His breath hitched as he laid eyes on the familiar skyline that he had loved so much. The accent was something he had missed dearly, he went as far as putting a bit more force in bumping people or pushing past them to get to the Empire State Building. His voice of shouting, 'Watch it' to tourists mixed in with the actual locals.
"What do we do now?" They were standing in front of the entrance, in their tattered clothes. Annabeth and Grover hadn't had a shower in so long, and Percy was starting to smell it. In a way, it was showing him how long they had been out on their quest.
"Now we go in." Annabeth said and pulled the two of them inside of the building. She was glad to have touched the ground after flying on the pegasus for more than a few hours, but she was more at ease because of the pegasus that Triton gave them, it wasn't Poseidon's, who her mothers hated. Percy had blushed when they touched the ground and she was still holding onto him.
"600th floor please." Annabeth said to the guard, the guard looked bored and the way his face lit up says that her asking for the 600th floor is one of the most amusing things to ask for.
"We don't have that, the highest point only goes up to the 102th floor." The guard said with a coy smile. He looked around, "Where are your parents? Or are you here with your school?"
Annabeth raised her eyebrow at the guard, "No, I'm here with Camp Half-Blood and Zeus' missing weapon." The guard raised his eyebrow and put a hand over his pocket. "Our camp director said that it makes mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers."
"Fine." The guard bit and grabbed a pass out of the elevator. "Stick it in the special access and get out now before that thing explodes." The man said and practically pushed the three of them into the elevator.
Percy had been thrown around the whole day and quite frankly, he was getting tired of it. The guard redirected a group of people to another elevator while he nervously threw looks back at the three. "Smooth." Percy said with a small smile to Annabeth.
"People can't deny power." She replied back with a hum, a smile played at her lips and Percy was just glad to not see her stress. He wondered what she would look like when they're gray and old. He can imagine it won't be long with how much pressure she puts herself under.
As someone who considers himself her friend, he wants to share that pressure, that burden.
Grover couldn't stop picking at his horns, they were small and barely peeking above his curls. Percy just grabbed for his bag that was around Annabeth's shoulder and grabbed out his stress ball before handing it to him. The satyr looked slightly confused and smiled, "thank you, Percy."
"Of course Grover." Percy nodded at him and pursed his lips as the elevator music began playing. Then it stopped and the demigod son of Poseidon finally felt at ease again, instead, when the doors opened, his heart exploded at the view right in front of him.
They walked over paths that could have come straight out of ancient Greek, albeit a bit more modern. Percy could see some similarities to Camp Jupiter, but his ears perked up to the sound of giggles.
A hand grabbed at his arm and Annabeth raised her eyebrows at him, "Are you really getting distracted by the sound of naiads giggling?" She questioned, "We have a bolt to return."
Percy blinked and frowned at Annabeth, "No I wasn't." He argued, "I just heard them." Annabeth let go of his arm and rolled her eyes.
The main palace reminded him of Hades' palace, which was even worse because now Percy was feeling bad for the Lord of the Underworld. He had missed his home so much that he had to build his own.
In a way Percy had done the same with his friends, he had made his military school experience into somewhat of a family. They entered the palace and he was glad to not have done this all on his own.
He raised his eyebrows when he felt Annabeth open the backpack. She took the master bolt in her hands and held it out to Percy. "Take it." She said and explained when she saw Percy's confused face. "You're the forbidden child, this might ensure your safety." She said and Percy only grabbed the bolt because of her concerned face.
He never wanted to take credit for something the three of them did. He just wanted to go back to Camp Jupiter and maybe visit his mom when it is safe enough. Personally, he thinks that he should train more before coming back home, only to visit. Longer and his mother might get hurt again.
They stepped into the throne room and he looked at the thrones, they all looked the same. Not counting the seated gods, it must have been the first time Percy saw so many gods in a room, which sounded like a bad beginning of an even worse joke.
The first god Percy saw was Zeus, who reminded him of a wall street, purely because of the obnoxious pinstripe suit which fitted the dramatic flair around him. He looked proud, but the anger stormed through the facade he put up.
Right next to him was someone who undeniably looked like him and his brother, Triton. His father was dressed like a common fisherman, wearing a beach shirt you only see in tacky vacation movies paired with khaki shorts that would be used in barbequing advertisements. Poseidon's skin was tan, like Percy's. His hands were scarred unlike his brother's, which was in a way odd to Percy. The brooding look, Percy could recognize and he wouldn't doubt that Grover could recognize it too. It was the look that he always had at school, after his first fight with Clarisse.
Percy stepped forward and knelt at his father's throne, he could already hear Triton muttering some Atlantean curses and shaking his head. "Father," Percy said, loud and clear. The smell of ozone overpowered his nose and the cracking of the bolt made his heart jump every few seconds.
"Why not address the master of the house first, boy?" The deep voice called out and Percy kept his head down. Percy is of the sea, not of the skies. He had addressed the master of his house.
"Brother, the boy defers to his father, as it should be." Poseidon said and Percy sucked in a breath. The voice he had heard before even if he didn't hear it recently, it was a voice that would leave an impression on you.
"You still claim him as your own blood? A sired child that goes against our sacred oath." Zeus said and the bolt cackled even more in his hands.
"I have admitted my offense, now, let's hear him speak." His heart dropped when his father talked about him, like he was a mistake. He clenched his jaw instead, he had been through worse, he had been through the jeering of wolves who can be awful.
"After that, I shall make up my mind, to reason whether or not to throw this boy off of my divine property. Zeus said.
"Perseus, look at me." His father had called out and Percy tilted his head to finally come eye to eye with his father. There was nothing he could read and it was killing him. He thought that this might be the day where his father would be proud of him but instead he was faced with nothing.
Maybe he was disappointed that his other children would have been able to retrieve the master bolt in only under a few hours. Percy was glad that his father was never a constant in his life, the disappointment didn't hit him as harshly like his mother being disappointed in him. "Address Lord Zeus, boy," Why call him boy, when he can be called your son, or by his given name. "Tell him the tale."
"A quest was issued to me, by a son of Apollo in California." He emphasized California. Uneasy glances were shared under the Olympians. "I headed out and met up with Annabeth and Grover, and being approached by Lord Ares confirmed that we were supposed to continue the quest together." Ares grumbled in his seat as he lowered himself, out of the sight of his fellow Olympians. "We went to the underworld, confronted Lord Hades only to discover that we already had the symbols of power in Annabeth's backpack that Lord Ares had gotten her ever since she had lost it in the forest." He had powered through the last part, so that the gods got the whole idea and not only one point, that Annabeth wasn't at fault.
The silence was loud and the crackle of the heart was the only thing that could slow down his pacing heart. "I fought Lord Ares for the Master Bolt and for the Helmet of Darkness. The helmet was returned to Lord Hades and I now bring you the Master Bolt." Percy placed it down at his feet.
The master bolt flew into the opened palm and when Zeus' finger wrapped around, it flared with electricity. Instead of the metallic thing Percy held, Zeus actually held a thunderbolt, hissing with energy that made him feel like he had just gotten paddles to make his heart beat again.
"The boy tells the truth." Zeus said and Percy had to refrain from smiling because it was obvious that the man didn't like to not have an opportunity to smite someone. "The actions of Ares are unlike him, though."
"Proud and impulsive," Poseidon said and Percy glanced at Annabeth who was squirming under her mother's intense gaze. She fidgeted with the blessed cap in her hands, just like Grover was fidgeting with his stress ball.
"Lord." Percy spoke up and the two gods turned to look at him, both feeling that they were spoken to. "Lord Ares didn't act alone, I believe that someone else had come up with the plan." The dreams, the feelings and the observations were enough, "Lord Ares had mentioned something about dreams and I think we," He glanced at Grover and Annabeth, "Have been used to start a war." His quest mates looked surprised, even though Percy had voiced his thoughts to the Lord of the Underworld. Annabeth had a look of disbelief on her face. "It was something older than the gods, he sounds like it."
The two powerful brothers looked at each other and the only thing Percy had managed to understand was father. They were talking so fast and hushed that Percy couldn't understand Ancient Greek.
"We will not speak of this no more," Zeus interrupted Percy's father, "I must fo and purify my bolt, to remove the human taint." He rose up from his chair and looked at Percy. The harsh look disappeared into something more appreciative. "You've done me a service, but I must ask you to remain here for the rest of the day while your questmates head back to Camp."
"My quest mates helped-"
"Sure they did." Percy blinked at the tone Zeus used, "Remain here and I shall be back. To discuss your faith," He looked over to the daughter of Athena and the satyr, something in him must have thought that it was an unusual group that had banded together, that had met each other in different time frames, but before they were officially bound to one another in a quest.
Not wanting to be pulled by his t-shirt again, Percy casted his eyes onto the ground, too weak to see the divine power of the gods. He took in a breath and turned around to face Annabeth and Grover, behind them stood a god, Hermes, Percy supposes by the way he had wings attached to his shoes, as its headphones.
He was there to take Annabeth and Grover away. He let out a breath as he was suddenly embraced by Annabeth, "Don't say something stupid," She muttered, "Sometimes I think your brain is made out of seaweed." She said quietly.
Percy let out an amused breath, "You think my brain is made out of seaweed?" He questioned. He felt Annabeth nod against his shoulder and then mutter something, "Did you just call me seaweed brain?" Percy questioned and blinked a few times.
He rolled his eyes when she pushed herself off of him. "I did, and I will continue calling you that when you arrive at camp." She said.
"Fine," Percy said with a poker face, he didn't want to show her how much he liked the thought of having a nickname. "I can't call you Hippo anymore, can I?" He questioned and she glared at him.
He then fist bumped Grover's weak fist and smiled at the satyr. "Thank you, for forgiving me after how I acted towards you at school."
"Thank you for never tormenting me like your other classmates." He retorted and then they were led away by Hermes. He was all alone in the throne room, well, he thought so until he heard the crackle coming from the hearth. When he made eye contact with the goddess, he immediately felt at ease in the bright throne room.
She looked like a nine-year old, but the power she emitted showed Percy that she had enough power to make him intimidated. He approached her and bowed, "May I join you, Lady Hestia?" He had heard the tales about her from his mother, how she had been the first of the children from Rhea.
It was still insane to him, how mere bedtime stories were now his reality. Lady Hestia allowed for him to sit down on the bench next to hers and Percy took in a breath. "Do not fret, Perseus." She said calmly and he felt the calmth wash over him.
"It is because of my heritage, is it not?" He questioned and Hestia did not flicker as much as she did like Ares or Mars did. The only thing about her that changed were her cheekbones and her posture. But she was still the warm person she was, only more stern.
"Your heritage has proven itself to be difficult, that is true." Vesta said, "But we had not seen a demigod like you before, there have been countless legacies that have mixed pantheons, but none like you, none of the gods with the two pantheons."
It was as if a cold bucket of water was thrown over him, he shuddered as if he felt it. "Will this be my last day alive?" He questioned silently.
"If I had a voice in the council, I would have voted for your life to be lived, but alas I do not." Vesta said, "You had your chance to prove yourself, even if it only was for two days. I am sure that Lady Lupa would vouch for you if she had a voice on the council as well."
Percy hung his head and nodded, "I just wish to say goodbye to my mother, if this were to be my last day alive. Maybe even say goodbye to Annabeth, think of a nickname to leave her with."
"And the satyr?"
"Apologize for my days of not talking to him." Percy said, "I wish to apologize to Grover because my missing friend left a gap in the presence where I have found my comfort in. I'd like to say to Frank that he would always have me, but if it was my last day, I would tell him to visit my mother and stay good friends with Reyna."
"And what would you tell your friend?"
"That she and everyone left such an impression on me, that it is like a beauty spot, something that adds to my appeal. She is a fighter and will make dues without me, as she always has been able to do. But I'd say that I am sorry that I can't be able to accompany her, to be in her presence or to merely just speak a word."
"Ares had done you a favor to get you to the underworld," Vesta said and Percy looked up at her, his eyebrows shot up in bewilderment. "The coin was a favor that you gave to Charon, I don't believe that with the amount of drachma the three of you had on you, that you would have been able to convince the ferryman."
"Favors are worth more than drachma?" Percy questioned but he already was afraid of what she would say.
"They are worth a lot more, countless more." Vesta said, "Your call to the underworld will come soon, but not in the way you thought it will." Her face shifted from high cheekbones to chubby ones and from her older face to a younger one. Hestia sat before him now. "You have caught the eyes of many gods, including mine. I commend you for your sense of family and friends, as I hope that my family will have that sense for you as well."
Percy took in a shaky breath and he gave her a reassuring smile, mostly for himself. "I spent nearly two months in the forest being conditioned and trained by Lupa," He said, "I have not seen my mother until three days ago and I have not had any break if you don't count the bit of sleep I have gotten in a praetor's home."
"It is a foul world that we have to live in," She had turned into her roman counterpart and it was fascinating to Percy to see the switch be made right in front of him. "Make the best of it while you still can, one with that much power can't be safe from dangers."
Percy fell quiet and that was the end of their conversation. He preferred her Greek counterpart, the one who would reassure him and not give him the harsh truth. He didn't mind the harsh truth either, but he was only thirteen, he should be thinking about making sure that his uniform was complete and that his only white t-shirt had no food stains on it.
The doors opened again and Percy looked up, dragging himself away from the thoughts that raced through his head. The doors opening was just a distraction for the flashes of light that bursted out in the corner of his eyes, the Olympians had flashed back into the throne room after only half an hour.
Percy walked over to the middle of the throne room and held his head up high, clenching his jaw. Fate was out of his hands, and it had been spun maybe even before his birth. He should accept it, but he can't help but think childishly that he could grab his own string and dance the devil's dance for centuries to come.
"Perseus Jackson, you stand before us to be judged." Zeus said and Percy could feel the interested eyes of a bright god. "For he is a forbidden child, born out of oath." Zeus said and looked around, "Anyone else, a reason?"
"He is a child of both pantheons," Ares spoke up and it might be one of the more intelligent things he had said. Percy's attitude towards Ares faltered a bit, Vesta had told him that Ares had done him a favor. "A potential for chaos."
"A potential for change," Hermes spoke up, adding onto the conversation. "With our campers being uneasy, Perseus might be good, to both camps." His appearance flickered and he put a hand up to his temple.
"He has debts to be owed." Apollo spoke up, a curious smile on his face as he studied Perseus. "I say let him fulfill them and let him live nonetheless of the debts. He is already chosen to be Neptune's ambassador."
He now looked at his father, the unwavering image, the man wore a proud smile. "That he is, for I do not favor the Romans but the Greeks." The god said and looked at his brother, "My son can restore the favor that the Romans need," His expression was stormy, "For my temple there is only a mere shed with a rotting fruit."
Percy raised his eyebrows. "He can be a threat to Olympus." Athena spoke up and Percy turned to the person that he could recognize Annabeth in, they had the same pride, keeping their chin up.
"I will do errands for the gods," Percy spoke up. "I already owe a few gods a debt, as soon as I work those away I can do errands. Something that none of you can do like interference with mortal lives." Lupa had emphasized on that, that gods can't interfere in everything.
The Olympians looked at one another and Zeus tapped his chair. All of them quieted down and regained their attention to the head of the Olympian house. "I am sure many of us would benefit from it," Zeus must have liked the thought of being able to interfere with mortal lives again, only through a medium. "It is decided, Perseus Jackson will do errands-" Poseidon whispered a few words to his brother, "Within the boundaries of the mortal body."
"Dismissed." Percy casted his eyes down to the ground as soon as the first god started to brighten. His chest heaved and the pressure disappeared. He was going to live. One of the last gods to disappear was Poseidon, Hermes and Apollo, both staying behind for a few more minutes.
"You might regret that," Hermes grinned, "Being the errand boy of the gods can be quite tiring." He said and Percy just gave the god a small smile. "If you ever need anything." The god handed him a business card with a word in all capital letters, 'PRAY4ME'.
Percy let out a snort and thanked the god of travels before being approached by the god of sun. "I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors, Perseus." Apollo said and took back his hand after nearly reaching out for Percy's shoulder. "The best of luck." He repeated before flashing away, out of Percy's sight.
As soon as they were alone, Poseidon finally spoke up. "I am sorry that I couldn't do more." The god said and Percy saw himself in him, except for the thick beard. He had apologized to his mother like that, but was a lot more desperate.
"I don't think that there was a lot to be done." Percy said and blinked at his father. "You put Ed up as our neighbor, but he was really just someone to eliminate threats." He stated and his father nodded.
"You befriended Ed." The god said, "Quite an accomplishment, Perseus. He was very closed off," His father gave him a praising look and Percy's casted his eyes at the ground. The feeling of pride had welled up inside of him but he shouldn't feel that, it was just some god who called himself his father despite never having been there for him.
"Thank you." Percy said quietly. He looked up at his father who had placed a hand upon his shoulder. He had a serious look in his eyes and Percy stared back into the same eyes he sees in the mirror.
"You have done something grand for me, son." Poseidon said, "You have a great task ahead of you. Show me your weapon!" The hand on his shoulder was lifted and Percy took a step back, pulling on his necklace as he did.
Percy held in his hands, a bronze and golden sword. His father looked at the two weapons in his hands and nodded approvingly. "I can work with that." He reached out for the sword and clicked his tongue. "Foolish boy, always too quick with giving his gifts. Your brother hadn't thought this through." The weapon disappeared and returned to his necklace. "If I may have your necklace, I think that we need to hide that tattoo before you head over to the Greeks. I am glad that the daughter of Athena hadn't taken notice of it."
Percy was glad about that as well, the mist had played a weird game around Ares and Percy's sword fight. He had seen the thick veil around it, mortals thought they were having a gun fight. "It was too early, or else the Fates wouldn't have hidden it." His father said, trying to reassure his son's racing thoughts. He had said it so softly that Percy could have imagined a life with him, a mortal him, living in the house with his mother and seeing him on weekends when he came back home from military school.
The sudden action of his fingers wrapping around the necklace made Percy's throat swell up in panic, it was a gift of the first person he could call family outside of his mother and his father was going to change it. He kept quiet but in his head he was hoping that it wasn't going to change.
A light blue shine came out between the gaps of his fists and Percy saw the fist turn into a paler color, tightening around it. Percy felt relieved when the charm remained in his hand, only the chain had turned into a leather band. It still pained his heart to see his treasured necklace be changed. "This will keep your tattoo hidden from the Greek demigods." Percy curiously looked up at his father to see his change, from Greek to Roman, but he shouldn't have been surprised to see no change. He was a child of Rome and of Greece. "Your Roman weapons remain."
"The swords?" Percy questioned.
His father nodded and pulled a pen out of his pocket. "I had an old friend of mine hold onto this, for a true hero." He held it out for his son and Percy hesitantly grabbed a hold of it, carefully so as to not drop it. He had been deceived by things before, not knowing that his necklace had held weapons before he had to use it. This pen could be a pen with godly unlimited ink or it could be a weapon, just hidden as a pen. "He had already heard about your work in the quest, I might be biased, but he had given approval that you should get a hold of the sword."
"Sword?" Percy questioned and motioned at himself with the pen. It didn't look like a lot but the small engraving on the side told its name. "Anaklusmos." Percy read perfectly. Maybe he should make his notes in ancient Greek, maybe then he'll get better grades.
The cap was in his left hand while the sword was in his right hand, he looked at the shimmering bronze, it was double-edged just like his Roman swords. Percy capped the sword and his father motioned for him to press on the pen. "Theodotus. Given to God, but you are of my blood, deserving of the mortal blade." His father said proudly. "Your brother had won it in favor of the navy from ancient Corinth."
Percy took a hold of the weapon as it was handed to him and he nodded, putting the cap on it. "Thank you, father." Percy said, the word 'father' felt foreign on his tongue. He felt lost at the moment, still on Olympus and across the country, away from his mother. "What do I do now?" He asked.
"Now you go to the place where you belonged in the first place, Camp Half-Blood." His dislike for the Romans was still present and Percy suddenly felt the urge to defend the place where Frank and Reyna lived. "You'll stay there for the rest of the summer." His father said, "Then you go to New Rome, there your errands for the gods will begin."
Percy nodded and the doors opened, his father looked disappointed at the sunlight that fell on the two of them. His father didn't want to leave either. "Stay safe, Perseus. Iris messages your mother when you arrive at the camp." His father put a pouch of drachma in his hand, it was only a small one but Percy assumes that he can call enough people with it.
He walked through the opened door and the flash of light indicated that his father had already disappeared to do what Percy presumes would be the godly duties that were interrupted by the meeting that Zeus had called to discuss his fate.
He was stared at and pointed at by some magical creatures up on Olympus, he made sure to walk a little pace faster. In no sense was he excited about being treated like a zoo attraction.
Lonely was the feeling that welled up inside of him, normally he had his Clarisse, Frank and Reyna by his side, or his mother, or the pack of wolves that he had gotten so attached to, or the two new friends that were by his side, Annabeth and Grover.
He felt like he had gotten real close to Grover, despite having a rough start. He reached out for the elevator buttons and clicked them. His stomach dropped slightly as the machinery lowered him back to solid ground that wasn't divine.
His pulse sounded inside of his head and he let out a breath of relief as he touched the ground. As the metal doors opened the voices of mortals sounded and he felt at ease, he was back in the city again and everything was loud in a good way. The way where only if you listened, you might be able to make out what anyone is saying.
Pushing between the tourist following a tour guide and following the stream to the exit of the building, out of the revolving door, his irrational fear as a smaller kid. Normally, Percy enjoyed hearing people talk, but the random strangers had never called out for his name. "Perseus!" His full name was the rarest thing for somebody to call out, "Perseus! Over here!"
He had recognized the voice, he turned his head to look left and right. Finally, the turning of the head stopped and it landed on a classic yellow cab with a man leaning against it, wearing a valet outfit. "Lord Hermes?" Percy questioned.
The man gave Percy a bright smile. He reminded Percy of a tv-character, wearing his red velvet suit with the cap that is the cherry on top. The god opened the door to the taxi and motioned for Percy to step in. "We need to have a chat, I'll bring you to Camp Half-Blood in the meanwhile."
Percy blinked and tightened the hold on his backpack. "I'm the god of roads, Perseus. We'll get out of New York City in the blink of an eye." The man smiled charmingly and Percy nodded. He is useful now, and the Olympians know it. He owed a debt that had to be paid and he was paying because he was a forbidden child.
Percy settled in the back behind Hermes and looked the man in the eyes through the mirror. Blue eyes, shining like sapphire, stared back at him. "The kids at Camp Half-Blood are finishing up their final activity now, so you won't miss the campfire. That is a first experience for many." He said with an amused tone while his eyes stayed serious.
Percy looked away and outside of the window. They were on the highway now and it was just like Hermes had said, in the blink of an eye they would be out of New York City. He wanted to relax, despite sitting in a taxi cab with a god, he finally did.
"I'm sorry to ask Perseus, but I might have to ask for the first errand. Reserve an appointment, so to speak." Hermes said and Percy looked at him through the rear-view mirror again. His hand twitched as he saw the genuine concern in his eyes, a kind of affection that he hadn't seen in his own father.
"That's fine," Percy said quietly, "I open my reservation books in September though."
"Your father made that clear to me." Hermes' smile faded a bit. "It can wait until the end of September even, but I'd like to get a headstart when it comes down to her." The way Hermes said 'her' made him remember the way his mother used to talk about his father. Their first meeting on the beach, barefoot on the sand and barely touching the waves.
"Of course, Lord Hermes." Percy agreed.
The man nodded and he genuinely appreciated it. "You're a good kid, Perseus." Percy clenched his jaw and nodded, most don't see him as a good kid, a delinquent mostly. "Could you do one thing, for when you arrive?"
"Sure."
"Deliver that gift to my son, the head of the cabin one, please." He requested and Percy nodded. The man's mood changed from a serious one to a happy one, gleaming at who had stepped out of the halted car Percy. "Destination is past the tree there and at the big farmhouse. Thank you for riding with Hermes Express."
Then it drove away, slowly and then as fast as one can see it go. Percy blinked a few times as he watched it disappear with his bag in his hand. He pursed his lips, not knowing what to make of his day and walked up the hill with the last of sunlight that was left to guide him.
Past the big pine tree and down the hill again, Percy walked. He couldn't deny it anymore, he was lost. "Percy!" A voice called out and little horns appeared from between the strawberry bushes. "Perce!" A satyr popped out and Percy relaxed again, pushing his new pen into his pockets.
"Don't scare me like that, Grover." He breathed out, his heart had raced enough for a day. He was already exhausted and hadn't recovered from the air inside of the underworld. Grover fell in step with him and he supposes that they are following the path to the Big House.
"Scare you like that?" Grover repeated, raising his eyebrows at him. "You scared us!" He said loudly, gaining the attention of nymphs trying to sleep. They shushed him and he sheepishly waved, "Sorry!" He whispered loudly, and focused his attention on Percy again.
"Why?" Percy asked. The Big House was hidden between the trees, and only the front was exposed to the camp. They walked past the side of the house and the front porch was in sight.
"The gods don't ask you to stay behind when you're a forbidden child." He whispered, "We thought you died!" Grover explained.
"I knew you still lived." A voice said and the two friends jumped away from the house. Percy put a hand over his racing heart. Annabeth looked down at the two from the porch. "Good to see that you made it in one piece, Percy."
"I'm glad that I am still in one piece too." He said and smiled at her. She was already forgiven for scaring him like that. Percy clapped Grover on his back and walked onto the porch where Percy stood in front of a table. The god Dionysus sat at the table with a diet coke in front of him and there sat Mr. Brunner, in a wheelchair.
"Peter Johnson, welcome." In his purple eyes, madness swirled and Percy just nodded, accepting the nickname.
"Thank you, Lord Dionysus." Percy said and gave him a small bow.
"You don't have to do that, Percy." Mr. Brunner said, "It will only make expectations that other campers will treat him the same way."
"Like a god?" Percy questioned and frowned, confused.
"He can't help it, Chiron." Dionysus spoke up, "It is in his nature to uphold the structure of respecting gods. Seeing as godly appearances only happen during frugal times." That made Mr. Brunner, now revealed as Chiron, raised his eyebrows in understanding.
"That's-"
"Rare. Never happens." Dionysus said and waved. "Sit down, Annie Bell. Entertain Chiron with your heroic story. You were at the part where you met Peter Johnson in the diner."
"Annabeth." The blonde corrected him with a bored tone. Maybe this was the way they talked to one another, Percy blinked at it. Annabeth stood up straight after leaning against the railing and sat down at the table. "I'll see you at the campfire, yeah?" She asked.
"I think so?" Percy answered and glanced at the god of wine in front of him. Chiron shook his head.
"He'll join you after I get him settled in the Hermes cabin."
"But he already knows that his father is Poseidon." Annabeth argued and Percy nearly visibly recoiled at the tone she took with the god.
"Poseidon hasn't officially claimed him yet." Dionysus said firmly. "He'll stay in the Hermes cabin until he is claimed." Annabeth looked over his head, as if waiting for something to happen. "Don't expect too much, Annie Bell. We were all doing our godly duties until father called us for a meeting. To lose so much precious time." The god clicked his tongue and shook his head. "That stress could make someone go mad."
Annabeth looked at Percy before nodding and shutting her mouth, letting the god speak. "You got nothing to do, satyr?" Grover bleated nervously and shook his head. "Satyr, bring him to the Hermes cabin. Chiron and I have to finish our round of pinochle"
Grover bowed and nudged Percy out and away from the front porch. "Sorry about that, Mr. D can be quite-"
"Mad?" Percy questioned and Grover nodded, afraid. "He's the god who turned sailors into dolphins, right?" He questioned. He glanced back at the Big House and he was convinced that he saw a bit of purple light stare back at him.
"The very one." Grover bleated. "I'm fine with being half goat, don't need to be a dolphin." Percy let out an amused breath. They approached the cabins and Percy could count twelve, instead of the five barracks, like at Camp Jupiter. He couldn't complain, he had only been at the Roman camp for a day or two before he had to leave. At least he was staying for the remaining summer.
Grover knocked on a cabin door and it opened. "Grover?" A blonde guy that Percy had seen before, but couldn't place. "Oh, new camper." Grover looked like he was trying to say something but the head of the Hermes cabin just gave him a stern look. "You should go before Mr. D gets angry with satyrs being outside after hours." He said and Grover frowned, confused at the behavior.
The satyr left Percy with the blonde guy. He stepped inside, "So unclaimed?" Blonde guy questioned and rummaged through a chest that was slid out from under the bed.
"Poseidon is my father." Percy answered. "He just hasn't claimed me yet."
"Ah, right." The blonde said and it finally kicked in where Percy had recognized Luke from. The bus, on Reyna's birthday. They were heading towards the beach and Reyna had disappeared the next day, or so. "I'm Castellan."
"Jackson," Percy introduced himself with his last name. Maybe that was the way things are run at Camp Half-Blood. It surely was at military school where only close friends call each other by their first name. "You're the guy from the bus." He was a lot more friendly than he was on the bus.
The guy looked surprised before masking it, "Right," He said and closed his mouth. "That bus." His mood had gotten sour and it was as if he was right back on that bus, right besides Luke who didn't have the nasty scar on his face. "Why are you here so late?"
"I was on a quest." Percy said, "The gods held me back to decide whether I should be killed or not." Then Percy let out a breath, like he couldn't believe it himself.
Castellan closed the chest abruptly and said, "I think I have some extra stuff for you outside." He said and stood up, away from the chest. "Follow me."
Percy dropped his bag in a corner and followed the head of the Hermes cabin into the woods. The foul mood had disappeared and they stopped by a creek. Percy would have used the water as a small hiding spot for his stuff. "You have a stash of stuff here?" He questioned.
"What's that in your pocket?" Castellan asked and Percy thought he was going to get robbed by the son of whose father is the god of thieves. Then relief spread through him, he pulled the small box out of his pocket, it was wrapped neatly.
"Hermes said that I had to give it to the head of the Hermes cabin." Percy said and held it out to Castellan. "Here."
The blonde took a hold of it with hesitant hands and opened it, "It's a medical solution, to get rid of my scar." He scowled and the scar on his face deepened. "That useless pathetic thing that they call a father."
Percy frowned, "He was quite nice-"
Castellan snapped his fingers and a sudden fire started and Percy's feet. It had burned a small hole into his sole and the fire extended to the path of grass next to him. Out of the pitch black something crawled out, it had eight legs and a stinger.
His hand wandered down to his pocket and the angry voice of Castellan sounded, and Percy realized that the head of Hermes was the third member of the quest, Luke. The one who had slowed down the quest, the one who was a hindrance to Annabeth's chance to show her talents. "Shouldn't do that if I were you," Luke said smugly, "Already replaced me on my quest, but you can't replace someone who is alive when you're dead."
Even he knew that it was important for Annabeth to show her talents to her mother, to be worthy of the gift she was given. "Luke." He breathed out, and his hand still inched closer to his pocket.
"Fun fact," Luke drawled out and pulled out his sword, "Pit scorpions can jump far, far enough. The stinger," He let out a breath as he clicked his tongue. "Goes through your clothes and all the time you will have left is sixty seconds."
"That isn't a lot." Percy breathed out as he stopped inching closer to his pen. Watching as Luke calmly sat down on a rock.
"Shouting won't help," He pointed at the direction where the sound of singing came from, "They're singing so loud, it must be tantalizing to think. You're poisoned, bound to die and no-one can hear you." He smiled brightly, if it was a picture, Percy would think he had just graduated, and had gotten accepted into his dream college.
The scorpion was crawling up his shoe.
"There is so much, out there, Percy." Luke said, patronizing him. "Don't you feel it, the monsters growing stronger, gathering together in groups." His smile turned sinister, "But don't you feel tired too, Percy?" He said slowly, "Being a pawn of the gods? Just someone who can be replaced, kid after kid, suffering after suffering. Just for the praise of the gods?"
"You know me."
He sneered, "Oh please, of course." His scar was foul, and made him look older than he was. "It was the only thing I could hear from pathetic little Grover, and-" He stopped himself and took a breath, "And of Annabeth. How you joined, how you went to the underworld and got them into the palace, easily. How you fought Ares." He stated. "Ares is an idiot, never thinking that someone was telling him to do things."
Percy wants to shake but it feels like he is frozen solid. "Something older was telling him to do things." Percy said. The scorpion was up to his pants now.
"Time doesn't stop for anyone," Luke smiled as if he had made the best joke at his improv group. "If I had more time, Percy, to show you the gods." He pulled out his sword, from what Percy couldn't see, he was more focused on the arachnid crawling up his leg. "You'd join us, instead, I'd like to introduce you to Backbiter."
"Kronos." Percy stated, the not-so-funny pun helped him put all the pieces together and he looked at the same blue eyes he saw in the rear-view mirror in the taxi. "You work for Kronos."
"Did no-one tell you to be careful with names?" Luke stated, a warning was woven into his words.
"Kronos influenced you to steal the master bolt, and then the helm. Speaking to you in dreams, right? Like Ares, like-"
"You," Luke said, "Like you. Didn't you listen, Percy? He spoke to you too."
"I didn't want him in my dreams." Percy retorted and the scorpion jumped a bit higher up his leg. He took in a shuddering breath, gods, he was tired. "Why not bring the stolen things to Kronos?"
"I was overconfident, Artemis, Apollo, Hermes and even Ares were sent after me." Luke's smile faltered into a tight-lipped smile. "Ares had caught me, got the items and threatened to burn me alive." Sounded like Ares, "Then Kronos helped, my master helped. He told me to talk about a great war, to hide the stolen items and watch family fights." Luke scoffed, "Do you know what he said?"
"That they're the bloodiest, that it turns into a family reunion and that he might get a show, someone might get beheaded." Percy repeated Ares' words to Luke. "He told me."
"Exactly," Luke smiled, "After that, I was punished, nightmares and from then on out, I swore not to fail again." Luke stood up and dusted off his pants, as if he was standing up from a casual picnic. "A quest would be called out, a chance to prove herself. Then I heard, someone would replace me." He smiled. "You."
"You sabotaged everything."
"I did." Luke confessed with a smug smile. He waved his sword into the air, "Right, where was I?" He hummed and swung it in an arc, a ripple appeared. It looked like the road, when it was too hot outside. "This sword, backbiter. Tempered steel, the real deal." He turned it around, "Celestial bronze." He hummed, "Capable of killing mortals, demigods and immortals." He turned to face Percy, standing in front of the portal. "I don't want to stain it yet." He hummed and leaned back, disappearing into the ripple. Immediately, it closed up after him.
The scorpion lunged and Percy swatted it away, it was small and tricky. The pen was uncapped and a sword took place in his hands, it jumped and with a clean slash in an arc, he cut it in half. He then breathed out as the grip around the hilt of his sword weakened.
He looked down at his hand and looked at it, a wound, oozing of blood and a yellow cloud came off of it. His breath turned irregular and he turned to the sound of singing, water didn't wash away or heal poison. He had discovered that with a snake bite back in the forest.
Lupa had to use her healing powers. The snake was unexpected and couldn't be controlled. Percy had been terrified then, surrounded by wolves and a goddess. Now, he was all alone, he stumbled and pushed himself off of trees to get closer to the singing.
It was strong, it was dark out and the only sense he had kept was the sense of hearing. Sixty seconds. He bumped into a nymph, "Help," His voice was hoarse, like he hadn't drank any water in days. "Please."
He was pushed and pushed, his legs wouldn't work anymore.
"Percy?" A voice called out and it sounded so far away.
"Help." He whispered out once again before collapsing. Arms found itself around his chest, clumsily holding him up. Before he passed out, all he could hear was the shouts, kids screaming and a conch horn, funny enough.
––––
"Percy." He opened his eyes and looked at the blonde curls in front of him. He had a straw in his mouth, "Drink." She chastened. He tasted it and it tasted like his mother's blue cookies. Because of the reminder of his mother, he panicked for a second. He hadn't called his mother to say that he had arrived at Camp Half-Blood.
"I was worried." She said.
"But you don't worry about me." He said, talking hurted him.
"I do now," She clicked her tongue, "Just when I thought the surprises were over."
Percy froze and pulled away from the straw, she didn't know about Luke. He opened his mouth to say something but was quickly interrupted. "You moron." A voice called out and Percy looked up to look at the familiar brown curls.
"Hey-"
"You don't find me when you arrive and then you end up in some fight!" She marched over and flicked his forehead, "You moron! What was I going to tell Sally? That her son arrived at camp but that I didn't fight with him!" She frowned at him, "You know I can't do that to Sally!"
"I missed you too, Clarisse."