LoSP Ch.46: Fears and Family (Patreon)

PERCY POV

Intricate silver and golden carvings on the huge silver doors glinted in the sunlight. Most carvings depicted the picture of wild animals and the hunt. In the center of the doors, the carvings on one door showed Artemis helping a woman give birth. On the other door, the carvings depicted her slaying the giants Otus and Ephialtes.

I raised my hand and knocked sharply. As soon as I did it, I felt power gather behind the doors and a silver light shone through the slit between the doors.

A moment later, the doors swung open, revealing Artemis standing in her hunting gear, a bow slung over her shoulder.

“Percy!” Her eyes lit up before her forehead creased as she saw my face. “What— What’s happening?”

“Can I come in?” I asked.

“Sure thing,” she moved aside, allowing me into her palace.

With a snap of her fingers, the room lit up with lights and a fire sprang up in the fireplace.

“Has something happened, Percy?” The doors shut with a thud behind me. “Talk to me. You’re scaring me.”

I stared into the flames, licking my dry lips.

“Your father just came to me while I was having my training session with Athena and Ares.” I told her.

“And?”

“He said that I have to lead a quest.”

“Alright,” Artemis said slowly, stepping around to stand in front of me. “What kind of quest?”

“A quest to hunt gods,” I answered, closing my eyes. “The gods who have betrayed Olympus.”

“That’s… that’s okay. I will be with you.” Artemis bit her lip. “We can take my brother— or Athena or Ares, I suppose. I will track them down and we—”

“I cannot take you with me.” I blurted. “Or any gods for that matter.”

“What?”

“Your father wants it to be a demigod quest,” I took her hands into mine, running my thumb in circles over the back of her hand. “He wants me to lead a quest of demigods to hunt down gods and titans.”

Artemis' mouth moved soundlessly.

“That’s— that’s something.” She swallowed whatever she was going to say. “You’re capable, Percy. Gods, there’s no one I would trust more with my life. And, you’re not alone, right? It is a quest. You’ll have help.”

“Yes.” I told her. “ Zeus has said to get a quest of three or seven members.”

“Of course, of course, that makes sense,” She muttered, grasping my hand tighter. “Seven’s a powerful number. It is not exactly an army but it is something.”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “But I might just take two others.”

“Don’t be stupid.” Artemis’s lips drew into a thin line. “It is a quest to hunt fucking gods and titans. You can’t go with a small quest party.”

“That’ll put more people in danger.” I told her. “I don’t want to put any more people in danger than I have to.”

“Percy, the more people you take, the safer you’ll be.” Artemis said.

“I am not worried for myself.” I told her.

“You should be!” Artemis' eyes burned. “You care about everyone except yourself, Percy! You have to think about what will happen to us if you die. With six others to support you, we’d know that you at least have help! We know— we know—”

Artemis’s voice broke and I understood what she was feeling.

“Artemis, I promise I will return.” I said. “I know I’ll return. I am worried about those I’ll take with me. What if I cannot protect them?”

“Percy, you led a quest into the heart of Othrys and returned without a single loss.” Artemis’ silver eyes bore into mine. “You saved me from the sky. You killed Coeus and fought the General to do so. You saved Zoë despite being barely capable of standing on your own two feet.”

“I did.” I nodded. “But that was necessary. If there wasn’t a quest, I would’ve stormed Othrys by myself.” I shook my head. “Gods, I remember threatening Zoë that if she didn’t let me come with her I would knock the whole hunt out and take Liza with me just to fulfill the lines of the prophecy.”

“And you would’ve gone through with that threat,” Artemis’ lips quirked up. “You had to save Annabeth. You’d do anything for your friends and family.”

I nodded.

“What’s different about this, Percy?” She stepped closer, her hands drifting to my shoulders. “Why are you so scared? So… worried?”

“Because that was different!” I exclaimed. “That was me saving someone. Every quest I’ve been to is to protect something or save someone. This? This is me going on a hunt to confront the enemy and kill them. All for a statement from Olympus.”

“Something tells me you’ve already accepted this quest, Percy.” Artemis raised her eyebrows. “Knowing my father, he wouldn't have let you leave unless you accepted the quest.”

“That’s what happened, yeah,” I nodded. “He even laid out his reasons. Yes, we got into an argument and everything. But— but his reasons were sound. If I go through with this quest and manage to kill off a few titans or gods who turned… it would scare the rest of them away. We’d have less enemies to fight and we demigods would be perceived as a threat equal to Olympus.”

“So where’s the problem?” Artemis asked.

“I… I want your opinion as the Goddess of the Hunt.” I confessed. “I know it might sound stupid. Hades, it is stupid. I have to go through with it. I have agreed to it. It is a logical decision but—”

“Your mind’s convinced but your heart isn’t.” Artemis smiled sadly.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “My mind’s convinced but my heart isn’t.” I chewed on my lip. “I— I do not want to go on a stupid quest for the sake of making a statement. My first quest was to prevent a war from ravaging the Earth. The second was to save Grover and the camp. And the third was to save Annabeth and you.”

“Here, you don’t have that drive of heart,” Artemis nodded in understanding. “This is not necessary, you feel. You feel that you’re purposefully putting them in danger if you take them with you.”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “You—you’re the goddess of the hunt. You’ve actively led it to kill monsters including Echidna and so many others. Heck, you all have hunted more monsters than I can probably name. And I know you’re always scared for your huntresses. So, how do you do it?”

“Percy, we always feel scared for those we love.” Artemis whispered. “Right now, I am scared for you going on this quest. And you’re the most powerful demigod to walk on earth. Gods, you’ve killed more Titans than all of us younger Olympians have. And yet, I am worried.”

“I know.” I nodded. “So, how do you do it, Artemis?”

“Because I know something.” Artemis smiled. “If I don’t let them face the dangers on their own terms, the dangers will come for them. You cannot always protect them, Percy. You’ve got to let them fight their own battles.”

“Last time I let someone fight, she almost died, Artemis.” I looked away. “Thalia almost died fighting Aura that day. Had Nemesis not done whatever she did, Thalia would be dead.”

“And yet it made her stronger.” Artemis said. “And— I cannot justify this except by logic, Percy. One day, they’re going to come for you and your friends. All of the gods and titans that stand against Olympus. It is better that you face them on your own terms. In the wild, if you’re not prepared, you’re dead.”

I sighed. “Does it get easier?”

She shook her head. “It is not going to get easier. It hasn’t been easier for me in more than three-thousand years. Hell, I still remember the first hunt I had been on with the girls.”

“What happened?”

“It was the early days. The hunt was just formed— I had three girls with me and we got the news that the Chimera was rampaging in a nearby town.” Her eyes grew distant. “I wanted to go alone but my father, as usual, laid out the rules. He asked me what was the whole point of letting me form a hunt if I never took them with me.”

“Then?”

“I was so fucking terrified.” Artemis continued. “And— I just went crying to Hestia. And she told me the same thing I am telling you now. If you fight their fights, they’ll never be capable of protecting themselves when the true danger comes.”

“Then what do I do?”

“The only thing you can do, Percy.” Artemis pulled me closer. “Trust in yourself. Trust in your skills. And above all, trust in those whom you’re scared for.”

“That’s it?” I asked.

“Percy, if you believe in yourself, you can do anything.” Artemis said. “Have your instincts ever led you astray?”

“Not so far.” I agreed.

“Then believe in yourself,” Artemis pressed her lips to mine. My arm curled around her waist as I kissed her back.

Breaking the kiss, Artemis looked me in the eye.

“I believe in you, Percy. We all do.” Artemis smiled. “Together, we will prepare whomever you wish to take with you.”

“Together,” I whispered, leaning forward and capturing her lips in a kiss.

‘Together.’

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PERCY POV

“So, all children of the Big Three together.” My voice cut through the room. “And Clarisse, Annabeth, and Grover.”

“You can exchange Grover for Phoebe.” Artemis suggested. “Phoebe is my best tracker.”

“I’d have loved to take Zoë.” I told her. “But you need one lieutenant with the hunt, so I won’t argue.”

“My hunt will continue to hunt down monsters, Percy.” Artemis chewed her lip. “And it is better if you take Thalia. Thalia and you have fought together before and you know her fighting style better than you know Zoë’s. And Thalia has taken down a titaness before.”

I nodded in agreement.

“I think this team is perfect.” Athena leaned over the table. “Especially if the Satyr has become Pan’s left hand. Just by being in his presence, Grover’s hold over nature magic would’ve strengthened.”

“I can ask Pan to teach Grover instead of training him with us.” I said. “Grover isn’t a fighter. But his nature magic is strong.”

“We have a month and a half till the equinox.” Athena said. “If you all train together under our guidance, I don’t think most titans or minor gods would stand a chance. Especially with all the Big Three’s children together. Bianca and Nico combined should be enough to match Thalia’s powers.”

“He has too many melee fighters,” Ares pointed out suddenly. “None of them are archers.”

“Bianca and Annabeth are archers.” Artemis said. “Even Thalia isn’t half bad at archery. She just prefers her shiny new ax.”

“But no one is primarily an archer.” I agreed with Ares. “Bianca is a jack of all trades. She does both well but not well enough.”

“I will train her personally then.” Artemis declared. “Even Annabeth and Thalia. Or you can swap one of the boys out for one of my hunters… or Clarisse for Phoebe.”

“Clarisse is more powerful.” Ares grunted and we all turned to him. “What?”

“Nothing. I am just surprised you remember both of them are yours." Athena snarked.

Ares raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Let’s not fight.” I interrupted. “Also, I have trained Clarisse like I have trained Annabeth and Thalia. Those three have experience fighting against me as a team. So it’ll be better if I keep those three in. Honestly, I am only open to exchanging Nico right now. Others are non-negotiable.”

“The children of Hades are very powerful.” Athena shook her head. “And he has been learning from the ghosts in the underworld. Ghosts can make excellent spies. Don’t remove Nico.”

#She’s right.# Alexander said. #I have seen all of the Big Three ride into battle together. Hades, Poseidon, Zeus. If you can make a team-up like that… you could be unstoppable.#

‘I would much prefer it if it was just me and Artemis.’ I told him.

#Of course you would, lover boy.# Alexander snorted. #But you can’t take her. So suck it up and take what’s your best option.#

“So the team’s decided then.” I declared. “Thalia, Bianca, Nico, Grover, Annabeth, Clarisse, and I. A team of seven.”

“Alright then,” Artemis nodded. “I will train my huntresses in archery. Make sure they are ready to hunt in all ways and forms. Traps, tracking, strategies, escape… everything.”

“You have taught me the escape stuff.” I grinned remembering the lessons.

“Didn’t exactly work in the beginning, did it?” Artemis rolled her eyes. “You ripped through the ropes like a brute. I had to get celestial bronze chains that stopped your powers.”

“Wait, you tied him up?” Athena frowned.

“Escaping if you’re ever trapped is important.” Ares shuddered. “I remember my condition when those giants captured me for months.”

“At Othrys, had I not been trapped under the sky, I would’ve escaped the moment they turned their backs on me.” Artemis added. “The only one better at escaping than me would be Hermes. And that’s only because he can pick any lock at will.”

Athena nodded contemplatively.

“Well, regardless.” I said. “This team is final.”

“We will summon them to Olympus tomorrow to discuss all of this.” Athena declared. “And begin their training.”

“I will bring Clarisse and Grover here. Artemis can bring the girls.” I said. “Nico is in the underworld with his father. I will give him a call and pick him up at Central Park.”

“Central Park?” Athena frowned. “Is there an entrance to the underworld there now? The doors of Orpheus?”

“Yes,” I nodded. “Would’ve saved me a lot of trouble if I knew that on my first quest.”

“Something to keep in mind then.” Athena said. “Alright then! We will meet at noon tomorrow in this very room. You can reveal the task Zeus has set you and then we can make a schedule and a plan.”

“I also need something else.” I told them. “I need to know more about Luke. About his past. About… maybe his mom or whoever raised him. I don’t know who to ask because it is a sensitive topic for Annabeth and Thalia.”

The gods in the room shared a look.

“Percy, why do you need to know all of this?” Artemis asked.

“Because he bathed in the Styx, not the Titan Lord.” I frowned. “Luke is the one hosting him. I think Luke is still in there somewhere.”

“And you’re hoping to bring Luke out.” Athena said. “And to bring him out you need some sort of trigger.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, according to my database, Luke’s mother is still alive and lives in Connecticut.” Athena looked at an iPad that appeared in her hands. “Why don’t you start there?”

Ares and Artemis remained silent, not meeting my eyes.

“Guys, what are you not telling me?” I asked.

Artemis grimaced. “Percy, it—”

“Artemis,” Athena cut her off. “Perhaps, you should meet Luke’s mother when you have the time. It… it might give you a better perspective on the situation.”

“But you know something.” I insisted.

“We are gods, punk.” Ares laid a hand on my shoulder. “We know a lot. But we cannot tell you everything. Maybe— maybe someone else could.”

“Who?”

“Think Percy about what you’re looking for,” Athena said. “And the answer will come to you.”

“Since when did you start speaking in riddles?” I muttered.

“Just— we helped as much as we could.” Athena said. “We Olympians can help no further.”

That made me pause.

‘Hestia,’ I told Alexander.

#Yep.#

“Well, time to visit my favorite goddess then.” I grinned.

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It didn’t take long for me to find Hestia. She was in her temple, waiting for me with a mug of coffee and a plate of muffins and cookies ready.

She beamed, giving me a toothy grin as I entered the temple. “Percy! Come in.”

“You knew I was coming, didn’t you?” I sat across from her picking a cookie.

“I did.” Hestia's eyes turned somber and her smile vanished. “And I know why you came too.”

“To know more about Luke’s family.” I nodded.

Hestia closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, her eyes were filled with flames that flickered like the hearth.

The flames in the temple turned a brilliant red, rising several meters in length.

“Luke’s… start was a normal one even by demigod standards.” Hestia began. “But you see, Percy? His mother was special. She had a gift. A very special gift. Her name was May Castellan.”

Hestia’s burning eyes flicked toward me.

“May Castellan had many talents.” Hestia continued. “She attracted the attention of Hermes himself. And they had a beautiful baby boy. For a brief time, she was happy. Very happy. And then… she went too far.”

“What happened?”

Hestia said nothing, staring at me.

“Hestia?”

The goddess closed her eyes and the flames around the temple returned to normal. When she opened them, her eyes were a warm brown, the flames in her eyes nowhere to be seen.

“Perhaps it will be best if you see for yourself, Percy.” She said sadly. She snapped her fingers and the world around me shifted.

I found myself standing in front of a white colonial-style house, the cookie I had taken still in my hand.

“Hestia?” I looked around only to find that I was alone on the street.

‘Alexander? What the hell was that? And where am I?’

#That was Hestia as a goddess, Percy. Her semi-divine form, if you would.# Alexander replied. #You’ve only seen Ares’ semi-divine form till now. And I suppose Artemis’ when she fought Atlas. It is a form where we are more divine than our mortal forms and a lot more mortal than our divine forms.#

‘A middle ground.’ I concluded. ‘That's interesting.’

#Most of it is reflected through the eyes and surroundings like you just saw.# Alexander added. #But that’s not important. As to where you are, I’d wager Luke’s home. His mother’s anyway.#

I looked around.

The sidewalk was lined with those little stuffed bean bag animals you see in gift shops. There were miniature lions, pigs, dragons, hydras, and even a teeny Minotaur in a little Minotaur diaper. Judging from their sad shape, the beanbag creatures had been sitting out here a long time – since the snow melted last spring at least. One of the hydras had a tree sapling sprouting between its necks.

I walked toward the door.

The front porch was infested with wind chimes. Shiny bits of glass and metal clinked in the breeze. Brass ribbons tinkled like water.

The front door was painted turquoise. The name CASTELLAN was written in English and below it, in Greek.

‘Luke’s house. Or his mother’s anyway.’

#It might’ve been a gift from Hermes.# Alexander said. #The house.#

I nodded and knocked on the door. I had barely lowered my hand when the door swung open.

“Luke!” The old lady cried happily.

May Castellan was not a sight to see. Her graying hair was stuck in tufts over her head while her pink house dress was covered in scorch marks and smears of ash. When she smiled, her face looked unnaturally stretched, and the high-voltage light in her eyes made me wonder if she was blind.

And while my senses confirmed she was mortal, there were traces of… something I couldn’t quite place.

“My dear boy!” The woman lunged toward me and it took all the restraint I had to not act on reflex and defend myself. Her skinny, skeletal arms wrapped around my torso rather tightly as she squeezed me into a hug. “Luke!”

‘So, she is insane.’ I told Alexander. ‘I can already see why Luke ran away.’

“Come in!” She pulled me into the house by hand. “I have your lunch ready!”

‘In a couple of hours, it is going to be supper time.’ I followed her inside.

The living room was even weirder than the front lawn. Mirrors and candles filled every available space. I couldn’t look anywhere without seeing my reflection. Above the mantle, a little bronze Hermes flew around the second hand of a ticking clock.

“This way, my dear!” May Castellan steered me towards the back of the house. “Oh, I told them you would come back. I knew it!”

‘Them?’ I frowned. ‘Who’s them?’

She sat me down at the kitchen table. Stacked on the counter were hundreds – I mean hundreds – of Tupperware boxes with peanut butter and jam sandwiches inside. The ones on the bottom were green and fuzzy, as if they’d been there for a long time.

On top of the oven was a stack of cookie sheets. Each one had a dozen burnt cookies on it. In the sink was a mountain of empty plastic Kool-Aid pitchers.

A beanbag Medusa sat by the faucet like she was guarding the mess. Miss Castellan started humming as she got out peanut butter and jam and started making a new sandwich. Something was burning in the oven. I got the feeling more cookies were on the way.

‘Alright, I am not sitting here idly.’

I called to the powers of the hearth and felt a tug in my gut.

The moldy sandwiches and burnt cookies turned perfect, the smell in the kitchen vanishing, followed by the cookies in a flash of red flames that made Miss Castellan jump.

“Dear me, Luke!” She looked around. “You’ve returned!”

The woman made her way toward me and pulled me into another hug.

“Miss Castellan,” I said loudly, breaking the hug. “I am not Luke. I am one of his… friends, ma’am.”

“Oh,” Her face fell and she took a step back. “I… Luke has brought friends over only once. Where’s Luke?”

“That’s what I wanted to ask you, ma’am.” I smiled. “When did you last see him?”

Her eyes lost focus.

‘He was so young when he left,’ she said wistfully. ‘Third grade. That’s too young to run away! He said he’d be back for lunch. And I waited. He likes peanut butter sandwiches and cookies and Kool-Aid. He’ll be back for lunch very soon …’ Then she looked at me and smiled. ‘Why, Luke, there you are! You look so handsome. You have your father’s eyes.”

‘Luke leaving drove her mad.’ I felt fingers curl around my heart. ‘Yet another life he ruined.’

#Ask her about her eyes.# Alexander cut through. #Those eyes are weird even by our standards.#

I looked into her eyes. Her gaze seemed fractured – like she was trying to focus on him through a kaleidoscope.

“What happened to your eyes?”

She tilted her head. “Why, Luke, you know the story. It was right before you were born, wasn’t it? I’d always been special, able to see through the… whatever they call it.”

“The Mist?” I said.

“Yes, dear.” She nodded encouragingly. “And they offered me an important job. That’s how special I was!”

“What sort of job?” I asked. “What happened?”

Miss Castellan frowned, her eyes growing distant.

“Dear me, it didn’t work out, did it?” She stared off into the wall, where Hermes’ pictures from newspaper cuttings hung. “Your father warned me not to try. He said it was too dangerous. But I had to. It was my destiny! And now… I still can’t get the images out of my head. They make everything seem so fuzzy.”

She turned to me. “Luke’s friend! Would you like some cookies?”

She moved around the kitchen and pulled a tray out of the oven, before dumping a dozen lumps of chocolate-chip charcoal on the table.

“Luke was so kind,” Ms Castellan murmured. “He left to protect me, you know. He said if he went away, the monsters wouldn’t threaten me. But I told him the monsters are no threat! They sit outside on the sidewalk all day, and they never come in.” She picked up the little stuffed Medusa from the windowsill. “Do they, Mrs. Medusa? No, no threat at all.” She beamed at me. “I’m so glad you came home. I knew you weren’t ashamed of me!”

“Well,” I shifted in my seat, trying hard not to imagine an eight-year-old Luke going through all of this. “Miss Castellan…”

“No, mom,” She corrected.

“I am not Luke. I am his friend.” I reminded her and her face fell.

“Oh, of course, of course. Silly me.” She muttered. “The last time he came…”

“What happened?” I prodded.

“Well, it was… oh goodness…” A shadow passed across her face. “The last time, he looked so different. A scar. A terrible scar, and his voice so full of pain.”

“His eyes,” I said. “Were they golden?”

“Golden?” She blinked. “No. How silly. Luke has blue eyes. Beautiful blue eyes!”

‘So Luke was here before he turned into Kronos.’

#Ask her if he asked her for something.#

“Ma’am, did he ask you for anything?” I asked. “Anything at all.”

She beamed. “He asked for my blessing! He was going to a river, and he said he needed my blessing. Isn’t it sweet?”

“Very.” I muttered. “Very sweet. Now—”

Miss Castellan gasped. She doubled over and her cookie tray clattered to the floor.

“Miss Castellan?”

‘AHHHH.’ She straightened, her eyes glowing an eerie green. A familiar green.

“My child,” she rasped in a much deeper voice— A mixture of her own and another I had heard before. “Must protect him! Hermes, help! Not my child! Not his fate – no!”

She grabbed me by my shoulders and shook me. “Not his fate!”

Luke’s mother collapsed and I caught her before she could hit the floor. Gently, I laid her on one of the chairs.

She muttered something incomprehensible before dozing off again.

#Alright. Time to get going.# Alexander said. #I think we both know what happened to her.#

‘The oracle of Delphi.’ I gazed at Miss Castellan. ‘She tried to host the oracle of Delphi and something went wrong. Very wrong.’

I quietly walked out of the kitchen and headed toward the door. Just as I was about to pull the door open, I felt a powerful presence appear outside the door.

I flicked my wrist, and my sword appeared in my hand before I pulled the door open.

A man in a suit stood outside the door, a long caduceus held in his hands. He looked about twenty-five, with curly salt-and-pepper hair and elfin features.

“Lord Hermes.” I greeted. “George and Martha.”

“I told you he would remember us, Martha!” George raised his head. “Did you bring us a rat?”

“I didn’t know you were coming.” I told him before turning to Hermes. “To what do I owe you this pleasure?”

“What are you doing here, Percy?” Hermes’ eyes flashed. “Why are you here?”

“I can’t believe I am going to say these words, but… blame Hestia.” I looked at the sky. “She is the one who sent me to meet Luke’s mother without any warning.”

“And why did she send you here?” Hermes’s eyes were steely cold.

“Because I need to know the enemy.” I told him. “And your son is the enemy now, Lord Hermes.”

Hermes’s knuckles whitened around the Caduceus. “If you’ve gotten what you wanted, leave.”

“I got something.” I nodded. “But can you explain why May Castellan is the way she is?”

The god’s expression hardened like he’d turned to marble. George and Martha curled around the caduceus, which shimmered and changed into something that looked suspiciously like a high-voltage cattle prod.

#Percy…#

“Lord Hermes, I suggest you lower the Caduceus.” My heart hammered in my chest as I felt power tingle my skin. “I do not wish to fight you. We are on the same side.”

Hermes impaled the Caduceus in the ground and stepped closer. “You will stay away from May Castellan, Perseus Jackson. Your fight is with Luke and now more appropriately, the Titan Lord himself. You will not hurt the poor lady any more than she already has been hurt.”

“I will keep that in mind.” I said.

Hermes nodded in satisfaction began to glow. I averted my eyes, and I felt a wave of power ripple through the town as Hermes disappeared.

With a look around, I closed my eyes, dissolving in a sea breeze to my destination: Olympus.

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AND… DONE! I hope you all liked the chapter!

I know that not much ‘happened’ in the chapter, but it was an important one nonetheless. As the saying goes, ‘Heavy is the head that wears the crown’. And Percy has begun to feel his responsibilities as the Hero of Olympus. On the other hand, Artemis and Percy connected on a more emotional level, more like a couple is supposed to be. So, yay Pertemis!

Also, Percy has begun to look into Luke and his family to find the trigger that will bring Luke in control of his own body. And for those who still yearn for action… A lot of action is coming in some time once the quest begins.

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A huge thank you to Mughil, Nanu, and Anax for betaing this chapter!