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The Caduceus

Summary:

Gabe Ugliano orphaned Percy Jackson and nearly took his life. Rescued by an unlikely god, Percy was placed under divine protection and trained to face his destiny. Now, as a sinister force looms - one that turns children against their parents - the son of Poseidon must rise to the challenge and may well determine the fate of Olympus itself.

Notes:

Moved from FFN to here, and I will be updating both here on AO3 and there.

Chapter Text

A man with salt-and-pepper hair gave his date a kiss on the cheek and a warm smile as he dropped her off at the front door of her apartment. The lady flushed and gave him a wide smile, ducking her head as she entered her home and closed the door behind her. He heard a quiet thud and snorted softly. He leaned his head forward a bit as his brown eyes glowed briefly to show him that the woman had leaned on the door clutching her chest with a smile. He turned away from the door, pulling his coat tighter around his frame and began to walk down long hallway of the apartment complex.

He was relieved to see he still had his charm.

As the man walked, he did a small spin to look down the hallway to make sure no one was looking. It was late, and he'd already gone through the necessary procedures to hide his more obvious 'features' from his enemies, but being who he was, he knew he had to be cautious. Seeing no one around the empty hallway, he ducked his head and reached into his coat to pull out a cigarette box and a lighter. He pulled out a single 'death stick', as one of his sisters liked to call it, and placed it between his lips, lit it, and let go of his control over his disguise.

His form shimmered - his hair darkened to a dark brown and his eyes turned blue. His other features shifted slightly along his face and his shoes sprouted small wings. As he walked, he took out his phone and looked through the messages he'd ignored while out with his date. Every other step would be a hop, allowing himself to get used to his shoes again. The wings on them would flutter when he did.

Hermes hummed when he got to a particular message that he deemed more important to address, deciding to deal with its request first. He had reached the end of the hallway by now and had opened the window at the end to jump out when he heard a scream.

He frowned, turning his head back. The scream came from a few doors down the hallway.

Hermes slowly pushed off the foot that had been perched on the windowsill, discarding the cigarette in his mouth out of the window and pushing his phone into a coat pocket. Curiously, he began to walk back down the hallway. A few steps later, a wave of something familiar hit him - like a breeze - but he couldn't quite place it.

He paused, checked his watch, decided he had time - when didn't he? - and went to investigate. As he took a few more steps down the hallway, he heard another scream erupt from that same apartment, causing the god to move with more urgency. A few moments later, he stopped at the apartment door he'd heard the commotion from and closed his eyes. His eyes snapped open and he frowned deeply at what he found inside.

There was a demigod in there, and judging from the smell, it had to be a child of Poseidon.

Now that Hermes was closer, he could smell the scent that had hit him earlier: it was strong, but something else had masked it earlier. It was no wonder the child wasn't dead yet; their scent had been overpowered. He was broken out of his musings when he heard glass shatter, followed by a whimper. Frowning, he placed his hand on the doorknob and pushed some of his power into his fingertips. A beat later, the lock clicked and he pushed the door open slowly.

Hermes stepped into the apartment and was immediately hit with a stench so foul, his eyes watered. He now knew what had masked the child's scent so well and found that he hated the smell with every fiber of his being. His nose burned.

"Stay still, you brat!"

The god's frown deepened. He heard the sound of a struggle and walked slowly towards it, pulling out his phone from his pocket. What he saw in that apartment that day was something he knew he'd never forget.

The lights in the room were flickering and the ceiling was incredibly dusty. Blankets and other furniture were thrown about, some being broken and on the ground. Lying beside an old couch was the body of a woman whose long brown hair laid in a large pool of blood that he suspected was hers. Her blue eyes were dull, but her expression showed surprise. Her blood-stained shirt did nothing to hide the bruises and cuts that lined her arms.

Hermes felt the ugly feeling of fury bubble in his gut. He gripped his phone tightly. He turned his head towards shoeprints of blood on the floor that led further into the apartment, down a hallway to what looked like a bedroom. He rushed to follow the prints quietly.

Upon entering, his eyes immediately locked onto the sweaty form of a large man whose fist was held above his head. A broken bottle of beer was in his hand, the sharp edges glinting in the moonlight that flitted through the thin curtains of the windows. His legs were slightly shaky, and he swayed slightly, hinting that he was drunk. His left arm was busy trying to keep a small child still as he grunted.

Said small child was on the floor, his thin arms barely holding back the much larger adult's attempt to keep him still. He was tan, and his dark hair was a mess. He had deep eyebags and multiple bruises on his legs and arms.

"N-no! Please don't!" The boy yelled out desperately with fear in his voice.

Hermes grit his teeth as he stopped himself from destroying the drunk in front of him. Instead, he rasped his knuckles on the door twice, his gaze unwavering towards the man in front of him.

The drunk's head spun to look behind him, his eyes widening in surprise. He turned to deliver a stomp on the boy, who tried to defend himself with his arms, but it did little to protect himself from the weight and superior strength of the larger man. The boy yelped in pain.

"Don't move," the drunk growled to the child, who nodded hurriedly as he cowered.

"W-who are you?" The man slurred and stuttered, slowly turning to face the man in a coat. His knuckles had turned white from gripping the broken bottle so tightly, and his furrowed brows showed he was confused. "I t-thought I...locked the door?"

"You did," Hermes said with a smile that did not reach his eyes. "But it pays to be the god of thieves."

The drunk's frown only deepened as he shook his head. "Eh? J-just get out of here! B-before I make you!" He took a shaky step forward, raising the bottle that he must've thought was threatening.

Hermes did not move.

With a growl of anger, the drunk man stumbled forward, arm raised and bottle poised to strike. The god snorted softly, the smile previously on his face gone and flicked his wrist, the phone in his left hand shimmering and glowing quickly to transform into a caduceus. As soon the man had come close enough, he smashed his right fist into the drunk man's body, his fist glowing as he did so. His caduceus glowed as well. He felt a grim satisfaction in him when he heard the man's ribs crack. Barely waiting for the man to scream in pain, his fist blurred again as he swung it at the man's head with speed that few could match. The drunk man slammed into the wall, his entire body going slack once he hit it. He crumpled to the ground with a dull thud.

Hermes sneered down at the mortal as he ran his thumb along the staff, watching it fade once more into a phone. He tucked it back into his coat, his gaze set firmly on the unconscious drunk at his feet.

He let out a breath, forcing calm into his limbs before he did something he'd regret. As much as the mortal deserved it, breaking the divine laws wasn't a line he could afford to cross - at least not for this.

The man currently indisposed on the floor had abused his family, that much the god could see. He knew he would be one to talk about respecting women, but he never physically hurt any of them, and he never hit his children.

As Hermes continued to contemplate what to do next, a whimper brought him back to the present.

Blue eyes met green, and Hermes saw only trepidation. Inwardly, he winced; he was sure that this entire experience had probably traumatized the boy, and his beatdown of the boy's abuser surely couldn't have helped. He sighed, finding his brother's words on his lack of tact to be true. Not that he would ever admit that to him.

The man slowly raised his hands in a placating manner. "Hi there. I mean you no harm, I swear." He began to close the distance between him and the boy slowly, deliberately taking his time as to not scare the child further. He made sure to step around the unconscious mortal as he neared, quietly lowering himself to a kneeling position so that he'd be at eye level with the young boy. He stopped a couple of feet away from the boy and offered a small, reassuring smile.

"You're safe now. I'm here, and this man won't hurt you anymore." Hermes said gently, keeping his voice low so as to not startle the boy who had obviously been through a great deal in such a short amount of time.

Instead of responding, the boy braced his heels and hands against the floor to distance himself from Hermes. The god immediately slowed to a stop, unwilling to scare the demigod further. After all, the child was likely still reeling from the events of the night.

Hermes followed the child's cautious glances towards the unconscious mortal behind him, a soft frown tugging at his features.

"He's still alive," he clarified to the boy. "I just... put him to sleep for a while. I can't do anything more without breaking some rules that I..." He paused and shook his head, then continued, "not that you'd know about them..."

The god's voice had softened and his words had turned into mumbles towards the end as he studied the boy in front of him and retreated into his own thoughts.

With the immediate danger to the child now incapacitated, Hermes finally noticed just how much of a wreck the apartment was. The air reeked of spilled beer and mold, and the peeling paint revealed patches of crumbling drywall underneath. Dirty clothes lay in unorganized heaps, and the furniture was either broken or barely holding together.

No, Hermes thought, this wasn't a home.

And the boy, who was only just beginning to calm down in front of Hermes, looked no better. He was painfully thin, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his arms littered with bruises and cuts both fresh and faded. If the child took off the worn out clothes hanging off his frame, Hermes was sure he would find more of the same all over his body. He wondered, as the demigod shuddered and shook in exhaustion, when he had last had a proper meal and a night's sleep.

Hermes felt his anger spike again. For a moment, he considered ending the abusive mortal's life then and there, calling in a favor from his uncle, and having the god of the Underworld do as he wished. After all, who could do such a thing to a kid?

Before the god's thoughts could go further, the boy's trembling voice brought him back from his musings.

"But... he'll wake up again, right?"

Hermes blinked, caught off guard by the question.

"My stepdad, " the boy whispered, "no matter how much he drinks, he always wakes up. And he hurts us again."

A wave of sorrow washed through Hermes, who struggled to find the words that would help. He let out another deep breath and braced himself inwardly as he finally spoke.

"He won't be hurting you anymore," the god said finally. He was pleasantly surprised to hear the steadiness in his voice in spite of his inexperience in matters like this. "I promise you're safe now."

The boy looked up at him with wide, uncertain eyes, though his shoulders sagged in relief. He believed Hermes' words. Taking the reaction as a good sign, the god took another step forward, inching closer to the demigod who could only watch him tiredly.

"My name is Hermes," he whispered as he forced a small smile onto his face. "And you look like hell, kid. I would know, I've been there."

The demigod frowned and nodded hesitantly as he wrapped his arms around himself to hide his injuries. He rasped out, "it hurts more this time."

Hermes felt a pang of sadness in his chest but forced himself to keep smiling as he nodded, "I can see that. And I can help, but only if you let me."

As the god spoke, he reached into his coat with his right hand and retrieved his phone. He showed the boy the small item and allowed it to slowly shimmer into his caduceus. The wings on the tip flared, and the gold snakes glowed faintly in the dim light.

The demigod watched the transformation in wonder, looking to Hermes as it finished. The god simply extended his other hand and quietly said, "just give me your hand."

Hermes saw the boy hesitate, but after a few moments, he reached out.

As soon as their hands touched, the caduceus glowed even brighter. A warmth the boy had never felt before flowed from his fingers to the rest of his body, steadily soothing the aches of his body. On the outside, snakelike wisps of light coiled up his arm from where his hand met Hermes'. Wherever they passed, the cuts and bruises on his figure would fade.

The child let out a breath of astonishment and relief.

As the glow faded, Hermes smiled at him. "I told you I could help."

In response, the demigod mustered a small smile of his own. "Thank you," he whispered.

"You don't have to thank me," Hermes replied, "but you can repay me by telling me your name."

"Percy," the boy said quietly, "Percy Jackson."

Hermes nodded with an easy smile, "that's a good name, Percy Jackson."

The edges of Percy's lips twitched upward again. "My mom thought..."

Suddenly, he stopped.

Percy looked past the kneeling god towards the hallway, his eyebrows furrowing and his eyes widening in panic. He stood unsteadily, his breathing uneven, and brushed past Hermes as he made his way to the living room.

Hermes closed his eyes and sighed.

The god knew the sight that was waiting for Percy, and though he didn't need to see it again, he couldn't let the child face it alone. He pushed off of his knee and stood, following slowly and silently, bracing himself for the reaction of the demigod.

He didn't need to rush.

Percy had frozen by the doorway to the living room. As Hermes closed the distance between them, he saw what the son of Poseidon saw: his mother's brown hair fanned out in a puddle of her own blood.

Percy's breath hitched.

He took only three steps forward before his knees gave out.

"Mom?"

Hermes looked away. The broken tone of the demigod's voice threatened to break his heart. He glanced back towards the room Percy's stepfather was in, wishing he could make the mortal suffer for what he had done.

Percy tried to call out to her again, his voice cracking, trying to get her to sit up and hold him and tell him they would be okay.

She did not move.

Tears began to stream down his face as he hung his head, soft sobs building into hoarse cries as he wrapped his arms around himself once more and swayed in place. He would reach out to her with shaking hands, only to stop himself and pull back, afraid to touch her.

Hermes tried to shove down the ugly feeling of helplessness in his chest. He couldn't kill Percy's stepfather or bring back his mother; all he could do was be there.

Eventually, he made his way over to place his hand gently on the demigod's trembling shoulder. He received no response.

The god knew loss well - deep and painful loss - but he couldn't expect the same of Percy Jackson, a mere child.

"What was her name?" Hermes whispered.

Percy let out another strangled cry before steeling himself slightly and spoke, "Sally."

Hermes nodded quietly. "That's a beautiful name," he said softly. He prayed for her, hoping his uncle would look favorably upon Sally Jackson's soul.

The two stayed there for what felt like hours, but what was only truly a few minutes.

Unfortunately, their moment of grieving did not last.

Hermes lifted his head as a tremor rumbled through the floor of the apartment. He shifted away from Percy, who looked up in confusion.

"I'll be right back," Hermes told the boy, "stay put."

Percy watched through red-rimmed eyes as the god quietly closed the front door behind him.

Hermes walked down the hallway towards the window he had planned to leave through, pulling his phone from his coat as he went. With a flick of his wrist, it shimmered into the caduceus: it hummed in his hand, as if sensing the impending action. He tilted his head to peer from the edge of the windowsill.

Outside, down the dimly lit street, a large figure - too tall and broad to be human - trudged towards the apartment complex. The trench coat draped over their shoulders swayed as they came, and as they neared a streetlight, the tilted hat that adorned its head did nothing to hide the single eye present on its face.

Hermes' jaw clenched, more in irritation than in fear; he could deal with a cyclops easily enough. After what had transpired that night, he would not allow one anywhere near Percy Jackson.

He placed one hand on the windowsill and swung his legs over the side, his winged shoes fluttering as they slowed his descent to the ground. He kept a loose grip on his caduceus as he walked towards the cyclops, who had paused as soon as it had seen the god.

The cyclops sniffed the air, narrowing its eye at Hermes as it spoke in a deep, gravelly voice, "you not smell like sea. You smell clean."

Hermes snorted. "Well I try. Can't have people thinking I dirty their packages, can I?"

The cyclops growled. "Smell it still. Inside. Small."

Hermes' expression hardened, "you're making a mistake. There is nothing here for you, whatever sea scent you might think there is."

Despite its clear lack of intelligence, the monster seemed to sense the implied threat from the god. It reached into its coat and pulled out a giant club, longer than Hermes was tall.

"No mistake," the cyclops growled. "I smell it. No hiding. I find it."

With that, the cyclops took one step forward and swung his club in a wide arc, roaring as Hermes ducked under it and strafed easily off to the side with the help of his shoes. The god closed the distance between them before the monster could blink its eye, his caduceus held in front of him. The golden snakes sprung to life, launching off of the tip and finding a large thigh each. Hermes slipped another wild swing as the cyclops yelled in pain, then rushed behind the monster in a blur. He slammed the butt of his caduceus into the back of one of its knees, forcing it to kneel.

The cyclops wheezed as it looked down, seeing the area around the bite wounds began to shimmer. Its legs were starting to turn to dust.

Before it could attempt another attack, it felt one of the golden snakes slither up its side with a speed that matched Hermes, and wrap around its forearm tightly. It groaned in pain as it lost feeling in that limb in a matter of seconds, its massive club dropping to the ground with a loud thud and displacing the dust around it.

Just as the cyclops began to worry about the other snake, it slithered up its other side and up to its neck, where it wrapped around and tightened quickly.

Hermes stood in front of him with a raised eyebrow.

"I thought you would be more of a challenge," the god sighed. "For all that build-up, this was very anti-climactic."

The cyclops grit its teeth and grounded out a reply, "more come. I die, they find it."

Hermes' demeanor changed in an instant. "What do you mean more?"

"More come," it repeated, its eye gleaming with hatred.

Hermes leveled his caduceus at the monster's chest, growling lowly, "your kind did not plan this. Who sent you?"

The cyclops did not reply, staring defiantly at him.

"Who sent you?" Hermes said again, his voice sharper as he leaned in. "Don't make me ask again, or I will drive this staff into your hollow chest."

The cyclops grunted as the snakes tightened their hold on him. It swallowed deeply, or at least tried to, before it finally spoke again, "time. Old, old time."

Hermes narrowed his eyes as he stepped back, still keeping his caduceus aimed at its chest. "What? Time sent you?"

The cyclops nodded, struggling to keep upright as the snake around his neck cut off his air supply. It made a wild grab for Hermes with its free hand, only for it to be roughly batted away at the wrist by an irate god.

He shook his head, "I've had enough of this. Either you're as stupid as you look or you're lying."

To his surprise, the cyclops wheezed out a laugh as it leaned back, propping itself up with its free arm.

"Time King comes," it growled. "Find smell like sea. Take it. Kill you. Kill you all."

Hermes didn't respond, the title and threats spoken by the cyclops finally starting to make sense to him. If the monster was telling the truth, then he knew who had sent the cyclops. It filled him with an anxiety he had not felt in years.

Without another word, he drove the caduceus forward and into the monster's chest. It let out a strangled cry before it burst into a cloud of golden dust. The golden snakes that had been coiled around the monster floated back onto his caduceus, intertwining themselves with each other once more.

Hermes brushed off his coat and tucked his caduceus under his arm as he watched the dust settle with an unfocused gaze.

The words of the monster had shaken him.

While there were a few gods that held dominion over aspects of time, Hermes knew that there was only one being that the cyclops could have meant. The prophecy spoken decades ago by the Oracle of Delphi had warned the Olympians that a child of the Big Three that would be the center of a conflict that could topple Olympus.

To add to that, the events of recent years had been concerning.

Hecate, a goddess Hermes considered a friend, had confided in him during one of his recent deliveries to her: she was working twice as hard to keep the Mist aligned with the heightened monster activity across the country. For some reason, they had grown bolder and more organized, and some had even begun hunting in groups.

If the Time King truly was attempting to return, and the monsters were gathering under his banner, then things were moving much faster than the Olympians had feared.

With a pile of golden dust that had once been a cyclops in front of him, and a grieving son of Poseidon upstairs, Hermes feared the worst.

Somewhere behind him, a creak sounded out into the silence. He looked back to find Percy Jackson staring out the window at him with wide eyes.

Hermes sighed and offered a tight-lipped smile.

Percy did not move, his eyes shifting between the god and the gold dust being carried away into the wind.

With a final glance back to the remnants of the monster he had killed, Hermes turned and allowed his shoes to carry him back up to the hallway window. Percy stepped back to allow the god to climb through, the latter doing so with practiced ease and a nod in thanks.

The two stood quietly opposite each other for a few moments.

"I take it you saw that," Hermes began quietly, his eyes searching the demigod's face. Percy's expression was uncertain, unsure if he should be wary of the man stood in front of him or grateful for his presence.

Percy nodded slowly in response.

"Then I understand you might have questions," Hermes continued. His voice was calm, but his own expression betrayed his own unease.

Receiving a slower nod from Percy, the god gestured down the hallway with his hand. "I promise I'll give you the answers you want, but not here. It's not safe."

Percy hesitated, then turned silently and led Hermes back to the apartment. The god peered down both sides of the hallway, shut the door behind him, then tapped the tip of his caduceus on the door. Golden runes of light sprung to life across the door's surface, then quickly faded away.

Seeing Percy's wary look, Hermes explained, "it's just a precaution. A divine lock. It'll keep things out unless I want them to come in."

Percy stayed silent, his eyes drifting towards his mother's body. Hermes noticed the blanket that had been draped over her still form.

With a soft sigh, Hermes spoke, "I can take you somewhere safe, Percy, where no one else can hurt you... but you'll have to leave her here."

Percy looked back sharply, his expression showing his disagreement with the idea. New tears welled up in his eyes, and his bottom lip trembled.

"Where?" Percy eventually spoke. "Where can you take me that you can't take her?"

Hermes shook his head, an apologetic expression on his face. "I can't explain right now, Percy. I wish I could, but there's no time. I need to take you away from here and your mom is going to help me do that."

Percy's nostrils flared, a soft frown gracing his features. A protest died on his lips as he glanced back at his mother. He bit his lip and forced an even tone as he spoke, "how?"

Hermes looked around for a moment then gestured towards a dusty landline. "I need you to call the police and tell them what happened tonight - or at least everything that happened until I arrived. I'll take care of the rest."

Percy swallowed deeply as he glanced at the phone. "Gabe told us not to use the phone. Or talk to the police."

Hermes frowned and replied, "you won't have to worry about him ever again if you trust me on this. I can't think of anything good coming from the police looking for you after we leave, and we both don't want them thinking you had anything to do with..."

Hermes trailed off, simply glancing at the blanket covering Sally Jackson.

Percy did the same, the emotions of fear and anger on his face slowly melting away. He walked over gingerly to his mother and slowly dropped to his knees, reaching out to place a hand on hers.

Percy bowed his head quietly for a moment. Hermes glanced at his watch, but knew that he needed to give the demigod his last few moments with his mother.

Eventually, Percy turned his head back to Hermes. His eyes were dull, and his shoulders sagged in exhaustion.

"What do you need me to do?"

Hermes instructed him to tell the authorities that Gabe, in a drunken rage, had killed Sally Jackson. He told the boy to emphasize that despite making the call, he too was 'gravely injured'.

After watching Percy dial in the number and carry out his part of the plan, Hermes gave him a small nod.

"You did well, Percy," Hermes said softly. "We're almost done here - say your goodbyes, I just need to take care of one more thing."

Hermes then walked back to the bedroom where he had left the unconscious Gabe Ugliano. Fighting back the instinct to beat the mortal to death, he instead tapped his caduceus on the man's head: when the police arrived, Gabe would awaken with just enough guilt and confusion to confess to the murders of Sally and Percy Jackson, though he'd have no memory of where he'd disposed of the boy's body.

Hermes stood and returned to the living room, where Percy sat quietly beside his mother. The boy looked up when he heard the man's footsteps.

Hermes locked eyes with the boy and sighed. "It's time. We need to go before this place is crawling with the police. Are you ready?"

Percy hesitated, then leaned down to give Sally a kiss on her forehead, taking care to cover her again with the blanket.

"I love you, mom," Percy whispered. He visibly struggled to tear himself away from her as tears streaked down his face anew. Then, he wiped at his face with the back of his hand and turned to face Hermes with his jaw set.

"I'm ready now. Where are we going?"

Hermes gave a hesitant smile. "We're going to Olympus."


"Now repeat everything I just said."

Hermes was seated on his rather cozy couch in his palace on Olympus, leaning back with his bare feet up on the coffee table. He had changed his outfit to a loose white shirt and some pajama pants, and his caduceus sat on his lap, humming idly. He had also given Percy new clothes to replace his bloodied ones. He had just finished explaining the Greek pantheon to a speechless Percy - he kept it simple, and decided on saving the finer details for when the kid was better rested. Still, it was a significant amount of information to cover and it had taken him the better part of an hour to cover even the basics.

Hermes had managed to sneak Percy into Olympus easily, with hundreds of passages between Olympus, the mortal world, and beyond. Being the messenger of the gods meant he was the only being in the universe allowed to traverse between the territories of the deities without explicit permission - within reason, of course - and he knew how to use that power to his advantage.

Percy blinked. "...everything?"

Hermes simply stared back.

Percy hesitated, clearly unsure of where to begin, then spoke, "Olympus is where the gods live. The Greek gods and goddesses."

Hermes smiled encouragingly as Percy paused.

Taking a small breath to steady himself, he continued, "Sometimes, the gods leave Olympus and uh... fall in love with mortals. And then they have kids that are half and half. Not full god, or full mortal... just mixed. They're called demigods."

Another beat as Percy looked to Hermes for affirmation, to which the latter nodded in response.

"Demigods go on quests and fight monsters that can smell them," Percy continued with a more confident tone and pace. "Gods can't do quests because of the Divine Laws, which also says that gods can't take care of their kids. So demigods go to this camp where they can train and become stronger. But because of all the monsters and quests, I'll probably live a short life and I could die at anytime."

Hermes smiled as he nodded. "Very well put, Percy."

The demigod only nodded in thanks in response before slowly sinking into the couch across from Hermes. If Percy had looked tired earlier, he was positively drained now.

Hermes allowed the silence in the air to continue, his eyes drifting towards the fire quietly crackling in the fireplace off to the side. He appreciated the time he had to finally process the events of the night.

Hermes did not mind that his date hadn't gone anywhere, but he was astounded by how much had happened after. He had saved the son of Poseidon from certain death and learned of the impending return of Kronos. The surging numbers of monsters was not random or coincidental - it was coordinated and intentional. While he doubted a war was on the immediate horizon, it still made him uneasy.

One glance at the boy pondering in front of him made Hermes worry; how could he expect such a small child to save Olympus?

"Mister Hermes?"

The god turned at the sound of Percy's meek voice, offering him an easy smile. "Just Hermes is fine, kid."

Nodding once, Percy swallowed deeply before whispering, "did... did my dad not love me enough?"

Hermes paused, the boy's voice tightening something in his chest. He had felt proud of what he had accomplished that night, but what he had been asked was sobering: demigods with stories like Percy's must feel horribly abandoned. He hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words to explain the situation as well as he could.

With a heavy sigh, Hermes began in a low voice, "Percy, gods are as imperfect as they come. For all of our power, we can be careless, and selfish, and... even cruel."

Hermes let out a deep breath as he saw Percy clinging onto his every word.

"Kids... wonderful, innocent kids like you, Percy," Hermes continued, "don't deserve the things that happen to you. But not being there doesn't mean we don't love you. Keeping our distance doesn't mean we don't care."

Percy shook his head, "I don't understand. If you love someone, don't you do everything you can to be there for them?"

Hermes stared back sadly for a moment, eventually nodding and smiling, "of course."

Percy's frown only deepened as his eyes shone once more with unshed tears. He responded, "then why?"

The question was left unfinished, but Hermes knew what the boy wanted to say: why was Poseidon not around to save Sally Jackson?

Hermes spoke quietly, "because most of the time, there's nothing we can do. There are rules in place, and they exist for a reason."

"What reason?" Percy asked defiantly. "How can what happened to mom be okay?"

"It's not okay, Percy," Hermes cut in quickly. "I'm not going to diminish what has happened tonight. But we can't be there to raise our children because it's too dangerous."

Seeing Percy's questioning look, Hermes continued, "demigods are not subject to the Divine Laws. They have the power of the gods with none of the limitations. If we did take in our children from the moment they are born, shape them into beings that no mortal can hope to stop, then what are the chances these heroes end up the bad guy instead?"

The tension in Percy's shoulders began to ease, showing Hermes that his anger was dissipating.

"You can change everything, Percy," Hermes pressed on, "the course of history, the scales of wars. Everything. We can't risk that."

Percy slowly nodded, his eyes now downcast. "Well maybe the gods should stop having so many kids," he muttered.

Hermes gave a soft snort. "That is very true, Percy. Unfortunately, the gods have barely changed over the millennia, and if I were you, I wouldn't wait on a miracle like that."

Percy nodded again. After a few moments of silence, he spoke up again. "How many kids do you have, Hermes?"

Hermes frowned and rubbed his chin as he thought. "A dozen at Camp Halfblood, but my cabin has more than 20 kids inside. A few of the other Olympians don't claim some of their kids, and the minor gods and goddesses that aren't Olympians don't have their own cabins to send their own kids to. And being the god of travelers, I get all of the unclaimed or cabin-less kids dumped into mine."

Percy frowned. "That's sad."

Hermes shrugged. He agreed, but he wasn't going to deny the kids shelter. That and he would rather not have Zeus smite him for disobeying his orders.

"So...who's my dad?" Percy asked quietly.

Hermes shook his head, raising an eyebrow at the boy. "Are you sure you want to know? While I can understand anger and grief, I won't be training you just so you can hunt a god for vengeance. I don't need that kind of dynamic in my house."

Percy glanced off to the side for a moment before responding. "I'm mad that mom is... gone," he admitted. "But the way you put it, he didn't have a choice. And mom loved him a lot. She looked happy when she talked about him..."

Percy trailed off, staring at his hands. He rubbed his thumb over a scar on his knuckle, a nervous habit he had picked up long ago.

Hermes closed his eyes in thought, frowning slightly. "Okay, kid. Fine, I'll tell you."

Percy looked at him with wide eyes and bated breath.

Hermes leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "It's Poseidon."

"Like... the Big Three Poseidon?" Percy's jaw dropped.

Hermes smiled slightly. "It's part of why I didn't hesitate to bring you here."

Seeing Percy's questioning gaze, Hermes sighed, seeing that he wasn't done explaining things just yet.

"You see," Hermes began, leaning back into his seat, "any child of the Big Three is naturally more powerful and talented than other demigods. It's a fact, and they only get stronger when they get training and experience. Are you with me so far?"

Percy simply nodded, still in a daze from the revelation of his lineage.

Hermes continued. "Now, you already know how scared we are of strong demigods. So, the Big Three made a pact around the end of World War II to not have any more kids just to avoid that threat. And..."

Hermes eyed him for a moment and spoke after a beat. "There is also...one more thing."

Percy stared at him curiously, and the god pursed his lips before continuing. "Before the pact, before World War II, a prophecy was spoken. I honestly forget the exact details, but it was something about how a child of the Big Three would have to make a choice to either preserve Olympus or burn it to the ground once they get to the age of sixteen."

Percy's eyes widened, staring at Hermes in disbelief. "I could be that child?"

"Yes. It could be you." Hermes said matter-of-factly.

Percy stared at him with a confused look on his face. "Is that why you brought me here?"

Hermes simply smiled. "To be frank with you, yes. If you were any other kid, or the child of any other god, I wouldn't have risked keeping you here. You would be in an orphanage or at camp, not here. But if you really are the child of the prophecy, then you'll need training."

Percy stared at him in shock. "Training? From who?"

"Who else?" Hermes deadpanned, pushing off of his knees to stand from the couch.

"You?" Percy started, "But... what about the laws?"

Hermes shrugged in response, "I'm not your dad."

"What about Camp Half-Blood?"

"What about it? Would you really choose a camp over a god, Percy? Really?"

Percy continued to be speechless, even as Hermes started to smile at him. His heart was heavy, and his thoughts constantly wandering back to his mother made it hard to think straight, but something in the air made him feel more alive than he ever had.

"So, what's it gonna be, Percy Jackson? Are you ready to become the most dangerous demigod on the planet under the guidance of one Hermes, the god of wealth, luck, thievery, and travel?" Hermes smirked, holding out his hand for the boy to shake.

Percy slowly stood and exhaled deeply before reaching out and grabbing the god's hand with his own.

Hermes' pride was evident on his face. "I appreciate you accepting the offer. Now, I'll need to bless you."

Hermes beckoned him over closer to the fireplace, and spoke at Percy's questioning look, "I'll need to hold your head for this, so we'll need some space."

"Is that... necessary?"

"No, but when you remember this moment in the future, you'll thank me for making it look this cool and official."

"... ah."

Percy complied and stepped over, where Hermes slowly placed his hand on the boy's head. The god told him to close his eyes and he did the same.

A flash of golden light burst in the darkness under Percy's eyelids, but there was no pain that followed. Instead, warmth rushed from his forehead to the rest of his body, similar to the kind he felt when Hermes had healed him earlier that night. It felt like a fast, warm, but not unpleasant breeze had flown through his limbs. Slowly, the light faded away, and Percy took that as a sign to open his eyes.

Hermes stood in front of him, holding up a polished bronze mirror to his face.

Percy yelped in surprise and jumped back. The god let out a bark of laughter.

"Sorry, kid," Hermes said with a wide smile. "I just wanted you to see what changed."

Curiously, Percy stepped forward and peered at his reflection. The irises of his eyes, a vibrant sea-green, were now ringed with sky-blue lines. His skin was paler than before, though it looked as though he was faintly glowing.

"Woah," Percy mumbled, still inspecting his eyes.

Chuckling, Hermes snapped his fingers and the mirror vanished. He continued to smile at the demigod, and Percy would later remember this as the first time he'd seen pride in the eyes of a grown man.

"Get some rest, student of mine. It's been a long day," Hermes said, gesturing to the staircase behind the boy.

The two walked over, with Hermes speaking up as they ascended, "I'll be teaching you more about our pantheon tomorrow, and it'll be a lot to take. I expect you to get as much sleep as you can so you can keep up."

Percy nodded slowly. His gaze dropped for a moment, but his voice was steady when he raised his head and spoke, "I'll manage. For mom."

There was a steely determination in his eyes and Hermes immediately knew that he had made a decent decision. He wasn't sure if he was going to regret it just yet, but at least for the moment, things looked good.

Hermes had to smile softly at that. "I'm sure she'd be proud."

Percy said nothing as Hermes ushered him up the stairs. The latter noticed another tear slide down the boy's face. He hoped he would be able to help the demigod through his grief over time.

"You know, you never told me why your mom named you after Perseus," Hermes said as they climbed the stairs.

A ghost of a smile formed on Percy's face. "She said Perseus was lucky, just like she wanted me to be."

Hermes laughed, the sound echoing in the stairwell. "Boy, are you going to need it."

Chapter Text

Percy stirred in his new bed, the soft pillows and blankets making it difficult for him to open his eyes. He couldn't remember having such a good night's sleep, with Gabe making his and his mother's lives a living hell. His grief was still fresh, and it hurt him to remember what had happened the night before, but it was those very events that had made him as exhausted as he was now.

Such was his comfort and need for sleep that he could have dozed off again easily, if not for the sound of someone knocking at his door.

Percy slowly forced his eyes open and was greeted by the sight of Hermes pushing open the bedroom door. The god was already dressed for the day in a white button down shirt and slacks. He closed his cufflinks and offered the boy a smile as the latter sat up in his bed.

"Good morning, Percy. I know I told you to rest, but I thought it would be best if I was still here when you wake for the first few days, and I need to go soon," Hermes said. He checked his watch before moving on to the other cufflink.

Percy sent him a tight-lipped smile as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. "Thank you, Hermes."

The god nodded and beckoned him out the door. "I'll see you downstairs for breakfast. Shower, get dressed, and don't take too long, I really do need to go."

Hermes sent him a quick smile, then turned and closed the door behind him, leaving the demigod on his own.

Percy stretched, his limbs aching with the dull soreness of sleep. He yawned as he swung his legs over the side of the queen-sized bed, his bare feet meeting pale wood floorboards - cleaner than anything he was used to.

The room was dim, so he shuffled to the dresser and twisted the dial Hermes had shown him the night before. Warm light spilled from a cove along the ceiling. There were no other lights; no windows, of course, and he understood why.

As he made his way to the bathroom with a clean set of clothes - a plain white shirt and black shorts that actually fit - his eyes drifted across the blank corkboards and whiteboards lining the walls. He wondered what Hermes expected him to do with them.

The quick shower helped him clear his head, though it did little to wash away the ache in his chest. Still, the water was warm, the soap smelled better than the cheap bars they used to have at the apartment, and no one was yelling at him to hurry up.

Dressed and blinking blearily at his reflection in the mirror beside the dresser, he scratched his cheek and made his way out of the room.

Percy followed the smell of bacon to the kitchen, where Hermes was already shoving strips his mouth. The latter hummed in greeting as he inhaled a fried egg, then stood and walked towards the adjacent living room.

"Did you cook this for me?" Percy asked sheepishly as he slid onto a stool next to the kitchen island.

Hermes nodded, dabbing at his mouth with a handkerchief.

"I need to get back to my deliveries," Hermes said as he shrugged on his suit coat, "but I can stay until you're done eating. I figured I could talk more about the gods while you eat, but only if you're up for it."

Feeling fully awake and unwilling to disappoint him, Percy nodded and he helped himself to the most complete breakfast he could remember.

Hermes began with the origins of the Greek Pantheon: he started with Chaos, the void personified, and the first race of immortals called the protogenoi, or the primordial gods.

He spoke of the First Titan War, where the Olympians rebelled against their predecessors. The Titans and gods had been antithetical, and while Hermes had been there himself, he spared Percy the details of the brutal war, instead focusing on the broader strokes.

When he reached Kronos, however, his voice dipped; there was an unintentional shift from casual conversation to the tone of a lesson. It made Percy uneasy.

Hermes didn't linger, moving to the Olympians - starting with the children of Kronos and continuing from there. He listed their domains, their powers, their habits and personalities, and weaved in stories of their most famous demigod children.

Percy had slowed his eating, fully absorbed with what he was learning. Despite the strangeness of the situation, he had never felt so at home.

Just as Hermes was about to tell a story about Apollo and missing cattle, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Frowning, the god retrieved it and quickly scanned the message flashing on the screen.

With a reluctant sigh, Hermes pushed off of the couch he had been leaning on and stretched. "I'm sorry Percy, but duty calls. Your uncle Hades wants me to deliver some antiques he ordered for his wife, and he is not the kind of guy you keep waiting. But if you want, we can continue this tonight...?"

Percy smiled and nodded at the half-question.

"Great," Hermes said, making his way to the front door. "Until then, I left some books in your room that I want you to read while I'm gone. You don't have to finish them, but they cover everything that I'm too lazy to explain in person."

Percy stood as well, his plate now clean of food. "I'll get started on them," Percy affirmed, and Hermes paused long enough to give him a proud nod.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Hermes called out as he stepped through the door. A soft breeze was left in his wake, leaving Percy on his own once more.

The demigod stretched, wincing at the unfamiliar discomfort of a full stomach. He slid his plate and utensils into the sink, washing them quickly with practiced ease - Gabe had made sure of it - then made his way back to his room to find the books Hermes had mentioned.

Percy was never a reader; his dyslexia made it difficult for him to enjoy it. However, he was excited to see whatever Hermes had in store for him, especially if the books had anything like the stories the god had told him.

He pushed open the door to his room and found the two books stacked neatly at the foot of his bed. Almost jogging in anticipation, he plopped onto his bed and held one of the rather heavy books up to inspect it.

The cover was in Latin - or at least, what Percy thought was Latin. He frowned in confusion, but before he could blink, the letters flickered and shifted across the surface.

'Monsters 101' the new title read in bold letters, and a glance at the other book showed its cover had shifted too: 'Deities for Dummies'.

Percy breathed out a laugh, flipping through the book filled with sketches and notes about monsters he thought only existed in myths. The other book expounded on the crash course Hermes had given him at breakfast, including a large family tree of the gods.

Despite the dull ache still lingering in his heart, Percy couldn't help but smile. He crawled further onto the bed, setting aside the first book and flipping to the first page of the book about gods, determined to make the most of the strange new gift.


Hermes exhaled deeply as he slowed to a stop a few paces away from the gate of his palace. He had pushed his shoes harder today, wanting to get back home as soon as possible to check on Percy.

Normally, he would be right on time for his deliveries, and he would follow his schedules down to the second; however, with his new ward waiting for him at home, he had sped around the realm with more urgency. All the deliveries he had made today - even the one to Hades - had been completed several minutes early.

As he reached for the lock of the gate, a familiar voice called out to him.

"You're back early today!"

Hermes froze, before turning to see his half-brother Apollo walk towards him. The sun god's mere presence - or his hair and robes - lit up the dim street as he grinned.

"You usually get back a whole hour later on Tuesdays," Apollo continued teasingly. "So what made you skip work today? New girlfriend? Sandals catch on fire?"

Hermes licked his suddenly dry lips and put on his best smile. "I just finished my deliveries early today, that's all. And the date I had was last night, thank you. What are you doing here?"

"My shift just finished, remember?" Apollo pointed to the night sky where the moon had just peeked over the horizon. "I'm heading home myself, and you usually get home later than I do."

Apollo then raised a carefully maintained eyebrow. "Since when do you finish early?"

Hermes shrugged, turning away from Apollo to slot his key into the gate. He needed to stay composed if he wanted to keep Percy hidden from the god of truth.

"Had a fuller slate today. I figured I'd knock it all out early," Hermes explained, surprising himself with how steady his voice sounded. "Hades ordered another set of vases for Persephone. You know how long that trip usually takes me."

He was being entirely honest about having a heavier schedule that day, and wanting to drop everything off early. He just avoided explaining why.

Apollo hummed, clearly unconvinced. "The god of being-barely-on-time is done early and you expect me to believe that you went twice as fast for fun?"

Hermes snorted as he pushed the gate open, turning his head to Apollo as he spoke, "not for fun, brother. Out of my strong sense of duty."

And really, as far as Hermes was concerned, it was the truth. He felt responsible for Percy - the kid had just lost his mother the night before.

Apollo eyed him for a moment, and Hermes thought his oldest friend was suspicious of him.

Instead, the sun god laughed and shook his head. "Alright, Hermes, keep your secrets. But if you're hiding a girlfriend, it better not be my twin sister!"

Hermes gave him a flat look as he stepped onto the paved path of his garden and closed the gate. "If it were Artemis, there would be nothing left of me to find."

Apollo laughed again and waved as he turned and continued down the street towards his own palace. Hermes waited until his closest friend rounded the corner before breathing a sigh of relief, shoulders sagging slightly.

He had managed to avoid outright lying to Apollo, who would no doubt have sensed his dishonesty as soon as the words had left his mouth.

With the crisis averted, Hermes made his way down the moonlit path through his garden towards his home.

As he walked, the silence of the garden allowed his thoughts to catch up to him.

He wondered if Percy had taken to his new room, if he had eaten anything since breakfast, or - worse - if he had done anything to himself in his grief.

The responsibility of caring for the possible child of a prophecy weighed heavier than any delivery he had ever made.

With another sigh, Hermes stepped up to the front door and turned the knob, bracing himself.

To his relief, the door swung open just as Percy entered the living room. He had one of the books under his arm and a half-eaten apple in his free hand.

The boy jumped a bit at his mentor's sudden arrival, then blinked and relaxed when he saw who it was.

"Hey, Hermes," Percy said with a small smile. "I got hungry, so I took an apple from the fridge."

Hermes smiled and waved him off, "you take whatever you need, Percy. I'm just glad you're okay."

The god gestured towards the kitchen, "I see you've been reading. Tell me about it over some dinner."

As the two made their way over, Hermes shrugged off his coat and Percy opened the book he had been holding and looked for a specific page, his finger gliding over the words.

"Some of the stories here are... well, weird," Percy began. "Is it true that you stole cows from Apollo when you were a baby?"

Hermes barked out a laugh, "a full herd of cows, actually. And I did it very well."

Percy smiled and glanced at his book again.

"And you were actually two days old?"

The god shrugged as he draped his coat over the back of a stool, "I was a very talented baby."

"And is it true that you traded a flute for a sword from him?"

Hermes nodded and chuckled as he turned and opened the fridge. "Yes, I did. Apollo wanted a new instrument, and I wanted literally anything else."

Percy let out a soft laugh, a pleasant sound to Hermes' ears. "So that sword actually helped you learn how to fight?"

Hermes hummed an affirmative as he looked for something to cook. "It did. I'd like to think I'm very good at wielding a sword."

"You didn't use one last night," Percy pointed out, wincing slightly as he remembered what had happened.

"Well," Hermes paused, thinking of a simple way to explain his choice of weapon. "I'm sure your book mentioned symbols of power; Zeus has his lightning bolt, Hades has his helm, and I have my caduceus. I would rather have it with me at all times. I feel... safer knowing that I have it."

"So you don't need a sword?" Percy tilted his head.

"Not usually, no," Hermes replied, firing up the stove across from the demigod and placing a pan on top. "I'm good at a lot of things, but fighting's not really my job. I do deliveries."

Percy nodded and considered his answer before speaking again, "do you usually have to save people... like you saved me?"

Hermes pursed his lips as he gently placed a thawed slice of meat on the pan, allowing the loud sizzling to pass before responding. "I rarely intervene, if that's what you're asking. The laws stop me from doing that."

Percy slowly closed the book, watching the fire dance along the edges of the pan. He fiddled with the one of the book's corners before asking quietly, "what happens to the people you can't save?"

Hermes swallowed deeply at the question, lowering the heat of the stove as he processed the question.

"Sometimes... sometimes, they don't make it," Hermes said slowly.

Percy nodded, not meeting his eyes.

A few seconds of silence passed between the two, before Hermes spoke up again gently. "But I'm here to make sure you make it. And one day, you'll be able to help others make it too."

Percy looked up at his words, his expression uncertain. "I don't think I'd be any good at that stuff."

Hermes tilted his head, though he was still focused on the meat he was cooking. "Good at helping people?"

"I don't think I can do what you did last night," Percy continued. "I don't think I can be that strong."

Hermes shut off the stove and leaned on the counter to look at the demigod. He gave Percy a meaningful look and intoned, "strength isn't just being powerful enough to beat up the bad guys, Percy."

"It starts here," Hermes said, tapping on his chest. "Everything else comes after."

Percy considered his words and nodded slowly. From the looks of it, Hermes had given him a lot to think about.

Hermes slid a plate with the cooked meat across the counter, the smell of the food drifting up as Percy sent him a grateful smile. The god nodded and watched him eat quietly.

"So," Percy spoke up again after a few bites of his food, "how do I get stronger?"

Hermes smiled, "well, the first step to becoming stronger is having a good reason for it. What do you want to be stronger for?"

Percy furrowed his brow as he chewed, his eyes eventually meeting the god's. "I want to help people, like you do."

Hermes' smile widened as he nodded, "then you're already on the right track."

He turned to pour himself a glass of water from the fridge as he continued, "I'll admit, while I make sure you eat and sleep better, all I'll have you do is read until you know everything you can. What you learn will be the foundation for everything else."

Percy contemplated his words with a small frown.

"Will I have time for that?" he asked. "I mean... what if the prophecy is about me?"

Hermes gently set his glass down and moved over, placing his hand on the demigod's shoulder.

"You have years ahead of you, Percy. Besides, we'll do more harm than good if we rush your training before you're ready."

Percy mustered a tight-lipped smile as Hermes squeezed his shoulder.

"Luckily for you," Hermes added with a small grin, "my blessing should help you with that."

Percy tilted his head curiously, "how so?"

"In simpler terms," Hermes said, "you'll have all the powers my children have, but to a lesser extent. How much less is entirely dependent on how much you practice. Should I explain?"

Percy had opened his book and flipped over to the section about Hermes, but nodded to the god's offer anyway.

Hermes walked over to the couch and leaned on its back, bending forward to untie his shoes.

"With my blessing," he began, "you'll be able to run, jump, and fight for much longer without getting tired. You'll naturally feel stronger and faster, which will make you a better fighter if you take your training seriously."

He picked up his shoes and gently tossed them into the air where they fluttered away. Percy watched them fly up the stairs like trained birds for a moment before turning his attention back to Hermes.

"You'll be able to pick locks like it's second nature to you," Hermes continued, "and with enough practice, you won't even need to touch them."

Percy blinked. "... really?"

"One of my kids, Houdini - who I have many stories about - was one of the best demigods to ever pick locks with their mind."

Percy's eyes widened. "Houdini was a demigod?"

Hermes smiled proudly, "Oh yeah. And his mother was a beauty. It's really a shame she was married when we-"

Percy winced and cut in hurriedly. "Can we go back to your blessing?"

"Right," Hermes smiled sheepishly as the two settled in the living room couches across from one another.

"You'll also be able to summon drachma, our form of currency. And stealing will also come easier to you - not that I encourage it," he added quickly. "But it will be almost instinctive."

Percy gave a small lopsided smile. "It sounds like I would enjoy it."

Hermes shot him a half-hearted glare. "I said it would be easier, not legal. Trust your better judgement please."

Percy nodded dutifully, though the smile lingered on his face. Hermes found himself smiling too.


A month passed in quiet rhythm for Percy. He would wake up and have breakfast with Hermes before the god darted off to make his daily deliveries. The rest of the day, he would read and absorb every page of the books he was given. By no means did he know them by heart, but he made a habit of revisiting the books he had already finished.

At night, when Hermes would return, they would share a quiet meal and talk in the living room - sometimes about what Percy had learned, sometimes about Hermes' day, and sometimes about nothing important at all.

Those evenings were Percy's favorite part of the day. Little by little, the conversations allowed him to learn more about his mentor. And bit by bit, without even realizing it, he began to open up.

In that time, Hermes had also taken a couple days off to teach Percy how to cook. While the meals were still simple, they were much more nutritious than the food he'd grown used to when he lived with Gabe. He was still quite thin, but there was a definite improvement from the night Hermes had found him.

On one such morning, Percy padded down the stairs with a book under his arm, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he yawned. He followed the scent of breakfast in the air to the kitchen, where he hummed a greeting to a cooking Hermes.

Percy slid onto a stool as his mentor placed a plate of scrambled eggs in front of him. He sent Hermes a grateful smile and began eating slowly.

"You're sleepier than usual," Hermes observed, leaning back against a counter as he poured himself a mug of coffee. "Rough night?"

Wordlessly, Percy pointed at the book on the counter next to him. 'A Demigod's Guide to Not Dying'.

Hermes nodded understandingly as he sipped his coffee. "Ah, that one. It's a long read. Ironic title, really, considering how short the average demigod lifespan is-"

Suddenly, the front door slammed open with a bang.

A grinning man with bronze skin, long blonde hair tied up in a bun, and eyes that seemed to glow and pulse stood in the doorway. He wore a loose gold toga that showcased his eight-pack abs, and a golden bow was strung behind his back.

Hermes paled.

Apollo had just barged into his palace.

"Hey, Hermes! Where in the Hades have you..." Apollo trailed off, seeing the young boy with dark hair and green eyes seated in Hermes' kitchen, eating scrambled eggs.

Percy blinked. His chewing slowed. He did not stop.

Apollo stared.

A beat.

The sun god began to scream, pointing his fingers at Hermes and Percy. "Wait, that's a kid! Hermes, you have a kid in your palace on Olympus! What the hell is a kid doing in your palace on Olympus?"

Hermes launched across the room, tackling the sun god to the ground. He struggled to pin Apollo's flailing arms down and cover his mouth. "Percy, get the door!"

The demigod immediately ran for the door, abandoning his scrambled eggs, slamming it shut and clicking the locks closed with shaky hands. He turned, wide-eyed, to watch the two gods struggle on the floor.

"Hermes, what are you-"

"Shut up, Apollo, and let me explain!"

"But it's illegal-"

"Apollo!"

"But-"

"Apollo!"

The god on the ground continued to protest, and Hermes groaned, raising his voice over his brother's so Percy could hear him. "My caduceus! Kitchen counter!"

Percy blinked, nodded, and ran off. He returned seconds later with the staff in both hands.

Hermes snatched it, waiting for Apollo's flailing to slow, then the caduceus directly at his mouth.

A golden glyph flashed over Apollo's mouth, and his words stopped mid-syllable. His lips would move, but no sound would come out.

Apollo quickly realized what Hermes had done, but the messenger god had him firmly held down on the floor.

"Is... is that permanent?" Percy asked, eyes wide.

"Of course not," Hermes huffed, slightly winded from his efforts to subdue his brother.

There was a pause as Percy looked between the two immortals. "... and do all gods do this to each other?"

Hermes leveled Percy with a flat look.

Percy raised his hands in surrender, smiling sheepishly. "It was a genuine question."

Hermes turned his attention back to Apollo, who had resorted to glaring at his half-brother in defiance.

"Apollo, I promise to explain," Hermes said evenly, "but you need to stop yelling and keep an open mind. This was a necessary decision and you'll understand, I swear."

Apollo's glare softened, but only just. Not by much, but enough to show the curiosity in his golden eyes.

Hermes slowly nodded, "I'm going to lift the spell now, but if you start shouting again, I will mute you. Are we clear?"

Apollo stared back at him, exhaled sharply from his nose, then gave a reluctant nod.

Hermes sighed in relief as he stood, dusting off his knees. While Apollo would do nothing to hurt him, the sun god was still likely the strongest of the younger Olympians.

The glyph flashed again a moment later. Apollo smacked his lips and intoned nonsense sounds to check if his mouth worked again.

Sending a half-hearted glare to Hermes, Apollo pushed himself off the floor.

"That was rude," he muttered.

Without missing a beat, Apollo's gaze snapped to Percy. He looked the boy up and down curiously.

Percy blinked, unconsciously stepping closer to Hermes.

"Okay," Apollo said, folding his arms. "Who's this and what's he doing in your palace?"

Hermes gestured towards the couches in the living room, "it's a long story, Apollo. We should sit."

For a moment, Apollo's gaze flicked between mentor and student. Then, he nodded. "After you, then."

Hermes gently nudged Percy's shoulder, the latter quickly jogging over to one of the couches and settling down quietly. The two gods watched him before they followed, Hermes sitting beside him and Apollo sitting across from them.

"Well," Hermes began, clearing his throat, "I think introductions are in order. Percy, this is Apollo, the god of the sun, music, medicine, archery, and truth."

Apollo bowed his head in greeting, though his gaze didn't leave Percy.

Hermes continued. "Apollo, this is Percy Jackson, my student. He's been staying with me for the past month."

Percy gave a tight-lipped smile. Apollo nodded - once to Percy, and again in realization. No wonder Hermes had rushed home in recent weeks.

Then, he turned to his brother.

"Student?" Apollo repeated incredulously. "You and I both know this is illegal, Hermes. We're not supposed to raise our kids."

Hermes shook his head, a faint smile on his face as he spoke, "I may have bent a few laws bringing him here, but Percy is not my son."

Apollo's frown deepened. "What, so you just kidnapped a mortal?"

"What? No! Apollo, just look at him. Really look."

Apollo turned back toward Percy. The latter shifted uncomfortably under the sun god's scrutiny.

Realization quickly dawned upon Apollo, whose eyes widened. "Poseidon?"

"Poseidon," Hermes hummed affirmatively.

"But the pact?"

"I know," Hermes said, sighing. "I was just as surprised as you."

Apollo ran a hand through his hair, clearly reeling from the revelation. He leaned back in his seat as he stared at Percy, who stared back quietly.

Eventually, Apollo heaved a heavy sigh and leaned forward again. "Alright," he said, "I want to know everything."

Percy looked to his mentor, who gave a small, reassuring nod.

"It should come from you," Hermes said gently. "It's your story to tell."

Percy nodded slowly and turned to Apollo, who sent him a soft smile.

"You can trust me, kid," Apollo said with a grin. "I am the god of trust."

"No, you're not," Hermes grumbled. "You're the god of truth."

"Same thing."

"Apollo..."

"Are you going to let the kid speak or what?"

Hermes sent Apollo a flat look before turning to Percy.

Nodding to his mentor, Percy began to recount the night Hermes had found him a month ago: how his stepfather had gotten so drunk he flew into a rage, killed his mother, and would have killed him too. He told Apollo how Hermes had arrived just in time to save him, and how they'd staged Percy's death in the mortal world to keep him hidden.

Apollo listened attentively. He nodded occasionally, showing that he understood and knew Percy wasn't lying. He grinned at Hermes when he heard about the beating, but scowled when Percy talked about his mother, sadness clouding the boy's eyes.

By the time Percy finished, the room was silent. At some point during the story, Hermes had placed a hand on Percy's shoulder and hadn't moved it since. The boy stared at his hands in his lap, his mind elsewhere.

Apollo spoke first, his voice unusually gentle, "I'm... really sorry about your mom, Percy Jackson."

Percy looked up and gave a nod of thanks.

"And I understand why you brought him here, Hermes," Apollo continued. "It's safe here. I mean, forget the monsters - if Zeus found out about him, who knows what he would have done?"

Percy frowned and looked between the two gods. "What do you mean? What would Zeus have done?"

"Well," Hermes began, clearing his throat, "Zeus has always been... vindictive. If he found out Poseidon had broken the pact, he would have branded you a threat to Olympus and tried to kill you. It's like him to risk civil war just to prove a point."

Percy's eyes widened in shock. "Really?"

"That's how it's always been," Apollo interjected, a look of annoyance on his face. "Who cares if he broke the pact too, right? Heavy is the crown or whatever they say."

Percy blinked, clearly confused.

"Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus," Hermes supplied helpfully. "Just a bit older than you."

Percy nodded slowly, his eyes distant again. His gratefulness to Hermes for saving his life increased tenfold.

Apollo and Hermes shared a look; they didn't need to speak. They shared a deep resentment toward their father's recklessness. Zeus had spent centuries bending the laws to his wants while demanding blind and steadfast obedience from everyone else. He was a serial womanizer, a hypocrite, and often cruel. Neither had forgiven him for the day he had killed Hades' two children all those years ago.

With a sigh, Apollo finally leaned back in his seat. "Look, guys, I get that options were limited, but what's the plan? Just keep Percy around as a backup in case Thalia Grace doesn't cut it? And don't get me started on how unsustainable this is. You can't hide him in here forever. Not with that prophecy hanging over his head."

Hermes smiled faintly. "You haven't been this serious in a while. Figures it takes a world-ending prophecy to make you act your age."

Apollo snorted. "Don't get used to it. It's bad for the brand. Aren't you proud I even remembered the prophecy?"

"You are the god of prophecies. Why would I be surprised?"

"Eh, fair enough."

Hermes glanced at Percy, who had been silently contemplating Apollo's words. He exhaled slowly.

"I feel like I'm going to regret this," Hermes muttered, "but I don't think I have a choice. What do you think we should do Apollo?"

Apollo folded his arms over his chest as he mulled it over aloud. "Camp is out of the question. It's too public, and it'll get him killed, especially if Zeus finds out who he is."

Mentor and student both nodded their agreement.

"Eventually, you'll have to get him out of here," Apollo continued, glancing at Hermes. A grin grew on his face. "But for now, this should work. Especially since I've decided to help train him."

Hermes sat up straighter as he shook his head. "No. No chance. You shouldn't get involved, Apollo."

"Why not?" Apollo shot back, his expression sagging in disbelief. "The odds are stacked against this kid and you won't let me help him?"

"This is still illegal," Hermes said evenly, though his voice had lost some of its firmness. "And while I made my choice a month ago, I don't want either of you caught in the fallout. Especially if things gets worse."

Apollo shook his head, rising to his feet as he grew more passionate, punctuated by the brightening glow of his eyes and toga. "It's already bad, Hermes! You know that. And you know what I can do to help, both you and him."

Hermes hesitated. Both Percy and Apollo could see his resolve faltering.

Sensing the shift, Percy decided he'd been quiet for long enough. He cleared his throat, and both gods turned to look at him.

"Wouldn't it be my choice to accept his training?" Percy asked, quietly but steadily.

Hermes exchanged glances with Apollo, then nodded slowly. "Yes, of course, Percy. It is."

Percy nodded and straightened in his seat. "Then what's the worst that could happen?"

A beat.

Apollo grinned, his teeth threatening to blind them, and he clapped excitedly, "I'm really starting to like this kid! Hermes, this might be my new favorite demigod!"

Despite the gravity of the situation, Percy laughed softly. Apollo's happiness was infectious.

"That settles it then!" Apollo exclaimed, jogging over to shake Percy's hand. "From this moment on, Percy Jackson, you will also be trained by me, Apollo, the god of the sun!"

Hermes watched the two quietly, a smile growing on his face.


In the weeks that followed, Percy juggled his training between Hermes and Apollo.

Hermes, ever the perfectionist, had adjusted most of his delivery schedules to make time for Percy's training. He started simple: every morning, Percy had to clear out the furniture in the massive living room and run laps until his legs shook. Then, after he had rested, he would put the furniture back in place and repeat it the next day.

Thanks to Hermes' blessing, Percy could run longer and faster than any normal kid, but even enhanced stamina had its limits. He would usually collapse in a sweaty heap, wheezing as Hermes would note his running time on a clipboard.

"You'll thank me one day," Hermes would say as he handed the demigod a jug of water. "Powers are great until you have no energy left to use them, so this will make sure you're the last one standing after a fight."

Percy would just nod, too tired to argue. Besides, the reasoning made sense.

Hermes had also placed him on a protein-heavy diet that Percy was taught to cook himself. After weeks of healthier meals and regular training, the demigod was still lean, but his body had filled out well.

Percy was also taught to manipulate the Mist and summon valuables, abilities that came naturally to the children of Hermes. He would need to be proficient with both for when he would eventually be sent to the mortal world without his mentors. He also picked up lockpicking incredibly quickly, as if his hands already knew what to do. Percy had taken to practicing on every doorknob in the palace, much to Hermes' exasperation.

One night, while running from Apollo during a game of tag - initiated by none other than the sun god himself - Percy had moved with such speed that he disappeared, his momentum carrying him across the room and into a bookshelf. Much to his annoyance, he couldn't trigger it again no matter how hard he tried.

"You'll get there," Hermes had told Percy when he brought it up. "I'll even teach you, but only when your legs can take it."

While Apollo had wanted to teach the demigod to fight outright, Hermes insisted they hold off for a while longer; so instead, the sun god had taken it upon himself to handle Percy's defensive training.

On the first day, they spent hours going over weapons and strategies. To Apollo's pleasant surprise, Percy already had a solid grasp on most of what he had to teach thanks to the books Hermes had given him. That alone made Apollo's job much easier.

Then, he moved on to teaching fighting instinct. For the next few days, Apollo would teach Percy the value of understanding his surroundings and anticipating movements and changes based on subtle context clues.

By the end of the second week, Apollo had already taken to slowly firing arrows at Percy during their sessions. The demigod's reflexes sharpened by the day, allowing the god to increase his own shooting pace.

Over those weeks, Percy had found something he hadn't expected: family.

Hermes was sharp-witted and steady, and while he was often busy, he always made time for Percy. If the demigod wanted to understand a myth, a monster, a strategy, or even a general concept of their world, Hermes would be there to explain with quiet patience. He never made Percy feel like a bother.

Apollo, on the other hand, was chaotic and unhinged; he had no sense of boundaries, and made it a point to irritate Hermes and test Percy's patience whenever he visited. However, he also made the boy laugh, and - despite being the biggest sore loser Percy had ever known - Apollo never hid how much he cared.

Despite the exhaustion that came with their training regimen, Percy didn't mind; in truth, he actually felt cared for.

While he missed his mother greatly, spending time with the two gods made the grief more manageable.

On one afternoon, Percy lounged in the living room with Apollo, lazily tossing a ball back and forth as Hermes recounted what had happened in the throne room that day.

"Zeus turned Thalia Grace into a tree," Hermes said flatly. "A tree."

"To be fair to dad, she was about to die," Apollo said, shrugging as he tossed a ball at Percy, who caught it and tossed it back.

"And you said they were being chased, right?" Percy piped up, catching and throwing the ball without paying much attention to it. "By a whole pack of monsters?"

Hermes hummed, "Yeah. And she's a tree now. Which is poetic, I guess."

He shook his head and pulled out his phone, skimming through the messages. "Still. I mean, she's his daughter. I would've expected more than that."

"You expected him to actually help his kid?" Apollo snorted. "It's like you don't know him!"

The ball slipped out of Percy's hand too early, its trajectory higher than Apollo expected. He stretched to catch it and barked, "hey! Watch the throws!"

"Sorry," Percy said, then turned to Hermes. "This might be a weird question, but... what kind of tree is she?"

"Pine tree, I think."

"Eh, could've been worse."

"Could've been better," Hermes shot back, scowling. "He could've done literally anything else. She was in line to be the child of the prophecy!"

Silence.

The ball bounced off Apollo's head and dropped to the floor. No one moved to pick it up.

His golden eyes snapped onto Percy, whose eyes were wide with realization. Hermes looked grim.

"Thalia was older than Percy, wasn't she?" Apollo asked, slowly turning to Hermes.

Hermes gave a solemn nod and spoke quietly, "she was."

Apollo stood and started pacing, muttering under his breath.

Percy was silent, but he stared right at Hermes, who stared right back.

"So..." Percy began, but his mouth had gone dry.

"So you're in line now," Hermes finished. "For the prophecy."

Percy swallowed and looked away. His heart pounded, and he couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling in his gut.

"Guess I'll have to train harder, huh?" Percy said. The smile he forced did not reach his eyes.

Apollo groaned and leaned his forehead against the wall. Hermes massaged his temples. Percy leaned back on the couch in a daze.

And just like that, Percy knew things were about to get a lot harder.

Chapter Text

 

In a clearing surrounded by tall trees, the Hunters of Artemis were setting up camp early on in the day. The trees were thick and their roots jutted out from the ground at odd angles. Despite it being midday, barely any light from the sun had managed to pierce through the thick foliage above.

Even the more experienced hunters had struggled with the uneven and rocky terrain - it had tired their new recruits in no time. So, Artemis had ordered them to set up camp and prepare to continue their journey the next day.

A few hunters were away at a nearby lake, washing clothes and filling up their water jugs. A few more were patrolling the immediate area, checking for any monsters or wandering mortals. The rest, a majority of them, were setting up tents and building makeshift pens for their wolves. They left a large area of the clearing for Artemis to build her own tent once she had returned from hunting for their dinner at her insistence.

The atmosphere was peaceful; birds were chirping, the hunters were working while making companionable conversation with each other, and everything was calm.

That was until the ground had started to shake beneath them, and a small, high-pitched sound had begun to pierce the quiet of the clearing. The hunters, all blessed by Artemis herself, could hear the sound almost clearly, and none of them could actually identify it as an animal or monster.

A veteran hunter looked up and gasped, pointing up to the sky. "Sisters! Look! It's coming from above!"

The hunters hurriedly regrouped in the clearing, heads tilted up as a burning streak tore across the sky, heading straight for their camp. Instantly, the clearing was filled with shouts as hunters scrambled for cover, their bows drawn as they waited.

As the sound grew louder, however, the tension faltered. The sound wasn't the roar of a monster or creature.

"Does anyone else hear... screaming?" a young scout asked, frowning.

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the clearing.

Then came the sound of branches snapping, one after another, and crashing to the forest floor.

Within seconds, something broke through the trees, still trailing smoke and fire.

It was a person. Curled up into a ball, arms wrapped tightly around their legs, screaming the entire way down like a human missile.

"Ready thy bows! Prepare for anything!" A girl with regal poise and a strange accent commanded, her voice cutting through the panic. She stood tall, dark hair gleaming like obsidian, the copper-toned skin on her face scrunched up as she glared at the incoming threat.

"Look alive!" A large, buff girl barked after, her ginger hair framing her face as she crouched and braced for impact.

Only a moment later and the figure slammed into the middle of the clearing. A shockwave of wind blasted from the center, dirt and leaves scattering into the air, and a deafening boom cracked through the forest like thunder.

The hunters staggered back, yelling in pain as they clutched their ears from the sudden sound. Trained for anything, several of the older ones reacted as soon as they recovered, notching arrows and taking aim at the smoking crater in the middle of their camp.

Before they could fire, a voice shouted from the woods.

"Wait!"

The hunters turned to see a breathless, wild-eyed, and sweaty Apollo burst through the trees.

"Where is he? Where the Hades is he? Oh, Hermes is going to kill me!"

The god barely looked at any of them, pushing past the hunters with muttered apologies and zero dignity.

"Move - just gonna slip by you, sorry about this! I'm in so much trouble..."

He ignored their gasps and growls of anger as he went and stopped at the edge of the crater. He stared at the cloud of smoke rising and wailed.

"Oh gods no! This is not cool!"

His desperate whimpers earned him looks of absolute bewilderment from the hunters.

Apollo jumped down into the pit, a large pillar of smoke rising steadily from its center obscuring the god from view.

For a few beats, there was only the sound of the wind breezing through the forest.

Then, a scream of pure rage.

"What the hell is your problem?!"

The hunters immediately raised their bows again, but the one with the accent stood in front with her hand held up to stop them from shooting.

"Naomi, clear the smoke with thy wind!" She called out. A short hunter with green-tinged skin, a nymph, nodded behind her, raising her hands towards the crater. A gust of wind rushed forward at her will, parting the haze in seconds.

At the center of the crater stood a boy with dark hair and sea-green eyes, straddling Apollo and laying into the god with both fists.

"I could've died!"

"Percy, wait- ow! Okay, not the face!"

Percy continued his assault, fists flying as Apollo wheezed beneath him. "I totally planned that!" he insisted between punches. "Wasn't that what you wanted?"

"You launched me into space!"

"Oh, don't be a baby! That wasn't anywhere near space!"

"I'm going to kill you!"

Apollo blocked most of the hits, but Percy's speed and unpredictability let a few of his punches slip through. Off to the side, none of the hunters knew what to do, so none stepped in - not even the one with the accent, who seemed like their leader.

Eventually, Apollo shoved Percy off and scrambled out from under him. Before the boy could react, the god lunged, catching him in a loose headlock.

"My turn!" Apollo said with a grin, and promptly began rubbing his knuckles into Percy's scalp.

He ignored Percy's flailing and protesting, laughing as he delivered a merciless noogie.

"Quit struggling! You deserve this!" Apollo laughed as he continued with gleeful enthusiasm, despite the bruise forming around his right eye.

He couldn't help but admire the son of Poseidon's progress. Percy's wiry frame looked small, but it packed real power. Hermes had also started his sword training a month ago, and it had gone so well that their lesson plans had to be bumped up. The kid had learned alarmingly fast.

A flash of light behind the hunters' ranks drew everyone's attention. Apollo froze, his eyes going wide.

"Oh no," he muttered.

The god hurriedly let go of his student harder than he intended, driving the boy to the ground. Percy fell with a startled yelp, but scrambled to his feet as he saw Apollo's face. Something was wrong.

Artemis had flashed into the camp, a freshly slain boar slung over her shoulders. Her silver eyes swept across the chaos of their camp - tents were overturned, the wolf pens were torn apart, and a large crater still burned at the center.

Her hunters looked visibly relieved at her return. Her eyebrow raised in curiosity.

Finally, her eyes landed on her twin brother. She visibly tensed as she suppressed a groan of annoyance.

Apollo's golden hair was a tangled mess, and he had a black eye. His designer jacket was muddy and ashy, with leaves and twigs stuck to the front. His jeans were torn at the knees, which looked less like fashion and more like evidence that he'd been crawling through the forest. His white shoes were unsalvageable.

The boy beside her brother couldn't have been older than 12. He had dark hair, sea-green eyes, and tan skin covered in ash. A flicker of flame was still alight on his hair, his blue sweater was nearly black with soot, and his muddy flip-flops squelched as he shifted in place.

The way he stood - tense and alert - made Artemis narrow her eyes.

"Oh, hey there sis!" Apollo greeted her with a nervous smile.

Something in his voice made Percy shift again.

"Apollo," Artemis said, her tone unimpressed. "What are you doing here? And who is this boy?"

The word 'boy' was like a trigger, the hunters instantly notching their arrows and aiming directly at Percy.

"Hey!" Percy blurted, his hands flying up in surrender. "I'm friendly! Please don't shoot!"

Apollo surprised Artemis by stepping in front of the small demigod, arms spread protectively. He glared daggers at the hunters with a fire in his eyes that Artemis had not seen in years.

Still, her brother still looked uneasy at how outnumbered they were - he was worried about her hunters. That part amused her.

She noticed something else in his expression, too - a plea.

"Artemis," Apollo spoke, keeping his tone measured. "I know you don't owe me anything, but please. Just let me explain."

Behind him, Percy resisted the urge to peek and watch their conversation. Instead, he turned around. He was met with more girls in silver parkas aiming at him. He smiled awkwardly, hoping to seem nonthreatening. They did not smile back.

He sighed inwardly. He wondered how his Apollo always managed to get him into trouble. He raised his hands higher.

Artemis was quiet, regarding him with a calculated look on her face. The silence dragged, the tension mounting, and Percy shifted once more.

Then, with a small nod, Artemis relented.

Around them, the hunters lowered their bows, though none of them looked particularly happy to do so. She slowly passed the boar on her shoulders to one of her hunters, who took it and went to store it somewhere.

Apollo gave a sigh of relief, only to spin around at the sound of Percy yelping.

The hunt's wolves had silently weaved through the ranks of the hunters and stalked closer, sniffing him and growling lowly at him.

Of course, Artemis either didn't notice or didn't care.

Artemis turned and spoke briskly, "follow me. We'll speak in my tent. My lieutenant will accompany us."

She turned and walked off toward the space cleared out for her tent. The huntress with dark hair and an accent immediately turned and walked after her.

Neither told the wolves to back away.

Apollo reached for Percy's wrist and tugged him away from the wolves, who thankfully decided to stay put. Percy allowed himself to be dragged, glancing back warily as they walked.

The pair stopped a few feet behind the goddess and her second-in-command as Artemis raised her hand and snapped her fingers. A large silver tent flickered into existence in the clearing, its surface twinkling slightly like stars. She lifted up the tent flap for her lieutenant, then gestured for the Apollo and Percy to follow.

The tent was fully furnished with silver-trimmed chairs and tables, a brazier, and a large bed. Once all were inside, she snapped her fingers again and turned to face them.

Apollo was busy extinguishing the flame in Percy's hair with a finger. The boy muttered his thanks as he straightened his wrinkled and ruined sweater.

Her lieutenant watched them quietly from her spot on a chair near the edge of Artemis' tent.

"You said you would explain yourself, Apollo," Artemis said suddenly, startling her brother and the boy beside him, who were still dusting themselves off.

Apollo blinked, recovering quickly. "Oh. Right. Is this place secure?" He placed a hand lightly on Percy's shoulder as he spoke.

Artemis nodded and snapped her fingers. She gestured for them to sit as she did so herself.

"No one outside this tent will hear a word," Artemis assured. She leaned back and fixed her gaze on Apollo. "So, what caused that crater in my camp?"

Apollo gave a sheepish grin. "Well, sister, this is Perseus Jackson. He's my student."

"It's Percy," said the boy quietly, a small wince on his face, but he was ignored by everyone in the tent.

"Today is his birthday, you see," Apollo continued quickly. "I was giving him my gift."

"Thy 'gift' was to hurl him into our midst like a comet?" Her lieutenant spoke up, her brows lifting in disbelief. "I find that most hard to believe."

Artemis sighed and rubbed her temples. "Unfortunately, Zoe, I believe him. He's not lying." When her lieutenant glanced at her in question, Artemis simply crossed her arms. "He's my brother. I know when he lies."

Artemis turned her gaze to her brother. "I sense there is more to this story."

Apollo nodded.

"Then you will tell me the rest," Artemis said - not a request, but a command. "Zoe, take the boy to the lake. Do not harm him."

Zoe raised an eyebrow, her lip twitching in quiet protest, but she obeyed without a word. She walked out of the tent a moment later. Percy looked to Apollo, who gave no sign of objection. With a shrug, the demigod trailed after the lieutenant.

Apollo sighed and sank into his seat as the two left. Silence lingered between the twins before Artemis decided to break it.

"You meant for him to land here, didn't you?"

Apollo snorted softly, shaking his head. "Not exactly. I wanted you to meet him eventually, but I wasn't lying about the gift. Hermes has been grounding him for months, and Percy's been begging just as long. I didn't expect my surprise would literally go up in flames."

Artemis raised an eyebrow. "Grounding him? What exactly did you do to him?"

Apollo grinned despite himself. "Hermes gave him his own winged shoes, but he's no son of Zeus. So I strapped him onto a catapult blindfolded, and I only told him when he was loaded in. I found it lying around Olympus, probably from one of the old wars. Didn't think it would be... that explosive."

Artemis let the silence stretch. It was clear he wanted something - she could see how he wouldn't meet her eyes - but he was hesitating to ask. And although Artemis rarely had the patience for her twin's antics, she knew enough to wait.

"You said Hermes knows the boy?" Artemis asked, giving her brother more time to work up the nerve to ask for whatever he came for.

Apollo nodded. "Hermes took him in about a year ago. His stepdad killed his mom, and nearly killed Percy too, but Hermes intervened. He found out Percy's a son of Poseidon, and... well, we all know about the prophecy."

"Hermes decided to train him?" Artemis asked knowingly. Seeing Apollo nod again, she hummed. "I suppose it makes sense. And ever since that daughter of Zeus became a tree..."

"Percy's next in line for the prophecy," Apollo finished. "We've been training him as best as we can, but it's hard to find space to drill him properly on Olympus. We've just been making do with Hermes' place."

Apollo sighed, rubbing his forehead. As his fingers touched his skin, his black eye began to heal.

"I met the kid a month after Hermes picked him up," Apollo continued a moment later. "After he told me about his plan, I wanted to help too. I mean, he's part of a serious prophecy. He needs all the help he can get."

Artemis exhaled deeply. "Is that truly why you involved yourself?"

Apollo grinned. "Well... that, and I wanted him to look half as cool as me while he saves the world."

Artemis rolled her eyes.

Apollo sobered as he remembered the gravity of the situation. "I'm going to try to reach Hermes in a bit, but I want you to know that I want Percy to train under you until Olympus needs him."

Artemis' eyes snapped open, her surprise quickly giving way to anger. "What? You want me to train a boy? Do you realize what you're asking of me?"

Apollo sighed and stood slowly, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not asking you to give him all of your time. I know you've got your own plans, and I know your girls won't like it. That's why I'm not the one who's going to convince you."

As he pulled out his phone a dialed, Apollo muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Artemis to hear.

"Percy needs this more than ever."

After a moment, Apollo cleared his throat and spoke into his phone. "Hermes? Are you free? I need you to come to Artemis' camp. We need to talk."

Artemis could hear Hermes through the line, his tone as dry as ever. "If this is about another bear trap, you're on your own."

"No, it's not. It's about Percy." Apollo replied, frowning as he remembered the multiple times the hunters had tried to maim him.

Almost instantly, a flash lit up the inside of the tent, and Hermes stood in front of them with glowing eyes.

"Where is he? Is he okay?"

At the nearby lake, both Zoe and Percy paused as they sensed the sudden arrival of another divine presence. They exchanged a brief glance, silent but wary, before returning to their respective tasks. Percy knelt by the water to rinse the ash from his face, while Zoe sat nearby sharpening her arrows.

Back in Artemis' tent, the twin archers exchanged a glance. Hermes' tone had even Artemis surprised.

Apollo sighed and clapped a hand on his half-brother's shoulder. "I think it's time we push Percy's training further. I don't stand a chance at convincing her, but you?" He gestured to his twin with a tilt of his head. "You might."

Hermes raised an eyebrow. "And you couldn't have led with that?"

Apollo grinned, completely unrepentant. "Whoops. Focus up! This was going to happen sooner or later."

Hermes exhaled sharply, then turned to Artemis. "Artemis. I'm sorry for barging in unannounced, but when I heard Percy was here, I got worried. You understand, I'm sure...?"

Artemis waved a dismissive hand. "We have more pressing matters to discuss. Namely, why you and my brother decided to raise a demigod, something clearly forbidden by the divine laws."

The two gods exchanged a long look, silent but clearly communicating. After a beat, Hermes nodded and turned back toward Artemis.

"For one, we didn't raise him," Apollo said. "We're just training him. He's old enough to be in camp, anyway."

"Now, I'm sure you remember what Zeus did to Hades' kids?" Hermes asked quietly. "I didn't want that for Percy. Not after what I saw that night."

His expression hardened. "His stepfather was an abusive drunk, Artemis. I know you've seen how bad that can get."

Artemis nodded once, her silver eyes darkening. Several of her hunters had fled homes like that. The thought of it made her blood boil.

"To add to that, he may very well be the child of the prophecy," Hermes continued. "Even if Thalia Grace didn't become a tree, Percy would still be a threat. Now that she's... out of the picture, he's all we have."

"And I don't think camp training alone will be enough prepare him for what's coming," Apollo added.

"We've done what we can on Olympus," Apollo continued with his arms loosely crossed. "But no matter how many times we spar with him, he's not learning real-world things. And if he leaves Hermes' palace for too long, Zeus will sense him."

Apollo paused to watch his sister's face. She showed no outward reaction to their words.

Hermes took a careful breath. "The only way to disguise his power is by placing him somewhere where power is expected. Among the hunters, his aura might be masked. With your girls, Artemis, Percy could grow to be stronger than any demigod we've seen before."

Hermes held her gaze, eyes quietly pleading. Apollo stepped closer and placed his hand on her shoulder in silent solidarity.

Artemis' gaze flicked between them before she gently brushed her brother's hand off of her shoulder. She began to pace slowly as she thought, and the two gods took this as a sign to settle in.

"Even if I were to take him in," Artemis said eventually, "there are people that would object to it. My hunters, for one. And Poseidon would not take kindly to us hiding his son."

Hermes shook his head. "Poseidon can't hold it against us if Percy doesn't even want to see him. He doesn't hate the guy, but he's not exactly eager for a reunion either."

Artemis turned to look at Hermes. "So you took that role instead?"

Before Hermes could respond, Apollo snorted. "Please. Neither of us did. He told us we were terrible role models who shouldn't be allowed to have kids at all."

Hermes shrugged. "He's not entirely wrong."

Apollo glared at him. "Anyway, we tried arguing but he shut us down. Total brat. Ungrateful, honestly."

Artemis gave them both a flat look, then asked. "Did you bless him?"

Hermes nodded, but Apollo shook his head.

At her raised eyebrow, Apollo sighed. "If I had, it would've made it harder to keep him hidden. It would've been like lighting a beacon for Zeus to find him."

Artemis nodded at that. That was wise. Even with their palaces cloaked, strong enough presences could still bleed through. It was how Apollo had sensed Hermes was inside his palace that day, but not Percy.

Hermes smirked. "That, and he told you that he didn't want anything from you."

Apollo flipped him off wordlessly.

Artemis bit back a small smirk at her brother's expense.

The tent fell quiet as she resumed her pacing, clearly still weighing her options. Apollo tried to scrape dried mud off of his shoes and Hermes flicked through his phone.

"What have you two taught him so far?" Artemis asked suddenly, still biting her lip in thought.

Apollo glanced at Hermes, who nodded and sat forward, pride already clear in his voice.

"I had him read about everything," Hermes began. "From monsters to gods, tactics to strategies. He's sharp - retains information like a sponge. His stamina is ridiculous for a kid, but that could be his genes and my blessing working together. He's strong, and fast, just not Hermes-fast yet."

"Right," Apollo cut in. "Hermes got him started on sword training last month, and it's going great. I've been handling defense. Percy is slippery, and he can dodge almost everything I throw at him, though I've never gone full speed."

"I also taught him to manipulate the Mist," Hermes added. "He knows how to talk mortals into doing what he needs, though he still needs more practice."

Apollo winced dramatically as he spoke again, "I tried to start him on archery, but the kid almost took out my mini-me."

Artemis arched an eyebrow. Apollo shivered and clutched his crotch.

"Percy's bad at archery," Hermes supplied dryly.

Artemis nodded in understanding, a faint flicker of amusement in her eyes. Then, she asked, "what would you have me teach him? I doubt there's much I can offer that you two haven't already."

Hermes leaned back, folding his arms tightly across his chest. "Teach him how to survive in the wild. He hasn't faced a real monster yet, and we hold back."

"The prophecy isn't vague," he continued, a soft frown on his face. "It talks about a threat that could destroy Olympus. He needs real-world training, with real pressure."

Hermes paused. His arms stayed crossed as he tried to play off how tight his chest felt. He didn't say anything more, but Artemis saw the flicker of fear in his voice.

He didn't want to admit what they were all thinking: Percy could die if he wasn't prepared for anything.

Apollo picked up on his sister's hesitation and stepped in. "If you want something more specific, then maybe teach him stealth. He's quick, and I can guarantee you he'll take well to it. Train his body; make him faster, stronger, and more flexible. That kind of physical edge could be the difference for him."

Hermes nodded in agreement, his tone low but earnest. "We're asking this of you not just for us, Artemis. If not for Olympus, then for the world. If something is strong enough to threaten Olympus, then it's strong enough to bring down everything."

Apollo gestured vaguely. "Hermes wanted to go to Athena, but... let's be honest, she'd run straight to Zeus."

Artemis exhaled sharply in an almost-laugh. All three nodded in agreement.

Wordlessly, Artemis returned to her seat with her eyes closed. Both gods could almost feel her weighing every consequence in her head.

Then, softly, she spoke.

"I will do it," Artemis said slowly as she opened her eyes. "But he cannot stay with the Hunt. Not for long."

Hermes blinked in surprise. Apollo grinned.

"I've accepted male hunters before," Artemis continued. "But times have changed. The way my girls are now, it will not go well for him."

Hermes nodded as he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Thank you, Artemis," he said. "Truly."

"He doesn't have to live with you," Apollo added. "He just needs to spend time with you and the hunters. He needs to learn what we can't teach."

Artemis tilted her head in thought. "I can take him on short excursions. It will give him the experience you want, without keeping him with us for long."

"Fair," Hermes said, rising to his feet. "That's more than fair."

Apollo let out a dramatic sigh of relief. He dropped onto her bed, lacing his fingers behind his head.

"Stars above, I'm glad that's done. I thought you were going to gut me," he said.

"I still might," Artemis responded dryly, though there was no heat in her tone. "If he causes trouble, the deal is off."

Hermes smiled. "That works for us."

Artemis didn't respond. Instead, she turned, grabbed Apollo by the ankles, and yanked him off the bed. The god hit the ground with a thud and a yelp.

"No lounging," she said. "You'll be standing next to me when I tell the hunters. I will do the same for you when you tell your student."

"We'll be telling them separately?" Hermes asked, curious.

"We don't want your student being shot at, do we Hermes?" Artemis said without turning.

Apollo rubbed the back of his head, pouting as he stood. "You could've just asked me to get up."

She ignored him and swept through the tent flap. Hermes smirked at him as he followed.

Apollo sighed as he stretched. "So much for a peaceful birthday with my favorite demigod."


Percy had taken the news well.

Zoe, who was there when they broke the news to him by the lake, had not.

The girl had been vehemently opposed to allowing a boy anywhere near the Hunt, even if it was a temporary arrangement. It went against everything the hunters stood for, and she made no effort to hide her disapproval.

Still, Artemis had insisted. She explained the situation to her, albeit a simplified version of it, and eventually, Zoe had grudgingly nodded her consent. Artemis seemed to genuinely want to help the boy, and she would at least honor her mistress' wishes.

The rest of the hunters took the news about as well as Zoe had. A large girl with ginger hair took it worse than most. She terrified Percy, though he'd never admit it out loud.

However, with the backing of three gods and Zoe's reluctant support, the hunters accepted it. They silently agreed he'd be around from time to time, and maybe even interact with them. But they also agreed that they'd never actually speak to him, and if he tried anything, he'd die.

As they were about to leave, Percy spoke up. "Uh, Hermes?"

The three gods turned to look at him.

"I know I won't be back until next week, but... could I at least get their names?"

The clearing went quiet.

Artemis raised an eyebrow. Apollo barked out a surprised laugh. Hermes looked at him with concern.

Behind the demigod, the hunters stared at him with various expressions ranging from disdain to surprise.

"I do not believe that's wise, boy."

"He wants to know their names! He's insane, Hermes! Tell him he's insane!"

"You're insane, Percy."

"Hey, quit laughing!"

Zoe, standing closest to the gods, allowed herself the smallest of smirks as she listened. She hid it quickly when the three gods and demigod started talking again.

"Is it really that bad to at least know them?" Percy asked. "I'll be traveling with them for weeks. Our teamwork needs to be... you know, pristine."

In truth, he just didn't want to be glared at him anymore. If he could prove he wasn't awful, then maybe they'd ease up. Besides, he didn't have any friends his age - not unless he counted his two teachers that argued like middle schoolers.

Apollo commented that he was shocked Percy knew the word 'pristine'. Percy ignored him.

"They could maim you," Artemis warned, arms crossed. Still, she was intrigued: the boy was brave. Most mortals who had faced a pack of angry Hunters never recovered.

"Actually, I think you should try it," Hermes said, to Apollo's surprise. "If anyone could pull it off, it's him. I've stopped counting the times he's surprised me."

Apollo gaped. "Are you kidding me? He could die! Like, actually die!"

Percy, however, was no longer listening. He had already turned and walked purposefully towards the hunters.

The gods had quieted as they saw him walk.

"50 says the kid gets punched," Apollo muttered.

"Deal," Hermes whispered.

"Are you betting on your student?"

"Yes." Both gods replied.

Artemis sighed.

Zoe's eyes widened slightly when Percy gave them a hesitant grin and a small wave.

"Uh, hey. I know you guys don't like me and all, but... if we're going to be going on trips together, I just figured we could at least we could at least know each other's names. I completely understand if you don't want to tell me. I'm Perseus Jackson, but Percy's fine too."

Silence.

Then, after a moment, Zoe sighed and nodded. "Zoe. Lieutenant of the Hunt."

The gods behind Percy all blinked in surprise surprised. Apollo's jaw actually dropped. Artemis raised her eyebrows. Hermes exhaled in disbelief.

Grunting, the tall redhead that wore what Percy swore was a permanent scowl also nodded. "Phoebe."

It went on like that for a while. A few hunters would offer their names with brief nods, while others - older, more traditional hunters - shook their heads politely but watched on with visible curiosity.

Percy, of course, didn't catch the glances. Hermes always said he was a bit slow about that sort of thing.

When the last girl spoke, Percy flashed them a grin so sunny, it might've come straight from Apollo. His hands were tucked into his pockets, and Zoe noticed how the gesture mirrored Hermes exactly. She wondered how close the boy was to the two Olympians, but she supposed she'd find out soon enough.

"I'll see you all next week, then," Percy called as he backed away with a wave. "Thanks for not killing me yet!"

He turned and strolled back to the gods, who were all watching him with varying degrees of surprise.

Artemis hid hers best behind a small, amused smirk.

Hermes looked faintly proud as he wore a smile on his face.

Apollo, of course, was the most expressive. He swept Percy into a hug, yelling, "I'm so proud of you!"

He refused to let go even as the demigod squirmed and protested.

After a round of goodbyes, the two Olympians prepared to leave. Percy gave Artemis a small bow and a smile.

"I won't disappoint you, Lady Artemis!"

Artemis raised an eyebrow in response as the trio flashed away in a burst of golden light.

Artemis turned back to her hunters, whose faces were a mix of confusion and curiosity. The sun was setting, dinner would need to be prepared soon, and the boar she'd caught wouldn't cook itself. She already knew tonight's conversations would be all about the strange boy who had lived through his first encounter with the Hunt.


Percy's heart slammed in his chest, its rhythm pounding in his ears as he slid underneath a low-hanging branch. He hit the ground hard, grunting as he did, then rolled to his feet and kept running.

He could feel them close; he could almost feel their breaths on his neck. He vaulted over a large rock and pushed off it, gaining speed as he continued his sprint. He heard the sounds of his pursuers doing the same, and he almost whimpered.

The hair on his neck stood on end, and he ducked just in time for an arrow to whistle past his head, shearing off a few strands of hair. He gasped, ducked again, and kept going. More arrows flew by, embedding themselves in a tree ahead. As he passed, he ripped them free and kept moving.

He could see his end goal now; it was just a few more trees away.

Before he could reach it, his foot caught on something. A tripwire.

A log swung down from the trees above like a battering ram. Percy grit his teeth, leapt, and grabbed onto the log mid-swing. He stabbed the arrows he'd taken into the bark, clinging on until the backswing, where he let go and tumbled to the ground.

He scrambled to his feet, coughing as dust flew into the air around him. He had no time to catch his breath - more arrows rained down on him.

He shoved off a nearby tree, gasping, legs burning. He couldn't stop. He couldn't risk it. Not now.

Just a few more steps.

Suddenly, the ground vanished beneath him. With a strangled yell, he caught the edge of a deep pit, his fingers clawing into the dirt. He ignored the chunks of dirt falling around him, hauling himself up - just as an arrow slammed into his calf.

Percy bit back a cry of pain as more arrows thudded into the dirt around him, lodging themselves in the walls of the pit. He was lucky they had missed. He pulled himself up, forcing himself to limp towards the end.

He could hear them behind him. They had gotten past the log trap, past the pit. They were close.

With a final roar, Percy hurled himself forward.

He landed squarely on the chair.

"Safe!"

Percy grinned through the pain.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, from the trees behind him, a chorus of groans rose like a wave of collective disappointment. One by one, hunters in silver parkas stepped out of the brush, silver parkas catching the fading sunlight, faces ranging from annoyed to amused.

Phoebe emerged last, covered in leaves and dirt. She looked livid. Percy chuckled and gave her a small wave.

Zoe trailed in behind her and gave the redhead a consoling pat on the back. "Thou did well," she said dryly. "Fortune simply favored him this time."

Artemis strode into the clearing, her eyes scanning the scene. She stopped beside Percy, who still sat on the worn wooden chair, panting. An amused smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"I did not think today would be the day you outran Phoebe, Perseus. The log trap was a bold move, but well played. You reached the chair. Not bad."

Groaning, Percy gave her a tired smirk, rubbing his knee to distract from the pain in his calf.

"You know," he rasped out, "after all the weeks I spent getting manhandled, I really think I deserve more than 'not bad'."

Artemis waved him off, looking around to ensure none of her hunters were injured. She was pleased to find that only egos had been bruised.

It had been around 3 months since Hermes and Apollo had convinced Artemis to take Percy under her wing. He spent alternating weeks with the Hunt and at Hermes' palace, and in that time, his speed and strength had grown exponentially.

Artemis personally oversaw his training, and while he was nowhere near her level, she'd found herself genuinely impressed. He was a natural fighter, and his unpredictable style during sparring kept her on her toes. He still lost all their spars, but rarely in the same way twice.

Beyond combat, Percy had been drilled in stealth and field tactics, taught how to move silently through forest terrain and disappear in a crowd. They showed him how to track and evade, and move with purpose and awareness. His training naturally extended to monster combat, and after several excursions with the Hunt, he knew how to deal with hellhounds, harpies, and cyclopes with practiced ease.

His skills with a sword only sharpened under Hermes' continued training. The god had called him a genius, but Percy had waved the praise off, unwilling to let it get to his head. Still, there was no denying his growth; the movements came instinctively, and he adapted quickly. Hermes had even let him start using his winged shoes, which Percy was learning how to use in battle. The learning curve was steep, but the freedom in flight was worth it.

Apollo continued to teach Percy how to manipulate the Mist, and he had made impressive strides. With a few seconds to focus, he could cloud the perceptions of entire groups, making them see or hear whatever he wanted. Apollo also intensified his defensive training, striking harder and faster, and Percy rose to meet the challenge, improving day after day.

Archery, however, was another story entirely.

Both twin archers had tried to teach Percy. It had gone badly.

At first, Percy couldn't even notch an arrow properly. He nearly took out a squirrel his first day - an impressive feat, considering it was standing behind him. The hunters had watched with barely concealed horror as he struggled to draw the bowstring without the arrow falling out of his hands, or without the bowstring hitting him in the face.

Eventually, he improved, but only slightly.

After 3 months, he could hit a stationary target - but only if it was close, and if he had at least 8 seconds to line up the shot. The hunters still flinched whenever he picked up a bow, and Percy had long since deemed the bow a 'worst-case-scenario' weapon.

If he ever reached for a bow in battle, something had already gone horribly wrong.

Surprisingly, Percy's relationship with the hunters wasn't bad at all.

The few who had refused to tell him their names had caved during their first trip together. Most of them quickly realized he wasn't a horrible person. Sure, he laughed a little too loudly at his own jokes, and he was intimidating to spar against, but off the battlefield, he was kind and easygoing.

Their teamwork was seamless. The Hunters preferred long-range combat, and Percy was always happy to charge straight into enemy lines. He drew their attention and kept them occupied as the girls picked off their targets from a distance.

Of course, they didn't treat him differently than they would any other male, but there was a quiet respect between them now. If anyone had a problem with him, they didn't voice it. They simply kept their distance.

Oddly enough, Percy grew closest to Phoebe. She was blunt, aggressive, and had an even deeper distrust of men than Zoe. He learned later that she had spent her childhood with a cruel stepfather who had sold her younger brother. When he eventually told her about Gabe, her demeanor had softened. Slightly.

She was a bully, sure, but once she realized Percy wasn't trying to prove himself or challenge her authority - as he only did so with Apollo - she backed off. Turning everything into a competition helped, too, as she seemed to respond well to challenges. Percy chalked it up to her being a daughter of Ares.

Zoe was different. She was always polite, always composed, but never quite at ease around him. Percy knew better than to push; he only approached her when he had to, usually to ask about archery or about their excursions. She would answer, curt but never cruel, and he would thank her, then stay out of her way. He never asked about her past, and instead focused on the little things, like what she liked to eat for when he was put on hunting duty.

Artemis, on the other hand, surprised him.

Percy expected coldness, or scorn, or maybe even contempt. Instead, it felt familiar.

She treated him the same way she treated Apollo: like a child. Not out of malice, but in the way older siblings sometimes did; with exasperation and the occasional sigh. She taught him things, and in return, he told her about his life before Hermes and Apollo took him in.

They never argued. Percy was as obedient as he was kind, and Artemis appreciated that. They got along well, and over time, their strange bond grew stronger.

Percy realized that somehow, he had found even more people to call family.

He loved every second of it.

Percy held out his leg when Artemis returned, the back of his hand meeting his forehead as he sighed dramatically. With a roll of her eyes, she snapped her fingers, the arrow vanishing and the wound it left allowed to breathe. With a relieved sigh, he pushed himself upright and hobbled toward the lake.

As he passed, the hunters gave him faux-angry looks, and he returned their glares with his trademark grin. It was as much of a victory lap as he dared. Phoebe shouted something about learning from her mistakes and sticking an arrow where the sun didn't shine, which made him shiver and speed up his shuffle.

Once he reached the lake, he slipped off his shoe and dipped his leg into the water, sighing as the healing started. Watching the wound knit itself closed never got old.

Percy had been working on his water powers over the past few months. It wasn't easy, but it was getting better. Due to a lack of use, he realized on his first attempt that lifting even a glassful of water into the air took effort. He didn't want to rely solely on the blessing from Hermes, because water was his own thing. He was determined not to let that part of himself fall behind.

Footsteps crunched behind him. Percy turned to see Artemis approaching, her expression grim.

"Hermes and Apollo are here," she said without preamble. "They have news. We need to talk."

Percy stood quickly, rolling down his pant leg and slipping on his shoe as he followed her back toward camp. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but the look on her face made the words die in his throat.

Inside Artemis' tent, Apollo stood unnervingly still. No teasing, no dramatic greeting - just silence. Hermes sat nearby with his face in his hands.

The mood hit Percy like a wave. He frowned. "Hey, what's going on? You guys weren't supposed to be here for a couple more days. Did something happen?"

Apollo glanced at Hermes, the latter not moving to answer.

After a moment, Apollo sighed and spoke. "A few days ago, someone stole Zeus' lightning bolt."

Percy's eyes widened. "What?"

"A quest went out from Camp Half-blood," Apollo continued, his tone serious for once. "A satyr, a daughter of Athena... and a daughter of Poseidon. They went to the Underworld thinking Hades took the bolt. Turns out, Ares had both at one point - he was being played into nearly starting a civil war. Luckily, the daughter of Poseidon returned the bolt and cleared her father's name. But the thief got away."

Percy's brow furrowed. "Poseidon has another kid?"

"Apparently," Hermes muttered, still not lifting his head.

Percy tried to ignore the sharp twist in his chest. "Oh... so, who was the thief? Who tricked Ares?"

Artemis, standing off to the side with her arms crossed, answered. "Kronos."

Percy froze.

"Kronos?"

Apollo gave him a slow, grim nod.

Percy let out a shaky breath.

"And... and the thief?"

Hermes finally raised his head.

"My son," he said, his voice cracking as he continued. "Luke Castellan. He was the lightning thief. He's the one helping Kronos rise."

Percy's heart sank. Not because he knew Luke, but because he knew Hermes. The look on the god's face was worse than any answer Percy could've received. He looked older than he'd ever seen him - tired in a way gods weren't supposed to be - and his eyes had never been so dull.

The silence stretched. Outside, the wind rustled the trees.

Percy swallowed hard.

The war hadn't started yet, but the board was set.

Chapter Text

Percy leaned back in his chair, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His hands were clammy, and he rubbed them on his muddy pants, trying to focus.

"Are we sure it's Kronos?" Percy asked quietly, breaking the silence in the tent.

None of the three gods answered at first. Artemis sat on her bed, arms crossed, head tilted down, eyes shut with a frown on her face. Apollo stood beside Hermes, one hand on his shoulder. Hermes looked like the weight of Olympus itself was pressing on his spine, his face buried in his hands once more.

After a moment, Apollo spoke. "The daughter of Poseidon, Elaine Chi, said so."

Percy swallowed.

Apollo continued, voice steady but quiet. "She told Chiron that she and Luke trained together after the quest. They took a break... and he told her everything. That he stole the bolt, and the helm. That he was working for Kronos."

He paused to glance down at Hermes sadly.

"Then, he left. She tried to chase him down, but a pit scorpion got into the camp and poisoned her. She barely made it. Chiron passed her report to us through Iris."

Apollo let out a short, humorless breath. "I've never seen Zeus so pale."

From her perch, Artemis muttered angrily, "that's the last time I miss an emergency council meeting."

Percy stared at the ground. "How did the pit scorpion get into the camp? I thought it was protected."

There was no hiding the edge of concern in his voice. To his surprise, he found himself feeling a flicker of pity for his half-sister.

Hermes had told him about Luke - how bright he was, how sharp, how admired. He was his father's pride, his best son, the model Hermes demigod.

Percy had never been jealous. At least, not until now.

To hear that the golden boy Luke had used his gifts to try and spark a war...

The resentment in Percy's chest twisted into something colder.

"It is protected," Apollo answered. "The only way monsters get in is if someone lets them in."

Percy and Apollo shared a meaningful glance. Neither had to say anything.

Yes, Percy decided. He hated Luke Castellan.

"If what Elaine Chi said was true," Artemis spoke as she stood, "then Kronos grows bolder. But how can we be certain the poison didn't cloud her memory?"

Apollo shook his head sadly. "I was there for the report. It wasn't the poison. It was the truth."

Percy exhaled again, longer this time.

"Is..." Percy hesitated, "is Elaine next in line for the prophecy? Or is it still me?"

Again, no immediate answer came from the gods. The longer the silence stretched, the tighter his chest felt. And the more they talked about Luke, the more Hermes seemed to slump in his chair, and the angrier Percy felt for his mentor.

"You are," Apollo responded gently. "As far as I know, I heard she was born sometime in October."

Artemis' brows rose. "October of the same year?"

Apollo hummed, an apologetic look on his face. "Yeah. She's 12 too, I think."

A beat.

"What?" Percy almost growled. "He didn't even wait a year after he met my mom?"

To his surprise, Artemis was the first to comfort him. Wordlessly, she placed a hand on his shoulder, firm and steady. There was no softness in her expression; it was stern and grounding.

Percy met her gaze. Stormy sea-green met bright silver. After a moment, he nodded, his shoulders sagging. Still, his emotions raged inside him; his fists clenched and unclenched on his lap, and he forced a breath out through his nose.

"I'll tell you more about her when the time comes, Percy," Apollo promised, "but there's more we need to focus on right now."

He gave Percy a faint, reassuring smile. Percy did not return it.

"Okay," Percy said, though his voice was tight. "How do we stop them?"

Hermes finally lifted his head. His face was tired, and when he looked at Percy, it was with a sorrow the boy had never seen from him. It made him feel sick.

"We can't," he said quietly, his voice raw. "As much as I wanted to deny it, I've seen this coming for years. It was only a matter of time before Luke..."

Hermes trailed off, wincing at his estranged son's name.

Apollo and Artemis didn't speak. They watched Hermes in silence, as though afraid he would fall apart at the slightest interruption.

Percy stared at them all in disbelief. "What? So... so that's it? We can't stop this? We just let him do it? We can't just kill Luke or something?"

Hermes flinched.

Percy looked away from him, not wanting to see his eyes.

Apollo shook his head. "It doesn't work like that, kid. This was always going to happen. It's fate. Even if Luke dies or fails, something else will rise. Another prophecy, another war, or another demigod willing to burn the world down."

Percy stood sharply. His chair fell to the ground behind him, the sound startling no one.

He was angry, and while he knew his mentors had no hand in it, he was lashing out.

"How can you be so sure?" Percy demanded. "Why didn't you try to stop him before any of this happened?"

"Perseus..." Artemis warned. Her voice was low, her frown cutting.

Apollo stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head. She nodded back quietly, relenting.

"Percy," Apollo said delicately, turning towards him, "this isn't just about Luke. This is bigger than him. Kronos is just hijacking something that already exists - a movement. There are demigods out there who feel like the gods have failed them, and that Olympus is broken."

"What do you mean?" Percy asked. His anger had dulled. At this point, his voice was pleading.

Apollo glanced at Hermes.

The latter didn't answer right away. When he finally spoke, his voice was small.

"Not yet," he whispered. "I'll tell you when this is all less fresh, I swear. But... not right now. I can't."

Percy stood still, fists clenched, shoulders drawn. He looked like he wanted to keep arguing, keep demanding answers.

That was until he looked around the tent.

Apollo's shoulders sagged as he stared sadly at his favorite demigod. His glow had dimmed, and his hands were slack at his sides. He looked utterly drained, and the usual warmth in his expression was gone; no smile, no gleam, just golden eyes filled with regret.

Artemis had returned to her seat at the edge of her bed. Her arms were crossed, her silver eyes shining a hint of concern, but there was a stiffness in her shoulders as she watched Percy carefully. She was tense, bracing for another outburst.

And Hermes, the one who had saved him from certain death, looked so defeated. One hand gripped the arm of his chair, as if steadying himself. His other hand covered his face, as if he was too ashamed to look at his student. Percy could almost feel the guilt rolling off him in waves.

Percy swallowed.

Then, he turned away, knelt to retrieve his chair, and set it upright carefully. He didn't look at anyone as he sat back down, eyes fixed on the ground, but he wore an apologetic frown on his face.

"... okay," he said quietly. "Then what do I do now?"

There was a pause. The air in the tent seemed to shift.

To his surprise, Hermes was the first to speak. His voice was low, but steady. "You keep going. We keep going. Kronos will not stop, so neither will we."

Apollo nodded, folding his arms as a faint, tired smile played on his face. "We'll push you harder, Percy. You need to be stronger, smarter, faster. Everything we've done until now? That was warm-up."

"But you won't be alone," Artemis added. Her tone was calm, certain. "You will train with us and learn from us. So that when the time comes, you will not falter."

Percy finally looked up at them; at Hermes' worn but determined eyes, at Apollo's tired grin, and at Artemis' unwavering stare.

They were his family.

And for the first time since entering the tent that day, he nodded without tension in his shoulders.

"Okay," Percy said again. This time, not quietly.

He didn't know how they'd win, or what would happen to him in the coming years.

But he swore, silently and fiercely, that he would stand against Kronos. He would fight.

And if he had to die, he'd make it count.

Outside, the wind rustled the trees.

The war hadn't come yet, and they would be ready.


Around a year and a half later, Percy pulled his hood further over his face as he glanced around. Beside him, Phoebe spun a hunting knife between her fingers, muttering about how bored she was.

He briefly considered taking the knife from her - not to irritate her, but more so because he could see her accidentally losing her grip and send it flying into his eye. Then again, if he actually tried, she'd likely stab him in the eye on purpose.

He decided to leave her alone. He was glad to be around his friend again, even if she was terrifying.

The Hunt was headed to a school in Maine. Percy hadn't caught the name - Artemis had briefed everyone during a strategy meeting he'd half-slept through - but apparently, the twin archers had a bad feeling about the place. Enough of a bad feeling that they'd asked him to join the Hunt on the mission.

It was supposed to be a simple extraction: get in, retrieve two demigods, and get out. But if his mentors called him in for backup, then those demigods had to be something special.

The snowy hike through the forest was long and quiet, and Phoebe's muttering was starting to blur into background noise. Percy sighed, took a quick glance ahead to make sure Artemis and Zoe were still leading the group, then let his thoughts drift.

It had been months since he last saw the Hunt. More than a year spent training since that day in the tent, and a lot had changed.

The first two months of Percy's revised training schedule were dominated by swordsmanship. Hermes insisted on it, reasoning that if Percy was going to stand a chance against Luke - the best swordsman of the camp before he defected - he needed to work twice as hard. The god of thieves taught him every parry, feint, and dirty move he knew that would possibly give his student an edge over his wayward son.

Apollo and Artemis had stepped back during that time, giving the two space to focus. They understood that Percy needed the training, and they respected that.

When those two months were up, Percy resumed his training under all three gods. He immediately found himself being pushed harder than ever, with a regimen more brutal than he was used to. Apollo sparred with him almost daily, honing his ability to dodge, counter, and maneuver under pressure. Artemis, meanwhile, had doubled the intensity of his physical training - shorter rest windows, longer runs, and heavier weights.

Despite the difficulty, Percy welcomed it.

The only downside of his training was how little time he had left to spend with the Hunters. So, on the few occasions he joined them on excursions, he made a point of being especially helpful and friendly. Phoebe remained a solid presence: blunt, still terrifying, but loyal. Zoe, too, had begun to open up to him, albeit slowly. He never pried into their pasts, never asked them to hang out outside of their excursions, and he sensed they appreciated that sort of respect.

In those same months, Percy's bond with his guardians deepened.

Hermes became more present, spending time with Percy even outside of training. Percy had convinced him to visit his children at Camp Half-blood once a month. The messenger god had been reluctant at first, but after that first visit, he'd returned looking more like himself - there was a light in his eyes again, and a smile on his face. He had thanked Percy, who was just glad to see the change.

On one quiet night, Hermes finally opened up about Luke; he told his story, and about why he had turned traitor. He spoke of the boy's sharpness, his drive, and most of all, of May Castellan, the mortal woman Hermes had failed to save from the curse the Oracle. He explained how Luke had grown up feeling abandoned by the gods: how Hermes hadn't been there during May's episodes, how Luke had once met a punished demigod by the name of Halcyon Green, and how he had failed a quest given by Hermes himself - a failure that earned him nothing but pity back at camp.

Percy had listened silently, the guilt in Hermes' voice settling like a stone in his chest. It didn't excuse what Luke had done, but it made Percy understand why he had betrayed them.

He had also grown closer to Apollo. After seeing how much the camp visits meant to Hermes, Apollo had agreed to try it too. To his surprise, he ended up enjoying it, and so the two gods started visiting camp together when they could, often showing up unannounced and delighting the younger demigods.

Apollo had also partially blessed Percy. The demigod spent more time with the hunters anyway, who masked his presence with their own. The blessing allowed him to heal others, and by some miracle, it even made his archery somewhat less terrible.

As for Artemis, their bond was quieter, but no less meaningful. Like her hunters, she didn't talk much, and Percy never pushed. Still, she had taken full ownership of his physical training, challenging him harder than Hermes and Apollo did. There was a steady, unspoken respect between them now: she called on him for missions more often, trusted him to lead beside Zoe in battle, and corrected him when he faltered.

When they did speak, it was often in short exchanges by the campfire or after patrol, but those moments stayed with him. Artemis never said it aloud - and still refused to call him by his nickname - but Percy knew she saw him as more than just her brother's student or Hermes' ward.

She saw him as her own.

The three gods had also begun preparing Percy for his eventual reveal to the Olympians.

Artemis was the first to raise the issue.

"Poseidon will be furious," she had said flatly, "with all of us."

Apollo had snorted and waved off the concern. "If he couldn't watch over his own son and we did, he should be thankful."

Hermes had agreed with a nod. "I'll handle the talking. I started this whole thing anyway."

Percy had then voiced a different worry. "What about Zeus?"

There was no need to explain further. The gods understood that Poseidon had broken the pact twice in the same year, something Zeus would not take lightly.

Hermes had sworn to stay on high alert throughout the council. Apollo, to lighten the mood, promised to take a lightning bolt to the chest if Zeus tried anything. Artemis, however, had looked absolutely livid at the idea of anyone hurting her student. Their reactions meant more to him than he let on, but he kept his mouth shut. Artemis in particular would likely smack him upside the head if he said anything.

Afterward, the conversation shifted to Camp Half-Blood.

They discussed where he would stay, and who would claim him once he arrived. Percy adamantly refused to share a cabin with his half-sister - he'd learned Poseidon had visited her multiple times already, and he wanted to stay as far away from that awkwardness as possible. The gods, of course, agreed. Percy had grown, but when it came to betrayal, pride, or Poseidon, his temper still burned hot.

The 14-year-old demigod decided he had yet to sneak in a joke, and pushed his luck, saying, "Artemis can claim me instead!"

He barely got the words out before a sharp smack landed against the back of his head. He took it with a grin.

"I'll claim him," Apollo grinned, his hands set proudly on his waist. "He'll fit in well with my kids. All incredibly good-looking, athletic, and heroic."

"I don't think so," Hermes butted in, looking slightly offended.

"He'll fit in better in my cabin. He has my blessing, after all. He'd relate to them better."

"You mean your cabin full of not-your-kids? Besides, he's not like your kids! He's too... Percy-like to fit in there."

Percy frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He was ignored by the two gods. He glared at the goddess of the hunt who smirked at his expense.

"He was my student before he was yours, Apollo."

"He's too handsome to be one of your kids!"

"That was uncalled for, and he's too smart to be one of yours!"

The argument continued on for half an hour, and when it looked like it wouldn't be resolved anytime soon, Artemis and Percy had left to sleep for the night.

The next morning, the goddess and the demigod found the two eating a silent breakfast together. Hermes had a black eye and Apollo was missing a tooth. Apollo had told them he would claim Percy, and Hermes did not verbally protest. The messenger god settled for glaring at him.

News of the quest to heal Thalia Grace's tree had briefly disrupted Percy's training. The camp's activities director had been framed, Luke Castellan had poisoned the tree, and Hermes - who had given the quest group a few magical items in an effort to guide his son back to the light - fell into a quiet depression. When it was over, Percy learned that it was once again his sister who had saved the day, even if she was soundly beaten by Luke in a duel.

And then, with the healing of the tree, Thalia Grace returned from the dead.

While her return had shocked them all, the gods continued to train Percy without pause, just as Apollo had promised. Whatever her revival meant for the prophecy, they knew one thing for certain: they would still need the son of Poseidon for the war against Kronos.

Percy was snapped out of his thoughts when Phoebe gave him a light shove. "Have you been listening to anything I've been saying for the past 10 minutes?"

He blinked. "Uh...yeah?"

"Really? What did I just say?"

"... something about suffering to all men on earth?"

Phoebe stared at him. Then she shoved him again. Percy laughed and jogged to catch up.

They walked in companionable silence for a while. The wind whispered low through the trees, and the quiet murmur of the hunters around them filled the space.

Eventually, Percy spoke. "Okay, so I know we were all technically at the briefing, but some of us may not have been mentally present. What are we doing again? Asking for a friend."

Phoebe snorted. "Of course you weren't listening. We're looking for two demigods with strong scents. Lady Artemis said she could feel them all the way back from where we set up camp. They must be powerful."

"Their smell is strange too," a hunter behind them added. Percy glanced back and waved at Naomi, the nymph who had spoken. "The trees in this area are unsettled. They say it smells like death."

Percy and Phoebe shared a look, brows raised. Children of Hades?

Artemis hadn't given them many details. Phoebe didn't know the things Percy did, but he had heard the story: about the children of Hades that Zeus had tried to kill years ago.

If those kids were still alive... how? They'd been born decades ago. How could they still be children?

And if they weren't, had the Lord of the Underworld broken the pact too?

Percy blinked as the ground rumbled beneath his feet, shaking him from his thoughts. The Hunt came to an immediate halt, every hunter pausing mid-step as a powerful burst of energy surged from somewhere across the school grounds.

Naomi spoke up again. "I sense a clearing near a cliff not far from here. That might be the source."

Artemis turned and nodded at her, then gave Zoe a signal. The lieutenant nodded in return and gestured for the hunters to follow her. The goddess fell into step beside Percy, who had been walking at the rear with Phoebe.

"Phoebe," Artemis said calmly, "go with the others. I need to speak with Perseus."

The daughter of Ares nodded and jogged ahead dutifully.

The two walked in relative silence for a while, snow crunching beneath their feet. Just as Percy opened his mouth to ask what she wanted to talk about, Artemis glanced at him with a serious expression.

"Be ready, Perseus," she told him, her voice low.

Percy raised an eyebrow at her tone. "Is there something I'm missing or...?"

Artemis didn't respond immediately. She shook her head once, and Percy let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Do you remember how to deal with a manticore?" The goddess asked, her gaze fixed ahead of them as they walked up the snowy hill.

Percy eyes widened briefly before his brows furrowed in thought.

"Tail with venom, skin like stone... aim for the eyes, or leave it alone?" Percy mumbled.

Artemis stared at him.

"Apollo said rhyming helps with memory," he said proudly. "Pretty good, right?"

Artemis sighed. "I... suppose."

Percy deflated. "Okay, you don't have to sound so disappointed. I remembered, didn't I?"

"Indeed," Artemis said flatly, turning forward again. "I asked because I sense something ahead. It's familiar, and dangerous. Possibly a manticore, but it's not alone. Have you faced one before?"

"Not yet."

"Then I need you focused," Artemis continued seriously. "Remember your rhyme. When we arrive, I'll move to secure the demigods. I want you to lead the hunters with Zoe. You've both proven capable."

Percy nodded slowly. That made sense. If the manticore was looking for the children of Hades, then the other presences Artemis had sensed were likely its backup - or worse, competition. He and the Hunt would have to match that force while the goddess made sure the demigods were safe.

Still, Percy frowned. "I thought I was just here to make sure the job got done, not because I was actually needed."

Artemis exhaled. "You heard Naomi. If these are truly children of Hades, then they're also possible candidates for the prophecy. I fear we're not the only ones looking for them. Camp Half-Blood has likely sent a satyr already."

Percy hummed at that, lips pressed in thought.

The two picked up their pace to catch up to the rest of the hunters. If the burst of power they'd felt earlier meant a fight had already broken out, then someone else had reached the demigods first.

And that meant they were already late.

The two weaved through the ranks of the hunters who waited silently at Zoe's command, positioned at the edge of a snowy clearing.

They watched as a beast with the face of a human, the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion ranted loudly about how his banishment to Persia had left him thirsty for demigod blood. In his massive hands, he held two children, both with pale faces and wide, dark eyes. Despite their shock, Percy saw it clearly: shadows and flickers of madness. They were Hades' kids.

Others stood in the clearing as well. As Artemis gave the signal to hold, Percy used the pause to analyze them.

There was a girl with lightning blue eyes and cropped black hair dressed in dark clothes, holding a can of mace. Even without confirmation, Percy knew she was Thalia Grace. Her eyes were Zeus' through and through, her stance practiced and battle-ready. She sized up the manticore across from her through narrowed eyes, waiting for the moment to spring into action.

Beside her stood a blonde girl with gray eyes, a bronze knife gripped in her hand. Percy assumed she was a daughter of Athena. She wasn't focused on the manticore alone - her gaze swept the clearing, calculating and planning for angles and contingencies.

A tall boy with curly brown hair, a slight goatee, and unmistakable goat legs stood near them. Percy didn't need to guess: this was the satyr Artemis had predicted the camp would send.

But it was the last girl who made Percy's stomach twist in recognition.

She stood slightly behind the others, gripping her shoulder tightly, her expression hardened into a glare. Her sea-green eyes were sharp, defiant, and full of fire. Dark brown hair framed her face, cropped short at her neck, and in her free hand, she held a bronze sword.

Percy's eyes widened.

Elaine Chi. His sister.

Thalia looked ready to charge the manticore when the trees across the clearing erupted with motion.

Dozens of monster poured in from the forest edge; cyclopes, empousai, hellhounds, even giants and dracaenae. A small army. Their approach was marked with the ground shaking, the sky filled with snarls and growls.

Percy looked to see the demigods stiff with fear. The manticore's tail swayed, as if pleased to have reinforcements.

He turned to Zoe.

"I think that's our cue!" Percy said with a grin.

Artemis gave a single nod, sharing a glance with her lieutenant and the son of Poseidon. Then she vanished into the trees in a blur of silver.

Percy stretched his neck to the side and rolled his shoulders, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a small, black phone. He rubbed his thumb across the screen, and it glowed faintly. Around him, the hunters readied their bows, arrows already nocked.

With a flick of his wrist, the phone transformed, misting into a dark adamantine blade, long and curved at the end. He spun it twice, the metal humming in the wind. He exhaled slowly.

"We shall cover thee," Zoe said lowly, stepping closer. "Take no foolish risks. We shall not be near to aid thee."

Despite the cold biting at his skin and the knot forming in his gut, Percy grinned wider.

"They won't even be able to touch me."

With a final nod to the Hunt, he turned and leapt into the clearing. His sword gleamed in the moonlight, as if Artemis herself had blessed his weapon.

The moment his feet hit the ground, Percy shot forward, a blur of motion too fast for most Hunters to track. With a roar, he collided with the leading cyclops, which exploded into dust on impact.

That was the signal. A volley of silver arrows soared overhead as the Hunters joined the fray.

Percy dropped into a slide beneath a hellhound's pounce, rolled to his feet, and launched off another charging beast's back. He flew into the air and drove his sword into a giant's chest, using the momentum to ride the monster down as it disintegrated. Still airborne, he wrenched his sword out and spun with his blade, slicing through two empousai with a single sweeping arc.

He landed hard, knees bent, just in time to evade a cyclops' club. The brute reared its arm back to swing again, but silver arrows slammed into its side, staggering it. Percy dashed forward, leapt, and slashed across its eye. The monster howled, toppling backward into the ranks behind it.

All around him, chaos erupted. Some of the hunters had joined him, and Percy spied Phoebe a distance away ramming into a dracaena with her shoulder, knocking it flat. Arrows cut through the sky filled with the shrieks of monsters.

Still, he had no time to stand by and watch.

He danced through the battlefield, carving a path through flesh and flame. A hellhound lunged, and he planted his foot into its snout to send it back. An empousa came from behind, and he spun, slicing her clean through the waist.

From the tree line, the campers stared, stunned.

Percy grinned, chest heaving, heart pounding with the rhythm of battle. He was in his element, a blur of speed and certainty.

The manticore had tried to flee the moment he saw the havoc Percy had wrought. But before he could vanish into the trees, a volley of silver arrows slammed into the ground ahead of him, blocking his escape.

Artemis appeared an instant later.

With a growl, she lunged, planting both feet squarely in his gut. The monster flew backward, slamming into a large boulder with a thunderous crack. Before he could even breathe, more arrows peppered his body, thudding into his sides and keeping him pressed against the rock.

He swallowed, gasping for air as he looked up.

Artemis stalked towards him, her knives gleaming in her hands.

Across the battlefield, the children of Hades had been tossed into the air from Artemis' attack on the manticore. To their surprise, Zoe and Phoebe caught them mid-fall, the latter immediately dropping the boy with a sound of disgust.

The rest of the hunters advanced into the clearing to continue to support the son of Poseidon, who had drawn the small army's full attention all on his own.

Percy let out a final roar as hurled his sword like a javelin. It slammed into a cyclops' eye with a wet crunch, causing it to stumble with a step back. He dashed forward, then slid to a halt a short distance ahead of it, turning his back and kneeling down with his hands cupped low.

"Phoebe! Now!"

Already sprinting towards him, the redheaded Hunter smirked and picked up her pace. She planted her foot on his hands, and with a grunt, he launched her skyward.

She grinned as she flew, and she stuck her hunting knives right into the cyclops' chest, clinging to her hilts as it toppled and faded into dust.

Zoe, having made sure the girl in her arms was safe, rolled her eyes at the theatrics and followed shortly behind.

She arrived just in time to see Percy and Phoebe high-five like absolute fools.

"I told you it would look cool!" The son of Poseidon said proudly, hands on his hips.

Phoebe grinned. "That was one of your better ideas, I'll give you that."

The two then turned and started digging through the mound of golden dust in search of Percy's sword.

Near the edge of the cliff, the manticore was fighting for its life.

Artemis' blades hadn't pierced his hide, but every strike landed with the force of a battering ram. He was left reeling, disoriented, and bleeding internally, his movements sluggish from pain.

The rest of the Hunt was closing in.

Snarling in desperation, he slammed his tail into the ground, dirt and debris exploding up and blinding Artemis as he was masked in a cloud of dust.

With a roar, the manticore made a mad dash for the two children of Hades.

Before anyone else could react, the daughter of Athena lunged forward. Percy watched as she leapt onto its back and buried her knife between its shoulder blades.

The manticore shrieked, veering off course. Its momentum was unchanged, however, and it continued to charge and stumble, careening off the cliff's edge, the girl still clinging to its back.

There was a collective gasp.

Artemis winced. Zoe sighed. Phoebe shook her head, cursing under her breath.

Percy's brow furrowed.

There was no splash, or crack of stone - he couldn't even feel their presence in the water below.

Something had taken them away. Most importantly, that girl was likely still alive.

The daughter of Zeus, however, did not have his powers. Thalia immediately rounded on Elaine with a glare sharp enough to cut.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Thalia snapped, stalking towards the injured girl, can of mace clenched tight. "Why did you go off alone like that? We could've pulled this off if you didn't try to play hero! Now Annabeth is gone!"

Thunder boomed overhead, as if the skies were mirroring her anger.

Elaine flinched. The guilt was clear on her features, but she refused to back down. "I was trying to save the kids, Thalia. I didn't mean for this to happen. It wasn't all my fault!"

Thalia's eyes widened, livid. "It wasn't your fault? Are you kidding me right now?"

She looked ready to lunge when someone stepped between them. She bumped into a chest and she stumbled back.

Percy stood there, steady as a wall.

"Hi," he said, smiling sheepishly. "I can tell there's a lot of drama going on here - love a good catfight, really - but Lady Artemis wants to talk to you guys." 

Percy pointed behind Thalia, who turned to see the goddess waiting at the tree line, her arms folded over her chest. Several hunters were setting up tents behind her, while Artemis' own silver tent had already appeared.

Thalia blinked at him, gave him once-over, then turned wordlessly and trudged toward Artemis.

The satyr moved to follow her, only for Percy to hold out a hand, palm up.

"Not you though," he said firmly. "You stay right there."

The demigod had seen the way he stared at the hunters. It was enough to make even him uncomfortable.

Satyrs were weird.

The satyr looked heartbroken, ears drooping. Percy gave him an apologetic shrug, but he was sure he'd made the right call.

With a sigh, he turned back, facing his sister for the first time.

Elaine sat against a rock, her eyes fixed on the ground, gripping her injured shoulder. She shifted and winced, pain flickering across her face.

Now that Percy was right there, he realized something: the bitterness he once carried had faded. The jealousy and the anger were gone. Oddly, he didn't care anymore.

He didn't have a mom to go home to anymore. Fate had given him a prophecy, a war, and two overbearing uncles. Family - real family - felt like a rare thing. And this injured, stubborn, sharp-eyed girl was his blood. That mattered more than it used to.

Looking at her now, all he wanted was to stop her from hurting.

Slowly, Percy knelt down, offering her a quiet smile.

"Hey. You look like you could use a little help."

His eyes widened slightly as she sniffled, turning her head away. "I'm okay," she mumbled. "Nothing ambrosia won't fix."

Percy shook his head, chuckling softly. "I don't think so. You're pale, sweating, and you haven't stood up since the fight. You're poisoned."

Elaine glanced back at him, eyes uncertain. "That thing we just fought... it got me. Its tail."

Percy hummed and inched closer. "Then yeah. You're poisoned. Manticore tails will do that to you. Look, I can help you... but you have to let me."

Elaine hesitated, brow furrowing. Then, slowly, she dropped her hand from her bleeding shoulder. Percy offered a quick smile in thanks, gripped her sleeve, and ripped it off at the seam, folding back the rest of the shirt so he could get a clear look.

"Okay. We need to get the poison out. Do you have any..."

He stopped short. Elaine had held one hand out to the side, and from the satyr's water jug a few paces away, water was already flowing toward her. It wrapped around her wound like a leech, and as she slowly clenched her fist, the water darkened with a sickly green hue.

Percy watched, awestruck.

Forget not being jealous.

She was good.

There was something natural, even graceful, in the way she worked with water. No effort, yet complete control.

He continued to watch as she released the water with a wave of her hand, the dark liquid streaming steadily over the cliffside until nothing remained.

She was really good.

She exhaled slowly, eyes closing for a moment. "That's all of it."

Percy was speechless.

Seeing his surprise, Elaine gave him a sheepish smile. "My dad, Poseidon, helped me a lot. I've never been great with a sword, so..."

"Well," Percy laughed, still staring, "you've outdone me twice tonight."

She blinked. "Twice?"

"You got to fight a manticore and heal yourself. I didn't get to do either."

Elaine let out a small laugh. "I guess I did."

Percy grinned as he gently placed his hands over the wound. Light bloomed beneath his fingers as he channeled Apollo's blessing, healing the torn skin and knitting it back together slowly.

"You know," Percy said a moment later, voice quieter, "I can tell you were just trying to help."

Elaine's eyes widened.

"I used to be like that too," he continued. "Always rushing in, trying to prove myself. Thought I had to do everything on my own..."

He paused, voice dipping. "But all that really did was get other people hurt."

Elaine looked away, shame flickering behind her eyes. Then, she nodded.

Percy smiled and gave her shoulder a gentle pat.

"My name's Percy. Percy Jackson. It's nice to meet you."

"Elaine Chi," she said softly, offering a small smile. "You came here with those girls in silver parkas?"

Percy hummed as he sat back on his heels. "Yes, I did. They're great once you get past the whole 'swear death to men' thing."

"Swear death to men?"

"Ah," Percy said, "then you haven't heard of them. Come on, Lady Artemis should be finishing up with your friend. She'll want to talk to you, too. She'll explain what I mean."

He stood, holding out his hand for her. Elaine took it with a grateful smile, her hand instinctively resting on her exposed shoulder.

"That should be tender for a while," Percy said as he led towards the tents, "but like you said: nothing ambrosia can't fix."

Percy let out a soft breath as they made their way over to Artemis' tent. For their first meeting, it surprised him how normal it felt to walk beside her.

When he had first learned of her, he had been angry; livid at Poseidon for having another kid within months of each other, and upset at Elaine's existence. Then, he had seen her standing in that clearing, glaring with eyes so similar to his. He had learned she had made almost the exact same mistakes he had when he first started going on excursions with the hunt.

Suddenly, he realized he couldn't hate Elaine Chi - she was basically him.

Percy glanced at the girl walking beside him and decided to give her a chance. He still wasn't fond of their father, but Elaine hadn't inherited his faults. It would be unfair of him to hold them against her.

Just as the two arrived, a sedated Thalia exited through the flaps. She looked at Elaine and looked like she wanted to say something, but shook her head and walked off in the direction of the satyr.

Elaine frowned, her guilt over what had happened flashing on her face again, but she steeled herself before Percy could speak.

As she reached for the tent flap, she hesitated. She spoke quietly, just loud enough for Percy to hear. "You're not what I expected, you know."

Percy blinked. "Thanks. I think."

Elaine shot him an amused smile, then it faded as she studied his face. "There's just something so... familiar about you."

Percy kept his best poker face on, shrugging and offering a smile. "I've heard I resemble every single A-lister in Hollywood?"

Despite herself, the daughter of Poseidon snorted. She sent him another smile, then ducked her head as she entered.

Percy let out a long breath, trying to calm the thudding in his chest, then followed soon after.

Inside the tent, Artemis was waiting with the daughter of Hades, Bianca di Angelo. Artemis raised an eyebrow when he entered with his sister, her eyes sharp with curiosity. Percy gave her a faint smile and shook his head.

"Later," he mouthed discretely.

With a slow nod, the goddess turned her attention to the two girls and began her explanation. The Hunt, she said, was an eternal sisterhood, free from the weight of expectations of the world. The hunters pledged loyalty, discipline, and chastity in exchange for freedom, to live unbound and follow Artemis across the globe. To that end, they swear off love and devote themselves entirely to the Hunt and to their goddess.

When Elaine glanced curiously at Percy - who had visibly zoned out halfway through - Artemis added, almost dryly, that he was an exception. Very few men had ever earned the trust of the Hunt, but his skill in battle and his notably 'harmless' demeanor had secured his place among them.

"I want to offer you a place within the Hunt," Artemis said calmly, bringing them back to the main point. "As I said, you will be free from the burdens others place upon you. This could be your home."

Hearing the final lines of the offer, Percy studied the girls in silence.

Bianca's eyes flicked to the tent flaps, as if she half-expected her brother Nico to be listening in. For a moment, Percy saw the truth: she was tired, not from battle, but from always being the one her brother depended on.

She wanted out.

"I want in," Bianca said softly.

Her shoulders sagged, the tension draining from them like breath from a lung, as if accepting Artemis' offer had instantly lifted the responsibility off of her shoulders.

While Percy didn't blame her, it still made something twist in his chest.

Artemis nodded with a small smile, then turned to Elaine.

She sat straighter than Bianca, her brows pinched as she thought. Percy saw the tension in her hands, and the way she avoided meeting Artemis' eyes.

"I... can't," Elaine said finally. Her voice was quiet, but firm. "There's too much I have to do back at camp."

Artemis nodded again, a gentle expression on her features. "I understand. The offer stands, should you change your mind."

Percy held in a smile. Elaine wasn't ready to walk away from Camp, the prophecy, and the war building around them. She looked scared, and yet, she stayed anyway.

He was proud of her.

Artemis rose and turned to him. "Please escort Elaine out, Perseus. And fetch Zoe. Bianca will need briefing."

The son of Poseidon bowed his head and ushered his sister out of the tent, patting her on the back as they exited.

"That was very brave of you," Percy said with a smile.

Elaine exhaled and smiled. "I guess it was. I just... couldn't leave everyone behind right now."

He nodded understandingly, then turned in the general direction of the other tents.

"Zoe Nightshade!" Percy yelled. "Paging Zoe Nightshade!"

A few moments later, the lieutenant of the Hunt walked over with a flat look on her face.

"I told thee not to shout," Zoe said, frowning. "The wolves do not take kindly to such noise."

Percy grinned. "How else was I going to find you in this blizzard?"

Elaine blinked. The snow was soft, the wind a gentle breeze.

Zoe's glare sharpened, then she sighed. "What wouldst thou have of me?"

Percy gestured to Artemis' tent with his head. "New recruit. Bianca said yes."

Zoe's eyes widened, first in surprise, then in approval. "I shall attend to her at once. My thanks, Perseus."

The hunter swept off toward the tent in a hurry, her happiness visible in her walk.

"It's Percy! I keep telling you to call me Percy!"

She either didn't hear him or pointedly ignored him.

Percy shook his head. "One day. She'll get there eventually. Probably."

Beside him, Elaine hid her laugh behind her hand.

Artemis exited her tent not long after, raising a hand to signal everyone in the clearing to gather. Percy moved to stand at her left, still casually picking gold dust out of his ears and teeth. Zoe took her place at Artemis' right, alternating between glaring daggers at Thalia and shooting confused glances at Percy, as if wondering how he'd managed to accumulate an entire desert's worth of dust in his head.

The hunters formed up neatly to Artemis' right, while the campers lingered nearby at a cautious distance. Thalia and Elaine stood on opposite ends of their group, visibly avoiding each other's eyes.

"I commend all of you for your service to Olympus today," Artemis began, her voice even. "Though we were not without losses, many monsters were slain, and the demigods the manticore sought are now safe."

She nodded slightly in the campers' direction. They bowed in response, but their gazes drifted to Percy, who had done most of the fighting.

Artemis continued, her tone shifting. "I have just spoken with my father through Iris-message. I have been ordered to pursue a monster I believe has not been seen in millennia. The hunt will take days, perhaps even longer."

"We shall make ready at once, my lady -" Zoe began, but Artemis raised a hand, stopping her.

"You cannot join me, Zoe," Artemis said gently. "This order was given directly by Zeus. I am to go alone."

Zoe frowned, looking ready to protest, but the look in Artemis' eyes halted her. The lieutenant pursed her lips, then nodded once. "As thou wishest, my lady."

Artemis inclined her head, the faintest trace of an apology in on her features. "I do not make this decision lightly. If my suspicions are correct, the creature I hunt is far too dangerous, even for you."

Zoe and Percy exchanged a look. What could possibly be so dangerous that Artemis had to face it alone?

"I have contacted... someone... to bring you all to Camp Half-Blood until I return."

The hunters paled. Zoe sighed deeply and facepalmed. Percy, on the other hand, perked up instantly.

"Wait," he grinned. "Is it who I think it is?"

The campers, caught off guard by the mixed reactions, exchanged confused glances.

Percy's response came in the form of loud, obnoxious honking from above. Every head turned skyward as a golden sports car descended from the clouds, headlights blazing and tires skimming the snow.

It landed with a gentle bounce nearby, the snow on the ground nearby melting rapidly.

Apollo leaned out of the driver's seat, grinning like the sun itself.

"Hello ladies and gents! Apollo has arrived!"

Groans echoed from the hunters. Artemis pinched the bridge of her nose. Percy laughed and clapped loudly, yelling a compliment about the landing. Apollo responded with a proud thumbs-up and a wink.

The campers stared, dumbfounded. Apollo looked absolutely delighted.

Chapter 5

Notes:

Sorry for the wait on this one. It's longer than my usual chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter Text

Apollo strolled past the line of irritated hunters and awestruck campers, the picture of unbothered confidence. He shot Percy a quick grin, and the two shared an almost instinctive fist bump.

Surprisingly, Apollo didn't take the opportunity to annoy Zoe. For her part, the lieutenant didn't wait to find out - she took his arrival as her cue to rejoin her sisters.

Percy noticed and frowned slightly. The god never passed up on the chance before.

In truth, Apollo's heart was doing cartwheels in his chest. He needed to talk to the son of Poseidon. Badly.

"Hey, little sis!" The god greeted, his trademark smile plastered across his face. "Was Percy any trouble today?"

His grin was blinding, as always - but this time, it didn't quite reach his eyes, and both Artemis and Percy noticed.

"No," Artemis said, her tone softer than usual. "Perseus led my hunters against a small horde of monsters. He ensured the safety of the demigods we were tracking."

Apollo's grin shifted into something more sincere. He ruffled Percy's hair with a proud look, earning a half-hearted attempt from the boy to swat his hand away.

"I expected as much from my favorite demigod," Apollo said with a wink.

Percy snorted and shook his head. "I still think that's a load of -"

"Perseus."

"Sorry."

Artemis glared at her student. Percy gave her a sheepish smile in return. She then turned to her twin, a questioning look on her face.

Apollo sighed, stepping closer and lowering his voice. "We need to talk. Right now. The campers can wait."

Artemis frowned. The tone of his voice made her uneasy. She gestured towards her tent, one of the few left standing in the clearing, the rest being packed away by some of the Hunt.

"Did I forget something?" Percy asked, his brows furrowing.

Apollo waved him off, already turning toward the group behind him. "Everyone! I, the radiant Apollo, will personally escort all of you to camp right after a quick powwow with my sister and our star player here. Hang tight! Warm beds and roofs over your heads await!"

The hunters nodded curtly, dispersing without a word. The campers, less sure of protocol, offered awkward bows and mumbled thanks before drifting off.

Percy noticed Elaine break away from the others, making a beeline for the cliff. Her shoulders slumped as she neared the edge, and something in his chest ached.

He sighed. He worried for her.

When he looked back, Artemis and Apollo were already heading for the tent, speaking in hushed tones. Percy jogged to catch up, his mind spinning with questions for the sun god.

Artemis held the tent flap open for the two and followed in after. With a snap of her fingers, a soft ripple passed through the air. Percy felt the subtle thrum of privacy magic settle over the space like a curtain.

She nodded at her brother, silent but firm. Apollo took the cue leaned on against the edge of her bed, the golden laurel in his hair glinting dully in the low light.

He exhaled through his nose. "Your whole fight was broadcast straight to the throne room, kid."

Percy froze halfway into sitting down, eyes wide.

Apollo continued, voice low and tired. "Zeus wanted to watch over Thalia, but now... he knows about you. And so does Poseidon. They made me come fetch you before I take you and the hunters to camp. Hermes wasn't allowed to come; they started interrogating him as soon as they realized something was off, and I don't think he can hide anything from the entire council."

A shadow crossed his features. He had felt Zeus' anger literally electrify the air in the throne room. Poseidon's shock was just as intense, though quieter, like a wave pulling back before a storm surge. Apollo had never seen his uncle in such disbelief.

Percy's face went pale.

"How did they know of Hermes' involvement?" Artemis asked sharply. Her voice was calm, but the tension in her shoulder spoke volumes. Her gaze flicked to Percy, unreadable, but no less fierce.

Apollo let out a short, humorless laugh. "Did you see how fast that kid moved? Only Hermes and his kids move like that. It was a dead giveaway."

Percy winced. "I didn't think they'd be watching."

"They weren't at first. But when Thalia got cornered, they started paying attention. You just happened to blow the roof off." Apollo gave him a brief pat on the shoulder. "It's okay. They were going to find out eventually. But now the timing's out of our hands."

Artemis glanced between them. "How did the others take the news?"

Apollo rubbed his face. "Most of them are staying neutral for now. He was too good out there. Too useful. But that just makes Zeus convinced he's a threat. And Poseidon... well, he's not taking it well. He's fighting for Percy, but it's basically just him and Zeus yelling at each other right now. The rest are watching."

"And Hermes?" Artemis asked quietly.

Apollo pursed his lips. "You know he would've backed the kid in a heartbeat. But Zeus has him backed into a corner. You know how he gets when dad stares him down."

Silence fell.

Percy folded his arms over his chest as he let out a shaky breath. His mind was spinning: he couldn't stop picturing the throne room, the Olympians, the way Zeus' eyes must have looked when he realized who he was.

"When do we leave?" Percy asked, his voice quieter than he meant it to be.

"As soon as you're ready," Apollo said. His voice softened. "Preferably now. Zeus isn't known for his patience."

Percy exhaled deeply, shakily.

Both his mentors felt pity build in their chests for the boy, and Artemis made eye contact with her brother, trying to convey everything she couldn't say aloud.

A moment later, Apollo nodded and looked at Percy with more determination in his eyes than the demigod had ever seen. "We'll protect you, like we promised. You're our student and possibly the child of the prophecy."

Artemis nodded as well. "You will not face Zeus alone."

Percy nodded back. The storm in his gut didn't calm, but their words felt like an anchor keeping him from sinking. He sighed, rubbing his clammy palms on his pants, and stood, breathing deeply to steel himself for what was coming.

"Percy," Apollo called after a moment.

Percy raised an eyebrow - then froze as the god stepped forward and wrapped him in a hug.

No words were exchanged, and none were needed. Percy's shock kept him from saying anything, and Apollo's worry spoke for itself.

Artemis watched in silence, a small smile tugging at her lips. The demigod meant more to her brothers than either of them had expected, and she realized that he mattered to her as well. Percy had changed all of them. Hermes and Apollo had become more serious since mentoring him, while Artemis had learned to loosen up, if only a little.

Apollo pulled back at last, gripping Percy by the shoulders as he smiled warmly.

"Hermes told me to remind you of something," he said, his voice gentle. "That even if you're not his son... you will always be his champion. His caduceus in the mortal world."

Percy blinked. For a second, he didn't quite register it. And then, it hit him like a tidal wave.

The caduceus. Hermes' symbol of power. His channel for his magic, healing, and transformation. Percy had never seen the god without it - not when he was fighting, or working, or even when he was just messing around. To hear that he was just as essential, not just as a student, but as an extension of Hermes' will...

A tear prickled at the corner of his eye.

Slowly, a new look settled over his face. Determination. Steady and sharp.

"I'm ready," he said. "Let's go."

Apollo nodded. Artemis stepped forward, placing a hand on her brother's shoulder. She returned the nod with one of her own.

In a flash of light, the three of them were gone.


In the throne room, tension crackled like a live wire between Poseidon and Zeus.

The sea god gripped his trident tight, knuckles white with restrained fury. His ocean-colored eyes burned with challenge as he glared across the room at his brother, who stood tall, Master Bolt humming in his grip like a caged storm.

The other gods murmured between themselves, uneasy but unwilling to interfere. Even Dionysus, usually too bored to care, sat upright in his throne. Only Ares looked thrilled by the confrontation, a wild grin threatening to split his face in half as he waited.

Then, in a burst of golden and silver light, three figures flashed into the center of the room.

Apollo. Artemis. Percy Jackson.

Though power rippled through the room, Percy didn't flinch. He stood between the twin archers like an island in a storm surge. His dark hair was wavy, swept back like he'd just stepped off a shoreline. Sea-green eyes, glinting with barely restrained power, swept across the chamber. His features echoed his father's - regal, sharp, and effortlessly handsome. Though he was younger, he was only a few inches shorter than Apollo in height. He wasn't too broad, or too slight: he was balanced. Centered.

And the way he stood, with his chin high and shoulders set, spoke of someone who had already faced monsters and monstrosities alike, and lived to tell the tale.

The Olympians fell quiet, sizing him up in a single, collective breath.

Quietly, Hermes slipped from his throne. Zeus didn't even notice, still locked in a cold stare with Poseidon. The messenger god shrunk to mortal height and made his way to Percy, his expression unreadable but his presence unwavering.

He stood just a step behind Percy's shoulder, beside Artemis and Apollo. This was their student's moment, but they'd be right behind him for anything.

The room was silent as Zeus and Poseidon finally looked to the center of the throne room.

For a heartbeat, the King of the Gods said nothing. He merely stared through narrowed eyes.

Poseidon moved first.

He rose from his throne, his tense shoulders sagging as he began walking towards son. With each step, his form shrank until he stood at his mortal height. His trident dissolved in his hand, as if he knew he wouldn't be needing it anymore.

His eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he looked at Percy - now 14, taller, stronger than he'd ever imagined. Poseidon froze a few steps away, as if getting too close might make the boy disappear. His jaw clenched as he fought the urge to sob.

Percy frowned slightly. His first meeting with his father, and he was crying?

He didn't know what to feel. Anger, maybe. Confusion, definitely. But mostly, Percy just felt the weight of it - of seeing a god, his father no less, reduced to tears in front of everyone else. Now that he was right there, all the years he'd spent imagining this moment, preparing what he would say to give his father a piece of his mind, crumbled like sand.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Percy. I should've... I wish I -"

Poseidon's voice cracked as he tried to speak.

Percy gave him an awkward, hesitant smile.

"Lord Poseidon," he said softly, "it's in the past. I don't really see you as a father, and I don't know if I ever will. But... I don't want to be your enemy."

Poseidon exhaled slowly, relief flooding his frame. He swallowed hard.

"Just... uh..." Percy added, his tone slightly embarrassed, "please stop crying. This is already a lot for me."

His father laughed, a short one full of disbelief and gratitude.

There was still guilt in his eyes as he extended a hand. "May I?"

Briefly hesitating, Percy stepped forward and shook it, firm and steady.

Poseidon's fingers tightened around his, and then his other hand came up to rest gently on Percy's shoulder.

"Oh, look at you," Poseidon murmured, almost to himself. "Look how strong you've grown."

Percy smiled, quietly and without words.

Then he turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder.

His mentors stood a few paces behind, watching like hawks. Artemis, tense and unreadable. Hermes, nodding faintly with a small smile. Apollo's golden eyes flicked between Zeus and Percy, a warning on the verge of being spoken.

Poseidon squeezed Percy's shoulder once before turning his gaze to the three gods behind him.

"Thank you," he said, voice solemn, "for keeping him safe when I didn't. I would like a moment with my son before you bring him to camp."

It was a request, not a demand. The three nodded in understanding.

Poseidon gave them a tight-lipped smile, one last glance at Percy, and then walked back toward his throne, growing to godly height with each step until he stood tall among his siblings once more.

As Poseidon resumed his place, Percy met the eyes of each of the Olympians that he'd read so much about. Most looked upon him with unguarded curiosity.

Except Zeus.

The King of the Gods glared down at him, fury behind every line of his face.

Apollo nudged Percy gently forward. The message was clear.

He walked slowly into the center of the room, now alone under Olympus' full scrutiny. Behind him, the gods who had stood by him returned to their thrones. Once he was far enough forward, he stopped and bowed deeply.

"State your name, boy," Zeus commanded, his voice like distant thunder crashing through Percy's skull.

Percy flinched inwardly, forcing his face to remain neutral. "Perseus Jackson, Lord Zeus."

"And you are my brother's child?"

"Yes, Lord Zeus."

"Then tell us how you came to be Hermes' champion," Zeus said, leaning back on his throne. "Leave nothing out of your story. I will know if you hide even the smallest detail."

His voice was cold, but Percy noticed it now: a sliver of curiosity gleaming behind the ice.

Percy glanced back. His patrons each gave him small, steady nods.

And so, standing alone in the center of Olympus, Percy Jackson told his story.

"A few years ago," Percy began, "I had a stepfather. Gabe Ugliano. He drank a lot."

He kept his voice even, but there was steel beneath it.

"Whenever he'd drink too much, he'd get rough with me and my mom. Mostly her. She always tried to take the worst of it."

Then, his fingers curled slightly at his sides, and his eyes became unfocused. "One night, he went too far. He hit her too hard, and... she didn't get up anymore."

Percy paused, just long enough to breathe. The silence in the throne room was deafening.

"He was going to do the same to me," Percy continued, quieter now. "And I don't think he would've stopped."

He glanced up. "Until Hermes - Lord Hermes - stepped in."

"He knocked Gabe out, healed me, and when a monster showed up, he fought it off like it was nothing. Then, he helped me put Gabe away."

Percy looked at Hermes briefly, then faced Zeus. "He gave me a second chance."

"He took me in and taught me everything; showed me who I was, what I could do. Gave me his blessing so I could survive, and trained me for what might be coming. For the prophecy."

He let the word hang in the air. When he spoke again, his voice was low.

"He saved my life."

When Percy looked around again, the room was still. Somehow, the tension had shifted; a few gods no longer looked at him like a threat, as if they were starting to understand.

Poseidon, his expression a storm of guilt and anger, gave Hermes a small, grateful nod. Hermes returned it, calm and unreadable.

Percy glanced toward Zeus. The god's face was stone, but something flickered in his eyes. Surprise, maybe. Or thought.

"About a month after I started living with Lord Hermes," Percy said, his voice settling again, "I met Lord Apollo."

A soft smile tugged at his lips as he remembered.

"We were in the kitchen eating breakfast when he barged in, looking for Lord Hermes. He found me there, and the two of them got into this long, loud argument. I wasn't included."

The corner of his mouth twitched upward. "But by the end of it, Lord Apollo decided to help too. He asked, but I'm not sure I really had a say in it."

Laughter rippled quietly through a few of the thrones. Apollo gave a casual wave in response, but the grin spreading across his face was hard to miss.

"It was around then that we found out Thalia Grace was out of commission for a while," Percy continued, voice sobering. "Which made me the next contender for the prophecy. Training got... harder after that."

He glanced briefly at Apollo and Hermes. "They've been my teachers ever since. I wouldn't be the fighter I am today without them."

A few Olympians looked to Apollo with small, surprised smiles. The sun god beamed at them proudly, basking in it.

"A few months later, it was my birthday. Lord Apollo said he wanted to give me a gift. I told him I wanted to learn how to fly, with my own pair of winged shoes."

Percy sighed, expression fond but exasperated. "Lord Hermes didn't want me practicing unless he was there to supervise, and since he was busy a lot, I never got the chance to use them much."

He looked directly at Apollo, pointedly dropping the title. "So Apollo decided the next best option was to make me fly without them... "

Percy paused for effect. "By strapping me to an old catapult, that set me on fire when it launched me into the air."

Silence.

Then, a series of incredulous stares directed at the sun god.

Apollo grinned sheepishly, lifting both hands in surrender.

Artemis, unimpressed, mirrored Percy's glare with one of her own.

"Anyway," Percy went on dryly, "I crash-landed in a clearing where Lady Artemis and the Hunt happened to be camping. They were about to kill me until Apollo showed up, flaming wreck and all, and convinced Lady Artemis to hear him out."

"She took us to her tent so they could talk in private, but I got sent to a lake to clean myself. They called me back half an hour later, and somehow Lord Hermes was already there."

Percy tilted his head slightly. "That's when they told me Lady Artemis would also be training me. Since then, I've followed a strict schedule that all three of them set."

He paused there, glancing around. A few Olympians were now eyeing Artemis with renewed curiosity. One or two even looked a little skeptical.

Artemis didn't react. Her gaze remained locked on Zeus, ready for anything.

"What did they teach you?"

Athena's voice cut through the silence, calm and curious. Her gray eyes fixed on Percy with the intensity of someone cataloging every word.

"Lord Hermes taught me how to use the powers that came with his blessing," Percy answered evenly. "He drilled me in swordsmanship, training me to match Luke Castellan."

There was a brief murmur at the mention of the traitor's name, but Percy continued.

"Lord Apollo taught me how to use the Mist on mortals and how to defend against all kinds of weapons. He was big on improvisation."

Apollo gave a modest shrug as the Olympians glanced his way.

"Lady Artemis worked with me on archery, which... wasn't very productive," Percy said, smiling sheepishly. "Mostly, she helped me learn teamwork, whenever I traveled with her hunters."

Percy inhaled softly. "All three of them helped improve my fitness and stamina, making sure that I can keep up - or, at worst, outrun whatever is trying to kill me."

Athena nodded slowly, eyes narrowing in thought, but seemingly satisfied with his answer.

Hermes, who had been silent far longer than usual, finally spoke.

"What happened in Maine?" he asked, voice quieter than expected.

He hadn't seen the fight. The moment the battle started, Zeus had turned on Poseidon, and Poseidon had turned on him. The weight of it lingered in his tone.

Artemis spoke before Percy could.

"My hunters and I, along with Perseus, arrived at the clearing behind Westover Hall to find a manticore holding two children of Hades hostage," she said, her voice clipped, professional. "It was preparing to escape, using a sizeable monster escort to cover its retreat."

"The demigods sent to retrieve the children had failed to contain them, but our intervention turned the tide. Perseus drew the monsters' attention with his sword, while the Hunt eliminated them from range."

She paused. "I personally secured the children. With the enemy force destroyed, all that was left was to deal with the cornered manticore."

"Unfortunately, it escaped," Artemis continued, her voice quieter now. "It attempted to grab the children again, but daughter of Athena struck it from behind. Both fell over the cliff."

Her frown deepened. "While I have reason to believe she's still alive... I can only blame myself for what happened."

Artemis' gaze fell to the marble beneath her feet. Across the room, Athena mirrored her expression; her eyes hard, her lips drawn tight. A flicker of grief passed between them, unspoken but understood.

"And Thalia?" Zeus asked. "Was she harmed?"

Artemis shook her head. "No. The daughter of Poseidon, Elaine Chi, was poisoned by the manticore, and the daughter of Athena is now missing, but the others only sustained minor injuries, if any at all."

Her answer pulled a sharp reaction from Poseidon. "Elaine? Is she alright?"

Percy cleared his throat, every eye in the room suddenly on him.

"She purged the poison herself," he said, keeping his voice even. "Used her powers to draw it out. After that, I closed the wound using Lord Apollo's partial blessing."

Poseidon's eyes widened, stunned for a heartbeat. Then, his gaze softened. He gave Percy a quiet, grateful nod, one filled with the kind of pride that had been absent earlier in his shame.

Percy bowed his head in return, solemn and respectful.

A few moments of silence settled over the throne room, thick with unspoken thoughts.

Then, surprisingly, Hephaestus broke it.

"You said there was a small army of monsters?" the god asked, his gravelly voice tinged with interest.

Artemis gave a short nod.

"And the boy," Hephaestus continued, "drew their attention on his own?"

Another nod. Though this time, her expression soured slightly, as if his phrasing had diminished the Hunt's role in the fight.

Hephaestus didn't press further. Instead, he turned his attention to Percy, eyeing him with a mixture of scrutiny and intrigue.

"Show me your weapon, boy."

Percy blinked. "Uh. Sure."

He reached into his pocket and drew out his battered phone, an older model with cracks along the screen. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the phone shimmered and morphed, unfolding into a stunning adamantine blade. Its surface gleamed like moonlight, the edge curved and deadly, perfectly balanced.

He spun it once - a habit now, more reflex than showmanship - and held it aloft for the gods to see.

Hephaestus' eyes widened slightly.

"How did you come by that sword?"

There was no accusation in his tone, just pure, honest curiosity. Percy relaxed a bit.

"Lord Hermes gave it to me," he said. "It was for my 12th birthday. He said he got it in exchange for a favor. Something about a delivery for Lord Hades."

Percy looked down at the weapon in his hand. "Is... is something wrong with it?"

Hephaestus shook his head, a thoughtful grunt rumbling in his throat.

"No; on the contrary, it's in incredible condition. Impressive, really." He leaned back in his throne, almost pleased. "I just thought you'd recognize it."

"Recognize it?" Percy echoed, brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

The god of fire and forge gave him a lopsided grin.

"That's the harpe," Hephaestus said. "The blade your namesake used to slay Medusa."

The Olympians exchanged looks, varying shades of surprise flickering across their faces. Even Athena's eyes briefly widened.

But no one looked more stunned than Percy himself.

"This is...? Oh, wow," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper.

He stared down at the blade in his hand - once just a gift, now a piece of legend. He turned it slightly, watching the adamantine glint under Olympus' golden light, as if seeing it for the first time.

From his throne, Hermes beamed, resting his chin smugly on his knuckles.

Apollo's smile was more amused, but just as proud.

Artemis shook her head, lips curved in a rare smile, soft but unmistakably fond.

Zeus cleared his throat, a frown carving its way across his face. "Let us return to the matter at hand."

His eyes locked on Poseidon. "You have broken the pact twice in one year. And while I admit my own mistake, I do not believe we should make another by allowing this boy to live."

The throne room turned cold. The threat was clear in his words, and Percy felt it settle in his spine like ice.

"What?" Poseidon growled, surging to his feet. "I won't let you kill my son, Zeus!"

"He is powerful," Zeus shot back, jaw tight. "Perhaps more so than my own daughter." The admission tasted bitter on his tongue, his expression twisting like he'd sucked on a lemon. "What if he turns on Olympus?"

"He won't," Poseidon said immediately, eyes blazing. "He's lived with three of our own for three years now. If he was going to betray us, they would've seen something and dealt with him already."

He took a step forward, and when he spoke again, his voice dropped to a lethal whisper - but it echoed like throughout the chamber as if he'd yelled.

"I lost him once, brother. I won't let you take him from me again."

The air shifted, heavy and charged with divine power. Percy flinched as the weight of Poseidon's true form pushed against its restraints. Even the floor beneath him trembled.

Then, from one of the thrones, a voice rang out.

Calm, commanding, unmistakably regal.

"That's quite enough from both of you."

Heads turned in surprise. It was Hera.

Percy blinked, startled. Her gaze swept across the room and landed on him. One perfectly arched brow lifted.

His mouth opened and closed for a moment as he tried to find the words to thank her. He ultimately failed.

Hera turned to the feuding brothers with steely authority.

"Sit down, Poseidon," she said coolly. "Now."

The sea god reluctantly complied, a glare still on his face as he settled into his throne.

"We are Olympians," Hera continued. "Let us act like it. We will put the matter to a vote, as we always have."

"I agree," Hermes said, standing. "He's not just some prophecy pawn. He's our student, and my champion. We've all seen what he's capable of - not just in battle, but in who he is."

He glanced around the room. "He's had chances to abuse the powers we've given him, and he hasn't. Not once. If that doesn't mean something, then what does?"

"I second that," Apollo chimed in, similarly rising from his seat. "I've seen kids with less power and more ego. Percy Jackson listens, he learns, and he actually cares."

He looked towards Zeus. "If we're worried about what he might become, then that says more about us than it does about him."

Artemis crossed her arms as she spoke. "He has earned the trust of my hunters. That alone speaks volumes. When we fight together, he doesn't seek glory. He risks his life to protect my girls every single time. And not once has he disrespected me or my authority."

She turned to Hera, expression cold but controlled. "So vote, if you must. But understand this - you're not just deciding whether this boy lives or dies. You're deciding whether Olympus still honors loyalty... or punishes it."

A silence followed their statements, heavy with meaning.

Percy exhaled deeply, the gravity of the moment starting to feel suffocating.

Then, to his left, Demeter tilted her head thoughtfully. "You said he cares. We need more demigods that do."

Athena looked at Percy long and hard, then at Artemis. "The Hunt does not give their trust easily. Nor do you."

Hera's expression was unreadable, but her gaze lingered on Percy longer than expected. "They speak of him as though he's their own. I haven't seen such fire out of the three of you in centuries."

Zeus grunted, clearly irritated the tide was turning. "Very well. All those in favor of letting Perseus Jackson live?"

The twin archers and Hermes raised their hands immediately.

Poseidon's hand shot up. Hephaestus followed without a word.

Demeter nodded once and raised hers.

Athena, slowly, raised hers too.

And then, Hera.

Zeus glared. "And those in favor of killing Perseus Jackson?"

Only Dionysus raised his hand. A few gods turned to stare at him.

He shrugged. "They're all heroes until they aren't."

Ares and Aphrodite both abstained, offering no defense or explanation.

Zeus nodded, sighing through his nose.

"Then it is settled. Perseus Jackson will live," he said, his tone heavy with reluctance. "Still, this does not solve everything. He may be loyal now, but if captured, he could be used against us."

Athena leaned forward slightly in her throne. "Then we send him to camp."

Her gaze flicked briefly to the demigod still standing alone in the center of the room.

"His skill in battle is undeniable, and his loyalty thus far has been proven. He could serve Olympus well in the years to come. As for the prophecy... Thalia Grace remains our primary candidate. Perseus may simply be a fallback should fate take another turn."

Zeus narrowed his eyes in thought but gave a slow nod. "Very well. He will go to Camp Half-Blood. Who will claim him?"

A beat of silence passed. Then, Apollo raised his hand.

Several Olympians turned in surprise.

He cleared his throat, voice casual but firm. "Hermes and I discussed it. We think he'd do better in my cabin. Hermes' is packed, and... well, Percy's not much of a strategist."

Percy frowned. He disagreed. Strongly.

The quiet chuckles that followed didn't help.

Apollo grinned, entirely unbothered. "As long as we keep him away from bows and arrows, he's got the looks to pass for one of mine."

A few gods rolled their eyes. Artemis's stare could have frozen the sun.

Apollo only smiled wider.

All eyes turned to Poseidon, who met them with a grimace before shaking his head slowly. "They're right," he said, voice quieter now. "Best not to claim him yet."

He glanced at Percy, a subtle but meaningful look.

Yet.

Percy returned a small, hesitant smile.

"Secrecy?" Demeter asked, brows furrowing.

Ares' voice cut through the air, low and gruff. "War is on the horizon. And if I were Kronos, I'd have eyes in that camp already."

More than a few Olympians stiffened.

Athena nodded once. "We cannot afford to take chances. Whether or not Perseus is the child of the prophecy, his strength may be critical. Until we are certain, he must remain hidden."

"Times are changing," she added, her voice grim. "Right now, secrecy is our strongest weapon."

Percy blinked, a little stunned by how highly the Olympians regarded him. Was he actually this strong, or were most demigods just that weak?

He decided to go with the first option. It made his swollen ego easier to stomach.

Ares gave a quiet nod, letting Zeus resume control of the meeting.

The King of the Gods rose slowly, eyes sweeping the room. "You all heard Athena," he said. "Perseus Jackson will remain a mystery, a weapon in reserve, known only to us. No one is to speak of what transpired here. Understood?"

A chorus of nods answered him.

"Council dismissed," Zeus finished, flashing away in a sharp crack of thunder. One by one, the Olympians followed, until only four gods remained.

Poseidon. Artemis. Apollo. Hermes.

They shrank down to their mortal forms and gathered around Percy. Poseidon stayed a respectful distance away, letting the others speak first.

"You handled that well, Perseus," Artemis said, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "I'm surprised you remembered your lessons on formality."

Percy returned the smile. It was high praise coming from her.

"Yeah, that was wild," Apollo added. "I don't think I've ever heard Ares or Hephaestus speak up in a meeting that didn't directly involve them. And Hera?" He let out a low whistle. "She stuck up for you, kid. That's a huge deal."

"I don't think I've ever seen my dad admit someone might be stronger than one of his demigods," Hermes said, beaming with pride. "You did good, Percy."

Percy ducked his head, trying to hide the smile tugging at his lips.

Hermes stepped closer and gently ruffled his hair. "I've got to get back to work, but I hope you know we're very proud of you. Even Artemis."

Apollo laughed, nodding along.

Artemis rolled her eyes. She didn't argue.

That, Percy figured, was as good as a heartfelt speech.

With a final wink, Hermes vanished in flash of light.

Artemis turned to Percy. "Apollo and I will wait here. Go speak with Poseidon. My hunters won't wait forever."

Percy nodded hesitantly, mumbling a quiet "thanks" before turning toward Poseidon.

The sea god was watching him silently, unreadable.

"Walk with me?" Poseidon asked once Percy was close enough to hear. When the boy gave a small nod, the god turned and began making his way toward the grand doors of the throne room, leading them out into the gardens of Olympus.

They walked in silence. The soft sounds of water trickling from fountains and leaves rustling in the breeze filled the stillness between them. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was heavy, like both were still weighing whether to speak at all.

After a few quiet minutes, they reached a marble bench nestled beneath a silver-barked tree. Poseidon sat first, then gestured for Percy to join him. He did.

"I suppose I should start with another apology," Poseidon said, a small, sheepish smile playing at the edge of his lips. "I've spent years imagining what I'd say if I ever got the chance to see you again. And now that you're here... I don't know how to begin. I'm sorry."

Percy blinked and gave a small shrug. "It's okay. I don't think there's a right way to prepare for this kind of thing anyway."

Poseidon snorted, the sound low and tired. He nodded slowly.

They sat in silence again until the god finally spoke.

"I want you to know that I truly wish I could've been there. I came close, several times, to reaching out. I'd find you in the mortal world, and I'd hesitate. Every time."

Percy turned to him, frowning slightly. "Why?"

Poseidon didn't flinch. "Because I have a wife and son in Atlantis," he said plainly, guilt creeping into his voice. "I'm sure you've noticed that we male Olympians have a long history of... carelessness. When the pact was made, Amphitrite believed I'd never father another demigod. I let her down."

The god chuckled. It was bitter and humorless.

"It felt wrong," he said, voice rough, "to see you - a child I had with another woman - and then return to Atlantis to a wife and son I already neglect. I didn't want to pretend like everything was alright when it wasn't. I failed you. And I failed to get over my own guilt for your sake. That... I regret most of all."

Percy gave a small nod, eyes downcast. He didn't like Poseidon's reasoning. Not really. But he understood it. And that surprised him more than anything. Hearing the truth from the man himself left him oddly calm, like a weight he didn't know he was carrying had finally been set down.

Poseidon exhaled. His gaze drifted over the gardens, voice quieter now. "When Amphitrite and Triton found out about you, they turned on me. Cold shoulders in my own palace. Every word between us was a fight. Our arguments caused floods. Earthquakes. Entire weather systems went haywire."

Percy glanced up, startled.

"A decade passed," Poseidon went on, "and we were still bitter. Then I heard what happened to your mother and I... I lost it. I buried her myself. And I made sure the man she married - that... thing - never hurt anyone again."

"You...?" Percy's eyes widened. "That was you?"

Hermes had told him Gabe had vanished from his jail cell. No one ever found a trace.

Poseidon's smile was grim. "My brother and I may not be close, but we agree on one thing: our shared distaste for Zeus. When I told Hades what Gabe had done, he was all too happy to take him. Since then, that scum has endured all of the punishment he deserves in the deepest pits of the Underworld.'"

Percy blinked. The image wasn't pleasant, but... he couldn't find it in himself to feel bad. If anything, he was stunned that Poseidon had done all of that for him.

He nodded again, this time slower. "Thanks," he muttered. "For... all of that."

"As for Elaine," Poseidon continued, leaning back on the marble bench, "I... fell into a depression while my family was tearing itself apart. I'd slip into the mortal world and drink myself silly. I'd down anything and everything to forget how much of a failure I'd become."

Percy listened silently, his eyes fixed on the god beside him.

"She met me in a bar," Poseidon said. "Melanie, Elaine's mother. I was rarely sober then, and I needed something to drown in, something to distract me from everything I'd broken. Things got out of hand quickly. And... Elaine was born."

He winced as he said it. Percy's eyes widened, but he said nothing.

"I won't lie to you. She wasn't planned," Poseidon admitted, his voice low. "She was a result of my running away. And when I realized what I'd done, my first instinct was to disappear again."

A beat passed.

"But I didn't," he added, glancing over at Percy. "Because I remembered what running away did to you. And I couldn't do that again. I wouldn't do that again. So I stayed. Quietly, patiently. I watched over her from a distance until she was ready to know the truth. And when the time came, I was there. I claimed her at camp, helped with her quests. I'd even visited her in the mortal world every few months. It wasn't perfect, but I was there."

Percy frowned slightly, nodding. He didn't feel jealous, surprisingly. Not bitter, either. Just... quiet.

He was glad, in some strange way, that Poseidon had changed. That Elaine got the version of their father who tried.

Maybe that meant Percy's pain hadn't been for nothing.

"Thanks for explaining things to me from your perspective, Poseidon," Percy said after a few moments of silence. "Like I said... I don't really know if I'll ever see you as my dad. But demigod life is way too short to spend it angry. You were a good dad to Elaine, and I guess that's enough for me."

Poseidon nodded quietly. "I wish I could've been there for you, Percy. I wish I'd seen you grow up into the fine young man you are now."

He stood slowly, stretching out the tension from their conversation. Percy followed suit. The two looked at each other for a beat and nodded.

Poseidon held out his hand. Percy hesitated for just a second, then took it.

"I can't change the past," Poseidon said. "But if you ever need me, ask. I'll do whatever I can."

"I'll remember that," Percy said, giving him a small nod. "Thanks."

Poseidon smiled, softer now. "And I know you don't owe me anything... but I hope you go easy on Elaine. She'll want to get to know you, and I'd like to think you won't take my mistakes out on her. Especially in spars."

Percy smirked, but his answer came a few seconds later, quieter than before.

"Yeah. I guess I can do that."

Poseidon nodded, then laid his other hand gently on Percy's shoulder. A warm pulse of energy rushed through him - not overwhelming, but strong enough to make his skin tingle. Percy blinked, startled by the sudden flood of divine power.

He looked up at his father in confusion. "What was that?"

"I gave you a partial blessing," Poseidon said, his voice quiet but firm, "to help accelerate your connection to water. I know it hasn't come easy, not with everything else you've had to master. This should make it easier to tap into what's already in your blood. It won't make you a master overnight, but it'll smooth the path."

Percy gave him a small smile. "Thanks."

Poseidon grinned, and Percy realized with an inward jolt how familiar that grin was. It was his.

The sea god stepped back and gave a final nod. "Goodbye, Percy."

And with a shimmer of light and the scent of saltwater, Poseidon vanished, leaving Percy alone in the garden.

His heart felt heavier than before, but somehow, steadier too.

The demigod sighed and turned to walk away - only to nearly stumble when he found Hera standing just a few feet ahead, watching him intently.

He choked in surprise and immediately bowed.

"Lady Hera! I didn't see you there."

She gave a soft snort, more amused than annoyed. "You may stand, Perseus Jackson. I mean no harm. I only wish to give you a warning about your future."

"About my future?" Percy echoed, straightening. "You mean the prophecy?"

Hera shook her head. "No. That prophecy is only the beginning. The end will take much longer to arrive. And when it does, you will be at the heart of it."

Percy's mouth opened, closed, then opened again. "Why are you telling me this?"

"I cannot say," she answered, her expression unreadable. "Think of this as my way of preparing a potential hero of Olympus... and beyond."

Percy hesitated, then nodded. "I'll... keep it in mind. Thank you, Lady Hera."

She gave him one last glance, her eyes unreadable. "Good. You'll need it."

Then, with a flash of light and the scent of lilies and steel, she was gone.

Percy rubbed at his temple as he jogged back toward the throne room, his mind still spinning.

Today had easily been the most stressful day of his life. He'd faced the full wrath of the Olympian Council, confessed to harboring divine power in secret, kind of made peace with his estranged father - and somehow walked away with his life. To top it off, the queen of the gods had approached him like a cryptic guidance counselor, and he still had no idea what to make of that.

As he reached the throne room doors, he pushed them open slowly and peeked inside.

Artemis stood near the thrones, lightly massaging her temples with both hands. Apollo, next to her, wore a puzzled expression that only deepened when he spotted Percy.

"Hey," Percy called out, stepping inside. "Sorry I took so long. Hera stopped me after I talked with Poseidon."

He glanced between the twins. "Did I miss something?"

"Yes," Apollo started, opening his mouth like he was about to unload a full lecture.

"No," Artemis interrupted sharply. Her eyes flicked toward her brother, silencing him instantly.

Before Percy could ask anything else, she grabbed him by one arm and Apollo by the other.

"Wait, what -" Percy barely managed to get out before the world vanished in a silver flash.


Elaine sat alone on the cliff's edge - the same one she'd watched her friend Annabeth fall from.

She rubbed her arms, trying to keep warm, but refused to go near the campfires the Hunters had set up. Thalia was there. And while part of Elaine wanted to apologize, her pride kept her rooted where she was, far from the irate daughter of Zeus.

As much as she hated to admit it, Thalia had a point. If she had played things safe, maybe the manticore would've been dead. Maybe Annabeth would still be with them. Maybe the hunters and that strange Percy Jackson guy wouldn't have had to step in at all. Bianca wouldn't have left her brother behind, either.

Elaine blamed herself for that too.

With a sigh, she turned Riptide over in her fingers, the pen cool and familiar against her palm. Usually, it brought comfort. Unfortunately, that night, it just reminded her of her failure - of how she hadn't used it well enough to protect anyone. She hadn't even managed to hold her own against Luke.

Her hand drifted to her shoulder, fingertips brushing the spot where the manticore's tail had struck. The wound was healed, and her strength had mostly returned, but fatigue lingered like fog.

She wondered if Annabeth was tired too, wherever she was.

Elaine didn't believe she was dead. She hadn't felt the daughter of Athena hit the water below the cliff. But then, if Annabeth was still alive, that meant she was with Luke. With Kronos.

Elaine wasn't sure which was worse.

Her morbid train of thought was interrupted by the quiet shuffle of footsteps behind her. Percy Jackson sat down beside her without a word.

Elaine blinked, then glanced at him. "Where did you go? I was looking all over for you."

Percy raised an eyebrow. Elaine realized how odd that sounded and felt a flush rise to her cheeks.

"I had a meeting to attend," he said simply. "Why were you looking for me?"

Elaine shrugged, her gaze drifting down toward the water again. "Everyone else here is kind of... mad at me. You're the only one who doesn't seem to hate my guts right now."

"Eh. Screw them," Percy said with a casual wave of his hand as he leaned back on his palms.

Elaine blinked. "What?"

"You tried to do the right thing and messed up. Who hasn't?" he said, glancing at her. "Just learn from it and do better next time. It's not like the girl who fell with the manticore is dead."

Elaine nodded slowly, then froze.

She turned toward him, eyes narrowed. "Wait. What do you mean she's not dead? How do you know that?"

Percy blinked, realizing his slip. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Just a feeling."

Elaine didn't look convinced, but he pushed forward.

"Anyway, I actually came to get you. Lady Artemis and Lord Apollo are over by the fire with the others. They wanted me to let you know they're making announcements."

"About what?" Elaine asked, curiosity creeping into her voice.

Percy didn't answer right away. "Look, if anyone asks you anything about me, just say you don't know. Pretend the only thing you know about me is my name. Whatever you saw earlier in that fight? Didn't happen."

Elaine gave him a long, suspicious look. "Why? What are you hiding?"

Percy snorted. "Okay, relax. It's not like that. I'm not keeping secrets from you specifically. It's more of a... precaution. That meeting I had was a big deal and some big deal people decided it's better if I stay under the radar for now."

Elaine narrowed her eyes but didn't press yet. Percy sighed and leaned back.

"Alright, what's it gonna take to convince you? You want me to pinky promise or something?"

Elaine blinked. "Pinky promise?"

"Yeah. I wrap my pinky around yours and promise. Pinky promise. Very sacred tradition. Break it the world ends or something."

"Are you serious right now?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Percy asked with a deadpan look.

Elaine stared at him. Then, a laugh escaped her lips. She shook her head, a grin spreading across her face.

"What?" Percy asked, baffled. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," she said, still smiling. "It's not important, Jackson."

Percy stared at her for a few moments, a flicker of concern passing over his face before he conceded with a shrug. Elaine pushed herself up from her perch near the cliff's edge and got to her feet. She offered her hand to him, just like he had done for her hours earlier.

Percy took it and stood, and without thinking, his hand gently hovered near her injured shoulder, checking it with a quiet glance. Elaine's expression softened. His concern was, as small as it was, a welcome change from the cold shoulders she'd gotten from everyone else.

Together, they turned away from the cliff and started walking back toward camp.

"So," Percy said after a moment, "you're not going to tell anyone about me, right?"

Elaine shrugged, a smirk tugging at her lips. "I don't know. I didn't pinky promise, remember?"

Percy gaped at her in mock outrage. "Hey, I was being serious!"

Elaine laughed again, this time more freely. The tightness in her chest - the guilt, the shame - had loosened just a little. Somehow, Percy Jackson had managed to make her feel lighter without even trying.

She didn't know what his secrets were, or what kind of meeting he had gone to. But she'd keep his secret—not for those so-called important people he mentioned, but for herself.

Because something about Percy made her want to understand him.

And she was going to be the first to figure him out.


Apollo raised an eyebrow as Percy and Elaine approached. He'd been under the impression that Percy wasn't exactly eager to bond with his half-sister, and yet, here she was, laughing beside him. Only an hour ago, the girl looked ready to shatter. Now she was practically glowing. Apollo shook his head. Percy Jackson would always be the most unpredictable demigod he'd ever met.

Unbeknownst to the god, his expression was mirrored by Thalia, who stood a little ways off with her arms crossed. She was still trying to process the boy who had decimated a monster army almost singlehandedly, then somehow played peacemaker between her and Elaine - who, until just now, had been barely holding it together. Thalia frowned. Was Annabeth's fall affecting her less than she'd let on?

The two demigods finally reached the group. Artemis acknowledged them with a nod and turned to address everyone.

"Before I take my leave," she said, her voice cool and commanding, "I must reiterate: what you witnessed today regarding Perseus is not to be shared. Not with your friends, not with your campers. Zeus himself has decreed silence. If you value your standing, or your lives, I suggest you obey."

Elaine's eyes widened. She glanced at Percy, startled. The boy didn't meet her gaze. Instead, he walked forward, silent, moving to stand beside the hunters.

Elaine's thoughts spun. What had she just walked into? What kind of power could Percy Jackson possibly hold that Olympus itself wanted hidden? She'd seen what he could do in the clearing, but maybe that had only been a fraction of it.

What, exactly, were the gods preparing for?

What did Percy Jackson have to do with it?

Artemis gave the group one final nod, then strode over to where her brother stood. She muttered something under her breath, and Apollo responded with his usual sunny grin as he laid a hand on her shoulder.

A crack of pain and a yelp later, Apollo was nursing his hand, and Artemis had flashed away in a shimmer of moonlight.

Percy, meanwhile, had moved to the front of the group to speak to the hunters one last time. He knew there wouldn't be another chance; once they returned to camp, the opportunity would vanish, and the hunters were notoriously prickly around most guys. The only exception was him, though that was mostly because he'd spent nearly two years at Artemis's side.

Phoebe caught him first. "Watch your back at camp, Jackson," she warned with a sly grin.

Percy narrowed his eyes. "Why? Should I be worried?"

"Capture the Flag," she said smugly, puffing out her chest. "The hunters haven't lost to the campers in decades."

From the back, a younger hunter chimed in. "But... Percy will be on the campers' team now, won't he?"

That gave several hunters pause. Thalia and Elaine both noticed the ripple of unease that passed through the group.

"It shall make no difference," Zoe said flatly. "He is one boy. We are the Hunt."

Percy gasped in mock offense. "You talk a big game, Zoe! And here I thought we were friends!"

Zoe rolled her eyes and turned toward Apollo, who was now transforming his obnoxiously flashy sports car into a less obnoxiously flashy bus. Phoebe snorted and followed, her snicker audible even as she walked away. The other hunters trailed after them, a few giving Percy friendly punches to the arm or shoves to the shoulder as they passed.

Thalia, Elaine, and Grover walked up to stand beside Percy, all watching as the Hunt moved toward the waiting sun chariot.

"I didn't think a male would be so close to the hunters," Thalia muttered, the disgust in her voice only half-hidden.

Percy raised his eyebrow at her tone and shrugged. "We're okay. What's your issue with them?"

Thalia didn't answer. She just gave him a look - somewhere between unreadable and wary - before turning on her heel and striding off after the hunters. Grover offered Percy a nervous shrug, clearly caught between the two, then trotted after her. Nico di Angelo stuck close behind, clinging to the satyr like a lifeline without Bianca to anchor him, but glancing back towards Percy a couple of times.

Elaine, watching the exchange, sighed. "Don't mind her. She'll explain eventually. Maybe."

Percy frowned, but nodded. "Okay."

Together, the two of them headed for the loud, bright yellow bus that Apollo had conjured for their ride.

The god himself stood in front of it, looking far too excited. He clapped his hands once, beaming. "Alrighty! I'll be taking you to camp, as promised, but since I'm feeling a little drained - immortal stamina isn't what it used to be - I think I'll let one of you drive!"

A few hunters visibly tensed, but didn't protest as they boarded quickly and took the back half of the bus. The demigods followed more slowly, relegated to the front rows. Percy dropped into a seat first, only half-aware of the smirk forming on his lips when Elaine edged Grover aside to sit next to him.

He didn't comment. After all, he wouldn't want to sit next to Thalia either.

"Thalia Grace," Apollo called with a theatrical shout. "Daughter of Zeus, my kind-of-sister. Today, you will be driving us to camp!"

Before Thalia could protest, the god yanked her out of her seat and deposited her into the driver's seat. She looked pale as the keys landed in her trembling hands. Percy's stomach sank the moment she jumped at the engine's roar.

Within minutes, Percy had never feared for his life more.

The hunters were shouting in alarm behind him.

Grover was chewing the seat cushion like a nervous goat.

Nico clung to the back of his seat, even paler than usual.

Elaine was gripping Percy's arm so tightly that his fingers had gone numb.

A particularly violent lurch sent her tumbling into him, her elbow jabbing straight into his sternum. The air whooshed out of Percy in a wheeze, and he waved off her scrambled apologies, helping her back into her seat with exaggerated care.

Then he stood, still unsteady and swaying, and staggered toward the front. He passed by Apollo, who was leaning against a wall, scrolling calmly through his phone as if the bus weren't seconds from flipping over.

Gritting his teeth, Percy reached the driver's seat. Thalia was frozen, sweat beading on her brow and her knuckles white around the wheel.

"Hey!" he yelled over the chaos. "Calm down!"

Thalia flinched at his voice, the bus veering slightly as she snapped her head to look at him.

Percy hurriedly placed one hand on the back of her seat and the other over hers on the wheel, steady but firm. Their eyes met - hers wide and anxious, his determined.

"I'm trying to help you. Just breathe."

Her shoulders gradually uncoiled. The steering evened out. The screaming in the back dulled to nervous muttering. The ride smoothed, just enough.

Percy let out a shaky exhale. "See?" he said, flashing her a tired grin. "Told you. Nothing to worry about."

His pulse was still thundering, but at least he could hear himself think again.

They continued to drive the bus together for the next half hour, with Percy tightening his hand on hers whenever she began to tense up. He tried to make conversation to ease her nerves, but found he was limited to yes or no questions while she remained too scared to form full sentences.

"So... not your usual ride, huh?"

Thalia swallowed hard. "No."

"Want to do it again after this?"

A sharp inhale. "No."

"That's fair. You're doing great though."

Her jaw clenched. "Liar."

"Yeah," he admitted with a small grin. "But I figured the lying might help."

That earned him the barest twitch of her mouth. Just enough that he considered it a victory.

Soon, Camp Half-Blood came into view, and Percy felt a flicker of excitement stir in his chest. He had rarely been around people his age for any extended period, and the camp looked like a perfect opportunity to make friends who weren't part of the Hunt, who might see the world differently. Not that he was ungrateful for the few friendships he had with the hunters... but variety wouldn't hurt.

From above, the camp looked clean and decently sized, nestled comfortably against the woods and coastline. Down by the lake, a crowd of campers was already gathering to watch their descent, pointing up with curiosity and awe as the sun chariot approached.

He and Thalia worked together to land the bus as gently as possible. With someone else helping her steer, Thalia had calmed considerably, her movements more confident and controlled. The wheels hit the ground with only a slight jolt. The chariot rolled to a stop in a clear field just outside the main cabins.

Thalia let out a shaky breath and leaned back against her seat. Percy turned to her with a grin.

"See? Told you you'd survive."

Thalia blinked, and despite herself, smiled back. She still didn't know what to make of him, but in that moment, she didn't mind as much. Before she could say anything, Apollo was already at the bus door, hauling Percy out by the arm with an overdramatic flourish.

The hunters had already filed off, efficient and silent as always. Elaine, Nico, and Grover waited at the front of the bus. Elaine gave Thalia a nod as she passed by, while Nico stuck close to Grover like a shadow. Thalia followed them down after a beat, her mind lingering for a moment on what Percy had said.

She glanced back at the driver's seat. Had he ever flown the chariot himself?

Outside, Chiron stood at the edge of the camp, smiling warmly as he watched the arrivals disembark. His eyes swept over the group, lingering briefly on Thalia. His smile faded into a quiet question.

Thalia met his gaze and gave a subtle shake of her head. Not now.

Chiron nodded once in understanding. There would be time for explanations later.

"Lord Apollo," the centaur greeted, his voice warm with familiarity. "We weren't expecting you back so soon. Is Lord Hermes with you?"

"Not this time, old friend," Apollo replied with a grin as he stepped forward. "This isn't one of my usual visits. I'm just here to escort the Hunters, bring back your quest team, and drop off a few new campers. One of them being," he gestured toward Percy, "Perseus Jackson, who I'll be claiming shortly."

Chiron blinked, his eyes moving from Apollo to the boy in question. "You've never claimed a child in person before," he said, clearly intrigued. "May I ask why you've chosen to honor him this way?"

Apollo chuckled, waving a hand. "Not a child of mine, Chiron. Percy's just... special. A good kid. A good fighter. A better person. Hermes and I talked it over, and he'll be staying in my cabin for now. But no worries, I'll explain everything properly soon. Mind clearing the Big House for a quick meeting? I don't see Lee here yet, but I'd like a word with both of you."

Chiron paused, then nodded slowly. "Of course. I'll see to it right away."

"Thanks, old man." Apollo winked, then turned to the group of silver-clad girls standing a little ways off. "Ladies! Artemis says she's proud of you, and she also says, and I quote, 'do not burn down anything while you're here.' So try to be on your best behavior!"

There were some quiet groans from the hunters, but they nodded their understanding and began to make their way toward Artemis' cabin in disciplined formation.

Percy watched them go, something in his chest tugging uncomfortably. He'd spent years around them, trained with them, even laughed with a few of them. Now he wasn't one of them anymore. It wasn't a bad thing, he reminded himself; it was just different.

And different, as he was starting to realize, could feel a lot like lonely.

Elaine gave Percy a smile and promised to find him after the meeting. He returned the smile with a nod, and she turned to grab Grover - who, in turn, gently pulled Nico along. The three headed toward the cabins, Elaine assuring the younger boy that she'd explain everything to him herself.

Thalia lingered for a moment, sending Percy a curious look and a short wave. She wanted to thank him for what he'd done on the bus, but with so many people around, the words stuck in her throat. Another time, she told herself.

A sharp nudge to his side snapped Percy out of his thoughts. Apollo grinned down at him. "C'mon, kid. You'll see them again soon. I'll get Lee and Chiron up to speed, and they'll give you the grand tour. You'll be just fine here."

Percy nodded and followed him, falling into step as they moved across the camp.

They walked along a stream that wound its way from a shimmering lake, passing rows of impressive structures Percy assumed were for training or games. He caught sight of a climbing wall spitting lava, an open-air amphitheater, and a large pavilion filled with rows of long tables. Around a central campfire, the cabins of the Olympians stood like spokes on a wheel. Beyond them, Percy spotted stables, armories, and something that might've been an archery range.

The place had a kind of comfortable chaos to it, like a battlefield and a summer getaway had decided to coexist. Percy found himself smiling.

It felt... welcoming.

Eventually, they reached a sky-blue house with white trim: the Big House. Inside, it smelled faintly of cedar and lemon polish. A pool table stood in the center of the room. Across from them stood Chiron, along with someone who looked almost exactly like Apollo, just younger.

Lee turned at their entrance, grinned, and stepped forward to give his father a quick hug. "Hey, dad. Chiron said you had something you wanted to go over?"

"Yep," Apollo said with a warm smile. "Won't take long. Just need to loop you in on Percy Jackson here, since he's gonna be staying in our cabin."

Lee glanced at Percy and offered a handshake. "Hey there. Welcome. Dad's never claimed one of us in person before. What makes you so special?"

Percy shook his hand with a tired smile. "Where do I even start?"

Before he could continue, Apollo snorted and cut in. "You can start with the fact that you're not my son."

Lee blinked and looked between them. "Wait, he's not?"

"Nope," Apollo said, his grin turning smug. "Percy here is the champion of Hermes, student of both Artemis and me, and -" he paused for effect, "as of a few hours ago, Olympus's official secret weapon."

The words landed like a thunderclap.

Lee's jaw dropped.

Chiron, mid-sip, choked on his water.

Percy sighed, long-suffering. "So much for keeping a secret."


Artemis and Apollo: Waiting for Percy in the Throne Room

The first few minutes of waiting for Percy in the throne room passed in silence. Apollo scrolled through social media while Artemis inspected her bow.

Eventually, they sat on the steps in front of their thrones, slipping into a casual conversation. Apollo asked how the Hunt was doing. Artemis asked if he'd finally stopped trying to father a dozen kids at once.

They lapsed into silence again.

Then Apollo turned to his sister with a thoughtful expression.

"Hey, sis?"

"Yes?"

"We're gods, right?"

"...yes?"

"And we create stuff?"

"Yes, Apollo. Where are you going with this?"

He nodded solemnly, then tilted his head. "So which one of us made the platypus? And why?"

Artemis blinked. Then winced like she had a migraine coming on.

"What?"

"The platypus," Apollo repeated, now visibly invested. "You know, that weird animal that's like... a duck, a beaver, and a snake had a very confused baby?"

"Apollo -"

"It lays eggs, Artemis. It's a mammal and it lays eggs. It has a bill. And venom. Venom! Who in their right mind would give it venom?"

Artemis sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Now, if they weren't in their right mind, then it would make more sense. Was it Dionysus? Was he drunk? Or was the world about to go live and we just needed to fill a niche in the food chain?"

"Apollo."

"I mean, if it was you, then okay. I get it. We all experiment sometimes. But the tail? Flat. Like a beaver's. It swims with its eyes closed and senses electricity. You don't just accidentally invent that."

Artemis slowly turned her head to glare at him. "Do you want to be shot?"

"I'm just trying to solve an ancient mystery!"

"You're an ancient mystery."

"And you're not being very helpful."

Before Artemis could summon her bow, Percy finally pushed open the doors and walked in, looking exhausted.

"Hey. Sorry I took so long. Hera stopped me after I talked with Poseidon."

He glanced between the twins. "Did I miss something?"