After we got back to camp, Percy and I went to practice some chariot racing. He told me that a chariot race was bound to happen again soon so I should learn how to control a chariot. After that, I had a picnic with Devon, Brandon, Annabeth and Chase for lunch near the woods. It was actually a lot of fun with more people than just the usual three of us. But…then it got awkward.
I was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when I practically almost chocked on it when Brandon asked a certain question.
“So, are you and Annabeth a thing, Percy?”
( Me: That’s your cue!) I started gagging on a huge bite and everyone looked at me.
“Eva, are you okay?” Devon asked.
I nodded and swallowed hardly. Ugh…fuck...it hurt. I hate it when that happens!
“Yeah, just um…that question caught me off guard.”
Brandon looked confused, “Why? Is there something you know that we don’t?”
Annabeth looked quizzically at me and I smiled nervously.
“What? No!” I lied. I looked at Percy andgave him signs with my eyes. He nodded quickly and mock laughed.
“Of course not, Brandon! Annabeth and I are just friends, nothing like that.”
Annabeth scoffed coldly, “What’s that supposed to mean, Percy?”
“What? Nothing, it doesn’t mean anything!”
We all stayed quiet and Devon grunted sitting up from his laying position.
“Well, that was nice. I think we should all do our own thing unless some people want things to get awkward.” Devon offered.
The boys and I left Annabeth and Percy somewhat arguing to themselves. I had to admit Brandon had gotten pretty close to figuring out that Percy had some unknown feelings for Annabeth.
We walked all the way to the pavilion where everyone else was having lunch. We sat down at the Hermes table and thank the gods not a lot of people were there. We spent most of the time talking and listening to our iPods. All of a sudden Devon spoke, “Hey, Brandon. I talked to dad.”
Brandon’s head slowly turned to face Devon, “When?”
Devon smiled gently, “Last night. Grover could tell I was worried about him so he taught me how to send an IM.”
I furrowed my eyebrows, “Taught you? We all know how to use instant messaging.”
Devon chuckled, “That’s just it! It’s Iris-messaging!”
Devon explained everything about Iris messaging and said that the goddess must be very rich from all those coins you have to throw in the mist. Apparently, Iris messaging was all the rage these days.
After lunch, I played soccer with the Athena cabin. And I have to say, Annabeth can kick ass in soccer. Like really kick ass, like the Olympics. Haha. No pun intended. Really, it wasn’t intended. Anyways, the day wasn’t going so bad so far, but just wait till’ dinner, it get’s worse.
--------At dinner.
After I dumped my share of fire into the hearth, I prayed to the gods once more for them to claim me. Who knows…I may be unclaimed for the rest of my life, like Lady Gaga. Yeah, surprisingly she’s a daughter of Aphrodite and she doesn’t even know it! I don’t want to be a washed up pop-star who is still unclaimed in my twenties!! Anyways, when I was walking back to my table is when things went wrong. I was walking next to the Aphrodite table when Silena screamed. I whipped my head and yelled, “Silena! What’s wrong, are you okay?”
She just stared at me and when I got closer she yelped and fell out of her seat. Her eyes became wide and someone yelled, “Hey, look at Eva!”
Everyone’s head turned toward me and Percy walked up to me smiling and clearly not afraid.
“What are you guys talking about?” he asked. “There’s nothing wrong with…”
Percy stared above my head and I heard some people murmur and gasp.
Percy's suprised look faded and hegrinned at me, "I knew it."
I looked up at the head table and Chiron spoke with a grave tone.
“Look up above your head my dear.”
I looked up and saw right above my head a glowing yellow light, like a yellow orb. Inside the yellow orb was blue lightning. It crackled and the air filled the smell of o-zone. I knew…exactly what this meant.
People stared in awe and I yelled at myself. I stomped my foot on the ground over and over and yelled, “Shit! God damn, why ME?!”
Some people gasped at my choice of words and then after like five seconds, everyone got to their knees and bowed. The only people who stood were Percy, Devon and Brandon. They just stared and look surprised as the author intended them to look! I swear to god, excuse me, gods, that I could almost hear the theatrical music behind this suspenseful moment. Chiron raised his goblet and put down his head in respect.
“Zeus,” Chiron bellowed.
Oh, boy. I know where this is going. I thought.
“Father of the gods.” said Chiron. “Ruler of Olympus, Lightning master, God of the sky and thunder. Hail Evangeline Grey, Daughter of the king of Gods.”
I sighed and breathed in out very calmly, “Its okay, breathe, so what if your not a normal half blood? Its okay…FUCK!”
I felt kinda heavy inside when i saw something that saved my ass from all this attention.
I pointed towards the top of Brandon’s head and felt immediately relieved I wasn’t alone.
I screeched with happiness, “Oh, Brandon, THANK YOU!”
He looked confused, “For…what? I didn’t make you the daughter of Zeus!”
I shook my head and pointed to the top of his head once more, “Look above your head, Brandon!”
Everyone looked up at Brandon’s head and Percy looked sick to the bone.
“Not again!” Percy stomped his foot to the ground. The floor must hate us right now.
Devon crossed his arms, “Thanks for leaving me, buddy.”
“It’s not my fault I’m the son of…who?” Brandon asked.
Percy threw his hands in the air, “Poseidon, dude!”
It was true. A green flash floated above Brandon head with a sea green trident, the air then smelled of the sea.
I heard someone from the Ares cabin yell, “Two children of the Big Three being claimed on the same night? That’s unheard of!”
Percy looked mad at first but then his expression softened, “Brandon, you’re my half-brother.”
AWWWW, that was sorta sweet. I mean, to see tw brothers rejoin, its kinda like a movie. All the negatvness instantly left wehn Devon fucked it up.
Devon’s head snapped up, “Excuse me? I’m sorry Percy, but the brother title, is already taken!”
“Devon,” I gasped. “Brandon can have more than one brother, okay? Stop being a dick!”
Devon’s nostrils flared, and he looked like he was ready to chew my head off.
Brandon walked over to Percy who was right next to me and clapped him on the back.
Percy smiled at Brandon and honestly…I’ve never seen Percy so happy, “My brother. My human brother. Finally….”
Some of the campers laughed and some looked teary. Some others had their mouth open agape. Brandon laughed and so did Percy. Another person gasped and I closed my eyes not wanting to see who else was claimed becaus ei nknew, that everyone just has to gasp when they see something suprising. I raised my hands in the air and yelled, “If another person is claimed, I swear to the gods, I will lose my head.”
Chiron’s voice quavered, “Then prepare to lose your head.”
I opened my eyes and saw Annabeth approach us, although she wasn’t looking at me or Brandon.
“What on…Earth…is going…on?” she faltered.
Her gaze was on Devon and when I saw what was above his head, I could have died.
It was pretty fuckin’ scary. Some people backed away but others just stared at him in awe. Unlike others, my heart fell.
He looked around confused, “What? Me? No…no, no, no.”
He saw everyone’s sad gaze and some people look away from him, I even saw Chris look away. Devon looked at me and he looked broken.
“Is it really…it can’t be.” I muttered.
He met my eyes and begged, “Eva….who is it?”
I stared at the figure above in complete and utter horror. Brandon and I being kids of Zeus and Poseidon was bad. Completely and utterly bad. Just plain fucked up. We should have never been born. But Devon…oh, Devon. The image above his head was an hour glass; the black sand was falling fast and then ran out. Like someone’s time had been done. On top of the hour glass…was a skull.
“Hades…” I was finally able to say.
His eyes said it all. It went from anger, to complete sorrow all in one moment. Those endless sorrowful eyes stared into mine. Any longer and our eyes could have melted together. He tore his gaze from my eyes and he slammed his hand against the table. I flinched and Brandon took a step back too. Everyone was in complete silence and nobody moved, like the Twilight Zone....it was getting creepy.All the satyrs held the trays of food in weird paused positions, and Chiron still had his goblet held high. Nobody dared move. Just the eyes watched all of us like a tennis match, back and forth, seeing what we would do. Chiron grunted and I could tell he was shaken because his voice came out girly weak.
“Well, Campers of Camp Half-Blood, ladies and gentleman, I present to you; Evangeline Grey, Brandon Hartman, and Devon Kenrick! Children of the Big Three!I turned to Devon and he just looked broken, he met my eyes again and smiled weakly. He mouthed, 'It's okay' to me. I smiled a little too, trying to brighten the mood.
Devon and Brandon came to my side at once as everyone applauded. I watched everyone as they bowed again. The only person who didn’t this time was Dionysus. Eww, he’s my half brother. That’s kind of gross. This meant that…everyone on Olympus was my half-sibling. Except for Hera…she’s my aunt/step-mother!!
Devon swayed on the balls of his feet and said in a sing song voice, “Whose summer is the worst summer of all tiiime?”
“Ughhhh…” Brandon and I said as we raised our hands pathetically.
“This sucks, I’m a son of Hades. Nobody accepts him, I’m gonna’ be an outcast…all over again!” Devon complained.
“At least you’re not in touchwith fish,” Brandon pointed out.
“Yeah,” Devon sighed. “By the way, sorry for being jealous of Percy being your real brother, Brandon.”
Brandon sighed, “Devon, its okay. You’ll always be my brother. More than Percy, man.”
“Awww.” I said, feeling the mood. “Oh, I’m sorry Devon for calling you a dick. You’re not really. I was just confused about everything. I’m sorry…forgive me?”
Devon chuckled and kissed the top of my head. I shrank down a little and smiled.
“Of course, my princess.” Devon mused.
"More like your boss." Brandon laughed.
I could feel my face getting hot and Brandon laughed from behind me.
Some people looked up and I could tell just staring into their faces, this summer…was going to be the WORST summer of all time.
