I should update every Friday/Saturday. Maybe Sunday if things get weird.
For future reference, this is not a focused crossover with the rest of Ricky's world (Magnus/Kanes). I merely acknowledge it.
If it makes you feel any better, I barely read the Kanes, only read 1.5(one point five) book(s) of Apollo's trials, so if I'm including it, I'll probably mess it up, and i obviously already changed the story(as the purpose of fanfictions are) and I was done with Magnus Chase as soon as he died, which was like the first chapter.
NOTE: I AM IGNORING THE SUN AND THE STAR FOR AUTHORIC REASONS
However, all other Riordan books exist in my world, with slight(major) changes to some
As a daughter of the wisdom goddess, riddles and weaving usually came natural to her. But the one He left for her made her want to pull her hair out. She was getting very tempted to just go to her mom (she had a pass since she was a goddess who chose not to live in Olympus as a tribute to Per-Him), but whatever silly little thing that he made or found was supposedly too important to show or tell anyone. In all honesty, Annabeth was surprised that he still trusted her with everything going on.
Who's going to see you?
What the heck was that supposed to mean? What is going to see her? Annabeth decided not to dwell on it as there was a slightly bigger problem to deal with. It should come to her sooner or later if it really applies to her.
The unfortunate bigger problem included a prophecy from Rachel and Apollo himself.
"When what is blue turns red,"
That could mean the sky, the sea, almost anything blue. But for some reason the dark part of her reminded her of a certain person who was obsessed with blue.
an unfortunate accident shall bring forth an end
Well, if you can call his death 'unfortunate accident'
to hunger and a time of prosperity.
There are more than one type of hunger, such as for knowledge. But this hunger could be for a whole different thing, perhaps godly. As for 'time of prosperity', it could mean that it has been quiet for the past decade.
As soon as the sky turns red,
With this verse, it could be referring to the first line, or could not.
a terrible act of cruelty shall mark
Okay? His death? Something else?
the clash of titans and a rise in immortality.
The clash of titans could mean a war. As for 'rise in immortality' could refer to the seven, because even though prophecies normally go in order, they are also normally not so long.
The day the moon and the sun turn bright,
The moon and sun themselves? The twins? Or the titans that used to have those as domains?
a pure blood shall usher forth
No idea.
a world of darkness and a time of barbarity
So war, then.
The one who led, the one whom's dead
He shall rise, and shall thrive
When fate is once again denied
With an ever-glowing thread
The last four lines probably couldn't be more obvious without stating his name. But what fate? With such questions, she prepared to attend the meeting with the counsel and other minor gods.
She couldn't wait to see her friends, no matter how much she has hurt them by hurting Him. It would be funny to see Nico/Nika and Thalia. Right before she disappeared, she saw a sign on the Big House that had a few missing letters. As her brain sometimes randomly had before, she connected this with a memory.
Her first quest was terrifying, to say the least. But she remembered how reluctant she had been to go on 'The Tunnel of Love', to be seen with a boy on such a ride. Right before she had gone on, he had irritatedly asked her 'Who's going to see you?'. She smiled. Seems like I finally have a lead, was her last thought as she finally vanished into Olympus.
As the gods flashed into the Throne Room one by one, Nika couldn't help but scowl at each one. Only certain hunters were allowed here, a couple to confirm suspicions about a certain Aarão Hunter, and the other couple were children of the Big Three. But with the number of times they have been plants, Nika, in his-her (he was not used to referring himself as a female. If only these five years passed faster) somewhat twisted sense of humor, he wanted to call themselves 'The children of the Bug Tree'. Too bad the gods would be offended. Well, maybe if this was a decade ago, Poseidon would laugh, but now he was just drowned himself in his grief and guilt.
Unlike what everyone thought his reaction would be, Poseidon did not become a lazy and sobbing mess. Instead, he, ironically, drowned himself in work. He never stopped working, always was too busy for everything. Sometimes his underwater family was able to drag him out of it, but even they were upset, despite barely knowing the boy. It had become so bad to the point where he had to be dragged to a solstice meeting by one of his sisters. It was putting depression and workaholism to a whole new level. A godly level, perhaps, Nico-Nika mused.
When none of the gods seemed to calm down for the meeting, a huge boom of thunder had been propelled across the room. The effect was immediate. Everyone had silenced and stared upon the King of the Gods, waiting for further instructions. The said King cleared his throat, the sound echoing the eerily silent room.
"There had been several problems in recent times. The prophecy. Athena? Apollo? Anything to say on that subject?"
The slumped, clearly tired sun god just ignored everything, trying to focus on his terrible headache that has been persisting for the past week. The clearly infuriated Athena stared at him until she realized it was a lost cause, as the god hasn't even noticed anything, staring into space on a random spot on the tall ceiling.
"It has been... confusing and vague, for the lack of a better word." Athena started "However, two parts are very clear. That there is a time of war and chaos incoming, and that it most likely includes the banished one in this. It does not specify on which side, nor how, seeing as his very soul has been destroyed"
It was so quiet in the massive room that one could have heard a pin drop, as if anyone even carried pins to drop at dramatic moments. Nika snorted, interrupting the heavy silence.
Zeus turned to him, raising an eyebrow, almost as if daring Nico/Nika to challenge him "Do you have anything to add to her statement, Prince, or should I say, Princess of the Underworld Di Angelo"
Gods, Nico (he wasn't even going to acknowledge the fact that he was a girl) hated being a girl.
"Yes, actually I do. If you weren't a paranoid bastard you are, we probably wouldn't even have to worry about him being on the other side. But no-" Nico drew out the 'no' "-you had to be the fuckin' idiotic motherf-" a thunder was heard for rather a long time because the author was attempting to keep this fanfic T rated (bReAk dOWn tHe fOuRth wAll) "-you are, and now look where it got you? A war! A motherf-" once again, the same mysterious thunder "-war! And- OWWW!" he probably would have started to rant profanities in Italian had Thalia not dug her elbow in his ribs so flicking HARD. Even though he understood it was an attempted act at self-preservation (though clearly she also wanted to do the same thing). But it was too late, if Zeus's red, angry face was anything to go by.
"Hades. We will discuss your Daughter's" putting emphasis on the gender to probably goad Nico into screaming profanities again, despite the mysterious author's dislike of them (bReAk dOWn tHe fOuRth wAll{AGAIN!}) "actions of disrespect later. Right now, Artemis, dear? Anything on this mysterious Aarão Hunter?"
"Right now, Artemis, dear? Anything on this mysterious Aarão Hunter?"
Hell yeah, she did. The fact that some of her more experienced hunters couldn't even capture him, but instead got captured and toyed with. That peculiar, golden eye that resembled her grandfather's. He wore a mask to hide his features for some reason. Was he really that ugly? And why did her uncle of death shift uncomfortably? Did he know something?
She remembered their first encounter better than she would like to. She was very angry with that excuse for a human being, who was stupid enough to mess with her hunters, so she went to track him down. After finding a certain spoil of a hunt, she had concluded his location by heading North.
Artemis was in the forest where the hunter was assumed to be. There were obvious signs of recent life, and by that she meant human. There was a small layer, much like dust, of the gold monster dust. Every step was careful, for all true hunters had traps set up. As one, she can confirm. If she got caught, she will be taunted for centuries by her brother.
There was a sudden noise in the foliage. Artemis paused straining her godly ears for any noise. Silence. Not a sound was heard. Then suddenly a big, black mass of fur jumped out on her. 'Hellhound', Artemis thought as she jumped back. Both of them glared down at each other's eyes, unmoving, not going to back down first. Silver Vs. Red.
"Loki! Stand down! Down boy!" a voice called out. The hellhound paused, hesitating to follow it's master's orders.
"Loki" The hellhound moves back as a person emerges.
"Sorry. Loki tends to get a bit aggressive around others" Artemis looks at him. He had a black outfit, complete with a whooshing cloak. The mask covering his face most of his face. The infamous golden eye. 'Just like Kronos or Chronos', Artemis thought as she remembered the cold, cruel eyes from The Battle of Manhattan. She smiled in a way a predator would at a prey. 'I got you now'
"A bit?" She snarled
"Well, perhaps hostility is more violent to you than me. Maybe more aggressive than I had said" He admitted, his hand on his neck.
"Why Loki of all names, Boy?"
"Well... I was going to name him Marshmallow, or could've been Fluffy... but neither of them were going to be taken seriously. I figured naming them after my gods would be fierce enough. Lady Diana, right?"
Her form flickered for a second into her Roman form. What did he mean, his gods? He's Norse? Why use her Roman name. Why did he even know his name. Her eyes narrowed.
"How do you know my name?!" She demanded
His golden eye twinkled mischievously "How am I supposed to survive in this world without knowing the gods and goddesses who run it?"
Her eyes narrowed further, but she didn't say anything. She looked at the hellhound behind him. It almost looked like a different breed of hellhound. Perhaps it was bred.
An idea sparked within her. "How old are you?"
The question seemed to throw him off guard. She smirked.
"Um..." He seemed to count on his fingers. He ran out of them. "Um... Let's see. Five, ten, fifteen-" he went on mumbling, recounting on his fingers. "Approximately 483... I think? No wait, yes, no, I DON'T KNOW! AHHHHHH! How can one even forget the day one's mother conceived him into the world!" he threw his hands in the air and started running around in circles. She rolled her silver eyes. 'Dramatic males'.
He stopped. "I remember!" He squeaked. Then realizing, he fixed his composure "764" His tone was neutral, betraying nothing.
She couldn't tell whether he was lying or not, which normally she could, considering her brother and experiences.
He quickly turned to the hellhound and said "Lōki. Itarulanu tīsukoni iṇṭiki veḷlaṇḍi. Ḍinnar ki nēnu akkaḍiki rākapōtē bādhapaḍavaddani am'matō ceppu. Rēpaṭilōgā nēnu akkaḍa lēkapōtē, atanini tīsukuraṇḍi" Loki. Get the others and go home. Tell mother not to worry if I don't get there by dinner. If I'm not there by tomorrow, than go get him. (A/N the language is Telugu. I will be using this language for monsters)
Artemis had no idea what he said. Did he just now speak to the hellhound? The hellhound barked, howled and jumped into a shadow, a couple more pups following the one named Loki. How she not notice them? They jumped away, too far for Artemis to catch up to them. She turned back on the hunter just to see him jumping on a lower branch, using it to jump up on the trees.
She immediately went after him. "You pig! You're supposed to come to Olympus with me!"
While still running on top of the trees he called back "All you need to do is ask! And It shouldn't hurt to say please! Well, I'll understand it if you were cursed, but to my limited knowledge of you, you aren't!"
She will not beg in front of a male! "And you are?" She questioned not really expecting an answer while trying but failing to keep him in sight.
"That's for me to know, and for you not to wonder what I got cursed with!" With that, he finally got out of her sight.
She had searched for hours, not to see a head nor hair of him. The only evidence she found that it wasn't a vision was a piece of paper, written in Ichor as golden as his left eye.
𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓼𝓴
At least that proves him not to be mortal, as mortals are toxic to it. Demigods are somewhat immune to it, since they have some flowing through them.
But that irritated her, that he got away, and had the audacity to just leave a note. Just ask. That is the same thing he had repeated before he and his... interesting, for a lack of a better word, friends disappeared.
"Daughter, dear? You have been staring into space for the past four minutes"
That has jerked her back into the present. She pointedly ignored her lieutenant's worried glance as she started "He is a male that, according to rumors and my newer hunters, saves young, abused children. He was able to evade me and my more experienced hunters, and has a rather curious breed of hellhound as a pet seemingly. It might have been my imagination, but right before the creature ran away, he had said something in a language that had puzzled me, as it seemed it was in that treacherous monster tongue. That same creature was named after one of the many Norse gods, because he had said it was to honor his gods" She decided not to mention the other possible names of the hellhound, because as many would agree, Fluffy was not exactly a terrifying name that ignites fear into enemies "He also had said his age was 764 years, however only after pondering and stating incorrect numbers. I, unfortunately, was unable to confirm the truth of the statement. I cannot state where his loyalties lie, of what pantheon he is, or anything besides his appearance. Even then, he had worn a mask the whole time, which covered most of his features." she finished, sitting back down on her throne, sighing tiredly.
Her father's attention has gone to Pheme, one of his many messengers, also the goddess of gossip, report, and rumor. She, no doubt, has loved her domain rise.
"You heard everything. Write it down in the Olympus Daily, The Roman Herald, Zeus's Gazette, The Godly Times, and many other numerous paper's you're in charge of."
"Sir, yes sir!" her mischievous smile was making people wonder what she was going to write down.
Aphrodite stood up, and excitedly squeaked "Can I put it in the fashion magazine I'm running? Please, Please! The Daily Affairs of Mythology really need a new story and-"
"Sure, sure! Just make it sound serious!" He waved it off, his vein threatening to burst any moment.
"MEETING DISMISSED!" he thundered before anyone could add anymore irritation to his already angry aura. The gods flashed away dramatically, Zeus being the first and the flashiest as a lightning bolt accompanied by thunder hit his seat. Artemis flashed away in a light of silver wondering about that hunters note. Just ask.
Cold and unrelenting wind blows, the skies are as dark as the person standing in the pouring rain. Perhaps not dark as in the sense of evil, but definitely R rated thoughts. He was standing, hesitating. He was afraid to come into the place he had called a house for the past week. House, not home. Home is where the hearth is, where hope is, and most importantly, family. Right now, that man had none of the above. And while his friend could fall into the category 'family', he always remembered his own mom, grown sister, caring step-father. The last time he had seen his dad was right before his death... Yeah, he should really stop thinking about those days unless he wants to get a severe flashback... You know what? He'll just come in before anything happens.
Octavian was attempting to keep the fire going "He's asleep" he quietly supplied
He merely nodded as he sat next to the other one.
"You need to talk more if you don't want to lose your voice" Octavian quipped
He started nodding again, then realizing what Octavian said
"I wonder why did they betray me?" he said in a raspy voice
Octavian raised his eyebrow "What did I say about using this as a conversation starter?"
He pouted "To not to"
Octavian raised his eyebrow higher "Why, then, did you do it?"
He pouted further "Because I lack social contact to a degree where I can not formally start a conversation. But we are having a conversation, are we not?"
Octavian's face split into a grin as he started quietly clapping "You almost made a joke and you sassed! Congratulations!"
But seeing his reaction Octavian stopped. "You're thinking about your family, aren't you, Jackson? The offer still stands. I can send a letter to them if you don't want to or can't."
He sighed "Do you understand that we are having this conversation for the twenty-fifth time this year?"
Octavian snorted "Do you understand that saying that makes it sound not as bad? The year just started a week ago"
The identified Jackson seemed in deep thought "Okay, fine. You can send that letter to them. You know which one" he finished in Latin
Octavian sighed in relief "That's all I'm asking, even though I am not a fan of that particular letter"
"Good night, even though I see nothing good in it"
"Jackson! What did I say about such thoughts!"
The dying fire finally went out as the friends were left in the dark, pouring rain and thoughts, the latter mostly for Jackson.
𝟙𝟚/𝟙𝟡/𝟚𝟝
𝔸𝕝𝕝 𝕠𝕗 𝕦𝕤 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕔𝕙 𝕨𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕤𝕜 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕡𝕒𝕚𝕟. -𝕀𝕪𝕒𝕟𝕝𝕒 𝕍𝕒𝕟𝕫𝕒𝕟𝕥
𝕋𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪, 𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕓𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕘𝕠𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕜𝕪. 𝕎𝕖𝕝𝕝, 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕀 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕖. 𝕀 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕚𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤. 𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕘𝕠 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖. 𝔹𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥, 𝕀 𝕞𝕖𝕒𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖, 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖. ℕ𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕙𝕖𝕣, 𝕖𝕩𝕔𝕖𝕡𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕝𝕒𝕕𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕤, 𝕚𝕤 𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕕. 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕𝕟'𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕞𝕪 𝕒𝕘𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕒 𝕤𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕕. 𝕄𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕦𝕥𝕖𝕤, 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦'𝕣𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝. 𝕎𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕖 𝕀 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥𝕗𝕦𝕝𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤, 𝕀 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕒𝕥 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕔𝕤. 𝕂𝕟𝕠𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕠𝕠𝕟𝕪, 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕙𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕘𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕦𝕖 𝕡𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕖. 𝕆𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕦𝕡. 𝕀 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕡𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕒𝕨𝕒𝕪.
𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕓𝕪𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕! 𝔸ℍ 𝕠𝕣 𝕋𝔾
𝟙𝟚-𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟝
𝕄𝕒𝕟 𝕚𝕤 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕙𝕚𝕞𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕒𝕝𝕜𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟. 𝔾𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕙𝕚𝕞 𝕒 𝕞𝕒𝕤𝕜, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕥𝕙. -𝕆𝕤𝕔𝕒𝕣 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕖
𝕊𝕦𝕣𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕝𝕪, 𝕤𝕟𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕟 𝕒 𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕠𝕝𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕞𝕖𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕪 𝕖𝕟𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙. 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕚𝕘𝕟𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒𝕤 𝕓𝕚𝕘 𝕒𝕤 𝔹𝕚𝕘 ℤ'𝕤 𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕞𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕥. 𝔹𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕪, 𝕗𝕦𝕟 𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕥, 𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘. 𝔸𝕝𝕝 𝕠𝕗 𝕞𝕪 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕒𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕤 𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖. 𝕆𝕝𝕕 𝕞𝕖, 𝕚𝕟𝕧𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕞𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕪 𝕞𝕖. ℍ𝕦𝕙, 𝕎𝕙𝕠 𝕜𝕟𝕖𝕨. ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝕞𝕖, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕀 𝕤𝕦𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕕. 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕀 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕤𝕒𝕨 𝕞𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕦𝕟 𝕘𝕠𝕕, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕖𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠𝕠 𝕥𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕒𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘. 𝕀𝕥 𝕤𝕖𝕖𝕞𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕀'𝕞 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕔 𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕤𝕝𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘. 𝕀 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕒𝕣 𝕡𝕒𝕤𝕥, 𝕀 𝕦𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕟𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕤, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕀'𝕞 𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕚𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖, 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝, 𝕨𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕟'𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕨, 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕨𝕖? 𝔸𝕟𝕪𝕨𝕒𝕪, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕦𝕟 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕥𝕤 𝕘𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕦𝕡. 𝕋𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜.
𝕋𝕠𝕠𝕥𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕! 𝔸ℍ 𝕠𝕣 𝕋𝔾
𝟙/𝟘𝟡/𝟚𝟞
𝕋𝕠 𝕙𝕦𝕟𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕔𝕔𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕗𝕦𝕝𝕝𝕪, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕞𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕, 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕜, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕢𝕦𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪. -𝕂.𝕁. ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕜𝕖𝕣
𝕄𝕪 𝕘𝕚𝕣𝕝𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕 (𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕖𝕣) 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕜𝕚𝕕𝕟𝕒𝕡 𝕞𝕖. 𝕀 𝕞𝕖𝕒𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕙𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥. 𝕀 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕣? 𝕊𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕟, 𝕙𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣, 𝕘𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕥, ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕦𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕪. 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕤 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕞𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝕦𝕡 𝕞𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕚𝕤. 𝕀 𝕞𝕖𝕒𝕟 𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕤𝕟'𝕥 𝕓𝕒𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕥 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕚 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕕𝕚𝕕, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕕. 𝔻𝕚𝕕 𝕚 𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕤𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕕 𝕒 ℂ𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕝𝕖𝕘𝕒𝕔𝕪 𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪? 𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝕒 𝕓𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕙 𝕠𝕗 𝕗𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕪. 𝕊𝕆 ℂ𝕌𝕋𝔼! 𝕀 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕄𝕖𝕘, 𝕒 𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕕𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝔻𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕣. 𝕀 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟 ℙ𝕚𝕡𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕁𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟 𝕓𝕣𝕠𝕜𝕖 𝕦𝕡 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕒 𝕞𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕁𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟 𝕕𝕚𝕖𝕕. 𝕎𝕖𝕝𝕝, 𝕒𝕥 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕘𝕠𝕥 𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕥𝕠𝕘𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣. 𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕁𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟 𝕕𝕚𝕖𝕕, ℤ𝕖𝕦𝕤 𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕙𝕚𝕞 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝕒 𝕘𝕠𝕕, 𝕞𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 ℍ𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤. 𝕀 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕡 𝕞𝕒𝕕𝕖 𝔸𝕡𝕠𝕝-𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕟𝕪 𝔽𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕘𝕠𝕕 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕙𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕖. 𝔸𝕟𝕪𝕨𝕒𝕪, 𝕒𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚 𝕞𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕠𝕣 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕕 ℤ𝕖𝕦𝕤 𝕒𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕓𝕦𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕎𝕒𝕣 𝕘𝕠𝕕𝕤 𝕠𝕣 𝕚𝕞𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕒𝕝𝕤 𝕒𝕤 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝. ℍ𝕦𝕙. 𝕄𝕒𝕪𝕓𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥'𝕤 𝕨𝕙𝕪 𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕜𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕞𝕖. 𝕋𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕦𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕪𝕞𝕡𝕙𝕤. 𝔻𝕚𝕕 𝕀 𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔾-𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕡𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕄𝕚𝕤𝕤𝕦𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕨 𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕒𝕓𝕕𝕦𝕔𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕥 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕤𝕠𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕥 𝕓𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜𝕖𝕕? 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕𝕟'𝕥 𝕒𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝕖𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕦𝕤 𝕚𝕗 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕦𝕤 𝕕𝕖𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕪 𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕖'𝕤? 𝕎𝕖𝕝𝕝, 𝔽𝕌ℕ 𝔽𝔸ℂ𝕋! 𝕀𝕥'𝕤 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕖! 𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕞 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕕𝕦𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕚𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕞𝕖 𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜. 𝕎𝕒𝕚𝕥. 𝕀 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕠𝕥. 𝔹𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕤 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕚𝕞𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕒𝕝 𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕘𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕖𝕝𝕤𝕖. 𝔻𝕚𝕕 𝕀 𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕨𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕦𝕡 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕟𝕪𝕞𝕡𝕙𝕤 𝕘𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕔𝕝𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕣? 𝕆ℍ. 𝕊ℍ𝕆𝕆𝕋. 𝔾𝕆𝕋𝕋𝔸 𝔾𝕆.
𝔸𝕕𝕚𝕠𝕤 𝔼𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕙! 𝔸ℍ 𝕠𝕣 𝕋𝔾
It was very confusing to Matt as to why they avoided the emphasized version of Him. The best he got was that it was some kind of shunning to a certain name, but everyone either didn't know it, or refused to say it. He only got answers after finding Nancy Bobofit, which by the way, was pretty. But that was off topic.
He was in the dining pavilion when he crashed into her. Why does he keep crashing into redheads?
"Hey! Watch where you're going... what's your last name?"
He stared up at her from his spot on the floor "Sloan?"
"Sloan" she finished and was about to turn around and walk away, and probably would have, if Matt wouldn't have blurted out something dumb
"Who's he? Why does everyone avoid his name like the plague?"
She stopped, stiffened, looked around carefully as if to see if anyone heard, and said quietly "If you want to stay alive and in one piece, don't say that in public. Come with me." And she ran in the direction of the very dangerous forest
He, not knowing what to do, followed her, even though he was more fragile than her as a mortal. They ran for minutes, surprisingly nobody took notice of their sudden leave. They had reached a pile of rocks that suspiciously looked like a pile of dung.
He arrived, all out of breath. She was no better "Welcome to Zeus's Fist. My name is Nancy Bobofit" she held out her hand to shake. He shook it.
"Matt. Matt Sloan. If you call me Mathew, I will immediately disown you as my acquaintance. Also why did they call a pile of rock looking like dung after the King of the Gods? Is that supposed to mean something?" He asked, curious.
They looked at each other and both snickered.
"I actually don't know. I never saw it as dung to be honest. But I believe both of us are here for a much more serious matter"
The mood sombered as soon as she said that, even though Matt had no idea why he felt dread.
The dark shadows somehow made Matt feel as if this was a horror story. "According to the dolphin guy-" she started quietly before he interrupted her
"Dolphin guy?"
"Well, he's actually a death guy married to a sun guy, but I heard the story five years ago along with others at the expense of him being turned a dolphin by... Have you seen the director?"
He nodded
"Good. I mean not, but at least I don't need to explain who turned him into a dolphin. So this one person once upon the time was very, very loyal to his friends. So loyal, that it was his fatal flaw. He completed a numerous amount of quests, rivaling Heracles and other heroes of old. Fought and led battles for the gods. Even refused godhood for the better of the good. His name? Percy Jackson." She whispered
Matt's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. So that's the name he couldn't remember.
"And do you know how the gods repaid him? They deemed him too powerful, and even all this time he only fought for them, they were supposedly unsure of his loyalties. They killed him, Matt. Killed him. However rumors say that he is The Ghost that protects this camp. Others say he is The Golden-eyed Aarão Hunter that saves young children. But nobody knows. So if you want to live, I recommend not to say anything, because the only reason dolphin guy is not dead is because he is immortal."
"Percy Jackson... OH S**T! That's the guy I used to bully when I still went to school!"
She gave him a tight smile "Trust me. I did the same"
As he walked back next to her, he thought back to a nearly forgotten memory
The police had once again almost arrested him for destroying property. His father just paid them and the owners money and turned to him.
"Son. You must learn the worth of money, of objects, and of work. If you come back with $10,000 by the end of two years, or your 21st birthday, you may come back. Until then" his father gave him keys to one of his cheapest cars "Feel free to get your own place"
He was kicked out of his fathers home. He wanted to be angry. He wanted to throw a tantrum. But then he remembered all of those who don't even have this privilege. He had nodded and walked away to his new car.
He rented a cheap apartment, took up a nearby clerk job, and started saving up. He vaguely remembered a very lonely and quiet neighbor. He had very dark hair, but that hair was turning grayish blonde on the roots. He had unique sea green eyes, but those eyes had a speck of silver and gold in them. Every night he returned, he seen the boy, nearly his age, return much later. One day, when he had felt it was enough, he went up to the neighbor's door, hesitated and knocked.
Knock, knock, knock.
The lonely boy opened the door. His skin was a sickish shade of gray. The bags under his eyes were the size of coins and as dark as Matt's hair. He looked very grumpy and moody, but in his eyes Matt could see the pain.
"Umm... I'm your neighbor? I'll make dinner at my place?"
The boy narrowed his eyes and seemed to be searching for any ulterior motives behind that statement. After several minutes, he nodded.
"I'll-I'll go" He seemed to be convincing himself
Matt smiled and put out his hand "Matt. Matt Sloan"
The boys eyes widened slightly. He seemed to be in thought for a moment "Pierce Jordan"
Several times Matt had invited him over to dinner. It was mostly in silence. Sometimes Pierce would mumble something about his little sister, and Matt had loved when he saw that twinkle in his eyes when he talked about her.
One day, several weeks later, when Matt decided to ask him to go over for dinner just like he does every Thursday, but all he found was a yellow sticky note on the door that said:
𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒹𝒾𝒹. 𝐼 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝓈𝑜𝑜𝓃, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝒹𝑜𝓃'𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒷𝑒 𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒.
-𝒫.𝒥.
About a year later, Matt was struggling to meet his deadline and pay for rent. It became easier after there was a thirty-year-old looking standing in the line to buy something. He had blond and grey hair, his eyes a whirlpool of a silver and golden color. No, wait. He was wearing an eyepatch on his right eye. In his hands, a basket full of vegetables and fruits. In his pocket, a wallet sticking out.
It was Matt's shift when he came up. Matt scanned the numerous food products and first aid.
"$163.74" Matt recited
The person took out the wallet and handed him about 4-5 hundred dollar bills.
"Umm... I said $163.74" he said, confused
The silver-blonde smiled warmly and said "Keep the change, Matthew Sloan. You need it more than me"
Matt had wondered how he had known his name, but didn't ask at the moment. Only later had he realized he had recognized him somehow. When he looked through the dollar bills again, he noticed a familiar yellow sticky note amongst them.
𝒲𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝓂𝑒𝓉 𝒶𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃. 𝐻𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒸𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑔𝑜𝒶𝓁.
-𝒫.𝒥. 𝑜𝓇 𝒜.𝐻.
Only just now did he connect Pierce Jordan with Aarão Hunter. Was Pierce even his real name? Why did he trust him with this information? As he sat next to Chiron the horse man and Rachel, he continued pondering about Aarão Hunter and the one they call Percy Jackson.
Sally Jackson-Blofis was a very independent woman. The fiasco with Poseidon had proved that well enough. While she understood that some woman would kill to get such an opportunity, she was taught to fend for herself. But when Percy went missing, she needed someone to lean on. Annabeth, Paul, and many other friends of her son helped her. And in turn, she turned her house into a demigod safe-house.
After mortal Apollo-Lester appeared, her sweet little sea star seemed in more distress than usual. His nightmares got worse where even Annabeth couldn't help. Several days later, Annabeth was given an opportunity of her life. To finish her Dream up in Olympus. Annabeth hesitated, afraid for Percy and his mental state, not to mention their college tests, but he encouraged her that if that is what she wanted, then she can go to it. The catch was that she was to go live in Olympus in the duration of the construction.
Despite the number of times he denied it, her son wasn't okay with it mentally. After she left, he had stayed in his room, only to come out for food and necessities. When he properly had come out about a week later, he seemed very tired, very happy, and very worn-out, though by what, she does not know. She has heard one of those Iris-Messages constantly, but she respected his privacy, and as she told him at fourteen right before he decided to save Annabeth, she couldn't control his actions no longer.
He had announced that he was going for a quest to surprise Annabeth with, hugged her, kissed her pregnant belly, wished Paul farewell, and just left with a promise he will send letters, no matter how horrible his spelling is. Sally suspected that it was a quest for a blessing, knowing about the rivalry between sea and wisdom.
What she only found out after he left was that not all of the voices she heard were messages, but a person had lived there. How he was able to sneak a whole person in and then out, she did not know, but did not dwell on it. The more concerning matters at that moment were the upcoming baby and Percy's smaller letters that came less often.
When for the whole two weeks, she had gotten no letters at all, she started worrying. When Annabeth burst into her home, covered all in tears, on Valentine's Day, it hadn't eased them at all. Knowing that Percy knows about her coming child and that worrying could affect with negatively, she wondered what he was thinking. Through Annabeth's sobbing mess, all that Sally could make out was 'cheat', 'he', and 'I', not necessarily in that order. She comforted the child, but she wondered what had happened to get such a reaction. And while as a mother, she fully trusted him, she couldn't help but think whether it was his fault or not.
After that day she has heard nothing about her little boy. Annabeth visited a couple times, but each time seemed conflicted and she refused to talk about him, muttering something about 'stupid oaths'.
When many months later of worries and sleepless nights(some of them because of a newborn), Poseidon came in person, weeping, she knew immediately that something was very wrong. She was spoon feeding Estelle when she heard a knock on the door, she was immediately on edge. Paul was at work, and she wasn't expecting anyone. It could demigod or monster. She made sure Estelle was safe, picked a gun from its usual spot, made from both mortal and celestial metals, and carefully went to the door. She opened it... and her gun dropped from shock. It was Poseidon, but instead of his usual beach clothes, it was a mourners outfit, black and gloomy. There were tears pouring from his eyes, much like the unforecasted rain outside. If Sally would've been in her right mind, she would've figured the rain was caused by The Stormbringer, but she wasn't in her right mind.
She picked up her gun and ushered him inside before unwanted attention was attracted. As soon inside, Poseidon fully broke down in her arms.
"I tried to stop them! I tried. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" he kept crying, repeating over and over again. Sally had reminded herself that it was a very powerful god breaking down in her mortal arms. Realization suddenly hit her as her eyes widened, and she started crying too.
"Shhh... You tried your best. I'm pretty sure he knows that. I'm pretty sure your brother will let you see him to confirm that" she tried comforting him softly, rubbing circles on the broken gods back
He paused his sobbing and looked in her eyes with his red-rimmed ones, saying quietly "That's the thing, Sal. His very soul was destroyed. Thanatos himself said that. They forced me to formally disown him right before his death, therefore forcing agony upon him. When I argued against it, he, knowing the consequences but not wanting for me to be in trouble, reassured me that it's okay. In the end after the motherf- ", a thunder from the storm occurred, "-bolt was used, not even ashes were left. Whatever speck was left, I already threw into the sea, after all, 'What belongs to the sea will always return to the sea'" he quoted Nereid in the end
"Oh, Poseidon, I'm so sorry for not stopping him from coming out of this blasted door. Why?" Why did they kill him?
"My overly paranoid brother. Not to mention his stunt in Tartarus" he answered cryptically
"With Annabeth?" She knew he went there with her, but she didn't think that the gods could watch. Percy always avoided talking about that place, not that Sally didn't understand. It is an equivalent to hell.
"No. Second time."
"Second? That's where he was all these months?.
"No. Only after he was already hunted, sometime after February"
Sally connected the hidden dots, and her eyes widened. Something happened in February, Valentine's Day. Only after that did he go.
"Why, oh why?" She broke down sobbing again, along with Poseidon in each other's arms. To say the least, she hated October 30th the most now.
So that's why when she heard an unexpected knock on the door that wasn't in a certain pattern (It was 'Percy' in morse code, but nobody needed to know that), she was reluctant to open it. After all, after Apollo came, he was distraught. After Poseidon came, he was dead. She was afraid next time somebody godly comes, she's going to get something worse, even if she didn't know what could be worse than finding out that her sweet baby boy was destroyed.
She grabbed her gun, inching towards the door, even if Poseidon had set up wards against people with evil intentions. Estelle was asleep. Paul was out. It was dark and pouring buckets outside. Sally got a weird sense of deja-vu, probably from 10-30-2011, the year her dear Percy was 18 and dead.
She opened the door. It was a cloaked person. He had his dark hood down, showing his slightly shining blonde hair and crazed blue eyes, though it was slightly hard to see in the dark rain.
"Apollo?"
The mystery laughed "Sorry, no. My friend calls me Apollo-wannabe, though, if it makes you feel any better. I'm here to endow a letter for you, so you should mistake me for Hermes instead."
So he was related to that world that she refused to acknowledge unless it was a child in harm.
"What letter?", she demanded, not unkindly, scared what message it could be this time
"Umm... about that" he shuffled nervously as he looked down "My friend also said that since this place could be watched by certain gods, I wasn't supposed to bring this in person." He trailed off
His head snapped up "But I wanted to piss him off because this certain letter sucks. Trust me, if you were the one editing and writing it while he dictates what says in it, which is really cringy, you'll agree" he said that as if that justified his actions as he handed her a thick envelope, with a fancy seal of golden and silver snakes intertwining.
Her eyes widened at the seal. It was the symbol of the infamous Aarão Hunter. According to mortals, he was a criminal who killed hundreds. But according to the demigods and immortal hunters that passed through her place, he was a savior to them and other children who were saved from abuse and monsters.
But what would he want with her?
"Who is your friend?" she asked to confirm her suspicions
He smiled "Why, Aarão Hunter, of course." he said as if he's everyone's friend "However, if he stops being so depressing and mute and speaking in quotes like a crazy person, then he might have more friends than just me" he mumbled at the end, but Sally caught it.
Depressing and mute and speaking in quotes like a crazy person. Sounds like my baby boy when he was six, she thought as she leaned on the door.
"Anyway, gotta go before anyone unwanted by me notices me. Or maybe the hunter will just hunt me down for this. Either way, I'm dead, cuz neither gods nor him after this like me after this. Bye, Lady Jackson" He saluted before running off into the night. She stared after him, wondering whether she went crazy or not already. But that peculiar letter in her hand was proof that she hasn't had it yet.
She closed the door, turning on the reading lamp next to the couch and sat down.
And so she opened the letter and read.
(A/N)
02/16/24
And another Chapter done. Sorry if the characters a bit OCC. I'm no rick.
6931 words