𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐌 • Heroes of Olympus

XIV

Percy

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐓 should've taken them all the way to Long Island. And it would've, if it weren't for those marine officers. 

True, a stolen fishing boat carrying two teenagers and a violent middle aged satyr must've looked extremely suspicious to them. But Percy still firmly believed that if Coach Hedge hadn't gone Kung Fu Goat on the marines, they could've talked their way out of it. 

Now, they were on land. The one place where they weren't supposed to be.

Coach Hedge bounded along energetically as they passed by someone's fenced garden. Percy was wondering just how big the property was, when Annabeth stopped.

“That's weird,” she said.

Percy tried to see what she was looking at. “What’s weird?” he asked, completely lost.

“Look,” Annabeth said, ignoring the fact that Percy was already looking.

When she realized Percy wasn't following her line of thought, Annabeth elaborated, “The garden is in full bloom. But it's mid summer. These flowers shouldn't be out till spring.”

“Bah,” Coach Hedge interjected. “That only works for natural flowers.”

Percy and Annabeth turned to the satyr, confused. Coach looked baffled.

“Can't you cupcakes tell?” he asked, knowing damn well that they couldn't. “There's godly power at work here.”

Percy could, in fact, not tell.

“So you're saying we're passing through a magic garden?” he asked. “What is this, Persephone’s side gig?”

“Actually, it's my main gig.”

As Percy watched, a part of the fence morphed into a wooden gate. Over it appeared a sign that said Aphaea’s Gardens, Farms and Fertility Clinic. For a second, Percy wondered if he'd lost his ability to read Ancient Greek.

Then, a smiling woman with box braids spawned out of nowhere behind the gate.

“Welcome!” she said, throwing the gate open. “I'm Aphaea, and I have anything you need, from flowers to fruits to dairy to agricultural advice to puberty education to fertility—”

“Yeah, we got the idea, lady,” Coach Hedge cut in.

Aphaea looked unfazed. “A satyr!” she exclaimed. “I haven't seen one in ages!”

Percy felt Annabeth tense beside him. What did it mean that she hadn't seen satyrs in ages? If he was being honest, Percy really wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone back from the dead. 

“What do you mean you haven't seen satyrs in ages?” Annabeth asked.

“Oh, you know, work gets in the way,” Aphaea said, waving her hand dismissively. “I haven't left my farm in ages. Being a god is exhausting.”

“You're a goddess?” Percy hadn't meant for it to sound rude, but Aphaea looked hurt.

“Of course, I am,” she defended. “I've been a goddess ever since Artemis got me away from that creep Minos.”

“Artemis?” Annabeth said. “Artemis made you a goddess?”

Aphaea nodded. “We used to be… what's that saying? Ah. We used to be thick as thieves. But then I left the hunt. Now I live here.” She did a little twirl, arms stretched out. “Why are you guys still outside? Come on in! I'll give you a tour.”