The Spartan of Olympus

4

A boy in combat boots, black cargo pants, and a white muscle shirt walked into the palace of Apollo. He was feeling ecstatic because he was finished babysitting Heracles. His mind wandered back to the topic that it always did: Zoë. Even after 2,000 years, Percy could still feel her soft, pink lips on his own, and he wanted it to happen again. He wanted to see her: hold her. Percy knew that love at first sight was pretty cliché, but Percy realized that it happened to him 2,000 years ago. Percy spent nearly every waking moment thinking of her and what he would do if he saw her again. Granted, she was with the Hunters still, and Percy didn't have a single chance to see her again after Artemis took her that day. But for the last 2,000 years, Percy was on a short leash—due to his unauthorized interference at the Gardens of the Hesperides—and was forced to follow Heracles throughout his life, even after Heracles was made a minor god. And now . . . sweet, sweet freedom. But now, a different son of Zeus was in line to be the prophecy kid.

Percy heard of Thalia Grace, a girl who Zeus sired after the pact made after WWII. Zeus broke the oath twice. He had the girl, and then a boy named Zane. Poseidon swore on the River Styx not to have any more demigod children to Amphitrite, and they were talking about having another godling, which made Percy happy. He might be an older brother! The thought made Percy grin. But he shook the thought from his head. Today, he was going to party with Apollo and his father for being relieved of his duties.

He walked into the living room to see something he did not expect to see. Apollo's face was inches away from a pretty girl, whose cheeks were a crimson color. Being the smooth and stealthy guy he is, Percy choked on his own spit, stubbed his toe on the threshold, and hit his face on the back of a leather chair before falling onto the floor. Groaning in pain, he stood to see Apollo frozen in place, his cheeks turning a bright red. The identity of the woman surprised Percy more than Apollo being embarrassed.

She had long, dark hair, and wore a white blouse, skinny jeans, and a bronze chest plate over her blouse. She had startling grey eyes, and a calculating look on her face, but her blush ruined the image.

The woman was Athena. To say Percy was speechless was an understatement. Percy's mouth opened and closed like a fish before he finally remembered how to speak.

"Erm, I-I am just going to . . . uh, yeah." Percy stammered before turning around and walked back to the foyer and out the front door.

It finally sunk in what he saw. Apollo and Athena? And they looked like they were going to kiss . . . and they were blushing . . . and Apollo wasn't acting cocky? What in the world was going on? Isn't she a maiden goddess? Then Percy realized he might have misinterpreted what he saw. But what would they be doing so close together? Percy felt like punching himself in the face. Apollo was like a second father or an older brother, and the mental image of him sucking Athena's face off was just . . . ugh.

Percy settled for walking to Poseidon's palace on Olympus, where he knew he would be today. He walked past several immortal girls who all waved and giggled as he past, but he just gave them a friendly smile rather than anything else. He didn't know why, since technically he didn't have a girlfriend, but it didn't feel right to be with any other girl that Zoë. Ugh! That beautiful ex-Hesperid invaded his thoughts 24/7, and he absolutely loved it. He meant he hated it. Actually, he wasn't sure what he meant. Only that Zoë Nightshade rarely left his thoughts. He was almost to Poseidon's palace when he heard a whisper.

"Psst!"

Percy stopped, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. He turned to his right and saw a dark figure in an alleyway. All he could see were two, shining eyes. Percy's hand itched to pull his sword; when someone calls to you from a dark alley, something good rarely happens.