Ch6

Percy gripped Riptide tightly as he blocked Alabaster's golden sword. He parried the attacks and went on the offensive, the son of Hecate's face was calm as he blocked his attacks. He tried to stab his shoulder but was met by a protective ward.

"Not bad," Alabaster said as he set his sword down.

He sighed and rubbed his sore arms. "Did you aunt teach you how to fight like that?"

"I learned from some of my siblings," Alabaster said before muttering a few words in Latin.

A green aura enveloped him as his fatigue went away. Man this magic is pretty cool is there anything it can't do? They were currently taking a break in St Louis waiting for their next train that would take them to Denver so they decided to do some sword practice.

As he stared at the Mississippi River to the side a sense of calm overcame him. I hope mom's ok. He wanted this quest to be over as soon as possible so he could hug her and let her know how much she meant to him.

Suddenly, the hairs on his neck stood up as he heard something growl. "Percy look out!" Alabaster yelled. He turned around but it was too late a large tail swatted him so hard he was sent flying. Grover and Alabaster called out to him as he made contact with the river.

Trash and other debris passed by him as he sank into the river. Strangely he felt more alive and secure than ever. As he oriented himself the figure of a woman appeared in front of him her face calm. "Wh-Who are you?"

"I am a messenger from your father," She said.

He stared at her in shock. "My father? What could he want?"

"There is something important that will help you on this quest," The woman said. "Go to the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles and you'll get it there. Good luck, no go your friend will need your help."

She disappeared as soon as she came and he oriented himself up. Wait up guys. The water listened to his will and propelled him up to the surface. As he leaped to the surface he saw Grover and Alabaster fighting a large white lion with a long scorpion tail.

He quickly drew Riptide and came to their side. "What is this thing?"

"A manticore," Alabaster said as he fired a few runes at the creature which only seemed to annoy it.

His eyes widened as he saw the large gash on his arm and his leg. "You're hurt."

Alabaster spat out blood and fired a ball of green flames at the manticore. "Lets just focus on killing this thing."

Grover played a tune on his pipes and roots came from the ground and tried to grab the monster's arms. "How can we stop this thing?"

Alabaster swore as he took out some of his cards, his body shaking as if he were about to fall over. "Percy we are going to try and distract it can you get in close and kill it?"

He stared at Alabaster in surprise. "Me?"

"Just go for the eye if all else fails the runes I placed on you should protect you," Alabaster coughed as he began to chant in Ancient Greek. Green mist came out of his body as his deck of cards flew out of his hand and began to encircle the manticore confusing it with rays of light and balls of fire.

"Go Percy you got this!" Grover yelled as he played his pipes. Weeds and roots came form the ground grabbing at its legs.

His hands became sweaty as he gripped his sword. Alright this is my quest just another trial to get mom back. He charged at the manticore his heart racing in his chest. Its tail swung at him but he rolled to the side instinctively and thrusted his sword up grazing its jaw.

The manticore roared and tried to claw at him but he managed to jump back in time. The manticore let out a moan as the smoke it was inhaling began to take its toll. Gripping Riptide his body shook as he thrusted his blade into its eye.

He winced as the smoke filled the area. The manticore fell to the ground dead, the green smoke around them slowly disappearing. Alabaster took a few shaky steps forward and summoned the cards back to him.

"Are you ok?"

"I-I've used stronger spells before." Alabaster covered his mouth and coughed as his hands became stained with blood. He tried to grab him but he pulled away. "I'm fine." Alabaster went down and grabbed what looked like a miniature scorpion tail. "Manticore venom is good for many magical arts."

He stared at him incredulously. Alabaster had a few gashes on his arms and legs. "You're bleeding badly."

Alabaster stumbled as he erupted in a fit of coughs. "I'm fine. L-Lets get out of here."

Grover gave him a concerned look. "Are you sure you can continue?"

The son of Hecate only nodded and nearly fell. He and Grover caught him, the son of Hecate muttered a bunch of things Latin and Ancient Greek as they headed back to the train. Alabaster fell into his seat bleeding profusely.

He handed him a bag of ambrosia. "Here I still have some left."

"Thanks," Alabaster muttered as he finished the ambrosia.

"Are you sure you're, ok?" He asked as the train began to move.

Oh god what can we do? Would we even be able to go to a hospital?

"I'm used to it just let me rest a bit and I'll be ready," Alabaster muttered.

"U-Uh ok," he said. You look like you're about to die. A pang hit his heart as he looked at Alabaster, yeah he was a little cocky but he had been nothing but helpful on this quest and didn't want him to get hurt because of it.

"Trust me you get used to it," Alabaster muttered as he closed his eyes. "There isn't much for us children of minor gods."

Sorrow built up inside of him as he looked at Alabaster fall asleep. This has happened to him before? Where did he get help? He couldn't imagine how hard it must be to go out alone without anyone to help you. If he were to pass away would anyone care or mourn him?

"Don't worry I won't die," Alabaster muttered. "Not here on this quest, if I fail the other gods will only look down on my mother and treat her worse. For her I'd fight anything."

A pang hit his heart as he watched Alabaster fell asleep. I would do anything for my mother even fight that manticore. "Hey Grover why don't the children of minor deities get recognition at camp?" He asked softly.

The satyr looked down. "It's not an easy thing to bring a demigod to camp only to throw them into the Hermes Cabin and see them stay there forever because they are never claimed or their parents have no cabin." Grover shook his head. "Frankly I don't have a clear answer, perhaps the Olympians just didn't see a point in making one for every minor god?"

"It isn't fair," he said as he looked at Alabaster the memories of the crammed Hermes Cabin were still fresh in his head. The glum faces of the kids who had long lost hope of getting claimed and those that were just stuck there. Yet even though I don't mind it Alabaster and Ethan can't come with me to the Poseidon Cabin where I'm all alone.

He rested in his chair and looked at Alabaster. I appreciate your help, it was you who gave me the hope that my mom. Thanks for everything so far.

That night he dreamt he was at a party with his mother. She was dressed nicely just like the other patrons. "Mom I'm tired can we sit down?" He asked.

His mother looked down and frowned. "All the seats are taken."

He frowned as he looked at the twelve seats each occupied by a well dressed person. "Why don't you have one?"

"It's alright we can still have fun here," His mother said.

Yet he couldn't enjoy the party. The other guests treated his mom as if she were an after thought. The slights they made towards her made him want to yell and scream, but he knew it would be to no avail. There was no room for his mother at this party. For them she was an after thought who didn't deserve their attention.

Alabaster remained asleep for most of the trip. By the time they arrived at Denver they were all exhausted. "Lets find a safe place for a moment," Alabaster muttered before stumbling to the ground.

He and Grover caught him in time. "Hey take it easy," he said as Alabaster muttered a thank you as he stood up. Damn he looks bad. If only we had more ambrosia.

"Al!"

He turned around to see a girl around his age with long black hair and emerald green eyes run up to them.

Alabaster winced as the girl hugged him tightly. "H-Hey Lou what are you doing here?"

"You know her?" He asked.

"She's my sister," Alabaster muttered. "Lou this Percy. Percy and Grover this is Lou Ellen."

Lou Ellen turned to him. "Nice to meet you." She had the same eyes as her brother and along with an air of mystique around her. "Al come on Auntie prepared a safe place for us."

Alabaster frowned. "Mother can't intervene in our quest."

"It isn't mother helping you its family," Lou insisted grabbing her brother's arm tightly.

Alabaster sighed and turned to him. "Come on don't worry."

"Uh ok," he said as Grover helped him support Alabaster. We can use all the help we can get right now anyway.

They were led to outside the train station where a woman with long black hair greeted them. "You must be Alabaster's friends," She said with a smile. "I am Medea. Come on I have a place you can rest for a while."

Grover's legs shook his face turning pale. "P-Percy that's-"

"Don't say anything just be polite," he said as they were lead into the car. Yeah he heard bad things about Medea but Alabaster seemed to know her better than he did and they could use the help. "Um thank you mam," he said as they got in the car with Alabaster and Lou.

"Don't worry my aunt won't harm you," Alabaster said as he rested in the chair. "If she did our mother would get in trouble with your father."

He nodded. "Don't worry if you trust her then so do I."

Lou Ellen smiled at him. "Aunt Medea is nicer than most people think, just don't mention that person who wronged her and you'll be fine."

"Good to know," Grover said as the car sped off through the streets at a speed that wasn't legal.

Alabaster fell asleep again on the chair and rested on his sister's shoulder. "He used too much magic again," she muttered. "Al you fool stop trying to take on the world yourself."

"Yeah he got us out of a few sticky situations," he said.

Lou sighed. "He always does that for us and our to impress our mother." She looked up at him with her bright eyes. "How is the camp? Is it as nice as I hear it is?"

"Um it was good but I was just there for a about two weeks," he said.

"I see." Lou frowned at the ground. "I always thought of going but since our mother doesn't have a cabin there I was told it wasn't worth it. So I stay and help my other siblings when Auntie has her workshops."

"Workshops?"

Lou nodded. "Our mom makes sure we are prepared for this world. Auntie Medea shares her knowledge about magic with us and checks up on us whenever we need it."

The car eventually pulled up to a hotel on the outskirts of town. "Don't worry Auntie's wards are in place and we booked the entire hotel," Lou said as they got out and were greeted by a few other kids who helped them inside.

"I have a room for you two," Medea said as they were led inside.

The airconditioned hotel was a shock to all the chaos of the quest at hand. The few workers looked at them with a daze in their eyes as Medea led them to a nice room with two beds.

Lou and her siblings sat Alabaster down on a bed, by now he was asleep again. "We'll take care of him, why don't you two rest up," Medea said as she began to chant in Ancient Greek.

"Uh ok," he said as a green light enveloped Alabaster's body.

Lou Ellen smiled at him as she handed him a fresh pair of clothes and toiletries. "He'll be alright."

After taking a very refreshing shower he and Grover sat on the bed, Medea had left and only Lou remained to watcher over her brother as he woke up. "Man I feel exhausted," Alabaster said.

"Al you shouldn't overexert yourself," Lou said.

Alabaster frowned. "How did you guys even find me?"

Lou folded her arms. "Isn't it obvious? Mother and auntie are worried about you."

"Fine." Alabaster turned to them. "Come on guys my aunt usually prepares a lot of food for these things."

"Good to know." He never said no to free food.

They were led to a large banquet hall with a large table full of food and drinks. Looking around he saw some bright crystals at the edge of the table. "Cool. Can they cure cancer?"

Alabaster's brow twitched. "No."

Lou led them to the banquet room which was full of different foods and drinks along with various kids with emerald eyes. "Are they all your siblings?"

Alabaster nodded. "Yeah."

Grover stared in shock at the amount of demigods as Medea came up to them. "Help yourselves tonight we'll be having a bonfire in the name of Hecate, feel free to join if you wish."

"Thank you," he said.

As soon as they got their food and sat down they were swarmed by Alabaster's siblings. They all stared at them with wide eyes as they recounted their adventures so far.

"Well that's about it," Alabaster said as he sipped some soda. "We'll be heading to LA soon."

"Wow Al you guys are like real heroes," Lou said.

"I wouldn't say that," he said with an awkward laugh.

Medea came and clapped her hands. "Alright everyone time for the bonfire."

"Just do it like at camp," Alabaster said as they got up.

"Uh ok." Out in the back there was a large green fire that gave an unearthly warmth to his body. The children of Hecate poured their food into it and offered it to their mother. When it was his turn he dumped his food into it.

Um thank you Lady Hecate. Alabaster has been really helpful I hope I can repay you all for your help. The flames flickered as Medea began to chant in Ancient Greek.

He and Grover watched as Alabaster began to chant and pray to their mother. "I can't believe so many demigods are here and no one found them," Grover muttered "Maybe I should send someone."

He frowned as he watched the fire flicker. "They seem happy here, would you put all these kids in the Hermes Cabin for them to be treated like second class citizens?"

Grover's ears drooped. "I just can't believe we would miss a group like this."

"What else can we do? They're happy here why send them to a place where their mother isn't wanted," he said softly. A thought creeped into his mind, if his mom were treated like Alabaster's mom was, he would raise hell. I can't just standby if it's happening to someone's mom.

Eventually they were given marshmallows to roast and as the fire danced around the guilt inside of him grew stronger. These people have been nothing but kind and the camp that is supposed to be for all demigods doesn't have a place for them. He knew what it was like to be treated like an outcast and no one deserved that.

"So how are you enjoying things?" Alabaster asked.

"Oh um it all seems nice. You have a cool family," he said as he ate the marshmallow. Looking around at the face he met Lou's, the daughter of Hecate looked at him then turned away with a small smile.

Alabaster nodded. "There are more around, this an improvised one."

"What do you guys usually do?" he asked.

"Train in magic and share experiences," Alabaster said as he looked at the flames. "Some of us have tried the camp but it hasn't worked out. When we get older we usually settle down or attend our mom's college in Salem."

Grover opened his mouth, but he gave him a look to be quiet. "Well if I could I would invite you all to hang out in the Poseidon Cabin," he said. "I'm sure your mom is amazing."

Alabaster smiled at him. "I appreciate that. I only wish others had your empathy." The son of Hecate looked up at the stars. "I want the world to recognize my mother and her greatness."

Their eyes met and his heart softened. "Me too. If I get a chance I'll be sure to tell my dad about your mother."

"Thank you," Alabaster said. Looking into Alabaster's eyes he saw sincerity and even a hint of companionship in them.

While Alabaster wasn't looking he grabbed a bit of food and tossed it into the flames. Father I know you don't know me but please watch over Hecate. Her children have been so kind to me. The flames flickered. If his father heard of cared he didn't know.

After a while they retired to bed, yet a part of him couldn't sleep. Sitting up he noticed Medea watching over them.

Medea smiled at him. "You should rest."

"If I get the chance I promise to make sure Hecate is recognized for her efforts when I return to bolt," He muttered.

"What a brave boy, if only other heroes were as kind and sincere as you," Medea said. "Gods do not change easily, even holding them to swear on the Styx is no guarantee."

"The River Styx," he muttered as his eyes became heavy, the next thing he knew he had fallen asleep.

"It is a binding oath in this pantheon," Medea said calmly.

After a day of rest Alabaster had recovered and they were greeted by Medea. She handed Alabaster a torch. "Hecate will show you the path Percy Jackson," Medea said calmly. "This will help you in the underworld."

He nodded. "Thank you."

Alabaster gripped the torch tightly. "We'll be successful."

Medea smiled. "I know you will." She then turned to Grover. "When this is over we'll do our best to keep an eye out for Pan, he has long been a good acquaintance of Lady Hecate."

Grover bowed. "Th-Thank you mam."

Lou hugged them both. "Be safe guys!"

"Take the car," Medea said handing Alabaster a key.

He raised an eyebrow. "You can drive?"

Alabaster grinned and took out a card. Mist came out of it as a middle aged man in a suit came out. Alabaster handed him the keys. "Bye Auntie bye Lou send my regards to everyone else."

Uh ok. He shrugged and went in the backseat with Grover as Alabaster sat up front.

The car took off at an alarming speed. In the mirror he saw Medea, Lou, and the rest of Alabaster's siblings waved at them as they sped off.

"It shouldn't take long to reach Vegas, we'll fuel up and then we'll go strait to LA and find whatever your father is going to give you," Alabaster said.

He nodded. "Sounds good." Mom here we come.

They drove through the state of Colorado at an alarming rate when suddenly a figure materialized in front of them.

"STOP THE CAR!" Alabaster yelled.

He swore as the car screeched to a halt. "What the hell?" His heart raced in his chest as he looked up at the man in front of them. He wore a leather jacket and a sword at his hand and radiated an aura that made his blood boil.

"Crap its Ares," Alabaster muttered as he took out his cards.

"Come on out heroes I have a request," Ares said with a smirk on his face. "Don't make me drag you all out now."

"Come on lets go," Alabaster muttered. "We'll make this quick."

Ethan Nakamura practiced with his spear thrusting it into the air. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Annabeth Chase daughter of Athena sulk in the corner with Chiron comforting her.

The daughter of Athena tried to sneak in the van with Percy but Alabaster easily found her and kicked her out. She then tried to follow them on foot but Mr. D caught her, twice. It was a more light hearted bit of gossip that was spreading around camp.

"It's not fair," Annabeth muttered. "He was supposed to be my ticket out."

"Calm down Annabeth there will be more opportunities in the future," Chiron said calmly.

"But I've been waiting for ages! How could he choose a child of a minor goddess," Annabeth muttered. "Athen is so much better."

He gripped his spear tightly, the audacity of her words made his blood boil. Fair? How about not being claimed and living like a spare in the Hermes Cabin. He thrusted his spear into the sky and practiced the formations he was taught. Whoever she is my mother isn't recognized here or on Olympus and yet she complains about not going on a quest?

Luke went over to Annabeth. "Come on you'll get a quest I'm sure of it. Lets do some archery." The daughter of Athena's face reddened as she cleaned her face and got up and followed him to practice archery.

Chiron watched them leave and to his surprise came over to her. "Don't mind her, her pride is her fatal flaw."

He flinched and avoided his gaze. "It's just I've been training longer than her and I'm not even claimed, what does right does she have to complain about fairness?"

"Being claimed isn't all that it takes to be a hero," Chiron said. "Ethan I know you've struggled here and I don't pretend to have a solution but when the times comes I know you'll prove yourself as a hero."

He nodded. "Thanks." Chiron's words were honest but he wasn't sure if he wanted to get his hopes up again. When he first came he thought he'd be claimed quickly but days quickly turned into months that turned into years.

Chiron patted him on the back. "I know I say this a lot but I know you'll do good things here."

He avoided his gaze. "How can I when I'm not even claimed."

"There is more to this world than titles," Chiron said. "I know it isn't easy but if you do your best I'm sure you can achieve what you want. You can be a great hero even though you aren't claimed."

He gripped his spear and nodded. I just wish my mother was accepted. Walking over he found his familiar friend by the fire pit. "Hey."

The girl nodded and pushed the embers. "Hello. Is something wrong?"

As he basked in the warmth of the flames the bitterness in his heart slowly melted away. "Do you think it's possible to be a hero if your parent wasn't a major god?"

The girl pushed the embers into the pit. "Anyone can be a hero. Our actions dictate who we are more than our words."

He pondered her words in his heart. What can I do to show the world who my mother is?