Ethereal

Chapter XX

Before we left Olympus, Percy decided to make a few calls. It wasn't easy, but we finally found a quiet fountain in a corner garden and sent an Iris message to Percy's brother, Tyson, under the sea. Percy told him about our adventures, and Bessie—he wanted to hear every detail about the cute baby cow serpent—and I assured him that Annabeth was safe. Finally, Percy got around to explaining how the shield he'd made me last summer had been damaged in the manticore attack.

"Yay!" Tyson said. "That means it was good! It saved your life!"

"It sure did, big guy," Percy said. "But now it's ruined."

"Not ruined!" Tyson promised. "I will visit and fix it next summer."

The idea picked me up instantly. I guess I hadn't realized how much I missed having Tyson around.

"Seriously?" I asked. "They'll let you take time off?"

"Yes! I have made two thousand seven hundred and forty-one magic swords," Tyson said proudly, showing me the newest blade. "The boss says 'good work'! He will let me take the whole summer off. I will visit camp!"

We talked for a while about war preparations and their dad's fight with the old sea gods, and all the cool things we could do together next summer, but then Tyson's boss started yelling at him and he had to get back to work.

I dug out my last golden drachma and handed it to Percy so he could make one more Iris message.

"Sally Jackson," Percy said. "Upper East Side, Manhattan."

The mist shimmered, and there was Percy's mom at our kitchen table, laughing and holding hands with her friend Mr Blowfish.

Percy went bright red, I was about to wave my hand through the mist and cut the connection, but before I could, Sally saw us.

Her eyes got wide. She let go of Mr Blowfish's hand real quick. "Oh, Paul! You know what? I left my writing journal in the living room. Would you mind getting it for me?"

"Sure, Sally. No problem."

He left the room and instantly Sally leaned toward the Iris message. "Percy! Aelia! Are you all right?"

"I'm, uh, fine. How's that writing seminar going?"

She pursed her lips. "It's fine. But that's not important. Tell me what's happened!"

Percy filled her in as quickly as he could. I stepped back slightly to let them talk properly. She sighed with relief when she heard that Annabeth was safe.

"I knew you could do it!" she said. "I'm so proud."

"Yeah, well, I'd better let you get back to your homework."

"Percy, I... Paul and I—"

"Mom, are you happy?"

The question seemed to take her by surprise. She thought for a moment. "Yes. I really am, Percy. Being around him makes me happy."

"Then it's cool. Seriously. Don't worry about me." The funny thing was, I could tell he meant it.

Considering the quest we'd just had, maybe he should have been worried for his mom. We'd seen just how mean people could be to each other, like Hercules was to Zoe Nightshade, like Luke was to Thalia. I'd met Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, in person, and her powers had scared me worse than Ares. But seeing Sally laughing and smiling, after all the years she'd suffered from Percy's nasty ex-stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, I couldn't help feeling happy for her.

"You promise not to call him Mr Blowfish?" she asked.

Percy shrugged. "Well, maybe not to his face, anyway."