Sunburn- phoebus apollo

- iv. rhea's mom is so badass

RHEA WAS SITTING in the car once more, bracing for dear life as her mother drove way over the speed limit. Wind slammed against the Camaro.

Rhea had no idea how her mother could see anything, but she kept her foot on the gas.

And even in this situation, Percy had the audacity to create small talk. "So, you and my mom.... know each other?"

Grover's eyes flitted to the rear view mirror, though there were no cars behind them. "Not exactly," he said. "I mean, we've never met in person. But she knew I was watching you two."

"Watching us?"

"Keeping tabs on you. Making sure you were okay. But I wasn't faking being your friend." He added hastily. "I am your friend."

"Um.... What are you, exactly?"

"That doesn't matter right now."

"It doesn't matter? From waist down, my best friend is a donkey-"

Grover made a sound like an irritated bleat.

"A satyr." Rhea spoke up, suddenly remembering the lesson on Greek Mythology that Apollo had given her. "Satyrs are half human and half goat, according to Greek mythology."

Percy gave her a deadpan stare. "That doesn't exist."

"Oh yeah? Then what else can he be?" Rhea shot back.

Percy fell silent.

"That's what I thought."

"Blaa-ha-ha! There are satyrs who would trample you under hoof for such an insult!" Grover agreed.

"Whoa. Wait. Satyrs. You mean like... Mr. Brunner's myths?"

"Percy, are you slow or are you slow?" Rhea demanded.  She was ignored.

"We're those old ladies at the fruit stand a myth, Percy? Was Mrs. Dodds a myth?"

"So you admit there was a Mrs. Dodds!"

"Duh."

"Then why-"

"The less you knew, the fewer monsters you'd attract," Grover explained, just like Apollo had said. "We put Mist over the humans' eyes. We hoped you'd think the Kindly One was a hallucination. But it was no good. You both started to realize who you were."

"Who I- wait a minute, what do you mean again?"

A snarling nose jolted the girl's attention away from the conversation.

The girl let out a shriek when the car made a hard left. They swerved onto a narrower road, facing past darkened farmhouses and wooded hills and PICK YOUR OWN STRAWBERRIES signs on white picket fences.

"Where are we going?" Percy asked.

"The summer camp I told you about." Mom's voice was tight. "The place your father wanted to send you both."

"The place you didn't want us to go."

"Percy!" Rhea pleaded, squeezing her eyes shut. "Shut up!"

Grover was talking about the Fates and cutting yarn. Percy was arguing again.

"Boys!" Mom said.

Rhea opened her eyes and glanced at the rear view mirror.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!" She screeched.

"Almost there," her mother ignored her question. "Please. Please. Please."

Next thing the girl knew, there was a blinding flash, and the car exploded. Not one scratch, Rhea remembered Gabe saying. Oh well. Minor mishap.