Othello Domination.

//This was for my Patre0n subs but I do owe you guys 3 chapters from our last agreement, so here you go. I'll have 2 more out so we can call it even.

Also, if you're loving this story and want to see upwards of THREE chapters a day + 1 on Patre0n then help me reach my goal.

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"There's only two ways to get into the Sea Of Monsters. Assuming you skipped over learning that piece of information during your studies as well?"

Chion made a face. "I didn't even study the Sea Of Monsters."

"You're hopeless."

The two of them were in the middle of playing a board game that Chion had found in one of the compartments, a game called Othello where the objective was to have the most pieces after the board was filled up. So far, the white-haired youth had managed to win 7 out of 15 games. The only reason it wasn't more was because of how visibly frustrated Annabeth had gotten when Chion had smoked her in the first three games. Feeling bad, he opted for a more subtle approach and rigged the games in a way that seemed close but allowed the blonde girl to steal the win in the end. It was actually quite a difficult task compared to just outright winning, but the smile she emitted when she inevitably won the set more than made up for it. He still occasionally slammed her in a number of games, though, just to keep her ego in check.

"The first entrance is known as the Clashing Rocks. Jason and the Original Argonauts used this route on their quests to obtain the Golden Fleece." Annabeth laid down a piece, taking one of Chions whole lane. "These rocks move and slam into each other with such speed that it's almost impossible to get through them. The Argonauts only made it because they had assistance from a goddess. Hera, the queen of the gods."

"The Argonauts. I've read about them." Chion placed another piece, immediately countering Annabeths play by taking three different rows. "Their journey to get the Fleece was very entertaining."

"I thought you didn't know about the Sea Of Monsters," the blonde female frowned as she glanced over the board. "How'd you know about the Argonauts?"

"Because they never referred to it as the Sea Of Monsters in the story." Chion leaned back slightly. "That aside, what's the other way? You said there were two."

Annabeth didn't answer immediately, still pondering the next move she wanted to make on the Othello board. There were only five spots left to play from, and Chion was in the lead. Where she placed it next would decide her fate.

"The second way is through the strait of Scylla and Charybdis," Luke said, making his way into the picture, no longer looking like he was ready to murder someone and their entire lineage.

"Charybdis, daughter of Poseidon and Gaea. Turned into a monster by Zeus. Scylla, daughter of Keto and Phorcys, turned into a hideous sea hydra thinga-ma-bob by Circe. Transformed by rage and jealousy, respectively. I read about them." Chion glanced towards Luke. He had noted that the SS Overland had an autopilot feature, but it still felt odd to have no one manually pilot the boat. "So those two are also here in the Sea Of Monsters? I guess they'd have to be somewhere if every single monster in Greek mythology was alive today. What better place to have sea monsters other than the literal Sea Of Monsters."

"Yep. Truly poetic." Luke glanced down at the board game they were playing. "What IS that game?"

"Othello," Annabeth replied half-heartedly as she placed down a piece. "We found it near the back of the ship. Learned how to play it around an hour ago."

Chion briefly explained the rules to the son of Hermes as he kneeled down, surveying the game. Without missing a beat, the white-haired individual placed another piece down, only taking a brief moment to look at the move Annabeth had played. This particular match-up had all but been decided mid game after Chion had set the board up in his favor. Thus, he wasn't too focused on the last few moves and had time to give his other crew member a run-down of the finer mechanics. Once the game between him and Annabeth ended in his favor, Chion excused himself and ducked out, ignoring the girl's objections about leaving in the middle of a tie. There were some other things he wanted to check up on.

They still had maybe one or two hours left to go, as long as they maintained their top speed according to Annabeth, and the going had been pretty smooth for the most part. When Chion walked up to the steering wheel and read the compass, it showed that they were indeed on the right track.

Still, Chion still felt the need to make sure everything was in place for the moment they reached the entrance. After looking over the fuel level, double-checking supplies, and adjusting the speed to a higher setting, the youth headed back to his two companions.

"I want to take the direction of the Clashing Rocks," Chion announced, squatting down as Luke placed a piece on the board. "Also, maybe don't make that move, Luke. She's gonna put you in a bad spot later down the line."

"Can you shut the-" Annabeth opened her mouth but immediately halted midway. "Wait what'd you say?"

"He shouldn't place his piece in that area-"

"No. Not that. No one cares about your opinion on Othello." Annabeth dismissed that entirely. "About the Clashing Rocks. You wanna what?"

"I think he said we should take that route," Luke said as he retracted his piece. Subtley, he nudged Chion with his elbow. Wordlessly, the white-haired youth indicated where the blonde male should put his piece. "I personally think that that doesn't sound like a bad idea."

"I think it sounds like the worst idea," Annabeth rebuttalled. "Out of both entrances, the Clashing Rocks is the most dangerous. We'll be paste before reaching the other side."

"I think I should ask this question now then. While it's true that we don't know him that well, is there ever a time when good old Jack Frost here has made a blunder? Not counting the scorpion cause that's unfair." Luke looked towards the girl with an inquisitive look. "Capture The Flag with the Hunters. The Hellhounds. The Bull. With all of the things we've seen and the stories we've heard, Chion has come through and shown his own intelligence and insight on numerous occasions. Why do you keep fighting him on everything when he's usually in the general ballpark of a good move?"

"In what universe is this a valid strategy?" Annabeth asked. "We don't have the protection of a god. Most of the plans taken by Chion are-"

"I'm still here," the youth reminded, cutting in.

Annabeth ignored him. "Most of his plans are enormous risks that put everything and everyone at risk if failed. This isn't a game of Pinochle or a casual game against the Hunters. If we mess up on the Clashing Rocks, we ALL go down!!"

"And against Scylla and Charybdis?" Chion questioned calmly.

"We're in a boat with weapons. We'd have an easier time fighting them off than dodging quick moving rocks."

"An excellent point." Chion raised a finger. "We're in a boat with weapons, a boat made by a literal god with the power and tech provided by modern-day society. Jason and the Argonauts were in a much older boat powered by sails and maybe oars. The fastest boat was probably around 3 to 8 knots, which is about 3 to 9 miles per hour in nautical terms. Ours goes about 290 knots and has an outer hull of Celestial Bronze and makes sharp turns rivaling a cheetah. Unless the Crashing Rocks have sped up over the last millenia, we should be fast enough to do it without divine intervention."

"And if you're wrong?" Annabeth queried, placing down an Othello piece.

"You get to say I told you so in the afterlife." Chion shrugged. "However, if it makes you feel better, we can stop just before the rocks and gauge the situation before diving in. If it looks too troubling, we'll do it your way."

"Fine. By the way, helping Luke out is cheating." The girl scowled and made a flinging motion with her hand. "Go swab the deck or something."

"Aye Cap'n."

Before Chion could fully leave, though, Annabeth got up and followed after the white-haired youth, trailing out of hearing range of her fellow blonde.

"It's not like I don't trust your judgment," the girl clarified, clearly swallowing her pride, which Chion was proud of. "It's just that this is my first quest, and I'm supposed to be the leader of it, as it was given to me. From the very start, it's felt like more of your quest than mine. You figured out what we needed. You supplied the transportation. You managed to get us a boat. You're coming up with the plan. Honestly? It just feels like I'm dead weight and merely along for the ride. Luke hasn't done much either but at least he has experience either these things."

Chion let the silence between them sit for a bit as the sound of rushing water echoed around them. The wind produced by their speed ruffled both of their hair, the smell of the sea thick in the afternoon air.

"You're getting too caught up in being a leader that you're missing just one crucial element." The teen locked eyes with her. "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. I'm good at strategy and logic, but that's about it. I can't swing a sword the way Luke can. I can't talk to people like you can, nor do I have as much gumption and pride as you do, which IS a good thing. Your can-do attitude, willingness to keep moving forward, and your vast knowledge are what make you a great leader and you have displayed that time and time again. It may not seem like it now, but there will come a point when neither Luke nor I can operate alone, in which case we'll look to you for guidance."

Annabeth didn't reply.

"A group of friends once told me something." Chion cleared his throat. "We're not too big. And we're not too tough. But when we work together we got the right stuff."

"Pft. Who told you something so corny?"

"The Wonder Pets."