Child of the Moon

Prometheus Says No Take Backsies

We could see the white flag from half a mile away.  It was as big as a football field, carried by a thirty foot tall giant with bright blue skin and icy gray hair.

YN: Is that a Hyperborean?

Thalia: Yep.  The giants of the north.  It's a bad sign that they sided with Kronos.  They're usually peaceful.

YN: You've met them?

Thalia: Mmm.  There's a big colony in Alberta.  You do not want to get into a snowball fight with those guys.

As the giant got closer, I could see three human size envoys with him.  A Half-blood in armor, an Empousa demon with a black dress and flaming hair, and a tall man in a tuxedo.  The Empousa held the tux dude's arm, so they looked like a couple on their way to a Broadway show or something... except for her flaming hair and fangs.  The group walked leisurely toward the Heckscher Playground.  The swings and ball courts were empty.  The only sound was the fountain on Umpire Rock.  I looked at Grover.

YN: The tux dude is the Titan?

He nodded nervously.

Grover: He looks like a magician.  I hate magicians.  They usually have rabbits.

I stared at him.

Percy: You're scared of bunnies?

Grover: They're big bullies.  Always stealing celery from defenseless satyrs!

Thalia coughed.

Grover: What?

Percy: We'll have to work on your bunny phobia later.  Here they come.

The man in the tux stepped forward.  He was taller than an average human, at about seven feet.  His black hair was tied in a ponytail.  Dark round glasses covered his eyes, but what really caught my attention was the skin on his face.  It was covered in scars, like he'd been attacked by a small animal... a really, really mad squirrel, maybe.

???: Percy Jackson, YN Ernten.  It's a great honor.

His lady friend the Empousa hissed at us.  She'd probably heard how we'd destroyed some of her sisters last summer.

???: My dear, why don't you make yourself comfortable over there, eh?

She released his arm and drifted over to a park bench.  I glanced at the armed Demigod behind Tux Dude.  It was our old backstabbing buddy Ethan Nakamura.  His shoulder was wrapped in bandages under his armor.  Seeing that made me feel a little better.

YN: Hey, Ethan.  How's your arm?

He glared at me.

Prometheus: To business.  I am Prometheus.

Percy: The fire stealer guy?  The chained to the rock with the eagle guy?

Prometheus winced and gave him a side eye.  He touched the scratches on his face.

Prometheus: Please, don't mention the eagle.  But yes, I stole fire from the gods and gave it to your ancestors.  In return, the ever merciful Zeus had me chained to a rock and tortured for all eternity.

Percy: Then how-

YN: According to the myths, Hercules let him go during his labors.  Zeus allowed him to kill the eagle and set him free.

Prometheus: Precisely.  So you see, I have a soft spot for heroes.  Some of you can be quite civilized.

YN: Unlike the shithead behind you.

I was glaring at Ethan, but Prometheus apparently thought I meant the Empousa.

Prometheus: Oh, demons aren't so bad.  You just have to keep them well fed.  Now, Percy Jackson and YN LN, let us parley.