Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Chapter 10: Dysfunctional Family
Annabeth's POV
How did things change from a perfect moment with Percy to family warfare? Good question I thought. Then I stopped thinking about that and focused on the scene before me. There was my mom, Athena and her step-mother Hera trying to stare each other down. You see Hera just attacked my step-father, my less than a day old step-dad that is. You see, my mom doesn't get along with Hera and neither does Theseus her husband. Its a long story and one I won't go into, by the way Hera doesn't like Percy and me either.
"Step -daughter, shut your trap!" Hera said to my mom.
Oh, boy this is not going to end well. I saw Apollo and Hermes run out of the ballroom toward Theseus. Theseus did not look very good. He was unconscious under the remnants of a large oak tree. Although he didn't look as bad as Ares who was unconscious by the steps near the ballroom.
"Hera, your fool son started this fight. Your asking for me to get involved in this, aren't you?" Athena said.
"If you want to join your husband in unconsciousness it doesn't bother me." Hera said.
I could see my mom's face turn red and her hands were clenched into fists, she was about to attack Hera when Zeus and Poseidon came out of the ballroom.
"What is going on here, Hera what have you done?" Zeus said.
"What have I done, your new son-in-law attacked our son." Hera said.
"I find that hard to believe considering Ares's attitude towards my son and the fact that he attacked Herakles first." Poseidon said, he looked like he was about to explode, I could only imagine what he would do if left unchecked by Zeus.
"Hera, my brother is right, I saw Ares attack my son!" Zeus said.
"Well, I saw Ares attack Theseus first and then once Theseus returned his attack, Hera in all her courage attacked him when his back was turned." Athena said venomously.
"Who cares he doesn't deserve godhood!" Hera said.
"He deserves it more than you do!" Zeus said.
"Husband, your not serious! You cannot take the side of a son of Poseidon over your wife and son." Hera said.
"Let me see, Theseus is more of a son to me than Ares has ever been and considering you have always acted more like a harpy than a wife, yes I think I will support Theseus and Herakles." Zeus said.
"You will regret that decision! I hope others will choose their side more wisely." Hera said.
Hades and Persephone walked out of the ballroom. Hades looked over the situation and then walked over and stood near his two brothers.
"I see that our sister has been up to no good. I feel for you my brother, you should have married Demeter." Hades said.
Hera looked at Hades as if her stare could send him straight to Tartarus.
"Hades, I can't believe your supporting Poseidon and Zeus considering how they have treated you over the years. You really are a fool." Hera said.
"Your calling me a fool. I'm not the one who is taking the side of their idiotic, hot-headed son over the rest of their family. I think you have finally let your jealousy drive you insane." Hades said.
"I hope all of you are ready for what comes next because I will not forget today's events. I will make all of you pay for this disrespect of me and my son." Hera said this as she grabbed Ares and disappeared in a bright golden light.
Zeus walked over to Percy and I to check on Herakles, while Poseidon and Athena walked over to Apollo and Hermes to check on Theseus.
Herakles was still out cold and he looked pretty beat up. Zeus put his hands on Herakles and a bright light appeared around him. After a few seconds Herakles opened his eyes.
"Father, what hit me?" Herakles asked.
"Son, Ares did." Zeus said, I could tell he was happy that Herakles was alright.
I looked over to where Theseus was located under the tree and before Poseidon and Athena could do anything a bright light appeared and the tree exploded off the ground and sailed into the air. Once it reached a certain altitude, the light became incredibly bright and the tree was gone, it had disintegrated. Then an incredible breeze blew into the garden and suddenly Theseus was standing in the middle of the garden. He was clearly pissed and he looked like he was ready to attack someone.
"Where is that bitch?" Theseus yelled.
"She's gone son." Poseidon said.
I think Theseus calmed down after that because he looked over at Zeus and said, "I'm sorry uncle for calling your wife that name."
I could tell Zeus was about to laugh, but instead he said, "Well I called her a harpy just a few minutes ago."
Then Hades began to laugh, "I thought this wedding would be boring. I never expected Hera and Ares to basically, what do the mortals call it, shoot themselves in the foot?"
"Well, that sounds about right." Athena said to her uncle giving him a smile, I never expected Athena to agree with Hades and then smile at him all in the same moment. Wow, things really have changed.
Then I could tell Percy was a little restless by the way he nervously shifted under my hug.
"What do you think she meant when she said, "what comes next", that didn't sound good at all?" Percy asked.
I could see Athena, Zeus, Poseidon, Hades and Theseus all think at the same time.
"Nothing good I'm sure but she doesn't have the big three on her side, so what can she really do except cause some more family squabbles." Athena said.
"Well, I wouldn't put anything past her, remember she holds sway over many of the minor gods and Hyperion and Prometheus are still out there." Theseus said.
"Hera would never ally herself with titans." Zeus said.
"Brother, I don't know, its been a long time since I've seen her this mad." Poseidon said.
"When was the last time you saw her this mad?" Zeus asked.
"When she convinced the rest of us to overthrow you that one time. Just to let you know I have always regretted my part in that betrayal, brother." Poseidon said.
"Thank you brother, but that is forgiven. However, you might be right, she might turn traitor again and she will try to add others to her side." Zeus said.
"Brother, what can we do?" Hades asked.
"Unfortunately, we can only keep our eyes open and stand ready for whatever plan she develops." Zeus said.
"We stand with you brother." Poseidon and Hades said at the same time.
"We all do, father." Athena said as she walked up and hugged Theseus.
"Can we get back to the party, especially now that the wet blankets are gone?" Apollo asked putting his shades back on.
"Let's do, I don't want to give Hera the satisfaction of ruining my wedding reception." Theseus said as he kissed my mom.
Everyone nodded in agreement and walked back into the ballroom. Everyone except Percy and I.
"Seaweed brain your not getting away that easy!" I said as I grabbed his hand and pulled him over to a bench in the garden.
We both sat down and I put my arms around his neck and kissed him with all the passion and love that I felt for him. I could feel him start to lose himself in the moment.
"I think they're out in the garden. Ah, there they are, their just making out in the garden." I heard Thalia yell from the ballroom entrance. Her voice was certainly loud enough to be heard all over Olympus.
Percy and I separated, we were both blushing furiously as we walked back into the ballroom, everyone was staring at us and smiling. No matter how embarrassing that was, today was still a great day, no matter what Hera had planned for the future.
I know this was a short chapter, let me know if you think I should do another sequel. Of course, I already set one up just in case, I wonder what Hera has planned, hmm!