi's hand, too afraid to let go as if she would disappear at any given moment. But Vivi wouldn't do that. She held tightly onto his hand.

A few hundred yards away, people were already streaming toward them, smiling and excited. Percy's back, they were probably thinking. He's saved the day! Maybe he brought souvenirs!

Chiron galloped into the pavilion first, which was easy for him since he's a white stallion from the waist down. His beard had grown wilder over the summer. He wore a green T-shirt that said MY OTHER CAR IS A CENTAUR and a bow slung over his back.

"Percy!" he said. "Thank the gods. But where . . ."

Annabeth ran in right behind him, "What happened?" she grabbed his arm. "Is Luke ─ "

"The ship blew up," Percy said. "He wasn't destroyed. I don't know where ─ "

Silena Beauregard pushed through the crowd. Her hair wasn't combed and she wasn't even wearing makeup, which wasn't like her. "Where's Charlie?" she demanded, looking around like he might be hiding.

Percy glanced at Chiron helplessly. The old centaur cleared his throat. "Silena, my dear, let's talk about this at the Big House ─ "

"No," she muttered. "No. No."

She started to cry, and the rest of the campers stood around, too stunned to speak. Vivi felt tears clouding her vision. They'd already lost so many people over the summer, but this was the worst. With Beckendorf gone, it felt like someone had stolen the anchor for the entire camp. It was Beckendorf after all.

Finally Clarisse from the Ares cabin came forward. She put her arm around Silena. They had one of the strangest friendships ever ─ a daughter of the war god and a daughter of the love goddess. Vivi guessed opposites attracts ─ but ever since Silena had given Clarisse advice last summer about her first boyfriend, Clarisse had decided she was Silena's personal bodyguard. 

Clarisse was dressed in her bloodred combat armor, her brown hair tucked into a bandana. She was as big and beefy as a rugby player, with a permanent scowl on her face, but she spoke gently to Silena. "Come on, girl," she said. "Let's get to the Big House. I'll make you some hot chocolate."

Everyone turned and wandered off in twos and threes, heading back to the cabins. Connor looked at his sister and she nodded her head, deciding to stay. He sighed and left, wondering off towards their cabin. Only Vivi, Annabeth and Chiron stayed behind.

Annabeth wiped a tear from her cheek. "I'm glad you're not dead, Seaweed Brain."

"Thanks," Percy said. "Me too."

Chiron put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'm sure you did everything you could, Percy. Will you tell us what happened?" 

Percy told them the story of what happened on Princess Andromeda, including his dream about the Titans. 

Chiron gazed down at the valley. "We must call a war council immediately, to discuss this spy, and other matters."

"Poseidon mentioned another threat," Percy said. "Something even bigger than the Princess Andromeda. I thought it might be that challenge the Titan had mentioned in my dream." 

"We will discuss that also," Chiron promised.

"One more thing." the boy took a deep breath. "When I talked to my father, he said to tell you it's time. I need to know the full prophecy."

Chiron's shoulders sagged, but he didn't look surprised. "I've dreaded this day. Very well. Annabeth, you know where it is."

The senior counselors, along with Vivi for the reason she, again, didn't know, had gathered around the Ping-Pong table. It was supposed to be a war council, but it looked more like a shouting match. Clarisse was still in full battle gear. Her electric spear was strapped to her back. She had her boar-shaped helmet under one arm and a knife at her belt. She was in the midst of yelling at Michael Yew, the new head counselor for Apollo, which looked kind of funny since Clarisse was a foot taller.

Michael had taken over the Apollo cabin after Lee Fletcher died in battle last summer. Michael stood four feet six, with another two feet of attitude. He reminded Vivi of a ferret, with a pointy nose and scrunched-up features ─ either because he scowled so much or because he spent too much time looking down the shaft of an arrow.

"It's our loot!" he yelled, standing on his tiptoes so he could get in Clarisse's face. "If you don't like it, you can kiss my quiver!"

Around the table, people were trying not to laugh ─ her brothers, Pollux from the Dionysus cabin, Katie Gardner from Demeter. Even Jake Mason, the hastily appointed new counselor from Hephaestus, managed a faint smile. Only Silena Beauregard didn't pay any attention. She sat beside Clarisse and stared vacantly at the Ping-Pong net. Her eyes were red and puffy. A cup of hot chocolate sat untouched in front of her. It seemed unfair that she had to be here. Vivi wanted to slap both Clarisse and Michael for standing over the girl, arguing about something as stupid as loot, when she'd just lost Beckendorf.

"STOP IT!" Percy yelled as the three slowly approached them all. "What are you guys doing?" 

Clarisse glowered at him. "Tell Michael not to be a selfish jerk."

"Oh, that's perfect, coming from you," Michael said.

"The only reason I'm here is to support Silena!" Clarisse shouted. "Otherwise I'd be back in my cabin."

"What are you talking about?"

Pollux cleared his throat. "Clarisse has refused to speak to any of us, until her, um, issue is resolved. She hasn't spoken for three days."

"It's been wonderful," Travis Stoll said wistfully.

"Travis, i babo, dagchyeo ( you idiot, shut up )." Vivi scolded.

"What issue?" Percy asked.

Clarisse turned to Chiron. "You're in charge, right? Does my cabin get what we want or not?" 

Chiron shuffled his hooves. "My dear, as I've already explained, Michael is correct. Apollo's cabin has the best claim. Besides, we have more important matters ─ "

"Sure," Clarisse snapped. "Always more important matters than what Ares needs. We're just supposed to show up and light when you need us, and not complain!"

"That would be nice," Connor Stoll muttered.

Clarisse gripped her knife. "Maybe I should ask Mr. D ─ "

"As you know," Chiron interrupted, his tone slightly angry now, "our director, Dionysus, is busy with the war. He can't be bothered with this."

"I see," Clarisse said. "And the senior counselors? Are any of you going to side with me?"

Nobody was smiling now. None of them met Clarisse's eyes. Vivi didn't dare to speak. First, she literally just arrived that morning and she had no idea what was even happening. Second, she honestly didn't want to intervene or get on Clarisse's bad side.

"Fine." Clarisse turned to Silena. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get into this when you've just lost. . . Anyway, I apologize. To you. Nobody else."

Silena didn't seem to register her words. Clarisse threw her knife on the Ping-Pong table. "All of you can fight this war without Ares. Until I get satisfaction, no one in my cabin is lifting a finger to help. Have fun dying."

Vivi knew at least one person, and she knew who, would be fighting with them. Or at least hoped so. The counselors were all too stunned to say anything as Clarisse stormed out of the room. Finally Michael Yew said, "Good riddance."

"Are you kidding?" Katie Gardner protested. "This is a disaster!"

"She can't be serious," Travis said. "Can she?"

Chiron sighed. "Her pride has been wounded. She'll calm down eventually." but he didn't sound convinced. "Now," Chiron continued, "if you please, counselors. Percy has brought something I think you should hear. Percy ─ the Great Prophecy."

Annabeth handed Percy the parchment. The boy uncurled the paper, trying not to rip it, and began to read: "A half-blood of the eldest dogs. . ."

"Er, Percy?" Annabeth interrupted. "That's gods. Not dogs."

"Oh, right," Percy said frustrated. Being dyslexic is one mark of a demigod; thank gods Vivi didn't have it. "A half-blood of the eldest gods . . . shall reach sixteen against all odds . . ."

Percy hesitated, but continued, "And see the world in endless sleep, The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap." 

"Percy," Chiron urged. "Read the rest." 

"A single choice shall. . . shall end his days. Olympus to per-pursue ─ " 

"Preserve," Vivi said gently as she scooted closer to the boy.

Annabeth nodded, "It means to save."

"I know what it means," Percy grumbled. "Olympus to preserve or raze."

The room was silent.

Finally Connor said, "Raise is good, isn't it?"

"Not raise," Silena said. Her voice was hollow, but Vivi was startled to hear her speak at all. "R-a-z-e means destroy."

"Obliterate," Annabeth said. "Annihilate. Turn to rubble."

"Got it. Thanks.

Everybody was looking at Percy ─ with concern, or pity, or maybe a little fear. Chiron closed his eyes as if he were saying a prayer. In horse form, his head almost brushed the lights in the rec room. "You see now, Percy, why we thought it best not to tell you the whole prophecy. You've had enough on your shoulders ─ "

"Without realizing I was going to die in the end anyway?" Percy said. "Yeah, I get it."

"You're not going to die." Vivi mumbled, her voice soft, calm and unlike how it should be in this situation. "Prophecies always have double meanings. It might not literally mean you die."

"Sure," Percy said. "A single choice shall end his days. That has tons of meanings, right?"

"You're not going to die. You hear me," she grabbed his hands, "You're not dying. Not on my watch. I already cried when you got marooned on that island, I don't want to cry again."

"Maybe we can stop it," Jake Mason offered. "The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap. Maybe we could find this cursed blade and destroy it. Sounds like Kronos's scythe, right?" 

"Perhaps we should let Percy think about these lines," Chiron said. "He needs time ─ "

"No." Percy folded up the prophecy and shoved it into his pocket. "I don't need time. If I die, I die. I can't worry about that, right?"

"Stop talking about dying." Vivi muttered.

"Let's move on," Percy said. "We've got other problems. We've got a spy."

Michael Yew scowled. "A spy?"

Son of Poseidon told them what had happened on the Princess Andromeda ─ how Kronos had known they were coming, how he'd shown Percy the silver scythe pendant he'd used to communicate with someone at camp. Silena started to cry again, and Annabeth put an arm around her shoulders.

"Well," Connor said uncomfortably, "we've suspected there might a spy for years, right? Somebody kept passing information to Luke ─ like the location of the Golden Fleece a couple of years ago. It must be somebody who knew him well."

Maybe subconsciously, he glanced at Annabeth. She'd known Luke better than anyone, of course, but Connor looked away quickly. Vivi sent him a glare "Um, I mean, it could be anybody." 

"Yes." Katie Gardner frowned at her brothers and Vivi herself. "Like one of Luke's siblings."

"Wow, back the fuck up." Vivi said and Travis and Connor both started arguing with her. 

"Stop!" Silena banged the table so hard her hot chocolate spilled. "Charlie's dead and. . . and you're all arguing like little kids!"

She put her head down and began to sob. Hot chocolate trickled off the Ping-Pong table. Everybody looked ashamed.

"She's right," Pollux said at last. "Accusing each other doesn't help. We need to keep our eyes open for a silver necklace with a scythe charm. If Kronos had one, the spy probably does too." 

Michael Yew grunted. "We need to find this spy before we plan our next operation. Blowing up the Princess Andromeda won't stop Kronos forever."

"No indeed," Chiron said. "In fact his next assault is already on the way."

Percy scowled. "You mean the 'bigger threat' Poseidon mentioned?" 

"Percy," Chiron said, "we didn't want to tell you until you returned to camp. You needed a break with your . . . mortal friends.

Vivi licked her lips. She knew who does 'mortal friends' were and she didn't like it. It wasn't that she disliked Rachel, not at all, the girl was cool, Vivi admits it. And plus, she also has mortal friends outside of Camp Half-Blood, but she told Percy that; Percy didn't tell her about Rachel, nor would he meet her gaze right now. 

"Tell me what's happened," Percy said.

Chiron picked up a bronze goblet from the snack table. He tossed water onto the hot plate where they usually melted nacho cheese. Steam billowed up, making a rainbow in the fluorescent lights. Chiron fished a golden drachma out of his pouch, tossed it through the mist, and muttered, "O Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, show us the threat."

The mist shimmered. Vivi saw the familiar image of a smoldering volcano ─ Mount St. Helens. As they watched, the side of the mountain exploded. Fire, ash, and lava rolled out. A newscaster's voice was saying " ─ even larger than last year's eruption, and geologists warn that the mountain may not be done."

This explosion, compared to last year's caused by Percy, was much worse. The mountain tore itself apart, collapsing inward, and an enormous form rose out of the smoke and lava like it was emerging from a manhole. The giant was bigger than anything Vivi'd ever encountered. Even her demigod eyes couldn't make out its exact form through the ash and fire, but it was vaguely humanoid and huge. The mountain shook with a horrible rumbling, as if the monster were laughing.

"It's him," Percy said. "Typhon."

Chiron nodded. "The most horrible monster of all, the biggest single threat the gods ever faced. He has been freed from under the mountain at last. But this scene is from two days ago. Here is what is happening today."

Chiron waved his hand and the image changed. Vivi saw a bank of storm clouds rolling across the Midwest plains. Lightning flickered. Lines of tornadoes destroyed everything in their path ─ ripping up houses and trailers, tossing cars around like Matchbox toys.

"Monumental floods," an announcer was saying. "Five states declared disaster areas as the freak storm system sweeps east, continuing its path of destruction."

The cameras zoomed in on a column of storm bearing down on some Midwest city. Inside the storm the girl could see the giant ─ just small glimpses of his true form: a smoky arm, a dark clawed hand the size of a city block. His angry roar rolled across the plains like a nuclear blast. Other smaller forms darted through the clouds, circling the monster. Vivi saw flashes of light, and she realized the giant was trying to swat them. She squinted and thought she saw a golden chariot flying into the blackness. Then some kind of huge bird ─ a monstrous owl ─ dived in to attack the giant. 

"Are those . . . the gods?" Percy said.

"Yes, Percy," Chiron said. "They have been fighting him for days now, trying to slow him down. But Typhon is marching forward ─ toward New York. Toward Olympus."

"How long until he gets here?"

"Unless the gods can stop him? Perhaps five days. Most of the Olympians are there. . . except your father, who has a war of his own to fight."

"But then who's guarding Olympus?"

Connor shook his head. "If Typhon gets to New York, it won't matter who's guarding Olympus."

"It's a trick," Percy said. "We have to warn the gods. Something else is going to happen."

Chiron looked at me gravely. "Something worse than Typhon? I hope not."

"We have to defend Olympus," Percy insisted. "Kronos has another attack planned."

"He did," Travis reminded me. "But you sunk his ship."

Everyone was looking at Percy. Vivi thought about it and she didn't like what she was thinking. What if the Princess Andromeda was a ploy? What if Kronos let us blow up that ship so they'd lower our guard? She looked up at Percy and Annabeth, nd they both knew what she was thinking about

"Maybe you're right," Percy said

"Well," Chiron said, "I think that's enough for one night." he waved his hand and the steam dissipated. The stormy battle of Typhon and the gods disappeared.

"That's an understatement," Percy muttered.

And the war council adjourned. 

niki speaks!

first chapter of act Ii is here!!
this is the last act before we go to
heroes of olympus and my lovely isa!!
i'm hoping to publish that book this month
cuz it's just gay shit ( hint on who her partner is ) and i love them so much.

two more weeks of school,
even though I won't bring anything last week
because why??

anyway, have a great day/nice!
bye!