The Path Of Glory (Annabeth Chase x Male Reader)

31. Between Scylla And Charybdis

"You are in so much trouble," Clarisse said.

They had just finished a ship tour they didn't want, through dark rooms overcrowded with dead sailors. They had seen the coal bunker, the boilers and engine, which huffed and groaned like it would explode any minute. They had seen the pilothouse and the powder magazine and gunnery deck—Clarisse's favorite—with two Dahlgren smoothbore cannons on the port and starboard sides and a Brooke nine-inch rifled gun fore and aft—all specially refitted to fire celestial bronze cannon balls.

Everywhere they went, dead Confederate sailors stared at them, their ghostly bearded faces shimmering over their skulls. They approved of Annabeth because she told them she was from Virginia. They were interested in Percy, too, because his name was Jackson—like the Southern general—but then he ruined it by telling them he was from New York. They all hissed curses and muttered curses about Yankees.

Seeing Y/N, one of the zombies started pointing his rifle at him. "You! I know you!"

"Uh?" was all he could think to say.

"Yeah, it's you!" the Confederate continued. Y/N wouldn't have bet on his brain being fresh. "Remember that?" He showed the torn part of his face. "You did that to me! D'like to have the same?" His face split with a toothless grin.

"I never saw you in my life," Y/N said, disturbed—whether by what he was hearing or the guy's smell, he didn't know.

Tyson was terrified. All through the tour, he insisted Annabeth hold his hand, which she didn't look too thrilled about.

Ethan, for his part, didn't seem to give a damn. He had miraculously saved a donut and savored it. When Y/N raised an eyebrow at him, he just said, "This is far from the craziest thing that's ever happened to us, anyway."

Finally, they were escorted to dinner. The CSS Birmingham captain's quarters were about the size of a walk-in closet, but still much bigger than any other room on board. The table was set with white linen and china. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, and Dr Peppers were served by skeletal crewmen.

"Tantalus expelled you for eternity," Clarisse told them smugly. "Mr. D said if any of you show your face at camp again, he'll turn you into squirrels and run you over with his SUV."

"If he likes dreaming," Y/N said, swallowing a handful of chips. "They gave you this ship?"

"'Course not, punk. My father did."

"Ares knows how to do this?"

Clarisse sneered. "The spirits on the losing side of every war owe a tribute to Ares. That's their curse for being defeated. I prayed to my father for a naval transport and here it is. These guys will do anything I tell them. Won't you, Captain?"

The captain stood behind her looking stiff and angry. His glowing green eyes were fixed on Y/N with hunger. "If it means an end to this infernal war, m'lady, peace at last, we'll do anything. Destroy anyone."

Clarisse smiled. "Destroy anyone. I like that."

Ethan gulped. He rammed his banana sunhat lower on his head, as if it could have been some kind of protection.

"Clarisse," Annabeth said, "Luke might be after the Fleece, too. We saw him. He's got the coordinates and he's heading south. He has a cruise ship full of monsters—"

"Good! I'll blow him out of the water."

"You don't understand," Annabeth said. "We have to combine forces. Let us help you—"

"No!" Clarisse pounded the table. "This is my quest, Wise Girl! Finally I get to be the hero, and you three will not steal my chance."

"Where are your cabin mates?" Percy asked. "You were allowed to take two friends with you, weren't you?"