After talking a bit more with Leo and Calypso - and finding out that they had somehow managed to destroy the dining pavilion as well as the Demeter cabin, which now topped my list to re-design - I walked with Percy back to the stables.
"Are you really ok with -"
"Calypso?" I thought about it. "I think so. I really don't think she actually intended to hurt me."
Percy gave me a lopsided grin. "Me either. I think you'll like her."
"I hope so."
"Oh, did you find your cousin?"
I thought about how to answer him. "Maybe." I decided. "I ran into him, but it was weird. I think he's a demigod."
Percy stopped and stared at me. "Seriously?"
I nodded.
"Is anyone not connected to this crazy world?" He stared at the sky, incredulous.
I rolled my eyes at him. "Lots of people. Just not our families, I guess."
"So is he coming to Camp, or?"
"I think he's on some kind of quest, probably for his dad." I explained, getting Blackjack ready to fly home. "He had a fake body double and everything. It was crazy." I pretended to be angry at Percy. "Someone seems to have given him the idea that showing up to his own funeral is the right way to tell me he isn't actually dead from a fiery explosion!"
Percy looked alarmed, then a grin spread over his face. "You're kidding."
I shook my head. "Full story when I can. But I've got a lot of work I've got to get done for school. Speaking of which -" I gave him a big, movie-worthy kiss. "That is for passing your geometry quiz."
He grinned at me. "With encouragement like that, I'm sure to graduate."
"You better." We kissed again before Blackjack took me back to my dorm where I could struggle with other monsters - physics and advanced British Literature.
The rest of the week was basically a blur. I told all my teachers that Magnus had died and we'd had his funeral. They all acted sympathetic and gave me extensions on assignments. I still had too much work to go to Camp Jupiter so Percy and I did virtual therapy. We'd have to do that occasionally, when school or monsters or whatever got in the way of our visits. It was never as good, but I was still grateful to get some more help. The only thing that was odd was that I wasn't able to access anyone I knew with Iris-messages. Reyna, Hazel, Piper - even when I called my mortal family nothing worked. It made me worried, but I hoped that Iris was just distracted with her ROFL co-op stuff and would get back to this as soon as she could.
Late on Friday night I got a call on my phone.
"Hey." Said the timid voice on the other end. "It's Magnus. I'm safe now."
I sighed in relief. "Thank the gods. When can we meet?"
"Soon." He promised. "I was wondering if maybe you could come with me somewhere, to help me."
"Definitely. Where?"
He laughed. "Don't you want to know what I'm asking first?"
I thought about the last year, when I'd gone to Rome, Greece, Tartarus and defeated goddesses, Giants, and a whole lot of spiders. "Nah. I'm here for you."
"Thanks." I could hear that his voice sounded choked up. "I, uh, got my mom's ashes. And I was wondering if you'd come spread them with me in the hills. That's what she wanted, and -"
"Definitely." I told him. "Tomorrow?"
"That'd be great."
"See you then."
The next morning I got to the Jacksons' place as early as I could. Unfortunately, it was too early - they were all still asleep. I got breakfast started, then went to wake Percy.
I kissed him on the lips. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty." I teased.
"Good morning, Jason." He replied drowsily. I smacked him lightly on the shoulder. He grinned at me, his eyes still closed. "Oh, is it not Jason? Is it someone even more beautiful?"
He pulled me down to the bed and kissed me properly. After a while I realized I was probably burning the food and ran back down the hall. Percy followed, grinning at me.
"Want to go to a movie tonight?" He asked. I shook my head and looked at him sheepishly. I didn't want to leave him again.
"Uh, my cousin called. He asked if I could meet him today, so I was hoping, I mean, if you're ok with it -"
He pulled me into his arms. "Do what you need to do, ok?"
"You're ok with me leaving?" I asked, uncertain.
He shook his head. "No. But from what you told me, he's in trouble. And we help people who are in trouble."
I sighed and leaned against him. "You're the best, you know that?"
He grinned at me, tilting my head up for another kiss. "I know. When will you be back?"
"Tomorrow, I hope."
"Good. Because I did not understand this book at all." He held up Hamlet. "Did you read it?" I grinned and nodded. "Thank the gods." He muttered. "Can you make it more interesting?"
Within hours, I was back in Boston. I wondered where I'd find Magnus when he stepped out of the crowd. He was wearing an olive shirt and a jean jacket. He did not look cold. I, however, was very cold. I was as bundled up as I could get. I gave him a hug that he returned.
"You're safe?" I asked him quietly, just to make sure.
He gave me a smile and nodded. "Yeah. I think so. Thanks for coming."
"I wouldn't miss it." I assured him. I desperately wanted to ask about what was going on, but considering that he was holding an urn with his mom's ashes, I decided now was not the time. We walked outside and Magnus got us an Uber to the Blue Hills. We talked about memories from when we were little - bits and pieces I remembered about his mom. Mostly, though, I let Magnus talk. I let him have space to remember her. He cried and seemed embarrassed about it. I wrapped an arm around him and held him, whispering that it was fine. I'd been there. There was nothing to be ashamed of.
We reached the hills and I let Magnus take the lead. He led us up one of the trails, clearly knowing where he was going. He told me memories of going camping with his mom here, skipping rocks and enjoying nature. We got to the top and enjoyed the view for a while.
"Ready?" I asked him softly. He looked at me and took a deep breath. Then he nodded and opened the urn.
"Hey, Mom. Uh, I wanted to let you know, that I…. I did what we agreed to do. Your ashes on the Blue Hills. It's….. A nice day. Annabeth's here." I smiled at that. "I miss you. I -" His voice broke. "Ok. Miss you doesn't really cover it. But I don't know what would. I love you."
He looked like he wanted to say more but decided against it. Carefully, he took the ashes out of the urn and tossed them into the wind. The breeze carried them down across the hills, into the trees. We stood there, watching the ashes settle into this place that Natalie loved so much.
"This is way better than the last memorial I attended." I said, looking out over the hills. Magnus turned to me with a quizzical look. "Yours." I reminded him with a smirk.
"Thanks for coming with me." Magnus said, looking out over the hills with a wistful, bittersweet smile.
"Glad to." I told him, just as quietly. "Your mom, from what I can remember, she was great."
"She would've liked the fact that you're here."
"They cremated you too, you know. I mean, that other body, whatever that was. Your ashes were placed in the family mausoleum. I didn't even know we had a family mausoleum."
Magnus shuddered. "Pretending I was dead couldn't have been easy for you."
"The service was harder on Randolph, I think. He seemed pretty shaken up, considering, you know -"
"That he never cared about me?"
"Or any of us." I agreed. "My dad, though, Magnus, he was difficult. He and I had a rocky history, but I'm trying to be honest with him now. I don't like hiding things."
"Sorry. I thought it was better if I didn't drag you into my problems. For the last few days I wasn't sure I was going to make it. Some dangerous things were happening. It had to do with my father's, um, side of the family."
"Magnus, I might understand more than you think I do." I informed him gently.
"I'm ok now." Magnus tried to assure me. "I'm staying with friends. It's a good place. But it's not the kind of arrangement most people would understand. Uncle Randolph can't know about it. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone, not even your dad."
"Hm. I don't suppose I get the details?"
"I just don't want to put you in danger. I kind of hoped you'd be my one connection to the regular world."
I looked at him for a long moment. I couldn't help it. I started to laugh - hard. "Wow. You have no idea how funny that is." I tried to catch my breath. It was hard to breathe in the mountain air. "Magnus, if you had any clue about how weird my life is -"
"Ok, but, being here, with you? This is the most normal I've felt in years. After all the crazy fighting between our parents, the stupid grudges and not speaking to each other, I was hoping we could make our generation of the family not so messed up."
That sobered me. "That kind of normal I like." I informed him with a smile. I held out a hand. "To us. The Chase cousins. Here's to being less messed up." He grinned and shook on it.
"Now spill." I commanded. "Tell me what's been going on. I promise I won't tell. I might even be able to help. I also promise that whatever's been going on with you, my life is weirder. It'll make yours look downright suburban."
Magnus took a minute to think about that. "How much do you want to bet?" He asked, a mischievous smirk on his face.
"Bring it on, cousin."
"Lunch?" He suggested. "I know a great falafel place."
"You've got a bet. Let's hear what you've been up to."
"Oh no. Your story's so amazing? You go first."