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chapter fourteen ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
014. Guess What! Luke is Back, Back Again

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CASSIE WAS SO TEMPTED TO SHOVE PERCY INTO THE WATER TO WAKE HIM UP.

But Annabeth wouldn't let her and instead resorted to splashing his face with a little water.

"Percy, wake up."

He didn't budge.

"Are you sure I can't just give him a little nudge?" Cassie pouted.

Annabeth rolled her eyes with a small smile.

"No Carter, knowing you a little nudge will result in Seaweed Brain falling off because you nudged him too hard."

Cassie's face dropped but the blonde wasn't wrong.

"What if I promise not to push him off and just shake him awake?" Cassie tried.

Annabeth huffed because of the brunette's persistence but gave in.

"Fine, just don't push."

Big mistake.

"BUBBLE GUPPY WAKE UP!" Cassie shouted, shaking the son of Poseidon.

It startled him and down Percy went into the water.

Cassie fell off her hippocampus too from laughing so hard.

Percy resurfaced, spiting out water. Cassie came up coughing up water and laughing.

The son of Poseidon scowled, "What the heck Cassie."

The daughter of Ares just kept laughing.

Percy sighed but his hippocampus came and picked them both up.

This time, Percy shoved Cassie back off.

"Hey-" Splash!

Clarisse raised an eyebrow at the two from her seat in front of Tyson.

Grover was used to it, not paying much attention.

Annabeth reached her hand out for Cassie when the brunette surfaced.

"Rude!" Cassie shouted as she hoisted herself back up, behind Annabeth.

"You started it!" Percy defended.

"Doesn't matter!" Cassie stuck her tongue out at him.

Annabeth wasn't impressed and Percy was finally able to look around.

The sun was slowly disappearing behind a city.

There was beachside highway bordered with palm trees.

The stores all had neon open signs and the harbor was packed with boats.

Annabeth saw his confused expression.

"Miami, I think. But the hippocampi are acting funny."

And just as she said that, the fish ponies swam in circles, whining as they smelled the water.

It was apparent they weren't happy. One even sneezed.

Percy understood them.

"This is as far as they'll take us. Too many humans. Too much pollution. We'll have to swim to shore on our own." He voiced the hippocampi's thoughts.

That didn't excite anyone but they minded their manners and thanked the ponies for bringing them this far.

Tyson shed a few tears as he took his makeshift saddle pack.

He wrapped his arms around Rainbow's neck, capturing the hippocampus in a hug.

The cyclops handed the pony a smushed mango and waved goodbye.

The creatures sunk into the waves and swam off.

༻ ─── •✧💢✧• ─── ༺

After some struggle against the ocean, the five made it to the docks.

They blended in pretty well. I mean, well enough that no one asked why they were dripping wet or wearing ripped up clothes.

Cassie kinda like her now cropped red flannel. She got compliments from tons of passing girls.

Annabeth would tug on her sleeve whenever she stopped to talk with one.

"Come on Carter! We don't have enough time for you to be flirting with random girls."

"So you'd rather I flirt with girls I know? Because I'm not flirting with Clarisse and you're the only other girl I know here." Cassie countered, raising an eyebrow.

"I- That's not what I meant." Annabeth stuttered.

Cassie chuckled, placing her sunglasses on her head.

"Sure, whatever you say blondie."

The daughter of Ares looked back at her friends.

Tyson's eye was now a blur due to the Mist and Grover was wearing a cap over his horns and some sneakers.

The Mist even changed the Fleece. It was a red high school letter jacket with gold accents.

It had a large glittery Omega on the pocket.

Cassie thought the design was pretty cool, but a grab of her hand drew her from her thoughts.

Annabeth had rushed to a nearby newspaper stand, dragging Cassie with her.

"June eighteenth! We've been away from camp ten days!" The daughter of Athena said.

"Ah shit!" Cassie mumbled, peering over the blonde's shoulder and noticing the date too.

"That's impossible!" Clarisse argued.

It wasn't. Time passed differently in unnatural places.

And the Sea of Monsters was definitely unatural.

"Thalia's tree must be almost dead. We have to get the Fleece back tonight." Grover complained.

That was one way to bring down their spirits.

Cassie watched as Clarisse slouched in defeat.

"How are we supposed to do that? We're hundreds of miles away. No money. No ride. This is just like the Oracle said. It's your fault, Jackson! If you hadn't interfered-"

Annabeth cut off Clarisse. "Percy's fault?! Clarisse, how can you say that? You are the biggest-"

"Stop it!" Percy called to no avail.

The girls kept bickering before...

"Both of you shut up!" Cassie interfered.

Clarisse and Cassie locked eyes and the sisters felt a similar understanding.

The older of the two buried her face in her hands. The younger resorted to throwing her arm over Clarisse's shoulder.

Cassie glared slightly at Annabeth. The daughter of Athena huffed and stomped her foot.

But Percy found truth in Clarisse's words. They had butted in on her quest and our now making her look bad.

He remembered Clarisse and Ares' talk in the CSS Birmingham's boiler.

The god had warned her not to fail. Camp didn't matter, Ares didn't was his children making him look bad.

"Clarisse, what did the Oracle tell you exactly!?" Percy asked.

Clarisse uncovered her face. She took a deep breath and Percy prepared to be yelled at.

But instead he got an answer to his question.

"You shall sail the iron ship with warriors of bone,
You shall find what you seek and make it your own,
But despair for your life entombed within stone,
And fail without friends, to fly home alone."

"Ouch," Grover mocked offense.

"No. No . . . wait a minute. I've got it." Percy stuffed his hands in his pockets, searching for something.

He pulled out a gold drachma before looking at the other four.

"Does anybody have any cash?"

Cassie, Annabeth, and Grover all shook their heads. The former pursed her lips.

Clarisse reached into her pocket but only found a soggy Confeserat dollar.

"Cash? Like . . . green paper?" Tyson questioned.

That caught all of Percy's attention. "Yeah."

"Like the kind in duffel bags?"

"Yeah, but we lost those bags days a-g-g-"

Percy stammered, stopping when Tyson opened his saddle pack and took out a Ziploc bag of cash. It was the one Hermes had given them with their supplies.

"Tyson! How did you-"

"Thought it was a feed bag for Rainbow. Found it floating in sea, but only paper inside. Sorry." The cyclops handed his brother the wad of cash.

At least three hundred dollars was now in Percy's hand.

As the son of Poseidon rushed to catch a taxi, Cassie smiled at Tyson.

"Don't apologize!"

"Clarisse," Percy called. "Come on. You're going to the airport. Annabeth, give her the Fleece."

Cassie laughed at the stunned look on both her sister and Annabeth's faces.

The blonde was too shocked to move or say anything so Cassie unlinked their hands and took the fleece herself.

She handed it to Percy who slipped the cash in its pocket. He then put it in Clarisse's arms.

"You'd let me-"

"It's your quest. We only have enough money for one flight. Besides, I can't travel by air. Zeus would blast me into a million pieces. That's what the prophecy meant: you'd fail without friends, meaning you'd need our help, but you'd have to fly home alone. You have to get the Fleece back safely." Percy explained.

Cassie beamed at Percy. See it's moments like these that reminded her why he actually matter.

Kidding of course, Cassie loved Percy like a brother.

Clarisse glanced between the two, but decided Percy had no other motive.

After hugging Cassie, Clarisse got into the cab. The younger daughter of Ares wandered a bit away, distracted by something on the beach.

"You can count on me. I won't fail." Clarisse promised.

"Not failing would be good." Percy agreed.

Clarisse nodded before glaring at Percy. "You better bring her home safe."

She gestured to Cassie. "Or else you'll have the whole Ares cabin on you when you get back. Please . . ."

The taxi took off before Percy could reply. Cassie watched as her sister left.

Now the Fleece was on its way back. Hopefully in time to save camp.

"Perey, that was so-" Annabeth started.

"Generous?" Grover suggested.

"Awesome of you!" Cassie input.

"Insane," Annabeth remarked. "You're betting the lives of everybody at camp that Clarisse will get the Fleece safely back by tonight?"

"It's her quest. She deserves a chance." Percy reasoned.

"Percy is nice," Tyson complimented.

"Percy is too nice," Annabeth mumbled, earning a light glare from Cassie.

But they knew the blonde was impressed deep down. And Percy considered that an accomplishment.

"Come on. Let's find another way home." The son of Poseidon stated.

When he turned around he was face to face with a sword to his throat.

"Hey, cuz. Welcome back to the States." Luke smirked.

Oreius grabbed Annabeth and Grover while Agrius tried to catch Cassie and Tyson.

The daughter of Ares had gotten her sword and took a stab at Agrius, barely missing. Tyson knocked him into a bunch of suitcases.

The cyclops roared at Luke and Cassie pointed her sword at the son of Hermes.

"Why don't you point the sword down Lukey-poo? Or at least use it to point us in the right direction. Far far away from your sorry ass." Cassie mocked, and even smugger smirk on her face.

Luke wiped the smile of her face.

"Percy, tell your giant to back down or I'll have Oreius bash your friends' heads together. And Cassie you wouldn't want that to happen would you?"

Oreius laughed giddily, raising Annabeth and Grover so that they were dangling and screaming.

Percy and Cassie shared a look. The latter letting out a disappointed sigh and making her sword disappear in a red flash. She crossed her arms in the meantime.

"What do you want, Luke?" Percy asked, refraining from rolling his eyes.

He smiled the classical evil villain smile. But his put the more on edge with the scar ruining his face.

Luke pointed to the ship and Cassie mentally slapped herself. How could they not have noticed.

The biggest boat there was the Princess Andromeda.

"Why, Percy, I want to extend my hospitality, of course."

༻ ─── •✧💢✧• ─── ༺

Agrius and Oreius took them aboard and dropped them down on the deck.

Behind them was the swimming pool and fountains making a water show.

A bunch of Laistrygonians were watching them with snake-like smiles.

"And so, the Fleece," Luke smiled interlocking his fingers. "Where is it?"

He poked Percy's shirt and then checked Grover's jeans.

"Hey! That's real goat fur under there!" The satyr cried.

"Sorry, old friend. Just give me the Fleece and I'lI leave you to return to your, ah, little nature quest."

"Blaa-ha-ha!" Grover let out a fake goat laugh. "Some old friend!"

"Maybe you didn't hear me. Where-is-the-Fleece?" Luke repeated.

Cassie snickered at how he tried to be intimidating.

"Not here. We sent it on ahead of us. You messed up." Percy shrugged, liking this just as much as the daughter of Ares.

Luke tried to figure out if he was joking or not. "You're lying. You couldn't have."

But then a thought came to him and his face reddened.

"Clarisse?"

Percy nodded.

"You trusted . . . you gave . . ."

This time the son of Hermes looked to Cassie.

"Yep." The brunette confirmed.

Her sunglasses fell onto her nose and she raised her middle fingers.

Her lips quirked up and her nose scrunched in a fake smile.

Luke growled, "Agrius!"

"Y-yes?" Said giant flinched at the blond boy's tone.

"Get below and prepare my steed. Bring it to the deck.
I need to fly to the Miami Airport, fast!"

"But, boss-"

"Do it. Or I'll feed you to the drakon!"

Agrius gulped but disappeared below. Cassie rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.

"Great job bossing around your workers. Though they might just file a complaint."

Luke scowled, getting annoyed by the brunette. "Shut up Cassie! If you know what's good for you!"

The son of Hermes cursed to himself as he paced, holding his sword like a lifeline.

Cassie decided that getting more on his nerves was a good idea.

"Why? Whatcha gonna do Lukey-poo?"

"Cassie, I advise you stop talking or I will-"

"What? Stab me? Skewer me? Go ahead man but I don't think your master Kronos would be very happy about that."

Luke's face was bright red now. Annabeth glanced between the two.

"Carter, now's really not-"

"I got this Chase, don't worry."

Annabeth rolled her eyes at Cassie's carelessness but watched worriedly.

Luke exhaled and refrained from saying anything. It scared his crew but Cassie stood her ground.

Percy knew this was getting them no where and started thinking (for once 😉 kidding ofc).

If he could use the anger Cassie fueled in Luke and get the blonde boy to reveal his plans...

The son of Poseidon glanced to the pool, where the fountains were spraying water into the air, making a rainbow.

And then it came to him.

"You've been toying with us all along. You wanted us to bring you the Fleece and save you the trouble of getting it." Percy accused, sharing a look with Cassie.

For the second time today Cassie let out a huff and backed off, crossing her arms.

Luke didn't seem to notice, or really even care to.

"Of course, you idiot! And you've messed everything up!"

"Traitor!" Percy yelled, taking the gold drachma from his pocket and chucking it at Luke.

The blonde boy dodged with ease and the coin flew into the rainbow mist.

Percy prayed his prayer would be accepted. He put his whole heart into it: O goddess, accept my offering.

"You tricked all of us! Even DIONYSUS at CAMP HALF-BLOOD!'

Cassie had to give it to the Kelp Head. He was smarter than he seemed at times. Key word "at times".

The fountain began shimmer but Percy needed to keep everyone's attention.

He uncapped Riptide and Cassie got her sword in a red flash.

Of course she wouldn't get involved unless she needed to.

"This is no time for heroics, Percy. Drop your puny little sword, or I'll have you killed sooner rather than later." Luke made not attempt to fight Percy.

"Who poisoned Thalia's tree, Luke?"

"I did, of course. I already told you that. I used elder python venom, straight from the depths of Tartarus."

"Chiron had nothing to do with it?"

"Ha! You know he would never do that. The old fool wouldn't have the guts." Luke insulted.

"You call it guts? Betraying your friends? Endangering the whole camp?"

Percy got him there.

Luke lifted his sword. "You don't understand the half of it. I was going to let you take the Fleece . . . once I was done with it."

Percy paused. Luke had to be lying. Why would he let them take the Fleece?

"You were going to heal Kronos,"

"Yes! The Fleece's magic would've sped his mending process by tenfold. But you haven't stopped us, Percy. You've only slowed us down a little."

"And so you poisoned the tree, you betrayed Thalia, you set us up-all to help Kronos destroy the gods."

Luke was getting annoyed now.

"You know that! Why do you keep asking me?"

"Because I want everybody in the audience to hear you." Percy smirked.

"What audience?"

Luke turned his head and so did his goons. Some gasped and backed away.

Above the pool in the rainbow mist was Dionysus, Tantalus and the rest of the campers watching through the message.

No one said a word until Mr. D broke the silence.

"Well, some unplanned dinner entertainment" The God of Wine remarked, boredom evident in his voice.

"Mr. D, you heard him. You all heard Luke. The poisoning of the tree wasn't Chiron's fault."

"I suppose not." Mr. D agreed with a sigh.

"Don't sound so happy about it." Cassie muttered sarcastically.

"The Iris-message could be a trick," Tantalus stated but he was to busy trying to catch a cheeseburger,

"Oh shut up would you!" Cassie groaned.

Mr. D's lips quirked up the slightest at Cassie's outburst.

"I fear not. It appears I shall have to reinstate Chiron as activities director. I suppose I do miss the old horse's pinochle games."

Just then, Tantalus grabbed the cheeseburger and it didn't try to escape.

His eyes widened and he froze, grin growing across his face.

"I got it!" he cheered.

"We are no longer in need of your services, Tantalus," Mr. D informed the prisoner.

"What? But-"

"You may return to the Underworld. You are dismissed."

"No! But-Nooooooooooo!"

Tantalus dissolved into mist and tried to take a bite of the cheeseburger.

But he never got to. He vanished and the burger fell down on its plate.

Their fellow campers roared in excitement.

Luke cried out in frustration and swung his sword through the Iris-message.

Not that it really accomplished much on his part.

Percy was proud of himself, but his pride dropped a little with Luke's murderous stare.

"Kronos was right, Percy. You're an unreliable weapon. You need to be replaced."

No had time to figure out what he meant because with the blow of a whistle, more warriors rushed through the deck doors to circle them.

Cassie smirked, flipping her sword. It's been awhile since they had a good fight.

Luke glowered at them with a smile.

"You'll never leave this boat alive."

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ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ author's note

Was drinking red strawberry soda on plane and listening to imagine dragons' believer and warrior while writing this!!

It gives such a Cassie vibe lmao 🤣

I may or may not have accidentally spilled some and stained my shirt pink while opening the can 😭😭

But um yeah! This chapter was a bit longer, but still kinda short. Sorry about that lol.

Anyways, i posted an oc book where you can learn more about my ocs like Cassie. You should check it out if you're interested! 😄

And I published my Leo Valdez fic, but that won't be coming for a while. So you can add it to your read list/give me a follow IF YOU WANT.

You don't have to of course! i'll just be making an announcement when i start writing it.

That's all for now, so until next time. 🙃

-Just Another Overthinker