Consort to the Primordials

Chapter 26: Last Goodbye

Percy walked with his friends in the field of Mars. Supplies floated around him, at the surprise and amusement of his friends. He had brought all of them, of course. Jason, Piper, Leo, Calypso, Frank, Hazel, Nico, Will, and Grover all walked with him. Annabeth had elected not to come, and Thalia and Reyna were off with the hunt.

When they reached the middle of the field, Percy set down the supplies floating around him. A fold up table, a grill, packets of utensils, propane tanks, bags of charcoal, a Frisbee, and the many different foods and food accessories softly touched the ground.

"So," Percy said. "Who wants to cook?"

Everyone pointed at Leo, who smiled. "Heck yeah. What have I got to cook with, Perce?"

Percy gestured to the food. "Anything in there."

Leo rubbed his hands together and immediately walked to the grill, starting it up. Everyone else walked to the table and sat down, laughing and joking with each other. For a moment, Percy almost believed he could stay with them. He stayed quiet and enjoyed the feeling of just being with them, of being a part of their group again. Occasionally, he would chip into their conversations, but mainly, he stayed quiet. At least, until the conversation came around to him.

The talk had been about their children when Jason turned to Percy and asked what had been in the back of everyone's minds.

"How do you have so many children?"

Everyone stared at Percy, who stared back. "Uhhhh... the same way you guys did?"

At the griddle, Leo chuckled and flipped a burger. "No way, really?"

Percy nodded. "I mean, yeah. At least with some of them."

Calypso raised an eyebrow. "What's that mean?"

"Well..." Percy said. "You guys remember Helena?"

The blank stares he received indicated they had not. He frowned. "You should have. She was the one who called Will her uncle."

"Ohhhh," everyone said in realization.

"Both me and Tartarus are her parents," Percy said.

Will stared for a moment. "What."

"How?" Piper asked.

"She was a teenager. When?" Nico wondered.

"And where?" Leo said from the grill, giggling to himself.

Percy shrugged. "Being on good terms with the goddess of family is useful."

"Don't you hate Hera?" Grover asked.

"Nah," Percy said with a wave of his hand. "Not anymore."

"What changed?" Hazel asked.

Percy tapped his chin. "A very large amount of time and a couple rounds of Monopoly. Getting rid of Heracles was a good starting point for both of us, though. We both hated him."

"Burgers are done!" Leo announced, plating the food and passing them out. He sat next to Calypso and kissed her on the cheek before digging into his burger. Piper poked hers, watching as no blood seeped out, and then smiled.

"They're really good," Percy said. "Thank you, Leo."

Leo nodded. "Yeah, well, I'm just great like that."

As they ate, the conversation moved away from Percy and onto Leo, who was pressured by Piper and Hazel into telling the story of how he met Calypso. As Jason took the last bite of the last burger, Percy smiled. It was time. He cleared his throat, and everyone turned to look at him.

"I need to tell you all something. The reason I had us all meet up today was because, well... today's the day I'm leaving."

There were instant protests from around the table, but Percy put his hand up. "Look. I know you all missed me, and you want me to stay, but I can't. I have duties and responsibilities elsewhere, and, to be honest, seeing all of you brings me just as much pain as it does happiness. I love you all, but seeing you here... well, there's a reason I haven't interacted too much with you guys."

"So you're just going to leave?" Jason asked. "What about your kids?"

Percy sighed. "I know it doesn't make sense. But one day, it will. I promise."

"When is this 'one day'?" Nico asked. "We missed you. Do you know how bad we felt when you fell into the pit? How much we wished we could see you again to apologize?"

Percy nodded. "Of course I do."

"And what about Pontus?" Piper asked. "Are you leaving us alone to deal with him?"

Percy shook his head. "No. Pontus will be dealt with. don't worry."

"Is that it then?" Grover asked. "You return for a couple of days, drop hints of who knows what, confuse us, and then just leave?"

Percy nodded. "Yes. And I'm sorry. I know you guys don't understand, but I also need to leave. If I don't, the consequences... well, I need to go."

Hazel looked down and gripped Frank's hand. "I understand," she said.

Percy looked at her, thankfully, while Jason looked at her as if she was crazy. "Hazel, he has kids here!"

"Doesn't he have kids somewhere else?" Calypso asked.

Jason spluttered. "W-well, I don't -"

"What about Annabeth?" Nico asked. "You're just leaving her as well? Your wife?"

"Are they even married anymore?" Frank wondered.

Percy watched as everyone on the table slowly picked sides, arguing for him to stay or giving him reassurance as to why they understood. He held up a hand, and they stopped.

"Please don't argue," he said. "Nothing will change the fact that I have to do this. I'm sorry."

"Fine," Jason said, turning away from Percy. "Leave then."

Percy smiled softly at Jason. "We'll play a game of Sorry when you see me again. I promise."

He looked at each friend after the other, sticking their faces in his mind. Then, his body dissolved into golden sand. Everyone stared at the pile with various faces of anger, surprise, or sadness. Jason sighed and stood up from the table.

"Let's go, Pipes."

Piper stood up and followed after him. Soon, the others left as well, leaving the scene behind. Grover sighed and began to pick everything up, using it as a way to practice his new godly powers.
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The room was pitch black, with the only light source being a yellow light bulb hanging from the ceiling. The chain to turn the light off was hanging down. Underneath the light was a wood table with two seats facing each other and a dusty chess game set up on top.

One of the seats was inhabited by a man with long, stringy green hair and a wizened beard. He watched the seat across from him as if waiting for something. His face rested on one of his hands as he swirled a small ball of water in the other.

The dark walls of the room would occasionally glow faintly with the lights of eyes or bulbs. Ancient creatures of the deep, creatures even Poseidon would be terrified of surrounded the room.

Across him, golden sand began to swirl on the other seat, eventually dissipating and leaving behind the man's brother. He grinned.

"It took you long enough."

He let the ball of water drop to the ground and moved his hand forward, moving one of the pawns.