GODS AND MONSTERS , pjo

10 , history lessons with Estella

CHAPTER TEN:
HISTORY LESSONS WITH ESTELLA

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

"Not the first time I've heard that" I mumbled earning a small smile from Aella.

We'd just finished a ship tour we didn't want, through dark rooms overcrowded with dead sailors. We'd seen the coal bunker, the boilers and engine, which huffed and groaned like it would explode any minute. We'd 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 we went, dead Confederate sailors stared at us, their ghostly bearded faces shimmering over their skulls. They approved of Annabeth because she told them she was from Virginia. They were interested in me and Percy, too, because our last name was Jackson—like the Southern general—but then Percy ruined it by telling them we were from New York. They all hissed and muttered curses about Yankees. Aella got really awkward whenever they asked where she was from, which either meant she was from another plant, or just didn't want to talk about it.

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

Finally, we 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. I didn't want to eat anything served by ghosts, but my hunger overruled my fear.

"Tantalus expelled you for eternity." Clarisse told us 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."

"That doesn't sound too bad" I looked over at Aella, who, by the look on her face, didn't agree.

I get it, she came to camp really early in her life, so it's been like a home for her. I kinda understand, for a while last year I wasn't able to go home, mainly because I thought my home (aka my mom) was dead.

Knowing she might feel how I felt, only worse, made me want to March up to Mr. D and curse him out, which probably would have ended up with me cursed, but I didn't care.

"Did they give you this ship?" Percy asked.

"Course not. My father did."

"Ares?" Percy and I said at the same time, in different tones.

Clarisse sneered. "You think your daddy is the only one with sea power? 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.

I was less focused on how her dad had sea transport (because I didn't care) and more focused on the fact that he was still a god after betraying his entire family.

His glowing green eyes fixed me with a hungry stare. "If it means an end to this infernal war, ma'am, peace at last, we'll do anything. Destroy anyone."

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

Tyson gulped.

"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—"