As promised, the next chapter is posted today. Thank you for the many lovely comments on the last chapter, I very much appreciate not having updates demanded of me, made it so much easier to work on this one.
I don't know when this will be updated next, but one of my other fics will be focused on before I continue this one at the very least. The vote for which fic is updated will be up on my tumblr when I get around to it.
Come yell at me on my tumblr: Percabeth4Life
Come chat with me on discord: h-t-t-p-s : / discord . gg / 3tGNJhu
OO OO OO OO
The break was relatively short, enough time for the teenagers present to stretch and wander around the space a bit.
Krios watched as mini-Kronos (Percy, whatever) studied some of the carvings in the walls, his… bride to be? By his side and explaining some of them, others she just seemed fascinated by.
He debated going over, explaining some of them. He could explain just as much of Mount Othrys as Koios, the axis of the palace, the way the movement of the sun and moon shone through the openings, the different patterns this showcased- The palace was designed very carefully, very purposefully.
The two were talking about other things too though, and he rather thought they'd want privacy.
The one, Thalia, was leading a few of them through some gentle stretches. The younger boy, Nico he thought the child's name was, was rather distracted watching mini-Kronos.
He was not the most…. subtle, but it seemed mini-Kronos had inherited Kronos' ability to notice people in love with him… which was to say that he had no ability to notice such. Rhea had had to practically begin the courtship herself before they got anywhere.
"What do you think of what we've read?" Murmured Themis.
"I think that his… step-father, an interesting word, is horrid and definitely deserving death."
"And eternal punishment, of which we have had little cause to hand out."
"This is definitely cause."
"To harm their child… horrific. It is why we rebelled against Ouranos."
Krios nodded, frowning as he watched the children chatter. They all seemed to hold such harm, he wondered how many they would learn of.
"They clearly need protection, support, a proper guardian."
"Their parents try, it seems," Themis said. "Or at least, Percy's mother does."
"Yes, but I don't think they've realized what it means for us to be doing this."
Themis grimaced, looking away from Krios to the children, sadness in her eyes. "They do not, their Fates are irrevocably changed… things will never be the same."
"They'll learn in time," Krios said softly. "We don't need to tell them yet."
"Not yet," Themis agreed. "But eventually."
"Ready?" called Mnemosyne.
The children hurried back to their seats, seeming to not want to switch around much. The boy, Octavian had switched places with Thalia, who was now sitting next to Luke and Reyna. Octavian sat next to Rachel and the Kyklopes—Tyson, who seemed fine with the rearrangement. Otherwise they all sat in the same places.
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover were together, the to-be-wedded tucked close while the satyr teased them about something. Nico, Hazel, and Frank were settled comfortably, waiting for the next chapter to begin. And finally, Jason, Piper, and Leo were still sat easily in their seats, whispering together as they waited.
It was an interesting group, with all different appearances. Krios was still curious about the girl Hazel, with an Ethiopian appearance. Her gold eyes led him to think of Kronos, yet her presence felt akin to Theia, or even Iapetus.
The boy beside her was certainly unfamiliar in appearance. Frank was mentioned by his friends to be from a place called Canada… was that where people of that appearance were from?
And the other boy, Leo, he looked… more Western, yet not quite any of the areas Krios knew well.
Really the group was so varied, a red-haired girl, several with such varying skin tones- he couldn't help but be curious as to what their family relations were. How much had the world changed? Yes, there were Ethiopians in their land, there were those of the Eastern provinces, and even the Western, but still- not like this one tight knit group.
He wondered how the world had changed to allow so much variety in one place, all related to the Gods, all with clear power in their veins.
"Okay, now to begin the next chapter. My Mother Teaches Me Bullfighting."
"Bullfighting? Are you fighting the Colchis bulls?" Jason wondered.
"The Cyprian Centaurs?" Hazel offered.
"The Cretan bull?" Frank asked.
"You'll see," Percy said with a huff.
Mnemosyne smiled and continued reading.
"We tore through… …her foot on the gas."
"Every time there… …of a wet barnyard animal."
"Hey!" Grover cried.
"What? You did smell."
"The nerve! I went all that way to save you."
"Still smelled."
"All I could think… …know each other?'"
"That is a good question, how did you know her?" Jason asked. "I mean, Percy didn't know you were watching him."
"Hence the gaslighting," Thalia agreed fake-solemnly.
"I explain," Grover grumbled.
"Grover's eyes flitted… …she knew I was watching you."
"'Watching me?'"
"You sound so creepy," Luke whispered.
"The creepiest," Leo said.
"Grover, honey-" Thalia shook her head.
"I was like 10."
"28 ish," Annabeth corrected.
"Not the point," he pouted.
"'Keeping tabs on you… …I am your friend.'"
"I know," Percy said with a fond shake of his head while the others grinned at Grover. "But it was definitely a shock."
"I imagine this whole situation was rather shocking," Rhea agreed. "You've just learned of a whole other world."
"A world trying it's hardest to kill me," Percy agreed with a sigh. "But yeah, this was not the gentlest introduction."
"Well I tried," Grover huffed. "But someone ditched me."
"You were being creepy," Percy said.
"Rude."
Mnemosyne chuckled, tapping the book. "I have a feeling we'll see more of your introduction in what is to come."
"'Urn … what are you, exactly?'"
"'That doesn't… …right now.'"
"'It doesn't matter… …friend is a donkey-'"
Percy snickered as Grover huffed, "You really do hate that."
"Family resemblance is striking," Grover snipped.
Percy laughed, several other teenagers joining him.
"Like father like son," quipped Iapetus, only to earn Percy's own scowl.
"'Grover let out… …Blaa-ha-ha!'"
"I'd heard him… …an irritated bleat."
"'Goat!' he cried."
"'What?'"
"'I'm a goat… …the waist down.'"
"'You just said it didn't matter.'"
"You did just say it didn't matter," Leo agreed.
"Well you did," Jason said when Grover sent an annoyed look that way.
"If it did matter than you should've said it immediately," Octavian huffed with an eyeroll.
"Gods, story of my life," Percy groaned. "No one ever says it right away."
"It's so annoying when that happens," Iapetus agreed.
"Wonder what that feels like," drawled Hyperion. "Can't imagine what it must feel like to be delayed getting your answers."
The kids coughed, looking away while Iapetus grumbled, "It wasn't even my fault this time."
"This time," Hyperion muttered as Mnemosyne continued.
"'Blaa-ha-ha!... …such an insult!'"
"Whoa. Wait... …Mr. Brunner's myths?"
"'Were those old… …Mrs. Dodds a myth?"
"So you admit… …a Mrs. Dodds!"
"Of course."
"Grover," Thalia groaned. "You're only driving him more up the wall."
"I wasn't exactly planning things through," Grover said. "I was just- trying to get him to safety."
"Well, you're making him very confused."
"I don't think any of us helped," Annabeth admitted. "I think I avoided the questions too."
"You absolutely did," Percy confirmed. "But it's okay, you answer my questions now."
"I do," she agreed, kissing him on the cheek. "I love answering them."
"'Then why-'"
"'The less you knew… …started to realize who you are."
"I really didn't," Percy drawled.
"It does not appear he knew much of anything of who he was," agreed Hyperion dryly.
"Well… I was a bit distracted."
"Do they not give classes to fauns when they send you out?" Octavian asked baffled. "They're sending you out to save demigods and you're just… winging it?"
"That seems very disorganized," Reyna agreed with a frown. "Why wouldn't they help you out?"
Grover shrugged, "They just… send us out. We don't have time to train."
"You might save more if you trained," pointed out Themis. "You may lose some, but you could save the others."
"We don't want to lose any," Grover said softly. "They're almost always children."
A grim thought, yet every demigod there was proof of that. All were children.
"We're not like New Rome," Annabeth said. "We don't have-"
She huffed as she realized she couldn't speak more about it. "You know what we don't have, it means it's up to us."
Octavian nodded, Reyna closing her eyes as she understood.
Mnemosyne continued reading in the silence that followed.
"Who I-wait… …you mean?"
"The weird bellowing… …still on our trail."
"'Percy,' my mom… …you to safety."
"'Safety from what? Who's after me?'"
"'Oh, nobody much… …blood-thirstiest minions."
"Grover!" Thalia cried.
Grover buried his head in his hands, "I know, I know, I was panicking."
"That is a quick way to get Percy to panic," Rachel said with a groan.
"Note to self," Annabeth muttered. "Train satyrs before sending them out."
"'Grover!'"
"Thalia you sound like Percy's mom," Nico said.
"I do! That's awesome, I love his mom."
Rhea smiled, pleased with how much they cared for Percy's mom. Clearly she was a kind woman. Rhea regretted that they would likely never meet.
"'Sorry, Mrs. Jackson… …faster, please?'"
"I tried to wrap… …something this weird."
"My mom made… …white picket fences."
"'Where are we… …I asked."
"'The summer camp… …your father wanted to send you."
"So, she is willing to give you up to keep you safe," Rhea murmured.
"A dedicated parent," Kronos said. "She is a truly good mother."
Percy smiled, soft and fond. But he seemed to tense as the chapter continued.
"Is something wrong?" Krios asked, studying him.
"You'll see," he said. "Just… keep reading…"
"'The place you… …want me to go.'"
"'Please, dear… …You're in danger.'"
"It would help if anyone would give him even a basic explanation," said Krios in exasperation. "I would be awfully confused in this case with how little anyone is saying."
Mnemosyne nodded, the situation was one where any child would be confused, especially a child who knew nothing of the situation, who was told nothing.
"Ignorance was protection," Annabeth said. "But it means when it's not enough… well…"
"It's very confusing," Percy finished. "I know I was really confused."
"Sorry," Grover said. "We really do need to work on a quick explanation."
"Because some old ladies cut yarn."
"'Those weren't old… …someone's about to die."
"'Whoa. You said 'you.''"
"'No I… …said 'someone.''"
"Definitely need a better system," Reyna said with a sigh. "I wonder if something like this has happened with any of our- uh… people…"
"Probably," Octavian said with a huff. "So much happens- it wouldn't surprise me."
Reyna frowned, looking thoughtful.
"'You meant 'you.' As in me.'"
"'I meant you… …Not you, you.'"
"'Boys!' my mom said."
"She pulled the… …behind us in the storm."
"What was that?" Jason asked.
"You children have an uncanny ability to resemble the book," Mnemosyne said before reading the next line.
"'What was that?' I asked."
"Ha," Leo laughed. "You got it word for word."
"Well, it's an obvious question," Jason said. "What was that?"
"We'll learn soon," Piper said. "I doubt it's anything good."
"It's not," Annabeth confirmed, fingers tangled with Percy's.
"'We're almost there… …Please. Please. Please.'"
"I didn't know… …us to arrive."
"Outside, nothing but rain… …meant to kill me."
"Your shock ended up delayed by like- three months," Thalia noted.
"In my defence, I was busy wondering if I hadn't hallucinated the whole thing."
"Fair enough," she agreed. "Your breakdown being earlier would've been inconvenient too."
"Oh well, we wouldn't want that," Rachel drawled. "Hate those inconvenient breakdowns."
"They're so annoying," Nico agreed.
"The worst," Annabeth said with a solemn nod.
Percy rolled his eyes and turned back to Mnemosyne.
"Then I thought about… …our car exploded."
There was a beat of silence.
"What," Nico said finally.
"The car exploded," Grover repeated helpfully.
"I- why?" Jason asked.
"You'll see," Percy said with a soft huff.
"I remember feeling… …at the same time."
"I peeled… …and said, 'Ow.'"
"Hey that's what getting struck by lightning feels like," Frank noted.
Everyone turned to stare at him.
"Uh… I was flying in a storm one time and- yeah- didn't go well."
"Dude, why?"
"Oh shush," he grumbled at Leo's disbelief.
"'Percy!' my mom shouted."
"'I'm okay… .'"
"I tried to shake off the… …rain was pouring in."
"Lightning. That was… …a big motionless lump. 'Grover!'"
"I called it!" Frank said proudly.
"I could've called that," Jason sulked.
"When were you hit with lightning?" Piper wondered.
"That time when we met!"
"Oh, I forgot about that."
"That doesn't count," Nico disagreed. "You're immune."
"We are immune," Thalia agreed. "It's all tingly and nice."
"Is not," Percy muttered.
"Definitely not," Nico agreed.
"I don't think it should be a competition of who gets hit by lightning the most," Octavian chided. "Now can we find out if the faun died?"
"I'm right here!"
"Shush."
"He was slumped over… …I knew there was hope."
"Seriously?" Reyna asked. "Do you always-"
"Look, I like food!"
"Food is good," Annabeth agreed.
"Mmmm, cookies," Percy said. "We should get some."
"Oooh, your mom's-"
"The literal best."
"Divine," she agreed.
"You're thinking cookies right now?" Piper wondered.
"I already lived this," Percy pointed out. "I know what happens."
Piper nodded, accepting his point. "I still want to know what happens, so shhh."
"'Percy,' my mother… …Her voice faltered."
"I looked back. In a flash… …made it look like he had horns."
"What would that be?" Iapetus wondered.
All the Titans looked confused by the description.
"I have no idea," Leo said.
"I do," Reyna murmured. "You face the- this? At twelve?"
"As one does," Percy said with a grimace. "Can we like- speed through this?"
"I swallowed hard. 'Who is-'"
"'Percy,' my mother… …out of the car.'"
"My mother threw herself… …sizzling and smoking."
"Yikes," Leo noted.
"You do not want to touch that," Okeanos added.
"Huh?" Hyperion looked puzzled. "What's wrong with it?"
"It'll burn him," Rhea said patiently.
"But- oh yeah, I forgot… mortals are delicate."
"Hey!" cried half the mortals there.
"I could touch it," Leo added with a pout.
"Show off," Rachel grumbled.
"I think we're nearing the end," Luke said softly. "Perhaps we should see what's next?"
"Yes," Rhea confirmed. "I would like to see their escape."
"'Climb out… …that big tree?'"
"'What?'"
"Another flash of… …the nearest hill."
"'That's the property… …you reach the door.'"
"Wait," Kronos interrupted. "She is implying she is not going with."
Percy made a face, "You'll… see."
"'Mom, you're coming too.'"
"Her face was pale… …at the ocean."
"'No!' I shouted… …Help me carry Grover.'"
"'Food!' Grover moaned, a little louder."
"Grover, shhhh," Thalia chided. "You'll draw it's attention!"
"I was unconscious!"
"Well, be more unconscious!"
"This was like five years ago!"
"I think it's been more than five years," Annabeth said with a frown.
"Time is fake," Percy said with a shrug.
Kronos looked vaguely offended.
"Can we see if his talking draws the beast's attention?" Octavian demanded.
Mnemosyne seemed amused by his demands but did as requested.
"The man with the blanket… …points that looked like horns …"
Mnemosyne paused for a moment with a frown, wishing she knew what the creature was.
"'He doesn't want… …the property line.'"
"Why not?" Iapetus asked.
"I'm sure we're about to learn," Hyperion grumbled.
"Shh," Octavian hissed. "You're ruining the tension."
"I don't mind," Tyson mumbled, covering his eyes.
"'But…'"
"'We don't have time, Percy. Go. Please.'"
"I got mad… …like a bull."
"I have never heard of a humanoid bull," Theia said in confusion. "Are there some in the sea?"
"There are several bull creatures in the sea," Okeanos agreed. "None like this though."
"We shall learn very shortly I'm sure," Koios said grimly. "It looks as if he will be facing it."
The Titans did not look pleased as Mnemosyne continued.
"I climbed across… …Come on, Mom.'"
"'I told you-'"
"'Mom! I am… …with Grover.'"
"You are risking quite a bit to ensure their safety," Rhea murmured.
"She's my mom," Percy said. "I'd do just about anything for her."
"What about me?" Grover asked, with a pout.
"Ehhh," Percy shrugged.
"Mini-Kronos," Grover hissed.
"I will now do less for you," Percy sniffed.
Annabeth rolled her eyes and looked towards Mnemosyne once more.
"I didn't wait for her… …through wet waist-high grass."
"Glancing back, I got my first clear look… …thicker as it reached his shoulders."
"His neck was a mass of muscle… …from an electric sharpener."
"I'd be laughing except what the-" Leo's eyes were wide as Piper covered his mouth.
"You faced that?" Piper demanded. "On your own?"
"You'll see," Percy said.
"Okay," Octavian muttered, eyes narrowed. "Maybe he earned some of his reputation."
Rachel shoved him against Tyson, "He earned all of it. And you'll learn that as we continue."
"But what is it?" Theia asked.
"Mnemosyne, continue so it tells us," Koios demanded.
"I recognized the monster… …he couldn't be real."
"This is what happens when you don't tell someone anything," Phoebe mused.
"Yep," Percy chirped. "It was so fun!"
The others stared wide-eyed.
"I blinked… …eyes. 'That's-'"
"'Pasiphae's son,'… …want to kill you.'"
"'But he's the Min-'"
"'Don't say his name… …Names have power.'"
"I do wish you'd say it anyways right now, so we'd know it," Koios grumbled.
Mnemosyne seemed to be in agreement, but she kept reading all the same.
"The pine tree was… …uphill at least."
"I glanced behind me again."
"The bull-man hunched… …about fifty feet away."
"'Food?' Grover moaned."
"Do you always say food when unconscious?" Leo wondered.
"Yes," Percy said. "Or starts rambling about trees."
"Trees are great!" Grover cried.
Annabeth pat his arm, "Really great."
"'Shhh,' I told him… …Doesn't he see us?'"
"'His sight and hearing… …we are soon enough.'"
"She is very well informed," Phoebe mused. "Yet you have been told nothing."
"We tried to protect him," Grover grimaced. "We hoped there wouldn't be a need for him to know yet…"
"As if on cue… …The gas tank exploded."
"Not a scratch, I remembered Gabe saying."
"Oops."
The room was filled with laughter.
"Serves him right!" Thalia said with a vicious grin.
"I wish we had a recording of that scene," Rachel giggled.
"At least we get to read it," Hazel said. "I quite enjoyed it."
The Titans shared looks but didn't chime in this time, letting the kids gloat over the nasty mortal's suffering.
"'Percy,' my mom said… …Do you understand?'"
"'How do you know all this?'"
"'I've been worried about… …keeping you near me.'"
"She's not selfish," Percy murmured. "I would've chosen to stay anyways."
Annabeth leaned against him, "We know."
"'Keeping me near you? But-'"
"Another bellow of… …tromping uphill."
"He'd smelled us."
"Uh oh," Leo muttered.
"You should've run faster," Reyna said grimly. "If it catches you-"
"Caught," Octavian corrected. "This has already happened."
"Very concerning indeed," Theia said. "Many terrors are very dangerous."
"Extremely so, particularly in the sea," Tethys agreed.
"We'll see just how dangerous this one is momentarily," Koios said, turning to Mnemosyne. "How much further?"
"About a page and a half," she said. "Nearly there."
"Then continue reading and let us see what happens."
"The pine tree was only… …getting any lighter."
"So close," Thalia whispered.
"So similar," Luke murmured back.
"The bull-man closed… …be on top of us."
"My mother must've… …Remember what I said.'"
"I didn't want to split up… …reeked like rotten meat."
"Come on," Hazel whispered.
The Titans all leaned forward, listening intently.
"He lowered his head… …straight at my chest."
"The fear in my stomach… …jumped to the side."
"The bull-man stormed past like a freight train… …that was half a mile away. We'd never make it."
"You don't need to get that far," Annabeth breathed.
They knew what happened next, but that didn't stop the tension.
"The bull-man grunted, pawing… …I can't go any farther. Run!'"
"No," Rhea whispered.
"But I just stood there, frozen in fear… …she struggled, kicking and pummeling the air. 'Mom!'"
"Oh no," Leo said, eyes wide.
"But- but you talked about her-"
"Please keep reading," Percy said, closing his eyes.
"She caught my eyes… …one last word: 'Go!'"
"Then, with an angry roar… …she was simply … gone."
"'No!'"
"Wait wh-" Jason faltered, his voice stolen. "Okay, I can't say anything there."
"You'll find out," Percy promised. "It's all explained."
"Your mom-"
"Aunt Sally," Tyson mourned.
Rhea looked very sad indeed. "I'm sorry."
"It- you'll see… just keep reading."
"Anger replaced my fear… …Mrs. Dodds grew talons."
"The bull-man bore down… …I couldn't allow that."
"I stripped off my red rain jacket."
"'Hey!' I screamed, waving… …stupid! Ground beef!'"
"Well that's one strategy," Hazel sniffed.
"Are you really-" Frank trailed off, eyes wide.
Nico leaned forward.
"'Raaaarrrrr!' The monster… …shaking his meaty fists."
"I had an idea-a stupid idea… …but it didn't happen like that."
"The bull-man charged too fast… …Time slowed down."
"Kronos!" Iapetus cheered. "Coming in finally."
Percy blinked, then stared at the wall with wide eyes.
"You don't think-" Annabeth faltered.
"Mini-Kronos," Grover said solemnly, getting whacked by both his friends for it.
"Hurry up, let's see what happens!" Iapetus insisted.
"My legs tensed… …and landing on his neck."
"Woah!" Jason said. "How did you-"
"Nice," Nico said with a grin.
"How did I do that… …knocked my teeth out."
"The bull-man staggered around… …rotten meat burned my nostrils."
"The monster shook himself… …only one gear: forward."
"Don't let go," Frank warned.
"This already happened," Octavian reminded him again.
"I know I just- you didn't let go, right?"
"You'll see," Percy said with a faint smile.
"Meanwhile, Grover started… …bite my own tongue off."
"'Food!' Grover moaned."
"Grover," Thalia said. "I am begging you."
"I can't help it!"
"So close," Reyna said.
"The bull-man wheeled… …then-snap!"
"Uh-"
"What."
"How did you-"
"That's how you got the horn?" Annabeth demanded over everyone else's noises of shock.
"Er… yeah?"
"What." Octavian repeated.
"Just, snap," Hazel whispered.
"That's Percy for you," Nico said, eyes all but sparkling.
"Is that unusual?" Iapetus wondered.
"I don't think most humans can do that sort of thing," Koios agreed.
"Definitely can't," Jason confirmed.
"That's insane," Piper added.
"Huh, must be Kronos still helping," Iapetus shrugged before grinning manically. "What happens next?"
"The bull-man screamed… …the size of a knife."
"That is not a weapon, Percy!" Grover cried.
"Weeeeeell," Percy shrugged. "If it's all you've got-"
"Woah," Nico whispered.
"Percy is incredible," Hazel agreed.
"No!" Grover continued chiding.
"Does he actually do it?" Okeanos demanded. "Mnemosyne-"
"The monster charged."
"Without thinking… …under his furry rib cage."
"Without thinking?" Frank moaned. "He just does that."
"Your instincts are insane," Octavian said, eyes wide.
"The bull-man roared in agony… …Mrs. Dodds had burst apart."
"The monster was gone."
"That actually worked!?" Leo squawked.
"Just like that-" Luke shook his head. "I don't think I've heard of such an insane entrance since-"
"Me," Thalia said. "And I was using an actual weapon. What the fuck."
"Sorry?" Percy offered. "I was kinda just- moving."
"No kidding…"
"Congratulations," Iapetus said gleefully. "You did an amazing job!"
"Except for the fact his mother died," Theia pointed out gently.
"Well, except for that."
"The rain had stopped. The storm still… …calling for my mother, but I held on to Grover-I wasn't going to let him go."
"The last thing I remember is… …the girl said, 'He's the one. He must be.'"
"'Silence, Annabeth,' the man… …Bring him inside.'"
"And that's the end," Mnemosyne said, closing the book.
"Incredible," Iapetus said. "Are there more fight scenes?"
He made grabby hands for the book but Rhea plucked it from Mnemosyne.
"I'm sure we'll see. But for now, I shall read, unless there are any complaints.
The children still looked a bit wide eyes at the battle that had occurred, though the satyr Grover appeared to be teasing Annabeth about the last words in the book.
"No complaints," Rachel confirmed. "What's next?"
OO OO OO OO
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to leave a review, they feed my soul.
It should be noted that the Titans think mortals dying just works different in the future, like all those other weird future things. They turn to gold light, strange but okay!
Do YOU think Kronos helped Percy that day? What do you think of their reactions? Do you have anything in particular you're excited for?
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