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Percy stared at the kneeling empousai.

"They the good empousai, or do I need to start stabbing?" Percy side-eyed Hekate.

The women frowned at him, and he felt his stomach twist as hesitance and fear flashed in their gaze. Even the monsters feared him.

"They are not empousai, Perseus. They are veela," Hekate corrected, stepping forward and blocking the women from his blade. "A melting pot of daughters of my world." Her eyes traced over the different heads that stared back. "Oh my, even a red one. What a rare daughter."

Percy frowned as he followed Hekate's gaze. What was so rare about a redhead?

"My lady," the redhead stiffly bowed her head. "It is an honor to meet you, Great One." She turned to Percy, "And to meet you as well, Savior."

Percy's frown deepened.

"Cheerleaders of Bulgaria." Hekate traced her finger over a blonde veela's outfit. "I made you to be more than sex, you know."

The veela skittishly glanced at another.

A different blonde veela spoke up, "What if we chose this?"

Hekate shrugged, "We live our lives and choose our fates." She sauntered back to Perseus' side, her arm linking with his blade arm. He pulled away from Hekate, freeing his arm from her grasp. For good measure, he stepped away from her as well.

"Can we just get to our tent?" he asked to her pout.

"You could join us?" the same Veela that was eyeing him up offered.

"No."

"Wonderful," Hekate answered at the same time.

Percy glared at the witch goddess, "No."

"Stop being a sourpuss. No one turns down the offer to be surrounded by a squad of veela. Not even the gays."

"Is it just all about sex and power with you gods?" he spat.

Hekate snorted with laughter, "Honey." She patted his arms as if talking to a child. "That is life. Now stop bickering and fall in line."

"I'll pass," Percy countered.

"You don't even know where our tent is."

"So, I'll head to the nearest shore and swim back to the States," he bluffed.

"Sure you will, Perseus," she laughed. "You know, I've been watching you since the war ended." She sauntered close to him. "Don't think it hasn't escaped my notice that you don't use your powers. You don't even touch any water but what you have to drink. You make the dryad water the pegasus." She stepped into his space, locking her black-painted nails behind his head while her forearms rested on his shoulder. From the outside, one might mistake them for a couple.

"You are so afraid of yourself, you won't leave me. While you still just haven't realized it yet, in this land, so far removed from your life, I'm your only tether. So, you will stick with me and do as I say. That is unless you want to find some friends. Then, you would have to lie to them and hide away yourself for fear of them not accepting you for who you are. But me? I accept you. Even if you are such a priss."

He hated her. Percy loathed Hekate.

He pushed her hands away from him with more force than needed, and he turned to the veela pack, "Where to?"

"I knew you would come around, love." Hekate bumped his shoulder as she stepped next to him.

Percy ignored her, mumbling a foul insult as he stepped away from her again.

Hekate sent him a withering glare before it melted away as she turned to the cheerleaders, "Lead the way, girls."

And they did. Past rows of maroon and emerald tents, they approached the stadium before curving to the right just outside its main entrance. The tent of the Bulgarian cheerleaders was nothing short of perfect. There wasn't a wrinkle in the maroon and gold canvas or a speck of dust upon the courtyard that awaited inside.

Surrounding an extravagant fountain of Hekate herself, flowers of all hues and petals blossomed inside the tent. Vines of flowers dangled from a nonexistent ceiling where rays of light descended across the stone floor. It reminded Percy of botanical gardens he had seen advertised in New York. However, what before him wasn't man-made or planted.

Immersed in the atmosphere of the tent, he could feel a tangible presence begin to weigh upon his shoulders. It felt akin to a wave of water sliding past his ankles, but the feeling surrounded his body entirely. It took the wrath that boiled in his lungs and eased the burning hate from his heart.

In the void it left, the desire to surrender to bliss blossomed.

He stumbled forward toward the love seats and cushioned couches that surrounded a fire in the corner of the room, far removed from the indoor courtyard. The blood-red cushions called to him, begging him to sit as the world faded into silence.

So, he sat, entangled in a peaceful silence.

His head fell back against the top of the loveseat, too heavy to hold up, and he stared at the ceiling. He felt so warm and fuzzy.

So enthralled by the lure of his mind, he never even felt the woman saddle herself to his side. Her chest pushed into him as her finger traced his jaw and its stubble. Her tongue dragged itself across his neck, hot and moist.

He did not like that.

He forced his eyes to open, but they were so heavy. The weight of the world felt lighter than his eyelids did, but just like the sky, he forced his eyes to bend to his strength.

He blinked. The weight upon his eyelids was upon his body in full like a weighted blanket. It was comfortable, all things considered. His shoulder sagged once more, the fight dissipating from his body. The unfathomable weight pulled his chin down as he stared at the blonde cheerleader, lust the only thing in her eyes.

"Hello, sexy," she purred, sliding her hand under his shirt. He could barely feel it. His vision dimmed as a vignette began to darken reality. "Who knew the Savior was such a hunk of a man? Our Hero deserves a reward."

Hero?

"Get off me," he hissed as he stood, lighter than he had ever felt as the world sharpened into focus.

The blonde hurried away without a word or a look back.

There he stood, alone, in a room some would call paradise. Red crescent moons upon his palms as he forced his breathing to slow. He glared at the witch who dragged him along to hell. Hekate was tongue-deep in another blonde as she carelessly spilled nectar from the glass in her hand. Ultimately, she dropped the glass, shattering it on the floor, in favor of pulling the woman closer.

"One could argue the sins of humanity are proof that they descended from the hands of gods."

Percy spun to the familiar speaker.

"Aunt Hestia."

Just seeing Hestia, he could feel his heart slow faster than any breathing exercise could ever do.

"Nephew Percy," she parroted from the fire he had sat near. "It has been some time since you have found yourself before a fire. It has made it hard to speak to you."

Percy scratched the back of his head, "You don't need an open flame to come find me. You are one of the few I do like."

Hestia gave him a blinding smile, and he felt warm but not lotus eater warm or whatever the veela did to him. The child goddess reached out to him, her warm hand taking his own as she pulled him to sit down. He, of course, allowed himself to be led about.

"I must forever watch over the Flame of Civilization. A moment without it under my gaze could be the moment humanity collapses."

"Huh."

"Enough of me, Percy. How are you, my child?" she pushed a log over inside the flames. Ash and embers flew into the air, swirling before fading away.

"I'm fine."

"Hmm."

"Just out here, doing wizard things and such."

"Oh?"

"Hekate kind of dragged me here. My mom was in on it, too."

"Was she now?"

"Yeah."

"How do you feel about it? Doing wizard things with Hekate, that is?"

Percy frowned, "I hate it."

"Why?"

"I-I don't want this."

"Don't want or fear?"

Percy groaned, "I'm not talking about it."

"Speaking of what troubles us and acknowledging how we feel about it is the first step to resolving our plights."

"I'm not in a plight. I am in another country."

"Far from home and out of your lifestyle. I imagine this chaotic world Hekate loves is a lot to handle upon first introduction."

"You have no idea. I mean, even the mortals are crazy. They drive on the wrong side of the road. Why would Hekate ever do such a thing? It is like she is just wanting to spread chaos and problems."

"Percy, dear, the mortals chose which side of the road to drive on."

"Oh. Really?" Hestia nodded. "Then these people are stupid."

"To them, Americans are stupid."

"They are. Have you met us?" Percy smiled, bumping her shoulder.

"Yes, I have. I have found some of the brightest people amongst you as well."

"I think you are looking at the Ph.D. students then. Might want to look elsewhere that isn't the one percent."

Hestia sighed, "Perseus, I know what you are trying to do."

"Oh yeah?"

"You are deflecting and avoiding."

"I call it parrying and dodging."

"Perseus," she mothered.

"Sorry."

"It is alright. Mortals tend to evade—or rather dodge topics they do not wish to address."

"And the gods smite anyone who mentions their problems."

Hesita shrugged, a blush on her cheeks, "Nobody is perfect."

"Ain't that the truth," Percy laughed as he finally fell back into his seat. His head rested upon the top of the chair once more. The crackling of the flames and poking of the logs within them whispered in his ears. "Huh, Hannah Montanna was right."

"Tonight, the red-headed veela, seek her out. She is of my creation in this world, Hekate has fashioned. Her name is Annaki. She will not try to seduce you. You'll find she is much like Olive."

"So you have at least been watching over my place even without me having a bonfire out back."

"You are family, Percy. I will always look out for you. You are one of my favorite nephews."

"Well, you only have three, so not much of a list."

"A favorite all the same."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"You deserve help." She smiled back.

As she turned back to the flame, his smile fell away.

"You deserve help," echoed in his ears as his gut twisted.

He turned to Hekate as she licked nectar off another blonde's chest. The first blonde nibbled on the goddess' ear.

He looked back to Hestia, but she was gone—a flame poker left in her absence that he took in hand. Someone had to keep the fire burning, and he had nothing better to do before the match started.

:P LINE BREAK d:

Perks of getting in the good graces of the cheerleaders, Percy and Hekate, were personally invited to join them in the veela viewing box. Apparently, they had their own area, like the tent that was shrouded in magic that would obscure and dilute their allure, a presence about them that could sway the passive mind.

The seats the two Greeks found themselves in were nice, all things considered. They were near the crown of the stadium. Hekate had insisted that was where the best seats were and that they were not too far from the original seats they had held.

Percy filtered her out after that. He had silently taken to following the posse of veela. Most of them were cheerleaders, but others just wore the Bulgarian fashion proudly as they watched their brethren take to the air on brooms and dance for the crowd. The only one Percy cared to really pay attention to was Annaki.

She had stolen a few glances back at him, but none of them held a smolder or suggestive undertone like the other veela tossed his way. Instead, he found a warmth not unlike Hestia's own flame. A soft smile adorned her face at every moment, even when only he was watching.

Was it true happiness that burned within her? Was it a content soul resting beneath ruby hair and firelight eyes?

A cheer rose across the stadium as players in red showboated across the pitch.

"Krum! Krum! Krum!" the people shouted, their words shaking the metal beneath them.

"Excuse me." An older French woman tapped his shoulder. "You wouldn't happen to be Perseus Jackson, would you?"

She had barely a wrinkle upon her besides the ones at the edges of her eyes and lips. Her platinum hair trailed well past her chest and almost to her waist. She was enshrouded in a blue cloak that hid a red dress below.

"I'm sorry. Where are my manners? My name is Victoria Delacour."

He offered his hand, "Percy Jackson."

She shook it with hesitant grace.

"Grandmother," a younger woman approached. "Who is this?"

"Manners, young lady. Introduce yourself first to someone like him."

The girl rolled her eyes as she turned to Percy and offered her arm forward, backside up, "Fleur Delacour."

Percy shook it as he did with the grandmother's hand, but the daughter stared as her limp arm was manipulated. The young platinum-haired girl turned to her elder with a raised brow.

"My dearie, mask your thoughts. This is a man you should feel honored to even know of." Victoria turned to Percy, "I apologize for her. She did not take to the lessons of our ways as her younger sister did. Nor did her mother care to correct it."

"They are tall tales, mother. Cautionary ones at best."

"And yet, they breathe before us now."

Fleur arched a brow now to Percy, "Is that so?"

Percy forced a fake smile, "Percy Jackson."

No recognition fired in Fleur's eyes as she turned questioning to her grandmother. The fake smile on Percy's face shrunk to a real one.

"It is fine if you don't know who I am," he insisted. "I prefer it."

Grandmother frowned, "But you are Hercules reborn!"

The fake smile returned with a twist in his gut, "I assure you, I am not."

"You are nothing short of a legend," she insisted.

"Now I am curious," Fleur intervened. "What is your legend that is so great to be as famous as Hercules?"

"I won."

Fleur frowned, confused, "You won?"

"As you breathe."

She sighed, "Well, Monsieur Winner, I bid you a lovely evening with your party. I think I am going to go find more interesting conversations."

"Take care," Percy offered, watching her turn away as she gravitated towards Hekate, who was not yet busy with her arm candy.

"I apologize once more, Hero." Victoria bowed her head.

"Never bow to me again, and I will call us even."

She looked uncertain and uncomfortable with such a notion but agreed all the same.

"What brings you to our side of the world, Hero?" she asked as the two watched men fly around on brooms chasing balls. "I have not known many demigods who venture back to the lands of magic."

Percy nodded over to the goddess, "Against my will."

"Oh."

"She's making me go to school as well."

"Beauxbaton?"

"Hogwarts, I think it was called."

"That is not so bad. Hogwarts is a fine school with a remarkable staff."

"I burnt down the last school I was in."

She giggled, "The ancient wards that support the school will protect the premises from your pyrotechnics."

"They better hope the magics around the place are good enough."

"Yes, they better hope," she continued to laugh. "Your generation is such troublemakers. I fear what a demigod will do to those ancient halls."

"Drinks?" a waitress intruded, a feather and parchment following in her wake.

"No thanks." Percy politely smiled. He turned to Victoria, awaiting her response.

"White wine. The oldest you have."

"Of course." The waitress nodded and walked away.

Percy raised an eyebrow at the older woman, "The oldest? Isn't that the expensive stuff that tastes the same as box wine?"

A symphonic laugh rang out into the cacophony of the stadium. A few veelas side-eyed Percy, even Fleur, who stood just out of reach of Hekate's debauchery.

"Honey," – she patted his shoulder —"there is a distinct difference. As for the cost, what is the point of having money if you do not spend it?"

Percy frowned, "I don't really know. Growing up, my mom worked a couple jobs to keep the lights on."

"Only the greatest heroes come from humble beginnings."

Percy frowned. There it was again: Hero. The single word everyone who is blind calls him.

The waitress returned and placed a bottle on a table that suddenly appeared near Victoria's seat. Then, a wine glass appeared to accompany the ornate bottle glittered with jewels.

"Thank you, dearie," Victoria dismissed the waitress and reached for the bottle. She brought it in hand, closer to her cerulean eyes. "A bottle from Napoleon's reign."

"Have you had it before?" Percy asked, his eyes following the refracting light upon the rubies in the bottle's neck.

"Surprisingly not. The Roman demigods were quick to take advantage of Napoloen's downfall. They amassed in the shadows, stealing anything and everything that they could."

"The Romans?"

"Yes. Napoleon was a son of Athena—a child born to wage her desire to attack Rome. Which was England, mind you. The Romans who lived amongst the English took great offense, and well, a bottle from his reign is rare."

"That's… that's interesting."

"To think these British wizards are serving up such a commodity. I cannot tell if they are disregarding the value of the bottle or taking pride in having such a wine." She tapped a painted nail against the cork, and it popped off. The glass upon the table floated to her other waiting hand, and she carefully poured herself a glass. "Do you think they laugh as they serve what they stole?"

"If it makes you feel any better, the Greeks who started America beat them."

She gave him a wry smile and tipped her glass to him, "To the Greeks."

"To the ones who made a difference."

Another glass materialized, and magic poured it full of Napoleon wine. Percy watched the glass float to his hand, and he took it as he watched Victoria smile.

"You cannot toast without a drink in hand."

He nodded in thanks, swirled his newfound drink, and raised it back to her, "To the real heroes of the world."

"To you, Perseus Jackson."

She clinked her glass against his and took a pull from it. Feeling the pressure to match for the sake of the toast, he took a sip as well.

He hid his distaste as he stared down into the glass. The scar on his face stared back through the rippling reflection in the wine.

"Tastes like box wine."

"You Americans have no taste."

:P LINE BREAK d:

He was back in the loveseat of the veela tent.

Flames swirled and danced before him as he watched the wood within turn to ash.

"Drink! Drink! Drink!" Hekate shouted as she fountained alcohol into a brunette's mouth.

Percy turned back to the flames. He didn't want to party and had already drunk one glass of wine more than he thought he would for the night. He didn't need to kegstand whatever Hekate had been summoning for the cheerleaders.

The cheerleaders…. You would have thought Bulgaria had won the way they screamed and cheered for Hekate to rain alcohol down their bodies.

They were loud, annoyingly loud—a far contrast from the quiet nights he and Olive would have. The only noise he had to deal with was her humming as she pushed him out of the kitchen so she could make him dinner.

He reached for the metal poker.

His hand met not the rough metal but soft skin.

"Sorry." He looked up to the woman who had already grabbed the poker. Her hair caught his eye, "Annaki, right?"

The redhead tilted her head to the side questioningly as she nodded.

He winced, "Sorry. I'm Percy." He offered his hand.

She took it silently with a gentle shake before turning away to sit across from him on a different loveseat. He continued to watch her as she quietly poked the wood inside the fire pit. Logs shifted, puffing up plumes of ember that faded to nothing. He watched her eyes track each speck of flame fade in the air.

She met his gaze with a small smile. He nodded, unsure what to say to the quiet lady.

She returned to poking about the pit, and he let himself follow the end of the metal rod shuffle about inside the flames.

It was hypnotizing if he could put a label on it. His eyes remained locked upon Annaki as he slowly fell back into his seat. The chaos of Hekate and cheerleaders became dull notes as he heard the crackling and popping of the wood.

"Would you mind if I hummed?"

Percy blinked.

He looked at the redhead, confused. She had barely spoken aloud, and while he was sure he heard her correctly, he wasn't too sure.

"Sorry, what?"

"Would you mind if I hummed to myself? I know you do not wish to be disturbed and seek tranquility. I do not wish to cross your desires," she elaborated.

"Go for it. I like listening to humming."

She smiled a wide one that showed a perfect smile.

"Thank you."

Percy just nodded before he leaned back once more. His eyes fell back to the flames as he forced himself to relax.

An angelic tune joined the crackles and pops, and he felt his eyes travel to her ruby lips from where the noise was coming from. His eyes trekked further upwards, finding ember-colored eyes staring into the flame before them.

Her eyes were beautiful. Her tune was beautiful. She was beautiful.

He continued to watch as her eyes began to grow into flames. He smiled softly each time they met each other's gaze. And every time, they held it for a few seconds. He could feel a comforting phantom hand stroke his hair.

Eventually, under her calm, he felt his eyes drift and close. However, he refused to fall asleep and would force them open once more to watch her. He didn't want to lose the serenity she brought to his mind. Yet, it was a losing battle as darkness consumed him once more.

.

.

.

BOOM!

Percy jolted awake, his trusty pen in hand.

He looked around the tent he was in. The cheerleaders were hurriedly packing things that were strewn about. The drunkness and lust had fled them as it was replaced by urgency and panic. He looked to the empty loveseat before him, finding no Annaki.

"It is okay." A soft voice whispered from his side. He turned to find the redhead sharing his seat. Her arm ghosted his shoulder. "Hekate has warded the tent from being touched while she stepped outside."

"What's going on?" he glanced to the tent entrance. A flash of light and an explosion happened on the other side. A familiar flash of green he had seen in his dreams lit up the canvas. "Are we under attack?"

"Shhh," Annaki reached out to him with her other arm. Both of her warm hands pulled him back into her embrace. "We are safe."

Her voice was so soft, so enticing, so captivating.

Another explosion happened, and the tent shook.

He could do something about this. He had to. People could be in danger.

He tried to move, but then he felt the warm caressing of his hair, and his body melted back. He lulled back onto Annaki's shoulder. He couldn't move. His body felt heavy, like it was asleep still.

He looked into her coal-black eyes, tears welling in them.

"I am so sorry," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his chest.

He tried to shift.

She was holding him down.

He now tried to buck out of her grasp. He needed to do something. Someone could be dying right now. He could help.

He had to help.

It is what heroes do!

Another explosion and women screaming registered in his brain, but this time, he barely reacted. His mind had hit a wall as it began to shut down.

Darkness took over as his eyes closed. Soft humming, not unlike Olive's, filled his ears.

He felt so tired. He could just sleep for eternity.

Was this how a bear felt when it went to hibernate?

Did they also feel so warm under their thick coat of fur?

Percy succumbed to the hands of Morpheus.

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-Manke