Mestor couldn't believe his eyes. His history teacher had shown him images of Hydras, but they were google stock images. This was the real thing. Mestor turned to Alex and Chloe, who had a sword and a dagger in their hands, respectively. His wide eyes told them everything.
"Stay behind us, Mestor. Don't get too in over your he-" Mestor was swatted back into the treeline, and the last thing he saw before he passed out was a branch sticking through his stomach.
He woke in a cabin. The fire was on, and Mestor was lying on the couch. He turned so he was sitting up, and looked around. There wasn't much, but a man, sitting on the foyer to his right, reading. When the man looked up and saw Mestor, his eyebrow raised.
"Not everyday a teenage boy wakes up on my couch." The man said, taking his glasses off, and putting his bookmark in his book, setting on the table in front of them. The man met Mestor's eyes, and like they were in the dream, it was just as strong. As if he could stare into Mestor's future.
"Are you Perseus… Jackson?" Mestor stuttered out. The man rolled his eyes.
"Something like that. Prefer Percy. Last person who called me Perseus outside my father wanted me dead, so lets stick it short. Who are you?"
"Mestor Jones."
"Where are you from, Mestor?"
"Uhm… Bronx. New York." Percy smirked. "Lower Manhattan." Percy stood, and walked into the kitchen.
"Do you know why I'm here?" Mestor asked, turning to the man. Percy shook his head, frowning slightly.
"Not entirely, which I don't know is cool or worrying. The only person who should be able to enter this house is me and Annabeth, but I'm not complaining. Visitors always welcome." Percy said, and he pointed to the front door, where a 'WELCOME!' sign was hung, with a fish on it. Mestor smiled. The man who he was just told was the strongest man in the universe is somewhat normal.
"Don't exactly have a doctorate in decorations, Mestor. My apologies." Percy smiled, and walked back over. He set two mugs down on the table, offering one to Mestor, who was still mouth-open in shock.
"What's the look for?"
"Alex… told me you're the most powerful guy in the whole galaxy… yet you're…"
"Normal? Yeah… never asked for this 'most powerful' nonsense. Just wanted to live my life with my wife." He said, casually. "Hot chocolate." he said, pointing to the mug. "Drink, if you wish."
Mestor wrapped his sleeves around his hands and grabbed the mug.
"So… you know Alex?" Percy asked, not breaking eye contact.
"Yeah… we met last year, in high school. We became best friends, and… then this year started, and it's the first day, and I got this dream of you." Percy frowned.
"Where was it?"
"In lava. There was a lot of lava. I didn't burn or die, but there was this black rock under us, and this black tattoo sprouted from my palm… around my arm." Mestor said, looking back up into Percy's eyes, who was still very monotone in his face.
"Yeah… that happens sometimes. I still don't understand it fully. I'm assuming you're on another planet with confusion." Mestor nodded. "I think I'm bound by laws to not reveal everything to you, because I know it all, however, I'm excited for you, Mestor. I don't know what connects us exactly, but I know there's a reason." Percy smiled.
"Wake up, Mestor."
X
He did wake up. The pain was easily the worst thing he's ever felt. He look forward, as Alex and Chloe are fighting the Hydra, and not doing too hot. Alex got flung back to below Mestor, and called out in pain. He saw Chloe struggling, and cried. He couldn't help his friends. He looked up to the sky, and didn't look for anything in particular, but sent a prayer out to anyone who would listen. The same tingling feeling came, but this time, from his neck. He saw it wrap down his collarbone and down his chest, and to the branch that was sprouting from his torso. It went around his shoulder and up to his palm, where it finished wrapping around his fingers. He pulled the branch out of his chest, and the hole started to fill itself.
How did they kill the Hydra?
He didn't remember much, but it involved fire. Fire, fire, fire. He felt the flame on his hand before he saw it, and when he looked down, a baseball-sized flame formed on his hand. He walked to the Hydra, which Chloe was distracting. Chloe cut off one head, and someone from a place Mestor didn't see cut off another. Someone else threw fire on the stumps of the head, and the Hydra dropped dead. Mestor stopped walking, and the flame went out. Chloe fistbumped the two others, and they walked towards Mestor, who was breathing heavily.
"Mestor…? What is that…" Chloe started, but Mestor passed out.
Leo caught Mestor as he fell forwards, and Aydn frowned.
"I've only seen such tattoos once before, on my brother, Perseus." Aydn said carefully. Chloe ran to Alex, who was unconscious.
Aydn knelt to the sleeping Mestor, and picked his head up into his lap, and inspected his neck.
"Whatever meddling you have in this boy's life, brother, better be worth it." Aydn growled.
"Do you think he's responsible?"
"Disappears forever, no words, then this kid shows up with the same tattoo, being able to control fire as a novice? Either it's the working of someone stronger than Perseus, which isn't possible, or it's him. I guarantee you, it's him." Aydn said, and he picked up Mestor's left hand, inspecting a scar across the length of his palm. "Deep scar. Must've been a knife. Self harm? Maybe. Let's get him and Alex to camp. They'll be more safe there. This kid has to have a parentage, Percy would be dead before he cheats on Annabeth and any child of theirs would be the second coming of Erebus." Leo laughed.
X
Mestor was back, kneeling above the blonde girl. The arrow still embedded in her neck, blood pouring our from the wound. The image was more clear now, it was a throne room. The thrones were massive, easily over twenty feet in height. There was one made of dirt, with trees sprouting from it, a waterfall pouring down the side. Another, with lava protruding from the arm rests. The largest, the one in the center, was made of darkness, and Mestor thought he could see the universe in the seat. Through the dream, Mestor could feel the rage, the power radiating throughout the room. The body he was in looked at its hands, and there was blood on them. It wasn't his.
X
Alex was groggy, and had a roaring headache when he woke up. He recognized this place faintly. The medbay, at Camp Half Blood. Alex and Percy's army used a lot of it to help and tend to wounded after the incident at Vesuvius. He sat up, and noticed Mestor dead asleep on the cot next to him. He frowned that his chest wound was healed. He tried to stand, but fell immediately. He was still weak from getting knocked out, and he probably had a concussion. He tried again, and stood the second time around. Walking out of the medbay, he was greeted with Chloe talking to Aydn, both having hushed tones and concerned faces.
"What is it?" Alex said, walking to the two.
"It happened. Completely. The tattoo was drawn on him, all over his body. Completely healed his stab wound. I'm pretty sure he was controlling fire for a moment there." Chloe said, rubbing her forehead. Alex sighed.
"Fucking asshole leaves us for four years and we're stuck with this guy, having the same damn tattoo shit as him?" Alex growled. Aydn's hand went to his shoulder, and Aydn gave Alex a look that screamed 'calm down.'
"Don't make him come back on a note of anger, Alexander. I believe Perseus has chosen this child for some unknown reason, but we can never be sure. The only thing we can do is guide and protect…" Aydn trailed off.
"Mestor Jones." Chloe finished, yawning.
"You should get some sleep." Alex said. Chloe shook her head.
"Not until he wakes up. Last thing I want is our best link to Percy being in the hands of you two idiots." Aydn recoiled in insult.
"I am far from dumb." he said. Alex snickered.
"Possibly, but neither of you losers compare to me when it comes to babysitting. I had to lead Alex around for the last four years." Chloe said, smirking at the boy. Aydn laughed heavily. Mestor came from the tent behind them, and Chloe rushed to the boy's side instantly.
"How are you feeling?" Chloe asked. Mestor frowned.
"Like I just slept fourteen hours. Where are we?" Mestor asked, looking around at the camp. His t-shirt was ripped in the center, showing a slender, but built frame, and his blonde hair swayed in the breeze.
"Camp Half-Blood, a safe haven for people like you, Mestor." Alex said. Mestor frowned.
"Camp Half-what? Like for…" Mestor trailed off. "Demigods, Mestor." Aydn stepped forward. "You're one of us now, whether you like it or not. I think you should be here for the time being, and adjust to our ways, before coming to Europe with me and Alexander." Aydn said, and Mestor's jaw dropped.
"Europe? Dude… what?" he stammered.
"Aydn is a chief-general of a much larger, more ancient army. The original army of Order, one of the two creators of the universe. I am a commander, appointed by Percy himself. It is where I've spent the summer." Alex explained.
"Why am I not allowed to go now? Why do you speak of Camp Half-Blood in such a tone, Aydn?" Mestor asked.
"This Camp is a pathetic excuse for the Greek Pantheon to have more children. I strongly believe that it should be abandoned and wiped from existence at the soonest possible moment." Aydn growled. "This camp grooms casual demigods, not the warriors we need, those who are willing to put their lives down for their bloodline." He pointed to a group of teenage boys bullying a younger kid. "This camp has become a vulture for social statuses based off of parentage, not achievement." Aydn spat. Mestor nodded in acknowledgment.
"C'mon, Mestor. I'll show you around." Alex offered, and Mestor accepted.
X
"Is he your child?"
"Gods, no. Far too young for that."
"Then who is he?"
"Someone special. Someone I can relate to."
"And that's why you chose him? Because he relates to you?"
"Somewhat. Also, I need to start my blessing somewhere."
"What's wrong with that other boy… Alexander?"
"He's already too powerful. Anything I'd give him would push him beyond a protogenoi. And I like him too much. This blessing is a curse, as well. I foresee Mestor enduring great struggles throughout his time."
"Will the blessing get him killed?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. If he gets content with himself, which I'm confident he won't, he'll die painfully, slowly, possibly by my hand. If he masters its art, masters the abilities he's given, he'll live forever."
"Who decides what abilities he's given?"
"I do not know, dear friend. I do not know."
X
Mestor hated attention. So you can only imagine the utter pain he was going through when Alex forced him to sit at the table for special guests with Chloe and Aydn during the dinner hour. He felt like there was a million eyes on him.
The horse-man, Centaur, as Mestor recalled, stood at the center of the amphitheater. Mestor put down his fork and looked at the clear leader.
"Good evening, Campers!" he called out. A resounding "Good evening, Chiron." came back, but less enthusiastic.
"As you all know, tomorrow is capture the flag, and I believe the four who are under the flag of Order," Chiron looked to Mestor's table, and Mestor's anxiety peaked. "Will be joining us!" There was murmurs of excitement and confusion.
"I will go over the rules tomorrow at game time, as well as meet with captains throughout the day tomorrow, but for now, continue eating, continue your schedules!" Chiron said, smiling. The chatter resumed throughout the place, and Mestor was frowning at his plate.
"What is it, kid?" Alex asked. Mestor's head flicked up.
"We're going to play… capture the flag?" Mestor said slowly. Chloe nodded through her bite.
"With weapons. Very fun, I must say. Only good thing to come out of this camp since we found out Percy was here." Aydn grumbled.
"Where will I sleep tonight, Alex?" Mestor asked.
"I think it's camp rules you sleep in the Hermes cabin, but I'm gonna sneak you into the cabin of Order. Don't want you hanging around these mop head excuses of demigods." Alex said, smirking.
X
Laying down in a true bed felt good. He hadn't thought of home since school but it hit him like a truck and his heart dropped. His mom must be worried sick. Maybe he'll ask Alex to do that water-cell phone trick he did back at Central Park.
Surprisingly, sleep found Mestor quickly. He wanted a night without dreams, none of those visions he'd been getting.
He didn't get a vision-free night, but this one wasn't exactly a memory. He awoke, lying flat on a cold floor, and looked around to find nothing. Darkness. There was almost a spotlight coming down from above him, shining a light on him, and only him. The floor was completely dark. Not a speck of dust, or imperfection.
Perseus? a voice said from nowhere.
"I'm not Perseus, sir." Mestor replied insecurely. The voice let out a 'hmm' of confusion.
I haven't had a visitor that wasn't Perseus in over a thousand years. Good to see a new face.
Mestor smiled awkwardly. A thousand years?
Yes. A thousand. I can hear everything in this realm, so voice your opinions. Makes it easier for both of us.
Mestor's anxiety went through the roof, and he coughed into his hand.
"Apologies, but who am I speaking to?" He asked.
Oh! How I've forgotten my manners. I'm Order, one of the two creators of the universe, and we're in one of the farthest corners of the void, where nothing and nobody can find you, besides me, and my son.
"Can you answer me one thing, Order?" Mestor asked.
Ask away, child.
"How am I connected to your son? I keep seeing his memories, visions of events in his life that I can't explain. I've never met him."
I cannot answer that, for I do not know. My son created a replica of the void somewhere I cannot find, and has hid himself there for the past few years. I believe he's taking time to himself.
"I talked to him." Mestor stated boldly.
There's something to brag about, young one. The only person he's spoken to, willingly or unwillingly, in the past four years has been his wife.
"He said that we were connected by chance, that not even he can explain so."
How do you know you were connected, was it just in your memories, but physical, too?
"Alexander Theise said that I have the same black tattoo sprouting from my body that Perseus had, a tattoo that Alex said enabled his true form." The voice laughed quietly.
Is that the game we play now, Chaos?
"Can you tell me anything, sir Order?" The voice seemed to be brought out of its thoughts. A smoke appeared in front of Mestor, and from it came a man with pitch black hair, black sunglasses, in a completely black suit, smirking.
"I can't tell you much, Mestor. I hate to inform you, that I have seen your future, and I am excited for you." Order's smiled widened.
"And as the founder and overall general, I'd love to personally welcome you to the Army of Order."
Mestor shot up in a sweat. His skin was raw again, and he looked down at his palm, and sneaking back into his skin was the tattoo. He looked around, and Alex, Chloe and Aydn were all awake, looking at him.
"Uh… guys?" Mestor asked. All of their eyes were wide.
"You were screaming, mumbling about Percy. Something 'bout your future." Alex said.
"I had a dream, or a meeting, rather." Mestor sighed, putting his head into his hands. "I woke in a dark room, a voice spoke to me. Thought I was Perseus." Mestor said. "It was Order, speaking to me. I don't know why I was there, or why he confused me for his son, but he said he'd seen my future, and that he'd love to personally welcome me to the Army of Order." Aydn's breath hitched.
"What is it?" Alex asked.
"The only person he's ever personally welcomed or invited was me and Percy."
yort
