DISCLAIMER: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Although dressed casually, she radiated power and dominance throughout the large dining room. My stomach growled but I couldn't even bring myself to sip the wine; if I did I felt she'd scold me as she would a child.
It wasn't difficult to compare me to one actually. Throughout my years I've been known to cause mischief, no matter how old I got. At twenty-seven, the playful instincts still hadn't gone away. The woman sitting across from me didn't seem to approve of that, but then again I'd never met her before. My father had apparently told her any information she needed to know, which meant that all precious objects were locked away somewhere my clumsy self couldn't break them. Then again, I don't think clumsy is a good word to describe it. I'm more accident prone.
She, however, was my opposite. Other than her being around twice my age (although she didn't look a day older than thirty-five) and female, she seemed to produce perfection in whatever she did.
That sounds ghastly.
Yet, I had no chance to complain. My father-oh, my wonderful father-had decided to beg the woman to let me stay here. Nobody else wanted me. Obviously she didn't want me either, and I've no idea how my father managed to get me a room here.
"You do not own anything here other than the items you brought with you beforehand," she said, running a finger along the edge of her wine glass. Her eyes remained there as well and I was grateful; I feared her intimidating eyes more than anything else. "I'd prefer you remember that if you want to stay in my house."
If she thinks this is a house then she must be wealthier than I imagined. The property towered at three stories-beautiful furnishing, a peaceful garden with a fountain that featured a naked stone man urinating (and many other awkward statues), and an enormous dining hall with a glass chandelier hanging high above our heads.
"Of course," I nodded, finally managing to speak after being silent for so long. "I won't do anything that displeases you."
At this she looked up at me and I resisted the urge to jerk back by the horrible glare she gave me. Delicately lifting her wine glass, she replied with a terrible politeness which sent a cold shiver down my spine. "Do not make promises you do not intend to keep, Perseus."
"It's Percy-" I blurt out before I could stop myself. I had done it on instinct; I had become so used to it, after all. She put the glass to her lips and I watched her, savoring the dark liquid. As she set the glass down again, the corners of her mouth twitched upward ever so slightly.
"Of course, Percy…and you may call me by my first name if you wish."
I swallowed hard, looking down at my untouched plate of pasta. It had been the same with the first two courses as well. She would talk and consume her food as I only watched her and kept my mouth shut. For the first time in the entire conversation, she showed some sign of actually not despising me.
"Yes," my voice came out as a whisper, but it was so quiet I knew she had heard me clearly. "Yes, Athena."
Her expression resumed to something more businesslike, and I knew I'd have to last one more course before I could leave to my room and finally sleep. Soon there was a small plate in front of me with a perfectly portioned cake placed at its center. It was covered in a chocolate shell with a mint leaf pressed into the top. The sides were drizzled with some sort of bright red syrup, and it wasn't as grand as some of the other plates I'd seen tonight but it still held its own simple beauty.
Athena took a ridiculously long time eating the cake, chewing every single morsel to the point where there was nothing but air left. I quickly grew impatient, and it was obvious she sensed that.
"The reason we serve you food is because we assume you will eat it," she begins again, placing her fork on the half-empty plate and leaning forward in her chair. "Do not think I am only tempting you; if you wish to eat then by all means, eat."
This only made me feel more like she was tempting me. But what is wrong with eating? Humans need to survive somehow. Maybe it was the thought that the wine had lethal amounts of arsenic that stopped me from touching anything.
I only shook my head, leaving the corners of her mouth to tug upwards mockingly. Silence once again hung over us like a cloud. Athena seemed used to it; she didn't seem to have guests too often. She probably had a cook though, seeing that this food couldn't have appeared magically out of thin air.
"Does anyone else live here?" I asked despite my mind telling myself to shut up. She didn't look at me, but once again picked up her fork and began eating ever so slowly.
"If," she replies, keeping her eyes on the cake. "If you've heard anything, I ask you not to dwell on it. Your father trusted me to make sure you had a place to stay until you could get back on your feet."
"What do you mean? I've heard nothing at all."
She stood up suddenly, picking up her glass of wine. "If you would excuse me, I need to finish something. You may also go to your room."
Again I felt like a child as she left, sending me to my room as if I had done something wrong. Climbing the grand stairs, I reached the second level where I strode down the long hallway to reach my room. The hallway was somehow bright although I could see no lights, and it soon became uncomfortable. I opened a door that I believed was my room, but it was merely a small, empty closet. Wondering if this was a cruel joke, I continued walking farther up until I reached the next door.
Although the manor had more of a classical, sophisticated look, my room was designed modern. Colored blue and black, it finally made me feel a little more comfortable being here. My suitcases were still packed, but I had no intention of unpacking them. No, I was exhausted, yet I still decided to take a shower before sleeping. Unbuttoning my shirt, I tossed it in a laundry basket that had been placed in the bathroom.
Oh, the bathroom. After seeing it I was positive that I'd smell like lavender and chamomile if I stayed here for too long. I finished undressing and turned on the hot water, letting it massage my muscles. Steam escaped into the bedroom as I walked out, drying my hair with a hand towel.
It would be easy to just get used to this life, but if I did my father wouldn't even consider me his son anymore. It's not like I deserved to be anyways. I was nothing but a failure to him.
And I was surprisingly content with that.
No job, no income, no house…he just found more to pile on me. And then the fact that I destroy almost everything I touch. Maybe that's why my father wants me here: he wants me to destroy Athena's mansion. He hates the woman, so it seemed possible enough. I was about to lie down on the soft bed, and just as the soothing blankets touched my bare chest I felt my eyes flutter closed. I was rewarded with some sleep, even though I had no true reason to be tired. Maybe it was being around Athena…she did seem to suck the life out of anyone and everyone.
My sleep didn't last long though, because I was awoken by a high-pitched scream.
I sat up straight, letting the blankets fall off me. Moving towards the door, I opened it and stepped out into the still-bright hall. Once again I was curious to see how this was possible, how there could be no bulbs or any other light source yet it was bright as day. The halls were empty, but I could've sworn I heard that shriek. Then I heard something else, someone sobbing. The sound was getting louder and louder, and I couldn't tell where it was coming from.
Something touched my back; it was cold and it wrapped around my waist. I turned around to see a head of long blond hair leaning onto my chest for support. Her sobs were quieter now, her breathing ragged, but her arms remained around me. They were so cold.
Gently touching her hair, I wrapped my other arm around her shoulders and let her cry. She soon looked up and I almost stepped away from her. Her face, although covered in tears, looked so much like Athena's. Especially her eyes, the beautiful stormy grey that could probably intimidate someone to death if she tried, looked exactly like Athena's.
Her grip on me tightened, and she buried her face in my chest again.
A/N: I'm not usually one to put Athena in a more negative role, but I almost couldn't resist in this one. The idea sort of arrived in pieces and fit itself together. The entire puzzle isn't even near complete yet, but I'll see where this story takes me.
Instead of my usual stories which I basically write, this one will actually express my thoughts and feelings and ideas in some areas. A little breakthrough in my mind, really…considering the fact that most of what I write is short and sweet with no true deeper meaning. Now I'm no philosophical genius but I'll explore some unknown territory.
It's been a while since I've written anything at all actually. I've deleted my last story, With a Purpose due to the fact that I just couldn't feel any sense of direction. It was just a bunch of mindless words to me, trying to fit together a story that ultimately wouldn't work at the time. I'll redo it sometime later, but for now I'll stick to this one.
I know I've been a little MIA for a couple of months but I really hope you enjoyed this first chapter. The end may be a bit creepy to some readers, but I assure you this is not a horror story my any means. If you get scared easily (like I do) then don't worry, this won't freak you out.
As always, the first chapter is just a little introduction to what is soon to come. And I plan for this story to be much, much better. Well, guys, what do you think? Review with some of your thoughts!
