Hey guys! This update turned out really long, but I didn't really want to divide it up. Hopefully you all don't mind too much. :)
"Stop!" I yelled, closing the distance and placing myself between the kids and the wolf, my arms outstretched toward each party. I glanced quickly between the angry wolf and the ten-year olds, "Nicky, put your sword down." Behind me, the wolf snarled in agreement.
She went off on him the second the Celestial Bronze blade was sheathed. "How dare you!" Lupa's associate scolded him, looking furious, "If you cannot tell the difference between friend and enemy, perhaps you should not wield such a weapon!" Hearing this was slightly strange, as, during my time spent at the Wolf House, long ago as it was, I'd only ever heard the wolves other than Lupa speak aloud a handful of times. From what I remembered, they preferred their language of expressions and gestures whenever possible.
Judging from the look on Nicky's face, I guessed this was the first time the she-wolf had spoken outright to him. He looked dumbfounded more than repentant. And poor Hannah; she backed away from her spot behind him, looking terrified, and in her haste, caught her foot on a low spot in the road and fell backwards.
Nicky, likely because I now stood between him and the wolf, turned around and moved to help her. He didn't make it more than half a step. "Stay away from me!" Hannah yelled at him, scooting backward on the ground with tears streaming down her face, "All of you!"
He recoiled, looking hurt, and then turned back to the angry wolf. "Who are you?" He demanded of her.
The she-wolf bared her teeth in an angry but not threatening manner. "I see no reason to share that information with you."
"Whoa, whoa," I said, my arms still outstretched in an effort to look placating, "How about we all calm down." I looked at the she wolf. She was a silvery gray, with a lighter tan on her belly and legs. "I know who you are," I told her, "I remember you."
"I remember you as well, Percy Jackson," she answered grudgingly, "And frankly your lack of diligence in raising that pup is abhorrent." That seemed uncalled for, but I didn't press the issue.
"Nicholas is young," I explained, "He didn't know what was going on. He's sorry."
The wolf still seemed put off, but was much kinder and slightly grudging in her reply. "You shouldn't fight your young's battles for them."
"You're probably right," I conceded, more out of obligation than from any real agreement. I wished Annabeth were here, but then it was probably just as well that she wasn't.
Satisfied that things had calmed down some, I snuck a glance behind me at Hannah, still on the ground. "Are you okay?" She hesitated for a moment and then nodded, getting to her feet. "I know this is scary and probably confusing," I added, "But stay here, okay? We'll get it figured out." She gave the tiniest of nods in response.
I turned back to the wolf again and noticed her expression, sort of the wolf equivalent of a human's raising an eyebrow. "Doing my job for me, Percy Jackson?"
"That wasn't my intention," I said, bowing my head slightly in a show of submission, "Honestly, I have no idea what your job here is."
"As it should be," said the she-wolf dismissively, "It concerns neither you nor your pup." This surprised me. I'd assumed the wolf had been sent for Nicky, or even Annabeth and I, for one reason or another. Even, gods forbid, another quest. But that apparently wasn't the case. And if the she-wolf hadn't come for one of us…
Lupa's compatriot didn't leave time for me to finish that thought before she began forward, past me, in a beeline for Hannah. The girl backed up half a step, but stopped when the wolf spoke. "Do not fear, Hannah Lawrence. I am Accalia, servant of Lupa and Rome. You must go to the Wolf House, where you will be tested and trained in the ways of Rome." I glanced away from the exchange to look briefly at Nicky, who stared, wide-eyed, at his friend. I couldn't say I blamed him. Accalia continued, "You are a half-blood child of the gods and, while you are young, it is time you embraced it. The wolves will guide you."
Hannah looked rather confused and I wondered vaguely if Lupa's associates explained things to all Roman half-bloods that way. It was true the Romans were harsher than the Greeks, but I personally found it hard to believe anyone with no previous knowledge of their situation could find that message helpful, especially when they were as young as Hannah. Accalia seemed disinclined to elaborate further, but Nicky spoke up before she had the option anyway. "Let me help," he pleaded, his green eyes large and earnest as he appealed to the wolf. Accalia turned to him, unimpressed, but was apparently willing to hear him out. "I know about everything already," Nicky explained, "And I know my dad's been to your Wolf House before. Hannah's my friend and she's scared and you can't just leave her alone with that useless explanation!"
I tensed, waiting for Accalia to react to this. As it was, she bared her teeth. "Watch it, boy," she warned.
"Sorry," he added quickly, looking away and then tentatively back again. "Please?"
The wolf studied him silently for a moment and then huffed a very human sigh. "You children of Greece were always too soft," she muttered and then conceded after a pause. "Fine. Lupa mentioned your pack might be involved with this one. She felt it likely you would try to intervene, and I am willing to permit it only," she looked at me, "if you assist them as well. Your own pup is far too young and inexperienced to be of any use to one his own age and rank."
I had a feeling this arrangement was more of a perk allowed because of my status at New Rome and on Olympus than it was anything either Nicky or I had said or done, but I would take it. "I'll handle it," I assured Accalia.
"Then I'll allow it," she said, looking at Hannah and then back at me, "She must leave in the morning."
I nodded and the she-wolf, after one last grudging survey of the three of us, turned and ran off, disappearing behind a nearby house and into the woods behind it to the sound of howling in the distance.
I watched her go and after she was gone, with a tiny sigh, I turned and stepped carefully toward Hannah. "Are you sure you're okay?" I asked, placing a tentative hand on her shoulder. She looked rather unsteady.
Her eyes were filling again, but she nodded. Then she had moved forward and wrapped her arms tightly around me. She was shaking. "What is happening?" she cried, burying her head in the front of my shirt.
I wrapped me arms around her, grateful she at least wasn't scared of me after that. "It's okay, honey," I told her, "I'll explain everything, I promise." I looked at Nicky, who watched his friend in concern. "Go get your mom," I told him, "Tell her I said to leave Carly with Logan." He nodded and immediately trotted up the road toward our house. "Come on," I said gently, speaking to Hannah again, "Let's go talk to your parents." She nodded, letting go, and allowed me to guide her along the same path Nicky had taken moments before, though he was long gone now.
"I don't believe this," Hannah's father, John, breathed, leaning back against the cushioning of the sofa he sat on with his wife, Sue, and Hannah. Annabeth and I sat on the loveseat adjacent to them, where we'd been explaining everything. Nicholas had wanted to come with us, but we'd felt it wise to leave him out of the explanation part, lest it not go well. He'd been sent home to eat dinner and finish getting ready for camp in the morning. The ten year old hadn't been happy, but he knew better than to protest.
"We adopted Hannah when she was two weeks old," Sue, who had been quiet up until this point, explained, "She was abandoned at a hospital and her mother was never found. And now you're telling me that my daughter isn't human?"
"She is human," Annabeth corrected, her voice gentle but firm. She was better at handling situations like this and I was happy to let her take the reins. "One of her parents was fully mortal—"
"And the other was a god," John put in, cutting her off. She paused and nodded.
"Do you know how crazy that sounds?" Sue demanded, obviously upset. She was a plump woman with European coloring and dark curly hair. John was long and lean, with similar complexion. Both were slightly older than Annabeth and me. Hannah didn't look much like either of them, but I'd never put much stock in that prior to learning where she'd come from.
"I do," Annabeth told her, "Believe me."
John was calmer than his wife, but not necessarily an easier sell. "And you expect us to believe the you two are these half-gods too? And your children?"
"Yes," Annabeth said evenly, "Percy could show you if you'd like, but we preferred to sit down with you first."
"Show us how?" John asked, his eyes on me now.
"Well, some half-bloods, particularly those of powerful gods, are born with certain powers. I'm a son of the god of the sea, so I have control over water." I kept my tone serious, but light, having done this enough times by now to know what worked. It still made me uncomfortable to bring up my abilities though. Even if it was to prove a fact, it felt like bragging.
"Control over water," John echoed absently.
"This is crazy," Sue said softly, and then louder, looking between us and her husband and daughter, "This is… you're crazy. You must be. This is…"
"It sounds that way," Annabeth agreed, "I'd think the same thing in your position."
"You just met us," I added, "And the timing of all of this is really awful, but…" I paused, searching for better words and finding nothing but "It's the truth." Sue was shaking her head and I was pretty sure she was searching for a polite way to kick us out of her house. Beside her, John didn't seem to know what to think. Hannah watched her parents' reactions in concern. I glanced beside me at Annabeth. She met my eyes and nodded. I turned back to Hannah's parents and said gently, "Watch."
There was a vase of flowers on the coffee table in front of us. I focused on it now and willed the water to leave the bottom. It did, rising up the sides and eventually out of the vase completely, to the amazement of John and Sue Lawrence.
John gaped openly as I returned the water to its vase. Sue had, at first, shied away from the liquid as I'd influenced it, but now sat forward, watching with wide eyes too. There was complete silence for a three-count, and Hannah was the first to break it. "Do it again." Almost smirking, I looked to her parents, gauging their reactions. John, his mouth still slightly open, nodded silently. I repeated the action.
When I finished again, he sat forward. "Y-you can… That's amazing," he managed.
Sue still looked shocked, but seemed slightly abashed when she looked at us and said, "I guess we have to believe you now."
"Well, no," I said, "You don't have to, but it would definitely help." She managed a smile.
"So, you're all… half-bloods," she stumbled over the term, "And Hannah is too?"
"Yes and no," Annabeth explained, "Hannah is a half-blood, but her godly parent, whoever they are, is Roman. Percy and I are Greek."
"And what does that mean?" John asked, "What's the difference?"
"Well, the Greek and Roman pantheons are very similar, so in terms of differences from us, there aren't too many. Others do exist that vary a lot more. The Romans are based out of California currently, so their training camp for demigods is there. "
"And Hannah has to go there?" Sue asked.
"She doesn't have to," Annabeth explained, emphasizing the word carefully, "But she definitely should. It's the only way she can learn to fight and protect herself from the monsters we mentioned before. Now that she knows what she is, her scent will be much stronger and she'll be more vulnerable. She'll be in serious danger if she isn't prepared." Sue looked away, obviously fighting tears. "I'm sorry," Annabeth told her gently, "It's not something any parent wants to hear."
I looked at Hannah, who had sat listening in silence. She processed it but seemed to be taking it all very well, especially for her age.
"But if she goes to this camp and learns what she needs to, she'll be okay? She can grow up normally like you have?" Sue asked.
The quiet chuckle had left my mouth before I could do anything to prevent it. Beside me, Annabeth was smiling a bit too when she replied, "Well, I wouldn't say Percy and my life is anything close to normal, nor can I promise that everything will be fine if Hannah goes to Camp Jupiter. As half-bloods, there's simply no such thing. But the odds are much better now compared even to when we were kids. Still, in complete honesty, even in times of peace like this, your daughter doesn't stand a chance without proper training."
"Then I guess that settles it," John said. Sue's brown eyes still leaked tears occasionally, but she nodded in agreement, "She has to go."
"It's just for the summer?" Sue added.
Annabeth nodded. "There are year-round campers there too, but as long as the half-blood has a home to go back to, they're welcome to spend the school year there. We do that with our boys."
"And your daughter?"
"She doesn't know yet. We tried with all our kids to keep them in the dark and safe as long as possible. When she finds out, she'll go with them."
Sue looked at her daughter, and then back at Annabeth. "Hannah's so young."
"I know," she answered sympathetically, "I'm surprised the wolves showed up as early as they did, but the gods have their own way of doing things. We just have to go along with it. And every half-blood is different. Logan was six when he found out."
That information seemed to help a bit. And it was true that eleven, in comparison to six, was not that young at all. John turned to his daughter. "We won't make you go, honey," he said, "But I think you should, if you'll be safe."
Hannah looked hesitantly from him to us. "Nick doesn't go to the Roman camp?"
"No, he doesn't," Annabeth told her, "But the two camps get together a few times a month for dinner and Capture the Flag, and campers are always going back and forth between them, so you'll still see him."
Hannah hesitated again but nodded, apparently encouraged that she'd still see the only friend she'd made in this new town every once in a while throughout the summer. I wasn't sure how much of the other stuff she understood, but she seemed to know it was serious and I knew once she made it from the Wolf House to Camp Jupiter, she'd know all she needed to.
"When does she need to leave?" Sue asked tentatively.
"The wolf I spoke to said tomorrow," I explained, knowing this was far too soon for either party to become comfortable with the idea.
"We're supposed to get her to California by tomorrow?" John asked, "Plane tickets this late will cost a fortune. If we can even get them at all."
"Well," I said, "I was thinking about that. If it's all right with you, and you aren't at all obligated to do it, but I know of another way to get Hannah to Sonoma Valley."
Unsurprisingly, the next morning was chaotic. We were up early, as we usually were on the first day of the summer session. Logan and Nicky rushed to get last minute things packed and ready to go, the former with more enthusiasm than the latter.
"Why can't I go with you to drop off Hannah?" Nicky wanted to know for the umpteenth time since we'd returned from the Lawrences' the night before.
"Because you have to be at camp today," I answered, probably with more patience than he deserved at this point, but I understood why he kept pestering and feared he'd inherited more than just my good looks.
"Why can't I just go later? I won't miss that much."
"Because your mom and I both have to work today, Nicholas, and we can't be making multiple trips back and forth."
"But I want to say goodbye to her."
"You can. Before she leaves." He looked unhappy but not necessarily willing to risk pushing the issue further. I sighed. "I know you're worried about her, Nicky, but you know this is something she has to do on her own. You know how the Romans are."
"It's not fair," he muttered.
"Maybe not," I said, "But not much in life is. Camp Jupiter is a good place with great people. She'll be okay."
He studied his socked feet. "I just met her."
"She's not going anywhere, bud. You'll see her for joint war games and she'll be back at the end of the summer, just like you will. And you'll have a lot more to talk about now. Don't worry too much about it." He still looked uncertain, but he nodded.
Nico showed up a few minutes later. "There's never a dull moment around here, is there?" he asked once he'd been let inside.
"You can say that again," I told him.
I'd arranged it with Nico and Hannah's parents that we'd shadow travel to just outside the Wolf House with her. It was quicker and easier than anything they'd be able to come up with on such short notice, and while John and Sue still seemed a bit apprehensive about the idea, they were willing to allow it as long as one of us went along with her. I'd taken part of the morning off from work for the trip.
Years ago, shadow traveling across the country and back again would have been enough to knock Nico out for a week, but he was an old pro now and assured me that he could make the trip five more times right after ours and "still be okay, probably."
A few minutes later, the kids were fed, the boys were packed, and everyone seemed ready to go. Carly, who would be going with Annabeth to drop the boys off at Half-Blood Hill, which was, as far as the eight-year old knew or cared, just a regular old summer camp, and then on to my parents' for the day while Annabeth went in to work, walked up to me. Her mom had pulled her curls back into a ponytail not unlike the kind she often wore herself, and her green eyes were slightly heavy-lidded. It had been a bit of a late night for everyone. I picked her up and held her against me the way I had since she was born. She rested her head on my shoulder. Someday sooner than I would like, she'd be too big for that, but until then, no matter how old she was, I still planned to coddle her a bit. I waited with her and Nico by the door until Annabeth approached, followed by the boys, and we were ready to leave.
John, Sue, and Hannah waited for us at the end of their driveway. Nicholas hurried over to his friend, who looked slightly nervous, and appeared to be encouraging her. John and Sue looked at us. I was still holding Carly, who was half-asleep by now. I introduced them to Nico. He shook hands with each of them and they greeted him in kind but tense tones. "Thank you for doing this," Sue said, looking at me once the son of Hades had made their acquaintance, "I can't imagine what we would have done without your help."
"It's no problem," I told her.
She looked then at Logan, who had loaded his and Nicky's bags in the car and now stood somewhat awkwardly behind me. He had met the new neighbors with the rest of us when they'd first moved in and knew Hannah fairly well by now, but wasn't familiar enough with her parents to be entirely comfortable. "You're going to the Greek camp today with Nick?" she asked of him.
He looked a little surprised at being addressed, but recovered quickly. "Yes, ma'am," he answered.
Sue didn't seem to know quite how to ask her next question. "Do… do you like it there?"
Logan blinked. "Yeah," he said, "Yeah, it's a lot of fun. It sounds really weird when you don't know what its like but we learn a lot and do a lot of cool stuff. And it's completely safe there. I like it a lot." He added, "And Camp Jupiter's the same way. I've been there a lot of times. It's a really great place."
His words, more than anything else I'd seen so far, seemed to encourage Hannah's parents. Sue nodded, leaning into her husband. John told him, "Thank you."
Looking a little surprised, Logan nodded.
I glanced down at the watch on my wrist that seconded as a shield when needed. It was getting late. I glanced at Annabeth. "I'll go put her in the car." She nodded.
When I returned, Sue had tears in her eyes and Annabeth was saying, "She really will be okay." I changed course and headed to where Nicky and Hannah spoke to each other a few feet away from the adults. I couldn't imagine how difficult this must have been for Hannah's parents, who'd had no prior knowledge or any idea at all that anything was different about their daughter until last night. It was hard enough sending my own boys away for almost the whole summer when I knew exactly what they were, where they were going, and how great a place it really was.
"Hey," I said when I reached the kids, "We've all got to get going soon." I placed my hand gently on Nicky's hair as his face fell.
Annabeth walked up behind me. "Are you ready, Nicky?" she asked.
He nodded mutely and looked at Hannah, who stepped forward and hugged him tightly. He seemed slightly surprised by the gesture but returned it easily and with matching enthusiasm. "Don't forget about me," Hannah told him.
"I won't," he promised.
They separated and Nicky followed after his mother toward the car, where Logan waited and Carly slept, waving goodbye to John and Sue as he went. Hannah watched as Annabeth backed out of the driveway and pulled slowly away, waving to her friend as she did. Then she turned to her parents and hugged them both fiercely.
A few minutes later, she stepped away and toward Nico and me, looking expectant. Behind her, John said, "Take care of her." I nodded.
"Will you let us know that she's safe?" Sue asked.
"Of course. If you need anything, just let us know."
"Thank you," John said and shook my hand.
I stepped back and looked to Nico. "Ready?" he asked, more of Hannah than me. She'd already been debriefed on what to expect from shadow travel. She nodded.
Nico looked around quickly to determine no one else was around on our street, and then shadow travelled the three of us away. The feeling of extreme speed was almost familiar now, and an instant later, we landed in woods far different from the ones in New York. Hannah stumbled a bit upon landing, but looked little worse for wear.
"Are you okay?" I asked her anyway.
She nodded, looking exhilarated. "That was really cool," she said.
Nico grinned. "Just wait, kiddo," he said, "You'll see a whole lot more cool stuff." Hannah smiled in reply.
The sounds of approaching wolves could be heard now as we stood there and I had no doubt they were coming to meet us. Thirty seconds later, they appeared. It was Lupa, followed by Accalia and one other associate whom I recognized but couldn't name. "Percy Jackson," the wolf goddess greeted me, "You are good as your word. Thank you for brining Hannah to me." She didn't wait for a reply before she turned her gaze on Hannah, all but ignoring Nico completely. "Come," she told her, "You'll start your training here at the Wolf House with me. If you can prove yourself worthy of Rome, you'll be allowed to continue on to Camp Jupiter in time." Hannah hesitated and looked up at me. She jumped when Lupa sternly added, "Now."
She moved to follow after the goddess, who was turning away, still looking at me. I nodded and tried to look encouraging. Part of me wished Lupa would lighten up. Hannah wasn't even twelve yet. But I knew it would never happen. The Romans had their own way of doing things and I'd endured everything Hannah would at the Wolf House. Lupa put on a good show but I knew she did care, and Hannah would be just fine.
Lupa's compatriots moved to follow after their leader and new pup, but Accalia waited half a second and raised her head slightly in a gesture that I remembered meant Thank you. I nodded once in acknowledgement and she turned and followed the small group, leaving Nico and I alone in the Sonoma Woods in California.
"What now?" Nico asked.
"Now we go back home," I told him, "I told my boss I'd be at work by ten. I've got a whole other situation to deal with there."
Thanks for reading!
