The Undetermined || pjo

epilogue

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Annabeth and Percy were relaxing on the Great Lawn in Central Park

It was September 8th. One month ago, they've defeated the Titan Kronos, but also have started dating.

A sudden streak of light blinded Percy, as if someone had flashed a mirror in his face. He looked around and noticed a brown delivery truck parked in the middle of the Great Lawn where no cars were allowed. Lettered on the side were the words:

HERMES EXPRESS

"Oh, good" he muttered "We've got mail."

"What?" Annabeth asked.

He pointed at the truck. The driver was climbing out. He wore a brown uniform shirt and knee-length shorts along with stylish black socks and cleats. His curly salt-and-pepper hair stuck out around the edges of his brown cap. He looked like a guy in his mid-thirties, but they knew from experience he was actually in his mid-five-thousands.

Hermes. Messenger of the gods. Personal friend, dispenser of heroic quests, and frequent cause of migraine headaches.

He looked upset. He kept patting his pockets and wringing his hands. Either he'd lost something important or he'd had too many espressos at the Mount Olympus Starbucks. Finally he spotted the pair and beckoned, Get over here!

That could've meant several things. If he was delivering a message in person from the gods, it was bad news. If he wanted something from them, it was also bad news.

"We'd better see what he wants."

Hermes scanned the park as if he was afraid of being watched. Percy couldn't be sure why he bothered. Gods are usually invisible to mortals. Nobody else on the Great Lawn was paying any attention to the delivery van.

"I didn't know the girl would be here" Hermes glanced at Annabeth, then back at Percy "She'll have to swear to keep her mouth shut."

"The girl can hear you" Annabeth crossed her arms "And before I swear to anything, maybe you'd better tell us what's wrong"

Percy didn't think he'd ever seen a god look so
jittery. Hermes tucked a curl of gray hair behind his ear. He patted his pockets again. His hands didn't seem to know what to do. He leaned in and lowered his voice.

"I mean it, girl. If word gets back to Athena, she'll never stop teasing me. She already thinks she's so much cleverer than I am"

"She is" Annabeth said.

"Promise" Hermes glared at her "Before I explain the problem, both of you must promise to keep silent."

Suddenly it dawned on Percy.

"Where's your staff?"

Hermes's eye twitched. He looked like
he was about to cry.

"Oh, gods" Annabeth said. "You lost
your staff?"

"I didn't lose it!" Hermes snapped. "It was stolen. And I wasn't asking for your help, girl!"

"Fine" she said. "Solve your own problem. Come on, Percy. Let's get out of here."

Hermes snarled. Percy feared he'd have to break up a fight between an immortal god and his girlfriend, and he didn't want to be on either side of that.

"Annabeth, tell you what. This sounds important. Let me hear him out, and I'll meet you back at the picnic blanket, okay?"