AN: Well, life happens and shit comes along with it. Anyway, pretty much threw my update promise out the window.
Perseus stared at his mother intensely. "You know, it seems like we have this conversation every month." Rhea mentioned when it looked like no words were going to be exchanged between them after what she just said. She looked at her son with an air of disappointment that always seemed to be directed at him whenever they had this conversation and the talk went down the same path as always.
"And every time we have this conversation, I seem to remember it always ending the same, and quite frankly, I am very tired of repeating myself, mother." Perseus responded with irritation. "I would appreciate it if you finally dropped it from all thought."
Rhea sighed, "I know you see that woman with contempt but-"
"Contempt?! That barely describes how I feel about that pathetic, worthless excuse of a human!" Perseus yelled in outrage. "If I could, I would wring her neck out and toss her into the Fields of Punishment myself! That woman as good as abandoned them that day!" and even Zoë was a bit taken aback at how angry her husband sounded right now.
She knew, of course, as to what about that mortal woman made her husband so furious and she wholeheartedly agreed with how her husband felt about Beryl Grace. Despite her similar feelings for said woman, she knew that her husband needed a much calmer head right now when it came to matters concerning the kids.
Rhea knew that she was balancing on a tightrope right now. She knew her son didn't hold back on how he felt about that vile woman and that he would go to the ends of the Earth and Olympus to ensure that Thalia and Jason never had to even look at the mortal ever again. "Son, you can't keep hiding this and say you're protecting them. The woman is dead for crying out loud! How much harm can she do to her children from Asphodel?" she asked.
"THEY'RE MY KIDS!" he yelled angrily as his eyes flashed dangerously with the air wavering around him. The three of them said nothing about his outburst, choosing to remain silent instead. Perseus ran a hand down his face and let out a groan of frustration, turning away from them and staring out at the window, resting his hands on his hips. "Fuck." he said to himself quietly while he ran a hand through his hair.
Rhea gave Zoë a pleading look, knowing that she was the only one that would be able to get more than a single word out of him now.
Iapetus walked up behind his sister and placed a hand on her shoulder as he looked at his nephew. "I don't think anyone here could dispute that. Nephew, trust me when I say that your mother takes no pleasure in bringing up that vile mortal but she has a point. We all want the best for the both of them so just think about it, that is all we ask of you." he asked of him and took Rhea with him as he flashed out.
Zoë looked at her husband and sighed before walking up to him, sliding her left hand into his right. She noticed the look of frustration in his eyes and the occasional clenching of his free hand. She stood in front of him and looked up, "There's more to it." she said, trying to make it sound like a question but instead it sounded like a statement even though they both knew she was saying something.
He nodded wordlessly at her. "Well are you going to tell me as a good husband should or are you going to keep me guessing?" she jested and folded her arms over her chest, tapping her right foot on the floor.
He gave a short huff of amusement before he relented, "Alright, but can this be between us for now? I don't want Thalia or Jason to ask why I did what I did." he asked of her, and the way he looked at her, Zoë saw the rarely-displayed vulnerability on his face.
"Of course." she reassured with a soft look on her face.
He scratched the back of his neck before fully giving his attention to her, "Two years after I took Thalia and Jason, I started to keep an eye on Beryl, for Jason's sake of course. I thought that, if she cleaned up her act or at least made an effort, Jason should at least have the chance to know her to an extent." he explained with a hint of regret at the last part.
She raised an eyebrow, "What made you think that was a good idea?" she asked. There wasn't any real loathing or disdain in her tone and instead, asking with genuine curiosity at her husband's past decision.
"I just wanted him to have that option. There were times where I thought that I was in over my head." he said. "I knew Thalia didn't want anything to do with her, but still, explaining to Jason about why his supposed mother wasn't there for him was… an experience, to put it lightly." he grimaced at the memory.
"And rightly so, I would imagine." Zoë said as she rubbed his arm in comfort. "So, what did you find out about her?" she inquired about her husband's discovery.
"Give the woman a month and she'll be back staring at the bottom of a bottle, maybe even start something with another man." making Zoë wrinkle her nose in disgust. "Her other endeavors didn't last too long, however." he added. "I thought that her car accident would have woken her up and get her on the right track finally." he seemed to bite his tongue and a sneer appeared on his face. "She began her spiral by looking into a bottle and she ended it by looking into another bottle. Fitting for all things considered." he said bitterly. "Taking him to her was my second biggest mistake." he said with remorse.
"What did you do about her and the man hired?" Zoë wondered.
"A rather anonymous and large sum ended whatever lead he thought he had and as for Beryl? She received a letter." he told her.
"A letter?" she repeated incredulously.
"It told her all she needed to know and nothing more."
She nodded and chose to put all that in the back of her head, choosing to look outside instead, "Well, I think you did a good job with the both of them despite all of that." leaning on him as she spoke.
He wrapped his arms around her waist as his eyes followed hers. "I'd like to think so." he mentioned quietly, resting his chin on the top of her head. The two of them watched Thalia chase Jason around the beach as the centurions walked behind them, keeping a steady eye.
"What do you think I should do?" he asked her quietly.
She leaned her head to the side to look at him, "Perhaps it is time you told them." and she could feel the arms around her waist tighten and heard him give a grunt. "Hey, you asked!" she shouted and elbowed him gently.
They were looking at the kids when Zoë had a sparkle in her eyes as she pulled back from the embrace again to look at him, "Should I be jealous that you had your eye on another woman for that long?" she teased.
He let out a warm laugh that was only reserved for her ears, "That woman didn't even hold a candle compared to you, My Star."
"I would certainly hope not." she said, feigning offense and scrunching up her nose.
During the conversation
Thalia and Jason walked the short path to the barracks of the Gauntlet and knocked on the door.
"What do you think the reaction is gonna be?" Thalia asked her brother as the both of them waited for someone to open the door.
"Bet you 10 Drachmae someone is probably yelling." Jason said, his answer making the both of them laugh.
"Deal." Thalia agreed with a grin and as if Chaos agreed with them itself, the door opened a moment later, revealing Hadrian dressed in a simple tunic and trousers. His eyes were wide as he looked to see Thalia and Jason smiling and waving at him as if nothing was previously wrong with the former.
Thalia looked to see her brother counting down with his fingers and just as he hit zero, Hadrian did it. "Oh fuck!" he gurgled, almost choking on his own spit and immediately swept Thalia into a hug.
She let out a strangled yelp as she felt like she was being jostled around. "I'm not a damn pinata!" she yelled out as she punched his arm.
"I don't care!" Hadrian replied with a grin on his face and set her on the ground once she started to get more physical. "You have been in that bed for so long, worrying us to death so I think I get to be the overreacting uncle." he said.
"You weren't that before?" Thalia asked in mock-surprise.
Hadrian made a show of restraining himself, "You are so lucky that all of us are just glad to see you well." he said with a grin.
"What is with all your yelling, brother?" Aurelius asked as he walked into view behind Hadrian, not seeing who was at the door because of Hadrian's frame.
"Look who came to see us finally." he said with a grin and stepped to the side.
Aurelius looked at Hadrian passively and shrugged, "I will inform the others." before walking further away. "We got company at the door!" he yelled to alert the others.
Hadrian sighed at his brother's attitude and looked at the two demigods, ushering them in. "Ignore him. He's been like this for a while now." he whispered to Thalia upon noticing her rather dispirited look after Aurelius' lack of usual familial interaction with her.
Hadrian led Thalia and Jason deeper into the barracks and led them to the fireplace in the back, finding the others lounging in front and around it.
Magnus dropped the rag he was using to wipe his shield down and gave a large smile when he looked up. "Well, look who's up and moving." he said happily.
Cassius walked in from the kitchen carrying two boards filled with meats and cheeses and almost dropped them when he saw Thalia.
Jason's eyes lit up and he quickly took the boards from Cassius and set them on the table while also picking up crumbs from the board.
"Hey, you two!" Magnus yelled at Ignatius and Tiberius, the two centurions too engrossed in their chess game to realize anything else. Magnus rubbed at his temples and muttered something under his breath. "Idiots." he said in a more normal volume as he slapped both of them on the back of their heads.
"You limp-nosed pig head, what do you want?" Ignatius grumbled. Tiberius looked up as he glared at Magnus and just so happened to also see Thalia in his line of sight, his glare turning into a widening of his eyes.
"Uhmmm, hi?" Thalia uttered out as she just stood there.
"Wait for a second, we weren't told about this at all!" Cassius shouted.
Jason looked up from where he was lounging on the couch, "Yeah, she just woke up like this morning."
Aurelius scowled, "And you're already up and moving? Should you not be recovering to the fullest extent?"
Thalia rolled her eyes at his concern, "I'm fine. It's not like dad said I couldn't move around."
Ignatius stood up from his chair to hug Thalia. "It is good to see you well, little one." he said kindly. She grinned and returned the embrace while Cassius moved to fuss her hair up.
"Any problems walking here?" Tiberius asked with worry as he gave her a quick hug and saw Thalia shake her head while trying to bat Cassius' hand away from her head.
"Alright, that's enough." Marius said from behind them.
"Uncle Marius, Uncle Marcus!" Thalia shouted as she saw the two of them approach.
Marius had a grin on his face as he knelt to embrace Thalia. Marcus stood behind them with a soft smile on his face as Thalia hugged him. "Good to see you alive and well." he said to her quietly.
"What, no hug for me?" Darius said from behind her and Thalia released Marcus with a grin and walked to him.
"Nah, you get a handshake." Thalia said with laughter and stuck her hand out to him.
He batted her hand away and pulled her into a hug, "Brats." he muttered, bringing a chuckle from Jason.
"Aww, you know you care about us."Jason laughed out.
"Oh, trust me, I'm reconsidering my stance on that." he replied with a small chuckle and released Thalia when all nine centurions stiffened in their spots as if tension just entered their bodies.
"Should we check that?" Aurelius asked Marius and the latter shook his head.
"No."
"Huh?" Thalia and Jason both said as they just watched.
Magnus shook his head, "Don't worry about it."
Jason perked up, "Oh yeah, I almost forgot." looking at Marius as he spoke, "Uncle asked me to ask you to get the Gauntlet ready for something." he told him and received a nod in response.
"What were you guys even doing anyway?" Jason asked as his hand was slapped away by Cassius as the centurion hovered protectively around the boards filled with the different meats and cheeses.
"Well, we were waiting for your sister to wake." Tiberius told him. "And now that she is." pointing at her, "We can rest easy."
Aurelius rolled his eyes and left the room, picking up his gladius and shield on the way out. "Marius, you got to talk to him before I go and hit him." Ignatius asked as he rubbed at the bridge of his nose.
"What's up with Uncle A?" Thalia asked curiously.
"Nothing you need to worry about, little one." Hadrian said.
Thalia looked at all of them suspiciously and stood up, moving to follow Aurelius outside despite the advice from the others.
"Why do we even bother?" Hadrian mumbled.
She stepped outside and squinted as the sun just hit her. Aurelius slashed and smashed his shield against a straw dummy, sending the head flying across the field. "What are you doing out here?" he asked as he went back to practicing against the headless dummy.
"What are you doing out here?" she repeated his question back to him.
"I asked you first and what I am doing should be obvious." he replied plainly and she shrugged.
"You're still mad at me still." she stated like it was a fact.
He shook his head, "I'm not." he replied.
She had a look of doubt on her face, "Sure you're not."
A look of frustration crossed his face, "I already said I am not. It is not my problem if you fail to understand that."
She stuck her arms out, "If you're not mad then can I finally get that hug? You did promise that I would get one eventually." she ended with a smirk.
"Eventually does not mean now." Aurelius remarked.
"It's either me constantly asking you if you're still mad at me or you doing this. Your choice." Thalia said, happily giving him the ultimatum.
"I could just lie." he suggested as a way out.
"Yeah, but you won't." Thalia said. "So hug?" she asked again with a faltering smile.
Aurelius looked up at the sky and muttered something in Latin before looking back at her, "You don't ever do that again, do you understand me? When you are with us out there, we are responsible for your safety." he said quietly. "I don't know or care how many times we have to tell you this but I will do it when it is necessary." Thalia blinked and it made Aurelius think she wasn't listening.
"Thalia, do you understand?" he looked at Thalia gravely, waiting for her answer. She gave a nod and he let his head hang, "Good." he finally let out a breath of relief that was building in his chest and finally pulled her into a hug.
"We would lay our life down on the line for any of you should it be required." he whispered in her ear. "Remember that."
"Aurelius, you'll take Darius, Hadrian, and Magnus with you when Jason goes back to Camp Jupiter." Marius instructed and Aurelius snapped his head towards him from where he was watching Thalia and Jason kick sand at each other.
"What?" Aurelius questioned. "We can handle the rest of it." he defended.
"I know that, but the four of you could do with a change of pace." Marius responded calmly. "It will be good for you all to get a break."
"You have got to be kidding me." Aurelius said in frustration.
"Peace, brother." Marcus placated.
"When has a break ever been good for us?" Darius asked.
Marius let out a sigh, "Either way, that is an order." he announced much to the four's displeasure and let it be known by way of their grumbling.
"I guess that means we'll be put on the search for Pan?" Ignatius commented and received a nod back.
"Indeed." and the nine of them turned to see Perseus and Zoë walk up from behind.
"Lord Virtus, Lady Zoë." they greeted immediately.
"Pan's presence will bring with him the rest of the nature spirits." Perseus told them. "And the fact that Zeus has a dislike for him is only a bonus." he added with a smirk.
"How is she?" Zoë asked.
"Appears to be fine. She's not showing any of her usual tell-tale signs of hiding her injuries." Magnus told them and she gave a nod.
"The demigods from the Greek camp have resumed their search. They have brought with them, the clear-sighted mortal to aid in their efforts." Cassius said to the group.
"Do we risk trying to find another clear-sighted mortal or kidnap the one accompanying the campers?" Marcus asked Ignatius.
Cassius turned around to face Ignatius, "I know where we can find a Faun to lead us." he informed.
"Does your idea involve maiming the Faun if they don't cooperate?" Ignatius asked questioningly.
"Indeed it does." Cassius replied confidently, "But I should be able to bribe it so the maiming shouldn't be necessary."
Ignatius nodded, "Then do it." giving the go-ahead.
"You would think that Chiron would know that Quintus is Daedalus considering how many times they've met." Perseus mentioned in passing and rubbed at his forehead.
Zoë smirked, "Perhaps the age is finally getting to him."
Tiberius looked at the two demigods that were behind them, catching a glimpse at Thalia trying to throw sand down Jason's shirt. "Will she be coming with us?" he asked.
Perseus shook his head, "She won't be going anywhere for while if I have anything to say about it." he traded a look with his wife before his gaze returned to the kids. "Besides, there's something she needs to know."
Two days later
Olympus
Twelve bright flashes appeared in the throne room and eleven faces turned to look at who called for them, their eyes immediately landing on an irritated Zeus.
"What?" Zeus said in indignation as he felt all eyes suddenly on him.
"What do you mean what?" Poseidon responded in frustration. "What do you want this time?" he asked.
"How should I know?!" Zeus angrily yelled. "You're the one who wanted to waste my time." he replied and Poseidon looked baffled.
Apollo leaned over to Hermes, "Dude, is he retarded more than usual?" he whispered and Hermes shrugged.
"Why would I waste my time on you? I barely arrive to your regular summons on time as it is." Poseidon said and rubbed at his temples to soothe the head-pain he felt was incoming.
"You called us here, Zeus." Demeter seemingly reminded and he looked around to see the other Olympians nodding their heads in agreement.
"I wasn't even here to begin with." Zeus grit out and Hera snapped her eyes up to him from where she was picking at her nails.
"And where were you exactly?" Hera asked with a narrowed gaze.
"As much as we would all like to know where he was." Apollo's voice dripped with sarcasm and he looked to Hermes.
"We would much rather know who summoned us here?" Hermes continued.
"It wasn't me." Hephaestus told them.
"Nor me." Demeter said.
"I don't care enough." Dionysus mumbled out.
"We were doing something." Ares and Aphrodite said at the same time with the former eyeing the latter up and down suggestively, making Hermes retch.
"I wasn't responsible for this." Athena spoke out.
Artemis shook her head, "I was holding a meeting with my hunters."
"Hermes and I were out partying." Apollo said.
"Don't even look at me." Hera muttered.
"Amphitrite and I were having an argument before this." Poseidon sighed.
"Hestia, did you see anything?" Demeter asked her and before Hestia could say anything, they were interrupted by a voice that brought out a myriad of emotions within them.
"She saw nothing because she was supposed to see nothing." and the ichor running through their veins stilled as some of them felt like the air was knocked out of them.
The Master Bolt appeared in Zeus' hand as he leapt out of his throne and frantically scanned the room for signs of him.
The shadows at the corners of the room were pulled towards the centre of the room, in-front of all of them as the shadows started to form a human silhouette which grew to a godly height.
There might not have been any physical characteristics about the construct that indicated that it was him but they could never forget the amethyst orbs that stared right at them.
"I hope you know that I will look forward to this soon." it said, keeping the message short and found amusement in how it was delivered judging by how the construct's lips were upturned slightly. A bright blue flash filled the room as Zeus launched his symbol of power towards the construct and they all saw how the construct just stood there before it held one hand up and stopped the zooming bolt of lightning in its tracks.
It shook its head and clicked its tongue almost disapprovingly. "Time is ticking and you five are nearly out." it said before the shadows melted away. A bright blue flash filled the room as the bolt hit the empty spot where the construct stood mere moments ago.
Zeus stared at the crater made and rage soon overtook his entire being. "GET OUT! ALL OF YOU GET OUT!" he yelled fiercely and the other four departed for the Underworld while the others left for anywhere else to avoid the oncoming storm.
"The throne is mine." Zeus muttered to himself as he collapsed on the edge of his throne and held his head in one hand while the other grasped the Master Bolt tightly. "It's mine. It's mine. All mine. All of it is mine. The throne is all mine." he repeated to himself.
AN: Thanks to rxl6420 for giving me an idea while I was writing this chapter. Anyway, bit of a longer chapter to make up for the time it took to get it out. Haven't even started the next chapter to be honest but I'll get on it soon. No promises on updates this time.
Also, if you're wondering why Jason would bet drachmae, it's because he carries Greek currency while Thalia carries Roman currency for whenever either of them feel like betting on something and making the other rich and as to how they get it? That's simple enough.
