AN: I'm still waiting for Sabaton to release Livgardet's English version.
Time: A few weeks later
"Nine hundred and ninety-eight, nine hundred and ninety-nine... and that's one thousand." Calypso intoned in a bland voice, making Piper giggle.
Calypso was sitting on the bed which was usually occupied by Percy. She was dressed in a beautiful white dress with gold trimmings, which drew Percy's eyes to her bountiful chest no matter how much he tried to keep them from wandering. Her waist and back were covered with some thin, lacy fabric, revealing her creamy, pale skin. The golden frill that the dress ended in, reached a bit below her knees. She was barefoot- she was always barefoot- and was swinging her legs childishly out of sheer boredom. Done in her regular elegant braid, her luscious caramel hair was thrown over her shoulder, drawing attention to her heavenly face, and almond-shaped amber eyes.
Piper was leaning against a table, absentmindedly playing with a sharp pair of surgical scissors. Her relatively short, spiky brown hair was let down, a single lock braided with a beautiful red and green feather. Wearing just a white t-shirt and shorts with sneakers, she had just returned from her regular run. Sweat rolled down her forehead, her tanned skin flushed pink with exhaustion. Her clothes stuck to her skin, and Percy's eyes trailed down her skin, clearly visible through her almost transparent shirt, to her toned legs. Her hypnotic kaleidoscopic eyes constantly changed colour, though her bored expression never changed.
Percy knew both of their expressions were clearly fabricated acts. He could clearly feel their gazes as they mentally undressed him. He had even caught them in the act a few times, as they ogled him without shame, sporting vibrant pink blushes.
After he had discovered Annabeth's masochistic and voyeuristic desires, quite by accident, he had gained enough confidence to shamelessly flirt with the females at Camp Half-Blood. Although that had not won him any bonus points with the Hunters, instigating the other gender (and sometimes his own) to blush furiously, was one of the few things that functioned as his daily entertainment.
So, yes, contrary to popular belief, he was not hopelessly clueless, and knew what he was doing. Most of the time.
Percy collapsed to the ground, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. It had taken him twenty minutes to do a thousand pushups, something which he had never done before. It had taken him a few weeks to be able to achieve the feat. The first few times when he had tentatively taken one push up after Calypso had deemed him healed enough, hot, pain comparable to burning spikes of molten lava shot through his entire core, putting him out of action for the entire day.
Annabeth visited him frequently throughout his stay at the infirmary under Calypso's care, spending a few hours with him each time. Although Percy would have liked her to stay longer, he understood that she had several jobs to do and had to constantly run errands to Olympus.
The Hunters were practically permanent fixtures in the infirmary, whether they were healing from injuries taken while sparring, or spending time with him. At any point during the day or sometimes night, there were at least two Hunters with him.
Several other girls had visited him during his stay. Reyna was the only one who had not been there the night he had woken up. She had been bone-tired after an entire day of working out.
The other girl was Athena. She never visited him, or talked to anyone else, if what the girls told him, was anything to go by. They told him that she had holed up in the library, and only came out during meals.
Another girl who was on Ogygia, but had never visited him, was Drew. Percy did not know why Aphrodite or Drew or Athena were there, as none cared for him particularly.
Percy was brought out of his musings by a soft hand tracing the scars on his chest, while another traced along his jawline.
Percy had regained his muscular stature after all the workouts that he had done after six months of inactivity. His broad, scarred chest was covered with bandages, which would be removed in the next few days. His sculpted, tightly packed abs were slick with sweat, slightly rising and falling with his torso as he breathed heavily. Prominent obliques led to a visible 'v' shaped waist that disappeared under the waistline of his Bermuda shorts. He was the perfect example of a god, gorgeously cut without an ounce of fat, with a muscle packed body.
His sharp jawline, with a slight, sexy stubble, only accentuated his dark appeal. His tanned bronze skin gleamed with sweat, his silky black hair which he had allowed to grow long, stuck to his face with sweat. The son of Poseidon's sea-green eyes shined as bright as emeralds, with life and hope, beneath perfectly sculpted eyebrows. His high cheekbones only perpetuated his aristocratic look.
Percy felt a deep blush crawl up his neck to colour his cheeks as his two nurses explored his sweaty, and mostly bare body with abandon. Although he had flirted with numerous girls before, this was the first time any girl other than Annabeth touched his body intimately.
And it just had to be a very sexy Calypso, his once crush, wearing a very revealing dress, and an equally sweaty Piper, his beautiful best friend, wearing an almost transparent shirt.
He felt like the world had gone crazy, and that he had indeed died.
Percy's blush intensified as Piper's kaleidoscopic eyes stared into his own, searching his very soul, not minding or not noticing his discomfort. Her beautiful eyes were extremely distracting, and her face was very close to his, so close, in fact, that he could feel her breath on his face. She smelled of roses and an unknown cologne that Percy could never hope to identify. Her soft, pink lips were parted in obvious lust, as her soft, nimble fingers traced his sharp jaw, his stubble slightly rough against her smooth, soft skin.
The condition with Calypso was even worse.
Her caramel hair and almost bare back was the only thing that Percy saw. A thin, almost transparent layer of white lace was the only thing separating them. She was on her hands and knees, facing him, and all the vile things he could do to her in that position raced through Percy's head. The curve of her perfect ass was clearly visible to him, and her firm tits did not succumb to gravity even in that position, jiggling and bouncing enticingly in their soft fabric restraints with every breath she took.
It was even worse when the Titaness massaged his abs, pressing and rubbing his diamond-hard muscles with her soft hands.
Percy felt the blush on his face intensify and creep down his neck as Piper leaned in closer, her pink lips a hair's breadth away from his, while Calypso's hands started wandering downwards.
He cleared his throat uncomfortably.
The effect was magical.
With matching, embarrassed 'eep's, the two females jumped away from his body, blushing down to their necks. Percy could have sworn there was steam coming out of their ears.
At that moment, Cathy, a daughter of Nike, entered the room. She had been accepted to the Hunters of Artemis just before the second Gigantomachy, and just like the others, she was on par with goddesses in terms of beauty.
Her spiky, dirty blonde hair reached till her shoulder, and she had a small lock of hair that she kept braided with golden strings, thrown over her shoulder. She was wearing a Nike sponsored Cristiano Ronaldo shirt, knowing that the Portuguese was Percy's favourite, which immediately made him her favourite. Skintight black jeans that showed off all her voluptuous curves clad her legs, ending in slippers- black and red Nike slippers, what else did you expect?
Her warm brown eyes swam with distrust, darting from Piper to Calypso, to Piper again, eyeing them with burning jealousy. It was obvious to anyone that entered the room that something had occurred between the three. Their furious blushes had yet to tone down on the intensity.
Percy could not help eyeing her form up and down appreciatively. Artemis sure knew how to keep her Hunters in perfect shape.
Almost feeling Percy's intense gaze on her, Cathy turned to her crush's sweaty, half-naked form with a heavy blush already rising up on her face.
It was no secret to the Hunters that every other Hunter, including Artemis and his own sisters, had a crush on Percy. That is why sometimes arguments broke out among them regarding who would spend time with Percy next, knowing that whenever they visited them in the infirmary, he would be half-naked.
Secretly, all Hunters were jealous of Piper, Calypso, and their own healer, Atalanta, as they got to spend all twenty-four hours of the day caring for a half-naked mutual crush, conducting intimate examinations... rubbing his body with their bare hands...
A possessive gleam lit up Cathy's brown orbs, her mind quickly hatching a cunning plan so that she could herself touch his body up close.
Her eyes tried to burn Percy's image permanently into her mind, as she kneeled behind him. Despite her heated cheeks, she managed to stutter out, "Percy, the others are waiting in the dining hall for you. Lean on me, I'll take you there."
Percy blushed. "I can walk on my own, thank you, Cathy."
Cathy shook her head, "No. You're clearly tired. Come on."
She reached out her hand, pulling up Percy from the floor. It was even better when he had to grasp her for support, being thrown off balance by her sudden jerk.
Cathy buried her face into his chest, smelling his musky, sweaty scent that made her feel light-headed. She felt a smile tugging at her lips when she felt two furious glares burning holes into her head, the jealousy rolling off the other two girls in waves.
"Come on, Percy." She spoke softly, hiding her true intentions, and ignoring the son of Poseidon's feeble protests.
Percy and Annabeth had been staying with the Hunters of Artemis for five years after the infamous Orion incident after the second Gigantomachy, when more than 40 Hunters died, leaving the once fierce group helpless against large monster hordes.
And that time had been enough for the earth-shattering change to occur. Never before had a male stayed at the Hunt for such a long time. And none of them had ever seen a male half as kind or selfless or respectful and loyal as Perseus. It did not hurt that he looked so... delicious.
Cathy led Percy down the corridor, that connected the infirmary and kitchens to the dining room, the two medics following silently behind her. It was night, and slightly windy on the tropical island. The moon cast long shadows, and complex silver patterns on the carpeted floor, filtering in through the large French windows. At one end, there was a large, elaborate glass door that led to the garden. Long, dark shadows danced in the night, cast by the trees as they swayed in the gentle breeze.
Cathy pressed as close to Percy as she could, pressing her face to his cool skin, his still slightly sweaty chest pressing against her cheek, her hand rested on the small of his back. Percy's strong arm was thrown possessively- or so she thought- over her shoulder, his tall frame dominating her short frame. She could feel his warm heartbeat reverberating in his chest, his strong muscles that flexed with the slightest movement.
She was met with seventeen withering, jealous glares as she entered the dining room, not counting Calypso and Piper, who were boring holes into the back of her head the entire way, imagining her to drop dead any moment.
The only person in the room whose wrath was not directed towards her was Athena, who was glaring furiously at Percy.
Immediately, Rose and Violet were at their big brother's sides, helping him to his seat, despite Percy's feeble protests that he was fine.
The twin daughters of Poseidon returned to their seat a few minutes later with furious blushes on their identical faces, feeling everyone but Athena, including Neo, glaring at them.
Percy was busy gazing at the various things in the room to care.
It was not really a dining hall, despite what anybody said. It was more like a large dining room. There was a futuristic-looking island, perpendicular to where Percy was sitting. Thalia, Neo and Sydney, a daughter of Thanatos, were perched on the island. Percy was sitting with his back against a massive, sliding glass door that looked out to the swimming pool. Behind the island, stocked to the brim with all varieties of high-quality alcohol, was an expansive bar. On the opposite wall, face to face with Percy, was a massive fifty-inch television that spanned most of the wall, complete with a high tech speaker system.
The table itself, laden with piping hot food, was a low lying one, so that everyone had to seat on the ground to eat, tucking their legs beneath the low surface of the table.
Optimum utilization of space.
Artemis sat on Percy's right, while Annabeth sat on his left. The other Hunters sat beside Artemis, while Piper, Calypso, Reyna and Rachel sat beside Annabeth, in that order.
On the opposite side, Drew sat beside Hestia, who was trying to placate a furious Athena, who had yet to tone down her glare.
Percy wondered where Aphrodite was, and voiced his thoughts.
Hestia's expression softened, and there were a few whispers and elbows thrown among the Hunters, most directed at Atalanta and Phoebe. "Aphrodite has already had dinner and gone to sleep, you know how she is about her beauty sleep."
Everybody but Annabeth chuckled at that. The blonde daughter of Athena glared at Hestia, making Piper elbow her. Emitting an embarrassed squeak, she lowered her gaze to her empty plate, a blush rising up on her face.
Percy eyed her worriedly. "Annabeth, are you okay?"
"Yes, Seaweed Brain, I am fine." Her answer was short, but Percy could not shake off the feeling that something was amiss.
Hestia had just taken the lid off the steaming bowl of soup that was the beginner, when Athena threw down her spoon with a disgusted sound.
"What happened, mother?" Angela, a newly recruited Hunter, asked.
Athena turned her glare at her daughter, her expression softening for a moment, before her wrath returned full force as she turned towards a bewildered Percy. "I will... will not participate in your foolish activities as you pamper this... this man child! I never understood what Annabeth saw in you, sea spawn!"
Faced with her unbridled rage, Percy could see why she was a war goddess. Her shiny blonde hair, almost like Annabeth's, formed an intimidating halo around her face, flowing in soft curls. Her face, as sharp and as beautiful as befitting a warrior goddess like her. Despite her self imposed retreat into the library, her sun-kissed skin had not paled a bit, and she was as beautiful and healthy as she had been when Percy saw her for the first time. Stormy grey eyes swirled with wrath, directed at him, and Percy was sure that she was one of the most intimidating sights that he had seen, and that was saying something. Even in her casual white t-shirt, and sweats, she pulled off a feat that Kronos could not.
Nevertheless, he felt his blood boiling.
He slammed his fist hard onto the table, ignoring as all the girls around him flinched. "I did not ask you to be here, Lady Athena! I do not even know what is going on! But whatever happens, don't let your unground hatred for my father blind you to who I am! I am not Poseidon, open your eyes and open your ears, and listen to what I am saying." His face was red, a vein popping on his forehead. He felt the sturdy table finally crack under the force of his blow. "And don't drag Annabeth into this?"
He finally stood up, dwarfing Athena with his height and well-built body. His ears were ringing, and his vision had gone blurry again. A throbbing pain erupted in the right side of his chest. He could faintly hear everybody telling him to calm down, that it was bad for his health.
Hidden, suppressed rage at being kept in the dark erupted, his senses only comprehending Athena. Unknown to him, godly power was leaking out of him like oil from a platform in the North sea, pushing down everyone around him.
Athena was not one to back down. She pushed back at his raw power with her own. Normally she would have marvelled at how much trouble an untrained god at a fraction of his true strength was giving her, but she was consumed with rage.
The wisdom goddess sneered at him. "Calling me Lady! Do you know what even happened? Ask your precious 'Annabeth'!"
Percy was taken aback at hearing her address her favourite daughter in such a way, and turned to Annabeth, who was sitting at his side, his eyes pleading.
Shocked he was, when Annabeth's eyes, identical to Athena, turned to a bright azure blue, and her facial features changed.
Every girl around him except for Athena was horrified, and Percy got the feeling that all of them were in on the plan.
"Aphrodite?!" He roared. "Where is Annabeth?!" He backed away from everyone, only to press against the glass door.
"What.. what's happening?" He could hear the fear in his voice. Everything was rushing back now... cannons firing... screams of the dead... the blood soaking him... the fire... the shadows lengthening, reaching out for him...
He shook his head to clear his thoughts, holding out his hand to stop anyone from approaching. There was no one in the room that he could trust unconditionally.
"Where are we?" He began the interrogation.
"Ogygia. We already told you." Calypso whispered.
"And why are all of you here?"
"Percy..." Artemis held his hand, but the son of Poseidon flinched away from her soft skin, as if burned by the contact. The moon goddess' heart broke at seeing the man she loved with all her heart shy away from her.
"Percy... you are a god on the Olympian council... you were given immortality to prevent you from dying... there were complications though..." Piper started.
"And now, we have all been gifted to you by the gods," Reyna spoke softly, trying not to spook the demigod-god- more than he already was.
"We are your harem, for you to do with us as you please, Jackson." Thalia tried to summarise it up for him, knowing that he could not comprehend anything in his current state.
There were lots of questions on his mind. What did the 'harem' entail? What were the gods thinking? What was he god of? A chronological sequence of events would have been very helpful.
Percy's back hit the glass rather harshly, making it rattle in its frame. He spoke out the question, the worry, first and foremost on his mind. "Annabeth... where is Annabeth?"
"Annabeth?!" Athena's laugh was cold, unforgiving, almost insane.
"No!" Almost all the girls screamed out together, lunging towards the wisdom goddess.
Her voice rang above their shout. "She's dead!"
And with those words, all hell broke loose.
AN: More will be explained later in the book. I am intentionally keeping it vague right now. How was the chapter? As you have probably noticed, I have roughly modelled the house on Ogygia after the house on Ogygia in The Sea's Serpent.
Keep calm and CR7!! Keep calm and LM10!! (Messi)