Chapter Text
NO POV
MOUNT OLYMPUS
APHRODITE: "THAT WAS YOUR BRIGHT IDEA? CONFUSE THE DEAR GIRL? What were you thinking Chiron. We all know demigods of The three are less susceptible to the mist. What on earth were you thinking? That she would get character development?"
CHIRON: "I Believed it was the best decision I could make my Lady. The longer Persephone stayed in the dark, the longer I could keep her from the eyes of the camp."
HESTIA: "As you can see, all you did was put her in trouble. We have rules Chiron. Find the demigods, and then CLAIM THEM TO CAMP. That was all you had to do."
PERCY: "No offence my Lady, and I thank you both for your attempts on protecting me, but if Chiron had taken me back to camp before the bolt was stolen, I would not be standing here right now. I would have been made an example like Thalia was. I could never thank Chiron enough, even if I wish he would be more clear on his instructions to me."
CHIRON: "My thanks Persephone"
She waves him away as the story goes on.
Three Old Ladies Knit The Socks Of Death
I was used to the occasional weird experience, but usually they were over quickly...... but they would stare at me like I was psycho.
It got so I almost believed them—Mrs. Dodds had never existed.
Almost.
LUKE:"It was grover wasn't it?. The guy could never tell a proper lie."
A wave of agreements goes along the demigods from the future, making Grover huff and curl into himself slightly.
Grover stiffens in his seat. Did he miss Luke? yes. But did he still not trust him? also yes.
But Grover couldn’t fool me. When I mentioned the name Dodds to him, he would hesitate, then claim she didn’t exist. But I knew he was lying.
Something was going on...... I started feeling cranky and irritable most of the time.
My grades slipped from Ds to Fs.
ATHENA: "What else can you expect from a spawn of Poseidon?"
PERCY: "Really Lady? I thought you were the goddess of Wisdom. I have ADHD and Dyslexia. As do all your children. Obviously studying would be a pain for me. My lord."
I got into more fights with Nancy Bobofit and her friends. I was sent out into the hallway in almost every class.
ATHENA: "Hmph"
Finally, when our English teacher, Mr. Nicoll, asked me for the millionth time why I was too lazy to study for spelling tests, I snapped.
I called him an old sot. I wasn’t even sure what it meant, but it sounded good.
ANNABETH: "A drunkard. An old sot is a drunkard."
PERCY: "Well I know NOW"
The headmaster sent my mom a letter the following week, making it official...... I’d miss Latin class, too—Mr. Brunner’s crazy tournament days and his faith that I could do well.
As exam week got closer, Latin was the only test I studied for..... I paced the room, feeling like ants were crawling around inside my shirt.
I remembered Mr. Brunner’s serious expression, his thousand-year-old eyes. I will accept only the best from you, Persephone Jackson.
I took a deep breath. I picked up the mythology book.
Athena let out a shocked and patronising hum.
I’d never asked a teacher for help before...... “…worried about Percy, sir.”
I froze.
I’m not usually an eavesdropper, but I dare you to try not listening if you hear your best friend talking about you to an adult.
NICO: "Oh really ? Not an eavesdropper? I beg to differ. Im sure Clarisse agrees."
PERCY: "Hush Nico. I told you that in confidence."
NICO: "Yes ma'am, anything for you." he pulls her closer towards him, how that was possible with the already minimal space they had we will never know. "Literally anything."
I inched closer.
“…alone this summer,” Grover was saying..... The mythology book dropped out of my hand and hit the floor with a thud.
Mr. Brunner went silent..... “My nerves haven’t been right since the winter solstice.”
“Mine neither,” Grover said...... “Just…tired.”
CLARISSE: "You realise Satyrs can read your emotions even if you don't look at them right?"
PERCY: "I do now. But then? no I didn't know back then."
I turned so he couldn’t read my expression, and started getting ready for bed...... “Persephone” he said. “Don’t be discouraged about leaving Yancy. It’s…it’s for the best.”
THESEUS: "CHIRON. How many other demigods have you done this to? I can't believe people other than me have had to live with this."
His tone was kind, but the words still embarrassed me...... “This isn’t the right place for you. It was only a matter of time.” My eyes stung.
LEO: "Oof."
Here was my favorite teacher, in front of the class, telling me I couldn’t handle it. After saying he believed in me all year, now he was telling me I was destined to get kicked out
“No, no,” Mr. Brunner said. “Oh, confound it all. What I’m trying to say…you’re not normal, Persephone. That’s nothing to be—”
“Thanks,” I blurted. “Thanks a lot, sir, for reminding me.”
“Persephone—” But I was already gone.
NICO: "Oh princess, you know you're amazing right? Who needs to be normal when they can be you?"
PERCY: "I love you."
NICO: "And I love you, mia anima."
On the last day of the term, I shoved my clothes into my suitcase...... They went back to their conversation as if I’d never existed.
The only person I dreaded saying good-bye to was Grover, but as it turned out, I didn’t have to...... I said, “Looking for Kindly Ones?”
CONNOR: "PERSEPHONE YOU ABSOLUTE TROLL I LOVE THIS"
HESTIA: "Oh poor satyr he looks so scared and confused."
Grover nearly jumped out of his seat...... “Grover, you’re a really, really bad liar.”
His ears turned pink...... “Don’t say it aloud!” he yelped. “That’s my, um…summer address.”
My heart sank. Grover had a summer home. I’d never considered that his family might be as rich as the others at Yancy
GROVER: "Oh. I didn't know that's how you took it back then. I guess it makes sense with this context tho."
PERCY: "You were my first actual friend Grover. Knowing you may not be from my background scared me a little that's all."
“Okay,” I said glumly. “So, like, if I want to come visit your mansion.” He nodded.
“Or…or if you need me.”
“Why would I need you?”
APOLLO: "Ouch. That must have hurt."
Grover blushed right down to his Adam’s apple. “Look, Percy, the truth is, I—I kind of have to protect you.” I stared at him...... On the other side, across four lanes of asphalt shimmering with afternoon heat, was an old-fashioned fruit stand.
The stuff on sale looked really good:...... The weirdest thing was, they seemed to be looking right at me.
I looked over at Grover to say something about this and saw that the blood had drained from his face. His nose was twitching.
“Grover?” I said. “Hey, man—”...... “Come on!” He pried open the door and climbed inside, but I stayed back
ZEUS: "CLOTHO. Why are you and your sisters in the mortal plane?"
CLOTHO: "Wait and watch, Father."
NICO: "Persephone, you never told me this happened."
PERCY: "Oh Nico it was a long time back Amore. Why worry you for something with no attachment with me?"
NICO: "If I could, I would memorise your heartbeat and trace your body with my fingertips forever. I want to know everything mia cara. everything. You are my world, and is it not my responsibility to explore, and learn, and love every single part of you?"
PERCY: "Look at the Screen Nico" she said with a bright red face, as she laced their hands together and kissed his knuckles, snuggling into his side, burrowing into the heat emanating from his body.
Across the road, the old ladies were still watching me. The middle one cut the yarn, and I swear I could hear that snip across four lanes of traffic. Her two friends balled up the electric-blue socks, leaving me wondering who they could possibly be for—Sasquatch or Godzilla.
There is a shocked silence in the hall before chaos decends.
At the rear of the bus, the driver wrenched a big chunk of smoking metal out of the engine compartment...... “What are you not telling me?”
He dabbed his forehead with his shirt sleeve. “Percy, what did you see back at the fruit stand?”...... He said, “You saw her snip the cord.”
Poseidon lets out a whimper while the gods stare at Percy with intrigue. They had never seen a demigod survive the fates snipping a cord. Apollo was thinking hard however. He may portray himself a fun loving person, but he was still the god of knowledge. To survive a cord snipping was not something a demigod could do, no matters whose blood ran through their veins. Unless the cord they were seeing was not theirs. So the only question was, Whos was it, and why did a young demigod like Persephone need to know that?
“Yeah. So?” But even as I said it, I knew it was a big deal...... “Grover—that snipping of the yarn. Does that mean somebody is going to die?"
POSEIDON: "So perceptive my child. It will help you in your battles. Follow your gut and your sword. Nothing else."
He looked at me mournfully, like he was already picking the kind of flowers I’d like best on my coffin.