THREE OLD LADIES KNIT THE SOCKS OF DEATH
Apollo stopped reading and saw that yeah it is correct.
I was used to the occasional weird experience...just to see if I could trip them up, but they would stare at me like I was psycho.
Grover looked guilty about this. "See you should have told him." Reyna sighed. Grover nodded.
It got so I almost believed them—Mrs. Dodds had never existed.
"Almost??" Hermes asked looking at Grover.
Almost. But Grover couldn't fool ... she didn't exist. But I knew he was lying.
Grover's ears were pink as the rest laughed at him.
Something was going on. Something had happened at the museum.
"Yes" every demigod shouted. Gods rolled their eyes.
I didn't have much time to think about it during the days, but at night, visions of Mrs. Dodds with talons and leathery wings would wake me up in a cold sweat.
Grover looked up in confusion he hadn't known that.
The freak weather continued, which didn't help my... down in sudden squalls in the Atlantic that year.
Everyone looked accusingly at both gods. Both of them gave a sheepishsmile.
I started feeling cranky and irritable most of the... sent out into the hallway in almost every class.
"Wow. He moods are intertwined with sea." Hermes noted. Athena nodded too.
Finally, when our English...even sure what it meant, but it sounded good.
Everyone who knew what it meant was laughing while Dionysus scrolled at them. Seeing the confusion Hermes answered their unasked question "it means old drunk. Like Dionysus."Now everyone was laughing while demigods were trying to hide their snickers.
The headmaster sent ... Fine, I told myself. Just fine.
"Yeah it would have been really frustrating." Jason and Leo said.
I was homesick. I wanted to be with my mom in our... stepfather and his stupid poker parties.
"Paul doesn't play poker does he?" Thalia and Nico asked. "Nah I don't think so?" Hazal and Frank said. "It's not Paul. His other step Father. The first one. He doesn't like talking about him. So you wouldn't know. I mean he never told us about him either." Annabeth said to those who know Sally while looking at Grover. "Yeah i never heard of him much either." Grover said looking thoughtful. Both Apollo and Poseidon gave them a look.
And yet... there were things I'd...how he'd survive next year without me.
"He is a good friend. The best one." Grover said with a sigh.
"Hmm demigods Don't care enough to make friends with a styar." Dionysus exclaimed.
I'd miss Latin class, too—Mr. Brunner's...sure why, but I'd started to believe him.
"His instinct are very good. Even when he can't really believe what had happened in the museum. He know it is important to listen to Chiron." Demeter said and other gods agreed.
The evening before my final, I got...onjugating those Latin verbs? Forget it.
"Please tell me know he knows the difference in them." Poseidon asked.
"Oh now he knows the difference." Annabeth said.
"And it is because Chiron is his teacher." Poseidon askedhopefully
Grover, Nico and Annabeth looked at each other trying to keep a straight dace and looked at Poseidon answering at the same time"of course". Poseidon put his head in his hands when he got his answer while Hades raised his eyebrow at Nico, Nico looked at anyone other that at his father. Takingsome pity on his Uncles and kids Apollo started reading again.
I paced the room, feeling like ants were crawling around inside my shirt.
Rachel shuddered at the image.
I remembered Mr. Brunner's serious expression, his thousand-year-old eyes. I will accept only the best from you, Percy Jackson.
"Now he is the best." Grover said with a proud smile. Apollo smiled unconsciously.
I took a deep breath. I picked up the mythology...with him thinking I hadn't tried.
"He didn't wanted to disappoint Chiron." Reyna said. "He never did disappoint Chiron." Thalia said. "Both Annabeth and Percy are his favourites. And he will never be disappointed in these two. He is very proud of you two." Grover said. Annabethblushed. While both Poseidon and Athena looked proud themselves.
I walked downstairs to the faculty offices. Most of... "... worried about Percy, sir." I froze. I'm not usually an eavesdropper,
"Yeah right." Clarisse and Annabeth scoff.
but I dare you to try not listening if you hear your best friend talking about you to an adult.
"True" almost everyone said. "Good point."
"I think everyone would do that." Apollo said looking at Hermes smirking. Hermes scrolled at him. Apollo smiled back innocently.
I inched closer.
So did everyone else.
"... alone this summer," Grover was saying. "I mean, a Kindly One in the school! Now that we know for sure, and they know too—"
"We would only make matters worse by rushing him," Mr. Brunner said. "We need the boy to mature more."
"That is not right. You should have brought him right after the attack he would be safer at the camp." Clarisse saidGrover shrugged not know what else to say. Apollo was nodding along with few other with Clarisse.
"But he may not have time. The summer solstice deadline— "
"Is that about whateveryou two are fighting about?" Hades asked. Both shrugged not knowing what else to say. "Could be possible why else would their be summer solstice deadline." Athenasaid.
"Will have to be resolved without him, Grover. Let him enjoy his ignorance while he still can."
"Sir, he saw her... ."
"His imagination," Mr. Brunner insisted. "The Mist over the students and staff will be enough to convince him of that."
"Not enough apparently." Apollo said. "You are only making him more confused and making him think that he is insane. I know you didn't take him to camp because you didn't wanted to bring attention to him but if he already had bought Zeus attention." Apollo frownedat Grover and was mentally frowning at Chiron. Grover looked apologetic about it. Than Apollo went back to reading. Not looking for an answer as it already had happened.
"Sir, I ... I can't fail in my duties again." Grover's voice was choked with emotion. "You know what that would mean."
"You didn't fail. It wasn't your fault." Thalia said.
"You do know that we never blamed you. Right?" Annabeth asked Grover in concern.
"I know now. Back than I wasn't as confident or had friends like you." Grover said to them.
"You haven't failed, Grover," Mr. Brunner said kindly. "I should have seen her for what she was. Now let's just worry about keeping Percy alive until next fall—"
"That's never good." Hermes said with a sigh.
The mythology book dropped out of my hand and hit the floor with a thud.
"No. Never give away your position while eves dropping." Hermes' and Apollo plus there children said. While Hades and Nico nodded.
Mr. Brunner went silent. My heart hammering, I picked up the book and backed down the hall.
"Yes. There should not be any evidence and hide fast." Hermes said with mischievous eyes.
A shadow slid ... archer's bow. I opened the nearest door and slipped inside.
"Phew. Good now stay hidden." Hermes mummered.
A few seconds late ...n front of the glass, then moved on.
"That would have been scary. When he knew nothing about the Gods and their stories." Hazal whispered. Frank nodded.
A bead of sweat trickled down my neck. Somewhere... dorm," Mr. Brunner told him. "You've got a long day of exams tomorrow."
Everyone groaned, Annabethand Athena both rolled their eyes.
"Don't remind me."
Everyone nodded.
The lights went out in Mr. Brunner's... my way back up to the dorm.
"He is good." Travis and Connor said at the same time. "Yeah" Hermes replied. "No wonder we can never prank him." Connor sighed and Travis nodded his head while Chris rolled his eyes fondly.
Grover was lying on his bed, studying his Latin... so he couldn't read my expression, and started getting ready for bed.
"Not gonna work." Thalia said.
"Yeah but I thought it was because of the exams so I didn't push." Grover explained.
I didn't understand what I'd heard downstairs. I wanted to believe I'd imagined the whole thing.
"Mist is still at work." Hermes frowned.
But one thing was clear: Grover and Mr. Brunner were talking about me behind my back. They thought I was in some kind of danger.
Grover winced.
The next afternoon, as I was leaving the three-hour Latin exam, my eyes swimming with all the Greek and Roman names I'd misspelled, Mr. Brunner called me back inside.
"3 HOURS!!!!" Every demigod leaving Frank and Nico shouted.
"It's just 3 hours." Athena rolled her eyes.
"May be. But if you have delaxiaand ADHD. You can't possibly sit still for more than few minutes. If you hadn't noticed yet we all have lots of nervous energy we can't help but move." Annabeth explained.
"You are sitting now...?" Athena asked.
"It's because we already are exhausted from war and we already are restless." Annabeth said. Apollo started reading before the argument broke.
For a moment, I was worried he'd found out about my eavesdropping the night before, but that didn't seem to be the problem.
"We didn't know that you did." Grover rolled his eyes.
"Percy," he said. "Don't be discouraged about leaving Yancy. It's ... it's for the best."
"Oh no! That not good." Thalia flinched.
"Why?" Poseidon asked.
"Chiron is not the best person for pep talk." Annabeth said wincing.
His tone was kind, but the ... little kissing motions with her lips.
"Not in-front of everyone. That'll just make him feel worse." Almost all the Greek campers groaned
I mumbled, "Okay, sir."
"I mean ..." Mr. Brunner wheeled his chair back and forth, like he wasn't sure what to say. "This isn't the right place for you. It was only a matter of time."
Everyone flinched. "Yeah definitely not the right thing to say." Apollo said.
My eyes stung. Here ... me I was destined to get kicked out.
Everyone was feeling that.
"Right," I said, trembling. "No, no," Mr. Brunner said. "Oh, confound it all. What I'm trying to say ... you're not normal, Percy. That's nothing to be—"
"Thanks," I blurted. "Thanks a lot, sir, for reminding me."
"Percy—" But I was already gone.
"See. He is worst at pep talks." Travis and Connor said.
"Prissy is loads better at that." Clarisse said.
On the last day of the term, I ... from a family of nobodies.
Demigods snorted. Gods were twitching to say something about that comment.
"Yeah family of nobodies." Leo said sarcastically.
Everyone slowly dissolve in laughter. Apollo too was smiling.
They asked me what I'd be doing... go to school in the fall.
"Isn't he twelve?" Athena and Hera asked at the sametime. Everyone turned towards the seven and Grover. All of them were looking equally shocked. Frank master up the courage to answer "we also don't know what this is about."
"Oh," one of the guys said. "That's cool." They went back to their conversation as if I'd never existed.
"Percy didn't liked rich kids." Annabeth said.
"They don't actually make a good impression. They are either bullies or worse." Travis said.
"Hey" Rachel and Piper both said offendedly.
"Leaving you two of course. We don't actually have a good experience with the rich kids." Connor defended.
"Or teachers." Leo added.
"Yeah true." Rachel said.
"Yeah" piper.
"Why teachers?" Apollo and Athena asked. Both were curious and so were the rest.
"Well we have to change schools so often because when monsters attack we are blamed for it because mortal can't see because of the mist. And because we have dyslexic and ADHD we can't read English properly because of that teachers single us out as trouble makers. They think that we are just lazy and whatever." Beckendorf explained.
"And because of ADHD we cannot just sit in a class. We are too curious about something and don't care about others at all. So even if it might not be our fault we suffer the consequences of everything." Annabeth said.
"That's not all. Because most of the time we come from middle class families we don't have the influence or voice to speak. We are bullied and teachers don't see anything even if we complain they got of easy which results in more bullying." Chris finished.
All the gods were worried. Is that how they children are treated. They looked at each other not knowing what to do. The Roman were really relieved that they don't have to go to mortal school. Gods were about to ask something when Piper interpreted "Lord Apollo please continue." Apollo looked like he himself had questions but when he looked at the kids he knew they were not ready to talk about it just yet. Apollo sighed and went back to reading.
The only person I dreaded saying ... again, heading into the city.
"Nothing suspicious." Dakota said trying to defuse the tension. Some of the demigods started to relax.
During the whole bus ride, Grover ... on the Greyhound. Finally I couldn't stand it anymore.
Everydemigod knew what is going to happen.
I said, "Looking for Kindly Ones?"
"Is he trying to give Grover a heart attack?"
"Way to be blunt"
"That would scare the Hades out of me."
"It did." Grover said.
Everyone was laughing tension dissolved.
Now everyone was arguing about one thing or the other. All the gods were looking at their Children and realised that they fought in wars at such a young age. When they all settled Apollo startedreading again.
Grover nearly jumped out of his seat. "Wha—what do you mean?"
Everyone snickered.
I confessed about eavesdropping on him and Mr. Brunner the night before the exam.
"Never confess to eavesdropping. It's like a rule or something." Hermes added when everyone looked at him. Apollo and Hermes' children were nodding. Other just rolled their eyes at them.
Grover's eye twitched. "How much did you hear?"
"Oh ... not much. What's the summer solstice dead-line?"
"Yeah not much." Someone said softly and demigods again fell into giggles.
He winced. "Look, Percy ... I was just worried for you, see? I mean, hallucinating about demon math teachers ..."
"Grover—"
"And I was telling Mr. Brunner that maybe you were overstressed or something, because there was no such person as Mrs. Dodds, and ..."
"Grover, you're a really, really bad liar."
"You are." Literally everyone said. Grover's ears turned red with embarrassment.
His ears turned pink. From ... eyes, but I finally made out something like:
Grover Underwood
Keeper
Half-Blood Hill
Long Island, New York
Everyone one turned to Dionysus. Demigods were glaring and Dionysus smirked.
"Why fancy?" Athena asked.
"Why not." Dionysus answered.
"Change it." Hermes, Athena, and Apollo said at the same time.
"Why?" Dionysusasked.
"So that no one get lost because they couldn't understand what is written on it." Apollo exclaimed annoyed.
Dionysus grumbled while he thought about it and decided that ok he would change but won't tell them.
"What's Half—"
"Don't say it aloud!" he yelped. "That's my, um ... summer address."
"He never learned to that." Nico whispered to Will who snickered. Apollo raised his eyebrow at that. He smirked that this is going to be fun to read.
My heart sank. Grover had a summer home. I'd never considered that his family might be as rich as the others at Yancy.
"Yeah. I can see it why he reacted like that now." Grover nodded his head and said.
"Okay," I said glumly. "So, like, if I want to come visit your mansion."
He nodded. "Or ... or if you need me."
"Why would I need you?"
"Wow rude." Romans and few gods said.
It came out harsher than I meant it to.
They all nodded yeah yeah sometimes that happens.
Grover blushed right down to his Adam's apple. "Look, Percy, the truth is, I—I kind of have to protect you."
"He wouldn't know from what." Poseidon said.
I stared at him. All year... are you protecting me from?"
"Point." Almost everyone said.
There was a huge grinding noise... to the side of the highway.
"This can not be a coincidence. Could it?" Poseidon asked the demigods.
They just shrugged they didn't know about it.
Grover knew what happened next. But kept quit.
Apollo felt dreadful to read next. He had some idea what is going to happen. He gulped and started to read.
After a few minutes clanking around in the engine... heat, was an old-fashioned fruit stand.
Apollo felt chills went up his spin. But kept reading.
The stuff on sale looked really good: heaping ... the biggest pair of socks I'd ever seen.
Poseidon made a chocked noise at the same time Thalia, Annabeth and Reyna. They all looked at Grover. Who felt shudders went through his body.
I mean these socks were the size of sweaters, but they were clearly socks. The lady on the right knitted one of them. The lady on the left knitted the other. The lady in the middle held an enormous basket of electric-blue yarn.
Gods realised what was happening and looked at Poseidon who was sitting stiff still.
All three women looked ancient, with pale faces wrinkled like fruit leather, silver hair tied back in white bandannas, bony arms sticking out of bleached cotton dresses.
The older Campers realised who they were.Everyone was sitting on on their toes not knowing if they should hide or go and check Percy.
The weirdest thing was, they seemed to be looking right at me.
The campers who had themselvesseen the Fates at Olympus at the end of the war they looked at each other. All the occupantswere thinking the same thing. Apollo didn't want to read next his voice was stuck in his throat.
I looked over at Grover to say something about this and saw that the blood had drained from his face. His nose was twitching.
At this moment everyone felt the same way.
"Grover?" I said. "Hey, man—"
"Tell me they're not looking at you. They are, aren't they?"
"Yeah. Weird, huh? You think those socks would fit me?"
"Not funny. Absolutely not funny." Nico and Thalia whispered.
"Not funny, Percy. Not funny at all."
Everyone nodded.
The old lady in the middle took out a huge pair of scissors—gold and silver, long-bladed, like shears. I heard Grover catch his breath.
Everyone sucked in their breaths.
"Leave." Travis
"Run". Connor
"We're getting on the bus," he told me. "Come on."
"What?" I said. "It's a thousand degrees in there."
"Just go." Everyone shouted leaving the gods of course. They were too stunned at the fact they showed themselves to a twelve year old.
"Come on!'" He pried open the door and climbed inside, but I stayed back.
Annabeth was shaking. Thalia put her arm around to comfort but she herself was freaking out.
Across the road, the old ladies were still watching me. The middle one cut the yarn, and I swear I could hear that snip across four lanes of traffic.
Apollo didn't spoke next. They all were too stunned to do anything at all.
"Ma-may be ...he saw something else. And misinterpretation -what he saw?" Chris asked softly. But since no one was even breathing it felt like he was shouting.
Hermes slowly shocked his head and looked at Chris. "No. They wanted him to see this. He couldn't have done anything to change that."
Gods slowly came out of their shocked state.
"Hermes is right. They wanted to Percy to see that specifically. But that's-this-" Apollo looked at his uncle.
Poseidonwas Sitting as still as a statue.
"Why- why didn't you ever told us?" Annabeth hissed.
Grover looked at Annabeth. "Percy didn't wanted anyone to know. Only me and His mom knows other thanhimself. Well till now."
"It wasn't mine secret." Grover told her.
"How is the boy alive? He should be dead." Hera said.
"Yeah" Apollo nodded. But he couldn't tell what this meant.
Those who didn't know what it meant asked other. They could tell it was bad but didn't understood how much. But didn't got much answers.
"...Uncle P. Percy is here on Olympus. He is safe." Apollo said softly to Poseidon. Poseidon looked at Apollo. "Read". Poseidonspoke through his teeth. Apollo nodded.
Her two friends balled up the electric-blue socks, leaving me wondering who they could possibly be for—Sasquatch or Godzilla.
A few chuckled at that. And relaxed a bit.
At the rear of the bus, ... the engine roared back to life.
Everyone let out the breath they didn't realise they were holding.
The passengers cheered. "Darn... feeling feverish, as if I'd caught the flu.
Everyone nodded
Grover didn't look much better. He was shivering and his teeth were chattering.
"Grover?"
"Yeah?"
"What are you not telling me?"
He dabbed his forehead with his shirt sleeve. "Percy, what did you see back at the fruit stand?"
"You mean the old ladies? What is it about them, man? They're not like ... Mrs. Dodds, are they?"
Apollo blinked. His brain was turning. He is smart. 'And pre-' Apollo stopped that thought. Athena herself realisedthat maybe he isn't as dumb.
"No they are not." Hades said in a grave voice and looked at his brother. Who still wasn't reacting.
His expression was hard to read,... out her scissors, and she cut the yarn."
Everyone winced at how casually Percy said that. Athena rolled her eyes of course he is an idiot.
He closed his eyes and made a gesture with his fingers that might've been crossing himself, but it wasn't. It was something else, something almost—older.
"He can be very perspective." Hazel said.
Grover hadn't realised that Percyunderstood these things.
He said, "You saw her snip the cord."
"Yeah. So?" But even as I said it, I knew it was a big deal.
"It is" everyone who knew hissed.
"This is not happening," Grover mumbled. He started chewing at his thumb. "I don't want this to be like the last time."
"It is so not like that." Thalia said. Annabeth nodded.
Grover nodded.
"What last time?"
"Always sixth grade. They never get past sixth."
Every demigod rolled their eyes. "Don't say that you are gonna scare him." Thalia glared. Grover grinned sheepishly.
"Grover," I said, because he was really starting to scare me. "What are you talking about?"
"Let me walk you home from the bus station. Promise me."
This seemed like a strange request to me, but I promised he could.
"He is not gonna do that." Leo said. When everyone looked at him. "I would have ditched him the next chance i got because he is freaking him out." Leo said like it is the most obvious thing in the world.
"Is this like a superstition or something?" I asked.
"No. It's actually a fact." Poseidon spoke softly. Everyone looked at him. He had his head in his hands.
No answer. "Grover—that snipping of the yarn. Does that mean somebody is going to die?"
"Wow. He figured it out." Annabeth said softly.
He looked at me mournfully, like he was already picking the kind of flowers I'd like best on my coffin.
"Were you?" Leo asked Grover.
"Yeah." Grover replied.
"Which one did you choose?" Thalia asked.
"Hyacinth, Irises, Veronica, Blue Orchid, Morning glory and Glory-of-the-snow." Grover replied.
"That's an unusual- combination." Thalia said.
"Well his favourite flowers are Hyacinthand Glory of the snow." Grover said shrugging his shoulder. "He likes them blue." He added.
"Of course he does." Annabeth said.
"Why do i thinking you both had this conversation at some point." Thalia eyed him.
"We did after 2nd quest." Grover.
"We did too." Travis and Connor said.
And soon all the kid's were talking about flower they would like on their coffins. Gods were looking at them with wide eyes. They all were eyeing their children with eldest being 20years. They all talking about it like it's not a big deal. They were even more concerned as the conversation continued about what they thought their Elysium would be. Michael had moved to sit with Beckendorf. Apollo was listening to their conversation he hadn't realised which flowers Percy liked but now that he registered he flinched. Poseidon had left to see his son. Apollo realised that he is not in infirmary he ran towards his room leaving the book behind. But not before he told the gods that chapter was done. Hestia and conjuredup the food for kids they all were talking about one thing or the other. "They look so at peacetalking about death." Hestia spoke to the godsand Hades. They all nod "too comfortably" Hades, Hermes, Demeter and Athenaadded. "They are too young to be this peacefullyabout dying." Hephaestus grunted. "Yeah" Artemis nodded. "They are all too hyper." Athena narrowed her eyes at them. They were moving around a lot. "They are children. Of course they would." Hestia added. "It's like being in from full of Hermes and Apollo but they are too many." Artemissaid smugly looking at Hermes. "Hey...ok its true but still rude." Hermes crossed his arms. "Why is Apollo so serious today?" Athena asked. "I don't know." Artemis answered and looked at Hermes. Hermes looked at Artemis didn't spoke for a while and then sighed. "Percy looks a lot like Hyacinth, you would have noticed that if you had looked properly. Although I don't think he realised that Percy does look like that yet. May be because he is different in some ways like he doesn't...I don't know if they had met before the wars may be i could tell but right now i can't." Others gods looked shocked for a while realisingand trying to fit the image of the Spartan prince. "Oh yeah! I didn't even got a look at him probably." Artemis said. "He does. I wonder if when they meet in future what happened or didn't happen." Athena said. "I always liked Hyacinth. Perfect for Apollo." Aphrodite said. "They made and handsome pair." "Don't" Hermes warned Aphrodite. "What Don't?" Aphrodite challenged. "Leave them out of your plan for once." Hermes glared at Aphrodite. "I will do as i please. It is mine domina you can't just tell me not interfere. Also it's not really a great love story if it's not tragic." Aphrodite smirked. "Stay away dite." Artemis came to her full hight. "I'll like to see you try." Aphrodite straightened. Now all the demigods were looking at them. "And beside. How would you know that have i intervened or not. May be I already done the damage." Aphrodite said with a glint in her eyes. "If you hurt Apollo even a bit. I'll make sure you suffer for eternity." Artemis said. "And I'll help." Hermes sided with Artemis. They both were glaring at each other. That they didn't even noticed Poseidon and Apollo returned. "What's going on?" Apollo looked at his sister and Hermes. Poseidon eyed them and Aphrodite. "Whatever you are planning leave it here and now. My son already has more problems without you adding to them." Poseidon said when he saw the plan in her eyes. Without answering anything she went to sit with Ares. Poseidon knew she will do something. If the look in her eyes is to go by. "What happened?" Apollo asked his sister as she went back to 13-14 years age. "Nothing" Artemis said and walked away taking Athena with her. Apollo turned towards Hermes. Hermes looked away before walking back to his kids who were still watching them. Apollo looked at his sister who was glaring dagger at Aphrodite. Aphrodite was smiling dangerously at Artemis. He sighed. "I'm screwed" he slumped. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades and Hestia looked at each other. "Why would you say that?" Hestia asked. "Whenever they fight i get caught in crossfire. For once in my life i want them not anywhere near me." He walked back towards were he was sitting and started talking to Michael and Will soon Frank joined as they were talking about Archery. Hades, Zeus and Hestia looked at each other. Zeus walked back to where Hera was sitting. Even children were bored and were talking amongst themselves. "What is she planning?" Poseidon asked his siblings "i know nothing good." When he saw Hades opened his mouth to say that. Hades sighed. "Your son looks a lot like Hyacinth." Hades sighed. "Who?" Poseidon asked completely of track. "The prince of Sparta that Apollo fall for. Who died thousands of years ago." Hades whispered again. Poseidon blinked. He had heard of Apollo's lover but never met him. He just knew because Apollo didn't took any interest in anyone for many centuries till Hermes dragged Apollo along. "Oh!" Poseidon said. "I never saw the Prince, just heard stories from everyone else." Poseidon whispered back. "Oh yeah. You didn't know him at all." Hestia spoke finally. She didn't wanted to see that again. The heart break. The vengeance. The fights. She looked at the Sun god. Laughing with is children. Always smiling but is one of the most vengeful gods. The goofy exterior to prevent from the pain he could experience. She herself seen him fall in love and lost every time. She wondered why the fates are so cruel to such a strong person. "Any ways how are you?" Hestia asked changing topic. "Fine." Poseidon spoke. Hades rolled his eyes. "Are you?" Hestia asked again. Poseidon looked at her and sighed. "My son the one I don't even know exist is here from future. And we just read that Fates cut his life cord at twelve. What do you thinking? He already a fought a fury that you send(pointed at Hades) without any knowledge of how to fight or what exactly had happened. Is probably the child of the prophecy. Went through wars is still alive. I don't understand if Fates had already cut his...you know when is he gonna..." Poseidon rubbed his head. "Apollo has theory that may be they showed him that to tell him something about what happens in his future. He isn't sure. I know he was trying to calm me but still." He sighed. "Hmm. Poseidon I apologise for my future actions. They probably would be more. Because well i hated to agree to take part in you stupid oath. I have and still had grown to resent you and Zeus in future. I know it would probably mean nothing but as we hadn't talked in last 50 years or before(Poseidon flinched at that)i would say action speak louder than words. No matter what reason may be I shouldn't have attacked a child. It's seems the future is different than i ever thought." Hades said looking at his son and daughter taking freely without any judgment in other kids eyes. "I wonder what is the price of that" Poseidon looked at the children. "Hmm"
Apollo and Poseidon when they went to see Percy.
Apollo caught up to Poseidon when he was at the door of the infirmary. "Where is he?" Poseidon asked softly when he saw it was empty. "He is guest room. I thou-" Apollo had started telling when Poseidon turned on his heel and went towards his temple. He rolled his eyes and ran after him. He reached the temple and pushed the door open for Poseidon. He lead him towards his guest room "I hadn't used infirmary for centuries probably. So I thought to put him in the guest room. Much more comfortable too." Apollo said as reached the room and opened the door. Apollo followed. The first thing he saw when he entered was the black hair sticking out from under the blanket. Poseidon sighed. So did he internally, he didn't wanted to show his panic to Poseidon he already was worried. Poseidon walked to other side of the bed and kneeled and looked at his son. Apollo sat opposite Poseidon at the foot of the bed and looked at them. "What are you thinking?" Apollo whispered. "Will he be dreaming?" Poseidon whispered back still not looking up from his son. "No. I thought it would be for the best you know for his health." Apollo replied. "He is brave. And they kids love him. They are all like family." Apollo tilted his head considering what would fit the best and family was it. Poseidon looked at Apollo. Apollo looked back. "I can't lose him Apollo." Poseidon whispered. Apollo was panicking he doesn't know what he should say. The fates of Son of Poseidon had already been decided. "May be they showed him..." he wetted his lips his throat was dry. "... may be he was supposed to see that because of something in his future." Apollo looked back from Percy to Poseidon. Poseidon was eyeing him to see if he was lying. "I am not lying. It's a theory. And (he counted the years in his head) 5? Years had already been passed. He survived 5 years in quests and wars and also from insulting us on regular basis. May be he had to see that to decide something that happened when he turned 16. One thing is certain he is the child of the prophecy. Fates don't just visit anyone. But ... i think somewhere along the years the prophecy would be his whether he claimed it or not." Poseidon looked back at his son who was drooling his lips turned up a bit. Poseidon ran his hand through Percy hair in comforting manner. "I hope you are right. Otherwise I'll ask the council to let him be immortal with us." "Why?" Apollo asked. "I can already tell he is my favourite. And he is my first son after so many years. Wouldn't you wanted with you own if you had a son after years. If I remember correctly you did your son and daughter." Poseidon said softly. Apollo hmmed. He looked back at Percy and remembered that his favourite flowers are in the room. He shake that thought out of his head. "Thank you" Apollo looked at Poseidon and asked "Whatever for?" "For trying to come up with a theory in a such short time." Poseidon said. "I am just trying for us. For my children too." Apollo looked outside through the window in the room. Poseidon looked at Apollo and said "We can come up with something to save him. Anyway we can. As many as we can." Apollo looked at Poseidon. "Some things are not meant to be changed. But perhaps we can save some. By helping here. May be that's why all of them here. So we can heal them not just physically but emotionally and ..." Apollo tried to think what he should say to Poseidon about his son and looked at the raven hair "...mentally." Apollo finished. Poseidon eyes widened and looked back at his son. Before Poseidon could say anything Apollo spoke looking away from Father-Son "we should go back. I already had put Hephaestus system that he built few decades back, so i will know when Percy wakes up. Or if he had nightmares." Apollo left after saying that to give Poseidon to take as much as time he needs. He waited for a minute or two when Poseidon finally emerged from the room. And made his way towards him. "Don't tell what I told you to other and about their health too. Especially your son. He is a private person." Apollo walked straight without looking if Poseidon was walking. "He probably wouldn't be happy that you put him to sleep." Poseidon pointed out. "What can he say. I am the god of healing. He can't argue with that." Apollo said. Poseidon raised his eyebrows "you just told be he insults us gods often enough. How can you be sure. Oh that's reminds me he would need to learn to respect." Poseidon sighed. "He respects enough. At least those he think deserve at least. Like Aunt Hestia." Apollo reminded. "Hmm. Not all demigods know about sister that much. And he recognised her instantly. Even she was surprised. Did you notice that the close group of Percy's friends seem to respect Hades. Even though he tried to kill him first." Poseidon pondered at that. "May be they can relate to him more than they can to us. We Olympian are more of a family and Uncle H is like an outcast. Ignored and all that. Because of the ancient law we cannot intervene or anything. Because of which demigods might feel abandoned by us. That's why I visit them all at least once. Even when Zeus doesn't allow." Apollo said. Poseidon roll his eyes. "Of course you do. I think only Hermes is the busiest of us all to say hello to his kids. But rest of us don't even do that. It's good at one of us doing something." Apollo looked ahead. "What is it Apollo?" "You do realise at some point that i can sometimes see prophecies. But not clearly to all make sense afterwards not before. It gets annoying." Apollo walked fast putting a smile and entering where everyone else was and saw his sister, Hermes and Aphrodite glaring at each other. He went to them. Poseidon was recovering form the shock that how easy it is for Apollo to look like a goofy person than a god of logic and reason. He wonder who will see thought those walls without breaking any. And followed Apollo when he saw them arguing. He was tried how many time are they going to argue.