Chapter 13

Percy POV

I shadow traveled with Ms.O'Leary back to the fire thing with Hestia. To be honest it didn't cross my mind to go back to mom's cabin, but when we got to the hearth I was tired. I look around, and immediately wish I was somewhere else. There are people EVERYWHERE, and the second I materialized, all attention was on me. I freeze. What do I do?

"Who the hell are you?" asked someone to my right, a male with a deep voice, definitely NOT nice sounding. My breath stopped.

"You hear me? Who. Are. You?" he asked again, he's getting closer, I close my eyes, oh gods please don't hit me. He's right in front of me, I can smell him. Like sweat and anger mixed with a layer of blood. Ares, my mind supplied me. I'm getting light headed. Not breathing does that.

"HEY!" He yells, I flinch,

"What's your problem freak?" Freak freak freak, I'm shaking, finally finally finally! Ms.O'Leary steps in, growling, it seems no one had noticed her what with the guy yelling at me.

"What the-" I hear him stumble in his haste to step back. I am breathing now, well.. More like hyperventilating. I can feel her rub against my side, comforting me. Sometimes I forget who protects who, I guess it's really equally beneficial? I put my hand on her side and she stops growling. I slowly take a deep breath, if I don't look at him, and I have Ms.O'Leary, I can do this.

"Percy." I choked out, so sue me, it's the first time I talked to a guy older than me in years. I'm, scared.

"Well, what are you doing here PERCY?" He said my name with a sneer I could hear the anger in his voice.

"I- I'm a.." I can't do this, what am I thinking? I'm not ready, not yet. What are we doing here? I- I can't. I can't do this.

"You're a what?! A half-blood? So what? Welcome to the club. But seriously, Pfft. You? You're tiny. Not much help you're gonna be." I clench my fists. No, I'm not much help. I can't even look at him. Let alone go on a quest with him. I'm useless, just a stupid, disobedient whore. No one even wants me, no one no one no one.

"FUCK!" I hear him scream, suddenly there's lot's of screaming and the sound of many light feet. Mom? I feel her gentle hand on my shoulder and Zoe's on my back.

"It's ok son, open your eyes, he can't hurt you," I hear her whisper. Slowly my eyes open, and there she is. Standing in front of me, her long auburn hair in it's braid, her silver eyes glowing with the warring emotions of worry, relief, anger, and sadness. But then, she smiles, and it all melts away, her pale face glowing gently in the early morning light, with the sun behind her, she looks like and angel. Nodding to me, I relax, this is my mother, she would never let anyone hurt me. I look over to Zoe and she smiles at me and kisses my forehead.

"It's ok Perce." I smile, I trust my family. Feeling a shift in the shadow behind me, I turn around and see Hades, Uncle. He smiles at me and pats my head, I giggle, and I can see all my sisters smile. I finally notice that the rest of them have hog tied all the campers that were in the area and were pointing notched arrows at them. I smile a little more than my usual small one, and Ms.O'Leary nudges my hand, I am safe. Suddenly I can feel a heavy and dark aura surround Uncle Hades and Mom. They are glaring at the captives and have scary smiles on their faces.

"Now, who upset my son?" Mom asks, and I swear someone screamed. I am hidden behind mom so I peek around her, I only come up to about her shoulders anyway in her 12 year old form. I mean, I AM six. They all look terrified, and I can't help but mirror that expression when I see how many older boys there are, I pull back in behind mom, and close my eyes, holding onto her coat. I can feel Uncle Hades put a hand on my shoulder. I look up and he nods, sucking in a breath I straighten my shoulders and force myself to let go of her coat with one hand, but I still couldn't completely let go.

My mom turns to look at me, smiles and gently pulls my hand from her coat and holds it in her own, her hand just as small as mine, yet both are strong and weathered from hours of knife, sword, and bow practice. My other hand is clasped in something large and lukewarm, slightly sweaty, a hand. Looking over Uncle is trying his hardest to not look at me, but held tight to my right hand. Slowly I looked out at the campers, there were probably twenty of them, and at least 3/4ths of them were older than me, with a pretty even split of boys and girls. I was scared.

I won't lie about that. I am terrified actually. Just as I was about to take a step forward, a bright light appeared and suddenly there was a man, looking around frantically. He had black curly hair, and sea green eyes, he worn khakis and sandals, with a shirt that said,

"Anytime's fishing time" with a little fish winking on it. Strangely enough I wasn't scared of the man, though I knew I should be. But I just felt, safe. Finally his eyes settled on me and I knew who he was. He looked at me with surprise and relief, as well as some sorrow and guilt. I bowed my head and whispered,

"Hello father." And just like that, I was swept off my feet and crushed into a hug, one that I was too stunned to return. He was sobbing, I couldn't believe it, sobbing much like I did when I had to bury my attempt at saving a life. All over me? But why? I made eye contact with mom, she looked surprised and then furious. Suddenly I was ripped away from him by Uncle, I look up at him and he rests his hand on my head, holding me tighter in his arms.

Never breaking eye contact with my dad, who looks shocked and to be honest, a little mad. Next it's moms turn, he never knew what hit him, suddenly Poseidon is holding his head and mom still has her hand raised. I can't believe mom did that! A flash and then Uncle Apollo is there cussing out dad in limericks, how? I'm not quite sure, but he is. Mom turns to my sisters and says,

"Girls! We're having sushi for dinner!" I watch as dad pales and puts his arms up in surrender.

"WAIT!" Everyone freezes. He turns his still teary gaze towards me,

"Percy? Please, I- I thought you were dead son, I thought he killed you along with your-" He is slapped again, this time by Apollo.

"Shut. Up." I'm shaking, image after image of my mother dying flying through my mind, I can't breathe. I shut my eyes and can feel Uncle Hades sit down and start rocking me in his arms, stroking my hair, but the touch feels so far away. Just like this place this horrible camp where you're bullied for existing and being small. I swear if I ever come back here to stay I will change this place, change it into a place where people don't have to explain their pain to them, into a place that is safe, and warm, a place like the Hunters camp.

Where we are one big family. Suddenly Apollo's face is in mine and he's mouthing words at me, I still can't hear him, but I can see my chest heaving, and mom panicking with dad behind Apollo, they are both yelling at each other. I still can't hear, everything is silent, I feel like i'm in molasses. My movements and words slow and heavy.

"No." I rasp out, Apollo looks relieved and mom and dad have stopped yelling at each other, at least I think they were yelling, it's hard to tell when you can't hear. Uncle Apollo's face changes slowly like he's a radio station that's fuzzy. His face blurring, mom and dad are blobs behind him, I hear a high pitched sound, and then everything goes dark.

.

..

.

Waking up sounds easy but it's actually really hard to do, especially when you just passed out. Trust me you get all disoriented, and can't tell up from down. I blink my eyes, I haven't moved and already the world is spinning. I feel like i'm gonna throw up, I groan.

"Percy?"

"Are you awake honey?"

"Hey kiddo 'bout time you woke up."

"Ooh little brother you'll pay for making me so worried." My eyes shoot open, aww man sounds like everyone is here.

"...Percy? S-son?" Dad too? I turn my head slowly, noticing along the way I seem to be back in my bunk in mom's cabin and Uncle Hades, Mom, Uncle Apollo, Zoe, and Dad are all sitting around my bed. A little creepy if you ask me.

"Uhm? Yea?" I whisper, my throat is super dry, and Apollo hands me a cup of water. Instantly I feel better after drinking it. My dad smiles. Right, Poseidon, god of the sea, water helps me... I smile one of my smallest smiles back, the smallest tilt of my lips. But he looks pleased anyway. Should I say something?

But what if he hit's me for speaking without being spoken to? What if- No, no I don't think he'd do that. He reminds me of the sea, calm and gentle. Nothing like the stormy and unforgiving ocean, he looks too kind. I whisper,

"Hello father." My head bowed, and shoulders tense, just in case. I flinch, a hand is on my shoulder, he smells like the sea, salty with a bit of brine. I feel my muscles relax and I slump into the bed. He won't hit me. He won't hit me. He won't hit me. Repeating over and over in my head, like a mantra. My father won't hit me. I can't believe it, this is how I could have grown up, unafraid of being hit by my own father, unafraid of every male I meet. I don't blame dad for it though, it's not like he knew what HE was doing...

No, no one knew, and I will keep it that way.

AN: HOLY CRAP.

I AM SO SORRY. NO I DID NOT FORGET ABOUT THIS STORY. I SERIOUSLY HAD THIS CHAPTER DONE LIKE A WEEK AGO, BUT I WANTED TO ADD MORE BUT I COULDN'T SO I FINALLY JUST SAID FUCK IT AND POSTED IT. I AM SO SORRY. THIS TOOK FOREVER.

On a side note, I am applying to a 'real job' as my father would say, because "even if you get paid a lot, babysitting isn't a job". So wish me luck!

Also you guys know ideas are ALWAYS welcome.

In fact the saying Girls we're having sushi for dinner was a suggestion! SO seriously send in ideas, likely hood is they will be put in the story!

-WolfMistwood :D