Act II Chapter XXXVI: "My little boy is growing up so fast"

"So," Percy began as he looked at his mother. He quickly averted his gaze and looked back at the dishes he was drying. Sally finished the last pan and handed it off to Percy. He cleaned off the remaining water droplets.

"So what?" Sally asked in an amused tone.

"I wasn't entirely honest when I was telling you about all my adventures," Percy began. He bit his tongue and put the pan away. His mother was silent, and as he looked back, he saw she was unwrapping a blueberry cheesecake she had made earlier that day.

"I figured you were hiding some of the scarier parts," Sally commented.

"It's more than that," Percy said. He turned toward his mother and braced himself on the counter. He knew that he shouldn't have told anyone else, but part of it wasn't his fault. It just so happened that the gods knew the truth about him. Though, he did tell Annabeth.

A sigh left Percy, and he looked at the ground. He heard Sally grab a knife, and she started to cut into the cheesecake. "You know you can tell me anything, Percy."

"I kind of... told someone about who my father really is."

The knife stopped mid cut, and the room fell extremely silent. Percy felt his stomach jump to his throat, and it became a lot harder to swallow. He slowly looked up at Sally. His mother didn't move an inch.

"Lupa, she's a Roman goddess. And a wolf. I don't know what her official title is? Or what she is the goddess of? Maybe actually wolves. She knew who I was. She called me a son of Neptune. And there is this other god I told you about: Dionysus. He knew who I was, but I didn't tell them. I swear!"

His mother didn't turn to look at him. She seemed to be processing the information. A sigh left her, and she placed the knife down. Sally looked at him, "I figured a few gods may find out. It is hard to keep a secret like that."

"Dionysus pretended not to care, but I think he does. It doesn't seem like he is going to tell anyone," Percy said. "And Lupa has been training me on how to use my powers. In secret of course. She seems worried about me dying before I can fulfill this whole prophecy thing."

A pained look came to Sally's face, and Percy continued, "Don't worry about it, though! I'll be fine. I'm sure that prophecy isn't that big of a deal."

Sally looked away and started to cut the cheesecake again. Percy felt a pit forming in his gut, and he was worried that his mother was mad at him. Or disappointed. He took a deep breath.

"Annabeth knows as well. I kind of told her, but she's so smart that she would have found it out anyway," Percy said. Sally tensed and looked at him again. It was hard to read her face. "We were thrown into water, and it healed my wounds. It just slipped out, but I trust her.

"I really trust her, and I know she won't betray my secret," Percy said quickly. Sally continued to study him, and it was hard to read the look on her face. "I'm sorry, mom. I didn't mean to disappoint you."

"You didn't disappoint me," Sally said quickly. She put the knife down and turned toward Percy, putting her hands on his face. "I'm just worried about you."

"I'm fine, mom. Promise. Annabeth swore to never tell anyone, and if she hasn't already told Luke by now, she won't ever tell him," Percy explained. Sally met his eyes. It looked like she was holding something back, and it made Percy's gut twist.

"I just worry about you," Sally whispered. She kissed Percy's forehead and then pulled him into a hug. Percy hugged his mother back, inhaling the smell of cookies and the pie she had just made. "My little boy is growing up so fast."

"I'm still your boy," Percy said as a blush came to his face. He felt the hug tighten on him. Percy hugged his mother back tightly.

"I'm going to send you back with so many desserts," Sally promised. Percy laughed. "But first, we are going to enjoy this week together."

"Why couldn't we wait for Percy to be here for this?" Annabeth huffed as she followed behind Reyna. The Roman glanced back at her and shrugged. Her gaze flickered up to the sky. Annabeth looked up as well. The sky was darkening.

"Or wait for a day it isn't raining," Reyna commented. She sighed. "Why wasn't this handled earlier?"

"We needed a place to store the oracle's body, so she wouldn't wander around," Chiron said. Reyna stopped walking, and Annabeth bumped right into her. A grunt left Reyna.

"Sorry," Annabeth whispered. "Wait. Did you say-"

"Wander around?" Reyna repeated as she whirled around and shoulder checked Annabeth. "Shit. Sorry. What do you mean it wanders around?"

"It's highly unlikely, but there is a chance. It happened on a night about nine decades ago," Chiron said. "And language, dear."

"The oracle can wander around at night?" Annabeth demanded.

"And eat the naughty children," Dionysus commented. He stood a few feet back and was looking through some kind of entertainment magazine. Thunder roared across the sky, and Annabeth glanced up as lightning flashed. "Hmm. Old Zeus may be upset."

"Great," Reyna muttered. Lighting ripped through the sky, and rain started to fall. Reyna pulled her hood over her head.

"I remember back in the day when were just able to block out the rain," Dionysus. A sigh left him as the rain started to pour. "Well, shame we can't do that now."

Annabeth threw her hood over her head as well. She could see a frown on Chiron's face. Chiron spoke, "Maybe, we can wait for later."

"No no. Can't have the oracle wandering off and falling in the ocean now," Dionysus said. He clapped his hands together. "Chop chop as the mortals say."

"Ready?" Reyna asked Annabeth. She nodded. The two of them made their way toward the rocks where they found the oracle on their first visit. Reyna carefully stepped onto the slippery rocks and started to make her way around. Annabeth followed right behind.

Somehow, everyone else was busy with training, so Annabeth and Reyna were volunteered to bring the oracle around the rocks. Clarisse promised to help, but she also got held up in training. Reyna carefully stepped on another rock, and Annabeth stayed only a step behind.

"Enjoy your small vacation?" Reyna questioned.

"Yeah. It was nice," Annabeth said. "And hey... are you okay? I heard that your sister messaged you."

Reyna froze, and her fingers dug into the rock face. A deep sigh left her, and she spoke, "I don't know. If I'm okay. Hylla's message was... weird. I don't know."

Reyna took another step around the rock, and her foot slipped. She gripped the wall quickly, and a hiss left her. Annabeth quickly moved to steady her, "I'm good."

Annabeth nodded and continued to follow. She knew Chiron couldn't navigate these rocks because he was a Centaur, but Dionysus was a god. Surely he could snap his fingers and create a path or part the waters. Or they could make one of the new demigods do it.

Annabeth looked down. She knew that Chiron only trusted a few people with this, and Percy wasn't there to help. Luke was busy training. It warmed her chest slightly, only for the rain to bring it back to cold.

"Okay," Reyna said. "I think it's around this- fu-"

Annabeth tried to reach out quickly, but her own foot slipped on her. She fell forward but managed to catch herself.

On the rock.

With her face.

And nose.

"Owwwww," Annabeth groaned. She heard the splashing of water and coughing from Reyna as she broke the surface. Annabeth slowly pushed herself off the rock face and placed a hand to her nose. Fresh blood coated her hand. Something that sounded like laughing was heard from the shore.

"You okay?" Annabeth asked as she carefully turned on the rock. Reyna was treading the water and looked more annoyed that anything.

"Stupid water," Reyna grumbled. "What about you?"

"Hurt my nose," Annabeth admitted. Reyna nodded and swam the rest of the way. Annabeth carefully started to walk the rest of the way. Reyna made it to the entrance of the cave first and climbed onto the rocks. She sighed and didn't make a move to get up.

Annabeth stopped next to her and did her best to stop the bleeding from her nose. Reyna slowly stood and motioned to Annabeth's face. As the hand was lowered, Reyna nodded.

"It's not broken. Just bruised," Reyna reported.

"I hit it kind of hard," Annabeth said which sounded like a childish complaint. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I drank some ocean water, so that's nice," Reyna said. She ran a hand down her face and tried to fix her hair. Annabeth rubbed her nose one last time and looked down at her feet. She carefully stepped forward and held her hand out for the illusion.

Reyna was right behind her, and together, they stepped into the hidden cave.

"Malaka!"

"Mierda!"

Annabeth placed a hand to her heart as her other raised a sword. Reyna had her sword out as well. After a moment, they both put their swords away. Annabeth stared at the thing in front of them.

"Okay, Chiron did say it could move," Annabeth began.

"Not to greet us," Reyna muttered. Her eyes were wide, probably from the surprise of the oracle waiting right at the entrance to meet them. Annabeth studied her. "Okay, how are we doing this?"

"Well, um... hi," Annabeth said as she waved at the mummy. It did not move. Annabeth carefully stepped around the mummy. It just stared ahead and didn't move at all. "We're going to get you out of here."

"Please don't talk to it," Reyna began as she carefully stepped around it. Annabeth moved to the bead curtain and pushed it aside. The tripod chair was still there.

"What if it gives us a prophecy?" Annabeth asked.

"No," Reyna said. Annabeth looked down. It had been terrifying the first time, but... "Don't you dare!"

"What is our next step?" Annabeth asked as she turned to look at the oracle. The mummy stood still and did not move. Annabeth sighed. It was worth a try. "Okay. I'll get the chair."

"No," Reyna shot down. She moved toward the chair. Annabeth faced her. "If you want to ask the oracle things, you can carry it."

"Okay, compromise. We make Clarisse carry it," Annabeth said. Reyna seemed to think about it. "She did say she would help us."

"Deal," Reyna said as she turned back toward the tripod. Annabeth smiled and turned toward the exit. Her heart jumped out of her chest as she found the oracle inches from her face. She had not heard it moved.

"Um, Reyna," Annabeth began. The Roman turned and swore under her breath. Mist started to pour out of the oracle's mouth. Instead of the world being changed around her, she just felt a screeching in her skull. Annabeth shot both hands to her head.

A piece of me has been taken. Many years ago. Find that piece. Find that future.

Find May Castellan.