claimed |PERCY JACKSON| [book 5]

XXV

CAMP WENT LATE THAT SUMMER. It lasted two more weeks, right up to the start of a new school year. It went by too slow for Percy.

A lot of great things happened. Grover had taken over the satyr seekers and was sending them out across the world to find unclaimed half-bloods. So far, the gods had kept their promise. New demigods were popping up all over the place—not just in America, but in a lot of other countries as well.

"We can hardly keep up," Grover admitted one afternoon as they were taking a break at the canoe lake. "We're going to need a bigger travel budget, and I could use a hundred more satyrs."

"Yeah, but the satyrs you have are working super hard," Percy told his friend, "I think they're scared of you."

Grover blushed. "That's silly. I'm not scary."

"You're a lord of the Wild, dude. The chosen one of Pan. A member of the Council of—"

"Stop it!" Grover protested. "You're as bad as Juniper. I think she wants me to run for president next."

He chewed on a tin can as we stared across the pond at the line of new cabins under construction. The U-shape would soon be a complete rectangle, and the demigods had really taken to the new task with gusto.

Nico had some undead builders working on the Hades cabin. Even though he was still the only kid in it, it was going to look pretty cool: solid obsidian walls with a skull over the door and torches that burned with green fire twenty-four hours a day. Next to that were the cabins of Iris, Nemesis, Hecate, and several others Percy didn't recognize. They kept adding new ones to the blueprints every day. It was going so well, Annabeth and Chiron were talking about adding an entirely new wing of cabins just so they could have enough room.

The Hermes cabin was a lot less crowded now, because most of the unclaimed kids had received signs from their godly parents. It happened almost every night, and every night more demigods straggled over the property line with the satyr guides, usually with some nasty monsters pursuing them, but almost all of them made it through.

He only wished Selena was there with him. She would've loved it.

"It's going to be a lot different next summer," Percy said. "Chiron's expecting we'll have twice as many campers."

"Yeah," Grover agreed, "but it'll be the same old place." He sighed contentedly.

Percy watched as Tyson led a group of Cyclops builders. They were hoisting huge stones in place for the Hecate cabin, and Percy knew it was a delicate job. Each stone was engraved with magical writing, and if they dropped one, it would either explode or turn everyone within half a mile into a tree. Percy figured nobody but Grover would like that.

"I'll be traveling a lot," Grover warned, "between protecting nature and finding half-bloods. I may not see you as much."

"Won't change anything," Percy said. "You're still my best friend."

That evening was the last night of camp—the bead ceremony. The Hephaestus cabin had designed the bead this year. It showed the Empire State Building, and etched in tiny Greek letters, spiraling around the image, were the names of all the heroes who had died defending Olympus. There were too many names, but Percy was proud to wear the bead. He put it on his camp necklace—four beads now. He felt like an old-timer. He thought about the first campfire he'd ever attended, back when he was twelve, and how he'd felt so at home. That at least hadn't changed.

He held Selena's necklace in his hand, slipping the bead on before slipping it back into his pocket.

"Never forget this summer!" Chiron told them. He had healed remarkably well, but he still trotted in front of the fire with a slight limp. "We have discovered bravery and friendship and courage this summer. We have upheld the honor of the camp."

He smiled at Percy, and everybody cheered. As Percy looked at the fire, he saw a little girl in a brown dress tending the flames. She winked at him with red glowing eyes. No one else seemed to notice her, but he realized maybe she preferred it that way.

"And now," Chiron said, "early to bed! Remember, you must vacate your cabins by noon tomorrow unless you've made arrangements to stay the year with us. The cleaning harpies will eat any stragglers, and I'd hate to end the summer on a sour note!"

Percy approached Kasey, who sat on her own. Annabeth had treated her coldly, and most others did the same. She was an outcast in the camp, despite her switching sides and helping them in the end.

"Here." Percy held out Selena's necklace.

"Why?" Kasey asked, just staring at it,

"She'd want you to have it. There's a reason she gave it to you in the first place." He gave her a small smile. 

Kasey took it, "Thanks, Percy."

He nodded, "It'll get easier. I promise."

As he began walking away, Kasey spoke, "She was claimed."'

Percy paused and turned back to her, "What?"

"Her mother claimed her on that rooftop. You know... before she died." Kasey replied.

"And? Who's her parent?" Percy questioned.

"Trivia."

"Trivia? I don't recognise-"

"That's because she isn't Greek." Kasey stated

Percy stared at her, "That's not possible. If she's not Greek then what is she?"

"She's Roman."