Blood Of Poseidon

VII. Princess Andromeda

Percy stumbled through the darkened camp, his thoughts a chaotic jumble of defiance and uncertainty. The forbidden beach blanket and contraband Coke were clutched in his hands, a silent rebellion against the rules that bound him within the protective borders of Camp Half-Blood. He yearned for the solace of the ocean, a place where his restless thoughts found clarity. Under the starlit sky, Percy spread the blanket near the surf, the rhythmic waves providing a soothing backdrop. As he popped open a Coke, the forbidden elixir that seemed to calm his hyperactive mind, he pondered the camp's looming challenges. Grover's fate and the quest for the Golden Fleece weighed heavily on him. Lost in his troubled thoughts, Percy was startled by a voice that shattered the tranquil night. "Beautiful, aren't they?" A figure in nylon shorts and a New York City Marathon T-shirt materialized beside him. The man exuded a slim, fit demeanor with salt-and-pepper hair and a sly smile that tugged at Perseus's subconscious. There was a familiarity, yet he couldn't place it. His initial instinct was to uncap Riptide and defend, but the stranger's calm demeanor disarmed that instinct. "May I join you?" he asked, slipping seamlessly onto the blanket. Perseus hesitated, eyeing the man and wondering if this mysterious visitor was a friend or foe. "Uh, sure." The stranger's smile widened as he reached for a Coke. "Your hospitality does you credit. Oh, and Coca-Cola! May I?" Percy nodded knowing he couldn't reject even if he wanted. The Aura around the stranger clearly announced that he was a God, a Powerful one too. The God sat at the other end of the blanket, popped a soda, and took a drink. "Ah ... that hits the spot. Peace and quiet at-" Suddenly A cell phone interrupted his conversation, emanating a bluish glow. Perseus stared in disbelief as the man answered, two miniature snakes writhing around the antenna. The jogger didn't seem to mind. He checked his screen and cursed. "I've got to take this. Just a sec ..." Then into the phone: "Hello?" He listened. The mini-snakes writhed up and down the antenna right next to his ear. "Yeah," the jogger said. "Listen-I know, but... I don't care if he is chained to a rock with vultures pecking at his liver, if he doesn't have a tracking number, we can't locate his package.... A gift to humankind, great... You know how many of those we deliver-Oh, never mind. Listen, just refer him to Eris in customer service. I gotta go." He hung up. "Sorry. The overnight express business is just booming. Now, as I was saying-" "You have snakes on your phone." Percy said. "What? Oh, they don't bite. Say hello, George and Martha." Hello, George and Martha, a raspy male voice said inside Percy's head. Don't be sarcastic, said a female voice. Why not? George demanded. I do all the real work. "Oh, let's not go into that again!" The jogger slipped his phone back into his pocket. "Now, where were we ... Ah, yes. Peace and quiet. "He crossed his ankles and stared up at the stars. "Been a long time since I've gotten to relax. Ever since the telegraph-rush, rush, rush. Do you have a favorite constellation, Percy?" "Don't know much about them. But I would say Phoenix." Percy said remembering good memories with bis mother when she showed him constellations and explained about them. "I expected Pegasus or Hercules from you. You're an interesting young man. And so, what now?" Percy knew what the man was implying, But he didn't know the man's interest in the quest for fleece. Percy instincts was screaming to take his weapon out. But, Martha the snake's muffled voice came from stranger's pocket: I have Demeter on line two. "Not now," the jogger said. "Tell her to leave a message." She's not going to like that. The last time you put her off, all the flowers in the floral delivery division wilted. "Just tell her I'm in a meeting!" The jogger rolled his eyes. Suddenly Percy saw a symbol he was familiar with from cabin 11. "You're Hermes." He said. "Oh that's first" The stranger, Identified as a Hermes, said after a flabbergasted silence. "Why are you here?" Percy asked. "I am here because-" "Save it," Percy replied, crossing his arms defiantly. "I'm not interested in whatever quest or favor you want me to do for Olympus." Hermes raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by Percy's defiance. "You can't just refuse, Percy. The fate of the camp, and perhaps even Olympus, rests on your shoulders." "Does it really?" Percy retorted, a mocking smirk on his face. "Funny, because I seem to recall the gods not lifting a finger to help when their children were staying on streets trying to survive. What makes you think I should care now?" Hermes winced. "Percy, it's not that simple. There are ancient laws, duties-""Excuses," Percy interrupted. "It's always excuses with you gods. Your actions caused Luke turn against us, and now you want me to clean up your mess? Why should I?" Hermes sighed again, this time more deeply. "I need you to confront Luke. Convince him to return to camp instead of leading an army of monsters against Olympus." Percy chuckled bitterly. "You're asking me to do what you couldn't, what you failed to do as a father. Luke hates both of us, Hermes, and you're at the top of his hate list." Hermes looked pained but explained, "Duties, ancient laws-""Save it," Percy scoffed. "Every god is the same. You only care about yourselves. You throw your kids into the world, expecting them to fend for themselves, and then act surprised when they turn against you." Hermes tried to speak, but Percy continued his rant. "You and the other gods have failed us so many times. Maybe I should let you all deal with the mess you've created." Hermes sighed once more, realizing he needed a different approach. "Percy, you're the only one who can save the camp. It's your domain, the sea. None of the others can succeed without you." Percy raised an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. "Save the camp? Why should I care?" "Because it's your home, Percy. It's where you belong," Hermes pleaded. "Camp is no home to me, it never became one." "Okay, but this is home to others. And because deep down, I know you care about your friends. The demigods at camp-they need you." Percy remained silent for a moment, contemplating Hermes's words. Finally, he spoke, "You've convinced me, Hermes. But not for Olympus or the gods. I'll go on this quest because I know what awaits the demigods out there. I've had enough experience navigating those dangerous streets, and I don't want that for others, even if they hate me for claiming their friend to be a traitor. Camp Half-Blood is the only safe home for them, and I'll do what it takes to protect it." "Great, Martha... may I have my first package, please" Hermes asked taking his Caduceus, Martha opened her mouth ... and kept opening it until it was as wide as Percy's arm. She belched out a stainless steel canister-an old-fashioned lunch box thermos with a black plastic top. The sides of the thermos were enameled with red and yellow Ancient Greek scenes-a hero killing a lion; a hero lifting up Cerberus, the three-headed dog. "This is a collector's item from Hercules Busts Heads. The first season." Percy almost dropped it because it was freezing cold on one side and burning hot on the other. The weird thing was, when he turned the thermos, the side facing the ocean- north-was always the cold side.... "It's a compass!" Percy said. Hermes looked surprised. "Very clever. I never thought of that. But its intended use is a bit more dramatic. Uncap it, and you will release the winds from the four corners of the earth to speed you on your way. Not now! And please, when the time comes, only unscrew the lid a tiny bit. The winds are a bit like me-always restless. Should all four escape at once ... ah, but I'm sure you'll be careful. And now my second gift. George?" She's touching me, George complained as he and Martha slithered around the pole. "She's always touching you," Hermes said. "You're intertwined. And if you don't stop that, you'll get knotted again!" The snakes stopped wrestling. George unhinged his jaw and coughed up a little plastic bottle filled with chewable vitamins. Percy even saw some in shape of Minotaur "The lemon ones are Minotaurs. The grape ones are Furies, I think. Or are they hydras? At any rate, these are potent. Don't take one unless you really, really need it." Percy nodded. "This will help you in this quest." Hermes said. "I am a God Percy, Immortal  beings with power." Percy was about to interrupt. " Don't interrupt me. We have lived more folds of your life. And after all these years of life, we became careless, But there also ancient laws which we can't break, After all we are just young among the Gods and is afraid of Punishment. I have made mistakes with my children, Percy, But I love my children, They all are precious to me just like Luke is. He have every right to hate me. But he doesn't know that his actions will only hurt him and his friends, innocent children whom he is trying to save, at the end he is just a demigod and powerless in front of true power. He don't know what he is getting into" "Fine, I will talk to him. But don't keep your hopes high, lord Hermes. I can't promise he will be convinced." Hermes nodded, a mixture of gratitude and relief on his face. He also noticed how Percy changed addressing him, there was hinges of respect while there were none before. "Good. I have arranged a ship for you. And if you ask nicely your father maybe able to help you to reach it." "I take that's where Luke is" Hermes nodded "You and your friends have about five minutes to leave for the quest. That's when the Harpies will come to eat you. And dare I say, Cousin, Good Luck." With that, Hermes vanished into thin air, leaving behind only the echo of his words and the urgency of the impending quest.