Charmolypi

Chapter 124

During archery, Chiron pulled Percy aside and informed him that he had fixed his problems with Meriwether Prep. The school no longer blamed Percy for destroying their gymnasium, and the police were no longer looking for him.

"How did you manage that?" Percy asked.

Chiron's eyes twinkled. "I merely suggested that the mortals had seen something different on that day-a furnace explosion that was not your fault."

"You just said that, and they bought it?"

"I manipulated the Mist. Someday, when you're ready, I'll show how it's done."

"Doesn't Thea already know how to manipulate the Mist?"

"Yeah why can't Chiron teach Percy now?"

"You mean, I can go back to Meriwether next year?"

Chiron raised his eyebrows. "Oh, no, they've still expelled you. Your headmaster, Mr. Bonsai, said you had-how did he put it? -un-groovy karma that disrupted the school's educational aura. But you're not in any legal trouble, which was a relief to your mother. Oh, and speaking of your mother ..." He unclipped his cell phone from his quiver and handed it to the young demigod. "It's high time you called her."

Percy's face fell knowing that the phone call with his mother would result in her scolding him for leaving on a quest within out letting her know. And Sally Jackson did not disappoint. Throughout all the quest, Percy had never been more afraid than he was at that very moment, talking to his mother.

"I love his mom, she's so cool!"

"I wish my mom was like that."

But finally, she paused to catch her breath. "Oh, I'm just glad you're safe!"

Percy smiled. He knew his mother couldn't stay angry no matter how hard she tries. It was just not in her nature. It was probably one of the things he loved the most about her.

"I'm sorry, Mom," Percy told her. "I won't scare you again."

"Don't promise me that, Percy. You know very well it will only get worse." She tried to sound casual about it, but he could tell she was pretty shaken up. Percy wanted to say something to make her feel better, but he knew that giving her false hope would not be the correct way to go.

"I could come home for a while," the son of Poseidon offered.

"No, no. Stay at camp. Train. Do what you need to do. But you will come home for the next school year?"

"Yeah, of course. Uh, if there's any school that will take me."

"Oh, we'll find something, dear," Sally sighed. "Some place where they don't know us yet."

"How can she be so supportive after everything that's happened?" Peter asked, utterly in shock.

"That's what happens when the parents love their children unconditionally," James answered, shooting a deadly look at the Blacks, making sure they knew that his words were directed to them.

Later that evening, Percy and Tyson were sitting on a sand dune overlooking the Long Island Sound. They were peacefully sitting together enjoying each other's company when Tyson revealed something that his brother didn't see coming.

"Dream came from Daddy last night," Tyson said. "He wants me to visit."

"Visit?"

"Poseidon wants the cyclops to go to Olympus?" Walburga asked, outraged by the thought.