Okay, okay here's my situation. My new laptop is having problems, which means I have to send it off for repairs and I have no clue how long it'll be gone. Obviously I'm unhappy with this fact but there's not much I can do, but that means I'm stuck with my very old laptop which is ridiculously slow and I cannot promise that it'll last well enough for me to be able to use it to update frequently, so there is a chance that I may have to go for a week or two without updating. I will try to update but I make no promises. Because of this fact I've decided to update a few chapters as an apology. Please do keep reviewing each chapter, I need something to cheer me up with the disaster I'm dealing with right now, though I may not be able to check on the anonymous reviews frequently. It'll be nice to see them when I can.
Replies:
Krypton Writes: Luke and Artemis will get used to it. Maybe.
Danny Phantom 619: All Hail lol.
Undeath9087: Well Percy's first visit to Olympus will be interesting I promise that.
Ryan Fowler: Zeus just there mouth open blinking rapidly as Percy deconstructs everything he's doing wrong with how he's behaving towards the demigods and throwing the whole 'I know what happens when gods no longer have believers' into his face as a sort of threat. Because there's no doubt that the gods need Demigods.
Guest: The difficulty is the Greeks don't know. They believed that the House had disappeared entirely, that the Egyptians had faded. This is gonna throw them for a loop. They don't know if the Egyptian gods even still exist, if the House is just a few lingering magicians who remain, or if there's something bigger. That's the only reason Athena would be able to convince Zeus to hold off to discuss the matter at the Solstice with all of the Olympians.
Guest: Chiron knows next to nothing about Percy or Piper. Just that Annabeth said she was safe and happy. They purposely never actually met him. Which means he's in the dark for now about Annabeth's connection to all this. Though Bianca's connection to all of this will be questions and cause her some issues.
Guest: Eh I mean, all of the gods are complicit in it to a degree even Artemis- she doesn't do anything to stand up for the children who are mistreated and she's hardly sweet and innocent. And Percy does see in shades of gray. But there is no gray in how the Demigods are treated. And as I have said before, the Egyptians went underground to an extreme degree. Hades was surprised to find out that they still existed. Yes there have been meetings between the pantheon in the past but not for thousands of years, since the early days of Iskanders time as Chief Lector.
Guest: Nico will have important parts to play in time, but at this stage Bianca's getting to shine a little.
Wisestriker: Artemis upon the discovery is part terror, part shock and part 'huh, suddenly so much makes sense'.
avaatje: Percy getting pissed with Zeus on Olympus: Listen here you motherfuckers, just because Sky Daddy says so doesn't mean you should negelect your kids-
Hades, genuinely concerned and also laughing hysterically: Poseidon your daughter's your best child yet.
Poseidon, still in shock that his daughter is in fact alive: Ohmygodohmygodshe'sgonnadie!
Percy didn't wait for Artemis and Luke, forging towards the building which she knew had to be the Transamerica Pyramid. Mainly because, well it was the tallest building around, and also the shape, which was like a very, very tall narrow and steep pyramid, made out of grand white stone with the very bottom part looking almost skeletal in a way. To Percy's eye at least.
"Why are we here?" Luke's voice came from just behind her, "I mean, I know you said about the portal but why this place?" he raised an eyebrow, "I don't understand magic."
"Portals must be powered and anchored to something with magical significance- Egyptian significance."
"It's a pyramid." Percy added, "Even replicas and modern versions of things inspired by Egypt can work. This building was so very clearly inspired by ancient Egypt, and a part of that is reflected in it. I can use it to anchor the portal to it." she glanced back over her shoulder to look at Luke and Artemis, Luke giving her a small smile. Maybe her little rant had voiced some of his own inner thoughts. Thoughts he'd been forced to keep bottled up or die. Percy forced herself not to scowl, though that thought was infuriating.
He was still a gods damned idiot for letting Kronos manipulate him but he'd have been the perfect candidate for grooming and it made her flesh crawl.
But she pushed it down, forced herself to stay nice and calm as she led the way towards the building itself.
There were more people around than she'd like. Based on the height of the sun it had to be at least nine, maybe ten, which meant that the streets were busier than Percy would have liked.
She pursed her lips and pushed away that thought. They had time, they had enough time as long as they didn't waste it. So she reached the building quickly, taking a deep breath once she was there, glancing back at Artemis and Luke. "Once it's open I suggest grabbing onto my hands when we go through. It's... a bit of a crazy feeling but we'll get there just fine.
"Got it." Luke muttered the words, looking a little queasy at the thought of the journey to come. Artemis just nodded, a determined look on her face. So Percy focused, using her magic to open the portal- it took a few moments, but soon enough a swirling vortex was forming in the air just in front of them, and Luke's mouth dropped open in shock. "I don't know what I expected but-"
"It's always weird the first few times." Percy offered almost conspiratorially. Artemis didn't look so stunned, but then she'd likely seen them before, though Percy doubted she'd ever travelled through one.
She held out her hands, and once Luke and Artemis grabbed her hands she pulled them both with her and stepped into the portal.
She heard Luke's sudden terrified yell, and Artemis' sharp gasp which she cut off swiftly as the familiar rushing whirling feeling seemed to almost surge around them, and then they were tumbling through the air- Luke and Artemis crying out, Percy simply bracing herself as they hit the tiled ground beneath them.
"What the fuck?!" Luke demanded, gasping, "You didn't say we'd fall!"
"It's barely ten foot." Percy rolled her eyes, straightening up and releasing Luke and Artemis' hands, brushing the sand off herself as she did. "It could have been a lot worse."
"I see." Artemis was looking up to the portal, which floated ten foot or so off the ground, next to some vines climbing up a tall white building- and just visible if you were looking for it was something wrapped up and tucked in amongst the thick vines, almost hidden by the bright red flowers. "You left some sort of artefact as an anchor to make visiting easier? Smart."
"Planes take too long. I'm not a patient person usually." Percy remarked with a small shrug, her eyes looking up towards the sky- and the sun. There was a ten hour time difference, based on the sun Percy would have to guess that it was around seven, eight in the evening maybe. That meant that they wouldn't have too much light, the sky was already somewhat darker than Percy would like for going on their future adventure-
"Persephone?" the voice was familiar- and Percy should have expected it. She had left the statue of Horus outside of her favorite bakery. "My goodness Persephone!"
And Percy couldn't help the smile that spread across her face, even as she ignored the raised eyebrow from Artemis and the confused look from Luke.
"Mrs Katsaros!" Percy whirled around to look at the old woman- there were more lines at the corners of her eyes now, but she didn't look too much older than she had last time Percy had seen her. "I thought you'd be closed by now-"
"Tsk, I work hard, I close when I want to close." the old woman declared. "Are your little friends here? They were very kind, they tried so hard to talk to me. Are these some new friends."
"Yes Mrs Katsaros, this is Luke-" she gestured to him, "and this is Artemis."
"Oooh." The old lady grinned, "A name she should be proud of- it's an honor to be named after a goddess-"
"And I should know." Percy winked.
"Will you be coming by my shop in the morning dear girl?"
"I wish I could." Percy's voice was filled with genuine regret, "But we're not here for fun. It's a really long story but I have to show these two some stuff and it's kind of on a deadline. We might have to be gone before the morning."
"Hmph." Mrs Katsaros tutted, planting her hands on her hips, "Well that won't do. No it won't. I can't let my favorite American leave without having some of my Loukoumades-"
"There's no need, I don't have any money on me-" or at least, she didn't have any money that wouldn't need to be changed up before she could use it to pay the old woman.
"Nonsense young lady. Come inside of the shop and I shall go get you some. You've given me enough custom. You're always such a sweet bright girl."
"I-" Percy glanced at Artemis and Luke, her face flushing. They were both looking at her rather stunned, and there was more than a hint of suspicion in Artemis' gaze. "She wants us to stay five minutes to get us some Loukoumades-"
"I don't even know what Loukoumades are and how the- you can speak Greek better than I can."
"You're completely fluent." Artemis remarked, "Which is strange for a magician."
"I can also speak French, Russian, German, Japanese, pretty much any language you can name, I can speak it." Percy shook her head, "It's not a big deal. Just something I've been able to do. A... talent I have. It's not too important right now. Can we wait like, five minutes before exploring the caves?"
"I suppose it couldn't do any harm." Artemis said slowly, "And I admit I am hungry."
"I could eat too." Luke admitted. "Though- what are Loukoumades?"
"They are the best thing ever." Percy declared, "Mrs Katsaros, we'll come and wait." she gave the old woman a wide smile."
"Good, good now come on in." and Percy followed the old woman into the bakery, her stomach rumbling when the door opened and the smell wafted out, it really was delicious- and she could see the way Luke's eyes devoured the pastries and treats on display beneath the glass counter as the old woman quickly made her way out the beck to fetch their treats.
"You come here enough that the locals remember you?" Luke's voice was curious. "She seems to love you."
"Well I do come like, every day when I'm here." Percy admitted, not at all embarrassed, "And I can make a damn big impression. I think it's the hair, don't you?"
Luke snorted, "It is memorable." he snorted, "You speak Greek better than I do."
"The dialects are different." Artemis spoke up, "You're hardwired for ancient Greek. The language shifts and changes over the years as all languages do. I must admit I do wonder how you got to become so proficient with languages... Persephone."
Percy rolled her eyes, "Please don't call me that. Mrs Katsaros only gets away with it because she's a little old lady and I am like, ninety percent sure that little old ladies like her could face down any god and come out swinging and I do not want to pick that fight." she joked, "And to answer the question you didn't ask, just because I'm a magician doesn't mean that my mom can't appreciate other myths and she's always liked the tale of Persephone."
"I see." Artemis nodded.
"And the languages? I sense that it's more than just a natural talent." and Percy had to force down the sudden urge to reach up and clamp her hand over the scar on her neck- her hair was covering it at the moment anyway. And she wasn't ashamed of it. She'd decided that long ago. But still, she wasn't entirely sure how Artemis would react to that little revelation. She was bound to know that the previous embodiment of Egyptian Chaos had been the most destructive evil being in their pantheon- if not the whole world.
"It's a long story." she pulled a face, "A long, unpleasant story that is so not for telling right now Artemis, no offence."
"Hm. I will ask again later then."
"You can speak every language then?" Luke's eyes were narrowed, "That- how does that even work-"
"Dude I literally just brought us from San Francisco to Mykonos with a magic portal and you're more confused about the fact that I'm like, an extreme polyglot?"
Luke flushed, "Knowing multiple languages fine but- all of them?"
"I'm just that good." Percy winked at him before straightening up when Mrs Katsaros reemerged, holding a large box.
"Here you go Persephone, now you and your friends enjoy them okay?" she patted Percy's cheek. "You go have fun with your friends."
"I will Mrs Katsaros." Percy beamed at her, "And next time I visit I'll pay for these I promise-"
"Silly girl, don't you worry about that. Now shoo, off with you."
And Percy found herself laughing as they headed out of the bakery, handing the box to Luke once they were once again on the streets. "Mrs Katsaros really is the best."
"You know-" Luke was staring at her, "You usually irritate me so much that I forgot that you're just a kid-" which made Percy narrow her eyes at him.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"I- nothing. It's just... weird." Luke shook his head, "Realising that you're not just some mysterious magical pain in my ass."
"I'm like an onion- I have layers."
"Did-" Luke looked almost horrified, "did you just make a Shrek reference?"
"Shrek?" Artemis raised an eyebrow as Percy let out a cackle of laughter, "What exactly is a Shrek-"
"Oh my gods!" Percy laughed harder, "You don't know what Shrek is- we're gonna have to have a movie night when all this is over. Everyone should watch Shrek at least once."
"If you insist." Artemis still looked bemused- and Luke looked like he was trying not to laugh.
"That should be interesting for you-"
"Oh you'll be joining us." Percy gave him an evil smile, "It'll be great fun." and it was comical how Luke's expression shifted into a look of horror.
"No-"
"Yep, as the girl who saved both of your butts on that Mountain by getting us out of there you owe me." and his expression turned sour as Artemis snickered at his suffering, "Now, I do believe I need to find a cat to send a message to Bast." as she spoke she reach into the Duat, pulling out a backpack, "Let's find somewhere to sit for a second, we can open up the box of Loukoumades and I'll write out the note for my brother. Sound like a good idea to you guys?"