Chapter 8: Destinies

Annabeth

She slapped me...

I might have pulled off a brave face for Percy's sake, but deep inside, everything in my head was screaming for me to have a breakdown. It would have happened too if Sally didn't intervene and if Percy didn't try to comfort me.

I hated that I pulled away when I was that vulnerable…

But at least I was reassured by the people who grew to love me in such a short time. As for the one person who's been in my life since the beginning, I couldn't even begin to imagine how to react.

"ΜΕΤΑΦΟΡΑ."

There wasn't a chance for me to resolve what happened because her words suddenly made the world disappear. There was nothing but an inconceivable brightness swallowing us whole. I had to shut my eyes. It was bright enough to hurt. I squeezed Percy's hand tightly, the sensation of his warm palm and fingers told me he was with me through all of it.

"W-What's going on…?"

Clack… Clack… Clink!

It came from below. I took a peek at the ground below and saw something like an antique grandfather clock appearing in gold and out of nowhere, complex gears were shifting and turning underneath our feet. The distinct feature of the gravel pavement suddenly faded away. It wasn't what I was expecting, but that's the least of that strange sensation.

Whatever it was that my mother did, I couldn't- everything just seemed off… I couldn't feel like I normally could. Everything grew a little unreal… Everything felt disconnected…

I shut my eyes again. My rumpled-up sleep gown flew against some impossible force and my hair started flowing too. It felt like gravity had turned upside down.

Not until…

"You can open your eyes now. We are here." Her voice was crisp and unmoving. Clearly, there were no other emotions behind those words spoken except to convey an explicit meaning.

Ephemeral and unworldly forces that didn't seem to belong disappeared altogether. My clothes and hair weren't flying all over the place anymore. Everything turned back to normal, but of course, not everything stayed the same.

I opened my eyes, the blinding light faded away as soon as my mother spoke dryly, and taking a look around didn't hurt my eyes anymore. I was met with warm candle lights.

"Here? What do you mean here?" Percy was at a complete loss when he looked around too.

I had the same question. What was it that my mother did? The strange gravitational forces, the blinding light, it didn't make sense… or rather, it shouldn't make any sense if I didn't already get a head-up from Thalia back in Camp Half-Blood.

"This is…"

My voice reduced to a whisper when I took in my surroundings.

Refined decorative mahogany walls… Long bookcase filled with all sorts of knowledge… The spinning globe beside a wall-to-wall window with elegantly frame panels… There was no doubt about it. We definitely weren't outside on the porch anymore!

But that's not all because I was already familiar with this new place. It's really a lot to take in when we were suddenly indoors a split second later. Shock gripped me frozen. I couldn't speak…

What's worse, the uncanny similarity when I realized a room identical to my mother's study had materialized around us– or rather, no… that shouldn't be possible… there was no way something like that could…. How did we end up here in the first place?

The answer was already obvious.

After all, what couldn't be possible given that my mother was actually an Olympian Goddess from the very beginning? There was no doubt about it. We were brought to her study! It was teleportation!

"Seriously, w…where are we?" Percy asked as he rubbed his eyes and blinked.

Someone came over to us and gave Percy a head pat like he was a nervous puppy. It was Sally, and she smiled at us both. Like always, her presence alone gave off a motherly warmth that easily calm us down.

"We are inside the mansion, Percy," Sally spoke softly. She had been beside us this whole time yet she didn't seem at all fazed by what happened, unlike Percy who was just as shocked as I was, "This is Athena's study on the first floor."

The room was exactly how I'd left it when I sneaked in earlier. However, the office desk that instigated everything tonight was clutter-free, revealing three holographic icons at the bottom of the table. I was already familiar with one of those buttons.

"Weren't we just outside?"

Percy grew as silent as a mouse. His confusion and bemusement were frighteningly similar to when I figured out the reality behind my life. He was getting breathless too, and each inhale grew shorter than the next. I knew what's going to happen.

"H-How?!" Grappled by something impossible to understand, Percy grew dramatically quieter until he lost his voice. I quickly let go of his hand and rubbed his back.

"Percy, it's okay, I am here... Just breathe, okay? Just breathe…"

Still, I couldn't get his panic attack under control. Despite everything I was trying to do to help him, I couldn't. I felt powerless, the feelings made even worse when I saw him suffer, his sharp gasps and tired wheezes as he tried his best to breathe properly.

If only I knew that little trick Thalia did for me, then I could help Percy breathe normally again. As soon as I had that thought, I realized my mom was an Olympian Goddess. There must be some way she could help.

I looked frantically at my mom, ignoring the uncomfortable lump in my throat as I pleaded for her to help.

"Mom! Please help him…"

I'll apologize later… I'll do anything you want me to do… Just please, help Percy for now.

In some ways, I knew why she slapped me across my cheek. Her cold and distant gaze wasn't entirely unjustified. If anything, I probably deserved more than that with what I put her through tonight.

But likewise, I was beginning to feel the same way about her because of what she put me through my whole life. Of course, I didn't want this metaphoric barrier between us, but it's hard not to notice a thick veil separating our relationship right now.

"Sigh… Take a deep breath, Percy… Try to calm your heart rate."

Her body posture relaxed as she walked up to us. Her detached expression soften and replaced with a familiar motherly warmth that I was used to. I knew she was trying to help us now. Relief, my rushed heartbeat slowed as I held Percy upright.

"Don't worry… I'll explain everything with your mom in due time," Athena spoke as she reached behind to press on the back of his neck. It was the same gesture Thalia did to get me calm. Finally, Percy was able to catch a huge breath of relief. He gasped long and hard, exhaling and inhaling went smoothly.

"And I am sorry. I was never good at admitting fault, but I do want to apologize for what I did to my daughter and your wise girl." She used the nickname Percy gave me and brought some unrelated blushes on our cheeks, "So, I am really sorry Annabeth. And I am sorry too, Percy."

Her confession gave me a chance to let out a little sigh as well. It made me thankful that she didn't mean to do that to me, and I wanted to reassure her regretful gaze by silently telling her that it was okay.

"I am sorry for letting my… old habits take over my senses." It was clear she was being empathetic, but I never wanted to hold a grudge with her even from the beginning.

But what kind of old habits was she talking about, huh? What did my mother… or Athena, the Olympian Goddess of Wisdom mean by that?

"It's okay, mom." Again, that sounded weird when it shouldn't be…

Now that Percy was okay, Athena withdrew her hand. She back away from us and went back to her desk, taking a moment to sit down on her office chair.

"Owlfred, we have guests."

The response was instantaneous, "As you wish, my lady."

Out of nowhere, three additional chairs spawned from beneath the floor of the study. Circular hatches opened one by one; two in the front of the desk, one next to Athena; they were small couch chairs meant for comfort, unlike the tall office chair specific for my mom.

I couldn't help but stare. There was no wiring nor any mechanical sounds. Everything was automated by Owlfred and went as smoothly as cutting butter.

"I guess Owlfred isn't really just a computer program, is he?"

Athena looked at me strangely, but I knew she was half-impressed by what I was able to deduce by myself.

"No, he's not. But let us start from the beginning, dear…" She gestured for Sally to have a seat next to her, "Let's begin with what happened to you two tonight."

I tugged on Percy's hand and drew us closer to sit down. It didn't work because Percy wouldn't budge from his place. I looked back, confused why he didn't follow, then I saw it. His deep emerald eyes were fixated on my mother with mixed emotions.

I squeezed his hand, "No, Percy… It's okay."

"But…"

It felt unreal to have a boy feel this way for me. I was unequivocally elated since it proved just how much Percy cared about me. But at the same time, I didn't want him to feel this way. This was something I needed to work out with my mom alone, and he shouldn't interfere… as much I loved that he wanted to.

I gave him a warm smile and a reassuring look. Percy's gaze softened. He squeezed my hand back and broke his attention from my mother.

"Just have a seat for now, Percy" Sally brought Percy's dour expression into one of exasperated reluctance, "Athena and I are going to explain everything once we've all calmed down, okay?"

Percy shared a look with me for confirmation. I nodded.

"Okay," He sat down with me, "But what happened earlier… That's not something I could easily forget, Mrs. Chase. I don't want to see Annabeth hurt like that again."

Right away, the circulation of my blood vessel froze upon hearing those words. Percy didn't even hesitate and stood up to my mother, doing so without knowing that she was a powerful deity coming from a long history of an old myth.

The abrupt stare between them intensifies. I could even feel a bit of crackling in the air that made our atmosphere uncomfortable. Yet, that just made me love him even more.

"Percy…" I pleaded softly while tugging on his sleeve.

Suddenly, the heated gaze in my mother's grey eyes slowly grew placid. It might even be possible that she was amused because her lips were curling up ever so slightly. She inhaled a sharp breath, then opened her mouth to speak. What she said was totally unexpected.

"I see, that's why I like and admire you, Percy…" Athena broke out of character and smiled at the boy next to me, "You aren't afraid to stand up for something right, and you won't hesitate to protect someone you love. It is why I know you'll keep Annabeth safe, no matter what."

My eyebrow raised at the sudden change in her demeanor.

Is she praising Percy? Why? Wouldn't she get upset because Percy confronted her?

I was at a loss for words. In the meantime, Percy's cheeks were flushed bright red, "I mean, I- I can't say that I… your daughter means a lot to me, that's all."

"Non-sense. You are so romantically in love with her, Percy. You can admit it."

Then this embarrassing conversation turned to me much to my horror.

"You loved him too, Annabeth. There is no need to be shy."

Why?! Why does this happen to us all the time?!

Sometimes, I really wished their bluntness could be dialed down when it came to me and Percy.

Back into a corner, I certainly wasn't going to let this manifest anymore. I bit my lip, jabbing a finger at both Athena and Sally to try to bring us back to the real topic at hand, "Umm? What about the explanation? How about we get back to the topic on hand, please?"

Pleading only brought on defeated sighs from our mothers at the same time, "I can't believe you two are still that embarrassed about it…"

I averted my gaze from the boy next to me. He did the same.

"Like, it's so obvious even a blind bat could sense it…"

Sally nodded unequivocally.

"Ahhh! Please stop it already!" I waved my hands to plead for mercy, "I am not romantically in love with Percy in any sort of way! Right? Isn't that right, seaweed brain?"

Instead of agreeing right away, Percy cast his green eyes away. He was blushing hard.

"Ahem…" Of course, I knew Percy was going to help out, not lest to further his own embarrassment from our impossible parents, but he avoided all attention with me "So, about the explanation…"

Sally smiled at her son casually while Athena sighed, and that was the end of that disaster. In the next moment, Athena took on a serious expression, one that shouldered all the responsibility of revealing the secrets they've kept from us for a long time.

Just what kind of revelation are we going to get?

"Tell me honestly, Percy. What do you think is going on?"

Percy's lips pursed as he shrugged, "I really don't know… I mean, a lot of this stuff doesn't seem real at first… even now, but then we rode on a Pegasus, plus whatever happened earlier… and the way everyone, including the two of you who more or less seemed to know about this already…"

His voice trailed off.

"Are you surprised?"

Percy shook his head, "Not really… I had my suspicion about everyone trying to hide something from me and Annabeth, so no, I am not really surprised. I just wish everyone around us wouldn't keep these huge things a secret, that's all."

"I see," Athena contemplated, "Well, it's nice to see how quick you and Annabeth are accepting this new world, so maybe I was wrong."

Sally passed a sidelong look at Athena, and after a shared glance, she nodded back at the woman with brown hair before continuing.

"Yes, what you are saying is right, Percy. I've- ahem… we have been keeping secrets from you two since both of you were born into this world."

Percy gulped heavily when I gave him a sideways glance. His throat bobbed in anticipation. His eyes glued to my mother's lips as the next words slipped out of her mouth.

"How to say this?" Athena brushed her fingers down her silky soft blonde hair and brought a few uneven strands over her right shoulder, "You two were born to parents not from this world. It is a different world, and because of safety reasons among other things happening right now, I've- We've decided it would be best to keep your real bloodline hidden from you for the time being, at least not until a certain age."

I saw a solemn look as she progressed.

"But all that doesn't matter anymore, not after what happened tonight…"

At the end of her explanation, Percy abruptly slammed his hands on her desk. His green eyes brimming with excitement, "So you are saying that we belong in something like a fantasy world? Right? Right?! I mean, that's probably the only way that any of this would make sense."

Eh?

Startled, our parents didn't escape Percy's suddenness either. I could barely blink but was able to look up from my seat. Percy's eyes were burning with fervor and vigor, the likes of which I've never seen on him before. Why is he getting so pumped up and excited?

Eyebrows raised and expression empty, it took me a minute but I finally realized why. After all, he was as much of an anime and video game otaku as much as I was. Watching him bounced up and down, looking way too eager for more, he might even be thrilled at the mention of a different world; it was completely contradictory to how most would feel- probably anxious and scared- when discovering the reveal of a new world as extraordinary as what I've been told.

"Oh please tell me this is a magical world where magic spells exist, maybe even swordplay or something cool like that." Percy's face was getting a little too red, "Because that would be totally awesome!"

Left completely blank with confusion clouded grey eyes, I had my mouth halfway open as Percy went on and on about how cool this new world would be, as did our parents who took on befuddle look on the opposite end of the desk.

"Percy? Calm down, please? We haven't even explained anything yet." Sally gave her son a stern reminder, and despite his lovable and infectious personality right now, I smiled when Sally pressed her forehead with a weary gesture. She sighed hopelessly.

Of course, Percy wanted to keep going, but that was when he realized we were all looking at him strangely. His mouth froze, then the next things he said came through trembling lips, "Uhhh… Sorry, I didn't mean to— blame it on my obsession with video games and anime…"

A tired sigh left my lips, "You are such a seaweed brain."

Percy retreated back to his seat and slumped his head down, one could easily sense his awkward and embarrassed aura from outside the study.

"Ahem." Athena cleared the air with a small cough to her hand, "So, as I was saying… This world that we've kept hidden from you two… Well, it's certainly not all fun and games."

Athena passed Percy an amused look filled with mirth. It was more than enough to make Percy bite his lips and chew on his inner cheeks as he tried to avoid looking at everyone.

"Are you two familiar with Greek mythology?"

I nodded. The heads-up from Thalia's brief explanation helped cushion the revelation quite a bit. As for Percy, he was back to being a seaweed brain and an idiot.

"Greek mythology? You mean when the angry-looking Spartan overthrow Olympus in that one video game?"

Swoosh—

A loud boink sound followed…

Whack!

A grunting sound accompanied a boy crouching over in pain…

Guhh!

Satisfied, I shook my head at the dummy sitting next to me and withdrew my fist from atop his head.

"Owww! What was that for?!"

I turned away with a huff and didn't try to look at him.

"You don't get to talk anymore, Percy." I made the unfair decision unilaterally, "I'll smack you again if you say something dumb."

He gasped, "Who made you the boss all of a sudden?"

"Because I said so!" Turning me into a child too, I stuck my tongue out at him and— "pbbbbt…"

Percy looked as if he's about to cry, but that adorable pout wasn't going to work on me this time. I wasn't going to let our parents leave without learning everything I could about this mythological world and what my role was in all this.

If Percy was going to be a goof and a pain in my butt, then he could sit there and listen without giving any input. It was probably better this way.

Thankfully, Percy listened and curled up into a ball. He looked rather sulk by what I've decided on my own, but as far as I was concerned, this was payback for all those loopy loops Percy encourage Blackjack to do. Even now, I still feel sick to the stomach because of it.

"Are you two always like this?" Our parents asked.

Together, their deflated expressions and deep sighs made me blush, "It's his fault for being stupid…"

Of course, Percy didn't just sit there and take that emphasis/insult without sticking his tongue out back at me. An angry pout decorated his adorable puff cheeks.

"Sigh… Anyway, I assumed you two are already familiar with what I am about to say. Basically, the lore surrounding the mythology." Athena continued, "Well, this new world that I am talking about: it is the Greek myths incarnated into this world."

Percy stared at Athena with his mouth wide open. He was speechless and surprised by the reveal.

However, I've already heard all that from Thalia. I opened my mouth too, except words flowed through my lips as I confirmed, "And you are the Goddess of Wisdom, right mom?"

When Athena nodded nonchalantly without any big surprise or reveal, my tiny body shuddered on impulse. It honestly felt like a David facing the Goliath situation right about now. I mean, how could someone deal with the fact that their mother was suddenly an Olympian Goddess who's literally a deity worshipped by people of the past?

Everything impossible thing she did up until now, it was all because she was an immortal Goddess who had presumably lived for millions of years. The real question now: I can't possibly imagine… but just what kind of power does a Goddess have?

"Are you immortal?" My voice cracked under pressure.

She looked a little uncomfortable at that question, "Yes and no…"

She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling before she clapped her hands together twice, "But let me start from the beginning where you two would understand."

Then another flash of bright white filled the room and blinded my eyes. I couldn't see, but I could hear her voice ringing through the empty space.

"This is the history of our world... and how our destruction is upon us…"