Modern Myths

Book 0: Chapter 12: The World's Longest Prologue Ends

12/23/05

Percy's Apartment, Manhattan, New York City, New York

Percy POV

It's the day after the Winter Solstice. We exchanged presents and are still enjoying the holiday week.

Everyone that was there for my birthday, except the protogenoi, are here again, with Grover joining.

We had to push it back, because Hades had to attend the biyearly meeting. My dad won rock-paper-scissors, so most of the people here will be with my cousins tomorrow, with my dad replacing Hades for obvious reasons.

After the party calmed down, Oceanus called us together to make an announcement.

Oceanus: "I bring somber news. Cronus is rising and preparing for a second Titanomachy."

All of us are shocked and most of us seem to be scared.

Oceanus: "He told me he convinced a son of Hermes into stealing Zeus's Master Bolt & Hades's helm. Ares found him, so he possessed Ares & now has possession of both. With the promise of war coming, his possessed mind has forgotten all loyalty he once had."

He pauses to let what he said sink in before continuing: "Cronus tried to convince me to join him. If Percy didn't convince Poseidon to make restitution from kicking me out of my own home, I would have. He refused to tell me which son of Hermes did it unless I joined him, but he did say Triumvirate holding is financially backing him & consists of God Emperors Nero, Caligula & Commodus."

Percy: "That explains what I drew last night."

I showed him my drawing of a biker riding a motorcycle wearing Darth Vader's mask & helmet & holding an ignited blue lightsaber in his right hand.

Grover: "No! It can't be!"

Hades: "We must assume that this could be a coincidence. Remember: Innocent until proven guilty."

Persephone: "Exactly! Just because the helm & master bolt are a Star Wars reference doesn't mean Luke was the one that stole them. It just means he's our number 1 suspect for now."

Percy: "Annabeth also said that he hasn't been the same since going on his last quest."

Kelli: "While the bad news is going, I might as well confess to something."

We all looked at her in shock & betrayal.

Kelli: "Back in 1941, Gaea tried to start the second Gigantomachy by sacrificing a mortal to revive Alcyoneus but couldn't as the only children of Hades/Pluto capable of speeding up the process were hidden in the Lotus Casino, the island of the Lotus Eaters. She reached out to me as the lowest ranking fully trained Empousa. She told me I was the most underpaid & overworked out of all of my peers, but If I helped her revive the Gigante, she would give me riches beyond my imagination and destroy Hades and Hecate for overworking me so much."

She pauses to let what she said sink in before continuing: "I entered the Casino & killed Marie Levesque while trying to capture the 3 kids, but the guards destroyed me, forcing me to reform in Tartarus."

Percy: "Why are you telling us this?! I love you! You're a sister to me!" I said hurt.

Kelli: "Because you've given me something to care about besides myself. Noone before you ever cared about me. I was an employee at most to the people closest to me. I love you too, little brother." She says hugging me & kissing my forehead.

Percy: "You're apologizing to my cousins." I said while crying.

Kelli: "If their parents don't smite me now." She says letting me go & walking towards Uncle & Aunty before kneeling. "I accept any punishment you deem appropriate."

Hades: "I SHOULD HAVE MY FURIES TORTURE YOU FOR ETERNITY!" He yelled, before taking a breath & continuing, "but I understand why you would do what you did. I am demoting you to cleaning duty. You will be assigned to the sewers of the underworld & cleaning & performing maintenance on the pipes."

Persephone: "Won't she be getting paid more for that?" She says, agitated at the murderer of her former lover getting off easy.

Hades: "Yes, but she did warn us of Grandma's plan & did agree to make amends for her wrongdoing."

Grover's POV

That was intense & scary.

Amphitrite?: "That was intense to see, wasn't it?"

Me: "Yeah! I was concerned Annabeth would be heartbroken after Percy said, 'I love you', before he continued, Lady Amphitrite."

Amphitrite?: "WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!" She snaps at me.

Everybody laughs as I heard thunder mixing with the snow turning hail as it started to storm outside.

Percy runs up to hug her: "Did you get mistaken for Mama Amp. again Kym.?" He says snuggling into her shoulder.

Oh! That explains the storm.

Me: "I'm sorry, Lady Kymopoleia."

Percy: "It's okay. She's used to it." He says from her shoulder before she smacks him upside the head & lets him go.

Kymopoleia: "It's okay. That being said, me & Kelli need to speak with you." She says.

Styx shivers scared about something before calming down, as Lady Kymopoleia drags me away.

I met her & Kelli away from everyone else at the party.

Kymopoleia: "Tell me about this Annabeth. If she's our brother's suitress, Me & Kelli might need to talk to her like we did Styx."

Thus, the world's longest prologue ends & The Lightning Thief begins.

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