A/N: Okay, I was reading through my previous chapters in this story and I have one thing to say: Why in the name of Hades did no one tell me how many mistakes/typos I made!? Maybe you didn't notice? I always proof read, but somehow I missed A LOT. Should I go back and edit them all? I'm really lazy though…

On a completely unrelated note: Has anyone read Mark of Athena? I pretty much stayed up all night reading it. I won't give anything away, though. But wow. Just wow. Some of my guesses we scarily accurate… And now I'm depressed because I have to wait a WHOLE year for the next one.

Anyway, please enjoy the chapter :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Chapter X – The Truth (Part I)

Percy

Athena stood imposingly at a ten-foot height. "Perseus Jackson," she said finally, breaking the silence. "Come with me. We have much to discuss."

Percy shot Annabeth a desperate, 'help-me!' look. She stared after him helplessly as he trailed after Athena through the magnificence of the hall.

What could Athena possibly want with Percy?

"I do not approve of you dating my daughter." Athena's tone was clipped and tight, and as much as Percy didn't want to admit it, it made him shiver and feel like running for his mother.

"I – I'm sorry if I offended you in any way, Lady Athena, but I don't see why –"

Her eyes – so familiar in color – flashed dangerously. In that moment, he saw – he felt the absolute power of true wisdom. He saw the atomic bomb, designed by wisdom (or, rather, smart scientists). He could feel the heat ripple against his burning cheeks, a thousand times worse than the fires of Hephaestus' forges. He could taste the acrid flames and smell the reeking fumes. And he could hear the dying screams of the helpless thousands.

Athena seemed to flicker for a moment. Her entire image turned transparent – as if two superimposed holograms of her were fighting for dominance. For a fleeting second, Percy caught sight of the second Athena. She looked nothing like the goddess who was standing before him a moment ago. She was utterly not composed, her hair wild and her clothes crumpled and unloved. She looked like Athena on drugs. But all of it happened so quickly that Percy wasn't sure if he'd imagined it or not. Maybe his mind, and the visions he had just seen were playing tricks on him.

Percy licked his lips nervously. "Look, Lady Athena. I respect you, I really do. And I know you care about Annabeth, but I do too. I –" he broke off. He tugged subconsciously at his lock of gray hair. "I love your daughter." It was the first time his had ever said that out loud. Unfortunately, he thought, it was not to Annabeth, but to her mom. It scared him because he knew that it was undeniably true. "I think I've known it for a long time," he admitted. "And I would never, ever hurt her."

Athena pursed her lips disbelievingly. She scoffed, "Swear upon the River Styx," she said finally, after a tense, pondering silence.

"I swear on the River Styx that I will never hurt your daughter, intentionally, or otherwise."

Athena nodded, satisfied. "You may go, Perseus Jackson. But do not presume that this is the last you will ever hear from me. And if I ever hear a single, little word about you and my daughter…" she trailed off, and this single, lingering silence was more terrifying than any threat she could make. With a sharp, grudging glare, she morphed into a single point of light, expanded, blindingly, searing bright and disappeared. Percy remembered to avert his eyes just in time.

He made his way back to his friends.

"Percy," Annabeth breathed in relief. "You're okay."

"Why wouldn't I be?" For a moment, he debated whether or not to tell her about that moment he though he saw – no, it was better not to worry her. It probably didn't even happen anyway. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was not quite right. With two goddesses singling him out as soon as he arrived on Olympus, he'd never been more popular, but there was that feeling…

Annabeth looked flustered. "Well, you know… You never had the best relationship with my mother," she explained.

"Oh yeah," Percy reminisced. "Remember when she voted to kill me off?"

"Wait," Simon said incredulously. "She tried to kill you?"

"Talk about protective mothers…" Roxanne said. She grinned impishly. "She must hate you."

Percy shrugged. "She thinks I'm dangerous and it doesn't help that her rival, Poseidon is my dad. Luckily, the majority of the gods decided to let me live, so here I am."

"I'm glad," said Annabeth, with a small smile. "Come on. Let's go."

They entered the spectacular throne room of the gods. Although Percy had seen it a few times before, he still felt as if the breath was being sucked out of him as he surveyed the room. Twelve thrones for each of the Olympians were arranged in a U shape with Zeus, king of the gods at the very center. To say that they did not look happy would be an understatement. The 'sky' or rather, ceiling rumbled with thunder and every now and then, from the dark gray clouds would crackle lightning.

But beyond the twelve, there were hundreds of other (smaller) thrones, each with a unique hue, shape and material. They were for the minor gods and goddesses – Zeus had kept his word, and let Annabeth design these for the formerly unacknowledged gods. They'd even constructed a throne for Hades. It was made of dark, reflective obsidian, its black sheen pulsating slowly in the light. It was simple, yet ornate and was located much closer to the Olympians than the rest. At the base of the throne, was constructed a smaller, human-sized seat, of the same design, and perched uncomfortably at the end of it, was Nico di Angelo. He nodded at them slightly.

"Hey Nico," said Roxanne. Sixteen pairs of eyes swiveled to look at her. Demeter's wheat-colored eyebrows almost shot off her forehead, judging by her scandalized expression. She didn't seem to notice – or just didn't care. Percy thought that was extremely brave – or stupid, or both, of her, especially as there were twelve angry Olympians in the room who could turn her into a pile of ash instantaneously. "What are you doing here?"

Nico glanced up expressionlessly. "My father apparently 'has better things to do' so he sent me. I'm not a lapdog, you know," he responded listlessly.

"Well, nice to see you!" She smiled perkily.

There was a distant rumbling sound. Then, Percy realized that it was the sound of Zeus clearing his throat. He was glaring at them expectantly.

The four first kneeled at the base of Zeus' throne. It towered over them and Percy could not help but imagine the gruesome death he would die if Zeus – at his twenty-foot height – at the moment, accidently (or purposefully) stepped on him. He'd really rather be remembered as: Percy Jackson: the awesome dude who saved the world, not: Percy Jackson: the loser who was squished to death, like a bug by his own uncle… He knew he was being irrational, but still. Zeus' aura of power was not something you'd want to test.

"Lord Zeus," Annabeth said in a placating tone.

He nodded at her gravely. What was with the gods today? They all – even Nico, looked as if someone had stuck one of Mrs. O'Leary's giant dog bones up their –

His train of thought was interrupted by Annabeth saying, "Mother." She kneeled.

Percy gulped at the expression on Athena's face. She seemed to mentally reviewing all the ways she could kill him. Maybe he was just being paranoid, he told himself. He took Annabeth's action as a cue. "Father," he said. Poseidon smiled warmly down at him. The laugh lines on his tanned, weathered face crinkled.

"Son," he replied simply.

Simon paid his respects to his father. There was an awestruck expression on his face – it was the first time he'd ever met his father. Percy remembered the first time he'd met Poseidon. It was one of his best memories but not something he had ever wanted to endure again. He turned to see Roxanne standing alone in the center, looking utterly bewildered and lost. It was very different from her usual mischievous smiles and troublemaker, happy glints in her blue eyes.

She looked hopelessly lost.

Percy stepped forward and held his hands out as a gesture of peace. "Lord Zeus. We have come here today for an explanation. You promised – all of you. You swore upon the River Styx to claim all your children by the age of thirteen. These siblings: Simon and Roxanne Mason. They're sixteen and fifteen respectively. Why haven't they been claimed?" His voice was more aggressive than usual – it was shaking, almost. "Why was Simon claimed by Apollo but Roxanne unclaimed? I come here today to demand an answer. Oath-breaker."

For the first time, Zeus appeared uncomfortable, but his voice betrayed no emotion whatsoever. Annabeth gripped his hand tightly. "Technically…" he said slowly. "The siblings aren't thirteen."

"Dum, dum, dum, dum…" Nico muttered. He wouldn't meet any of their gazes.

Annabeth breathed in sharply. "What do you mean: 'not technically thirteen'?"

Zeus nodded to Athena who took the cue to start explaining. "They had a blessing placed upon them. This blessing speeds up their growth process. So they are both mentally and physically the age that they are told they are, but technically, in human years, they're around twelve." She sat back, as if waiting for someone to contradict her.

Their reactions were as follows:

Simon: spluttering and choking, as if he'd just swallowed a gallon of salt water, "What!?"

Roxanne: opened and closed her mouth like a fish.

Percy: blinking rapidly.

Annabeth: didn't look so stunned – more thoughtful, as if the idea had come to her before – which made sense, considering she was the smartest person Percy had ever met.

And Nico, who just sat there, completely unfazed and very bored.

"Okay," said Percy nervously. "All right. Okay." He breathed in and started pacing. "Great. But that still doesn't explain why. And why Roxanne wasn't claimed."

"Yeah," Roxanne chimed in.

Apollo heaved a sigh. "The reason I didn't claim you, Roxanne, is not because I don't want to; it's because I can't." Roxanne crossed her arms and fixed him with a steely look. "Okay, let me see if I can explain this next bit with one of my own haikus – that I compose myself. Ahem –"

"NO!" shouted Percy, Annabeth and a few other gods.

Apollo looked affronted. "Fine," he sniffed, "I'll explain the boring way. You see, Roxanne, you're not actually my daughter."

Hey, this story is almost over :( Please go VOTE on my poll to tell me which of the stories I should write next. Please :) Thanks a lot.

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Anyway, thank you for reading :) Next chapter will be up ASAP.