Hey people! I'm so sorry for the long wait! I've lot's testing for high school this month, so I'm afraid that I won't be able to update until February. To make it up to you, this is a long chapter even if it's kind of a filler. Sorry! I've written out the next chapter, but my mom's been hogging the laptop and I really have so much studying to do, it's driving me close to insanity! Well, please review if you have time, if you don't, enjoy this chapter!

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS.

Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Apollo walked me to the throne room. He stopped outside saying, "I've, um, have to go drive my chariot. Have fun!" I shot an annoyed look at him. Have fun? How do you 'have fun' when your god of a great-great granddad wanted to talk to you privately? Apollo grinned again and shoved me into the room.

"Lord Zeus," I bowed. He smiled at me, his storm gray eyes kind.

"I sent for you, young hero, so that I may discuss you family tree and the deal you just made with my brother. You see, he has his eyes on Perseus Jackson's mother, Sally. If I am not mistaken, he will send you to retrieve her from Blowfis' clutches." I raised my left eyebrow and he sighed. "My brother intends to put you on a death mission. You wouldn't know that Blowfish is a master of deception as even gods have trouble recognizing him. He is a god and Poseidon knew him from the instant he saw Dolus at Percy's 15th birthday party."

"Please, Lord Zeus, if Lord Poseidon wishes me to do this, then I shall. If I can prevent heartbreak, I will. Forgive me."

Zeus sighed standing up and shrinking to normal, human size. "Very well. I shall prepare you as much as I possibly can. We will start with your family tree.

"Before World War II, I, um, well…" Zeus struggled for words.

"Had a demigod child who was mortal?" I helped him fighting back a giggle.

"Yes, anyways, he married a mortal and had a daughter. This daughter had a mortal, demigod son with Aeolus," The sides of his mouth twitched, amused. "who, well… Amphitrite… you"

"Okay, so now I am descended from THREE-NO- TWO GODS?" Holy shit, this was not called for. What in the name of Apollo's chariot was wrong with my life? The more smart and analytical part of my brain registered that that must be why the wind listened to my command and defended me. The greater, panicking part of me told the logical part to shut the hell up.

"Yes. Most of my powers are lost in you, but it still runs in your blood and shall help you if you need it. I have just IM (Iris Messaged) Aeolus before you came. My brother has agreed to let you visit Aeolus, go back to Camp Half-Blood, and he expects you to be at his underwater palace by 4:00 PM with any companions you might bring on this journey. I highly advice you to do so as this mission is dangerous. Anyway, it is currently 10:00 AM and there's a Pegasus outside waiting for you." I bowed and turned to leave but he called me back, "Be careful young hero. You have taken up some of my blame as well as your mother's so I give you my blessing." Zeus walked up to me and touched my forehead with his fingertips and muttered something in Ancient Greek. "Good luck Cyra."

It was one of those I-want-to-jump-off-the-600th-floor-of-the-Empire-State-Building-because-I've-been-given-an-impossible-mission moments, but I smiled, bowed once more and left the Throne Room for the elevator.

It took the Pegasus a very short time to arrive at Aeolus's castle off at sea. The winds blew around us like crazy, but it didn't affect the Pegasus's swift landing.

"Ah! This must be Cyra! Welcome Granddaughter! Welcome!" Aeolus greeted me at the front gates. He was a very portly and kind god. He gave me a hug and took my hand as we walked toward his main palace. I was shocked by such a warm welcome as no one else other than my step-mother ever gave me such a greeting. "Lord Zeus has informed me of your –er- deadly mission and of your past. I'm so sorry about Amphitrite, dear one," He looked at me with concerned eyes, but I shrugged and looked away. He continued cheerily after a few moments of silence "Well I'm here to tell you about the Winds, give you a proper weapon, and tell you who will help you." We entered his castle and he began showing me how the wind worked. He told me that the North wind chills, the South wind thaws, and the East and West winds had different personalities depending on where and when I was. After listening with rapt attention for an hour, Aeolus brought me to his weapon shed to fit me with a proper weapon.

I had tried twenty different weapons before I found one that I liked. It was a whip that was about two yards long. The grip was embroidered with diamonds while the whip itself was made of intricately twisted silver and gold colored substances. Though it was as thin as a pencil, the weapon emanated a strong sense of elegant power when I touched it.

"Good! Both Zeus and I hoped that this would work for you," Aeolus beamed, but I looked confused. Before I could ask anything, Aeolus continued, "You see, Cyra, everything in this room has a special blessing from at least one of the gods. The whip you hold was made from the essence of lightening," he pointed at the golden strings, "and wind", he pointed to the silvery strings. "It was blessed by Zeus, me, and Apollo. You see, this can detect and break through lies and it tells the truth to the one who holds it. It will be very helpful in fighting Dolus as it is the only weapon that can break through illusions."

"Grandfather, this is all well and I'm beyond honored that you are giving me this, but how do I block and kill with this?" I asked as he handed me the whip.

"In battle, your shield is the wind," he chuckled, demonstrating a quick wave of his hand and I was forced back a few inches by an invisible layer of air. Wow, that's weird. "This should come naturally to you. Try it!"

I tentatively stuck out one hand and waved it. Aeolus was pushed back a few feet. He laughed and encouraged me to do it again. This time, I waved my hand faster and the leaves on a tree ten yards away swayed and some fell off.

"Well done! Very well done! You are a natural! Oh! I forgot to give you something for the bigger monsters. For your regular hellbounds, a whip should kill them right off because the contact of your whip would burn them enough to disintegrate them. As for things like the Minotaur, you can try to choke them or use this," he handed me five short knives about three inches long, each with a slender grip. "They are very poisonous and you can retrieve them from the ashes of the monster." Next, he took out a small box that had a ring within it. It was silver and platinum and had a small heart with a diamond set in the center. The heart, however, had a side twisted up to hold the stone. He took my left hand and slid it onto my middle finger saying, "This is the ring that marks you as my descendent. Perhaps it is not a good idea because monsters will target you right away, but the wind will also obey you as long as that ring is on." As I admired the ring, for the first time in 13 years of life, I had a sure sense of who I was.

"Thank you so much Grandfather!" I said embracing him. He laughed and handed me a leather pouch that was supposed to hang across my body.

"This is the last item I can think of that will help on your quest. Though small, it can store all of your weapons, clothing, money, etc. No one can steal it. And once you finish this mission, feel free to drop in and visit me anytime you want!"

I smiled said, "Of course Granddad!" and hugged him again.

"Go to NYC to find Annabeth and give her this note. The person whom she'll lead you to, I trust you have met a few times before at Camp, will help you on this quest. Before all this, go back to Camp-Half Blood, pack medicine and money as well as different clothing. Colored contacts may be a good idea, not that that'll fool Dolus. Never mind that. Take the Pegasus and go now. I want you to have as much time as possible." He kissed my forehead and whispered a blessing. Though this was my grandpa, I couldn't help but notice the power and energy coming off of him. With a final 'Good-bye', I mounted the Pegasus and soared toward Camp Half Blood.