Ch6
That night Chrysaor dreamed a memory he hadn't dreamt of in a long time. He laughed at the sight of the city he pillaged. That's it burn you all can burn. He went over and observed the loot he plundered. Gold and other precious relics and riches enough to make any man rich beyond his wildest imagination. His heart raced with greed as he gripped them. I'll collect more I'll be the most famous pirate in the seas.
The sounds of his brother descending caused him to freeze, "Brother why do you do this?" Pegasus said. "This is the third city you pillaged in the last week."
"What's it to you," he said coldly turning to face his brother. Pegasus had grown even larger, he was truly just as majestic as those damned stories said. "Why aren't you with your heroes?" His brother recoiled at the venom in his voice.
"You don't need to do this. Eventually you will get punished," Pegasus said his eyes filled with sadness.
"Who will stop me one of your hero friends?" He sneered. "Who now? Heracles or some other new hero called on a quest."
Pegasus stood firmly but his eyes showed disbelief, "Why are you acting like this?"
"Why wouldn't I? You think just because you're famous now you can tell me what to do!" He yelled glaring at his brother. "I'm sick of living in your shadow! I'll make my own journey from here on out!"
Pegasus recoiled despite being a horse he could see his eyes watering, "Is that all you want? Fame? I never did anything against you, so why do you resent me so much?" He could hear the hurt in his voice, a part of him wanted to take it but his heart was cold.
"I want my own stories why do you get all the honor!" He yelled as he drew his sword and pointed it at the city he just sacked, "I'm a great swordsman just as great as any hero. I'm also a son of Poseidon and I'll prove to the world that I am a great fighter. I'll show the gods and the fates that I can hold won even if I'm not in the myths."
"I never looked down on you," Pegasus said softly the disappointment and hurt visible in his eyes. "I always saw you as my brother even when people avoided you."
He laughed, "Let me guess you were too famous to see me. You didn't want a son of a monster to taint your image," he said bitterly.
"I never thought that," Pegasus said firmly looking at him with a hard look. "I always saw you as a brother even when others said you were a monster. Why give everyone the reason to see you as a monster?"
His blood boiled, "If I'm the villain then so be it. You can just run off with your hero friends and get more famous! But mark my words I will make my way on this world one way or another. Why don't you just go off and help some other hero and let them use you."
Pegasus looked at him, his eyes were a mixture and shock though they had sadness in them. "You are an adult brother I won't tell you how to live your life. Do as you please. If you want don't want my help fine, call someone else if you need a ride."
He was frankly surprised by his brother's response even more so that he just turned around and flew off. That was the last time he and his brother had a full conversation, he avoided speaking to him and Pegasus made no effort to speak to him.
So he continued to plunder. The gods didn't mind so long as he didn't push their buttons and go too far, in fact they sometimes hired him out for their own goals. He sacked, burned, and pillaged cities across the world and did worse to any person who he came across. However, there was one creature he went out of his way to avoid, the children of his brother it was the line he didn't cross out of respect for their past relationship.
Chrysaor looked at the burning bus, his sword drenched in monster blood as they watched mortals escape from it. "Didn't expect Lord Hades to come after as this quickly," he said as he capped his sword.
"Good thing we got away in time," Percy said as he caught his breath. They were attacked by some furies but they managed to fight them off and make a getaway.
"Guys come on lets get out of here," Grover said. They both nodded and followed Grover through the woods and out of the sight of mortals. "Lets stop here for a break."
"Sounds good," Percy sighed as they sat on some logs and rested.
He opened his bag drank from his water bottle when he noticed something that didn't belong. "What is this?" He pulled out a baseball cap.
"Hey that's Annabeth's!" Grover said jumping out of his seat. "How did you get that?" The satyr gave him an accusatory look as he held the hat for them all to see.
"I don't' know," he said looking at the cap in surprise. "I honestly don't, Chiron gave me this bag and I never opened it till now." He looked through the bag nothing else seemed out of place. He had a swiss army knife, clothes, and some other supplies.
Grover looked at him as if he didn't believe him. "Here take it if you want," he said handing it to the satyr.
"It's true I was with him he never took it or anything," Percy said as Grover snatched the cap from him. "Chiron gave us the bags and Luke gave me the shoes that I gave you. I even saw Annabeth she glared at me the entire time we were getting ready to leave."
"This was gifted to her by Lady Athena," Grover said as he held the cap gingerly. "It can turn someone invisible." He placed it on his head and turned and he did turn invisible before he took it off, it fit him well along with the shoes Luke gave to Percy who gave to Grover since he couldn't fly.
"We'll give it back to her when we return to camp," Percy said. "Who knows maybe it will come in handy for our quest."
Grover frowned looking at the cap, "Yeah maybe it's fate we use it or maybe Chiron put it in our bags. Annabeth had really been looking forward to going on a quest." The satyr shook his head, "She has a lot of pride in her, I hope she doesn't resent you guys forever."
"Yeah I noticed," He muttered
"I hope she doesn't hold a grudge against either of you," Grover sighed. "She may be headstrong but she has a good heart."
"Well maybe she can go on another one," Percy said with a shrug. "I wanted to choose Chris as my companion."
"Thanks we are brothers after all so we should get along." You were destined for fame too not that I'm mad. On the contrary, I'll make sure we succeed at all costs. He met other children of Poseidon before and they all made great names of themselves something he resented more and more by the century, he wasn't going to let this opportunity for greatness pass him by.
Percy nodded. "Yeah I mean hope we can get to know each other well on this quest too. Outside of my mom I never had any other family."
Grover sighed as held the baseball cap, "Well since we have it we might as well put it to good use if we get the chance. Percy you can keep it in case we run into any trouble."
"Are you sure?" Percy asked as he reluctantly took the cap from Grover.
The satyr nodded, "Yeah I'm sure. This is your quest, everyone is counting on you to complete it successfully."
Percy nodded and tried on the cap before putting it in his bag. "Well anyway we should get going as soon as possible."
After a quick rest, they walked through the woods and came onto a stretch of highway with only a building and an abandoned parking lot in sight. They walked up to the building, it looked like some store with the word Aunty Em's Gnome Emporium on the sign.
"Do you smell hamburgers?" Percy asked as he started walking to the store.
"Wait Percy hold on," Grover said.
There was a strange scent in the air that caused the hairs on his neck to stand up. I do smell burgers there is something else in the air. He couldn't place his finger on it but it smelled familiar and sweet but he couldn't place where he smelled it before. His stomach turned, his instincts telling him to turn and book it.
Why do I feel anxious? He followed Percy into the store, his heart raced while his palms began to sweat. He had never felt this anxious before in his life, it was as if an old memory were struggling to break free. Why am I feeling this way it's just a shop. Half of his senses were telling him to run while the other half were telling him to curl up and hide.
He entered the store and the smell got stronger. This place sells a lot of statues. Looking around he saw various statues of different people and animals with very realistic facial features.
"Hello boys how may I help you," Said a female attendant whose face and hair were covered by a scarf.
"Hi um do you have any food here?" Percy asked.
The woman smiled at them, "Of course come on in all of you." She smiled at all of them but when her gaze fell on his she froze, his heart nearly stopped. Do I know this person? He racked his mind to finger out of he ever met a person such as this woman. His heart pounded in his chest, something was off why was he feeling this way?
"That looks just like my uncle," Grover said looking at a statue of a satyr with a scared look plastered on its face.
He frowned as he looked at all the statues, they all had very realistic faces but one caught his attention, it was a pegasi about to take off the fear was etched on its face.
His blood ran cold looking at it. Didn't my brother once mention he randomly lost a kid? He tried to remember what his brother told him, but it was so long ago that he couldn't remember it well except it had to do with their mother. Leaning closer he looked at the statue, he could see the horror in the creature's eyes.
Oh shit mother. "We have to get out of here," he whispered his body shaking as he slowly made the connections in his head.
"What do you mean?" Grover asked with a concerned look on his face
His body shook as he turned to the satyr, "This is my mother's shop." The words came out of his mouth like lead, he had never met her and now he surely didn't want to.
Grover's eyes widened as he looked at the statues, "We have to get out of here."
He only nodded as they ran to Percy who just finished a plate of food, "Hey guys she wants to take a photo of all of us," Percy said as Auntie Em smiled at them.
"We have to leave now!" Grover yelled. "This is a trap!"
Percy's eyes widened and he nearly recoiled as a hissing sound came from Auntie Em, "Awe don't be like that," she said. "I'm sure you all will make good statues."
"Don't look at her she is Medusa!" Grover yelled.
He could feel his heart stop at the word, he stared at his mother and avoided her gaze. Come on I've faced monsters before. His breathing increased as he avoided her gaze. Something inside of him wanted to cry at the sight of his mother while another wanted to fight.
His blood ran cold at her sigh as Percy drew his sword. Well this is an ironic twist of events. Percy drew his sword as Auntie Em's form began to change, her hair became livelier with snakes and her face appeared older.
"Well isn't this a surprise," Medusa said as they all tried to run. "Why son aren't you going to say hello to your mother?"
She quickly appeared in front of them, Percy tried to attack her without looking but she avoided his attack and threw him aside, "Not now I want to speak to my son in private," she hissed.
Move I have to move. His body shook as she grabbed him by the shoulders. Don't look at her, damn it why am I feeling this way. His instincts were telling him to run, fight, and greet his mother. His body shook like a child and that scared him the most. I guess being mortal comes with all sorts of emotions damn it. He wanted to both cry and fight, yet he could only stand still as she gripped him by the shoulders.
"Chris don't look at her!" Grover yelled. "She won't hesitate to turn you to stone."
"Why would I do that?" Medusa asked as he felt her grip his chin. "Come on son why do you help the gods? It was one that cursed me and left me like this, I was the most beautiful woman in the world and Athena was a jealous shrew."
Tears fell down his face, why am I crying? Damn it move. His body shook as his mother held him down. "Poor baby I heard you always wanted to be a hero. If it weren't for the gods you would've been born a demigod and been famous, don't you resent them for that?"
Don't listen to her she lies. Yet a part of him felt like she was right. Deep down he had always wondered what his life would've been like had he been born before his mother turned into a monster.
"Don't listen to her!" Grover yelled as he charged at Medusa. "She is a liar."
He didn't dare open his eyes, his body shook as he heard Grover get thrown back against the wall. "Chris come on don't just stand there!" Percy yelled he didn't open his eyes as he heard a stand of statues fall over and Medusa hiss in anger.
Why won't I move? Why can't I fight? His body shook as he heard Grover and Percy fight Medusa. I never met her and neither have I wanted to meet her so why am I so nervous?
"Chris don't listen to her lies," Grover yelled. "If you want to be a hero act like one now! Percy chose you, this is your chance to show everyone what you can do!"
"Silence satyr you'll make an excellent statue," Medusa said. He heard Grover scream as he was kicked to the ground.
"Come on Chris please I need your help," Percy whispered from behind him. "I can't do this alone, please help me save Grover." He could almost hear the panic in Percy's voice. He has to save his mom or else we are all dead.
He gulped down the lump in his throat, his body shook as he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. I always wanted to be a hero I guess I should put my money where my mouth is. "Fine but we have to be careful," he whispered. "Don't worry I'll create an opening."
Reaching into his pocket he gripped his pen and took a deep breath. He heard Medusa walk over to him, "Come on son come home to mother," she said her voice sounding more like a hiss.
As soon as he heard her get close he took out his pen and revealed his sword and swung it.
He could hear his mother recoil as he advanced his eyes closed. "You dare raise your blade against your own mother?" She hissed.
"He swung his sword, his emotions were running wild so he couldn't think straight but he could hear Percy and Grover nearby.
"Sorry mother but I won't let you kill us," he said firmly. "I have to help Percy on his quest."
"You dare raise your blade to your mother!" Medusa hissed.
"Well you turned your grandson into a lawn ornament. Do you think I'd just stand by and let you do it to me?" He laughed and charged at her with his sword carefully avoiding her gaze. Medusa stumbled backward in order to avoid his blade, "Now Percy!"
It happened quickly, he saw a slash in the air as Medusa's head fell to the ground her body disintegrating into cold dust. His half brother appeared next to the decapitated head with the baseball cap in hand.
He stared at the head, his body shaking. When I was immortal I didn't care about her but strangely I feel sorry that we had to meet this way.
"Chris what did she mean when she said you were his son?" Percy asked softly.
He looked at his mother's decapitated head and sighed. His body felt numb with grief, maybe it was mortality but he felt sorry for his mom. "Percy do you remember what happened to Medusa when she was originally killed?" Percy stared at him with concern but said nothing his gaze was out of concern and held no judgment. "Before she was cursed our father slept with her." He gulped down the tears and emotions inside of him. "When she was killed two children came out of her, they were Pegasus and me."
"You were born from her," Percy said in disbelief. "But wouldn't that make you immortal?"
"I was," he said with a laugh. "My true name is Chrysaor son of Poseidon and Medusa brother of Pegasus. I wanted to make a name for myself so I became a pirate. Unfortunately, I caught the ire of Zeus so now father took away my immortality as punishment."
He looked up at his brother, "Our father asked that I protect you. He took away my immortality but left me with my skills and reflexes to help you survive. I accepted since it beat being handed over to Zeus and that's how I arrived at your school with everyone thinking we were friends."
Percy looked at him in surprise while Grover remained quiet. There was silence as Percy processed his words. "I'm sorry that you had to meet your mother like this," Percy said softly.
"It is no problem. I never met her before and never had the desire to," he said as he went over to a basket of towels and picked one up. Facing away from Percy he removed his face mask and glasses and cleaned his face. "Don't get the wrong idea I'm still on your side, I did inherit things from my mom but my gaze was never that powerful. If you feel nervous don't look directly at them for too long."
Turning around he faced Percy and slowly opened his eyes. Percy looked at his face and even his eyes, "You actually look handsome," Percy said scratching his head. "Why do you cover your face?"
Looking into a broken mirror he saw his face, it was handsome for a twelve year old but his red eyes were a bit of a turnoff. "Many reasons though I guess I always used my mother's name incite fear in others and also I thought I was ugly," he muttered. "When people say you're a monster you go with it."
"Well I don't think you're a monster," Percy said walking up to him. "You've saved and helped me many times already, I'm grateful for all that you did. I don't know anything about this demigod stuff but I'm grateful for all the help you gave me. "
"Thanks," he said with a smile. "I always wanted my own stories, I hated how in the myths I was forgotten while my brother got all the glory." He looked at Percy and then Grover, "Don't worry I intend for us to survive this quest and get your mom back safe and sound."
Percy smiled at him and nodded, "Well I appreciate your help big brother."
He smiled at Percy, "No problem little brother. We sons of Poseidon should stick together. " His heart pounded in his chest, he happy being with Percy even if he knew him for just a short while. Looking at his younger brother he saw welcome and kindness in his eyes, no judgment for him being his mother's son. No one has ever shown me this much kindness in a long time.
The two laughed and Grover joined them. "Well I say we send the gods a present for everything they did," Percy said pointing to Medusa's head. "If it's alright with you of course."
He smiled at his brother, he was starting to like Percy a lot more. "Sure just make sure you don't look at it." With that he helped his brother wrap up his mother's head and send it to the gods.
Luke watched as Annabeth scoured the Athena cabin, "Do you need any help?"
Annabeth her face red just shook her head, "Where is it? It was with me last night!"
He looked over at her siblings who all looked exacerbated. "Her hat is gone she has been looking for it all day," Malcolm muttered. "She um misplaced it and can't find it."
"Uggh where is it!" Annabeth yelled as she stormed to another room.
"I'll deal with her," he told her siblings.
Malcolm and the rest of the Athena cabin nodded before leaving the room. "Hey Annabeth come lets look for it in my cabin. I swear I'll turn out every pocket if I have to."
Annabeth sighed, "Fine." Her arm was still bandaged and her face had some swelling from her fight.
"How are you feeling?" He asked as they headed to the Hermes Cabin.
She shook her head, "I was supposed to go. This quest had my name on it and now I'm stuck here for who knows how long."
He patted her shoulder, "It's alright you'll get called on a quest in the future I know it."
She gave him a small smile as they entered his cabin, "Alright if anyone took her cap tell me now, either way this place will get turned upside down if necessary."
"We didn't take honest," Connor Stoll said his brother nodding in agreement.
"Alright everyone show me your things now," He said clapping his hands. With that, he and Annabeth turned the cabin upside down after a good two hours still no sign of her baseball cap.
"It's alright I'll help you find it," he said as they headed to dinner.
"First missing that quest and now this," she said shaking her head. "My mother gave me that hat, I was going to use it to make her proud."
"Don't worry we'll find it later," he said calmly before giving her a hug. "You are a great person don't forget that," he said as Annabeth hugged him back. "Come on I'll help you search for it later."
After dinner, they continued their search for her baseball cap but to no avail. With all the tension going on about Zeus's bolt not many people cared about her hat. He was resting on a bench when he heard Annabeth come up to him, her face red with anger and sorrow. "No luck?"
She shook her head and sat down next to him, her nostrils were flaring and her eyes were doing their best to hold back tears. "Come on it'll show up," he said handing her a tissue. "We are a family don't forget that and I will always look after you."
Annabeth only stared at him as he gave her another tissue to clean her face with. "I'll be leaving camp soon to pursue my own path but I will always hold you close to me in my heart."
Her face turned redder, "Where will you go?"
Scanning the area carefully he smiled at Annabeth. "I found a job on a cruise ship," he said calmly. "I'll be working hard for college."
"I can't believe you'll be leaving," she muttered as he gave her another tissue to clean her face. "First Thalia and now you."
"I'll never abandon you don't forget that," he said patting her shoulder. "Who knows maybe you can visit me; we can be a family again just like the old days."
Annabeth laughed, "I would like that it would be just like the old days."
He smiled at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder as she rested on him. The two of them stared up at the stars together. I'm sorry about your hat but I'm sure you'll eventually see the truth. Don't worry it will all work out Annabeth I promise.
