AN: Okay... this entire five chapters a week thing is getting to me, so next two weeks will be slower updates, though I hope I will still be faster than any other author out there.
Time: Another few hours later
Percy had never felt more comfortable, and happy... and sane, than when he sat down for dinner that day.
Nothing, not even Athena, could spoil his mood.
He assumed his usual seat, smiling brightly at everyone around him, surprising a few people, as he leaned casually against the sliding glass door.
The night outside was windy, promising a storm, or at least a tropical mid-summer shower, that night. The waves were higher than ever, crashing onto the beach with a fierce intensity and creating a cacophony of deafening noise that drowned out much of whatever was happening outside. The palm trees swayed and rustled in the cool wind, the waters of the pool choppy. The sky was overcast with dark clouds that occasionally rolled with thunder and bright flashes of lightning, blocking out the stars and the moon. There was not a sign of life outside, despite all the activity going on. A faint smell of ozone, and the sweet, invigorating fragrance of fresh, moist earth hung in the air outside. The glass door rattled slightly in its frame.
Angela and Sydney sat by Percy's sides, pushing Artemis and Thalia to take the positions next to them. With slight scowls on their faces, the two daughters of Zeus reluctantly agreed, not wanting to start a scene just before dinner.
The table was laid with hot, piping soup and delicious looking ramen, a deviation from the usual European/American dishes that Hestia made. Calypso and Piper were serving the others, Hestia was still in the kitchens with Cynthia, making a salad. Percy idly watched with mild amusement as Neo, Rose and Violet were engaged in an intense game of... something which he did not recognize. He seriously had to repair his lack of a childhood.
Ruby and Atalanta were chatting idly about space pirates and yetis, Drew was examining herself in her handheld mirror, getting tips and pointers from Aphrodite, while Phoebe was sleeping with her head in her empty bowl of ramen. Rachel was sketching something in her pad, while Reyna and Cathy were engaged in an intense argument as to which brand was better- Adidas or Nike, with the Huntress obviously rooting for her mother's brand.
And, of course, as constant as the fact that the sun rose from the east, Athena had her nose in a book.
It was a beautiful family scene, and any unaware onlookers would mistake Percy to be the brother of twenty different looking, all hot, sexy and gorgeous sisters.
"Dinner!" Phoebe finally cried out in anticipation, making a few stifle giggles.
Atalanta, who was sitting beside her, smacked her head. "Dinner has been served a few minutes ago, sleepyhead."
Phoebe ruffled her lush mane of red hair sheepishly, accepting the soup that was offered by Reyna.
"You should eat something." Reyna elbowed Rachel to have her stop sketching.
Percy smiled serenely at them, accepting his bowl with a grateful nod.
"What's wrong with Jackson?" Artemis and Thalia spoke together, making them glance at each other before their attention was turned to the Dark god.
Hestia giggled nervously. "I might have done something to make him feel relaxed."
"What did you do?" Rose piped up, looking up from her bowl.
"A massage?" Her twin pondered.
"Or drugs?" Thalia was horrified that her little sister even knew about those, making a few laugh at her expression. Neo batted her eyelashes at her elder sister, presenting her with an innocent expression. "What?"
Percy laughed, making the irritable daughter of Zeus turn her anger at the god. "It's all because of Jackson!" She accused, drawing more laughs from those around the table. Thalia turned red at that, and sat down in her seat, steam coming out of her ears as she directed a murderous glare at the god.
"I used my magic to heal his mind as much as I could without harming him permanently." Hestia's words were soft, and anyone could hear the love and affection in her voice. Many girls, including his own sisters, bristled at her tone, the same thought going through their heads. 'HE IS MINE!'
"Yeah," Percy agreed through a mouthful of ramen, his voice muffled, "I feel great!"
Artemis rolled her eyes, "You just had to say he has changed."
Thalia giggled, "Now that's the Percy Jackson I know."
Percy ignored them, concentrating on his bowl of delicious ramen, blowing air to cool it before devouring the delicacy. Specks of soup and vegetables stuck to his face in a cute manner, which made Sydney giggle quietly as she cleaned his chin with a tissue.
"Thanks!" Percy gasped out between mouthfuls, not even stopping for breath.
Calypso seemed to be turning over something in her head quietly, as her spoon was lying idle on the table beside her bowl, as she twirled a strand of caramel hair between her nimble fingers, gently stroking the soft petals of the moonlace flower in her hair.
"What are you thinking?" Piper leaned in close to her, making the Titaness look down at her.
"Umm..." she looked up at Hestia, before turning her gaze to the other goddesses in the room. "Do you think we can tell him the entire truth now that he is... calm and composed?"
Percy's ears perked up as his gaze hardened, his lower jaw tensing in slight anger and irritation. Hestia's magic was wearing off as his own power rebelled against it, the mind-numbing pain he had experienced earlier coming back in traumatic waves. He felt his irritation peaked at the loss of comfort, the return of the accusing whispers in his mind.
They had hidden something more from him.
"I'm not sure if..." Artemis started, only to be cut off by Aphrodite, "I'm all for it!" She raised her hand like a child in school.
Calypso copied her motion. "I agree too. The sooner we tell him, the longer we have to sort everything out."
Hestia eyed Artemis worriedly. "I'm not sure if that is such a good idea. There is only so much my magic can do. Long term therapy will be more effective."
"We might run out of time before that happens." Calypso reasoned, her voice grave.
The three goddesses turned pale and ashen at her declaration, making everyone eye them with worry and suspicion.
"What are you hiding?" Rachel demanded, making the non-immortals in the room nod, as they, too, did not know what the goddesses and Titaness were hiding.
The four, locked in a stalemate, with increasing trepidation, turned to the only one who could break the stalemate, the variable in the equation.
Athena twirled her fork idly in her swift fingers, a slight victorious smirk on her face as her grey eyes examined the book open before her, drawing out the suspense.
With a sharp sound that broke the intense silence that had descended in the room, making everyone flinch, Athena snapped her book shut with one hand, placing the fork down.
Her smirk turned to a feral grin, that looked alien and even more intimidating on the wisdom goddess' face, her usually calculating grey eyes shining with unbridled wrath mixed with satisfaction.
Percy glared into his bowl, hiding his face from everyone.
The wisdom goddess' full pink lips parted, revealing a velvety, wet tongue, as venomous as a snake, as she spoke. "As appealing as the outcome of not telling him is, I want to be out of his air as soon as possible." She knew of Percy's strength, his domains made him on par with the Primordials of old- he was Hestia's 'Bane', after all- but still, the words rolled off her tongue in an unstoppable barrage. "I think telling him right now, would cause enough disturbance in the balance to just... complete the deed now." Her voice was low and sinister.
Percy turned his fiery, withering glare to the wisdom goddess, making her send a victorious smirk his way.
Athena was an expert at hiding her sweaty palms, covertly swiping the nervous sweat rolling down her forehead and threatening to drip from her brow. Her heartbeat picked up as she knowingly edged Percy closer to an explosion, taking solace in the fact that he could not hurt her without hurting herself.
The winds outside had picked up, ripping violently through the trees and ravaging Calypso's tender garden. The rain fell in a relentless sheet of white and grey spray, interspersed with occasional, large hailstones. A thunderbolt streaked through the dark sky, hitting a distant tree, which immediately burst into flames. The crimson light of the burning tree lit up the dark night, illuminating the chaos being strewn about the lonely, tropical island. The waves of the sea roared as they crashed onto the shores, reaching great heights. The swimming pool had overflowed its containment, littered with broken branches and fallen leaves. A palm tree lay fallen in the pool, uprooted by the fierce wind. The noise from the chaos was deafening.
The inhabitants in the dry, bright house in the middle of the island were safe, ignorant of the raging storm outside, too consumed by the storms raging in their hearts. Protected by the wonders of godly architecture, they had no worries about the rattling windows or doors, only about the impending tempest that threatened to flood their world.
"What. Is. She..." Percy took a deep breath to calm himself, and looked up, making everyone back away at his wide, insane eyes that held unbridled fury and danger, and a crooked grin that revealed his abnormally sharp teeth, almost like a canine, glinting in the light. Everyone backed away from him, as much as they could in the cramped room, knowing that he would explode anytime. They did not even try to be subtle, knowing that he would not note anything now, in his tunnel vision.
He bared his teeth like an animal, growling deep in his throat, a sound that sent shivers down everyone's spines. "SAYING?!" He roared, making a few jump in their seats.
Calypso gulped. She regretted ever bringing it up.
"Percy, calm do-" Hestia started, only to stop when Percy sat his bowl down, instead gripping the table tightly, growling and snarling at her like a rabid dog.
The temperature in the room plunged to freezing as his unholy aura leaked, so similar to when Hestia had broken down sobbing. Just, being a Dark god, his power to hurt and destroy was infinite, instead of the momentary burst of darkness Hestia was capable of.
Artemis looked nervous, the only one not to back away from him. She knew that if he went berserk, she would have to jump to restrain him. She was not sure if she, and by extension, he, would be alive after the ordeal. But, if she had to, she would sacrifice herself and him, to protect the others.
Aphrodite, the one who could best understand his mindset and emotions, took over. "Percy..." she eyed him nervously, extending her violent shaking, soft hand to caress him, almost as if he were some violent monster.
That analogy was not too far off.
Aphrodite pushed some of her healing, love magic into her palm as she touched his forehead. Artemis web to stop her with wide eyes, but it was not needed, apparently.
Percy backed away on all fours, more animal than human by now, snarling and growling at her outstretched hand.
Aphrodite squeezed her eyes shut in abject terror and showing courage that most in the room wouldn't be capable of, her smooth skin came in contact with soft, silky hair. There was a low warning growl, but when no harm befell her, Aphrodite risked opening her eyes.
Her arm was indeed intact as she caressed Percy, stroking his soft hair with trembling, delicate fingers, yet trying to convey all the love she held for him in her touch. "Percy..."
She looked at him to see he showed no reaction to his name, content with being caressed by her as he growled at others.
Taking an enormous leap of faith, and showing courage that defied all imagination, Aphrodite sat down on the cool marble floor beside Percy, taking his head in her lap as she stroked him.
"According to the Ancient Laws, a harem is supposed it be most divine of all relationships." She explained, eyeing Artemis in worry as she drew her silver knife silently, it's blade sinister in the light.
"It is always supposed to be done through complicated rituals, almost like marriage rites, that usually requires the consent of all parties involved. It was different in your case, of course, since you were unconscious at the time." Hestia explained in a soothing, soft voice.
The love goddess examined Percy. He looked so peaceful, almost asleep in her lap. His soft lips were curled up in a gentle smile... almost. His face was relaxed, unlined, and without all the worries and broken emotions he exuded when awake. She assumed that his peace was temporary, and that his regular nights of sleep were riddled with nightmares and horrors that would have made her cry and due a long time ago.
Her eyes wandered upwards, and she faintly noted with mild amusement that Artemis held Athena in a chokehold, her hand covering the wisdom goddess' mouth.
"It is meant to be an all-compassing emotion. As our master, you can order us to do whatever you want, whenever you want, and we will have to obey." Calypso spoke softly.
"But it does not mean you can use us as you please. It is our emotions that still dictate our actions. If you make us do something that we do not want to do, or hurt us physically, then we will draw on your godly energy to heal ourselves and compensate for our harm." Hestia resumed.
"So, you will be able to unlock your maximum potential only when all of us are at peace with each other and love you unconditionally, which, to speak the truth, is a very high bar to set." Aphrodite spoke, quickly adding, "And you receive a boost from us, and we are basically like obedient, loyal slaves, who are physically unable to disobey or betray you."
"And, contrary to popular belief, we volunteered ourselves to your harem." Hestia added, keeping her voice low, while Calypso noted, "It is basically the perfect relationship that anyone could ask for, master or slave. It is absolute and complete trust and faith in your partners."
"But there are side effects, too." The Titaness continued, "If we draw too much on your energy, you might fade, from which there is no coming back. You will just... vanish from existence."
Hestia nodded, "No one will remember your name or what you did, or who you were. They will just remember there was someone who tried a harem. This is why it is so rare a practice."
Aphrodite continued, "The last one who tried it was some goddess, whose name, of course, no one remembers. She had just three men and a nymph bonded to her, and she lasted for an entire... two seconds."
The others in the room had several questions flying through their heads at supersonic speeds, each chasing the other away, none given enough time to be phrased or voiced. The stronger veterans like Phoebe, Atalanta, Thalia, Piper, and Reyna were protecting the weaker like the Little Big Three, Rachel and Drew, from the ticking time bomb in the room.
Although Rachel was on the 'weaker' list just because of her mortal status. She had enough fight in her, anyone who could hit Kronos in the eye with a blue plastic hairbrush and live to tell the tale, did.
Suddenly, everyone in the room became aware of a pair of dark and dangerous, sea-green eyes staring at each of them.
Percy struggled to sit up, making Aphrodite help him sit upright at the table, seeing he had regained some of his sanity. He grasped the bowl of ramen broth, which had surprisingly survived the event, in his hands.
"So..." A few were surprised that he was even capable of speech. "Let me sum it up for myself."
"You all," he waved his hand lazily towards all the other occupants of the room, "hate me with all your breath, torturing me to 'heal' me," Hestia's heart broke as tears welled in her eyes, "always trying to prove that you are better than me," what made it worse was the cold, level, matter of fact tone he used, as if he didn't feel any feel particular emotion at that, "You didn't even stand up for me when I was down, and being attacked. My own sisters, my own friends, the ones I considered my family... the Hunters, Artemis, Hestia, Calypso..."
He took a deep breath to steady his nerves. "I have a death sentence, and limited time on this planet." He let his arm drop to his side lazily, a slightly amused smirk playing on his lips, something which totally contradicted his words.
Calmly, he raised his bowl to his lips, and noisily slurped his soup. The sound penetrated the thick silence descended in the room, save for Athena's fruitless struggling.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that he had taken the news in a good way, something completely unexpected. Not only of him, of anybody sane.
Well, to be fair, he was hardly sane.
Suddenly, there was a slight yelp from Artemis, and she held her bloody palm in her hand, completely taken by surprise as Athena bit down harshly on her hand, resorting to all her godly strength. The wisdom goddess looked victoriously at everyone in the room, making several hearts beat faster at what sort of madness she was about to pull off.
Stunts with a time bomb.
She parted her lips to deliver the last killing blow. "And in case it didn't penetrate your thick skull, twenty girls bonded to you means more chaos and more hurt, more godly energy drawn from you, and twenty times the chances of fading."
Her eyes flicked from the calm god to the demigoddesses and single mortal huddled together at a corner of the room. "Those scaredy cats that hide from you, scared of you, that do not stand by your side as I berate you, volunteered themselves as your covert executioners. At least I don't hide my hostility towards you." She cackled.
All signs of mirth and sadistic enjoyment were wiped from her face at the sound of glass crunching.
AN: Boom! Keep calm and CR7!! Keep calm and LM10!! (Messi)