Chapter 3: Call me by my name
"Percy, if nothing else, at least call your mom," Thalia begged.
I looked up at her and felt something other than numb for the first time in the last four days. I felt a stab of guilt for making my mom worry.
Thalia passed me a satellite phone that I reluctantly reached for. I punched in the familiar number that she had made me memorize.
It rang once and then twice. Then the phone was picked up.
"Hello, this is Sally Jackson." Her voice sounded as I remembered; it was warm and soft. It almost made me feel better too.
"...hi, Mom…" I paused awkwardly. What did I even want to say?
A sharp intake of breath and then a sigh of relief. Each twisted the knife a little bit further. "Oh my gods, Percy! I'm so glad that you're okay. I thought that you had … well … never mind. I'm just glad to hear your voice." She was close to tears.
"Sorry for disappearing." I tried to stop the tears from flowing, but they did. Warm pearly droplets fell from my eyes.
"I won't say that it was okay, but I forgive you." My mom's voice was quiet. "Be safe; I love you."
"Thanks, I love you too." I clicked the phone off and turned back to the empty tent, there was more to say to her, but I didn't have the strength to say it right now. Resolving myself to wander through the camp and face the pitying looks.
Instead of the empty tent that I was expecting, I found myself face-to-face with the patroness of the hunt.
"Lady Artemis." I greeted, voice flat. I couldn't really bring myself to care about rank, especially now. But at the risk she might curse my heavily pregnant mother, I wasn't going to take any chances.
The deity in the form of a pubescent girl looked at me. "Perseus, I'm sorry that we had to meet again under these circumstances."
Yeah, so am I. But I still with that she would just call me Percy.
