Ch15
Hecate sat on a chair looking over her flames. Another major quest and two of my children are helping. Of course that meant more attention on her which she didn't mind, perhaps the other gods would realize she was still there.
With a wave of her hands, the flames changed and she could see her daughter Circe bathing in the sunlight and reading a magazine. She cleared her throat and her daughter immediately got up. "Mother what is it?"
"There is a quest for the golden fleece," she said. "The camp has sent some campers but it appears that they have gotten lost."
Circe shrugged and went back to her magazine. "Wasn't me."
She sighed. "Alabaster and Lou are going to help relieve them along with Poseidon's son."
Her daughter's eyes lit up. "I haven't seen Lou in ages. How's she doing?" Circe asked as she set down the magazine. "I'd love to do her hair again!"
She folded her arms. "Listen there is a lot of attention on me and Poseidon and his wife have been good to me and is through their grace that we have a temporary cabin. There are to be no misunderstandings," she said emphasizing the last words. "If you run across them assist them."
"As you wish mother," Circe said.
She leaned closer to the flames. "Do not harm or transfigure Alabaster or Percy Jackson, we have too much riding on this and I will not spit in Poseidon's face by having a child of mine harm his."
Olympus had long turned a blind eye to Circe and her schemes but if she incurred their wrath there would be little she could do to help her.
Circe sighed. "Of course mother. I understand. I won't harm them or transform them."
"Good. There is a war coming and I expect all my children to do their part," she said. "For everyone's sake, we must work together. Even you must do your part here."
Circe looked at her calmly. "As you wish mother."
As soon as the message ended she looked at the dark flames. Alabaster. Lou. Be safe both of you.
Ethan looked at Tyson who was resting in bed unconscious. Don't worry Percy will be back soon. He gently patted the cyclops on the arm before leaving the Poseidon Cabin.
Don't worry guys I'll hold down the fort. Gripping his spear he found Balthazar and the other members of the Hecate Cabin. "You all ready?"
Balthazar nodded as he strapped on his sword. "Yeah come on."
They headed towards the meeting area where Beckendorf was waiting for them with a group of armored demigods. "Alright everyone another group of giants is approaching the camp, lets take them down before they get any closer."
A cheer erupted through the ranks of the assembled demigods as they began to move out. Hopefully, they find the fleece soon. The sooner we fix the barrier the better.
"Don't worry Al and Lou can handle the Sea of Monsters," Balthazar said as they crossed out of the weakening barrier. "Our sister Circe will give them a warm welcome."
He frowned as they crossed into the brush and into the field around the camp. "She better not turn them into guinea pigs."
Balthazar laughed. "Don't worry Circe also taught us a few times. As for Percy, she wouldn't dare harm him since he is in our mother's good graces."
"Everyone get into formation!" Beckendorf barked as the giants came into view and began to throw rocks at them. "Hecate Cabin shields!"
Balthazar stepped forward and chanted along with his siblings. The air around them shimmered as the rocks broke against the barrier.
"Stick together! Charge!" Beckendorf yelled.
He gripped his spear tightly as the giants came at them. Balthazar got to them first, the blonde-haired son of Hecate drew his sword and a wave of fiery hit the giant causing it to fall off balance.
Thrusting his spear he managed to hit the giant in the gut causing it to roar in pain as it fell to the ground. "Come on lets take it out," he yelled as stabbed the giant in the chest. The creature moaned in pain as it disintegrated.
Balthazar and his siblings came to his side, the Hecate Cabin blasted green fire at the row of giants as they helped the other demigods fight them off.
"Lets go get into formation!" He yelled as Balthazar and some of his siblings drew their weapons around him.
His heart raced as he charged at a group of three giants. Come I can do this. He thrusted his spear into its chest as a ball of green fire hit its head. The giant disintegrated as he pulled his spear out of its chest. Around him Balthazar and his siblings engaged the other giants. The sound of their weapons and magic reverberated throughout the area as they killed each giant one by one.
He thrusted his spear at another giant that came into his field of vision. It growled and tried to grab him but Balthazar cut its head clean off with his sword.
"Thanks," he said as the giant fell to the ground.
"Don't mention lets go there are a few more," Balthazar said as his green flames danced around his sword.
Looking up he saw about a half dozen more giants coming their way. "Alright everyone stay in formation!" Beckendorf yelled, his brow covered in sweat. "Hecate Cabin use your range magic if you can."
A smile spread across Balthazar's face as he gripped his sword. The son of Hecate and his siblings began to chant as green smoke filled the area as green flames flew at the giants knocking them off balance.
"Lets go!" he yelled as the giants became distracted by the flames. I'll continue to get stronger. Maybe then mother will recognize my efforts and the world will recognize her.
His heart raced in his chest as he charged at the remaining giants with the rest of the campers. Lunging at one of them he stabbed it in the chest. The giant roared as it stumbled back and was met with Beckendorf's hammer.
The son of Hephaestus's brow was covered in sweat as he finished the giant off. "Come on that should be last of them," Beckendorf said as Balthazar and the remainder of the Hecate Cabin finished off the remaining giants with green fire.
"Lets finish patrolling the section," he said as he scanned the area. So far there were no more other monsters but he wasn't going to let his guard down. They've been coming in bigger waves each day.
Beckendorf led them as they marched the rest of the camp perimeter. The few monsters that were in the area were quickly defeated with ease. Once back at the camp they were dismissed. "See you all tomorrow," Beckendorf said.
He rubbed his sore neck as he headed back to the cabin. His body ached as he sat down on the bed next to Tyson, the young cyclops was asleep his face peaceful.
I know what its like being an outcast here. A pang of sorrow hit him, like the cyclops he was treated differently for who his parent was. But you have a home here, it isn't fair the way you've been treated.
Looking at Tyson his anger turned into determination. Don't worry Percy I won't let anyone hurt him while you are away.
A knock at the door caught his attention. "You ok?" Balthazar asked.
He nodded and looked at Tyson. "Just watching over him."
The son of Hecate nodded. "You know despite this camp being for the children of gods, not all are welcome."
He frowned. "Yeah true." Whether it be the children of minor gods like him or the other unclaimed gods still in the Hermes Cabin there were definitely those that were seen as lesser. "But there isn't much we can do."
Balthazar shrugged. "True. Change doesn't always come as quickly as we want it. Us children of Hecate just got our cabin even though historically we have been on the margins of other demigods." The son of Hecate looked at him with his green eyes. "Tell me do you think things will change for people like us?"
He looked at Balthazar and thought his words over. "We both have cabins even if they are temporary. I tend to prove my mother can do just like you."
Balthazar chuckled. "Don't we all. Well see you tomorrow."
He nodded as he watched him leave the cabin. When he was gone he went to the dining hall and grabbed a plate of food and dumped half of it in the flames. Mother I promise you'll have a cabin worthy of your name. I'll fight to get you the respect you deserve. Help me be the balance.
"Lady Hecate help Alabaster, Lou, and Percy." The flames flickered as he took another deep breath and offered the remaining food to the flames. "Lord Poseidon thank you for everything, please Percy and them on this quest."
Guys be safe. I promise I'll keep things safe on my end here. Looking into the flames he thought of Percy and Alabaster. I wish I could one day go on a quest and be a hero, then all would I am my mother's son. Looking down at the flames a determination began to swell up inside of him. I'll get stronger and maybe one day we can all go on a quest together.