No replies to reviews because my reviews aren't showing! Which is annoying but there's nothing I can do so you have to wait I guess, and so do I, because I really want to see what you guys are thinking.
Anyways, have a cute chapter. And in next chapter we get a meeting!
Also, update, the minific is four chapters in and I'm having a ball- so much happy stuff in it right now.
Percy was very willing to admit that the surprise weekend trip had been pretty awesome- Sally had taken the five siblings to Greece for the weekend- and it was amazing- sure it wasn't as long a stay as Percy might have liked but still, they got to visit some of the ruins- and Percy thoroughly enjoyed getting to test her language skills- Carter and Sadie had watched in bemused awe as Percy had won over half of the grandmas in Mykonos- mostly because of her extremely obvious enthusiasm for the history of their island- they were very happy to tell her all about it's past in the ancient mythology- how it was where the Gods had defeated the Titans- and where Hercules had helped them slay the Giants- and she'd very much enjoyed hearing the tales- and she'd spent hours climbing over the rocks scattered around the island which were supposedly the remains of the giants.
She wasn't sure of course- if the stories were accurate- if it really was where the great battles had been won but- well, it was still fun to imagine for the little girl.
Sadie had lamented the fact that her sister was 'turning into a nerd' at which point Percy had summoned up a wave and gotten Sadie drenched- after all it was only fair- Sadie should know better than to tease her whilst on a beach.
And it helped that the weather was amazing too of course.
It was on the last day in Greece- late on the Sunday evening- they'd be returning to Brooklyn House in time for them to go to bed ready for school the next day.
Percy was sat on the beach, staring out at the sea when her mom joined her, sitting down on the sand next to her.
"Hey honey."
"Mom." Percy automatically leaned into her moms side, resting her head on her mothers shoulder. "Where's the twins."
"Carter and Sadie are looking after them and packing up our things." Sally told her gently, "So, you enjoyed yourself."
"Yeah." Percy nodded, "Mom..." she hesitated, biting her lip. "Do you think I'll ever meet the Greek Gods too?"
"I don't know." Sally said after a long moment, "The amulets hide you- even here in their city- on one of their islands, I don't think they could sense you."
Percy's hand shifted, fingers brushing over the amulets around her neck- after some consideration she'd threaded them so that there were only two actual necklaces- they'd kept getting tangled. "I think." Percy said after a long moment, "That I don't want to meet them yet." she twisted her head so that she could look up at her mom, "Maybe someday but I think maybe some peace could be kinda nice. And as much as I love learning about my dads history- I think it'd be kinda crazy if I met them all now. And- I'm tired." she admitted. "Fighting Apophis was scary mom. And- I mean, let's face it two end of the worlds in one lifetime probably won't happen but gods always lead to crazy. And I want normal crazy."
"Oh sweetie." Sally laughed gently, "My baby- it's your choice. You could waltz right up to Olympus right now and tell them about yourself if you wanted to- I wouldn't recommend it but it's your choice. If you want to stay away from the Greeks then that's just fine."
"Do you-" Percy hesitated, "Do you think he'd be proud?"
"Yes." Sally didn't even hesitate. "Honey you are ten years old and you helped save the world. If he knew then he'd be so proud."
"Do-" Percy hesitated, "What do you think he thinks happened to me?"
"I don't know." Sally admitted, "I have wondered over the years. I think-" she stared out at the sea, "I think it doesn't matter- he's bound to know that you're out there somewhere, hidden away. And the better you're hidden the safer- he always made that very clear to me. He told me your uncles wouldn't like you."
"Then they're stinky." Percy declared- and Sally laughed softly, pressing her lips to the top of Percy's head.
"Yes, very stinky- you know Shelby's started copying you with that honey. Does everything have to be stinky-"
"I just say it as it is mom." Percy gave a slight grin, "And stinky is a great word. I like it."
"Believe me I know you do." Sally laughed fondly, "I'm going to head back into the hotel, make sure Carter and Sadie
are okay with the twins. I'll send Carter out when it's time to head home."
"Okay mom." Percy watched as her mom pushed herself to her feet and headed back across the beach, before she swung her gaze back to the beach- it was starting to get dark- Percy kind of liked that- the sea looked so dark- restless and powerful- she felt the temptation to dive into the water- to swim and never stop.
Which- okay swimming and never stopping wasn't an option but it wouldn't hurt to get her feet wet.
She quickly tugged off her shoes- strappy sandals- since she was wearing a pale blue Grecian style dress that came to her knees they'd seemed pretty fitting, and she tied them to the braided leather belt of her dress before walking across the sandy beach- and she'd always loved the feeling of sand beneath her feet.
And then she reached the surf and cool water was trickling over her feet.
Percy closed her eyes, letting herself just feel it- the slight breeze blowing her hair out of her face- and she'd taken to keeping it loose now, she wasn't ashamed of it any more like she had been. The only time she tied it back was when she was training and fighting- when it might get in the way.
She waded further out, until the water was just below her knees, the ebb and flow of the waves getting the hem of her dress wet- she could just not let it get wet of course, if she wanted to- but... that wouldn't feel right she decided, not now.
She wasn't sure how long she spent stood there, staring across the glistening water that reflected the light of the moon and the stars- and she did tilt her head up to stare at the night sky- it was beautiful, without all the light pollution from the city.
Then she sighed to herself before she turned to head back to the shore- but when she did she felt something brushing
against her foot- and she leaned down, slipping her hand into the water and picking it up.
It was too dark to see clearly but Percy could feel that it was a shell.
It was heavier than Percy might have expected- some kind of conch shell- she could feel the spiralled ridges, the way they led up to the pointy end.
She turned it over in her hands.
Then she tilted her head, focusing and murmuring softly under her breath- and sure enough a soft glowing ball of light appeared in the air maybe a foot away from her, and she could see the shell better- a Queen Conch- it was a beautiful mix of browns, whites and pinks.
And- well- there was no reason she couldn't take it how was there? It would be nice for her to keep it, to remember the trip.
And- well, she could come back, it would be fun.
"Percy!"
The call came from further up the beach on the shore, and Percy turned her head, grinning when she saw a figure that could only be Carter- though in the dark she couldn't make out his features or anything. She waved eagerly, quickly splashing through the water and making her way back onto the dry sand- willing herself dry as she did- still clutching the shell when she reached her big brother, the soft light bobbing along beside her.
"Time to go home?" she tried to keep the note of sadness out of her voice- and Carter gave her a small smile.
"'Fraid so- what's that?"
"A seashell." Percy couldn't help but grin as she held it up so that Carter could see. "It's pretty right?"
"It is." Carter agreed after a moment, holding out his hand for her.
And Percy grabbed his hand tightly, "I'm gonna take it home- to remind me of the trip." her voice was soft, and Carter smiled as together they started making their way up the beach.
"That sounds like a good idea." Carter nodded, "We'll come back again you know- mom told me that while she wants us to have a more settled life with school and things she still thinks it's important for us to see the world- and it'll be nice for Sadie too- getting to travel without it being because we have no real choice and we're trying to save the world. Apparently Desjardin's has said we're welcome to visit the Fourteenth Nome whenever we'd like-"
"I mean, technically you can do wherever you want." Percy giggled, "Mr Pharaoh."
"Oh shut up." Carter nudged her sideways slightly at that before, "Actually- that is a weird thought. If I'm the Pharaoh that sort of makes you and Sadie Princesses- and mom's like- the Queen mother or something- and Estelle and Alexander would be a princess and a prince too."
"Wait-" Percy blinked, "Are you telling me that I can actually turn around and say that I'm a royal bitch and mean it?"
"Uh- aside from the fact that mom will tell you off if she hears you saying words like that- yeah. Basically." Carter laughed, "Technically speaking you are a princess." he paused, "Sadie can never find out."
"Oh gods." Percy grinned, "That would be pretty funny- she'll pull rank every chance she gets."
And they were still laughing- more giggling in Percy's case, when they got back to the hotel room.
Sadie raised an eyebrow at them, crossing her arms over her chest, an almost disapproving look on her face- which Percy knew was very much faked- Sadie was not the type to disapprove of mischief.
"And what exactly is so funny?" she demanded in a fake imperious voice.
"Hmmm." Carter tapped his chin with index finger, "I don't think I'll tell you. You'd just complain about Percy and I being mega nerds."
"I-" Sadie paused, "Oh come on you two are mega nerds- you get excited over history!"
"My history-"
"Yeah, and Egyptian history is my history- you don't see me being all nerdy and asking old ladies for stories."
"Hey- don't be mean about the grannies." Percy laughed, "They love me-"
"You're probably the first person to show any interest in them in a bajillion years, they're like ancient!" Sadie declared, shaking her head, "You're totally bonkers."
"That's one of the best things about me." Percy declared proudly. "The best of us have a few screws loose."
"Yeah yeah." Sadie laughed, "C'mon. Mom's waiting with the twins. Time to leave sunshine and beaches for early mornings and school classes."