SleepySio

The hill dipped sharply, and then—

Camp Half-Blood spread out below you, bright and busy and loud in a way that made your head ache. Campers trained in the fields, laughed near the cabins, acted like they belonged.

You didn’t.

The shadows at your feet stretched as you walked, clinging closer than usual.

Chiron slowed near the Big House. “Ah,” he murmured. “That explains it.”

“Explains what?” Mr. D snapped from the porch, leaning against a pillar with a Diet Coke in hand. “Please tell me you didn’t drag another problem into my camp.”

“She is a demigod,” Chiron said calmly.

Mr. D sighed. “They all are. Who’s the parent?”

Chiron hesitated. “Nyx.”

Mr. D froze.

“…You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

Mr. D lowered his can and looked you over. “Great. Just fantastic. The goddess of the night. Because things weren’t ominous enough already.”

“There is no Nyx cabin,” Chiron continued gently. “She has never claimed one.”

“So what do we do with her?” Mr. D said flatly. “Stick her in a broom closet?”

Chiron shot him a warning look.

“She’ll stay in the Hermes cabin,” Chiron decided. “Until further notice.”

Mr. D waved a hand. “Meh, Whatevs.”

The Hermes cabin was crowded and noisy, voices overlapping as soon as you stepped inside. It felt too full, too alive, for someone like you.

Someone about your age looked up from where he was sitting on a bunk, tightening the strap on his sword. He stood, not towering over you, just… there.

“Hey,” he said. “You new?”

You nodded. “Yeah.”

“I’m Luke,” he said casually. “I’ve been here a bit.”

You gave your name in return.

Luke nodded with a smile. “Cool. Guess you’re stuck with us.”

“Guess so.”

He gestured toward an empty bunk near the wall. “You can take that one.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem,” he said, already turning back to what he was doing.

It should’ve felt normal.

But as you set your things down, you noticed it, the way his glance flicked back toward you, quick and unreadable, before he looked away again.

Nothing obvious. Nothing threatening.

Just enough to make the shadows at your feet curl closer.

That night, as the cabin lights dimmed and the noise faded, sleep came slowly. The darkness around your bunk felt heavier here, like it was listening.

You told yourself it was just nerves. Just a bad first day.

Still, one thought lingered as you stared up at the ceiling:

Maybe Mr. D had been right.

Maybe you really should’ve been put in a broom closet.

It didn’t happen all at once,

At first, Luke was just… around,

He was there when you woke up, already dressed and moving through the Hermes cabin like it belonged to him, which, technically, it did. He was there when you came back from training, sitting on a bunk with his sword across his knees, laughing with the others while his eyes flicked toward you without fail,

“Watch your footing,” he said one morning as you passed him,

“Don’t push yourself too hard,”

“Careful who you hang around with,”

You nodded, muttered thanks, and kept walking. You told yourself he was just being responsible, cabin counselor, senior camper, someone trying to help,

Except he never said those things to anyone else,

When you trained in the arena, Luke somehow always ended up nearby, not sparring, just watching, arms crossed, head tilted. If another camper volunteered to train with you, Luke stepped in smoothly, like it was the most natural thing in the world,

“I’ll take this one,” he’d say, “She needs practice,”

You stopped volunteering after that,

At meals, he started sitting beside you instead of across the table, close enough that you had to angle your shoulders away. If someone tried to talk to you, Luke answered first, cutting in like he knew you better than they did,

“She’s not really into that,”

“She’s tired,”

“She’ll eat later,”

You learned to eat faster,

The Hermes cabin never slept, campers came and went at all hours, floorboards creaking, whispered laughter drifting through the dark. At first, that noise comforted you,

Then you started noticing patterns,

Luke went to bed after you, Luke got up before you, and somewhere in between, there was always the same sensation, pressure, like eyes on your skin,

Once, you turned suddenly and caught him standing a little too close to your bunk,

“Oh,” he said, like you’d surprised him, “Didn’t mean to wake you,”

After that, you pretended to sleep,

The night the bunks changed, you knew immediately,

The Hermes cabin felt wrong the second you stepped inside. You set your bag down, glanced at your bed, and froze,

The bunk beside yours wasn’t right,

The blankets were different. The smell was different. The camper who used to sleep there was now across the room, their things shoved together like it hadn’t been their choice,

Luke was sitting on the bunk beside yours, calmly tightening the strap of his sword,

“You moved them,” you said,

He looked up, “Yeah. I switched bunks,”

“You didn’t ask me,”

“I didn’t need to,” he replied easily, “He was fine with it,”

Your hands curled into fists, “Why?”

Luke shrugged, “This spot makes more sense, You’re closer to the door, easier to keep an eye out,”

“I don’t need someone watching me,” you said,

His expression shifted, not angry, not upset, just… blank,

“I’m just trying to help,”

From that night on, the cabin felt smaller,

You could hear him breathe, feel him shift in his sleep. Sometimes, when you lay awake staring at the ceiling, the shadows crept up the walls and pooled around your bed like they were uneasy too,

If you sat up suddenly, Luke was awake,

“You okay?” he’d ask, too quickly,

You stopped responding,

You changed your routines, took different paths, sat with campers from other cabins, stayed where there were people, light, noise. Still, Luke found ways to be there, leaning against a post, passing by “on his way somewhere else,” always watching,

When you finally snapped at him, told him to give you space, his smile faltered,

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked, voice low,

“Yes,” you said, “You won’t leave me alone,”

For a moment, something dark flickered in his eyes, then it vanished, replaced with that familiar, careful calm,

“I’m just protecting you,”

You knew then that nothing you said would matter,

This wasn’t concern,

This wasn’t kindness,

It was control,

And every day you stayed in that cabin, every night you lay awake with the shadows pressed close, your discomfort hardened into something sharper,

You didn’t feel safe,

You didn’t feel grateful,

You felt watched,

And you realized, with a sinking certainty, that Luke wasn’t afraid of something happening to you,

He was afraid of losing you,

And that thought made your skin crawl,

It had been a year since you arrived at camp, and instead of getting better, Luke had only gotten worse.

At first, people thought he was just being protective. The helpful older camper, the dependable swordsman everyone trusted. But now, he genuinely believed the two of you were dating. He followed you everywhere, never letting more than a step of space exist between you. His arm was always slung around your shoulders or his hand rested possessively in your back pocket, like he was afraid you would disappear if he loosened his grip for even a second.

Whenever you told him to stop, he laughed it off. Whenever you warned him that you would tell Chiron or Mr. D, he only smirked and said that everyone at camp loved him anyway, so who would believe you over him.

You were sitting inside the Hermes cabin beside Luke while he talked loudly with his brothers, his arm wrapped tight around you. You stared at the floor, counting the scratches on the wooden boards, wishing you were anywhere else.

Then the cabin door opened.

Chiron entered, his presence immediately silencing the room. Beside him stood a boy with messy black curls and bright green eyes. He was blond, a little shorter than Luke, and looked completely overwhelmed. Something about him made your chest tighten. He looked painfully familiar.

Your breath caught.

Holy shit.

It was Percy.

Your best friend. The boy you had known back at Yancy, before the satyr came for you, before your life fell apart.

Chiron began speaking about welcoming new campers, his voice calm and steady, but you barely heard him. Your eyes were locked on Percy. You tried to catch his attention, tried to make eye contact, silently begging him to look up.

He did not. He kept his eyes on the floor, shoulders tense, hands shoved into his pockets like he was bracing for something bad to happen.

Luke noticed.

His arm tightened around your shoulders, his fingers digging in just enough to remind you that he was there, watching.

When Chiron finally finished and left the cabin, campers immediately began crowding around Percy. You stood up, heart racing, ready to go to him.

Before you could move, Luke leaned down and whispered, “I’ll go say hi first.”

You froze. “Luke, wait, I just—”

But he was already moving, dragging you a step with him before letting go. You stayed behind, watching as Luke walked up to Percy with his charming smile firmly in place.

“Hey,” Luke said, friendly and warm. “You must be the new guy. I’m Luke. Hermes cabin counselor.”

Percy nodded awkwardly. “Uh, yeah. Percy.”

Before Luke could say anything else, you stepped out from behind him and rushed forward.

“Percy!”

You threw your arms around him before he could react. For a split second, he stiffened, then relaxed when he realized it was you.

“Oh my gosh,” you said, pulling back just enough to look at him. “Percy, how are you? I haven’t seen you since I left Yancy.”

His eyes widened. “Wait. It’s you? You’re here?”

You laughed, a little breathless. “Yeah. I got here before you did, apparently.”

A small smile finally tugged at his lips. “I thought I lost everyone from before.”

You talked rapidly, filling the silence with stories about camp, about how weird and overwhelming it was at first. Percy listened, nodding, asking questions, clearly grateful to have a familiar face.

“I’ll give you a tour,” you said quickly. “Show you around camp so you don’t get totally lost.”

Luke stepped back in before Percy could answer. “We’ll give you a tour,” he said smoothly, sliding his arm back around you like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Your stomach twisted, but Percy did not comment. He just nodded.

As you walked out of the Hermes cabin, Luke talked animatedly about camp glory, quests, and how great it was to be a hero. His arm stayed tight around you. You tried to talk to Percy, tried to ask him about the bus, about Yancy, about anything familiar.

Then Clarisse shoved past and bumped straight into Percy.

“Watch it,” she snapped.

Percy looked startled, already bracing himself, but Luke stepped forward. “Back off, Clarisse,” he said sharply. “He’s new.”

Clarisse scoffed but walked away.

You hated that it made you feel relieved. Hated that Luke defending Percy made part of you feel safe, even when you knew you should not.

The rest of the day was a blur of activities. Sword practice, archery, Welding. None of it worked. No claiming. No sign of a godly parent. Percy just got more frustrated and exhausted.

By the time you headed back toward the Hermes cabin, Luke was distracted, deep in conversation with Lee, the Apollo cabin counselor. You seized the moment.

You slipped out of Luke’s grasp and hurried over to Percy.

“Hey,” you said softly.

He looked at you, really looked at you this time. “Hey.”

“I heard what happened to your mom,” you said carefully. “I’m really sorry.”

His jaw tightened. “Yeah. Me too.”

There was a pause.

“I’m going to get her back,” Percy said quietly. Not hopeful, not dramatic. Just certain.

You nodded, even though your chest ached. “I know you will.”

And for the first time since he arrived, Percy looked a little less alone.

Luke is running beside you toward the lake with the rest of the Blue Team, the Red Team’s flag flying behind you. During capture the flag, Luke always makes a point of keeping you close. He says it’s to protect you, that it’s safer if you stay near him, so you’ve stuck by his side the entire game—even when part of you wants to break off and run on your own.

When you reach the shoreline, everything stops.

Clarisse is there.

She has Percy lifted off the ground by his shirt, holding him like he’s nothing, her fist raised as if she’s seconds away from beating him to a pulp. Percy looks barely conscious. When Clarisse notices all of you watching, her expression hardens. After a long, tense second, she drops him onto the sand.

You immediately start toward Percy, your heart pounding, but Luke grabs your arm and pulls you back.

Before you can react—before you can even think—he kisses you.

For a split second, your mind goes blank.

Then the cheers explode.

The Blue Team erupts in shouting and laughter, and even some of the Red Team joins in, clapping and yelling like they’ve just witnessed something incredible. Your stomach twists.

What. The. Fuck.

You did not consent to that.

You pull away, still stunned, and try again to go to Percy. That’s when Annabeth shoves him into the lake.

You gasp and rush forward, but Luke’s grip snaps around your wrist again, tighter this time, stopping you. His fingers dig into your skin as you struggle against him.

Then Percy stands up.

The water slides off him like it doesn’t belong there. The air around the lake goes deathly silent. A glowing trident shimmers into existence above his head.

Everyone freezes.

Campers stare in open shock. Clarisse’s face drains of color. Annabeth takes a step back, eyes wide.

And Luke—Luke goes completely still.

His hand loosens on your wrist as he stares at Percy, his expression shifting from smug to stunned, like the ground has just disappeared beneath him. He looks terrified.

Holy shit.

Percy Jackson is Poseidon’s son.

A forbidden kid.

And in that moment, you know nothing at camp will ever be the same again.

After the day of Percy’s quest announcement, Chiron called together the strongest campers, and you were included among them. Luke stood beside you, closer than necessary. When you shifted your weight and tried to create some space, he moved with you, his presence constant and suffocating.

“Stay here,” Luke murmured quietly, his hand brushing your arm like it belonged there.

You pulled away slightly but said nothing. Chiron cleared his throat and addressed Percy, telling him it was time to choose three campers for the quest.

Percy looked overwhelmed as he scanned the crowd. After a moment, he spoke. “Annabeth.”

Annabeth’s face lit up immediately. When she looked at you, her excitement was impossible to miss. You smiled back, genuinely happy for her. She had trained for this moment, and she deserved it.

“Choose the next camper,” Chiron said.

Percy hesitated, then glanced in your direction. “Y/n.”

The air beside you shifted instantly.

Luke went rigid. His calm expression cracked, his jaw tightening as his eyes locked onto Percy. His hand curled into a fist at his side before he slowly turned to look at you.

“What?” Luke said under his breath, disbelief sharp in his voice.

You took a step away from him, but he followed, lowering his voice. “No. That’s not happening.”

Before you could respond, Percy quickly spoke again. “Grover. Grover’s the third.”

Chiron nodded, finalizing the choices. As the crowd began to break apart, you turned to leave, but Luke stepped directly in front of you, blocking your path.

“You’re not going,” Luke said firmly.

“That’s not your decision,” you replied, crossing your arms. “I can handle myself.”

Luke leaned closer, his voice dropping. “You do not need to prove anything. That quest is dangerous, and I am not letting you get hurt.”

“You do not get to decide that,” you snapped. “Percy chose me.”

His eyes darkened at Percy’s name. “Percy made a mistake.”

You tried to step around him, but his hand shot out, grabbing your wrist. His grip was not painful, but it was possessive.

“Let go,” you said sharply.

After a moment, he released you, forcing a smile that felt wrong. “I will fix this. I will talk to him.”

“You better not,” you warned. “This is my choice.”

Luke brushed his thumb over your wrist as if memorizing it. “I know what is best for you.”

Before you could argue again, he turned and walked toward Percy, already set on changing your fate. You watched him go, unease settling deep in your chest as you realized Luke was not trying to protect you.

He was trying to control you.

Luke left the crowd and headed straight for the Poseidon cabin, the familiar pair of winged shoes clutched tightly in his hands. They were a gift from his father, something he rarely let out of his sight. The fact that he was carrying them now made your stomach twist.

Percy was inside the cabin, adjusting his armor, when Luke stepped in without knocking.

“Percy,” Luke said evenly, lifting the shoes so the wings caught the light. “You are going to need these.”

Percy frowned, his gaze dropping to them. “Aren’t those yours?”

“They were my father’s gift,” Luke replied. “But this quest matters more. Let me show you how they work.”

Before Percy could protest, Luke crouched and began explaining everything in detail. He showed him how to activate the enchantment, how to guide the shoes through the air, and how to land without breaking his neck. His voice was calm and patient, but beneath it was something tense, something urgent.

“These will get you out of trouble fast,” Luke said. “They will keep you alive.”

Percy nodded. “Thanks, Luke. Seriously.”

Luke straightened slowly. “There is one more thing.”

Percy looked up. “Yeah?”

“You need to change your mind about y/n,” Luke said. “She should not be going.”

Percy’s expression hardened. “No. I already chose her.”

“She is not ready for what is out there,” Luke pressed. “This quest is dangerous. One mistake and she could be killed.”

“We all could,” Percy replied. “Chiron approved the team. I am not changing it.”

Luke’s jaw clenched. “If something happens to her, that will be on you.”

“That is not fair,” Percy said sharply. “It was my decision, and I am standing by it.”

For a long moment, Luke did not respond. His hands slowly curled into fists before he forced himself to relax, smoothing his expression into something almost friendly.

“Fine,” Luke said quietly. “I tried to help.”

He turned and walked out of the cabin, leaving Percy alone with the shoes. You could not hear their conversation, but as Luke stepped back into the sunlight, his eyes flicked in your direction.

The look on his face was not relief.

It was certainty.

You are sitting in the back of the truck, the engine vibrating beneath you. Ares had agreed to take you to the Underworld, but not without making you do things that still leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Now, you are on your way to another truck, one that will take you to Hermes so he can send you the rest of the way.

Everything feels heavy, like the air itself is pressing down on your shoulders.

Percy leans forward, breaking the tense silence.

“Clarisse is the thief.”

Your stomach twists. Annabeth kneels beside you, whispering prayers to Iris, the rainbow goddess, asking for a signal. Her hands move delicately, almost trembling. The faint shimmer of the rainbow appears, and finally, the message is delivered. She instructs it to show Chiron’s office, and the light shifts.

Luke.

Percy squints. “Luke? What is he doing in Chiron’s office?”

Luke’s voice comes through, calm on the surface but tense underneath. “Just checking on some things. Camp is a mess. Everyone is picking sides, and it’s worse than you think. I’m trying not to get involved.”

Annabeth leans toward Percy to whisper something. Luke lets out a short, dry laugh. “When did you two start acting like an old married couple?”

Then his gaze snaps to you. Your chest tightens. He hasn’t seen you in a week, and the longing in his eyes is like a physical force, pulling at your heart. He looks at you like you are the only light in a dark world, the only water in a burning desert.

“I missed you,” he says, voice low and rough, trembling with emotion. “Camp isn’t the same without you. I want you here, only here, with me. Do not talk to anyone else. Not Percy. Not Annabeth. Not anyone. You are mine.”

The intensity presses against you like heat from a fire. His voice softens slightly, almost pleading. “I’ve waited a week to see you. You are all I can think about. Everything is meaningless without you. Do you understand?”

Percy opens his mouth, probably to start giving updates about the quest, but you cut the Iris message immediately. The rainbow light disappears before he can say anything about Hermes or the plans.

Even with the message gone, you feel the heat of his gaze like a hand wrapped tightly around your chest. Possession, longing, desperation, and something softer, love, presses down on you all at once.

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover are frozen in the background. Percy shifts awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. Annabeth bites her lip, glancing at you with a mix of exasperation and embarrassment. Grover just clears his throat and looks anywhere but at you guys. The intensity of Luke’s words hangs in the air between you and them like a charged storm. Then to break the awkwardness Annabeth tells Percy to never bring Hermes up in front of Luke.

Even in the chaos of the quest, the mess of camp, the uncertainty of everything, you can feel that one thing is undeniable: Luke is consumed by you. And for a moment, the world shrinks until it’s just the two of you, bound by something fierce, possessive, and unbreakable.

You, Annabeth, and Grover are finally back at camp, the sun warming your skin and the familiar sounds of laughter and shouting hitting you all at once. Percy had insisted you go ahead first, saying he would handle delivering the bolt of Zeus himself. Now that he’s back, everyone is celebrating. The cabins are buzzing with excitement, campers running around, high-fiving, cheering. You even catch Chiron nodding at you with a proud smile.

But that sense of safety doesn’t last. You notice Luke standing a little apart from the crowd, his expression unreadable. He looks at you, and your stomach tightens.

“I need to talk to you,” he says quietly, almost too casually, and before you can respond, he’s already walking toward the forest. You glance at Annabeth and Percy. Annabeth frowns.

“Don’t go alone,” she warns.

“I’ll be fine,” you say, though your voice is tighter than you feel. Something in Luke’s eyes makes you follow him anyway.

The trees swallow you as you step deeper into the forest. Shadows stretch long across the path. Luke stops and turns to face you.

“You’ve been listening to them,” he begins, his voice low, almost hypnotic. “Percy, Annabeth… they don’t understand. None of them understand. The gods… they’re cruel. They use us and leave us to deal with the consequences.”

You take a step back. “Luke, what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about freedom,” he says, stepping closer. “Kronos can help us. He doesn’t lie. He doesn’t punish. He sees us as we are. The gods don’t care. They never cared.”

Your chest tightens. You’ve heard his speeches before, the promises of power, the anger… but hearing it now, in the quiet forest, it feels sharper.

“And my mom?” you snap, your voice rising. “What does she have to do with this?”

He smiles, sharp and sly. “Oh, she’s just like the others. She didn’t even try to build a cabin for you, did she? Didn’t ask Mr. D or anyone to help. You’ve been invisible your whole life, and yet you let them tell you how special you are.”

“No,” you say firmly, stepping back, your hands balling into fists. “That’s not true. You’re twisting things.”

Luke tilts his head, frustration flickering across his face. “You don’t see it now, but one day you’ll realize. You could be powerful. You could finally be free from all of them. Come with me. Come with me, and I’ll show you what you’re capable of.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” you say, your voice stronger than you feel. “I don’t care what you say. I’m not leaving camp.”

His expression hardens. “Then I’ll make you.” He steps closer, reaching for your arm. “You don’t understand… I won’t ask again.”

Fear spikes through you, sharp and immediate. Just as his fingers graze your sleeve, a shout rings out from the forest edge.

“Hey!” Percy’s voice cuts through the tension, fierce and unwavering. Annabeth is at his side, eyes blazing.

“Step away from her, Luke,” Annabeth says, her tone no longer asking.

Luke freezes, caught between rage and disbelief. “Percy… you don’t understand…”

“Try me,” Percy snaps.

Luke’s hand tightens for a moment before he lets go, stepping back. “You think you can stop me?” he hisses. “This isn’t over.”

“It’s over for now,” Annabeth says sharply. She steps closer to you, hand on your shoulder. “You’re safe. We’ve got you.”

You exhale, heart racing, relief washing over you as the tension slowly ebbs. Luke glares at the three of you for a long moment, then turns and disappears into the shadows of the forest, leaving only silence behind.

“You okay?” Percy asks, his voice softer now, but still firm.

You nod, looking between your two friends. “Yeah… I’m okay.”

“You’re smarter than him,” Annabeth says, giving you a small, reassuring smile. “Don’t ever forget that.”

Grover finally steps forward, letting out a nervous laugh. “I thought we were goners for a second there,” he mutters.

The hill dipped sharply, and then—

Camp Half-Blood spread out below you, bright and busy and loud in a way that made your head ache. Campers trained in the fields, laughed near the cabins, acted like they belonged.

You didn’t.

The shadows at your feet stretched as you walked, clinging closer than usual.

Chiron slowed near the Big House. “Ah,” he murmured. “That explains it.”

“Explains what?” Mr. D snapped from the porch, leaning against a pillar with a Diet Coke in hand. “Please tell me you didn’t drag another problem into my camp.”

“She is a demigod,” Chiron said calmly.

Mr. D sighed. “They all are. Who’s the parent?”

Chiron hesitated. “Nyx.”

Mr. D froze.

“…You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

Mr. D lowered his can and looked you over. “Great. Just fantastic. The goddess of the night. Because things weren’t ominous enough already.”

“There is no Nyx cabin,” Chiron continued gently. “She has never claimed one.”

“So what do we do with her?” Mr. D said flatly. “Stick her in a broom closet?”

Chiron shot him a warning look.

“She’ll stay in the Hermes cabin,” Chiron decided. “Until further notice.”

Mr. D waved a hand. “Meh, Whatevs.”

The Hermes cabin was crowded and noisy, voices overlapping as soon as you stepped inside. It felt too full, too alive, for someone like you.

Someone about your age looked up from where he was sitting on a bunk, tightening the strap on his sword. He stood, not towering over you, just… there.

“Hey,” he said. “You new?”

You nodded. “Yeah.”

“I’m Luke,” he said casually. “I’ve been here a bit.”

You gave your name in return.

Luke nodded with a smile. “Cool. Guess you’re stuck with us.”

“Guess so.”

He gestured toward an empty bunk near the wall. “You can take that one.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem,” he said, already turning back to what he was doing.

It should’ve felt normal.

But as you set your things down, you noticed it, the way his glance flicked back toward you, quick and unreadable, before he looked away again.

Nothing obvious. Nothing threatening.

Just enough to make the shadows at your feet curl closer.

That night, as the cabin lights dimmed and the noise faded, sleep came slowly. The darkness around your bunk felt heavier here, like it was listening.

You told yourself it was just nerves. Just a bad first day.

Still, one thought lingered as you stared up at the ceiling:

Maybe Mr. D had been right.

Maybe you really should’ve been put in a broom closet.

It didn’t happen all at once,

At first, Luke was just… around,

He was there when you woke up, already dressed and moving through the Hermes cabin like it belonged to him, which, technically, it did. He was there when you came back from training, sitting on a bunk with his sword across his knees, laughing with the others while his eyes flicked toward you without fail,

“Watch your footing,” he said one morning as you passed him,

“Don’t push yourself too hard,”

“Careful who you hang around with,”

You nodded, muttered thanks, and kept walking. You told yourself he was just being responsible, cabin counselor, senior camper, someone trying to help,

Except he never said those things to anyone else,

When you trained in the arena, Luke somehow always ended up nearby, not sparring, just watching, arms crossed, head tilted. If another camper volunteered to train with you, Luke stepped in smoothly, like it was the most natural thing in the world,

“I’ll take this one,” he’d say, “She needs practice,”

You stopped volunteering after that,

At meals, he started sitting beside you instead of across the table, close enough that you had to angle your shoulders away. If someone tried to talk to you, Luke answered first, cutting in like he knew you better than they did,

“She’s not really into that,”

“She’s tired,”

“She’ll eat later,”

You learned to eat faster,

The Hermes cabin never slept, campers came and went at all hours, floorboards creaking, whispered laughter drifting through the dark. At first, that noise comforted you,

Then you started noticing patterns,

Luke went to bed after you, Luke got up before you, and somewhere in between, there was always the same sensation, pressure, like eyes on your skin,

Once, you turned suddenly and caught him standing a little too close to your bunk,

“Oh,” he said, like you’d surprised him, “Didn’t mean to wake you,”

After that, you pretended to sleep,

The night the bunks changed, you knew immediately,

The Hermes cabin felt wrong the second you stepped inside. You set your bag down, glanced at your bed, and froze,

The bunk beside yours wasn’t right,

The blankets were different. The smell was different. The camper who used to sleep there was now across the room, their things shoved together like it hadn’t been their choice,

Luke was sitting on the bunk beside yours, calmly tightening the strap of his sword,

“You moved them,” you said,

He looked up, “Yeah. I switched bunks,”

“You didn’t ask me,”

“I didn’t need to,” he replied easily, “He was fine with it,”

Your hands curled into fists, “Why?”

Luke shrugged, “This spot makes more sense, You’re closer to the door, easier to keep an eye out,”

“I don’t need someone watching me,” you said,

His expression shifted, not angry, not upset, just… blank,

“I’m just trying to help,”

From that night on, the cabin felt smaller,

You could hear him breathe, feel him shift in his sleep. Sometimes, when you lay awake staring at the ceiling, the shadows crept up the walls and pooled around your bed like they were uneasy too,

If you sat up suddenly, Luke was awake,

“You okay?” he’d ask, too quickly,

You stopped responding,

You changed your routines, took different paths, sat with campers from other cabins, stayed where there were people, light, noise. Still, Luke found ways to be there, leaning against a post, passing by “on his way somewhere else,” always watching,

When you finally snapped at him, told him to give you space, his smile faltered,

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked, voice low,

“Yes,” you said, “You won’t leave me alone,”

For a moment, something dark flickered in his eyes, then it vanished, replaced with that familiar, careful calm,

“I’m just protecting you,”

You knew then that nothing you said would matter,

This wasn’t concern,

This wasn’t kindness,

It was control,

And every day you stayed in that cabin, every night you lay awake with the shadows pressed close, your discomfort hardened into something sharper,

You didn’t feel safe,

You didn’t feel grateful,

You felt watched,

And you realized, with a sinking certainty, that Luke wasn’t afraid of something happening to you,

He was afraid of losing you,

And that thought made your skin crawl,

It had been a year since you arrived at camp, and instead of getting better, Luke had only gotten worse.

At first, people thought he was just being protective. The helpful older camper, the dependable swordsman everyone trusted. But now, he genuinely believed the two of you were dating. He followed you everywhere, never letting more than a step of space exist between you. His arm was always slung around your shoulders or his hand rested possessively in your back pocket, like he was afraid you would disappear if he loosened his grip for even a second.

Whenever you told him to stop, he laughed it off. Whenever you warned him that you would tell Chiron or Mr. D, he only smirked and said that everyone at camp loved him anyway, so who would believe you over him.

You were sitting inside the Hermes cabin beside Luke while he talked loudly with his brothers, his arm wrapped tight around you. You stared at the floor, counting the scratches on the wooden boards, wishing you were anywhere else.

Then the cabin door opened.

Chiron entered, his presence immediately silencing the room. Beside him stood a boy with messy black curls and bright green eyes. He was blond, a little shorter than Luke, and looked completely overwhelmed. Something about him made your chest tighten. He looked painfully familiar.

Your breath caught.

Holy shit.

It was Percy.

Your best friend. The boy you had known back at Yancy, before the satyr came for you, before your life fell apart.

Chiron began speaking about welcoming new campers, his voice calm and steady, but you barely heard him. Your eyes were locked on Percy. You tried to catch his attention, tried to make eye contact, silently begging him to look up.

He did not. He kept his eyes on the floor, shoulders tense, hands shoved into his pockets like he was bracing for something bad to happen.

Luke noticed.

His arm tightened around your shoulders, his fingers digging in just enough to remind you that he was there, watching.

When Chiron finally finished and left the cabin, campers immediately began crowding around Percy. You stood up, heart racing, ready to go to him.

Before you could move, Luke leaned down and whispered, “I’ll go say hi first.”

You froze. “Luke, wait, I just—”

But he was already moving, dragging you a step with him before letting go. You stayed behind, watching as Luke walked up to Percy with his charming smile firmly in place.

“Hey,” Luke said, friendly and warm. “You must be the new guy. I’m Luke. Hermes cabin counselor.”

Percy nodded awkwardly. “Uh, yeah. Percy.”

Before Luke could say anything else, you stepped out from behind him and rushed forward.

“Percy!”

You threw your arms around him before he could react. For a split second, he stiffened, then relaxed when he realized it was you.

“Oh my gosh,” you said, pulling back just enough to look at him. “Percy, how are you? I haven’t seen you since I left Yancy.”

His eyes widened. “Wait. It’s you? You’re here?”

You laughed, a little breathless. “Yeah. I got here before you did, apparently.”

A small smile finally tugged at his lips. “I thought I lost everyone from before.”

You talked rapidly, filling the silence with stories about camp, about how weird and overwhelming it was at first. Percy listened, nodding, asking questions, clearly grateful to have a familiar face.

“I’ll give you a tour,” you said quickly. “Show you around camp so you don’t get totally lost.”

Luke stepped back in before Percy could answer. “We’ll give you a tour,” he said smoothly, sliding his arm back around you like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Your stomach twisted, but Percy did not comment. He just nodded.

As you walked out of the Hermes cabin, Luke talked animatedly about camp glory, quests, and how great it was to be a hero. His arm stayed tight around you. You tried to talk to Percy, tried to ask him about the bus, about Yancy, about anything familiar.

Then Clarisse shoved past and bumped straight into Percy.

“Watch it,” she snapped.

Percy looked startled, already bracing himself, but Luke stepped forward. “Back off, Clarisse,” he said sharply. “He’s new.”

Clarisse scoffed but walked away.

You hated that it made you feel relieved. Hated that Luke defending Percy made part of you feel safe, even when you knew you should not.

The rest of the day was a blur of activities. Sword practice, archery, Welding. None of it worked. No claiming. No sign of a godly parent. Percy just got more frustrated and exhausted.

By the time you headed back toward the Hermes cabin, Luke was distracted, deep in conversation with Lee, the Apollo cabin counselor. You seized the moment.

You slipped out of Luke’s grasp and hurried over to Percy.

“Hey,” you said softly.

He looked at you, really looked at you this time. “Hey.”

“I heard what happened to your mom,” you said carefully. “I’m really sorry.”

His jaw tightened. “Yeah. Me too.”

There was a pause.

“I’m going to get her back,” Percy said quietly. Not hopeful, not dramatic. Just certain.

You nodded, even though your chest ached. “I know you will.”

And for the first time since he arrived, Percy looked a little less alone.

Luke is running beside you toward the lake with the rest of the Blue Team, the Red Team’s flag flying behind you. During capture the flag, Luke always makes a point of keeping you close. He says it’s to protect you, that it’s safer if you stay near him, so you’ve stuck by his side the entire game—even when part of you wants to break off and run on your own.

When you reach the shoreline, everything stops.

Clarisse is there.

She has Percy lifted off the ground by his shirt, holding him like he’s nothing, her fist raised as if she’s seconds away from beating him to a pulp. Percy looks barely conscious. When Clarisse notices all of you watching, her expression hardens. After a long, tense second, she drops him onto the sand.

You immediately start toward Percy, your heart pounding, but Luke grabs your arm and pulls you back.

Before you can react—before you can even think—he kisses you.

For a split second, your mind goes blank.

Then the cheers explode.

The Blue Team erupts in shouting and laughter, and even some of the Red Team joins in, clapping and yelling like they’ve just witnessed something incredible. Your stomach twists.

What. The. Fuck.

You did not consent to that.

You pull away, still stunned, and try again to go to Percy. That’s when Annabeth shoves him into the lake.

You gasp and rush forward, but Luke’s grip snaps around your wrist again, tighter this time, stopping you. His fingers dig into your skin as you struggle against him.

Then Percy stands up.

The water slides off him like it doesn’t belong there. The air around the lake goes deathly silent. A glowing trident shimmers into existence above his head.

Everyone freezes.

Campers stare in open shock. Clarisse’s face drains of color. Annabeth takes a step back, eyes wide.

And Luke—Luke goes completely still.

His hand loosens on your wrist as he stares at Percy, his expression shifting from smug to stunned, like the ground has just disappeared beneath him. He looks terrified.

Holy shit.

Percy Jackson is Poseidon’s son.

A forbidden kid.

And in that moment, you know nothing at camp will ever be the same again.

After the day of Percy’s quest announcement, Chiron called together the strongest campers, and you were included among them. Luke stood beside you, closer than necessary. When you shifted your weight and tried to create some space, he moved with you, his presence constant and suffocating.

“Stay here,” Luke murmured quietly, his hand brushing your arm like it belonged there.

You pulled away slightly but said nothing. Chiron cleared his throat and addressed Percy, telling him it was time to choose three campers for the quest.

Percy looked overwhelmed as he scanned the crowd. After a moment, he spoke. “Annabeth.”

Annabeth’s face lit up immediately. When she looked at you, her excitement was impossible to miss. You smiled back, genuinely happy for her. She had trained for this moment, and she deserved it.

“Choose the next camper,” Chiron said.

Percy hesitated, then glanced in your direction. “Y/n.”

The air beside you shifted instantly.

Luke went rigid. His calm expression cracked, his jaw tightening as his eyes locked onto Percy. His hand curled into a fist at his side before he slowly turned to look at you.

“What?” Luke said under his breath, disbelief sharp in his voice.

You took a step away from him, but he followed, lowering his voice. “No. That’s not happening.”

Before you could respond, Percy quickly spoke again. “Grover. Grover’s the third.”

Chiron nodded, finalizing the choices. As the crowd began to break apart, you turned to leave, but Luke stepped directly in front of you, blocking your path.

“You’re not going,” Luke said firmly.

“That’s not your decision,” you replied, crossing your arms. “I can handle myself.”

Luke leaned closer, his voice dropping. “You do not need to prove anything. That quest is dangerous, and I am not letting you get hurt.”

“You do not get to decide that,” you snapped. “Percy chose me.”

His eyes darkened at Percy’s name. “Percy made a mistake.”

You tried to step around him, but his hand shot out, grabbing your wrist. His grip was not painful, but it was possessive.

“Let go,” you said sharply.

After a moment, he released you, forcing a smile that felt wrong. “I will fix this. I will talk to him.”

“You better not,” you warned. “This is my choice.”

Luke brushed his thumb over your wrist as if memorizing it. “I know what is best for you.”

Before you could argue again, he turned and walked toward Percy, already set on changing your fate. You watched him go, unease settling deep in your chest as you realized Luke was not trying to protect you.

He was trying to control you.

Luke left the crowd and headed straight for the Poseidon cabin, the familiar pair of winged shoes clutched tightly in his hands. They were a gift from his father, something he rarely let out of his sight. The fact that he was carrying them now made your stomach twist.

Percy was inside the cabin, adjusting his armor, when Luke stepped in without knocking.

“Percy,” Luke said evenly, lifting the shoes so the wings caught the light. “You are going to need these.”

Percy frowned, his gaze dropping to them. “Aren’t those yours?”

“They were my father’s gift,” Luke replied. “But this quest matters more. Let me show you how they work.”

Before Percy could protest, Luke crouched and began explaining everything in detail. He showed him how to activate the enchantment, how to guide the shoes through the air, and how to land without breaking his neck. His voice was calm and patient, but beneath it was something tense, something urgent.

“These will get you out of trouble fast,” Luke said. “They will keep you alive.”

Percy nodded. “Thanks, Luke. Seriously.”

Luke straightened slowly. “There is one more thing.”

Percy looked up. “Yeah?”

“You need to change your mind about y/n,” Luke said. “She should not be going.”

Percy’s expression hardened. “No. I already chose her.”

“She is not ready for what is out there,” Luke pressed. “This quest is dangerous. One mistake and she could be killed.”

“We all could,” Percy replied. “Chiron approved the team. I am not changing it.”

Luke’s jaw clenched. “If something happens to her, that will be on you.”

“That is not fair,” Percy said sharply. “It was my decision, and I am standing by it.”

For a long moment, Luke did not respond. His hands slowly curled into fists before he forced himself to relax, smoothing his expression into something almost friendly.

“Fine,” Luke said quietly. “I tried to help.”

He turned and walked out of the cabin, leaving Percy alone with the shoes. You could not hear their conversation, but as Luke stepped back into the sunlight, his eyes flicked in your direction.

The look on his face was not relief.

It was certainty.

You are sitting in the back of the truck, the engine vibrating beneath you. Ares had agreed to take you to the Underworld, but not without making you do things that still leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Now, you are on your way to another truck, one that will take you to Hermes so he can send you the rest of the way.

Everything feels heavy, like the air itself is pressing down on your shoulders.

Percy leans forward, breaking the tense silence.

“Clarisse is the thief.”

Your stomach twists. Annabeth kneels beside you, whispering prayers to Iris, the rainbow goddess, asking for a signal. Her hands move delicately, almost trembling. The faint shimmer of the rainbow appears, and finally, the message is delivered. She instructs it to show Chiron’s office, and the light shifts.

Luke.

Percy squints. “Luke? What is he doing in Chiron’s office?”

Luke’s voice comes through, calm on the surface but tense underneath. “Just checking on some things. Camp is a mess. Everyone is picking sides, and it’s worse than you think. I’m trying not to get involved.”

Annabeth leans toward Percy to whisper something. Luke lets out a short, dry laugh. “When did you two start acting like an old married couple?”

Then his gaze snaps to you. Your chest tightens. He hasn’t seen you in a week, and the longing in his eyes is like a physical force, pulling at your heart. He looks at you like you are the only light in a dark world, the only water in a burning desert.

“I missed you,” he says, voice low and rough, trembling with emotion. “Camp isn’t the same without you. I want you here, only here, with me. Do not talk to anyone else. Not Percy. Not Annabeth. Not anyone. You are mine.”

The intensity presses against you like heat from a fire. His voice softens slightly, almost pleading. “I’ve waited a week to see you. You are all I can think about. Everything is meaningless without you. Do you understand?”

Percy opens his mouth, probably to start giving updates about the quest, but you cut the Iris message immediately. The rainbow light disappears before he can say anything about Hermes or the plans.

Even with the message gone, you feel the heat of his gaze like a hand wrapped tightly around your chest. Possession, longing, desperation, and something softer, love, presses down on you all at once.

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover are frozen in the background. Percy shifts awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. Annabeth bites her lip, glancing at you with a mix of exasperation and embarrassment. Grover just clears his throat and looks anywhere but at you guys. The intensity of Luke’s words hangs in the air between you and them like a charged storm. Then to break the awkwardness Annabeth tells Percy to never bring Hermes up in front of Luke.

Even in the chaos of the quest, the mess of camp, the uncertainty of everything, you can feel that one thing is undeniable: Luke is consumed by you. And for a moment, the world shrinks until it’s just the two of you, bound by something fierce, possessive, and unbreakable.

You, Annabeth, and Grover are finally back at camp, the sun warming your skin and the familiar sounds of laughter and shouting hitting you all at once. Percy had insisted you go ahead first, saying he would handle delivering the bolt of Zeus himself. Now that he’s back, everyone is celebrating. The cabins are buzzing with excitement, campers running around, high-fiving, cheering. You even catch Chiron nodding at you with a proud smile.

But that sense of safety doesn’t last. You notice Luke standing a little apart from the crowd, his expression unreadable. He looks at you, and your stomach tightens.

“I need to talk to you,” he says quietly, almost too casually, and before you can respond, he’s already walking toward the forest. You glance at Annabeth and Percy. Annabeth frowns.

“Don’t go alone,” she warns.

“I’ll be fine,” you say, though your voice is tighter than you feel. Something in Luke’s eyes makes you follow him anyway.

The trees swallow you as you step deeper into the forest. Shadows stretch long across the path. Luke stops and turns to face you.

“You’ve been listening to them,” he begins, his voice low, almost hypnotic. “Percy, Annabeth… they don’t understand. None of them understand. The gods… they’re cruel. They use us and leave us to deal with the consequences.”

You take a step back. “Luke, what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about freedom,” he says, stepping closer. “Kronos can help us. He doesn’t lie. He doesn’t punish. He sees us as we are. The gods don’t care. They never cared.”

Your chest tightens. You’ve heard his speeches before, the promises of power, the anger… but hearing it now, in the quiet forest, it feels sharper.

“And my mom?” you snap, your voice rising. “What does she have to do with this?”

He smiles, sharp and sly. “Oh, she’s just like the others. She didn’t even try to build a cabin for you, did she? Didn’t ask Mr. D or anyone to help. You’ve been invisible your whole life, and yet you let them tell you how special you are.”

“No,” you say firmly, stepping back, your hands balling into fists. “That’s not true. You’re twisting things.”

Luke tilts his head, frustration flickering across his face. “You don’t see it now, but one day you’ll realize. You could be powerful. You could finally be free from all of them. Come with me. Come with me, and I’ll show you what you’re capable of.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” you say, your voice stronger than you feel. “I don’t care what you say. I’m not leaving camp.”

His expression hardens. “Then I’ll make you.” He steps closer, reaching for your arm. “You don’t understand… I won’t ask again.”

Fear spikes through you, sharp and immediate. Just as his fingers graze your sleeve, a shout rings out from the forest edge.

“Hey!” Percy’s voice cuts through the tension, fierce and unwavering. Annabeth is at his side, eyes blazing.

“Step away from her, Luke,” Annabeth says, her tone no longer asking.

Luke freezes, caught between rage and disbelief. “Percy… you don’t understand…”

“Try me,” Percy snaps.

Luke’s hand tightens for a moment before he lets go, stepping back. “You think you can stop me?” he hisses. “This isn’t over.”

“It’s over for now,” Annabeth says sharply. She steps closer to you, hand on your shoulder. “You’re safe. We’ve got you.”

You exhale, heart racing, relief washing over you as the tension slowly ebbs. Luke glares at the three of you for a long moment, then turns and disappears into the shadows of the forest, leaving only silence behind.

“You okay?” Percy asks, his voice softer now, but still firm.

You nod, looking between your two friends. “Yeah… I’m okay.”

“You’re smarter than him,” Annabeth says, giving you a small, reassuring smile. “Don’t ever forget that.”

Grover finally steps forward, letting out a nervous laugh. “I thought we were goners for a second there,” he mutters.