Son of Artemis: The Assassin God Unleashed

Chapter 2: New Arrivals

Fredrick's POV:

It's been a little more than a few months since that call when my daughter interrupted. I have looked at my phone so many times since then, wondering if I should call her. But given how my wife allegedly got chewed out about her no longer focusing on studies and that she said she wouldn't be able to help, it made me worry. I know why her mother couldn't help, and since my daughter can't help me with this, I can only assume it's for the same reasons. Gods aren't supposed to interfere in the affairs of mortals, and...well, this is a lot bigger than passing some college classes, and I'm going to presume outside both Athena's and possibly my daughter's domains. As such, there is no loophole they can use to excuse the 'interference' in mortal affairs. 

However, my hesitation eventually led to a text from my daughter, who basically said that she gave my number to her friend and half-sibling that she was sending and that they'd be arriving in Slovenia shortly.

I wonder how she knew we were going to need help shortly. For, we had just uncovered the clearly man-made parts of the temple and were in the process of trying to decipher everything we'd already uncovered. Nonetheless, the temple entrance door was sealed shut, and our attempts to open it have thus far failed. 

"Dr. Chase, we were able to remove the plank hanging from the chain. We're taking it to the tents to get better scans of it and send a sample to begin the process of carbon dating." I heard from one of the researchers.

"Hold off on the sample. I am picking up a couple of linguistics that are coming in today. See if the scans can identify any clear writing, and we'll see if we can get translations today before sending the plank off to Oxford for dating." 

"Ok, Dr. Chase," I heard their response from my phone before the line went cold. 

I sighed, as today was going to be a long day, but at least they were able to remove the plank from those chains, keeping the door shut. Then my phone went off again, but this time for an unrecognized number. "Hello?" I asked, as usually numbers you don't know are scam calls or are asking for donations for X, Y, or Z cause.

"Hello, Dr. Chase. Your daughter sent us, and we just got through customs and baggage claim. Which door are you at?" Asked the voice of a lady I'd never heard before, but she sounded stern and sure of herself.

"I'm at the beginning of the arrivals doors," I responded, to which I was thanked and hung up on.

I started looking out at the crowds of people arriving and leaving, trying to figure out who my two pick-ups were going to be. I knew Annabeth said a friend and a half-brother of hers, but I have no clue if all of Athena's kids generally look the same or not. I mean, Athena is a goddess and creates her children with her thoughts, so they can probably look like anything she wants them to look like.

When a Blonde boy knocked on the window, I was out of my notions. He was relatively young-looking, probably no older than 17, fairly athletic, and he had this far-away but wise look in his eyes like he'd seen things that even adults shouldn't have seen. Though his eyes also reminded me a little bit of Annabeth's and Athena's. Next to him, with a bag over her shoulder and a duffle bag at her feet, though I had no idea who she was, nor anyone to compare her to. She had a warm brown, almost reddish brown hair that reached past her shoulders, an annoyed yet stern-looking face, and a fairly athletic build as well.

I decided to roll down my window since it didn't look like either would leave until I did.

"Dr. Chase," the boy said, though he sounded annoyed and like he wanted to kill me.

"yes?" I asked nervously.

"Annabeth sent us," the girl responded. "Well, not me; that was someone else, but Annabeth asked for me to be sent."

"Oh," I replied, unlocking the car door and popping the trunk. 

"So uhhh..."

"I'm only here because my sister asked it of me," the boy replied with a glare at me. So, I am going to take a guess that he knows about my less-than-stellar performance as a father to Annabeth.

"Oh, hush, Malcolm. Your mother wanted you to go as well. She says that school of yours is nothing but brain rot," The Girl teased. 

He grumbled something under his breath while entering the car's back seat, and the girl followed shortly after. "I was told that she wanted us to come translate things for you," the girl said.

"Yes, that's correct," I said. "We're working on scanning a plank that was hanging on the door and then are sending it off to be carbon dated."

Malcolm rolled his eyes while the girl, who I now notice is a few years older than him, coughed. 

"Do you?"

"Yes, I have an idea of what is back there," Malcolm replied. 

"Even know what might be written already, too," the girl replied.

"So, are you two..."

"No," they both immediately responded. "Plus, I have a bet that Malcolm doesn't swing that way," the girl added.

"Do I even want to know about that Gwendolyn," Malcolm asked, but more so stated. 

"It's not just you; Silena and her charges have an entire pool for almost everyone in your camp."

"Of course, they made a pool," he mumbled, sounding nervous.

"So Dr. Chase," Gwendolyn said, likely trying to take attention off of Malcolm. "How are we going to get to the site, and are we staying at a rental or just camping?"

"I thought Annabeth was taking care of your accommodations since you aren't with any university associated with the project," I answered.

I could feel the eye rolls from both of them. 

"Just get us to the sight then. We should be able to get that plank translated for you," Malcolm said.

Bonus: Oh, and I ain't been lonely since you said goo...FRENS...you're early...14 help
Me: It's alright, lil dude. Just do your thing and get back to your music.
Bonus: OTAY

"Did you really have to make me send someone?" I asked Annabeth.

"You and I both wouldn't trust mortals to translate Latin," she defended.

Which is a point she had me on. I wouldn't trust anyone outside the legion to translate Latin correctly, and I'd hate my 'origin' story becoming fucked by some stupid mortal that doesn't know how to translate the old language correctly. "But still, they deserve a break, and why can't your brother do it?"

"You've seen his work with Latin...YOU EVEN GAVE HIM AN F ON IT."

Ok fair. I failed her brother on his Latin assignment. But it's not my fault he didn't know how to properly translate verbs.

"So are you two gonna stop, or am I going to have to tackle you into bed," Thalia said, walking into our bedroom. "After all, I hope we'll be able to consummate tonight since it's our first night in our own place."

"THALIA," Annabeth shrieked.

"What? I'm horny, and we haven't done anything at his mom's place outta respect her domains."

Bonus: what does consummate mean?
Me: what? Why would *sees that it's this part* Oh no. Bonus, I am so sorry this part wasn't meant for you.
Bonus: but what
Me: No. You are too young for this conversation.