As usual, I posted a chapter last night, so make sure you check it out. I don't know if that particular chapter was awful or not. I didn't particularly like it so that's possible, haha, but I do like this one a lot better, so I hope you do, too!

Coming Together Chapter 11

"Σκατά!"

I never heard the word before, but from its tone and Hermes' expression, I know what it means. He isn't happy about Poseidon coming here at all.

Hermes leans over the windowsill and sucks in his breath in a low hiss. He then turns toward me and says softly, "This isn't going to be good."

At that moment, the back door flies open and an intense amount of wind bursts into the room. The few papers that are resting on a nearby table blow into our faces and the picture frames on the wall begin to swing or fall to the floor. Thunder starts booming overhead so intensely that it feels like the earth below us is trembling and that's when I remember that it very well could be. My dad isn't just the God of the Seas; he's also the Stormbringer and the Earthshaker.

"DAD!" I yell over the chaos. The noise around me is so loud that I can barely hear myself, but I think he hears me. As I look out the window, I can see that Dad has made it to the beach. He's standing in his full form, which is twenty feet high, but after I yell, I notice that his body dissolves into water and suddenly, he's the size of a normal human male. Of course, that and his sudden change of clothes are the only things that look human at that moment. His eyes are blazing brightly in a mixture of sea green and blue, and they're focused solely on this cabin.

I turn to Hermes and say, "Uh, you might want to get out of here."

The god takes a deep breath and shakes his head before replying, "What's the point? He'll just follow me."

Before I can respond, Poseidon walks through the open door and his eyes immediately fall on Hermes. "You dare step into one of my homes AGAIN to talk to my son and spread your lies," he snaps. Within seconds, he's across the room and in front of Hermes. He grabs him by the collar of his jacket—Hermes is wearing his charcoal suit again—and spats, "I warned you!"

Poseidon lifts his fist like he's going to punch him, but suddenly a light flashes so brightly that I have to cover my eyes with my hands. When I'm able to see again, I notice Hermes is across the room holding Caduceus.

I widen my eyes when Dad wipes at his for a second and then yells, "You cannot outrun me forever!"

"Actually, I can! I am the God of Athletes, after all!" Hermes hunches like he's waiting to see which way Dad is going to go to attack him. It actually reminds me of a football posture, and I'm shocked to see two gods acting this way, especially Poseidon.

"Dad," I say, trying to get his attention.

He doesn't look at me. Instead, he snaps, "Not now, Percy." He then smirks at his nephew and states happily, "You may be able to run quickly, Hermes, but you can't if there's nothing under your feet!" Immediately, the ground starts shaking and I hear the floorboards of the house starting to creak. He's going to tear the house and the ground beneath it apart!

I run in front of Hermes and yell, "Dad, no! You're going to destroy the cabin! Mom would be devastated and you might kill me in the process!" I know it's a low blow to use myself as a means to stop Poseidon, but I have no other choice and it works almost instantly.

"Percy," Dad says, reaching out a hand towards me, "come to me. You're safer over here."

I know he wants to get me away from Hermes so he can continue his attack, but I stay in place and reply, "Not until you agree that you won't harm Hermes."

"Percy," he begins, but I won't let him finish his thought.

"I'm not moving, otherwise! And, besides, Mom is going to be back any second and I doubt she wants to witness two gods fighting in the middle of the living room with me here!"

Dad lifts his head slightly and states coldly, "This is his fault! He chose to ignore my wishes, and he has disrespected me far too many times recently to get away with it!"

Unfortunately, Hermes does not stay quiet. "How have I disrespected you? I haven't done a thing to you!"

The glare that Dad shoots him would scare even the toughest of villains. It certainly frightens me. "Haven't done a thing?" he repeats sarcastically. He points to me and says, "You know what you're doing! You're trying to steal my son!"

"Why in the world would I do that and how can I do that? He knows he's the 'son of Poseidon'!" Hermes quotes my title with his fingers and says it so mockingly that I'm surprised Dad doesn't resume attacking him again.

Dad wrinkles his face in contempt, but before he can reply, I say, "Dad, promise on the River Styx that you won't attack Hermes! If you do, we can relax and talk about this sensibly. We'll discover the truth together!"

There is a moment of deep tension. Hermes and Poseidon stare at each other, both clearly irate with the other. For a brief second, I think that a truce is going to be impossible with these two, but Dad surprises me.

"I won't attack for now," he agrees reluctantly and then turns his attention back to Hermes. He waves his hand to the middle of the floor and commands, "Finish telling Percy what you were going to say. Tell him how you took everyone else's pin but his. Please continue."

It's obvious Dad believes this to be a lie. I have to admit Hermes claims do seem a little farfetched. I now know other half-bloods are missing pins and I know Hermes is the one who took them. And, yet, he's here claiming he didn't take mine…Out of everyone who lost a pin, only mine was taken by someone else? I can't really blame Dad for his assumption on that part, at least.

Regardless, I look at Hermes and wait for him to continue his story. I'm shocked but happy when Dad steps directly behind me and places both of his hands on my shoulders. He pulls me closer to him slightly. Whether he's preparing to protect me if something should happen or making a statement of ownership to Hermes, I'm not sure, but I decide I don't really care. I'm just going to enjoy his presence while I'm allowed to.

I freeze.

But, I'm not allowed to! Dad's not supposed to be here! What if Zeus finds out?

"Uh, Dad?" I question.

Poseidon looks down at me as I turn my head slightly to peer up at him. He merely states, "Let's listen to Hermes and then we'll talk, my son. I want you to hear what my dear nephew has to say and then you'll realize why I know he's a liar."

Hermes lifts his nose somewhat obnoxiously as he straightens his suit and glares at my dad. He then looks at me and explains calmly, "Like I was saying earlier, I didn't take your pin, Percy. The truth is someone stole a large number of my pins recently and gave them out. At first, I didn't know it had even occurred until campers started using them excessively. Initially, I thought a few people, whom I actually had given pins to, gave them away for whatever reason, but when I noticed many calling on me all at once in great quantities, I realized someone had purposely taken pins from my warehouse and passed them out. I hated to do it since I know some of those kids have no one else, but even I wasn't fast enough to keep up with the calls, so I took them back! But I gave you yours, Percy, so I didn't take it back. I promise that's the truth."

My instincts tell me to believe Hermes. He sounds just as sincere as my dad did when he was telling his story.

I look back at Dad's face to gauge his reaction and I see that he's still glaring at Hermes. "Do you really expect us to believe that," he asks, "that someone broke into your warehouse and stole a large quantity of pins without you knowing it?"

Hermes grits his teeth and retorts, "That's exactly what happened, just like someone stole Zeus' Master Bolt and framed Percy! If that can happen, this can, too, Uncle! And, for all I know, you could have been the one to set all of this up! You didn't like that I gave a pin to Percy and that he actually liked the gift and called on me! Admit it, you're jealous and all of this is just to get even!"

Poseidon practically snarls at Hermes as he moves me to the side. A sharp glance tells me Dad expects me to keep still beside him. "What? You're blaming me now?" he questions Hermes angrily. He then shakes his head. "Now that you know we're on to you, you're trying to make my son doubt me! It's not going to work! He knows I wouldn't do something like that! He…"

"Ha!" Hermes exclaims. "How does he know that? Aren't you the guy that desecrated Athena's chapel with Medusa? Hmm, and hey, aren't you the guy who did something to Caenis…What was it that you did?"

Almost immediately, Poseidon widens his eyes and turns to me rapidly. I can tell he is trying to determine if I know what Hermes is talking about. While I know Dad is already aware that I know about Medusa, I think he can tell that I don't know anything about Caenis, because he then turns back to Hermes and springs to him in a blink of an eye. He grabs Hermes by the throat and yells, "You dare bring Caenis up in front of my son? You know that story was not told accurately and that's not what happened! This only proves that you're guilty and grasping at anything you can to make Percy believe you instead of me!"

Dad tightens his hold on Hermes and the god actually coughs. I don't know if Dad can actually kill him or not, but I don't want to wait around to find out. Quickly, I run to them and grab Dad's arm. "Dad, let him go! You promised not to attack him!"

Just as Dad turns his head to undoubtedly order me to step away, I hear a door close and suddenly Mom's voice fills the room.

"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON HERE?"

All of us—even Hermes—snap our heads to look at Mom. Her expression looks as terrifying as Dad's had earlier! She sets the grocery bags on a nearby table and places her hands on her hips. "Well, Poseidon?" she questions loudly.

I'm surprised to see that Dad now looks a little embarrassed…or was it worried?

=)=)=)

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