The Rule of Succession

Chapter One

Chapter One

It had been storming for five days straight. Heavy rain fell, splattering against the streets of New York City. Lightning seemed to flash every thirty seconds. Thunder was never far behind, rumbling deep in the dark clouds. Winds pelted the city without any respite. The bodies of water around Manhattan washed up on the ground, the waves tall enough to sweep away any small dog that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was more common than one would think.

But the city kept running. Businesses needed to be kept running, people needed money, and the storm wasn't going to stop them. Just bring an umbrella and a warm jacket under a raincoat and you would have the most protection you were going to get from the storm.

There was only one area where you didn't need to worry about rain, or thunder, or lightning. Around the Empire State Building, there seemed to be an eye of the storm, where the clouds allowed sunlight through. You could see the sun's rays through the storm from anywhere in the city. A shining beacon in the darkness.

Percy Jackson opened the door of his apartment. He didn't bother with a raincoat, or a warm jacket, or an umbrella. After facing Titans, a primordial, and Tartarus itself, a little rain wasn't going to hurt him. He'd get wet, feel empowered for a bit, then dry himself whenever no one was looking.

The powers didn't outweigh the cons of being a demigod, but the perks were useful sometimes.

He walked down the hall and entered the elevator. He pressed the ground floor button. The elevator descended, before stopping at the floor behind him. The door opened to reveal an elderly lady dressed in three layers with an umbrella at her side. She walked into the elevator and eyed Percy worriedly.

"Dear, shouldn't you be wearing more. It's terribly cold out, and it's raining. You'll catch a cold, surely."

Percy smiled at her warmly as the elevator doors closed and the elevator began its descent once again. "Don't worry about me ma'am. I'll be fine."

The woman sighed. "To each their own, I guess. If you do get sick, and need any medicine, come by my apartment. It's number 308."

"I'll keep that in mind."

The woman made a noise of contentment. A silent beat passed between the two before she spoke up again. "Where are you going to, during this trying time?"

"I'm meeting up with my girlfriend. At Central Park."

"I hope she's dressed more appropriately than you." She said, a slight smile playing on her cracked, chapped lips.

"Well, what about you? Where are you going?" Percy asked her.

The woman sighed. "Oh, just the market. One needs their groceries, even when the world is fighting itself out there."

Percy nodded. "I feel that. Everything is going to shit, and yet..." He sighed. "Life still goes on."

She nodded in agreement.

The elevator doors opened. The main lobby of the apartment was lit well enough. Nothing fancy, but nothing too cheap either. The light seemed even brighter compared to the world that waited outside the door. Rain relentlessly pounded on the windows.

"What market do you go to?" Percy questioned as he waited for the women to get off the elevator first.

"Thank you dear." She said, stepping into the lobby. "I go to Fairway."

Percy nodded as he followed her into the lobby. "My mom goes there too."

They walked up to the door. "I guess this is goodbye." She said.