Mixed Reactions

Hazel and I joined everyone for breakfast.

"So," Annabeth began, looking between me and Hazel, "do you not want me to be your Queen anymore?"

I sighed. "No, I do —"

"So why would you have sex with her?" Annabeth shrieked.

"It's not that simple, Annabeth," I said.

"I thought your dream was for me to be your Queen, your only Queen?"

"So you want us to go through Exit Transformations?" Hazel asked.

"It's not a big deal!" Annabeth screamed. "Not like you're going to change being a slut who throws themselves naked at another girl's man anyways!"

"Annabeth, enough!" I ordered. "Yes, I wish that we could go back to a time where it'd have been me and you. Yes, I'd prefer for you to be my only Queen. But NOT at the risk of anyone else getting Exit Transformations."

"That's contradictory," Annabeth said confusedly.

"No, it's a hierarchy," Clarisse said. "Percy wants you to be his one and only, but he wants us all to be safe more."

Annabeth nodded her head in acquiesce, and I continued.

"You're right, I shouldn't have had sex with Hazel," I admitted. "That was... Disloyal from me. I understand that in this Island, everyday will be filled with disloyalty, but I shouldn't have came to accept it. However, I do have to make Hazel orgasm once a day, which means there will be some illicitness in our relationship."

Annabeth shrugged. "I understand the hierarchy of what you want, so it's all good."

I sighed. Sometimes it felt like most of Annabeth's intelligence was taken away from her by the show, and I wondered if anything could be done to fix that.

The rest of the day went by swimmingly; Mom and I decided we wanted to have a beach day, so we brought everyone together and hung out at the beach. That went on till the evening, when we headed inside for dinner.

After dinner, Mom pulled me aside.

"Percy, do be careful, ok?"

"Of course," I said. "But why now?"

"Last night proves you can be corrupted by this place," she said. "And we're all just a few steps ahead or behind you. Just make sure we don't lose ourselves, that's all I'm asking."

"I'll fight the Fates if I have to, Mom," I said, giving her a hug.

After a few moments, she let me go. "Careful with Medusa, yeah?"

"Of course!" I said, heading to my House.

As I headed home, Medusa quietly found me and stepped in beside me.

"Hi, Medusa," I said. "How'd you feel about the swim day?"

"It was nice," she admitted. "It was kind of awkward, but I felt some return of normalcy."

"I get what you mean," I said, looking at her.

Medusa: 590 + 45 = 635

Medusa and I headed upstairs. "Medusa, I wish I could do something for you," I admitted. "I just - I just hope that you win the Test tomorrow, and the Challenge in a few days. I just can't help you right now."

"It's ok," she said, giving me a small kiss on the cheek. "Let's just sleep."

We both lay down on our own sides of the bed, and slowly fell asleep.