༄ 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓, grover underwood

𝐗𝐗𝐕. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐔𝐃.

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍

I can hear gamblers cheering at a nearby table.

A man in a beige hoodie starts talking.

"So, a big wave comes, and washes the boy back onto the beach. So the lady falls to her knees. She looks up at the sky, and she says... 'He's wearing a hat!'"

The people surrounding the table laugh. Me and Annabeth approach the table, and I look at the man in the beige hoodie, and he looks back at me.

"Hey, demigods! Welcome!"

He greets, as me and Annabeth look at eachother.

"Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen."

The croupier says.

"We were sent to find you."

Annabeth says to the man, now I know who he is. Hermes. He smirks.

"Well, you found me. Come join us,"

Hermes places some game pieces on the playing board.

"You kids know how to play craps?"

He inquires.

"Look, we don't really have a lot of time. We need your help to-"

Hermes cuts off Annabeth.

"I know what you need my help for. You want my help to sneak into the Underworld."

He says. My eyebrows raise slightly.

"Wow. You're a really good guesser."

I say. Hermes flashes me a little grin.

"I exist beyond space and time, kid. Why do you think they put me in charge of the mail?"

He asks, giving me a very pointed look. I look down sheepishly, reminded of my little gift of Medusa's head to Olypmus.

"Look, you're not the first demigods to ask. And, trust me, you won't be the first to walk away disappointed. So, you might as well play a little-"

"We're friends of Luke's."

Annabeth says, interrupting Hermes. He pauses, and looks at us both as his smile falters.

"...Yeah,"

He says, looking away from us for a moment before back up at me and Annabeth.

"Okay."

Hermes places his hands on me and Annabeths backs as he leads us away from the games.

It feels as if we were taken through a blur of time as we're randomly in a private room.

"Time and space are easy, kids. Parenting is... something else entirely."

Hermes goes to sit down at a table in the middle of the room. An assistant walks in to pour him some alcohol.

"Have a seat."

He tells me an Annabeth, pointing at the two chairs across from him.

Me and Annabeth cautiously sit down in the chairs.

"I remember you. You were there,"

Hermes subtly points at Annabeth.

"The last time I saw Luke."

Annabeth nods.

"Yes,"

She pauses.

"I saw you argue. I heard what he said. That what happened to his mom was your fault. That it was all your fault. That he hated you."