Chapter 17

Recap: Percy started to explain, during which all of the other gods appeared on their thrones, which apparently were organized the same way as the cabins.

My mom even appeared, though she stood in the back of the room listening.

Percy finished off the story with how we arrived. Zeus looked at us (Me, Julie, and Rob in particular) and gave a slight nod, making sure that Percy was done.

Zeus called for an official meeting, forcing us to leave the gigantic throne room. We went over to one of the many fountains and sat there for a few minutes, talking about what the gods were conversing about.

After about half an hour, some random satyrs brought us all some food and told Percy that Blackjack and Porkpie were in the stables near the entrance.

Once we finished and our food had settled, I got bored and decided to get Julie back for earlier. Since she was sitting next to me, and the water was behind us, I slapped the water with my palm and soaked her back along with mine.

As soon as the water had hit her she stiffened and let out a small yelp. Then she turned and glared at me. I shrugged and said in a mocking tone, "That is called payback."

Percy, Annabeth, and Rob all looked at us and started laughing. Julie's face and ears tuned a bright shade of pink as she examined her back. To her unluckiness she was wearing a white shirt, and I had totally forgotten. Some of you already know what that means. If you don't then good for you (total sarcasm there).

I joined in with Percy, Annabeth, and Rob and cracked up after I saw the water damage I had done.

Annabeth then whispered something into Percy's ear and he got up, still chuckling.

He stepped next to Julie, rested a hand on her shoulder, and her back was dry within seconds.

"Thanks Percy," she said glaring at me.

I put my arm around her shoulders and waited for the lecture that was probably gonna come.

Instead, she thrusted her back backwards, causing me to lose balance, and fall completely into the water except my feet.

I opened my eyes up under the crystal clear water and used my arms to push myself up. Everyone was already laughing at me in my soaked black shirt and brown shorts.

I sat up completely and made a split second decision.

I grabbed Julie's arm and pulled back really hard. The next thing everyone heard was a loud splash.

Julie rose gasping for breath, gave me another I'll-kill-you-later glares and got out of the water, I followed her lead and sat next to her sopping wet.

"Percy, do you mind?" I asked.

"No problem," he said chuckling.

We were both dry within a couple of seconds.

I stood up and said aloud, "I wonder if they're done yet."

Just then a satyr came up, and panting said, "The…gods…. want…. to…see..you..now."

Coincidental or not, we jogged up to the throne room.

Percy entered first, them we all bowed down and addressed Lord Zeus.

"We have decided to let you stay for a maximum of a week. For now I shall bid you farewell." Then a bright flash and a cloud of smoke appeared and he was gone.

The rest of the gods also dispersed, except for my mom, Hermes, Poseidon, and Athena.

Poseidon, Athena, and Hermes each pulled their own kid off to the sidelines and talked with them.

My mom did the same with me.

"I haven't seen nor talked to you in while, Derek. How have you been?"

"Uh… Good?" To me it sounded like a question, but obviously it didn't to her 'cause she just smiled.

"That's great. So did you figure out how to use the night and darkness to your advantage?"

"A little bit, but not much."

"All right. I brought some gifts that I thought you might like. Now choose a hand." She said, putting both hands behind her back.

"I'll take the right." I said with a small smile.

She pulled out her hand and showed me a small gold ring, and a black ring big enough to fit my thumb, but small enough to not fall off.

I gingerly picked them up and examined them.

"The black one should be placed near the bottom of your ear for the best advantage, the other hooked to your watch."

I looked at my wrist and replied, "But, I don't have a watch."

"Oh yes, that was the other gift I had for you." She pulled out a watch from behind her back. The band was black leather with multiple holes besides the ones for the clip. The face of the watch was digital, the numbers showed up in red against the greenish background whenever I pushed a small button on the side.

"Cool," I said with a grin, picking up the watch and placing it on tightly against my left wrist. I attached the small golden ring.

"Now press the other button, the one that doesn't make it light up."

I pushed the button in, and a golden shield expanded quickly from where the ring once was. Straps flung out of the inside and attached themselves to my forearm, giving my good control.

"Wow." I said, thoroughly amazed with what came out of the ring. I turned the shield so that I could see the face of it.

The face had the constellations hammered into the front. It was almost as if I was back next to that cave in my dream.

"Derek, try on the ring and see if it fits."

I slipped the ring on, and examined it.

"Now say this, Το δαχτυλίδι επεκτείνεται " (AN: It literally means "ring expand")

I repeated it and a bronze and black sword instantly appeared in my hand. I gripped the handle with both hands and noticed that it was light enough to use with one hand, but the handle was also long enough to put both hands on.

I swung it around, first with one hand, then with both.

"Wow. This is a lot better than the swords at camp."

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Thanks for reading this. Seriously. And again, leave some kind of a comment. I don't care if it just says "I like this story." Or something similar to that. Just click on the big green button that says "Review" and leave something. I'll try to have eighteen up soon, but no promises.