Chapter 4: I Meet the Family

My head spun in circles.

Olympus.

It was… real.

And quite beautiful. Everything was glittering white marble, gold and silver. It was so bright under the sun it was almost blinding. I couldn't believe that all this light didn't burn off the mist and give sunburn to everyone down below.

I jumped when a jumbo jet roared by a foot away, flying straight through the mountain and people like they weren't there. I could see the people through the window, so close I could touch them.

Most of the people wore togas, though I saw a couple people in jeans and tees. There were satyrs, and lots of what looked like nature spirits. I guessed the rest were gods. I even saw a couple people that may have been Cyclopes.

I walked down the middle of the main street, stunned, and not knowing where to look first. My hand rested on the dagger in my bag. There was lots of music and laughter. Nobody gave me any second looks.

There was a giant palace, made of entirely marble, ahead, at the peak. I started to make my way to it when a satyr knocked me over in his hurry to join a growing crowd.

I stood up and followed him, growling and brushing myself off.

The crowd was for a music group; 9 women and a muscular, tan, blonde man with a mini harp. He sang and played, dancing around the stage, smiling and winking at everyone. After several minutes the song went into its closing bars, and the group bowed while the crowd went crazy.

The man stepped forward, raising his arms to the crowd, "Thank you Olympus!"

The cheering grew louder and I slapped my hands over my ears. But I distinctly heard one woman cry, 'We love you Apollo!'

Apollo. I racked my brain trying to place the name. God of music, archery, medicine, prophecy, and getting his loved ones killed. I raised my eyes back up to the stage, where the god was raising his hands to quiet the crowd.

"Thank you all so much for your love and devotion," the crowd started to cheer again, so he raised his hands, "wait, wait. Listen. You're all such lovely people, that I've decided to give one of you the honor of coming up here and singing with me!"

The crowd went wild, cheering, jumping, waving their arms at Apollo, and hoping to get picked. He walked back and forth on the stage, winking, smiling and doing finder guns at people. Several fainted and had to be carried away. The ladies onstage whispered amongst each other, several looking my way. I made eye contact with one.

She smiled, and waved to Apollo. He walked over to her and she whispered in his ear. He smiled and walked back to the front of the stage.

He raised his arms for silence, "after much deliberation, my colleagues and I have decided that the one to be honored is…"

He paused, eyes flicking over the crowd. People were literally vibrating with tension and suspense.

Finally, he straightened up and pointed directly at me, "The young lady with black hair and the green sweater!"

I blanched as the crowd went crazy around me. I felt hands slap me on the back before I was lifted up and carried to the stage. They threw me up, and I stumbled over my feet from the momentum, landing on my hand and knees in front of the god.

Everyone was cheering as I stood up, but quieted when Apollo raised his hand.

He smiled down at me with clear blue eyes and white teeth, "what's your name little one?"

I straightened my spine, looked him full in the face scowling, "My name is Lana Jackson. And I am not little."

He laughed merrily, blowing my tone straight off. He winked at the crowd, then turned back to me, "So Miss Jackson, what song will you sing for us?"

I took a step back, "I don't sing. And you said we would sing together.

He laughed with the crowd, "A shy artist! How unsurprising! Come on honey. It goes like this, you sing a song, I sing a song for you, and then we sing a duet. Sounds good?"

"No. I don't sing."

"Come one, everyone sings!"

I shuffled on my feet, "Well… I mean… if I have to, my favorite song is…"

He leaned forward, "yes?"

"'Poor unfortunate souls' from the little mermaid?" I said, wringing my hands.

He laughed and waved at the women, "You heard the girl ladies! Poor unfortunate souls!"

They readied their instruments, as Apollo sidled next to them, and the started the intro bars to the song. Apollo tossed me a microphone as I walked up to the front of the stage, with everyone quiet, staring up at me.

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and started to sing. I lost myself in the song, going straight back to when Percy and I had seen the movie o the TV in our apartment when we were six. I was obsessed with the movie, and memorized every song.

I opened my eyes, and saw everyone had glazed over eyes, swaying to the music. My vision swam, looking like I was underwater.

I finished singing and backed up as they played the final notes. When the music ended, it took the crowd several seconds to snap out of their stupor.

Apollo stepped forward, raising his arms, "How was that for a song folks?"

The crowd blinked a couple times, then started cheering again.

He winked at me, "And now it's my turn to sing a song. Girlie, you've got guts, so I just wrote this song for you. I'm calling it… Miss Jackson."

He strummed his lyre and sang. The crowd cheered, pumping their fists to the beat. Eventually, he stopped singing, ending on an epic shred, sliding to the front of the stage on his knees. The crowd went wild, jumping up and down, chanting his name.

He stood up, waved to the crowd, then walked over to me and placed his arm around my shoulder.

"We've got one final song for you today Olympus! We'll let our guest artist choose. What will we perform together Miss Jackson?"

"Irresistible by Fall Out Boy?"

"Ooh, I love that song!"

He handed me back the mic, then started to play. The crowd kept cheering while we sang, and Apollo was eating their attention up. Finally, the song was over. Apollo shouted his love to the crowd, and jumped off the back, followed by the women. I followed after them, the crowd dispensing behind us.

Apollo smiled at me as I jumped down, "You've got some voice kid. Siren-quality. Would you like a scholarship to my singing school here?"

"Umm… no, thank you, I appreciate the offer, but I'm only visiting."

"What for?"

"I'm… looking for someone."

"Who?"

"I, umm, ah…" I paused, unsure of what to say, "HERMES! I'm looking for Hermes. I need his help with something and would also love to meet him!"

Apollo frowned, "Are you sure you want him? I'm a lot better than him."

"I'm sure, but thank you! Do you know where he is?"

He pointed to a temple on a hill not far off, "he usually hangs out there around now. Head there and you'll find him."

I started to run off, "Thank you so much!"

"Hold on."

I turned around, "Yes?

He frowned at me, "You have an important destiny. Your life will be one of pain and sorrow. Stay safe."

Then, he and the ladies started to glow. I looked away, and when the light was gone, so were they. I shook my head and ran for the hill. My legs pumped as I flew up the hill, breathe racing.

I reached the entrance to the temple, and saw a man leaning against the altar inside.

The god of thieves, travelers and pranks looked up, "What?"

I stepped forward, "My name is Lana Jackson, and I need your help to find my father."