Lassa
Since we're not too far away from Long Island yet, we fly back to camp to eat and decide what to do next on our quest. We land on the sandbar Jesse and I like to go to so the Pegasi can graze the seaweed.
"So. Libya." Jesse says and gets his plate and cup out of his bag. "How do we get there? The Pegasi?"
"No." Percy says. "Crossing the Atlantic is incredibly dangerous for Pegasi when they have riders. That's how Reyna's Pegasus Skippy died."
"So what then? We can't fly." Annabeth says. "And The Argo II broke apart at the end of the giant war. We don't exactly have another ship laying around."
"Well, maybe not a ship. But we do have a boat. My parents own a ketch they inherited from my dad's parents, remember?" I remind them.
"Think they would let us use it?" Annabeth asks.
"I think so. We'll have to go to Tybee Island to ask. I can't imagine they'd say no."
"Unless they don't want their daughter going on a super dangerous quest. They might say no so you can't go." Jesse points out.
"They won't. But if they do, I know where my dad keeps it."
"You'd steal it?" Jesse asks. "You know I'll be an accomplice to that, and it will not do me any favors winning your dad's approval."
"It's not like my dad would press charges. And taking the boat is safer than taking the Pegasi, which is our only other option. They'll let us use it."
"Alright. Then let's finish eating and go to Tybee." Annabeth says.
"Eat a light lunch. Nothing more than a snack. Trust me, my family will feed us."
…
A couple hours later, we land on the beach in Tybee in front of my house. I smile and jog to the front door and go inside.
"Mama?" I call out.
"Lassa?" She says, surprised, poking her head out of the kitchen. Her face lights up and I run over to give her a hug. "Honey, is everything okay? What are you doing home?"
"I'm good. But…That feeling you got that something big was going to happen this summer? It was right. I got my first quest."
"It's a pretty important one." Percy says, coming in the door. "And that's coming from me. I've had a few important quests in my day."
"It's true." Annabeth says.
"He's a legend." Jesse agrees.
"Oh." My mom says and lets go, turning to see our company. "Good to know. Your father's out fishing with the boys. I'll call him and tell him to come home early. In the meantime, I was starting to cook lunch. I'll make some more and fix Y'all some plates." She says and heads into the kitchen. I look at my friends with an I told you so look on my face.
While we wait for my dad, my mom makes some burgers and fries for all of us, along with some sweet tea. Jesse's hesitant, he would never try it when I tried to get him to, but he really wants my parents approval and wouldn't risk offending my mother by turning it down. I look at him as he takes a cautious sip, then gets a surprised look on his face and takes a few gulps. I smirk at him.
"Told you you'd like it." I say. He just playfully rolls his eyes at me.
While we wait for Daddy and my brothers to get back, I catch Mama up on everything that's happened over the summer. She asks Percy and Annabeth all about their time in New Rome and they surprise me by saying while they had a good time their first year of college, they miss New York and are moving back full time at the end of Summer. They'll move back into their old apartment, and Annabeth is going to be at Princeton while Percy has been accepted in the NYFD Training program. He decided he wants to be a fireman.
"That's awesome!" Jesse says. "It'll be great having you closer."
"I'm excited for it too, man." Percy smiles at him. I smile too. I'm glad how close Percy and Jesse have gotten since they both became Christians.
"Now, Percy, Lassa told me about your Journey. If you're willing to share, I'd love to hear about it first hand."
"Of Course." Percy smiles at her. "I'd love that." He says and launches into his story. We all sit and listen, enraptured, for the next hour until my Dad finally comes through the door.
"Lassa!" He says, snapping me out of my Percy daze.
"Daddy!" I run to him and he picks me up in a big hug.
"Lassa! Lassa!" Seaver and River say, hugging me as soon as my dad puts me down.
"Oh I missed Y'all!" I tell them.
"We missed you too!" River says.
"Why are you home so early?" Seaver asks.
"Oooooh it's Lassa's Boyfriend!" River says when he sees Jesse, making my face flame. Jesse just smiles at him.
"Not yet, kid! Soon enough, though." He tells him and gets up to go shake my dad's hand.
"Honey, they're in a bit of a time crunch. We've got some important things to talk about. Lassa has her first quest."
"Quest? But you're not even 13 yet!" My dad protests.
"I know that. Percy got his first quest at 12, too. I guess the Oracle doesn't really discriminate by age."
"I don't want you questing so young. You can get hurt. You're not ready."
"I don't have much of a choice, Daddy." I say, standing up a little straighter. "This is important."
"Boys, you're excused." My dad says. My brothers start to protest, but my dad shoots them a look that shuts them up and they go outside. "Let's sit down." He says and we all make our way back over to the couch. "Tell me about the quest."
"This is the Prophecy;" I say. "The Fate of all Half Bloods shall rest in her hands
The Earthshaker's daughter will quest foreign lands
The child of Hecate's magic runs deep
Invoked by Cain's spirit, a Mother to weep
Life is lost to save the rest
Monsters perish at the nest." I finish. My dad puffs out his cheeks and lets out a breath.
"Was that supposed to make us feel better?" He asks.
"No." Percy answers for me. "But you should know the truth."
"Life is lost." My mother says. "Honey, why would you even accept it?"
"Because if I don't, every half blood that gets killed by a monster will be my fault."
"How so?" My dad asks.
"Centuries ago, a daughter of Hecate cast a curse upon all half bloods to attract monsters by their scent. My quest is to unravel the curse, so monsters stop hunting us. I can't just say no."
"What are you here for? Do you need permission?" Dad asks. "If so, I'm sorry, but I'm not giving it. Monsters have been hunting half bloods for centuries, this can wait a few more years until you're older and more prepared."
"Respectfully, Sir, it can't." Jesse says, looking my dad steady in the eye. "Fighting prophecies never works well. It's dangerous. Trying to go against fate could have serious consequences. She needs to do this. But don't worry, I will give my life before I let anything happen to your daughter."
"I appreciate it Jesse, and I know you're serious, but it's hard to take that seriously coming from a 15 year old. More likely you'd just die together."
"Dad!" I protest.
"I'm sorry, Honey but it's true."
"Well then trust me." Percy says. "I'll protect her. I may have just met her last year, but She's my little sister as well as your daughter. I'll make sure she comes home safe."
"And regardless of any of that, we didn't come here to ask permission for the quest. We just need your help."
"With what?"
"It'll be dangerous to take the Pegasi across the Atlantic." Annabeth tells them. It's a multiple hour flight with no way of taking cover. We'd be a fast and easy lunch for any monster with wings or in the sea. It'd be much safer for us to sail."
"You want The Wavecrest?" My mom asks.
"Yes Ma'am."
"And if I say no?" My dad asks. "Would that force you to put the quest off?"
"No sir. It would force me into the difficult decision between taking our chances with the Pegasi or stealing the boat. You know I don't need any help getting it on the water, and even if I did, Percy's here too." I tell him. He sighs and rakes his fingers through his hair.
"This is really happening, huh?"
"Yes sir." I answer.
"Fine. The four of you spend the night. I'll get all our stuff off the boat, you can set sail at first light." He tells us. I smile at him.
"Thank you!"
"I'm holding you two to your word." He says, looking at Jesse and Percy. "Bring my daughter home safe."
"Yes Sir." Jesse tells him.
"We will." Percy assures.
…
We spend the rest of the night with my family like my dad asked. Mama makes my favorite foods for supper, and even lets me pick the movie. I smirk as my dad gives me the remote.
"How does Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses sound, Percy?" I tease.
"Oh gods no don't you dare." He breathes. I laugh and start to flip to the Titanic, but then think about how nervous my parents already are, and Child of Poseidon or not, I probably shouldn't pick a movie about a boat sinking. So instead I flip to The Princess bride.
The next morning, I give some tearful goodbyes to my parents and hug my brothers tight, then we all load up on the Wavecrest. I go ahead and let Percy and Annabeth have the master bedroom. In the room I normally share with River and Seaver, Jesse gives me the full and takes the top bunk for himself. Normally it would never in a million years be allowed for us to share a room even if there are multiple beds, but rules on quests are a little different.
Percy gets us out in the water while the rest of us unpack. Yeah, we have our backpacks, but it's so much nicer when you have a dresser. Percy comes back below deck after a while and flops down on my bed next to me.
"GOt to say, I've been on a lot of quests. And while this sounds like it might be the most dangerous one yet, so far it's also the most cushy."
"Here Here." Jesse says from his bunk. "I went on a quest with one of my brothers last year to recover our dad's sacred cattle that someone stole. We didn't shower for like two weeks and hardly ever had enough to eat. I can't believe we didn't think about bringing plates and cups with us."
"Yeah…That's something that never occurred to me or Annabeth either. Kind of embarrassing, to be honest. Good thinking on your part, Lass."
"Thanks. So how long until we reach Libya?"
"We're going at a steady 20 knots. So it'll take about a week to reach the Pillars of Hercules."
"A week of showering, fresh food, fresh clothes, this might as well be a vacation." Annabeth says, standing in the doorway. "Don't worry though, Lassa. We'll face plenty of danger and monster fights once we get into the Mediterranean. Oh, who should we send to meet Hercules? Last time Jason and Piper went, and it didn't go well. Whoever goes, don't mention Hera."
"I'll go." Percy says. "I have a bone to pick."
"Umm…Percy? Is it the best idea to pick a bone with the guy we need permission from to pass through?" I ask.
"We'll get to pass." He says. "I'm going to challenge him to a swordfight as the quest he has to give us."
"With the god of strength?" Jesse asks, "Percy, you're an amazing swordsman but you don't have the Mark of Achilles anymore."
"I didn't have it either when I was 12. And I was able to beat Ares in a swordfight then. Hercules is strong, but that's all he is. Strength has to bow to wisdom sometimes." He says, sitting up and leaning on his elbows, winking in Annabeth's direction.
"What bone is so important you pick at it?" Jesse asks. "According to Jason, he usually gives out easy quests. The only reason he didn't with him and Piper is because Hera issued the quest. Maybe me and Lassa should go, play to his ego and come back easy peasy?"
"The bone I'm picking is Zoe Nightshade. He used her on his quest to get the golden apples, but never gave her any credit. Beyond that, because she helped him she got kicked out of her family and home, and he just deserted her. She was a brave warrior and a good friend. She deserved better, and I doubt he's even thought of her in centuries. When he fights me, I'll be using the sword she gave him. He'll remember her." He says, his voice firm. I nod to him.
"Okay, then. Percy faces Hercules." I say. "Until then, let's just try and get as ready as we can be for the fight we have coming up."