A/N So remember how I said I would try and update every week on Wednesday? Yeah. I forgot I had a holiday, and then work has just like killed me. (the author also realises that she struggles to write 7yr old children in their natural state of mind, despite being a 7yr old child at some point and asks readers to suspend their state of disbelief when it comes to Percy :) ) Anyway here's chapter 3!
"... can't protect him."
"Are you sure he's ready?"
The words bounced around Sally's head as she tried not to make too much noise with the keys, a hard task given that her hands were shaking.
"I don't think we have a choice."
"Are you sure?"
The lock clicked open, and she winced at the loud noise. She prayed that Gabe was asleep, or at least passed out on the couch.
With her back pressed against the wall, she moved as silently as she could, hoping that Gabe wouldn't notice her presence.
"Of course I'm not sure… he's my son."
Sally almost sighed in relief when she saw Gabe passed out on the couch, beer can in one hand.
She wrinkled her nose as the smell hit her, shaking her head as she pushed further into the apartment.
"He'll be safest here, if that's what you're concerned about."
Percy's door creaked open. Sally paused, listening for the sounds of Gabe waking up. A snuffle but that was it, and she snuck into her son's room.
"I know."
"Will Percy be staying year round?"
Sally tugged Percy's suitcase out from his cupboard, cringing as she unzipped the bag. Finally, it was done, and as quickly as she could, Sally started folding her son's clothes in the case.
She didn't know how long he would be gone for… or if she would ever see him again, but she had to hope.
A lump formed in her throat.
"Just until I can get back on my feet… would I… I would still be able to visit him, right?"
"..."
Sally stood up, brushing off her knees. She went to zip up the suitcase, when something caught her eye.
It was a photo, something she had forgotten she had put in here.
Before Gabe, before… this.
She picked it up, running her finger over the frame. They were at Montauk, Percy must have been four, maybe five, sitting in front of a collapsing sandcastle, smiling with a toothy grin, looking rather proud of his creation.
Sally was sitting next to him, also smiling at the camera. A nice couple had been walking past her taking photos of her son, had offered to take a photo of the two of them.
She wiped away a tear.
Gently, she took out the first few layers of clothes, sliding the photo carefully into the case, zipping it back up.
"Chiron?"
"Let's talk when you get here."
Sally hoisted the suitcase up, carrying it as she slipped out of the door to the apartment.
Later, she would return to collect her own things, later she would leave the divorce papers on the kitchen counter, Gabe still snoring away.
Later, later, later.
Percy kicked his legs in the back of the taxi, snuggled into his mom's side.
She hadn't said where they were going, just that it would be somewhere safe, but Percy knew.
He recognised these roads they were driving down, and despite the fact that he probably wouldn't be allowed to swim with his cast, it didn't matter.
They were going to Montauk.
His mom's arm was wrapped around him tightly, but he didn't mind. It was comforting and warm, and he wished he could stop her from worrying, even if it was all his fault, as usual.
The scenery changed, and suddenly they were on a road Percy didn't recognise, not at all on the way to Montauk.
He nudged his mom, and she looked down at him, smiling. Her eyes were wet, and it looked like she was trying not to cry.
"Yes, baby?" she whispered to him, pressing a kiss on his head, pulling him tighter towards her as she did so.
"Where are we going?" he whispered back, trying not to sound scared. He was going to be brave for her.
She paused, sadness washing over her features, and Percy suddenly felt bad. He had made her sad.
"Somewhere your father," she paused again, as she attempted to explain. At the mention of his father, though, Percy perked up, curiosity piqued. It wasn't everyday his mother talked about his father. "It's a place your father spoke very highly of, a place where you'll be safe."
Excitement washed through Percy's body.
While he would have rather gone to Montauk, part of him was still excited to see a place his father had been.
The taxi pulled to a stop, and Percy tried to see where they were, but the only things in sight were a big hill to one side, and a forest to the other.
As his mother paid, Percy flickered his gaze around, suddenly feeling like he was being watched.
He rubbed at his broken arm, throbbing with the sudden chill in the air.
Suddenly, his mom was beside him, the taxi driving off into the distance, an arm wrapped around him, the other gripping his suitcase.
Well, it was actually his mom's old suitcase, the one that she used whenever they went to Montauk.
But this wasn't Montauk.
Percy shivered again, leaning into his mom for support, looking up at the big hill.
He blinked, and looked once more, the silhouette of a person in a wheelchair almost seeming to appear from a haze… or maybe it was mist, surrounding the top of the hill.
The silhouette raised their hand, and his mom waved back, her other arm gripping tighter around his body.
"Come on, baby," she said, picking the battered suitcase up by its frayed handle, her other hand, now unwrapped from his body, holding out for him to take.
Percy wanted to tell her that he wasn't a baby, that he didn't need to hold her hand, but he grabbed it anyway.
Something about this place was off. Had his father really wanted them to stay here? Was that person in the wheelchair… were they his father? And if so, why had his mom said that he had died at sea?
Or maybe the person in the wheelchair was just related to his father. But then why had they ever stayed with Smelly Gabe, why had his mom married Smelly Gabe if his father had a family who had been willing to look after them?
Percy forced those questions down as they neared the top of the hill, the person in the wheelchair coming into full view.
As did the rest of the valley behind him.
It was perhaps one of the most beautiful places Percy had seen.
The grass was greener than any he had seen before, the valley filled with noise and sunshine.
On one side of the valley stood a big farmhouse, its blue and white almost blending in with the sky behind it.
Percy's eyes drifted over the rest of the valley, taking it all in and- holy shit were those horses flying?
Percy, darling," his mom almost seemed to cling onto his arm, getting his attention. "Come on, Chiron is waiting for us, dear."
Gently, less so clinging to him, more so guiding him, she pulled him towards the man in the wheelchair.
Whatever Percy had been expecting, he had not been expecting the person before him. The man had a wild beard, his hair peppered with grey, wrinkles starting to form around his eyes and mouth. He was wearing a tweed jacket with the funny elbow patches.
Percy slowed to a halt, trying to hide behind his mom.
The man, Chiron his mom had called him, smiled gently at him, a warmth in his eyes, a sad expression flitting over his expression for a brief second as he took in Percy's broken arm.
Percy huddled closer into his mom's side.
"Miss Jackson," Chiron nodded at Percy's mom, his steady gaze flickering away from Percy for a second, before returning. "And this must be Perseus."
Percy resisted the urge to take a step back, as the man's gaze settled on him fully. There was something old behind those eyes, something which told Percy that this man had seen it all. Almost as though… almost as though Chiron was studying him.
He suppressed a shiver, choosing instead to stare defiantly at the man.
"Percy," he responded back, tilting his chin up. "It's Percy."
Chiron tilted his head, the heaviness of his gaze lifting so slightly, and Percy shuffled his feet slightly, waiting for him to respond.
"Percy it is then," Chiron replied.
For a few awkward seconds they stood there, as Chiron's gaze moved back to Percy's mom. A cool breeze blew over the hill, breaking out of the staring contest between the two adults, as Percy shivered slightly.
He still hadn't gotten over the feeling of being watched, flickering his gaze back towards where the taxi had dropped them off.
Suddenly, he didn't want to be here.
"Perhaps it would be best if we continued this conversation in the comfort of the big house?"
Percy's mom smiled, although Percy could see the strain behind it as she gripped him tightly.
"That would be good, thank you."
Chiron nodded, the wheels on his chair crunching slightly over a fallen branch.
His mom made to follow, stopping, as Percy stood there, unmoving.
As excited as he had been before, he could feel nothing but a nauseating feeling, his stomach curling in on itself, the throb in his arm making itself known, as another cool breeze shifted over the hill.
He shivered, wrapping his arms around himself as his mom gave him a concerned look, kneeling down in front of him, smiling gently.
She couldn't fool Percy.
He could see the sadness hidden there.
"Hey, baby," she whispered. "What's wrong?"
Percy swallowed, trying to force down his everything.
But his mom's gaze pierced through him, and he found himself blurting it all out before he could stop himself.
"I don't like this place," he mumbled back, closing his eyes against the tears threatening to spill.
He sniffled, and suddenly his mom's arms were wrapped around him, and he buried his head in her shoulder.
"I know," she said into his hair, one hand gently running over the back of his head in a comforting gesture. "I know that this is scary. Change is always scary. But you look at me Perseus Jackson. Look at me, baby."
Begrudgingly, he pulled away from her, averting his gaze from her's. A soft palm was pressed onto his cheek, and he sniffled, finally looking into his mom's eyes.
"This is going to be hard, so, so hard," she said, her own eyes watering, mirroring his own. "But you've got to promise to be strong for me, ok baby? You have to promise, yeah?"
One of her thumbs caressed his cheek, brushing the tears away.
He nodded, barely trusting himself to speak.
"Ok, ok," she breathed out, pulling him into a brief hug, before standing back up, holding out her hand for him to take. "How about we do this together, 'k?"
Percy nodded once more, taking his mom's hand as they stepped over the border.
One of the first things Percy noticed about the camp was that all of the people there were kids.
Older than him, all of them appearing to be in their teens, but kids nonetheless.
A few of them stopped to stare at him, at his mom, some even stopping to greet Chiron.
The man always stopped for a few seconds to greet them when they did, reminding them to return to their lessons.
While the feeling of being watched had dissipated somewhat, there were still eyes everywhere.
Finally, they made it to the big house, although Percy hadn't actually seen Chiron go up the stairs and as far as he could see, there was no ramp, only stairs onto the porch.
Perhaps one of the other kids had helped him up?
His mind wandered once more, not noticing the stone before it was too late, stumbling as he regained his balance.
He rubbed at his throbbing arm as he took in the house.
It was bigger up close, three storeys, with-
A curtain twitched in the attic window.
Green eyes, glowing unnaturally in the darkness which surrounded them.
For a few seconds, Percy was frozen, heart jumping as he maintained eye contact with, with the thing in the attic.
A breeze flitted through his shirt, and he shivered again, the force almost holding in place.
The curtain twitched once more, and Percy ran.
He almost tripped over the stairs onto the porch, almost slamming into his mom's back, his breathing rattled in his chest.
He swore he could still feel its eyes on him.
Whatever was up there… well it wasn't human.
"Percy, darling?" his mom said, concern written across her face, Chiron also looking at him, with less concern, but more intrigue. "What's wrong?"
"The- there's," he took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. His palms were sweating. The green glow was imprinted in his mind. Was this what it was like when people said that it felt like someone had walked over their grave? "There's something in the attic."
Chiron tensed, and his mom frowned, but there was still concern there.
"There's nothing living in the attic," Chiron finally responded, the words feeling very… placed. As though he had thought very carefully about what he was saying before he had said it.
Percy glared at him.
"I saw it," he responded. He hated when adults didn't take him seriously. Just because he was a child, didn't mean he didn't know what he saw, or what he was feeling. "It had glowing green eyes."
Percy watched Chiron carefully for any sort of reaction, but the man's face remained frustratingly… neutral.
Chiron sighed, gesturing to the table behind him, set for three, with a space set aside for his wheelchair.
"Perhaps we should sit for this?"
Frustration bubbled in Percy's chest. He wanted answers. An explanation for why they were here. An explanation for what it had to do with his father.
He wanted to know what that thing was in the attic. But at the same time he didn't
He wanted to remain in ignorance of it. He wanted to tell his mom that he wouldn't antagonise Smelly Gabe anymore, that he would pretend that everything was okay, even when it wasn't.
Percy wanted to leave this place.
"Thank you," his mom said instead, guiding him to sit at the table, so that he was sitting in between the two adults, his mom facing Chiron.
The two of them appeared to be having another talk with just their eyes.
Whatever they had communicated finished with his mom glancing nervously around, her hand gently squeezing his knee, although it did nothing to reassure Percy, not when Chiron's piercing gaze was once more focussed on him.
"How much do you know about Greek mythology?"
The question shocked some of the mounting frustration out of Percy's body.
What?
"You mean like… like Hercules and Zeus and stuff?"
Thunder rumbled, despite the sky being cleared.
His mom ran a gentle thumb over his hand, smiling, her eyes strained, staring nervously up at the sky. Her gaze flickered over to Chiron, who nodded, the most encouraging Percy had seen him since they had first arrived.
His mom sighed, running one hand over her face for a second, before she squeezed his hand.
"Percy, baby," a pause. "They're all real. Every Greek myth… the gods, monsters, heroes… everything."
Percy's mind stopped. Granted, his mom had always told him the stories about Greek heroes, his own name taken from a Greek hero. But to say that they were all real?
His head was shaking before he even registered making the move.
It was impossible.
No. This had to be some joke… some… some…
He looked into his mom's eyes.
Her hand was still squeezing his own tightly, but other than the nervous way she was looking at him, she looked deadly serious.
"Percy," she continued, taking a deep breath. "Your father… he was a god. A Greek god."
If his mind had stopped before, it was nothing compared to how his brain ran to a grinding halt at those words.
That… that was impossible! Percy didn't even believe in the gods! How… how?
He stumbled off his chair, the tears which had been held back by his willpower now spilling over, as he shook his head, staring at his mom in shock.
He… he didn't understand. Why?
"Percy, baby," his mom whispered, getting down on her knees in front of him, her own eyes glistening with tears. She reached out gently, pulling him into a loose hug. "I know this is hard," she whispered. "I know that this is hard to understand, but I promise that Chiron and I are going to explain everything, okay? You've just got to be brave, darling. Can you do that?"
She pulled away, smiling at him, and Percy could see it in her eyes, she really wanted him to understand, or try to understand.
He nodded, looking down at his feet as he shuffled them.
"Okay," he mumbled.
He let her guide him back to his chair, albeit stiffly, as he pulled his legs up, wrapping his arms around them.
He didn't know what to feel… angry, angry wasn't quite the right word. Hurt? Hurt that his mom had lied to him… had told him for as long as he could remember that his father had died at sea.
He shivered as Chiron once more focussed his gaze on him, although this time it was lighter, something behind those ancient eyes which may actually be as ancient as they appeared. Percy hated that he couldn't tell what the man was thinking.
Or was Chiron even a man? The story of the centaur Chiron, the one his mom had told him, the teacher who taught some of the greatest Greek heroes.
And yet…
"If all of this stuff is real," he began, sniffling. "Are you the actual Chiron?"
The man (centaur?) let out a bemused snort, amusement dancing in his eyes, "Yes, child. I am the real Chiron."
Percy blinked, "I thought you were supposed to be part horse, though?"
Chiron tilted his head, and once more, Percy was struck by the fact that he couldn't read what he was thinking.
"I am," Chiron responded, moving his wheelchair away from the table. "Although when meeting new campers who are unaware of their… parentage, I prefer to greet them in this form, so as not to alarm them."
Percy felt confused, glancing over at his mom to see if she shared in this feeling, or if it was just him.
And then Chiron stood up. Or at least that was the closest Percy could get to describing it.
Chiron's body started to elongate, the (Percy suddenly realised) fake legs staying place as the torso stretched, slowly revealing the centaur as his front legs appeared, the rest of the body following, until finally, Chiron, the figure of legend, stood before Percy in all of his glory.
Percy was very much aware that his mouth was hanging open, but he couldn't help it. If Percy stood up, his head would probably barely reach the height of Chiron's leg.
He shuffled further back in his chair, eyes wide, staring up at the centaur, who was smiling gently down at him.
"You can see now why I don't greet new campers in this form," he said.
Percy frowned. That was the second time he had said that to Percy, and yet…
Oh.
He immediately flung his body around to look at his mom, mouth agape, the realisation hitting him like a train.
"You're leaving me here?" he cried out, a fresh wave of tears threatening to spill over.
She flickers her gaze away, before looking back at him, her lips pursed in a straight line.
Percy knew he was probably being whiny right now, like a child, but he didn't care.
She promised.
She promised.
"Percy," she began softly, her hand reaching out, pulling him into a hug as he tried to struggle away from her. "You'll be safer here, darling. Safer than I could ever keep you."
"Bu-bu-but you promised!" he yelled, pulling away from her grip flinging himself off his chair. "You said that we would stay together, yo-you said that I wasn't the problem!"
He sniffled, and he felt a thrill of righteous fury pass through him at seeing her so hurt, immediately squashed by the crushing guilt which followed as the tears continued to flow.
"Percy, no, oh baby, no," she said, carding her hands through his hair, tugging at the tangles as they both sniffled. "You were never the problem. Never. Gabe… he. I only married him to protect you. I hoped- I hoped that his scent would protect you from the monsters. But the price of that protection was far higher than I was willing to pay."
She pulled him in, and this time, Percy let her hug him.
"I don't understand," he whispered, confusion warring with the hurt and pain and comfort. "What do you mean, scent?"
His mom cupped his face, the tear tracks on her face starting to dry. There was a deep wariness to her eyes. Percy knew that part of that was because of him.
It was Chiron who answered his question, leaning down slightly.
"To monsters, demigods have a scent," he replied. "Monsters who would not hesitate to harm you, given the chance."
Percy shivered, leaning into his mom's comfort.
"Usually the satyrs here at camp can sniff out demigods before the monsters attack," Chiron continued, his gaze lifted to look out at the rolling hills. "Sometimes, however, the kids go missing before then. Many missing child reports occur because the monsters got to the demigod before we could. And because of school reports, often showing that the child is troubled, it's chalked up to another runaway."
Chiron sighed, running a hand over his face, smiling tiredly at Percy.
His mom continued where Chiron left off.
"I married Gabe to protect you," she said, her fingers once again running through his hair. "I was worried that they would come for you, monsters. Some have already tried."
Percy shivered once more, remembering that incident with the man he swore had only one eye.
"And now what?" he whispered back, looking at his mom. "Now that Gabe's not around anymore… I have to stay here?"
He couldn't stop the whine in his voice, no matter how hard he tried.
"No," his mom said slowly, looking up at Chiron for support, before back at Percy. "Once I've sorted things out with Gabe… once things are safe, you can come and live with me again."
She wrapped him once more in a tight hug. This time Percy relished in it, something telling him that this would be the last hug he got from his mom for some time.
"But I need you to promise me one thing," she continued, Percy clinging onto her desperately. He didn't want her to leave. "Promise me you'll be safe, that you'll learn how to fight? That you'll learn how to protect yourself."
Percy nodded, wiping his eyes.
"I have something for you," she then said, one arm removing itself from around him, rocking back on her heels as she pulled a small object wrapped in cloth out from her pocket. "Your father gave this to me, to give to you when you were ready."
She unwrapped the object, and Percy was at first disappointed to see a simple pen. He had lots of pens at home.
And then she uncapped it.
Percy didn't know much about swords, but it looked cool.
It was a shimmering bronze colour, the hilt wrapped in leather. Despite how awkward it felt, he took the hilt in his left hand.
It fit perfectly.
"But… I don't understand?" he said, staring in awe at the blade. "Why…" Anger and frustration coursed through his body at his father. "Why not just… why…"
Percy couldn't form the words as he stared at his mom.
He couldn't understand why his father, who was apparently a god, couldn't have just protected him and mom from Gabe.
His mom seemed to understand, because she sighed, capping the sword, and Percy watched as it reverted to a pen.
"He wanted to…" she paused, as though she was thinking about how to proceed. "But the gods, they have to follow their own rules. And that includes not getting involved in their demigod children's lives."
Before Percy could express his opinions about that, because really that was a load of bullcrap, Chiron interjected.
"Speaking of Percy's father," he said, settling his gaze on Percy's mom. "You wouldn't have any… indication of who he is, do you?"
Percy saw his mom tense, but barely, her shoulders rising slightly as she shook her head, "No. I just knew that he was a god."
Chiron's eyes narrowed, but Percy's mom stood firm, tension riding high in the air.
Chiron harrumphed, "Okay, Percy will have to stay in Cabin 11 then, until he's been claimed." A pause. "Of course, if you do remember anything, Miss Jackson, about who Percy's father might be, that would be helpful."
Percy's mom smiled a tight smile, "Of course, Chiron."
The two of them locked eyes, and Percy shuffled uncomfortably.
"Well, now that that's settled," Chiron said, relieving the tension. "It is time."
Percy tensed, turning to look at his mom, panic clutching at his chest. He didn't want her to leave.
"Hey, Percy, sweetie," his mom gripped his arm, her smile sad, yet soft. "It's gonna be okay. As soon as I have a place, as soon as you can come back to live with me, I'm coming to get you, okay baby?"
Percy nodded, sniffling.
"And, maybe, just maybe…" she trailed off for a second, looking up at Chiron, almost seeming lost for a second. "Maybe we can do something for your birthday? Montauk isn't too far from her-"
Percy slammed his body into his mom's, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug.
"You promise?" he whispered into the crook of her neck, her own arms coming to wrap around him tightly as well.
"I promise," she whispered back.
Sleep came surprisingly easy that night, despite the overcrowding in the cabin. Percy almost felt at ease as he drifted off into sleep.
It was some time after the others had drifted to sleep when green lit up the cabin, a small trident hovering over Percy's sleeping form.
They all went on sleeping.
The darkness rippled.
