Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

   Percy woke up and felt like he was falling.

   No. No, no, no, no. NO! His breathing got faster. He sat up and tried to look for a way out, but was too panicked to actually be able to focus.

   Breathe.

   He touched the ‘floor’ under him — grass — and sighed in relief. He wasn’t back there, of course he wasn’t. Everything was normal; he hadn’t had a quest since he was sixteen (almost seventeen) and had had the time to relax and go to school.

   Basically, everything ‘normal’ people did.

   He had never been normal. Which is why he was quite disappointed in himself for being surprised at being somewhere he didn’t recognise. He didn’t remember how he’d gotten there, or what day it was right now. Maybe it had been days since he was last awake. He did remember where he was from, who he was and everything like that. Just not where he was, why he was there and what day it was.

   Now he wasn’t as stressed, he took his time looking around, while still not getting up from his sitting position.

   Percy couldn’t see anything other than the beautiful woods he was in the middle of.

   He saw trees upon trees — he thought they might have been black alders — a bit further away he saw water. A few bushes here and there, little insects, flowers, and moss; so much moss.

   Finally he saw a path.

   It was skinny and he had almost missed it with all the plants, but it was definitely a path. Percy saw it lead towards a less dense part of the forest and decided to follow the trail.

   Only when he got to a big clearing, did he sit down.

   Maybe not the best idea when he had not idea where he was, but — as he had already noticed — Percy had no idea where he was.

   He hoped he wasn’t there on his own.

   Scratch that.

   He hoped none of his friends were here; some forest none of them — except maybe Grover — had known about, with no way out. He definitely hoped his friends weren’t there. That might have been his fatal flaw talking, but who cares? He didn’t.

   He leaned back on his hands and stared up at the sky. The sun was at about it’s highest point for the day. It was only noon. He decided to just wait for now. Possibly someone he knew was here too and they would find him at some point. Percy didn’t really see the point in gathering things for the short while he hoped he would be there.

   It was maybe two hours later when he heard rustling.

   He looked up from where he had laid down. When he looked at where the sound came from, he was rewarded with the sight of the goddess Hestia.

   “Greetings, my brave Perseus.”

   Percy was confused to say the least. “Aunt Hestia,” he responded.

   She looked at him, gave him a smile and then offered her hand. He took her hand, letting her drag him with her. Percy was quiet the whole way to the place the goddess was leading him.

   “My lady, if I may ask; where are we?” He asked, still quite confused. Secretly he was glad his aunt had found him. Rather her than a few other gods he could think of.

   She took a while to answer. When they got to a group of cottages, she answered:

   “Percy,” she started. “I think you know that you’re not at the place you were before.”

   He nodded.

   “We’re at a place in time which is… not a place in time.” She trailed off, looking like she wanted him to get the rest on his own.

   Percy didn’t get the rest on his own. “Uhm, aunt Hestia, what do you mean by that?” He hoped she wasn’t disappointed in him not getting it. Annabeth would’ve been. She would have tried to hide it, but Percy was her best friend and he could see through her act.

   “I am going to take you to a place, Percy. It’s where I’ve taken the rest of the group. You are the last one I found.”

   “The last one —?”

   Suddenly they were in a clearing in the woods with twenty five log cabins. They all looked relatively similar from the outside, but Percy could tell from where he was standing that the insides of those cabins looked wildly different. In the middle of the cabins was a huge fireplace — camping style. It all reminded him a lot of camp.

   That was when he heard his name being called from his left.

   “Annabeth!” He shouted in surprise at her being there.

   “Hey, seaweed brain, we’ve been here for an hour and a half. Where were you?” She asked, detangling herself from their hug. “Oh, Lady Hestia! I see you found him, was he lost?”

   Feeling slightly offended Percy answered, “I wasn’t lost. I was in a small clearing where I just looked at the sky for an hour or two.”

   She nodded, accepting the answer. “We were waiting for Hestia to find you. She wouldn’t explain unless you were there. Speaking of — why are we all here? I mean; nineteen demigods, eighteen gods, a satyr, a cyclops, a mortal and Chiron is quite a big group.”

   Hestia hummed in acknowledgement, cleared her throat and then called, “Everyone! Please come to the campfire.” She didn’t even raise her voice that much, but Percy knew everybody had heard her.

   Soon, every single person was there. Percy saw his (other) best friend Grover, Rachel, the rest of the Seven, Nico, Reyna, the Stoll brothers, Chris, Clarisse, Will Solace, Katie Gardner, Dakota and his girlfriend Gwendolyn, Chiron, Tyson, Zeus and Hera, Hades and Persephone, Demeter — who was glaring at Hades already —, Hermes, Apollo, Artemis, Dionysus and his wife Ariadne, Athena, Ares and Aphrodite, Hephaestus, his father, Amphitrite, Triton, and Apollo again.

   Wait.

   That wasn’t Apollo again. Luke Castellan was there, alive.

   He didn’t know what to do; get mad, be happy for him, or hug him. Well, probably not that.

   Hestia cleared her throat, “I’ve brought you all here with the help of the Titaness Rhea, to read ten books and change fate.”

   Some people looked nervous, others looked like they thought it was a big joke.

   “To be able to change, we must know what went wrong. I’ve had help from the Fates to make these ten books narrated by those most involved.” She continued.

   Percy’s stomach was sinking. He was definitely involved. He didn’t want to read about his life, it had been bad enough living it and he had often left out details from his escapades to his friends, parents and others.

   “The first five books are from Percy Jackson’s point of view, the last five from multiple people’s point of view.” Hestia was done talking, or at least for now. She was silent and waited for a reaction.

   Percy felt like he could throw up. What had he done to deserve this? He had thought terrible things — done terrible things. He could feel all the demigods looking at him. He tried to look confident, plastered on his usual cocky grin and looked at Hestia.

   “Books about me?” He joked. “What an honour.”

   She looked at him disapprovingly. “The gods and Chiron are from December in the year 1926; everyone else is from the year 2013.”

   This seemed to shake the people out of their stupor.

   “What—”

   “They’re from when?”

   “Oh my fucking gods!”

   Only a few seemed to realise why the gods were from that exact time. When Maria di Angelo was pregnant with Bianca. Hades didn’t know that he’d have two children with Maria, he wouldn’t have to grief for a child not born, yet.

   The oath wasn’t in place yet, either. The big three wouldn’t tear each other apart for just finding out whose children these demigods were.

   “I would like you all to introduce yourselves now.” Hestia spoke to the demigods.

   Annabeth went first, “My name is Annabeth Chase and I am a daughter of Athena.” Athena looked at her daughter approvingly.

   “I’m Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus.” Zeus nodded. “Lieutenant of Artemis.” Artemis looked her over, but didn’t say anything and smiled.

   “Grover Underwood, Satyr.”

   “Clarisse la Rue, daughter of Ares.”

   “Chris Rodriguez, son of Hermes.”

   “Travis Stoll, son of Hermes.”

   “Connor Stoll, son of Hermes.”

   “Piper McLean, daughter of Aphrodite.” She had finally learnt how being a child of Aphrodite was just as good as any other goddess. Piper just looked better now that she embraced it.

   “Nico di Angelo, son of Hades.” Hades looked like he was trying not to choke.

   “Will Solace, son of Apollo.”

   “Katie Gardner, daughter of Demeter.” Katie and Travis had started dating after they found out the other liked the them back and the whole camp had been shipping them together for years.

   “Leo — bad boy supreme — Valdez,” many rolled their eyes at him, while other tried to contain their snickers. “Son of Hephaestus.”

   “Luke Castellan, son of Hermes.” Luke was ignored by a big part of the campers, he had tried to kill them after all.

   “Gwendolyn Favreau, daughter of Venus.” The gods looked shocked that the Greeks and Romans knew each other.

   “Jason Grace, son of Jupiter.” If Hera hadn’t looked annoyed at her husband before, she definitely did now. Hoping to get her in some sort of good mood; he continued, “And champion of Juno.” He wasn’t sure if his plan worked, as she mainly looked puzzled.

   “Dakota Keeley, son of Bacchus.” He went to stand even closer to his girlfriend, Gwen, when he got a once over from Dionysus.

   “Hazel Levesque, daughter of Pluto.” Hades did seem to recognise her slightly, but had obviously known her as dead and looked at her sadly.

   “Frank Zhang, son of Mars.”

   “Reyna Avila Ramirez-Arellano, daughter of Bellona.”

   “Rachel Elizabeth Dare, mortal.” Many gods looked confused, but kept their mouths shut.

   Percy realised he couldn’t stall his introduction any longer, and set a step forward in faux-confidence. “Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon.” He grinned at Poseidon.

   “I hope that we can start reading now.” Hestia said.

   When no one protested, she took out the first book, ushered the ones that weren’t sitting yet to sit down around the campfire, and started reading.

   “Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightning Thief.”

   He groaned quietly. He already hated this and they hadn’t even started!

   “I accidentally vaporise my pre-algebra teacher.”

Chapter Text

   Percy had decided he didn’t want to kill the mood and wanted everyone to be relaxed. So, when everyone began laughing, he didn’t stop them.

   “Should your other maths teachers be scared?”

   “How did you vaporise your teacher?”

   He responded to Connor Stoll, “Well, I had no idea what was going on and had a sword…”

   Of the gods, mostly Hermes and Apollo looked intrigued. Poseidon looked slightly concerned. Amphitrite looked to be trying to ignore the fact her husband had cheated on her, their son, Triton, didn’t seem to be as eager and looked seconds away from glaring at Percy.

   Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.

   “Nobody wants to be a half-blood.” Jason validated his feelings. Others nodded in agreement, while many gods looked confused at why they wouldn’t want to be a demigod.

   If you’re reading this … my advice is:

   Thalia mock-hid behind her hands and whisper-shouted, “Don’t listen to his advice!”

   Percy — like the twenty-one-year-old he was — rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue. Thalia choked on a laugh and motioned for Hestia to continue reading.

   close this book right now … lead a normal life.

   Percy held his head high and looked at Thalia with a knowing smirk. Thalia huffed and admitted: “It’s actually not terrible advice.” He grinned triumphantly, not even having to look around to know there were several pairs of eyes on him.

   Being a half-blood is dangerous.

   He saw Will nod at that.

   It’s scary.

   “Check,” the Stoll brothers called in tandem.

   Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways.

   Percy saw Nico flinch slightly at that and put his hand on Nico’s shoulder in comfort. He relaxed slightly, but Percy also saw him flush a light pink.

   Many of the gods frowned.

   If you’re a normal kid … might be one of us.

   All of the campers started chanting ‘one of us’.

   And once you know that … Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

   “But you didn’t warn me.” Was the general response to that.

   Percy rolled his eyes but smiled. “Most of you already knew when I arrived at camp. Those who didn’t. Nico: I was a bit preoccupied; Rachel: I tried to.”

   My name is Percy Jackson … Am I a troubled kid?

   The campers all agreed.

   When he pouted; Jason, Nico, Will, Annabeth, Connor and Luke looked like they wanted to apologise. The power of the pout.

   Yeah. You could say that.

   Percy stopped pouting; they now knew he agreed. Chiron chuckled.

   I could start at any point … Greek and Roman stuff.

   Poseidon frowned slightly at ‘short and miserable life’. The same six looked troubled at Percy calling himself a mental case kid, but decided not to mention it.

   I know—it sounds like torture.

   Athena scowled, but stayed quiet.

   Most Yancy field trips were … so I had hopes.

   Chiron smiled at Percy, who beamed back.

   Mr. Brunner was this … didn’t put me to sleep.

   Annabeth looked disappointed at Percy sleeping in class.

   I hoped the trip … was I wrong.

   Grover bleated, “Boy, were you wrong indeed.”

   See, bad things happen … I got expelled anyway.

   Luke looked confused and then chuckled, making everyone start laughing.

   And before that … took an unplanned swim.

   “It was the sharks telling me to do it!” Percy defended himself poorly. He realised that when everyone started laughing harder and Triton raised an eyebrow at him.

   And the time before that . . . Well, you get the idea.

   “I don’t actually, please explain.” Hermes and his kids feigned innocence. Percy shook his head no.

   This trip, I was determined to be good.

   His cousins looked at him, amused. He sunk down from where he sat and crossed his arms — like a little kid. Now, some looked at him weirdly, some adoring.

   All the way into the city … Grover was an easy target.

   Grover narrowed his eyes at Percy, who tried to ignore his best friend.

   He was scrawny.

   “I’m sorry,” he said. He meant it, but it was his thoughts from when he was twelve and didn’t know about his best friend being half goat.

   Grover stopped glaring and smiled reluctantly, “It’s okay, its been a few years since this. As long as you don’t think this anymore…” He trailed off. Percy quickly denied this.

   He cried when he … happened on this trip.

   “Well, that’s just boring!” Travis complained.

   “I’m going to kill her,” I mumbled.

   Thalia looked like she agreed.

   Grover tried to calm … pulled me back into my seat.

   “You like peanut butter in your hair?” Piper asked sceptically.

   Grover shook his head, “No, of course not, but I had to say something.”

   “You’re already on probation … blamed if anything happens.”

   A few demigods looked surprised at Percy being the scapegoat. They had always known him as the fearsome son of the sea god.

   Looking back on it … about to get myself into.

   Percy still thought that, or at least something similar.

   Mr. Brunner led … would give me the evil eye.

   Nico’s eyes widened and he instinctively turned toward Percy for confirmation. Percy nodded, causing his eyes to widen further.

   Mrs. Dodds was this little math … I was the devil spawn.

   “That’s Nico, actually.” Thalia said, with her index finger pointing up, as if teaching a class. Nico stuck out his tongue, making the others laugh.

   She would point her … detention for a month.

   Many demigods — mainly Luke — looked pained at the amount of punishment.

   One time, after … “You’re absolutely right.”

   Grover groaned at his own answer.

   Mr. Brunner kept talking … “Will you shut up?”

   Luke, Thalia and Annabeth cheered at this.

   It came out louder than I meant it to.

   They grimaced.

   The whole group … what this picture represents?”

   Groans were heard. Luke spoke up, “Chiron, don’t put him on the spot.”

   I looked at the carving … the king god, and—”

   “God?!” Zeus spoke up for the first time.

   Percy rolled his eyes, “I got corrected.”

   “God?” Mr. Brunner … of the girls behind me.

   “‘Ew’ is correct.” Hera sniffed.

   “—and so there was … and the gods won.”

   “‘And the gods won.’” Hades echoed hollowly.

   Some snickers from the group.

   “But you were correct,” Amphitrite said. Percy shrugged.

   Behind me, Nancy … matter in real life?”

   “Busted,” Chris mumbled.

   “Busted,” Grover muttered.

   Everyone snickered at the similarity.

   “Shut up,” Nancy … He had radar ears.

   Luke pursed his lips. “Horse ears,” he whispered to himself, ashamed. Percy and the others close enough to hear tried not to laugh.

   I thought about … Brunner looked disappointed.

   “What did you want me to say?” Percy wondered. “‘Actually, I’m a demigod — son of Poseidon — so, this is important for when I’m sixteen.’”

   “Well, half credit … us back outside?”

   “‘Happy note’?” The five regurgitated (and Zeus, who was not ‘barfed up’) children of Kronos and Rhea repeated.

   The class drifted off … acting like doofuses.

   “When are they not?” Artemis asked rhetorically, resulting in a few indignant squawks.

   Percy made a show of trying to think and answered, “You have a point, Lady Artemis.” He got betrayed looks from all around him.

   Grover and I … I knew that was coming.

   “You knew?” Apollo asked.

   “I had expected it, yes.” Percy answered the sun god.

   I told Grover to keep … and had seen everything.

   Annabeth turned toward Percy and said, “You’re actually pretty observant.”

   “You must learn … “Oh.”

   Percy’s friends laughed at the eloquent answer.

   “Hey, I was twelve and had no idea what the fuck he was going on about!”

   “What you learn … pushed me so hard.

   Percy decided he understood why it was needed, but still felt like it could’ve been done a bit better. Chiron gave him an apologetic look.

   I mean sure … and what god they worshipped.

   “Perseus Jackson, son of Sally Jackson, worshipped Sally Jackson.” Percy joked. He got a few curious looks because of his name, which he ignored. “I think it’s pretty easy.”

   He heard Nico mumble something that sounded suspiciously like ‘bastard’.

   But Mr. Brunner expected … Much less spell them correctly.

   He got many sympathetic looks from his fellow demigods at this.

   I mumbled something … hurricane blowing in.

   Zeus got a few questioning looks thrown his way, but since he didn’t know what it was about, they stayed silent.

   Nobody else seemed … seeing a thing.

   “Not one of mine,” Hermes denied. “She would’ve already gotten it, with nobody noticing.”

   The Hermes kids nodded but added: “Though Percy is almost impossible to steal from, he’s too observant.” Percy mock-glared at them.

   Grover and I sat … couldn’t make it elsewhere.

   Another round of frowns at Percy’s inner thoughts.

   “Detention?” Grover … not a genius.”

   “Maybe not a genius, but you are smart.” Leo pointed out.

   Grover didn’t say … have your apple.”

   Annabeth, Thalia, Luke, and Percy burst out laughing.

   I didn’t have much of an appetite, so I let him take it.

   Overdramatic gasps were heard.

   “He didn’t have much of an appetite? Something is seriously wrong!” Thalia gasped.

   I watched the stream … look she’d give me.

   “No one would,” Piper confirmed. “She’s amazing.”

   Mr. Brunner parked … lunch in Grover’s lap.

   Grover’s friends looked pissed.

   “Oops.” She grinned … roared in my ears.

   Will grinned, “Not even those counsellors would be able to stop your temper.”

   I don’t remember … month erasing workbooks.”

   “Never guess your punishment.” Hermes and his kids groaned.

   That wasn’t the right … I pushed her.”

   “Thanks for trying, man.” He thanked his best friend.

   I stared at him … I’ll-kill-you-later stare.

   Those there during either of the wars, shuddered.

   Then I turned … I wasn’t so sure.

   “You’re right, she was a monster, and she could probably move faster.” Frank speculated.

   I went after … absorbed in his novel.

   “I was paying attention, and if I wasn’t, Grover would’ve alerted me.”

   I looked back … the gallery was empty.

   His friends and father were starting to look more concerned. “Just know that I am here, currently. I survived this all.”

   Mrs. Dodds stood … wanted to pulverize it . . .

   “She probably did, depending on what was on it.”

   “You’ve been giving … I did the safe thing.

   Cue a few surprised looks.

   I said, … It was evil.

   Luke winced, almost unnoticeably, what was it going to say when they got to him betraying everyone here?

   She’s a teacher … going to hurt me.

   Percy sighed at his own naivety.

   I said, … selling out of my dorm room.

   The Stolls looked at Percy with barely contained excitement.

   Or maybe they’d … she hissed.

   “You didn’t even give me time.” Percy rolled his eyes.

   Then the weirdest thing … slice me to ribbons.

   Everyone was silent in shock. Percy’s first monster was a fury. Especially Nico — who still hadn’t gotten over his crush — was freaking out silently.

   “A FURY,” Poseidon bellowed. “YOU SENT A FURY AFTER MY SON?” Percy tried to calm down his dad, getting up to be near him and whisper to him.

   “Dad, I’m fine, Uncle Hades shouldn’t have sent it, but he had a reason and I got out of it okay.”

   Hesitantly, Hestia continued reading.

   Then things got even stranger.

   The general consensus was ‘how?’

   Mr. Brunner, who’d … lunged at me.

   Poseidon stiffened and pulled his son closer.

   With a yelp, … almost dropped the sword.

  This made many campers feel better — Percy was also still just a kid when this all happened. He may have been the kid of the prophecy, the defeater of Kronos and all that stuff, but he had his weaknesses.

   Percy, however, winced; remembering when he dropped his sword in Tartarus.

   She snarled, … naturally: I swung the sword.

   “‘Naturally’?” Clarisse snarled. Percy shrugged.

   The metal blade hit … Hisss!

   Everyone was in awe of Percy. He had slain a monster at twelve, in one hit.

   Mrs. Dodds was a … I was alone.

   “Wait what?” Leo spoke pretty much everybody’s mind.

   There was a ballpoint … imagined the whole thing?

   “You used the mist on him?” Hazel asked Chiron, who nodded.

   I went back … whipped your butt.”

   “Who?”

   I said, “Who?”

   Chuckles were heard.

   “Our teacher … messing with me.

   “Yeah, goat boy isn’t the best at lying.” Annabeth snickered.

   “Not funny, man … blankly. “Who?”

   “Chiron can lie,” Connor said. “But he’s basically gaslighting you right now, isn’t he?”

   Percy thought about it and nodded slightly.

   “The other chaperone … Are you feeling alright?”

   “Yeah, definitely gaslighting…” Luke agreed.

Chapter Text

   Hestia glanced up. “Who wants to read next?”

   Annabeth immediately put up her hand. When she got the book, she read out the title.

   “Three old ladies knit the socks of death.”

   Uncomfortable laughs were heard all around the campfire. Some people looked weirdly at Percy.

   I was used to … like I was psycho.

   Percy sighed in anticipation. He wasn’t disappointed, because he heard Thalia say: “But Percy… you are psycho.”

   It got so I … Almost.

   “First, good on you; don’t get gaslit. Second, it’s Grover, isn’t it?” Leo asked. Everyone had been spending time with each other since Leo had come back. It was like they’d all known each other the same amount of time.

   But Grover couldn’t fool me.

   Leo gave Percy an air high-five.

   When I mentioned … had happened at the museum.

   “Duh,” Annabeth interrupted herself.

   I didn’t have much … in a cold sweat.

   Will winced, “Demigod dreams.”

   The freak weather … it sounded good.

   Many demigods, Hermes, and Apollo laughed.

   Annabeth rolled her eyes playfully, “It means ‘old drunk’.”

   Holding back a sigh — or groan, he didn’t know for sure —, Percy replied: “I know.”

   The headmaster sent … I was homesick.

   He sighed longingly; he hadn’t seen his mom in quite a bit.

   I wanted to be … his stupid poker parties.

   A few of his friends looked confused. Thalia looked like a thought had just hit her in the face, she slowly turned toward him, with a questioning expression he ignored.

   And yet . . . … smell of pine trees.

   Thalia’s mind was brought off of the questions and she got a playful look on her face. Percy just hit her with a small wave of water, though.

   I’d miss Grover, who’d been a good friend,

   “Awww,” Grover started, but Annabeth interrupted him.

   even if he was a little strange.

   “Awww,” Grover continued deadpanned. The Stolls laughed at this.

   I worried how he … I could do well.

   Cue a few concerned faces — his father, Nico, Will, Luke and Connor — at Percy picking his favourite teacher based on who had the most faith in him.

   As exam week … started to believe him.

   Everyone was nodding.

   The evening before the final, I got so frustrated I threw the Cambridge Guide to Greek Mythology across my dorm room.

   Annabeth and Athena winced at that.

   Words had started … riding skateboards.

   Frank grimaced, “Is that how dyslexia feels?” He got many affirming nods.

   There was no way … Forget it.

   Percy frowned as he remembered Latin coming to him pretty easily.

   I paced the room … you, Percy Jackson.

   Wincing at the amount of pressure Percy had been under since twelve, Luke said: “You did give him the best.”

   Percy gave him a grateful look.

   I took a deep … I hadn’t tried.

   “Of course he wouldn’t think that, Percy.” Luke assured the black-haired boy. Chiron nodded from where he was sat.

   I walked downstairs … I froze.

   “Ugh, you actually heard all of it?” Grover complained.

   I’m not usually … to an adult.

   Everyone nodded — Hermes and his children more enthusiastically.

   I inched closer. … he saw her . . .”

   “I did,” Percy cheerfully reminded everyone.

   “His imagination,” … that would mean.”

   Thalia patted Grover on the head, “You don’t still think that, do you?” Grover shook his head, accepting her hug.

   “You haven’t failed … went silent.

   “Don’t give away your position,” Travis groaned.

   My heart hammering, … slipped inside.

   Connor looked appreciatively at that.

   A few seconds later … winter solstice.”

   Athena looked like she was about to take a notebook to write down everything she’d heard so far to piece it together.

   “Mine neither,” … seemed like forever.

   Percy noticed Luke looking at him fondly. Which was obviously because of him doing things the Hermes kid approved of — no other reason.

   Finally, I slipped … he’d been there all night.

   “He can act, at least.” Chris commented.

   “Hey,” he said, … “Just . . . tired.”

   “I wasn’t even lying.” He said conversationally.

   I turned so … some kind of danger.

   “When am I not?” Percy asked rhetorically, making Poseidon look at him concerned.

   The next afternoon … seem to be the problem.

   Annabeth cringed, wondering if Chiron’s normal talks were as bad as his pep-talks.

   “Percy,” he said. … it’s for the best.”

   Percy winced, remembering how he felt back then. Chiron wasn’t like Gabe; not at all. But — he wouldn’t dare say this out loud. He already felt guilty for thinking it. — Percy had almost imagined Gabe in place of Chiron, saying those things to him.

   He moved away from his father, who let him. He went to sit next to Thalia.

   His tone was kind, but the words still embarrassed me.

   Shuffling closer to Thalia, he tried to ignore Chiron’s sorry look.

   Even though … with her lips.

   Thalia wrapped her arm around her cousin. She understood what Chiron meant, but he had said it in such a way that no person would have ever taken it well. Especially not a twelve-year-old Percy Jackson.

   Now that she suspected Percy having grown up in a home much like hers, she felt sorry for all the times she’d behaved the way she had; sorry for the things she’d said. She felt sorry for thinking Percy had had it easy growing up and had resented him.

   She mouthed the words against his shoulders. He couldn’t have felt it, but it made Thalia feel a little better.

   I mumbled … only a matter of time.”

   Luke couldn’t be mad at the centaur. He shouldn’t, at least. He did though — how could you say that to a kid? To anyone, actually. How? —, he did. He couldn’t compare his childhood to the one Percy had (-n’t been able to enjoy) had, but he knew he wouldn’t have received that well when he was twelve. Granted, when he was twelve, he was on the run.

   My eyes stung.

   Percy was embarrassed that everyone was reading this. He was supposed to be the hero that could always save everyone; the hero who didn’t feel things like that, why would he? He was the hero that always got what he wanted, even if he didn’t. No one had ever known much about him. They didn’t need to. He saved the world, no matter how he felt about it. He saved the world, no matter what. He saved the world. He was the hero; nothing else.

   Here was my favorite … destined to get kicked out.

   The demigods, Chiron, and a few gods grimaced.

   “Right,” I … for reminding me.”

   Thalia hugged him tighter. He felt safe in her embrace, he felt like this was what he would have had if he had a sister — Thalia was his sister.

   “Percy—” … rich juvenile delinquents.

   Rachel and Piper groaned, knowing exactly what Percy meant.

   Their daddies … family of nobodies.

   “I hope you’ve changed your mind about that.” Chris joked.

   They asked me … I’d go to school in the fall.

   Jason frowned at his… friend having to worry about that.

   “Oh,” one of the … I’d never existed.

   Nico could relate to that. Being asked something and then being forgotten about. He felt weirdly excited about having something in common with Percy.

   The only person … heading into the city.

   “Stalker,” Rachel coughed.

   When Grover jokingly glared at her, Percy came to her rescue. “Stalker with hooves,” he reminded his friend.

   During the whole … stand it anymore.

   A few demigods snorted and when Percy pouted at them, excused themselves mentioning something about allergies.

   “That can’t be good,” Annabeth spoke up.

   I said, “Looking for Kindly Ones?”

   Apollo chocked on air.

   Everyone burst out laughing.

   Grover nearly jumped … much did you hear?”

   “Everything,” the satyr grumbled.

   “Oh . . . not much. … ears turned pink.

   His ears turned pink again, as nearly everybody was snickering at him.

   From his shirt … My heart sank.

   Annabeth gave Percy a disapproving look, which he responded to with an eye roll.

   Grover had a … I meant it to.

   Percy cringed and sent an apologetic look to Grover.

   Grover blushed right … one who defended me.

   He supposed that he had been the one to start the heroic bullshit, doing things like this.

   “Grover,” I said … to the side of the highway.

   Leo sent Grover and him a questioning look. Percy nodded toward Annabeth.

   After a few minutes … an old-fashioned fruit stand.

   The demigods (minus percy) looked confused, while the gods listened in growing horror.

   The stuff on sale … socks I’d ever seen.

   A look of realisation settled on Luke’s face. “You met them?” Sitting on Percy’s left side, he was close enough to see the demigod nod slightly.

   I mean these socks … electric-blue yarn.

   Percy subtly glanced to his left. He had known. The whole war he had known that someone would die and he had been unable to do anything. It was nice to have confirmation that the fates had decided a while ago, but it didn’t help much.

   Luke — the only person who saw his look — lightly rubbed his hand on Percy’s back for comfort.

   All three women … looking right at me.

   The other demigods now seemed to realise who these old ladies were.

   I looked over … would fit me?”

   The Stolls chuckled nervously.

   “Not funny, … catch his breath.

   As did most people in the room.

   “I’m still alive, everyone.” Percy reminded them. “It wasn’t my string.” It didn’t seem to help much, but it didn’t make it worse.

   “We’re getting … but I stayed back.

   “Of course, you did,” Annabeth muttered worried.

   Across the road … four lanes of traffic.

   Percy had to hide his flinch for his second ever friend. He was sitting right next to Luke, he reminded himself.

   Her two friends … engine roared back to life.

   Leo looked as if the driver had personally offended him, but had enough sense not to comment on it right now.

   The passengers … caught the flu.

   Will and Apollo looked like they wanted to check Percy over, but refrained.

   Grover didn’t look … not telling me?”

   “A lot,” Percy tried to joke.

   He dabbed his forehead … cut the yarn.”

   Poseidon, who had looked like he was trying to deny it before, slumped his shoulders.

   He closed his eyes … almost—older.

   Grover gave him a nod, affirming the suspicions eight years later.

   He said, … it was a big deal.

   “At least you had enough sense to recognise that.” Annabeth snarked.

   Percy knew that she did that when she was worried or nervous, but still didn’t appreciate it. He elected to ignore it.

   “This is not … promised he could.

   Percy gave his best friend another apologetic look.

   “Is this like … is going to die?”

   A few gods looked at Percy like they were contemplating something.

   He looked at me mournfully, like he was already picking the kind of flowers I’d like best on my coffin.

Chapter Text

   Annabeth closed the book.

   “It’s getting quite late; we should eat dinner.” Hestia suggested.

   Everyone got up, eager to eat. Hestia led everyone out of the circle of cabins to a path, which went multiple ways. She went right and when they’d walked a bit further, they saw what loosely resembled a dinning room — but without the room.

   Hestia told everyone to sit, which they did.

   She walked up to an open, but roofed, shack. After looking around, she took out a lot of tableware.

   “Who is going to help set the tables?” She asked, turning around.

   The demigods got up to help her, so did a few of the gods (Apollo, Hermes, Poseidon, Amphitrite, Persephone, Hades, and Aphrodite), while the others looked around the place.

   It reminded Percy of a pavilion. It was raised slightly, making it stand out. The tables were oak, as well as the benches. There was nothing actually protecting it from rain, but there was a pergola with vines. The shack was just three walls with a roof. There were many cabinets, a stove and a fridge. Percy wondered if there were plates or cups like the ones at camp.

   When they were done setting up the table, everyone sat down where they wanted. There were three long tables, so everyone could sit.

   “We’re going to eat, then we’ll explore a bit and read a few chapters before bed.” Hestia announced, like not everyone was already planning on exploring.

   Everybody ate while talking to each other. Percy had pizza with blue coke.

   “What’s your opinion so far?” Connor prompted. Connor had sat down next to Percy, eating potatoes and chicken with broccoli.

   He considered just laughing it off, like he always did. “I don’t know — it’s weird. That’s for sure.”

   His friend replied, “I can’t imagine having my thoughts being read out loud. I would’ve reacted terribly.”

   Knowing Connor meant well he said, “Yeah, it’s just annoying that my thoughts have to be included as well. I mean, what are my thoughts going to add to this except for making assumptions and making it less accurate?”

   “They’ll probably help explain why you do what you do. It’s a mystery to most of us, so.”

   After dinner, everyone went off in groups. Percy went with Thalia, Nico, Jason and Hazel.

   They were walking down the path when Percy sensed water. He mentioned this to his cousins and urged them to walk faster.

   “Why do we have to run; it’s water,” Jason groaned.

   Percy tried to explain, but he was too excited and elected to explain it when they were there. He took Hazel and Jason by the hand, dragging them with him to make them go faster.

   When they got there, it was beautiful.

   There was a pond, it looked like there were fish in there. It was surrounded by flowers and bushes. Duckweed was floating on the water in some places. Percy could see lily pads. Further into the water, the sun wasn’t obscured by the willow trees, making it the perfect place for everyone to relax sometime.

   Percy decided to have his cousins go into the water with him.

   He took off his shoes and socks, bunched up his trousers to his knees and took their hands in his again. He tugged them with him, into the pond. Not too deep, just his lower legs got wet. The bottom was wet sand. There was an occasional rock, but those weren’t too sharp because of the water having rounded them.

   Maybe an hour later, when they had been there long enough to dry on the edge of the water, they went back to look at the cabins.

   On their way back, they saw Annabeth with Piper, Leo, Will and Rachel.

   “Hey, little three, Hazel, Jason, we just saw the biggest f—” Rachel stopped when Will gave her a dirty look. “The biggest tree ever!”

   Following the group back to the dinner pavilion, they talked. When they got to the pavilion they went to the right, towards a slight hill. After a few minutes of walking, Percy saw the biggest — fucking (courtesy of Rachel) — tree he had ever seen. It looked big enough to be in that park he’d heard only once of — the place they had the biggest trees in the world? You know the place.

   Percy went and sat down at the base of the tree.

   “We could read here, you know? And keep the campfire for the evenings, like at camp.” He suggested.

   Annabeth and Piper nodded enthusiastically, “That’s what we thought!”

   “Should we suggest it now, or do we wait and try tomorrow?”

   They all had a short discussion, resulting in Annabeth volunteering to run to Hestia and the rest to ask if they could read there.

   “I’ll be right back,” Annabeth yelled as she ran off.

Chapter Text

   Annabeth returned with everyone behind her.

   Hestia had agreed to read near the tree, so everybody had to get together and come to the tree.

   When everybody had sat down, Hestia said, “Who wants to read?”

   Thalia put up her hand, “I do. I’m curious as to what goes on in Percy’s mind.” She went and collected the book from Hestia and sat down at the base of the trunk, everyone else went to sit so they could see, or at least hear her well.

   “Grover unexpectedly loses his pants,” she began.

   Grover grumbled, while Percy looked sheepishly at his (goatly) friend.

   Confession time:

   “Piper stole a car,” Leo confessed for her. When she shot him a dirty look, he backtracked. “I mean, she didn’t — she talked him into giving her the car.” It didn’t sound believable the second try either.

   I ditched Grover … be sixth grade?”

   “Ew, that’s creepy.” Annabeth jokingly said to Grover.

   Whenever he got … told the driver.

   When the Stolls looked his way mischievously, Percy clarified that he ‘didn’t live there anymore’.

   A word about my mother, before you meet her.

   “Amazing.”

   “The best.”

   “She’ll always be the most important person to me.”

   “Percy, that’s way more than one word.”

   “Well, so is ‘the best’, Thalia. And anyway, I was right, so.”

   Her name is Sally … and no diploma.

   Percy looked somber at the mention of his mother having a difficult time.

   The only good break she got was meeting my dad.

   Aphrodite cooed.

   I don’t have … no pictures.

   The demigods nodded sadly.

   See, they weren’t married.

   Triton snorted. Amphitrite looked at her son reprimanding.

   She told me he was … Lost at sea.

   Hermes looked proud at the half-lie.

   She worked odd jobs, … as a world-class jerk.

   Thalia read that part slower than the rest, thinking too deeply to care about the rest.

   When I was young, … in gym shorts.

   Annabeth seemed to recall the conversation Grover and Percy had at twelve.

   Between the two of us, we made my mom’s life pretty hard.

   Poseidon, who was sat next to Percy, looked sad at Percy thinking he made his mom’s life harder. “Percy—” he started, but Percy just shook his head. He didn’t want to interrupt — not even to whisper.

   I walked into our … all over the carpet.

   Jason grimaced. He hadn’t known much about living with his own mother, but Thalia had told him bits here and there. He didn’t like where he thought this was going.

   Hardly looking up, … got any cash?”

   Many gods looked upset over that. That was a demigod — a kid!

   That was it. No Welcome back. Good to see you. How has your life been the last six months?

   Thalia frowned.

   Gabe had put on … handsome or something.

   Aphrodite mock-gagged, “Absolutely it didn’t.” Aphrodite reminded Percy a lot of his mother. He guessed he understood why. He absolutely loved his mom. Platonic love was also love — and that’s what Aphrodite stood for.

   He managed the … Always beer.

   Thalia’s frown deepened, while Grover seemed to realise something.

   Whenever I was home … punch my lights out.

   Thalia had almost been unable to get the words out.

   Luke stilled in shock, “Did he ever actually—?”

   Percy was trying not to look too shaken up. “What? No, of course he didn’t.” He leaned away from his father, further into Rachel on his right.

   Not letting it go, but having seen his desperate look, Thalia resumed reading.

   “I don’t have … everything else.

   Annabeth now knew for sure why Sally had married that man.

   “You took a taxi … right?” Gabe repeated.

   Many gods and demigods looked disgusted at the idea of the man.

   Eddie scowled … hope you lose.”

   Percy thought Thalia looked almost disappointed at him trying to set of Gabe. You try to live with him! He wanted to yell, but he knew it would be pointless. He’d seen Thalia’s ghost — her mother — when he was fourteen and she’d been way too familiar.

   “Your report card … act so snooty!”

   Thalia had a look of realisation on her face, understanding now why it had set him off when she had called him ‘seaweed brain’ during their fight.

   I slammed the door … Home sweet home.

   Percy thought back to that apartment, it had been horrible but at least he’d had his mother.

   Gabe’s smell was … long, horrible talons.

   Percy’s anxiousness in the book made some of the demigods fidget.

   Then I heard my mom’s voice, “Percy?”

   Everyone let out a sigh of relief.

   She opened the door … of her as old.

   Aphrodite was giddy at the love Percy had for his mother.

   When she looks at me … when I came home.

   Some of the demigods sighed dreamily — mostly Travis.

   We sat together … boy doing alright?

   Thalia loved Sally (she did) and these moments made her love her even more, but then she’d remember what Gabe had done to Percy while she was oblivious of it, and she felt herself romanticise the idea of Sally having been her mother a little bit less.

   I told her she was smothering me, and to lay off and all that, but secretly, I was really, really glad to see her.

   Percy looked at the book in Thalia’s hands bitterly. He hated having his thoughts read out loud. He didn’t mind them knowing about how great his mother was, he always talked about her anyway — instead of talking about himself, sure — but he secretly hoped that his friends didn’t have to be there.

   From the other room … some jerk like Gabe.

   He reflected on those thoughts; Paul was perhaps even better than a millionaire.

   For her sake, I tried to sound upbeat about my last few days at Yancy Academy.

   Sounding upbeat, he was good that that.

   I told her I wasn’t … almost convinced myself.

   Jason noticed Percy scowl slightly at the book.

   I started choking up … seem so bad.

   Grover looked at his friend, who was sitting between the sea god and their oracle. He got up and gave Percy a hug.

   Until that trip … I would sound stupid.

   Leo related to that. Maybe not the part about telling his mom, but he definitely held things back because he thought he’d sound stupid. Granted, his friends probably thought he was stupid. Even though he had made the Argo II all by himself — a fucking ship — in six months.

   She pursed her lips … “Montauk?”

   Percy’s friends all snickered, they’d heard so much about that place.

   “Three nights … there wasn’t enough money.

   The Grace siblings scowled at that.

   Gabe appeared … The works.”

   The Hermes kids — and Hermes himself, of course — whistled apreciatively at the bribery.

   Gabe softened … my poker game.”

   Will scoffed loudly at that, causing some faces to turn to him. He flushed and waved at Thalia to continue reading.

   Maybe if I kick you in your soft spot, I thought. And make you sing soprano for a week.

   The demigods nodded, agreeing fully.

   But my mom’s eyes warned me not to make him mad.

   Thalia narrowed her eyes.

   Why did she … care what he thought?

   Why did she care more about him than me? He’d wanted to know then — he knew now.

   “I’m sorry,” … went back to his game.

   Annabeth looked surprised at Gabe’s inability to detect the sarcasm.

   “Thank you, Percy,” … must have been mistaken.

   Grover thought about that. “She might have, but I wouldn’t know how,” he concluded.

   She ruffled my … the whole weekend.

   Artemis and Aphrodite looked equally disgusted at that.

   “Not a scratch … find a way to blame me.

   Even Triton was disgusted at the mortal’s actions toward a child of the sea.

   Watching him lumber … to step on it.

   When Percy noticed Thalia had stopped reading, he looked around. Everyone was looking at him with various levels of surprise and shock.

   “How did you do that?” Grover asked.

   Confused as to why Grover seemed so surprised, Percy replied, “I just copied what you did on the bus…” He trailed off as the looks of surprise turned into unbelief. “Can we just keep reading?”

   Our rental cabin … too cold to swim in.

   Annabeth had shivered at the mention of spiders, resulting in Piper resting her arm over Annabeth’s shoulder.

   I loved the place.

   Everyone of the sea chuckled.

   We’d been going there … she’d met my dad.

   “I shouldn’t have been surprised, actually.” Annabeth murmured.

   As we got closer … the colour of the sea.

   “Yours do that too,” Rachel mentioned to Percy. “Any body of water.”

   We got there at … had brought from work.

   “You fed seagulls blue corn chips?” Nico questioned Percy incredulously. Percy simply nodded.

   I guess I should explain the blue food.

   The Stolls nodded enthusiastically.

   See, Gabe had told … a rebellious streak, like me.

   The demigods chuckled. “You have an obedience streak, dude,” Chris said to Percy.

   When it got dark … never got tired of hearing them.

   The gods with kids looked around, shocked to see the half-bloods agreeing with the book.

   “He was kind, … and his green eyes.”

   Immediately, everyone began to compare the two. Percy was twenty-one, so he wasn’t nearly as old as Poseidon, but they looked almost identical. The demigod had a very distinct godly look, making some think back, making sure he actually had rejected godhood — he had.

   Mom fished —

   “Wow, a water reference,” Thalia interrupted herself.

   Mom fished a blue … in six years.

   Poseidon looked sadly at his son. He knew that Percy wouldn’t appreciate him trying to start a conversation about this in front of everyone.

   “How old was I?” … A smile.

   Percy looked at his father with a clear question in his eyes, then he remembered his father was from before his time.

   I had always assumed … stuck with smelly Gabe.

   Poseidon felt disappointed in himself too but knew that it couldn’t be that way. Also, he wouldn’t leave his wife, son, and responsibilities.

   “Are you going to … best to leave Yancy.

   Chiron looked at his student regretfully.

   “Because I’m not … in the middle of his head.

   “A cyclops,” Zeus muttered. “Technically not interference.”

   Before that … meaty toddler hands.

   “Like Herakles,” the king of the gods said.

   Percy and his friends scowled, which Artemis noticed. While she pondered over the meaning of that, her lieutenant resumed reading.

   In every school, … and I didn’t want that.

   “That’s kind of selfish, Percy.” Remarked Annabeth.

   Selfish, he thought with a wry smile. He had just wanted to spend time with his mother when Gabe wasn’t there. He had wanted a normal childhood. He also hadn’t known it was important, did that make him selfish?

   “I’ve tried to keep … ever mentioned it before?

   “I’m wondering the same thing,” Connor said. Percy told him that it would be explained soon.

   “I’m sorry, … I had a vivid dream.

   All the demigods groaned, being accustomed to ‘demigod dreams’.

   It was storming … I woke with a start.

   Those that knew it was Kronos, shivered. The rest looked like they were contemplating everyone it could have been.

   Outside, it really was … hair stand on end.

   Percy grimaced as he remembered the next main event.

   Then a much closer … wasn’t exactly Grover.

   “He had taken off his pants,” the Stoll brothers chorused.

   “Searching all night,” … Didn’t you tell her?”

   Thalia had to pause for a bit, before she continued.

   I was too shocked … There were cloven hooves.

Chapter Text

   Percy decided to speak up, “Can we stop for today after this chapter?”

   Those who knew abstractly what was happening next, agreed with him. Others were more confused, but eventually decided it was getting pretty late and they were reading Percy’s thoughts, so he should have at least a little say in this.

   “Could one of the gods read? I want to have everyone here and kind of just relax.” He said.

   “Absolutely, Percy,” his aunt agreed. She motioned for Thalia to give the book to her father.

   Zeus looked slightly affronted at being giving the book without any confirmation from him, but opened the book nonetheless. “My mother teaches me bullfighting.”

   Seeing Percy tense up between his father and Rachel, the demigods had all moved closer to him. Those hesitant to sit close to a god sat closer to his right. The circle it had previously been, looked more like a deformed moon now.

   We tore through the night … she kept her foot on the gas.

   Leo looked a little green at the thought. Percy reflected that he hadn’t liked it either, but he — unlike Leo — didn’t get carsick, probably making it much easier to deal with.

   Every time there was a flash of lightning … some kind of shag-carpet pants.

   “… Shag-carpet?” Piper asked, disgusted at the thought itself.

   Percy grinned, “Yeah, aren’t you aware of the new trend, Piper? It’s so hot right now—” His words had gotten an almost valley-girl sound by the end of the sentence.

   She had gotten up and held her hand on his mouth, stopping him from saying anything more. He smiled from under her hand and winked, giving Piper little time to prepare for him licking her hand. She shrieked, jumping back toward Annabeth and wiped her hand on a towel that had come from nowhere.

   “Ew, Percy,” she said. “That’s disgusting, both the shag-carpet pants and your saliva.”

   But, no, the smell was one I remembered … The smell of a wet barnyard animal.

   His best friend had apparently already gotten used to being insulted by his thoughts. He said nothing. He did shoot a slightly dirty look at Percy, though.

   All I could thing to say … “Watching me?”

   “Hey, you even admit to stalking him,” Nico brought up the argument from earlier, shrugging with his hands in a ‘well, you did’ position.

   “Keeping tabs on you. … my best friend is a donkey—”

   There was a collective intake of breath from everyone. Jason’s eyes almost popped out of his skull, “You have met coach Hedge, right?”

   Snickering, Percy responded, “Yeah, but not at that point. I also hadn’t processed anything yet.”

   Grover let out a sharp, throaty “Blaa-ha-ha!”

   Katie nodded agreeingly with thin lips.

   I’d hear him make that sound before … “You just said it didn’t matter.”

   From his left, Percy heard his dad snicker.

   “Blaa-ha-ha! There are satyrs that would trample you underhoof … you admit there was a Mrs. Dodds!”

   Annabeth and a few other rolled their eyes slightly at Percy.

   Thalia came to his rescue, though a few others looked like they would’ve done it if she hadn’t, “He had been gaslit into believing Mrs. Dodds never existed, he’s allowed to confirm that she was real, and be a bit pissy.”

   “Of course.” … like that should be perfectly obvious.

   Percy sighed. That is how almost everyone had talked to him — at least at first — whenever he asked a question.

   “We put mist over the humans’ eyes. … what do you mean?”

   “You are explaining this all so poorly,” Reyna complained.

   The weird bellowing noise rose up again somewhere behind us … Who’s after me?”

   “Oh, just everyone and everything,” Leo joked.

   “Oh, nobody much … a few of his blood-thirstiest minions.”

   Leo startled at saying something along the lines of what Grover had said, then high-fived the satyr.

   “Grover!” … “The summer camp I told you about.”

   The campers sat up a little higher, proud of their camp.

   My mother’s voice was tight … when someone’s about to die.”

   Nico sighed disappointedly at Grover slipping up, “He’s not going to let that go.” Grover nodded gravely.

   “Whoa —

   Thalia snorted, interrupting her father, at how predictable her cousin was.

   “Whoa. You said ‘you.’” … “Boys!” my mom said.

   “Thank everything for your mom, because I was already getting a headache.” Complained Clarisse.

   She pulled the wheel hard to the right … and our car exploded.

   Everyone was silent for a bit, before Gwen said, “Your car… exploded?”

   I remember feeling weightless … Lightning. That was the only explanation.

   Poseidon glared at his younger brother, but didn’t interrupt the reading.

   We’d been blasted right off the road … I don’t want you to die!

   Percy moved a bit so he could sit closer to his friend, hugging him.

   Then he groaned “Food,” … made it look like he had horns.

   Poseidon looked concerned for his son, but was too far away to say anything without anyone else hearing, so he focused back on the book and his brother reading.

   I swallowed hard … Do you see that big tree?”

   Wanting to ease the tension a bit, Thalia joked, “Hey, they’re talking about me!” This only got her some confused glances.

   “What?” … “Mom, you’re coming too.”

   Personal loyalty.

   Her face was pale … And the points that looked like horns . . .

   Amphitrite and a few other gods now looked at the demigod with slight concern too.

   “He doesn’t want us,” … I got mad, then —

   Some of the demigods who had known Percy for a while cringed slightly.

   mad at my mother, … Help me with Grover.”

   “Personal loyalty,” Athena spoke out of nowhere, startling a few of those around her. When nobody answered her, she turned toward Percy and said, “Personal loyalty is your fatal flaw.”

   He nodded at her, but turned back toward Zeus, wanting to get this chapter over with.

   I didn’t wait for her answer … stuffed like baseballs under vein-webbed skin.

   Jason looked at Percy with a look that varied between intrigue and disgust. “Muscle Man magazine?” He questioned.

   “Hey,” Percy tried defending himself — not that it worked well, based on the look Rachel gave him. “Whenever I went out with mom, they had those laying around in the shops. I can’t read, so all I had was pictures.” Jason laughed disbelievingly, but gave up on getting an explanation.

   He wore no clothes … horns with points you just couldn’t get from an electric sharpener.

   The Stolls laughed and Connor said, “An electric sharpener? You really should say more thing aloud.” Percy smiled at him appreciatively.

   I recognised the monster … “Names have power.”

   “You’ve been told that how many times now, Percy?” Asked Thalia.

   He shrugged, “A few times, but if they’re planning to kill me already, saying their name wont make them suddenly appear. Others — like the gods —, I don’t care about too much. Yeah, they get stronger and shit by me saying their name, but I honestly don’t talk about them that much.” Some of the gods looked slightly affronted at that, others just with understanding.

   The pine tree was still way too far … the bull-man bellowed in rage.

   Even those who remembered that it turned out alright, looked on with nerves.

   He picked up Gabe’s Camaro by the torn roof … Oops.

   Leo fist-bumped Percy.

   “Percy,” my mom said. … He’d smelled us.

   Everyone was nervous, some more than others.

   The pine tree was only a few more yards … horns aimed right at my chest.

   Those sitting around Percy tried getting even closer to their friend, effectively trapping him.

   The fear in my stomach made me want to bolt … as the monster charged her.

   He hated feeling like he couldn’t do anything. That was his whole thing — doing something. His mother had disappeared because he had been too scared.

   She tried to sidestep … and she dissolved before my eyes,

   Percy felt himself slipping away, thinking of his mother and how he’d failed to save her.

   melting into light, … Anger replaced my fear.

   If she had been dead, he wouldn’t have had a home. He wouldn’t have had any family, no friends, nothing to his name. He probably would have died, he had nothing to survive on, nobody to rely on other than Grover — but he’d been passed out.

   While he was no longer there, he got a concerned look from his father. Others kept listening to the book in the same way as you couldn’t look away from a train wreck.

   Newfound strength burned in my limbs … I couldn’t allow that.

   Grover had come over, sensing his friend’s distress. “Hey, Perce,” he whispered. “Can you come back to us?” Percy had had moments like these thinking about the wars or Tartarus, meaning Grover knew what to do. The reading went on while the two sat there, Percy finding comfort in his best friend.

   I stripped off my red rain jacket. … Ground beef!”

   Normally Clarisse would’ve made a dumb comment making fun of prissy, but she had noticed her acquaintance — they weren’t friends, no way — not fully being there and found it cruel to do that, though it might’ve helped with keeping everything familiar.

   “Raaaarrrrr!” … thinking I’d jump out of the way at the last moment.

   “That’s not going to happen,” Annabeth decidedly said.

   But it didn’t happen like that.

   Annabeth looked proud.

   The bull-man charged too fast … How did I do that?
   “That’s something I’d like to know as well,” Zeus said gruffly.

   I didn’t have time to figure it out … the impact nearly knocked my teeth out.

   Thalia looked at her cousin, he was already looking at her. ‘Did you feel that?’ was the clear meaning in his eyes. She shook her head minutely, Percy cared way too much for his friends and family. It wasn’t a bad thing, but it was his fatalflaw for a reason.

   The bull-man staggered around … this thing only had one gear: forward.

   Piper glanced at Percy appraisingly, “You are really perceptive, you know?”

   Meanwhile, Grover started groaning in the grass … gave a surprised grunt, then—snap!

   Clarisse and a few other campers that had known about this had understandably been curious as to how Percy had gotten the horn. They weren’t surprised – who is even surprised anymore by the things he can do, he can do anything –, but they were baffled that Percy could do that at twelve.

   The bull-man screamed … a ragged bone the size of a knife.

   The gods’ eyes widened.

   The monster charged … right up under his furry ribcage.

   Ares looked at Percy with something close to approval, which seriously freaked him out.

   The bull-man roared in agony … The monster was gone.

   There was some quiet clapping for twelve-year-old Percy, who had lost his mother and had still fought and killed a monster.

   The rain had stopped.

   Percy considered that maybe he could’ve been the one making it rain, shoving the thought aside.

   The storm still rumbled … but I held on to Grover—I wasn’t going to let him go.

   Grover gave him a tight hug. After Percy sputtered an “I’m suffocating” he settled for sitting next to him, still smiling at his best friend.

   The last thing I remember is collapsing on a wooden porch … Bring him inside.”

   “He’s the one?” Piper teased Annabeth, who turned red and sputtered a few half-hearted excuses.

   Percy sat up straighter and said, “Well, I’m going to bed early tonight, so I’ll see you all tomorrow.” With that, he got up and walked away. Others did the same, while the gods stayed there a bit longer, discussing the past chapters.

   Percy entered his cabin – it actually did look a bit like his cabin at camp. He had a bed and other necessities, but also a few things just for fun.

   He saw that the stairs down to the sunken in pool were accompanied by a slide. The walls were decorated with posters and pictures of his family and friends, and the bedsheets had little sharks on them.

   After changing into the ridiculously comfortable pyjamas he found, he brushed his teeth in the bathroom and got into bed.

   He slept quite well that night.

Chapter Text

   Percy woke up to a loud bang.

   Still disoriented, he got up and took riptide out of his pocket. He got into position while he looked around and decided the sound had come from outside.

   The group of people outside consisted of the gods and those of the prophecy of seven. Leo looked up and waved at Percy, who was still glancing around, looking for what had made that sound at such an ungodly hour.

   “Hey Percy!” Leo grinned at him. “How are you doing?”

   Percy grunted, “Better, since I slept well, but what the fuck made that sound?”

   He swore Leo looked almost guilty. “Well, you know…” the fire-user mumbled something Percy did not hear over the noise of the wind – which wasn’t that loud, so Leo probably had been guilty.

   He raised an eyebrow, silently asking Leo to repeat what he had said.

   “I woke up to a spider being too close for comfort, it wasn’t my fault that there were explosive materials near me when I heated up. I was scared!” He hissed.

   Percy imagined his friend running around with flames all around him and decided to just ignore how crazy his life was.

   He patted Leo on the shoulder, comforting him, even though he was just slightly embarrassed. “Let’s go eat breakfast and then read.”

   Getting a nod in return, he took off.

   After an interesting breakfast involving the Stolls, catapults and corks, they were all sat at the tree, back in the circle. Poseidon was sat at Percy’s left and Rachel at his right.

   Athena had taken the book and was waiting for everyone to quiet down so she could read. “I play pinocle with a horse.”

   Chiron looked mildly annoyed at the title, but when Percy started to apologise, he shook his head playfully and waved toward the book.

   I had weird dreams full of barnyard animals. Most of them wanted to kill me. The rest wanted food.

   Grover nudged Percy with his foot, causing him to sheepishly smile at his best friend.

   I must’ve woken up several times … smirking as she scraped drips off my chin with the spoon.

   Annabeth spluttered something that roughly sounded like: ‘I don’t smirk’, but honestly could’ve been anything.

   Piper consoled her friend with her arm slung around her shoulder. She blushed when Percy winked knowingly at her.

   When she saw my eyes open … and the girl quickly filled my mouth with pudding.

   “The only way to make Percy shut up,” Annabeth and Thalia chorused, making Percy laugh.

   The next time I woke up … Not the goat boy.

   “I’ll have you know, I’m both normal Grover and the goat boy at once,” Grover huffed playfully.

   So maybe I’d had a nightmare … And . . .

   Luke looked sadly at Percy.

   “You saved my life,” … It hadn’t been a nightmare.

   It hadn’t been a nightmare, Percy thought almost hysterically. He was looking at the ground and picking at his skin. It hadn’t been a nightmare. Oh, how he wished it had been.

   “The Minotaur,” … Nothing should look beautiful.

   Though she felt sad for the boy, Aphrodite was almost giddy with how much he loved his mother.

   “I’m sorry,” … I’d find tiny horns on his head.

   Grover looked laughably offended at that. Maybe it was because this whole scenario was insane, but Percy started laughing.

   “Hey, Percy, are you okay?” Grover gently prodded his shoulder after he got to him.

   He didn’t answer, still laughing, though he did hug his friend, trying to convey he wasn’t really laughing at Grover.

   When he calmed down, he laid down with his head in Grover’s lap and waved for Athena to continue reading.

   But I was too miserable to care that satyrs existed … I’d do something.

   Clarisse couldn’t help but snort, “Prissy, you could not have passed for seventeen by then.”

   “Maybe for eleven,” Annabeth joined in. Percy, still in his emotional state, mock-glared at them before getting up to hug them both.

   Clarisse stiffened before relaxing – Percy had gotten his ma’s skill in giving hugs, after all. When he hugged Annabeth, she hugged him back immediately, she knew how great his hugs were and wasn’t going to waste any of it.

   Slowly, Percy went back to his place with his head on Grover’s lap, vowing to himself that he wouldn’t interrupt the reading for at least the rest of the chapter, because dam was the glare Athena was giving him scary.

   Grover was still sniffling … I recoiled at the taste,

   Poseidon raised an eyebrow.

   because I was expecting apple juice.

   He huffed, amused.

   It wasn’t that at all … and told me everything was going to be okay.

   The nights at which Gabe had been worse than usual, she would sit at his bed and talk to him softly. Spanish, Gabe couldn’t understand that, it was theirs and only theirs. He knew his mom was from Mexico, but all he knew about his dad was that he wasn’t Mexican. Thinking about it, his mother might have actually said once that he was half Greek. He felt kind of dumb for not remembering it, would’ve made the believing a bit easier.

   He was shaken out of his thoughts when Athena continued.

   Before I knew it … Chiron and Mr. D are waiting.”

   “Did anyone explain anything to you?” Jason asked. When Percy shook his head silently, he breathed out loudly and closed his eyes slumping against Leo.

   The porch wrapped all the way around the farmhouse … I wasn’t going to let it go.

   Clarisse and Ares made gruff sounds of agreement.

   As we came around the opposite end of the house … some of their horses had wings.

   “Yeah, you’ve been imagining the Pegasi for the past few years, Percy,” Nico said drily.

   His friends huffed out laughs and Percy raised an eyebrow at Nico, amused.

   Down at the end of the porch … He looked like a cherub who’d turned middle-aged in a trailer park.

   The romans raised their hands to their mouths in shock while most of the greeks tried to muffle their snickers. Thalia, Nico and Percy did not do the same thing; they started laughing at the look on Dionysus’ face.

   Some of the other gods thought it was funny as well, seeing as Apollo and Hermes were hiding their smiles behind their hands – which didn’t work at all.

   “I do not understand how he hasn’t been blasted in the future yet,” Zeus said since Dionysus was too shocked at the kid thinking that in the first place. “He clearly doesn’t respect us one bit.” He pointed at Percy from where he was sat.

   Percy was too busy trying to get Thalia – who had falling over from laughing so hard – off of him. How she had gotten there, he had no idea. He was pretty sure she was at least 3 meters away from him, and she was not 3 meters tall.

   Athena decided to continue reading since he was obviously not listening to them.

   He wore a tiger-pattern Hawaiian shirt … “Mr. Brunner,” I cried.

   Interrupting herself, Athena corrected him, “Chiron. The satyr just said that.”

   The Latin teacher turned and smiled at me … I was a satyr.

   From where his head was situated in Grover’s lap, he could see the satyr’s face very well. A face he couldn’t see well, was Thalia’s. Or at least, not until she was all up in his face.

   “I’m sorry you had to go through that,” she hissed (whispered?), anyone else might have thought that she was threatening him. The mean look on her face, the way she left immediately after she delivered the message. But Percy knew – along with Grover – what she had said, that she cared.

   Percy felt all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

   “Annabeth?” … except her eyes ruined the image.

   Annabeth looked startled at that, frowning slightly. Piper kept her arm around the girl, comforting her. Percy silently urged Athena to keep reading, he hadn’t meant it that way.

   They were startling gray … as if she were analysing the best way to take me down in a fight.

   Percy looked at Annabeth again, hoping that she understood he hadn’t meant to be mean. She seemed placated, smiling at him for the description.

   She glanced at the minotaur horn in my hands … “You drool when you sleep.”

   Percy flushed. “I do not,” he tried to defend himself. When his friends looked at him disbelievingly, he conceded, “Maybe I do a tiny bit.”

   “Percy, just admit: you drool in your sleep,” Jason stopped his rambling. Percy blushed more, the blush now showing up on his skin tone.

   Then she sprinted off down the lawn … “House call?”

   “You were just confusing him, Chiron.” Thalia chastised her former teacher.

   “My year at Yancy Academy … I was liking the camp director less and less.

   Thalia groaned and put her head in her hands.

   Piper glanced at Thalia, then tried to comfort Percy. “Well, at least it’s reciprocated?” Looking at Percy’s dry expression, she figured it wasn’t her best work. “Can I do your make-up next break?” She changed the subject.

   He lit up, “Yeah, of course!” He couldn’t even lay still in Grover’s lap anymore, he was so excited. So he sat up. Piper mused to herself about how easy it had been.

   “Well,” … “Orientation film?”

   Annabeth sat up straighter, “You didn’t see the orientation film?” When Percy shook his head, she looked like her whole world had been rocked.

   “No,” … “Smaller?”

   Just as Athena read Percy’s reaction, Zeus said, “Smaller?” When he realised what had happened, he looked disgusted.

   “Yes, quite … They’re what people believed in before science.”

   Poseidon winced.

   “Science!” … which I never told anybody—

   Connor wondered why Percy wouldn’t, when he turned to look at Percy, however, he saw Athena was still reading.

   “what will people think of your ‘science’ two thousand years from now?” … and keeping his mouth shut.

   The god of the sea looked at his son, proud of how observant his son was.

   “Percy,” … that it sounded like a pretty good deal,

   Those that were in the room when Percy declined immortality wondered what had changed.

   but the tone of Chiron’s voice made me hesitate … But I don’t believe in gods.”

   “I’m actually impressed that you managed to stay so calm,” Amphitrite complimented her step-son, who looked shocked that she had spoken to him – complimented him.

   “Oh, you’d better,” … My jaw dropped,

   Piper and Leo nodded sympathetically.

   but Chiron hardly looked up … like a pouting little kid.

   Zeus was about to say something about that, when his wife put her hand on his shoulder and said, “There was a wood nymph off-limits, you can’t talk.” Percy’s eyes widened, but he mentally cheered Hera on, which was something he hadn’t imagined he would do in a hundred years.

   “And . . .” … “A god. You.”

   Frank sat with his mouth open, staring at Percy, wondering how he was still alive.

   He turned to look at me straight on … He would plant a disease in my brain that would leave me wearing a straitjacket in a rubber room for the rest of my life.

   The seven turned to Percy, all at the same time – which was quite impressive – and started snickering. Percy started, “Tremble before the horror of diet coke!”

   Jason and Leo became the scared dolphin-men, since they had been knocked out. Piper, Annabeth and Hazel began acting possessed.

   “Oh no! Frank is turning into a crazy dolphin!” Frank acted clueless. “I said: Frank is turning into a crazy dolphin!”

   Frank sounded like he was reading off of a script again, “Oh no, I am turning into a crazy dolphin.”

   They all broke character and started laughing again, while the others looked at them like they had turned into crazy dolphins – all of them.

   “Would you like to test me … in America?”

   “That was something I took a while to get used to,” Percy admitted.

   “Well … “And then they died.”

   Nico turned to him with the driest look ever on his face, “Yep, and then they died. We lived happily ever after.” Then he narrowed his eyes and hissed, “No, of course not, idiot!” When he realised he had called Percy an idiot, his eyes widened slightly and looked if he was offended. Percy just snorted and waved off his concern.

   “Died? … as if I were part of some club.

   “Yeah, welcome to the cult,” Travis mock-introduced him to everyone there. Luke was looking at his brother, smiling at the happy gleam in his eyes.

   “Who are you … Let’s meet the other campers.”

Chapter Text

   Athena put down the book, “Who will read now?”

   “Well, we’ve agreed that the demi-gods don’t have to read, so it’s between you all,” Percy said unapologetically.

   Amphitrite reached out to the book in Athena’s hands, “Just give it to me, you’re all going to be deciding for the rest of the day otherwise.”

   The goddess of wisdom handed over the book to the queen of the seas.

   “I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom,” she read out.

   Once I got over the fact that my Latin teacher was a horse,

   Chiron sighed slightly annoyed, “Child.”

   Percy turned toward him with his innocent baby seal eyes, letting it be known he was going to win this argument. “Yes, Chiron?” They heard a sigh from the thousand year old centaur and decided to just continue the reading.

   we had a nice tour … I did not trust Chiron’s back end the way I trusted it’s front.

   Leo muffled his snickers, “You didn’t?”

   We passed the volleyball pit … I felt like they were expecting me to do a flip or something.

   Luke watched Percy sadly, he had been part of the problem but had been to blind to see that. A kid under his care had had to fight him.

   I looked back at the farmhouse … and I got the distinct impression I was being watched.

   Apollo and Will perked up.

   “What’s up there?” … “Not a single living thing.”

   Hermes grinned, “He’s not lying.”

   I got the feeling he was being truthful. But I was also sure something had moved that curtain.

   Will narrowed his eyes, “The ‘feeling he was being truthful’?”

   Percy shrugged, while Grover spoke up; “Percy can often tell if you’re lying.”

   “Grover’s right, he always knows when we’re lying or trying to prank him,” the Stolls complained.

   Percy put up his hands while groaning dramatically, “Well, if you didn’t lie to me, that wouldn’t happen!” He winked at his friends to let them know he wasn’t actually mad.

   “Come along … “But he did that!”

   The campers all agreed.

   “I might agree with you,” … I also felt really, really guilty.

   “Perce, I don’t blame you for anything, much less that,” Grover whispered to his friend who had laid back down in his lap.

   If I hadn’t given Grover the slip at the bus station … “Oh, twenty-eight.”

   The romans’ eyes widened comically at that.

   “What!” … Was it really so bad?”

   Thalia grimaced, “Yeah, but it wasn’t Grover’s fault at all.” Jason looked at his sister questioningly, wondering how she knew about this first chance neither Leo, Piper or him knew about.

   Chiron looked away quickly … “Does that mean the Underworld is real, too?”

   Hades and Persephone grimaced at the thought of Percy ransacking the Underworld to find his mom. “Please don’t come there, it’s for dead people only,” the god of the dead said. When he saw his son and nephew look sheepishly at each other, he asked: “How many times has Percy been to the Underworld?”

   Nico scrunched up his nose in thought – something Will thought was really cute – and replied, “Three times?”

   “No, it was—” Percy trailed off. “One… Two, Three… Four.” The number four came out with disdain.

   “Four times, then.” Nico reported back to his father, who looked like he was about to start crying. Persephone comforted her husband while Amphitrite went back to reading.

   Chiron’s expressions darkened … “My own—?”

   Even Triton looked confused, “His own sword or shield? Why would he have those? Also, you taught him the whole year and lent him riptide. You knew he didn’t have anything.”

   “No,” … I decided to drop the subject.

   “Example I-don’t-even-know-anymore of people not explaining anything to me,” Percy complained.

   Finally … And they were without doubt the most bizarre collection of building I’d ever seen.

   The gods looked slightly offended, but didn’t say anything.

   Except for the fact that each had a large brass number above the door … poking the coals with a stick.

   Nico looked startled at that – not that anyone other than Percy knew why.

   The pair of cabins at the head of the field … like a mascot.

   This time, the gods couldn’t refrain from letting out indignant squawks. If you asked anyone there who sounded the most like a bird, no one would answer – except for Percy, who’d easily tell you that it was Apollo.

   Twelve cabins for the twelve Olympians … “Come along, Percy.”

   “Well, your cabins looks cozy now,” Leo tried to cheer up Percy – the Percy in the book?

   Most of the other cabins were crowded with campers.

   Gwen looked up and asked, “Isn’t that annoying?” When nobody answered, she continued, “You’re stuck in a cabin with all of your siblings while there are more than enough empty cabins, but because of some rule, you cant go anywhere else.” Most of the Greeks nodded; they loved their siblings, but having little to no space is annoying. Especially when there are cabins with no inhabitants.

   Number five was bright red … and brown instead of red.

   Percy apologised before Clarisse could say anything, “I’m sorry, Clarisse. I shouldn’t have made that comparison, I thought you looked like a bully, but that’s not an excuse.”

   I kept walking … shouldn’t you be dead?”

   Mostly everyone turned toward Percy. Hazel looked unimpressed when she said, “Very tactful, Percy.”

   Chiron paused … “Annabeth is waiting for us.”

   “Yeah, Chiron is bad at changing the subject and Percy is just slightly oblivious,” Dakota summarised.

   “The blonde girl –”

   “How long am I going to be ‘the blonde girl’?” Annabeth asked, exasperated. Percy shrugged.

   The blonde girl I’d met at the Big House was reading a book in front of the last cabin on the left … like those in an architecture book.

   “It probably was an architecture book,” Piper remarked.

   “Annabeth,” … A caduceus.

   Hermes and his kids looked proud of their cabin, even with the not-so-flattering description.

   Inside … So naturally I tripped and made a total fool of myself.

   Those that hadn’t known Percy the first summer he’d been at camp couldn’t connect that boy with the twice-over hero of Olympus.

   “Naturally,” Chris snickered.

   There were some snickers from the campers … some eyeing me as if they were waiting for a vhance to pick my pockets.

   “See!” Travis cried out, pointing at the book.

   “How long will I be here?” … you have to do better than that.”

   Those of the sea looked pained, while most of Annabeth and Percy’s friends looked like they were trying to solve a puzzle.

   What?” … I was getting angry now. “

   “I mean, I would too,” Thalia said.

   “All I know is … “To get killed?”

   Hazel’s voice was just above a whisper, “I think she means glory; recognition.”

   “To fight the Minotaur! …  That clears it up.”

   “The sarcasm is strong with this one,” Leo reported.

   “They don’t have souls … “You talk in your sleep.”
   Nico’s tone was sarcastic as he spoke, “He drools in his sleep, he talks in his sleep; can he never catch a break?”

   “No, I can’t. Because I’m a ‘loose cannon’,” Percy quoted Hera bitterly. Grover patted his head and guided him back to his lap to braid his hair.

   “You almost called her something … waiting for me to get it.

   Percy could be heard muttering insults he didn’t mean – mostly to the gods.

   “My mom is Sally Jackson,” … I never knew him.”

   “You know, props to you, Jackson,” Clarisse spoke. “Normal people would’ve left you alone after that blunt response.” She stressed the ‘normal’, making Annabeth unsure if she meant demi-gods in general or just her.

   Annabeth sighed … “How—”

   The daughter of wisdom put her head in her hands, contemplating her life decisions. “I was so stupid,” she grumbled.

   “No you weren’t,” Piper defended her twelve year old self. “You were twelve, of course you weren’t the most sensible.” She tightened the hug, almost pulling the blonde onto her lap.

   “Diagnosed with dyslexia … A half-blood.

   Piper, Leo, Chris and Percy grimaced at the terminology. “I like demigod better,” Piper said quietly.

   I was reeling with so many questions I didn’t know where to start.

   “The start is a good idea,” Luke teased. A few of the demigods had forgotten he was there and jumped slightly at the sudden reminder.

   Then a husky voice yelled, “Well! A newbie!”

   Clarisse groaned and put her face in Chris’ shoulder.

   I looked over … though I had a feeling it was a worse curse than it sounded.

   “It is,” Nico confirmed. “Basically ‘go to hell.”

   “You don’t stand a chance.” … Perhaps she wasn’t sure she could follow through on the threat.

   Clarisse muffled out something against her boyfriend’s shoulder that sounded a lot like: ‘Fuckin’ Prissy and his magic abilities.’

   She turned toward me … the war god?”

   Percy huffed, “I know.”

   Clarisse sneered … “It explains the bad smell.”

   A few demigods grimaced at the war god hearing this.

   Clarisse growled … wise girl.”

   Mouths dropped open.

   “What—”

   “He got that from Clarisse?”
   Clarisse herself looked disgusted at unknowingly having contributed to Percy’s nickname for Annabeth.

   Percy clarified, “I started using it as an insult, which is why it’s from Clarisse; she’s got the best insults.” Clarisse nodded gratefully.

   Annabeth looked pained … they should’ve been able to afford classier johns.

   Jason furrowed his eyebrows, “You’re getting dragged to the toilets for a swirly and you’re thinking about how the gods have enough money to get more expensive toilets?” Percy shrugged unapologetically.

   Clarisse’s friends were all laughing … he was so stupid looking.”

   “Not a great insult, but it’s funny to think about,” Dakota said, resulting in a betrayed look from Percy.

   Her friends snickered … I won’t.

   Ah.

   Then something happened … staring at me in shock.

   “Because you were dripping or because he was the one who had done it?” Frank asked.

   Annabeth didn’t have an answer, “I don’t even know anymore.”

   I looked down and realised I was sitting in the only dry spot in the whole room.

   “And you guys didn’t know who his father was?” Thalia asked disbelievingly.

   There was a circle of dry floor around me … “I don’t know.”
   Annabeth rolled her eyes good naturedly.

   We walked to the door … Close your mouth.”
   “You’re right, you should’ve left it alone, but that was amazing to listen to,” Leo said.

   Her friends had to hold her back … “that I want you on my team for capture the flag.”

Chapter Text

   “That was the chapter,” Amphitrite said while closing the book.

   Grover gently shook Percy’s shoulder, since the boy was close to falling asleep on his lap. “Perce, we’re having a break and Piper was going to do your makeup.”

   “Two more minutes,” Percy whispered back, his eyes still closed.

   The satyr gave Piper a pleading look.

   “What’s up,” she came toward them. “Hey, man of the hour, am I going to do your makeup here? ‘Cause that would probably make me mess it up.”

   Percy stirred and whined; “I’m getting up.”

   They were sat in Piper’s cabin, all three cross-legged. Piper had asked Annabeth to come with her to help with the makeup, yet Percy thought there were more reasons. No one said anything, Piper was (not so sneakily) looking at the other girl; Annabeth looked around Piper’s room; and Percy was just waiting for someone to do or say something.

   “So,” he started, causing two pairs of eyes to land on him. “Are we going to do this or am I going to have to find Grover again?”

   That seemed to have shaken Piper out of whatever trance she was in, because she got a makeup bag – out of nowhere, seriously, how did she do that? – and began asking questions on what he wanted to do.

   “I don’t know, just… Do whatever you want to do, or what you think suits me best.” Now, he had done his own makeup before, Annabeth too, but it had never turned out quite how Percy had wanted it to. So just letting Piper do what she wanted to do was probably the best idea.

   While Piper was doing her work, Annabeth handed her everything she needed and Percy just sat still. They were all talking about everything and nothing at the same time.

   Whenever Percy was asked a question about his makeup, he’d try his best to answer; what colour do you want your eyeliner to be? ‘blue or green’ do you want eyeshadow? ‘nah’ – what an eloquent answer – should we do a lipstick or a lip-gloss? – This one was interrupted by Annabeth, “Ooh, definitely a gloss!” Which led to Piper putting a sparkly clear lip-gloss on his lips, cleaning off the wand with a tissue after.

   Piper put some setting spray on, “And we’re done.” She admired her work for a bit and then asked Annabeth for the mirror. When Percy saw himself he was in awe.

   “Oh my gods, Piper. How did you do this?” He asked, still not sure what to say.

   She flipped her braid over her shoulder, “Well, I am a child of Aphrodite.” Piper then winked at him, and if Percy saw correctly, Annabeth blushed slightly at that – Annabeth. Blushing at Piper winking at him. She wasn’t even winking at her!

   He shook off those thoughts and asked Piper if he could show off his makeup to the others.

   When he got a ‘yes’, he went outside to where he thought Grover was.

Chapter Text

   He showed off his makeup to everyone he came across, even the gods, gushing about how Piper had done it so well.

   While showing Jason and Nico the lip-gloss Piper had used, he noticed Jason blushing and looking away almost unnoticeably.

   “And like; my lips look so kissable,” he teased, causing the blonde’s eyes to snap over to him – as if checking whether or not Percy was teasing him.

   Then he decided to gossip about his discovery regarding Annabeth. “When Piper winked at me, Annabeth definitely blushed,” he said. “I don’t even care; they’re an old married lesbian couple to me now.”

   Nico looked like he was about to laugh, “Percy… She blushed. It wasn’t a declaration of love.” Percy shrugged in a ‘so?’ gesture. “Even if they were in love, you have to let them figure it out themselves. Not everybody is as oblivious as you.”

   “I’m not oblivious!” Percy squawked.

   Jason raised an eyebrow, “Okay, and what did it take you and Annabeth to get together again?”

   “Well…” Percy thought if he should defend himself or tell the truth. “We’ve known each other since we were twelve, and we got together on my sixteenth birthday.” Jason and Nico nodded, looking like it was all very amusing – which Percy did not appreciate. “But! She kissed me in Mount St. Helens when I was fourteen.” This caused both Nico and Jason’s eyebrows to raise.

   “That did not help your point. At all,” Nico told Percy. The boy hmphed and went to look for his next victims.

   About an hour later, everybody was ready to read again. Aphrodite had already picked up the book, waiting for everybody to be quiet so she could read.

   Percy was, of course, situated in Grover’s lap again. He’d gotten showered with complements by the satyr and Grover was just an amazing cuddler.

   “My Dinner Goes Up In Smoke,” the goddess of love read out.

   Word of the bathroom incident spread immediately … who was still pretty much dripping wet.

   “Yeah, I’m sorry, but I think they were talking about you,” the Latino boy sitting next to Percy said.

   Percy huffed, “Thanks Leo, I hadn’t realised that yet.” He lifted an arm to ruffle the boy’s hair, making it stick up in weird angles.

   She showed me a few more places … “It wasn’t my fault.”

   That got him a few sceptical looks, mostly from the Romans that had been present for the war games Percy had participated in.

   She looked at me skeptically … I had become one with the plumbing.

   “The toilets had responded to me,” Travis wheezed. “I had become one with the plumbing.”

   Connor was laughing too much to form a coherent sentence, “Percy, say, out loud, thoughts, more!”

   “You need to talk to the oracle,” … I waved back.

   Clarisse jokingly cooed at Percy. He – because he’s twenty-one years old – wrinkled his nose and gave her the middle finger.

   “Don’t encourage them,” … “Naiads are terrible flirts.”

   Those of the sea looked uncomfortable at that description, but let it go since the girl had been a twelve year old.

   “Naiads,” … mentally disturbed kids?”

   The Greek kids nodded solemnly.

   “I mean not human. … “Half-god.”

   Percy mockingly bowed.

   Annabeth nodded … How sexist is that?”

   “Not at all,” Percy said, only his eyes betraying how he felt.

  “Who’s your mom then?” … She didn’t want to burst my bubble.

   Poseidon looked at his demigod son. Regret shone in his eyes; he hadn’t done anything wrong yet, but he still felt guilty for his son having to grow up the way he did. Yes, he had a caring mom, but that didn’t make everything right.

   “Maybe you’re right. … “You mean sometimes it doesn’t?”

   Piper, Jason, Leo, and the Romans looked up at that. “Wait, but Leo got claimed as soon as he got to camp,” Piper said confused.

   Annabeth tried to explain without giving too much away, “Things changed after the first war.”

   Annabeth ran her palm along the rail … But gods should behave better.

   Nico wasn’t surprised that Percy had always been that way. Ready to call out gods, just to ensure that others were treated better than they were before.

   “So I’m stuck here,” … “You are a New Yorker, right?”

   Annabeth shook her head at her book-self, “That’s an unnecessary question; the answer is obvious.”

   Grover nodded, “You’re right. He even had the accent!”

   “Oh, sure.” … but I felt too hungry and tired and mentally overloaded to ask any more questions.

   “Yeah,” Thalia said. “I understand you.”

   “I’ve got to get a quest,” … but his smile was intact.

   Percy groaned lowly and hid his face in his elbow, still laying on his back.

   “Found you a sleeping bag,” … He looked like he could handle just about anything.

   Some people’s eyes widened slightly at the adoration Percy seemed to have thought about Luke with.

   “So your dad is Hermes?” … and for a second I thought he was going to gut me,

   Luke’s face stayed impassive, while Percy almost invisibly flinched. Neither looked away from the book – or in Percy’s case, their arm.

   but he just scraped he mud off the sole of his sandal. … We take care of each other.”

   Percy had looked up to Luke. A half-blood of the eldest gods had looked up to a traitor – the hero. He didn’t dare look up from where he had his face hidden in the crook of his elbow, scared of seeing his friends’ disappointed faces. Grover was running his hand through Percy’s hair, keeping him calm.

   He seemed to understand how lost I felt, … which was the nicest thing anybody had done for me all day.

   Annabeth had a complicated look on her face. “Hey, you probably didn’t mean it too bad, but you weren’t really nice to him,” Piper told her softly.

   I decided to ask him my last big question, … “I hate prophecies.”

   That caused the demigods to snort.

   “What do you mean?” … even though I’d never heard one before.

   “Dang it! You have even more cool powers?” Leo whined, lightening the mood slightly.

   Luke yelled, … “Blue Cherry Coke.”

   Gwen looked softly at her friend, who was finally taking his face out of the hiding space that was his elbow. He loved his mom so much; it was truly admirable.

   The soda turned a violent shade of cobalt. … then someday . . .

   Hades started grumbling again, still not over the fact that his nephew had been in the underworld four times in the demigods’ time.

   “Here you go, Percy,” … I wondered if they were going for desert or something.

   Percy got a few unimpressed looks that he ignored in favour of trying to get closer to Grover so he could scratch just the right place – which sounded like he was a dog and his friend was scratching him behind his ears, which… to be fair, Grover was scratching him behind his ears.

   “Come on,” … most buttery roll.

   Dakota looked like he was trying to imagine the taste of the food the book was describing.

   Luke murmured in my ear,

   Only Grover could see the slight blush visible on Percy’s tan skin, hidden behind both the boy’s hands.

   “Burnt offerings for the gods … I wished I knew what god’s name to say.

   Chris looked at Percy with sympathy.

   Finally, … I felt that I was home.

   He’d uncovered his face a little while ago, but now he dared to look at Grover; and wrapped his arms around his friend’s waist. And even though the position was uncomfortable, he felt at home – perhaps even more than back then.

   Later in the evening … I wish I’d known how briefly I would get to enjoy my new home.

Chapter Text

   When Aphrodite stopped reading, she gave the book to Ares. The god looked affronted at being given the book, but calmed when he saw the title of the next chapter, “We Capture a Flag.”

   The next few days I settled into a routine that felt almost normal … even when he had to desnag a stray arrow out of his tail.

   Frank, ever the archer, grimaced slightly and asked, “That’s not as bad as it could’ve been. Where was Chiron standing?”

   “… Behind me,” Percy mumbled from behind his hands. Frank’s mouth dropped open and he looked speechless.

   Ares took the opportunity to keep reading.

   Foot racing? … it was a little humiliating to be slower than a tree.

   Katie looked like she had swallowed a lemon, “I may be a Demeter kid, but I cant lie and say that I don’t want to beat them at foot racing.” Travis wrapped his arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

   And wrestling? … but they weren’t having an easy time of it.

   Leo wasn’t proud of himself, but couldn’t help but feel satisfaction from that confession. He had never been too self assured and being friends with heroes didn’t help those feelings. Hearing that even Percy started off as a ‘loser’ made him feel a bit better.

   I wasn’t as strong as  the Ares kids … I started to understand Luke’s bitterness and how he seemed to resent his father, Hermes.

   Luke stole a glance in the direction of Percy. If he had done it right, he actually could have gotten Percy with him – he was glad he hadn’t now, but he could’ve.

   So okay, … make a phone appear?

   Those who had fought in the second Titanomachy couldn't even begin to see Percy not fighting for the gods; he had saved them, made the right decision – whatever that may have been.

   Thursday afternoon … I did the same.

   “That’s not fair,” Jason complained jokingly. Percy stuck out his tongue.

   Instantly, … Let’s all watch Percy get pounded.

   Thalia snorted.

   The Hermes guys gathered around. … I tried the disarming maneuver.

   Everyone was quiet, it was almost as if it was happing at that exact moment.

   My blade hit the base of Luke’s and I twisted, … “Um, sorry.”

   Grover gave a soft flick against Percy’s head.

   For a moment, … “But I wonder what Percy could do with a balanced sword . . .”

   A lot, was the answer.

   Friday afternoon, … So did you get it?”

   The spot where he had been flicked now got a slight pat, as if to make up for it.

   Grover looked down at the naiads. … “Of course I’d want you along!”

   Percy repeated that last line with the book, making sure Grover knew that was still true.

   Grover stared glumly into the water. … That’s her husband’s job.

   This time Grover was the one getting flicked – though Percy couldn’t reach much further than Grover’s stomach. “I apologise for that comment, lady Hera,” Grover said, resulting in a terse nod from Hera.

   When we say the Big Three, … Let’s leave it at that.”

   Grover grimaced, going to apologise but being stopped by Nico.

   “It’s okay, Grover. I know you don’t think that anymore.”

   Percy nodded, “If you still thought that, Rachel wouldn’t have been the oracle, so we know.”

   “But Zeus and Poseidon— … Thunder boomed.

   The gods all listened curiously.

   I said, … It wasn’t the little girl’s fault.”

   “No, it wasn’t,” Thalia said. “But the Styx cant take it out on my dad, so,” she trailed off, though it was obvious what she didn’t say.

   Grover hesitated. … and guilty too.

   Thalia glared at her cousin, daring him to still feel guilty.

   A girl my age had sacrificed herself to save her friends. … could I have saved my mother?

   This was even worse than still feeling guilty! She glared harder.

   “Grover,” … Grover looked as if I’d just led him into a trap.

   “I mean… You kind of did,” Jason reasoned. Percy gave him a dirty look and then pretended not to have heard him.

   “I didn’t . . . … it was time for capture the flag.

   Frank, Hazel, Dakota, Gwen and Reyna were excited to hear how he did in his first capture the flag game, since he’d absolutely obliterated the field during the war games as an amnesiac.

   When the plates were cleared away, … The scar on his face made him look almost evil in the torchlight.

   Annabeth made note of that thought.

   “We’ve made a temporary alliance with Athena. … They mostly sat out every activity and checked their reflections in the lake and did their hair and gossiped.

   “I should rephrase that,” Percy decided. “I wasn’t too worried about them in capture the flag. That’s a game, not an actual fight.” He felt like a terrible person for having ever thought that when Silena had been such a great warrior.

   Hephaestus’ kids weren’t pretty,

   Leo pouted.

   and there were only four of them, … I could have snowboarded on it fine,

   “What is with you and using shields as transportation?” Thalia asked exasperated.

   Percy regretted telling her about his journey to camp Jupiter, “If not transportation, why look so much like transportation? – No but seriously, it works. Like, why not use everything you have to your name to survive? Whether that’s a shield or a cheese ‘n’ wieners platter.” He got a shrug from the lieutenant.

   but I hoped nobody seriously expected me to run fast. … as if she were afraid I’d stolen something.

   When Annabeth got questioning looks, she explained, “I was keeping every option open. And anyway, he was sleeping in the Hermes cabin, whether or not he’s a Hermes kid, he might’ve learned things from them.”

   “Just watch Clarisse’s spear,” … “Glad you wanted me on your team.”

   Annabeth shot him a (not quite) apologetic look.

   It was a warm, … I’ll miss all the fun, as usual.

   “Not quite, mini me,” Percy reassured (?) himself.

   Then I heard a sound that sent a chill up my spine, … I felt the presence retreat.

   Percy shivered at the wording; feeling the presence retreat reminded him too much of what had happened in Tartarus.

   “It had been there so soon?” Annabeth asked. Percy nodded, while Luke was busying himself with anything but looking at any of the (demi-)gods.

   On the other side of the creek, … but these guys were not as stupid as the Minotaur.

   “Thanks, prissy, that’s really a compliment,” Clarisse drawled. Percy gave her a thumbs up.

   They surrounded me, … “Grab his hair.”

   The demigods gasped, affronted. “His hair?” Travis sounded offended.

   Percy was confused, “Why do you all sound so shocked?”

   “Your hair is majestic, dude,” was the answer he got from Leo.

   Sure, Percy liked his hair – he spent quite a bit of time to make sure the loose curls looked good – but to call it majestic? Before he could think on it longer, Ares started reading again.

   I managed to get to my feet. … “Guess I lost my desert privilege.”

   “Dessert privilege?” Poseidon stressed for his son. “What does that punishment even help?”

   Nico raised his hand, “To be fair, Uncle. I have refrained from maiming campers just for desert privileges before.” This didn’t seem to calm down the god of the sea whatsoever – huh, weird.

   He pushed me into the creek and I landed with a splash.

   Clarisse sighed.

   They all laughed. … I knew what to do.

   Triton raised an eyebrow; water didn’t tell him what to do, especially not fresh water.

   I swung the flat of my sword … and I snapped it like a twig.

   Percy sent an apologetic look Clarisse’s way – short enough that only she could see.

   “Ah!” … but she wasn’t there.

   Many had forgotten that Annabeth had made a plan, but now they remembered, most were unimpressed with the lack of care the girl showed for her fellow campers.

   “Where the heck did you learn to fight like that?” … “You didn’t need help.”

   “But if he had, you wouldn’t’ve been there,” Piper said to the girl next to her.

   Then she noticed my wounded arm. … and disappeared.

   He can heal himself with water. Any water.

   “I— … “Step out of the water, Percy.”

   Annabeth relaxed slightly, she had finally figured it out.

   “What—” … A howl ripped through the forest.

   People tensed up again.

   The campers’ cheering died instantly. … his moment of glory gone.

   Luke had closed his eyes sometime during that paragraph. At the mention of his name, he opened them again.

   Clarisse yelled, … “I’m sorry . . .”

   Amphitrite decided to take it upon herself to learn the boy not to apologise when it wasn’t needed.

   But they weren’t watching my wounds heal. … “Poseidon,”

   Those that hadn’t been there for the claiming were drinking in every word being said.

   said Chiron. “Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God.”

   “Damn, my claiming wasn’t this dramatic,” Jason said breathlessly.

   Nico piped up, “I didn’t even get claimed.”

Chapter Text

   Completely ignoring the looks he got at that, Nico asked, “Who is reading next?”

   “Maybe Chiron could,” Percy offered, knowing the gist of the next chapter. The trainer of heroes had no choice but to take the book from Ares and begin reading.

   “I am offered a quest,” Chiron read.

   Hazel looked away from her brother, “Wait, you were twelve for your first quest?” When Percy nodded, she looked at Frank – seemingly for help.

   “And,” Frank began, “which quest is it that you… fell six hundred feet?” He whispered the last part, not wanting anyone else to hear.

   Percy grimaced, “That was this one.” The others, having noticed the conversation but having missed the part Frank whispered, looked on concerned.

   The next morning, … I got to sit at my own dinner table,

   “So not only are the cabins divided, but those alone have to sit alone?” Reyna spoke up. She got nods from the Greeks. She sighed, not agreeing with how they did the sorting.

   pick all my own activities, … And I was absolutely miserable.

   Some of the campers looked at Percy confused; they had always wanted to have that, why wouldn’t he?

   Just when I’d started to feel accepted, … I’d been separated out as if I had some rare disease.

   Nico could relate to that. He’d never seen how similar he and Percy actually were.

   Hazel laid the arm that wasn’t around Frank around Percy’s shoulders for comfort. She saw Percy as her cousin – maybe even a sibling – and didn’t like her family being cast out.

   Nobody mentioned the hellhound, … They could even invade a camp that had always been considered safe.

   “We were,” Katie confessed. “Talking about the hellhound, I mean.” She felt obligated to make sure Percy knew everything they had been saying behind his back.

   The other campers steered clear of me as much as possible. … Fifty more repetitions.”

   “Fifty?” Dakota asked. Luke merely nodded; he didn’t feel like he had the permission to talk to anyone, he’d fucked it up for them enough.

   Annabeth still taught me Greek in the mornings, … as if I’d just poked her between the eyes.

   The girl looked embarrassed that everyone was reading about her as a twelve-year-old.

   After lessons, … Got to make a plan . . .”

   Percy grimaced lightly, shuffling closer into Hazel’s embrace.

   Even Clarisse kept her distance, … I’d rather get into fights every day than be ignored.

   Thalia didn’t like how ready Percy was to be punched if it meant being ‘liked’. It had to be a reflection of his home situation, but it seemed her cousin sometimes almost thought it was part of a relationship — platonic or not.

   It worried her.

   I knew somebody at camp resented me, because one night I came into my cabin and found a mortal newspaper dropped inside the doorway.

   Percy searched in Luke’s eyes for confirmation that he hadn’t done anything. He couldn’t find it, of course, but one could hope. They’d still been friends at that point.

   A copy of the New York Daily News, … The phone number was circled in black marker.

   Percy’s closest friends – his cousins, Frank and Leo – had to quickly breathe out so they wouldn’t curse anyone out.

   I wadded up the paper and threw it away, … I had my worst dream yet.

   At the alarmed looks on the sea deities’ faces, Percy said, “Don’t worry, that’s by far not the worst dream I’ve had. I have demigod dreams quite often—” He cut of his own rambling with a sheepish look, realising he was only making them pale faster. “I’ll just shut up.”

   I was running along the beach in a storm. … Like a kindergartner fighting over a toy.

   By now, everyone had figured out who the two gods were and were trying to keep a straight face. Demeter and Aphrodite snorted at the commentary regarding two ancient gods.

   The waves got bigger, … Come down!

   Everyone sobered up at that.

   The sand split beneath me, … sure I was falling.

   At those words, those that sailed the Argo II knew immediately where the voice had come from.

   I was still in bed in cabin three. … sure I was in huge trouble.

   “You’re not the best at being subtle, are you, Grover?” Leo joked. The satyr blushed and shook his head.

   For days, … They kept their eyes on the storm.

   “And that didn’t help with them not trusting you, did it?” Gwen asked with her melodic voice. Percy shook his head with a sad smile.

   Grover and I walked up to the front porch of the Big House. … “Our little celebrity.”

   Piper and Leo snorted, having read the Harry Potter series together at the Wilderness school.

   I waited. … “Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D,” Chiron put in.

   Dionysus was subtly hiding from the glare Poseidon sent his way.

   “Nonsense,” Dionysus said. “Boy wouldn’t feel a thing.

   “He’s right,” Hermes said lightly.

   Nevertheless, … “What did you make of the hellhound?”

   “Isn’t that obvious?” Triton sniffed.

   Just hearing the name made me shudder. … “It scared me,” I said.

   Will snorted, “You told the truth because you ‘didn’t feel like lying’.”

   “If you hadn’t shot it, I’d be dead.”

   That made the demigods shudder; how would everything have happened if Percy had died?

   “You’ll meet worse, … Will you accept it?”

   “Girl, what?” Piper blurted out. Leo snickered at her slip up, resulting in a glare from the girl. “I mean… ‘his quest’? He’s been there for a week!” She glanced nervously at the gods — she’d corrected herself, but her semi-openly questioning their decisions was not the best idea.

   Luckily the gods seemed pretty relaxed; they hadn’t done anything super weird since everyone had arrived there. It seemed almost too good to be true — knock on wood  — but Piper sincerely hoped this was just how the gods normally were. You know, when they weren’t about to be killed off by their older relatives.

   Her mother was the first one to respond, “It’s supposed to be a great honour to go on a quest, especially so young. You are trusted to do whatever it is you’re assigned to do. I am not sure what Chiron is thinking sending young Percy on this mission, other than that he’s apparently the only child of the big three, right then.”

   “We’re probably about to hear why,” Frank spoke up, the rumbling of his chest waking up Percy, who’d been dozing off, laid across Hazel and him.

   I glanced at Grover, … I wished I hadn’t opened my big mouth.

   “Oh, but your big mouth is something that had kept you from being killed,” Chris commented. When Annabeth looked like she wanted to refute that statement, he said, “It confuses them or endears them to you. I’m pretty sure that you’re the only one that can pull it off, but you somehow do.”

   “The weather since Christmas has been weird, … Chiron ordered.

   Hazel looked furious at the quick dismissal of Grover. “‘Hush, satyr’? That’s not something you can just say to someone! Grover is an amazing person, and he was right to be excited.”

   Chiron bowed his head and apologised.

   “But it is his quest!” … “A what?”

   “Poseidon’s spawn is right; a what?” Zeus spoke calmly, but everyone could hear his barely concealed anger.

   “Do not take this lightly,” … My mouth fell open.

   “Girl, what?” Leo mocked Piper. “No, but actually, what? Why is Percy being accused?”

   Luke spoke up, “Because of the rivalry between the two younger brothers and Percy being the only child of the big three in… forever, the lord of the skies saw it fitting to accuse that twelve-year-old of stealing his symbol of power.” He had to be careful not to say too much, since he didn’t want to incriminate himself before everyone had to know.

   “At least” … Zeus is crazy!”

   People opened their mouths to say something; either to defend Percy, or to be offended by him.

   Percy had a sour look on his face, “I… apologise for calling you crazy, uncle.” Everyone shut their mouths and turned their heads to look at him.

   After a silence that was just way too long, Chiron started reading again.

   Chiron and Grover glanced nervously at the sky. … He looked at me as if he actually expected me to remember question thirty-eight.

   “Well, he probably wont, right seaweed brain?” Annabeth joked.

   How could anyone accuse me of stealing a god’s weapon? I couldn’t even steal a slice of pizza from Gabe’s poker party without getting busted.

   Percy was slightly worried about some of the inhuman noises that he heard at that. (He could’ve sworn he heard Thalia make some kind of growling noise.)

   Chiron was waiting for an answer. … “But I’m just a kid!”

   A lot of the gods flinched at the reminder.

   “Percy,” … “Most thinking observers would agree that thievery is not Poseidon’s style.”

   Stupid. Stupid, stupid, this had been a huge hint as to who had stolen the bolt.

   But the sea god is too proud to try convincing Zeus of that. … “Bad?”

   The slowly building tension, disappeared.

   “‘Bad’,” Jason choked out. He, Piper and Leo were doubled over laughing, so deeply entwined that it looked like they were melted together.

   “Imagine the world in chaos. … “Bad,” I repeated.

   While everyone had stopped laughing for Chiron to read, most started laughing again just at the thought of Percy’s face back then.

   “And you, … “Good reason.”

   “I disagree,” Nico spoke up for the first time in a while. “I think you should be told regardless. Then you at least have the choice to agree or decline to the quest. This is basically just lying by omission.”

   “You agree then?”

   Nico gave the book in Chiron’s hands a dirty look, but kept quiet.

   I looked at Grover, … we will talk more.”

   “Whoa there, partner,” Leo said in an exaggerated Texan accent. “‘Assuming you’re still sane’ implies that people have gone or are likely to go insane. What’s that about?”

   Will, as the only one that hadn’t cringed themselves to death, answered cryptically, “You’re about to see, but Rachel had only been the Oracle for like… three months when you came to camp.”

   Four flights up, … The smell of snakes.

   Percy and Will grimaced — both for different reasons.

   I held my breath and climbed. … a mummy.

   “Referring to ‘mom’, right?” Gwen squeaked.

   Not the wrapped-in-cloth kind, … she’d been dead for a long, long time.

   Percy pulled a face, trying not to look Nico’s way.

   Looking at her sent chills up my back. … just looking for the bathroom.

   Quiet chuckles were heard all around the tree.

   But I forced myself to take a deep breath. … “What is my destiny?”

   “To be a sassy young man,” Thalia answered, faux-seriously.

   The mist swirled more thickly, … It was Smelly Gabe and his buddies.

   Those of the sea sneered at the book.

   My fists clenched, … You shall go west and face the god who has turned.

   No one said anything, too deep in thought — or, like Athena, too busy writing down exactly what the oracle said.

   His buddy on the right looked up and said in the same voice: You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned.

   Percy would never say it out loud, in fear of getting smote, but he thought he saw Zeus pump his fist into the air quickly.

   The guy on the left threw in two poker chips, then said: You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.

   Luke flinched at that. He’d never fully heard the prophecy Percy had been given then, but to know that Percy had probably been fearing being betrayed by one of his friends when his fatal flaw was loyalty, was hard.

   Finally, Eddie, our building super, delivered the worst line of all: And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end.

   Those who didn’t know the prophecy and how it had played out, looked dumbfounded. ‘What would Percy fail to save?’

   The figures began to dissolve, … My audience with the Oracle was over.

   Apollo nodded.

   “Well?” … “She said I would retrieve what was stolen.”

   Hazel patted Percy’s shoulder.

   Grover sat forward, … “This is important.”

   “Is it? You’re not going on the quest,” Percy grumbled.

   My ears were still ringing from the reptilian voice. … “Anything else?”

   Only Frank, as the designated pillow, could hear Percy mutter ‘yeah, go fuck yourself’ to himself.

   I didn’t want to tell him. … “That’s about it.”

   “It was only half of the prophecy, but you know…” Dakota trailed off.

   He studied my face. … “Hades.”

   “I’m sorry, uncle. I was told it was you, and while we found out it wasn’t, I’m apologising for all the times we’re about to accuse you of things you didn’t do.”

   Hades looked up with a small, bitter smile, “Don’t worry, Percy, wouldn’t be the first time.”

   Chiron nodded. … “That’s two major gods who want to kill me.”

   Grover sighed dreamily, “The times when it was just two.” Percy snorted.

   “What do you mean? How many are there now?” Poseidon worried.

   “Well,” Percy started. “Hades doesn’t want to kill me anymore, so one less… but there are Athena, Ares, Phobos, Deimos, most of the titans and primordials — do those count? — and Eros, but that’s more on principle.” After he was done listing the names, but trying not to give too much away, he complained to himself about how unfair it was that they all hated him when he’d done nothing wrong. All the while Poseidon looked at his son, horrified.

   “But a quest to . . .” … The desire for revenge.

   Hazel looked down at Percy, concerned.

   Hades had tried to kill me three times so far, … I was ready to take him on.

   The lord of the underworld looked vaguely offended at the insinuation that a twelve-year-old boy could beat him.

   “Don’t worry, father. He didn’t try to beat you up,” Nico said, trying to be reassuring. “Nor did he succeed!” He added hurriedly. At least not then…

   Besides, … Hades is a god.

   Hades nodded smugly, while Percy tried not to laugh.

   Grover was trembling. … “You’re saying I’m being used.”

   Poseidon winced.

   “I’m saying it’s no accident Poseidon has claimed you now.” … haven’t you?”

   Percy could feel his own emotions at the idea that Chiron had also, kind of, been in control of the chess board all the gods used the demigods on as pawns.

   “I had my suspicions. … “That’s about right.”

   Jason looked constipated, or at least, that’s what Percy thought.

   I looked at Grover, … “I can’t ask that of you.”

   Grover gave Percy the Empathy Link Equivalent Of A Flick Against The Forehead™ for acting like the satyr hadn’t been desperately trying to go on a quest.

   “Oh . . .” … but I felt better knowing he’d be with me.

   Aphrodite and Hestia smiled at the familial love the two had for each other.

   “All the way, … So we just get on a plane—”

   “No!” Poseidon was frantically shaking his head.

   “No!” … “Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?”

   Annabeth looked slightly annoyed at being talked down to, but before she had a chance to say anything, Chiron had already begun reading the next sentence.

   The air shimmered behind Chiron. … I’m the best person to keep you from messing up.”

   Nico, who had only seen Annabeth as Percy’s friend who he’d fight across the entirety of America for, couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something off about the encounter. She was trying to get approval to go on the quest, why was she insulting the quest-leader? Especially before it was decided whether she could go.

   “If you do say so yourself,” … I needed all the help I could get.

   “You are allowed to choose your quest-mates, right?” Jason asked. “As in, Percy could have denied Annabeth’s request to go with and have asked someone else?”

   For that question, he got a dirty look from Annabeth and a small nod from Chiron.

   “A trio,” … “I think you should all get packing.”

Chapter Text

   They quickly had lunch before starting on the next chapter.

   “ I ruin a perfectly good bus ,” Hades read after being handed the book.

​​   ​​It didn't take me long to pack. … —whatever that meant.

   He got a few incredulous looks, then. “I’d assume it means that they’re for non mortal transactions ,” Thalia said slowly. 

    He gave Annabeth and me each a canteen of nectar and a Ziploc bag

full of ambrosia squares, … An overdose would burn us up, literally.

    Adding onto the joking mood, Will said: “As opposed to figuratively burning us up.”

    Annabeth was bringing her magic Yankees cap, … both of which sounded pretty bad on reed pipes.

    Grover blushed at that, “That’s–”

   “True,” Percy interrupted playfully. Grover huffed and turned his face away from Percy.

    We waved good-bye to the other campers, … daughter of Zeus.

   Thalia rolled her eyes at the full title.

    Chiron was waiting for us in his wheelchair. … keep an eye on things."

   It was silent, except for the sound of Leo trying to muffle his snickers.

    I heard footsteps behind us. … They even smelled kind of normal.

   Jason looked mildly constipated. “Smelled normal?”

   Leo turned his head toward his best friend and replied, “Yeah, classmates are ruthless… wait.”

   “You never went to school!” Piper exclaimed, starting an uproar. The gods were talking to each other, confused, while Zeus just looked shocked – ha – at the news.

   Hazel turned to Frank who mumbled, “It kind of makes sense…”

    Luke said,"Maia!" … It made me blush almost as much as Annabeth.

   Percy hid his face in Grover’s shoulder.

    "Hey, man," … why do I want to go anywhere with you, Percy?"

   “You didn’t,” he joked.

    She stomped down the other side of the hill, … "I won't be able to use these, will I?"

   Most of the demigods looked confused, but kept quiet with the thought that it would probably be explained.

    He shook his head. "Luke meant well, Percy. But taking to the air ... that would not be wise for you."

    They nodded, pleased with the explanation.

    I nodded, … and the world's first flying goat boy was ready for launch.

   The Stolls’ eyes had widened to a, frankly, frightening degree. They looked like they had had a revelation that could outdo even the invention of fire – not that Percy thought that humans should get to take the credit for Hephaestus’ domain, of course.

    "Maia!" … Grover went flying sideways down the hill like a possessed lawn mower,

   Percy couldn't hold back his snort, resulting in a half-hearted glare from his best friend.

    heading toward the van. … or Annabeth's invisible cap.

   “That doesn't make you sound like a brat, Percy,” Annabeth reassured him.

    "What am I thinking?" …  "Gee," I said. "Thanks."

   “Little Three Sarcasm!” Leo cheered, gaining him a few weird looks from the gods. He then mumbled: “Oh, well… Actually it’s little five, but then it doesn't make sense with the Big Three…” 

   "Percy, that's a gift from your father. … but this sword wouldn't harm them in any case."

   Rachel gave Percy a dirty look, teasing, “Yeah, Perce, you shouldnt harm mortals.” This caused most of the people to look puzzled.

    I looked at the wickedly sharp blade. …"Lose the pen,"

   “Can Chiron read minds?” Leo asked, genuinely interested.

   After a beat, Clarisse answered, “Not that I know of.”

    he said. … "But what if a mortal sees me pulling out a sword?"

   When he saw Rachel opening her mouth with a playful look on her face, Percy shot a half-hearted glare in her direction, shutting her up.

    Chiron smiled. … there was a time before  them, right?"

   Those that were there for the Titan war looked surprised.

    "Four ages before them, … nothing could happen so bad it would mess up everything,  right?"

   Hazel went over to give Percy a side hug, sitting on the side Grover wasn't sitting.

    Chiron gave me a melancholy smile. … "I'm very relaxed."

   Leo gave the rest a look like ‘what did i say?’

    When I got to the bottom of the hill, … "Ten miles and not a single monster."

   Even the gods looked bewildered at Percy.

    She gave me an irritated look. …  "Could've fooled me."

   “To be fair, Annie, you do give off that vibe, slightly .” Thalia said.

    She folded her cap of invisibility. … "They must really like olives."

   Athena looked at Percy and raised her eyebrows in a ‘really?’ gesture.

   "Oh, forget it." … I ripped it down before Annabeth and Grover could notice.

   “I kind of did notice,” grover told him gently.

    Argus unloaded our bags, … not even missing her.

   Artemis and Aphrodite scowled at the book.

    Grover shouldered his backpack. … I didn't care about retrieving Zeus's lightning bolt,

   Zeus looked mildly offended at that, but did not comment.

    or saving the world, … Shut up, I told it.

   All of the Seven related to that.

    The rain kept coming down. … but Annabeth and I were too busy cracking up.

   Laughter broke out.

    Finally the bus came. … I started looking over my shoulder, too.

   “Yes, trust your gut,” Poseidon muttered.

    I was relieved when we finally got on board and found seats together in the back of the bus. … but definitely the same evil face.

   By now everyone was silently listening to Hades read.

    I scrunched down in my seat. … nobody leaves.

   Leo almost whimpered, imagining the scene.

    The bus pulled out of the station, … "You're obviously not."

   “Describing Percy's whole life in three words,” Luke whispered to himself. Rachel, who was sat next to him, gave him a look and he shut up.

    "All three of them," … There wasn't one.  

   “That’s not safe,” The god of the forge grunted, Leo nodding in agreement.

   Even if there had been, … "They'll see three old ladies killing us, won't they?"

   Hades thought about it, “They might, but most probably not.” The demigods mock-cheered.

    She thought about it. … "So do I," said the third sister.

    Well that’s not creepy at all , was the common thought.

    They all started coming down the aisle. … "I can't just leave you."

    Personal loyalty . Thalia sighed.

    "Don't worry about us," … "Where is it? Where?"

   “It?” Athena asked, but the questers just shook their heads.

    The other people on the bus were screaming, …  What I did next was so impulsive and dangerous I should've been named ADHD poster child of the year.

   His father sighed.

    The bus driver was distracted, … and I heard what I hoped was the sound of three Furies smashing against the windows.

   “And us,” Annabeth grumbled into Piper’s shoulder.

    "Hey!" … I hit the emergency brake.

   If not for the fact that her daughter was there, alive, Athena would have had a heart attack.

    The bus wailed, … "Hey!"

   “Of course you took off the cap,” Poseidon lamented.

   The Furies turned, … "I liked you better as a math teacher," I told her.

   Chris snorted.

    She growled. … "And you will not suffer eternal torment."

   “Wait,” Leo said, making a time out sign with his hands, “why do monsters always say the same thing?”

   “I don't know, man,” Travis commiserated.

    "Nice try," … but I swung Riptide and she broke open like a piñata.

   Hades paused his reading to look at Percy. “You’ve killed all three of my furies now…” He trailed off.

    Mrs. Dodds was trying to get Annabeth off her back. … "Braccas meas vescimini!"I yelled.

   The Romans looked surprised at that, while the Greeks looked mostly confused.

    I wasn't sure where the Latin came from. I think it meant "Eat my pants!"

   Now the Greeks started snickering.

    Thunder shook the bus. … A Hawaiian-shirted tourist with a camera snapped my photograph before I could recap my sword.

   “Awh, shoot,” Katie sighed, even though Percy was pretty sure she knew how the quest had gone.

    "Our bags!" … and nothing but darkness ahead.

Chapter Text

   “They’re trying to get back your bolt! Why are you keeping them from doing that?” Aphrodite spoke.

   Zeus looked lost, not sure what to say.

   “Please do remember that this happens in the future; he hasn't done this yet. Though I do agree that it is a ridiculous thing to do.” Hestia said.

   “He did things like this a few times during this quest,” Percy piped up, immediately silenced by Grover. He grumpily turned away from the gods and slumped in his seat, Hazel’s arm over his shoulder keeping him from turning fully.

   Thalia snickered, getting her a look from Grover who didn't want his friend to say something concerning again – at least while the gods were not used to it.

   Poseidon opened the book, “ We visit a garden gnome emporium .”

    In a way, it's nice to know there are Greek gods out there,

   The Lord of the seas stopped reading, frowning slightly at the next sentences.

   “What’s wrong?” Amphitrite inquired, trying to get a look at the book.

    because you have somebody to blame when things go wrong. … you understand that some divine force really is trying to mess up your day.

   It was silent in the clearing.

    So there we were, …The farther away we get, the better."

   Athena nodded pleased.

    "All our money was back there," … I would've been fine."

   “Sure… fine,” Clarisse muttered.

   "Sliced like sandwich bread," Grover put in, "but fine."

   Leo nodded, looking like he found this a perfectly normal comparison.

   "Shut up, goat boy," … "We're a team, right?"

   Annabeth and Percy exchanged a smile.

    She was silent for a few more steps. … This may be my only chance to see the real world."

   The demigods – sans the questers – were taken aback.

   “What?” Nico whispered slowly.

   The thunderstorm had finally let up. … "Anybody who can piggyback-ride a Fury is okay by me."

   “That’s really nice, Percy,” Hazel commented.

   Leo subtly turned toward Jason, “Especially since Annabeth just told him that she wouldn't care if he died.”

    I couldn't really see, … like the sound of an owl being tortured.

   Poseidon was stopped from reading by a distraught Athena, “What do you mean an owl being tortured?”

   “Don’t worry, mother,” Annabeth tried to reassure her. “It was just Grover’s pipes.”

    "Hey, my reed pipes still work!" … I immediately slammed into a tree and got a nice-size knot on my head.

   Tyson looked concerned for his brother, while most of the demigods were snickering.

    Add to the list of superpowers I did not have: infrared vision.

   “But you have so many powers, Percy!” Annabeth lightly scolded. Percy just nodded uncomfortably.

    After tripping and cursing and generally feeling miserable for another mile or so, … This boy needed a double cheeseburger.

   “Ooh, we need to have a Little Three burger meeting,” Thalia interrupted. Percy immediately nodded.

   “B-Burger meeting?” Leo sputtered.

   “Meeting makes it sound very professional,” Nico said.

   Thalia thought for a second, “A burger get together?”

    We kept walking until I saw a deserted two-lane road through the trees. …ATNYU MES GDERAN GOMEN MEPROUIM.

   Everyone was quiet, trying to decipher what that meant.

   “Whatest the fucketh?” Rachel spoke up first, causing those around her to break out laughing.

   "What the heck does that say?" I asked.

   Frank opened and closed his mouth, “Did… Did whoever wrote these books censor them?”

   “Probably, Percy is a New Yorker and the son of the sea god; he swears like a sailor,” Grover said.

    "I don't know," Annabeth said. … "Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium."

   Those of the sea grimaced, as did Annabeth and Grover.

   Flanking the entrance, … We ignored him.

   The two grimaced and shot Grover apologetic looks.

    The front lot was a forest of statues: … "You eat cheese enchiladas and aluminum cans," I reminded him.

   “Does Coach Hedge eat aluminium too?” Piper asked Annabeth.

    "Those are vegetables. … Where are your parents?"

   “Oh, no,” Percy groaned while Annabeth and Grover snickered.

   “What?” Thalia asked gleefully. She just got a suffering look as Percy gestured at his father to read.

    "They're … Is that food I smell?"

   Thalia was quiet. This, Percy found much more concerning than her laughing at him.

   “I’m sorry,” Will spoke up. “You… what?” He sounded genuinely confused, only adding onto Percy’s embarrassment.

   "Oh, my dears," … "Always have a strategy, right?"

   Athena looked pained, hearing whatever Percy said being described as a strategy.

    "Your head is full of kelp."

   “Ey!” Thalia “That’s my nickname!”

   The warehouse was filled with more statues— … But mostly, I was thinking about food.

   Those that didn't know who Aunty Em was yet, were trying to figure it out.

    Go ahead, … it made everything else go away.

   “You’re an idiot,” Travis complied.

    I barely noticed Grover's nervous whimpers, or the way the statues' eyes seemed to follow me, or the fact that Aunty Em had locked the door behind us.

   “But you did notice all those things,” Apollo said.

   All I cared about was finding the dining area. … "we don't have any money, ma'am."

   Hermes and his kids groaned half-heartedly.

    Before I could jab him in the ribs, … so I figured it must've been my imagination.

   Poseidon didn't say anything, but Percy could see that he was holding himself back.

    "Quite all right, Annabeth," … I was halfway through my burger before I remembered to breathe.

   Hazel and Frank shook their heads fondly, remembering their own quest.

    Annabeth slurped her shake. …"What's that hissing noise?" he asked.

   Jason seemed to be determined to figure out who Aunty Em was before he was told, listening eagerly.

    I listened, … trying to sound interested.

   “You didnt,” Grover whispered to him.

    "Oh, yes," … but it was just a statue of a young girl holding an Easter basket.

   Hermes leaned forward slightly.

   The detail was incredible, … "You make these statues yourself?" I asked.

   Athena’s eyes lit up, having found out who the kids were talking to.

    "Oh, yes. … The sadness in her voice sounded so deep and so real that I couldn't help feeling sorry for her.

   “But,” Hazel whispered to Frank. “They were chasing after Percy on his way to camp.”

   “Death was imprisoned,” he reminded her.

    Annabeth had stopped eating. … Who would want to hurt somebody so nice?

   The goddess of wisdom grimaced.

    "Percy?" … "The ringmaster is waiting! Right!"

   “I can't believe you guys are continuing the carnival story,” Dakota chuckled.

   “Circus,” Gwen corrected him, giggling.

    I didn't want to leave. … What's the harm?"

   Chiron looked pained, but kept quiet.

    "Yes, Annabeth," … "That sure does look like Uncle Ferdinand."

   Dionysus and Hermes frowned.

    "Grover," … "That is  Uncle Ferdinand!" Grover gasped.

   Grover sighed sadly.

    "Look away from her!" … "No! Don't!"

   “Thanks,” he told her.

    More rasping— … "Such a pity to destroy a handsome young face,"

   “Ew,” Leo said. “I could ignore the ‘everyone loves children’ comment, but this?”

   Will nodded, “It’s gross.”

    she told me soothingly. …  Aunty Em. Aunty "M." How could I have been so stupid?

   Those that had not known, knew now. They looked at Percy, Annabeth and Grover, jaw slack.

    Think, … You would be better off as a statue. Less pain. Less pain."

    Less pain . None of the demigods wanted to say anything about it, scared that they would sound too bitter.

    "Percy!" … Knowing Grover, I was sure he'd miss Medusa and nail me.

   “Love the confidence,” Grover grumbled humorously.

    I dove to one side. … Then Medusa roared with rage.

   They were cheering for Grover now.

    "You miserable satyr," … "Jeez! Don't do that!"

   Annabeth snickered.

    Annabeth took off her Yankees cap and became visible. … You—you've got a chance."

   “Hey look, you overcame your fatal flaw,” Piper softly said to Annabeth.

   Annabeth flushed, “Yeah, well… First and last time.” She sounded miserable, Piper put her arm back around Annabeth’s shoulder, giving her a side hug.

    "What? … "Would you speak English?"

   Everyone, except for Leo, Annabeth, Athena and Hephaestus looked confused.

    "I am!" … but he'll eventually crash."

   Grover gave her an ugly look.

    I took out my pen and uncapped it. … twenty feet, ten feet.

   The tension in the clearing had been getting thicker since the beginning of the fight.

    I could see the reflection of her face now. … the sound of a monster disintegrating.

   Tyson looked totally in awe of his big brother, earning him a pat on the back and a smile from Percy.

    Something fell to the ground next to my foot. …It was still dripping green juice.

   Piper looked green, “Horrible thing to think about.”

   "Are you okay?" … It can still petrify you."

   Percy grimaced, remembering what he had done next.

    Grover moaned as he climbed down from the grizzly statue. … "So we have Athena to thank for this monster?"

   “I apologise, Lady Athena,” Percy said quickly. 

    Annabeth flashed me an irritated look. … You probably reminded her of him."

   “But that’s the Roman story,” Jason broke in. “In the Greek myths she was always a gorgon.”

   Annabeth’s face flushed and she stayed quiet.

    My face was burning. … What are we going to do with the head?"

   “I would like to apologise in advance, since I'm about to do something in the book that I'm sure you won’t appreciate,” Percy warned.

   Hesitantly, Poseidon continued reading.

    I stared at the thing. …"I'll be back."

   The Romans looked at Percy, frightened.

    "Percy," … I folded up the bill and stuffed it in my pocket.

   “Good,” Apollo commented apprehensively.

    In the cash register I found twenty dollars, … I rummaged around the rest of the office until I found the right-size box.

   “‘Right-size box?’” Will asked incredulously. “The right size for what?” He caught Percy’s sheepish smile and sighed.

    I went back to the picnic table, … With best wishes, PERCY JACKSON

   Reyna winced.

    "They're not going to like that," … "I am impertinent," I said.

   Hermes mostly looked annoyed at him having more work; not at what he was transporting.

   I looked at Annabeth, … "We need a new plan."

Chapter Text

   “ We get advice from a poodle ,” Zeus read.

   “Huh?” Travis did a double take.

   “Don’t worry about it,” Grover snickered.

    We were pretty miserable that night. … We didn't want to attract anything else.

   Apollo looked unsure, “I get that, but had you not been demigods, that could’ve been bad.”

   We decided to sleep in shifts. I volunteered to take first watch.

   “Oh, no you don’t” Thalia chuckled.

   “I got the first shift,” Grover reassured her.

   Annabeth curled up on the blankets and was snoring as soon as her head hit the ground. … It's useless to lecture a human.

   Rachel glared at Grover playfully, “Hey!”

   “I’m sorry,” Grover apologised. “That wasn’t necessary and you’re great, Percy.”

    At the rate things are going, I'll never find Pan."

   "Pam? Like the cooking spray?"

   Hermes’s jaw dropped. Zeus quickly continued reading.

   "Pan!" he cried indignantly. "P-A-N. The great god Pan!

   The messenger god still looked baffled, but kept quiet.

    What do you think I want a searcher's license for?" … Suddenly I was nostalgic for something I'd never known.

   “You smelled it too?” Grover asked his friend, his eyes shining. Percy hummed, nodding.

   "Tell me about the search," … "Oh, right, sorry."

   “It’s fine.”

    Grover shook his head. … I'll be the first searcher to return alive."

   Jason looked shocked, “The first searcher to return alive ?”

   "Hang on— the first?" … you really think you'll be the one to find Pan?"

   “That wasn’t meant to sound douchy, bee-tee-dubs,” Percy explained.

   Piper winced, “Bee-tee-dubs?” Percy just nodded proudly.

    "I have to believe that, … was I any better?

   “Nope,” the demigods said proudly.

    "How are we going to get into the Underworld?" … Annabeth will have a plan all figured out."

   “I get that she wasn’t nice, but you were very harsh,” Hestia chastised Percy.

    "Don't be so hard on her, … your first assignment that went wrong—"

   “You’re really observant, Percy,” His dad – was that his dad? This Poseidon was from a time when his mother wasn’t even born yet – complimented him.

   "I can't talk about it," … "Well, duh. I'm getting blamed for stealing a thunder-bolt that Hades took."

   “Persassy,” Connor snickered, confusing the gods.

    "That's not what I mean," … 'Where is it? Where?'"

   “Asking about an ‘it’,” Athena noted.

    "Asking about me," … I agreed to go to the Underworld so I could bring back my mother."

   Persephone glanced at the boy sadly.

   Grover blew a soft note on his pipes. … He doesn't care about me. I don't care about him."

   “That’s just a lie,” Thalia whispered to her cousin.

   Grover gazed down from his tree branch. … We barely got out of New York and we're stuck here with no money and no way west."

   Leo’s eyes widened, “ Nothing worth bragging about ? I got turned into gold on my first quest and I was fifteen!”

    Grover looked at the night sky, … I stood in a dark cavern before a gaping pit.

   Percy took a deep breath, shuffling closer to Grover. Hazel gave him some more room, scared that she’d remind him of their quest otherwise.

   Gray mist creatures churned all around me, … something huge and evil.

   The gods whispered between each other, while the demigods were either quiet, or trying to help those that had been in Tartarus.

    The little hero , … but perhaps you will do.

   “‘Will do’ for what?” Triton asked.

   Luke cringed, curling in on himself slightly.

    The voice felt ancient—cold and heavy. … The spirits of the dead whispered around me, No! Wake!

   Despite the situation, Hades’ lips curled; his spirits were trying to help the boy.

    The image of my mother began to fade. … It was using me to pull itself out.

   Percy shivered.

    Good , … "the zombie lives."

   “Are you okay?” Annabeth asked. Percy shakily nodded.

    I was trembling from the dream. … Annabeth tossed me a bag of nacho-flavored corn chips from Aunty Em's snack bar.

   “Cook,” Thalia snorted fondly.

   "And Grover went exploring. … a dirty, unnaturally pink stuffed animal.

   “What?” Piper asked.

    No. … "Are you ... talking to that thing?"

   “How much weren’t you told?” Reyna asked incredulously.

   Percy grimaced, “I think it’s easier to say what I had been told.”

    The poodle growled. … "Forget it."

   Thalia’s eyes glittered with glee, “You said hello, didn’t you?”

    "Percy," … You say hello to the poodle."

   “You said hello to the poodle too!” Thalia cackled.

    The poodle growled. I said hello to the poodle.

   Thalia was wiping tears out of the corners of her eyes, now.

    Grover explained that he'd come across Gladiola in the woods and they'd struck up a conversation. … "Duh."

   It was silent for a moment, until Katie spoke up, deadly calm, “You’re telling me… That poodles can read better than us?”

   "Of course," … "Not another bus," I said warily.

   “I don’t think that was the bus’s fault,” Chris commented. When he got a glare from Annabeth, he backtracked, “Or maybe it was, who knows?”

   "No," … the west-bound train leaves at noon."

Chapter Text

   The book was passed to Hephaestus, “ I plunge to my death .”

   Percy groaned, “Not this one.”

    We spent two days on the Amtrak train, … is shown here fleeing from the bus where he accosted several elderly female passengers.

   “‘Accosted several elderly female passengers,’” Frank repeated incredulously. “What? That– How?”

   “Don’t worry about it, Frank,” Percy patted his shoulder.

    The bus exploded on an east New Jersey roadside shortly after Jackson fled the scene. … But she didn't sound so sure.

   “Because I wasn’t so sure,” Annabeth mumbled under her breath.

    The rest of the day I spent alternately pacing the length of the train … Then it leaped through the trees and was gone.

   “Spoiler alert,” Thalia joked.

    Our reward money for returning Gladiola the poodle had only been enough to purchase tickets as far as Denver. … Annabeth and I had to stick it back on before any of the other passengers noticed.

   Grover blushed. “I’m sorry,” he bleated.

    "So," … But it bothered me so much I finally told her.

   “That’s good,” Persephone said to no-one. Her husband put an arm around her shoulder.

    Annabeth was quiet for a long time. "That doesn't sound like Hades. He always appears on a black throne, and he never laughs."

   Nico muffled a snort.

   "He offered my mother in trade. … He's deceitful, heartless, and greedy.

   Nico grimaced.

   “I’m sorry, I was biased because of… something,” Annabeth explained.

    I don't care if his Kindly Ones weren't as aggressive this time—" … "I'd leave him to rot."

   Athena’s eyes widened, looking over to her child.

   "You're not serious?" … I guess you weren't born in a hospital. . . "

   “How–” Leo was cut off with a glare from Annabeth.

   “You’ll find out,” Percy reassured him.

    "I appeared on my father's doorstep, … but I didn't know how.

   “It’s okay, Percy,” the goddess of Love reminded him. “You tried, or at least wanted to. You just didn't know what would help, yet.”

    "My mom married a really awful guy," … I wondered why she wore it if she hated him so much.

   Annabeth turned her nose up, away from the rest of the group.

   "He doesn't care about me," … Seven."

   Athena’s eyes still hadn’t left Annabeth’s form.

    "But. . . you couldn't have gotten all the way to Half-Blood Hill by yourself." … which looked to me like a huge shopping bag handle stuck on the city.

   The sombre mood lifted.

    "I want to do that," … An architect?"

   Annabeth’s face flushed when some people looked at her, “Well, I am. An architect.”

   “Mhm, and we’ve been to the Parthenon,” Piper reminded her with a smile. Piper’s smile dimmed slightly when she remembered what had happened there in Greece.

    I don't know why, but I found it funny. Just the idea of Annabeth trying to sit quietly and draw all day.

   “You might have wanted to explain that, Percy,” Amphitrite lightly scolded her future step-son. “Annabeth is a very smart girl, but she can’t read minds.”

   Her cheeks flushed. …"That was mean."

   Athena spoke to Annabeth, “Yes, but you were hurt. You apologised.”

   "Can't we work together a little?" … Right?"

   Aphrodite smiled.

    We rode into the city, … "Sightseeing?"

   “I agree with Grover,” Will said, confused. “Sightseeing?”

   “We were going to be there for three hours, if we had waited at the train stop, monsters would’ve come flooding toward us,” Annabeth explained.

   "The Gateway Arch," … "As long as there's a snack bar without monsters."

   “I have never been to a snackbar without monsters in my life,” Grover complained.

    The Arch was about a mile from the train station. … so I was okay.

   “Interesting facts?” Annabeth asked, her hopeful tone disguised as curiosity. Percy nodded.

   I kept looking around, … I had a feeling we shouldn't be here.

   Thalia groaned, “I’m so happy you listen to your gut more now.”

    "Guys," … our friend downstairs?"

   “Friend–” Nico choked. “Friend downstairs?” Grover conveniently seemed not to hear him.

    "Um, right," … Why do you think all rational creatures fear the dark?"

   “That’s actually really cool,” Rachel whispered.

    "But then. . . … "Got any blue jelly beans left?"

   Poseidon raised his eyebrow at his son.

    I'd almost mastered my jumpy nerves when I saw the tiny little elevator car we were going to ride to the top of the Arch, and I knew I was in trouble. I hate confined places. They make me nuts.

   “The sea doesn’t like to be restrained,” the King of the Sea said, while the other gods groaned.

   “Is it just me or did he sound a lot like one of those motivational pictures?” Leo whispered to Jason.

    We got shoehorned into the car with this big fat lady and her dog, … "Scared of heights."

   Hermes nodded at Annabeth, proud of the lie – although he would be proud of anything if he didn’t have to hear the Circus Lie again.”

    "Oh, the poor darlings." … as if that cleared everything up.

   “Bad vibes,” Piper said.

    At the top of the Arch, … No room for me.

   “Bad vibes,” Piper repeated.

   “Bit late with that, Piper,” Percy grumbled, a pout on his face.

    The park ranger said, … I'll see you guys at the bottom."

   “Bad vibes,” Piper said.

   “Yeah, bad vibes,” Travis chimed in.

   Grover and Annabeth both looked nervous, … Wait a minute.

   “Chihuahua, chihuahua no one sees, ‘Sonny’, forked tongue,” Leo listed out. “I agree with Piper; Bad Vibes.”

   Forked tongue? … did you just call that Chihuahua your son?"

   “She did, but I don’t think that’s the answer you wanted,” Thalia said lightly.

    "Chimera, dear," … The bark became a roar.

   “Oh, she’s the Chimera’s mother,” Connor said. “That’s Echidna.”

   Travis nodded along, before freezing, “Wait, what? That’s Echidna? Percy!” Percy looked away.

    The little boy screamed. … IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL TARTARUS—EXT. 954.

   Percy shuddered.

    I realized I hadn't even uncapped my sword. … I stared at her.

   “Oh no,” Grover groaned, “You’re going to say something that’ll make her mad and even more murderous, aren't you?”

    All I could think to say was: "Isn't that a kind of anteater?"

   “You did,” Grover squeaked.

    She howled, … my son shall destroy you!"

   “She acts like she wasn’t going to do that already,” Percy complained.

    The Chimera charged, … I couldn't let them get hurt.

   “You could,” Triton shrugged.

   “He wouldn’t, though,” Hazel said. “That’s the problem.”

    I uncapped my sword, …it nearly seared off my eyebrows.

   Leo turned to Percy, staring intently. “What?” Percy asked, confused.

   “I’m determining whether you can pull off eyebrow-less,” Leo replied. “I don’t think you can.”

    Where I had been standing a moment before was a ragged hole in the side of the Arch, … We just blowtorched a national monument.

   “Wow,” Annabeth joked. “Careful with the ‘we’.”

    Riptide was now a shining bronze blade in my hands, and as the Chimera turned, I slashed at its neck. That was my fatal mistake.

   Percy’s friends squawked in alarm.

    The blade sparked harmlessly off the dog collar. … My whole leg was on fire.

   “Whoa, why didn’t you tell us about this minor detail , Percy?” Grover asked.

    I tried to jab Riptide into the Chimera's mouth, … and I wasn't going to live long enough to figure it out.

   “Maybe–” Will swallowed. “Maybe don’t say that?”

    I backed into the hole in the wall. … And I was scared.

   Nico blinked, he had mostly gotten over his hero worship, but hearing Percy admit – even if he was twelve at the time – felt so foreign to him.

    There was no place else to go, … Would they leave the humans alone?

   Hazel made a noise of concern, shuffling closer to Percy.

   "If you are the son of Poseidon," … I'd splatter on impact.

   “Well, I wouldn’t, because I’m the son of Poseidon,” Percy reflected, hugging Hazel.

    The Chimera's mouth glowed red, … The poison is in your heart."

   Grover looked at his best friend, “I can’t help but feel like this was an important thing to know, Percy.”

    She was right: I was dying. … There was no Sea God here.

   Poseidon looked at his child, checking for any visible injuries. He was concerned for his son. The kid had said that this was his easiest quest, but here he was dying .

    "Die, faithless one," … I plummeted toward the river.

Chapter Text

   “Let’s have dinner,” Hestia said, standing up.

   Nobody needed to be convinced; they stood up and all went to the dining pavilion.

   Once everyone was seated, they ate. “Percy, you can’t have waffles for dinner!” “Why not?” “It’s not healthy, you can have them for dessert.” “Fine, Hazel.”

   After dinner, Athena walked up to Annabeth, “Can we talk before bed?”

   “Sure?” She agreed.

   At the campfire, Hermes picked up the book, opening it on the next chapter. “ I become a known fugitive .”

    I'd love to tell you I had some deep revelation on my way down, … Aaaaggghhhhh!

   “Honestly, mood,” Katie snickered.

    The river raced toward me at the speed of a truck. … plastic bags—swirled up all around me.

   The gods grimaced at the state of the water.

   At that point, … which was good.

   “You were alive, which was good,” Triton drawled. “And you only just now realised that?”

   “Everything happened very fast,” Percy defended himself.

    Second realization: … I looked at the garbage floating by and snatched an old cigarette lighter.

   Leo’s eyes sparked.

    No way, … Weird.

   Percy and Leo eyed each other. “No,” Jason shot them down. “You’re not going to set Leo on fire under water.”

    But the strangest thought occurred to me only last: I was breathing.

   Again, Triton looked at Percy weird.

    I was underwater, … like a much older kid.

   A much older kid . He was so young, that when you aged him up, he’d still be a kid for another six years.

    "Thank you. . . Father." … join the bottom feeders.

   Hazel, who had sat down next to Percy again, squeezed his hand.

    Fump-fump-fump. … rippling through the water like dolphin sonar.

   “Okay, ignoring the water-woman, are you only going to be making water related jokes?” Clarisse asked gruffly.

    "Where are you?" … "Mom?"

   The air was punched out from Amphitrite’s lungs. That was most likely one of her sisters, but the kid’s mother must have looked similar. Her husband must have known the boy would confuse her for his mother. But why ?

    No, child , … the words jammed up in my throat.

   When Amphitrite glanced sideways at her husband, she saw him looking just as confused as she was.

    I cannot stay, brave one , … do not trust the gifts. . .

   “Gifts?” Apollo narrowed his eyes in thought.

    Her voice faded. … I felt like drowning myself.

   Jason looked at Percy, alarmed.

    The only problem: I was immune to drowning.

   “That’s not a problem,” Will whispered.

    Your father believes in you, …"That's nice, dear."

   Rachel sighed, trying to ease the tension, “They never believe us.”

   A news lady was talking for the camera: … I hoped Annabeth and Grover were okay.

   “Well, we were certainly more ‘okay’ than you,” Grover said tersely.

    I tried to push through the crowd to see what was going on inside the police line. … —or goat hug.

   “Is that really the important thing right now?” Grover asked, amusement visible on his face.

   He said, "We thought you'd gone to Hades the hard way!"

   “You’re going the hard way, though,” commented Hazel breezily.

    Annabeth stood behind him, … Six hundred and thirty feet?"

   “How have you not gone grey yet, Grover?” Travis joked.

    Behind us, a cop shouted, … That's the boy!"

   “I’m warring with myself right now,” Rachel said. “On one side, I don’t want her to be put in a mental facility; on the other, I don’t want her to make the quest more difficult.”

   “There are two wolves inside you,” Piper snickered.

    I turned quickly and pulled Annabeth and Grover after me. … and the underwater lady's message.

   “‘The whole story’ he says,” Annabeth rolled her eyes.

    "Whoa," … "We've got to get out of town!"

   “I could’ve sworn that’s a pop reference,” Leo said.

   “I don’t think it is,” Chris tried to answer, but Leo was already in his own world.

   Somehow, … police lights still pulsing against the St. Louis skyline behind us.

Chapter Text

   Hermes passed the book to Artemis, who read out the chapter title, a god buys us cheeseburgers , with a weird look on her face.

   “Who’s buying you cheeseburgers?” Piper asked.

   Annabeth shrugged, “It would be more fun if you found out because of the book.”

    The next afternoon, … and I was sure that was obvious.

   Aphrodite wrinkled her nose, “Was there no way for you guys to shower?” When she received ‘no’s, she mumbled to herself – Percy thought it was something like: ‘what has the future come to, I need to figure out ways to remedy this.’

   "Let's try to contact Chiron," … "What are you talking about?"

   “I love oblivious Percy,” Travis snickered. “He’s the best.”

    He fed in the quarters and set the knob to FINE MIST. … "You summon the goddess with a spray gun?"

   Zeus blinked in surprise, while Chiron answered, “I guess we kind of do, Percy.”

    Grover pointed the nozzle in the air and water hissed out in a thick white mist. … "Luke!" I called.

   Some of the campers groaned under their breath.

    He turned, … what's that noise?" Luke yelled.

   Artemis was interrupted by the sound of a popped tire.

   “I’m sorry,” Piper wheezed. “I’m just imagining Mr Boombastic on full volume.”

   "I'll take care of it.'" … then he handed me the spray gun and followed Annabeth.

   Rachel raised an eyebrow at Grover, who shook his head with a smile.

   I readjusted the hose so I could keep the rainbow going and still see Luke. … probably the same scumbag who summoned the hellhound.

   Thalia nodded, her eyes narrowed.

    Now the campers are starting to take sides. … then the music's volume decreased drastically.

   “I’m boombastic, tell me fantastic,” Piper whispered, trying to keep a straight face.

    "So what's your status?" … and I realized I only had one more minute before the water shut off.

   Percy shut his eyes, remembering how much he’d liked Luke.

    "I wish I could be there," … You'd have to be invisible."

   The only sound around the campfire was the wood burning, everyone was silent, while Luke tried to curl in on himself.

   “What?” Annabeth whispered. When she didn't say anything else, Artemis resumed reading.

   We were both silent, … I'll feel better if I know they've done you some good."

   Luke wasn’t looking at anyone, rather looking at the turf of grass near his feet like it was the most fascinating thing he had ever seen.

   "Oh. . . uh, yeah!" … Nobody will get turned into a pine tree if he just—"

   Thalia stared holes into the back of Luke’s head.

    But the mist was gone, … "Come on, let's find some dinner."

   Annabeth wanted to say something, but understood things like this wouldn’t have helped at that point in time.

    A few minutes later, … Annabeth looked ready to pass out from hunger.

   “I was,” she confirmed, quickly stuffing a s’more in her mouth.

    I was trying to think up a sob story for the waitress when a rumble shook the whole building; … Caucasian human skin.

   “Well, I think we know who’s buying you cheeseburgers,” Dionysus drawled.

    The guy on the bike would've made pro wrestlers run for Mama. … handsome, I guess,

   Piper raised an amused eyebrow at Percy.

    but wicked— ... and crowded Annabeth against the window.

   Athena glared at Ares.

    He looked up at the waitress, … "So you're old Seaweed's kid, huh?"

   Ares looked at the book, confused, “I’d never say that.”

   “Yeah, you’d be too scared to,” Hermes joked, earning him a punch in the shoulder.

    I should've been surprised, … "Ares, god of war."

   “‘Clarisse’s dad,’” Ares repeated. “Do you always remember deities by their children?”

   “If they have children, yes,” Percy nodded.

    Ares grinned and took off his shades. … then left with the gold.

   Hera gave her son a disappointed look.

    "You can't do that," … I need you to do me a favor."

   Triton narrowed his eyes, “What kind of favour?”

   "What favor could I do for a god?" … "Why don't you go back and get it yourself?"

   “We really need to have a talk about how to talk to gods,” Poseidon muttered, massaging his temples.

    The fire in his eye sockets glowed a little hotter. … I didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

   Athena eyes the boy with delight.

    "We're not interested," … I'm the one who told him my suspicions about old Corpse Breath."

   Hades glowered at the ground.

    "You told him Hades stole the bolt?" … "Thanks," I grumbled.

   Dakota looked at Percy in awe.

    "Hey, … "My mom?"

   Aphrodite looked at her lover, “What happened between our time and this book, you wouldn’t do that?”

   He grinned. … almost like he was nervous.

   Clarisse glared at Percy, “I’m never nervous.”

    "You're lucky you met me, … they clouded your ability to think.

   Poseidon looked at his son, “You were able to figure out what he wanted very easily.”

    "It's probably some kind of trick," … Even strength has to bow to wisdom sometimes."

   Percy nodded, as if that sentence explained life’s purpose, while Annabeth muttered, “I never should have said that to him.”

    "But this water park. . . … so it read WAT R A D.

   Aphrodite grimaced, wondering why they would’ve gone on a date there.

    The main gate was padlocked and topped with barbed wire. … "I'd hate to see what she looks like."

   Everyone stayed quiet, while Artemis tried to read the next bit out as fast as possible.

    "Percy," … Echidna?"

   Nobody dared to say anything.

   Eventually, Aphrodite chuckled, “You’re right, from what I’ve heard, I would never go there.”

   Percy looked scared and confused, “In my time, you’re very different.”

    "No, Aphrodite," … and Dude, Where's My Swimsuit?

   “Awful names,” Artemis commented.

    No monsters came to get us. … "Watch me."

   The Stolls whooped for Annabeth.

   She snatched an entire row of stuff off the racks and disappeared into the changing room. … all three of us were decked out like walking advertisements for the defunct theme park.

   “I need to draw that,” Rachel breathed.

    We continued searching for the Tunnel of Love. … "She likes bikers."

   “Hey, don’t judge,” Leo mock-chastised.

    "Whatever." … In front of us was an empty pool that would've been awesome for skateboarding.

   “He was a skater boy, she said see you later, boy,” Will mumbled under his breath. Nico gave him a weird look. “Hey, my father is the god of music,” he defended himself.

    It was at least fifty yards across and shaped like a bowl. … "Eta. I wonder. . .”

   “Stupid,” Annabeth whispered to herself, while Piper comforted her with an arm around her shoulder.

    "Grover," … that was underground."

   “Sorry,” Percy apologised.

   "Okay, … Annabeth, come with me—"

   Leo nearly choked on his marshmallow, “Dude.”

    "Are you kidding?" … What if somebody saw me?"

   “You entirely jinxed that,” Percy told her. She threw a piece of chocolate at him.

   "Who's going to see you?" … they could look at their favorite people: themselves.

   Clarisse snorted.

   I picked up the scarf. … and let's get out of here."

   “Thank you for that,” Percy said, face red.

    The moment I touched the shield, … Too late."

   Annabeth sighed.

    "There's another Greek letter on the side of the boat, … "Duh!" Annabeth said.

   “I love that, actually,” Gwen said, putting her marshmallow between two crackers.

    I grabbed the shield and we ran, … "Sp—sp—aaaah!"

   Piper pulled Annabeth closer.

    I'd never seen her like this before. … And we weren't gods.

   “Great point,” Hazel squeaked, looking green.

    Annabeth and I climbed into the boat. … Where does the ride's water come from?

   The demigods were sat on the edge of their (metaphorical) chairs.

   Then I saw them: … I tried to imagine that I was dragging the ocean all the way to Denver.

   “A bit more than necessary, but it’s the first time using your powers, so it will probably be okay,” the king of the sea said.

   "Two, one, zero !" … but the boat seemed to respond.

   “I don’t think I imagined it, I mean, I can control boats,” Percy commented.

    At least, … the other cracked in half.

   “Uh oh,” Leo murmured.

    "Unfasten your seat belt," … "On your mark!"

   “Simple Physics?” Clarisse snorted. “You’re smart, Princess, those aren’t ‘simple’.”

   She hesitated. . . … Grover!

    Grover ! Piper let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

    In midair, … "Thank you! Good night!"

   “Sassy Percy!” Travis cheered.

    The Cupids turned back to their original positions. … "We need to have a little talk with Ares."

Chapter Text

   “Hey Nico,” Percy whispered. “I’m pretty sure that the whole Lotus Hotel thing is happening now.” Nico nodded gratefully.

   “ We take a zebra to Las Vegas ,” Apollo read out.

    The war god was waiting for us in the diner parking lot. … "You're a jerk."

    “Oh–” Piper said, wide eyed.

    Annabeth and Grover caught their breath. … and a bag of Double Stuf Oreos.

   “Dang it, now I want oreos,” Connor complained.

    I said, … TWELVE-YEAR-OLD OUTLAW BEATS UP DEFENSELESS BIKER.

    Thalia snorted, “Defenceless biker, my ass.”

    "You owe me one more thing," … "Nobody's controlling me."

   “Would be scary if he had been,” Chris said, remembering by how little they had won the titan war.

   He laughed. … for a guy who runs from Cupid statues."

   Percy tried to cover his laugh with a cough, but judging by the amused looks he got, he didn’t do the best job.

   Behind his sunglasses, … It was like the world's biggest pan of kitty litter.

   Grover grimaced, “I’m saying this in advance: the animals were okay, we helped them as much as we could.”

    The trailer was dark inside until I uncapped Anaklusmos. … "Humane zoo transport?"

   “It’s obviously not,” Artemis scowled.

    He probably would've gone right back outside to beat up the truckers with his reed pipes, and I would've helped him,

   Grover smiled at Percy, who gave him an exaggerated kiss on his cheek.

    but just then the trucks engine roared to life, … then we settled in for night.

   Artemis gave the three an approving look.

    Grover curled up on a turnip sack; … We could make it in plenty of time.

   “Jinx!” Leo yelled.

   On the other hand, … I was a source of amusement for the gods.

    When were they not? Percy felt bad for thoughts like those, but after having been a demigod for eleven years, he was bitter.

   "Hey," … "Because of the Arachne story,"

   Annabeth grimaced.

   I guessed. … "I was pretty amazing, wasn't I?"

   “You really were,” Hermes smiled.

   Annabeth and I laughed. …the daughter of Zeus."

   “My full title,” Thalia said mock-haughtily. “But seriously, you just figured that out?”

   He nodded glumly. … "That's not fair."

   Grover was pulled into a hug by his friends.

    "Percy's right," … Thalia and Percy."

   “And then more,” Nico said.

   "You're not lame," … That's why you'll be the one who finds Pan."

   “You’ve got some kind of power, Percy,” Thalia complained. “There’s no way you can just get people to tell you things for no reason.”

   “Maybe he’s secretly an Aphrodite kid,” Piper joked.

   Thalia looked thoughtful.

    I heard a deep, … now that  was a weird summer. . ."

   Leo started muttering to himself under his breath.

 "And the college ring is your father's?" "That's none of your—" She stopped herself. "Yeah. Yeah, it is."

   “See?” Thalia yelled, hands thrown up.

   "You don't have to tell me." … "You should write him a letter or something."

   “No,” Thalia breathed. “You told her to go back home and she listened ?” She started sputtering.

    "Thanks for the advice," … Any more stupid questions?"

   She smiled at Percy.

   I couldn't think of an answer for that. … I was being forced to take a standardized test while wearing a straitjacket.

   “Yeah, no, that’s normal,” Frank looked lost.

    All the other kids were going out to recess, … She was Thalia, daughter of Zeus.

   “There’s that title again, but also– ew, creepy?” Thalia had never looked so weirded out before.

    She struggled against the straitjacket, … I'm going to give Hades a piece of my mind.

   “I don’t think that’s what she meant,” Hazel said slowly.

   The straitjacket melted off me. … And he suspects nothing? it asked.

   “You controlled your dream?” Poseidon asked.

   Percy shrugged, “I don’t know, I don’t think I can, but I’ve been able to touch and choose things in my dreams before.”

   Another voice, … The speaker was invisible.

   “Cliche,” Rachel boo-ed.

    Deception upon deception , … He is here .

   “And he didn’t know?” “I don’t know, it could’ve been an act.”

    What ? … her arms outstretched.

   The demigods held their breaths; they knew she’d be okay by the end, but hearing Sally Jackson was stuck in the Underworld was still difficult.

    I tried to step toward her, … Grover and I had to dive behind feed sacks and hope we looked like turnips.

   The tensions seeped away, making place for snickers all around the campfire.

   The trailer doors creaked open. … he looked downright murderous.

   As did everyone else.

    The trucker threw the antelope a squashed-looking Happy Meal bag. … I was too stunned to react.

   “I forgot you didn’t know any of your powers until they just… happened.” Chris admitted sheepishly.

    There was a loud knock, … That's right , the zebra's voice said in my mind.

   Gwen awed, “He’s so nice.”

   "We've got to free them!" … Was that why I could understand it?

   “Yes, it’s a learning disability,” Will said mock-seriously.

   The zebra said, … "Why can't you place a blessing like that on us?" I asked.

   “That’s a good question, actually,” Percy took this as an invite to start talking. “Why do we have nothing for us ? I love that the satyr can put blessings on the animals and, obviously, it’s needed, but i’ve been on six big quests now – and a few little ones – and have never had any kind of security.”

   The demigods nodded, while the gods looked pensive.

   “I’m not sure if there are any ways for us to have a ‘blessing’, but i’ll look into it,” Hazel said, determined.

    "It only works on wild animals." "So it would only affect Percy," Annabeth reasoned. "Hey!" I protested.

   “Hey!” Percy agreed, before bursting into laughter.

   "Kidding," … standing in front of the Lotus Hotel and Casino.

   Nico, Annabeth, Grover and Percy grimaced.

    The entrance was a huge neon flower, … I was so relieved to hear somebody who sounded sympathetic that I nodded and said we'd love to come in.

   Percy grimaced, whispering ‘stranger danger.’

   Inside, … Enjoy your stay."

   Thalia looked suspicious, noticing Nico uncomfortably shifting on the bench.

    We took the elevator upstairs and checked out our room. … thinking that this was a little strange.

   “But only a little,” Annabeth joked.

   I threw Ares's backpack in the trash can. … But I was sure it could wait.

   The gods looked alarmed.

   I came out of the bedroom and found that Annabeth and Grover had also showered and changed clothes. … Are you insane?"

   “Yes,” Percy answered himself, smiling at Annabeth to indicate it was a joke.

   "It's interesting." … I'm not sure when I first realized something was wrong.

   Grover sighed.

   Probably, … as if he'd never heard the word used that way before.

   “I think we’ve found out what’s wrong,” Piper said.

   He said his name was Darrin, … "1977."

   Jason sucked in a breath.

    "No," … After that he totally ignored me.

   “Okay… Please leave, now,” Hazel muttered.

    I started talking to people, … but was it?

   “Probably not,” Frank sighed, already having resigned himself to the fact that nothing in Percy’s life was ever normal.

   I tried to remember why we were here. … I found Annabeth still building her city.

   “I did love that game, we need to see if we can recreate it,” Annabeth suggested.

   Leo sat up straighter, taking a notepad out from his belt, beginning the process.

    "Come on," … I grabbed her wrist and yanked her away from the game.

   “I’m sorry for that,” Percy apologised.

   "Hey!" She screamed and hit me,

   “And I’m sorry for that ,” Annabeth replied.

   “How about we stop apologising until it’s absolutely necessary?” Grover suggested.

    but nobody else even bothered looking at us. … silly polluting nasty person!"

   “We are silly, but if we deserve to die over that?” Thalia teased Grover.

   "Grover!" … I'd be playing virtual rifleman with groovy Disco Darrin forever.

   “Groovy Disco Darrin is a sick name, though,” Travis commented.

   Grover reached for the card, … but at the moment I had other problems to worry about.

   Ares furrowed his brows, this future version of him was weird.

   I ran to the nearest newspaper stand and read the year first. … We had been in the Lotus Casino for five days.

   Jason groaned, “I hate your guys’ luck.”

 We had only one day left until the summer solstice. One day to complete our quest.

Chapter Text

   “Let us all head to bed,” Apollo said, closing the book. Ignoring the demigods groaning in protest, the gods all went to their cabins.

   Annabeth waited at her cabin for her mother.

   “Good evening, mother.”

   Athena looked at her future daughter, “Good evening, Annabeth.”

   When Annabeth stayed quiet, the goddess spoke, “I wanted to ask you about your behaviour in the books so far. You weren’t very nice from Percy’s perspective, but I want to know if you did that on purpose and if you know why.”

   “I…,” Annabeth struggled to connect this Athena to the Athena she knew. “I think I did it slightly on purpose, but I also have always had a hard time in social interactions, resulting in me not knowing how mean I was being. I’ve apologised since then, talked about how I didn’t mean to come over as mean as I was. As for the reason why, I think I just took the rivalry between our parents – you and Lord Poseidon – too far. I was smart and he was just the kid of your rival. I also really wanted your approval, which I thought I’d get if I was as much like you as possible. I thought that if I was friendly to him, you’d see that as me fraternising with the enemy or something stupid like that.” Annabeth took a gasp of air, not sure if she had breathed at all during her tangent.

   Athena’s eyes softened, “Do you still think that?”

   “I mean, I dated him for a while and me and future you aren’t the best of friends,” Annabeth said.

   “Why?”

   “Why did I date him? Probably because I thought that because of the war we were supposed to be together. I loved him, but not like I should if we were in a relationship. Without knowing I kept bringing the rivalry, or at least me being mean, into our relationship,” Annabeth explained. “Or at least, that’s what he told me he felt like when we broke up. As for why we don’t like each other in the future is mostly because you did expect me to hate him for being your rival’s son. You did want me to be exactly like you; hate everyone you did; have the same motives as you; be unstoppable like you.”

   The goddess furrowed her brows

   “What changed?” She asked, seemingly, herself.

   Annabeth shrugged, she didn’t know, she’d never known this side of her mother. Her mother was cold and calculating, not soft and caring – though Annabeth wished she was.

   “Goodnight,” Athena said softly, still deep in thought. She turned around to walk to her own cabin.

   Percy was working himself up over nothing. He wouldn't say no and he most definitely wouldn’t laugh at him – but what if he did? –, Luke wouldn’t do that, this was just his brain being stupid.

   “Hey, uh…” He started. Okay, already fucked that up. “Can I talk to you before you go to sleep?”

   Luke looked surprised, “Sure, where?”

   “Do you know where my cabin is?” Percy asked cautiously. When Luke nodded, he said, “Could you just come there whenever you’re done doing what you need to do?”

   “Of course, I’ll be there in a few.”

   Percy went to his cabin and got ready for bed. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard a knock, before remembering that Luke was coming.

   “Hey,” he said, opening the door.

   “Hey, what did you want to talk about?”

   “Well, mostly just everything that has happened in the books.”

   Luke grimaced, “I get that.”

   “Okay… so. Here goes nothing. As you probably know I kind of, like, had-a-crush-on-you,” Percy rushed out the last bit.

   Luke’s face remained neutral, letting Percy continue talking.

   “Which, you know, the guy you look up to – and have a crush on – is helping you and shit and then you get a quest and he’s nice about that and why would you suspect him of being the traitor? But then he is and he’s not nice? Was that all a lie, did he never even think about the fact that he was attempting murder on a twelve-year-old to get back at the gods who had attempted murder on his twelve-year-old friend? And– and…” Percy had started stuttering halfway through, tearing up. “And I guess I never really processed it, you know? Because it happens and then Grover is lost and then people start dying and then there’s a war and nobody is supposed to talk about it and then you’re dead, so it’s even more of a taboo and then there’s a whole new war! I mean, I got my memories stolen, trained by a wolf, fought giants, got sent on a quest with people who either didn’t like me or didn’t know me, fell in tartarus – still have nightmares of that – and then had a nosebleed, which fueled a whole other war, and I just… I don’t know anymore.” He was full-on crying now, while Luke was sat there looking horrified.

   “And this all happened in how many years? You’re twenty-three, so that leaves eight years,” Luke thought out loud.

   “Uhh, up until you died was four years and then the second war was over a week, maybe two, before my birthday, so about five years, total,” Percy explained.

   “You’re telling me that you fought a whole war in less than a year?”

   “About half a year, give or take.”

   Luke made a distressed noise.

   “I think you should talk to the rest soon, by the way. Mostly your brothers, Thalia and Annabeth, but the rest never got to process this all, either,” Percy gently proposed.

   Luke nodded, before slowly getting up, “I think it’s time I go to bed. You as well, goodnight Percy.”

   “Goodnight.”

Chapter Text

   It was morning, everybody had eaten breakfast and they were sat near the Tree.

   Persephone opened the book, reading out the title, “ We shop for water beds .”

    It was Annabeth's idea. … Finally an infinity symbol came up next to the dollar sign.

   Nico opened his mouth, “They have unlimited money?”

   “Nico, your dad is the god of riches, you don’t need an infinity credit card,” Jason told him.

    The cigar fell out of the driver's mouth. … I could tell she liked the "Your Highness" thing.

   Annabeth tried to speak, but couldn’t form any words. Face flushed, she sat back.

   "Get us there fast, … Both of those are nicknames for Hades."

   “We had to think just a little outside the box,” Annabeth bemoaned.

   "Maybe . . ." … It just didn't feel like a god's voice."

   Thalia stopped from where she had been whispering to Rachel, “Huh.”

   Annabeth's eyes widened. … She looked pale.

   “Oh,” Piper grimaced. “You figured it out.”

   "But if I'd already retrieved the bolt," … "Why, thank you."

   Percy smiled at his best friend.

    "But the thing in the pit said it was waiting for two items," … and was silently willing me not to ask it.

   “So you asked anyway?” Rachel interrupted.

   "You have an idea what might be in that pit, don't you?" I asked her.

   “Of course,” Percy joked.

   "I mean, if it isn't Hades?" … I'd done that  enough times.

   “Have you?” Amphitrite inquired.

   The cab sped west. … only it smelled worse.

   “You have got some one-liners,” Hermes trailed off, looking amused.

   There were carnival rides lining the Pier, … How could I be the son of someone that powerful?

   “I mean, you are very powerful yourself,” Thalia said.

    I stepped into the surf … That's when my head went under.

   Grover huffed out a laugh, while Annabeth crossed her arms, trying (and failing) to look annoyed.

    I held my breath at first. … I could breathe normally.

   “Do you have gills?” Katie blurted out. “I’m sorry, I’ve just been wondering for a while–”

   “It’s okay,” Percy reassured her. “I don’t… think so? But at the same time, I’ve never really tried to figure it out.” He looked pensive. “Hey, dad, do you think I have gills?”

   Poseidon responded calmly, “Yes, but no. Because you can breathe on land as well, you have some sort of hybrid.”

   “So, like an amphibian,” he tested, getting a nod. “Do I also breathe through my skin, then?” Percy asked, looking slightly disgusted.

   Poseidon looked surprised – hah, fish out of water , Percy’s brain supplied. Brows furrowed, he replied, “I don’t think so, no. Either way, larger amphibians use their skin as a secondary respiratory, and I wouldn’t call you ‘small.’”

    I walked down into the shoals. … Heeling like a dog.

   Hesitant awes could be heard.

    Tentatively, … if I could sink straight to the bottom of the Pacific.

   Percy turned to look at his father again. Poseidon sighed fondly, “You technically could, you’re of the sea, you were made to withstand the pressure. You probably have more in common physically with the merfolk there than the mortals that walk on earth.”

   Then I saw something glimmering in the darkness below, … The sea horse and the mako shark whisked off and started playing something that looked like tag.

   The awes returned, louder this time.

    The underwater lady smiled at me. … We have watched you with great interest."

   “That doesn't sound stalker-y at all,” Leo whispered to himself.

   Suddenly I remembered faces in the waves off Montauk Beach when I was a little boy, … and a gift."

   “But her last warning was not to trust the gifts,” Frank complained.

   She held out her hand. … no, ma'am."

   “Yes you do,” Hazel told him quietly. “You did exactly that with what you had, so you must have something like it.”

    "Ah, … "What will happen?"

   “Great question, probably won’t be answered,” Travis mocked.

   "That," … my clothes dried instantly.

   “So jealous,” Rachel murmured.

   I told Grover and Annabeth what had happened, … for a lot of child actors."

   Hermes’ eyebrows rose, “That’s a pretty good lie.”

   "Oh! … I have trouble talking about it."

   Rachel looked like a rabid raccoon, “Oh, you…”

   "There you have it, … He hauled me away before I could punch a hole in the appliance-store window.

   “Should’ve done it,” Rachel said, almost growling.

   It got dark, … A kid could be safe as long as he wasn't stupid.

   “Spoken like a true new yorker,” Annabeth huffed, unable to hide her smile.

    L.A. wasn't like that. … I stopped.

   Piper held her head in her hands.

   Before I knew it, … I made the mistake of swinging.

   Piper made a miserable sound.

    The kid yelped. … The sign above the door said something like CRSTUY'S WATRE BDE ALPACE.

   Persephone had a hard time pronouncing the jumbled words.

   “Wait let me see,” Piper said. “Chrissy’s water bed alpaca– What?”

   "Crusty's Water Bed Palace?" Grover translated.

   “Oh,” Piper said, face neutral.

    It didn't sound like a place I'd ever go except in an emergency, … He was at least seven feet tall,

   “Okay, stop right there,” Rachel said. “Huh? Why…? Did you… not think about that at all?”

   with absolutely no hair. … Yes, you are.

   “So you did think about that, but didn’t care?” Rachel quizzed.

    "Sorry to barge in," … so it looked like oil-flavored Jell-O.

   “Ew,” Piper coughed out.

   "Million-hand massage," … This is cool."

   “Oh, Grover,” Thalia closed her eyes.

   "Hmm," … But I got to make them fit, first."

   “He keeps saying that, but I don’t think I want to know what that means,” Chris muttered.

    "What do you mean?" … "Legally, it's Procrustes," he admitted.

   “Well, I’m guessing Sally named Percy,” Thalia joked.

    "The Stretcher," … It's got a good ring to it."

   Rachel started sputtering.

   His eyes lit up. … "What are you doing?"

   “I agree with Annabeth here,” Rachel said, glad someone else was concerned as well.

   "Don't mind her," … "Sensible."

   “ No ,” Rachel tried to remain calm. “Not sensible. Not sensible at all!”

    "I'm so glad to come across an intelligent customer!" … "Show me."

   Rachel calmed down slightly, “Wait… Are you doing the whole false sense of security thing?” Percy nodded. “Oh… Well, I’m sorry for freaking out then. But you have to admit that me worrying over my friends was a normal thing.”

   He sat down eagerly on the bed, … "A few simple adjustments . . ."

   “Our little unhinged camper,” Travis joked.

   I had no qualms about what I was about to do. … Crusty stopped making offers.

   “Look and that’s the answer to all your problems,” Nico was talking as if it was an ad. “Decapitation!”

   I cut the ropes on the other beds. … "It's only a block from here."

Chapter Text

   “ Annabeth does obedience school ,” Triton read.

   We stood in the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, … NO LIVING.

   “Love that,” Rachel said.

   It was almost midnight, … I love the plan."

   “Convincing,” Nico said with a grimace.

   Annabeth said, "What happens if the plan doesn't work?" "Don't think negative."

   “‘You are the sky, everything else – it’s just the weather,’” Piper started sprouting calming quotes. “‘The ideal of calm exists in a sitting cat.’ ‘Smile. Breathe. And go slowly.’ ‘Peace begins with a smile.’ ‘Calmness–’”

   “Okay!” Will broke in, smiling. “I think that’s enough, let’s continue reading.”

   "Right," … "Let's whup some Underworld butt."

   “Should I be scared?” Nico joked.

   We walked inside the DOA lobby. … "Your name is Chiron?"

   Nico looked up, alarmed, but not fully surprised, “You called him Chiron?”

   He leaned across the desk. … "Mr. Charon," I said.

   “That’s new,” Katie grinned.

    "Well done." … drowned . . . in the bathtub."

   “Oh,” Piper said, looking lost. “You… You told him that you guys drowned in a bathtub? Together?”

    "All three of you?" … "I'm dead."

   “Are those mutually exclusive?” Travis asked Nico.

   Nico thought about that, “Not necessarily. I think most people would still be dyslexic, even as a ghost.”

   Charon leaned forward and took a sniff. … I tried to sound braver than I felt.

   Percy looked at his friends for help.

   “You sounded pretty brave,” Grover confirmed.

   “You also had a voice-crack,” Annabeth added.

   Charon growled again— ... "We had more to offer."

   Hermes looked gleeful, eyes not leaving the book in Triton’s hands.

   I held up the entire bag from Crusty's stash. … I stacked another gold coin on the counter.

   Percy’s mouth twitched, trying to keep the smile down.

    Charon glanced down at his silk Italian jacket, … letting me see straight through to his skull.

   Rachel shuddered.

   The floor kept swaying. … "The River Styx,"

   “Yeah, no. Not my favourite place to swim,” Percy muttered.

   Annabeth murmured. … don't forget to mention my pay raise."

   “You keep telling him he’s gonna die before reaching the palace,” Frank said, brows furrowed. “What do you think he’s going to do? Rise up from the dead and do the rest of the quest as a ghost? Demand something from Lord Pl– Hades as his subject? ‘Hey, I know you’re like… my king now, but I bribed your ferryman with a pay-raise, so if you could do that?’” Hazel was laughing, as well as the rest of the demigods, while Frank looked up, flushing when he realised everyone heard him.

   He counted our golden coins into his pouch, … EZ DEATH.

   Leo choked back a laugh, eyes shining with mirth.

   The EZ DEATH line was moving right along. … Thomas Jefferson,

   “So what’d I miss? What’d I miss? Virginia, my home sweet home, I wanna give you a kiss,” Will started humming the lyrics to What Did I Miss.

   Shakespeare—people like that. … He'd died in a police chase when his "Lamborghini for the Lord" went off a cliff.

   Piper snorted, before apologising, “I’m sorry it’s not funny.” She did look up to the sky, fanning her face after that, so Percy wasn't sure if she meant that entirely.

   I said, …"and he believes in a different hell. . ."

   “Ooh,” Nico surged up, excited about the new topic. “Great question, I think it’s perspective, but at the same time–”

   Looking around, Percy was pretty sure most of them didn't have a clue what Nico was talking about, but it was interesting nonetheless.

    Grover shrugged. … "He's a Rottweiler."

   Katie gasped, “Really?”

   I'd always imagined Cerberus as a big black mastiff. … "A plan."

   “I’m not sure I like this plan,” Poseidon muttered.

   We moved toward the monster. … I heard it go kersploosh  in the River Styx.

   Poseidon’s eye twitched.

   Cerberus glared at me, … Cerberus looked as stunned as we were.

   Annabeth ignored the astonished looks she got thrown her way.

   All three of his heads cocked sideways. … in the same tone she was using on the dog.

   Thalia snickered.

    Grover and I inched forward warily. … Don't tell him to sit again.

   Annabeth’s blank mask cracked, she chuckled, “What?”

   We made it through. …  "That three-headed dogs prefer red rubber balls over sticks?"

   Percy nodded in agreement with himself.

   "No," … even monsters—needed a little attention once in a while.

   Hades’ face remained impassive.

   I thought about that as we waited for the ghouls to pass. … longing for his new friend.

Chapter Text

   Hera went to retrieve the book.

   “How much of the quest do we have left?” Travis asked. “I’m getting kinda bored.”

   Percy made a so-so motion with his hand, “I’m pretty sure we’re going to be at the palace right about now, so we don't have that much left.”

   “ We find out the truth, sort of ,” Hera read out.

   Imagine the largest concert crowd you've ever seen, … They're just sad.

   Nico nodded at Percy.

    We crept along, … with the ant-size figure of Sisyphus struggling to move his boulder to the top.

   “Fuck that guy,” Thalia muttered.

   And I saw worse tortures, … It was depressing.

   “Is it?” Nico asked, sitting up straighter. “I don’t think it is. Once someone is in the fields of punishment, they stay there forever. The Fields of Asphodel have people that could have been in Elysium, but did not try. In Elysium, people go for rebirth. People in the Isles of the Blessed could technically be counted as three people, so that makes the people there thrice as many.”

   Percy thought about that, “You’re right, I think I was more sad about the fact that so many people were in the Fields of Punishment. I didn't think about those people possibly being a collection from as far back as three hundred thousand years.”

   Hera cleared her throat and continued.

   We left the judgment pavilion and moved deeper into the Asphodel Fields. … He landed flat on his back in the grass.

   Percy’s eyes widened, searching for Annabeth’s. He got up, walked to Nico, and explained the situation as quickly and quietly as possible.

    "Grover," … but his shoes veered sharply to the right and dragged him in the opposite direction.

   Nico sharply breathed in, shuffling closer to Will.

   The slope got steeper. … and I stopped dead in my tracks.

   Percy looked at Grover, wanting to apologise, but his breath was coming just a bit too quick, and he had just a bit too little oxygen in his lungs, and he – couldn't feel the grass? He couldn't see anything other than the pit? Was he down there again? He must be; he could smell the sulfur, taste the battery-acid-tasting water, feel the glass under his feet. The smell of death came closer and if he really focused he could see the outline of Nico’s face. But Nico hadn't been there with him, Nico had been all alone –

   “It’s okay, you’re not there, Percy,” Nico spoke calmly, trying to get Percy to calm down. “You’re outside with everyone and we’re reading your books.”

   Percy’s eyes looked slightly less wild now.

   “We’re here,” Grover tried, wanting to help his best friend. This must’ve snapped something, because next thing he knew, Percy was clinging to him, hugging him so hard Grover was almost afraid he’d break a rib.

   Hera had closed the book until now, having got a sign from a pale Annabeth that it was probably best to keep reading, since it was still some time until the book would be done talking about the pit. She started reading, silently vowing not to stop if somebody spoke, unless the kids were far from the pit.

    The tunnel widened into a huge dark cavern, … as if somebody had filled it with rocks.

   Athena’s eyes narrowed in thought, although she kept quiet, wanting this part to be over with.

   Grover was scratched up pretty bad. … "Listen."

   “Don’t listen,” Poseidon whispered to himself.

   I heard something— … "Magic," I said.

    Impressive , Hades thought, but not the right time .

    "We have to get out of here," … Not a moment too soon.

   Everyone held their breath.

    A cold blast of wind pulled at our backs, … That was enough to terrify me.

   Annabeth weakly smiled at Percy.

    I capped my sword, … Almost.

   “I’d have been concerned if you were fully relieved,” Jason said, trying to lift some of the tension.

    The Furies circled the parapets, … I wondered if I was looking at prophecies that had come true.

   Thalia raised an eyebrow.

    Inside the courtyard was the strangest garden I'd ever seen. … I pulled Grover away to keep him from picking a big juicy one.

   “Thank you,” Grover whispered to Percy, who was still hugging him.

   We walked up the steps of the palace, … "I bet Hades doesn't have trouble with door-to-door salesmen."

   Nico snorted, as did a lot of the others.

   My backpack weighed a ton now. … "I guess that means entrez-vous," Annabeth said.

   Piper was looking at Annabeth giddily, making Percy snort.

    The room inside looked just like in my dream, … but the first who really struck me as godlike.

   Ares looked at the book, frowning slightly.

   He was at least ten feet tall, … Then I told myself to snap out of it.

   Percy shuddered.

   Hades's aura was affecting me, … Curl up here and sleep forever.

   “I hate it, but it sounds like a great idea,” Percy said, cuddling up closer to Grover.

    I fought the feeling and stepped forward. … What horrible things would you have to do in your life to get woven into Hades's underwear?

   Hera was stunned, she paused in her reading.

   Nico grimaced, “Ew, Percy!”

   "Only two requests?" … This was going about as well as I'd feared.

   Thalia snorted.

    I glanced at the empty, … But I thought that might be a dangerous answer.

   “Might be?” Annabeth hissed, although her eyes showing Percy that she wasn't mad.

   "You are the Lord of the Dead," … but Hades was on a roll now.

   “They see me rollin’, they hatin’,” Piper snickered.

   "More security ghouls," … I wished I could sew up my mouth.

   “As does everyone else,” Clarisse nodded, as if she had just said the most normal, mundane thing ever.

   "Don't get me started on Charon!" … your helm of darkness is missing, too?"

   Hades looked at the book, his brows furrowed.

    "Do not play innocent with me, … I probably should have been terrified.

   “Oh god,” Rachel sighed.

   The strange thing was, … "You're as bad as Zeus,"

   Thalia groaned, looking at Rachel, the two sharing their misery.

   I said. … A horrible feeling struck me.

   “Oh shit,” Leo breathed.

   The weight in my backpack, … humming with energy.

   “Oh fuck,” Leo continued.

    "Percy," … I realized I'd been played with.

   “Only just now?” Chris joked.

    Zeus, … "This is all a mistake."

   Triton winced.

   "A mistake?" … but the light was as hot as a bonfire.

   Aphrodite looked at the boy, a melancholy air around her.

    "Yes," … "Set up."

   Grover nodded.

   "Yes, … "Use the third pearl on your mom."

   Percy’s hug got tighter and their friends yelled at Grover for even suggesting that.

    "No!" … I plan to go down fighting."

   “You shouldn't do this either,” Piper muttered.

   "No way," … "Take these."

   Everyone but the three looked at the book in apprehension.

    I handed them each a pearl. … You will fail to save what matters most in the end.

   Frank looked at his friend sadly.

   "I'm sorry," ... "We're going to crash!"

   Piper took Annabeth’s hand in hers.

   Sure enough, … "I don't think you do!" I shouted back.

   “You don’t,” Amphitrite confirmed.

   We screamed as the bubbles slammed into the ceiling and ... "Dude!"

   Piper snorted.

    I grabbed Grover and hauled him over to a life buoy. … "Beat it."

   “You wanna be tough, better do what you can, so beat it, but you wanna be bad, just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it,” Will was whispering to himself again.

    The shark turned and raced away. … the day of the summer solstice.

   Annabeth gave Percy a calculating look, which Percy responded to with a nod.

   In the distance, … I had to have a serious conversation with the god who'd tricked me.

Chapter Text

   “ I battle my jerk relative ,” Hera read out after retrieving the book from Triton.

   “Oh, I forgot this was happening next,” Percy said, taking his arms away from the hug he had Grover in – at this point, Piper was pretty sure Grover’s ribs were at the verge of cracking – to rub at his eyes, looking ever so tired.

    A Coast Guard boat picked us up, … "Would somebody—"

   “Honestly,” Thalia said. “That’s so real of you, Grover.”

    "Percy . . ." … I was going to start crying like a little kid.

   Hazel looked confused. “But…” she trailed off. “You’re twelve here, right? You were a little kid.”

    "The prophecy was right," … Who would want war that bad?"

   The gods’ eyes widened.

    I stopped in my tracks, … "You  stole the helm and the master bolt."

   Looking at Percy, Frank understood why he seemed to dislike Mars at first.

    Ares grinned. … She was there at the winter solstice."

   Clarisse glared at Percy, though she made no move to do anything.

    The idea seemed to amuse him. … but I guess a god of war had to make it his business to know about weapons.

   “Kind of,” Ares went to explain, but was interrupted by Hera.

    "Anyway," … I exchanged nervous looks with Annabeth.

   Annabeth’s face screwed up looking at the book, smoothing over slightly when Piper rubbed a hand over her back.

    Ares's face cleared. … "You're lying,"

   “Oh,” the word sounded like it was punched out of Jason. “Are you– Is that really something you should be saying to a god? Like, even if you’re right, it couldn’t have been delivered in a more delicate way?”

   “I have no idea what you mean,” Percy replied, sounding like he couldn’t care less about the gods smiting him.

    I said. … That thing in the pit is ordering you around."

   Athena raised a pointed eyebrow.

   "I am the god of war! … "Who said anything about dreams?"

   The Stolls quietly cheered on Percy.

    Ares looked agitated, … "Fight me yourself, Ares."

   “Maybe don’t do that,” Gwen said, a concerned look in her eyes.

    He laughed, … "Scared?"

   The Romans looked like they were experiencing their worst nightmares.

   "In your adolescent dreams." … or anybody.

   “Oh no,” Poseidon muttered.

   Percy was reminded of the time Annabeth called him a coward, resulting in him taking a swim in the river Styx. Now that he thought about it, he might take things a bit too far sometimes.

    As the boar rushed me, … swallowed by the sea.

   “Do you always rid animals you fight of their horns or tusks?” Leo asked, a smirk on his face.

    I turned back to Ares. … wouldn't it?"

   By now, the Romans were accompanied by some of the gods in their gaping.

    Flames danced along the top of his glasses. …  the helm and the bolt are mine and you have to go away."

   “All or nothing,” the words were faint when Triton breathed them.

    Ares sneered. … He's a god."

   Poseidon nodded frantically, moving to speak. He was interrupted by Hera.

    "He's a coward," I told her.

   The god of the sea took a deep breath, “Or you do that.”

    She swallowed. … I stuffed the tin can in my back pocket.

   Aphrodite awed at the duo.

    "You all done saying goodbye?" … but I said nothing.

   Ares looked conflicted.

    I kept my feet in the surf, … get in close.

   Luke tried not to react, sitting stone-faced, staring at the book.

    I stepped inside with a thrust, … "Cops!"

   “Oh great,” Will complained. “Like it wasn’t difficult enough already.”

    I was seeing double. … Guns?

   Everyone was invested, keeping quiet for Hera to read.

    I looked at Ares's weapon, … and suddenly I had an idea.

   Annabeth’s face lit up, most likely remembering what happened next.

    Little waves , … as if I were too exhausted to go on.

   Athena and Poseidon both looked at the book with understanding looks, Poseidon slightly more proud – hello? that was his son – and Athena’s hidden better.

     Wait for it , … leaving him cursing and sputtering with a mouth full of seaweed.

   Something changed, leaving all of Ares’ siblings laughing while he looked at them, amused. Hermes even almost choked on his spit, confusing some of the demigods.

   Hera kept quiet until everyone had calmed down a bit to continue.

    I landed behind him with a splash and feinted toward his head, … sending the point through the god's heel.

   Piper’s mouth dropped open, before she quickly closed it.

    The roar that followed made Hades's earthquake look like a minor event. … fighting was useless.

   Hera faltered.

    The darkness lifted. … Beware."

   “Wait, what?”

   “You never told us you were cursed!” Connor shrieked. “How long were you cursed for? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you being affected by it.”

   “It was never removed, I don’t think,” Percy started. “I’ve been affected by it at least once, that’ll probably come up in the third book.”

   The demigods shut up when Hera resumed reading, though they didn’t look happy about it.

    His body began to glow. …  I somehow knew that if I looked, I would disintegrate into ashes.

   Piper and Leo side-eyed Jason.

    The light died. … Tell him to call off the war."

   Percy sighed, laying down on the ground on his back.

    She hesitated, … I was tired and sore and completely drained of energy.

   Groaning, Percy said, “Are we almost done?”

   “It’s your book, Percy, shouldn’t you know?” Thalia retaliated. “And stop whining.”

   "Did you guys feel that . . . … Come on."

Chapter Text

   Hera passed the book to Dionysos, who read, “ I settle my tab .”

   “Oh shit,” Percy breathed. Grover turned to his friend, confused. “This is the one where I tell them everything and you-know-who doesn’t believe me,” Percy whispered.

   Grover winced, “Yeah, that can’t end well.”

   Ignoring the whispers, Dionysos begun reading the chapter.

   It’s funny how humans can wrap their mind around things and fit them into their version of reality. … Poor little Percy Jackson wasn’t an international criminal after all.

   Thalia snorted, “‘Poor little Percy Jackson’?”

   “I will have you know I am a very traumatised teenager, Thalia,” Percy joked.

    He’d caused a commotion on that Greyhound bus in New Jersey trying to get away from his captor (and afterward, witnesses would even swear they had seen the leather-clad man on the bus—“Why didn’t I remember him before?”). … “is to see my loving stepfather again. 

   “Woah!” Connor broke in, “What do you mean loving stepfather ?” Percy shrugged, gesturing at the book.

    Every time I saw him on TV, … Here’s the phone number.”

   “Okay, sure… I guess,” Connor grumbled.

    The police and reporters were so moved that they passed around the hat and raised money for three tickets on the next plane to New York. …  I didn’t unclench my hands from the armrests until we touched down safely at LaGuardia.

   “I’m pretty sure those claw marks are still there today,” Annabeth joked.

   Percy huffed, “They weren’t claw marks , Annabeth.”

    The local press was waiting for us outside security, … I wanted Annabeth and Grover to survive to tell Chiron the truth.

   Jason swallowed, “Optimistic.”

    I hopped in a taxi and headed into Manhattan. … I hadn’t slept in at least twenty-four hours.

   Will gave Percy a concerned look – nevermind that the contents of this book were ten years ago.

    I went up to the guard at the front desk and said, … because the guard took a while to look up.

   “Harry Potter?” Leo guessed. Piper nodded next to him.

    “No such floor, … “You want me to take it out and—”

   “You’re a menace,” Hermes said, smiling at Percy.

   “No! … It’s really there.

   “I think that might be considered a sign of insanity,” Gwen hummed.

   Dionysos – the god of madness – didn’t even spare her a glance, just continued reading.

    From the top of the clouds rose the decapitated peak of a mountain, … everybody seemed in a festive mood.

   “I mean, you are there with the lightning bolt.” Reyna told him.

    Several of them turned to watch me pass, … It would make anybody bitter.

   Percy grimaced when most of the gods – the god of wine was really into this book – turned to look at Hades.

    Steps led up to a central courtyard. … the air crackled and smelled of ozone.

   Thalia looked about three seconds away from rolling her eyes.

    The god sitting next to him was his brother, … as if they’d just finished an argument.

   “They probably had,” Hestia spoke up for the first time in a while.

   Leo snorted, holding a hand over his mouth to try and disguise it as anything but.

    I approached the fisherman’s throne and knelt at his feet. … “Now I would hear him speak.”

   Amphitrite turned her head toward her husband so far Percy almost got whiplash, “Excuse me?” Her eyes were narrowed and her hands twitched to do something – Percy had no idea what, but he wasn’t willing to find out.

   Poseidon seemed to notice that the best thing to do was to stay quiet.

    Wrongdoing. … The result of a god’s mistake?

   The god’s eyes widened.

    “I have spared him once already,” … I wasn’t sure about him yet, either.

   Thalia clicked her tongue.

   “Address Lord Zeus, … it is most unlike him.”

   Ares seemed to breathe a little easier at the statement.

   “He is proud and impulsive,” … “You are accusing Hades, after all?” Zeus asked.

   Persephone looked at the book, her head tilted and an incredulous look on her face. “How did he come to that conclusion?”

   “No,” … Father.

   Percy tried to prepare himself for what might happen when the gods read what Zeus had said on the subject of Kronos.

    Poseidon made some kind of suggestion, … Few heroes could have accomplished as much.”

   “That’s awfully nice,” Thalia said suspiciously.

    “I had help, … I shall let you live.”

   Percy didn’t feel all too comforted by the way Thalia sighed in relief when Zeus started threatening him in the book.

    “Um . . . … I think he would’ve done well as the god of theater.”

   Dionysos looked up from the book – for the first time – to give his uncle an unamused look.

    An uncomfortable silence.

   “Wait, I love that,” Will said. “I’m gonna do that everything there’s an uncomfortable silence; just say ‘uncomfortable silence’ or ‘ew icky silence’.” The Texan demigod started cackling.

    “Sir,” …That is all you need to do.”

   “That bit–” Clarisse started before thinking better of it.

   She hadn’t necessarily needed to stop, the god wouldn’t have heard her either way, judging by the gods that had all started talking at the same time.

   “You need to listen–”
  “Horrible way to rule–”
  “Maybe just…”

   Hestia clapped in her hands, shutting up the gods. “If you want to discuss the way everyone behaves in the future, you can do so calmly.”

   The gods looked chastised and Dionysos’ attention returned solely to the book.

    “But—” … “Obedience does not come naturally to you, does it?”

   Annabeth looked amused.

    “No … “A package?”

   “A package?” Thalia asked.

    “You will understand when you see it. … You are a true son of the Sea God.”

   “Okay,” Leo started, shaking his head. “Mixed messages, man.”

    As I walked back through the city of the gods, … as if I were some kind of hero.

   “Let me hold your hand when I say this,” Grover started, snickering.

    Fifteen minutes later, … About that . . .”

   “Oh, I can just imagine your face,” Thalia snorted.

    She managed a weak smile. … He didn’t seem to think my homecoming was so wonderful.

   Clarisse was glaring daggers at the book.

    “Bad enough I had to give back your life insurance money, … instinctively taking my pen out of my pocket.

   “How I wish that would work on him,” Annabeth growled.

    He just laughed. … I could’ve sworn it hadn’t been there a moment before.

   “A package,” Thalia looked, and sounded, as if she’d just seen the light.

    It was a battered cardboard box about the right size to fit a basketball.

   “A package,” She repeated again, this time grinning like a maniac.

    The address on the mailing slip was in my own handwriting: … RETURN TO SENDER.

   Now everyone understood what Thalia was smiling about.

    Suddenly I understood what Poseidon had told me on Olympus. … That’s what Gabe deserves.

   “Yes he does. Kill him,” Clarisse encouraged… past Percy?

    But a hero’s story always ended in tragedy. Poseidon had told me that.

   Somber looks and sighs.

    I remembered the Underworld. … Now . . .

   Persephone looked at the hero, all grown up, with a small smile.

    “I can do it,” … “If he threatens you . . .”

   “I think the ‘’if’ is a bit hopeful, but sure,” Percy muttered.

    She looked pale, … Her own.

   The queen of the sea smirked.

    “The meat loaf is coming right up, … as if she were contemplating how he would look as a garden statue.

Chapter Text

  Ariadne took the book from her husband’s hands. “ The prophecy comes true ,” she read.

    We were the first heroes to return alive to Half-Blood Hill since Luke, … She punched me and told me to shut up.

   Annabeth rolled her eyes at the memory, though she had to suppress a smile.

    Being the son of Poseidon, … It was fun to burn.

   “I bet it was,” Triton nodded. Those of the sea looked at the daughter of Ares present with carefully contained contempt.

    As Apollo’s cabin led the sing-along and passed out s’mores, … he was proud of what I’d done.

   The campers smiled wistfully at the book.

    As for my mother, … “a huge step forward in super-ugly neorealism.”

   “ Completely unrelated, of course,” Thalia snickered.

    But don't worry, … yet he was my oldest friend.

   The two looked at each other, still sitting next to – somehow not tangled, but on top of each other in a way Piper couldn’t understand how they got there – each other. Grover put an arm around Percy’s shoulder, smiling.

    Annabeth gave him a hug. … But he didn’t really sound annoyed.

   “Way to share my secrets,” Grover jokingly complained.

    He gripped his walking stick and slung a backpack over his shoulder. … I hope they make good enchiladas.”

   Percy grimaced, “I kind of jinxed that, didn’t I?”

   “Kind of?” Clarisse repeated, her eyebrow raised, showing the rest that the situation the satyr would get himself into soon was not something she thought was a ‘slight’ problem.

    Grover grinned, … He had to be.

   Hermes smiled at the satyr.

    July passed. … I tried to convince myself that its prophecy had come to completion.

   Percy grimaced.

    You shall go west, and face the god who has turned. Been there, done that—even though the traitor god had turned out to be Ares rather than Hades.

   Hades nodded while his wife, Persephone, smiled at the questers.

    You shall find what was stolen, and see it safe returned. Check. One master bolt delivered. One helm of darkness back on Hades’s oily head.

   The king of the Underwold’s eyes narrowed, though he kept quiet.

    You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend. This line still bothered me. Ares had pretended to be my friend, then betrayed me. That must be what the Oracle meant . . .

    Luke looked down.

    And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end. I had failed to save my mom, but only because I’d let her save herself, and I knew that was the right thing.

   Hestia smiled at Percy, who suddenly felt like he’d had some of his ma’s cookies or chocolate milk.

    So why was I still uneasy? … I was glad the firelight covered my blushing.

   “It didn’t really,” Katie told Percy, causing him to flush slightly.

    The design was pitch black, … most of them would be leaving for the year.

   Chris sighed sadly, “Yeah.”

    The next morning, … Now I had only a few hours to decide.

   “And then I get really anxious,” Leo said conversationally, nodding.

    The decision should have been easy. … That’s where you learn whether you’re any good or not.

   Piper saw Annabeth blink, surprised at the idea that Percy – whether she was surprised at a twelve-year-old Percy or just Percy in general, Piper wasn’t sure – had listened to her and actually used the information in his decision making.

    I thought about the fate of Thalia, … I got to the sword-fighters arena and found that Luke had had the same idea.

   Annabeth winced.

    His gym bag was plopped at the edge of the stage. … how he possibly could’ve failed at his quest.

   Luke, from where he was sat with his head down, looked up shortly.

    Finally, … the other steel.

   Tyson tilted his head, while Connor looked at the book, his facial expression unreadable, opening his mouth, before closing it again.

    Luke noticed me looking at it. … “It’s one of a kind.”

   “For a reason,” Chris mumbled.

    He gave me a tiny smile, … I don’t know why I hesitated.

   Percy smiled bitterly, avoiding looking at Luke.

    I should’ve felt relieved that Luke was being so friendly. … “Why not?”

   “Oh, Percy,” Rachel sighed.

    We walked down to the woods and kicked around for some kind of monster to fight, … Are you kidding?”

   “I knew there was sense in there somewhere,” Rachel smiled.

    Luke raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, I miss it,” I admitted.

   Rachel kept quiet, pursing her mouth. Percy smiled at her sheepishly, “Oops?”

   She huffed, “What do you mean ‘oops’? You almost died on that quest multiple times! Like…” She faltered. “At least four times!”

   Percy tried to shrug, turning his attention back on the book when Rachel seemed to be done scolding him.

    “You?” … You’ll crawl into bed one night and find your sheets filled with centipedes and mud.

   The Romans looked spooked at the sentence.

    “The heck with laurel wreaths,” … I brought you down here to say good-bye.”

   “Just thought I’d say it; I don’t like this,” Leo whispered.

    He snapped his fingers. … You’ll be dead in sixty seconds.”

   Poseidon made a noise in his throat.

    “Luke, … “You,” I said.

   Ariadne looked over to Percy with sad eyes.

    He stood calmly and brushed off his jeans. … I couldn’t believe this was happening.

   “I can’t either, and we’re only reading about it,” Dakota murmured.

   “Luke . . . … I needed time to think.

   “Oh no,” Thalia whispered. Everyone was quiet, making sure not to disturb the reading goddess.

    “Kronos,” … “He’s brainwashing you, Luke.”

   Luke looked down again.

    “You’re wrong. … “So why didn’t you bring the items to Kronos?”

   Katie sat with wide eyes, whispering, “Just stall for a little longer.”

    Luke’s smile wavered. … that night in the forest.”

   Poseidon was looking at the book with a weird look on his face.

    “We had to make Chiron think the camp wasn’t safe for you, … He even confused the curse.”

   Grover blinked, “Oh.” Percy hugged his friend.

    Luke looked down at the scorpion, … I’ll leave you with my little friend to set things right.”

    You should have died in Tartarus, Percy.

   Oh how right Luke had been.

    “Thalia gave her life to save you,” … The scorpion lunged.

   Percy squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing at his palm.

   I swatted it away with my hand and uncapped my sword. … I could barely stand up.

   The demigods listened with baited breath.

    Sixty seconds, … Then everything went black.

   Jason shakily exhaled, “That’s like… Good, right? Because you’re still here, so–”

   “Yes, Jay,” Percy gave him a small smile. “I’m okay now.”

    I woke with a drinking straw in my mouth. … which is how I knew she was overjoyed to see me conscious. 

   Annabeth spluttered.

    “You were green and turning gray when we found you. …  then microwaved.”

   The gods grimaced, not sure what a microwave was, but they knew either way that it was a bad feeling.

    “Apt, … He was never the same after his quest.”

   Luke grimaced at Annabeth’s words.

    “This must be reported to Olympus,” … And Annabeth?”

   Now, Poseidon grimaced.

    Chiron glanced nervously at the ceiling. … “Assuming I live that long.”

   Will raised his eyebrows.

    Chiron put his hand on my ankle. … Nobody answered.

   “I hate this,” Clarisse declared.

    Chiron rolled himself out of the room. … that isn’t a good idea.”

   “When is anything I do,” Percy smiled.

    I slid my legs out of bed. … “That took guts.” 

   “He’s right, Annabeth,” Piper whispered to the blonde girl.

    She pursed her lips. …  Agreed?”

   Ariadne was cut off by a shrill ‘What?’.

   “You mean to tell me,” Clarisse yelled. “That that was your guys’ plan all along ?”

   “Yep,” Annabeth said – to her credit, slightly remorseful.

    “Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena.” … so I could pack my bags for home.

Chapter Text

   Ariadne closed the book, saying, “That was the first book.”

   Percy sat up straight, “Does that mean we can go have lunch?” Seeing Hestia nod, the demigods let out quiet ‘ yippee’ s, before jumping up from where they were sat, running to the dining pavilion.

   The gods looked at their children fondly. “I believe we had something we needed to talk about,” Athena started. “The mere idea that in the future, our king doesn’t listen to one of his subjects about a threat–”

   Annabeth looked at the girl sitting next to her, “What do you think the last five books will be like, since we know they’re told by multiple people’s views?”

   “I’m honestly hoping that they won’t involve my thoughts, but it’s likely they will,” Piper responded. “I think the Seven will most definitely be involved and – though I hope for them they won't – possibly some others might be there as well, like Reyna or Coach Hedge.” Annabeth nodded thoughtfully. “Do you think that you and Percy’s time down there will be there? Because it’s a big part of the quest, but feels like something we shouldn't be getting into too much.”
  Shrugging, Annabeth replied, “I know logically, they probably will, but emotionally I really don’t want them to. Things happened there that I don’t even like to think about, while other, more selfish, things I just feel I want to hide for my reputation, you know?”

   Piper hummed. It was getting too sombre for her at the pavilion, something she couldn’t have, so she looked over at Leo, eliciting a troublemaker smile™ from him. He raised an eyebrow, she smiled; he tilted his head, she nodded; together they stood up, picking up the food on their plates. Annabeth only knew what was happening too late, already having had a vegetarian taco get thrown in her face.

   “Oh… You–” Annabeth threw her glass of water over Piper’s head, while all around them food was being thrown.

   Piper pushed her bangs back from where they were stuck to her forehead from the water. “I’ll get you back!”

   From a table over, Gwen was watching the two, whispering to Dakota, Hazel and Frank.

   “Do you think they know,” murmured Hazel.

   “Of course not,” Gwen replied. “From what I heard, neither of them have got the nerve to ever ask anyone out. I think Percy was a fluke, and only because he would never have asked out Annabeth first.”

   Frank coughed, “It doesn’t sound like you have a lot of faith in them.”
  “Oh no, I love them…” She trailed off. “I just think they’re both more the type of person that will wait for someone else to come to them and ask them out .”

   “Actually,” Hazel chimed in. “I think Nico told me that Percy mentioned he thinks Annabeth and Piper like each other the other day.”
  “Percy?” Dakota raised an eyebrow. “He wouldn’t know someone liked him even if they straight-up told them ‘ I like you ’.”

   “But that’s the thing,” Gwen said. “His biggest thing is not knowing when others like him , he can tell everything else just fine. I honestly think that’s why he doesn’t know; because he knows about other people, why wouldn’t he notice it when directed toward himself? ”

   Dakota pursed his lips, “You’re right.”

   “Of course I am,” Gwen elbowed him playfully.

   “We should go explore this place,” Percy told Jason.

   “Sure,” Jason agreed. “What places have we not had yet?” Percy paused.

   “Uhh…”

   Jason rolled his eyes, “Let’s see if anyone wants to come with and maybe they’ll have suggestions.”

   Percy smiled crookedly, fluttering his eyelashes, “You’re so smart.” He started cackling when Jason’s ears flushed a light pink, tugging his arm in the direction of the table Will, Connor, Travis, and Nico were sat.

   “Guys!” Percy yelled as they were approaching the table.

   Travis looked up, “Hey, what’s up?” Elbowing his brother in the side when he mumbled ‘the sky’.

   “Not much, but we were going to ask you if you’d like to explore this place with us,” Jason told them. “We didn’t really have an idea where to start either, so I thought we’d ask.”

   “Sure,” Will agreed. “Let’s just all clean up first.” He gestured to the mess around them. Percy could see some of Piper’s taco filling, his own pancakes, and – was that coleslaw ?