Chapter 5: "I FINALLY MEET MY DAD"

A/N

Sorry for no updates for a long while! I've been busy with school, and I've been pumping out story ideas like a pumpkin bazooka. I'll try not to keep that trend up, of not providing you with no story. Again, I'm sorry, please enjoy the chapter below, and be on the lookout for some new stories I'll be publishing soon!

Let me know in reviews what you think of the series so far!

…..

Hermes was like a leaner, more vagabond version of Apollo. They had the same tanned skin and muscular frame, but he was a little skinnier, but with the look of someone who dieted and worked out constantly. They also had the same hair and eyes, but his were just a shade darker, his hair hanging like a mop around his head.

He shrugged at me, "And why do you want my help?"

I shuffled my feet, "I don't really know. Someone told me you're a god of anyone who uses the road… so I was kind of wondering if you could maybe help me find my dad."

"And why do you want to find him?"

"Because he's my dad. I want to know him, and I'm sure my brother feels the same way."

He sighed and leaned his head back, "Oh goodie. Wholesome feels." He leaned forward, looking me in the eye, "And tell me why I should even care?"

"What?"

"I'm a very busy god, and I haven't got all day. So tell me, why I should take time out of my very busy schedule to help you? What's so important about this quest? Why do you come to me for help and not someone else? What do I get out of it? Why do you want to meet a man who never cared enough to stay with your mother?"

I snorted, "Oh sure. The god loafing about in a temple most definitely has a very busy schedule."

His eyes glowed a soft green, "Don't test me mortal. I have powers far beyond your reckoning."

I crossed my arms and smirked, "Oh, you mean your magic winged staff and shoes? Not really scared."

"How refreshing. Someone who actually knows a little history." He looked me over, "And that answers my third question."

"Really? How?

"You believe that I'm an inferior god, weak, with lame powers. You want to use that to your advantage, and manipulate me."

I kept smirking, "And that would be why you are not a god of wisdom. I don't think you're weak. And I don't want to manipulate you. I figured since we're similar people, you could help me out, and I'd help you out later."

His eyes narrowed, "So, an IOU. But if you don't think I'm weak…"

"The others are weak. They rely on their powers too much. If they lost their powers, they would be helpless. You rely on wit, and tricks, to win your battles. That's strength. Having power, but choosing not to use it."

He blinked in obvious surprise.

"As for why I'm here, and not elsewhere, you watch over anyone who travels. My father had to travel to leave. Ergo, you might know who he is. Why it's important and why I want to meet him, I need to know why he left us. I want to know why the things that have happened to us, all the weird monsters that attack, why that happens. I've tried to protect my brother for the past 5-ish years. But as we get older, the monsters get stronger and more frequent. We're across the state from each other. And I just found out people are planning on killing him. Need to know about our past, to meet our father, so I can explain everything, with proof, and help him protect himself."

I looked down, gulping and blinking back tears, "The entire world seems to hate us. The only people I have are my mother and Percy. I don't even know if mom knows who dad was. I have to figure out our past so I can protect everyone, because I seem to be the only one who sees everything going down."

Hermes watched me coolly as I continued, "And yes, it would be an IOU. In the future, whenever, if you need a job done, wherever or whatever, I'll do it. I just need to protect my family."

He sat watching me for probable one minute, but the silence made it feel like an hour. Eventually he leaned his head back and groaned.

"Kid, you really shouldn't promise things like that. Do that to the wrong people and they will hold it over your head, and they will never let you go." He sat up and leaned forward, looking me in the eyes, "lucky for you, I'm a nice guy. Also, you are positively adorable. Third, I really don't need melancholy and tears in my temple. Totally throws off the vibe."

I grinned as he stood up, "You're going to help me?"

He sighed and shook his head, "Yes. Though I have no idea why. You can't exactly give me anything, and your little heartfelt speech about family shouldn't have moved me, as I only have my asshole dad, but it did. Theres just one little problem about coming to me."

My smile dropped as he continued, "I don't actually know every single person who passes through a road. But, I can still glean some information from reading your soul. Also, by you telling me everything you know."

I explained everything my mother had ever told us of our father, including how Percy looked like him, describing Percy. Hermes asked about my powers. I explained that I could control liquids, and once, I made a rat crawl into the headmistress's bed. I could talk to horses, breath underwater, and heard the fish talking in the ocean documentaries and in the aquarium, and how they followed me. He asked about the monsters, and I told him of every instance I had seen one around us.

Eventually, he nodded.

"I don't think I even need to look into your soul. Your brother sounds like Poseidon, and your powers are very Poseidon, and the amount of monsters can only happen for a child of the big three. It would explain your mother's marriage, and how she keeps you two as separate as possible. It might also explain how you convinced me to help. You're related to the sirens, who can charmspeak anyone, even a god."

I blinked, then face palmed, "I am such an idiot. Poseidon. How did I not see that?"

Hermes chuckled, "Sea."

"Ha-ha, very funny. But I'm still an idiot."

He shrugged, "Yeah. I'm kind of surprised you didn't see it yourself. It was pretty clear."

I sighed, then looked up, "So, what now? Is he here?"

Hermes shook his head, "Nah. Most of the gods have other places to be. Right now, he's probably in his palace over in the pacific."

I shuffled my feet, "How do I get there?"

He frowned, "You don't. You're not even supposed to exist. If Zeus or Hades found out you lived, they would send even more monsters after you, or just plain kill you outright."

"So I'll never meet him. And Percy and I are going to get killed because our parents fell in love."

He shrugged, "Yeah. Pretty much. Does it make you feel worse that it would be you uncles trying to kill you, and your father won't do anything about it?"

"Yes, that helps ever so much. Thank you."

"Just doing my job."

My eyes narrowed, "Wait, I remember reading somewhere that the gods couldn't trespass in others territories without express permission, and they were big on guest rights."

"Well, yes. What's your point?"

"If I go to my father's palace and claim guest rights, he's required to accept me, not only because I'm a guest, but his daughter. And my uncles won't be able to do anything about it, not if they want to violate guest rules, or violate the boundaries of the realm."

Hermes blinked, "That's… actually a brilliant idea. Smart kid. But what's you plan to get there? Zeus must have sensed your presence by now, if someone hasn't already told him you're here."

"You're my ride. You agreed to help me find my father so I can meet him. I know who my father is, but I notice a distinct lack of Poseidon in the area. Our deal isn't over yet."

He smirked, "And because we struck a bargain, until it's complete, you're under my protection. And anyone who tries to stop you will be punished by Styx. Not even Zeus can do anything about that."

His outfit changed into his ancient Greek attire, complete with helmet, sandals and staff, grabbed my hand, and took off.

We passed through many clouds, and while we were travelling as fast as light, it felt like we were travelling slowly by boat.

Eventually, we dove beneath the clouds, viewing a wide, deep blue expanse for about one second before we plunged right into it.

We travelled lower and lowed, until we reached the bottom. We swam for maybe a mile, and then we reached an enormous palace of coral.

We passed through the absolutely enormous doors, big enough for three whales, and went down several corridors, passing several mer-people along the way.

We came to a door, and Hermes knocked. A merman with two tails opened the door and took one look at Hermes, letting us in.

A beautiful woman, a dolphin, the mer-dude, and a man who looked like an older Percy, with deep smile lines and a tan were standing around a table showing the entire ocean floor.

The man met my eyes and my breath caught. A very distant memory of that smile, and a feeling of warmth swept over me, and I knew that he had stuck around to see me and Percy as babies.

He frowned at Hermes, "What is going on?"

He released my hand and pushed me forward, everyone's eyes on me.

I cleared my throat, "Lord Poseidon, my name is Lana Jackson. I would like to claim guest rights."

His eyes narrowed, "I will accept you as a guest, by why are you here, and why do I know your name."

I looked down, "I need your protection because Zeus and Hades will kill me if the find out I live."

"Why is that?"

I met his eyes, "Because I'm your daughter."