I spun around with my reaper ready to attack to see Percy Jackson raising his hands in peace.
"Whoah, sorry if I startled you. I came to feed Mrs. O'leary and didn't want to interrupt your practice" he explained eyeballing my tight grip on my weapon.
"It's okay. I was just surprised. I can usually sense a person near by." I said standing straight and wiping my brow. Examining him he was in a pair of jeans and had his Camp Half-Blood shirt in his hand, his hair was a muss and he looked tired like he just woke up.
"You're pretty good with a scythe. Bit of a controversial weapon don't you think?" he questioned suspiciously. Oh wow this dude!
"I've been working with a scythe since I was 5. Chiron got me my first one when I refused to use any other weapon besides a bow. So don't even think that." I answered knowing full well what he was thinking. He thought I was an ex-member of the titan army or something dim-witted like that.
"Oh sorry it's just that… you know, we still get mercenaries coming into camp every now and than." He explained himself. Looking a little ashamed of accusing me.
"Don't worry about it. So what are you doing up so early? Not even the Apollo siblings are up yet." I questioned taking a swig of water.
"Tyson woke me up. He was yelling in his sleep and I was getting fidgety just lying down. So I came to see Mrs. O'leary, she's basically my pet now. What about you why are you up?" he asked curiously.
"Nightmare. And I've always been an early riser." I replied not getting into much detail.
We were silent a moment before Percy got uncomfortable and broke it.
"So when did you get that Scythe? It just gives off a bad vibe." He asked studying my weapon.
"It's called Soul Stealer, it was a gift I think from my godly parent, but I'm not sure. I've had it for a couple of years now. But it grows with me so I never need to get a new one." I chirped happily. One way to get me talking, ask about my favorite weapons.
"Soul Stealer, that's almost as bad as Backbiter, Luke's Sword. Why would your parent send you gifts and yet not claim you?" Percy pondered thinking about mine and Zeto's situation.
"Who knows but at least they care." I said getting down into the front leaning rest and started to do some push ups.
"I wonder why you're parent hasn't claimed you yet. Who ever it is is breaking their oath." He said troubled.
"Don't worry about it. I don't really care." I said counting in my head.
"What are you doing?" he asked confused.
"Working out."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Because why?"
"Because I can."
We were again silent as I finished and stood up.
"What time is it?" I asked stretching.
"About 7:30 we should head back." He conversed heading for the exit.
"I got some stuff to do. I'll be back by breakfast." I supposed pulling my leg back into a thigh stretch.
"Alright." He said walking away.
Once he was gone I dropped my leg and reattached my scythe to my choker while it shrunk back to the Grim Reaper charm. I grabbed my water bottle and went to the other exit where I knew Anubis was waiting for me.
Walking out he came running up to me with a dead little critter in each of his mouths wagging his tail. Laughing I hoped onto his back, he trotted into the forest happily snacking on the creatures. I was enjoying the silence when I heard the whistled chirps of Horus from behind me. I pulled at Anubis' mane gentle for him to stop and waited for my brother to join me.
"Man why do we have to do this so early? Can't it wait till after breakfast?" Zeto complained.
"You know Father doesn't like to be kept waiting. Besides the sooner we finish here the sooner we can leave." I countered
"Well when you put it that way, when do you think we'll be done with this?" he sighed
"When the monsters are strong enough to get through the borders." I answered.
We were finally at our destination. A small waterfall deep in the woods that created a lot of mist. Getting off of Anubis I lead him behind the waterfall to a little cave me and Zeto found during our first year.
Going to the far wall I pulled out a little device that looked like one of those cell phone with a projection screen. Zeto was right behind me with Horus and Anubis who were play fighting.
"Hollywood Ca, Godly Encounters Cafe, Lord Kronos." I said to the blank screen on the wall.
The screen started to spas' into a vortex of colors until it cleared up in a private room of the named café where three men, that radiated power the likes of which caused many to fear them more than half way to Hades, sat. They are the Titans Hyperion, Oceanus, and Kronos. Me and Zeto got down onto one knee and placed a clenched right fist over our hearts with our heads bowed.
"Forever shall the Titans reign! Beloved Fathers of the Sun, Oceans, and Time, your humble servants, bring news of the mission." We said at the same time.
"Speak Children, what is your report?" replied Kronos looking straight at me.
"We have made contact with the son of Hades and the son of Poseidon. Chiron still suspects nothing though they grow more suspicious at our undetermined nature. The twelve Gods of Olympus have made a pact to claim all their children before they turn 13 it is odd that we have not been claimed yet. And there will be a Capture the Flag game tonight." I reported as formally as possible.
"Hmm what do you think of these Demi-gods Omega?" asked Hyperion as a human he looked like a much older and wiser version of Apollo.
"The only problem one would be the Son of Poseidon. He gives off an aura of invincibility. The Son of Hades at most will be hard to get into close combat." Was Zeto's response even though he wasn't addressed.
"Percy Jackson has bathed in the River Styx, he is invincible. You must find his mortal point in order to kill him." Oceanus explained.
"As for claiming you, I think I will have Phoebe claim you or even Rhea. That way you two won't be put into to much danger. Whoever will claim you will claim you after tonight's capture the flag game." Kronos decided. He nodded toward the other two Titans who disappeared in brilliant flashes of colored lights.
Finally, it was just us and our Father. He smiled at us and I practically ran into the wall wanting to hug him.
"You've done well my Children. But I'm afraid that I'm going to have to ask you another favor." He smiled sadly at us. Kronos maybe a big bad Titan but he was an amazing father, as long as you weren't a god. I crack myself up.
"We don't mind father." We both said at the same time.
"I need you two to bathe in the River Styx, to become indestructible like the son of Poseidon. This also means seeing your mother again. And from what I heard it didn't go to well last time." he concluded watching us carefully
"I'll do it. But I won't be exposed to her long than I have too." I said with out hesitation. It took Zeto a little longer but eventually agreed.
"You don't have to face her in person, I brought her here in case you agreed." He called for her and our once beautiful mother came in looking just as deranged as when we last saw her.
"Mother, we ask for your blessing to bathe in the river Styx and become invincible." I and Zeto cringed out.
"Only if you promise to come home, you must come home. I made you a nice home. It's a very good home." her eyes bugged out while she spoke.
"Promise, Promise, Promise!" she basically shrieked at our image on the wall of the cafe.
"We promise." I swear we were about to gag after we said that.
"Than I bless you." She smiled insanely. Her eyes widened for a second before going blank and she would have dropped if it wasn't for Fathers grip on her neck. He threw her across the room in a heap and she just laid there.
"You may go to the river whenever you get the chance, but it must be before the next Winter Solstice." Father commanded and the image flickered out.