Ch32
By the time Blackjack returned to camp he was so exhausted he nearly collapsed in his stable. Good luck boss, you too uncle. He fell asleep but felt a tingling sensation as he dreamed.
"Son I know you're tired but now isn't the time," said a voice he recognized.
"F-Father what is going on?" He muttered. His father's presence reverberated throughout him. He knew he along with the other Pegasi had a connection with their father who could communicate through them if necessary.
"You need to head west the heroes will need you," Pegasus said. "My brother and your rider will need help."
"A-Alright I'll do it," he said quickly. If his boss needed help he wouldn't hesitate to help him or his uncle. "I'll do anything to help them."
His father paused but then asked, "Blackjack one question. How is my brother doing?" Pegasus asked.
He was surprised by the question. Among Pegasi it was almost a taboo to mention that his father had a brother. The only reason younger pegasi like him knew about Chrysaor was from the older generations and those who were closest to his father and even then it was taboo to mention him. "Uh he is alright gets along well with my rider and seems cool," he said choosing his words carefully.
His father paused, at first he feared he offended him but he didn't sense anger from his father. "Good to hear. Now rest well my child and head west," Pegasus said.
Percy sat in a car next to his brother in silence. Apollo had helped them out and now they were riding on a train that carried cars. Zoe and the hunters were in another car while he shared this one with Chris and Grover was in the next car over.
"So you and Zoe don't get along much huh?" He asked.
His brother shook his head, "Not really. We fought a lot back in the day. She interrupted many raids of mine and I may have sold and killed her sisters."
"Sounds complicated," he said as he rested on the seat.
"It is. Also I happen to know a lot about the man who screwed her over in life," Chris said. "The man who made her give up on men in general."
"Who was it?" He asked.
His brother sighed, "He is a famous hero who is a god now. He manipulated and used her before throwing her to the side. This hero also used the sword you wield."
He looked down at Riptide, the pen felt cold in his hands as he remembered Chiron saying it had a troubled history. "The thing with heroes of old is that they weren't always good people," Chris said. softly "A lot of myths were white washed since they had good publicity."
"Really?" He asked in surprise.
Chris nodded, "Think about it people still love modern celebrities even if they do rotten things. Just because they were famous and did heroic things doesn't mean that they were good people. Even your sword had a tragic history with this hero, he really did Zoe dirty."
"I never thought about that," he said as he put Riptide back into his pocket. Who could it have been?
"I don't blame Zoe for hating this particular hero's guts. Said hero is not a good person and that's coming from me," Chris sighed as he looked up at the ceiling. "It's ironic he had the fame and stories I always wanted yet is miserable while I'm a nobody in the myths and had freedom."
"Wow that's crazy," he said as his brother adjusted himself in the seat.
"It is," Chris said. "I never got any stories or legends in the myths. I was always the afterthought, the other son of Medusa, my brother handled fame better than most people do but then again he does just fly around in the skies most of the time."
He was surprised Chrysaor mentioned Pegasus most of the time his brother frowned at the mention of him but now there was a melancholy when he spoke of him. "What would you do if you ran into him again?"
"I honestly have no idea," Chris said shaking his head. "I've been having dreams of him, he is somewhere out west protecting his children like always." His brother shifted in his seat. "I know we've grown apart but I knew he always watched over me from a distance."
"Well maybe the dreams are a sign of something?" He suggested. Occasionally he would have dreams too, mostly of Artemis being captured along with Luke and Thalia talking about their plans for the future. Gods Thalia please come to your senses. The last thing he wanted was to fight her but hopefully they could convince her to come to her senses.
"Maybe," Chris said softly looking out the window.
"Do you still resent him?" He asked softly.
His brother frowned. "A little. I mean I've been on my own quests since I've become mortal. A lot has changed." Chrysaor looked down at his hands and clenched his fists. "I did resent him a lot, a part of him still does deep down but I know Pegasus is selfless even when I was selfish."
He stared at his brother, and to his surprise he swore he saw Chrysaor's body shake. "People can change," he said softly.
A tapping at the window snapped him out of his thoughts. "Hey guys the train stopped," Grover said.
He and Chrysaor both got out of their got and jumped off of the train. "Where are we?" Chris asked as they scanned the area.
"Looks like somewhere in New Mexico," Zoe said. "There is a town down there, lets rest there for a bit."
They quickly went to the town, it was a small sleepy town that was just beginning to awaken. Zoe, Phoebe, and Grover quickly went to get some supplies leaving him and Chris with Bianca.
"So how's the hunt treating you?" Chris asked as they sat at a table and drank crappy coffee.
"I love it," Bianca said with a smile. "For once in my life I feel a part of something bigger."
"You do seem more confident but what about your brother?" He asked.
"Oh Nico I already spoke to him a little but this is my choice and I chose this path," Bianca said looking down at the grass.
He frowned at her, a part of him wanted to let her know about Nico worrying about her but he didn't know if it was his place to do so. She just wants to leave her brother in a place he barely knows? A part of him felt stunned by her decision, yeah Nico seemed annoying but he was still her brother.
"Hey guys we are back," Grover said as he came back with Zoe and Phoebe.
Chris was about to say something when a warm breeze past by him. It smelled of fresh air and wildflowers, of a landscape untouched by human hands. It also sounded like a voice as if it were warning them of something. "Grover look your cup," Percy said. Chris looked and saw that the small bird patterns on their cups peeled off and turned into birds which flew away
Grover then let out a moan and passed out. "Grover!" He said as he and Percy got him up. "He is knocked out," he said as they both pulled him up.
Thalia drew her spear, "We have to get out of here." Chris nodded and helped Percy carry Grover as they all made it to the edge of town.
However, as they made it to the trees and off the road they were attacked by skeletons. "Chris Percy take care of Grover we got this," Zoe said as she shot lighting at one of the skeletons knocking it to the ground.
Chris then drew his sword as a skeleton approached, he slashed at it knocking its head off before kicking its body to the ground. "We can't stay here," Chris said as he slashed two more skeletons.
"I can see that," Zoe said as she fired a few more arrows at them.
Phoebe and Zoe fired at the skeletons and did their best to move forward. Bianca attacked to though he noticed that they seemed to avoid her and when she told them to stop they stopped.
More and More skeletons were arriving by the minute and he was getting worried when he heard a loud squeal. They all turned around and saw probably the largest pig he had ever seen plow through the skeletons.
"It's a gift," Grover muttered as he woke up and stood on his own two feet. "It is a gift from the wild."
"I think it wants to kill us," he said as they got out of the way from the boar's charge.
"That's our ticket out of here we must get on its back somehow," Grover said as he played a melody on his pipes making it calm down.
"Ok but how do we do that," Zoe snapped
"Run and jump on its back I guess?" Chris said. "I've jumped on worst."
Well its not like we have any better options he thought as he watched the hoards of skeletons. They decided to book it and run. They ran as the large boar charged around, sometimes at them until they made it to a large hill.
"Are we seriously jumping on that," Bianca said her eyes betraying disbelief
"There is no time its our only option," Chris said.
"Alright everybody on three," Percy said as the boar approached them. "One, Two, Three!" They all jumped and managed to land the boar, Chris was behind Percy who was holding Thalia tightly as Grover materialized and apple to steer the boar.
"Alright everyone hang on tight," Grover said as he tried to control the boar. Riding the boar was probably the most uncomfortable ride he had ever experienced. He grabbed onto Chris the entire time while resisting the urge to vomit.
"Never again," he said once they got off. The boar was drinking water not far from a river trail.
"Come on lets go we could camp nearby," Zoe said once they were far enough from the boar. They made camp underneath the stars it was a warm evening but the sky gave them a nice view.
"The stars look nice," He said as Chris put his sleeping bag next to his.
"Yeah they are great. Back in the day you could sail beneath them forever," Chris said as he looked up at the stars. "When I was young Pegasus would take me flying often, he loved flying beneath the stars." There was a hint of melancholy in his voice as his brother stared up at the sky.
"Do you miss him?" he asked softly.
Chris frowned, "I'm not sure. Maybe a little, being mortal makes you appreciate things like family bonds more."
"I see. Do you think he would want to make up with you?" He asked. "Not that its my business or anything."
"It's alright. I'm sure he would. Pegasus was always more forgiving than me," Chris said softly. "It would just be very awkward and to be honest I don't know how I would go about it"
"Well I hope you could work things out with him if you want to," he said.
"True. But we'll see as the time comes," Chris said. "Good night Percy."
Yet as much as Chrysaor tried he couldn't sleep. Starring up at the starry sky he got up and stretched. Reminds me of the old days. His heart pounded in his chest as he remembered the days of his youth. The days when he was just a young boy riding Pegasus under the starry sky.
Such a long time ago too bad. Walking around the camp he noticed a figure sitting by the dying fire they made. He thought it was Bianca but when he got a closer look he realized it was someone else.
"Hello Chrysaor," Hestia said as she moved the embers in the hearth. "Care to join me this evening?"
"Of course Lady Hestia," he said with a bow. He awkwardly sat across from the goddess who tended to the flames.
"You are conflicted in your heart," Hestia said calmly.
"Conflicted?" He scratched his head. I guess you could call it that.
Hestia nodded. "Being human changes a lot of things. I've seen it many times." She looked at him with her eyes her gaze calm and warm. "You've been thinking of Pegasus."
He avoided her gaze and clenched his fists. A flurry of emotions spread through his body, he wanted to vehemently deny it but it wasn't a good idea to yell at a goddess, especially Hestia.
"It's ok," Hestia said pushing the embers around. "I've dealt with jealousy before. Your own father was often jealous back in the day."
You could say that again. He sighed as he looked at the embers. "I honestly don't know what to do with these feelings."
"Feelings are what make people human," Hestia said calmly. "I've constantly helped the Olympians resolve their differences. I've mended many family feuds in my life and I found one thing always helps." She stared at him for a moment, he didn't even realize he was listening intently. "A simple I'm sorry can do a lot. A sincere apology goes along ways. It isn't easy because our pride gets in the way."
He avoided her gaze. The memories of all the bitterness and anger he held towards Pegasus began to bubble up. It wasn't fair but neither is life. The memory of his brother constantly helping him nearly made his eyes water.
"It must have hurt," Hestia said snapping him out of his thoughts. "When he left you."
He looked down at his reflection and for a moment he was a child again in Ancient Greece waiting for his brother to return home. We were supposed to go on a quest together. His body shook as he winced at the memory.
"Jealousy happens to all people," Hestia said calmly. "You've come a long way and have lived your own life, I'm sure you can let go of your past."
He paused and slowly nodded. "I've resented him for ages. It wasn't fair how we turned out."
"Life isn't fair," Hestia said calmly. "Yet your family has always cared about you even if you didn't believe it. Whether it be Pegasus or Percy you have a home."
A home. He thought of Percy and all the things they did together, the memories brought a warm feeling into his heart. It's almost like being with Pegasus again though with me teaching him.
"Rest well," Hestia said. "You have an important quest and decision up ahead. Be careful in Hephaestus' junkyard." She then disappeared in a flicker of flame.
An important decision? He scratched his head as he noticed Zoe approach him. "What are you doing up?" She asked.
"Just thinking," he said looking at the dying flames. "You?"
Zoe frowned and sat across from him. "Same" Her gaze was firm her brow furrowed as she looked at the dying flames.
"You mean Lady Artemis?" He asked.
Zoe nodded. "She needs to be saved. I won't allow her to remain captured." She shook her head. "I have dreams of her being chained up. I have to hurry and save her."
He stared at her. As long as he knew her Zoe was always strong and rarely showed emotions, yet here she was almost vulnerable. "Don't worry we'll save her."
Zoe looked up at him and folded her arms. "I thought you could care less?"
"Well I'm here aren't I?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I guess you could say Percy wants to do the right thing and help Artemis." He paused and avoided her gaze. "I also want to help."
Zoe sighed. "Fine just make sure we don't die. Frankly I could use your skills." She looked up at the sky. "You worked with that man for many ages, what do you truly make of him?" Her voice was soft yet still betrayed a hint of anger.
"To be honest he is sad and pitiful," he said softly. "I mean we used each other for profit but he really is a sad man." Zoe looked at him and he didn't know if she was amused or curious. "Truthfully he is selfish and that's coming from me."
"Indeed he is," Zoe sighed her voice hiding pain.
He paused and looked down at the embers of the flame. "Does it hurt when they leave?"
Zoe raised and eyebrow. "My sisters? Yes it does." She paused and looked up at the sky. "I've lost a lot of good hunters to conflict and men."
"How do you get over it?" he asked.
Zoe shrugged. "I guess you just learn to live with it. For those that fall for men deep down I know that they have a right to live their lives and as much as I hate to admit it I'm happy for them."
He detected some melancholy in her voice. Looking up at the sky he remembered his time with his brother. We all change in a way. Can I forgive and mend our bridge? Deep down he wanted to but he didn't know how he could do it.
"We all have to move on one way or another," Zoe said softly as she poked the embers with a stick. "Not every hunter fits a mold and some choose their own path." She looked up at him with her dark eyes. "Do you get along better with Percy than Pegasus?"
He flinched and but slowly nodded. "He is a good person deep down, I've done my best to help him." Taking a deep breath he looked up at the starry sky. "To be honest I am starting to miss him a bit."
Zoe nodded and stood up. "Well I know you'll make the right decision concerning him in the future. Come on we should rest, we have a long journey ahead of us."
