"Ellenor?" Percy crept into his therapists office, smelling something sweet in the air. Hesitance filled every pore as he waited for the truth spell to hit him.

But nothing came other then the soft, warm voice of Ellenor as she spoke. "Hello, Perseus." She was wearing a purple pantsuit today, with her hair in a Grecian updo. "Please sit, we have much to do today."

Quickly, he sat down as she asked. "No truth spell today?"

Her laugh was warm. "I will reactivate it shortly, I wanted to wait so you can relax first. I know how invasive that magic feels on your soul."

Touched, Percy nodded. "I appreciate that." Shifting, Percy was so nervous he almost missed the puff of smoke that erupted in the middle of the room. As it faded, he saw what basically looked like an empty bird bath. "Uh... what?"

Ellenor laughed at him before summoning a seashell into her hand. "It is a scrying bowl. I am going to teach your scrying. Witches use these to see through space and time, well the well trained ones do. I sense Egyptian magic lingering on you, so I assume you know of other realms?" At his nod, she continued. "I spent years with the Magicans. They are far more organized the Greeks or Romans. I shifted my training methods around their style, and this scrying bowl became vital."

"Wait, your teaching me magic? I thought I was here to work on my issues?"

A raised eyebrow cowed him slightly. "Why must these be mutually exclusive? Let me put it this way, your powers are born of emotion. You, in the Greek camp learn to control it on your own with no instruction. Few Romans inherit the flashier powers of their parents and even when they do, They tend to stick to combative skills. In either case, all skills revolve around combat but neither are understood. Witches on the other hand learn to direct their emotions to create effect, controlling the intensity or cutting it off right to control the effects of their magic. For Demigods hat raw power is neglected, triggered by emotion instead of purpose, controlled by emotions instead of clarity. What if you could use this connection in reverse, as a witch would? Using your powers, which are connected to your emotions and act as a reflection of them, to monitor and control your emotions. Using your powers to gain awareness if your true emotions move past them until you develop a system of naturally clearer thoughts."

Oddly enough, Percy understood. "Like... if I see the water moving, then I know I'm agitated but if it is calm then I'm in control?"

"Very good, Percy! But there is more, you see in doing so you may gain greater control over your powers. Extra protection just in case." She smiled again and he could barely stop his own smile. "Now, normally we'd work on meditation but Demigods are too wired for this to work, hence the scrying bowl. It is spelled, all you do is create the water and focus your thoughts on a memory of your choosing. I'd start far back, your first painful memory. Something barely there. Oh! I forgot, the truth spell will strip your memory of emotion. You'll see it as it is, unbiased from your current or past mindset. May I cast the spell now?"

Slowly, though hesitant, he nodded and took her seashell. Closing his eyes as the truth spell hit, he focused on his first painful moment...

The day his Mom introduced him to Gabe.

...

Ellenor watched as her spell washed out the emotion from Percy, just in time for water to drip into the bowl from the seashell. In an instant, the magic took effect, rippling across the water until a clear picture showed. The spell played through an outside look, not through Percy's eyes, a cost of the innate detachment of the spellwork.

Percy was small and beautiful, almost nymph like in his beauty. Even at his young age, his body radiated power that marked his heritage. And yet he held his mother's hand, delicately, looking at her with impossible warmth. A warmth she returned, only, it was filled with something darker. Pain, misery and fear... brutal acceptance, not unlike a veteran of times past readying for another battle.

A man came into view, bloated and cruel. She knew he was a monster, every ounce of his body language made that clear. She knew, just knew, that his aura would be enough to mask the scent of the strongest demigod. 'Perhaps he was a legacy, perhaps of a sewage god or maybe a cyclops? Humans had no innate aura after all, there is no magic within to produce it. Lamia's spell wouldn't effect him enough to create a scent...'

" Percy, this is Gabe. He is my boyfriend." Sally's voice shook, just a little. Fear evident behind steel and love. "He is going to be living with us from now on."

Ellenor saw fear in Percy's eyes, innate instinct in the boy made him aware of the darkness within his mother's lover. "Hi, Gabe."

The fat man sneered at him, brushing back his three thin hairs.

Then the memory ended.

Silence filled the room for a moment, before Ellenor spoke. "Why was this a bad memory? What, specifically, made it bad?"

The truth spell took effect, adding potency to her words. Percy answered without emotion or pause. "It was the begining of pain. Gabe used to hit us, yell at us, make the house smell." With each word, the pool showed scenes upon scene. "I was afraid all the time... I was afraid of my mom." The Pool rippled, and Sally was shown in a dark light. "She loved Gabe so much she didn't care how he treated me."

The horror that spread across Percy's face at his words shattered the truth spell. He leaped away from the scrying pool, shaking with shame. "I don't mean that, I love my mom."

"I'm sure you do Percy, but that does not mean you do not resent her. I am going to assume she used Gabe to mask your aura, is this right?" Percy managed to nod despite his clear turmoil. "I imagine that he had some traces of divine blood, pure humans have no aura as Lamia's spell cannot latch on without it..." Shaking her head, knowing she would rant for a while if given the chance, she refocused her thoughts. "Your mother still exposed you, a mere child, to a man who beat you, screamed at you, abused you mentally during your most formative years Percy. The Road to Hell is paved with good intentions... regardless of your mother's love, the facts do not change. She hurt you and part of you resents her, as you should."

Percy's voice broke as he replied. "But I love my mom."

"I'm going to tell you a secret Percy, something that no one wants to admit... Love is not unconditional." This made the boy unwind just a little, morbid curiosity barely overcoming shame. "If someone mistreats you, you are allowed to lose that love. Love must be earned and re earned, every single day. Paid in whatever that person needs and values. Respect, trust, kindness, warmth, integrity. Your mother's action went against that, and it stayed with you. You do love her, and you should, but that does not mean that the scars of her actions and her failure to pay that debt she made are not valid or impactful. That is merely reality and one you must accept so you can process this and move past it to a more honest, healthy future."

Several minutes passed, neither spoke and then a question clearly came to Percy. " What did you mean about Lamia's spell?"

" Ahh, that is a story I know all to well, and one that is connected to our conversation. Please, sit." With a wave of her hand, she summoned some tea which Percy sipped quietly. "Lamia was a daughter of Hecate, powerful in a way so few are. She was the Queen of Libya, a glorious and benevolent ruler, beloved by all her people. Naturally, Zeus couldn't resist."

Percy actually snorted. "Of course."

" Oh yes. Their courtship lasted over a decade, she became pregnant and birthed two children, Altheia and Demetrius. They would have been powerful, stronger then even Heracles. Blessed with Hecate's blood and Zeus'. Sadly, Hera ensured that would never happen, slaying them and cursing Lamia into a monster. Her people abandoned her, as did Zeus.

Broken, she cast a great spell, using the death of her children and her own grief to cast a spell so powerful it affected all demigods in all pantheons. The magic ensured that monsters could track anyone with divine blood, the taint would show up as a clear, powerful aura. No one was safe, and so Demigods began to die. In many ways, this is why Greece and Rome fell, why so few know of the gods. Without long standing families to honor them, the Gods lost much of their power... and all demigods fell into even greater suffering."

The room rattled as Percy was overcome by anger. His body enveloped in mist, drawing on latent moisture in the air. "Demigods have to leave their families, hide in terror every day, my mom had to marry Gabe... because the Gods destroyed a Women's entire life, killed her kids?" The Power Percy gave off was incredible, outshining most lesser gods.

A soft hand on his arm eased his anger, if only slightly. "Yes, many issues are born from the cruelty of the gods. Is it any wonder the Titans managed to rise to power despite being just as cruel?"

The anger fell away as Percy sighed. "No... it really isn't."

'Perhaps this was too much, he needs something to distract him... but what...' A Smile came to her face. "Percy, do you want to learn magic?"

" Huh?" He whipped around to her. " I thought you were already teaching me magic?"

"I am teaching you magical training techniques, I misspoke earlier. What I am offering now is true magical training, learning to harness the magic that is your birthright as a demigod and a human."

The boy shrugged, looking uncomfortable. "I don't think I'm smart enough for magic, and I think I'm better with a sword really..."

"Perseus, I don't you to ever insult yourself like that again." She frowned, feeling the same ire she felt when Pyrrah hated herself. "You are incredibly capable, focused and driven. I have seen your records, despite all of the horrors you experienced you still managed to pass with a B average, a rarity. More so, magic is not just rituals and potions, there are countless facets like battle magic and active spellwork. That is where we will start, as it is where you will excel and then we will start with the more advanced aspects." Realizing she was being harsh, she held his cheek. "I have faith in you Percy, I have faith that you will be more then a warrior, a tool of destiny. My job is to give you the tools to choose what future you want, and to make sure you are ready for that future...so what say you?"

The boy said nothing, only nodded with a shy smile.

" We will start tomorrow ... but for now we will work on your sword play. I have found that combat helps clear the mind and I have a feeling you need that right now." Her epee appeared in her hand and the room became a sparring ring. "Now, shall we dance?"

Excitement burst into Percy's eyes and he leaped forward, eager to do something he was good at.

""
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

Yes, Ellenor is grooming Percy, but for what ends? Any guesses are welcome.

This is one of the four stories.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika, SPN2