Hestia looked around the room, most of those presents were still too shaken by the contents of the previous chapter. No matter how much Zeus would deny it, all of them knew by now who the person from the pit was, and they were scared. The only one who looked unbothered by the readings were the people from the future, because they already knew what was going to happen.
The goddess of hearth knew that the council would have to talk about everything they had learned till now, but that will happen when the reading was finished and when they were alone. She was thankful of for Perseus' presence and the way he commanded respect from her fellow gods. Otherwise, she knew that Zeus would be doing everything in his power to deny the threat of their father rising again. He wouldn't even let others talk about the issue.
Sighing she noticed that everyone was waiting for someone else to pick up reading again. So, she looked around for someone to volunteer to read, thankfully, Hades took notice of her and called out, "Give the book here sister, I will read." Taking the book from her, he read out the title, I PLUNGE TO MY DEATH
Poseidon and Triton looked ready to speak up about Percy falling to his death, but Hades quickly threw a glare towards them. Warning them to stay silent and let him read quickly.
We spent two days on the Amtrak train, heading west through hills, over rivers, past amber waves of grain. We weren't attacked once, but I didn't relax. I felt that we were traveling around in a display case, being watched from above and maybe from below, that something was waiting for the right opportunity.
"Sounds creepy as fuck," Apollo noticed, he then turned towards Hades and asked, "Are you sure that's not you Uncle H?" He didn't get any response from the god, much to his disappointment. Though he did feel better when some snickers went around the audience.
I tried to keep a low profile because my name and picture were splattered over the front pages of several East Coast newspapers… Based on eyewitness accounts, police believe the boy may be traveling with two teenage accomplices. His stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, has offered a cash reward for information leading to his capture.
Percy had a dark look in his eyes when the name Gabe was read out and he wasn't alone. His wives, children, and most of those present looked ready to tear out Gabe's throat if he was alive.
"What a despicable man," Artemis sneered, her hand subconsciously coming to rest at on her bow laid out in her lap, "Every time his mere name is mentioned, it reaffirms my notions of hating the entire gender of scum like him." Though she had started seeing things differently ever since Percy arrived from the future, it would still take a lot of time for her to let go of her millennia old hatred.
The hunters were all silent, but it was clear that they all agreed with their mistress.
"Don't worry," Annabeth told me. "Mortal police could never find us." But she didn't sound so sure.
"I wasn't," Annabeth said shrugging, "But I was hoping for it."
Piper snorted from her side, "Given that it's Percy, and we know how his luck seems to work, I am sure it didn't work out all that well."
Annabeth chuckled and shook her head, "Surprisingly, given what happens in this chapter, we should've been swarmed with the cops at our trail, but we got out unnoticed. It was only at the end of this quest that we had a run in with the law, even then it hadn't been much of an issue."
Percy and Grover nodded agreeing with her, while the rest of the room were was wondering what would happen in this chapter.
The rest of the day I spent alternately pacing the length of the train… The little boy centaur, who was the size of a second-grader on a pony, caught my eye and waved.
Chiron smiled when he heard the last part, "That's a rare sight. My kind are particularly reservedpreservative about being seen by others, much less the training of a young one. You should be honored to haveing witnessed such athe seen." He directed the last part towards Percy, the god nodded agreeing with his mentor.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Annabeth slapped her husband's back, "I would've liked to see it too."
Percy shrugged his shoulder, "I thought you were paying attention."
I looked around the passenger car, but nobody else had noticed… Another time, toward evening, I saw something huge moving through the woods. I could 've sworn it was a lion, except that lions don't live wild in America, and this thing was the size of a Hummer. Its fur glinted gold in the evening light. Then it leaped through the trees and was gone.
"The Nemean lion," Artemis, her hunters, and Heracles all gasped at once.
"You saw the Nemean lion too?" Annabeth shouted at her husband, where was her attention if she didn't see any of this? To think that the idiotic seaweed brain witnessed such rare sights and didn't even knew the importance of them to appreciate it made her rage inwardly.
"The Nemean lion is a worthy opponent," Artemis mused, "My hunters and I have never been fortunate enough to encounter it. We would like the chance to slay the beast ourselves," The hunters all nodded, agreeing with their mistress.
Heracles who had puffed up and started caressing the lion pelt he always wore withhad a smug look on his face, he was the only one to have ever fought and slayed the beast. Though, soon the smug look was wiped off his face.
"Percy defeated it," Thalia boasted pridefully.
"What?" Annabeth turned to her in an instant, "When did it happen? Why wasn't I there?"
Thalia waved her hand in a nonchalant way, "It was during the time you were kidnapped."
While Athena and a lot of others were worryiedng about Annabeth's kidnapping, Artemis and the hunters were looking atowards Percy within a curious yet calculating look, "The Nemean lion is a beast of huge strength and it's nearly invulnerable to any attacks. You must have huge strength to defeat the beast when you were just a demigod." The room did note that Artemis' tone had a bit of pride in it too.
A thin sheen of sweat formed at Percy's forehead hearing her compliment. She was going to regret her words when they find out about how the Nemean lion was actually defeated. "Yeah…" He meekly offered, while Thalia and Grover tried not to snicker.
Our reward money for returning Gladiola the poodle had only been enough to purchase tickets… I tried not to drool in my sleep, since Annabeth was sitting right next to me.
"You failed," Annabeth supplied, causing Percy's wives and friends to laugh at him.
Grover kept snoring and bleating and waking me up. Once, he shuffled around and his fake foot fell off… … "So," Annabeth asked me, once we'd gotten Grover's sneaker readjusted. "Who wants your help?"… … Annabeth was quiet for a long time. "That doesn't sound like Hades. He always appears on a black throne, and he never laughs."
"Hey!" Hades exclaimed, stopping his reading to show that he was offended by the remark, "I do laugh." To which Annabeth muttered a sorry, while Nico and Percy were laughing.
"Yeah, Uncle Hades laughs his ass off when anytime someone humbles Zeus or Hera." Percy commented, which had the other council members silently snicker at that.
"He offered my mother in trade. Who else could do that?"… … Maybe Grover sensed my emotions. He snorted in his sleep, muttered something about vegetables, and turned his head.
Hades read the line ahead and a humourless smirk appeared on his face as he continued. Annabeth readjusted his cap so it covered his horns. "Percy, you can't barter with Hades. You know that, right? He's deceitful, heartless, and greedy.
There was a moment of silence as the room turned to the Lord of the dead to see his reaction. Hades looked unbothered by everything he had just read, he was accustomed to it, he had plenty worse from his own siblings' mouth. So, it wasn't a shock to him that a child who hadn't had any interaction with him would think that.
After all, don't the children learn from their parents? In their case, the gods, the pinnacle of wisdom and sagacity. If the other gods themselves thought ill of him, why wouldn't the children's thought follow to the same conclusion.
Though, just because he was fine with people thinking worst of him, it wasn't the same for his family. A low growl could be heard and everyone could see Persephone glaring at Annabeth with fire in her eyes, Nico, Bianca and Hazel while not as vicious as their stepmother, still had fire in their eyes. Despising everything that came out of Annabeth's mouth.
"My husband isn't greedy," The Queen of Underworld hissed, "My husband is literally the god of riches, everything beneath the ground is his. Nor is he heartless, he just controls the harshest domain there is, death isn't pretty so he can't be happy as others. As for deceitful, my husband is one of the only gods that is fair in his judgement, more so than the Olympians. He never strikes first and only retaliates to what he was dealt with."
The Olympians all looked away, not having anything to say that could counter Persephone's words. Even though they would've liked.
Annabeth lowered her head and nodded apologetically, not having anything to say in her defense. Her view on the godly world used to bewere very limited and incredibly biased. Thankfully, everyone in the future knew better now.
I don't care if his Kindly Ones weren't as aggressive this time — " "This time?" I asked. "You mean you've run into them before?"
Her hand crept up to her necklace. She fingered a glazed white bead painted with the image of a pine tree, one of her clay end-of-summer tokens. "Let's just say I've got no love for the Lord of the Dead. You can't be tempted to make a deal for your mom."
Annabeth held her head high, not regretting what she had said here. Hades had gone after Thalia and her friend had died due to theas a result of it. She wasn't going to forget the pain and agony she had gone through easily. Meanwhile the room was wondering what had happened that made the girl this distrustful of the lord of dead.
Hazel, Nico and Bianca didn't like what they heard, but they knew that Annabeth had a reason for this. She was obviously thinking back to what had happened to Thalia.
"What would you do if it was your dad?"
"That's easy," she said. "I'd leave him to rot."
"Annabeth!" Athena exclaimed shocked, ats the same time as the children went, "Mom!"
Annabeth looked a little guilty about how she had thought the worst of her father, her outrage might have been justified but still it was way too harsh. She turned to the children that were staring at her horrified, and tried to placate their worries. "It's alright, dad and I had problems that have been fixed."
"You're not serious?" Annabeth's gray eyes fixed on me. She wore the same expression she'd worn in the woods at camp, the moment she drew her sword against the hellhound. "My dad's resented me since the day I was born, Percy,"… … He got a 'regular' mortal wife, and had two 'regular' mortal kids, and tried to pretend I didn't exist."
The gods stayed silent, not knowing what else to say. Was this how their children suffered? Perseus had told them about how the mortal parents sometimes resent their children or ignore their wellbeing, was this what they were leaving their children too?
Athena stayed silent, opting only to look at her daughter's face in shock. She knew that she couldn't interact with her children's life because of the ancient laws, but the mortals currently in their time always saw raising the children of gods as privilege, not a burden. However, that was not the case in the future, she realized. The mortals were unaware of the existence of gods, so they would only think that the other parent left the burden of raising children on their shoulders alone.
'Poor child,' someone muttered and everyone agreed to that voice. To think that their children would grow up unloved and unwanted was a disgusting thought to them, but now they were seeing that first-hand.
Annabeth ignored the looks of sympathy she was receiving and snuggled closer to Percy, smiling to herself when she felt the children shift to get closer to her.
I stared out the train window. The lights of a sleeping town were drifting by. I wanted to make Annabeth feel better, but I didn't know how.
"How old were you?" "Same age as when I started camp. Seven."
This time all the gods flinched, seven was way too young as a mortal child. They couldn't even comprehend the situation. A young godling out alone on the mortal world, without much knowledge of the world she was a part of. No weapons, no knowledge and struggling to survive.
Athena herself had shut her eyes close, hiding away the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes. Artemis was also horrified by the situation, she wouldn't even leave her young hunters alone out in the mortal world, and that was when they had her blessing and were trained in combat.
Seeing the horrified looks of everyone, Annabeth shrugged nonchalantly, "It wasn't as bad as it sounds, I found some friends that took care of me until I reached the camp. After that Chiron kind of becaome a father to me." She sent a grateful look towards the centaur and smiled, "In camp I made more friends that have been with me since forever, and then I met Percy there, the one person that never willingly abandoned me and hasd been with me through everything. I got the family I always wanted, so it all worked out in the end."
Percy tightened his hold on Annabeth, smiling. Family, for so long the only thing that word meant to him was his mom. Now, his family had grown, 9 beautiful wives and 4 wonderful children. Two wonderful friends and all the friends he could've ever asked for. Yep! Everything they had been through was worth it, if it meant that it would've led them to this.
"But . . . you couldn't have gotten all the way to Half-Blood Hill by yourself."
"Not alone, no. Athena watched over me, guided me toward help. I made a couple of unexpected friends who took care of me, for a short time, anyway." … …
Annabeth craned her neck to see the Gateway Arch, which looked to me like a huge shopping bag handle stuck on the city.
Annabeth whirled around in an instant to stare at her seaweed brain in exasperation. "Why can't you appreciate fine architectural work?"
PercysPercy shrugged to himself and answered, "It's what it looked like."
"Now that I think about it, it does look like a shopping bag handle," Grover said as he tapped his chin with his finger. Both him and Percy nodded to themselves, like they had discovered something big. Both also ignoring Annabeth's incredulous look aimed at them.
"I want to do that," she sighed. "What?" I asked. "Build something like that. You ever see the Parthenon, Percy?" "Only in pictures." … …So, they had to work together to make it complete." "Then we can cooperate, too. Right?"
"Sureeee," Grover drawled out in a slow and very dramatical way, "I have lost count of how many times I have walked in on you two cooperating."
The implications of his words were clear and many inside the throne room were found snickering, or in other cases blushing. None so worse than Percy and Annabeth.
Percy's two eldest daughters were however horrified beyond limit. Danae and Sophia gagged like they were going to throw up, they glared at Grover, "please don't say things like that in our presence, Uncle Grover." Both sisters than did the sign of warding off evil spirits, much to the amusement of everyone.
Poseidon was laughing loudly along with Apollo and Hermes, clearly enjoying everything happening. Meanwhile Athena was shaking her head disapprovingly at Percy and Annabeth. "Don't make that face Athena," Apollo called her out, "if you haven't forgotten, your natural born daughter is here too. That means you must've also been cooperating very thoroughly with my favourite cousin."
At that the three maiden goddesses had all the ichor in their body rush to their face, as they all looked away in embarrassment. Even their children were all horrified and embarrassed. No one likes to hear that about their parents.
We rode into the city, Annabeth watching as the Arch disappeared behind a hotel. "I suppose," she said at last. … …
Grover shrugged. "As long as there's a snack bar without monsters."
"Snack bar," Grover commented, before he turned his head to look at Thalia and Percy, "A dam snack bar."
As soon as the word left his mouth, both Thalia and Percy were having a laughing fit, both of them were hunched over themselves. The rest of the room wondered what it was that they found this amusing, but the trio looked like they weren't going to be able to answer anything soon.
Seeing the confused looks of everyone, Annabeth sighed and answered, "Don't mind them. It's like their own secret jokes, only these three and Zoë know about it, and no matter how many times someone asks, they won't tell them." Annabeth paused to think and Zoë wondered what it could be. Then Annabeth gave the trio a triumphant smirk and spoke, "But seeing as we are reading Percy's thoughts, we might just end up finding about it."
Her words had the trio sobered up and they looked at each other horrified that the secret would get out.
The Arch was about a mile from the train station. Late in the day the lines to get in weren't that long… … … "Well, Hade—" Grover cleared his throat. "We're in a public place. . . . You mean, our friend downstairs?"
Nico snorted and immediately covered his face when he realized what he did. He wasn't one to show much reaction to things, but the way Grover described his father had taken him by surprise. Even Bianca, Hazel, and Persephone were giggling about it. The rest of the room was also chucklinged or showinged various displays of amusement, the only one whothat didn't find it amusing was the Lord of the dead himself.
Hades was glaring at Grover for describing himself as a friend, while the satyr was tremblinged in fear and tryingied to hide behind Pan.
"Um, right," I said. "Our friend way downstairs. Doesn't he have a hat like Annabeth's?" "You mean the Helm of Darkness," Annabeth said. "Yeah, that's his symbol of power… … … And he can radiate fear so intense it can drive you insane or stop your heart. Why do you think all rational creatures fear the dark?"
Mortals and immortals alike shivered as the power of Hades' helm was described. Just the description of it was enough to strike terror on to those with weak hearts. Hades himself sat straighter, chest puffed up and a cocky smirk aimed towards his brothers that had them rolling their eyes at their elder brother.
Everyone with a direct connection to the underworld smiled darkly. Hades was casted out of Olympus; he wasn't an Olympian. But there was a reason that even someone as cocky, powerful and arrogant as Zeus never went against him. Hades was the firstborn son of Kronos, as much as he stayed out of the light, his darkness was that much powerful.
While everyone was either terrified or in case of the family of Hades, feeling proud, in case of the family of Hades. Nico appeared more amused thanout of everyone else, he leaned forward in his seat and looked at Grover, his dark eyes boring intoat the Satyr. "That was a good description of my father's helm, but not enough."
"What do you mean uncle Nico?" Dameon asked with an eager look, unlike the other times he was listening everything with attention. Weapons were something that always interested him.
Nico smiled at the child and explained, "The helm doesn't just allow father to become darkness, it gives him absolute dominion over darkness itself. By wearing the helm, father can manipulate shadows, darkness and even swallow light to his will. He can create impenetrable shadows, shroud himself in a cloak of such pure darkness that no mortal or ldiving being could see him, not even the deities of the underworld."
The room gulped and it looked like everything had stopped, no sound could be heard aside from the heavy breaths of those shivering. However, Nico wasn't done quite yet.
"The helm provides father with an exceptional level of protection; it grants him invulnerability to most forms of physical and magical attacks. The helm acts as a shield against harm, making him nearly impervious to external threats."
While the room finally understood what Hades' helm could actually do, the King of Gods furrowed his brow with worry. He had forgotten the power his brother actually wielded. It reminded him of the growing power and influence of Hades, something that begun to unsettle Zeus.
Rhea, Zeus' mother, observed his face and sensed the thoughts brewing within him, with a scolding look she addressed him. "Zeus, stop what you are thinking."
Blinking Zeus focused his attention towards his mother, the knowing look in her eyes told him that she knew just what exactly he was thinking of. He looked around the room and found that everyone's attention was now on him. He looked towards the Lord of fate and was reminded of his warnings, of his own actions. Any thought of paranoia quickly evaporated from his head. He quickly looked away, ashamed of his own thoughts.
Sensing the turmoil in his brother's heart, Poseidon knew that it would take a long while for Zeus to become better, but at least he was showing signs of growth. Eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and mischief, the lord of the seas gasped loudly. "Don't tell me. You Zeus, the mighty thunderbolt-wielder, the ruler of Mount Olympus and heavens above are actually afraid of your elder brother."
The feeling of shame quickly turned to rage as a vein throbbed in Zeus' forehead. "Shut your mouth Poseidon. I am not afraid of anyone."
Poseidon nodded solemnly, fixing his eyes towards Hades and whispering, "He is totally afraid of you." To which the Lord of underworld nodded wholeheartedly. Meanwhile Zeus screamed, "I Heard that!"
The brothers bickered with one other, carrying out their usual argument of who is more powerful and better. Whilst, Hestia and Rhea shared a quick smile to one other. This was what they wanted, a family. This reading was already having a heavy impact on some members of their family, maybe they might just change for the better.
"But then . . . how do we know he's not here right now, watching us?" I asked. Annabeth and Grover exchanged looks. "We don't," Grover said.
Hades sighed for what felt like the hundredth time of the day, he didn't even understand what Chiron had been teaching the children about him. "You know, I don't have a habit of stalking on little children."
Grover flushed as everyone chuckled at his expense, he looked down and muttered under his breath. "He did admit that he was watching our every move though." Percy who somehow heard his friend's comment under all the ruckus snorted.
"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better," I said. "Got any blue jelly beans left?"
"I can feel the sarcasm travel through time," Connor commented as his brother laughed and agreed with him.
I'd almost mastered my jumpy nerves when I saw the tiny little elevator car we were going to ride to the top of the Arch, and I knew I was in trouble…"Oh, the poor darlings." The Chihuahua growled. The woman said, "Now, now, sonny. Behave."
"Sonny?" Artemis asked, leaning forward. She knew she had heard that name before, but she couldn't place her finger aton it. She looked around her hunters to see that they were in a similarthe same state as her. Hmm she thought, it seems it's someone we have all encountered.
The dog had beady eyes like its owner, intelligent and vicious. I said, "Sonny. Is that his name?" "No," the lady told me.
"Glad she cleared that up," Triton muttered, his face marred with worry. He didn't know why but his instincts were telling him that something wais wrong.
She smiled, as if that cleared everything up... The view was okay, but if there's anything I like less than a confined space, it's a confined space six hundred feet in the air. I was ready to go pretty quick.
Poseidon nodded agreeing with his son, ever since Percy had wentgone up in the arch, he had been getting more nervous and nervous. Percy's anxiety acting upon him due to the curse.
Annabeth kept talking about structural supports, and how she would 've made the windows bigger, and designed a see-through floor… … … I smiled uneasily at the fat lady. She smiled back, her forked tongue flickering between her teeth.
"FORKED TONGUE?" Many people exclaimed at once, rather loudly at that. Percy just ignored the worried looks everyone was sending towards him. He knew what was coming, and dreaded the reaction.
Wait a minute. Forked tongue?
"At least he noticed that something was wrong," Triton muttered to himself, with how things were happening up until now. He wouldn't have blinked twice if his brother had somehow ended up on the lap of the monster, causebecause he knew that was a monster. Just which one?
Before I could decide if I'd really seen that, her Chihuahua jumped down and started yapping at me… … … "Well, son," the fat lady sighed. "If you insist." Ice started forming in my stomach. "Um, did you just call that Chihuahua your son?" "Chimera, dear," the fat lady corrected.
"Fucking hell!" Many curses rang out through the room as the name of the monster was revealed. It only meant that the woman who had called the Chimera son earlier, was Echidna. Percy was going to fight against both the Chimera and Echidna without much training. Poseidon sat worrying in his seat, his knuckles turned white from the tight grip he had on his trident. His family weren't faring much better.
Even the hunters and their mistress were worried, both the Chimera and Echidna were dangerous foes. Till this date, only Bellerophon had managed to slay the beast. They could kill it with some time and lead arrows, but an untrained half-blood? If Percy managed to do that, it would be a miracle.
"Not a Chihuahua. It's an easy mistake to make."
She rolled up her denim sleeves, revealing that the skin of her arms was scaly and green. When she smiled … CHIMERA— RABID, FIRE-BREATHING, POISONOUS— IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL TARTARUS— EXT. 954.
"Um… Is that real?" Leo asked, leaning forward along with the Stoll brothers. An excited gleam in their eyes as they looked towards Nico.
Nico looked at the expression of the trio and knew that meant trouble. "Yes, it is real. It's how the underworld keeps track of some of the most heinous monsters." His smile turned dark as he addressed them again, "But if I find out that some immature immortals were found prank calling, I might send them to have a playdate with Cerberus."
While the trio shuddered at the thought of having a playdate with the guard dog of Underworld. Hades and Persephone listened to Nico carefully, many things change in the future and they would like to know what the underworld was like now. But they knew that it wasn't the right time to ask. They also noticed the commanding tone and nature of Nico regarding the underworld. It seems he had a very hands on approach, much like Hades himself.
I realized I hadn't even uncapped my sword. My hands were numb… "Be honored, Percy Jackson. Lord Zeus rarely allows me to test a hero with one of my brood.
"Really?" Poseidon asked, tone dangerously low, eyes narrowed in warning. "You have stooped so low, that you would send monsters against children?"
Zeus balked, he knew that he had moments of compassion and wisdom, but the darker side of his, the one that led to numerous conflicts and instances of harm towards others was always dominant. Yet, he had never harmed children out of petty thoughts. So far, he has done all that, something he had sworn he would never do. He felt remorse for everything his future self-had done till now, a profound sense of shame and guilt filled him. Something he wasn't used to.
Percy could see it in the eyes of Zeus, the regret, the shame. He knew that all the sons of Kronos had the fear of turning out like their father one day. Something that wasn't as far away from Zeus, as it was from his two brothers. He could see the realization of what he had become, but it was only the start.
Glancing at Hades, Percy dreaded how the Lord of the dead would be reacting when he learns that not only Zeus tried to kill his children, but that he had successfully killed the mortal he had fallen in love with.
For I am the Mother of Monsters, the terrible Echidna!"
"Dear Chaos," Annabeth and Reyna groaned together in unison. "Please tell me you didn't?" Their eyes pleaded with him to say that he didn't. But it wouldn't be the truth. Percy looked away, ignoring the amused look his wives were sending his way.
Everyone looked confused as to what the two meant, but all they got was a 'you'll see,' from them.
I stared at her. All I could think to say was: "Isn't that a kind of anteater?"
Before anyone could ask, what that was? Annabeth quickly explained that an anteater was a four limbed animal, that survives eating ants and termites as it's source of nutrition and meal. After that, the amount of judgmental looks Percy got doubled.
After all, who in their right mind would call the mother of monsters as such?
Though, no one ever accused Percy Jackson of being in his right mind.
Giggling, Penelope covered her mouth. Still the room could easily hear the melodic tinkling that harmonizes the gentle leaves and the whispering melodies of nature, dancing on the air like crystal-clear bells. She looked up, her silver eyes shining with mirth at her father, "I never knew you were such an animal enthusiast with a penchant for misnaming creatures, dad." Here she stopped, and sent him a teasing look, "I suppose next you'll tell us that Medusa was just a misunderstood hair stylist."
Percy, momentarily taken aback by his daughter's words, blinks in surprise, his mouth slightly agape. He searches for words, struggling to comprehend that his own flesh and blood would sass him.
Meanwhile, Artemis snorts, an unladylike thing that she would've been mortified of doing in front of so many people. Yet, she's far too amused, she's chuckling softly, thoroughly amused by her daughter's spunk. The rest of Percy's wives are not too far behind and all are laughing at how innocent Penelope looks after sassing her father.
Percy now recovering from his initial shock lookeds at her sternly, "You don't sass your own father, young lady." He tries, really tries to keep up the act, but it's fruitless. He couldn't help but join in the laughter, his firm act turning into sheer amusement. He beckoneds her toward himself and kisseds her on the forehead, .
Ffar too proud of her wittiness. After all, she had learned from the best.
As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt a pressure at the back of my head. I can't explain it how, but I could sense a disappointing glare being sent towards me by someone.
"Probably Athena," The Olympians chimed in at once. They knew that the gods would be watching the children's quest, the return of the bolt safely to the hands of Zeus was far too much important for them to not pay attention to the quest. That disappointing glare, they had all felt the same multiple times in their immortal life, they could definitely identify it without any more details.
Athena blushed, removing her eyes from Percy, whom she was still staring disappointingly at.
She howled, her reptilian face turning brown and green with rage. "I hate it when people say that! I hate Australia! Naming that ridiculous animal after me. For that, Percy Jackson, my son shall destroy you!" … I dove through the explosion. The carpet burst into flames; the heat was so intense, it nearly seared off my eyebrows.
Poseidon growled as he felt his own eyebrows nearly seared off. His temper had been slowly building up everyever since he found out that Zeus sent the monster after his son. But hearing what was happening, the life and death situation his son suddenly found himself in. It wasn't really helping him calm down.
His trident was clutched tightly in his hand, the end of his trident forming a small crater, from how roughly the lord of the seas was pressing it against the ground. Hades, Hestia and Demeter were sending him wary looks, preparing to hold him down if he tries to attack Zeus again.
Meanwhile, Amphitrite and Rhea had gone deathly pale, both of them wondering how would Percy survive the encounter with the mother of monster. Because, no matter how strong or powerful he might be, without proper training, none of them would matter. In his current state in the book, he couldn't hope to defeat both Echidna and Chimera together. He would have to escape, but how?
Where I had been standing a moment before was a ragged hole in the side of the Arch, with melted metal steaming around the edges. Great, I thought. We just blowtorched a national monument.
"That's like a normal Thursday for us though, honestly." Grover tried to lift the mood of the room by joking, but it didn't help. Everyone was too stress to appreciate his sense of humor.
Riptide was now a shining bronze blade in my hands, and as the Chimera turned, I slashed at its neck. That was my fatal mistake.
Those sitting near Poseidon winced as his aura doubled at the words 'fatal mistake.' Everyone could see the ragged breath the god was taking, doing his best to control his own anger.
The blade sparked harmlessly off the dog collar. I tried to regain my balance, but I was so worried about defending myself against the fiery lion's mouth, I completely forgot about the serpent tail until it whipped around and sank its fangs into my calf.
A guttural roar erupted from Poseidon's lips, as his essence clashed with the phantom poison. The sound of his scream, it shookakes the mountain, the primal essence of his painful yell making the earth tremble. Reflective of his mood, the tranquil domain he controleds, now churned and raged in unison with the god's torment.
Every being inside the room lookeds on with horrified expressions, this scream was even worse than when Percy's chest was ripped open bmy the hellhound during the game of capture the flag. If the god was feeling it this much, what had Percy felt at the time? The gods themselves understood the danger that followed their demigod children's realm after seeing the vulnerability and pain expressed in Poseidon's scream.
My whole leg was on fire. I tried to jab Riptide into the Chimera's mouth, but the serpent tail wrapped around my ankles and pulled me off balance… pen form. I didn't know, and I wasn't going to live long enough to figure it out.
"Please don't say that," Sophia whimpered as she snuggled closer to her father. All five of Percy's children were wrapped around him tightly. None of them wanting to leave their father. Even the little Catarina that was in his lap was crying and holding onto his finger tightly.
Poseidon looked like he wanted to join the cocoon of Percy's children wrapped around him.
I backed into the hole in the wall. The Chimera advanced, growling, smoke curling from its lips. … The little boy was hiding behind his father's legs. I had to protect these people. I couldn't just . . . die … If I died, would the monsters go away? Would they leave the humans alone.
A hushed silence fell upon the room at the reason behind Percy's will to live. It wasn't for himself; it was to protect the innocent. Everyone looked thoughtful, their eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of admiration.
Athena's eyes gleamed with approval, recognizing the embodiment of true heroism in Percy's self-sacrificing nature. Beside her, Aphrodite, the goddess of love brushed away a tear, the amount of compassion in Percy's thoughts hitting the depth of her heart. Hermes and Apollo nod, approving of Percy's thoughts, as much mischievous they were, they could spot a true hero from miles.
Ares grumbled, the concept of putting oneself at risk for the sake of others challenged his notions of strength and power. Yet, even he couldn't deny that the boy was a hero.
Artemis smiled, observing Percy with something akin to a mixture of admiration, intrigue, and a touch of concern. She was proud of him, it couldn't be denied, he was far too different from the men she had known through her immortal life, but she was still concerned.
"Perseus," She called out to him, "Your selfless nature is a testament to your character and the depth of your compassion. But remember, even the noblest of hearts must strike a balance between selflessness and self-preservation." She paused, looking into his eyes for understanding, "The path of sacrifice is a noble one, but it should not come at the expeanse of your own well-being. To protect others, you much also protect yourself."
Everyone in the room was silent, listening to Artemis' words with attention. Artemis' words carry a weight of experience and wisdom that only comes after living for ages. Percy himself smiled and listened to her with attentiveness.
Artemis thean turned to the demigods in the room and addressed them, "Seek the counsel of those who care for you deeply, and let their wisdom guide you in finding the harmony between selflessness and self-care. Remember, heroism lies not only in the willingness to sacrifice, but also in the strength to preserve one's own light amidst darkness."
Unknown to Artemis, Annabeth and Thalia had latched onto her words with their own experience. Luke was once a hero, he was kind, funny and someone they could rely on. But, after Thalia's death, he tried to fight the darkness but ended up loosinglosing his own light. He wasn't a true hero after all.
Whereas Percy, he had lost so much, friends, family, his own memory. He had to walk through the pit to save Annabeth at the cost of his own sanity for Chaos' sake. Yet, he never lost his light, he fought the darkness and at times the darkness consumed him. His light never went out and he was still the same compassionate man as ever.
"If you are the son of Poseidon," Echidna hissed, "you would not fear water. Jump, Percy Jackson. Show me that water will not harm you. Jump and retrieve your sword. Prove your bloodline."
"He doesn't need to prove anything," Poseidon growled, glaring towards the King of Gods, knowing that he was the one responsible for this at the end.
Yeah, right, I thought. I'd read somewhere that jumping into water from a couple of stories up was like jumping onto solid asphalt. From here, I'd splatter on impact… … "Die, faithless one," Echidna rasped, and the Chimera sent a column of flame toward my face. "Father, help me," I prayed.
Poseidon withdrew the glare he had kept aimed at Zeus and turned to smile at his son, "Of course son, the sea is as much of yours as it is mine. It's your birthright, I will always welcome you with open arms."
Percy smiled, a little embarrassing to have your father show such care in front of this many people. But he was never one to shy away from anything, so he basked in the warmth of his dad's love.
I turned and jumped. My clothes on fire, poison coursing through my veins, I plummeted toward the river.
"Hmmm…" Hades closed the book with a thud, looking at Percy he said, "You're an interesting hero, nephew." He then turned to others looking for someone who would take up reading from there. Not noticing, Daemon turning to his father and whispering, "We will watch your career with great interests."
Which had both Percy and Piper snickering.
