"Oh that part." Thalia said
Nico nodded.
"Most probably." He said
I don't recommend shadow travel…Going so fast you feel like your face is peeling off
"That's why it's awesome." Nico and Percy grinned and fist bumped
"You loved it." Thalia said
"You bet I did. Way better than flying." Percy smirked
Zeus grumbled and Hades smirked.
"No way." Jason said
"Come on superman. You've never tried it." Percy grinned
Jason chuckled.
In other words, I thought it was awesome.
Everybody snickered.
One minute I couldn't see anything…We were on a cliff in the woods of Connecticut.
"Now that's cool!" Travis said
"I wanna shadow travel." Connor whined
Nico rolled his eyes.
"Come on." He said
"Seriously?" The Stolls asked
Nico nodded and sighed.
The Stolls ran to Nico. Nico held their arms and shadow travelled to the dining hall and back to the throne room.
"THAT WAS EPIC!" They yelled
"I KNOW RIGHT!" Percy shouted and whooped
Nico snickered. Hades smirked.
"Dude I'm never using a plane again." Travis said
"Hold up. I'm not gonna transport you." Nico said
"Nor are you gonna use Mrs. O' Leary." Beckendorf said
The Stolls pouted.
At least, it looked like Connecticut from the few times I'd been there…A rusty old swing set stood under an apple tree.
Thalia and Annabeth shuddered. They had quite a weird experience there.
I couldn't imagine living in a house like this…I wondered why he'd ever wanted to leave.
Percy and Nico sighed. Thalia and Annabeth winced. Hermes grimaced. He really wanted to know why May wasn't able to host the spirit of the oracle. The only way he knew it was dangerous was because Apollo told him that nobody was able to host the spirit of the oracle.
Mrs. O'Leary staggered. I remembered what Nico had said…then turned in a circle and flopped down so hard the ground shook.
Everybody chuckled.
Nico appeared right next to me, as if the shadows had darkened and created him.
Nico smirked.
He stumbled, but I caught his arm…but I can't do it more than once or twice a night.
"Passed out for a week?" Persephone asked
Nico looked a little startled. Percy nudged him.
"Yeah, when I went to China. Did some shopping and stayed in a hotel." Nico chuckled
The Stolls and Leo pouted.
Mrs. O'Leary won't be going anywhere for a while"… dragons, hydras, even a teeny Minotaur in a little Minotaur diaper.
The demigods choked on air.
"Minotaur in a diaper?" Travis choked out
Percy nodded.
The demigods were trying their best not to laugh for Hermes' sake but they weren't very successful as a laugh would escape one or two demigods but Hermes appreciated the effort.
Judging from their sad shape, the beanbag creatures had been sitting out here a long time—since the snow melted last spring at least. One of the hydras had a tree sapling sprouting between its necks.
Katie and Demeter paled.
The front porch was infested with wind chimes…made me realize I needed to use the bathroom
Everybody snickered.
I didn't know how Ms. Castellan could stand all the noise…"Luke!" the old lady cried happily
The demigods stiffened.
"Those two don't look anything like Luke." Lee said
"Uh there…" Nico cleared his throat. "There was a slight problem."
"Uh okay then." Lee said, still very confused
She looked like someone who enjoyed sticking her fingers in electrical sockets.
The demigods winced.
"That hurts." Connor said
"What kind of dares do you have?" Frank asked
"Nothing dangerous." Travis said
"You don't count that dangerous?" Frank asked
"It was an accident not a joke." Connor said
"Oh okay." Frank said
Her white hair stuck out in tufts all over her head…high-voltage light in her eyes made me wonder if she was blind.
Hermes sighed.
"No I don't think she's blind…" Pollux frowned
"It might come up later on guys." Percy told everybody
They nodded.
"Oh, my dear boy!" She hugged Nico…when she smiled at me and said, "Luke!"
"What the-?" Chris muttered
"She thought both of you were Luke. So that's two Lukes and none of you look like him?" Castor clarified
Percy nodded.
"Yeah" He said.
She forgot all about Nico and gave me a hug…Above the mantel, a little bronze Hermes flew around the second hand of a ticking clock.
Hermes gave a small smile.
I tried to imagine the god of messengers ever falling in love with this old woman, but the idea was too bizarre.
Hermes frowned.
"She wasn't always like that." He said
"I know now. Meeting her can be…intimidating if you don't know what happened." Percy said
Hermes sighed and nodded.
Then I noticed the framed picture on the mantel, and I froze…How could Rachel have known about that picture?
"Super oracle powers." Rachel smirked and winked
Everybody chuckled.
"Got it wielder of the mighty blue hairbrush." Percy got on his knees and bowed
Everybody burst out laughing.
"I like it." Rachel smirked
The sea gang and the others chuckled at Percy's antics.
"This way, my dear!" Ms. Castellan steered me toward the back of the house. "Oh, I told them you would come back. I knew it!"
The demigods and Hermes flinched.
She sat us down at the kitchen table…peanut butter and jelly sandwiches inside.
"Peanut butter!" Tyson grinned
"Yeah big guy, we'll make you a sandwich later." Percy grinned
Tyson brightened up.
Poseidon chuckled.
"Me too." Triton pouted
"You're more of a Nutella guy." Percy said
"That I am." Triton smiled
"So a Nutella sandwich for you." Percy said
"Yes dad I'll make a peanut butter and jelly for you too." Percy added
Poseidon closed his mouth and grinned.
"I am so proud." He said, putting a hand on his chest
Percy chuckled.
The ones on the bottom were green and fuzzy…reminded me of my sixth grade locker—and that's not a good thing.
The demigods gagged.
Silena, Aphrodite and Leo looked close to being sick.
On top of the oven was a stack of cookie sheets…In the sink was a mountain of empty plastic Kool-Aid pitchers.
"Kool aid." Dakota smiled
Dionysus chuckled.
A beanbag Medusa sat by the faucet like she was guarding the mess.
"Is she…insane?" Dionysus asked suddenly
"Not exactly." Percy said
Dionysus sighed. He knew there was no point in asking the demigod what he meant because he said it might come up in the books.
Ms. Castellan started humming as she got out peanut butter and jelly…pictures of the caduceus from medical ads.
Hermes smiled sadly.
Apollo looked at his brother sympathetically.
My heart sank. I wanted to get out of that room…"Third grade. That's too young to run away!
The demigods winced.
"It is way too young." Hermes said sadly
He said he'd be back for lunch. And I waited…. "Why, Luke, there you are!
The demigods grimaced. They were getting a hint as to why Luke ran away from home.
You look so handsome. You have your father's eyes."
"Um thanks I guess. I mean she was right about that." Percy said uncertainly.
"That's true. Your eye color is from me." Poseidon said
Percy nodded.
She turned toward the pictures of Hermes above the sink. "Now there's a good man. Yes, indeed. He comes to visit me, you know."
"You visit her?" Ares asked. He wasn't sneering or trying to taunt his brother. He was just curious
Hermes nodded miserably.
"Is there a way to fix her?" Nico asked
"I need to know what the matter is first." Dionysus said
Hermes looked up, maybe just maybe there might be a way to fix May.
"Well you're gonna find out either way." Percy sighed
The clock kept ticking in the other room…able to see through the… whatever-they-call-it."
Rachel's eyes widened.
"She tried to host the spirit of the oracle?" she asked
Hermes nodded.
"Do you know why she wasn't able to?" he asked
Rachel shook her head.
"I have no idea. We're gonna have to wait." She said
Hermes nodded and sighed.
"The Mist?" I said. "Yes, dear." She nodded encouragingly…He said it was too dangerous.
Hermes looked down.
"How did you know it was dangerous without knowing the reason?" Persephone asked
"Apollo told me it was dangerous and nobody was able to host the spirit. He didn't tell me the reason, said it was kind of personal but it wasn't about him." Hermes said miserably
Apollo sighed. He got up and put a hand on his brother's shoulders.
But I had to. It was my destiny! ... Dozen lumps of chocolate chip charcoal on the table.
Thalia and Annabeth winced.
"Luke was so kind," Mrs. Castellan murmured…He said if he went away, the monsters wouldn't threaten me.
The demigods flinched. They knew at least that much that it wasn't the reason for Luke running away.
But I told him the monsters are no threat! … I knew you weren't ashamed of me!"
The demigods didn't know whether they should agree with Luke about running away as this was very bizarre or feel bad for May.
I shifted in my seat. I imagined being Luke sitting at this table, eight or nine years old, and just beginning to realize that my mother wasn't all there.
"That would be a very scarring experience." Katie said
"It most probably was. I felt quite awkward myself." Percy said
"What about you Nico?" Rachel asked
"It was weird but I'm kind of used to it now. The first time you meet her is the weirdest but once you realize what the problem is you get new sympathy for her. You get to know her better as well. I had been giving small visits to her since the second war but then the evil king stuff happened but I've started going again. The old lady seems quite happy though I have to eat a lot of burnt cookies." Nico said
Everybody looked at him.
"You-you visit her?" Hermes asked
"Sometimes, yes." Nico said
"Thank you so much." Hermes said with watery eyes
"It's no problem at all." Nico smiled
"That's really nice of you Nico. I don't know how I can forget this kind of stuff. I even forgot to visit Bob. Would you mind if I come along the next time?" Percy asked
"It's not a problem. I'll take you the next time. Will wanted to go as well." Nico said
Will nodded.
"We-we'll come along as well." The Stolls and Chris swallowed
"We could take turns. We don't want to overwhelm her." Will said
"That's good." They said
"Maybe Mr.D and one or two gods could even heal her?" Percy asked
"Maybe." Nico agreed
Hermes gave them all grateful looks. Hades and Hazel looked proud of Nico. The sea gang of Percy.
"Ms. Castellan," I said. "Mom," she corrected…. A scar. A terrible scar, and his voice so full of pain…"
Annabeth and Thalia grimaced.
"That's odd. She was able to tell that Luke was actually Luke and she knew how he looked but she still thought you were Luke?" Dakota asked
"Yeah. She thinks all demigods are Luke. She thinks I'm Luke as well. I tried to call her Mrs. Castellan but she insisted to call her mom. It's weird but sometimes compromises are necessary." Nico shrugged
The demigods and a few gods smiled.
"Nico's as deep as Jason." Percy teased
Jason grinned.
"As Jason maybe but not as much as you." Nico admitted
"Hmm." Percy grinned
"His eyes," I said. "Were they gold?"… I gave it to him. Of course I did."
"He bathed in the river Styx." Hades said
Percy and Nico nodded.
Nico looked at me triumphantly. "Thank you, ma'am…almost fell over the kitchen table, because her eyes—her eyes were glowing green.
The demigods froze.
"Oracle eyes." Rachel said
"That's frightening. Why is it happening to her?" Chris asked
"Same reason as why she couldn't host the spirit." Percy said
Hades grimaced though he was careful to not let anybody notice.
"My child," she rasped in a much deeper voice…Nico made a strangled scream and pushed her away.
"That was very scary and creepy. Now it's better though." Nico said
"No wonder Luke ran away. If he had to go through that for years, he would've been really scared of it. His mom going weird and talking about his fate." Pollux shook his head
"It would freak a nine year old pretty good." Jason agreed
He gripped the hilt of his sword. "Percy, we need to get out—"…I managed to get her into a chair.
"Thank you." Hermes said
"It's fine." Percy waved it away with a smile.
"Ms. C?" I asked. She muttered something incomprehensible…but the way her voice had changed, the way she'd grabbed Nico…
The demigods shuddered. They were all in the age of 14-19. The story scared them. They thought about how scary it would've been for Luke who was just nine at the time.
"Hermes will be here soon," she promised…Promise me you'll be safe." "I will…Mom."
"She'll like that." Hermes smiled
"Yeah." Percy said
That made her smile. She released my wrist…beanbag animals on the sidewalk seemed to grin at us as we passed.
"That's creepy." Travis said
The demigods nodded.
"Grinning monsters." Clarisse shook her head
Back at the cliff, Mrs. O'Leary had found a friend…scarf over her head so she looked like a pioneer kid
"Hestia?" Zeus asked
Hestia smiled.
"Yes." She said
Like the ghost of Little House on the Prairie or something.
Hestia chuckled.
Percy grinned sheepishly.
She poked the fire with a stick, and it seemed to glow…typically a good time to draw your sword and attack.
"How dare you?" Zeus asked angrily
"Calm down brother. The demigods can't trust people who act nice in the woods especially. You've seen them getting trapped because of that." Hestia said sadly
Zeus sat back.
"Sorry Aunt Hestia." Percy said
"There's no problem at all Percy." Hestia smiled
Percy smiled.
Plus, the encounter with Ms. Castellan had rattled me pretty bad.
The demigods nodded.
But Nico bowed to the little girl. "Hello again, Lady."
"Hello Nico." Hestia said
Nico chuckled and grinned.
She studied me with eyes as red as the firelight. I decided it was safest to bow.
"Good choice." Annabeth said
Everybody nodded.
After staring at moldy peanut butter sandwiches and burned cookies, I didn't have much of an appetite, but the girl waved her hand and a picnic appeared at the edge of the fire.
"Yeah it ruined my appetite too." Thalia nodded
"If it ruins Thalia and Percy's appetite then it must not be looking good." Castor said
"No it wasn't." Nico said
There were plates of roast beef, baked potatoes, buttered carrots, fresh bread, and a whole bunch of other foods I hadn't had in a long time.
The demigods' stomachs rumbled in unison.
They turned red and grinned sheepishly.
The gods chuckled.
Hestia conjured some tacos and burgers for everybody.
They all thanked her and grabbed one taco and two burgers.
It was the kind of home-cooked meal people are supposed to have but never do.
Hestia sighed.
The girl made a five-foot-long dog biscuit appear for Mrs. O'Leary…the way we do at camp. "For the gods," I said.
The better gods smiled.
Poseidon ruffled Percy's hair. Percy smiled.
The little girl smiled. "Thank you. As tender of the flame…"You did not stop to talk," the girl recalled sadly.
Percy flinched.
"I'm really sorry Aunt Hestia. I should've stopped." He said guiltily
Hestia chuckled.
"There is no need to apologize at all. You were on a tour and you noticed me. Most don't notice me itself." She said
Percy smiled.
"Alas, most never do. Nico talked to me. He was the first in many years.
Nico smiled at Hestia who returned it. Hades looked proud.
Everyone rushes about. No time for visiting family."… I'd learned that gods could look any way they pleased.
"Artemis?" Zoe asked
"Artemis." Percy clarified.
Artemis smirked.
"My lady," Nico asked, "why aren't you with the other Olympians…Hestia's eyes were warm and cozy.
Hestia smiled.
"Besides," she said, "someone has to keep the home fires burning…you are welcome to visit. Now eat."
"Did you allow demigods to visit whenever they want?" Zeus asked in a little exasperation
Hestia smiled innocently.
The demigods snickered and chuckled.
My plate was empty before I knew it. Nico scarfed his down just as fast.
"The three of you are definitely related." Jason and Hazel chuckled at Thalia, Nico and Percy
Thalia, Nico and Percy grinned and did a group fist bump. Though it wasn't a normal one. Thalia's fists were crackling with electricity, Nico's were surrounded by shadows and Percy's had some water rotating on his fists. It wasn't just a fist bump. It was a symbol of connection between the three.
The gods noticed this. Poseidon and Hades smiled. Zeus' eyes widened. The other good ones smiled.
"This is a demigod fist bump." Percy explained
"The three of us invented it but now all of the demigods do it together at times." Thalia said
The gods smiled and nodded.
"That was great," I said. "Thank you, Hestia."… For a brief time, she was happy. And then she went too far."
Hermes looked down.
I remembered what Mrs. Castellan had said…If you are to understand your enemy Luke, you must understand his family."
The gods nodded.
I thought about the sad little pictures of Hermes…Hermes shouldn't have abandoned them."
A few tears welled up in Hermes' eyes.
"I'm sorry Hermes. You didn't abandon them. I didn't know." Percy winced
Hermes waved him away with a watery smile.
Hestia scratched behind Mrs. O'Leary's ears. The hellhound wagged her tail and accidentally knocked over a tree.
Everybody chuckled.
"It's easy to judge others," Hestia warned…master is the power of yielding. Do you believe me?"
The demigods nodded.
"Thirst for power isn't right. Like Thanos. He went lengths to get power. That's wrong." Percy said
Hestia nodded
The sea gang smiled.
"Uh-huh," I said. Anything to keep her from messing with her flame powers again.
Everybody laughed.
Hestia chuckled at Percy.
The goddess smiled. "You are a good hero, Percy Jackson. Not too proud.
"Exactly." The demigods chorused
Percy blushed and smiled.
I like that. But you have much to learn…"It was the best solution, not a perfect one.
The gods nodded. Dionysus refrained.
Now I tend the fire. I fade slowly into the background.
The demigods and a few gods froze.
"Never." The demigods said
"We'll never let that happen." Nico said
"They're right." Hades said
The gods nodded.
Hestia smiled.
No one will ever write epic poems about the deeds of Hestia.
"Hmm. That's the task for the Apollo cabin then. I'll give a message to Austin." Will said
Hestia smiled at him.
"It's not needed." She told him
Will grinned.
"To us it is." He said
Hestia chuckled.
Apollo, Lee and Michael looked proud of him.
"Little bro is all grown up." Lee said
Will chuckled.
Most demigods don't even stop to talk to me.
"Who's up for a pact?" Thalia asked
"What about?" Leo asked
"Honoring Hestia as much the other gods. Stopping at the hearth. Writing poems and a kind of diary? Percy and Nico are going to add the cabin as well." Thalia said
The demigods agreed at once.
They all walked to the center and put their hands like people do before shows and sports teams before the big event.
"Pact's been made." Percy grinned
Hestia was a little teary eyed.
The gods smiled proudly at their kids.
"We'll make sure about Camp Jupiter." Frank and Hazel said
Ares and Hades grinned.
I keep the peace. I yield when necessary…I didn't like the way she said final
"Sorry Percy." Hestia said sheepishly
"It's fine." Percy said
I looked at Nico, then back at Hestia's warm glowing eyes…though our next meeting would not be happy.
"Not as much as this." Percy said
"Oh we remember." Annabeth and Grover said
Percy grinned sheepishly.
The goddess waved her hand, and everything faded…"Who put this wall of fur in the doorway?"
Everybody laughed.
"Wall of fur." Beckendorf snickered
"Percy?" my mom called out. "Are you here? … Circle to find my mom, knocking all the pictures off the walls.
Everybody chuckled.
She's only met my mom once before (long story), but she loves her.
"To be honest, who doesn't love Sally?" Annabeth asked
"We all do love her. So nobody doesn't love her. I didn't mean nobody in Annabeth's sense." Nico said and added the last part quickly
Everybody chuckled.
It took a few minutes, but we finally got things worked out…where we sat around the kitchen table
"Maybe I should've teleported Mrs. O' Leary outside." Hestia said
Everybody chuckled.
Mrs. O'Leary still took up the entire living room…his salt-and pepper hair was sticking up in every direction.
Everybody snickered.
"Poor Paul." Rachel laughed
Percy grinned.
"All the talk about monsters, and being a demigod…it's really true."… I mean, when I saw the hoofprints on the Prius, I thought maybe. But this!"
The demigods laughed.
"Paul's great!" The Stolls yelled
Percy laughed.
The sea gang chuckled.
"He's not scared." Artemis said
He patted Mrs. O'Leary's snout…breaking down the door or Mrs. O'Leary was wagging her tail.
Everybody burst out laughing.
"I think the neighbors would've thought that the SWAT team showed up." Beckendorf said
Percy nodded.
I couldn't help but smile. Paul was a pretty cool guy…"I just think it's awesome!"
Everybody chuckled.
"You have the best teachers man. Chiron and Paul." Travis said
"And Mrs. Dodds. A monster who tried to kill me. Let's not go there." Percy said
"Oh… yeah." Travis said sheepishly.
"Yeah, well," I said, "you may not be so excited…because the circles under her eyes were darker than usual.
"At least she was writing her book." Annabeth said
Percy nodded happily.
Behind her at the kitchen window, silvery moon lace glowed…because it reminded me of lost friends.
Everybody sighed.
My mom took a deep breath, like she was thinking how to tell me no…"We'll all die," Nico said
"Yes. If Percy does it then he might die but if he doesn't do it then we'll all die." Connor chuckled
"Hey it was true." Nico said
He hadn't touched his lemonade…She had to be willing to let her son take the risk."
"Well explained." Hazel said
Nico smiled.
"You want me to bless this?" She shook her head…about the soul reaping and the end of my days.
"Yeah even though that's not really true but the prophecy would freak her out." Thalia said
"Yeah she might not give me the blessing then." Percy said
She didn't need to know that I was probably doomed…I was asking her blessing to do something that would probably get me killed.
Poseidon smiled, glad his son understood that.
Nico and Annabeth swallowed. Annabeth had fixed her relationship luckily.
Nico's eyes flickered to Persephone for one second. When he looked back, he caught Percy smiling at him.
"Thanks Perce." Nico muttered to Percy
"No problem cuz." Percy grinned
I locked eyes with Paul, and some kind of understanding passed…I didn't get compliments like that too much.
Percy smiled.
"Paul's a good guy." Poseidon grinned
Percy nodded.
"He's right." Triton said
Percy smiled at Triton.
My mom stared at her lemonade…I figured maybe my mom was finding that out.
Hestia nodded.
"Well I figured it out then." Percy said
"Yes." Hestia said
"Percy," she said, "I give you my blessing."… And his father jumped off the palace roof in despair
"Really Nico?" Will chuckled
"Hey it's what happened." Nico said
But other than that, it was a great idea."
Everybody snickered and chuckled.
"The guy jumping off the roof isn't funny but the time Nico chose to tell this is." Chris said
Nico shrugged.
"What about a flag or a flare?" my mom said…And I'll try to avoid jumping off palace roofs."
Percy sighed in relief and chuckled.
The demigods chuckled.
"I remember, you did keep it." Nico said
"Of course." Percy grinned
She gave me one last hug. I tried not to feel like I was saying good-bye…She whimpered and crossed her paws over her snout.
Everybody snickered.
"Where now?" I asked Nico…"There's a closer entrance to the Underworld."
"Done." Amphitrite said
"I'll read." Clarisse said
Amphitrite gave her the book.