A crossroad. Of course, the Underworld was full of them, but this specific one stuck out to Percy more. Behind was the gates which Cerberus was guarding. You could keep going forwards to Hades palace, the route Percy was most familiar with. You could (although no one ever did) go right, which would lead you to Tartarus. The mere thought of going back to that nightmarish abyss sent shivers down his spine as he remembered the time he, Annabeth and Grover were nearly pulled in. The final option was to go left, down a path that disappeared into the inky darkness. There, after a dimly lit path of purple torches, you'd reach a door, black as obsidian. Percy had been this route a few times, mainly with Nico. The last time he'd messed with some of the books and hadn't visited since. Unfortunately, today was the day he had to come back. According to basically every god and demigod, Hecate was one of the only goddesses who could teach him more on how to make illusions.
"Oh Percy, did you really think you could do this yourself?" a voice asked from behind. As Percy spun around, his hand instinctively reached for his trusty pen, prepared to defend himself against any potential threat. You could never be too safe in the Underworld.
Nico rolled his eyes, clearly unamused by Percy's defensive stance.
"Oh, Come on," he protested. "We had a deal."
"What? No!"
"Awe, please," Nico asked. "I just want to give you some company." Percy narrowed his eyes suspiciously at his friend's seemingly innocent explanation.
"Don't lie," he grumbled with annoyance. "I know you too well. The only reason you're here is to see how angry Hecate is going to be at me for that prank." The son of Hades shrugged nonchalantly, a mischievous glint in his dark eyes.
"A man can have multiple motives."
Attempting to ignore him, Percy turned left, walking into the pitch blackness. He seriously hoped Nico would get the hint and leave him be. Unfortunately for Percy, it wasn't that easy. Before he knew it, Nico came bounding down the dimly lit corridor, his arm casually slung over Percy's shoulder as if they were embarking on a leisurely stroll through a park rather than navigating the deadly Underworld.
"You can't just leave me here!" Nico protested, his vice carrying a tinge of desperation.
"I most certainly can," Percy muttered under his breath, but Nico was not one to back down easily.
"Oh, Percy, Percy," Nico chided, his grin sly and knowing. "You underestimate my determination. I'll just keep following you all the way to Hecate's mystical palace or whatever you want to call it. There's no escaping me now." A spark of annoyance flashed in Percy's gaze.
"I'm a god Nico, do not force me to unleash my gold powers on you," Percy threatened. Nico's grin only widened in response to his, clearly unfazed by the warning.
"Oh, really? So you're a big boy now, using big boy threats?" Nico teased. "Forgive me if I don't tremble in fear, but I know an empty threat when I see one. Are you seriously telling me you're gonna use your powers on me, the same powers you're going to Hecate to learn to control?" Percy's face heated up.
"Actually, I'll have you know, my metamorphosis has been improving recently."
"Hmm, I assume you can turn people into pigeons now then?" Nico mused.
"Don't tempt me," was all Percy muttered, continuing his walk and allowing Nico to tag along.
Normally, he wouldn't care if Nico came with him. The two had visited Hecate so many times, she thought they were glued together. They practically became the Underworld's dynamic duo. However, the difference was this time, Hecate was bound to be more than just a little displeased with Percy, and he had a sinking feeling that Nico would relish every moment of his impending scolding. When the goddess got angry at Nico for ruining one of her rituals, Percy didn't let him hear the end of it for months, relentlessly teasing him for how scared he looked getting grilled by her, and how he'd squirmed under her hard, disapproving gaze. Now, it looked like he was about to receive the same treatment by Nico, and certainly wasn't looking forward to it.
"Don't feel bad," Nico smirked, as if he could read Percy's thoughts. "I promise not to rub it in your face like you did with me. Well, at least not too much." The god only glared at him. Percy cleared his throat, attempting to inject a note of nonchalance into his voice.
"You know, Nico, there's a reason they say curiosity killed the cat. Or in this case, the demigod. Just saying." Nico chuckled, his voice dripping with amusement.
"Oh, Percy, you always have the best one-liners, but where's the fun in life if we don't venture into the jaws of danger every now and then? Besides, misery loves company, right?" Percy shot him a half-hearted glare.
"Remind me to introduce you to a new concept called self-preservation."
The pitch black path was slowly beginning to light up. Percy squinted into the distance, noticing the flickering purple torches up ahead, signalling that Hecate was near. The two picked up the pace.
"How is godhood though, in all seriousness," Nico asked his friend. "I mean, beside the whole impending wrath of Hecate thing." Percy pondered the question for a moment, his gaze fixed on the path ahead.
"It's… unique," he said after a while. "A lot more learning than you'd expect, that's for sure." Nico raised an eyebrow.
"Learning? What is there to learn?"
"Oh a lot more than you'd think," was Percy's reply. "I'll be honest, at first, it's all fun and games, but then reality hits you like a Cyclops's club. Suddenly, you realise you have responsibilities and a whole universe of immortal stuff to wrap your head around."
"Go on," Nico said with genuine interest.
"Well for starters, the divine law is much longer than you'd think. We only hear snippets about it, but Athena has a whole freaking textbook on it, and it's so thick and long." Nico snickered at Percy's irritation. Oblivious, the god continued. "You won't believe some of the things in there. Like, did you know there's actually an official law which says anyone who gets married has to pay a 'Marriage Tax' to Hera, the amount of which is decided by how compatible the couple appears to her!"
"That is pretty wild," Nico mused. Percy nodded his head, walking down the purple-tinged pathway.
"Surely it's not all cloudy and grey?" the son of Hades asked him. Ever so slowly, Percy shrugged.
"I mean, Aphrodite is good company from time to time," he began. "The domains and powers are sweet, even if I've just started to scratch the surface of what they can do. Plus, I can eat as much ambrosia as I want, with no side effects, and living in Olympus is definitely a beauty. The views are just… indescribable." Nico nodded in understanding.
"I get what you mean," he said. "I mean, I don't live there, but I've seen the place the few times I've gone."
"What about you?" Percy asked. "It's been quite some time since we last caught up. Surely something interesting must've happened in the Underworld?" The son of Hades didn't respond, instead staring at the large, black, obsidian door in front of them.
"Oh, well will you look at that, we're already at Hecate's palace," Nico said with mock sarcasm. "It's such a shame that I can't answer your question now." Percy glared at him.
"You can," Percy said. "I'll wait." Nico quickly rapped the door, hard.
"Not anymore," he said gleefully.
"Why you-" Percy was just about ready to start chasing the son of Hades, but the door swung open, revealing Hecate staring at the two boys, deeply unamused.
Hecate was nothing like what most people expected or saw. Percy had briefly seen her back in the House of Hades, but it turned out that was her more formal form. In her palace, she adopted a more laid back, informal attire. The goddess stood before Percy, exuding an ethereal beauty that seems to transcend mortal understanding. Her gown, crafted from delicate, silk threads spun by moonlight, billowed softly around her in a serene manner, its colour a thick black, dark as Night. The fabric seemed to dance with a life of its own, cascading down her figure in delicate folds that whispered secrets of ancient magic. Her hair seemed to tumble down in loose waves, no longer upheld by a ponytail. From his view, it seemed to shimmer, mirroring the glow of starlight and echoing the radiance in her eyes. Speaking of her eyes, they were a deep, alluring green, with a sense of mystery and purpose behind them. Percy could practically see the wisdom etched in her face from all those years of experience. To summarise, she looked pretty, but deathly pale, and incredibly stern, as if he had done something to agitate her, which he probably did.
"Good morning, Hecate," Percy said as cheerfully as he could, despite the nerves within him.
"You call this morning?" the goddess asked with a raised eyebrow. "There may be no sunlight down here, but I sure as Hades know this isn't morning. What happened, you overslept again?"
"If by again you mean every day, then sure," Nico snickered. Hecate's gaze shifted to the son of Hades, her expression expectant.
"Not only do you steal my favourite book and then proceed to ghost me for months, but you have the audacity to start making jokes about Percy, without even saying hello to me. What are these manners, Nico?" He wasn't smiling anymore, instead looking down and shifting uneasily on his feet. When Percy was sure Hecate couldn't see him, he smirked at his friend. Oh how the tables had turned. Nico came here, ready to mock Percy for getting into trouble with Hecate, and here he was, getting scorned for his manners. The irony.
"Come inside, both of you," Hecate said with a sigh, gesturing for them to enter. Percy exchanged a nervous glance with Nico before taking the lead, stepping over the threshold into Hecate's cosy abode. It was a peculiar place, neither a traditional home nor a grand palace, but rather a unique blend of both. The entire place was circular, like a cottage, with no upstairs (although Percy knew she had a basement bigger than Hades' palace.) All around the walls, shelves were stuffed with books, herbs he didn't even have names for, and strange looking flasks with even stranger smells. Dimly lit purple torches were scattered around the room, but they were there for decoration if anything. The main highlight of the place was a large cauldron placed at the far end. Flames danced beneath it, casting a warm glow that bathes the surroundings in a soft, enchanting light.
The goddess closed the door behind them with a quiet click, before turning to face them.
"How angry did you guys think I was about that prank?" she asked.
"Umm…" Percy began uneasily, but Hecate had other stuff to say.
"I mean, okay, I get that you thought I might be mildly angry-"
"-Mildly!" Nico said in outrage. "Hades could hear your yells of anger all the way from the Fields of Punishment!" Pausing, Hecate sighed, her annoyance transforming into a smirk.
"Well, I must admit, I was a tiny bit displeased that you stole my book, but come on, was there really a need for you to leave me alone for eight whole months!?"
"Yeah!" both boys said in union, vigorously nodding their heads. Hecate narrowed her eyes, looking at Nico.
"Wait, is this all because of that time last year when you did something stupid and I yelled at you?" she asked the son of Hades. Nico's eyes widened, attempting to feign innocence.
"What! No, come on, I'm not scared of you," he said with mock exasperation. Unfortunately for him, Hecate wasn't fooled that easily.
"Oh, it's definitely because of that," she snickered, her smirk widening. "That's why you came along with Percy! You wanted me to give him a good ol' Hecate yelling. It's just a shame that, unlike certain individuals... cough, Children of Hades, cough... I don't hold grudges."
"Well, what a waste of time for you to come here," Percy teased, lightly pushing him.
"Waste of time?" Hecate said, arching an eyebrow. "Are you implying that Nico coming to say hello to me for the first time in eight months is a waste of time!?" Percy's eyes widened, panic flooding his features as he stumbled over his words, attempting to rectify the misunderstanding
"N-no, Hecate, not at all! I was merely... uh... teasing! You know me, always with the jokes!" A burst of laughter erupted from Hecate, filling the room with a melodic sound that eased the tension.
"Oh, Percy, you're such an easy target," she giggled, her amusement echoing through the air. "Stop taking everything so seriously all the time!" Percy's scowl deepened, clearly not amused by being the butt of Hecate's jokes.
"So when did it happen?" Hecate asked him as her laughter subsided. The goddess went back to her cauldron, peering into it, before giving a grunt of approval.
"When did what happen?" Percy furrowed his eyebrows, causing the goddess to roll her eyes.
"You're ascension to godhood? Word travels fast, but I want to hear the story from you now." Percy shrugged, as if it was a fair question.
"There's not much to it," he admitted honestly. "About a month ago, I got called to Olympus and went there more or less without a fight." He decided to keep out the prank about the hunters and Artemis. "It turns out Annabeth had done some stuff for me to get me immortality as a parting gift of our relationship." Hecate's expression twisted in confusion.
"Wait, I thought the two of you had broken up ages ago?" she interjected, her curiosity piqued. Percy nodded with a small sigh.
"It's complicated," he tried to explain. The goddess motioned him to continue anyway. "Anyway, I accepted the offer, became Aphrodite's mentor, started learning stuff, and decided to pop here for a visit." The goddess remained silent, her attention now fixated on adding various spices and herbs to her bubbling cauldron. Percy watched with fascination as the concoction transformed before his eyes, taking on a mesmerising shade of light, translucent crimson.
"What domains did you get?" Hecate asked as she turned her attention back to the new god. "According to the rumours down here, I've heard everything from you being the god of Time, all the way up to you being the god of chicken sandwiches." Percy groaned.
"You can't be serious, can you?" A small smile tugged on her lips.
"Oh trust me, I can.," she smirked. Percy let out a resigned sigh, mentally making a note to get Aphrodite to help him find whoever was in charge of these rumours. Sandwiches, seriously? He thought. They couldn't have at least made it sound more impressive if they were spreading rumours, could they?
"I'm the god of Rivers, Leadership, Comfort, Floods, Illusions and Metamorphosis," he stated. Hecate's smirk quickly morphed into a look of confusion.
"Those domains are…" she trailed off, struggling to find the right words to express her surprise
"Not what you were expecting?" Percy asked with a wry smile. She shrugged.
"I was going to say unique, but I suppose that works as well. Gee, my sisters really wanted to get you interested in magic."
"Your sisters? Oh… yeah, I see." Percy forgot how Hecate was also sisters with the Fates, as well as all the children of Nyx. It was a convoluted family tree that still confused him. Last he'd checked, Hecate's parents were the titans Perses and Asteria. He assumed that Hecate was just adopted by Nyx because she was bored or something.
"Don't feel too bad, the domains confused me, as well as basically everyone on the council," Nico admitted to her." She nodded absentmindedly, still focusing on her potion.
"|Your domains are quite odd, to say the least. Then again, I suppose change and surprise are often the catalysts for growth and transformation." Hecate's eyes twinkled with that same ancient wisdom, the one that reminded Percy just how young he was compared to all the other gods. It was humbling, to say the least.
"So, basically, you're here because you want to tap into your illusions domain and learn the tricks of the trade from the goddess of mist herself?" Hecate asked glumly. "Let me guess, it was Athena who recommended this. Ooh, and she probably told you the story about me and Hypnos making that five headed snake illusion?" Percy nodded. "I thought you guys were here because you generally wanted to see me, not for teaching lessons," she sighed, her disappointment visible. Percy offered a sheepish smile, but the truth was he was feeling guilty inside for ignoring her for so long.
"I'm sorry," he confessed, his voice laced with remorse. "I do promise I'll try to visit more often, especially now that I know you're not gonna get mad at me for a tiny prank I did." Hecate lips curved into her first, genuinely warm smile.
"I'll hold you to that," she declared, her tone lighter. "Now illusions, I hear you say?"
Hecate beckoned Percy and Nico slower to her, and they both obliged, intrigued.
"Well, the first thing to note is that illusions come in a variety of flavours," Hecate began, straightening the hem of her dress. "We have cognitive illusions, which play tricks on the mind and perception. Then there are physiological illusions, which toy with the senses and create physical sensations. And let's not forget the literal illusions, which manipulate objects or change their appearance. The list can go on and on, but for your sake, I'll stop there. Now grouping different types of illusions is when it gets hard. Essentially, there are two main categories you can put them in. Illusions that deceive the eyes and…"
"Illusions that deceive the brain?" Percy asked. Hecate clapped her hands, nodding.
"I don't get that," Nico frowned, scratching his head. "Aren't those the same thing?" Hecate giggled.
"That's like saying water and ice are the same. Yes, they're both the same substance, but they are both different forms of it, with different properties. Similarly, the different types of illusions can achieve a similar goal, but they may do so in different ways." Nico shrugged, clearly grappling with the concept.
"I still don't get it," he admitted.
"Just understand that there are two types of illusions," she grumbled impatiently. "And that they basically achieve the same thing, okay?"
"Sure," he muttered, mouthing the words 'help me' to Percy.
"So which are you?" Percy asked her. A faint smile traced on her lips as she raised a hand. All of a sudden, the room started to become cloudy, as the faint outline of a flower extended out from Hecate's hand.
"The mist," Hecate said, ending her mini-illusion, "is a brilliant tool, but it only tricks the eyes. If someone closes their eyes, or is born to 'see through the mist' it means my illusions can't work on them. You on the other hand… I have a feeling you're different." Percy nodded slowly.
"Yeah, no one really said it, but I can kind of tell. Otherwise, why not just make me a god of mist?" Hecate chuckled lightly.
"Too true," she snickered, before pausing for a moment. "Have you ever tried forming an illusion before?" Percy shook his head.
"I haven't even touched my illusions domain," he admitted with a sigh. "Metamorphosis I only learned because I had some time to kill and Frank is a natural. Illusions… Well, I have no one to teach me how to master them. Plus, I don't even want to think about how badly Aphrodite will try to make me misuse it."
"Ah, but you can misuse it back to her," Hecate mused. "Picture this. Aphrodite wakes up in the morning. She's excited to go for a day out. She goes to the mirror, but guess what?"
"Tell me," Percy said, keeping the charade up.
"Her face, flawed in different ways, and her make up all unable to be found." Percy was grinning ear to ear. It was a prank worthy of Hermes and Hades. He definitely needed to see her reaction. Percy could already hear Hephaestus trying to sweet talk him for the footage. Any video like that would go crazy on the Olympian TV channels.
As the trio's laughter slowly began to subdue, Percy couldn't help but ask the last question that was gnawing on his mind.
"Hecate, this all sounds really cool and hilarious, but you keep forgetting that I don't know how to make illusions. That's sort of the entire reason I came here." The goddess nodded.
"I know, Percy. The point of me talking about eye-tricking illusions and brain-tricking illusions was for you to understand that I just can't help you much."
"Much?" She sighed.
"See, I can teach you the basics, like how to think of an illusion, how to keep one going, maybe even how to form one because I'm sure it's a similar process for all types of illusions. The hard part is advancing your skills and getting better. I honestly don't know how to teach that for mind-tricking illusions." He didn't want to admit it, but Percy was slightly annoyed. The trip to the Underworld had not been easy, especially with Aphrodite apparently 'too busy' to flash him. Either way, it was a bit of a bummer to come all this way only to find out that you couldn't truly learn the skills behind your domains. Then again, the original gods must've been feeling this way…
"Alright Hecate," Percy began. "How do I do these super mind-tricking illusions?" A small smile played on her lips.
"It's very simple," she said. "All you need to do is just picture your illusion, how you want it, from the perspective of another person."
"Umm…" The goddess sighed, as if struggling to understand how Percy failed to understand something so simple.
"Percy, look at me and where I am. I want you to pretend you're me-"
"Pretend I'm a girl!?" Hecate glowered at him. Clearly, he was getting on her nerves.
"Just pretend you're living in the world from my perspective. It's all part of the process." Percy couldn't help but smirk.
"Alright, alright. I'll try my best to tap into my inner goddess." Nico snickered at his remark.
"Focus Percy," Hecate glared, although he could tell she was amused by his antics. "Now, imagine you're me, standing right here in my position. Picture the world through my eyes. See yourself as you are now, but from my perspective." Percy closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He tried to quiet his thoughts and channel Hecate's presence. Slowly, he began to visualise the scene, stepping into her shoes. He imagined himself next to a cauldron, staring at two guys, one deathly pale, the other with a mischievous smirk on his face.
"So, let me get this straight," Percy said, his eyes still closed in concentration. "If I can tap into someone else's perspective and see myself the way they see me, I can create an illusion that mimics that exact viewpoint?"
"Precisely," she said. "Illusions are not just about tricking the eyes; they're about capturing the essence of another's perception. Start small. Just pretend that from my perspective, you're seeing a golden watch on Nico's wrist." Percy furrowed his brow, visualising the scenario Hecate described. He closed his eyes tighter, focusing on the image with all his might.
"Okay, I've got it. I can see it in my mind."
"Now," Hecate urged, her voice barely a whisper. "Will it to exist." Percy's eyes snapped open, a mixture of confusion and scepticism on his face. "Will it to exist? What does that even mean?" Nico let out an exasperated sigh. "Seriously, Percy? Just concentrate and make it happen. You're overthinking it." Taking a deep breath, Percy attempted to merge his imagination with reality. He envisioned himself looking at a watch on Nico from Hecate's perspective, and then just tried to make it exist. At first, nothing happened, aside from Hecate asking him to try again and again. On the fourth attempt, a flicker of doubt tugged at his heart. But just as he was about to give up, a gasp escaped Hecate's lips, shattering the silence. Nervously, he cracked open an eye, and saw a beaming Hecate.
"Very good," she said proudly. "Of course you can't see it, because the illusion is from my perspective, but I think you nailed it." Percy breathed out a sigh of relief, while Nico frowned.
"Hecate, that's all fine and dandy, but is it worth it when it'll take this much effort and concentration to create one small illusion?" The goddess rolled her eyes.
"Well of course he'll get faster with a little more training. Right now, he's just scratching the surface of his illusionary prowess. Imagine what he'll be capable of once he's honed his skills and mastered the art…"
Percy scratched his head, already thinking of his next step.
"How do I extend this?" he asked. "Like with what you did with that snake. How can I create an illusion to fool hundreds, if not thousands of people at once?" Hecate leaned against a bookshelf, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Ah, the grand illusions" she mused. "Truly a challenge, even for someone with your potential, Percy. But I must confess, mind-illusions are not my area of expertise." Percy's face fell, disappointment washing over him.
"So, there's no way to extend my illusions to such a massive scale?"
Hecate's smile returned, and she waved a finger playfully. "Now, now, don't lose hope just yet, my young illusionist. I'm sure Hypnos will be able to lend a hand. After all, he helped me with the serpent illusion, and if I recall correctly, his illusions are at least somewhat related to the mind." Percy nodded.
"How do I find Hypnos then?"
"Oh no," Hecate giggled, as if what Percy had asked was absurd. "You definitely don't want to go looking for Hypnos."
"Well how do I talk to him then?" he asked impatiently. Hecate leaned back, her lips curling into an amused smile.
"Just wait," she said. Hypnos will find you, that is if he deems you worthy of being taught about illusions."
Nodding, Percy stretched his arms.
"Listen Hecate, thanks for the help," he began. "But duty calls, and Aphrodite has summoned me for a side quest or something. It seems I must return to the realm of mortals." Playfully, Hecate pouted, but she nodded her head.
"It was fun with you," she admitted, "especially after not seeing you for eight months." Percy grinned, feeling a mix of guilt and amusement at the thought of their prolonged absence.
"We'll make it up to you, I promise," he assured her, glancing at Nico, who nodded in agreement. "We'll make an effort to visit more often, especially now that we know you're not holding any grudges." She grinned, opening the door for them and gesturing for them to leave, but then suddenly her expression changed, and she rushed back to her cauldron with a sense of urgency.
"Oh Percy, I almost forgot," she said, grabbing a vial and carefully pouring some of her crimson-shaded liquid into it. Placing a cork into it, the goddess handed the vial to Percy.
"What's this?" he asked.
"Consider it my present to you for becoming a god."
"That's cool, but what actually is it?"
"You'll find out," she winked, before shoving them out and slamming her door. Such great hospitality, Percy thought to himself.
"How are you getting home?" Nico asked Percy as the two continued walking down the path, back to the crossroad. Percy shrugged.
"Well, I reckon I'll head towards the ocean and see if I can catch a ride back home. Maybe Poseidon is feeling generous and can give me a lift. Seriously, Aphrodite needs to start teaching me the important skills of godhood, like enhancing my goldy powers and all that fancy flashing stuff."
"You want a lift?" Nico offered with a chuckle. "I need to take care of some business for Hades in Olympus anyway. I don't mind you tagging along."
"Are you sure?" Percy asked warily. "I don't want you fainting for the next five centuries afterwards." Nico slightly smiled.
"Don't worry about me," he sighed. "You up?" Percy shrugged.
"Why not," he said. Smirking, Nico grabbed his shoulders, before the next thing Percy knew, the shadows consumed him yet again.
When he came out on the other side, Nico was next to him, breathing heavily. Immediately, Percy rushed to his side.
"Nico, are you good?" he asked, concerned? The boy waved it away.
"Just need a minute or two," he gasped. "You go back to Aphrodite, don't worry about it. I'll get some air and head up to Central Olympus." Percy wanted to prod more, but figured it was best to leave Nico to it. He doubted much bad could happen to him. With a tired sigh, Percy rang the doorbell.
"Percy!" Aphrodite squealed as she opened the door. "Oh I missed you! Come in, come in!"
"I was only gone for less than one day," he mumbled, but Aphrodite wasn't listening, instead ushering him into her palace and onto a sofa. She flopped down next to him, giggling.
"Tell me everything, Percy. How was your little adventure with Hecate? Did she try to turn you into a toad or something equally dramatic?"
"What, no!" he said exasperatedly. "I'm a god, first of all, and do I even look like a toad?" She frowned.
"You're a god, but don't forget we're still waiting for your divine form to come before true immortality sets in." Percy rolled his eyes. Percy opened his mouth to ask Aphrodite about something that had been on his mind, but before he could utter a word, the doorbell rang. Aphrodite's expression shifted to one of surprise.
"Wow, Ares is much earlier than usual," she mused, standing up and straightening the hem of her skirt. "Much much earlier than usual." As she went to tend to the doorbell, Percy sunk his head back into the chair, reflecting on the day. He'd been scammed by going to Hecate, only to find out he now needed to go to Hypnos. Apparently, he'd have an easier and better method. Until then however, it was still nice to know Percy could do some minor pranking.
"Percy, it's for you!" Aphrodite yelled from the door. He frowned, wondering who on Earth (or Olympus) would be looking for him. Maybe he had left something with Nico.
"Who is it?" he asked, getting up from his chair with a sigh.
"Err, just come and see yourself." Yep, definitely Nico, he thought, making his way to the door.
"Nico, did I forget something," Percy asked as he reached the doorway, his eyes scanning the scene before him. However, instead of finding Nico's familiar figure, he was met with Aphrodite's expression of shock. Confusion etched across his face, Percy followed Aphrodite's gaze to the unexpected visitor standing before him.
"Oh," was all he managed to say. Admittedly, he didn't think he'd be seeing her for a while, and yet here she was, her arms crossed in the doorway.
There, bathed in the soft glow of sunlight that filtered through her flowing hair, stood Artemis, the goddess of the hunt.
So... she's here XD. I do hope this chapter was interesting though? Sometimes I feel like I drone on too much about something haha. Definitely please do review and tell how it was! Some Pertemis coming along really soon!