The 13th Olympian

A monster knocks sense into me

The old lady started walking towards Frank, where he stood dumbfounded. "Am I hallucinating?!" He assured, gaping.

She approached us.

"Grandma Zhang!" Percy cheered.

"Oh my Gods! I'm so happy to see you again." Hazel said, wiping away a tear.

"You're alive?!" Said Frank, horrified.

"What do you mean? Of course I am! I told you I'd not die so easily," She scolded.

She stared at her grandson from head to toe. "You defeated Gaia. I'm impressed, Fai."

Frank blushed.

"Hazel and Percy!" She continued, "Good to see you too. And---" she gestured to the blonde and me.

"Annabeth," she told.

"Delilah," I added

"Yes whatever. What brings you people here? Probably you did not come here looking for me, anyway come in. I have baked cookies." She said, as she turned around and pointed towards an old styled building that looked vaguely Chinese.

"Uhm I don't think Annabeth, Delilah and I can stay. We're on a quest and we're running out of time." Percy clarified.

The old lady turned to face him. "Quest?" She queried, "The one about the Sea God?"

"Yes."

Annabeth frowned. "What do you mean 'about the Sea God'? The prophecy talks about children of him. Not actually him, right?"

Grandma stared at her. "It is about the Sea God. Don't you know?"

Annabeth's face reddened in irritation. Oh no Grandma. You should not ever tell the genius Annabeth what she doesn't know! I thought.

"Really?" Percy asked, "What else do you know?"

Annabeth looked like she was ready to punch granny in the face for being rude to her. Which actually wasn't rude, but in her small wise brains it was. She probably decided to let Percy do the talking, only for the sake of information.

"I don't know much," Grandma said, taking a seat at the cafe table.

We did the same.

"So the God that we are supposed to calm, is a Sea God?" I said.

"Indeed."

"A minor sea god?" Percy asked.

"No stupid. A minor god wouldn't have been a problem. It is a bigger entity. As big as Neptune. Ever heard about...," She examined our expressions, "Varuna?"

I shifted in my seat. I did not know any Varuna dude. I regretted sleeping in my mythology class!

"You are a son of the sea. You should know." Grandma said to Percy.

He only shrugged.

She sighed. "Varuna is an Indian God. He has power over water too, just like your father Neptune."

"Poseidon."

She ignored him. "You shall solve the politics that has brought about fights and arguments in the sea."

"Wait," Annabeth said, "What politics? And why are we Greeks questing for Indian Gods?"

"Neptune is not the only controller of water, you see. This is a small world with many lands, all having their own Gods. The water is distributed among all to keep peace. They have pacts and agreements and deals. Sea politics, it is," She said. "See? Even the water is filthy with politics. Ever wondered why the Pacific and Atlantic oceans never mix? Opposition among the Gods of the sea." She shook her head. "And the mortals think it is because of the different densities."