The Search for the Lost Mousai

Chapter One

"Find them,"

A voice echoed through Percy Jackson's mind as he tossed and turned in his bed.

In his dream, Percy smiled as she swims in the sea. The feel of the cool sea air tickling across his skin and dancing through his hair caused his smile to grow even more. He laughed as he grabs the fin of a dolphin as they sped through the sea. It was long before he was greeted by other dolphins swimming beside them. He even spotted a massive whale, too. After a felt like hours, he let go of the find and dived to the sea floor. He was welcomed by schools of fish swirled around him as jellyfish and octopus swam by.

He felt at peace sometime Percy hadn't felt for a long time. But that was interrupted by the voice from before that rang even louder in his mind.

"Find them"

Looking toward where he heard the voice, a ball of light steadily approached him. Stopping a few inches away, the light melted away the ocean until the light ball and Percy were standing in a room with white walls all around them. The smell of the sea had been replaced with a nice warm scent of vanilla, not the kind from perfume bottles or ice cream, but that of candles burning. It was soothing while he was confused about where he was. He didn't feel threaten or scared.

Percy was no longer in his swimming trunks but his pale blue night shirt with matching pants.

"Find who?" Percy finally asked the ball of light.

Silhouettes of eight women appeared across the wall in front of them, with symbols above their heads.

"The muses of arts and science," the light replied.

"Wow, Percy said, taken aback. "Okay, but I thought there were nine muses."

Within moments, the image of ninth mused formed in front of Percy. It morphed into a pale woman with long black hair and jasmine green eyes wearing a black shirt with matching color jeans down to her shoes.

"This is Melpomene, the muse of tragedy," the light said. "She is currently on the run. Find her, for she will lead you to the others.

Sighing, Percy backed away from the image and shook his head. He wasn't sure what to make of all of this.

"Hold on…." Percy stammered. "I don't even know who or what you are?"

The ball of light grew silent. Percy's eyes widen as the light grew brighter and when it settled, there stood a woman with light brown skin, dark brown hair and jade green eyes. Percy quickly looked away, but he noticed the long sliver dress she wore almost touch the ground. Seeing the young man's shyness caused her to chuckle.

"My name is Mnemosyne. I'm their mother." The woman said.

"I'm sorry I didn't know." Percy said, looking back at her.

"That's okay and yes, I should have kept a better eye on them. But Zeus loves to spoil them rotten.

Percy suddenly remembers a bit of history class he had a couple of weeks ago. The teacher said Zeus messed around and one woman he messed with was Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. They had slept together for nine nights and hence the muses were born. And now here she was asking for his help to save her daughters. Percy sighed, but then a question entered his mind.

"He doesn't know, does he?"

Mnemosyne's eyes widen when she realized who Percy was referring to.

"No," she quickly said, "I hope to keep it that way."

Sighing loudly, Percy scratched his head. Knowing Zeus, if he caught wind of his missing daughters, not even planes could fly heck, he could see torrential down pours as lighting bolts struck builds and who knowns what. For a man that loved messing around with women, Percy found out Zeus was always serious with looking after his kids.

"Alright, I'll do it, but where do I start?"

"I mailed you the information, but make sure you are ready when you open the letter."

A loud chime echoed through the walls as they slowly faded away.

"Morning has come. We will talk again soon."

Percy merely nodded as everything included him disappeared.

Opening his eyes, Percy sat up in his bed, looking outside his window. A clear blue sky welcomed him, along with the sunlight peeking through the blinds.

Glancing over at the clock on his end table, it read 9:30AM.

"Well, at least it's not 7AM." Percy said before letting out a yawn.

Togging off his cover, Percy stood up, pulling the blinds up, sighing as he continued staring at the clear blue sky. He had planned to enjoy his summer with his mom and new boyfriend. He tried to have that two years ago but ended up saving the world from the threat of a dark god. Now here he was again. They had planned on visiting the museum and having dinner at a and maybe walk along the boardwalk in New Jersey. Yet here he was again, another summer lost to helping another god.

"Why can't I just have a normal summer?"

Sighing loudly, Percy pulled on his jeans, shirt, and a jacket. Slipping his feet into his shoes, he grabs his cell before leaving his room.

Time to get to work

Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Melpomene remained huddled in the corner of the living room closet. It was foolish to stay here. She should have burst out of the closet and run, but where would she go? She thought about trying to contact father or mother, but only Euterpe knew how to do that and besides, would they even respond?

That's when the voice spoke to her, calming her mind and helping her focus. It told her to stay put and that she would find help.

"Help is coming"

Mel smiled to hear those words warmed her heart. Unsure if the voice could see her, she closed her eyes.

"Thank you," Mel whispered as she snuggled closer against the wall as she waited for help to arrive.

Meanwhile, back in New York, Percy walked down the hall into the living room where his mom greeted him with a smile along with a brown backpack in one hand and a pale white envelope in the other.

"Ah, you know then," Percy said.

"When a letter magically appears on an end table, it's hard not to miss it." Sally said.

Percy smiled. "Sorry about this. I know I promised to spend time with you and Paul. Salley smiled as she pat Percy on the head.

"It's okay, there will be other summers." Sally said, followed by a smile.

"Thanks for understanding," Percy said.

"Anytime," Sally said, handing Percy his backpack and envelope.

Slipping his backpack over his shoulder, Percy took a deep breath and opened the envelope. A white light circle around Percy and within moments, he disappeared.

"Help is close now."

The voice whispered to Melpomene.

Opening her eyes, Mel looked around. She was glad to hear that from the voice. The more she thought about it the voice sounded so familiar. Soon, a word left her lips before she could stop herself.

"Mother?" Mel asked in a low voice.

"Yes, my child, it is I,"

Tears spring to her eyes. Mother hasn't spoken to them in such a long time, but she was glad to hear her voice.

"May I ask who is helping me?"

"His name is Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon"

"I've heard about him," Mel whispered.

"Then you know you're in safe hands,"

"Should I leave the closet to meet him?"

"No, for there is something or someone still close by, and it's not Percy."

"Mel's ears twitched as the sound of footsteps Mel to hug herself even closer to the wall. Closing her eyes, she hopped Percy would get to her soon.

Percy opened his eyes. His stomach felt a little dizzy as his eyes focus. Blinking his eyes a few times, Percy looked upon a large house with front filled with dried up flowers, yellow straw like grass, and a smell that caused him to gag.

"Wow," is all that left Percy's lips as he walked toward the entrance.

From the mixture of glass of broken pieces of the door that lead inside caused Percy to pull out his pen. But it was the odor he smelled before that caused him to worry, for it was getting stronger.

Entering the living room, so much debris welcomed Percy from shattered vases, glass, bits of pieces of paper, a sofa sliced in half to turned over end tables and multiple broken picture frames along with much more.

Looking around some more, he could tell most of the struggle happen here. That's when he noticed a small indentation in the carpet from the entrance to the closet door. The moment he took a step in that direction, the constant odor he'd been smelling was nauseating as a crackling sound reached his ears.

Clicking the top of his pen, he spun around, deflecting a dagger as a man charged towards him with a sword. The weapons touched as a power struggle began. Percy gave way resulting in him slamming him up against the closet door.

Staring into the gold and white eyes of the man pushing the swords toward his throat, Percy's eyes gave off a flicker as he pushed him back. Smacking him with his head. Percy kicked him in the chest. The man stumbled backwards, flipping over a piece of the sofa.

Backing up so his back touched the closet, Percy knocked on the door three times.

"Listen, my name is Percy. Your mother sent me. Looks like I wasn't the only thing looking for you." Percy paused. "Stay put. I'll be right back. Knock if you understand.

After a moment, Percy heard a knock. Nodding, Percy moved from the closet by this time the man jump up screeching. The rags wrapped around his body loosen hovering in the air. They twisted and turn forming into the shape of daggers.

Moving his head from left to right, Percy's grip on his sword tighten.

"Come on, then…. let's do this."