Chapter 2- The Fates would like to say hello Grover
"So your story begins, Child of Time. Will you choose to defend the ones who take you in, who need your strength? Or will you defer to your father's brethren and become their weapon? The path is yours to take, Destroyer. The divine world will mould to your decision."
Percy was sick of it. To him, it seemed like the whole school was playing a prank on him, and this whole time, their pre-algebra teacher was a blond woman named Mrs Kerr.
Percy almost believed the whole hallucination. Except for one thing. Or person.
Grover.
He had known Grover long enough, and Percy had been in enough situations to know when someone was lying to him. Whenever he asked Grover about Mrs Dodds, his eyes would dart around frantically and then say he didn't know what Percy was talking about. Percy could see right through it. Grover was hiding something. He knew something about what happened between him and Mrs Dodds in that museum.
And this caused his temper to start rising. He was getting annoyed and irritated. Percy got into more fights with Nancy and even ended up punching some of her friends when they pushed things too far. His grades, which he had tried to do well this year, had started to slip instantly, and he got so annoyed that he yelled at his English teacher and repeated some curse words that he knew if his mom heard, she'd lock him up in chains and wash his mouth with soap.
The headmaster had enough and told him he wasn't invited to Yancy next year. Percy claimed he didn't care, but that didn't stop him from breaking down the headmaster's office door with his bare hands. It was only once he had calmed down did he question how he had managed to rip apart a metal hinge from an oak wooden door.
Despite all that, he missed his mother and couldn't wait to return to their little apartment. Even then, there were things he'd miss about his dorm room. The view of the woods out his dorm window, the Hudson River in the distance, the smell of pine trees. But most of all, he'd miss Grover, who'd been a good friend, even if he was a little strange. He had never made many good friends who cared about him, and Grover was the first person he truly cared about, other than his mother.
In the end, all he cared about was the Latin exam. No matter what was to happen, he wanted to impress the one teacher he liked, the one teacher who happened to believe in him.
He figured he could meet Mr Brunner and ask him for help.
As he walked towards the office, he stopped about 3 steps away. He was pretty sure he heard Grover's voice.
"–worried about Percy, sir."
"... alone this summer," Grover was saying. "I mean, a Kindly One in the school! Now that we know for sure, and they know too—"
"We would only make matters worse by rushing him," Mr Brunner said. "We need the boy to mature more."
"But he may not have time. The summer solstice deadline— "
"Will have to be resolved without him, Grover. Let him enjoy his ignorance while he still can."
"Sir, he saw her... ."
"His imagination," Mr Brunner insisted. "The Mist over the students and staff will be enough to convince him of that."
"Sir, I ... I can't fail in my duties again." Grover's voice was choked with emotion. "You know what that would mean."
"You haven't failed, Grover," Mr Brunner said kindly. "I should have seen her for what she was. We have yet to understand what she meant about Percy's parentage. Something about that child is different enough to attract the attention of the Unseen One. We must speak wi–"
Percy dropped his mythology book. He silently cursed himself.
He grabbed his book and silently crept right back. Once he was out of earshot, he ran straight back to his dorm.
He wasn't sure what he had just heard, but he was beginning to piece the jigsaws together. Both Mr Brunner and Grover were worried about his safety. More importantly, they knew what had happened in the museum. Something big was at play, and they were trying to protect him.
Percy didn't want protection. He wanted to know what was happening. And what was being hidden from him.
He wanted answers. And he was going to get them out of Grover, one way or another.
He sat at his desk, waiting for Grover to come back.
"Hey, you okay?" Percy turned to see Grover staring at him with concern in his eyes. "You look tired, man. And irritated."
Percy turned his face to hide his expression. Grover was weirdly very perceptive at reading his emotions.
"What were you talking about?"
Percy couldn't see Grover's face, but he could almost feel the frown appearing on his face. Probably with some confusion as well as realisation.
"What do you mean?"
"In the office with Mr Brunner. You were talking about me. As if I'm in some kind of danger." Percy looked Grover straight in the eyes. "What were you talking about?"
Grover's eyes widened, almost like a deer caught in headlights.
"You overheard that. That was you in the corridor?"
Percy nodded, not saying anything. Grover's eyes darted around frantically, sweat forming on his forehead.
"Look Percy, we're just worried, man, that's all. I mean, hallucinating about a teacher. It's not normal behavio-"
"Grover," interrupted Percy
"Yeah?"
"You're a terrible liar." He advanced on Grover slowly. He didn't even realise his hands had crunched up into fists. A glare had formed on his face. "What are you hiding from me?"
As he stepped forward, he took a moment to survey Grover's face. His hands were trembling, but his body had gone completely still. His lips quivered as he kept glancing at Percy's hands. With shock, he realised that Grover wasn't just scared. He was afraid. Afraid of him.
That thought was enough to reign him back in. He immediately backed up, raising his hands to show he wasn't trying to hurt him.
"Sorry," Percy said after a moment, realising he had let his anger get the best of him again. He hated that he easily lost control of himself at the slightest change in his temper. And despite whatever he had learnt, it didn't erase the fact that Grover had been his constant friend throughout the year. That meant something to him. "My anger just… I'm sorry, Grover. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."
"I know, man, I do," Grover sighed, his fearful expression disappearing instantly. "Your problems. And yeah, you're right. I have been hiding something from you. But I swear to you man, it's not because we want to hurt you. Or trying to keep something from you intentionally. There's a lot going on and not enough time to explain it."
"What do you mean not enough time? What's happening, Grover? You said something about someone coming after me. And a kindly one? What's going on?"
Grover sighed again, wondering how to explain things to Percy.
"I'm not sure I'm the right person to even explain it to you, Percy. Mr Brunner should be the one to tell you."
"Tell me what?" Percy insisted.
"Look, yes, you were right. Mrs Dodds was an actual person. Well, not a person, actually. But that's not the point."
What the hell was she then?
"She was real, though. She was sent to this place to kill you. She was just waiting for the right moment. And she took the opportunity during the trip."
"Who sent her to kill me? And why exactly?" Percy frowned in confusion, glad he was finally getting some answers. "And why doesn't anyone else remember her?"
"No one else remembers her because of Mr Brunner," Grover said, looking around to ensure no one was listening in. "He changed their memories so that no one else could remember her. But you still did. As to who sent her, I can't say his name. Not here, Percy."
Percy furrowed his brows. He was getting answers but more questions as well.
"Why not. Who is he? And what the hell was Mrs Dodds? And how did Mr Brunner just magically change their memories."
"Percy, I can't tell you more. If I say his name, here of all places, he'll know instantly we're talking about him. I can't put you in daager like that. Not now."
"I can handle myself," Percy said, determined to get more answers. But Grover seemed to be done talking.
"Not this time. Not at the moment, Percy. Soon you'll be able to. I know you're not happy about not knowing what's happening. But Mr Brunner will explain to you, I promise. Go to sleep for now, Percy."
With that, Grover grabbed his blankets and plopped straight back to sleep, effectively ending the conversation. But sleep was the last thing on Percy's mind. Even though he didn't quite understand the whole scope, he could get a grasp of what was happening. Someone dangerous was after him. Mrs Dodds was here to finish the job, but for whatever weird reason, he had managed to come out of it unscathed. Mr Brunner and Grover had come to this school for him specifically. To protect him from whatever was after him.
The question was, who wanted to kill him so badly?
The next day, he finished his Latin exam, and as he left the exam hall, Mr Brunner called him back in. Percy froze, wondering if Grover had told Mr Brunner what happened the night before.
"Percy," he said. "Don't be discouraged about leaving Yancy. It's ... it's for the best."
Percy nodded. He wasn't hurt by his words, despite what they should've meant. The conversation with Grover had cemented one fact in his mind. Both he and Mr Brunner were here to protect him, for whatever reason. He didn't understand why or from who, and he was going to demand answers at a better time when not surrounded by other kids. But for whatever reason, he trusted both of them.
He ignored Nancy's whispers behind his back.
"I understand, sir," Percy replied. "I do, truly."
Mr Brunner rocked back and forth in his wheelchair. He seemed to want to say more but glanced back behind Percy at the kids around them and seemed to change his mind.
"This place isn't right for you, Percy. You're not a normal kid. It was only a matter of time. You'll understand soon enough."
Percy gave Mr Brunner a quick nod and left the exam hall.
The last day of the term came quickly. Percy wondered if he'd be saying goodbye to Grover, but it turned out that Grover had booked the same ticket to Manhatten so they were going together. Internally though, Percy knew that it was likely because Grover wanted to keep an eye on Percy and whoever he was protecting him from. He wasn't sure how Grover was capable of protecting him.
Not in a mean way, but Grover had a muscle disability. He used crutches to walk around. And he would get scared when facing the other bullies. Percy had spent most of the year defending him from others. How had Grover been keeping him safe?
He didn't voice those thoughts, though. It was clear enough from Grover's nervousness that he was stressed enough about something. The least Percy could do was assure him he was alive.
"Hey, Grover," Percy started as they sat on the Greyhound. "What's the summer solstice deadline?"
"How do you know about that?" Grover asked, still twitching while looking out the window. He stared at the trees as though almost expecting them to start attacking.
"I heard you mention it to Mr Brunner the other day," Percy admitted. Grover finally looked back at Percy.
"Honestly, Percy, even I'm not sure. The person who wants to kill you. Apparently, he stole something. Something big. And important."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"Well, it's complicated. But he sees you as a threat. And he would much rather you be dead before he carries out his plans?"
"Me? A threat? Grover, I'm just a kid. A nobody. How am I going to threaten someone?"
Grover shook his head. "You're far more important than you realise. And that's why there are people who want to kill you."
"People? So there's more than one person who wants to kill me?"
Grover blinked as though realising what he had just said.
"Look, you'll learn soon enough. You don't understand yet, Percy."
"So help me understand," Percy demanded, getting frustrated. But Grover shook his head.
"Not me, Percy. Mr Brunner will."
"Grover, Mr Brunner isn't even here right now. Who knows when I'll next see him, if I ever do."
Grover sighed as he reached into his pocket and fished out a grubby business card. "Just take this. Keep it. If you need me this summer."
Percy read the card, which was difficult with his dyslexia and the cursive writing on the paper.
"What's half–"
"Not here," Grover yelped. "That's… that's my summer address."
Percy's heart sank for a moment. It had never occurred to him that Grover also came from a rich family.
"So I can come to visit your mansion?"
"Well, kind of. Look, you'll understand–"
" –when Mr Brunner tells me," Percy finished glumly, rolling his eyes.
There was a huge grinding noise under our feet. Black smoke poured from the dashboard, and the whole bus filled with a smell of rotten eggs. The driver cursed and limped the Greyhound over to the side of the highway.
After a few minutes of clanking around in the engine compartment, the driver announced they all needed to get off. Grover and Percy filed outside with everybody else.
They were on a stretch of a country road—no place you'd notice if you didn't break down there. On our side of the highway was nothing but maple trees and litter from passing cars. On the other side, across four lanes of asphalt shimmering with the afternoon heat, was an old-fashioned fruit stand.
The stuff on sale looked delicious: heaping boxes of bloodred cherries and apples, walnuts and apricots, jugs of cider in a claw-foot tub full of ice. There were no customers, just three old ladies sitting in rocking chairs in the shade of a maple tree, knitting the biggest pair of socks Percy had ever seen.
These socks were the size of sweaters, but they were clearly socks. The lady on the right knitted one of them. The lady on the left knitted the other. The lady in the middle held an enormous basket of electric-blue yarn.
All three women looked ancient, with pale faces wrinkled like fruit leather, silver hair tied back in white bandannas, and bony arms sticking out of bleached cotton dresses.
The weirdest thing was they seemed to be looking right at Percy.
He looked over at Grover to say something about this and saw that the blood had drained from his face. His nose was twitching.
"Grover?" he said. "Hey, man—"
"Tell me they're not looking at you. They are, aren't they?"
"Yeah. Weird, huh? You think those socks would fit me?"
"Not funny, Percy. Not funny at all."
"Are they here to kill me as well?" Percy questioned, looking right back at the old ladies.
"Percy, if they wanted you dead, you'd already be dead by now. Trust me."
Percy narrowed his eyes. Looking back, he'd realise how suicidal his next actions would have been had Grover not been there. He stepped forward to talk to those three women and ask what they wanted. They clearly had something to do with whatever was happening with Percy based on how Grover was acting, and if Grover wasn't going to give him answers, then he'd get them from someone else.
As soon as Grover realised what Percy was about to do, he yelped and grabbed Percy's shoulders, pulling him back onto the pavement.
"What?" Percy said, getting annoyed at Grover's reactions. His anger faded instantly as he saw the deadly seriousness in Grover's eyes. He had never seen Grover so panicked or alarmed before.
"Not them, Percy," Grover tightened his grip on Percy's shoulder. "Under no circumstances do you want to speak to them at this moment. One wrong word, and trust me, you will cause serious problems."
The old lady in the middle took out a huge pair of scissors—gold and silver, long-bladed, like shears. Percy heard Grover catch his breath.
"We're getting on the bus," he told him. "Come on."
"What?" Percy said. "It's a thousand degrees in there."
"Come on!'" He pried open the door and climbed inside, but Percy stayed back, not willing to keep his eyes off those ladies yet.
Across the road, the old ladies were still watching him. The middle one cut the yarn, and Percy could've sworn he heard that snip across the road, right past the traffic.
"So your story begins, Child of Time. Will you choose to defend the ones who take you in, who need your strength? Or will you defer to your father's brethren and become their weapon? The path is yours to take, Destroyer. The divine world will mould to your decision."
Those words whispered in Percy's mind. He looked around to see who had spoken those words, but there was no one close to him. He whirled right back to look at those old ladies, but they had disappeared.
At the rear of the bus, the driver wrenched a big chunk of smoking metal out of the engine compartment. The bus shuddered, and the engine roared back to life.
The passengers cheered.
"Darn right!" yelled the driver. He slapped the bus with his hat. "Everybody back on board!"
Once we got going, Percy started feeling feverish, as if he was going to throw up.
Grover didn't look much better. He was shivering, and his teeth were chattering.
"Grover?"
"Yeah?"
"What are you not telling me?"
He dabbed his forehead with his shirt sleeve. "Percy, what did you see back at the fruit stand?"
Percy explained what he'd seen. He didn't mention what he'd heard in his head. Grover already looked like he was ready to jump out of the bus window head first.
"Percy, promise me you'll let me walk you home," Grover asked. Percy nodded, realising that something wrong was happening.
A cold chill went up his spine, something he hadn't considered at all. Mr Brunner taught greek myths. He expected Percy to understand everything he had taught and wanted nothing but the best from him. There had to be a reason for it. Gods and heroes. Grover kept mentioning things outside of his understanding that wanted to kill him. Mr Brunner had somehow altered everyone's memories of Mrs Dodds like magic.
Magic.
What beings in the greek myths came in trios.
The Fates.
The Furies.
The Horai.
The three sons of Kronos.
Which one of them used yarns and threads?
"Grover," Percy said, fearing the worst. He was close to throwing up. "Were those the Fates by any chance?"
Grover looked at him mournfully as though already deciding which flowers to pick for his coffin.
Author's Note: Hello, the second chapter is up, people. As you can see, this is already changing from the original story. Percy confronts Grover immediately instead of waiting like in the original books. And you can see, Percy has some temper issues, so much so that for a moment, even Grover was afraid of him. This will come into play a lot more.
Kinda enjoying how this story is playing out. Getting to choose what elements I keep and what elements to change up, it's a lot of fun actually. Anyways, if any of you have just about 10 seconds to review, much much appreciated. It will keep me motivated to write. Criticisms or just positive stuff, I'll take any.
Reviews I got on my first chapter:
SeaweedBrainIsBlue: Yeah it is a bit weird that the elder Olympians are technically his siblings. But that's the main point of this story, and I'm really going to delve into it. Hence why Hestia plays a big role. So will many other gods. And yeah, Percy and Annabeth will have a lot of issues but a lot of love, but that's what going to make their relationship a lot more endearing and ultimately what makes it so good.
Lord Kronos1950: Yes. And no. I don't want to spoil. You'll see a lot of interaction and tempting between Kronos and Percy. But Sally is also majorly involved, so is Annabeth and Hestia. It'll make sense as the book goes on, but Percy's loyalty to the gods or the titans will be forged through a lot of pain. My plan for this series is to not only have the original five books. There will be two extra books (one after Titan's Curse and one after Battle of the Labyrinth).
RedTec55: Thank you! Glad to see you're enjoying it
Keep being safe people, and I'll see you in the next one.
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