GOLD RUSH ↬ p. jackson x reader {book one}

MISANDRY RUINS MY DAY

I WAS A MOMENT AWAY FROM SIGNING MY SOUL AWAY FOR THIS PLACE. SERIOUSLY.

Once we finished our tour and spa day, we found ourselves back in C.C's office. Annabeth called her name in alert before we entered. But it was only C.C in there. No Percy.

Annabeth looked around the room and frowned. "Where's Percy?"
One of the guinea pigs screeched and screamed, as if trying to answer her. She seemed to think nothing of it, but I looked in its direction, setting it off with a burst of excitement at the attention.

C.C. smiled. "He's having one of our treatments, my dear. Not to worry. You both look wonderful! What did you think of your tour?"
"It's really homely." I answered. C.C smiled knowingly.
"Of course, dear, you'd think so. You know, you resemble your mother in many ways." My jaw hung in shock. She knew my mother? Before I could question her more. She faced Annabeth for her reply.

Annabeth's eyes brightened. "Your library is amazing!"
"Yes, indeed," C.C. said, "The best knowledge of the past three millennia. Anything you want to study, anything you want to be, my dear."

"An architect?"
"Pah!" C.C. said. "You, my dear, have the makings of a sorceress. Like me."
Annabeth took a step back. "A sorceress?"

"Yes, my dear." C.C. held up her hand. A flame appeared in her palm and danced across her fingertips. I too backed away, but tried to retreat in the direction of the observant guinea pig. "My mother is Hecate, the goddess of magic. I know a daughter of Athena when I see one. We are not so different, you and I. We both seek knowledge. We both admire greatness. Neither of us needs to stand in the shadow of men."

"I-I don't understand."
"Stay with me," C.C. was telling Annabeth. "Study with me. You can join our staff, become a sorceress, learn to bend others to your will. You will become immortal!"
"Annabeth." I said, trying not to shake. She had faced things much more perilous than a spa owner, but I hadn't. C.C turned to me.

"Y/N! You are already halfway there. You think your dreams are a gift? You possess the powers of the Delphic Oracle!"
"Ma'am, I don't—"

"You are both far too intelligent, dears." C.C. said. "You know better than to trust that silly camp for heroes. How many great female half-blood heroes can you name?"
I thanked Athena for Annabeth's natural wisdom. I could have named some, but I could barely speak without trembling. "Um, Atalanta, Amelia Earhart—"

"Bah! Men get all the glory." C.C. closed her fist and extinguished the magic flame. "The only way to power for women is sorcery. Medea, Calypso, now there were powerful women! And me, of course. The greatest of all."

I blinked. "You ... C.C. ... Circe!"
"Yes, my dear."
Annabeth backed up, and Circe laughed. "You need not worry. I mean you no harm."
"What have you done to Percy?"
"Only helped him realize his true form."

My eyes went wide as I pivoted and made direct eye contact with the guinea pig. Annabeth scanned the room and saw it too.
"Forget him," Circe said. "Join me and learn the ways of sorcery."

"But—"
"Your friend will be well cared for. He'll be shipped to a wonderful new home on the mainland. The kindergartners will adore him. Meanwhile, you will be wise and powerful. You will have all you ever wanted. Y/N, you can harness the power of your lineage. You will do your family proud."

I shook my head, my thoughts feeling cloudy. "I don't even know who they are."
"You will not be in the dark for much longer." She promised. Those words seemed to travel through the air in an enchanting trail of desire.

Annabeth was still staring at the guinea pig, but she had a dreamy expression on her face. I feared that if I looked in the mirror, I'd see the very same.
"Let me think about it," Annabeth murmured. "Just... give me a minute alone. To say good-bye."