Regret
🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
I followed Grover to the infirmary, quickly followed by Annabeth's inquisitive self.
"What's going on, Odie?" The younger girl asked as we entered the infirmary.
"Do you remember Percy?" I asked, stopping in front of the cot that he laid unconscious in.
"Your brother?" She answered in brief confusion, before seeing the boy and connecting the dots. "That's him?"
"Yeah, apparently he fought the Minotaur." I sighed, staring worriedly at my little brother.
"He fought the Minotaur?" Annabeth asked in disbelief, pointing at the drooling blonde.
"He's more of a menace to society when he's awake." I shrugged, before pointing to the large horn on the table. "Also the spoil of the fight is right there."
"Do you think he's the one in the prophecy?" She asked in curiosity.
"For his safety and mom's, I hope not."I sighed, pulling a chair next to the cot and slumping down into it.
"I'll give you a minute." The younger girl said, before she and Grover slipped out of the infirmary.
I glanced worriedly at Percy, when he started to mumble in his sleep. I watched as his face scrunched up in fear.
"You're safe now, Bubba." I promised, moving some of his blonde curls from his eyes. "I won't fail you again."
"You didn't fail him, Odie."
I turned to find my cabin mate and leader of Hermes cabin, Luke. He stood at the entrance, giving me an encouraging smile.
"Thanks, Lu, but his current state says otherwise." I told the younger boy, gesturing to my unconscious sibling. "I should have been there to protect him."
"You couldn't have known that the Minotaur would go after him." He countered, unfortunately having a point. "Besides, your demigod smell is probably more potent than his. So you would have attracted more monsters to you both."
"Luke is correct, Odyssea." Chiron stated, making his presence in the infirmary known. "You had no control over your brother's journey here. It is best not to torture yourself over it."
"If only it were so easy." I muttered, watching my kid brother experience a nightmare.
🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
Early the next morning, Grover and I sat at Percy's bedside, keeping an eye on him.
My blue eyes scanned the page of my Greek copy of the Odyssey, as I waited patiently for my brother to wake up. Just as I read through the part about Circe, a rustling to my left caught my attention. Percy let out a groan, causing Grover and I to sit up straight.
"It's okay, you're safe." Grover told him gently, as I smiled in relief.
"How do you feel, little man?" I asked softly, putting down my book.
"Odie?" He looked up at me in confusion, tears welling up in my eyes.
"Hey, Bubba." I smiled, hating that my kid brother was put in this situation to begin with. "We have a lot to talk about, don't we?"
I watched as he eyed the Minotaur horn on the table across the room. "It really happened."
"Well, it's a big deal to kill a monster like that. So, I wanted everyone to know—." Grover rambled, before being interrupted by Percy.
"Did you see it? Did you see what happened to our mom?" He asked, his voice small and a little broken. I stayed silent and grasped my little brother's hand in comfort, a tear falling down my cheek.
"I did." Grover admitted, somberly. "I'm sorry...for... everything."
"It's not your fault, Grover." I tried to reassure the young satyr.
"My job was to protect you, to get you here safely. Maybe if I had told you the truth a little sooner, your mom would still be here—."
"Please, stop." Percy interrupted Grover again. I watched with an aching heart as he wiped away tears.
"I know this isn't easy, but I want to talk about it."
"I don't." My little brother said, letting go of my hand and climbing out of the cot. "Your job was to get me here alive. So, your job is done."
Percy started to walk towards the door, making Grover question. "Where are you going?"
"It was so important that I get here, because our father's a god. So, I'm gonna go find him." He said before leaving the infirmary.
"It's not that simple." I shared a look with Grover, before following after my brother.
I found him, introducing himself to Mr. D and knowing how interesting this conversation was going to be, I stood back and watched.
"Excuse me? I'm Percy Jackson, I'm new here."
"Peter Johnson is here!" Mr. D yelled, making me bust up laughing. "Olivia Johnson is here too!"
"Hi, Mr. D." I greeted the god, earning a half-assed wave in response.
"Okay, that isn't really my name, or my sister's name." Percy kept talking in confusion. "I guess I'm looking for the office? Or whoever's in charge, so—."
"Wait, wait,wait, wait, wait." Grover exclaimed as he joined us. "Wait,wait, wait! Percy, um... Mr.D, camp director."
"Mr. D, this is my little brother, Percy." I introduced with an amused smile on my face. "As I'm sure you heard."
"But did he?" Percy questioned, making me lightly smack his arm. Grover pulled him aside to explain, that Mr. D was in fact, Dionysus.
"Excuse me, your highness?" Percy acknowledged Mr. D again, making me audibly cackle.
"Oh." The god in question, quipped, completely uninterested.
"I think our dad may be around here somewhere. I don't know how to ask for him. I don't– I don't even know his name. But I think I should see him," Percy rambled, before pointing to me. "I think we should see him. I just– I think I really need him right now. Can you help me?"
I made eye contact with Mr. D and immediately knew he was going to pull some bullshit.
"Actually... I think I can." He said sitting up slightly. "Son."
Called it.
"Dad?" Percy asked in bewilderment.
"Yes, Peter?"
"It's Percy."
"Exactly, before we get to know each other,there's something very important I want you to do for me, okay?" I rolled my eyes knowing I should stop this joke, before it goes too far.
"In the galley there's a bottle of 1985 Château Haut Brion. Will you go fetch that for me?"
"Mr. D isn't our dad, Percy." I sighed, having experienced this joke myself when I first arrived at camp. "He pulls this with all of the newcomers."
"Way to ruin my fun, Olivia."
"Odyssea." I corrected, knowing that it wouldn't make a difference.
"That's what I said."
Thankfully, Chiron entered the Big House, hind legs and all. There was a long silence, as my brother came to terms with the fact that his teacher was a centaur.
"Percy." Chiron greeted simply, sending Grover and I a nod.
"Mr. Brunner?"
"Uh, Mr. Brunner's real name is Chiron." Grover explained, rambling once more. "Camp activities director, immortal trainer of heroes, he's–."
"Grover, thank you. I'll take it from here." The centaur politely chimed in, before turning to me. "Odyssea, would you mind getting Percy's bunk ready in Cabin Eleven."
"Sure thing." I turned to leave, but my brother grabbed my hand to stop me.
"Can she stay? Please?"
I shared a look with Chiron, before addressing my little brother. "Bubba, Chiron can explain it better than I can and I don't want to overwhelm you on your first day."
"Please, don't leave again, Odie."
Well, shit.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top