PJ 8. R is for revenge

8. R is for revenge

Derek’s POV
“In Hephaestus’ name, how can this be possible?!”I asked rhetorically when I noticed my katana named ‘Tallon’ was missing yet again. I knew who was responsible for the disappearance: Amaya Fray, daughter of Selene. Why I was so sure? Because she had stolen Tallon already for twenty-seven times (this being number twenty-eight) in the short time I attended Camp Half-Blood.
After last time bumping into her sticky fingers, I decided to make an alarm system for the Forge. With a bucket of Stymphalian bird scraps and a tinkering mind I came up with my own pet alarm bird named Cook. There was only one problem with him…
Cook has a mind of his own and with said mind, he has dreams. Alarm system isn’t on his list. No… He dreams of being a cuckoo clock.
“Why didn’t you tell me Amaya was in here?!”I questioned the Celestial bronze bird. “Excuse me sir-who-lost-his-sword!”Cook answered in his English accent. “But the moon girl came close to eight in the morning! It is my duty as a cuckoo clock to-…”. “You’re not a cuckoo clock!”I yelled at him frustrated. “Gods! Leo was right when he said I better made a key chain out of you!”.
“Valdez is already on my blacklist!”Cook told me. “He tried to make me eat one of the Stoll’s smoke bombs!”. “You better had choked in it!”I cried out until suddenly a light bulb popped in my head. “Wait a second…”I muttered. “You said Leo TRIED to make you eat the smoke bomb. That means he failed, right?”.
“Oh, Olympus yes, he failed! And that with some of my sharp bronze feathers in his bum too!”Cook assured me. “What happened to the bomb?”I wanted to know. “Trashcan.”my invented pet replied. As soon as he spoke the words I dived into the trashcan thanking whole Olympus my siblings and I weren’t too keen on taking out the trash daily. It didn’t take long before I fished up the smoke bomb.
“Oh, I know that grin…”Cook spoke. “You’re going to cause trouble, aren’t you?”. “Only a bit.”I said. “Amaya hasn’t won just yet…”.

Amaya’s POV
A hammock hung between two trees in the coolest shade Camp Half-Blood had to offer… What else did a person need to spend an almost ended summer day? I hummed a tune to myself as I propped my arms behind my head. My silver shades were covering my eyes blocking out most of the sunlight while my skin started to tingle more and more with every minute dusk came closer.
My late afternoon chill session got interrupted soon though by a smell. Something sweet… Very sweet… “Why do I smell a blueberry muffin straight from the oven?”I asked out loud. “Wow, your nose is almost as good as your freaky gift to blend in with the shadows.”a voice replied. I knew that voice… It got always accompanied by the faint crisps of burning fire.
“Hello Derek.”I spoke as a sly smile graced my lips. “Have you come to beg me to return your sword?”. “Oh please Amaya, we both know mercy isn’t your style.”he pointed out causing me to sit up from my hammock.
“Now look who’s starting to know me!”I praised him. “But if you’re not here to beg, then why are you disturbing my me-time?”. “Because I’m here to propose a trade.”he revealed and showed me the plate that held the delicious smelling blueberry muffin.
“Is that…?”I started. “One of Althea’s muffins?”he asked. “Yep. Made with blueberries from her garden and baked with the help of Sita.”. “Give me!”I demanded but as I reached out for the muffin, Derek pulled the plate back.
“Not just yet, dudette.”he said. “I want my sword back. So here’s the deal. One very delicious muffin traded for Tallon. What do you say?”. “Hmmm…. I’m not sure…”I muttered. “Have I mentioned it’s still warm in the middle?”Derek remarked.
“Deal!”I said eagerly on which I pulled a wrench, better known as Tallon’s mist form, from my pocket and handed it to Derek. The Hephaestus blood in turn gave me the muffin. “Bon appetite!”he said with a broad smile before dashing off.
I gazed at his retreating form confused but quickly shrugged that confusion off. He has his sword, I had a muffin. Everybody happy… With the sun setting on the background I undid the paper wrapping of the mini cake slowly. Freed from its paper skirt I made myself ready for the sweet explosion of taste I knew that was awaiting me. So I closed my eyes, brought the muffin to my mouth, took a bite and…
BOOM!!!
I coughed as black smoke exploded from the muffin. “DEREK!!!”I yelled out. My outburst got followed by the echoes of hysterical laughter somewhere in the Camp. With a quick motion I threw the remains of the ruined muffin on the ground and glared at the changing sky before I smirked.
“Well played DeLucian…”I admitted. “But this isn’t over yet.”.