849 words

"We'll see about this," I snarled. "Let's go."

"Hold up," Clarisse said. "We need help carrying the wounded back to the Big House."

I rolled my eyes. "Here, I'll do it."

I went to a few of the campers, placed my hand on their wounds, and chanted in Ancient Greek. A golden light came from my hand and healed their wounds.

"There," I said to Clarisse. "I'm going now."

"Who are you?" Clarisse asked, sounding a little awed.

I ignored her and stormed into camp, heading to the Big House with my anger back. Agro followed me at my side, and Zade perched on my shoulder. I passed the Amphitheater, the Strawberry Fields, and the Volleyball Courts, and finally arrived at the Big House.

I banged the door open and heard shuffling in one of the rooms, so I went in that direction. I found Chiron in a room lined with bronze shields and having a desk, a record player, a boom box, and a computer.

Chiron was standing behind his desk, packing things into saddlebags on his flanks. He looked up when I walked in.

"Hello," Chiron said, and his face paled when he saw me.

"Hello, Chiron," I said.

"Ainsley Theron," Chiron said quietly. "My, you've changed, child."

"Yes, I have," I said.

His eyes roved over my face and fixed for a moment on my scar before looking back down at his bags. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you with the Hunt? Where is Aidan?"

A fist clenched around my heart when he said that name. "Don't say that traitor's name to me."

Chiron frowned. "Traitor?"

"He joined Kronos," I growled. "After he gave me this."

I pointed at my scar.

Chiron was about to speak when three people walked into the room. I spun around, my hands gripping my daggers. I don't trust strangers.

The first person was a guy who was over six feet tall, with large shoulders, really untidy hair the color of dark mahogany wood, and eyes the color of coffee beans.

My grip on my daggers tightened.

Cyclops, Zade squawked.

The second person was a 13-year-old girl with stormy, grey eyes; a well-built body; skin that was tanned; and wavy hair that was honey blonde pulled back into a ponytail. She was wearing an orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt, blue jean shorts, Black Adidas shoes, and a ring on her left hand.   I recognized her; it was Annabeth Chase, the girl I'd met 4 years ago on my tour of Camp Half-Blood with Aidan and Dad.

Remembering that tour made the fist grip tighter around my heart.

The last person was a 13-year-old guy with eyes the color of the ocean tousled hair the color of the night, and a sarcastic smile. The guy was pretty good-looking.

My lip curled in disgust; I had a feeling this guy was going to flirt with me. Everyone handsome guy always did.

"Pony!" the Cyclops shouted.

Chiron looked extremely affronted. "Excuse me?"

"Tyson," Percy said quietly. "Chiron is a centaur."

"Chiron!" Annabeth said, rushing over to hug the centaur.

Chiron ruffled Annabeth's hair affectionately.

The other guy froze when he saw me.

"You," he said.

"What about me?" I snarled at him.

"You summoned lightning," the guy said. "Only a Child of Zeus can do that. And you shapeshifted. And you charged the bulls down and didn't get burned."

"So?" I said.

"Who are you?" the guy asked.

"Why does that matter to you, Son of Poseidon?" I said coldly. "Perseus Achilles Jackson."

The guy's widened. "How do you know-"

"News travels fast in the animal world," I said coldly. "And I have spies everywhere."

Too much,  Zade squawked.

"Anyways," Annabeth said hastily before something broke out. "Clarrise said you'd been fired Chiron. Is that true?"

Chiron sighed. "I'm afraid it is."

He, Annabeth, and Percy started talking about stuff. I didn't really pay attention because I was thinking; thinking about Aidan, and the battle on the Space Needle in Seattle 4 years ago. What had gone wrong? Why had he betrayed me?

I was jolted out of my thoughts when Chiron said, "I must take my leave, now."

Annabeth stifled a sob.

"It's alright, child," Chiron said gently, brushing a tear from her cheek. "Keep yourself out of trouble."

And with that, the greatest trainer of heroes clopped of the room, down the hallway, and out of sight.

"Let's go," I said to Agro and Zade, and I began walking out of the office.

"Where are you going?" Annabeth asked.

I stopped and turned back to look at her. "I'm going to face Dionysus. He cannot do this without someone saying something."

Annabeth looked alarmed. "You can't go face him like this. He'll turn you into a squirrel or something!"

I looked Annabeth straight in the eyes. "Annabeth Chase, I am known as the Hunter Queen for a reason. I once frightened the god Eros, a deity feared by Zeus himself. I do not fear the Olympians; they should fear me."