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It wasn't too difficult getting to Connecticut for the final piece of our plan. I just need the piece from my mother, and then I'd leave. It's simple. I didn't want to stick around knowing what's coming; it's easier to just get on with it. The journey to my mother's home was slow but eventually I made it. My mother's house stuck out more so than usual; it was modest, small at least for an area like Westport, but what stood out was the exterior. The grass was long and jungle-like. The plants were all dead and covered in weeds. It didn't look like the place had been touched in years, probably since I was last here which would have been around eight years ago. I took a deep breath at that but didn't linger. This wasn't the time to get distracted so I steeled myself and rang the doorbell.
My mother answered the door almost immediately. She looked worse than I remembered; her hair was tangled, parts stuck up, and her apron was covered in soot, but she didn't seem to notice. She never did.
Her face brightened as soon as she saw my face. "Luke, you're home!" She happily exclaimed. "You look so tall now...and that scar...are you okay?"
Part of me had forgotten the last time I was here was with Thalia and Annabeth, but that was years ago. Now, things are different. I briefly talked with Annabeth before coming here. It was a mistake; it wasn't a long conversation and safe to say I'm here now. I realised that I'd suddenly gone silent at my mother's question, and I was about to respond, but I saw her eyes were unfocused, which was usually a sign that one of her fits was coming, so I just lightly tapped her on the shoulder.
"We should talk inside...there's something important I need to discuss,” I added before trying my best to smile but my mother simply nodded and walked inside, her eyes still miles away.
The interior of the house wasn't much better than the outside. There was dust on the tables, part of the wallpaper was peeling off and there was even a tray of freshly burnt cookies and a stack of mouldy sandwiches, the bottom ones now coated with mould.
It didn't seem like my mother could talk right now, so I moved to the counters, and instinctively moved to the cupboard where my mother kept the cleaning supplies, which was just under the sink, as I remembered. Like the rest of the house, it looked like everything was untouched. I then grabbed a cloth and some cleaning spray and started to wipe the dust off the tables before grabbing a pair of gloves and throwing away the spoiled sandwiches and cookies, but the smell of them still lingered. I began to rifle through the cupboards for some air freshener or something useful, but all I could find was about a dozen little yellow boxes of Frankincense incense, just great, I thought to myself, but it would have to do. I dug through the cupboards some more, eventually finding a box of matches and an incense holder. I carefully placed the incense before setting it alight and extinguishing the match, letting the smoke fill the room. The house was looking a lot better now, even after a little tidy, and so I carefully made my way to where my mother was sitting.
"Uhh, Mom, how are you feeling?" I asked carefully, I still had to get what I came for, and for some reason, I spent valuable time cleaning, but at least I was getting back on track now.
"I'm okay Luke." She said softly but in a tone that made me not quite believe her. She then took a breath before looking around and noticing the improved state of the house. "You didn't have to do that, you know..." My mother muttered her voice trailing off at the end.
"It's nothing really, besides I just wanted to ask you something."
"What is it, sweetie?" She responded sweetly but her tone was only half there. I knew I had to speed things up, she was close to another fit.
"It's just this....river I need to go to... It's important but it's special, I need your permission... Your blessing before going, that's all." I managed to force out there, no more wasted time.
"Of course Luke, you can go." She smiled and grabbed my hand. "Make sure to be back for lunch. I'll make more of your favourite," She added, and I nodded even though I knew I wouldn't be coming back after this.
Having got what I needed, I attempted to stand up and leave, but I had forgotten about my mother's grip on my hand, and she pushed me back on the couch with surprising force.
"Luke."
She says simply, her voice suddenly much deeper, and I realise my hopes of avoiding one of her fits are now impossible.
"My poor, sweet child... Hermes help”. “Protect him, not like this!”
She shouted her eyes now glowing green as they did whenever she was having a fit. I felt her hands move to my shoulders in a tight grip as she began to shake me, and I held in a breath, and she began to shout more.
"Not like this...not his fate!" She screamed, still shaking me, before I pushed myself away, speaking over her.
"Mom," I said simply. "I'm right here." She abruptly releases her grip on me, her hands going to her sides as she shakes her head to clear it.
"Lunch...it's late... I can make you lunch Luke." She eventually says her voice is still a bit dazed.
"It's okay Mom. I already ate."
I lied. In truth, I hadn't eaten in a few days, but Kronos was being picky about what I was eating before the preparations, and even if he wasn't, peanut butter sandwiches were the last thing I wanted right now. I used to like them, but now I can barely even stand the smell of them, so for once I was glad for my mother's incense. I finally stood up and started to head through the door before hesitating slightly.
"Don't bother making any more food, I'm not coming back."
I pause for a second before adding "I mean it this time."
My mother's face fell for just a second before she smiled
again with a slightly unsettling edge.
"You said that last time, and you're here now, you'll be back for lunch, I know you will." She insisted, looking at me, her eyes filled with hope. I didn't linger after that. I knew she wouldn't listen to me, that this time really was different, but she believed I was coming back, and that kept her going. Maybe that was for the best.
Once I made it a good distance away from my mother's house, I felt the familiar grating presence of Kronos in my head, and I stopped walking.
"You have what you needed now then Luke?" Kronos asked
"Yes, I have the first piece," I responded stiffly. "I'll be working on the final preparations now."
"Good, but do eat something before that and get some rest. Your body must be in the perfect state.”
I hesitate for a few moments before replying
“Right… I'll make sure to do that but it's just been difficult getting to sleep lately.”
“I think you'd have fewer issues sleeping if you didn't spend so much time stalling. I grow impatient,” Kronos replies coldly.
I guess I had been stalling, trying to talk with Annabeth before, and now, cleaning up this house, I was foolish to think she'd ever understand. Kronos was right that attachments are just a waste of time.
“There'll be no more stalling now. I promise… Is there anything else I need to do?”
“That's all. Don't forget your duty, Luke. It is a shame the others were such disappointments; however, I am satisfied that you finally have earned your place, especially given your tantrum earlier.”
I wanted to argue with him and say my conversation wasn't a tantrum, but I was so tired. It had been a few days since I slept more than three hours, and Kronos made it clear that I wouldn't change until I got this done. After everything, I just needed to get to the Styx already and get on with it already.
“Yeah, I'll be back once I get what you need from the river,” I answered after a brief pause, and I felt Kronos’ presence retreat after that. Satisfied that he got what I wanted, and with that, I headed to my next destination, the Underworld.