Elves and Demigods

Chapter 13 - Leo

Calling Everglen 'gorgeous' was an understatement.

Leo had never witnessed much luxury in his life. The closest he had gotten to it was on Ogygia, with Calypso. And wow, that name really made him homesick. He wasn't the least bit happy about being sent to the sparkly elf city while Calypso was in the norse world, facing who knows what. He shook his head to drive the worth away. She may look like it, but Calypso wasn't a fragile flower. He knew what she was capable of. 

Now, the two elves and three demigods sat in Everglen's enormous living room.

"Demigods?" Alden asked. 

"We're children of Greek Gods", Annabeth explained.

"And as cool as that may sound, you do not wanna be one", Percy added. "You'll just end up being turned into a hamster."

"Or being blown off to an unknown island", Leo agreed.

"Or fall into hell."

"Or fight toilet goddesses."

"Or get a deadly nose bleed. Or get your stuffed animal butchered.'

"Guys!" Annabeth scolded. "We're not here to share our less-than-pleasant experiences."

"Sorry", Percy said.

"It's okay", Biana said with a smile. Her expression turned serious. "I'd like to meet the lovely person who murders stuffed animals."

"Ohhh, no you don't", Leo warned. "He will hurt your pillow pal too!"

Biana's eyes widened. "I will not let him harm Lady Sassyfur."

"Hey that sounds like a female Percy".

"Lady Sassyfur is a yeti".

Everyone cracked up. Including Alden. Excluding Tam. Leo caught Tam glaring at him

Suddenly, a soft voice filled Leo's head. Stay. Away. From. Her. 

Leo nearly jumped from his seat. Tam's voice was speaking to him. But when he checked the shady elf, his lips weren't moving.

"Aww, is someone jealous?" Leo said with a smirk.

Percy, Annabeth, Biana and Alden looked at him with confused faces.

"Huh?" Biana asked.

Leo looked back at Tam. It took him a second to realize he was looking at Tam's face and not a ripe tomato. Only then did Leo understand- Tam used an elfy trick to communicate with him. Only he must have heard it.

"Uh, sorry", Leo blurted. "I meant that- erm- Percy is jealous of Biana's stuffed animal." Leo felt like an idiot but if Tam spoke only to him, there must be a good reason." Leo decided to shut his mouth for a while. He fished out a few tools from his tool belt and fidgeted with them.

"I'm afraid I don't know much about these Greek gods", Alden said. "Is that a human thing?"

"Yes", Biana said. "But that's not the only reason they are here."

Alden raised an eyebrow. 

"The Neverseen are planning something big. Bigger than before. They are planning to raise umm..." 

"Typhon and Loki", Annabeth helped.

"A little more explanation please?" Alden requested.

"Typhon was a Greek monster and Loki was the Norse god of evil and mischief. They have risen twice before but not at the same time. Not by the same people. There is no telling how much destruction is going to brought upon the world if the Neverseen won't be stopped."

Alden sighed deeply. "The Neverseen have a disturbing habit of tampering with things they shouldn't play with."

"Which is why we need help", Percy agreed.

"We should tell the council and no one else in the lost cities", Alden decided. He looked at the demigod. "The Elvin council is a group of 12 powerful elves who maintain law and order in the lost cities."

"Actually dad, there are some more elves we need to include", Biana said. She looked at Tam who nodded and continued.

"The Black swan can help too", he said. "And we may also need Stina and Maruca. If their willing to, of course."

"Seems like you to have already developed a plan", Alden told Tam and Biana.

"We just decided on who gets to help", Biana corrected.

"And you're right. Stina's empathy powers and Maruca's psionipath powers will be of use. But before we can make any actual decisions, we have to notify the council and the collective. Just give me a minute." With that, Alden exited the living room and went up a large spiral staircase.  

"Where is he going?" Leo asked.

"He's going to contact the council and collective- The Black swan's leaders", Tam said.

"How long is it going to take?"

"Not long if you remain patient."

"Sorry", Leo said guiltily. "I'm ADHD so patience is not my thing."

An eternity passed by. It was probably just a few minutes, but Leo couldn't stand waiting. Finally, Alden came into the room. "The council said they will be here any-"

His sentence was cut short by some sparkly light shining suddenly shining in the room. 

"What's happening?" Annabeth asked.

The light materialized into twelve intimidating figures, each in expensive-looking clothes in different colors. Around their foreheads were circlets that matched their clothes. 

"You said there's an important matter we have to discuss, Alden?" A deep-voiced man dressed in sapphire said.

"Yes, Councillor Emery", Alden said. "Demigods, this is the Elvin council." He gestured at the council.

A ringleted Councillor in pink raised her eyebrow. "Demigods?" 

For the hundredth time, the definition of 'demigod' was explained. If that question was asked one more time, Leo was going to write 'We are demigods, children of Freaky Greeky gods' on his forehead with permanent marker.

"The Neverseen is turning out to be very, very reckless", A Councillor in emerald green agreed.

"Terik is right", Emery said. "These Greek forces, they are unknown of. It will be hard for us Elves to take measures as we do not understand human mythological deities."

"However", a pointy-eared Councillor added (Leo resisted the urge to ask, what's with the ears?). "We will try our best to help. After all, the Neverseen are elves. That makes it the Council's responsibility to stop them. Moreover-"

His sentence was interrupted by a loud bark!

"What was that?" Percy voiced the question in Leo's mind.

Just then, the massive doors of Everglen burst open and six creatures bounded into the room.

One crabby Karkinos.

Two dracaenae.

And three Cynocephali.