A/N: I'm finally able to update! So Sorry for the wait. Before we begin, time to thank those who reviewed and those who alerted or favorited:
Ariel night, awesome, IkutoisSmexy, MalikaiDragonSlayer, Aquarius Goddess123, namae1809, Ant-Carrying-A-Rubber-Tree, SilverNight ShadowLight, happygoluckyfull, ravier, reader, ningatuna, Lady Cougar-Trombone, Ariel Night, vnienhuis, loveforcullens, ice-ninja33 and justmeagain123.
Here are those who alerted/favorite: Sharkdragon, Hade's-Daughter17, icy. And fire, inuyashalover1216, sapphire110, paramorerox813, sharkdragon13, becky199756, Fallen Outcast, captainjames71, forever percy jackson fan, littl3cuti3101,Pwade, mytholoy rocks, sweet-lovin-zombie, lux thebarbarionwarrior, PrincessSerenityforever21, appleattack1, Miss Eliza Lupin, ASTARCRAFTPLAYER, dswed, DuckInTheHat, and Hayley paramour.
Lady Cougar-Trombone: It wouldn't have actually killed him. It would have just incapacitated him for a day or so. SO… it would just say… hurt him enough to be stuck in bed for a day.
Thanks a lot you guys and just a heads- up, this chapter is gonna start with an Aphrodite-Silena moment which then later turns into… OOoopppss! I'm spoiling it. Sorry.
Now… on with the chapter.
The following morning, everyone was at the throne room…. Except a certain son of Poseidon and his cousin, the son of Hades. Athena was sitting at her throne with her arms crossed and her foot tapping, making everyone nervous. You don't want to see an angry Athena. Trust me.
Thalia leaned and whispered to Annabeth. "Where are they?"
In response, Annabeth's eyebrows scrunched together, thinking of the possible places where the two boys were. When she couldn't think of any, she shook her head. All the demigods and even some gods shifted in their seats. Chiron returned to camp, with the gods' permission of course, having worried over the amount of damage the other Hermes children have caused in his absence.
"I don't know, Thals but they had better be prepared. Mom hates it when anyone's late. I should know."
Thalia sighed and began playing with her bracelet-form Aegis. Athena resumed tapping her foot, her patience growing thin. Hestia poked the coals in her hearth to keep everyone warm. Everyone else either looked bored or worried. Then they heard the voices of the two people responsible for said boredom and worry. They came in walking through the door arguing about something.
"-ike I said Perce, I don't know." Nico said giving off a sigh. Percy just huffed in annoyance. "I still don't see how you had clothes in your closet while I don't. Just not fair." Percy was still wearing the same clothes he wore before because, if you haven't guessed yet, he had no clothes unlike the other demigods who just happen to have clothes for themselves.
The two boys sat on the only available spots in the room which just happened to be beside Thalia, who at the moment, was trying hard not to laugh at her cousins.
Once they were settled Annabeth, who had the book with her cleared her throat. "So who wants to read this time?" Katie was going to volunteer when Aphrodite gave an undignified shriek which, of course, raised a few eyebrows. Athena sighed. "What is it this time, Aphrodite?"
Said goddess just smiled at Athena then at Percy. "I simply cannot have Percy wearing the same clothes for two consecutive days. It is a crime against clothes." Artemis just gave an annoyed sigh. "You can worry about that later. Or better yet, just forget about it." Aphrodite, however, just wouldn't.
"Certainly not. Such a fine young man deserves to dress nicely. Now Percy, would you do me a favor and take a few steps forward?" All gazes switched from the love goddess to the hero of Olympus. Percy shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Ummm… sure?" It came out more as a question than answer.
Percy stood and took five steps away from the couch. Then he looked at the love goddess. "Ummm… now what?" Aphrodite smiled sweetly before beginning to circle around Percy as if she were looking at her prey. Percy immediately tensed as well as Annabeth. The demigods – minus Clarisse watched in worry – except Silena who was thinking of a good enough outfit for Percy while the gods just looked amused.
Aphrodite stopped circling around Percy and placed her hands on her hips. "This just won't do! He seems to look absolutely the same in the clothes I imagine him in. That just won't do! UHH!" Then she started tapping her foot in aggravation.
Not a moment too soon, Silena came to her rescue.
"Mother?" Aphrodite turned her head and stared inquisitively at her daughter.
"Yes, darling?" Silena smiled at her mom. "Why don't we let the others" she motioned to the Big Three. "…try? They might come up with very nice results."Aphrodite beamed at her daughter. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?" Then she pointed at Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. "You three will each choose an outfit for young Percy here. I will NOT have no for an answer. You have a minute to think of an outfit." She said when they looked like they were about to protest. The brothers just nodded their heads while the other deities did their best not to laugh at the situation of the three almighty brothers.
Percy, on the other hand, just looked at his cousins and girlfriend and friends who were trying not to laugh at his horrified expression.
Help me. He mouthed at them. The past demigods couldn't take it anymore and started laughing quietly. Thalia, Nico and Annabeth shook their heads while mouthing their reply. No.
Naturally, Percy glared at them but they just shook it off.
"Alright, you're time is up. Lord Zeus, you start." Then Aphrodite walked off beside her daughter and acting like they were high school best friends, high-fived each other when Zeus finally relented. The King of the gods gave his brothers his I-can't-believe-we're-doing-this look to which they replied with their I-know-right looks.
Zeus sighed and looked at Percy, who gulped unintentionally. Then Zeus looked at Aphrodite before sighing again and snapping his fingers.
Almost immediately, Percy was engulfed in a bright light. When it faded, standing in the middle of the room was Percy, unharmed, yet not really himself. You see, Percy was now wearing, not his old clothes but a dark blue pinstriped suit. He wore a grey dress shirt and a sea blue necktie. His hair was combed and for the first time, not unruly like it usually is. It looked like a lot of gel was applied to it.
So basically, Percy now looked like Zeus lent him his clothes which in a way, was true. But he didn't give off a Zeus-ly aura. He looked like he was going to his first ever prom or on a date which he'd propose to someone special.
Most of the females in the room (and possibly a few of the males) stared at the hero of Olympus dumbfoundedly. Said hero just gapped at the clothes he was wearing then looked uncomfortably at Aphrodite.
The love goddess sighed and shook her head. "Hmm… it looks nice, yes, but it doesn't give off that – how should I say it?- Percy feeling. I'm sorry Lord Zeus but nice try." Zeus gapped at Aphrodite. She just rejected his preference of clothes. Poseidon and Hades snickered at their brother's expression. Aphrodite then turned to Hades who paled even more… if that was still possibly.
"Your turn Lord Hades."
Said god just sighed then flicked his wrist. For the second time, Percy was engulfed in another bright light. This time when it cleared, everyone was gapping at the boy but none more so than Aphrodite herself.
Standing in front of everyone was a person who looked so much like a god that others would have thought he was an Olympian. Percy wore a black toga with green trimmings at the bottom. He also wore sandals that the gods used to wear in the Ancient Greek form. Percy was emitting such a regal aura that some of the demigods wondered if he really wasn't a god.
"Well Percy… that does suit you." Hades smirked smugly at his brothers at the comment of Aphrodite's. "How do you like it?" Percy uncomfortably shifted from foot to foot. "Honestly? It's a bit too breezy underneath for my liking."
PFfftt…
Thalia, Nico and Annabeth, along with Hermes, Apollo and Poseidon tried to stifle their laughter but ended up failing. Aphrodite and many of the goddesses were looking at Percy with amused expressions. Said hero just smiled at everyone.
Aphrodite then smiled brilliantly at Poseidon. "Your turn, Lord Poseidon." The god of the seas nodded his head and smiled at his son's pleading look. Then he flicked his wrist and for the third time that day, Percy was engulfed in a bright light.
When the light receded, everyone ended up laughing. Because standing in the middle was Percy wearing a t-shirt that said "Neptune's #1 son", some Bermuda shorts and beach slippers. He even had a small hat on his head.
By now, the Stolls, Hermes, Apollo, Nico and basically everyone who didn't care were laughing their butts off at the son of Poseidon.
It took a few minutes before everyone was settled. When silence reigned in the room, Aphrodite sighed sadly. "All of those looked wonderful but just not you, Percy. Let's loo-"
"OH for the love of Olympus!" Athena snapped her fingers and for the last time, Percy was engulfed in another bright light. When it was gone, The future demigods all knew Percy would choose Athena's clothes since she picked a normal green t-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers.
He'd choose it because that was what he normally wore at camp. On some days though, he'd wear shorts instead of pants and slippers instead of sneakers.
Aphrodite was about to speak but Percy beat her to it.
"'You know what. I think I'll stick with this one for today. Thank you lady Athena." Said goddess just nodded her head. Aphrodite and the Big Three all looked like they were told that they wouldn't be allowed to see the New Year's fireworks.
Hestia, who took pity on the poor soul that was Percy Jackson told him he could sit down now. When he did he immediately whispered to Nico. "Never again. It took us… 15 minutes? Remind me to just keep problems involving clothes to myself." Nico smirked but nodded. "Will do."
Finally, when the whole fiasco was finished, Hestia volunteered to read. So Annabeth walked over to her and gave her the book. After flipping to the correct page, she took a deep breath and started.
GROVER UNEXPECTEDLY LOSES HIS PANTS, she read. Almost immediately, eyebrows were raised at the title.
"What the heck?" Connor snickered.
"Why would Grover loose his pants?" Travis asked.
The brothers turned to the future demigods. Percy just smiled and shook his head. "Can't spoil it. Sorry."
Confession time: I ditched Grover as soon as we got to the bus terminal.
Athena frowned. "Well that wasn't a wise move"
Poseidon rolled his eyes at her. "Thank you for stating the obvious Book Brain"
The future demigods shook their heads.
"Typical Percy behavior."
"HEY!"
Apollo and Hermes grinned since their unmade bet would have been theirs had Percy joined in but sadly, didn't.
I know, I know. It was rude. But Grover was freaking me out, looking at me like I was a dead man, muttering "Why does this always happen?" and "Why does it always have to be sixth grade?"
Hermes shook his head and looked sadly at Percy.
"You must have been so freaked out by young Grover. Please forgive him, Mr. Percy"
His tone was somewhat sorry but if you listened hard enough, you could hear the laughter in his voice. Fortunately for the messenger, Apollo heard him and decided to join in.
"Do remember that satyrs are terrible at keeping calm when attacked or witnessing a monster invasion. Should it happen again, please dial the Olympus landline at 009-90-9899. Thank you." Then the both of them grinned at each other, all while the other deities face-palmed and shook their heads.
Connor and Travis, along with a few others, were smiling at the complete randomness of their fathers.
Whenever he got upset, Grover's bladder acted up, so I wasn't surprised when, as soon as we got off the bus, he made me promise to wait for him, then made a beeline for the restroom.
Instead of waiting, I got my suitcase, slipped outside, and caught the first taxi uptown.
"East One-hundred-and-fourth and First," I told the driver.
"Excellent! We now know where you live." Chirped the Stolls. Katie sighed and did the usual routine.
Percy on the other hand smiled at the two brothers. "Sorry, but in my time, we already moved. But if you want to go visit my – ah – oldhouse, you're more than welcome to, although my younger self wouldn't know you."
Thalia and Nico looked at each other, wondering what Percy looked like when he was seven while the Stolls pouted.
A word about my mother, before you meet her.
Weird enough, Nico and Thalia started grinning and looked like they were bouncing in their seats. Percy and Poseidon looked at nowhere in particular with a dreamy look on their faces.
Demeter took the courage to ask them why they were acting like that. In response, they all grinned.
"Percy's mom is AWESOME!" was Thalia's reply. Nico nodded vigorously.
"Plus, she makes one hell of a birthday cake. And cookies!" Then Nico got a dreamy expression along with the aforementioned four people. Annabeth gave a smile of her memory of Sally.
"Sally is really sweet and caring." Annabeth muttered to herself.
Hestia chuckled at the four and continued.
Her name is Sally Jackson and she's the best person in the world,
"Awwww… isn't that sweet?" Aphrodite cooed. Hera, Hestia, Demeter and basically all the goddesses plus Poseidon nodded. In the sea god's case, he let show a wistful smile.
which just proves my theory that the best people have the rottenest luck.
The smiles were then replaced by frowns.
Nico sighed inwardly. "Percy doesn't realize it, but this theory of his applies to him too, not just his mom. 'course, I'll never let him know that I actually though like that."
Her own parents died in a plane crash when she was five, and she was raised by an uncle who didn't care much about her. She wanted to be a novelist,
This caused Athena to raise an eyebrow at Poseidon.
"Being a novelist is a very good career." She said. Hestia nodded and continued.
so she spent high school working to save enough money for a college with a good creative-writing program. Then her uncle got cancer, and she had to quit school her senior year to take care of him. After he died, she was left with no money, no family, and no diploma.
This caused everyone to frown but none more so than Percy, Annabeth, Thalia, Nico, Poseidon, Hera and Artemis.
The only good break she ever got was meeting my dad.
"AWWWWWW. That's so sweet!" cooed a certain love goddess and her daughter. Aphrodite flashed Poseidon a bright, knowing smile to which he unwillingly blushed to.
I don't have any memories of him, just this sort of warm glow, maybe the barest trace of his smile.
"I visited you before when you were small, Percy." Poseidon informed his son. Upon hearing this, many campers looked down while those who had guts (mini- Annabeth and Clarisse, etc.) glared at their godly parent/s. The campers felt somewhat jealous of Percy.
Sensing the campers' sad aura, Hestia made the air around them a bit warmer before continuing.
My mom doesn't like to talk about him because it makes her sad. She has no pictures.
See, they weren't married. She told me he was rich and important, and their relationship was a secret. Then one day, he set sail across the Atlantic on some important journey, and he never came back.
Lost at sea, my mom told me. Not dead. Lost at sea.
Hades let out a low whistle.
Hermes spoke up. "Not a lie…"
Then Apollo continued his hanging statement. "but not the truth either."
Even Athena had to admit it was impressive. "Tell me, Kelp-for-Brains, how did you get such a smart woman? Usually. The women you attract are… well, not so smart."
Poseidon smirked at her. "That, dear niece, is for me to know and you to never find out."
Athena gave an indignant humph before waving at Hestia to keep reading.
She worked odd jobs, took night classes to get her high school diploma, and raised me on her own. She never complained or got mad. Not even once. But I knew I wasn't an easy kid.
Finally, she married Gabe Ugliano,
By that point, Hestia had to stop because a strong earthquake happened to hit Olympus and possibly the entire world as well. The past demigods all clung to their chairs in fright. The gods all looked at Poseidon who was wearing a confused expression on his face. The earthquake continued.
"Brother, STOP THAT!" Zeus shouted. Poseidon slowly shook his head. "It isn't me, Zeus."
"-cy, stop it."
Everyone turned to the sound of Annabeth's voice. The future demigods were trying to calm down their cousin/boyfriend who had his fists clenched and was biting his lower lip. Annabeth squatted in front of Percy, soothing him with words while Thalia and Nico pried his hands from their closed state.
Everyone else kept silent as they watched the four.
"It's ok, cus. Remember? He's gone for the rest of your life." Nico said.
Annabeth tried to calm him down once more. "You better calm down Percy or else we'll never be able to finish the chapter and I know you would want to have it finished soon. C'mon Seaweed Brain…"
Little by little, Percy opened his clenched hand and the earthquake which was still raging on Olympus stopped. Percy took a few deep breaths before looking at his cousins and girlfriend. "Thanks, guys."
His companions smiled at him. "don't mention it Perce." The others were all thinking of the same thing. Percy Jackson is one powerful demigod.
who was nice the first thirty seconds we knew him,then showed his true colors as a world-class jerk.
Everyone took a small glance at the son of Poseidon who took no notice of it. Hestia deemed it safe to continue reading.
When I was young, I nick named him Smelly Gabe. I'm sorry, but it's the truth. The guy reeked like moldy garlic pizza wrapped in gym shorts.
"Ewww!" exclaimed all the females bar Clarisse, Thalia and Annabeth.
Between the two of us, we made my mom's life pretty hard. The way Smelly Gabe treated her, the way he and I got along ... well, when I came home is a good example.
Poseidon raised an eyebrow at his son who just shook his head.
I walked into our little apartment, hoping my mom would be home from work. Instead, Smelly Gabe was in the living room, playing poker with his buddies. The television blared ESPN. Chips and beer cans were strewn all over the carpet.
Everyone was quiet as they were too afraid to speak. If the house looked like that, then they would surely puke when the guy was actually described. Poseidon gripped his throne so tightly it cracked. A murderous glare was pointed at the floor.
Sally deserves better. She shouldn't be living with that… that PIG!
Hardly looking up, he said around his cigar, "So, you're home."
"Where's my mom?"
"Working," he said. "You got any cash?"
"WHAT!" Everyone looked at the Queen of the gods who was looking at Percy through wide eyes. Poseidon gripped his throne even harder. "He asked you for money?"
By then, everyone looked murderous but none more so than the future demigods.
That was it. No Welcome back. Good to see you. How has your life been the last six months?
"What would you have done if he asked you that, Percy?" Will cautiously asked. Percy took the time to think. He even placed his hand under his chin for effect.
"I think" he started. "I think I would have either died of shock or called the police." The campers and most of the gods smiled at that.
Gabe had put on weight. He looked like a tuskless walrus in thrift-store clothes. He had about three hairs on his head, all combed over his bald scalp, as if that made him handsome or something.
Subconsciously, everyone pictured what Gabe looked like and by the end of the little mental image, everyone looked green. Apollo snapped his fingers and buckets began appearing in front of the demigods. They give him a questioning look. Apollo winked. "Just in case you need it."
The campers nodded in thanks.
He managed the Electronics Mega-Mart in Queens, but he stayed home most of the time. I don't know why he hadn't been fired long before.
Poseidon started muttering to himself causing the people beside him to lean away.
He just kept on collecting paychecks, spending the money on cigars that made me nauseous, and on beer, of course. Always beer. Whenever I was home, he expected me to provide his gambling funds.
Everyone looked ready to get up and kill the pathetic excuse of a human called Gabe.
He called that our "guy secret." Meaning, if I told my mom, he would punch my lights out.
An eerie silence filled the entire room. Electricity crackled in the air, shadows clung to whatever object they can, the air got denser and it became harder to breathe. Poseidon was leaning on his trident and addressed Percy with a calm, dangerous voice.
"Son, be completely honest with me… Did he hit you?"
Percy wouldn't meet his eyes, confirming most of the sea god's suspicions. He gripped his trident even harder. "Did he hit you?" He asked again. The silence which followed was deafening to everyone that it was hard to hear Percy's reply.
"…yes."
Poseidon took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He tried to calm the sudden storms and hurricanes that appeared during his moment of anger. The future demigods though – minus Percy- Were ready to leap up and go. Thalia already had electricity circling her hand, Nico had a ball of hell fire and Annabeth gripped the handle of her dagger, a grey aura surrounding her. Percy noticed this.
However, all he did was whistle a small tune that his mom taught him. All motion stopped and eyebrows were raised incredulously at the boy.
Percy smiled and acted innocent. "What? Mom said that whenever someone she knew was mad beyond reason, all she had to do whistle that tune and all anger would just disappear. Guess she was right, wasn't she guys?" The last bit, he directed to his cousins and girlfriend who smiled slightly.
"Now, let's all continue reading. I'm getting hungry."
At his last comment, many smiled and rolled their eyes but a few or some certain gods and campers held their stomach as if being reminded that it's almost time for lunch.
"I don't have any cash," I told him.
He raised a greasy eyebrow.
Aphrodite and Demeter gagged while the others tried to hold the motion in.
Gabe could sniff out money like a bloodhound, which was surprising, since his own smell should've covered up everything else.
Athena's eyes widened. Could it be? His mother would do such a thing for him… That was a wise decision on her part and it must be hard considering the man she has to put up with! I've decided. This woman will receive my blessing.
Her musing was cut short when Hestia started to read again.
"You took a taxi from the bus station," he said. "Probably paid with a twenty. Got six, seven bucks in change. Somebody expects to live under this roof, he ought to carry his own weight. Am I right, Eddie?"
Eddie, the super of the apartment building, looked at me with a twinge of sympathy. "Come on, Gabe," he said. "The kid just got here."
Demeter let out a small sigh. "At least someone is nice to you, Percy."
"Am I right?" Gabe repeated.
Eddie scowled into his bowl of pretzels. The other two guys passed gas in harmony.
This time, the buckets were put into use seeing as the horrible movement in the book had affected many. After a few minutes and now empty stomachs, everyone settled down.
"Fine," I said. I dug a wad of dollars out of my pocket and threw the money on the table. "I hope you lose."
"So do we" everyone chorused. Hermes and Dionysus cackled and had small eye contact. If they could help it, Gabe Ugliano would NEVER win ANY kind of game. EVER.
"Your report card came, brain boy!" he shouted after me. "I wouldn't act so snooty!"
The two Annabeths frowned. Mini-Annabeth turned to Percy.
"Your grades couldn't have been that bad, could it?" Percy wisely decided not to answer causing both Annabeths to shake their heads.
I slammed the door to my room, which really wasn't my room. During school months, it was Gabe's "study."
Most of the campers snorted.
"Study my a-"
"LANGUAGE TRAVIS!" Yelled Katie. She glared at the son of Hermes who instantly shut his mouth. Many of the boys snickered and Artemis looked proudly at Katie.
He didn't study anything in there except old car magazines, but he loved shoving my stuff in the closet, leaving his muddy boots on my windowsill, and doing his best to make the place smell like his nasty cologne and cigars and stale beer.
I dropped my suitcase on the bed. Home sweet home.
"Percy?"
"Yes Nico?"
"We're you being sarcastic to yourself?"
"Why yes. Yes I was."
"Ok. At least you know."
When Percy wasn't looking, Nico mouthed something to the campers and gods who were paying attention to him.
"He's weird!"
This caused some snickers to arrive and leave a confused Percy on the couch.
Gabe's smell was almost worse than the nightmares about Mrs. Dodds, or the sound of that old fruit lady's shears snipping the yarn.
The campers' mouths fell open.
"It couldn't have been that bad now, could it Percy?" asked Beckendorf. Percy just sighed and shook his head. "Believe me, Beck, it was. It's like a personal torture that came all the way from Tartarus." All the demigods shivered while Hades looked thoughtful.
"Hmmm… Percy Jackson, I believe you just gave me an idea for my tortures. Thanks." Then he proceeded to chuckle darkly, causing everyone to lean away. Percy would've sweat dropped if he could.
"Ummm… your welcome?"
But as soon as I thought that, my legs felt weak. I remembered Grover's look of panic—how he'd made me promise I wouldn't go home without him. A sudden chill rolled through me. I felt like someone—something—was looking for me right now, maybe pounding its way up the stairs, growing long, horrible talons.
Cue in shivers from the demigods.
Then I heard my mom's voice. "Percy?" She opened the bedroom door, and my fears melted.
Hermes, Apollo and the Stolls smirked at Percy. "Mama's boy."
Then Percy proceeded to show his "maturity" by crossing his arms in front of his chest and huffing. "So what if I am?"
My mother can make me feel good just by walking into the room.
"Anyone who met Sally would say the same thing." Poseidon said.
Her eyes sparkle and change color in the light. Her smile is as warm as a quilt. She's got a few gray streaks mixed in with her long brown hair, but I never think of her as old. When she looks at me, it's like she's seeing all the good things about me, none of the bad.
Everyone sighed dreamily- minus the Hera, Athena (who had no mom) and Zeus- thinking of their own mothers or of Sally.
"You're lucky to have such a nice mom Percy." Sighed Silena.
"Yeah. We have to pull a prank on our mom just to have her attention." Cried the Stolls. Then suddenly, everyone was talking about mothers.
"That is how a mother should act. Nice mothers don't throw their child off mountains." Hephaestus said with pure hatred in his voice. Hera just ignored him. The demigods were all chatting about their moms while Hephaestus and Hera were fighting verbally.
"Sooo… how come most of you don't seem to like your moms?" Percy asked the group of demigods. They all sighed.
"Like we said, Percy. Our mom doesn't really… well care. That's why we need to pull pranks on her. To get her attention."
"Well… I don't really have a problem with my mom. Just wish she'd talk to me more often when I'm home." Said Will.
"At least you guys still have mothers." Nico said. Sadness evident on his voice. All the demigods gave him a sad look and Thalia patted him on the shoulder. Speaking of Thalia.
"Will all of you cut the sad crap? It's getting really gloomy and I like being the opposite of gloomy. Now…" She turned her attention to Hestia. "Aunt Hestia, could you please continue reading now? I'm getting hungry since Kelp Head over here reminded me." She finished jabbing her thumb at Percy.
"Hey! What did I do? I just voiced out the condition of my empty stomach."
"EXACTLY."
"Huh?"
Everyone rolled their eyes at the two cousins.
I've never heard her raise her voice or say an unkind word to anyone, not even me or Gabe.
"Wow. Why couldn't we have your mom Percy?" asked the Stolls. In response, Percy looked like he had a brilliant idea, complete with the light bulb. "I know. How 'bout when this is all over, you guys come visit me and mom? She loves having my friends over. Just ask Nico."
"Oh, Percy." She hugged me tight. "I can't believe it. You've grown since Christmas!"
Her red-white-and-blue Sweet on America uniform smelled like the best things in the world: chocolate, licorice, and all the other stuff she sold at the candy shop in Grand Central. She'd brought me a huge bag of "free samples," the way she always did when I came home.
Hermes and Apollo started drooling slightly.
Candy… sweets! FOOD!
"We're HUNGRY!"
Artemis sighed and slapped the two brothers on the head.
We sat together on the edge of the bed. While I attacked the blueberry sour strings,
Cue in more drooling from the two gods.
she ran her hand through my hair and demanded to know everything I hadn't put in my letters. She didn't mention anything about my getting expelled. She didn't seem to care about that. But was I okay? Was her little boy doing all right?
Ares snickered. "Mama's Boy."
"Like I said, Ares. There is NOTHING wrong with being a mama's boy."
Ares wisely shut up not wanting to anger Poseidon off.
I told her she was smothering me, and to lay off and all that, but secretly, I was really, really glad to see her.
Artemis rolled her eyes. "Boys. What's so wrong about showing your emotions?"
From the other room, Gabe yelled, "Hey, Sally—how about some bean dip, huh?"
Hera gave an angry shriek while Hestia looked disapprovingly at the book.
"How DARE that – That… PIG break such a lovely Mother-Son moment! Hades!" Said god looked surprised that the Queen of the gods would actually talk to him.
"Yes, dear sister?"
"I want to make sure that this… this… I can't even think of a proper insult for him! Just make sure that when that thing dies, he gets the worst punishment. No one interrupt a special mother-son moment and gets away with it."
By the end of her ranting all the females in the room – bar Clarisse- were nodding, having thought of the same things. The boys on the other hand just had one though.
Girls are scary.
Artemis, being the man-hater that she is, heard this thought and smirked victoriously at all the males in the room especially at her younger brother.
I gritted my teeth.
As did everyone else.
My mom is the nicest lady in the world. She should've been married to a millionaire, not to some jerk like Gabe.
"or a god." Some people mused. Poseidon flashed everyone a grin.
For her sake, I tried to sound upbeat about my last days at Yancy Academy. I told her I wasn't too down about the expulsion. I'd lasted almost the whole year this time. I'd made some new friends. I'd done pretty well in Latin. And honestly, the fights hadn't been as bad as the headmaster said. I liked Yancy Academy. I really did. I put such a good spin on the year, I almost convinced myself.
I started choking up, thinking about Grover and Mr. Brunner. Even Nancy Bobofit suddenly didn't seem so bad.
"Some spin that was." Will commented.
Until that trip to the museum ...
"What?" my mom asked. Her eyes tugged at my conscience, trying to pull out the secrets. "Did something scare you?"
Poseidon and a few of the motherly figure in the room frowned. "Don't lie to your mother." Percy put on a sheepish smile and tried to look anywhere but them.
"No, Mom."
Once again everyone sighed… except the quartet, Ares, Zeus, Hades and Athena.
I felt bad lying.
"As you should." Said some of the deities, the sane campers (All except the Stolls) and surprisingly Thalia and Nico.
I wanted to tell her about Mrs. Dodds and the three old ladies with the yarn, but I thought it would sound stupid.
Poseidon looked sadly at his son. "Your mother would have understood. She can see through the Mist after all, son." Percy nodded.
She pursed her lips. She knew I was holding back, but she didn't push me.
"I have a surprise for you," she said. "We're going to the beach."
Poseidon instantly cheered up at the mention of the beach and grinned.
My eyes widened. "Montauk?"
The sea god's grin got wider and this time he was joined by Percy and Annabeth. The others just had confused looks on their faces.
"Three nights—same cabin."
"When?"
She smiled. "As soon as I get changed."
I couldn't believe it. My mom and I hadn't been to Montauk the last two summers, because Gabe said there wasn't enough money.
Thalia started growling. "Not enough money, my ass. They would have enough money if that pathetic excuse of a mortal didn't spend it all on beer and gambling."
No one said a word after she spoke but they all agreed on the inside.
Gabe appeared in the doorway and growled, "Bean dip, Sally? Didn't you hear me?"
I wanted to punch him,
"Do it! Do it! Do it! DO IT!" chanted the quartet, a certain god of war, his daughter, a certain son of Hades and a lieutenant of Artemis and daughter of Zeus.
but I met my mom's eyes and I understood she was offering me a deal: be nice to Gabe for a little while. Just until she was ready to leave for Montauk. Then we would get out of here.
"I was on my way, honey," she told Gabe. "We were just talking about the trip."
Gabe's eyes got small. "The trip? You mean you were serious about that?"
This Poseidon was the one to start growling.
"I knew it," I muttered. "He won't let us go."
"He will let you go whether he wants to or not. If he doesn't…" Poseidon let the threat hang but Thalia and Nico wanted so much to fill in the threat having great torture thoughts that would have made Kronos proud.
"Of course he will," my mom said evenly. "Your step father is just worried about money. That's all. Besides," she added, "Gabriel won't have to settle for bean dip. I'll make him enough seven-layer dip for the whole weekend. Guacamole. Sour cream. That works."
Now all the boys were drooling.
"I like this woman! Bribery…" Hermes mused but then shrunk under Poseidon's glare. "D-don't worry Uncle P, I don't like her in that way." Poseidon nodded.
Hestia was about to continue when everyone heard a small rumbling noise. Everyone looked around for the source of the noise except the four demigods from the future, three of which were trying to keep in their laughter and tried (unsuccessfully) not to look at the black-haired son of Poseidon. Said boy was blushing like mad but had his head down so no one could see.
Another small rumble was heard and the three just couldn't take it anymore.
Thalia, Nico and Annabeth started to laugh hysterically at the savior of Olympus who was pouting and was blushing a nice shade of crimson. "Stop laughing!" This of course just got them to laugh harder. The rest couldn't believe it. The sound they were hearing was actually coming from Percy or to be specific, his stomach.
Katie plucked her courage and asked. "W-was that you Percy?"
Percy just glanced at her, bit his lip, looked at the floor and blushed an even darker shade of red. Then he proceeded to shut his eyes, knowing the coming event.
1….
2….
3….
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH!"
"My goodness, Percy!" laughed Poseidon. In the background, the quartet, Ares, and Clarisse were laughing on the floor clutching their sides.
Just then, they heard another rumble but it didn't come from Percy. No, it came from the one and only Architect of Olympus. Percy smirked at her and she blushed a cherry red which brought on another round of laughter. Annabeth, not liking being laughed at snapped.
"Will all of you STOP LAUGHING! Me and Percy have every right to be hungry seeing as it is almost lunch time but the actual thought of tasting Sally's Guacamole Sour cream…." She drifted off, mumbling incoherent sentences like "so…. Yum…can't wait… me want…. Sour cream!" The campers all looked at mini-Annabeth, wondering if she was going to start saying incoherent sentences too.
Athena coughed which brought Annabeth back with a start. "R-right.. sorry. Please continue, Lady Hestia."
Gabe softened a bit. "So this money for your trip ... it comes out of your clothes budget, right?"
"WHAT!" shouted an angry love goddess and a Cabin 10 head councilor.
"That's just wrong on so many levels. It's a crime to all fashion."
"Yes, honey," my mother said.
"And you won't take my car anywhere but there and back."
"We'll be very careful."
Ares got this wicked gleam in his eyes, one that the gods all knew far too well.
Gabe scratched his double chin. "Maybe if you hurry with that seven-layer dip ... And maybe if the kid apologizes for interrupting my poker game."
Maybe if I kick you in your soft spot, I thought. And make you sing soprano for a week.
This time, Poseidon, the quartet, Clarisse and all future demigods joined Ares with the evil eye glint thing.
But my mom's eyes warned me not to make him mad.
"Awww. I was expecting some action too!"
Why did she put up with this guy? I wanted to scream. Why did she care what he thought?
"I'm sorry," I muttered. "I'm really sorry I interrupted your incredibly important poker game. Please go back to it right now."
Athena snorted while Thalia and Nico smirked. Katie sighed. "Even idiots like Connor and Travis can detect such an incredible amount of sarcasm in that sentence, Percy."
"HEY!" Percy just smiled at her evilly with a raised eyebrow. A smile that sent shivers down her spine.
Gabe's eyes narrowed. His tiny brain was probably trying to detect sarcasm in my statement.
Percy and Poseidon snorted while Annabeth joined Nico and Thalia in the smirking.
"Yeah, whatever," he decided.
He went back to his game.
The gods- minus Hestia, Ares and Poseidon- along with all the campers were gapping at the book in disbelief. The futures just smirked at their reactions.
"Thank you, Percy," my mom said. "Once we get to Montauk, we'll talk more about... whatever you've forgotten to tell me, okay?"
For a moment, I thought I saw anxiety in her eyes—the same fear I'd seen in Grover during the bus ride—as if my mom too felt an odd chill in the air.
But then her smile returned, and I figured I must have been mistaken. She ruffled my hair and went to make Gabe his seven-layer dip.
All the boys were once again drooling at the mention of the food.
"I'm hungry!" whined Apollo.
"Shut up!"
"But I'm hungry, sis!"
"stop acting like a five-year old and just conjure up some ambrosia." Apollo shook his head stubbornly.
"You do it." Artemis was just itching to fire an array of arrows at the sun god but wisely chose to ignore his whining.
An hour later we were ready to leave.
Gabe took a break from his poker game long enough to watch me lug my mom's bags to the car. He kept griping and groaning about losing her cooking—and more important, his '78 Camaro—for the whole weekend.
"He doesn't deserve to have Sally cook for him." Poseidon mumbled. Percy wholeheartedly agreed.
"Not a scratch on this car, brain boy," he warned me as I loaded the last bag. "Not one little scratch."
This time everyone got the evil glint in his eyes. They all looked at Percy, conveying only one message: scratch it.
Percy grinned remembering what happened.
Like I'd be the one driving. I was twelve. But that didn't matter to Gabe. If a seagull so much as pooped on his paint job, he'd find a way to blame me.
Watching him lumber back toward the apartment building, I got so mad I did something I can't explain.
"There are a lot of things you can't explain, Percy." Thalia said.
"I take offense to that!"
"So? We don't care." Nico chirped in. Percy sighed again and shook his head knowing full well that if he argued any further, his lunch will be delayed and he was not going to have a delayed lunch.
As Gabe reached the doorway, I made the hand gesture I'd seen Grover make on the bus, a sort of warding-off-evil gesture, a clawed hand over my heart, then a shoving movement toward Gabe. The screen door slammed shut so hard it whacked him in the butt and sent him flying up the stair case as if he'd been shot from a cannon.
Deadly silence filled the room as all the deities and demigods stared at Percy in shock.
"You know" Percy started. "I never did understand how that happened." Then he did the last thing people would have thought a son of Poseidon would do. He turned to Athena.
"Would you mind explaining to me how that happened, Lady Athena?"
Athena raised an eyebrow at him but decided to answer his question anyways.
"I can only think of three explanations for that. 1) It was just an accident which is most unlikely. 2) The gesture is made to ward off evil and my guess for theory number two is that Gabe is truly evil, which he is by the way and 3) seeing as you're a son of Kelp Head over there, my guess is that you unknowingly controlled the water particles in the air, causing them to come together and work as a whip but still remain small enough that you do not see it. Take your pick."
Percy smiled at the goddess. "Thank you." Athena shocked everybody by actually nodding at the demigod.
Maybe it was just the wind, or some freak accident with the hinges, but I didn't stay long enough to find out.
I got in the Camaro and told my mom to step on it.
Our rental cabin was on the south shore, way out at the tip of Long Island. It was a little pastel box with faded curtains, half sunken into the dunes. There was always sand in the sheets and spiders in the cabinets,
Athena and the two Annabeths shivered at the mention of spiders. Thalia on the other hand looked at the couple deviously. "So I'm guessing that you, dear cousin, have not taken you-know-who there yet?" She asked slyly. Percy blushed.
"I actually have. It just needs a bit of ahhh cleaning before she enters." Annabeth blushed slightly while Nico and Thalia quietly snickered. The love goddess looked thoroughly confused. "Whose you-know-who?"
"Se-cret!" Percy said. This got him a glare from the love goddess.
and most of the time the sea was too cold to swim in.
"I thought that wouldn't bother you, seeing as you are a son of the sea god." Beckendorf said.
"Yeah. It doesn't"
I loved the place.
"OH."
We'd been going there since I was a baby. My mom had been going even longer. She never exactly said, but I knew why the beach was special to her. It was the place where she'd met my dad.
"That is SOOO SWEETTT!" Aphrodite then jumped up from her throne and pointed a finger at Poseidon. "Listen here, Poseidon, I will again NOT take no for an answer. You will help dearest Sally whenever she comes to the beach. If you don't…" she left the threat hanging but it was enough for Poseidon to pale and nod his head vigorously.
The other gods snickered. "Whipped!"
As we got closer to Montauk, she seemed to grow younger, years of worry and work disappearing from her face. Her eyes turned the color of the sea. We got there at sunset, opened all the cabin's windows, and went through our usual cleaning routine.
We walked on the beach, fed blue corn chips to the seagulls, and munched on blue jelly beans, blue saltwater taffy, and all the other free samples my mom had brought from work.
Zeus grumbled. "What is with all the BLUE food? Isn't blue MY color? You'd think it was Green but nooo."
Many people rolled their eyes at the god but Hestia just smiled.
I guess I should explain the blue food.
"Oh." Came the response of the King of the gods.
See, Gabe had once told my mom there was no such thing. They had this fight, which seemed like a really small thing at the time. But ever since, my mom went out of her way to eat blue. She baked blue birthday cakes.
"Which happen to be really delicious!" Nico said.
She mixed blueberry smoothies. She bought blue-corn tortilla chips and brought home blue candy from the shop. This—along with keeping her maiden name, Jackson, rather than calling herself Mrs. Ugliano—was proof that she wasn't totally suckered by Gabe. She did have a rebellious streak, like me.
"And there it is." Athena whispered but everyone heard her anyway. "What is Athena?" Hermes questioned. "The trait the every woman Kelp Brain ever liked has. Rebellion." Everyone nodded in understanding.
"that's not right." Came the sudden comment of Thalia.
"You're right, Thals." Nico agreed. Percy was, shocked to say the least. His cousins were being nice to him.
"Percy has more than just a streak. If anything, he only has a streak of obedience." Nico said. Of course, Percy knew he shouldn't have had high hopes. Nico continued.
"The only time he ever obeyed someone was when his friends' lives are at stake or it's his dad he's talking to or it's Annabeth." Said girl nodded and to top it off, the Stolls suddenly stood up.
"Sooo, we therefore conclude that Percy is NOT an obedient person."
Percy just pouted. How long 'til lunch arrives?
When it got dark, we made a fire. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Mom told me stories about when she was a kid, back before her parents died in the plane crash. She told me about the books she wanted to write someday, when she had enough money to quit the candy shop.
Connor and Travis gasped. "Does your mom still work in the Candy shop now?" Percy just looked confused. Annabeth sighed and whispered what they meant.
"oh. I think she still works there in this time period but I'm not sure… why?" His eyes narrowed dangerously at the brothers who were whistling and avoiding eye contact.
"No reason…"
Eventually, I got up the nerve to ask about what was always on my mind whenever we came to Montauk—my father. Mom's eyes went all misty. I figured she would tell me the same things she always did, but I never got tired of hearing them.
"He was kind, Percy," she said. "Tall, handsome, and powerful. But gentle, too. You have his black hair, you know, and his green eyes."
Everyone looked at Percy, then at Poseidon, then at Percy, then Poseidon, and back and forth.
"Hmm…" Demeter mused. "You two do look the same. If Percy had more tan and was a couple centimeters taller, we could mistake him for Poseidon's twin!" Many of the deities agreed while Poseidon flushed with pride.
Meanwhile, Nico and Percy got an idea so brilliant that the Stolls would wish they had thought of it sooner. The two were having a quick hushed conversation.
"We could try it you know. I'm sure your dad would agree. He does like to joke around."
"Fine. When?"
"How bout we do it a few chapters from now. Maybe tomorrow? I don't know."
They were making hand gestures tat attracted a whole lot of attention. But, being them, they were oblivious to it.
"No that won't work, Nico. I'm sure we won't be able to fool her. It's ludicrous!" Percy crossed his arms while Nico pouted.
"Excuse me, but what's ludicrous and what won't fool who?" Percy and Nico jumped at the voice of Katie Gardner then looked around to find everyone watching them, some curious some… not so curious. The two exchanged a look and suddenly acted innocent.
"What are you talking about Katie?" Percy asked, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. It worked well.
"We weren't talking about anything ludicrous now were we Perce?" Nico faked asked his cousin.
"Nope."
"Nada"
"Nothing."
"OK! We get it, Seaweed Brain. You two are obviously goint to do something absurd and I'd rather not know so let us please continue 'cus a lot of us are starving right now." Shouted mini-Annabeth. Percy just blushed when mini-Annabeth used his petname.
Mom fished a blue jelly bean out of her candy bag. "I wish he could see you, Percy. He would be so proud."
"I am" Poseidon said. All the goddesses – minus Athena- cooed.
I wondered how she could say that. What was so great about me? A dyslexic, hyperactive boy with a D+ report card, kicked out of school for the sixth time in six years.
The Stolls sat up straighter when hey heard this. "Wow, Percy. You even beat our record, which is saying something." Then they looked at Percy with awe while said boy just looked at Katie. In the next five seconds, the Stolls found themselves on the floor with a new bruise.
"How old was I?" I asked. "I mean ... when he left?"
She watched the flames. "He was only with me for one summer, Percy. Right here at this beach. This cabin."
"But... he knew me as a baby."
"No, honey. He knew I was expecting a baby, but he never saw you. He had to leave before you were born."
Poseidon gazed sadly at the ground as well as the other god who had children.
I tried to square that with the fact that I seemed to remember ... something about my father. A warm glow. A smile.
The campers felt yet another pang of jealousy towards the bl;ack-haired son of Poseidon.
I had always assumed he knew me as a baby. My mom had never said it outright, but still, I'd felt it must be true. Now, to be told that he'd never even seen me...
I felt angry at my father.
Poseidon flinched when he heard that. Percy bowed his head and mumbled a short "sorry".
Maybe it was stupid, but I resented him for going on that ocean voyage, for not having the guts to marry my mom. He'd left us, and now we were stuck with Smelly Gabe.
"Are you going to send me away again?" I asked her. "To another boarding school?"
She pulled a marshmallow from the fire.
"I don't know, honey." Her voice was heavy. "I think ... I think we'll have to do something."
"Because you don't want me around?"
Hera gasped angrily. "Don't talk like that to your mother, boy."
I regretted the words as soon as they were out.
The Queen nodded. "You should."
My mom's eyes welled with tears. She took my hand, squeezed it tight. "Oh, Percy, no. I—I have to, honey. For your own good. I have to send you away."
Her words reminded me of what Mr. Brunner had said—that it was best for me to leave Yancy.
"Because I'm not normal," I said.
"What's so bad about not being normal? It just means you're unique." Said Apollo. Artemis looked surprised.
"Wow brother. I never knew that you could be smart." Apollo looked smug.
"Of course I could be- HEY!"
The gods snickered at the twin archers while Will just shook his head at his father.
"You say that as if it's a bad thing, Percy. But you don't realize how important you are. I thought Yancy Academy would be far enough away. I thought you'd finally be safe."
"Safe from what?"
"oh nothing much. Just gods, titans and monsters who want to rip you to shreds." Thalia said a bit too cheerfully causing Percy to roll his eyes.
"Sooo… Nothing much then!"
The campers' jaws hit the floor. Nothing much?
She met my eyes, and a flood of memories came back to me—all the weird, scary things that had ever happened to me, some of which I'd tried to forget.
During third grade, a man in a black trench coat had stalked me on the playground. When the teachers threatened to call the police, he went away growling, but no one believed me when I told them that under his broad-brimmed hat, the man only had one eye, right in the middle of his head.
"Why would a Cyclops be stalking your son, Uncle P?" questioned Hermes. Poseidon just shrugged. "I probably sent him to look after Percy."
Before that—a really early memory. I was in preschool, and a teacher accidentally put me down for a nap in a cot that a snake had slithered into. My mom screamed when she came to pick me up and found me playing with a limp, scaly rope I'd somehow managed to strangle to death with my meaty toddler hands.
Beckendorf let out a low whistle. "Just like Hercules."
Percy and Thalia winced at the name of the greek hero, thinking about Zoe. Artemis too looked at the sky in disapproval.
In every single school, something creepy had happened, something unsafe, and I was forced to move.
I knew I should tell my mom about the old ladies at the fruit stand, and Mrs. Dodds at the art museum, about my weird hallucination that I had sliced my math teacher into dust with a sword. But I couldn't make myself tell her. I had a strange feeling the news would end our trip to Montauk, and I didn't want that.
Athena rolled her eyes. "Idiot. You're risking your mother's life as well as your own just to stay in the place where she met your father. Ridiculous."
Some of the demigods looked offended. If they had the chance to do, they would do the same thing. The older a demigod gets, the harder it is to spend time with his/her mortal parent.
"I've tried to keep you as close to me as I could," my mom said. "They told me that was a mistake. But there's only one other option, Percy—the place your father wanted to send you. And I just... I just can't stand to do it."
"My father wanted me to go to a special school?"
"Not a school," she said softly. "A summer camp."
My head was spinning. Why would my dad—who hadn't even stayed around long enough to see me born— talk to my mom about a summer camp? And if it was so important, why hadn't she ever mentioned it before?
"You know, that does sound creepy." Said Silena.
"I'm sorry, Percy," she said, seeing the look in my eyes. "But I can't talk about it. I—I couldn't send you to that place. It might mean saying good-bye to you for good."
"For good? But if it's only a summer camp ..."
Annabeth sighed. "I wish it was only for summer. Not that I don't like camp." She added when she received incredulous looks.
She turned toward the fire, and I knew from her expression that if I asked her any more questions she would start to cry.
That night I had a vivid dream.
The futures sighed. "I hate my dreams." Percy muttered to them.
"I know. We do too. Why couldn't your dreams have been about unicorns and rainbows? Instead they always have to be prophetic kinds. They suck, Percy." Thalia ranted.
It was storming on the beach, and two beautiful animals, a white horse and a golden eagle, were trying to kill each other at the edge of the surf.
Everyone looked at Poseidon and Zeus who shrugged it off. "You all know that we do try and kill each other." The others couldn't argue about that. It was common knowledge on Olympus that the two brothers were always at each others' throats.
The eagle swooped down and slashed the horse's muzzle with its huge talons. The horse reared up and kicked at the eagles wings. As they fought, the ground rumbled, and a monstrous voice chuckled somewhere beneath the earth, goading the animals to fight harder.
This time everyone turned to Hades. "That's not me… I think. I don't know! Why not ask them?" He shouted, pointing at the seemingly innocent demigods from the future.
I ran toward them, knowing I had to stop them from killing each other, but I was running in slow motion. I knew I would be too late. I saw the eagle dive down, its beak aimed at the horse's wide eyes, and I screamed, No!
"HA! I win!" Zeus shouted while pointing at Poseidon who just grumble din his seat about idiotic younger brothers.
I woke with a start.
Outside, it really was storming, the kind of storm that cracks trees and blows down houses. There was no horse or eagle on the beach, just lightning making false daylight, and twenty-foot waves pounding the dunes like artillery.
With the next thunderclap, my mom woke. She sat up, eyes wide, and said, "Hurricane."
"That's bad." Travis said. Connor just rolled his eyes.
"Thank you for stating such an obvious fact brother." Travis just rolled his eyes.
I knew that was crazy. Long Island never sees hurricanes this early in the summer. But the ocean seemed to have forgotten.
Hermes and Apollo tsk-ed at Poseidon. "How could you have forgotten Uncle P? Shame on you." Everyone rolled their eyes at the two brothers but smiled nonetheless.
Over the roar of the wind, I heard a distant bellow, an angry, tortured sound that made my hair stand on end.
Then a much closer noise, like mallets in the sand. A desperate voice—someone yelling, pounding on our cabin door.
My mother sprang out of bed in her nightgown and threw open the lock.
Grover stood framed in the doorway against a backdrop of pouring rain. But he wasn't... he wasn't exactly Grover.
The campers all looked confused. "What do you mean?" asked mini-Annabeth.
Percy just winked and said "You'll see."
"Searching all night," he gasped. "What were you thinking?"
"Nothing apparently" mumbled Annabeth. Thalia heard her and let out a grin.
My mother looked at me in terror—not scared of Grover, but of why he'd come.
"Percy," she said, shouting to be heard over the rain. "What happened at school? What didn't you tell me?"
I was frozen, looking at Grover. I couldn't understand what I was seeing.
"O Zeu kai alloi theoi!" he yelled. "It's right behind me! Didn't you tell her?"
"Nope" everyone chorused.
I was too shocked to register that he'd just cursed in Ancient Greek, and I'd understood him perfectly. I was too shocked to wonder how Grover had gotten here by himself in the middle of the night. Because Grover didn't have his pants on—
"Oh!" Yelled Hermes. "That's why the chapter is named like that!"
Athena rolled her eyes, giving off her well duh look.
and where his legs should be ... where his legs should be ...
Apollo looked panicked. "What? What happened? Tell me!" He shouted at Percy who just blinked. Artmeis just placed her head in her hand.
My mom looked at me sternly and talked in a tone she'd never used before: "Percy. Tell me now!"
I stammered something about the old ladies at the fruit stand, and Mrs. Dodds, and my mom stared at me, her face deathly pale in the flashes of lightning.
She grabbed her purse, tossed me my rain jacket, and said, "Get to the car. Both of you. Go!"
Grover ran for the Camaro—but he wasn't running, exactly. He was trotting, shaking his shaggy hindquarters, and suddenly his story about a muscular disorder in his legs made sense to me. I understood how he could run so fast and still limp when he walked.
Because where his feet should be, there were no feet. There were cloven hooves.
"OH. That was all that was. I was worried for a second there." Apollo said while wiping off a non-existant sweat from his forehead. He waved at Hestia to continue readingbut she just raised an eyebrow.
"The chapter is already done, Apollo." When she said that, a soft silence was heard from well… no one.
"So, does that mean..." Percy asked a bit hopefully. Hestia nodded. Then Hermes and Apollo took a glance at each other before grinning wildly.
"LUCNHTIME!" then they proceed to run out of the room, leaving behind a small cloud of dust in ther wake. The demigods too got up along with the rest of the Olympians and headed off to the kitchens to get some well deserved food.
A/N: That it! Done! Took me FIVE days to finish this. Hope you update. Also this is IMPORTANT! WOULD YOU LIKE IT TO REMAIN AS IT IS ( READING WITH THE GODS, CAMPERS FROM Camp and the future demigods) or would you like it to be gods/goddesses and future demigods OR just gods/goddesses and BIG THREE demigods? Review to tell me your answers!
- magicdemi