Chapter 2: The World is Ever Changing

Percy POV

2 years later

I sat on the bus as my class rode to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was rather indifferent to the trip. I would rather be back at the dorm studying magic or getting ready for my upcoming tests, but I guess that getting out for a little might be healthy for me.

I was shaken from my thoughts as a PB&J came slamming into the back of my head. It took all of my will power not to go off right then. I took a breath as my friend Grover started to pull the sandwich off of my head while the girl in the back laughed.

"Stay calm Percy, you are already on probation. Nancy is not worth getting in more trouble for." Grover whispered as he finished pulling the remnants of the sandwich off of me.

"I know that she isn't, but I just want to knock her teeth in." I said through clenched teeth. Grover looked at me understanding what I meant. We both went back to our thoughts for the remainder of the trip.

As we got to the steps of the museum we were met with an overcast that seemingly came from nowhere. The clouds felt wrong, there was something different about them I just couldn't put my finger on it. Shaking myself from my thoughts I caught up with the group at the top of the steps.

We made our way through the museum and I could not bring myself to care about a single thing here. My teacher, Mr. Brunner, continued to explain each of the statues, vases, and paintings in the greek section.

We stopped again and I just sat there lost in thought until I heard the most atrocious noise known to man. The voice of Nancy Bobfit. It was worse than nails on a chalkboard, and I wanted to claw my ears off.

I turn my head to her and yell. "Would you shut up!" I knew as soon as it came out of my mouth I had made a mistake. All heads in the group snapped to me and looked at me dejectedly.

"Mr. Jackson it seems you have volunteered to answer my question. What does this painting depict?" He said gesturing to the painting behind him. I study it for a second and try to regain my composure.

"That is the battle between the gods and the titans." I said then turned to him. "Good Mr. Jackson, now can you tell me why they went to battle?"

"The titan lord Kronos was an unjust ruler and ate his kids. Zeus's mother, Rhea, managed to get him away and when he grew older. he came back and fed his father mustard and wine, causing him to vomit up the rest of his kids." It felt good to actually remember all of that.

As I finished up my explanation, the ear piercer spoke again "Yeah like any of this even matters." Mr. Brunner looked at me again. "That is a good point, how does any of this matter Mr. Jackson?"

"These stories teach us morals and favorable traits. Courage, valor, and fighting for something that is more important than yourself." Mr. Brunner processes my answer for a moment. "That was not exactly what I was looking for, but I do like that. Well done Mr. Jackson."

We continued to move on after that, finally getting to lunch. I sat outside gazing at the overcast that was continually getting worse. Something was not right, I just couldn't put my finger on it. "Hey nerd, why don't you stop being such a kiss ass next time." Nancy yells from the bottom of the steps while throwing opened ketchup packets at me. Causing all of her little heathen friends to laugh.

As light of an insult it was, it made me unnaturally angry. I closed my eyes trying to calm down and there was a tug in my gut. As I opened my eyes again I saw Nancy sprawled out in the fountain with a look of shock on her face that was photo worthy. All through the crowd of students came whispers.

"Did you see that?"

"The water just grabbed her."

She crawled out of the fountain and screamed "Percy pushed me!"

As soon as she said it the air around me dropped in temperature as the devil, aka Mrs. Dodds appeared next to me seemingly out of nowhere. I could see Grover out of the corner of my eye starting to cower at her presence.

"I think you should come with me sweetie." She grabbed my arm and began leading me inside.

"Percy didn't push her, I did." Grover said while trying to stand up with his crutches. "Oh I don't think so." She glared at him. I interjected before he got himself in trouble for me. "It's all good man, don't worry about me."

He looked horrified, like I was about to be killed in the most gruesome way possible if I went with her. I shrugged it off chalking it up to him just being a scaredy cat most of the time.

I followed her into an open room that seemed to be under renovation. I wonder if we are even allowed in here? She turns around facing me and crossing her arms. "You have been causing a lot of problems for us honey."

"I'm sorry I pushed her. I will buy her a new shirt or do chalk duty to make up for it." I rolled my eyes as I gave what felt like the most BS apology I have ever given.

"Stop playing dumb Perseus Jackson. Return what you stole." She started to slowly approach me. I backed up in response. "What are you talking about? I haven't stolen anything."

"Stop with the lies! You know what you took from us." she glared at me as she continued to approach.

"I guess your corpse will have to suffice instead." Her skin began to turn obsidian black and leathery. She grew claws, fangs, and wings. Then let the most ungodly sound escape her mouth as she flew at me. Huh I guess she is the devil.

I dove to the side at the last moment, her claws almost taking my face with them as she flew past. I stood and took up a defensive stance and got ready for her second attack, as she flew towards me I lifted my hands and yelled. "Fulctum ignis!"

A wave of fire erupted from my hands that engulfed her. A look of surprise filled her facade as she caught fire and began to burn. She screamed as she slowly burned to death. Her screams finally died out as she disappeared in a shower of golden dust.

I stood there for a moment trying to recollect myself as Mr. Brunner and Grover came bursting into the room. They looked panicked, and looked at the flurry of golden dust and then back to me. Mr. Brunner recomposed himself "We have been looking for you Mr. Jackson please do try not to run off like that." He ushered me to follow him as we all made our way back outside.

"Mr. Brunner what was that thing?" I stood and tried not to freak out about the fact I had almost been decapitated.

"Whatever are you talking about my boy?" He turned his wheelchair to face the exit of the room. "You have been in here alone. Now come, it is time to leave." He began to roll out with Grover on his wheels.

That can't be right, I know I almost died and that it was Mrs. Dodds. I am going to have to figure this out. Maybe mom will know. I will have to ask her when I get home for summer break.

I strode out of the room and went back outside with the rest of my class.

"I hope that Mrs. Kerr tore you a new one." Nancy snickered as her and her pose started making their way back to the bus. Who the hell was Mrs. Kerr?

I looked at her more closely for a moment. Her eyes had seemed to fog over, as if something was altering her memory. There was some kind of magic going on here. I need to know where it is coming from.

I walked over to Grover who looked like he had just seen a ghost, his skin as pale as a sheet of paper. "Grover, What happened to Mrs. Dodds?" Panic crossed his eyes as he stuttered out "Who..is Mrs. Dodds? You feel ok man?" He was probably the worst liar that I have ever seen but I decided to drop it for now.

"Never mind I must be thinking about something else." I made my way back to the bus and took my seat. I was going to get to the bottom of this.

Line Break

We had made it back to Yancy Academy without any more issues. It was almost 10 at night, and I sat in my room flipping through the pages of my book, trying desperately to find any kind of answer as to what the hell that thing was that attacked me.

Sighing in frustration at the lack of an answer I slammed the book shut. Mr. Brunner had to know more than he was letting on. I needed to know now. I picked myself up off the floor and began walking the hall to his class room.

As I approached the door I could hear voices talking from inside, being the nosey individual that I am, I decided I should listen for a moment.

"How did he kill the Kindly One without any kind of weapon?" He might be a lot stronger than we originally thought. We may have to move him sooner than we thought." It was Grover in there. "I do not know, but it is most concerning. I hope that we do not have to yet, I would like him to be able to finish out this school year at least."

So they did know. Why would they be hiding this from me? This is getting weirder by the minute. I decided that it was time to leave. I turned, but being the imbecile that I can be I pivoted on my toes causing a loud squeak. I look at my shoe for a moment and wonder why God hates me.

I hear someone approaching from the room, thinking as fast as I can I put my hands together and whisper. "Pallium Umbrarum." I move my hands in a rainbow fashion as I see myself begin to dissolve into the shadows. Just as the spell finishes casting a large creature on four legs walks out of the room.

The top half of it was a man and the bottom half looked like a horse. It was Mr. Brunner, What the actual hell. He is a horse man thing. I don't move a muscle as he walks by me. He stops just shy of me and turns around. "I am getting too old for this, I am hearing things now."

He retreats to the classroom and I let loose the breath I have been holding. I take off down the hall, letting my veil leave me as I high tail it back to my room. I close my door and start hyperventilating a little. I will have to play this cool. I don't know if they are like the other one and may want to hurt me. I just need to hold out until I can get to my mom, she will know what is going on.

Line Break

The next several months were rather restless for me. I always felt like something was watching me or that something was going to get me. I began to distance myself from Grover and Mr. Brunner as much as possible. Trying my best to just observe them and wait for my moment to question them.

The end of the year rolled around. I had taken most of my finals, and absolutely flunked them. I had no desire to make a return to Yancy Academy next year. I would happily take the ass chewing my mom would give me over coming back here.

The last class of my year came, it was Mr. Brunner's class and I knew that it was the last chance I had to question him before I never saw him again hopefully. The bell rang, the rest of the students charged the door, and I stayed in my seat waiting to be alone with him.

He looked up from grading papers, noticing that I have not moved. "The grades will be on your report card that will be sent home in about a week." He smiled at me "I am sure that you did well Mr. Jackson." He went back to grading his papers and I tried to find my courage to talk to him.

I stood up and walked to the door, shutting it and turned to him. He looked at me with a questioning look. "What are you?" It was a blunt question but it served the purpose.

"What do you mean my boy?" He rolled from behind his desk "I know that you are not human, I saw you. So I ask again, what are you?" I raise my hand at him threateningly. A look of surprise dawns his face. "I have no idea what you are talking about. Are you feeling ok Mr. Jackson?"

I was beginning to get mad "Torquem Aereum." I say as a chain from the wall appears behind him and wraps around his neck as he begins to choke. I walk over to him and get in his face. "I know that this chair is enchanted, I know that I killed what you refer to as a Kindly One, and I know that you cast a spell over most of the other students here. You are going to tell me what is going on or this place will be your grave."

I have never been a very violent individual, but enough sleepless nights, worrying, and curiosity had finally gotten the better of me. I had to know.

"Ok...ok I shall tell you." He choked out. I nod and snap my fingers as the chains disappeared. He rubbed his throat and caught his breath while I stood with my arms crossed waiting for an answer.

"I can not tell you everything just yet Percy, it would put you in too much risk. I will tell you what I can however." I glare at him but decide it would be best to hear him out first. "You are an extremely gifted individual, you are not like the rest of the students here."

I roll my eyes at this. "No duh, I'm the only warlock that I know of, so tell me what you are and where you come from." His eyes widen in surprise but he resolves himself quickly. I maybe should not have admitted that. He sighs. "Telling you my true name and what I am is revealing too much, you are a bright boy Percy, you would figure it out and your life would be in danger. Your mother should be the one to explain it to you. I am most certain that she knows. Just tell her you were told it is almost time to go to camp. She will understand."

I stared at him for a moment. I didn't know why, but I was inclined to believe him. I gave him a curt nod and began to make my way out of the room. As I got to the door he spoke again. "I promise that Grover and I only want what is best for you. We will meet again, and I hope that you can forgive this lack of information." I turn back to him.

"It's ok. I am sorry that I threatened you, but I was scared that you were going to come after me like the last one did. I hope you can forgive my abrasiveness. I hope we meet again under better circumstances. Have a good summer Mr. Brunner." I left the room and started on my way home.

Line Break

I didn't bother saying goodbye to anyone at Yancy. I never cared too much for anyone there. The ride home was interesting to say the least. The bus that I was on broke down on the side of the road and everyone had to get off. As I stepped off the bus I was hit with a strong magical aura.

I turned around trying to find where the aura was coming from and it seemed to be coming straight from three little old ladies knitting the biggest sock I have ever seen in my life. They were all staring at me as they snipped a thread. I felt a shiver run through my body, as if I knew that something bad was about to happen.

A 18 wheeler came through and cut me off from them. As soon as it passed they were gone. I didn't know who they were, all I knew was that I did not want to be on their bad side.

The bus got back to working and I sat on it wondering what the hell I just saw. Mr. Brunner said my mom would have all of the answers. I hoped that she could explain that as well.

I made it home late that evening and took a cab back to my mother and I's apartment. I was so excited to be home. I hopped out of the cab, paid and tipped the driver, and took off for the door. I made my way up into the apartment and threw my things by the front door.

I could hear someone in the kitchen and I ran around the corner and saw my mom. She noticed me and turned with a huge smile on her face. "Welcome home honey." She opened her arms and I ran up and hugged her.

"I missed you so much mom." I hugged her tighter as if this was the last time that I was ever going to see her. "I missed you too baby. You will have to tell me all about your school year, but it will have to be in the car, because you have to pack again. Guess where we are going for the weekend." I shot up and grinned.

"Are we going to Montauk?" She smiled and nodded. I jumped for joy as I ran to my room and packed everything that I would need while we were there. After an hour we were all set to go. We loaded everything into the car and started making our way there.

I knew that I should go ahead and tell mom about everything, but I wanted to at least get through this weekend without having to learn about some conspiracy. We got to the cabin and entered; it was the same as always, sand everywhere, cobwebs, and a little run down. It was perfect.

We started cleaning up, which only took a few minutes with a bit of magic from myself and mom. After we finished cleaning we made our way to the beach and made a small fire to sit around.

I sat in my lawn chair watching the sun set over the horizon. I always loved being able to spend time with my mom on the beach. We made smores and talked for a little while. My thoughts eventually drifted back to what had happened with Mr. Brunner. I needed to know, as much as I wanted to be able to enjoy this weekend, I knew that I couldn't with that on my mind.

"Hey mom, can I ask you something?" I looked off into the distance not wanting to make eye contact. "Of course baby, is everything ok?" She moved her chair closer to me and leaned forward.

I built up my courage and looked her in the eyes. "What are you not telling me mom? I know there is magic in the world, so there has to be more." I didn't want to tell her I got attacked just yet.

She seemed taken aback by the question, but regained her composure rather quickly. "You are correct, I haven't told you everything yet. Please understand that I am trying to protect you, and if you are told about this then your life will be in danger." She held my hand as she said this.

"Mom I was attacked a few weeks ago, I think I'm already in danger." A look of fear adorned her face. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" She all but yelled in my ear.

I cringed back at the noise. "I didn't understand what it was, I wanted to try and find out for myself first." She sighed and leaned back in her chair. "I prayed that this day would never come, I hoped that you could live a somewhat normal life." She said with a far off look in her eyes. "That monster, and anything else like that you may have seen, comes from your father."

My eyes widened in shock. "My dad? I thought he was lost at sea." She smiled sadly. "I didn't completely lie about that. He is at sea, he is just not lost. The sea is his home and he is the king of the sea."

Even though I have had a good amount of time getting used to the world of magic, hearing that my dad was the king of the ocean still came as a shell shock. "When you say king, what do you mean?" I turned to look out over the ocean as she spoke. "Your father is Poseidon, god of the sea."

I couldn't even form a sentence or even a coherent thought. "Like you said magic is real, so it should not be too much of a surprise that gods are real as well." She said while standing up and kneeling in front of my chair, placing her hand on mine.

I looked from the sea back to her. "Mr. Brunner told me to tell you that it is time for me to go to camp. He said that you would know what it means." Her eyes began to tear up as she hugged me. I slowly raised my arms to return the hug. "We should go get you packed so I can take you there."

We broke from the hug and I leaned back in my chair again. "Could we wait until the weekend is over? I feel like this may be the last time I get to experience something normal for a good while." I could see in her eyes that she was conflicted. She wanted to say yes and keep me for a little more time, but there was more danger now. Even with just the little bit of knowledge that I have gotten.

She smiled at me and stood up and waved for me to follow. "I think we can wait until the weekend is over." I smiled and hopped out of my chair and walked beside her back to the cabin.

That was one of the best nights of my life. We laughed, watched movies and stayed up way later than I ever have before. A storm began to move in that night. I always had the best sleep during storms, but tonight did not treat me the same way.

I had the first dream that I have had in the longest time. I was standing on a beach, a horse and an eagle were locked in battle. I didn't know why they were fighting, I just wanted them to stop.

I tried to move to stop them, but I couldn't move. A bone chilling laugh came from all around me as the ground beneath me and I started to fall. The voice that was laughing whispered in the depths of my brain. "You will work perfectly."

I shot out of bed to beating on the door. I got up slowly and made my way to the door, preparing for the worst. I flung the door open and prepared to blast away whatever was unfortunate enough to be standing there. I flung the door open and stopped myself just in time before I blasted him away. "Grover?"

He looked like he had just run a marathon and had a smell to match. "You were supposed to come to camp Percy, why are you not there?" He looked behind me and I turned around. My mom was standing there with her wand in hand ready to turn him to dust.

"Who are you and why are you here?" She said as she moved closer to the door and pulled me away. He looked like he saw the devil as he slowly moved away from the door. I pulled mom's arm. "He's a friend from school mom. This is Grover, he said that I was supposed to go to camp already." She lowered the wand and turned around and looked at me.

"Well does he have to at this very moment, we planned on waiting until the weekend was over." Grover stepped into the condo. "Unfortunately he does, there is something coming and from the way it smells, it is very strong."

She nodded with determination. "Percy, go back a small bag quickly, I will get everything else ready. Grover, wait by the door we will take my car to camp." We got everything ready and the next thing that I know we are heading out the door down the road.

The car ride was silent for the most part. The air in the car was caught somewhere between awkward and unnerving. I decided to finally break the silence. "Why is it when I found out about all of this we are immediately being hunted?" The question was directed at both of them but Grover answered first.

"As I am guessing you were told, you are a demigod. When you understand what you are your scent gets stronger and allows monsters to track you easily. That is why until now nothing has really attacked you except for at the museum." I flung my head to the side to look at him.

"So you did know that I was attacked, and you do remember Mrs. Dodds." I glared at him waiting for a response. He faltered under my gaze but responded all the same. "I had to pretend like I didn't, we used a lot of the Mist to make everyone else forget. We were hoping that it would work on you too." I didn't like the answer, but nodded in response, and I could guess what the Mist was so I didn't really need an explanation for that.

The rest of the trip was in relative silence except for the heavy rain beating down around us. Grover said that we should be getting close and then sat up straight and looked behind us. I turned to look and in a flash of lightning a hulking figure was bolting down the road after us. My day could officially not suck anymore.

"Mom I think you need to drive faster." I said while Grover and I stared out the back. She looked back in the rearview mirror and slammed on the gas. As soon as she did though, the air felt thick and all of my hairs stood on end. I looked at my mom and she met my gaze in the mirror. There was a crap load of magic building around us.

She slammed on the breaks but it was too late. A bolt of lightning struck the front of our car causing us to go sailing through the air. Everything seemed to slow down as the asphalt came closer and closer. I knew there was nothing that I could do. I couldn't even tuck my head between my legs and kiss my ass goodbye before we slammed into the ground.

I woke up to blurry vision and everything hurting. I sat up and looked around the inside of our destroyed car. Grover was passed out next to me and mom was starting to wake up. I knew I needed to act fast before whatever that thing behind us got to us. I pulled myself from the car and made my way to the other side. Mom was starting to get out now. "Percy, grab Grover and go to the top of the hill. That's where you will be safe." I did as she said and pulled Grover out of the car and started dragging him up the hill. I looked back at mom waiting on her. "Mom come on. We have to go now!" I yelled as I kept dragging him up the hill.

I stopped again and saw that she hadn't moved. I dropped Grover and ran back down the hill. When I got to her I pulled her arm. "Mom let's go, it's almost here, I can feel it." She looked at me and grabbed my shoulders. "It doesn't want me Percy, it wants you; and I can not get through the barrier. Only a demigod can." She let go of me and pushed me gently back towards the hill. I grabbed her and started dragging her. "I can't leave you here with that thing." I could tell she gave up trying to convince me, knowing that the only way I would go is if she came.

We ran back up the hill and grabbed Grover again and started carrying him up the hill. Just as we began however, a blood curdling cry came from the bottom of the hill. We both turned and it was one of the grossest looking things that I have ever seen. A bull with the lower half of a man with a pair of fruit of the looms underwear on.

Normally I would have found that rather funny, but knowing that it wanted to kill me took a good bit of humor out of the situation. We turned back and started running up the hill faster. It seemed to be in vain however as the beast was upon us in what felt like seconds.

I dropped Grover and dove out of the way while my mom pulled him to the side as she dove. I got up and got ready to send a ball of fire at the beast but my mom yelled out to me. "Percy, stop not here, it will draw too much unwanted attention. We have to find another way to beat it." She said as she set Grover down and ran over to me as the beast turned and faced us again.

"Wait until the last second and jump out of the way. It is big and strong, but it is dumb. We need to think of a plan." As she finished the sentence the bull man reared back and charged at us again. I waited until the last possible moment and dove as it barreled past us.

I started looking around for something that could hurt this thing, but I was on an open hillside with a few trees. The trees that may work. I had the semblance of a plan made by the time it was charging us again. I did the same thing as last time, but it seems to not be as dumb as my mom thought it to be.

As she tried to jump out of the way, the bull grabbed her and held her in it's nasty hand. "Mom!" I cried out as I started to run to her. She looked at me with fear in her eyes. "Stop! Remember what I told you. Go to the back of the book and learn what's there. I love you." She said as she began to dissolve into a golden light.

I saw my mother fade to nothingness right in front of me. It killed her. I didn't know how it did it, but I just watched my mom die. I felt anger and hatred rise in me as I put my hands together. Screw whoever is watching, and damn the consequences. This thing was going to die.

Even with my extensive time learning magic, I still only had perfected a few spells. Most needed some form of medium to act as a power enhancer to use. I still had not gotten one yet, so I had to think fast. There was only one spell in the book that I could think of that I could maybe use to kill this thing. I raised my hands into the air and felt the waves of energy flood though my body into my hands as I screamed. "Arcane en Pluam."

A volley of blue orbs flooded out of my hands into the sky. Seeking their way at mach speed to the bull. My hands felt like they were being burned to a crisp. I guess all of those safety lessons my mom gave me about using a powerful spell without a medium were for naught.

My thoughts went back to the task at hand as I saw the onslaught of orbs rain down upon the bull shredding it to ribbons. It screamed in agony as it turned into a shower of golden dust. I lowered my now steaming hands to my sides and almost collapsed on the ground.

I steadied myself and made my way back over to Grover and picked him up and carried him the rest of the way up the hill. We made it over the crest of the hill and saw a large house at the base. I stumbled my way down trying my best not to pass out. I approached the door of the house and banged on the door, dropping Grover in the process.

I fell on the ground as the door opened up, there were some voices that I couldn't make out as everything got hazy and I was granted rest finally after the most exhausting day of my life.

A/N Sorry it took a bit longer than I expected. I was trying to get this chapter to how I wanted it. I hope you enjoyed it and I will try to post the next chapter within the next two weeks as well. I have also decided to pick up my other story again as well, but the chapters will be much slower than this one. I want this to be my main story but I will try to do both. Have a great day.