Chapter 39: Summer's end

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 So here's the last chapter before we move on to the next one, I decided to keep the resurrection of Thalia a bit between the lines, why? Well, there won't be a lot different then in the original books.

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Best summer ever, that's the only way I can describe the summer, things went by so smoothly it was over before I knew it.

Thera was now not only camp protector but she was also helping with training the demigods, she made a horizontal version of the lava wall that we used to train our agility but she also gave lessons, "efficient sleeping."

This made her immensely popular by the campers but there was a long list with campers who signed up for this so if you signed up for it you had to wait for a while.

See the problem with Thera was that she had the habit of sleeping for long, long times.

Maybe it had to do with the fact that inactive volcanoes were called sleeping volcanoes.

It was not uncommon to find out she has been sleeping for an entire week, which mostly upset the campers who had efficient sleeping on their schedule.

Ironic.

The campers were happy to accept Thera as their new camp protector, with her upbeat character she was really easy going, unlike Dionysus who always kept to himself Thera helped the campers with personal things.

We had another chariot race this summer, I teamed up with Tyson while Nyx teamed up with Katie.

Katie drove, of course, she demanded it.

Speaking of Katie, she helped me train my Demeter powers which were a lot different then my fire and water powers.

Bending nature to your will was a whole different level and it was better used as a plan then for a thought out plan then plain battle.

From time to time Katie would take me into the forest and teach me how to use her powers too, I already had figured out how to do the camouflage thing, but sadly it only worked around plant life.

I could make vines sprout from the ground and wrap around monsters, but only if there's a source of life near, like wooden planks or dirt. I could not make it sprout from concrete or something lifeless, which was kind of a bummer.

It would be really cool if I could make it sprout from my arms and use it as an extension, like Poison Ivy could. Extending my hand outward and making a vine sprout out of it and pierce my enemies.

When I told Katie about this, she chuckled and said that things like that were only possible if you are one with Nature, which I wasn't.

Also, don't tell Nyx, I can talk to plants, yes, Plants.

But it's not as crazy as it sounds like, I half expected the plants to tell me stories about their lives but it turns out, talking to plants it's kind of a one-sided conversation. I could only feel the emotions of the plants if I concentrated. If I asked them things nicely, they would sometimes help but there was also a chance they were not willing to follow my commands.

For example, I managed to make an arrow snap in half by demanding it, can you imagine how much potential that has?

When I asked Katie how she could talk to Anne she explained that some plants or boats were smarter and able to communicate thoughts rather than emotions.

There were still a lot of things I had to learn but I made progress.

I tried to teleport using a plant but it is hard and nearly impossible, the best I could come up with was teleporting a meter away, yeah, not that impressive.

But like all things, everything ends.

The end of summer was closing in and a lot of campers had already left camp, going to their schools and homes. Some campers stayed, those were the campers who attracted to many monsters or didn't had any family to go too.

I would go to another school in Manhattan, hoping I would not blow it up this time like the last one.

Thalia awoke the last week of the summer vacation which confused me a bit until Chaos told me that the fleece healed Meg first and then Thalia. Apparently that was the reason she woke up so late.

She was most of the week unconscious at the infirmary. I spoke to her a few times at the times she was awake and clear in her mind and promised to help her whenever she needed it.

On my final day of camp Nyx took me to the beach where we sat down and drank some diet coke looking at the sunset.

She suddenly handed me a letter without looking at me, instead she looked down and I saw she was blushing a little.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Open it." She demanded.

I opened it and found a photo inside, it was a picture of me sleeping while Katie and Nyx lay next to me, smiling at the camera.

It was a selfie.

"When did you made this photo?" I asked, genuinely surprised. It was a nice picture, one I would sure keep.

"When you had passed out after rescuing Thera."

I flipped the picture, and something was taped to the back of it.

A black key.

"What is this?" I asked.

"It's the key to my palace in Tartarus." Nyx said not looking at me.

"You give me the key of your house?" I asked flabbergasted.

Nyx nodded, "It's a gift. After the Titan war and Giant war I want you to see my palace, but properly this time. Not like last time, where you ran blindly through my house."

I looked at her, did she really gave me permission to enter her palace?

"That's nice, really, but why are you giving me this?" I managed to ask without stuttering.

Nyx looked at me, her eyes were shining brighter than ever, "Because you gave me the best summer of my immortal life, we blew up a volcano, found out secrets of the past, stole a God's symbol of power. This was the best time I ever had and I kind of wanted to thank you for it, and allowing a mortal into my house is kind of a big deal to me."

I stared at her before surprising her with a hug, "Thank you Nyx, for coming with me. It was also my best summer ever. You are my best friend."

Nyx pulled me away from the hug and smiled, "Well, don't get emotional Percy, you are starting to sound stupid."

I tried to come up with a smart reply, but I couldn't.

"Well, see you next adventure." she said and then dissolved into shadows.

I finished my Cola and got up to get back to my cabin, ready to pack my stuff when a Iris Message opened in front of me.

In the mist I saw my old enemy Luke, but he looked unhealthy, a lot paler then last time.

"Percy." Luke said grimly.

"Hi." I said.

Luke kept silent.

"So I assume this Iris message is a sign you admit defeat and saw that your way is the wrong way?" I asked and Luke nodded shamefully.

"Look, I wanted to change things…" Luke began but I interrupted him.

"I get it, Luke, I really do, the only difference between you and me is that I know how to change things and you tried but failed."

Luke kept silent.

"Things are going to change Luke. for the better. Just follow me and everything will be alright, for everyone this time."

Luke nodded with determination, then his look changed to fear.

"Percy, there is something you need to know."

"What?" I asked, genuinely interested.

"You made some people really upset while traveling the sea of monsters."

I shrugged, "That's my thing."

Luke shook his head, "No Percy, you don't get it."

"Then explain it." I said.

Luke looked around. Like he was looking if someone was eavesdropping on the conversation,

"Percy, the Sirens and Circe joined Kronos."

And as he said the final line of the prophecy ran through my mind.

And stop the song of madness to no avail.

"Shit." I muttered.

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So this is the final chapter of this book. ;)

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