I do not own Percy Jackson nor Heroes of Olympus, they belong to Rick Riordan.
Chapter Twenty-Eight - Liam
Everyone stared at her, the movement in the room gone. Percy had paled completely, his skin and even his eyes. He made no movement toward her.
"W-What… What are you talking about?" Jason asked.
"That's impossible…" Hazel covered her mouth.
"You're a demigod, though…" Fiona said. "It'd be impossible for you to be a ruler of a… A corrupt world."
"How could that happen?" Caleb asked.
"When I was in Tartarus, I encountered both Nyx and Akhyls, who told me I had bad blood running through my veins. That's how I was able to master dark magic so quickly." She retreated her fingers from the crown.
"But your mother and I are pure bloods." Percy said, his voice weak. She glanced her eyes up before looking at her hands.
"That's not really true."
"Huh?"
"Grandma Sally is a descendant of a Roman and Greek demigod. The Greek was her great grandfather and the Roman was her great grandmother. The Roman… She was daughter of Trivia, equivalent to Hecate."
"So you're saying Percy's has Roman blood in him?" Reyna asked. "How are we supposed to believe that?"
"How do you think he is so powerful? And how I mastered dark magic quickly? Trivia is goddess of sorcery." Percy blushed darkly.
"I did at one point speak Latin."
"Eh?"
"Yeah… I don't know how."
It was sort of hard to imagine, actually. Even if Alyx did become queen or whatever, it was hard to imagine her sitting on a throne in a grown, holding a staff and giving orders. He glanced at the others and saw the same thing in their eyes as well.
"And… Akira's trying to take over." Gray said.
"Yes."
"And this breed you mentioned. What is that?"
"They are a breed formed to serve me. The guy who gave my memory back was one of them, but Akira got to them first, even though their mindset was for me. They played along with him, but he says that his people's patience is wearing thin."
"So… They need you."
"Yes."
There was silence for a long time, the news slowly sinking into everyone.
"This is a lot to take in." Chiron finally said. "Everyone, please rest up. You all have had a long day. We will discuss more in the morning."
Jasper asked Alyx if she would like to see Phillip, striking up another question.
"Where's Mom?" She asked.
"She's here." Percy smiled warmly. "Come." He gestured to him and Carlos as well, so they followed behind. He opened a door, and there laid Annabeth.
His mom had told him stories of finding her, and adventures that they had with her. She'd aged well, with shoulder length curls and skin that didn't even seemed wrinkled. She sat there, looking out the window, two bundles in her arms.
"Annabeth?" Percy said. Alyx had hid, cupping her hands over her mouth and threatening to cry. "There's someone here to see you."
"Is there?" She sounded tired, but alert and curious. Alyx took a breath before stepping into view, waving.
"Hi, Mom."
"A-Alyx…? My baby? Is that you?"
"I'm back."
After they were introduced, and Annabeth eyed both of them carefully, Alyx peered at the bundles.
"Twins?" She asked.
"A boy and a girl. Meet Ace and Ebony."
"So cute…"
"Want to hold them?" She nodded, and slowly, Annabeth transferred the two into her arms.
"So tiny…" She said, looking at the two. They peered over her shoulder. Ace had such bright blond hair, it looked white, and it was also in tight curls. He had yet to open his eyes. Ebony had pitch black hair. Her eyes had yet to open.
"Like Yin and Yang." Carlos laughed. "White and black hair." Percy smiled, laughing a bit.
"I guess so. Never really thought about that." Both babies yawned, kneading their blankets before opening their eyes. They stared at Alyx with wide beautiful bluish grey eyes, almost exactly like hers, without the sea green. Cooing softly, they reached up, their tiny hands gently brushing her chin. She froze, her eyes watering. She buried her face into their bellies.
"I'm going to protect you no matter what… Even if it costs me my life…"
They went to the Mess Hall, passing the cabins and other areas along the way. His mom always brought home pictures and told him new stories or what was going on.
"How come I can't visit?" He remembered asking one day when he was fourteen. He was looking through her photo album of the camp, looking sadly at the happy times. She stopped polishing her shield and looked at him, her eyes sad.
"Honey, you know why." His shoulders slumped.
"Right… I'm not supposed to be alive…"
"No, baby…" She got up, setting her shield down and sitting next to him, pulling him close. "If Artemis found out I had a baby, she would ban me… Remember that story?"
"Of the woman Zeus raped and impregnated?"
"That one, yes…"
"But Dad didn't rape you…"
"I know, son… But if she did find out-"
"She wouldn't care. You've been her Lieutenant for years now." He remembered her eyes, the same ones he got from her, staring at him with kindness and understanding. He liked how she mellowed out after being a Hunter for so long, but it was still weird that she was still fifteen.
"Promise me that when I'm twenty or so, you'll tell her." She stared at him before sighing.
"I promise."
Alyx caught Carlos gaping in awe at everything, his eyes wide with excitement. He didn't blame him, after all. His parents were gone for twenty some years, so they missed out on a ton of stuff.
"After the Romans and Greeks allied together, the camp needed some upgrades and since the Romans were really good builders, they helped add to the camp. Then slowly people started the new generation. I was born after Dad and Mom graduated college in New Rome." She said.
"Wow…" Carlos said.
"Yup! And summer is coming up, so kids from school and around the country will be coming." Carlos was so excited he was literally buzzing.
"Is the Mess Hall bigger?" He asked.
"I'll give you a full tour in the morning." She yawned, patting her stomach. "Right now, I just need a burger and fries."
As soon as they got to the Mess Hall, people stood and cheered. Alyx waved and then pushed them forward, patting their backs.
"Welcome them with open arms, guys. They've had a rough week." He saw Carlos wince when she brushed his back.
"Um…" He mumbled, tugging on her sleeve. "My back hurts…" She lightly chuckled.
"Let's eat and then I'll get you some medicine, okay?"
He and Carlos sat at the unclaimed table (which was empty), and watched Alyx tell her story to the campers at the head table with Chiron and Reyna. After she was finished, she allowed questions.
"You encountered a Fury?" Ashe asked.
"Yup!"
"Cool! Was it Mrs. Dodds?"
"No. This one was disguised as an old woman who tried to steal my notebook." She rolled her eyes. "I'm not even that great of an artist anyway." Carlos scoffed. Collectively, people turned their heads.
"My ass." He said. "You're an amazing artist." She chuckled.
"True, you do have a great ass." He turned red.
"That's not the point!" Hank looked confused and turned his head back to Alyx, who happily licked her lips from her burger.
"What's that about?" he asked.
"Ooh, someone's jealous." Jasper snickered.
"Am not."
"So are. I see it."
"See it…?" Carlos asked.
"I can see emotions." She said, tapping her head. "Love, hatred, jealousy. Whatever humans feel." He frowned.
"That doesn't make sense." Liam said.
"Jasper is granddaughter of Zeus and Aphrodite. She's blessed with powers that not many Aphrodite kids have." Alyx said, rubbing her finger around the rim of her glass. "She wields charmspeak and is extremely talented in swordplay." Jasper blushed, her light skin tinting red.
"Nah. You're way more talented then I will ever be." She said, fanning her hand at her. "Both Roman and Greek ancestry and training, daughter of two legends, wields magic and the Curse of Achilles, and holds the weapon of Hercules and Percy Jackson."
He swallowed his food heavily.
The image of her suddenly appeared in his head.
"If we lived in ancient times or something, she would make a fine queen!"
He stood abruptly, making Carlos look up at him a bit startled.
"I'm going to bed now." He said.
"Um…" Jason said, blinking at him. "Do you want someone to lead you to the showers-"
"I can find it. Thank you."
Dressed in royal Greek garments, a crown with either green or blue gems, holding a staff of power and her sword at her hip, he felt something stir inside him.
What was that? It didn't feel like jealousy or anger, but more like…
He stopped in front of his mother's tree.
"I know what I want to do, Mom."
To Be Continued...