Wanna Need You Forever (In The Heat of Your Electric Touch) - Chapter 2 - uaine_uaine

Chapter Text

Hestia takes the book, opens it to the first page, and raises a curious, slightly amused eyebrow.

–

I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher

–

Everyone except Grover, who knew what happened, turned to look at Percy. He felt his face flush red.

“Okay, it wasn’t my fault!” He defended, crossing his arms and leaning back.

–

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

–

That caused some snorts around the room. Piper’s face scrunched up in slight disgust. Gods, how she hated that term.

“Who does?” Thalia muttered, causing many furrowed eyebrows from the gods.

They were confused. Being a demigod was supposed to be an honor.

–

If you’re reading this because you think you might be one, my advice is: close this book right now. Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to lead a normal life.

–

The Stoll brothers raised an eyebrow, twin grins on their faces. “Not bad advice for you, Perce.”

Percy did the very mature thing. He stuck his tongue out at them.

–

Being a half-blood is dangerous.

–

Michael nodded. “Check.”

–

It’s scary.

–

“Double check!” Leo said, nodding solemnly. A few snorted at his seriousness.

–

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

–

“Triple check. Man, you’re on a roll, Seaweed Brain.” Annabeth laughed.

Percy just gave a small smile, a small pang of hurt in his chest at seeing Annabeth. Since they broke up a couple months ago, they’d worked towards rebuilding the friendship they once treasured, but it was hard.

–

If you’re a normal kid, reading this because you think it’s fiction, great.

–

That got a few raised eyebrows.

“Uh, what?” Will asked, raising an eyebrow at Percy.

He shrugs helplessly, just as lost as Will.

Okay, that’s not true. He had an inkling as to where this series of books came from, but he just didn’t understand it. He remembers approaching an up-and-coming author a couple months ago, wanting to share his story, but he hasn’t gotten anything back yet.

Although, he did also write an entire book himself about the history of the Greek world and the stories of the Greek gods that has yet to be published, so…

He paused. Could it be that that was the extra book the Fates were talking about? That’d be cool. He’d been wanting to share it with people, though the only one who’s actively seen it is Apollo, who has been bugging him a lot more than usual ever since Percy prevented the punishment he was going to have.

Although, it did make sense to a degree. Part of his terms for alleviating his punishment was for him to sit through Percy lecturing him about the importance of demigods, the hard lives they lead, and the horrible ways in which gods inconvenience them.

Surprisingly, Apollo had been receptive to his lectures. He always paid attention, and Percy could’ve sworn on the Styx that he had seen the sun god taking notes at times.

It had certainly gotten Percy closer to a god than he had ever wanted, but Apollo wasn’t the worst company to have. He even stopped spewing his horrible poetry (which he did on purpose to annoy people. Can you believe it?) and actually started waxing some pretty impressive poems.

Nevermind that. Percy was getting lost in his head. Now was not the time for that.

–

Read on. I envy you for being able to believe that none of this ever happened.

–

“True that.” Chris nods, a chorus of agreements sounded throughout the room.

–

But if you recognize yourself in one of these pages–if you feel something stirring inside–stop reading immediately. You might be one of us.

–

That raises a couple eyebrows.

“Percy, please stop making us sound like a cult.” Katie said, already glancing at the Stolls, probably trying to gauge what headache they would cause from this.

Percy shrugged. “I mean, aren’t we by definition a cult?” He glances at Athena, who simply raises an eyebrow but does heed his silent request.

“A cult is defined as ‘a religious or quasi-religious group characterized by unusual or atypical beliefs, seclusion from the outside world, and an authoritarian structure.’” She explains.

Percy finds this answer satisfying enough, nodding. “See? We technically worship the Greek Gods – unusual or atypical beliefs. Seclusion from the outside world – a lot of campers stay year-round. An authoritarian structure? Check! We’re a cult, guys. Let’s face it.” He nodded again, sniffling sadly like this was the worst news ever.

Some people let out amused snorts, shaking their heads at his antics. Some looked as if they were considering this.

–

And once you know, it’s only a matter of time before they sense it too, and they’ll come for you.

–

“Oh, goodie.” Someone mumbled.

–

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

–

Nico slowly turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “You didn’t warn me.”

Percy looked at Nico, pouting at the twelve year old. Whoa. That realization shocked Percy. He had forgotten just how young Nico was. f*ck, that thought broke his heart. “Well, I apologize for being a little preoccupied , di Angelo.”

Nico just snorts, turning away. Percy found that a little weird, but didn’t say anything.

–

My name is Percy Jackson.

I’m twelve years old. Until a few months ago, I was a boarding student at Yancy Academy, a private school for troubled kids in upstate New York.

Am I a troubled kid?

–

“Yes!” Comes shouts from most of the Greek demigods.

Percy rolls his eyes, but he can’t fight the small smile that comes to his face. “I’m not that bad.”

“Sure you aren’t, Perce.” Will says, grinning.

–

Yeah. You could say that.

–

“SEE! You agreed!” Grover points dramatically at the book. Percy just rolls his eyes

–

I could start at any point in my short, miserable life to prove it,

–

That worries Poseidon, who glances at his son. Did his son hate living so much? This was worrisome, but he couldn’t address it right now. Not without proof, and not in front of all of Percy’s friends.

–

but things really started going bad last May, when our sixth-grade class took a field trip to Manhattan – twenty-eight mental-case kids and two teachers on a yellow school bus, heading to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to look at Ancient Greek and Roman stuff.

–

“Oh, that sounds amazing!” Annabeth smiled.

–

I know – it sounds like torture.

–

And immediately sighed. She knew how hard school was for Percy, but that didn’t mean she had to like how dismissive he was of things.

–

Most Yancy field trips were.

But Mr. Brunner, our Latin teacher, was leading this trip, so I had hopes.

–

A couple of the gods raised an eyebrow at that. Who was this man that was important enough to get mentioned?

The Greek demigods all had varying expressions of happiness at the mention of their mentor. They all knew Chiron taught Percy before he came to camp, and it’s nice hearing about Chiron’s teaching gig.

–

Mr. Brunner was this middle-aged guy in a motorized wheelchair. He had thinning hair and a scruffy beard and a frayed tweed jacket, which always smelled like coffee. You wouldn’t think he’d be cool, but he told stories and jokes and let us play games in class.

–

Now more of the gods were growing curious. Just who was this man?

–

He also had this awesome collection of Roman armor and weapons, so he was the only teacher whose class didn’t put me to sleep.

–

Suddenly, Apollo’s eyes widened. So did Athena’s. Looks like they both figured it out.

But Athena’s eyes immediately narrow. “Falling asleep in class? That’s very irresponsible of you, demigod.” She scolded.

Percy, ever the sassy boy he was born to be, just rolled his eyes. Now, that caused some gods to inhale sharply (namely Hermes and Apollo, because of the blatant disrespect, and Poseidon, because he was questioning if a god could get a heart attack).

“ADHD and dyslexia, people. ADHD and dyslexia!” He grumbled, crossing his arms.

Athena looked ready to smite someone, but Hestia simply continued reading over her niece’s rage.

–

I hoped the trip would be okay. At least, I hoped that I wouldn’t get in trouble.

–

There were several groans, eye rolls, and snickers.

“Really? You just jinxed yourself, Prissy.” Clarisse said, raising an eyebrow.

–

Boy, was I wrong.

–

“Jee, I wonder why.” She muttered, scoffing quietly.

“Oh, shut up! I was twelve, and I can’t help my thoughts!” He complained.

Gods, this was going to be a long reading. He had a feeling that the way he described some certain gods would get him killed.

–

See, bad things happen to me on field trips. Like at my fifth-grade school, when we went to the Saratoga battlefield, I had this accident with a Revolutionary War cannon. I wasn’t aiming for the school bus, but of course I got expelled anyway.

–

There was an uproar of laughter from the demigods. Even the Romans looked amused. Hermes and Apollo were grinning, Poseidon had a twinkle of amusem*nt in his eyes, and Hestia was smiling softly as she read.

“I’m sorry, why was a cannon loaded?” Amphitrite speaks up, making Percy internally cringe. Well, if he was gonna give any immortal respect, it’d be his stepmom. He did not want to get killed for being born. That’s happened too many times.

“Uh, I’m not too sure, my lady. I think it was quite literally just my luck or something.” He answers, trying to remain as polite as possible.

Amphitrite simply nods, accepting that answer, much to Percy’s relief.

Meanwhile, Amphitrite was wondering just how bad the demigod’s luck was that that was an acceptable answer. Perhaps she was even a bit worried

–

And before that, at my fourth-grade school, when we took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Marine World shark pool, I sort of hit the wrong lever on the catwalk and our class took an unplanned swim.

–

Now Apollo and Hermes couldn’t contain their chuckles. This demigod was too amusing.

Percy took a second to think about that memory. “Actually, now that I think about it, I think it was a shark that told me to pull the lever. I’m like 90% sure I thought it was a teacher.” He mused, missing the amused expression on his father’s and his stepmom’s face, and the perplexed expression on his elder half-brother’s face.

–

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

–

The demigods gasp dramatically, looking like the book just ate their hands.

“No, tell us more! We don’t get the idea!” Silena called out, still giggling even as she looked scandalized.

Percy couldn’t help but smile, his heart aching as he fought back tears. “Alright, alright. I’ll tell you guys some more whenever we stop for a break or something.”

–

This trip, I was determined to be good.

All the way into the city, I put up with Nancy Bobofit, the freckly red-haired kleptomaniac girl, hitting my best friend, Grover, in the back of the head with chunks of peanut butter-and-ketchup sandwich.

–

Grover’s face wrinkled in disgust at the memory.

“What?! I’m gonna kill that girl.” Annabeth growled, looking positively terrifying.

–

Grover was an easy target.

–

“Jee, thanks Perce.” Grover deadpanned.

–

He was scrawny.

–

“Feeling the love.” He continued, completely monotone.

–

He cried when he got frustrated.

–

Now he let out an irritated bleat, his face going a little red. “Really, Percy?!”

Percy shoots the satyr a sheepish grin. Seriously, he couldn’t help his thoughts. This was going to be a frustrating 10 books. But it’s to save people, so he’ll survive. Or maybe he won’t. Either way, as long as people stop dying, he’ll be fine.

–

He must’ve been held back several grades, because he was the only sixth grader with acne and the start of a wispy beard on his chin. On top of all that, he was crippled.

–

“Really, Perce? I mean, seriously? ” Grover groaned, leaning back against the couch.

“Hey, I thought you were crippled! Don’t blame me!”

–

He had a note excusing him from PE for the rest of his life because he had some kind of muscular disease in his legs. He walked funny, like every step hurt him, but don’t let that fool you. You should’ve seen him run when it was enchilada day in the cafeteria.

–

“Grover!” Annabeth scolded, though she was smiling, so it lost its effect.

–

Anyway, Nancy Bobofit was throwing wads of the sandwich that stuck in his curly brown hair, and she knew I couldn’t do anything back to her because I was already on probation. The headmaster threatened me with death-by-in-school-suspension if anything bad, embarrassing, or even mildly entertaining happened on this trip.

–

Leo gasped dramatically. “Not even mildly entertaining?! But that’s so bland! So boring!”

–

The Greek campers all smile at varying degrees.

“And you’ve never gotten anything less.” Annabeth said, smiling softly.

The gods are all a little confused. These campers seem really devoted to the demigod. Like, almost to a concerning amount. Just how influential is Perseus Jackson?

–

I wanted to get angry, this guy pushed me so hard.

–

“I know why he did now, and I’m grateful for it.” Percy smiled. He really did love his mentor, even if their relationship got a little strained at times. He knew Chiron did it to protect himself for whenever Percy died. He didn’t blame him.

–

I mean, sure, it was kind of cool on tournament days, when he dressed up in a suit of Roman armor and shouted: “What ho!” and challenged us, sword-point against chalk, to run to the board and name every Greek and Roman person who had ever lived, and their mother, and what god they worshiped. But Mr. Brunner expected me to be good as everybody else, despite the fact I have dyslexia and attention deficit disorder and I had never made above a C- in my life. No – he didn’t expect me to be as good ; he expected me to be better . And I just couldn’t learn all those names and facts, much less spell them correctly.

–

Percy shrugged. “I don’t know, I think I could name a lot more now. Still iffy with the spelling thing.”

A couple people chuckled at that.

–

I mumbled something about trying harder, while Mr. Brunner took one long sad look at the stele , like he’d been at this girl’s funeral.

–

Apollo’s curiosity just continued growing. It’s interesting how a demigod without a drop of Apollo’s blood in him was so… prophetic? That didn’t seem like the right word, but Apollo’s mind was whirring at this point. He wasn’t paying much attention to what words he was using in the comfort of his own mind.

–

He told me to go outside and eat my lunch.

The class gathered on the front steps of the museum, where we could watch the foot traffic along Fifth Avenue.

Overhead, a huge storm was brewing, with clouds blacker than I’d ever seen over the city.

–

Four of the six of Kronos’ children turned to look at the youngest two. “Are you two fighting?” Demeter asked with a resigned sigh.

They both just shrug, eyeing each other warily. Whatever this fight was, it must not have been good.

–

I figured maybe it was global warming or something, because weather all across New York state had been weird since Christmas. We’d had massive snow storms, flooding, and wildfires from lightning strikes. I wouldn’t have been surprised if this was a hurricane blowing in.

Nobody else seemed to notice.

Some of the guys were pelting pigeons with Lunchables crackers.

–

Artemis scrunched her nose up. “Seriously?”

Percy just shrugged. He didn’t exactly get their behavior either.

–

Nancy Bobofit was trying to pickpocket something from a lady’s bag,

–

Everyone turned to look at Hermes, who sputtered in offense.

“Excuse me, just because she’s a klepto doesn’t mean she’s mine! Besides, it said she was trying , my kids wouldn’t have been caught.” He crossed his arms, annoyed by the lack of faith in his skills and his kids’ skills at thievery.

Travis just shrugged. “I don’t know about that last point, dad. Percy’s scary observant. I don’t think we’ve ever successfully pickpocketed from him.” Connor and Chris nodded solemnly, like this was a sad, horrible thing.

This just made Apollo’s mind race more. If you’ve ever wondered if a god could overthink, wonder no longer. Apollo was doing exactly that.

–

and, of course, Mrs. Dodds wasn’t seeing a thing.

Grover and I sat on the edge of the fountain, away from the others. We thought that maybe if we did that, everybody wouldn’t know we were from that school – the school for loser freaks who couldn’t make it elsewhere.

“Detention?” Grover asked.

“Nah,” I said. “Not from Brunner. I just wish he’d lay off me sometimes. I mean – I’m not a genius.”

–

Silena tilted her head. “I don’t know. You’re smart, Percy. You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’re observant, and you’ve saved all of us with your quick thinking, even if it should just kill us more.”

Percy turned red at the compliment, giving Silena an embarrassed smile. “I’m not that smart. I just have crazy bad luck and crazy good luck to get out of situations that my bad luck got me in in the first place.” He shrugs, dismissing her compliments easily.

Some of the gods looked a little confused, possibly even shocked by this. A demigod downplaying his achievements? Well, it seems his fatal flaw is definitely not pride. Or perhaps he was simply faking being humble. Only time will tell, I suppose. And the immortals certainly have a lot of that.

–

Grover didn’t say anything for a while. Then, when I thought he was going to give me some deep philosophical comment to make me feel better, he said, “Can I have your apple?”

–

Grover winced. “Sorry, Perce.”

Percy laughed. “It’s alright, G-man. I didn’t mind.”

Poseidon was growing increasingly worried about this satyr’s ability to protect his son.

–

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

–

Now all the Greek campers were openly staring at him, and some of the Roman ones who had seen him eat like his stomach was a bottomless pit.

Percy went red. “What? It was one time!” He defended.

–

I watched the stream of cabs going down Fifth Avenue, and thought about my mom’s apartment, only a little ways uptown from where we sat.

–

Nico couldn’t help but smile, even if only a little. “Mrs. Jackson is great.”

Percy smiled at him, fighting the urge to ruffle the younger boy’s hair. Nico of the future let him do that. Nico of now would probably bite his hand off and give him rabies.

–

I hadn’t seen her since Christmas. I wanted so bad to jump in a taxi and head home. She’d hug me and be glad to see me, but she’d be disappointed, too. She’d send me right back to Yancy, remind me that I had to try harder, even if this was my sixth school in six years and I was probably going to be kicked out again. I wouldn’t be able to stand that sad look she’d give me.

–

Nico, Annabeth, Grover, and Thalia all nodded solemnly. “Very true. Mrs. Jackson’s disappointment is a very horrible and shameful thing.” Thalia stated seriously, sniffling dramatically.

The gods all looked curious, or even cautious. Why did she have so many demigods who loved her, including all of the Greek big three kids?

–

Mr. Brunner parked his wheelchair at the base of the handicapped ramp. He ate celery while he read a paperback novel. A red umbrella stuck up from the back of his chair, making it look like a motorized cafe table.

–

Leo tilted his head, pursing his lips as he considered this idea. He pulls a notepad from his toolbelt and starts scribbling down some ideas.

–

I was about to unwrap my sandwich when Nancy Bobofit appeared in front of me with her ugly friends – I get she’d gotten tired of stealing from the tourists – and dumped her half-eaten lunch in Grover’s lap.

“Oops.” She grinned at me with her crooked teeth. Her freckles were orange, as if somebody had spray-painted her face with liquid Cheetos.

–

Silena’s face wrinkled in disgust and Aphrodite looked mostly curious. She wondered what the mortal could’ve done that she would curse the girl with such ugliness.

–

I tried to stay cool. The school counselor had told me a million times, “Count to ten, get control of your temper.” But I was so mad my mind went blank. A wave roared in my ears.

–

Percy smiled, as did Poseidon, though the god’s was much more subdued out of courtesy for his wife’s and his eldest son’s feelings.

Percy really did love using his powers. He missed the days he could use them without fear of accidentally hurting someone.

–

I don’t remember touching her, but the next thing I knew, Nancy was sitting on her butt in the fountain, screaming, “Percy pushed me!”

Mrs. Dodds materialized next to us.

–

“Yep, definitely a monster.” Apollo muttered, causing Percy to roll his eyes.

“Wow. What gave it away? Was it the ‘vaporizing my math teacher’ part of the chapter title?” He asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Apollo’s eyes narrowed, and Percy realized his mistake. He’s gotten used to the Apollo of his time, the Apollo who he’d begrudgingly come to consider a friend.

“Watch it. I don’t mind you acting casual, but I am still a god. You’d do well to watch your tone.” Apollo’s tone just screamed “threat”, but Percy never was one to back down from a threat.

He certainly wasn’t going to apologize, if that’s what the god wanted.

Just as he opened his mouth to respond, Hestia started reading again.

–

Some of the kids were whispering: “Did you see–”

“–the water–”

“–like it grabbed her–”

I didn’t know what they were talking about. All I knew was that I was in trouble again.

As soon Mrs. Dodds was sure poor little Nancy was okay, promising to get her a new shirt at the museum gift shop, etc., etc., Mrs. Dodds turned on me. There was a triumphant fire in her eyes, as if I’d done something she’d been waiting for all semester. “Now, honey–”

“I know,” I grumbled. “A month erasing textbooks.”

–

Hermes and his kids all gasped, scandalized.

Before they can say anything, Percy just rolled his eyes, “Yeah, yeah. Never guess your punishment. I’ve heard that a million times before.”

Percy just didn’t mention that Hermes himself has given him lectures about how to lie to people, how to steal properly, among other tips that the god of thieves would share.

–

That wasn’t the right thing to say.

–

“Well, obviously!” The Hermes kids all said simultaneously. Percy just sighed.

–

“Come with me.” Mrs. Dodds said.

“Wait!” Grover yelped. “It was me. I pushed her.”

I stared at him, stunned. I couldn’t believe he was trying to cover for me. Mrs. Dodds scared Grover to death.

She glared at him so hard his whiskery chin trembled.

“I don’t think so, Mr. Underwood,” she said.

“But–”

“You– will –stay–here.”

Grover looked at me desperately.

“It’s okay, man,” I told him. “Thanks for trying.”

“Honey,” Mrs. Dodds barked at me. “ Now .”

Nancy Bobofit smirked.

I gave her my deluxe I’ll-kill-you-later-stare.

–

A lot of the Greeks' eyes widened.

“How is she still alive?” Nico asked, giving a theatrical shudder.

“Sorcery, I say!” Connor shouts, falling back dramatically against Travis, looking like a helpless maiden.

Percy just raises an eyebrow at his friends. He didn’t exactly see the big deal. It wasn’t actually that scary. He wasn’t that scary.

Apparently, some of the gods felt inclined to agree.

“What is so bad about his glare? It cannot be that bad.” Hades asked, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here. Percy didn’t blame him.

Nico just shakes his head. “No, no, Father, you haven’t seen it.” The yet was left unsaid.

–

I then turned to face Mrs. Dodds, but she wasn’t there. She was standing at the museum entrance, way at the top of the steps, gesturing impatiently for me to come on.

How’d she get there so fast?

I have moments like that a lot, when my brain falls asleep or something, and the next thing I know I’ve missed something, as if a puzzle piece fell out of the universe and left me staring at the blank place behind it. The school counselor told me this was part of the ADHD, my brain misinterpreting things.

–

Percy sniffled dramatically. “If only.”

–

I wasn’t so sure.

–

Once again, Apollo found himself intrigued by the disrespectful demigod. He had good instincts and was very observant.

Unfortunately for Percy, Apollo wasn’t the only one.

Hermes tilted his head. “Huh. You know, you have really good instincts.”

His kids nodded. “Oh yeah, Percy’s instincts are something else.” Chris said.

–

I went after Mrs. Dodds.

Halfway up the steps, I glanced back at Grover. He was looking pale, cutting his eyes between me and Mr. Brunner, like he wanted Mr. Brunner to notice what was going on, but Mr. Brunner was absorbed in his novel.

–

Poseidon’s eyebrows furrowed. What was Chiron doing? He was supposed to be looking after his son, was he not?

–

I looked back up. Mrs. Dodds had disappeared again. She was now inside the building, at the end of the entrance hall.

Okay, I thought. She’s going to make me buy a new shirt for Nancy at the gift shop.

But apparently that wasn’t the plan.

–

“That’d be an appropriate punishment if this was a normal teacher, so I can see why you’d think that.” Annabeth said, tilting her head.

–

I followed her deeper into the museum. When I finally caught up to her, we were back in the Greek and Roman section.

Except for us, the gallery was empty.

–

Poseidon fought back a groan. His son didn’t even know he was a demigod and he was already attracting trouble. And according to the other demigods here, that was just the beginning. He’s in for a lot here, isn’t he?

–

Mrs. Dodds stood with her arms crossed in front of a big marble frieze of the Greek gods. She was making this weird noise in her throat, like growling.

Even without the noise, I would’ve been nervous. It’s weird being alone with a teacher, especially Mrs. Dodds. Something about the way she looked at the frieze, as if she wanted to pulverize it…

–

Percy’s eyebrows furrowed. He’d forgotten about that. If he thinks about it, it kind of makes sense why she’d look like that. She serves Hades, and Hades isn’t exactly welcomed by the other Olympians.

–

“You’ve been giving us problems, honey,” she said.

I did the safe thing. I said, “Yes ma’am.”

–

Several people’s eyes widened at that.

“You did the safe thing? Where the Hades did that instinct go?!” Grover bleated, looking like his feathers really were ruffled.

“Oh come on, I’m not that bad!” Percy complained, frowning. Not pouting.

“Percy, dude, you have like, half the Olympians praying on your downfall.” Grover replied, looking at him in exasperation.

The gods all looked at each other. Who of them wanted this kid’s downfall? Most of them couldn’t blame their future selves. It seems this kid is quite disrespectful.

“My downfall is their downfall.” Percy shrugged. The gods wouldn’t kill him. He’s too valuable to them. Too good a pawn.

–

She tugged on the cuffs of her leather jacket. “Did you really think you would get away with it?”

The look in her eyes was beyond mad. It was evil.

–

“Y’know, she still hates you.” Nico said conversationally.

Percy smirked. “I’d be disappointed if she didn’t.”

Hades looked between his son and his nephew. Oh no. If this monster was the one he thought it was, his younger brother would stop at nothing to kill him.

–

She’s a teacher, I thought nervously. It’s not like she’s going to hurt me.

I said, “I’ll – I’ll try harder ma’am.”

–

Percy snorted. “Looking back, that’s probably the worst thing I could’ve said.”

–

Thunder shook the building.

–

Poseidon glanced at his younger brother. Why was he being especially dramatic? Something was wrong.

–

“We are not fools, Percy Jackson,” Mrs. Dodds said. “It was only a matter of time before we found you out. Confess, and you will suffer less pain.”

–

“Oh, that’s such a great deal. Yes, I confess!” Percy nodded, like this was the best deal ever.

Some of the demigods just rolled their eyes at his antics, while others played along by nodding.

–

I didn’t know what she was talking about.

All I could think of was that the teachers must’ve found the illegal stash of candy I’d been selling out of my dorm room.

–

Travis and Connor gasped, their heads whipping to Percy so fast he thought they might’ve broken them.

“Percy, you’ve been holding out on us!” Travis whined.

“It wasn’t that impressive! It’s not that good compared to the one you guys run!” Percy defended, holding his hands up in surrender.

They both paused, then nodded like this was an acceptable answer.

–

Or maybe they’d realized I got my essay on Tom Sawyer from the Internet without ever reading the book and now they were going to take away my grade.

–

“That’s so fair, though. Reading sucks.” Pollux said, nodding. He was one of the demigods who suffered a little more with dyslexia, like Percy.

“I know, right! It’s so frustrating!” Percy said, nodding in agreement with his book self and Pollux.

–

Or worse, they were going to make me read the book.

–

A number of demigods winced, namely Pollux, Percy, Travis, Connor, Leo, and Michael.

–

“Well?” she demanded.

“Ma’am, I don’t…”

“Your time is up,” she hissed. Then the weirdest thing happened. Her eyes began to glow like barbecue coals. Her fingers stretched, turning into talons. Her jacket melted into large, leathery wings. She wasn’t human. She was a shriveled hag with bat wings and claws and a mouth full of yellow fangs, and she was about to slice me to ribbons.

–

Everyone froze besides those who knew about his first fight with Alecto, which was only Percy, Grover, Nico, and Annabeth.

Hestia had to stop reading to look at Hades with a questioning look, to which he just shrugged, trying not to wither under his brother’s furious stare.

“You sent a fury after my son?” Poseidon asked with false calm. Internally, he was planning all the ways he’d torture his older brother’s body and make sure he could never reform in Tartarus.

Percy winced. “Look, Uncle H had a reason for what he did. That doesn’t make it okay that he sent his torturers after a child, but we’ve come to an understanding in the future. Besides, I survived.” He explained, shrugging.

Nico smiled at Percy’s defense of his father. He’d always admired the way Percy never seemed to hate him or judge him for who his father was.

Hades just nodded, but internally, he was quite surprised. His nephew, a demigod he’d apparently tried to kill no less, was defending him. He even called him ‘Uncle H’, which is a first. His nephew was already proving to be rather interesting.

Poseidon just stayed quiet, still silently fuming.

–

Then things got even stranger.

Mr. Brunner, who’d been out in the front of the museum a minute before, wheeled his chair into the doorway of the gallery, holding a pen in his hand.

“What ho, Percy!” he shouted, and tossed the pen through the air.

–

A couple of demigods’ eyes widen, realizing what this weapon was.

“Is that–?” Katie started.

“Yep.” Percy answered, a small smile on his face.

The majority of the gods just look confused.

“I’m sorry, how are you supposed to defeat a fury with a pen?” Hermes asked, raising a confused eyebrow.

Nobody answered him.

–

Mrs. Dodds lunged at me.

–

It took pretty much all of Poseidon’s control not to just curse Hades right then and there. Nobody, absolutely nobody, hurt his children. Especially not his brothers.

–

With a yelp, I dodged and felt talons slash the air next to my ear. I snatched the ballpoint pen out of the air, but when it hit my hand, it wasn’t a pen anymore. It was a sword – Mr. Brunner’s bronze sword, which he always used on tournament day.

–

Percy was grinning now. He really did love his sword, even with it’s tragic history. He was honored to carry the sword, and he was honored to have earned it’s maker’s approval.

–

Mrs. Dodds spun towards me with a murderous look in her eyes.

My knees were jelly. My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped my sword.

–

Ares rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”

Percy glared at him. “Oh, I sincerely apologize that I was a little scared facing my first monster, which was a fury , at twelve years old. That’s my bad.” He bit, his voice bathed in sarcasm.

Ares looked like he was about to smite him, but Hestia continued reading.

–

She snarled, “Die, honey!”

And she flew straight at me.

Absolute terror ran through my body. I did the only thing that came naturally. I swung the sword.

–

A lot of demigods laugh.

“Percy, why is that just natural for you?” Pollux asked, grinning at his friend.

“Does it not come naturally to you guys?” Percy asked, looking perplexed.

He tried to think about why it was so natural for him. The only conclusion he could come to was that it was because it was infused with the sea, being made from the daughter of an oceanid and all.

–

The metal blade hit her shoulder and passed clean through her body as if she were made of water. Hisss!

–

All the gods were quiet. Hades in particular was looking at Percy in muted shock.

“Did you just defeat one of my furies in one hit?” Asked the god, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Uh… Maybe?” Percy replied, giving a sheepish grin.

–

Mrs. Dodds was a sand castle in a power fan. She exploded into yellow powder, vaporized on the spot, leaving nothing but the smell of sulfur and a dying screech and a chill of evil in the air, as if those two glowing red eyes were still watching me.

I was alone.

There was a ballpoint pen in my hand.

Mr. Brunner wasn’t there. Nobody was there but me.

My hands were still trembling. My lunch must’ve been contaminated with magic mushrooms or something.

–

Aphrodite tilted her head. “Why is the Mist still affecting him?”

“Uhm, Chiron used it to try and keep him in the dark for a while longer. It worked. Mostly.” Grover answered.

Percy huffed, crossing his arms. “Made me think I was crazy.” He complained.

–

Had I imagined the whole thing?

I went back outside.

It had started to rain.

Grover was sitting by the fountain, a museum map tented over his head. Nancy Bobofit was still standing there, soaked from her swim in the fountain, grumbling to her ugly friends. When she saw me, she said, “I hope Mrs. Kerr whipped your butt.”

–

“Who?” Piper blinked, speaking up for the first time since she introduced herself.

Hestia smiled.

–

I said, “Who?”

–

The Hermes kids, Pollux, Will, and Michael all gasp dramatically.

“No, you think like Percy!” Will said, falling back against Michael dramatically.

Piper just looks bemused by their dramatics.

–

“Our teacher . Duh!”

I blinked. We had no teacher named Mrs. Kerr. I asked Nancy what she was talking about.

She just rolled her eyes and turned away.

I asked Grover where Mrs. Dodds was.

He said, “Who?”

But he paused first, and he wouldn’t look at me, so I thought he was messing with me.

–

“Really, goat boy?” Thalia asked, chuckling as she shakes her head.

Chris sighs dramatically. “We really need to teach you how to lie.”

“Satyrs struggle to lie.” Dionysus pipes up from his throne, looking bored as he sips his diet co*ke and flipping through a magazine.

Percy blinked. He’d forgotten about Mr. D’s punishment. After all, Apollo’s wasn’t the only one he managed to alleviate.

“Uh, hold on, can I just point something out real quick?” He asked, glancing from Mr. D to Zeus, who narrowed his eyes.

“Make it quick, boy.” He responded, the underlying threat not scaring Percy in the slightest. It wouldn’t be the first or last time his uncle’s threatened him, after all.

“Uh, right. So, we’re all aware of Mr. D’s punishment, right? Right. So, the whole ‘no wine’ thing… Isn’t that just plain cruel? Like, he’s being cut off from his domain, is he not? Plus, that’s gotta be even worse for him than most, considering he used to be a demigod. That’s gotta weaken his powers severely. I mean, it already has quite the effect on his appearance…” Percy’s nose wrinkles as he glances at Dionysus’ form.

When Percy got Mr. D’s punishment lifted the first time, he’d been completely surprised by the change in appearance as soon as he’d had access to wine. He’d looked like the god of religious ecstasy that he was.

Dionysus had looked up from his magazine, staring at the demigod in well disguised shock. So this demigod wasn’t completely brainless. He really realized just how torturous his punishment was, all for chasing some off-limits nymph, when even his own father wasn’t able to.

Zeus’ eyebrows furrow. “What is your point here?” He asked, his tone clipped.

Percy rolls his eyes, crossing his arms again. “My point is that I’m telling you you should lift his restrictions on wine. Sure, working at camp isn’t that bad, but cutting him off from his domain could have dangerous lasting effects.”

Thunder booms.

“You dare order me around?” Zeus growled, looking positively murderous.

Percy smiles innocently, about to reply when he’s cut off by the god he was just defending.

“He’s right, Father. Just this short decade or so I’ve been cut off from my domain has weakened me immensely. It’s gotten to the point where I’d dare say my power is that of when I was a demigod.” Dionysus stated, bowing his head slightly. He did not want to get on his father’s bad side, but he couldn’t help but want to try and get these restrictions lifted.

Zeus’ eyes narrowed, but a quick glance at the faces of the other gods gave him his decision. He did not want any of the Olympians, much less his son, being weakened. That could be detrimental to Olympus.

“Dionysus, I revoke your restrictions.” He grumbles, with a wave of his hand.

Dionysus’ eyes widened just barely. So that actually worked. He wastes no time conjuring up wine, taking a sip and letting out a moan of relief.

In the blink of an eye, his form shifts. His stature changes from that of a beer-bellied, middle-aged man to a slim young adult, his hair shifting to long, raven curls that frame his face. He looks much younger, and much more attractive. The tension that he carried with him slowly starts to fade away.

Percy smiles. This was the god Dionysus was, and Percy was happy to have helped him, especially after the way the god helped him in the future.

Pretty much all of the campers are staring at the god in literal shock, their gazes going from the new form of Dionysus, to his son, who looks like he could be his younger brother.

Pollux on the other hand shoots Percy a grateful look. He had always felt that the restrictions Zeus placed on his father were unnecessarily cruel, so he was happy that someone cared enough to point it out, especially someone as influential as Percy.

Dionysus also sent Percy a grateful look, though it was much better hidden and lasted for a shorter period.

Percy just smiled at them both. He didn’t need their thanks. That wasn’t why he did it. He just knew the punishment was cruel, and he decided to do something about it.

–

“Not funny, man,” I told him. “This is serious.”

Thunder boomed overhead.

I saw Mr. Brunner sitting under his red umbrella, reading his book, as if he never moved.

I went over to him.

He looked up, a little distracted. “Ah, that would be my pen. Please bring your own writing utensil in the future, Mr. Jackson.”

I handed it over. I hadn’t even realized I was still holding it.

“Sir,” I said, “where’s Mrs. Dodds?”

He stared at me blankly. “Who?”

–

“Now Chiron can lie!” Travis said, nodding approvingly.

Chris just raises an eyebrow at his brother. “Of course he can. He’s had thousands of years of practice.”

Travis just shrugs.

–

“The other chaperone, Mrs. Dodds. The math teacher.”

He frowned and sat forward, looking mildly concerned. “Percy, there is no Mrs. Dodds on this trip. As far as I know, there has never been a Mrs. Dodds at Yancy Academy. Are you feeling all right?”

–

“That was the end of it.” Hestia states, looking up.

Percy glanced around, noticing how restless he felt, and how restless the other demigods felt. That was a long chapter, with all the interruptions in between, especially at the end there.

“Do you mind if we have a quick break? Possibly to eat lunch? It was almost lunchtime from around when I came here, but I don’t know about the others.” Percy asked, glancing around.

The other demigods nodded.

“Very well. We will take a thirty minute lunch break for the demigods, and then we will start reading again.” Hestia said, nodding.

She stood up, guiding the demigods, who followed her like hungry, lost puppies, to the kitchen.

Wanna Need You Forever (In The Heat of Your Electric Touch) - Chapter 2 - uaine_uaine - Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2024)

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