Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson series that honour belongs to Rick Riordan. I'm just playing with the characters and story.
Yes I am finally back, sorry it took so long, I lost motivation and interest for writing but I am back.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and sent encouragement to write this chapter and continue the story. Hope you enjoy this chapter (half was written and just sitting in the computer)
(The good thing is I my computer remembered my password and I remembered how to upload).
Green Eyes, Flames and Blessings
"What is shadow travelling like?" asked Will.
"It is awesome- like travelling through darkness really fast that it feels like your face will peel off," exclaimed Percy.
"Sounds like fun," shouted Travis.
"BUT YOU WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE IT. As you are not to use Mrs O'Leary," stated Nico.
"Percy," whined Connor "can we borrow her just once?"
"If they borrow her, can I?" asked Chris.
"If he lets you borrow her than he will be expected to lend her to everyone," sighed Annabeth.
"Which is why you are not allowed to borrow her," admitted Percy.
"AND WE DON'T WANT MRS O'LEARY GETTING SICK," stated Nico.
"We arrived on a cliff in the woods of Connecticut. A highway cut through a ravine on one side of the cliff, the other side was a wild backyard. The house was a white colonial style two-storey," described Percy. Thalia and Annabeth glanced between each other as Katie commented,
"Sounds nice."
"Mrs O'Leary staggered and after I hopped off, she let out a large yawn and flopped down onto the ground. She was soon snoring," said Percy.
"Looks like you are going to be there for a while," commented Artemis.
"Is Nico also going to require a nap?" asked Apollo.
"NO. When I first started it made me pass out for a week – now it just makes me drowsy, but I can't do it more than once or twice a night," confessed Nico.
"Didn't you mention that when you first started practising you ran into walls and took some accidental trips to China," mentioned Percy.
"How do you accidently travel to China?" questioned Hermes.
"You make mistakes when you learn new things," defended Nico.
"We approached the house. Along the sidewalk was a line of stuffed beanbag animals. Miniature lions, pigs, dragons, hydras and even a minotaur in a diaper," described Percy.
"Do they make beanbag animals of Greek myths?" questioned Rachel "I need to get some."
"Judging by the beanbag animal shape, they had been sitting outside for a while," said Nico.
"There were many wind chimes on the porch, that it was like an infestation," said Percy "I couldn't understand how anyone could stand the noise."
"I agree those things are so annoying- especially at night when you are trying to sleep," said Katie.
"Hang on… the stolen wind chime incident. That was you?" Travis accused Katie.
"We got blamed for that!" exclaimed Connor.
"I can't believe no one realised," admitted Katie "especially since they only got stolen from cabins within the hearing distance of our cabin."
"We should have realised when she came to your defence," sighed Chris.
"Anyway the wind chimes also made me want to use the bathroom," grumbled Percy.
"I barely knocked on the door before it swung open and an old lady cried out happily for "Luke," informed Nico.
"She looked like she enjoyed sticking her fingers in electrical sockets. Her hair was stuck out in tuffs all over her head. She was wearing a pink house dress that was covered in ash and scorch-marks. Her face looked unnaturally stretched when she smiled and she had a high-voltage light in her eyes that made me wonder if she was blind," described Percy.
"She hasn't changed much since we visited," whispered Thalia to Annabeth who nodded.
"She hugged Nico and I wondered why she thought Nico was Luke," said Percy.
"They look nothing alike," exclaimed Clarisse.
"When she saw Percy, she thought he was Luke," informed Nico.
"But Percy looks nothing like Luke either…. Is she blind or crazy?" questioned Travis.
"She smelt like burnt cookies and although she was thin, that didn't stop her from almost crushing me," said Percy.
"She invited us in, stating that she had our lunch ready," said Nico.
"The living room was weirder than the front lawn. Mirrors and candles filled every available space, you couldn't look anywhere without seeing your reflection. On the mantle was a ticking bronze clock with a Hermes flying second hand," described Percy.
"How did Dad fall in love with this lady?" whispered Connor to Travis.
"It is really bizarre," admitted Travis.
"I noticed a photo on the mantle, it confused me as it was exactly like the sketch Rachel had done."
"That would have been strange," commented Apollo "especially since you didn't know about Rachel's abilities of Prophecy."
"Ms Castellan steered us towards the kitchen. On the kitchen counter there were hundreds of Tupperware boxes with peanut-butter and jam sandwiches inside. The smell was terrible as the ones on the bottom were green and fuzzy, like they had been there for a long time," said Percy.
"Oh gross," said Rachel.
"On top of the oven was a stack of cookie sheets with burnt cookies on each one," informed Nico "in the sink was a mountain of empty plastic Kool-Aid pitches."
"Ms Castellan started making a new peanut-butter and jam sandwich and I could smell something burning in the oven," said Percy.
"Sounds like more cookies are on the way," mumbled Apollo.
"Above the sink was dozens of pictures from magazines and newspaper ads of Hermes from various company logos and pictures of caduceus from medical ads," informed Percy.
"Wow brother… She is obsessed with you," exclaimed Ares.
"We enquired about Luke. She stated that she had been informed that he would never come back, but she knew better," said Nico.
"He disappeared when he was in the third grade, apparently he said he would be back for lunch. He liked peanut-butter sandwiches, cookies and Kool-aid," informed Percy.
"That is so sad. She is waiting for him with his favourite lunch," sobbed Hestia.
"Hopefully the Tupperware containers don't contain sandwiches from when he was nine or ten," said Chris.
"I don't think so," admitted Nico.
"Mrs Castellan indicated that Hermes comes and visits her… so maybe he does a clean," said Percy.
"Why is Hermes visiting her?" questioned Ares.
"Is he really visiting her, or just imagining it?" asked Artemis. "She thinks Percy and Nico are Luke, maybe any male who visits is Hermes."
"We also questioned her about her kaleidoscope eyes," said Nico "Apparently she has always been special as she could see through the mist. She was so special that they offered her an important job."
"We offered her a job… AN IMPORTANT JOB," exclaimed Zeus.
"It didn't work out. Hermes had warned her not to try as it was too dangerous, but she had to try as it was her destiny," replied Nico.
"She can't get the images out of her head – they make everything seem fuzzy," said Percy.
"What did we ask her to do?" questioned Zeus; Athena, Apollo and Hades however had an idea.
"I asked Mrs Castellan when she had last seen Luke," informed Nico.
"Mrs Castellan stated that he looked different. He had a scar and his voice was full of pain," continued Percy.
"So he visited her after that time with us," whispered Annabeth to Thalia.
"Did she notice his gold eyes?" asked Ares.
"No she informed us that they were blue," said Percy.
"So he visited before he turned into Kronos," said Chris. Athena gasped …. Could that be how? She thought.
"Nico asked if Luke had asked her for anything," said Percy.
"We were informed that he had asked for her blessing as he was going to a river, and he needed her blessing. Which she of course gave," said Nico.
"So that is how Luke survived falling off the cliff," exclaimed Poseidon.
"And most likely how he is caught, trapped in Kronos's body," said Athena.
"Just as we were about to leave Mrs Castellan gasped and her eyes began to glow green. She rasped in a deep voice… My child, must protect him. Hermes, help. Not my child. Not his fate- no not his fate… before she collapsed." Explained Percy.
"Can you imagine how scary it was to an eight or nine years old if that happened in front of him," said Katie.
"Especially as she didn't remember anything about it after her eyes lost the green glow. Mrs Castellan became upset when we said we needed to leave, stating that Hermes would be there soon and would want to see her boy," said Nico.
"She tried to stop us. As we got to the porch she grabbed my hand made me promise to be safe," said Percy.
"As we left we could hear her talking to someone stating 'you hear that, he will be safe. I told you he would be," said Nico.
"Crazy. She thought two people were her son and is talking to imaginary people," stated Will.
"But she gave some important information," pointed out Athena.
"At the cliff Mrs O'Leary had found a friend. A cosy campfire crackled with an eight year old sitting next to it scratching Mrs O'Leary's ears," said Percy.
"What?"
"The girl had mousy brown hair and a simple brown dress with a scarf over her head. She poked the fire with a stick and it seemed to glow redder than a normal fire," described Percy.
"Hestia?" questioned Hera looking at her sister.
"My first thought was Monster," admitted Percy.
"Percy!" exclaimed half the room.
"I agree with Percy. A sweet little girl alone in the woods is questionable…. Especially when you are a demigod," said Thalia.
"Nico knew who she was and bowed to her. She offered us dinner, although I didn't have much of an appetite," said Percy.
"Seeing mouldy sandwiches and burnt cookies, I wouldn't have an appetite either," said Chris.
"I don't have an appetite after just hearing about it," mumbled Rachel.
"A picnic appeared at the edge of the fire. There were plates of roast beef, baked potatoes, buttered carrots, fresh bread and a whole bunch of other food," described Nico.
"Correction… I am now hungry," mumbled Rachel.
"It was the kind of home-cooked meal people are supposed to have but never do," stated Percy.
"Hestia even made a two-metre long dog biscuit appear for Mrs O'Leary," informed Nico.
"I scrapped part of my meal into the flames. Hestia thanked me. As the tender of the flame she got a share," said Percy.
"I never knew that" said Connor not the only one in the room who didn't realise that she received a share. (Looking at Ares, Apollo, Hermes, and Dionysus).
"That was when Percy recognized her, from the first time he went to camp- she had been sitting by the fire in the common area," explained Nico.
"I didn't stop and talk to her… not many do. Apparently Nico was the first in many years to talk to her," said Percy.
"The eight year old girl you have been talking to near the campfire is Hestia, goddess of the hearth. I was wondering who she was," said Travis.
"So there are two gods at camp?" questioned Chris.
"No I just visit to tend to the hearth," admitted Hestia "and check up on Dionysus."
"So you are dad's spy," grumbled Dionysus. The fire in the hearth suddenly flared and flames shot up into the air.
"I visit and check up on all my family members," declared Hestia glaring at Dionysus. As Demeter roared at him to apologise.
"Sorry," apologized Dionysus clearly sincere. He knew she was one of his biggest allies especially since he had landed his punishment at camp.
"Why isn't Hestia with the other gods fighting Typhon?" asked Clarisse.
"I'm not much of a fighter," admitted Hestia, "besides someone has to keep the home fires burning while the others are away."
"So she is guarding Mount Olympus?" questioned Rachel.
"Guard may be too strong a word," said Percy.
"Hestia asked us if we had a good visit with May Castellan after we had finished eating," informed Nico.
"I asked Hestia what was wrong with her and was informed that she was born with a gift, and could see through the mist," explained Percy.
"Like Sally and Rachel," said Annabeth.
"But what about the glowing eyes think?" Aphrodite asked.
"Hestia informed us that some bear the curse of sight better than others. For a while May Castellan had many talents and attracted the attention of Hermes, and they had a beautiful baby boy. They were happy for a brief time and then she went too far," informed Percy.
"May had suddenly freaked out about her son's fate, like she knew he had turned into Kronos. Percy asked Hestia what had happened, but we were informed that it was a story she did not like to tell," said Nico.
"I was informed to understand my enemy, Luke, I had to understand his family," said Percy.
"If Mrs Castellan had been crazy and having green-eyed fits when Luke was young, it is no wonder he ran away, especially if Hermes had never visited," stated Will.
"Hestia asked if I would follow Luke's path. Seek the same powers," informed Percy.
"I informed Hestia that we had no choice. It was the only way Percy stood a chance," said Nico.
"Hestia opened her hand and the fire roared. Flames shot ten metres into the air, heat slapping me in the face before the fire died back down to normal," said Percy.
"Not all powers are spectacular," said Hestia.
"Hestia told us the hardest power to master is yielding," informed Nico.
"And I agreed with her to keep her from messing with her flame powers again," said Percy with a smile.
"Her flame powers are scary," agreed Dionysus.
"Hestia informed Percy that he was a good hero, not too proud but he had much to learn," advised Nico.
"Hestia reminded me of when Dionysus was a god. She gave up her throne as it was the only way to avoid a civil war among the gods," said Percy.
"It unbalanced the council. There are seven males and five females," complained Annabeth.
"It was the best solution, not a perfect one," admitted Nico.
"Hestia kept the peace. She yield when necessary. He asked if I could do that," informed Percy. "I told her I didn't know what she meant and she responded with perhaps not yet but I soon would."
"Hestia asked Percy if he would continue on his quest," said Nico.
"Is Hestia to warn you against going?" asked Chris.
"No. Hestia was there because when all else fails, when all the other mighty gods have gone off to war, she is all that's left. Home. Hearth. The last Olympian. I was to remember her when I faced my final decision," answered Percy.
"Percy decided to continue with the quest. Hestia couldn't be any more assistance, beyond what she had told us. But said she could return Percy to his own hearth," said Nico.
"We found ourselves at Mum's apartment sitting on the couch. Mrs O'Leary took up the rest of the living room. I heard a muffled yell from the bedroom as Paul asked who had put a wall of fur in the doorway," said Percy.
"That would be surprising," laughed Connor.
"Sally called asking if Percy was okay," said Nico.
"Mrs O'Leary tried to turn a circle and knocked all the pictures off the wall trying to find her. She loves my mum, even though she had only met her once," said Percy.
"Everyone loves your mum!" admitted Thalia.
"After destroying most of the furniture in the living room and annoying the neighbours, we got my parents out of the bedroom and into the kitchen where we sat around the table," said Percy.
"I'm still surprised how friendly your mum's neighbours are with your mum," said Rachel.
"She works hard to maintain the peace," said Percy.
"And it is harder when PEOPLE, raid her fridge and eat food intended for presents," said Annabeth glaring towards Nico.
"You would too after spending a week in the Underworld," grumbled Nico.
"Don't be too hard on him Annabeth, he helped Mum bake more cookies," stated Percy.
"And she made him wear the pink frilly apron while he did," giggled Rachel.
"MRS O'Leary was still in the living room but her head was in the kitchen doorway so she could see us," barked Nico through the laughter from certain demigods. "Sally tossed her a large pack of ground beef as we drank lemonade and explained our trip to Connecticut."
"I think that was when Paul really believed us about monsters and being a demigod," mused Percy.
"What about the hoof prints in the Prius?" questioned Rachel.
"He though it may be a possibility we were telling the truth, but seeing Mrs O'Leary destroying the living room just confirmed it," answered Percy.
"He was freaking out, but thought it was awesome," replied Nico.
"I want a step parent like Paul," whispered Annabeth, although her relationship with her stepmother had improved. Some of the other demigods silently agreed with her.
"I told Mum and Paul all about Typhon, the gods and the battle that was to come," said Percy "Then I told them Nico's plan."
"Mum took a deep breath, like she was thinking of how to tell me no," sighed Percy.
"It is a dangerous plan," admitted Athena.
"Even for you," mumbled Thalia.
"Percy explained to Sally that he knew he could die, that I had explained that was an option, but if he didn't try we would all die," informed Nico.
"I can't believe a 12 year old non Athena camper, researched and came to this plan," remarked Will.
"We wouldn't stand a chance against an invasion without it," admitted Percy.
"How is an invasion of New York possible?" asked Artemis.
"How can the mortals not see monsters?" questioned Ares.
"I can't see how Kronos could just march into Manhattan, the mist is strong, but not that strong," admitted Apollo.
"Typhon is trampling across the country and the mortals think he's a storm system," pointed out Demeter.
"Nico informed mum that I needed her blessing for the process to begin," said Percy.
"I hadn't been positive before meeting Luke's mother but after I was sure that the process required the mother to give her blessing. She had to be willing to let her son take the risk," informed Nico.
"Mum didn't want to give her blessing at first," admitted Percy.
"I don't blame her," said Rachel "If you survive the process then you would go to war."
"Me against Kronos and only one of us will survive," said Percy.
"I wonder who survived," joked Travis.
"Sally has been a great mother trying to give you a normal upbringing, supporting you and letting you go off on adventures. You are so lucky," said Will.
"Can she adopt us?" asked a large amount of the demigods.
"She has already made everyone here part of the family," admitted Percy.
"Especially Annabeth and Nico," said Rachel.
"She grounded Nico just last month," said Annabeth.
"Which didn't work as he shadow travelled away," dobbed Rachel.
"Except Sally Iris messaged Dad, who held me hostage in the Underworld for the grounded periods while having lectures on certain subjects," grumbled Nico as the demigods laughed.
"HOW does a mortal have access to Iris messages?" questioned Hera.
"That is a story for another time," said Thalia glancing between her cousins, not wanting to mention that Sally was slowly developing relationships with a number of gods and goddesses.
"I looked at Paul who stepped in and told mum that it sounded like I was doing something noble and he wished he had that much courage," admitted Percy.
"I wondered if Hestia's message about how hard it is to yield was also a message for Sally," wondered Rachel.
"Sally informed Percy that he had her blessing," advised Nico.
"I didn't feel any different, no magic glow, nothing," grumbled Percy.
"Why would you glow?" asked Zeus at the same time Apollo said "I can glow," and blinded people as he shone brightly, until he was hit from a number of directions.
"In movies if important or magically happens the person usually glows," said Clarisse answering Zeus's question.
"Real life is not a movie," said Athena.
"Unfortunately."
"Mum wanted me to send her a sign if I survived the fight with Kronos, and gave me her cell phone," said Percy.
"It is dangerous for demigods to have cell phones," said Katie.
"It was just in case, if he was not able to call, a sign that Sally could see from anywhere in Manhattan to inform her he was okay," said Nico.
"Like Theseus and raising the white sails when he came home to Athens," said Rachel.
"Except he forgot and his father jumped off the palace roof to his death," mentioned Will rolling his eyes.
"Mum suggested a flag or flare from the Empire State Building, so we decided on something blue," admitted Percy.
"Sally said she would watch for her blue signal and try to avoid jumping off palace roofs while she waited," said Nico.
"We said goodbye and made our way with Mrs O'Leary to the nearest entrance to the Underworld."
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