Sleeping Beauty

Chapter Three


Silence echoed through Chiron's office as he kept his head down. Grover and Annabeth stood on either side of him, as Percy stood with Aphrodite across the desk from his mentor.

Percy swallowed hard, waiting for Chiron to say something. He told him everything about what Aphrodite had done, Selene being taken and Zeus being upset. Chiron didn't say a word. He kept his head down, but he noticed his hands shaking as they balled up into fists.

"Chiron…look, "Aphrodite tried to say.

"Aphrodite…I am doing my best to stay calm. What you have done has upset me greatly, but i still must be respectful," Chiron said with a hint of anger.

"I'll wait outside," Aphrodite said.

Walking to the door, Aphrodite stopped for a moment. While she could feel the anger pouring off of Chiron, she felt something else mixed in. Glancing back at Chiron, she turned around and left the room.

Once the door shut, a loud sigh escaped Chiron's lips. He had it all planned. After the festival, he and Selene were going to have dinner together.

Tonight, would be a full moon, Selene's favorite kind of night. She even promised to do the dance of the moonlight serenade when another full moon came around. From being kidnapped by a mad scientist to this. The peace they once had, seemed nonexistent now.

"The Gods sure love to mess in other's affairs, Aphrodite even more so," Chiron said, restraining his emotions.

"Don't worry, we'll get her back. We all know how much she means to you," Percy said.

Glancing at Annabeth and Grover, who nodded, Chiron looked back at Percy with a stern nod before looking away.

Percy felt horrible. Ever since Selene came into Chiron's life, his stern, unapproachable demeanor had changed. He smiled more often and everyone found him much more approachable at camp. He even laughed at one of Dionysus's jokes, which even surprised him. This made Percy even more determined to find Selene. Perhaps a slow love is better than no love at all.

"Thank you. Remember, if you need any help, we're only a phone call away, "Chiron said.

Percy nodded before leaving the room. Annabeth touched Chiron's shoulder; but he kept his eyes hidden as tears slid down his cheeks.

In the hall, Aphrodite followed Percy the moment he left Chiron's office. They ignored the eyes of an annoyed Dionysus who kept staring daggers at the goddess of love.

"What's up?" Percy asked, noticing the change in Aphrodite's demeanor.

"It's Chiron. While I know he's angry at me, I really messed up this time. For I haven't seen such an aura radiate from him in a long time.

"Which is?"

"Despair…."

Percy sighed and shook his head. He pushed that to the back of his mind, they needed to focus on the task at hand.

"Let's focus on finding Selene. Did you catch the tags on the car the men drove away in?" Percy asked.

"It was a California tag. I can't remember the numbers," Aphrodite said.

Percy nodded, just as the both of them headed outside. Percy felt his cell phone buzzing in his pocket. Pulling it out, he noticed a text message that made him tilt his head.

"We need to talk. I booked two tickets for you and left them at the airport. I will meet you when you get here."

Aphrodite leaned over, reading the text.

"Does anyone else know about this? Percy asked.

"I don't think so. Do you think it could be a trap?"

"There's only one way to find out."

Meanwhile, a week has passed quickly since Seth Dunn encountered Mr. C and, like he said, the new perfume Moonlight Serenade is selling out as fast as he could put it on the shelves. The debt he accumulated over the years disappeared over night.

Laughter echoed throughout his office as Seth walked around with his head held high and a glass of champagne in hand. For as long as he had his perfume, he had no worries in the world.

Walking back over to his desk, Seth took another sip from his glass as he sat back down in his chair. Placing his glass on his desk, he leaned back, staring up at the ceiling with a huge smile across his lips. But his moment of bliss was cut short when a knock on his door interrupted him.

"Yes? "Seth said.

"It's me, sir," a woman's voice answered.

"Ah yes, come in," Seth said.

The door opened, and in walked Vivian Fields, Seth's trusted secretary. From every meeting to event where ever he shows up, she is always by his side. Vivian placed two files on Seth's desk, along with a few phone messages, before bowing slightly.

"Another good work day?" Seth asked.

"In a way, Mr. Dunn," Vivian replied.

Sitting up in his chair, Seth scooted closer to his desk. Flipping through the files and scanning over the phone messages, he looked back at Vivian with a raised eyebrow.

"We have been getting calls from stores, suppliers, even ware houses over customers' reaction to our new perfume," Vivian said.

"Allergic reactions?" Seth asked.

"More like attacking employees over supplies. Women are being stalked once they use our product. There has even been an increase in fights between women as well. Along with many other complaints," Vivian said.

Leaning back in his chair, Seth sighed. Then turned around and stared out the window at the cloudy sky. While he was no longer in debt, more and more complaints kept rolling in. But for now, his PR team had held them off. He wondered how long they could keep it up.

"Is that all?" Seth asked.

"Yes, Mr. Dunn," Vivian replied.

Bowing slightly, Vivian walked out of his office, shutting the door behind her.

"Financial bliss doesn't come without a few hiccups," a familiar voice said.

Glancing over at the couch, Seth spotted Mr. C sitting there with a smile on his lips.

"True, but these hiccups are getting bigger, "Seth said.

"Just say the word and I can lend a hand," Mr. C said, followed with a red tint in his eyes.

Seth shook his head, for he remembered the long talk they had the night of their first meeting.

They were sitting in his living room. Mr.C had finished his second cup of tea while Seth still lingered on his first.

"Gods and Goddess, like Zeus and Aphrodite?" Seth asked.

"Among many more, the one laying before you is Selene, the titan goddess of the moon," Mr. C said.

"Titan? She doesn't look like a giant to me," Seth said, looking at Selene.

"With mystical beings, come enchantments, we find that choosing human forms are easier on the eyes. Because, for some of us, our real forms are truly frightening," Mr. C said, taking a sip from his cup.

"I'll take your word on that, but let's cut to the chase, you said Selene could make me debt free with in a week's time. How?"

"With this," Mr.C said, pulling out a small bottle as he stood up.

Taking off the top, he walked over to the couch and dipped the bottle in the white glow emulating around Selene's body. Placing the cap back on, he showed the glowing light that bounced around in the bottle to Seth.

"This is known as the essence of a goddess. If you turn this into a perfume, your financial difficulties will disappear," Mr.C said.

Staring at the glowing white light trapped in the bottle, Seth couldn't believe his eyes, but a thought broke through his mind.

"What's the catch?" Seth asked.

"To use a powerful item requires protection. Simply say the word and I will lend a hand, but be warned my help is not clean," Mr.C said, in a stern tone staring at Seth.

That stare still made Seth shiver as his mind returned to the present. Now Mr.C was offering it again, but Seth shook his head.

"We can handle it for now," Seth replied.

"Suit yourself, but remember, I am only a call away," Mr. C said, before disappearing back into the shadows.

Taking a deep breath, Seth leaned back in his chair. No, he didn't need Mr. C's help. Deep down, He feared that when he needed his help, he would truly see just how unclean Mr. C could be.