I run my hand over my face what felt like the hundredth time today. My grandfather wants to kill me!
I paced my room once more. Mrs. O'Leary lazily lifted her head from the bed. She been comforting me for the past two hours, but she grew weary. I huffed out a breath, and glanced out the window. Hades is the first to show.
I turned the door knob and swung my bedroom door open. Mrs. O'Leary jumped from the bed and darted from my room. I followed her lead.
I trotted down the stairs as the front door open. Hades and his wife Persephone entered with Nico trailing behind. Hades face is etched with a grimace, while Nico looks like a deer in the headlights. Given the circumstances, I couldn't blame him.
Mrs. O'Leary greets Nico with jumping on him, knocking him down on the ground.
"Mrs. O'Leary!" I called, shocked. It's very uncharacteristic of her to jump on people. She did go through some training for her to be a emotional support, and jumping on a person isn't allowed.
I saw Nico squirm under Mrs. O'Leary, his hands trying to push her away from the assaulting tongue that was licking his face.
I helped pull her off. I glance at her expecting to see an expression of guilt on her face, but she look proud of herself. I need to ask what practice my dad got her from?
I held out a hand to help him up. He took it and I pulled him off the ground. He looks a bit disoriented, but he shook it off.
I cleared my throat uncomfortably having zero idea what to say to him. I just found out the reason behind his sister's death, and now he has to relive it all over again.
He just put his hands back in his pockets and followed his father into the kitchen, a very happy Newfoundland trailing behind him.
I was about to follow when the door open again. Hestia and to my surprise Demeter walked through. I haven't seen Aunt Demeter since my father's wedding to Amphitrite nine years ago.
I knew this was serious, but I didn't think it was that serious for her to show.
"Oh Percy!" Hestia said before enveloping me into a hug. "Are you alright? He didn't touch you did he?"
I wrap my arms around her and shook my head no.
She let out a sigh of relief. "Good, oh you had me so worry once I heard the news. We will get this sorted and taken care of Percy, I promise" Hestia said squeezing harder at the last sentence to emphasize it.
I just nodded not believing her, but didn't have to heart to voice it. We both drop our arms and smiled at each other trying to relieve the tension.
I glanced back at Demeter. She was just staring at my stump with a disapproving look in her eye. " Percy, now tell me how much wheat and grain to you consume every morning? You know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I'm sure if you had enough cereal in the mornings you will have both of your legs"-
"DEMETER!" Hestia hissed.
I just blinked as I remembered why Demeter wasn't invited to family gatherings anymore.
"The others are in kitchen". I piped up.
Hestia grabbed Demeter's arm before she could make another comment and lead her into the kitchen. I followed, still dumbstruck by Demeter's question.
I didn't think the mood could sour even more, but I was sure wrong once Demeter entered the kitchen. Hades glared at her his mouth forming into a growl. My father let out a sigh bracing himself for a fight. Demeter sneered at Hades, her arms crossing. There's another reason why Demeter isn't invited to gatherings; Persephone.
The way it was explained to me is that Demeter used to babysit Persephone when they were younger. Demeter grew super protective of her and they formed a mother/daughter relationship. Demeter does NOT approve of Hades and Persephone marriage. She tried to object during their wedding ceremony. She had to be dragged out kicking and screaming.
Hestia cleared her throat as a reminder for everyone to behave. Demeter let out a snarl, completely ignoring Hestia's warning. Before Hestia could reprimand her, the final guests arrived.
My eyebrows shot up even higher. Behind Zeus and Hera, we're all of his children. His eldest Hephaestus, the twins Apollo and Artemis, the spoiled brat Ares, Thalia, and Jason are all in attendance. The last time I ever seen the whole family together was at my father and Amphitrite's wedding almost a decade ago.
Hephaestus barely changed. His birthmark, which looks more like a burn, still covered his face by his left eye and extends down to his jaw. His beard is misshapen due to the birthmark. He grew out his dark brown hair to try and cover the birthmark, only leaving his brown right eye visible.
I recently saw Apollo, only this time his chipper attitude is replaced by a solemn one.
His twin Artemis matured into a young women. She never like me, but I don't think she liked any male for that matter. Her signature auburn double french braid never changed. I don't think I've ever seen her hair loose before. She held herself high but looked rather bored to be here.
I couldn't help but glare as my eyes landed on Ares. We never gotten along especially after he and Triton started to physical beat me up years prior. I thought he was enrolled in the military in Afghanistan? I didn't know he was let loose or was back in town, not that I would care anyways. I wouldn't start any fights due to his build. He could pummel me in less than a second.
My eyes scanned all of my cousins in shock. Is the situation this serious to entice everyone to come? Maybe I just haven't been the one who isn't taking it seriously.
Once everybody was seated, it took an awkward minute before Hades spoke, "Are we sure that this is the first encounter with him?"
"To my knowledge, yes it is. He've left threats back when I lived in San Francisco, but that stopped when I moved back. There wasn't any indication of him until Bianca-," Nico flinched at her name. My father cleared his throat until continuing. "There hasn't been a sign of him until yesterday, and then he left this note this morning." My father gruffly responded.
Hades glanced at me out of his corner of his eye. I squirmed under it. "Percy, do you remember anything about the car accident in San Francisco? Did you happen to see the driver from the other vehicle?"
I sat up straight "You're not insinuating that he was the cause of it?"
Poseidon shook his head. "Father would've gloat about it in the letter if that was him."
Zeus let out a nervous laugh, "That he would. Though it is strange for him to come out of the blue like this. Why now? I would've thought after you separated from Percy's mother that it would've stopped."
Poseidon shrugged looking just as lost as everyone else did.
Hestia picked up the letter that was laying on top of the table. She silently read it, her expression unreadable. "There needs to be another reason for his arrival other than Percy being here. He would've done something during the summers when Percy was here. This threat isn't targeted alone at Percy but also at Triton."
Poseidon buried his head in his hands. "I'm very confused as to why. Father never voiced his displeasures with Amphitrite. I'm not sure why Triton is included in the threat. My only guess is to get back at me, for what I'm not sure?"
Everyone's eyes shifted to look at Triton who sat quietly, not caring for anything. He just shrugged not giving any indication if he knew anything.
Hades shifted foreword, "Well whatever his reason, he means business. I think we all need to be on high alert. His threat could spread to each one of us and we shouldn't be caught off guard."
The whole table hummed in unison.
It was passing period between third and fourth period. My head throbbed from the stress of the family crisis and the stupid math project. I relish the coolness of my locker as I leaned my head upon it.
"Jackson. How nice is it to see you here. I see you are no longer on crutches and you've got metal for your leg."
I closed my eyes. Luke. I straighten my back out and turned around seeing Luke and his side companion Ethan.
"Luke. What do I owe the pleasure?"
His lips curled up, "What's going on with your family? Thalia and Jason seem on edge for the last couple of days. Your half brother Triton isn't even himself."
I froze. They knew of my relation with Triton? It isn't hard to guess since we look alike, but I was still holding on to hope that no one would make that connection.
"You think we're idiots, Jackson? C'mon, you really didn't think I wouldn't have figured it out. You two are almost identical, even Nakamura could see it. He gestured towards Ethan's eyepatch."
The bell interrupted Luke from continuing.
"See you later Jackson. Wouldn't want to be off guard now would ya?" He smirked at me before turning his back and stalking off into the hallway.
My brow furrowed, weirded out from the interaction. I let out a huff before closing my locker door. I was already late for study hall. Before I could even take a step, I was yanked backwards by my hair and dragged towards an empty corner.
"What are you doing with Luke?" Triton asked letting go of his grasp.
"Nothing! Why did you drag me here? Why do you care anyways? He already knows that we are related".
"I'm very well aware of that. That isn't the point. What did he say to you?"
"What did he say?" Why does it matter what he said to me? Again why do care?"
"Damn it Perseus! It matters! What DID HE SAY?" Triton grabbed my shoulders and shook me with every word.
I stared at him dumbstruck. The fact alone he called me by full name is shocking. His behavior is really out of the norm.
"He didn't say much. He noticed the tension going through all of us and wanted to know why. I never gave him a response."
Triton dropped his hands from my shoulders. "You need to stay away from him. I mean it Percy. Stay away."
"Triton you're not making any sense. What is going on? And you still haven't answered my question about why you even care in the first place."
Triton just shook his head before heading off, leaving me dumbfounded about what just happened.
Here are the ages again:
Hestia-42
Demeter-40
Hades-38
Poseidon-36
Zeus-35
Hephaestus-23 (yes Zeus was 12 when he had Hephaestus)
Apollo-22
Artemis-22
Ares-19
Triton-18
Thalia-16
Percy-16
Jason-14
Nico-13
