Ch3

Percy gripped his sword tightly as he tried to follow the formations Ethan and Alabaster showed him. However, Ethan blocked his attacks before disarming him.

"Grip your blade tighter," Ethan said.

"Th-Thanks," he said as he picked up his sword.

"No worries you're still new," Ethan said. "You'll get the hang of things."

He nodded and went back into formation. At least he isn't as condescending like Luke. Since he got here at camp he had only one thing on his mind, his mother. It was all he could think about as he tried to make sense of all this new information.

"Hey Alabaster, you're sure about my mom right?"

The son of Hecate looked at him with his bright emerald green eyes. "I've been studying magic since I was young I know a transportation spell when I see one." Alabaster then showed him his palm where a Greek letter glowed. "It was a strong spell, whoever did it was stronger than I am. But as long as this letter glows she's alive."

Alive. Looking at the character his heart began to race, it was a small bit of hope but it was all he could ask for at the moment. He didn't really know Alabaster, one day he just appeared and he thought he was another trust fund kid. Yet something was always off about him, he was always playing with his cards and he was at the museum that day when the fury attacked.

"Can you track her with your magic?" He asked.

Alabaster raised an eyebrow. "It won't be easy, but if you want I can try my best. Someone powerful is holding her."

He looked down wondering who it could be. Mom please be safe. "I just wish I could save her. I'd do anything for her."

Alabaster looked at him with his green eyes. "I would do the same for my mother, I'll see what I can do but it won't be easy."

He nodded, personally he didn't know why Alabaster and Ethan didn't have cabins and were crammed with him in the Hermes Cabin when there were others weren't occupied. It wasn't fair but he didn't know much about this world and most of the campers didn't seem to care for them.

Now he wasn't stupid he knew what it was like to be uncool at school and the way people looked at Ethan and Alabaster or any child of the minor gods or unclaimed person was like they were nerds trying to sit at the cool table.

Too bad Ethan seems cool and Alabaster well magic is always cool. The Ares Cabin was almost burned down which resulted in members of that cabin to try and get back at Alabaster. Unfortunately for them Alabaster broke all their limbs with a few spells and Mr. D and Chiron had to intervene.

Alabaster held out his hand and muttered some spell in Latin. The character on his palm glowed but nothing changed. "Whoever has your mother is really powerful."

"What could it be?" he asked.

Alabaster frowned. "I have my guesses, hopefully I'm wrong for your mother's sake."

He was about to ask what he meant by that when Annabeth Chase came up to them. "Hey Percy ready for Greek mythology."

"Yeah sure come on guys," he said.

Annabeth frowned as if she didn't expect him to invite them but said nothing as they put their weapons away and headed to a nice log underneath some trees. The daughter of Athena was weird, she always talked to him as if he were supposed to know all these things about Greek mythology and would get frustrated when he didn't. While she spoke to him she was often stand offish and a bit cold. On the other hand she didn't really bother getting to know Alabaster or Ethan, the former who actually knew some stuff.

"Alright today we'll talk about Jason and the witch of Colchis," Annabeth said as she took out a book.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Alabaster's brow twitch his gaze flickering with fury as Annabeth began to read.

What's his problem? The son of Hecate said nothing as Annabeth told the story of Jason and Medea but the hairs on his neck were standing up as if something dangerous were about to happen.

"So what can we learn from this?" Annabeth asked closing the book. She looked up at him as if expecting him to respond with some smart answer that would wow the Greek world.

"Uh that he should've kept his promise?" He didn't know what to say, it was a sad story but Annabeth just frowned as if expecting something more.

"Really is that all you have to say?" She asked. "Think harder."

"Well if he kept his promise she wouldn't have done what she did," Alabaster said his voice dangerously calm.

Annabeth turned to him. "Um what's your name again?"

"Alabaster," The son of Hecate said coolly. "Maybe you should read more than the common sources daughter of Athena. Jason was a pig who hid behind the glory of heroes."

Uh oh. A cold wind passed through the area as he and Ethan looked at Alabaster whose hardened gaze met Annabeth's' grey eyes.

Annabeth frowned. "We many sources of Jason and his heroic deeds, I'm sorry but Medea did many horrible things such as killing her own children."

Alabaster spat on the ground. "He manipulated and coerced her. Then when that bastard was done with her tossed her aside like a rag doll." The air around them became dangerously tense as Alabaster's eyes lit up with fury. "She did so much for him including murdering those closest to her. Yeah she shouldn't have killed her children but she was driven insane by that abusive bastard."

He sat back not knowing how to respond. Alabaster spoke with such emotion he didn't want to question it. His mind went to his abusive stepfather's friends who saw Smelly Gabe as a good guy and friendly pal to drink with. Would they believe they treated him and his mom like shit? Or would they believe that he was a good guy and a family man.

Annabeth frowned. "Well we don't for sure what happened, lets just move on." It was obvious she didn't want to continue this and thankfully she chose other stories for them to go over.

The mood for the rest of the Greek Mythology class was awkward, neither Alabaster nor Ethan spoke not that Annabeth seemed to care for she seemed to only want to ask him all the questions which he honestly didn't know.

When that was done they all returned to the Hermes Cabin for sword practice with Luke. The son of Hermes did not go easy on him. He tried to block his attacks but found himself easily over powered and in one movement Luke had knocked his sword out of his hand.

"Focus Percy," Luke said pointing his sword at him. "Don't lose your grip."

"Got it," he said as he picked up his sword. He didn't know why Luke always focused on training him more than other students, if he didn't know any better he would've though that Luke wanted something from him.

They practiced for most of the evening, most of the time Luke won but every once in a while he would break through Luke's defenses and land a hit but they were few and far between. After him Alabaster practiced with Luke, the son of Hecate did slightly better but the son of Hermes still had the advantage.

"Wow you were good," he told Alabaster as they headed off to dinner.

The son of Hecate shrugged. "I learned a bit, monsters hunt us demigods so my mother made sure we all had sufficient training." The son of Hecate went over to the fire and dumped some food into it. "Mother watch over me and all my siblings," Alabaster muttered as the flames took the food.

He pushed some of the food off his plate and into the flame. Father if you are out there please guide me to save mother. The flame flickered as it accepted the offering.

The Hermes table was cramped but after eating he was able to find a nice log by the fire to roast marshmallows with Alabaster and Ethan. "So do you know your mother well?"

Alabaster nodded as he looked into the flames. "She watches over all her children and helps those who need it We support ourselves since even the gods don't' care for us."

"Oh that's too bad," he said softly.

"Sounds more loving than other gods," Ethan muttered. "I don't even know who mine is."

He stared at him in surprise. "But you've been her for a while."

Ethan looked at him with a pained look. "You get used to it Percy. My mother is most likely a minor goddess who has no place. The Cabins here are only for the children of the 12 Olympians, there is no room for Hecate or even my mother whoever she is."

He looked down a pit forming in his stomach. "It isn't fair though, I mean there are Cabins even if the gods don't want to put us there why can't we just build more?"

Ethan shrugged. "Olympian politics are complicated."

"Yeah my mother always spoke of them, in a way she is grateful she doesn't have a throne on Olympus if it means being away from the political aspects," Alabaster said. "She always preferred to stand by the weak and help the down trodden."

"Oh that seems nice of her," he said. I wish someone stood beside mom when Smelly Gabe was around.

Alabaster looked up at him and smiled. "My mother is the best mother I could've asked for I won't let anyone treat her poorly."

"Same with mine." He loved his own mother dearly, she was the best in the world to him and if he could he would defend her against all those who harmed her.

Alabaster looked up at the sky. "There is no place for her here yet I will make the world know how great she is."