20. The Ophiotaur and Hermes.
Damian didn't tell anyone, but every night before falling asleep, he thought about Annabeth's hug and hoped to see her again soon.
One day, he was sitting near the beach, lost in thought and absently drawing in the sand, when a commotion nearby caught his attention. A group of demigods had gathered, whispering and pointing toward the waves.
Curious, Damian approached, staying behind the taller ones. His jaw dropped when he saw Grover, soaked but relieved, accompanied by a strange creature emerging from the water. It had the body of a bull and the tail of a sea serpent.
"Grover?" Damian called, stepping closer. "What... what are you doing here? Weren't you with Percy and the others?"
Grover, exhausted but determined, replied, "Damian! It's a long story." He gestured to the creature beside him. "This is... the Ophiotaurus. I need to speak with Chiron immediately."
Damian, intrigued, followed Grover to the Big House, where Chiron listened with growing concern. Grover explained the creature's ancient power—how whoever sacrificed it could destroy Olympus itself.
Later, Damian bonded with the Ophiotaurus, often sketching it while pondering its mysterious nature. Despite its ominous reputation, the creature's gentle demeanor made it hard for him to see it as a threat. Yet, the weight of its significance lingered in his thoughts.
When they arrived at the Big House, Grover immediately turned to Chiron, who greeted them with a worried expression.
"Grover," said the centaur, his tail swishing nervously. "What happened? Where are Percy and the others?"
Grover quickly explained what had occurred: how he had found the Ophiotaurus and why it was so important to keep it safe. Damian listened in silence, unable to take his eyes off the creature. Even though Grover's words frightened him, he couldn't help but feel fascinated by the idea of such an ancient and powerful being.
Chiron looked even more concerned after hearing the story. "Grover, you did well to bring it here," he said finally, though his voice betrayed his tension. "But this complicates everything. We must be even more careful. If anyone—or anything—finds out it's here..."
Damian couldn't stop himself from asking, "What happens if someone actually sacrifices it?"
Chiron fixed him with a serious gaze. "Then it could mean the end of our world as we know it."
The Ophiotaurus seemed to have taken a particular liking to Damian. Wherever he went, the creature followed, letting out a soft lowing sound and swaying its serpentine tail. After some initial hesitation, Damian began to relax in its presence. He found the creature's behavior incredibly endearing and often sat beside it on the beach to draw.
With his sketchpad in his lap, Damian let the creature inspire him. He drew it in playful poses: trying to catch a butterfly with its snout or curling up like a sleepy snake. Other sketches showed the Ophiotaurus watching the sunset or swimming in the calm waters of the lake.
Damian would study his drawings and then the creature, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't understand how anyone could see you as a threat," he murmured, gently scratching behind its ears—or whatever those little protrusions on its head could be called. The Ophiotaurus let out a contented sound, almost like a purr, making Damian smile.
Every time Damian looked at the Ophiotaurus, it seemed less and less likely that such a peaceful creature could truly destroy Olympus. But then Grover and Chiron's words would echo in his mind, bringing with them a faint sense of unease. Perhaps it wasn't the Ophiotaurus itself that was dangerous, but what it represented—the power others might seek to exploit.
Despite it all, Damian couldn't see it as anything but a new, curious friend. Hermes arrived at the camp like a bolt of lightning, his theatrical entrance accompanied by the cheerful sound of the wings on his sandals. With his usual carefree grin, he made his way toward the Ophiotaurus, which waited with its calm, serene expression.
Damian, watching the scene from a corner, widened his eyes as Hermes also approached the Hermes cabin to greet his children.
"Hello, my dear ones!" Hermes exclaimed enthusiastically, spreading his arms as if to gather everyone into a great embrace, though no one seemed particularly inclined to rush into his arms. Then the god noticed Damian, who had instinctively hidden behind Simon, and offered him a cheerful greeting.
"Ah, who do we have here? Damian, right? I've heard about you. It's not every day someone befriends a creature like the Ophiotaurus," Hermes said lightly, tilting his head to get a better look at the boy. Damian gave a small nod in acknowledgment, shrinking further behind Simon, who was trying to suppress an amused smile.
Hermes, however, didn't seem the least bit bothered by the boy's shyness. "No need to worry, kid. I'm just passing through," he said, glancing at his children. Then he turned to chat briefly with the other demigods in the cabin, asking about recent news and scattering jokes and smiles.
Finally, he returned to the Ophiotaurus, ready for his task. "Well, little friend, it's time to take you to great Olympus," he said, lightly stroking the creature. Before leaving, Hermes glanced at Damian and gave him a knowing wink. "Don't worry, kid. Your father is more attentive than you might think."
With those enigmatic words, he rose into the air with the Ophiotaurus by his side, disappearing into the sky above the camp.
Damian stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the spot where Hermes had vanished, a mix of curiosity and confusion in his eyes. His heart pounded as he stared at the sky, the god's words resonating in his mind: "Your father is more attentive than you might think."
It was a simple phrase, but it carried immense weight. Damian clenched his hands into weak fists, almost hoping those words would reveal what he had always longed to know.
Simon, standing beside him, noticed the turmoil within the boy. He placed a hand gently on Damian's shoulder, squeezing it lightly. "Are you okay, Damian?" he asked softly, his voice filled with concern as he looked at him.
Damian turned slowly toward him, his eyes still lost in thought. "He knows who my father is," he murmured in a faint voice, almost in disbelief. "Hermes knows who…"
Simon nodded with a reassuring smile, keeping his hand on Damian's shoulder. "He probably does," he said, choosing his words carefully. "And if Hermes said that, it must mean something. He wouldn't say something like that without a reason."
Damian lowered his gaze, struggling to make sense of his confusion and the glimmer of hope within him. "Why won't anyone tell me? Why doesn't he come forward?"
Simon crouched down to be at his level, meeting his eyes. "Maybe the right time hasn't come yet. The gods work on their own schedule, as frustrating as that might be," he said with a compassionate tone. "But I believe that when it happens, you'll be ready. You're stronger than you think, Damian."
Damian remained silent for a moment, then nodded slowly, though he still felt an emptiness in his heart. He leaned slightly into Simon's hand on his shoulder, drawing some comfort from the gesture. "Thank you," he whispered softly, trying to calm the storm within him.
Simon smiled and gave his shoulder one last pat before standing up. "Now let's head back to the cabin. I'm sure we can find something to take your mind off things. Maybe another card game—what do you say?"
Damian nodded and followed him slowly, but those words kept echoing in his mind. He didn't yet know who his father was, but one thing was certain: sooner or later, he would have his answer.