Chapter 27. I'm surprised I even made it this far. This chapter is nearly 5K long, something I neve have tried to do. I've blamed it to 4K but never 5. No the readings don't count.
Hope that this long chapter is worth the wait. Please remember to review at the end and stay safe everyone
Quick update and shout out to manueldelgadocortes643. manueldelgadocortes643 has asked me and I have agreed, to post this on Wattpad as Zneptunay346. I wish him the best while translating as from experience words and meanings can be confused by translation apps. It's not fun.
Percy raced though the winding passageways staying ahead of the sounds of fighting behind him. He didn't know who the man was to challenge the sorceress who even gave Odysseus trouble. At least he believed so as he never could get into the book when he went to school before meeting Grover and Chiron.
ADHD and dyslexia combined with a flame-throwing teacher did that to a child.
Cursing he swerved into a side hallway to avoid a blast of pressurized air that shattered and split the floor as it went by. Whoever the man was Percy could tell that he was powerful, possiblya magic user from the attacks being thrown about. Gasping for breath the demigod continued on his way to the girls as he wasn't about to leave the island without them. Not with two extremely powerful magic users going at it.
'Come on already!' He thought as he raced once more from the fighting. He then swore that if she was having the time of her life relaxing while he was avoiding death then they would have words. 'Where are you?'
...
"So you have over a dozen siblings? Wow, your family reunion most be crazy." Chase hummed in reply to the other blonde's question. She along with Krinon met Naruko, a survivor who had floated to the island after a storm on a raft. Something nagged at the back of Annabeth's mind about the girl as she looked familiar. She had stuck up a conversation with her fellow blonde as the trio relaxed in the hot tub with their face masks and scented candles. The RamÃrez-Arellano sisters were elsewhere, doing some that the daughter of Athena was not sure of.
"Yeah its pretty crowded." She said as the water jets hit just the right spot. She snickered at the idea of the gods at a family picnic with the rest of the immortal family tree. The idea of Zeus at the BBQ cooking with his titan relatives was rather funny. "You have any family?"
"I had a twin but I never met him." Annabeth frowned at the girl's sad reaction to her question. "We never met by my guardian said that he was taken away before he could save him. Some bad people wanted him for something as our father was a powerful man. So ever since I learned that he was alive I spent my days getting stronger so I can look for him."
Krinon sighed and shifted in the water. "I don't have any siblings but your brother must be lucky to have such a determined sister looking for him. I wish you luck on your travels."
"Thanks." The girl said with a small smile. "It means a lot for me."
The girls went quite as the enjoyed the warm water. Annabeth's mind began to fog and she assumed it was from her related state. It has been some time since she has relaxed. The last few months had been hard. Frist was the issues with her father and new stepmother along with her baby brothers, then was the weakening of the camp barrier. Her friend Thalia was hurt then-
Opening her eyes she banished her thinking to the depths. What was she doing thinking of such depressing things? She really needed this soap day after all. After all she had done didn't she deserve to relax for a bit? Especially with her Percy being seduced by Krinon.
The obvious Krinon yawned and lifted her arms over her head allowing Annabeth to notice just how large her enemies weapons were. They were huge, not unnaturally large and nothing genetics shouldn't give but Annabeth glared at them before looking at her own chest before bringing her hands to her own weapons. '... It's not fair. Even Naruko here is lager than me. Do I need to drink more milk or something? Perhaps something in the cabin's library can help me once I get back. Or I'll just ask Cicre, she might have something.'
An explosion in the distance shook the room jarring the girls from their relaxed state. Naruko looked around for a moment. "What was that?"
"No clue."
Entering the room at a quick pace, Reyna if Annabeth's memory served, approached them. "My apologies but there is nothing to worry about. One of mistress's newest pupils tried a spell that wasn't favorable. Nothing to be concerned over as it is being taken care of."
"Oh I hope she's alright." Naruko said concerned.
Reyna smiled and shook her head. "These things happen with magic and being to eager. Now you three have been in there long enough. Why not head over to the steam room then afterwards we'll do messages and makeovers."
Annabeth, not usally one for makeovers, cheered with the rest of the girls. However there was one girl not cheering but had a worried look hidden by her turning away.
Reyna had her hands held tight across her front as she tried to calm her nerves. 'Be careful big sis as well as safe.'
...
Loud angry squeals and squeaks from the guinea pigs in the corner of the room greeted Percy as he barreled through the door. Moments earlier he was able to find this passageway to the room where he last saw his companions before they were separated by the magic user Circe. Checking the room he saw that other than the anmils in their cage the room was bare. In the distance he could hear the fighting of the strange man and the hostess.
'How in the name of Hades did he get the hall to turn into a stomach?' Disgusted Percy did not try to answer the question that formed by his very active mind at the moment. Shivering, Percy noted that he wished to never again hear the words eaten alive. Uncapping Riptide he slowly made his way to the main doorway. A tremor shook the room and he stumbled.
With a crash the cage where all the rodents were in fell to the floor and opened up letting the angry rodents out. With a triumph squeak the guinea pig with the strange black fur pattern on his chin raced forth with the rest following its lead to freedom. Percy stumbled out of the way as the animals raced past him with only one stopping to look at him but for a moment to the window where, one by one, they exited the room.
Groaning, Percy began to head to the door when he saw the handle turn. Seeing no where else to hide he ducked under the table cloth while putting away his weapon. Slowly his breathing he made sure that he was all the way under the table and the fabric hid him as the door opened.
Click clack click clack
Percy stayed still as the sound of heels entered the room first slowly then at a fast pace. The owner of the heels went past the table to the cage then raced to thr open window. Percy heard a familiar feminine voice curse out loud about how the pirates had escaped from their cage.
Percy was more than happy to wait until the girl left the room so he could continue looking for his friends whoever another tremor changed his plans as his hiding place was revealed to the shocked expression on the face of the girl.
"Ummm hi?" He said before his face turned pale.
Hylla looked at at the boy from her postion on the floor. She had fallen when the building shook from whatever was happening deeper in he mistress's spa. Not understanding why he went pale she looked down then quickly snapped her legs together.
Percy began to sweat as the girl glared at him as one of her hands began to glow. "I can explain-"
"Take this creep!" She yelled as the arcane bolt rocked towards Percy. Drawing his blade Percy swatted away the arcane blast to a collapsed desk. As he batted away magical attacks and she tried to blast him both combats didn't see a vial rolling out the window and down the rain pipe to the ground below.
Carlson shook Naruto's shoulder. "Time to get up. Breakfast is on the table and you need to get a move on."
Naruto cursed under his breath at the distant rising sun as the son of Jupiter humbled out of the room, the cold air hurting his joints. Slowly crawling out from the gust bunk he tipped as his feet touched the cold wood flooring.
"AC been acting up boy!" Came the hollering voice of his brother's mythical stepsister. Naruto was tried of trying to figure out who was related to who. If they were from the mythology of his mothers and his brother's father, then they were all related or created by some god or goddess.
"It's not like I'm gonna run into other mythos... am I?" He wondered outloud in thought. "What do you think Kyu?"
"After everything you have to ask?" The fox said as he trotted along with his partner. "Probably there are some more immortal like the Greco-Roman stories still around. If they also played key roles in developing this America and the west then it would be logical that they should exist. I don't know about that whole concept of one lord trinity thing. He probably doesn't even have kids."
"So probably nothing from those guys that mom turned away? The morons?"
"I think they were Mormons. Besides what are the chances of us meeting someone who is like us from another mythology? Its close to zero."
"Romans."
"They don't count because they are technically the same."
Naruto signed and agreeded with his friend. What were the chances he'll meet some who belonged to another group like camp anyway? Entering the bathroom he did his business before heading to the dining room where his hosts were waiting. James was gone as he had business in town as he was contacted by the local chief of police. Naruto felt bad about the store created by the child of Ares.
It was a pretty cool store but the owner was too trigger happy. Naruto chalked it up to being an Ares thing that he had noticed and from what Oercyvsaid about the God. Oddly enough Naruto found himself wondering what his brother was doing at the moment. "Hey Kyu, do you think my brother would be just as awesome if I wasn't around or not?"
"What made you think of that?"
"No reason. I was just curious."
The fixed hummed as the entered the room where Lily stood by the stove making waffles and eggs. "If you weren't around your big brother might be more dumb than he is now. Along with being clueless, a less experienced or practical swords man, more likely to get into trouble, Athena might hate him because of his friendship with Annebeth..."
As the fox spoke Naruto could swear that he could here his brother having a fix over this friend's words. 'There's no way that my brother could be like that right? He has to be more amazing without me holding him back...'
"Morning." Lily smiled at the blonde boy. "Hope your ready for today."
Naruto beamed at her. "Yes. I think that I need to go only about three miles away. Seems easy enough."
Lily snorted. "You'll tempt fate that way boy. Now eat up now. I'm not going to let you go on your quest without a proper meal now."
Nodding, Naruto separated his meal into two and began to eat one section. Liky lost, watched as the second half began to disappear every time she looked awayvor blinked. She could swear that it was being eaten by the stuffed animal.
"Lily sweetheart is the coffee ready?"
"One moment dear!" She called out turning away from her guest. Waving her hand at the pot she willed the water to start boiling. She had more to deal with than to think about the strangeness of the fox.
She had lived long enough that few things surprised her.
...
Waving goodbye Naruto headed out with kyuubi trotting alongside him. Not wanting to burden the couple after all they had done he had convinced the duo to let him continue on his own. Carlson and Lily were great family members and he wished them a happy life together.
Naruto's smile fell down once he was over the hill. While he knew that doing a quest for the gods was important, it made him sad that he was so far away from home without his own close family near.
"So... ready to finish this grand adventure?"
Naruto blinked at his friend's comment. "What? Oh, sure I am."
"I know that look." Kyuubi hopped onto the pole of the low fence as they moved along the road. "Your homesick"
Naruto stopped in his tracks. "...yeah"
The fox sat down and looked at his company. He too missed his fellow brethren in the elemental nations but he was happy where he was now. Here he was treated like a friend, a confidant, mentor and a companion instead of some beast. It was annoying that only Naruto could see him as a living being and everyone else a stuffed fox with too many tails. But considering his last prison this was nearly paradise. The fox wondered if he should tell his friend the truth about where he came from but decided not to.
"Kit we all get homesick sometimes. Home is where Hestia works after all." He worked his lip at his mention of the goddess of the hearth and Naruto to cracked a smile.
"It's home is where the heart is."
"Well it's not only that after all."
Laughing Naruto shoved his friend. "Jerk."
The duo continued on their journey to wherever they were supposed to go. As they went the time dropped by faster than they were moving to the despair of Naruto. He wished that he was bigger so he could move faster or at least had a bike... rollerblades or something.
"This is getting us no where. It's been an hour and yet we have barely gone a mile."
Naruto nodded as they went over another hill. "How many hills does Montana have anyway?"
"No idea. I've never been here before and your the one who decided to leave before grabbing a tricked cursed map!"
"I at least looked at a globe!"
Kyuubi smacked his head against a pole in frustration. "Kit, a globe isn't a way to navigate a local area. Its for seeing what the world looks like from above."
"Isn't that just like a map. They do the exact same thing."
Kyuubi growled before calming down. "At least do you know where we are?"
"Of course I do. We're nearly to the point of the M of the initials for Montana." Naruto was pleased with himself. He had remembered where they were. His friend though, was trying not to scream as that was not even accurate. It was official he decided then and there Naruto was an idiot.
A shiver went up his spine and he went on guard. Looking around he had is ears perked and his senses on high alert. Naruto, having gone a few steps ahead turned to us friend to see what was wrong before noticing his position. "What's wrong."
"The birds, the insects... they're all silent."
Naruto tended and looked around. The air felt wrong and his ADHD came into force as his base animal instincts became to come into play. "...Monster?"
"...No... Something else... something else is following us."
"... Think we should head back to... them?"
It's too late now. Its between us and the property. Keep moving I'll keep an ear out for it as well as an eye."
Hesitantly but seeing no choice but to follow his friend's words Naruto kept moving forward with whatever was following him close behind. Fingering the dagger he had gotten from the hunters, NOT stolen, he willed himself not to pull it out just yet.
'I'm a ninja. I am a ninja... What would a ninja do in this situation?' He wondered as he walked more or less calmly. Ares kids would say to try an intimate the one following but Naruto doubted that he could pull off an Ares glare. Mark said he looked as threatening as a wet kitten as he tried not to laugh the time when Naruto attempted to do the glare.
"I wish that I could talk to plants." Naruto muttered under his breath. "Auntie Dem's kids can do so but I can't."
"I'm grateful that you only get a small boost. After all what does a plant have to say other than complain about the light, the water they get or the minerals in the soil."
"The trees talk about other things."
"Those trees are just gossipy and are blessed with the annoying ability to speak. They are cute little things though."
Naruto rolled his eyes at the comments of his friend. "At least they aren't as bad as cabin 10. Those guys can't run."
"That's funny considering that that act like fangirls." Kyuubi snickers as well as Naruto. "I wonder how they even do target price hunting uf they can't even go after the production?"
The two went on as the sun rose talking about each of the cabins and the amusing faults each had. Or the contrasting personalities within the cabins.
All the while a figure stalked the demigod fingering his crossbow. He wasn't worried about being noticed as he was the master of his craft. He who taught the twins of Zeus before they drove his daughter to madness. He had been hoping to ambush the demigod once he had left the house but the son of Jupiter only recently stopped tailing the boy.
"Lupa would have been proud." He whispered as he followed the son of the queens now unopposed. His immortal ears could hear the assault on the house going as planned to distract and delay any aid to the demigod. It was a pity that Artemis didn't send one of her maidens to collect the jar but he wasn't picky. The boy would just be a useful tool to get the lighting brat to open up the jar.
The shadows shrunk as the sun rose to its zenith. Naruto groaned as he feet pulsed from walking so far. Looking around he tried to figure out where to go next. A rodent, a rat, crossed the road in front of him and Kyuubi. The tall grass rustled in the breeze as they stood there.
"Your sure this is the place?"
"Yes. The spell that I casted said the jar is here... it's not accurate to a T you know."
"Well then now what's your plan?"
Naruto looked at his friend. "...How good is your nose?"
"Excuse me?"
"Your a fox right? Try and smell it."
Kyuubi stared at the boy. "I would be glad to but I must let you know I have a terrible cold." Kyuubi then took out his handkerchief and blew his nose. "It's dreadful and such bad timing too. I would love to help but alas it cannot be done."
Naruto stared at him "Your faking."
Kyuubi stared back aghast at the notion. "I am appalled at the idea that you think I'm faking. I, whom has allergies, would never-"
"Liar Liar fur on fire."
"That does it." With a roar the fox pounced on Naruto and the two fought, rolling down the hill and over the fence into a field. Tooth met fist, tails met legs the two fought in a whirlwind of fur, dirt, pollen and clothes. Kyuubi howled when Naruto kneed him between the legs. Naruto hissed when Kyuubi's claws slashed up his face. The duo fought hard, neither giving quarter. Not when Naruto had is underpants hoisted up and pulled over his head. Not when Naruto poked the fox's eyes.
Dust swirled high as the fought across the abandoned field towards an old well. End over end over end they tumbled until with a crash Naruto took a short flight into the well with a cry of shook that ended with a loud splash.
"NARUTO!" Kyuubi scrambled to his feet. "Are you ok?"
...
Naruto floated on top of the dirty water stunned. In the dim he could see his friend's worried expression above. "I'm Ok! Lower a rope so I can get out!"
Kyuubi nodded and his head disappeared as he went to look for a rope. Treading the water carefully he took a look around. The well was old and looked like it hadn't been used in a long time. The water lapped at his body, tickling him as the shadows danced on the walls. One section of the walls was weird to Naruto. While not as good as of of the brain children of Athena, he could tell that a section of stone wasn't as old as the rest and had been disturbed recently.
Moving closer he began to pat the wall, looking for a weakness.
...
"Rope rope rope. Where can I find a rope?" Wondered Kyuubi as he looked around above. He had found an old rope but after testing it Kyuubi could tell it was not worth it as it frayed and broke from the strain.
"Hey! I found something!"
'Hopefully a way out of that hole your in brat.' "What is it?"
The reply made him move to the entranceof the well. "I I think it is Pandora's box jar thingy."
"That was easy."
"Well can you get me out of here?" Naruto asked as he held onto the jar. It reminded him of his mother's old cookie jar she had until he had broke it while trying to get to the cookies when he was four.
Kyuubi shook his head. "There is no way the old rope would help."
"...Would my yo-yo do the trick?" Naruto said after thinking.
"Maybe. I don't know how strong Celestial bronze is but if you wrap it a few times it may work."
...
"Uuugh... you need to lay off so cookies. Your heavy."
"Oi suck it up! I carry you around and your not exactly easy to- AAAAAAAAAH!" Slash
"Oopie doodles. My hand slipped"
"Your despicable you know that." Naruto griped as he shook some leaves off him. Laughing his friend, soon to be a coat for himself once he was free, once more pulled him up. "You know that we were nearly done."
"But I like fishing for rare things. Like a little princess of my own."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. He hated being called a princess because if his looks and his mothers. If it wasn't for his friend who tended the hearth and Clarisse La Rue saying that looks don't matter on the battlefield did he grin and bear it mostly. It was worth giving the war god extra food so he could bear up the worst of the teasers during wrestling. Mr D did punish him after he broke the guy's arm but it was worth cleaning the stalls.
Now he swore before the next time he fought with Kyuubi he would sacrifice a little extra ti the god so he could win the fight.
"What the- ack!" The line jerked and Naruto found himself flying up at great speed before stopping. Shaking his head to clear it up he found himself face to face with a hooded figure.
"Now look what I got. A little demigod on a hook." The voice came low and quiet like, power laced in every word. "I'll take that."
Naruto head onto the jar and twisted himself between the jar and the figure. "I found it it's mine!"
The air vibrated as the figure laughed. "Such spirit. I can see why Kronos is interested in you and why he wanted to test you child of the queens. To think Hera along with the other two had a demigod."
Gripping his yo-yo string he attacked the figure but he moved out of the way before throwing Naruto. Naruto sailed though the air and tumbled agaisnt the earth. The jar slipped out of his grasp and rolled in another direction stopping several feet from the boy. Rising to his hands and knees Naruto say his friend unconscious by the jar but before he could get up pain shot up his leg.
Naruto screamed as the black arrow burned his flesh. The figure chilled him as he stepped forward loading his weapon. To Naruto he looked like a character from a video came he saw at the store. Assassin's Creed or was it Diablo? He couldn't remember because of the pain he was in.
"Struggling only makes the pain worse boy. Stygian Iron is not easy to come by for your kind but for a titan like myself it is too easy." The titan spoke as he took aim. "A pity that this will end so soon but I have a mission to complete. Your death will he quick if you don't surrender and bow to the rising power."
"Go to Tartarus!" Naruto spat on the ground as he slowly rose to his feet even as the pain from his leg grew worse.
The titan rised his weapon, arrow shinningin the light of the afternoon sun. "A poor choice demigod. You couldhave lived longer."
Naruto watched as the Stygian Iron arrow traveled from the crossbow towards him. Idly he recalled that he did have the payment for the ferry. He knew that he had no chance of dodging the arrow so he stared with tears of pain at the titan. To his and the titans suprise a blast of lighting destro the arrow before it could reach Naruto. Then a wave if water smashed into the titan .moving him away from his prize.
"WHO DARES!?" The titan roared as he got up glowing as he summonedhis power to heal himself and to intimate. Two figures landed before the titan, prepared for battle with power rolling of their bodies like morning mist in the sun. The earth and sky seemed to tremble at the anger of the two figures that Naruto had to wipe his eyes to refocus.
Naruto trembled at the power being unleashed but contained before him. He had faced monsters before but nothing had prepared the young demigod for this. The three figures stood with Naruto off to the side holding his injured leg. Sweat dripped down his body as he collapsed to his knees from the pain. He had been in the presence of the greek gods of old, challenged accepted the challenge of the huntress herself and made her upset, heck he had been exposed to Zues ire.
(That episode of not his fault but the god was pissed...)
Nothing prepared Naruto Jackson for the sight before him.
In front of him was Carlson and Lily, each prepared for a battle with old armor of gold and bronze. Carlson had a great sword with a gap inside of it planted in the earth besides him with his left hand as the other held his helmet. The air crackled with sparks around the veteran as he glared at the titan. Lily in turn had a sheld facing their for and a trident ready for blood gripped. The tips were capped with silver that glimmered in the broken light casted by Apollo's chariot and the clouds above. Water swirled around her feet as it poured from the well, the ditch and the pipes leading to the houses in the area.
The Titan gripped his crossbow. "So, two old demigods come to the rescue of a boy of less then ten. Here I thought I would have a challenge." He said as an aura began to build around him.
"You'll find that these old demigods are more that enough to fight you Lelantos." Lily said as she sent some water to Naruto. To his amazement the water wrapped itself around his leg and healed the damage caused by the Stygian Iron arrow after yankingit out. "Return to wherever hole you came from peaceful and we'll let you go without telling old spark plug that you were here."
"If you don't," Carlson said as he stared hard at the one Lily called Lelantos. His finger drummed on the pommel of his weapon as he was thinking of the conflict more than likely to begin. "We'll be forced to show you why we're not to be trifled with."
Lelantos snarled. "You know nothing. I was hoping for that insufferable oath of a messenger Hermes to show up or even one of the twins. Instead I have to deal with you three. Here's my counter offer. I take the jar and I promise not to kill you slowly. I'll make it quick so you can be on your way to Hades now instead of waiting for your deaths."
Carlson put in his helmet. "Your choice."
"Indeed I have." Lelantos prepared for battle. "Now come child of lighting, seas. Come face Lelantos, Titan of the air, the unseen and of the stalking of prey, which is now, YOU!"