Ch.12
All rights belong to Riordan
The gods sat in stunned silence at Percy's revelation. "What do you mean it was Leo?" Hephaestus asked, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Percy turned to him grimly. "That bomb was too sophisticated to be created by anyone other than you or one of your children, m'lord," he stated firmly. "And I don't remember seeing Leo attend the premiere with everyone else."
Hephaestus sank back into his throne, his expression troubled as he contemplated Percy's words. Meanwhile, Athena summoned her pad, swiftly accessing her notes from the event. "He's right, father," she confirmed, her tone serious. "Leo isn't on the list of attendees."
"Why would Leo do something like this though? This seems way out of character for the boy," Artemis stated, confusion and rage clearly evident on her face.
"I suspect it has something to do with me and Hermes," Percy replied. Artemis turned to look at Percy, her expression a mix of confusion and concern. "What do you mean?"
Percy sighed before turning to Hermes. "Remember the conversation we had at the bar before I got drunk?" Hermes looked thoughtful for a moment before his eyes widened, nodding in acknowledgment.
"What was the conversation about, Percy?" Zeus asked. Percy turned to look at him before replying, "It had to do with Calypso's release. After the first Titan war, you promised to release her. Turns out you didn't, as Leo was sent to her island during the Giant war."
Zeus nodded as Percy continued, "Well, before I got drunk and after Apollo had left me and Hermes alone, I had mentioned that you guys hadn't released her yet. So Hermes made a quick trip to the island and brought her to Olympus to celebrate the end of the war before returning to me and Apollo."
Athena looked thoughtful before her eyes widened as the dots clicked in her head. "Annabeth told me once that Leo always hated Percy because of the fact he left her on the island and never checked to make sure she was taken off of it."
Percy nodded grimly at her statement. "My guess is Leo probably figured out a way to get back to the island, but when he arrived, she was gone. When he did finally find her on Olympus, she probably turned him down because she harbored feelings for me still. Especially since this time, I did make sure she got off the island."
Percy turned to Hephaestus, who was listening to Percy's explanation in shock. "Did you mention I was attending with Artemis by any chance to Leo, Lord Hephaestus?" Hephaestus looked thoughtful before a look of defeat crossed his face. "I may have mentioned it when we were talking about the other heroes attending."
Percy nodded slowly, his expression darkening as he turned back to Zeus. "That would have given Leo a few hours to design, create, and plant the explosive couch in our room. Given his lineage—child of the forge god and a god himself—he could have accomplished that easily within that time frame. While I can't confirm with absolute certainty it was him, it's the best explanation I could piece together."
Athena's gaze grew pensive as she turned to Percy. "Your reasoning is sound, but what could rescuing Calypso have to do with him attempting to take your life?" Percy met Athena's gaze with a steely resolve. "Jealousy and the gift of godhood aren't a good mix," he replied with a hint of bitterness in his voice. "And Leo's always harbored resentment towards me for rescuing Calypso. Mixing godhood into that equation only makes it more volatile."
"I doubt Leo's intention was outright murder," Percy continued, his tone tinged with a mix of sorrow and frustration. "Considering Zoe's current age suggests her status as a godling, Leo likely assumed I was immortal. His aim was likely to inflict pain rather than death. As for why he attempted this with Artemis present, perhaps he felt he had no choice, considering Artemis is never far from me," Percy concluded, his expression reflecting a blend of resignation and disappointment.
The gods sat in stunned silence as Percy concluded his explanation, each wearing a different expression, yet all resonating with the same emotions: anger, shock, and regret painted across their faces.
"Be that as it may, he still committed murder against a god. He must be punished for that," Zeus declared with authority. Percy shook his head, a gesture that startled everyone present. "I do not want to take action against Leo until we know for certain that it was him. A false accusation could force the actual assailant into hiding if it wasn't Leo."
Artemis appeared as though she wanted to protest, but Athena spoke up first. "As much as I hate to admit it, Percy is right. We must be certain before taking action against the boy." Poseidon glanced at Percy with resignation, acknowledging the validity of his point while still harboring displeasure.
"What should we do then, Percy?" Poseidon inquired. Percy turned to Athena, his expression thoughtful. "Athena, what if you were to announce that I had been killed in the explosion. If it was Leo, he would likely confess. If not, perhaps we could set a trap later on to coax him into making another attempt."
"If he doesn't confess, how would he find out you're alive?" Athena inquired, her curiosity evident. Percy smiled in a way that made Athena uncomfortable. "We would inform them that I hadn't actually died, but was being kept on Olympus for my safety, a fact known only to the gods."
Athena nodded in understanding before Artemis interjected with concern. "What if it's not Leo, and the assailant tries going after Zoe next?" Percy's expression darkened at the thought. "Zoe needs to be in the company of an Olympian, myself, Artemis, or one of the other hero gods at all times. I don't believe it was any of them, as they are typically always together in some form or fashion."
"What about the hunters?" Zeus interjected. Percy shook his head before elaborating, "If it's not Leo, they could potentially become targets if Zoe is with them. We either need to be kept away from the hunters at all times, or the hunters need to remain on Olympus with me and Zoe until this is resolved."
Zeus nodded thoughtfully before turning to Artemis. "What do you wish to do, my dear?" he asked, genuine concern evident in his tone. Artemis glanced at Percy and Zoe before returning her gaze to her father. "I will bring the hunters to Olympus after Athena makes the announcement of Percy's death. I cannot risk leaving them at camp, where they could potentially become targets as well."
Zeus nodded in acceptance before turning back to address the council. "It is decided then. Athena, proceed to Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter to inform them of Percy's death. Once that task is completed, Artemis, gather your hunters and bring them to your residence here. Percy and Zoe are to remain within Olympus without exception, unless accompanied by an Olympian."
The gods nodded in agreement as Zeus vanished, the rest quickly following suit. Percy cast a meaningful glance at Hermes, silently conveying his instruction to stay put, to which Hermes nodded in acknowledgment. Poseidon approached Percy with a warm smile. "When you have the opportunity, I would like to take you and Zoe to Atlantis so she can meet my family."
Percy smiled warmly before glancing down at Zoe, who mirrored his expression with a radiant smile of her own. "We would love that," he replied to Poseidon's invitation. Poseidon beamed before enveloping them both in a tender embrace, offering a warm smile to Artemis before fading into mist.
"Arty, I need to talk to Hermes for a minute. I'll be right back," Percy said, meeting her gaze with determination. Artemis looked surprised but nodded in response. Percy rose from his throne, striding over to Hermes, who had remained seated upon his own throne.
"Hermes, we need to discuss the Premiere," Percy stated calmly. Hermes sighed before nodding. "I suppose this was unavoidable," he conceded. "What do you want to know?" Percy narrowed his eyes slightly before responding. "Since when were you close enough to Calypso to warrant taking her to the event?" he inquired.
Hermes smiled softly before replying, "We've always been on good terms. I was the only god willing to visit her on the island to keep her updated on world events. After I retrieved her from the island and after the incident at the bars, we bonded further. We've been on and off for about 2 years now."
Percy's eyes widened before a warm smile spread across his face. "That's good to know. I'm glad you were willing to do that for her," he acknowledged. His expression then turned serious. "But if you ever hurt her, Hermes, you will have to deal with me." Hermes swallowed hard, nodding swiftly in understanding.
With a final nod and smile, Percy turned and walked away, making his way back to where Artemis and Zoe were patiently waiting to return home.
The following morning, Athena made the somber journey to both Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter to deliver the grim news of Percy's apparent death. The news struck the camps hard, igniting a fire of grief and anger among Percy's friends. Many of them expressed a strong desire to hunt down the assailant themselves, but Athena firmly instructed them to trust that the Olympians were handling the situation.
Later that day, Artemis arrived at camp, her arrival shrouded in confusion as she departed with the hunters without divulging any details of their destination. This departure left Chiron puzzled, as Artemis typically kept him informed of her plans whenever they left camp.
Meanwhile, the hero gods were engulfed in turmoil, unable to fathom the loss of their close friend and trusted ally of many years. Their disbelief and sorrow permeated the atmosphere, casting a heavy shadow over their hearts and minds.
Most of the hero gods remained cloistered within their homes, consumed by grief and unwilling to engage in anything else. However, Reyna was a stark contrast; she was seething with anger. Gifted with the ability to read people, she sensed that Minerva had been withholding information during her visit.
After days of contemplation, Reyna reached a conclusion: Minerva had been lying. If Percy were truly dead, the oceans would have churned relentlessly in mourning. Given Neptune's protective nature over his children, it seemed inconceivable that he would have so swiftly moved past Percy's supposed death
Reyna knew Percy was alive. Yet, her anger stemmed from the fact that she had been kept in the dark about the truth. So she decided to visit Diana's home on Olympus to get answers.
When she arrived, Reyna strode confidently to the front door and rapped on it with determination. After a few moments, the door swung open, revealing a pair of familiar silver eyes gazing back at her.
"Hi Zoe," Reyna greeted warmly. Zoe's eyes widened in recognition before she abruptly closed the door, leaving Reyna momentarily puzzled until she caught a muffled word that sounded like "Mom" through the barrier.
When the door reopened, Lady Artemis stood before her, wearing a look of confusion. "Reyna, what brings you here?" she inquired. Reyna smiled before stating, "I know Percy is alive, my lady. Is he here?" Artemis's eyes widened briefly before she leaned out of the doorway to scan the surroundings. Satisfied, she pulled Reyna inside and closed the door behind them.
"How do you know that? That's supposed to be a secret," Artemis questioned, her voice laced with a mixture of anger and apprehension.
"I'm very adept at reading people, my lady. I could sense that Minerva was withholding information during her visit. Additionally, the seas have remained calm, which wouldn't be the case if Percy had truly died, considering he's Lord Neptune's favorite son," Reyna explained confidently.
Artemis nodded, her expression softening into a smile. "Well, I suppose when you put it like that, it's rather obvious," she conceded. Reyna nodded in agreement. "Yes, my lady."
Artemis chuckled lightly before leading Reyna through her home until they reached a set of imposing doors. With a firm push, Artemis swung them open, stepping inside with Reyna following closely behind.
As Reyna entered the room, she was taken aback by the sight of Percy performing pull-ups with his shirt off, revealing his battle-hardened, toned physique. Despite knowing from her experience with Jason that demigod bodies retained their strength and form long after the end of battles, seeing Percy's physique in person still gave her pause.
For a few moments, Reyna couldn't tear her eyes away, her gaze lingering longer than intended. Unbeknownst to her, Artemis shot her a sharp glare, silently confirming that she had noticed Reyna's reaction to Percy's appearance.
"Percy!" Artemis's voice rang out, breaking the silence. Percy paused mid-exercise, turning to face her with a puzzled expression. His eyes widened in surprise as he noticed Reyna's presence in the room, registering the tension in the air.
Percy removed his headphones and waved his hand, conjuring a shirt to cover his torso. "Reyna? What are you doing here?" he asked, his expression one of genuine puzzlement. Reyna met his gaze squarely before responding, "I knew you were alive. Minerva convinced everyone otherwise, but I'm adept at reading people, and I could tell you weren't dead.
Percy nodded in understanding before grinning mischievously. "Ah, always the perceptive one, my ex-co-Praetor," he teased lightly. Reyna smiled in return before directing her attention to the sudden appearance of the shirt. "How did you conjure that shirt?" she inquired with genuine curiosity.
Percy chuckled before summoning his trident with a flourish. "Percy Jackson, god of tides, loyalty, and heroes, at your service," he announced with a playful grin. Reyna's eyes widened in astonishment before she instinctively performed a small courtesy, eliciting laughter from Percy. "I may be a god now, but you're still my friend. No need to bow to me," he reassured her with a warm smile.
Reyna nodded, her smile mirroring Percy's. "Same old Percy," she remarked fondly. Percy laughed in response before retorting, "And same old Reyna," sparking a shared moment of laughter between the two friends.
Artemis had been observing from the sidelines, her glare dissipating as she witnessed the interaction between Percy and Reyna. However, Percy had caught her earlier expression, prompting him to offer her a tender smile before walking over and planting a light kiss on her forehead. Artemis returned the affection with a loving smile, her heart warmed by his gesture.
Reyna observed the interaction with wide eyes, a genuine smile gracing her lips. "I see things are going well for you, Percy. I'm glad to see that," she remarked warmly. Percy returned her smile, nodding happily. "It's a work in progress, so we're taking it slow," he explained.
Reyna nodded in understanding before Percy turned the teasing spotlight on her. "What about you, Rey? Has anyone captured your heart yet?" he inquired playfully.
Reyna responded with a casual shrug. "Maybe, maybe not. You'll never know," she teased cryptically. Percy looked at her, momentarily taken aback, before bursting into laughter. "Fair enough, I suppose. Well, if someone did catch your heart, they better behave themselves, or they'll have a god to answer to," he joked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Reyna smiled warmly, grateful for Percy's implicit promise to look out for her. "I'll keep it in mind, Percy," she affirmed. Percy returned her smile with a nod, then turned to Artemis. "Arty, Zoe should be with the hunters. Would you take Reyna to them while I finish my workout?"
Artemis nodded in agreement before making her way towards the door. Reyna waved goodbye to Percy before following the goddess out of the room, the door closing softly behind them.