"Aphrodite," Percy began nervously. "Are you absolutely certain this is safe?"
"Of course it is, how many more times do I have to tell you?" she said with an exasperated sigh. "When my son did it, he turned out alright."
"Yeah well that was millenia ago," Percy snapped. Recognising the need to collect himself, he took a deep breath and tried to regain his composure.
"What do you think?" Percy asked the god in front of them. He had been watching them with an amused smile.
"Me?" the other god asked, to which Percy nodded. The god sighed, as if the deity had better things to do than indulge in their worries. Given his divine stature, that was likely the case.
"It's safe enough," he grumbled. "Though I must warn you, it might be a tad uncomfortable."
"See, even Numicus agrees!" Aphrodite declared triumphantly. "Now enough with the incessant whining like a baby and get washed!"
Resigned to his fate, Percy stood at the edge of the river, a mixture of trepidation and curiosity swirling within him. The tranquil waters of the Numicus beckoned him, calling him to a new future. Gingerly, he dipped his toe into the cool embrace of the river, slowly putting more and more in. Numicus had been the same god to wash away Aphrodite's son, Aeneas' mortality so that he could become an immortal. Apparently, even though he'd gone through all those rituals, Percy only had partial-immortality. To shed his remaining mortality and ascend to divinity, he needed to submit himself to the purifying waters of Numicus, and of course Aphrodite had chosen the most inconvenient time to get this done. Percy had been ready to go back to Rome and get some more training with Frank. In fact, he had literally been at the door, tying his shoes when Aphrodite apparently 'got bored' and thought it'd be a good idea to visit Numicus.
"Are you not going to take your shirt off?" Numicus said with a frown. Percy shook his head.
"Not when Aphrodite is right there, gawking at me." The goddess in question seemed to take offence, her expression shifting from amusement to feigned disappointment.
"Aww, I'm sure it'd be fine if I saw you shirtless," Aphrodite purred, her voice dripping with playful seduction.
"Is that charmspeak I hear in your voice?" Percy quipped with a small smirk. "Perhaps I need to go to Poseidon and tell him you're trying to force me to do things I don't want to." The goddess's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold glare.
"A woman can only hope," she muttered under her breath, before turning on her heel and walking away, hopefully to find someone else to annoy.
"Ah, the wonders of dealing with the divine," Numicus mused, his voice laced with wry amusement. "It's a delicate dance, navigating the desires and whims or immortals, but fear not, God of Rivers, for my waters will cleanse you of all your mortal imperfections." Percy didn't have the energy to try explaining that mortality wasn't an imperfection, nor was he in the mood to anger Numicus. Instead, he continued wading deeper and deeper into the river. As the water rose up to his neck, Percy found himself fully submerged, the weight of the river pressing against him. Numicus, standing before him, raised his hands with an air of solemnity.
"Are you ready?" he asked. Percy nodded, bracing himself for whatever was about to happen. "Very well. Here we go." With a swift and forceful motion, the river god raised his hands to the heavens. In an instant, the tranquil waters transformed into a turbulent current, sweeping Percy off his feet and hurtling him downward. Trusting in the god, he shut his eyes tight. Seconds stretched into eternity as Percy clung to his resolve. The itching sensation that began to crawl across his skin added an unwelcome twist to the experience. It started as a minor annoyance, but with each passing moment, it intensified, teasing at his patience and testing his endurance. Desperate for relief, Percy took a cautious breath underwater. He was relieved to find he could still breathe fine, but it felt different. It was much harder to breathe, almost like trying to breathe at the top of Mount Everest without a mask.
As the wild water finally began to slow down and loosen its grip on him, Percy propelled himself upward, breaking through the surface of the water with an exhilarated gasp. Ah, the sweet taste of fresh air! Sure, he could breathe underwater now, but there was something undeniably invigorating about filling his lungs with the crisp, island breeze, even if it was an island in the middle of nowhere. Yes, Aphrodite had literally grabbed his hand and flashed him to a tiny island he had never seen in his life. To be fair, the island was pretty beautiful, with calm waves lapping gently against the shoreline, a light breeze rustling through the air, whispering secrets to the palm trees that stood tall and proud, their dark frond providing a welcoming shade from the sun's relentless gaze. But it was the river Numicus that stole the spotlight, snaking across the entire length of the island. Numicus himself was nothing like what Percy had been expecting. Originally, he'd thought of the river god to be a scrawny, timid person who was used to people asking him to wash away their mortality, but he was far off from the truth. Numicus was a tall, muscular man, similar to Ares, except he exuded an aura of nonchalance, as if he couldn't be bothered by the triviality of others. Coupled with his rippling muscles, the river god had a dark tan. Long, brown hair, neatly tied in a bun, cascaded down his back, while a meticulously trimmed beard, complete with a small goatee, framed his face.
"Quick, quick!" Aphrodite's urgent voice pierced the air, jolting Percy out of his daze. Fazed, he struggled to focus on what she was pointing at.
"I'd be faster if I was you," Numicus mused. "If you don't eat in time, well, let's just say I'm not doing this again." Percy's memory kicked into high gear as the realisation dawned on him. The second part of the ritual! Without wasting another moment, he sprinted as if the very fate of Olympus depended on it, rushing toward Aphrodite, who stood waiting with a plate brimming with ambrosia. As fast as he could, Percy stuffed it all into his mouth, flushing it down with a few glasses of nectar, the ethereal liquid coursing through his veins, fueling him. Numicus had washed his mortality away, but in order to replace it with immortality, he needed to eat as much godly food as he could. That way, it would replace his mortal fragility with eternal divinity. Luckily, eating was his speciality. He had honed his skills through countless meals at Camp Half-Blood and on his perilous quests. The taste of ambrosia exploded in his mouth, each bite filling him with a surge of energy and power. He devoured spoonful after spoonful, determined to consume as much godly sustenance as he possibly could. Aphrodite, initially impressed by Percy's never ending appetite, soon found herself concerned.
"Percy, dear, slow down!" she interjected, her voice full of amusement. She snatched the remaining ambrosia away from him.
"Is your stomach a black hole or something?" Aphrodite teased with a wry smile, snatching the rest of the godly food away from him. Percy gave her a sheepish shrug, before turning back to Numicus.
"Thank you very much," Percy said politely, wiping the traces of ambrosia from his mouth. Numicus nodded slowly.
"I'm interested to see what the Fates have stored for you in the future," the river god murmured. "I think we all are at this point. Do not disappoint us." Turning away, Numicus began walking away from them, before he suddenly paused, as if struck by a sudden thought.
"Oh, and Perseus," he called out. "When exactly are you and Aphrodite planning to make things official?" Percy's face contorted into a mixture of disbelief and disgust, his voice a low growl.
"Never!" he snapped, glaring at the laughing Numicus as he disappeared into the ocean mist.
"Don't even start it," he muttered under his breath, casting a sidelong glance at the giggling goddess. Aphrodite, barely containing her laughter, shot him a playful pout.
"Aw come on, even Numicus is saying it now!" she insisted. Percy let out a sigh.
"Aphrodite, you know my heart can never be with you, so please, just drop it."
"I know," she said softly. "But you can't blame a woman for trying." He frowned.
"Am I meant to be some kind of trophy for you," Percy asked her, a hint of hurt in his voice. "Is the only reason you're so affectionate with me is so that you can parade around Olympus, talking about how you won the heart of the 'Hero of Olympus?'" Aphrodite's expression turned solemn, and she extended her hand towards Percy to flash him black. He hesitated for a moment before clasping her hand tightly.
"Percy, my dear," she began, "I may be the goddess of love, but I also understand the weight of true connections. Your heart, your affections, they are your own. I may playfully jest, but I would never use you as a mere trophy. You are so much more than that." he nodded, absorbing her words.
"Learn to take a joke Percy," she advised, her coy smile returning, "or else you're gonna have a really tough time in immortality." Chuckling, Percy let her flash them back to her palace, the light dazzling him.
"Hey, I'm sitting there!" Aphrodite yelled as Percy, faster than Zeus' lightning bolt, jumped onto her favourite sofa. Undeterred by her failed attempt to snatch the seat, Aphrodite huffed and crossed her arms in mock defiance.
"Oh, it's on now, Perseus!" she declared, her voice dripping with feigned outrage. Determined to reclaim her throne of comfort, she lunged towards him, her fingertips grazing the edge of his shirt, but Percy, ever the nimble apprentice, evaded her grasp with a triumphant grin. Sticking his tongue out, he leaned back with a sigh, carelessly kicking his legs on top of her coffee table. Aphrodite wrinkled her nose, but didn't say anything, instead taking a seat opposite him, taking her shoes off and resting her legs on the same coffee table as him.
"So am I a god now?" he asked Aphrodite. The goddess thought for a moment before shaking her head. "What!?" he said in outrange. "I go through all of these dumb rituals and still I'm not a full-fledged immortal?"
"Oh, don't be so dramatic, Percy," she chimed, clearly amused by his antics. "You're basically immortal, but now, we just need to wait for the final piece of the puzzle to fall into place."
"And what might that be?" he grumbled.
"We need to wait for you to take on your divine form. Only then are you a true god, and only then can you fully harness your divine powers." Percy frowned, as if the idea of waiting even longer was hard to bear.
"How do I do that?" he finally asked. The goddess shrugged.
"There's no way to do it," she said. "It's just a matter of time. Generally, your divine form comes when you experience an overwhelming surge of strong emotions. I remember it took my son Aeneas twenty years before he achieved his divine form-"
"Twenty years!" he said in exasperation. "Jeez, I don't think I have that long."
"Suit yourself," she giggled, "but remember, that there are no shortcuts in this. Just think of it as an opportunity to refine your control over your domains." Slightly irritated and impatient, he picked up a book Aphrodite had been reading earlier, opening it to the page she had just been on.
"I'm sorry, I swear it was just a mistake-"
"A mistake?!" Serena hissed, the venom in her voice more than palpable. "A mistake is a one off, something you accidentally and immediately try to rectify, not repeat for an entire summer!" Jason was speechless, his gaze averting to the floor below. For a moment, Serena's hard glare seemed to soften.
"Tell me," she whispered, "did you enjoy it?" The question seemed to take Jason by surprise.
"Uhh, what do you mean?"
"I mean, did you enjoy it!" she yelled. "How did it feel to do that behind my back, laughing at me! I bet you loved it, didn't you!"
"Serena-"
"No, don't you dare Serena me!" she snapped, grabbing the nearest item she could find, a wooden spoon, and throwing it at him. Lazily, he stepped to the side, watching it sail harmlessly over him. The two just faced each other, a silent stare off, Serena's gaze cold while Jason's was sorrowful if anything.
"Anything else you want to say?" she said, a bitter tone laced in her voice. When Jason said nothing, she muttered, "that's what I thought," before walking out of his house, taking great care to slam the door as hard as possible on her way out.
"Aphrodite, seriously, what is this cheesy garage you're reading?" Percy muttered, closing the book, and turning to read its title. A Summer's Love Triangle, how cliché.
"Percy, let me read whatever I want to read," she huffed. "Besides, you should give it a try yourself, it's actually quite interesting when you get into it…" Percy made a face.
"I'm here to be taught about how to use my godly powers, but instead I'm being advised to read a sappy book which is probably all about love and heartbreak."
"Ehhh, it's got some fighting as well."
"Fighting?" he asked curiously, his interest suddenly piqued. "As in with swords and bows and stuff?" Aphrodite's laughter tinkled through the air like a melody, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Oh no, sorry I meant fighting with words," she corrected. "Verbal disagreements."
"Arguments? Yeah, that's not really my style. I thought I was with you to get a crash course in mastering my godly powers, not a crash course in love and drama."
"Percy, my dear, there's more to being a god than just wielding power and flexing muscles," she explained gently, a touch of wisdom in her voice. "Love, passion, and the complexities of human emotions shape the very fabric of our existence. It's essential to understand the human experience to truly embrace your divine nature." He crossed his arms, absorbing her words for a minute, before letting out a sigh.
"Whatever," he muttered, tossing the book back to Aphrodite, wondering why the love goddess' palace was literally the most boring place he had visited.
"So what's the plan for today," Percy asked glumly. Smirking, Aphrodite leaned forward on her sofa, staring deep into his eyes with a hint of mischief.
"Well, Percy," she began coyly. "When was the last time you visited your mother?" Immediately, his heart plunged deeper than Tartarus.
"My-my mother?"
"Oh yes," she grinned. "After all, you became a god a few weeks ago now. Surely the first thing you did was go down and tell her the… thrilling news." His face was getting paler by the minute.
"I mean, I was meant to go last week, but-"
"-But we went to visit the hunters of Artemis!" she cackled gleefully, observing Percy's flustered state. "Oh, the guilt is written all over your face," she teased. "Admit it Percy, you've been so wrapped up in your mentorship that you completely forgot about your mother." The truth is, he hadn't exactly forgotten about her. In fact, Percy had been spending quite a bit of time trying to figure out the best way to explain the sudden promotion to godhood. The only issue was literally every single time he planned to visit her, something would pop up, be it visiting the hunt, visiting his father, or being grounded in Aphrodite's palace because he forgot to wipe his muddy shoes before coming in (yes, Aphrodite was very strict about her groundings and would watch him like a hawk the entire time.)
"What are we doing today?" Percy asked again, a sense of urgency lacing his words.
"Nothing much," the goddess mused. "I was mainly going to continue reading my book, perhaps pay Ares a visit later if I can find the time-"
"Perfect!" Percy sighed in relief. Quickly leaping up from the sofa, he began to hurriedly tie his shoes, the laces fumbling between his fingers. Ever since he became a god, life had been so hectic, and now he was facing the consequences. It's not like this is the first time he hadn't contacted his mother in weeks, no this had happened many times before. The problem was this was the first time Percy hadn't told her something important in weeks, and becoming a god is definitely important.
Slipping on a jacket to combat the cool winds of Manhattan, Percy began making his way towards the door.
"Thank you so, so much for the reminder," he said to his mentor hurriedly. "I'll be back in a few hours… at least I hope so."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, where do you think you're going," Aphrodite frowned. With a snap of her fingers, the door of her palace quickly banged shut.
"Aphrodite," Percy whined, trying (and failing) to open the door.
"Percy," she mimicked in the safe tone, causing him to shoot her a dirty look. The goddess laughed.
"Can you let me leave, please," he asked in a strained voice. Aphrodite shrugged.
"Well that depends. Can you let me come with you, please?"
"What!" Percy shrieked. "No way!" Aphrodite tilted her head, her lips curling into a mischievous smile.
"But Percy, darling, why deny yourself the pleasure of my company?" she cooed, fluttering her long lashes for effect. "Imagine the excitement of introducing your mother to the goddess of love herself!" Percy's eyes widened in horror.
"Oh, gods, no!" he exclaimed, shaking his head vigorously. "That's a disaster waiting to happen! My mom is already skeptical about my adventures, but if she finds out my mentor is the goddess of love, she'll think I've lost my mind!"
"Awww, pleeeeeaaaaaaasssse," she asked nicely. Firmly, Percy shook his head.
"Nu, uh! It's bad enough that I've forgotten to tell her I'm a god! If she finds out that my mentor is Aphrodite, my house is gonna become a war zone!" The goddess pouted even more.
"Please Perseus? I promise I won't be of any harm. Besides, surely your mother won't freak out that much on you if there's a guest in the house." He hesitated, the logic in her words actually making sense. As much as he hated to admit it, Aphrodite could be smart sometimes, and this was one of those times.
"Oh alright, fine!" he snapped, his voice tinged with defeat. "But my mother better never know that you're a goddess, much less Aphrodite, the goddess of love, got it?" She mimicked zipping her mouse shut.
"Don't worry about it, my protégé! I've already got an alternate identity in mind. Your mother won't even think that I'm a goddess."
"I hope so," Percy grumbled. "What are you gonna wear?" he asked after a pause, "because you're certainly going in that!" For a moment, it seemed like she was going to retort, but she hesitated. Turning around, the goddess began bounding up her grand staircase.
"You know you can click your fingers and change your clothes right?" he yelled, his voice echoing through the now empty room. Hearing no response, Percy decided to slump back into one of her chairs, already thinking which of the fifty million different excuses he had lined up would be best for his mother.
When Aphrodite finally came down, she looked much more… modest. It seems even the goddess of love knows how to act around family, especially her protege's mother. She was now wearing jeans, a woolly white sweater, and a thin, pink cardigan, because why not?
"Ready now?" I muttered. She flashed me a cheeky smile.
"Of course I am," the goddess giggled, extending her hand out for him to take. "See, another benefit of me coming with you: I can just flash us straight to the doorstep."
"Oh thank you so much, I just can't imagine how painful it would be to use the elevator down to Manhattan and walk a few blocks myself," Percy mocked, yet he still grabbed her hand, bracing himself for the flash.
Though he didn't want to admit it, flashing was much easier than walking all the way down to his mother's place. It wasn't a long walk or anything, just a really boring one. Aphrodite had whisked them away, right to the front door. A few passersby cast curious looks, but the mist must've been at play because no one said anything.
"Why this is very nice," Aphrodite mused. Percy face palmed, already embarrassed.
"It's the freaking door, at least wait till we're inside before commenting on the designs." With a sigh, Percy reached out and pressed the doorbell, causing the chimes to reverberate through the quiet neighbourhood. His heart raced with anticipation, bracing himself for the moment the door would swing open, revealing his mother's warm smile and welcoming embrace. He could almost imagine her joyous voice, beaming down on him.
Seconds stretched into eternities as they stood on the porch, waiting for a response. Percy's mind raced with thoughts, wondering what his mother had been doing, whether she had missed him, and how she would react to the unexpected arrival. The door held the promise of answers, both comforting and nerve-wracking. Finally, the silence was shattered by the sound of approaching footsteps. Painfully slowly, the door creaked open, revealing a familiar face framed by a curtain of wavy brown hair. Instantly, Percy recognised his loving and caring mother. For a short moment, Sally's eyes flickered between Percy and Aphrodite, her brow furrowed in concentration. Percy held his breath, his sea-green eyes locking with his mothers. Then, like a dam bursting open, Sally's face lit up with recognition. A wide grin spread across her features, and she let out an exuberant squeal that echoed through the road, startling a flock of birds perched on a nearby tree.
"Percy?" she gasped, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and joy. "Oh, my baby, it's really you!" Without a moment's further hesitation, she lunged forwards, throwing her arms around Percy and pulling him into a tight embrace. Visibly, Percy relaxed in his mother's arms, the worries and tensions momentarily melting away as he revelled in her familiar warmth. Breaking free from the hug, Percy couldn't contain his grin.
"Hey, Mom! Long time no see, huh?" Sally playfully swatted him on the arm.
"Long time? Try forever! You could have at least called Percy!" Her tone was teasing, but the undertone of genuine concern was evident. As Sally rolled her eyes at Percy's sheepish smile, she seemed to notice the other person with him.
"And who might you be?" she asked warmly.
"Hello, Mrs Jackson," Aphrodite greeted. "I hope you don't mind the unexpected visit. Percy simply couldn't resist the urge to see his wonderful mother, and I couldn't pass up the chance to meet the woman who raised such an extraordinary son." Sally's eyes twinkled with amusement and humbleness.
"Oh, no worries at all! It's a pleasure to meet you. Come in, both of you!" With a gesture of invitation, she ushered them into her cosy home. "Paul has to teach today, which leaves us with the entire place to ourselves! Let me quickly get us some biscuits." As his mother turned around to go to the kitchen, Percy leaned into Aphrodite's ear.
"Now you'll finally get to eat those blue cookies I'm always ranting on about." The goddess flashed him a cheeky smile.
"Mhmm, oh I'm ready!" Sure enough, only a few minutes later, his mother returned, and to Percy's delight she had a platter filled to the brim with mouth-watering blue cookies, the insides still gooey and melting.
"So what's your name," Sally said, passing the plates of cookies around.
"I'm Aphrodite," she said, taking a cookie with a gracious smile. If looks could kill, Aphrodite would be six feet under with the way Percy was glaring icily at her. The goddess seemed to realise her mistake, quickly covering her mouth, but it was too late.
"Lady Aphrodite, as in the goddess?" Sally frowned, freezing in her steps.
"Oh, no, no! It's just a coincidence. Delilah is my real name. I assure you, no divine intervention here," she corrected, but the damage was done. Percy knew nothing was getting past Sally now."
"Do you know about Percy's… other life?" Sally asked, to which Aphrodite quickly nodded.
"Yep! I know about the Greek gods and stuff, known for a long time."
"Well, if you know about the Greek gods, you'd know Lady Aphrodite would be incredibly angry if someone was comparing themselves to her, and therefore, you'd know not to do that, or else feel her wrath." Aphrodite was stunned. Shocked, was a better word. It was clear that there was no fooling Sally. Upon confirming this was the goddess Aphrodite, Sally began to bend at the waist, as if she was preparing to bow.
"No, nonsense, not at all. You're Percy's mother. If anything, you should be exempt from all bowing to gods. I'm sure the entire of Olympus is eternally indebted to you for raising such a kind and compassionate son who then went on to save Olympus twice." Sally's eyes softened, and a proud smile spread across her face.
"So what brings you here, Lady Aphrodite?" Sally asked, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and apprehension. The room's atmosphere had shifted from warm and pleasant to something more tense and uncertain. Sensing the need to diffuse the situation, Percy decided to interject.
"I actually have something to talk to you about," Percy began. "I didn't plan on revealing it like this, but unfortunately, Aphrodite just couldn't help running her mouth-" Aphrodite smirked while Sally stared at her son as if he was suicidal. Why else would he talk to a goddess like that?
"Mum," he began, a small smile gracing his lips. "I am-"
"Percy, are you seriously telling me you're engaged to Lady Aphrodite?" Sally asked, now sounding alarmed. Percy's face contorted in disbelief and horror.
"What!? No! Where did you even get that from!?" Meanwhile, Aphrodite was laughing uncontrollably, her laughter echoing through the room.
"Oh Percy," she managed to get out, between wheezes. "First Numicus, now your mother, just date me already!"
"You yeah, shut up. I'm still mad at you from earlier," Percy glared at the goddess. "We had a deal. You were meant to be Delilah, not Aphrodite. How bad is your memory to forget our entire conversation after five minutes." Now that he'd spoken, Percy turned to face his mother.
"Mom, I am not, nor will I ever date Aphrodite, let alone marry her" he convinced his mother. "It's all just an inside joke between us. She acts overly affectionate, and I pretend to despise it,"
"It's a joke?" Aphrodite chimed in, quickly quieting when Percy glared at her.
"Aphrodite, let me finish or I will spawn camp outside your palace until Ares comes or you go to him, and as soon as that happens, I will get Hephaestus to come straight away." For the third time, he turned back to his mother. "I honestly don't know a better way to say it other than straight upfront. Mum, I'm actually a god now." His mother seemed to just stare at him, timelessly, as if she was fainting to react to the information.
"Oh," Sally finally managed to utter, her voice filled with a mix of surprise, uncertainty, and a touch of bewilderment. Her words hung in the air, and Percy couldn't help but feel a knot tighten in his stomach.
"Is everything alright?" Percy asked her gently, only afterwards realising how stupid that sounded. How could it be alright? He'd ignored her for weeks, before randomly turning up with none other than Aphrodite, and now he dropped the bombshell that he was a god.
"Yeah, I guess," she lied, shaking her head. "It's just a lot to take in." Percy frowned.
"You-you aren't angry that I didn't ask for your permission first?" he asked curiously. Sally let out a melodic laugh, the sound filling the room and momentarily easing the tension.
"Percy," she began gently, caressing his face with the back of her hand. "It's really hard for a mother to get angry with her son, especially when her son is as amazing and caring as you are. Angry? No, I'm not angry. Overwhelmed, perhaps. But how could I be angry when you're here with me now, sharing your truth? It's a lot to take in, but I'm your mother, and nothing will change the love I have for you. I'm happy that you've been given the powers of a god, especially since I know you'll never act like the other gods do, will you?" He chuckled lightly.
No, Mum, you've raised me well, and I believe that every person, mortal or not, deserves to be treated with kindness and respect, even if they don't have the same status as gods." Sally smiled, ruffling his hair like he was a child.
"That's my boy," she grinned, before turning to Aphrodite. "So I assume you and Percy have become friends now that he's a god?" she asked. For a moment, it seemed like Aphrodite was going to retort, but decided not to.
"Yep! We're just close friends." Sally visibly relaxed from this.
"Good," she said. "And I hope when the time comes, it'll be you who helps my son get a good girlfriend?"
"Mum!" Percy protested, his cheeks reddening with embarrassment. Both Sally and Aphrodite simply chuckled, seemingly oblivious to his discomfort, or perhaps purposely trying to ignore it.
"Sally, rest assured, your son is getting the most beautiful girl Olympus has ever seen, with the exception of me! And of course, I'll be there to guide him through every step." His mother smiled, almost as if the thought of Aphrodite helping Percy was relaxing to her. With a lighthearted chuckle, Sally patted Percy's shoulder, affectionately teasing him.
"You see, Percy, you're in good hands with Aphrodite by your side. Who knows, she might just work her magic and help you find your perfect match." Percy let out an exaggerated sigh, playfully rolling his eyes at his mother.
"Oh, great. Just what I needed. Aphrodite as my wingwoman," he quipped, a hint of sarcasm in his voice, causing the two to let out a chuckle of laughter.
"So, what now?" Aphrodite asked, munching another cookie. Percy shrugged, eating another himself, while Sally stared at Aphrodite, almost as if she was trying to work something out.
"Hey, Lady Aphrodite?" Sally began, a sly grin forming on her lips. The goddess raised an eyebrow, intrigued by what she had to say.
"What's up?" she asked nonchalantly. His mother's grin only grew more and more evil, making Percy's heart sink.
"How would you like to hear the story about Percy and The Curse of The Mud?"
Ah, another chapter done. I do hope the hole Numicus thing made scene, I took it from actual Greek mythology. Also, I hope the scene with Aphrodite and Sally was enjoyable to read It took some planning lol, so please do leave a review if you enjoyed it. Final thing, I have a new fanfic, so definitely check that out and let me know if you're enjoying it!