Moving On | Percy x Artemis

four

A R T E M I S

The first obvious place to visit is Percy Jackson's old home. The apartment doesn't look like much from the outside. It doesn't look like a place where someone important would live. It's all red bricks and dirty front steps. 

Thalia looks unsure. I wonder how Sally Jackson will react to seeing Thalia and I at her front door. I instructed the other girls to stay behind, this would be a personal visit. 

I ring the doorbell and it's only a few seconds later when Sally Jackson opens the door. She looks older than I expected. I know she isn't really old, but her tired eyes and the lines on her face tell a story of hardships. She was clearly good looking once, her dark hair still long and beautiful, her skin slightly tanned. 

"Sally Jackson?" I ask even though I know it's her. 

She looks at us for a second two long before opening the door wider. "Would you like to come in?" 

"Thank you," I say and we enter the apartment. 

Sally gestures for us to sit down on the couch and then she cuts straight to the chase. "Why are you here, Artemis?"

"We are looking for your son, Perseus Jackson," I tell her. Her face changes as soon as I say his name, it's as if I punched her in the chest. 

"Why?" Her voice is significantly quieter now, and she isn't meeting my eyes. 

"Poseidon is worried about him," I say, part of the truth but not all of it. "And he has been missing for two years." 

Sally crumples into a chair in front of us. "So now, after two years you're suddenly interested in finding him?" 

"We thought he would come back," I say honestly. We also thought he wouldn't be able to run from us. 

Sally looks at her hands, "I thought he would too." Her eyes are full of tears now. She must've really loved her son. 

"We're sorry," Thalia finally says. she reaches across the gap and clasps Sally's hand. "But we want to bring Percy home." 

"Do you have anything that might help us? Any information on where he might have gone?" I ask. 

Thalia looks at me disapprovingly. There is no time to be sensitive. I just want to find this boy and get back to my real work. 

Sally shakes her head, "He just left without a word. Annabeth's death destroyed him." A single tear rolls down her cheek. "He didn't even say goodbye." 

I'm disappointed. I'd felt sure Sally would have something for us. "Thank you," I say and stand up. 

Thalia stays seated and she squeezes Sally's hand, "I promise you, Mrs. Jackson, we'll find Percy and bring him back." 

Sally's smile is bright though tear filled, "Thank you Thalia." 

She turns to me then, her smile fading. "I don't think he would've gone far, he doesn't like flying." 

I smile at her, that's almost helpful. "Thank you." I look at Thalia. We need to leave. 

Sally walks us to the door, her tears gone. As I step outside she touches my arm. When I look at her, her eyes are desperate, "Please make sure he's safe. Please bring him home." 

The love in those eyes makes me sad. I'm almost angry at this Percy, why would he run away from a mother like this? 

Then I say, and I really mean it, "I will." 

This chase is silly but I can tell that the result will be satisfactory. The sooner I bring this rogue demigod back to where he belongs, the better. 

I'm coming for you Perseus Jackson.