Chapter Text
Apollo stood up, lifting Percy with him.
“Oh, no you don’t. I’m stealing him for a while before you go off to your concert.” Artemis came over and grabbed Percy’s arm.
“That’s not fair.” Apollo pouted.
“Yes it is.” Artemis smirked. “I’ll only keep him for an hour or so. Promise.” She flashed him an impish smile and took Percy off out of the room. Percy gulped. He was pretty nervous about being alone with the goddess who had a reputation for hating all things male. Although, she had decided that he wasn’t so bad so as long as he didn’t put his foot in his mouth which meant he should be alright. Except he was the king at putting his foot in his mouth.
She steered him into what appeared to be a random living room. Artemis sat down gracefully on one end of the couch. Percy hovered awkwardly until she gestured for him to sit down.
“I’m not here to incinerate you, no need to look so nervous. I want to get to know my brother’s boyfriend better. And to give you all his dirty secrets.” Artemis gave him a wicked grin. Percy couldn’t help smiling back.
They spent an hour talking. Percy had never laughed so much in his entire life. Artemis spent most of the time telling him hilarious stories about stupid things that Apollo had done. He knew that even with all the stories, they had barely scratched the surface of all the things Apollo had done over the millennia. And he couldn’t wait to hear all of the rest.
In between some of the stories, Artemis asked about some of his own history, stuff that obviously hadn’t been in the books which he happily provided. By the end of the hour, Percy felt pretty comfortable in Artemis’ presence. Once he got passed the fear that she would incinerate him for saying the wrong thing, she was great company. She was also a lot more similar to Apollo in personality than he had first thought. There were obvious differences, but it became even easier to see that they were twins.
The second the hour was up, there was a knock on the door before Apollo strode in. “Time’s up. He’s mine again.”
“I can spend my time with Artemis if I want to.” Percy stated with a raised eyebrow.
“You owe me, remember?”
“True. I owe you lots of concerts, but I did do that quest for you. Doesn’t that make us even?” Percy asked. Apollo pouted at him. “I’m kidding. Let’s go.” Apollo brightened immediately. “It was nice spending time with you. Thanks for all the blackmail material.” He grinned at Artemis.
“My pleasure.” She smirked. Apollo swallowed nervously. He was pretty scared to find out what stories his sister had been telling about him.
“We going to our island?” Percy asked. Apollo grinned, forgetting all about his meddling sister. He adored that he and Percy had ‘their’ island. A place just for them.
“Yep.” They took the route through the sea door in Poseidon’s quarters. It appeared Apollo had already been here as there was a picnic set up waiting for them. There was also a stage with a lyre Percy recognized from the description in the book. There was a guitar next to it with several speakers and a microphone.
“So, I’m getting a real concert then?” Percy asked.
“Oh yes.” Apollo smirked. “But we’re eating first.” He withdrew their favourites from the basket as they sat down on the blue blanket, he had laid out earlier. The food was amazing as always. Percy wasn’t sure he could go back to eating regular food when he had a boyfriend who could snap him up mouthwatering food in a second. “So, are we going to talk about what made you freak out during the reading?”
“I didn’t freak out.” Percy frowned.
“Ok, but something upset you when we were talking about song titles of my classic hits in the book.” Apollo stated.
“It’s nothing.” Percy said dismissively.
“If it upset you then it’s not nothing.” Apollo pressed. “Come on, spit it out so I can get to amazing you with my singing.”
“Fine.” Percy let out an exasperated sigh to cover his nerves. “I just wondered if you sing ‘Daphne on My Mind’ because you miss her or because you’re over her. And then I just thought that…nothing. I was being silly.” Percy couldn’t say it.
“Percy Jackson. If it has you this anxious, then it’s not nothing and you weren’t being silly.” Apollo said sternly. Percy looked away from the concerned golden eyes.
“Are you going to get bored with me? You’ve never really been one to settle down and I just…I’m a novelty, I get that...” Percy started. Apollo reached out and took his hand, and Percy stopped talking.
“Percy, you’re not being silly. I have a terrible reputation that is well deserved, I don’t deny that. And I don’t blame you for being concerned. I don’t like it, but I do get it. And I’m going to tell you right now that you are different. You are so special, but I don’t expect you to just take my word for it. I will spend every single day that you let me, showing you how special you are.” Apollo vowed intently. His voice was so serious that Percy couldn’t help but believe him. Or at least believe he meant it now and time would show him the rest. He leant forwards and kissed Apollo firmly. He just wanted to enjoy the rest of the evening.
Once they’d had the main course, Apollo snapped him some popcorn and moved to the stage. He sang several songs that Percy knew from campfire singalongs at Camp. Then he moved into some other songs.
“I’ve never been big on looking back
I don’t care if I’m your first love
But I’d love to be your last.
If I could do it over
I’d have waited for this moment
To give my heart to you unbroken.
…
All I know is what I see when I look at you
And all I see is what I’m feeling down inside
And all I’m feeling is this feeling
That I finally got it right.” Apollo sang, staring right at Percy who smiled, tearing up a little. He loved that stupid, annoyingly hot goofball. He completely understood the sentiments of the song. He felt the same way, he knew he wasn't Apollo's first love, by a long stretch, but he wanted to be his last. And maybe that meant he would have to consider immortality but maybe, just maybe, Apollo could be worth it.
Then Apollo took a break from singing to teach him how to play ‘Sweet Home Atlantis’ on the guitar as it was Poseidon’s favourite song. Then he went up for the second half of the concert, making sure Percy had more popcorn and plenty of blue diet coke.
“you make my speakers go boom, boom
Dancin’ on the tailgate in the full moon
That kinda thing makes a man go mmm mmm
You’re lookin’ so good in what’s left of those blue jeans
Drip of honey on the money make it gotta be
The best buzz I’m ever gonna find
Hey, I’m a little drunk on you
And high on summertime.”
Percy grinned. He loved Apollo’s singing. And everything else about him. He was so screwed.
*******************************
Jason took Piper to spend dinner with his Roman friends. Octavian sat a short distance away, where Reyna could keep an eye on him but at the same time make it clear he didn’t like any of them. Which they were all okay with.
“So, I think that the next book is probably going to be about Percy getting to Camp Jupiter? You guys looking forward to your turn in the spotlight?” Jason asked after Reyna had introduced him to Frank.
“Not really, no.” Reyna pulled a face.
“And Reyna doesn’t want to hear about all the destruction Percy is probably going to cause.” Dakota smirked.
“Aren’t you worried about that?” Piper asked curiously.
“Nope. It’s not my job to put out the fires. I just get to enjoy the show.” He laughed.
“Oh, I’ll be roping all of you into cleanup.” Reyna promised.
“I didn’t say anything.” Gwen protested.
“True, but apparently children of Venus make good peacemakers.” Reyna grinned. “So I’ll have great need of you.”
“I don’t have that charm speak power.” Gwen pointed out.
“Which will make it even more impressive when you turn out to be an awesome peacemaker.” Dakota smiled at her.
“So, how long have you been at Camp Jupiter, Frank?” Piper asked.
“About a month.” Frank said.
“How long have I been gone?” Jason asked, realizing he didn’t know exactly when his friends were from, just that he had disappeared.
“Almost six months.” Reyna told him.
“And you haven’t replaced me yet?”
“I’ve been hoping we’ll find you. Octavian has been pressing though.”
“Of course he has.” Jason snorted. “And he would be the worst choice to co-lead our camp.”
“Well, I know that, all of us here know that, but there are plenty of people at Camp who like him.” Reyna reminded him.
They kept talking until long after everyone else had left the dining hall. Then they took a walk around the gardens and Jason felt better than he had in a while. He hadn’t meant to ignore his old friends but catching up now, showed him just how much he had missed. And they all made him promise to spend more time with them.
****************************
Zeus sighed as he took his wife to their quarters. They needed to have a long overdue talk. They closed the door behind them, and both sat down.
“Hera.” Zeus began with another sigh. “You have gone so far over the line, you can’t even see the line anymore.”
“Jason was an accident.” Hera stated.
“Not just Jason, but we’ll get to that. You’ve been undermining my authority for millennia. Just in these books, you interfered in that Labyrinth quest Jackson and his friends went on. You went behind my back to bring the two camps together. You killed my son, after you forced me and his mother to give his life to you so you wouldn’t destroy him as a baby.” Zeus glowered at her. “We are supposed to set the example.”
“Some example you’ve been setting. Sitting with those brats born from cheating.” Hera spat.
“Because our brothers are right. How we’ve been behaving will almost bring about our destruction. Twice. And in both cases, are children are going to be key to saving us. I don’t like it. In fact, I utterly hate it, but if we want them to help us, we do need to see them as children and not tools.”
“They are not my children.” Hera pointed out harshly.
“But they are mine. I don’t expect you to like it but that doesn’t change the fact. Jason and Thalia are my children.” Zeus snapped back. “And you will leave them alone from now on or we will have even more issues.”
“So what are you going to do about all my transgression?” Hera asked sarcastically.
“Nothing.” Zeus said calmly. “You haven’t done any of these things yet. However, I will punish you, should you ever do any of them in the future.”
“You’re in an unusually good mood.”
“I’m furious.” Zeus corrected. “But I’ve also seen the damage I’ve done by punishing too harshly. And I really don’t fancy Poseidon throwing a coup because I haven’t changed despite all the evidence of my mistakes being constantly thrown in my face.”
“So all this is about maintain your position, not because you actually believe in these changes?” Hera snorted.
“Both.” Zeus shrugged, quite happy to admit he would do almost anything to keep his power. But at the same time, he was not going to stand by anymore and watch Hera terrorize his children.
“Typical.” She scoffed.
“You don’t have to like them. But I won’t tolerate you targeting them. In any way.” He warned her sternly. “Do not try me on this.”
“Fine.” Hera spat.
“Glad that’s settled.” Zeus said. Hera snorted again. They both knew it wasn’t really settled. Neither of them would ever agree with the other side. But they had managed to stay married this long and they would make it through this too.
****************************
The next morning, everyone made their way to the throne room once more. Percy eyed the next book with distaste, highly suspecting that it was going to involve him somehow.
“I will read.” Amphitrite stated, picking up the book.
Percy
“Just fantastic.” Percy groaned. Apollo took out his notebook, preparing to write down more offences he knew Hera would have committed.
The snake-haired ladies were starting to annoy Percy…crate of bowling balls on them at the Napa Bargain Mart.
“Points for style there but did we miss something?” Connor asked. “It sounds like we’re coming in right in the middle of a fight or something.”
“Well, Percy’s finding out that monsters don’t die anymore, just reform. Which means he’s been fighting monsters for at least three days.” Clarisse stated.
“So, is this the middle of a quest?” Annabeth wanted to know.
“We’ll find out if we read.” Percy pointed out.
They should have died two days ago when he ran over them with a police car in Martinez.
“More points for style.” Chris laughed.
They definitely should have died this morning when he cut off their heads in Tilden Park.
“Yeah. That really should do it.” Thalia nodded.
No matter how many times Percy killed them and watched them crumble to powder, they just kept re-forming like large evil dust bunnies.
Everybody laughed at that.
“I’ve missed Percy’s descriptions.” Grover grinned.
He couldn’t even seem to outrun them...Maybe two hours. They never seemed to stay dead longer than that.
“Two hours?” Nico grimaced.
“Well, the cyclopes that Leo killed started reforming almost immediately so two hours is pretty good, I guess. Considering.” Michael frowned.
“Why are they chasing you? You’d think once you killed them, they’d go find a new target.” Chris said.
“Not if Percy is one of the seven. Gaea will probably have a target on him.” Hermes said. Apollo and the sea crew all grimaced.
“Why has Percy been on the run for three days? Jason woke up with other demigods right there, plus a satyr.” Beckendorf frowned.
“The last book skipped stuff. Maybe this has too and he’s already on his quest.” Leo suggested.
“But it doesn’t sound like anyone is with him. Surely the Romans wouldn’t let him go on a quest alone?” Thalia frowned.
“We wouldn’t.” Reyna confirmed.
The past few days, he’d hardly slept. He’d eaten whatever he could scrounge…a Jack in the Crack burrito, which was a new personal low.
“What?” Poseidon growled. “Why don’t you have any supplies?”
“I have no idea.” Percy shrugged.
His clothes were torn, burned, and splattered with monster slime.
Everyone scowled unhappily at Percy’s situation.
He’d only survived this long because the two snake-haired-ladies—gorgons, they called themselves—couldn’t seem to kill him either.
Apollo and the sea crew all cringed. The Greek demigods all exchanged horrified looks.
“We could have lost you and we wouldn’t even know.” Annabeth breathed.
“Well, we all know I have luck at just the right times.” Percy grinned.
“It sounds like you don’t remember the Curse of Achilles.” Nico frowned.
“Well, Hera took all Jason’s memories, we figured she was going to take Percy’s.” Thalia said with a glare at the queen of the gods.
“But that’s kind of important.” Will said.
“At least she didn’t find some way to take it away from him.” Triton muttered.
Their claws didn’t cut his skin. Their teeth broke whenever they tried to bite him.
Apollo put the notebook aside and wrapped both arms firmly around Percy.
“Oh, us. You could be dead. Several times over by the sound of it.”
“But I’m not.” Percy assured him. “Now or then.”
But Percy couldn’t keep going much longer. Soon he’d collapse from exhaustion, and then—as hard as he was to kill, he was pretty sure the gorgons would find a way.
“Do you not remember your weak spot?” Annabeth asked.
“It doesn’t sound like it.” Percy frowned.
“You took his memory of his weak spot?” Poseidon turned to glower at Hera. “How is he supposed to protect his spot if he doesn’t even know that he needs to or where it is?”
“And the small of his back can be hit by accident. Ethan almost did it. He would have, if Annabeth hadn’t taken the knife.” Connor pointed out.
“You are so picking a different spot.” Apollo told Percy firmly. “And I’m gonna kill you for taking away that memory that might keep him alive.” He added, with a furious look at Hera.
Where to run?...the only person he could remember from his past.
“Wait, Percy got to remember someone from his past?” Jason asked.
“And you remembered enough to know Thalia was your sister.” Grover pointed out.
His memory of her was frustratingly dim. The wolf had promised he would see her again and regain his memory—if he succeeded in his journey.
“The wolf? So you met Lupa?” Reyna asked.
“Who knows.” Percy shrugged.
“Meeting Lupa is the first step for Roman demigods.” Dakota said. “It makes sense Hera would send him to Lupa before Camp Jupiter or we’d be even more suspicious about him.”
“And Lupa couldn’t drop him off at Camp like the Greek campers did for Jason?” Apollo scowled.
“That’s not Lupa’s way.” Octavian scoffed. “That’s not the Roman way.”
“So Jason gets given friends and a protector who can see him safely to Camp. Percy gets wolf who may or may not eat him and then left to make his own way to camp, alone and with no memories? On a journey that has taken him at least three days.” Triton summed up.
“HERA!” Poseidon roared. “I’m going to destroy you for this.”
“It is the only way to get him accepted at the Camp.” Hera defended herself. “He needs to arrive in Roman fashion. Not Greek.”
“Well then, you’d best hope you have been watching over him or it won’t matter.” He stated coldly.
Should he try to cross the bay?...when he had strangled a sea monster in the Carquinez Strait.
“You strangled a sea monster?” Leo asked. “Cool.”
“I think Riptide might have been better.” Thalia said dryly.
“He probably lost it somehow and had to do something else until it came back.” Annabeth sighed.
If he could reach the bay, he might be able to make a last stand…The end of his journey was close—almost right under his feet.
“It’s a sign you’re close to Camp.” Frank smiled.
“I think I’d prefer proper directions.” Percy grumbled.
But how could that be? There was nothing on the hilltop…something rustled through the woods—snapping branches, crunching leaves, hissing.
“Oh good. They are back.” Apollo grimaced.
Gorgons…air-freshener sticks in his pockets so he’d have that new car smell; but apparently demigod stink was hard to mask.
Everybody chuckled slightly.
“Yeah. It’s not that easy to mask. Especially yours being a son of Poseidon and as powerful as you are.” Grover told him.
“Naturally, Hera didn’t bother to help by masking his scent.” Triton scowled. Apollo finally let go of Percy to start scribbling more notes on his list of Hera’s crimes.
He scrambled to the west side of the summit. It was too steep to descend…Great. No other way off the hill. He’d managed to get himself cornered.
“Brilliant.” Grover said sarcastically.
He stared at the stream of cars flowing west toward San Francisco…There must be a tunnel…right under his feet.
“Yep.” Reyna nodded. “That’s the entrance to Camp.”
“Just need to get down the massive hill.” Apollo grimaced.
His internal radar went nuts. He was in the right place, just too high up…pretty much every tool a modern demigod could want.
“I notice that that list of things doesn’t include food.” Poseidon said worriedly.
“Food doesn’t really count as a tool.” Percy shrugged.
“No, but you did mention a water bottle.” Apollo pointed out. “I really hope you stole food. You’d better have done given what you’ve been eating.”
But he had nothing that would serve as a parachute or a sled…jump eighty feet to his death, or stand and fight. Both options sounded pretty bad.
“Pretty bad? They both sound utterly awful.” Beckendorf frowned.
He cursed and pulled his pen from his pocket…sword his first night at the Wolf House—two months ago? More?
“TWO MONTHS?” Poseidon roared, jumping out of his seat and advancing on Hera slowly. “You left my son to fend for himself in the wild for two months?” The furious anger had left his voice to be replaced by a steely calm that made Hera more afraid than the anger.
Apollo slipped out of Percy’s grip and joined his Uncle, advancing on Hera. “He could have died. You left him, to fend for himself for two months without knowing his own vulnerable spot where one lucky hit could kill him.” He said as he practically vibrated with rage.
“You awful woman.” Artemis hissed. She went to stand at her brother’s side.
"Mean lady hurt Percy." Tyson declared angrily. He stood by his father, fists clenching like he wanted to reach for a big stick to beat Hera over the head.
“Oh gods. Percy.” Annabeth cried.
“You absolute cow.” Will growled. “Do you want him dead? Is that it? You want him dead, so you dump him somewhere he is likely to get killed and blame it on ‘the Roman way’ of getting to their Camp. No blood on your hands.”
“How can you claim to be the goddess of family if this is what you do to family?” Michael snarled at Hera. He and Will joined their father in standing before Hera furiously. Not only was Percy part of the Camp Half-Blood family, but he was also now their dad’s boyfriend. He made their dad happy. And, no matter how weird they felt about it, it meant they would always have Percy’s back.
The rest of the Greek demigods stood up and joined Apollo, Poseidon and the two sons of Apollo. Amphitrite tossed the book aside and she and Triton joined the mass heading for Hera. They boxed her in and stood there, allowing Poseidon and Apollo to advance even closer.
"So how do we decide who gets to hit her first?" Triton asked conversationally. Poseidon glowed briefly before his trident appeared in his hand. He grew to ten feet tall, towering over his sister. Then a whirlpool appeared from nowhere, sweeping Hera up and tossing her around and around. The god watched, expressionless as she spun around in the whirlpool.
“Poseidon!” Zeus thundered. “Stop this right now.”
“No.” The one word answer was clipped but it was easy to hear the anger breaking through. “Whoever took away our powers has given me back mine. Apparently, they agree our sister has gone too far this time.”
“She is mortal at the moment. You could kill her.” Zeus protested, standing up and moving through the crowd to his brother. It was quite terrifying actually, looking up at his ten foot taller, beyond furious, brother who had all his godly powers back. For the first time, he realised this was probably how the demigods felt in the presence of the gods and he felt more than a small amount of respect for them now.
“And she would deserve it.” Apollo glowered at his father. “After everything she has done. In these books alone, let alone before that.”
“We’ve all done terrible things, you two included.” Zeus pointed out. “What makes her crimes worse than yours? Because they were against your son? Let her go!” He put all of his kingly authority into the command, but Poseidon simply stared at him like he was an errant child.
After another few seconds the whirlpool dissipated, splashing Zeus but leaving everyone else completely dry. Hera fell to the floor, spluttering and coughing.
“Death would be too easy. And we aren’t done reading about her crimes yet.” Poseidon said simply at Apollo’s raised eyebrow. “We should know everything she has done before we give a final punishment.” He shrank back down to regular human size, though he retained his trident. The group retook their seats. Zeus scowled at them but helped Hera to a couch. Amphitrite picked up the book once more and began reading again, fury in every word.
He’d lost track. He’d found himself in the courtyard of a burned-out mansion…He’d been barefoot, freezing, and confused. And then the wolves came. . . .
“You couldn’t even give him shoes?” Triton snapped, hands flexing in his desire to strangle Hera. “In December?”
“You kidnapped a boy, in the middle of the night, without giving him proper attire and dumped him in hostile territory with no memories?” Thalia looked at the goddess with disgust.
A gallon of ice-cold sea water was dumped on Hera’s head. It didn't touch anything or anyone else. She let out a squeal.
“If you think that is at all appropriate well then you can sit in here and freeze.” Poseidon snarled.
“And I will not be treating any illnesses you get.” Apollo informed her in a faux cheerful voice. “In fact, if I can get my powers back, I might make sure to curse you with all the diseases I can think of.”
“Boys, you best have a competition. Whoever plays the best prank on Hera will get whatever reward they want. And you are encouraged to have as many tries as you like.” Hermes told the Stolls.
“Is that competition only open to your kids?” Leo asked, perking up with interest.
“No. Anyone is free to enter.” Hermes smiled viciously. Will and Michael immediately began whispering together. Nico joined in. Hera would suffer for hurting Percy like that. So did Leo and Beckendorf.
“Hey, why don’t we turn this into a cabin competition?” Chris suggested. “Connor and Travis can go for Hermes. I’ll stand in for Ares to plan pranks with Clarisse. Leo and Beckendorf work and Will and Michael make another pair.”
“I’ll stand in for Athena and work with Annabeth.” Thalia offered with a malicious grin. Annabeth gave her a high five.
“Oh, you’d better be doing it for me too.” Artemis told her Lieutenant.
“I’m consulting with you guys.” Grover put in.
“No, you can work with me.” Rachel offered. “I want a chance too.”
“You want to help me?” Pollux asked Dakota.
“Help you prank a goddess?” Dakota asked, wide-eyed. “The queen of the gods?”
“Yep.” Pollux grinned. “Percy protected me in the Titan war when he didn’t have to. And he doesn’t deserve what Hera is going to do to him. Especially given the cushy circumstances she gave Jason.”
“Alright. I’m in.” Dakota gave a matching grin.
“Drew, you want to help me?” Silena asked.
“Oh yes.” Drew agreed. “For Percy.”
“Okay then. All teams have three days to pull as many pranks as they like. They have to target Hera specifically. Anything goes. At the end of the three days, I will decide which prank is the best.” Hermes stated. All the demigods nodded.
Right next to him, a familiar voice jolted him back to the present…almost falling off the edge of the hill.
Everyone grimaced at the close call.
It was the smiley one—Beano.
“I don’t recall a Gorgon named Beano?” Annabeth frowned.
“There wasn’t one.” Athena told her daughter.
“The Gorgons were called Medusa, Euryale and Stheno.” Hermes said.
Okay, her name wasn’t really Beano. As near as Percy could figure…Welcome! My name is STHENO, he’d thought it said BEANO.
“That makes sense.” Nico nodded.
“How does a Gorgon posing as a Bargain Mart greeter make sense?” Reyna asked.
“A Fury has posed as a math teacher. Monsters have weird disguises.” Grover shrugged.
She was still wearing her green Bargain Mart employee vest over a flower-print dress.
Aphrodite wrinkled her nose in disgust.
If you looked just at her body, you might think she was somebody’s…but those little samples looked perfectly fine.
“You know, that makes me worry about what is in those samples.” Piper cringed.
“Me too.” Gwen agreed.
“Unless she stops off for new samples every time.” Will suggested with a laugh that was still a little forced. All the Greek campers were still furious at Hera’s treatment of Percy.
Stheno just kept toting them across California so she could offer Percy a snack before she killed him.
“Now that is weird.” Thalia frowned in confusion.
Percy didn’t know why she kept doing that, but if he ever needed a suit of armor, he was going to make it out of Crispy Cheese ’n’ Wieners. They were indestructible.
Everybody laughed at that but it still didn’t break the tension in the room. Chiron sighed. He himself was also furious at the queen of the gods, there was no good reason for what she had done to Percy. But it wasn’t a good sign that everyone was this angry and they were still in the first chapter.
“Try one?” Stheno offered…They’re on sale this week, and I’d hate to kill you on an empty stomach.”
“That’s…sweet. I guess?” Hazel said.
“Creepy is what it is.” Frank muttered.
“Stheno!” The second gorgon appeared on Percy’s right so fast…“I told you to sneak up on him and kill him!”
The tension went right back at maximum. If they snuck up on Percy, then they would be attacking his back. Where his weak point was.
Stheno’s smile wavered. “But, Euryale…” She said the name so it rhymed…Her name badge read: Hello! My name is DIE, DEMIGOD SCUM!
“Creative.” Connor snorted.
“I wonder what mortals saw?” Chris questioned.
“They probably just assumed it was a joke. Or didn’t even bother to read the name tag.” Annabeth shrugged.
“You’ve led us on quite a chase, Percy Jackson,” Euryale said…“Grocery department, aisle three. ” Euryale snarled. “Stheno, the Bargain Mart was a front!
“Well, one of them is really getting into their disguise.” Travis laughed.
You’re going native! Now, put down that ridiculous tray…I don’t remember anything! Can’t we just call a truce and talk about your weekly specials?”
Jason grimaced in sympathy. It was horrible not having any memories and he didn’t envy Percy not remembering a single thing except Annabeth for two months. At least he started getting memories back after his quest. So he went three days with no memories and then they started coming back. He’d have gone insane from the headaches he got when he had tried to remember things.
Stheno gave her sister a pouty look, which was hard to do with giant bronze tusks. “Can we?”
“Yes. Discuss specials. Great idea.” Grover nodded.
“No!” Euryale’s red eyes bored into Percy. “I don’t care what you remember…She still has not returned from Tartarus. It’s your fault!”
“Well, that’s something at least.” Annabeth sighed.
“Yeah. The last thing we need is Medusa after him too.”
Percy didn’t really get that. The whole “dying then returning from Tartarus”…Percy was the son of a barnacle-encrusted god from five thousand years ago.
“Barnacle encrusted god?” Poseidon asked with a faux offended expression.
“Clearly Dionysus has rubbed off on him even without memories.” Apollo snorted. Dionysus smirked.
But he did believe it. Even though his memory was erased…Medusa who turned people to stone—shouldn’t I be petrified by now?”
“They won’t like that.” Artemis grimaced.
“They are pretty sensitive about it.” Hermes agreed.
“Heroes!” Euryale said with disgust. “They always bring that up…She was the most hideous one in the family. She got all the luck!”
“They want to be hideous?” Silena asked in confusion.
“To them being hideous is a good thing. They wouldn’t want to be beautiful.” Aphrodite said.
“Monsters are weird.” Drew sniffed.
Stheno looked hurt. “Mother said I was the most hideous.”…Someone must’ve dumped you in the Styx and made your skin like iron.
“See? Even they don’t think you’d have done it voluntarily.” Triton muttered.
“Well, voluntarily may be a bit strong. I was strong-armed by Nico.” Percy pointed out.
“I just…gave you a little nudge.” Nico grinned.
But not to worry. Heroes like you always have a weak spot…would explain how he’d held out so long against the gorgons.
Poseidon and Apollo scowled at Hera.
Maybe if he just fell down the mountain…would he survive?
“No! No! You are not allowed to even try that.” Apollo glared at his boyfriend.
“Alright. OK.” Percy agreed. He increased the tempo of his fingers running through Apollo’s hair. The god was practically lying down now with his head in Percy’s lap.
He didn’t want to risk it—not without something…He looked at Stheno’s large silver platter of free samples.
Hmm...
“NO!” Poseidon scowled at his son. “You do not need to help Hera’s attempts to kill you.”
“That’s barely any better than just jumping down the hill.” Amphitrite said in concern.
“It’s that or fight the Gorgons again.” Clarisse pointed out.
“Reconsidering?” Stheno asked. “Very wise, dear. I added some gorgon’s blood to these, so your death will be quick and painless.”
“Well, now it makes more sense as to why she keeps offering you samples.” Annabeth nodded.
“What? Why?” Percy asked.
“Because Gorgon’s blood is poisonous. It’ll kill you.” Apollo told him.
“Well, blood from one side is poisonous. Blood from the other side can cure anything.” Athena corrected.
“I doubt she put blood that could cure anything into the samples.” Thalia scoffed.
Percy’s throat constricted. “You added your blood…“A tiny nick on my arm, but you’re sweet to be concerned.
“Somehow, I don’t think that was concern.” Michael laughed.
Blood from our right side can cure anything, you know…Stheno looked stunned. “He won’t? But I said it would be quick and painless.”
“Well, she didn’t get the brains in the family.” Chris snickered.
“Let’s be grateful.” Will said.
“Never mind!” Euryale’s fingernails grew into claws…Keep them talking, he thought.
“Look at you, making plans and stuff.” Annabeth teased.
“It’s even a good plan.” Grover grinned.
“Before you slash me to bits,” he said…Euryale sneered. “The goddess Gaea, of course!
“You get the answers straight away.” Jason complained.
“Percy’s like that. Everyone loves him and everyone can’t help but give him answers. Even if it takes a while sometimes.” Thalia said with a sigh, thinking of all the information Percy had dragged out of her without even trying.
“He does appear to have magic powers.” Annabeth muttered.
The one who brought us back from oblivion!...“Like our low prices at Bargain Mart!” Stheno suggested.
Everyone laughed.
“She sure loves that Bargain Mart.” Frank said.
“Gah!” Euryale stormed toward her sister…and slashed Riptide across Euryale’s waist, cutting her in half.
“Nice.” Clarisse nodded approvingly.
He raised the platter, and Stheno found herself facing her own greasy reflection.
“Medusa!” she screamed.
Everyone laughed.
Her sister Euryale had crumbled to dust, but she was already…Percy slammed the metal tray on top of Stheno’s head, and she passed out cold.
“Go Percy.” Everyone cheered.
“You’ve defeated them. Now you can find a different way down without jumping off a cliff on a tiny platter.” Apollo said.
“It’s Percy. He is going to do the stupidest thing he can and it will somehow work out despite the fact it shouldn’t because that’s how his life works.” Annabeth shook her head.
He put the platter behind his butt, said a silent prayer to whatever Roman god oversaw stupid sledding tricks, and jumped off the side of the hill.
“Oh, us.” Apollo whimpered.
“Chapter is done.” Amphitrite announced, looking at the book like it had bitten her.
“Wonderful. Now I’m going to read. I want to find out what else Hera has done to my brother.” Triton said with a scowl in Hera’s direction. Amphitrite handed her son the book.