Sunshine (Connor Stoll)

Chapter Four

A/N; Trigger Warning: Physical Abuse. I wanted to dive a little deeper into the abusive relationship between Gabe and Percy, and Gabe and Sally. It will get a little dark, so I wanted to give you all a warning. It starts where Clio asks about a few scars that Percy has, and ends at the end of the chapter. Thanks!

Who knew facing your destiny could be so boring?

We drive for about an hour, during which time Grover eats four tin cans, Percy and Annabeth argue about whether their godly parents feud means they can't get along, and I try in vain to take a nap.

Argus drops us at the Greyhound Station on the Upper East Side. I watch as Percy rips down a flyer with his face on it, labeled Have you seen this boy? He notices me watching and shakes his head in Grover and Annabeth's direction. I just nod. We shouldn't worry them if we don't have to.

Percy kicks at a pebble in front of him, and Grover nudges his shoulder. "You want to know why she married him."

Percy glares at his best friend. "Were you reading my mind or something?"

Grover shakes his head. "Just your emotions. Sorry, I kind of forgot to tell you satyrs can do that."

To be honest, I forgot that satyrs can do that too. I don't interact with them much. Besides, they prefer to advertise their connections with nature and the god Pan over their empathetic talents.

"Your mom married Gabe for you. You call him 'Smelly', but you've got no idea. The guy has this aura... Yuck. I can smell him from here. I can smell traces of him on you, and you haven't been near him for a fortnight."

I drift closer. I haven't heard much about Percy's stepfather. All I've heard about him from Percy is that he's rude and he smells. I see Annabeth turn her head to listen, too.

Percy wrinkles his nose. "Where's the nearest shower?"

"You should be grateful, Percy. Your stepfather smells so repulsively human he could mask the presence of any demigod. As soon as I took a whiff inside his Camaro, I knew: Gabe has been covering your scent for years. If you hadn't lived with him every summer, you probably would've been found by monsters a long time ago. Your mom stayed with him to protect you. She was a smart lady. She must've loved you a lot to put up with that guy – if that makes you feel any better."

Percy's face falls, and I resist the urge to comfort him. I know he won't appreciate it. All I'll succeed at is reminding him further that his mother is gone permanently.

"Right," he mutters. "Thanks."

He falls back to let Grover and Annabeth take the lead, and I match his pace. I'm fine just walking in silence, but he turns to me. "Has anyone ever brought someone back from the Underworld?"

I raise my eyebrow suspiciously. "No. Odysseus got close, but... no cigar."

"Really? No one ever, in the history of Greek mytho-" he pauses. "Greek history, has brought someone back from the Underworld?"

I clear my throat. "My answer to you will always be no." My tone is heavy with implications.

His eyes light up. "Okay."

"Okay."

It's still raining.

Look, Zeus, I know you're angry with Percy, but seriously? Lay off.

After a mean game of Hacky Sack, which ended when Grover ate the apple we were using to play, the bus we were waiting for finally came.

"Dryness!" Percy declares, rushing on, while Annabeth and I trail after him, chuckling. Grover hesitates at the doors though, smelling the air.