Ch5
Hecate rested by the beachside as the waves crashed against the sand. Alabaster be safe. The news of her son going on a quest to retrieve Zeus' bolt had brought her all sorts of attention. The son of a minor god being chosen alongside the child of the Big Three was all the gossip among the Greek Gods.
"You enjoying yourself Hecate?" asked a familiar goddess
Turning around she saw Nemesis, her form changed for everyone who saw her and what she saw was an intolerant 'Christian' Karen the kind that often persecuted her children.
She smiled at Nemesis. "Popularity is fleeting. My only interest is with making sure my children are safe." Medea was carefully watching over them in case Zeus decided to vent his anger on them.
Nemesis folded her arms. "You see the paths right? Will this change anything?"
"Nothing changes overnight," she said calmly as the waves hit the sand. As much as she wanted respect as much as the other minor gods she was no fool, things don't change overnight.
"I have a kid in that camp. I never claimed him, why bother when he has no place to go?" Nemesis frowned.
"I understand your feelings," She said calmly. The few children of hers who went to the camp often left it because they felt unwanted and didn't have a cabin they could call home. "But things are changing, if you want to control your destiny you have to make the right moves."
It was then the goddess felt a very powerful presence approach them. In a blink of an eye Poseidon stood in front of him his was presence was calm but his eyes betrayed his anger at the current situation.
"Lord Poseidon a pleasure to see you," she said as she and Nemesis bowed.
Poseidon nodded. "I know we don't speak much but our children are on a quest together. I need to know how capable your son is."
"Alabaster is my most capable child in a long time," she said firmly. "Rest assured they will be successful."
The sea hit the sands as Poseidon looked at her with his dark eyes. "I know you love your children as much as I love mine but be cautious my brother won't hesitate to punish you. Hide them, if my brother gives you trouble I'll do all I can to support you."
A smile spread across her face. "Don't worry Lord Poseidon I'm always there to protect all of my children and they help each other just as much as I do."
The sea god nodded and turned to the sea. "Tell what do you can you see about my son's future?"
She smiled. "He'll have many different and difficult challenges up ahead, but he'll make his mark on this pantheon and his friends."
"I see great things in him too," Poseidon said before looking at her and Nemesis. "Your children both were kind to him at camp, you both have my thanks."
Nemesis nodded. "Your son was friendly with our children when most wouldn't look their way, you love a loyal son Lord Poseidon."
"Loyalty is a strenght and flaw of my children," Poseidon said. "How can a ship function if its crew isn't loyal to each other?" The sea god entered the waters. "If your children need anything all they have to do is offer a sacrifice and I'll do my best to help them."
"We'll let them know," she said as the sea god disappeared into the ocean. After a short paused she turned to the goddess by her side. "Nemesis that boy of yours, if you really want to make a difference in your path focus on him?"
Nemesis raised an eyebrow. "Why? I'm not recognized there and neither are you."
She smiled as she met her gaze. "There are many paths that the fates weave for us, but if we stand idly, we shall gain none. You yourself can guide your destiny."
Alabaster sighed as they rested on the side of the road. That was a close call.
"Didn't think that those furies would attack us in the open," Percy said as he capped Riptide.
"You have to be ready for anything on the road," he said. Luckily for him he had a few spells handy so they were able to fend them off and leave with all of their belongings.
"Have you always lived on the road?" Percy asked as they trudged into the woods.
He slowly nodded. "Yeah since my father passed when I was younger I was always alone." Being in the ends a sense of nostalgia hit him as he remembered all the times he would walk with his father through the woods taking in the majesty of nature and the power it held.
"Oh sorry to hear about that," Percy muttered as they rested on a log.
"Lets rest here for a bit before finding a way to continue," Grover said as he began to munch on a tin can.
He looked up at the woods and quickly began to mutter some enchantments around them. When he was done the familiar presence of magic danced around the area. "Well we are safe for now."
Percy looked at him. "Where did you learn all these spells from?"
"My mother makes sure all her children are prepared for the world," he said looking at the son of Poseidon. "It isn't easy being a demigod but even more so when the camp that is supposed to help you doesn't recognize your parent."
Grover looked down his face guilty. "Chiron has tried to solve that issue. Sadly it isn't in his control."
"Well my mother and Aunt Medea decided to take things into their own hands. If my mother isn't welcome then we don't have to go if we don't want to." There was more bitterness in his voice than he intended, but how dare his mother not even be honored. "There are many places of us to train, my mother and aunt made sure of it."
"Must have been rough," Percy muttered his gaze sympathetic. "I know what its like to not be respected. All my life I was treated like a problem and a burden."
He nodded. "It isn't easy being a demigod. Some of my siblings have stepparents who treat them badly but Aunt Medea makes sure we are all well."
"Medea like the one from Jason's story?" Percy asked. Grover awkwardly looked down.
"The very same. I recommend you don't believe everything from the myths at face value," He met Percy's gaze. "My aunt is one of the greatest people I know and one of the strongest sorceresses in the world." He sighed and shook his head. "Come on lets get going, we are out in the open."
Percy nodded and once they gathered their things they continued on their path. The brush eventually gave way and soon they found the road again. "Hey what's that smell?" The son of Poseidon asked as he sniffed the air. "Smells like someone is cooking hamburgers."
He raised an eyebrow. "We are in the middle of nowhere." Yet the smell drifted to his nose, it smelled like a barbecue yet something about it made the hairs on his neck stand up. Before he knew it Percy was following the scent. "Hey wait!"
Percy led them to an abandoned looking building with the words Auntie Em's Garden Nome Emporium. "Hello is anyone in here!" Percy yelled as he entered the building.
"Hey don't just enter some building," he protested.
They caught up to Percy who was looking at a variety of garden sculptures that were a little too lifelike. "Hey this looks like my uncle who went missing," Grover muttered as he looked at the statue of a satyr whose fear was etched really well into his face.
Statues? He swore as a middle eastern woman in a shawl came up to them. "Hello boys what can I get for you?"
"Hi do you have any food?" Percy asked.
The woman smiled as the faint sound of hissing reverberated throughout the area. Great. He quickly pulled Percy back. "Ventus!"
The woman let out a shriek as she was thrown against the wall. "Hey what gives she was going to give us food?" Percy protested.
"This is Medusa's layer close your eyes!" He yelled. Percy's eyes widened as the temperature dropped and the hissing grew louder.
"Then that is my uncle," Grover muttered as they closed their eyes.
"My my what do we have here some naughty heroes," Medusa hissed. "Why don't you all join me for a picture? You'll all look well in my garden."
"Great it's a trap," Percy muttered as they stood back to back the sound of hissing came around them as he felt a tendril rub his chin.
"Speculum clypeus," he muttered. The spell activated and covered the three of them.
"Percy on three draw your sword Grover make some distraction," he said quickly. His teammates grabbed him in affirmation. Closing his eyes he could feel the auras of Percy and Grover while Medusa's slithered around them in the distance. "Vide Aura," he muttered as he gripped Percy and Grover.
"Woah what's going on?" Percy muttered. "I can see shapes and colors."
"You can see her aura. Keep your eyes closed," he said.
Medusa laughed. "How can you leave my layer without a nice picture."
"One, two."
He felt her presence slide around them. "Son of Poseidon I can help you. Your father loved me once you know."
"Three!"
Grover threw something on the ground breaking it into pieces just as Percy drew his sword. He threw a ball of fire at Medusa who dodged it just as Percy slashed her. He could see their auras moving, Percy was trying to slice her, but Medusa was quick. "Ventus! A gust of wind hit Mesua sending her back. Medusa hissed and opened her eyes but met the spell he cast.
He could see the aura of everything around him. Medusa threw something at Percy but the son of Poseidon slashed it with his sword. Percy advanced on her and swung his blade, Medusa dodged and opened her eyes on reflex.
"AHHH!" Medusa yelled as she met her own reflection and turned to stone just as Percy brought his sword down on her neck decapitating her. Medusa's head fell to the ground and rolled in the distance
"Wow that was close," Percy said as he carefully examined the area.
He sighed and rubbed his head. "That's why you don't just run into a place."
"What spell was that?" Grover asked.
"Mirror shield it reflects any attack or ability," he said as he looked around the shop. "Not a bad place we can rest here for the night."
Taking a handkerchief from his pocket he casted a spell to make it big enough to cover the head. "We should dispose of this somehow."
Percy grinned and picked up a box. "I have an idea." With that the son of Poseidon packed up Medusa's head and mailed it off to the gods.
He shrugged. "That works.
After making sure there were no monsters he caste a few protection spells around them and even lit a fire. Turns out there were hamburgers and other food items for them to eat.
"Sorry for getting into a mess," Percy said as they ate their food.
"No worries I have a lot of spells for stuff like this," he said. Looking at the remains of Medusa's body on the ground he wondered how many people she had turned to stone over the ages. "If you don't mind me asking what's your mother like? How did she gain Poseidon's favor?"
Percy paused and looked downward. "She is the kindest and most amazing person you'll ever meet, my mother is my entire world." The son of Poseidon's eyes began to water. "She even married my pig of a step father just to protect me."
"Was he really bad?" Personally some of his siblings had strained relationships with their step relatives. The worst were the born again Christians who saw them as the devil's spawn.
Percy nodded. "The worst. He would just treat my mom like a piece of meat and use us as his wallet." The son of Poseidon froze. "I think he may have been physical with her when I'm not around." The atmosphere turned dark as Percy's eye brimmed with anger. "If I could I would send him to hell for all he put us through."
"I'm sure she's as good as you say," he said softly. Even though his mother was an immortal goddess technically titaness if she were forced in a bad relationship he would raise hell for her. "You know when this is all done I don't mind paying him a visit, I can break bones if you want."
Percy laughed. "Thanks."
He never met Percy's mother and even though he didn't know the son of Poseidon well he couldn't stand the idea of someone abusing a good mother.
"H-Hey Alabaster can I ask you something?" Grover asked looking up from his cans.
"What?"
"Have you or your mom seen Pan?" Grover set his can down. "I was just thinking maybe she would've heard something since she sees many things."
"Not that I'm aware of," he said. "But I can ask next time I see her if you want."
Grover nodded. "Thanks. It's my dream to find him."
He waved his hand and the flames moved with it. "My mother would probably say something like there are multiple roads and sometimes the easiest looking isn't easy."
"Your mom sounds like she talks in riddles," Percy said.
"She does," he admitted. "But her advice is priceless."
Grover looked at the flames. "You know us satyrs want to help all demigods, I sometimes wish the gods would claim faster or give deities like your mother recognition. Sadly Olympus isn't a place that changes easily."
He clenched his fists. "So I've been told. Sadly people like me will always be pushed to the side for those more important. Even though my mother is brilliant and always looks out for us, the Olympians don't even respect her with a cabin."
Percy looked at him, his brow furrowed. "Yeah it isn't right. If I ever see my father I promise that I'll bring it up."
He stared at Percy, their gazes meeting. Frankly he was surprised Percy would care so much; after all, he was a son of the big three no one would dare disrespect his father. Staring into the Son of Poseidon's eyes he felt a piece of his heart warm up.
"I appreciate that."
That night Percy had a different dream. He and his mother were in a banquet hall full of people. "Mom where can we sit?"
His mother looked at the twelve seat as the table, they were all filled with other parents and their kids. "Don't sweetie we'll find another place." She tried to sound reassuring but the table was full. "We'll find our own place ok?"
As they made their way through the room trying to find a seat his mom was constantly shoved and pushed to the side as she were worthless. His blood boiled in anger at the way they treated his mom, the way they glared at her and spoke of her as if she were some after thought.
Despite everything his mom put on a brave smile that was betrayed by the fatigue in her eyes. "Don't worry we'll find a place."
He wanted to protest but there was no one to protest to, his mom had no place here and neither did he. How stupid were these people? Could they not see how great his mother was? How strong and amazing she was? His mom was the best mom in the world how could they not see it!
I'll show them how amazing you are mom.
Ethan Nakaumra carefully checked his surroundings as he made his way to the meeting point. The forests were dark yet Luke assured him they wouldn't be caught. After making sure he wasn't followed he continued into the brush until he noticed a group of people huddled around some flashlights.
"Glad you could make it Ethan," Luke said.
He nodded and stood beside some other campers. They were all from the Hermes Cabin, the children of minor gods with no cabins or those like him unclaimed.
Luke stepped forward his gaze exhausted and tired, each day he seemed to be getting more and more agitated. "Thank you all for coming. I know we are all tired. We are tired of being treated like dirt by the gods, we don't have to be disrespected by them." The crowd murmured some in agreement and some watching Luke cautiously.
The son of Hermes looked at each of them. "There is another way that will be shown to you all soon. Another way is where we are given the fair treatment we deserve. Trust in me and we'll achieve it when the time is right."
The crowd of campers murmured. "Will things change with that son of Hecate going on the quest?" Asked a son of a minor god.
People nodded in agreement. It was hard to believe how much Percy choosing Alabaster had inspired the children of the minor gods, one of them had been chosen and now they were given a sliver of hope that they might be respected.
Luke's posture stiffened his gaze betraying irritation. "Don't get your hopes up. Change doesn't always come peacefully and a small bone here and there will accomplish nothing. Follow my lead and you'll see that change, now go back to the cabin."
The campers murmured and left but he stayed as Luke's gaze rested upon him. "Um good talk," He said. "What is it you are exactly planning?"
Luke gave him a tired smile and came up to him. "You'll see in the future. Unlike the rest of the camp, I can see you have a bright future and a lot of potential. Ethan just listen to what I have to say and you won't have to suffer anymore." Luke leaned in closer, "You'll get the recognition from your parent like you always wanted."
He looked down not knowing what to say as Luke walked away. The recognition I always wanted. Can change really happen?
AN: Hope you are all enjoying the story. It will be a while till the next chapter due to personal reasons but don't worry I will finish this story.
So please let me know what you think in the reviews along with favoriting and following the story.
