Ch.12
After reaching the exit of the arena, Artemis and Percy waited until the hunters reached them from the stands. Most of them went right to Artemis to congratulate her on the win, while Zoe and Amelia walked up to Percy. Amelia beamed as she reached Percy, pulling him a hug. She hadn't got to see him after the quest, so she hadn't got the chance to thank him for saving her. Percy smiled before he pulled away before Zoe stepped forward and hugged him as well. Pulling away, Percy grinned before Amelia started to speak. "As happy as I am to see you Percy, I wasn't expecting it to be after watching Lady Artemis toss you around the arena," she said laughing.
Percy shrugged his shoulders. "My mom told her I've been training hard and she wanted to see the results. Clearly, as you guys saw, I'm not even close to her level. But then again so few people are including the gods that lasting that long is something to be happy about I suppose. "It is something to be happy about Percy," Artemis said as she walked over. "I appreciate the phrase though. Give your mom a few more years training you and we can try again." Percy nodded. "I look forward to it." She smiled before nodding back to camp. "Percy, don't you have a sleeping beauty to be waking up? It's almost breakfast." Percy's eyes widened as Amelia raised an eyebrow. Zoe, on the other hand, smirked as she knew what Artemis was talking about.
Artemis grinned before lightly pushing him towards the Big House. Percy blushed before turning and running to the Big House, with Zoe and Amelia close behind. When they reached Percy's door, Percy turned and hushed with his finger to lips, to which the girls nodded. Percy cracked open the door, and seeing Aurora was still asleep, lightly stepped inside with the girls behind him before closing the door. Amelia's eyes widened at seeing Aurora, before turning and grinning at Percy. "Percy you dog," she whispered. Percy rolled his eyes before pushing them lightly to the side of the room and walking to the edge of the bed, before sitting down next to Aurora. She was sleeping on her stomach so Percy had full access to play with her hair. While playing with it, he nudged her slightly. "Hey Sunshine, time to wake up." Aurora stirred before mumbling and drifting back to sleep. The girls in the corner snickered, watching Percy attempt to wake her up. Glaring at them, he turned back before lightly brushing her hair aside and leaning down, whispering something in her ear. He leaned back and waited for a few seconds before Aurora's eyes shot open and she sat up before she looked around murderously. Seeing Percy laughing in front of her and the girls in the corner, her murderous glare left her face before it was replaced with a regular glare.
"What the hell Percy," she said. "I needed to get you up for breakfast and you were being difficult." She narrowed her eyes before sliding out of bed and taking a step toward him. "I'm sorry can you repeat that?" She said coldly. Percy's smile vanished as he gulped before taking a step back. "It was a joke I swear! I didn't mean it!" he said quickly. She continued to glare at him before huffing and turning away, walking to the bathroom before going in and closing the door. Percy let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
The girls, on the other hand, were dying of laughter in the corner. Percy turned and glared playfully before laughing. "You girls can laugh all you want, But I told her Zoe tried to make a move on me while she was asleep." Zoe immediately stopped laughing and narrowed her eyes. "You did what," she growled at him. Percy laughed harder. "She told me during the quest to save my Mom, Aphrodite, who was the one in the limo, told her we were getting cozy. So it was an easy way to set her off." all the color drained from Zoe's face before she slowly looked towards the bathroom door. "Yea you might wanna start running," Percy said laughing. Without a second thought, Zoe turned and bolted from the room, Amelia following her out, laughing the whole way.
Percy shook his head softly before playfully rolling his eyes and sitting down at his desk to wait for Aurora. After a few minutes, the bathroom door opened and Aurora walked out. She had a stash of clothes in the bathroom, as she had changed clothes. She was wearing a sleeveless sun-themed dress, with her hair done in a waterfall braid. "How did you..," Percy stammered. Aurora smirked at his loss of words. "I have many hidden talents, Seaweed Brain," she responded. He nodded numbly, his brain not allowing him to come up with words. She smirked before walking over and sitting on his leg. "So, Zoe huh?" she said. He paled before shaking his head rapidly. "No no, that was just a joke I swear." She laughed before leaning into him. "I know I'm just teasing. I'm hungry though so I'm going to have breakfast. But you sir are going to go shower first." Percy grumbled before nodding his head. Aurora smiled before standing up and kissing him on the cheek before walking out the door.
When Percy walked out of the bathroom, he did not expect Aurora to return to the room. She was sitting at his desk with a plate of food. "I brought you food," she said. "Chiron called for a meeting to discuss what's been going on the last 4 years while we and the hunters were gone. Since you were already here, he let me bring you food so you didn't have to go there and then come straight back."
Percy nodded before putting his shirt on and sitting down at the desk after Aurora had stood up to let him sit down. After finishing up his food and freshening up for the meeting, Percy and Aurora lounged around in his room. They were lying on their bed while Percy was reading the book Annabeth had given him in the library about the moon's effect on the oceans. Aurora was curled up into his side, reading along with him.
After about 20 minutes of reading, Aurora looked at the clock. "It's time. We should head to the war room." As she sat up to stand, Percy pulled her back down. "I'm comfortable here thanks," He said. Aurora just rolled his eyes softly at him. "I know but we need to go otherwise we will be late and we won't know what's been going on," Percy grumbled before holding her tightly for a few minutes before letting go and letting her stand up. He got up and put his book away, taking note of the page he was on. "Page 104, gotta remember that," he said to himself. After they slipped their shoes on, the two headed out the door to the war room down the hall. When they arrived Percy was about to open the door before he froze, hearing his name spoken. "Where is Percy?" He heard someone ask. "He's probably chatting with the Titans considering his mom is one. Are we sure he and the girl are on our side?" Someone responded. Percy's hand drifted towards his knife as he looked at Aurora, who shared his look of shock and hatred. Right as Percy went to unsheathe his knife, he heard a loud thud and a scream from the room. Quietly cracking the door, he peeked inside and went wide-eyed. Artemis was standing behind Zoe's chair, looking murderously at the boy that Zoe had just jumped the table to try and attack.
"How dare you question him, boy, " Zoe said seething after tackling him out of his chair. "He nearly sacrificed himself to save a hunter he knew for all of two days and took himself out of the quest until the very end so everybody got to come home safe. He even defied fate to save me. He also swore to never betray Olympus to Zeus himself. You may have returned Zeus's lightning bolt and recovered the Golden Fleece for the camp, but you are nothing compared to him. Question his loyalty again boy and I will send you straight to Hades myself." With that threat hanging in the air, Zoe got off the boy before walking back to her seat.
Percy on the other hand, who watched the whole ordeal, was standing outside the door, taking deep breaths to try and control his anger. Aurora took his face in her hands before kissing him lightly, trying to take his mind off the boy's comment. After a few seconds, She felt him relax and she pulled away. "Let's go inside before we have to listen to any more snide comments." She said softly. Percy nodded before letting her open the door and take his hand before pulling him in behind her.
The counselors all turned and looked at the door, before smiling when they realized who had arrived. They gave confused looks however as Percy didn't sit down at the table but sat off to the side. Aurora whispered to him for a few moments, leading him to nod before she squeezed his hand let go of his hand, and walked to her seat that Artemis had made for her after the last meeting. "Sorry we're late, what's the situation," she asked. Annabeth was the first to shake out her thoughts and turned to speak to Aurora.
"Over the last four years, we have confirmed that Kronos is rising again. He led one of our campers, Luke Castellan, son of Hermes, to steal Zeus's master bolt at the winter solstice. Our resident son of Posideon here, Felix, went on a quest to retrieve it and return it to Zeus as a peace offering so Zeus and Posideon didn't go to war. The following summer, our tree was poisoned and Felix led a quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece. When they brought it back, however, it healed the tree too well and brought back the daughter of Zeus, Thalia Grace, whose life force kept the tree alive. This summer, we learned the Titan forces have located and have been attempting to use the Labyrinth to attack us before they siege Olympus. We've been looking to see if an entrance is in the camp, but so far we haven't found anything," she finished.
Aurora nodded as she took in all the information. When she went to speak, the ground started to shake. Everyone in the room turned to look at Percy, whose eyes were glowing a mix of silver and sea green. After a minute, the shaking stopped as Percy stood up and left the room, slamming the door behind him. Aurora looked at the door with worry and concern evident in her eyes, as Annabeth turned to look at her. "What's wrong with him," she asked. "He heard Felix's comments as we arrived. Considering he almost lost his mother to the Titans, he didn't appreciate having his loyalties questioned," she responded.
Zoe, who was listening closely to the conversation, turned back to Felix, with a growing look of disdain on her face. Felix cowered even further in his chair, trying to hide from her glare. "You better hope he doesn't do anything stupid boy, or it's your funeral." He gulped and nodded swiftly. Zoe smirked before turning back to the others. "Is there anything else to go over," she asked. Chiron and Artemis both shook their heads. "Zoe, please go with Aurora and find Percy before he does something stupid to himself or someone else," Artemis said, looking down at her lieutenant. Zoe nodded. "Of course my lady." With that, she stood up and followed Aurora out, who was standing at the door.
"Where do you think he went," Zoe asked. Aurora looked around before grinning, pointing to a path made by campers that led into the forest. "Looks like they didn't want to get in his way," she said. Zoe laughed before running down the path, Aurora close behind. When they arrived at the end of the path, they walked into a clearing. Percy was standing and looking up unimpressed at a large group of boulders, dubbed Zeus's fist by the campers. Aurora started to talk forward before Zoe put her arm in front of her, shaking her head and pointing at Percy.
Aurora turned and looked at Zoe before seeing where she was pointing, and turned back to Percy. He was sitting on one knee with a hand on the ground, before standing up and stomping the ground. The ground shook as the boulders dislodged from each other, rolling around before smashing into each other. The girls watched in amazement at the destructive power he had, before looking confused as Percy slipped between two rocks and disappeared. After a minute or two, he reappeared. The girls walked up behind him, carefully avoiding the rubble lying around. "It's here," Percy said as they approached. "What's here," Zoe asked. "The Labyrinth entrance. It's here." Aurora went wide-eyed. "Zoe, you're faster than me, run back to camp and retrieve Artemis Annabeth, and Chiron if you see him on the way." She said, looking at Zoe. Zoe nodded before turning around and sprinting back the way they came.
Aurora turned and walked over to Percy, wrapping her arms around his front and leaning against his back. "Are you okay Percy?" He nodded. "I'm fine, just a bit irritated. I don't blame the boy for being suspicious, in his position I probably would be too. That doesn't mean they don't bother me a bit though." She nodded before letting go and turning him around, hugging him again and leaning into his chest. They stood there for a few minutes until Percy could see Zoe returning, with Artemis, Annabeth, and Chiron in tow. When they reached the two demi-titans, they stopped and Annabeth stepped forward.
"You found the entrance?!" Percy nodded before detaching himself from Aurora and leading the group over to the pile. He slipped in quickly, with the girls behind him. Entering a small cove in the group, he pointed at a wall, where a glowing delta symbol was visible. Artemis nodded before leading the way back out. When they got back outside, she turned to Percy. "How did you know it was there?" she asked. "My father is Poseidon. I felt the ground shaking underneath here the last time we played Capture the Flag. I didn't bother checking what it was until Annabeth mentioned it at the meeting." Artemis nodded before stepping back. "I must report this to Olympus, I will be back soon." And with that, she glowed silver before flashing away.
Chiron turned to the remaining group. "Let us return to camp, we will plan what to do from there. Annabeth, I would advise that you potentially prepare to lead a quest. We could use a way to navigate the maze or at the very least figure out how to stop Luke from using it." Annabeth nodded before the group headed back to camp. When they returned to camp, Annabeth made a Beeline for the library to find whatever information she could on the maze. Chiron left to return to his master archery class, reassuring Percy and Aurora he would call for them when Artemis returned from Olympus with the news. Zoe left to go check in with the hunters, leaving the two to themselves.
"What do you want to do now Percy," Aurora asked. "I think a beach visit will do me some good," he replied. She nodded before they headed back to the Big house to change. When they changed and arrived at the beach, they went to play in the water. After a while of laughing and playing, Percy noticed a glint of gold under the water. Suddenly he heard a voice in his head. "I know I haven't been much of a father to you Percy, and I apologize for that. If possible, I'd like to try and make it up to you. Bring your spear with you and meet me little ways out in the water." Percy nodded before turning to Aurora, who looked confused at his concentrated expression. He pulled his necklace down, summoning his spear to his hand. Her eyes widened as she saw his spear. "Percy what's going on," she asked. "My father wants to meet me in the ocean. I'll be right back." She looked shocked but nodded before he turned and dived into the water, shooting through it at incredible speeds.
After a bit of travel, Percy stopped and floated in the water. After a few seconds, the water started swirling before a man appeared, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and fishermen's shorts. "Hello Percy," the man said, smiling. "Father," he replied. "I truly am sorry for not being there for you Percy. But I am eternally grateful to Selene for taking you in. She will have the support of the sea forever." Percy smiled at that. "Let me see your spear, Percy," Poseidon said, holding out his hand. Percy handed him his spear and watched as it glowed a sea green before Posideon handed it back. "You now can command the sea with that spear. And take this as well." He handed Percy a golden metal piece, in the shape of a U, with a clasp on it. Attach it to your spear," he said. Percy clasped it onto his spear and watched in amazement as his spear transformed into a silver trident with gold streaks, similar to that of his fathers, which currently rested on Poseidon's back.
Now you are a true son of the seas. Your older brother has his own, albeit different than yours. You can change it back to a spear by grabbing the area where you clasped it on. When in trident form, your power over water is increasingly stronger. It's made of Olympic silver, courtesy of Selene, and Olympic gold, courtesy of me. It will not hurt mortals, but you can hurt any Greek-based being with it, including the gods. I would not recommend attending that though, stick to monsters," he said laughing. Percy laughed as well before giving his father a hug, which Poseidon happily returned. Artemis should have returned to camp by now, so you must go to prepare for that. Good luck Percy." "Thank you, Dad," Percy said. Poseidon smiled as he faded into a sea-green mist. Percy turned to admire his trident before the thought occurred to him. "How will I carry the gold piece," he thought, as he transformed his trident back to his spear.
At that moment, the gold piece glowed green before changing into a sea-green chain. "You can wear this on your cargo pants that love you so much," he heard in his head in his father's voice. Percy laughed before shooting through the water, back towards the beach where he assumed Aurora would still be.
A.N I apologize for not getting a chapter out yesterday, as I was occupied all day. to make up for it I will release chapter 13 a little bit later today. thank you guys for your support on the story, and let me know what you like/ don't like about it!
