When the rest of the kids from Camp Half-Blood arrive on Mount Olympus with Chiron and Iris, Percy heads to his father's place. Since Poseidon doesn't spend much time on Olympus, Percy isn't expecting anything fancy, but what he finds is stunning. There is no door on the palace. Probably because no one who has access to the home of the gods would dare steel from the king of the seas. The walls are covered in abalone and the ceiling in mother-of-pearl. Even the sandstone floor is stunning. He's still taking it all in when a voice behind him gets his attention. At first, he thinks it is his father, but as soon as he turns around, anger starts to build in the pit of his stomach. The guy looks about thirty. He's wearing navy camo Bermuda shorts and a navy blue tank top with flip flops. His jet-black hair is pulled back in a ponytail. He looks like he could be any beach bum you would find along the ocean except for his green skin.
"What?" Percy snarls at his half-brother since his anger prevented him from comprehending what Triton said.
"I said I'm surprised you have the nerve to show your face after your epic fail with the Roman and the ghost."
"I told you I had it under control," Percy responds. By the rush of blood to his face, he can tell it's probably beet red. "Where's Dad?"
Triton walks over and plops down on the only piece of furniture in the room, their father's throne. "Father is meeting with Zeus," Triton answers. "You could stand around and wait for him, but I'm sure you have better things to do. Where's that cute little girlfriend of yours? Afraid she'd dump you for a real son of Poseidon?"
Percy clenches his fists and takes a few deep breaths. He knows his brother is trying to provoke him into a fight, but he doesn't really want to do that in his father's home. "Why do you hate me so bad?" he finally asks. "You don't treat Tyson this way."
"You are a disgrace to my mother," his brother replies.
"I should think your mom would be used to Dad cheating on her by now," Percy tells him. "I mean he's had a ton of kids with other females."
"My mother accepts a lot of things, but Father's half-blood children should not have to be one of them especially after to promised never to do it again," Triton answers.
"I'm really protective of my mom too," Percy now tells him, "but your beef is really with Dad. I'm not a threat to you, but I have a right to exist."
Triton looks at Percy dismissively and says, "That is a matter of opinion. One I do not choose to share, but no matter. Half-bloods come and go. Regardless of what you ever accomplish in life, I will always be heir to the throne."
"That doesn't mean a whole lot when the current occupant of the throne is immortal," his brother points out smartly. Percy can tell that the comment cut like a knife as Triton stands and glares at him.
"Think what you want," he snarls. "I was by Father's side long before you, and I will still be there long after you're dead." The messenger of the seas then storms out of the room.
"Urchin," Percy mutters then walks over to his father's throne and takes a seat on the floor to wait for Poseidon.
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When Chiron invited Felix to come with the others to Mount Olympus, the young magician jumped at the opportunity. He knows his mother will not be there, but his grandfather, Boreas will. Iris contacted the god of the north winds to tell him about little Felix, and the Anemoi was anxious to meet him. After losing his daughter and both of his sons, Boreas was excited to find out he still had a grandson. Felix now waits with Chiron outside of the throne room for his grandfather, who was immediately called to face Zeus, Poseidon and Hades when he arrived.
As they wait, Felix looks up at the centaur and asks, "Is my grandfather in a lot of trouble?"
"The brothers are quite angry with him I am sure," Chiron answers. "Your mother convinced him to do Gaea's bidding, but I do not believe they will condemn him to Tartarus if that is your concern."
"What is my grandfather like?" the Egyptian asks.
Chiron is not sure how to answer that question. He doesn't want to lie, but he doesn't want to scare the boy away from the only remaining family on his mother's side. "What is Boreas like?" he finally repeats. "Well, as I am sure you can imagine, he can be quite cold despite having a hot temper." Before the camp director has a chance to say more, the doors to the throne room open behind them. Felix turns at the sound. At first, all he sees are huge purple wings.
"Oui, oui, merci seigneur Zeus, oui." The speaker is bowing over and over as he backs out through the open doors then as soon as he clears them, the doors slam shut in his face. The guy with purple wings then stand up straight and grumbles. "Ce sera un jour froid dans Hades…" Chiron clears his throat.
The guy turns around. The angry look on his face instantly softens. His white hair and beard look like they haven't seen a set of clippers since, well, ever. "You must be Felix," he says with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Lord Boreas," Chiron now says with a bow, "this is your grandson."
"I would recognize you anywhere," the wind god tells his grandson. "You look like my beautiful Khione. Come let me get a good look at you," he continues holding his hands out to the boy. Felix takes a step forward. After a big hug, the god looks at Chiron and says, "Can he talk?"
Felix is the one who answers, "Of course I can Grandfather." Boreas lets out a hearty laugh.
"I promised Iris that I would find her before Zephyr does," Chiron now says. "Will you be alright with your grandfather?" he asks the boy.
"Sure," Felix says with a grin. As Chiron trots off to find his girlfriend, Boreas takes Felix's hand and leads him away from Zeus' palace.
"Lady Iris tells me your father is Egyptian," Boreas says as they walk along.
"He's actually American, but he is a descendent of Ptolemy I," Felix explains. "I have been practicing magic in the House of Life."
"The House of Life," Boreas muses. "I cannot say that I have ever encountered them, until now of course," he says with a grin. "I was never fond of Egypt. Too much desert."
"Yeah, Egypt is a little warm and dry," his grandson agrees. "My penguins don't care for it too much."
"You have penguins," the god asks a little surprised.
Felix's grin gets even bigger. "I can create my own," he says pulling out his wand.
"Show me," his grandfather says in delight. Felix reaches into his bag and pulls out a couple of penguin shabti, sits them on the ground and taps each of them on the head. In an instant, a couple of emperor penguins are waddling around in front of the god and his grandson. Boreas bellows in laughter.
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When Chiron spots Iris, he recognizes the man she is apparently arguing with since he used to be a camper at Camp Half-Blood. He doesn't interrupt their heated discussion, but he is close enough to hear what they are saying.
"If I had known you were going to take her to camp, I never would have," he says angrily. "I trusted you Iris."
"She is fifteen," the goddess tells him, "and she desperately wants to be with other kids like her."
"We can't trust them to keep her safe," he insists. "In just the past two years, they have gone to battle with Kronos and Gaea. Who will it be next?"
"Andy, you do not give her enough credit. She is strong and powerful. Between the two of us, she is more god than she is mortal."
"But that one part mortal can get her killed Iris. You know this. You turned away from the gods yourself. Their too dangerous," Andy says.
The goddess reaches out and takes one of her former lover's hands. "She is happier than I have seen her in a very long time. She has a brother and sister at camp. All of the other campers enjoy her being there."
Andy lowers his head and takes a deep breath before responding. "Right now, I guess I don't have any other choice. Father has me busy rounding up the rest of the Venti, and I don't have anywhere else to take her. I just wish you had contacted me first."
Iris smiles and Chiron knows that, like him, Andy will not be able to resist her. "We both know how that would have gone. Please just talk to her. Listen to her. See how happy she is." Iris then motions Chiron to join the two of them.
Andy takes Chiron hand. "Congratulations," the half-blood says. "She's amazing," he continues with a smile for his ex.
"I agree," the centaur says. "I have loved her for a long time. I still cannot believe we are together," Chiron says with a grin on his face.
"We are very happy," Iris says putting her head against the centaur's arm.
"I guess I should go find our daughter and have a talk," Andy now says.
"You should find her at the palace of the winds," Iris tells him. "She was anxious to see her grandfather again."
Andy shakes his head and laughs. "He's probably got her on television again. I think Crystal is the only one he'll give his seat in front of the cameras up to." He then leans in and kisses Iris on the cheek. "I'll see you before I leave," he tells her then walks off toward his father's palace.
Once Andy is gone, Chiron kisses Iris and says, "Did you tell him?"
"No," she replies softly. "I want the baby to stay our secret for a little while longer."
