Habemus New Chapter!
Hahahaha, even though February was short, was it a long wait?
Anyway, here we are my loves: with the long awaited chapter 3 of this story!
*Imaginary applause *Engraved applause* *More imaginary applause*
And following the recent tradition, I'll make a small announcement before moving on to the chapter:
Unfortunately I still can't get a Beta to help me clean up my translation. Which led me to wonder, "Should I pause it until I find one? Or do I keep posting so readers don't hang up on me?" Now that I look at it, it's obvious I made the right choice hahaha.
Anyway I continue to have an open position for Beta Reader in English, French, Portuguese and Italian translation.
PLEASE HELP ME!
Just to avoid confusion I need a person to whom I can pass the translated document before uploading it and can clean up and/or correct any grammatical or spelling errors there may be. The Beta package comes with multiple benefits: you will be able to read the chapters before anyone else. You'll be mentioned in the author's notes with a huge thank you. And if you call within the next fifteen minutes you will receive a nice sleeve on the occasion of your OTP n_n (hahaha sorry, I couldn't resist).
Now, with that ready, let's move on to the next chapter!
As you may recall last time we were left with a small and very unexpected reunion of the Gorgon Sisters, not to mention a mysterious surprise character. In this chapter we will discover not only his identity, but also the impact he will have on the little domestic life of our little star family.
"Medusa, just because the boy asks for cake doesn't mean you have to give it to him!"
"Little fish, do you want the lion or the shark stuffed animal?"
Chapter 3:
"Percy Gets Two Chicks"
The situation was quite tense. And no doubt a bit bizarre.
Suddenly Medusa and her sisters were no longer inside the kitchen. In fact, there was no sign of Esteno and Euriale for at least several kilometers around. Or so I sensed Medusa's sense of smell. Without her sisters around, the Gorgon could breathe a little easier, and now she had to deal with the third unexpected visit of the day:
-And I just wanted to replace the old statue at the entrance... -Two people were sitting at the picnic table. Percy, who still didn't understand why he had appeared there, looked on confusedly between his mother and the lady sitting next to him waving the contents of two steaming cups.
Standing from the back door frame Medusa grunts. Not angry. But rather of annoyance. The gorgon recognized that straight black hair tied in a high ponytail and the penetrating aroma of herbs and Channel perfume. An old acquaintance from her time in Athens and from her best customers, that one acclaimed as the greatest sorceress of all time:
-Circe-Murmuro as she went down to the garden. He came crunching under his feet and kept his hands intertwined behind his back.
-Please, you don't have to hide your claws -Circe's comment as if nothing happened when Medusa was standing by the table- I won't do anything to you, little one. Then she noticed that he still had his cheeks a little corked by tears. So he took a little silk handkerchief out of his coat and spread it out to him-what do you say we discuss it while I pick out some pieces?
-Afff, it is well," said Medusa, taking her hands to her waist and exhaling heavily, which shook the veil a little in front of her face.
-They don't hurt anymore! -Yeiih! -He exclaimed excitedly and showed his mother how his knees, once scraped, were now clean and with a few little bands with patterns of what looked like little pigs.
-I cure him-I restrain the sorceress by standing up and making the cups on the table disappear-I would be troubled if just one drop of her blood were to attract every monster in the forest.
Medusa did not trust Circe. But for the moment Helios' daughter didn't seem interested in anything other than the statues of a couple of girl scouts by the vending machine. And the sign that said "No Magic. If you want something, pay for it.
-Jmm, I like the little ones. But those uniforms aren't cute at all-I'm telling you while I'm throwing them out-I don't suppose you have any in a Sunday dress?
-They're outside, but maybe you don't like the stances," said Medusa, leaning against the counter with both arms.
-He answered quietly as he examined the statue of a man in a lumberjack's shirt. "The DC Spa will open a couple of branches, I need to expand. And since I was near Jersey I thought I'd do some shopping on my own. Do you like my new coat? It's from the Presley Winter collection...
-Aha-The sorceress was still as talkative as she remembered.
-Of course he didn't say, posing his brilliant gaze on the gorgon-First, I have to know what the great Medusa is doing raising a little demigod...
Of course, Medusa already opened it petrified. But Circe was too cunning, and powerful enough to subdue her before she took her veil. Besides, a part of her considered that perhaps she could trust Helios' daughter. After all, she had healed Percy's scratches and sent Esteno and Euriale far away. At least she deserved the benefit of the doubt. Although telling her story was relatively quicker than she first assumed. From how he had petrified the boy's supposed stepfather who he later discovered in the back, to his feelings when he first saw the little boy's eyes and how he had been caring for him ever since.
-When did you discover that "Percy" is a mongrel," Circe asked, "I was turning my back on him in front of the vending machine deciding between a vanilla latte and a mocha.
-He is very restless, always hurting himself. Then I rest my chin on his right hand while he remembers. I think it was when I was about three years old, I grabbed a pair of scissors without realizing it-I still remembered that feeling. Her throat had started to burn. His very essence was reacting to Percy's divine ancestry.
-And yet she's still here...-Circe turned with a steaming cup of coffee-I must admit, Medusa, my respects.
-And what will happen now? Again the gorgon's fingers had become bronze claws.
-Can you stop with this passive/aggressive attitude? It's a little insulting to women," answered Circe. "I'll tell you what's going to happen now: you'll give me a discount and then we'll discuss the diet of that little meatball.
It was one thing to have to deduct twenty percent from the price of a perfect satyr statue, and also to pay the shipping costs. I could handle that. A couple of drachmas wouldn't be enough to dent his economy, but for them to mess with his breeding method was an affront! First of all, Percy was not fat, he was a perfectly healthy child:
-He weighs fifty kilos! -And he's not even close to a meter tall!
-He has a healthy appetite!
-healthy minotaur shit! Just because he says he wants cake doesn't mean you should give it to him!
After that, the big question arose as to why Circe was so interested in little Percy:
-You're not the only one who dreamed of having children, Medusa - that was Circe's answer while they were having coffee in the kitchen.
-You're not going to steal my son- -I'm going to immediately spit out the gorgon.
-Do you think I'm a child-stealing witch? -A snort escaped from the candle- Okay, I'm a witch. But I don't steal children.
As little as he liked the idea, he had to admit that the sorceress was very helpful.
When he convinced her to take the little one to the pediatrician, she had to restrain her desire to petrify the doctor. Percy was relatively healthy, but his defenses were somewhat low and his weight was definitely not appropriate for his size. In addition, the witch of Circe showed off all her tricks to win over Percy:
-Aunt C.C. had even had the effrontery to proclaim herself the aunt of her son. And the little one always ran out to meet her when she arrived every weekend:
-The sorceress opened her arms and received the embrace of Percy who ran to her from the entrance of the store.
-He answered with a big smile.
-Well, if you want it, you'll have to find it...
-Yeiihyeiih! As soon as he had caught up with him, he let go and ran inside the house. After all, his aunt always hid her gifts somewhere in the house with her magic and he loved to play at finding them. Usually he would camouflage them as normal things with some detail that gave them away, like purple dots or rabbit antennae, or so he had to pay close attention.
-Hello C.C...-I greet the Gorgon without much encouragement. Although almost immediately Percy returned, carrying a big shell in his hands:
-Look, Mom! I found it! I found it! -I was jumping up and down. I knew the kettle shouldn't be on the TV!
-Well done, Pececito-I congratulate the sorceress sitting on a stool by the counter-If you put it in your ear you can hear the sea... -Medusa, you're a real pain in the ass. But before she gave anything, Circe stood up and extended her hand to Percy-would you like to go to the mall? I'll buy you a lot of chips for the Arcade.
-As fast as his little legs would allow him, the little green-eyed boy shot out at his favorite aunt's rented Minnie Cooper.
-Circe, you're not gonna...
-I saw one of your sisters on the way over here.
As much as Medusa hated that Circe called Percy by his full name, which gave her a bittersweet feeling in her stomach, or by that cynical nickname, she admitted that Helios' daughter was much more than just a pretty face. At least she was as determined as she was to take care of her puppy. So as soon as the mini- Cooper turned onto Medusa Road, she got out and sat down to wait.
-Medusa!" It was about fifteen minutes when he heard his name. She had been so tense that she could not help but sigh with relief when she saw the figure of Euriale standing on the other side of the road, waving her hand in the air, holding a balloon in the other and waiting for an opportunity to pass through the traffic. Her older sister had always been the most sensible of the three, also the quietest. Euryale used to be the one to intervene when Medusa and Esteno started pulling each other's hair when they were little-Steeno is angry-was the first thing she said to him as he hugged her-She said not to talk to you until you came to your senses
-Ah, I can live with that- -I sigh Medusa. It wasn't as if she was going to miss her other sister very much.
-Medusa! We are family-Ants her words she could hear a little sound coming from her little sister's veil-What?
-Good Euryalus," replied Medusa as she cradled her sister's right cheek in the palm of her hand, "Always advocating for the family, it's irritating! But what would become of us without you? -At that moment Euriale felt a slight tingle on the back of his neck. It had been so long since he had heard or felt such a kind gesture from his younger sister
-Possibly they would end up becoming monsters, ah no wait they made it anyway-Both gorgons let out a laugh as they hugged again-Now you have to tell me all about that little demigod.
Talking to Euriale was much more comfortable than I had originally imagined. Along with a cup of coffee Medusa told him everything: how she found him, how she remodeled the whole place just for him, how much she ate, Circe's help in the last weeks and above all, how much she loved him. By the end it was no surprise that Euriale had his eyes bathed in tears. Medusa offered him a handkerchief which he gladly accepted.
-Oh dear...-I was saying as he was cleaning himself...-I am so happy...-You always, always wanted a family and now look at you! You're such a mother- I respect the way you wiped your nose. I don't care that you're a half-breed, Medusa, I promise you by the Styx that I will never do anything to hurt your child.
-She jumped up in surprise, but her hands were already among those of her older sister:
-No no, and I'll help you in any way I can- I'll add a big, cheeky smile- and let me take care of Esteno, I'll see if he wants to see me on my bad side- anyone would find those words hard to believe in a nice lady. But Medusa knew Euryale well when she was being patient.
-I thank you so much. You are going to love Percy, he is such a lovely boy.
-I think so. But, Medusa...-Suddenly the expression of the biggest of the gorgons became serious- The father of the child-
-Percy doesn't know anything-he'll be firm-he won't know. Besides, you know the gods. His father must not even remember.
-Because I know the gods, I tell you, Medusa-Dijo Euriale gently but firmly, as when a mother gives advice learned by experience-you cannot keep him away from his destiny for long.
-Hafff...-Medusa sigh-Circe told me the same thing. And I know they are right. I just...
He didn't have to finish his sentence. They both knew first-hand how a demigod's path used to be. They had been on the path of many, and not just to help them. That is why what Medusa did was so unnatural. But for some strange reason, she also felt very well.
-Well, we'll discuss that in due course-There was no reason to be snaking around thinking about the future-now where is my new nephew?
Three hours later Percy and Circe returned. The first one with a giant stuffed shark and a nice new shirt, and the second one with the phone number of the handsome clothing store manager. A woman has her needs.
To be continued...
*Pre-recorded fanfare*.
And once again we've reached the end of another chapter of this story... Waoh, that sounded like a soap opera host hahaha
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed it: I'm looking for a Beta Reader to help me correct the details in the chapters. In the meantime, please bear with me while I find one n/n
On the other hand, don't forget that reviews are part of the healthy nourishment for every author.
See you in a month my loves!