The Apprentice of Thanatos

Chapter 20: A Conversation with Death

{This chapter takes place right after the previous one.

We do not own Danny Phantom or Percy Jackson, only this story and our original characters.}

      At dinner that night, before everyone had sacrificed a portion of their food to the gods, Chiron made an announcement: "Starting tonight, there will be increased border patrols."

      Campers began to complain almost immediately, but Chiron was quick to explain. "It will only be for a few days, as a precaution in case there are any more incidents like the one that took place earlier today. See Clarisse after dinner for more information on patrol schedules."

      Several campers continued to grumble after Chiron's announcement, but dinner continued on as normal. After he sacrificed a portion of his food, Danny just sat down and stared at his plate; he had lost his appetite.

      After dinner, Danny returned to his room and stayed there until lights out. His stomach was in knots as the sun sank below the horizon. What would he tell Thanatos? Hey, so one of my enemies attacked the camp, and I had to go fight him and now the whole camp has seen Phantom! Also, I told Annabeth about the ghosts in Amity Park before the attack, and I'm pretty sure that she's already piecing together the clues and she'll figure out my secret identity by the end of the week! Yeah, Danny was not looking forward to the upcoming conversation.

      Once the sun had disappeared and the last light had gone out in the cabin area, Danny transformed and left his room. He flew across the now quiet camp and back to the beach where the ghost attack had happened earlier. The night sky was clear, and without the light pollution it was full of stars.

      Danny paused, taking a moment to enjoy the vast, star-filled sky spread out above him, twinkling like diamonds and glitter on a dark sea. A small smile graced his lips; he could stay there all night, just gazing up at the stars...

      But that wasn't what he'd come out here for.

      As Danny hovered about forty feet above the sand, he took a deep breath and held out his right arm. Well, I may as well get this over with.

      Danny tugged his glove off so that he could see his mark—it was glowing a faint silvery-white against his tan skin. He traced the letters of his mark and whispered: "Éla se ména, Thánatos. ('Come to me, Thanatos.')"

      His mark prickled and glowed brightly for a few seconds before the sensation and light faded. Danny pulled his glove back on, feeling far less drained than the first time he had tried that, back in Persephone's garden.

       A few seconds later, the air in front of Danny blackened and condensed into a dark cloud. A pair of dark wings sprouted from the mist, and Thanatos emerged from the shadows in front of him.

      Almost instantly, Thanatos dropped about ten feet in the air. He quickly flapped his wings and climbed back up to where Danny was floating.

      The god looked surprised. "This... is not the ground."

      Danny gasped and clamped his hands over his mouth. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry, I didn't think-"

      Thanatos waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine. This isn't the first time this has happened."

      Danny gaped at his mentor for a second, a surprised laugh slipping out when he spoke. "I'm sorry, what?"

      Thanatos didn't answer, and instead changed the subject. "How has your stay at camp been so far?"