DISCLAIMER: Percy Jackson and crew are the intellectual property of Rick Riordan
WARNING: Somewhat OOC Characters
Hi! Err, is no one angry with me now? (looks for pitchforks and torches) I managed to type this out in just under three weeks! As an apology! And, err, an early Christmas present as well. Yes, I'm sorry if I'm cheap, but I'm just borrowing my brother's laptop for this, and he's going to be so angry. Er-hem. Well. I hope this is an improvement for you guys! Tell me how it came out, alright? :D
Thank you for all those who favorite, followed, reviewed, or just read this story of mine. Thank you for sticking with me! :D
ultima-owner, AgnetCoCo, ro781727, spiritgirl16, Tipper dehavilland, Layla Riddle, The Deviless, mysteryreader6626, Whovain101, Obsessedwithpjo67, Lilmacmayer, AQUA-TOT, Cassy, Legacy01, Rose1414, Siddystar101, Padfootette, Guest # 2, Tigerbella101, Rose Night 3, 1xXnatalyaXx1, harryginny9, 917brat, Guest # 3, VongolaCielo27, endertrree, Touhara Naoya, Brightcloud0915, Guest # 4, Moony Mercier, Guest # 6, Slytherin Studios, preppygoth13, bookwormultimate – My heartfelt thanks for all of your support! I hope this chapter is up to your standards! :D
AyameShirayuki – Oh dear me. Haha. You made me laugh at that one. Fortunately, though, I'm not, or else my updates would even be more erratic than it already is. :D
DeathToPink300 – Ah, yes, it really is a cumulative moment in the making. Oh, well, I think I can deliver in a month? (not making promises here. O.O) Yes, I will be. I just need one last push and I'm done with this baby. Then get started with the next one, alright? :D And thank you. :D
Guest # 1 – Uhm, I translated your review into Portuguese (Am I right? Please tell me I am. O.O) I can understand, but can't speak, though, so I'll settle with plain English. Thank you. Please don't worry. We only have one last push, and then it's done! :D I do hope you'll like this next one, too! :D
AgitatedDog9288 – Thank you very much for your 8 straight reviews! :D Hope you like this chapter too! :D
Camila – I want to answer you, but I can't PM you because you're using the Guest Review. Do you have an account so I can PM you? :D
IWantColoredRain – Yes, he most certainly is. :D
mrslukecastellan – Oh, don't worry, sweetie. Their first would be totally secluded, I promise. :D Yes, and thanks! :D Haha. I really don't have the capacity to write epic stories like Third Fang and Josephine Darcy, though I do my best to satisfy. :D
Swef Elizzy – Haha. Your questions will be answered in the next chapter to come! 2 more to go and we're done! :D Let's just wait and see, alright? :D
Avenging-Chaos – Oh my. My heartfelt condolences. I remember her, of course. She was one of the ones loyal enough to support me even with my erratic updates. I'm so glad and honored that I could be a part of your memories with her. Thank you and I understand. I finish this, for all of us. :)
Guest # 5 – Ah, thank you for finally noticing it. Finally, someone commented on that fact! I was wondering if his behavior was so natural that no one even said anything about it. O.O As for your concern, don't worry. This chapter would address it. Hope you like way the plot is developing. :D
dogbiscuit1967 – HI! Kept in touch! :)) Here's the next chapter, and no, no ice bags as of yet. Reserve that for the next one. ;)
aLazyButSmartFanPJO – So, you don't want that question answered then? :))
Hercy – Ah really? Thanks so much for that! :D Yes, yes he is. I'm having trouble writing him even. He's just, ugh. OOOOOHHH. That's still a long way off, unfortunately. *cough*thirdbook*cough* Thank you! Hope you like this chapter, too! :D
Εδώ είναι το επόμενο κεφάλαιο! (Here's the next chapter!)
Chapter 27: A True Hero
Humans in general, are the most complex beings that would ever walk this planet. Their brains allow reasoning, and imagination to function in a much higher scale than most animals. And thus, humans are ascertained of their superiority. Though, whatever that doesn't fit into their own versions of reality are warped and prodded until it does. And I have never seen it function into such a widespread degree than it has now.
According to the L.A. police, the explosion in Santa Monica beach was caused by a psychotic, brain-dead (two guesses who they were accusing here, and the first one doesn't count), rich kidnapper, who just happened to shoot at a police car that was on scene and somehow hit a gas pipe that came loose with the multiple consecutive earthquakes the state had been experiencing lately (and wow, did that tidbit put an arrow of guilt through me). Is that even humanely possible to do!?
And, drum roll please. The crazy kidnapper (or the deranged War God who apparently had quite the fetish with adolescent girls who stand up to him) who apparently had nothing better to do with his money (the laser ballpen was clue enough) was the one who had kidnapped me and my friends from New York and had roped us into a ten-day journey across the country, shoving us through hell and back (and they weren't wrong about that, funnily enough).
Thankfully, though, young Persis Jackson wasn't one to give up without a fight. She and her friends had caused the commotion that caused the accident with the Greyhound back in New Jersey so they could somehow inform someone of their abduction (reporters even had statements from those that were on the bus, swearing up and down that this was true and "why the hell didn't we notice it before!"). The idiotic man had been the one to plant the explosives and blow up a hole inside the St. Louis Arch, because, a child couldn't have possibly done that, right? A concerned waitress in Denver even had gotten a friend to take a picture of the man roughly threatening the four friends into complying riding behind an animal truck illegally before he himself rode after them in his comfortable motorbike. So of course, she notified the police, and the police in turn had notified the local authorities of where we were last seen (namely L.A.), who had arrived at the scene where brave, brave Persis Jackson had stolen another weapon from their captor (first they saw a laser ballpen, and now, a freaking rifle) and battled the man, shotgun to rifle, on the beach. The captor wasn't happy and had caused the said explosion, resulting in five police vehicles being completely totaled, and, fortunately, no casualties, though in the chaos, the captor fled. Persis "Percy" Jackson and her three friends were now safely in the custody of the L.A. police.
This was the, frankly, extremely fantastical story the reporters had told us to say, and we just had to act like exhausted, victimized, terrorized, tearful kids for the cameras. And truthfully, we weren't all just acting.
"We all just want to go home to New York and to forget that this ever happened to us. We know our parents would have been worried about us. Please." I sobbed as Luke nodded, his arm holding me close as Ethan and Grover nodded in acquiescence, their eyes shiny and holding onto each other for support. The reporters all sympathized with us so they pooled together money for four tickets for the next flight to New York.
And heck, I knew we had no other choice but to fly, seeing as it was already early evening and the Empire State Building was still all the way across the country. I was fervently hoping and wishing that Zeus would look the other way just this once. Just this once! Still, knowing this, it was Hades straining myself to board the stupid airplane, despite the worried glances the other three were throwing at me.
Takeoff was my nightmare about Tartarus, take two. Every spot of turbulence had me clenching my armrests, eyes closed, teeth clenched, fervently praying to Dad that he somehow protect us when we weren't even close to his domain. Luke was rubbing my arms in comfort even as Ethan and Grover were continuously looking at us from their seats in front of us. My body only just consciously relaxed when the plane hit the tarmac of La Guardia. Still, my legs were feeling like jell-o when we walked down the stairs onto solid land.
"Oh gods! Pure, solid land!" Grover exclaimed, looking as if he wanted to kiss the concrete if there weren't so many people around us.
"I'm not flying with you again, sis. I'm going to get gray hairs from worrying." Ethan murmured as he hauled Grover up when he lost to the temptation and sank to the ground, all but hugging the tarmac.
"Promise me this was a one-time thing, Damsel fish. Please." Luke strained as he propped me up, all but carrying me with my shaking knees still refusing to properly support me.
"Gods. You'll never get me to go on one ever. I just realized why I love pegasi." I shuddered as I leaned back from Luke, his cologne not helping with my squeamish legs.
The three fervently supported my decision as we walked to the airport. Though, before we had rounded the corner having airport security, Ethan, who was leading, suddenly screeched to a halt, quickly backtracking.
"Stop! Reporters ahead."
"Oh gods. We don't have time for this!" I moaned as I clutched my hair in panic.
"Damn it! If we didn't leave our packs behind at that stupid hotel, we could change clothes!" Luke hissed out, blue eyes wide and panicked.
"Ah!" Grover exclaimed as he dug into his jeans pocket and tugged out Annabeth's cap. "How about this?"
"Hircum, I could kiss you! Distraction, now!" I all but tore the cap from his hands and jammed it none too gently on him, making him disappear from sight.
"Geez. Can you be gentler, Mare?" his voice gripped, but moments later, we could clearly hear him shouting. "Here! They're here by the yogurt stand! Over here!"
When the vibrations from the many feet running away from us disappeared, Ethan poked his head out from behind the wall we had hidden, checking to see if there were some reporters left.
"They're gone. Come on, hurry!" He hissed at us as we sprinted towards security. Thankfully, the line had trickled to almost nonexistent when we got in line, thus aiding our escape to baggage claim, where Grover was already holding the blue backpack.
"Come on! I don't know how long they're going to be fooled!" He shoved the pack towards me. I hoisted the blasted thing on my shoulders with grim determination.
We hurried out of the airport and to the taxi line. Though, before the other three could get in line, I grabbed Ethan and Grover's arms and dragged them to one side, Luke following us with his brows furrowed.
"Damsel fish, we need to hurry."
"Ethan, Grover, go back to Camp. Tell Chiron what happened." I ignored Luke in favor of looking at the two seriously.
"We are NOT leaving you and Luke, Mare! Not until we finish this!" Grover immediately protested, with Ethan empathically nodding as he pulled the arm I had clutched and wrapped it around my shoulders.
"But, guys, someone needs to inform him of what happened, especially if-." I bit my lips, unwilling to finish my statement.
"You know I won't let that happen, right, Damsel fish?" Luke grabbed my hand, pulling me toward him, with him lifting a hand to caress my cheek.
"Oi, no touching!" Ethan exclaimed as he pulled me back from Luke's embrace, depositing me behind him as he scowled at a pacifying Luke.
"Gah! Fine! We'll go back! Just, be careful guys. Alright?" Grover had promptly given up and dragged a still scowling Ethan to the nearest unoccupied taxi.
I just sighed and dragged an unrepentant Son of Hermes to the nearest unoccupied taxi.
"You're an idiot."
"Ah, but I'm your idiot, right?"
"…..Idiot."
…..oo00oo…..
Thirty minutes of ribbing (flirting) from Luke later, both of us walked into the lobby of the Empire State Building. And, geez. We must have looked ridiculous with our get up. The dress that Silena had so kindly lent to me was in horrible shape (I had been duking it out with the War God just a couple of hours ago) and Luke's tux was in no shape to be called a tux at all. We were pretty much an eyesore with almost everyone wearing business suits, all prim and proper, nevermind that it looked like they were all going home. We looked at each other, and grimaced. Still, we jutted out our foreheads and resolutely marched towards the front desk.
The receptionist just raised his eyebrow, eyeing our attires in distaste. I pretended not to notice as I looked at him and asked. "Six hundredth floor, please."
Both of his eyebrows were now raised as he looked at us in surprise. "No such floor. Perhaps you might remember what floor if you go back home and slept for the day, miss. And, perhaps, have a change of clothes."
I blinked at his reaction, expecting a denial of some sort, but not this. "I need to see Zeus."
He furrowed his brows at us. "There's no one here called the Lord of the Sky, miss."
I was about to abort my questioning and just look for a way up to Olympus myself but I noticed his twitching hands and stopped backtracking, my own hands twitching towards the backpack for Riptide in aggravation in realization. I looked at Luke to find him looking at the receptionist with a raised eyebrow of his own. Before I could say something, though, Luke had lent forward casually, hiding the fact that he was clutching the man's front lapels rather hard.
"What-!" The man sputtered, but Luke tightened his grip, prompting the man to stop talking due to lack of air.
"You heard the lady. We need to see Zeus. Now." Luke had shoved his face close to the man's face, his blue eyes hard as sapphires.
"N-No appointment, no audience! Those are the rules, halfblood!"
"Then, even with this?" I asked as I slipped the backpack off my shoulder and opened it, showing him the contents. Instantly, the man went from indignant to pale.
"I-Is that-!?"
"Yes. Shall I get it out so you can inspect it more?" I asked sweetly, smiling eerily at him, opening the backpack wider to give him a full view of the cylindrical celestial bronze weapon.
"N-No!" He scrambled out of Luke's grip and fumbled around the desk, grabbing a key card and shoving it towards me. "H-Here! Straight to the top! Insert this in the security slot! Make sure no one's inside!"
"Thank you, sir." I smirked at him as I zipped the bag close and hauled a still scowling Luke towards the empty elevator. As soon as the doors closed, I jammed the card into the security slot, making the card disappear and a big red button marking 600 appear in its place. I pressed it and we waited. And waited. And waited some more.
"My ears are popping." Luke grimaced as he futilely jammed his forefingers into his ears.
"At least you won't have to listen to Muzak." I grumbled as the music blared softly from the elevator speakers. "Lord Apollo really needs to invest in better music."
Finally, though, the elevator stopped moving upwards with a ding. The doors opened, and I grabbed Luke's hand and dragged him out.
"We're-!" I stopped, choking the rest of my sentence as I stared in awe at the sight in front of me.
Luke and I were standing on a narrow stone walkway in the middle of the air. Above Manhattan. At the height of an airplane's flight. In front of me, white marble steps glimmered from the moonlight as the wound up the spine of a cloud into the sky. And if my brain had stopped functioning at that fact, it absolutely imploded at the sight that greeted me at the end of the stairway.
An apex, and only the apex of a mountain rose from the top of the clouds, its peak covered with smatterings of snow. Clinging to the mountainside were a multitude of multileveled palaces, sort of like a city of mansions, all with white-columned porticos, gilded terraces and bronze braziers glowing with a thousand fires of a multitude of colors. Roads all twisted from all sides, but all ended at the peak of the mountain, where the largest palace gleamed in all of its glory. If that wasn't enough of an impossibility, there were many precariously placed gardens filled with olive trees and rose bushes. There was even an open-air market filled with colorful tents, a stone amphitheater built on one side of the mountain, a hippodrome and a coliseum in the other side. It was an Ancient Greek city, the Ancient Greek city that the Ancient Greeks had replicated and lived in once upon a time.
"Yeah, it's really amazing once it's your first time here. Still is, in fact." Luke whispered to me as I continued to imitate a goldfish, gaping at the utter impossibility that Olympus was just existing there above Manhattan AND NO ONE NOTICED.
"I'd love to show you around, Damsel fish, but we're on a tight schedule." He said as he grabbed my hand and ushered me through the streets. I just followed meekly, still in a daze.
We passed some giggling wood nymphs, batting their lashes at Luke and throwing olives at me from their gardens. Hawkers and peddlers hailed us, offering to sell ambrosia-on-a-stick and a genuine glitter weave replica of the Golden Fleece and the best replica of Aegis. The nine muses were tuning their instruments for a small concert at the park while a small crowd gathered; satyrs, nymphs, and a couple of good looking teenagers, most likely minor gods and goddesses. No one, and I mean no one, was imminently worried about the impending Civil War that was hours upon descending upon all of them. In fact, it seemed that they were in a festive mood, which was the farthest thing from panicking with their situation. That made me snap from my daze to ponder that anomaly, and thus made me notice that once we passed by, their pleasant faces melted off and they started whispering to each other, watching our progress.
We climbed the main road, towards the biggest palace at the peak. It was the exact reverse copy of the palace down in the Underworld. It made my gut churn in guilt. There, the palace was an imposing bronze and black. Here it was white and silver, glittering ethereally in the moonlight. I swallowed, my eyes starting to blur with unshed tears at the unjustness of it all. What did Uncle Hades do to be banished from this beautiful place? Why does that punishment stand up until now? No other god has been punished like that. Why? What's going on?
The steps led up to the central courtyard. Past that, the throne room, with its looming oaken double doors.
"You ready to put an end to the beginning of World War III, Damsel fish?" Luke said, a hand on one door, his other hand holding mine.
I rubbed my eyes to get rid of the moisture and looked at him, determined. "Let's get this show on the road."
He just smirked. Together, we pushed open the doors, revealing the room.
Well. Room really wasn't the right word for it. It made the Grand Central Station look like a tiny walk-in closet. Massive, and I mean massive columns rose to a domed ceiling gilded with moving constellations. Twelve thrones, built for beings the size of Uncle Hades, were arranged in an inverted U, almost like the cabins down in Camp Half Blood. The only difference was that Hermes seems to have switched places with Ares. An enormous fire crackled in the central hearth pit. The thrones were all empty, all except for two at the end; the head throne on the right, and the throne on its immediate left. I didn't have to be told who they were as we resolutely strode forward, my throat dry and my stomach twisting in knots. Luke just squeezed my clammy hand in support.
The two gods were in giant human form, as had Uncle Hades, but unlike with the Lord of the Dead, when I looked at the one on the head throne, my body immediately started to tingle, from the top of my head down to my toes. It was like my body was already starting to vaporize. Zeus, Lord of the Heavens, wore a dark blue pinstriped suit with polished leather shoes. The suit was Armani, and the shoes looked like Ferragamo. He sat on a simple throne, but it was made of solid platinum. Another point for Uncle Hades' hatred, it seems. Anyways, he had a well-trimmed beard, marbled gray and black like a thundercloud. His face was well chiseled; proud and handsome and grim altogether, his eyes stormy gray. For every step towards him, the smell of ozone gradually got heavier and heavier, as if he was coating the entire space he was occupying with his power.
The god that was sitting beside him was obviously his brother, but the way they dressed stressed on a very different outlook and personality. With Zeus portraying a serious businessman, he was wearing what I could only describe as an outfit for a beachcomber from Key West. He wore leather sandals, khaki Bermuda shorts and a Tommy Bahama shirt with coconuts and parrots on it. His skin was deeply tanned, hands scarred like that of an experienced fisherman. His hair was midnight black, exactly the shade as mine. His face had that brooding look that had always put me in the radar of my teachers, saying that I was a troublemaker from the start. But his eyes, exactly the same shade of sea green as mine, were surrounded by crinkles and crow's feet, telling me he smiled a lot, too. His throne was as far from Zeus' throne as the sun was from the moon. Wherein Zeus was reeking of pride and order, his was a simple deep sea fisherman's chair. You know, the swiveling kind with a black leather seat and a fishing pole holder? Only, on the holder wasn't a fishing pole, but his golden Trident, his symbol and weapon of choice. Its tips were glowing green with power, and, as with Zeus, the area around him smelled of the sea, warm and comforting on a sunny day.
The two gods weren't moving, but there was a thick tension in the air, signifying that they had been fighting before we had arrived. The two were staring at me, ignoring Luke, though green eyes slid on him in an assessing gaze before resting and stopping on me.
We stopped before the two gods, still holding hands.
I squeezed Luke's hand in an attempt to tell him to stay where he was and release me. He complied, though his hard gaze was steadily trained on the Lord of the Heavens.
I resolutely ignored the God of Lightning as I stepped forward and dropped to both of my knees in front of my father, my head bowed, not daring to look up. "Father." I said, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.
To my right, Zeus' voice rumbled in the silence. "You dare address him before the master of this house?"
'You don't deserve acknowledgement.' I mentally snarled, but I kept my mouth shut. I kept my eyes on the ground, waiting for Poseidon's reaction.
"Peace, Zeus." My father's voice resounded in the throne room, rich and soothing at the same time. Though I kept still, I was puzzled. His wasn't the voice that I heard in my battle against Ares. If not him, then who was it? "She defers to me. It's the right thing to do."
"So you do acknowledge her." The Lord of the Skies snarled, his right hand curling into a loose fist grasping thin air. I mentally started when I realized that he wanted to curl his hand around his Master Bolt. The backpack on my shoulder suddenly became heavier at the thought.
"I did, right from the start. You know this." Poseidon said, his voice dripping with warning.
"You acknowledge this mistake? This wrongdoing?" Zeus' voice was steadily rising with anger, and I felt that the tingling my body was experiencing was steadily growing stronger, almost unbearable.
"No!" I heard Luke shout through the haze of pain, and Father was saying something, but I ignored them, concentrating on not screaming, not giving Zeus the satisfaction of hearing my screams through his doing.
Suddenly though, as I was on the verge of screaming from the pain of the burn, it disappeared. Instead, I was being covered by a soothing cool that instantly invigorated me. Startled, I raised my eyes to my father, shock overpowering me at the snarl that was present on his face instead of the relaxed one a while ago.
"Do you want our fragile truce to crumble this instant, brother? Who are you to accuse me of committing a wrongdoing? Are you saying your own spawns are all wrongdoings!?" Poseidon growled, half rising from his throne, Zeus mirroring his expression and gestures to the tee.
Though, as I was almost hyperventilating from panic that war was going to erupt right in front of my eyes, the fire in the central hearth had instantly risen to almost as massive as one of the pillars, rooting the two gods from their actions. Then, with pinched lips, Zeus took his seat, with Poseidon following, a sigh escaping from his.
"My apologies, sister."
Though there wasn't a response, the fire had gone back to normal at his apologies, though its color was more vibrant than a while ago.
"I have spared your daughter once already, Poseidon. Daring to fly! I should have just struck that plane down to save me the trouble." Zeus spat, venom coating his voice as he said the word 'daughter'.
"And risk your precious Bolt? I thought you were thinking this time, brother." Father said, eyes and expression clearly exasperated, though his tone was struggling form rising to flat. "You had the grace to spare her. Let her tell her story."
"Fine. Then I shall judge." Zeus reluctantly said, looking pained at his words.
"Persis, tell us of your adventure." Poseidon said, the anger in his voice disappearing. Instead, it was colored with curiosity.
Gulping, I nodded, telling them of my quest. Though, as I was telling them of the details, I had the feeling that they weren't really listening. Like they already knew the things that I was telling them. Zeus was just looking at me with a bored air about him, while Poseidon's stare was heavy, scrutinizing.
As I took the Master Bolt from the backpack and laid it on Zeus' feet, though, the god straightened in his seat, his bored countenance morphing into a neutral one. He opened his hand and instantly, the Bolt flew into his hands, growing and lengthening until he was holding a fizzing and crackling twenty foot javelin of pure electricity, making the hairs on my arms rise.
"Very well. Is that all, girl?" Even Zeus' tone had become flat, neutral.
"No. Lord." I said, barely remembering to add on the 'Lord' part. Luckily, though, Zeus was still inspecting his weapon, making him miss the slight against him. Father, though, smirked a little at my impertinence.
"Well, speak." Zeus finished looking over the Master Bolt and pierced me with his unrelenting stare.
"We think that Ares was being influenced."
"Please elaborate, Persis." Poseidon leaned forward on his throne, resting his elbows on the armrests of his throne as he steepled his fingers together.
I described my dreams and the evil feeling that had emanated on the beach, that momentary whisper of the purest of evil that had seemed to stop even the revolution of the world, and had resulted in Ares backing out of killing us all.
"In the dreams, I was lured to bring the Bolt to the Underworld. Ares had let it slip that he was also having visions. I think this was all an elaborate ruse to get all of Olympus into war."
"Who are you describing, Persis?" Poseidon's grave tone had me almost biting back my words but I forced myself to say the things that had been plaguing me since the Underworld.
"Father, I have been in the presence of Uncle Hades. The feeling on the beach was entirely different. It was- It was the same thing I felt when I was almost dragged down into that pit. Tartarus. Something, no, someone is stirring. And he's getting more powerful by the second."
"Impossible." Zeus growled.
Poseidon looked at him and spoke in Ancient Greek, tone urgent. Zeus had replied in the same language, tone still biting and defiant. They were speaking too fast for my brain to keep up, but I caught one word, and it confirmed everything that had gone wrong with the quest. Father.
"Enough! Don't test me, Poseidon. This discussion is closed." Zeus thundered as he stood, effectively cutting off Poseidon's diatribe. "Enough. I must purify my Bolt in the waters of Lemnos, to clear it of human taint."
He looked at me neutrally. "You have completed your quest. Your reward will be my sparing of your life. Be grateful, girl." He then started to walk towards the oaken doors, not even sparing a fuming Luke a glance. "Do not presume that I will spare your life once again if you presume to fly once more. And if I find you still here, then you shall have to be the first to taste the full power of my Bolt after its purification."
He stopped at the center of the room. Thunder and lightning flashed overhead as a large bolt of lightning flashed down on him. When the lightning disappeared, so did he.
Poseidon sighed as he stood from his throne, shrinking until he was the size of a regular human. He then looked at Luke who was still rooted to his spot, glaring at the space Zeus was standing a mere moment ago. "Son of Hermes."
At the sound of his title being uttered form the Sea God's lips, though, Luke had stood ramrod straight and looked at Poseidon without malice, though he did look a touch nervous.
"Do not presume me to be as lenient as my son. I do not care if the Fates themselves are behind you. You still have not proven yourself to me." His sea green eyes were glinting in the moonlight. "You have proven to be a capable halfblood, yes. Yet, you have yet to prove something that I require to mark yourself above other men. Until then, you do not have permission. And I expect you to respect my decision."
"As you say, Lord." Luke inclined his head respectfully, his blue eyes shining in determination.
"Then, leave. I wish to talk to my daughter alone." Unlike with Zeus, Luke just bowed once more and strode towards the oaken doors. Though, before he could push a door open, he looked back at me and smiled reassuringly. He then disappeared from our sights as the doors slid close.
A few moments passed in uncomfortable silence. Finally though, Poseidon sighed and turned towards me, sporting a small smile. "I apologize that both of you had to witness our spat. Your uncle tends to have a flair for dramatics and hot tempers."
I swallowed, trying to get my voice to work. "Father?"
Poseidon just looked at me, prompting me to continue.
"What-? Was-? Was He really the one responsible?" Even though I hadn't mentioned him by name, it was as if his presence was there, muting everything into grayscale, slowing down our perception of time itself.
Poseidon's countenance considerably darkened as he opened his hand, and his Trident shrunk to normal size, prompting him to grip it tightly. "From time to time, over the eons, Father has stirred a number of times. He enters men's dreams and plants evil, heinous thoughts. He wakens monsters of the worst kind from the depths. But for him to rise, it would be disaster. Chaos."
"That's what he is doing, Father. That's what he wants."
Poseidon didn't answer for a few moments. "Brother is stubborn. It would take considerable evidence for him to act. And as much as I don't want to, I understand why he is like this. It would make our previous spats with each other look like mere slaps to the hand. War with Father would destroy Western Civilization itself."
"But, you believe me?" I asked, desperate. I know I'm right! Why doesn't anyone act on it! If it would really result in catastrophic events coming to pass, why doesn't anyone do something about it!?
His dark expression disappeared in an instant, and instead, a smile, a full blown smile, one that had crinkles appear by the sides of his eyes, answered me. He walked forward 'till he was within arm's reach.
"Dear child, I've never doubted you from the start." He put both of his hand on my shoulders, warmth emanating from them spreading through my body.
I don't know what came over me, but the next instant, I had wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly, burying my face on his strong chest, smiling as the smell of the sea engulfed me. His arms went around me, hugging me back. And, honestly? In that moment, everything could have gone to Hades and I wouldn't have cared. I found my Dad, had found out, in this moment we shared, that he does care about me. That he didn't abandon Mom and I to fend for ourselves. It was perfect.
And then the throne room doors had burst open, admitting two loudly guffawing gods being chased by an irate Goddess of the Hunt.
"Get *burp* back here, you *burp* two *burp*! I'm going *burp* to skin you *burp* ALIVE *burp*!" The teen-looking goddess yelled, enraged, all the while her shouting being interrupted by continuous burping.
"No way! You'll kill us!" Apollo cackled.
"You know I need to relax to recuperate! This is relaxing!" Hermes shouted as he and Apollo pulled off a complete lap of the throne room then sped off through the doors, with Artemis yelling threats at them, the three completely missing our frozen duo.
"Was that-?"
"Yes."
"What-?"
"It's better if you don't ask, child."
I laughed unsurely at the deadpan way he gazed at the doors, almost like he was expecting them to barge in again and completely miss us for the second time.
I took a deep breath. "Dad?"
That got his attention, as he swiveled his head toward me so fast it was a miracle I hadn't heard anything pop. "Yes, Percy?"
Slap!
Poseidon's eyes were wide, as he unwrapped one arm from his embrace on me to put his hand over his stinging left cheek.
"That was for leaving Mom when she needed you." I said, my hand still raised from the slap I gave him. Though, before he could say anything, I stood on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss on the same cheek that I hit. "And that was for caring about me during this quest. I know you did, even though you can't."
Poseidon just blinked for a few moments before booming with laughter; rich, fulfilling laughter. When he stopped, he also unwrapped himself from our embrace, though he kept both hands fastened on my shoulders.
"You really are Sally's daughter, aren't you." He stated fondly.
I just smiled beatifically.
"Ah. Your mother really is a queen cut above the rest, Percy." Though, his mirth disappeared as he seemed to remember something of significant importance. "Percy."
"Yes, Dad?"
"When you leave here, you'll have to make a decision."
"A decision?"
"Yes." Poseidon sighed as he carded a hand through his hair. "A decision to mark you as a true hero or not."
My brows knotted in confusion at that. Wasn't what I did already in the realm of being qualified as a true hero's quest? Was I somehow not qualified because of extenuating circumstances?
And as if reading my mind, Poseidon smiled a little as he ruffled my hair in an affectionate manner. "A true hero isn't defined by great acts that define the world's fate. A true hero is someone who could stand up to what she believes is right, even though the world insists on the opposite. A true hero shines in the small things she does, small to the world, but means more than the world to her."
I blinked, not fully understanding what he's telling me, but he just smiled again and hugged me one more time.
"Though, know this, child. Whatever you may choose to do." Here, Poseidon straightened and looked me dead in the eye, his own sea green eyes filled with a sort of proud fire.
"You will always be a true Daughter of the Sea God."
…..oo00oo…..
"Are you sure, Damsel fish?"
"Yeah. I just, need to see her, after everything."
"Alright. And I'm sure I'm not needed there, so I'll go back first. Might as well make sure Ethan hasn't blown up Camp in worry over you." Luke winked at me and hopped on to the nearest taxi, leaving me alone for the first time since this entire quest that turned my world completely upside down.
I smiled a little as I hopped on the next taxi, rattling out my address, and spent the next fifteen minutes just working off the shock that had permeated my being when I went out of the palace and how the conversations around me just stopped, with everyone instantly looking at me with respect and gratitude. I just let the shock of seeing these godly beings pause and kneel down before me as I passed them, like I was some kind of hero, out. I even let out my frustrations at Luke not being outside the throne room like he said he would be, and be at the entrance of the elevator leading down, out, knowing that Mom won't appreciate seeing me worked up about things when this would be the first time we would see each other ever since that episode with the Fates.
I rang the doorbell to Mom's apartment (and no torture in the world would make me say that the place was owned by Gabe too), and there she was, smelling of licorice and sweets as worry melted from her face when she laid eyes on me.
"Hi, Mom."
"Oh, my Bluebell! Thank goodness, oh thank you. Oh, my precious Bluebell."
She crushed the air right out of me as he clung to me and cried, carding her hands through my raven locks affectionately. I clung to her just as fiercely, letting all of my fears during the quest that I couldn't express, the many 'what-ifs' I couldn't express to the others out of me as I cried alongside my precious mother out on the hallway of the apartment.
She told me how worried she was when the news about the Greyhound had appeared, how distraught she was when Gabe just snorted and forced her to go to work even through the near panic she had experienced just because there won't be money for paying the electric bill. And how the panic had near escalated into hysteria when the news about the St. Louis Arch had aired and how the Mist was sort of somehow aiding me, not hindering me like other demigods.
I swallowed all the derogatory remarks I wanted to shout to that no good lout, and regaled her with my full story, though I tried to omit the scarier parts. As I was getting into the beginning of the fight with Ares, Gabe's oily voice interrupted us. "Hey Sally! Is that meatloaf done or what?"
"He isn't going to be happy to see you, Bluebell. He thinks you ran away from home and thought that you deserved being kidnapped with your stunt." She pursed her lips, eyes growing concerned as she looked beyond the open door to space that was supposed to be the living room, but became Gabe's poker place instead.
"Can't we just tell him the truth? It may scare him away, at least."
"Oh, Percy. I wish it were that easy, but it isn't." She just shot me a weak smile. "Just, try not to anger him more, all right? Come on, inside."
In the month, one short month, that I've been thrust into the world of a demigod, the entire apartment had turned into Gabeland Adventure Park, complete with Eddie and the three pitiful excuses for humans playing poker in the living room. The garbage was up to the ankles, the sofa was looking more like a modern art piece with all of the beer cans, and the smell even trumped the smell in that Kindness truck. When Gabe saw me, though, his cigar fell out of his mouth, and his face was torn between utter revulsion and greed.
"You." He thundered, his meaty hands curling into fists.
"She's back with us, honey. Isn't it wonderful?"
Gabe kept shifting his gaze from my mom to me and back again. He didn't seem that rejoiced to find out that I was back safe. Finally, though, his face settled on rage.
"Get her out of here. I won't give back her compensation money."
"Gabe, no!"
"Did you just say no?" Gabe growled, his eyebrow raised. "I'm the man of this house, and my word is law. Now, get her out."
"But-!"
Gabe suddenly rose halfway from his seat, one of his fists raised, and my mother flinched.
I felt cold all over. Gabe was hitting her. Gabe was hitting my mother. My mother who, no matter how bad it got, hadn't said one bad word towards him, and yet, he has the gall to hit her!?
I started to growl, popping open the purse that magically appeared beside me on the taxi ride here. Riptide appeared in my hands, myself just one more word from uncapping the pen and swinging the sword to decapitate the idiot, even though Gabe just falls into the human category by a hairsbreadth, so it wouldn't even graze him.
Seeing me, Gabe sneered. "What will you do, babe? Write on me?"
His two fat friends laughed, belching and disgusting at the same time. Eddie, though, looked up at me with an apologetic gaze. "Gabe, she's just a kid."
"Just a kid. Shut up, Eddie." The walrus jibbed the most decent male in the vicinity, then turned his beady eyes on me. "You ran away, stay away, babe. Whore yourself out for all I care. I'll give you five minutes, then you scram."
"Percy, just come on. Please." Mom hauled my still anger-trembling body out of the living room and into the room I use when I was living inside this dump. And while I wasn't, Gabe has the grandest time 'Gabe-yfying' the place that I barely recognize it.
I was still gnashing my teeth in pure unadulterated rage at the gall that pathetic devil wearing human skin had. Uncle Hades was a million times better than he was, and he was the Lord of the Underworld!
"Bluebell, he's just upset. I know if I make him enough bribes he's going to be more responsive to us. Please forget about it." She pleaded, her multicolored eyes shimmering in guilt and shame and anger and sorrow all at the same time.
I looked at Mom in the eyes, my own firm and decisive. "Mom, you know it'll never work out. Not until he's here with us."
"I-. I can take you to work with me for the remaining summer, Percy. And I can hunt for another boarding school that hasn't heard of us yet-!"
"Mom."
She lowered her shiny eyes. "I'm trying, Percy. I'm trying. I just need more time."
I averted my own eyes, not wanting to see my strong mother being beaten down by that inconsiderate jerk, but my eyes landed on my bed, and I could have sworn the box on top of it wasn't there a while ago. Curious, I stepped closer to the bed, lifting the simple cardboard box and tilting it, hoping for a mailing address somewhere.
"Mom, what's this?"
Mom's head snapped up, her confused eyes sighting the box on my hands. "I have no idea, Bluebell. Where did you get it?"
"Right there, on-," I gestured towards the center of my bed, though I choked back my sentence when I spotted the green smudge the box had been resting in. I blinked then cautiously put my hand to the bottom of the box, grimacing when I felt something wet and sticky. When I lifted my hand, my eyes went impossibly wide at the green ooze suck on it. I knew that ooze.
Suddenly, Poseidon's parting speech stuck out of my mind.
"A decision to mark you as a true hero or not."
I looked at my mother, a fire in my eyes. "Mom, do you want Gabe gone? For good?"
"Percy, dear, it isn't that simple. I-."
"Mom. Please just tell me. Do you want him gone? The son of a bitch has been hitting you."
She looked like she wanted to scold me for my language, but she bit her lips and just nodded.
"I can do that for you, Mom. Set you free. I could pop this open and start my own statue garden out in the living room. Right now. Just tell me you want him gone."
And I so wanted to do that. To get rid of our tormentor and set my precious mother free to do whatever she wants with her life in one fell swoop. She could save her earnings and earn a college diploma. She could finally realize her dream of becoming a writer. She could live in a nice house, in a nice neighborhood, and go anywhere she likes because she's in charge of her own life, not some complete bastard that's holding her by the neck just so she can protect me.
I can be a true Greek hero.
But. But Poseidon said I could be a true hero, not a true Greek hero. He made the distinction. Greek heroes, whether great or small, all ended up as tragedies. Every single one of them. If I did off Gabe now, no matter how deserving the piece of dung is, the question is that do I have the right to condemn him? I know he's destined for the Fields of Punishment, but even though I have the means to send him to his eternal punishment, does it give me the right to dictate over the lives of others?
A month ago, when I thought everything was just fairytales and myths, I would have happily seen him off with a smile on my face. But, now-!
"Mom, he called you a queen cut above the rest. You deserve so much better than this!" I grasped Mom's hand, searching her eyes for a conviction. Yes, even though I know I don't have any right. I'd do this again in a heartbeat for my mother.
She wiped a stray tear that had fallen from her eyes. "You sound so much like your father, it's crazy." She grasped my hand in both of hers, a small smile lingering on her face.
"You know, he offered to stop the tide for me, once. He even offered me immortality, the chance to live with him in Atlantis. Or, if I didn't want Atlantis, he could build me a palace at the bottom of the sea. A place just for me and him. He was convinced he could erase all of my problems with just a wave of his hand."
"What's wrong with that?"
She smiled, looking at my sea green eyes knowingly. "I think you know, Percy. You're so much like me that you should understand. If my life is to ever going to mean something to me, I should be the one to live it. I should be the one to fix my mistakes so I could savor my accomplishments. I can't let a god, or my own daughter, live my life for me. I have to-. I have to find the courage to stand up on my own. Your quest, the terror I felt. It all reminded me of that fact."
A few moments passed between us, each searching the other's eyes for their resolves.
Finally, I exhaled, a small smile quirking the side of my lips. "I'm going to leave this here then."
"Percy-!"
"It would make me feel better, Mom. Your very own Aegis."
"Only it's very much the real thing, not an engraving." She chuffed off a soft laugh, though she looked pale. She squeezed my hand.
"Where will you go now?"
"Half Blood Hill."
Her eyes asked me the question she couldn't get out with her voice. 'Until when?'
"I guess, it depends."
She nodded, understanding. She then kissed my forehead, like a blessing. "You'll be the greatest hero of them all, Percy."
I smiled and took one last look at my 'room', then went out towards the front door with my mother in tow. We ignored Gabe's taunts and stood at the front door, looking as if my mother was bidding me goodbye for a journey she couldn't accompany on, but understood the importance of it nonetheless.
"Bye, Mom."
Just as Mom was about to respond, though, Gabe's shout permeated the hallway. "Sally, is the meatloaf done yet!?"
A steely glint of anger entered her eyes and I smiled, assured. She can handle herself. She's my mom, after all.
"It's coming, dear. Meatloaf Surprise." She sent out one last wink at me as she shut the door closed.
Phew. It's done! All Hail Christmas Break! :D
So, the next chapter might take a while longer than this did, because I would be the LAST GOD CHAPTER! To think, we're on the last legs of this story. I feel like crying. But! Brace yourselves! We're not done yet! Ocean's Wings is two chapters to finishing, but I still have plans. ;)
SO! Read and Review, guys! Don't be shy in telling me what you think. :D
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! :D
P.S.: The Christmas present I mentioned? Yeah, it won't come into appearance by Christmas, though maybe I can squeeze it by January. Cheers. :D