Usual AN at the bottom.
Word count: 8685
Chapter-6 The Rain, The Mother, and The Bull-Man
In the end, three brothers had to stop arguing when Sally started reading.
"Chapter-4 My Mother Teaches Me Bullfighting." Sally frowned at the title again.
"Uh… Mom?" Percy started. "I think it would be best if you don't read this chapter."
"Why not?" Sally asked, dread pooling her stomach.
"Oh, you'll see." Percy laughed nervously as he tucked the book out of her hands, giving it to her girlfriend.
His girlfriend raised an eyebrow, "And why can't you read?"
"Because I don't want to?"
"Are you asking me or telling me?"
"Telling you?"
Annabeth raised an eyebrow as the rest of them snickered.
In a moment of confidence, Octavian loudly declared- "I'll read."
When all the eyes in the room landed on him, he wasn't so confident anymore.
"I'll read?" He squeaked.
"What's up with everyone just asking questions?" Reyna asked. "Ugh! Now I'm doing it."
Sally looked at the trembling boy and smiled encouragingly. "I don't believe you introduced yourself before."
The Augur gave a terrified squeak in response.
"He's just Octavian." Thalia said shrewdly. "You don't need to know him, Aunt Sally."
"JUST OCTAVIAN?" The blond in question screeched. "I am First Cohort's Centurion, the most prestigious Cohort in Twelfth Legion! The Augur of Camp Jupiter! I am a legacy of Apollo blessed with the gift of prophecy!"
The sun god winced. The rest of them started.
"I'll read." Reyna said quietly.
"But-"
Octavian was cut off by a harsh glare.
"Take this as your warning, Centurion." Daughter of Bellona said calmly.
So naturally, it came off as a petrifying death threat to the Augur. It didn't help that the moment he had opened his mouth, everyone else had started radiating their killer intent.
'What am I getting a warning for?' He wanted to ask but wisely kept his mouth shut this time.
Annabeth passed on the book to Reyna as she warily watched the Stoll brothers whispering furiously among themselves.
"I'm not going to repeat the chapter name again." Reyna muttered before she started reading.
We tore through the night … she kept her foot on the gas.
"That's how you should drive." Ares nodded in approval.
Every time there was a flash of lightning … insane, or if he was wearing some kind of shag-carpet trousers.
"Shag-carpet trousers!" Travis exclaimed.
Connor turned towards his brother, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
They both exchanged a grin that would have teachers screaming 'No, you don't!' and sending them to detention even if they don't do anything.
Reyna cleared her throat with a pointed glare at the brothers.
But, no, the smell was … field trips to the petting zoo – lanolin, like from wool.
The smell of a wet barnyard animal.
All I could think to say was, 'So, you and my mum… know each other?'
"Nice ice-breaker." Thalia rolled her eyes.
"To be fair, what else was I supposed to say?" Percy defended himself.
Before Thalia could reply Reyna continued reading but not before throwing them the same glare she directed towards Stolls. Because Reyna does not appreciate being interrupted.
Grover's eyes flitted to the rear view mirror … we've never met in person. But she knew I was watching you.'
"I did know someone was watching you." Sally confirmed.
"That's kind of stalkerish now that you think of it." Piper muttered.
'Watching me?'
'Keeping tabs on you. Making sure you were okay … he added hastily. 'I am your friend.'
"Of course he is." Percy nodded sagely.
'Um… what are you, exactly?'
"That's rude, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth scolded her boyfriend.
"Sorry!" Son of Poseidon raised his hands in surrender. "But it's already happened."
He got two glares directed at him. One from his girlfriend and one from the person reading.
'That doesn't matter right now.'
'It doesn't matter? From the waist down, my best friend is a donkey-'
"Donkey?" Dionysus looked up from his magazine, scandalized.
"Only you, Percy!" Stoll brothers laughed.
"That is quite rude, Percy." Sally scolded lightly.
"I know," The green-eyed youth groaned. "But it has already happened."
"Be glad Coach Hedge isn't here." Nico said.
"Hn. Fauns are half goat." Octavian for some reason thought it would be wise to open his mouth. "Even toddlers know that."
Perhaps remembering what had happened the previous times he had tried to bestow his sagely wisdom or the last time made some comments on fauns, he immediately tried to shrink on the couch. And tried even harder, when he felt everybody's gaze on him.
"Did he just…?" Connor started.
"Say something..?" His brother continued.
"Sensible?" Leo ended and three of them high-fived.
"Are we sure he's real?" Frank asked.
Everyone else nodded, their brows furrowed, and looks of genuine curiosity and concern plastered across their faces.
"I'll go check!" Piper exclaimed cheerfully as she walked over to the Augur. Naturally, the sight of her walking towards him, left him shaking.
Piper did the third thing that came to her mind to see if he was real. She slapped him. Hard.
The first thing she thought was to kill him. The second thing she thought was to sucker punch him into next week. But she couldn't kill him because if he turned out to be real by some miracle, it would complicate things. And she couldn't sucker punch him because as obtuse as Her Annoying Bovine Majesty was she did have a point when she said Octavian shouldn't be sleeping throughout the reading. Hence, the third-best thing.
Smack!
Piper frowned as she flexed her fingers, "Well, he seems solid enough. So he's definitely not a ghost."
"But he could still be an imposter." Hazel pointed out.
What proceeded was everyone slapping Octavian, claiming they are not actually hurting him intentionally or unintentionally if they don't even know if he is real. After slapping the blond more than a dozen times, they were still not sure if he was real.
"Isn't this all a little too much?" Sally asked. "Satyrs being half-goat isn't exactly a secret."
It was too much. Obviously, anyone who lived in their world would know satyrs are half goats. Even dumb people like Octavian.
"But he's Octavian!" Percy exclaimed. "He murders everyone's pet pillows and blackmails them into voting for him!"
"You're still not over that?" Rachel rolled her eyes. ("Don't insult Perry like that! Octavian murdered him brutally!" Percy wailed.)
"He tried to kill Leo to stop him from trying to kill Gaea." Nico added. "Because he thought she would kill all Greeks but not a single Roman."
"And he-" Frank was cut off by Zeus.
"Hold it!" He thundered. "Gaea?"
"Wait, he tries to kill me?" Leo asked. "Does he succeed?"
Hermes sigh. "Seriously, what's up with everyone asking so many questions? Which I'm doing now."
"Yes, Valdez, he does kill you." Nico answered calmly.
Everyone aside from Stolls, Rachel, Annabeth, Percy, Thalia, and Nico gasp.
"Leo dies?" Piper repeats, disbelief coloring her voice.
"But-but I'm too hot to die!" Leo mumbles.
"It's true!" Percy sighs dramatically. "We mourned for weeks!"
Annabeth sigh as Thalia and Rachel try to hide their growing grins. Stolls decided to join in with Nico and Percy to add some more dramatics. Zeus and most other gods were ignored as the king of the gods kept on yelling something about not being ignored.
Sally frowns, confused. 'If one of Percy's friends really died, he wouldn't be joking around like this. But he also won't joke around about said friend's death. Something must have happened.'
Reyna, Frank, and Hazel arrived at the same conclusion. But Jason and Piper did not. Neither did Hephaestus. But that was probably because of them not knowing him for that long.
"Oh, if I could only kill you." The blacksmith glowered.
Piper and Jason, in all their murderous glory, stood in front of Octavian. Leo was still mumbling something about being too hot to die.
"You-you can't hurt me!" Octavian cried as he clutched the note from Fates. "Fates have said you can't hurt legacies!"
"Yes but that note was only addressed to gods and goddesses, not demigods or mortals." Jason pointed out as he cracked his knuckles.
"Try reading the note again." Piper suggested with a charming smile that promised death. She was quite happy that she picked it up from Annabeth when she saw the blond break into a cold sweat.
Dear gods and goddesses,
You are not allowed to kill or hurt any of the gods, goddesses, demigods, or their legacies. This includes throwing dangerous weapons around like toys because of some tantrums.
Fates
"It's true." Frank muttered. "We don't need to keep coming up with excuses to beat him up."
"You knew about this all along?" Percy cried. "Bro, why didn't you tell me?"
"Just like Thalia." Apollo noted.
Jason was about to reply but Annabeth cut in. "Jason, Piper, calm down. Leo dies but he comes back to life. Save the beating for later."
"Leo comes back to life?" Piper asked, wide-eyed. "How?"
"The questions again." Rachel sigh.
"Physician's Cure." Annabeth answered Piper.
Hephaestus sigh in relief and made a mental note to send flowers and the latest model of Hephaestus TV set to Apollo's son.
"Aha!" Leo exclaimed. "I knew I was too hot to die!"
"PHYSICIAN'S CURE?!" Zeus thundered as he turned towards Apollo. "This all your son's fault!"
"Cheating death." Hades said darkly. "I knew it was a mistake to let Zeus make Asclepius a god."
"If what the demigods are saying is true then my son saved us all by helping others kill Gaea!" Hephaestus protested. "A deed worthy of a hero! Why shouldn't he be revived?"
"That's right," Apollo said quickly. "It isn't Asclepius's fault!"
"I agree with them, Zeus." Poseidon said calmly, knowing it would get on his brother's nerves. "The boy deserves a reward. If grandmother somehow woke up, giants must have been revived too. And if I remember correctly, after the Giant war, you made Dionysus a god, an Olympian no less. So what does it matter if the boy was revived?"
"Unless the favoritism only extends to your children." Hades took the opening his brother left.
"That isn't true!" Zeus frowned.
"Really? You turned Thalia into a tree so she wouldn't die." Hades pointed out. "And made Jason," He waved towards the Jason present in the room. "Hera's champion so she wouldn't kill him."
"And you offered immortality so many of your demigod children. Heracles, Dionysus, Britomartis, and need I go on?" Poseidon asked innocently.
"Britomartis wasn't me!" The king of gods protested. "That was Artemis."
"You didn't let me offer immortality Theseus." Poseidon countered.
Dionysus frowned at the hero's name. "He didn't deserve it."
"And Heracles did?"
"Heracles was a true hero!" Zeus cried.
"He had his fair share of transgressions and you know it."
"What about Minos?" Hades quipped up. "Despite his horrible actions you forced me to make him one of the Judges of the Dead."
Everyone watched as Poseidon and Hades, once again, ganged up on Zeus.
"How the Hera did they get that distracted?" Piper asked. "I thought the point was about Octavian killing Leo and him coming back to life."
"No, the original topic was Octavian's stupidity." Percy points out. "Leo's death was something Nico bought up."
"Ignore them." Hermes advised.
Annabeth sigh, "Jason, Piper, as I was saying, save your anger. There will be plenty more time you will want to kill Octavian."
"We can have a little sparring match after lunch to vent out." Hazel suggested.
"That is an excellent idea." Reyna approved as a mummer of agreement rose up.
"Last problem." Thalia pointed towards Octavian. "Are we sure he's real?"
Gods and demigods alike sweatdropped as they looked at the sobbing blond who was looking at the piece of paper clutched in his hand with a betrayed expression.
"Yeah," Nico said. "I think that's him."
"So how long do their arguments usually last?" Sally asked taking everything in a stride and looking at the still yelling brothers.
"They should be done soon enough." Artemis sigh and punched her brother on the head as he started making another flirtatious comment.
"If only they'd eat more cereal…" Demeter grumbled, shooting Hades a stink eye.
Just as Artemis predicted, the tree brothers quieted down soon enough. Reyna took the opportunity to start reading again before the three of them could get ready for round two of their argument.
'It doesn't matter? From the waist down, my best friend is a donkey-'
Reyna quickly glared at everyone to make sure nobody interrupted her again.
Grover let out a sharp, throaty 'Blaa-ha-ha!'
I'd heard him make that sound … assumed it was a nervous laugh. Now I realized it was … an irritated bleat.
'Goat!' he cried.
'What?'
'I'm a goat from the waist down.'
'You just said it didn't matter.'
Everyone snickered.
"You see Percy, it stated mattering when…" Travis grinned.
"You called a satyr a half donkey." Connor finished.
Percy groaned, "I get it already! But I didn't know all that stuff back then!"
'Blaa-ha-ha! There are satyrs who would trample you under hoof for such an insult!'
"Coach Hedge would." Jason agreed.
"No." Leo shook his head mournfully. "He would make you do a hundred pushups and hundred sit-ups and then he would trample you."
"All the while calling you a cupcake," Nico added darkly.
"And waving his baseball bat and trying to imitate Chuck Norris." Piper continued.
"And singing his own violence-filled version of Pokémon theme song." Frank remembered all the times he had caught him singing that.
Percy shuddered at the thought. Needless to say, he was very happy that Coach Hedge wasn't sitting there with them.
"Who is Coach Hedge?" Sally looked at his son's pale face.
"He is a very scary and violent hundred years old satyr who like yell 'die', wave his baseball bat, watch cage matches, and blow things up all the while calling everyone 'cupcake'." Percy answered. "Well, not a hundred, he's older than that but whatever."
"That is a very accurate description." Leo nodded sagely.
Before anyone could say anything else, Reyna started reading.
'Whoa. Wait. Satyrs. You mean like… Mr Brunner's myths?'
'Were those old ladies … a myth, Percy? Was Mrs Dodds a myth?'
'So you admit there was a Mrs Dodds!'
'Of course.'
'Then why-'
'The less you knew, the fewer monsters you'd attract … be perfectly obvious.
"In all fairness," Thalia muttered. "It should be."
Artemis nodded.
'We put Mist over the humans' eyes … no good. You started to realize who you are.'
"To be honest," Percy said. "I don't think I did."
"You did, you started realizing that unconsciously." His girlfriend explained.
'Who I – wait a minute, what do you mean?'
"That must have been confusing." Hazel said sympathetically.
The weird bellowing noise rose up … chasing us was still on our trail.
Sally shifted uneasily and took comfort in the fact her son was sitting right in front of her, alive and unharmed.
'Percy,' my mom said, 'there's … not enough time. We have to get you to safety.'
'Safety from what? Who's after me?'
'Oh, nobody much,' Grover said … Just the Lord of the Dead and a few of his blood-thirstiest minions.'
Sally inhaled sharply. Nico sigh. Poseidon side-eyed his brother dangerously.
Hades offered his brother a blank look which could be translated from 'I was angry you broke the oath and wanted revenge.' to 'Don't get mad at me. We're supposed to gang up on Zeus, remember? Not the other way around!'
Reyna ignored them all and continued reading.
'Grover!'
'Sorry, Mrs Jackson. Could you drive faster, please?'
I tried to wrap my mind around what was happening … I had no imagination. I could never dream up something this weird.
"For some reason," Annabeth looked at her boyfriend with an amused smile. "I highly doubt that."
Percy raised his hands in surrender as the rest of them laughed.
My mom made a hard left … PICK YOUR OWN STRAWBERRIES signs on white picket fences.
Sally sigh in relief. "Camp Half-Blood."
Everyone who had been to the camp before smiled.
'Where are we going?' I asked.
'The summer camp I told you about.' My mother's voice … place your father wanted to send you.'
'The place you didn't want me to go.'
'Please, dear … Try to understand. You're in danger.'
'Because some old ladies cut yarn.'
Reyna paused and looked at Percy in disbelief. "You make it sound so simple. So harmless."
"I know, right?!" Percy beamed.
"I didn't mean it that way."
"You're the one who told me to be more optimistic!"
"But he's right." Connor said.
"Everyone's panicking because…" Travis began.
"Some old ladies cut yarn!" They both ended in unison.
Rachel whacked them both on the head and turned to Leo to ask about her weaponized blue hairbrush's progress. Octavian whimpered at the mention of the deadly weapon.
Annabeth shook her head fondly as Thalia said, grinning- "That's just so like you, Kelp Head."
Anyone who paid close enough attention would notice how their smiles were the tiniest bit strained.
'Those weren't old ladies,' Grover said. 'Those were the Fates … They only do that when you're about to… when someone's about to die.'
"Way to mess up, Goat Boy." Thalia smiled drily.
'Whoa. You said "you".'
"Of course you'd pick that up." Annabeth rolled her eyes.
'No I didn't. I said "someone".'
'You meant "you". As in me.'
'I meant you, like "someone". Not you, you.'
"Wait, did anyone understand that?" Apollo asked.
"And he's the god of poetry." Artemis mumbled under her breath.
"I didn't understand that either." Travis said.
"He said 'you' but meant it in 'someone' way?" Connor asked.
"He didn't mean it in 'you, you' form." Leo's statement came off more like a question.
"Never mind all that!" Apollo smiled cheerfully. "I feel a haiku coming on!"
"NO!" Every single occupant of the room shouted (except Octavian- he gave another terrified squeak).
Apollo pouted. Reyna continued reading.
'Boys!' my mom said.
She pulled the wheel … a dark fluttering shape now lost behind us in the storm.
"Which monster is it?" Sally asked dejectedly, almost not wanting to know the answer.
"You'll see." Percy laughed nervously, the same way he did when he took the book from her and gave it to Annabeth.
"This is the reason you didn't want me reading this chapter, isn't it?"
"Maybe. But don't worry! I kill the monster and nobody dies!"
"Nobody dies?" Annabeth asked with an innocent smile.
They both exchange a knowing glance.
Sally thinks back to the chapter title.
My Mom Teaches Me Bullfighting.
Bullfighting.
Sally could only think of several monsters that could somehow relate to bulls but a few stuck out. And she could only hope she was wrong.
'What was that?' I asked.
'We're almost there,' my mother said … Another mile. Please. Please. Please.'
"Mom!" Percy exclaimed. "You broke the first Law of Percy Jackson!"
"What?" Sally raised an eyebrow.
"You know, never jinx yourself!"
"First law of Percy Jackson, Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth asked. "You're naming that after yourself?"
"Yeah, it should be First Law of Being a Demigod or something." Thalia said.
"No!" Leo exclaimed. "We'll call it First Law of Leo Bad Boy Supreme Super-sized McShizzle Flaming Valdez!"
"It's too long, Repair Boy." Piper rolled her eyes.
"And no one's ever going call you that either." Jason added.
"But I am the one who created it!" Percy protested. "So I get to name it!"
"Don't be so self-centered, Percy." Frank grinned.
"Well, I already created and named it." Percy huffed. "The First Law of Percy Jackson: never jinx yourself."
"So is there a second law too?" Hazel asked.
Gods watched on in amazement as demigods, yet again, completely and readily ignored them.
Unfortunately, Hazel didn't get her answer because Reyna started reading again.
I didn't know where there was … anticipating, wanting us to arrive.
Outside, nothing but rain and darkness … I thought about Mrs Dodds … She really hadn't been human. She'd meant to kill me.
Then I thought about Mr Brunner… and the sword he had thrown me.
Before I could ask Grover about that … There was a blinding flash, a jaw-rattling boom! and our car exploded.
"What?" Poseidon panicked. "What happened?"
I remember feeling weightless, like I was being crushed, fried and hosed down all at the same time.
"Do you have to be so descriptive?" Hazel asked.
Percy sigh, "I didn't write the book."
I peeled my forehead off the back of the driver's seat and said, 'Ow.'
'Percy!' my mom shouted.
'I'm okay…'
I tried to shake off the daze … The car hadn't really exploded. We'd swerved into a ditch.
"How?" Poseidon demanded to no one in particular.
Sally clutched her son's hand.
Our driver's-side doors were wedged … open like an eggshell and rain was pouring in.
God of the ocean narrowed his eyes.
Lightning ... We'd been blasted right off the road.
"ZEUS!" Poseidon yelled at the top of his lungs. "HOW DARE YOU!"
"WELL, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT ME TO DO?" King of gods yelled back. "YOU BROKE THE OATH!"
"SO DID YOU!" God of Ocean raged. "TWICE!"
Hades wanted to join in and yell at Zeus too but kept out of it because he knew he must have been the one to send the monster after his nephew.
Hera alternated glaring between her husband, Thalia, and Percy.
Other gods and goddesses sigh and shook their heads in resignation.
Sally clutched her son's hand so hard Percy was sure he would have to get it checked by Apollo after the chapter.
'He's fine. He's safe.' She kept chanting in her mind to assure herself.
Nico leaned over to Reyna and whispered, "I think you should continue reading. Otherwise, they'll keep going on forever."
Next to me in the backseat was a big motionless lump. 'Grover!'
He was slumped over, blood trickling from the side of his mouth … half barnyard animal, you're my best friend and I don't want you to die!'
"I don't even know if that's rude or sweet." Hermes said.
"Let's go with sweet." Percy suggested.
Then he groaned, 'Food,' and I knew there was hope.
Everyone burst out laughing and the tension eased down.
"Goat Boy." Thalia smiled fondly.
'Percy,' my mother said, 'we have to…' Her voice faltered.
I looked back. In a flash of lightning … figure lumbering towards us on the shoulder of the road.
And the tension was back.
Sally looked over to her son to console herself that he was alive and safe.
The sight of it made my skin crawl. It was a dark silhouette … His upraised hands made it look like he had horns.
Sally now had a good idea of who the monster was and was desperately wishing to be wrong.
A few other gods who seemed to be thinking along the same lines looked just as worried.
Hades sigh.
I swallowed hard. 'Who is –'
'Percy,' my mother said, deadly serious. 'Get out of the car.'
My mother threw herself against the driver's-side door … hole in the roof. It might've been an exit, but the edges were sizzling and smoking.
"Don't go that way." Leo advised.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious." Percy smiled.
"No problem, Water Boy."
Percy's eye twitched at the nickname.
Unfortunately, Reyna started reading and he didn't get to retort back.
'Climb out the passenger's side! … Do you see that big tree?'
"Hey look, Thalia, you're mentioned." Nico teases his cousin.
'What?'
Another flash of lightning … a huge, White House Christmas-tree-sized pine at the crest of the nearest hill.
"Flattering description, Kelp Head." Thalia commented drily. "Thanks."
"I try." Percy thanked.
"Grover was scrawny and cripple and Thalia is a big Christmas Tree." Annabeth looked at her boyfriend. "You better give me a good description, Seaweed Brain."
"I'm sure I will but in case I don't, just try to remember I didn't write this book?" 'Seaweed Brain' requested.
"I'll try." Daughter of Athena smiled innocently. "But no promises."
"Will you judo flip me if I don't?"
"Maybe."
Reyna cleared her throat. "If two are done flirting, I'd like to continue."
Aphrodite was squealing while Athena was visibly trying her best not to kill 'sea spawn'. Stoll and Thalia were pretending to gag while Hazel averted her eyes from the public show of affection.
Sally took a moment to appreciate how happy her son seemed.
'That's the property line,' my mom said … Yell for help. Don't stop until you reach the door.'
"Not gonna happen." Frank muttered.
Hazel nodded. "He wouldn't leave Grover or Mrs. Jackson behind."
"Just call me Sally, dear." Sally smiled at the daughter of Pluto.
'Mom, you're coming, too.'
"So predictable." Rachel sigh.
Her face was pale, her eyes as sad as when she looked at the ocean.
'No!' I shouted. 'You are coming with me. Help me carry Grover.'
'Food!' Grover moaned, a little louder.
The man with the blanket … snorting noises.
And the tension was back full force.
As he got closer, I realized … was his head. And the points that looked like horns…
"Please don't tell me it's Minotaur." Sally turned to her son wide-eyed.
"Uh… it is, actually." Percy mumbled almost inaudibly but Sally caught it anyway.
He continued, louder. "Don't worry, don't worry! It's fine, he gets stabbed by his own horn and dies."
"Hades." Poseidon doesn't yell but his voice sends a chill down everyone's spines. "You sent Minotaur after my son?"
"I haven't done it yet," Hades replies calmly. "And I have every right to be angry. Both you and Zeus broke the oath that you two forced me to take."
"Fair enough." Poseidon grits out. "But sending Minotaur after a twelve-year-old?"
"Dad, Uncle Hades had a good reason to be angry." Percy interjects. "Even other than the oath."
"But-"
"No, trust me, you'll see. And besides, mom, Grover, and I are still alive. We don't die."
Poseidon frowns but accepts the answer. Hades looks at his nephew curiously.
Sally purses her lips, not sure how to feel.
Worried that her baby could be hurt or worse- killed by those monsters?
Scornful that he will have to keep on fighting just to survive?
Shameful that her selfish decision to keep him close to her nearly got him multiple times?
Sad that her son has gone through so much that he can talk about killing Minotaur at age of twelve so nonchalantly?
Angry that the same god who allowed them to give Gabe his harsh punishment sends monsters to kill her precious son?
Grateful that he doesn't hate or blame her for his difficult life?
Happy that he finally looks like he found his place despite the dangers?
Proud that he's so strong and kind?
Percy squeezes her hand and gives his signature carefree lop-sided grin.
"Don't worry, mom." He said. "Nobody dies, except the Minotaur."
Sally smiles despite herself. "I'm your mom, I'll always worry about you."
Percy's grin widens and he offers her the miraculously-not-finished jelly beans bag. "I saved a few blue ones."
Sally chuckled as she accepted the offer. 'For now, I think I'll settle on being proud.'
Reyna looked at them and silently asked if she should give them a few more minutes. Sally shook her head and motioned for her to continue reading.
'He doesn't want us,' my mother told me. 'He wants you. Besides, I can't cross the property line.'
'But…'
'We don't have time, Percy. Go. Please.'
I got mad, then – mad at my mother, at Grover the goat,
Tension in the air eased down again as everyone started laughing.
at the thing … lumbering towards us slowly and deliberately like, like a bull.
I climbed across Grover … 'We're going together. Come on, Mom.'
'I told you-'
'Mom! I am not leaving you. Help me with Grover.'
"Your fatal flaw," Athena said suddenly. "It's personal loyalty, isn't it?"
Percy nodded.
"That's an admirable flaw to have." Demeter praised, without any mention of cereal much to everyone's surprise.
"And dangerous." Zeus added, glaring at the son of Poseidon.
"Why is loyalty dangerous?" Hazel asked.
"A person having fatal flaw of personal loyalty would go to any lengths necessary to save a friend." Athena answered. "Even if it means sacrificing the world."
"Say in a war, if he isn't prepared to make the decisions needed, the entire tide of battle could go sideways." Ares explained. "An enemy could easily take advantage of that."
"It is still a virtuous flaw." Aphrodite insisted.
"The most dangerous flaws are good in moderation." Hera patronized.
Percy's eye twitched as he remembered how Athena had said the same thing to him all those years ago.
Reyna took one look at Percy's face and knew he was going to say or do something very stupid and land himself in trouble. A quick exchange of glance with Annabeth confirmed her suspicions. So she started reading before anyone could make any further comments and threw a You-Can-Thank-Me-Later look towards Percy.
I didn't wait for her answer … I couldn't have carried him very far if my mom hadn't come to my aid.
Together, we draped Grover's arms … through wet waist-high grass.
"Does anyone cut it?" Demeter asked before adding- "They all need to eat more cereal!"
Glancing back, I got my first clear look … triceps and a bunch of other 'ceps, all stuffed like baseballs under vein-webbed skin.
There were a few raised eyebrows and shudders at the description.
He wore no clothes except underwear – I mean, bright white Fruit-of-the-Looms,
"Are you kidding me?" Thalia's jaw dropped open.
She wasn't the only one.
"Nope."
Hazel averted her eyes from the book as if it had done something very indecent and fanned her red face.
which would've been funny … got thicker as it reached his shoulders.
His neck was a mass of muscle … cruel black eyes, and horns
"Do you have to be so descriptive?" Hazel asked again, throwing the monster's mental image her traitorous brain conjured up in the mental trash can.
"But I didn't write the book!"
"It's based on your thoughts." Annabeth pointed out.
Percy shut up and started contemplating if he loved or hated that his girlfriend was always right.
enormous black and white horns … points you just couldn't get from an electric sharpener.
"Of course you'd compare it with that." Rachel sigh.
I recognized the monster, all right.
Half the demigods gaped at Percy.
"You…" Connor started.
"Actually…" Travis continued.
"Recognized…" Leo joined in.
"It?" They all ended together.
"Hey, I'm not that stupid!" Percy protested. "How many other monsters are there with the top half of a bull?"
Everyone in the room started at Percy.
"What is wrong with everyone today?" Rachel cried. "First Octavian says something sensible and now Percy too?"
"Don't lump me in with that idiot!"
"Ah, my bad! Even you're not that stupid."
"I'm not stupid at all!"
"Seaweed Brain," Annabeth cut in. "You couldn't tell the difference between hubris and humus."
Athena looked scandalized. 'I will kill the scum! No, I will turn him into a cockroach! He doesn't deserve to be in the same country as my daughter! He is so stupid!'
"Annie, I think you're setting the bar a little high there." said Thalia.
"Fine. How about when you tried to fit your sand dollar in a vending machine in the school cafeteria? Or when you called Grover half donkey?"
"About the Grover thing, I told you I was in shock and I know satyrs are half goat!" Percy hid his face in his hands. "And I didn't know what the Hera I was supposed to do with that sand dollar, okay?"
"You said Lord Poseidon said that you would know when to spend it."
"But he also said that I could buy stuff with it!"
"Yes, he gave you the sand dollar so you could buy snacks."
"Come on! I knew I shouldn't have told you about that."
Hera's eye was twitching at her name being used as a curse once again. Poseidon was looked lost. Aphrodite was squealing something about her new OTP and Athena was once again visibly restraining herself from killing the sea spawn. Demigods were looking at the bickering couple with varying expressions.
"They are doing it again." Nico sigh.
"Can they read each other's mind?" Hazel asked.
Reyna sigh in resignation that she was going to be kept interrupted no matter what. 'I am not volunteering to read again.'
He had been in … stories Mr Brunner told us. But he couldn't be real.
I blinked the rain out of my eyes. 'That's –'
'Pasiphae's son,' my mother said.
Gods looked at Sally approvingly.
"You've done your research." Athena noted.
'I wish I'd known how badly they want to kill you.'
'But a he's a min-'
'Don't say his name,' she warned. 'Names have power.'
Artemis whacked Apollo on his head before he could come up with some flirtatious haiku.
"If only I could have found you when you were younger…" She said remorsefully.
"You are a smart woman." Athena complimented before turning to glare and yell at Poseidon. "You should have stayed away from her!"
"Mom," Percy called out. "Did dad tell you all the stuff?"
"Some things he told me and others I figured out on my own." Sally answered.
Needless to say, everyone in the room was very impressed.
The pine tree was still way too far –a hundred metres uphill at least.
I glanced behind me again.
The bull-man hunched over our car … why he bothered, since we were only about fifteen metres away.
'Food?' Grover moaned.
'Shhh,' I told him. 'Mom, what's he doing? Doesn't he see us?'
'His sight and hearing are terrible … he'll figure out where we are soon enough.'
Everyone in the room, once again, threw Sally an impressed look as Percy and Poseidon beamed.
Zeus side-eyed his brother's lover. 'How the Hera-er… Hades did he get so lucky?'
'It's rare to find mortals like her. Poseidon was certainly very lucky.' Hades thought.
'If only Uncle Poseidon wasn't in the room, I could flirt with her!' Apollo pouted. 'Who cares? I can flirt with her even now!'
Artemis and Hermes following their brother's train of thought whacked him on the head. Though, Hermes did want to agree with him.
"Don't even think of it." Artemis warned in a dark voice.
Who the warning was directed toward, Hermes and Apollo didn't know, but they both shivered at the threat.
As if on cue, the bull-man bellowed in rage … The gas tank exploded.
Not a scratch, I remembered Gabe saying.
"Oops!" A dozen of people in the room exclaimed.
Reyna rolled her eyes.
Oops.
Laughter filled the room, momentarily lifting the tension.
'Percy,' my mom said … once he's charging. Do you understand?'
"How come you didn't inherit any of your mother's brains?" Thalia teased her cousin.
"Hey!" He complained.
'How do you know all this?'
'I've been worried … I was selfish, keeping you near me.'
"No, you weren't." Percy huffed.
Sally looked at her son. "You don't-"
"Of course I don't blame you!" He answered before she could even finish the question. "You were just worried that I wouldn't want to come back once I go to the camp."
"But because of that, you had to put up with Gabe and-"
"It's not your fault, mom. Gabe was a jerk but you had a good reason to keep him around. It was to protect me, wasn't it?"
"I should have found a better way."
"You did more than enough."
"He's right, Sally." Poseidon spoke up.
Percy and the rest of the demigods and gods nodded in agreement.
A pressure lifted from Sally's chest as the guilt and remorse eating her up waned.
"Thank you." She said sincerely.
'Keeping me near you? But –'
Another bellow of rage, and the bull-man started tromping uphill.
He'd smelled us.
The pine tree … Grover wasn't getting any lighter.
"How inconsiderate of him." Thalia rolled her eyes.
The bull-man closed in. Another few seconds and he'd be on top of us.
My mother must've been exhausted … Remember what I said.'
I didn't want to split up … He reeked like rotten meat.
Most people in the room gagged. Aphrodite turned a sickly shade of green.
He lowered his head and charged, those razor-sharp horns aimed straight at my chest.
Sally tensed.
The fear in my stomach made me want to bolt … I jumped to the side.
Percy's mom sigh in relief.
"I'm glad I'm not reading this chapter." She muttered.
The bull-man stormed past like a freight train … towards my mother, who was setting Grover down in the grass.
Hades frowned. As did all the other gods and goddesses.
"Aren't monsters supposed to ignore mortals?" Frank asked.
"They are." Nico confirmed.
'What's going on here?' Ruler of Underworld thought.
We'd reached the crest of the hill … glowing yellow through the rain. But that was half a mile away.
Sally's heart sank.
We'd never make it.
Reyna looked up from her book to glare at Percy. "Be more optimistic!"
"I was being realistic!"
The bull-man grunted, pawing the ground … trying to lead the monster away from Grover.
"It won't actually attack her, right?" Poseidon asked.
'Run, Percy!' she told me. 'I can't go any further. Run!'
But I just stood there, frozen in fear, as the monster charged her.
Sally's eyes widened.
"What? Why?" God of the ocean panicked. "Why did it go after Sally? She's a mortal!"
She tried to sidestep … she struggled, kicking and pummelling the air.
"But monsters don't attack mortals!"
"Unless they are under special orders." Nico commented casually.
"What?" Poseidon's attention snapped toward his nephew. "You mean someone ordered the Minotaur to go after Sally?"
"Yes."
Poseidon turned toward Hades with a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
"I haven't done it yet." Hades sigh.
'Mom!'
She caught my eyes … as if she were a holographic projection.
A blinding flash, and she was simply… gone.
Sally gasped, staring at the book in disbelief.
"Mom," Percy called out. "Don't worry. You aren't dead. You don't die."
She turned towards him, "But I just did…"
"No! No, you didn't. Uncle Hades saved you at the last minute. That's why you disappeared in the golden light."
"But if Lord Hades saved me then who ordered the Minotaur to go after me in the first place?"
Percy winced.
Annabeth took over for her boyfriend. "Lord Hades did. Saying he saved you is actually a bit of a stretch. It was more like he captured you."
"Captured me?"
Annabeth nodded as her eyes darkened. "He wanted to use you as a bargaining chip. But Percy's right, you don't die."
"Bargaining chip for what exactly?" Sally's voice suddenly had a sharp edge to it, making her sound almost angry.
"It's the same reason Lord Hades sent the Minotaur after Percy. Other than the oath."
"Well, it wasn't exactly a good reason but it was important." Percy mumbled.
"I see." Sally continued in the same tone.
Turning towards Hades, she said. "It better be a good reason because I do not appreciate being used as a bargaining chip."
To say everyone was surprised would be an understatement.
"It hasn't happened yet." Hades grumbled. "And besides if I hadn't taken you away when I did, the Minotaur certainly would have killed you."
Sally pursed her lips. "Yes, I would thank you for that if I didn't know you did it only to use me as leverage."
Demigods and a few gods were openly looking at her with respect. Every single goddess was smiling.
Before Hades could reply she turned toward Zeus. "I'll take it you won't be sending any monster after my son from this timeline anymore?"
Zeus's eye twitched. 'To be ordered around by a mortal…' "Foolish mortal. You understand nothing. Your son is a danger to us all. The prophecy-"
"Was fulfilled and Olympus survived just fine if these demigods sitting here are anything to go by. And if I'm not mistaken, we're reading about my son's quest and how he saves you all…" Sally started up at him, daring anyone to object.
If people were looking at her with admiration before, they were now positively beaming with awe.
After her guilt was dealt with, the most primary emotions left were worry and anger. Her son had tried to assure her repeatedly, but she knew worrying was something she was never going to stop doing. And that left anger. Anger at the gods who sent monsters to kill her precious little son. At the gods who used her as a bargaining chip.
She wasn't nearly as angry at gods for trying to kill her as she ought to be. That void was filled with acceptance. Perhaps because it hadn't happened to her yet.
"My mom is awesome, isn't she?" Percy whispers loudly.
"We all know she is." Thalia agreed. 'I can also see where that sass come from.'
"Yup." And "Yes, she is." Echoed all around the room.
Octavian just squeaked in terror.
All the gods were staring at Sally and wondering 'HOW IN TARTARUS DID POSEIDON GET SO LUCKY?'
Goddesses were beaming with pride. Artemis once more regretfully wished for her to have found Sally earlier before joining Hera and Athena in glaring at Poseidon. Aphrodite, Demeter, and Hestia were mostly happy that Zeus and Hades were put in their places (especially Zeus) and by a mortal woman no less.
'Don't look down on us just because we're women.' Reyna thought as she continued reading.
'No!'
Anger replaced my fear … energy I'd got when Mrs Dodds grew talons.
"Adrenalin." Annabeth supplied.
The bull-man bore down on Grover … about to lift Grover up and make him dissolve too.
I couldn't allow that.
Almost everyone smiled at the loyalty displayed.
I stripped off my red rain jacket.
Rachel groaned. "You did not."
"What, RED?" Percy asked innocently. "My rain jacket was red, it always works for bulls."
"Horrible pun." Rachel brandished her weapon as glared at the demigod.
"Sorry! Sorry! Just don't hit me with that."
'HEY!' I screamed, waving the jacket ... 'Hey, stupid! Ground beef!'
Stoll brothers sigh.
"You need to work on your insults, Percy." Travis chided.
'Raaaarrrrr!' The monster turned … shaking his meaty fists.
I had an idea – a stupid idea, but better than no idea at all.
"Why am I not surprised?" Annabeth sigh.
"Not everyone is as smart as you, Wise Girl." Percy grinned cheekily. "We have to make do with what we have."
I put my back to the big pine tree and … jump out of the way at the last moment.
"Hey!" Thalia exclaimed. "He'd run straight into me! Thanks!"
"I'm still confused about the whole you being tree thing." Jason said.
"It comes up in the book." Percy replied.
But it didn't happen like that.
"Of course not."
The bull-man charged too fast … whichever way I tried to dodge.
Sally tensed again.
Time slowed down.
My legs tensed. I couldn't jump sideways … turning in mid-air and landing on his neck.
Many jaws dropped open.
"How did you do that?" Leo asked.
"'cause it was raining, genius." The unexpected voice of Octavian called out.
Realizing what he just did, he shut his mouth shut and covered it with his hands.
Reyna turned towards him thoughtfully.
"Did he seriously just say something sensible again?" Hazel asked with wide eyes.
"CHECK IF THE SKY'S STILL BLUE!" Stolls yelled and rushed towards the massive throne room doors.
"Octavian of the First Cohort." Reyna's calm but commanding voice bought all the attention to her. "You are hereby dismissed as the Augur of Camp Jupiter and Centurion of First Cohort. You will continue to serve the Twelfth Legion Fulminata as a legionnaire."
Octavian's jaw dropped open. "You can't do that!"
"I don't see a reason why I can't. I am the praetor and it is my job to do what is best for the Legion."
"You can't make arbitrary decisions like that! You have to call a Senate meeting!"
"Ah, about that! No, I don't. We here have all our praetors present here…" She waved her hand toward Percy, Jason, and Frank. "You can ask them yourself if they wish to veto my decision."
"Nope, I approve!" Percy grinned.
"So do I." Frank agreed.
"You're dismissed, Octavian." Jason fist-bumped with Reyna.
"No, you still have to call a Senate meeting for the motion to pass! And on what charges am I being demoted?" Octavian tried desperately.
"Praetors are Legion's leaders." Reyna continued in the same calm and now somewhat amused voice. "You see, Octavian, we do not wield all that power just to call Senate meetings for every decision. Just like on a battlefield, we have complete control and it's a legionnaire's duty to follow their praetors every command without hesitation."
"But this isn't a battlefield." The blond legacy looked close to crying.
"No." Reyna accepted. "But this can be seen as a quest, a quest from Fates themselves."
Octavian opened his mouth and closed it. "But-but the camp still needs an augur! And the First Cohort needs a Centurion!"
"Not quite. Till First Cohort elects a new Centurion, Michael Kahale can handle things. And for the augur, we are now on good terms with Greeks and they have their oracle, they will surely warn us if something was coming."
"Yes, they will." Rachel agreed.
Reyna nodded in thanks towards the red-haired girl before turning back towards the now sobbing scrawny blond. "Any further questions?"
"What charges?" He croaked. "What charges am I being dismissed on?"
"Charges?" Reyna's voice turned hard. "How about purposefully attacking and killing one of your fellow Legionnaires?" Gwendolyn "Or ignoring my direct orders not to engage in any conflict with Greeks? You self assumed the title of Pontifex Maximus and tried to kill someone who was trying to defeat our common enemy. But l can ignore the last one. It hasn't happened yet and I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. But what about you blackmailing legionnaires into supporting you for the position of praetor? That's a misuse of your position. And don't deny any of that, we have proof."
Octavian had nothing to say to that.
He noisily burst into tears of shame and acceptance as the Stoll brothers walk back in.
"We checked the sky." Connor said sounding almost disappointed.
"It's still blue." Travis shared their observations.
They looked at the brawling blond and asked, "Why is he crying?"
"He got demoted." answered Annabeth.
"It was brutal." Nico added.
Hazel nodded in agreement. "To Romans, being demoted like that- being demoted at all- is the worst thing that can happen to them. Though, he deserved it."
"Brutal, indeed." Hades muttered under his breath.
Gods almost felt sorry for the blond. Almost.
"Now then, let's continue reading." Said Reyna, finding the sentence where she left off as if she did not just give one of the harshest punishment you could possibly give to a Roman.
She mentally patted herself on the back. It was the first time she had beat Octavian at wordplay.
How did I do that? … nearly knocked my teeth out.
"Thanks a lot!" said Thalia cheerfully, her tone and the look in her eyes not matching up.
The bull-man staggered around … The rain was in my eyes.
Octavian was too miserable to even feel the satisfaction of being right.
The smell of rotten meat burned my nostrils.
The sick shade of green was back on Aphrodite's face.
The monster shook himself … just backed up into the tree and smashed me flat
Thalia did not sound pleased at the suggestion.
but I was starting to realize that this thing had only one gear: forward.
Meanwhile, Grover started groaning … if I opened my mouth I'd bite my own tongue off.
"Don't yell." Sally clutched Percy's hand again.
'Food!' Grover moaned.
The bull-man wheeled towards him … I pulled backwards with all my might.
The monster tensed, gave a surprised grunt, then – snap!
For the millionth time that day, jaws dropped open.
"That brat couldn't have…" Ares looked at the book in disbelief.
"Bro, did you just break the Minotaur's horn?" asked Jason.
"Please," Rachel sigh. "Stop with all the questions."
"Yes, I did, bro." Percy bro-fist bumped with Jason.
Piper and Annabeth shot Reyna a panicked look. 'Read! Before they can get started again!'
Reyna complied.
The bull-man screamed … horn in my hands, a ragged bone weapon the size of a knife.
The monster charged.
Without thinking, I rolled to one side and came up kneeling.
"Rain." said Annabeth. "Demigod reflexes are good but they aren't that good."
"Does that mean he would have died if it wasn't raining?" asked Thalia.
Annabeth shrugged.
Octavian gave a squeak that could have meant 'I told you so' or 'Please promote me again'.
Reyna shot him a glare. The message came through clearly- Shut up or die.
Former augur of Camp Jupiter very barely suppressed a terrified shriek.
As the monster barrelled past, I drove the broken horn straight into his side, right up under his furry rib cage.
The bull-man roared in agony … the same way Mrs Dodds had burst apart.
Sally relaxed and gave a proud smile to her son.
"I can't believe you just defeated the Minotaur without any training!" Hermes exclaimed. "That was awesome!"
"I'm proud of you, son!" Poseidon beamed.
"All brawls and no brains." Athena crossed her arm, refusing to acknowledge a son of Poseidon. Zeus followed her suit.
Ares was still staring at the book in disbelief.
Compliments kept rolling in until Reyna cleared her throat deliberately and glared at everyone. "The chapter isn't over yet."
Without waiting for anyone's reply she continued reading.
The monster was gone.
The rain had stopped.
"Figures."
The storm still rumbled … My head felt like it was splitting open.
"You did hit your head on that rock." Apollo pointed out.
I was weak and scared and trembling with grief … I held on to Grover – I wasn't going to let him go.
"You're a good friend, Percy." Sally said. "I'm proud of you!"
Percy blushed and muttered thanks.
"We all are very lucky to have you as our friend, Percy." Hazel smiled.
Cheers of agreement rose up.
The last thing I remember is … a pretty girl, her blonde hair curled like a princess.
Aphrodite squealed. "Who is it?"
Annabeth, realizing who her boyfriend was talking about, tried to keep her blush under control. She leaned over and quickly pecked a kiss on her boyfriend's cheek.
"Does that mean I won't be judo flipped?"
"Yes, you passed."
They both looked down at me, and the girl said, 'He's the one. He must be.'
Aphrodite suddenly narrowed her eyes. "She better not get in the way of Percabeth."
Both Percy and Annabeth groaned.
'Silence, Annabeth,' the man said. 'He's still conscious. Bring him inside.'
Ringing silence reigned the room before demigods burst into laughter. Aphrodite started squealing and Athena was very casually and very inconspicuous twirling her spear.
The couple in question blushed and tried to avoid their friends' teasing looks.
"In my defense," Percy muttered. "I probably had a concussion and Annabeth is very pretty."
"So you had a crush on her the first time you saw her." Thalia grinned and turned her attention to the daughter of Athena. "And what's your excuse, Annie? 'He's the one. He must me.' Knew he was gonna be your boyfriend the first time you laid your eyes on him?"
"I didn't mean it that way, Thalia!" Annabeth groaned.
"Suuure."
"I was referring to the prophecy."
"Sure you were." Thalia said breezily, clearly not believing her for a second.
"Love at first sight." Aphrodite sighs dreamily.
Reyna rolled her eyes. "That's the chapter. Who's reading next?"
"Before we start." Percy interrupted. "When are going to take the lunch break?"
"Food. Is that all what boys ever think about?" Thalia rolled her eyes.
"Hey!" Jason complained. "I starting to feel hungry too."
All the males in the room agreed to the sentiment.
"We can take the lunch break after reading another chapter." Hestia suggested.
"Sounds good!" Leo grinned.
"Fine." Zeus grumbled.
"In that case, I'll read the next chapter!" Apollo offered.
Edit [15/02/20]: Wow, I can't believe I'm doing this the same day I uploaded it. So there all lots of complaints about Percy being called dumb and Annabeth being OOC. There is a reason for it. I was going to include that in a scene in the next chapter but I guess I'll just say it here too.
Everybody already knows Percy is smart. They just like teasing him. And now they are reading about his quests in his thoughts. They're just milking it till the irrefutable fact that Percy is actually smart is put in front of them. Annabeth especially. But I am sorry if I went too far or made them too mean. I'll edit the chapter if the complaints continue.
Please reread the Octavian demoting scene, I've edited it. There are plenty of reasons Octavian was demoted.
Hey guys!
I hope you enjoyed that!
On a scale of 1 to 10, how funny was the chapter?
Important: I won't be able to update until the end of April. School and life aren't cooperating. Sorry!
Reply to reviews-
RageSage: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed this chapter too!
Gabe1234: Thank you! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Hope you like this chapter too!
lilyemma: Thanks! The spars will be coming up soon! What did you think of this chapter?
xxPercyRoxxx: Thanks for the review! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
AntiLight17: Thanks for the review! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Believer1991: Thank you! I hope the wait was worth it. What did you think of the chapter?
Thanks for reading everyone! Leave a review if you liked it! Reviews are more motivating than favorites and follows. :)