AN: So, here is the long awaited chapter. It's rather short, but the next chapter, which I hope to get out sooner, will be longer.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter.
One More Day.
Chapter 11: Protected.
She was back on Mount Othrys, or at least the illusion of Mount Othrys. The two lions were noticeable beside the throne Rhea was shackled to, and Percy bowed before her patron.
Rhea smiled gently, and nodded, making as much of a motion as she could with her hand for her to rise.
"My granddaughter, I am glad to see you, and I wish to congratulate you on your recent birth," she began, startling Percy some.
"Lady Rhea," she said this almost hesitantly, and Rhea knew why.
Persephone was both Greek and Roman, she could tell when a god was in either aspect, but only now that she realized that she was of both bloodlines. Before she probably wouldn't have been able to tell, but now she was aware of her relation to Venus.
The reason she was hesitant to call her Rhea, was because it was all so new to her. Her Greek and Roman blood was now ware of each other and trying to work out a way to correspond. It was giving her mixed signals as to what to call gods she came into contact with.
Her Roman side said she should be calling her Lady Ops, but her Greek side said Rhea.
"You are worried, Persephone, about Maeve?" Rhea inquired, though she already knew. This was mostly for Percy's benefit, to let her know she was aware of her champions situation. That she'd been paying attention. "About your journey to Camp Jupiter."
Percy nodded.
"It will not be a quiet journey, I have a strong scent and Maeve... she may have been conceived when Luke was mortal but her scent will be strong, maybe stronger than mine. I concerned about our scents drawing monsters to us. I worry I may not be able to make it there, or how I will fight with her in danger."
Rhea nodded, and with a motion of her hand a silver bracelet appeared, along with a third lioness (she could tell it was a lioness it had no main).
The lioness took the bracelet from Rhea's hand and moved closer to Percy, lowered it head as if in a bow once it was in front of the demigoddess, and then look up at her.
The lioness had an aura about it, as if it was much more intelligent than a normal lioness, and it's eyes were of no color she'd ever seen a lion have before. They were a light silvery-green, rather like Rhea's but different. They weren't sea green swirled with silver, but looked like a light silver with a sea green tinge. Pretty, different from any animal she'd ever seen.
"Take the bracelet, It'll help cover Maeve's scent to that of a normal demigod. You are right, your daughter would have a stronger scent, if only slightly right now. She is the child of two demigods and a titan after all," Rhea said.
Percy nodded, reaching down to take the silver bracelet from the lioness. It was simple, a silver charm bracelet with a wolf, trident, caduceus, lion, and hourglass charm. She wondered if Rhea has chosen the charm to be symbolic to Maeve and her heritage.
"Hela, will also help to guide you. She is a blessing from me, she will stay with you as long as you wish. Rather like a familiar, I suppose," Rhea continued, smiling softly. "She will also be able to help you if you should be attacked."
"Lady Rhea, thank you..." Percy's words caught in her throat.
When her patron had contacted her, offering her help, she'd not thought it would be to this extent. She knew the gods couldn't interfere in demigod quest. Wasn't this sort of the same thing?
Rhea, as if reading her mind, chuckled and shook her head.
"I am not a god, Persephone, I am a Titaness. There also always loopholes, you've have experience with that before, you just might not remember. Your father has given his assistance of true quest before, even if through one of his Nereid; Apollo, Hermes, even Athena."
"I will help you, grandmother," she finally said, bowing slightly. "I haven't decided about your other request, but I will free you from your bindings."
Rhea smiled.
"I will leave you to your sleep now, my champion. You have a long quest ahead of you, once you've reached your destination, that is," she began. "Rest now, and know you are protected."
xXx
When Persephone woke up the next morning it was to the feeling of fur against some of her bare skin (her arms, for example, since she only wore a thin tank top to sleep along with a pair of shorts).
"I take it, the lioness belongs to you, Percy?" Lupa's voice asked from the other side of the room.
The Mother of Rome stood watching, silver eyes seeming amused by it. Percy sat up, noticing Maeve was still asleep not far from her, one of the wolves was laying not far off, nearly in the corner – it wasn't Shiva, but the wolves had all been fond of Maeve.
It actually seemed to be eying Hela as if she were a dangerous new species never seen before. Percy supposed the wolf hadn't seen a lion before.
"Yes, she's a blessing from Rhea Ops," Percy said, reaching her hand out a stroking the large lionesses head.
Looking down into her other hand, which was clenched she saw the silver bracelet, large enough for a baby and she smiled.
"She also gave a bracelet for Maeve that would make Maeve's scent less apparent to monsters, at least for now," she said as she stood up and moved over to Maeve, and gently placed it around the babies tiny wrist.
It was a tiny bit large, but magically shrunk the needed amount to fit perfectly, but not too tight of course. Percy sighed with relief that Maeve hadn't woken up from the movement.
She has to get everything together before they left in the weeks to come, which meant heading into the nearest store and stealing some supplies.
She was no daughter or legacy of Mercury (Hermes), but she had picked up a thing or two from Luke and two others she scrambled her brain trying to remember names for.
To her annoyance she couldn't.
"You will be leaving today, in order to gather supplies," Lupa began, looking at the daughter of Neptune (Poseidon). "Good luck, as you know once beyond the wolf house monsters will be alerted of your presence."
Percy looked at her teacher and smiled, nodded.
"Thank you, for everything, Lupa."
xXx
It was weeks later, on the first of June, that Percy left the Wolf House.
"She'll be fine," Venus said, looking into the mirror which showed Persephone setting out with Maeve, and her new lioness companion, towards Camp Jupiter.
Lucian sighed, and nodded.
"I know, but it doesn't mean I don't worry," he said. "Ops, I must remember to thank her if I get the chance."
Venus smiled, her amber eyes shimmering brightly.
"My legacy is well protected, and as you said, she's strong."
"It might help, that once she's close enough he's allowed to escort her into camp," Athena said, flinching at the roman aspects of the two.
Her form flickered, but she forced herself to stay Greek. If only for her sanity. Her head still felt as if it were splitting open.
Athena continued after shaking her head.
"But for now, all we can do is wait."
Lucian smiled slightly as he saw the image of his wife. She was dressed in a pair of leather leggings, boots, mini-jean skirt, and white and black bustier tank top under a white hoodie.
Even in such simple clothing she looked beautiful.
He nodded in agreement to Athena's earlier words. He trusted his wife could handle herself and Maeve, and he did feel better knowing Ops was looking out for her champion.
Having a Titan on her side would undoubtedly come in handy for Percy, and quite the change from having nearly all of them out for her blood.
"Be safe, Sephie," he muttered, even though his wife would be unable to hear him.