MARTYR | A Luke Castellan Love Story

11 - Reassured

Jay trudged onto the shore of camp as the sun began rising over the horizon. She walked up a path to camp and was greeted by Percy, his black hair a mess and his face fatigued. He looked surprised.

"Hey Jay? Where'd you go? You weren't in the cabin this morning."

Jay racked her mind for an excuse before she spoke.

"Just taking a walk."

She yawned and rubbed her eyes, tired from her midnight endeavors.

"Well get some sleep. We'll start training today when you get some rest." he patted her shoulder and then watched her as she walked off.

Percy knew that they were related by more than just godly blood. Either that or Poseidon liked women with the last name of "Jackson".

The whole camp had predicted it. A Poseidon demigod with the same last name as Percy? It was obvious that Jay was from the same mother.

Percy looked down, feeling confused and a bit hurt.

If my mom is also hers...why haven't I heard about her? No. It's just a coincidence.

Even though "Jackson" was a common last name, Percy felt in his gut that this wasn't a coincidence.

He had to ask Sally herself.

The boy took a deep breathe and walked to the forest, activating an iris message.

"Oh Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, accept my offering." Percy said aloud, tossing a drachma into the air.

It successfully went through, and he asked to see Sally.

Sally was in her kitchen, washing some dishes. Her dark hair was pulled up into a messy bun.

"Mom?"

Sally turned and her face lit up with a smile.

"Percy! Hey. Is everything okay?"

Percy gulped and nodded.

"Everything's fine..I just..I need to talk with you."

"Go on."
She set down a dish and turned the sink off, listening.

"There's a girl here. She's another Poseidon demigod. Her name's Jay."

Sally's heart stopped for a beat, her knuckles turning white as she clutched the plate.

"Mom..is she my real sister? Like..did you have her..?" he asked softly, genuine concern  in his eyes.

Sally sighed deeply, the small wrinkles on her face deepening with sorrow.

"Yes, Percy."

Percy felt a wave of emotion. He felt betrayed, happy, confused, all at once.

Sally saw his expression and began to explain in a gentle tone.

"Me and your father..we had to send her away for our safety and hers. Zeus was going to kill her if he found out she was born. I'm sorry."

Percy sat silently, his mom's worried expression shimmering in the mist.

"You lied to me..all those years.." he whispered.

"Percy, please understand. I didn't want to send Jay away but..we had to."

Sally wiped her face with her sleeve, sniffling and trying to hold it together.

Percy suddenly felt pity for his mother. He shook his head.

"It's okay, mom. Really, it is. I'll talk to her. I'll contact you again as soon as I can so she can talk to you. Okay?"

Sally nodded, an excited smile appearing on her face.

"Please. I want to see her so bad..I just hope she doesn't hate me..oh dear.."

She began to cry again, hiding her face.

Percy tried to comfort her:

"It's okay Mom, she'll love you. She wants to meet her family so much. I can tell. I promise I'll have you talk with her once I explain everything. I gotta go."

Sally nodded and smiled softly through the tears.

"Bye Percy."

"Bye Mom. Love you."

And the message ended.

Percy Jackson sat in the woods for a few moments, processing everything.

He didn't have the heart to tell Sally that Zeus knew about Jay. He just couldn't worry her anymore.

He pushed back the negative feelings in his heart and focused on the positive ones. He had a full sister.

He felt his chest then swell with excitement and joy. He was going to protect her at all costs. She was his family by god and mortal blood.

He raced to the Poseidon cabin and ran to Jay's bunk. He then shook her by the shoulders gently.

Jay groggily opened her eyes, rubbing them with fists.

"What is it Percy??"

Percy scooped her in a hug and hugged her tightly. Jay was fully awake by now and surprised, but she returned the hug.

Percy smiled.

"Jay..you're my sister.."

She felt puzzled.

"Yeah, I know. We've been through this, Percy."

Percy pulled back, grinning at her.

"No. My mother is your mother."

Jay's eyes widened, and confusion hit her like a brick.

"W-what?"

"I'll explain. Sit down."

By the time Percy was done talking, a trail of tears had formed on Jay's face. She was trembling.

Percy gently rubbed her arm.

"You don't hate Sally, do you?" he asked.

Jay shook her head.

"No..I want to meet her! Please Percy!"

"I'll set up an iris message alright? Sit tight." He patted her shoulder before getting up. Jay stared at the floorboards, mulling the new information over in her head.

She smiled to herself, her eyes still glimmering from tears.

Percy came back with a gold coin in his hand, and he recited a strange sentence, throwing the coin in midair.
It disappeared, and a woman showed up in a mist of water, her brown hair pulled up and her eyes puffy.

"Jay..?" she asked. "Jay Marie?"

Jay felt a brick hit her heart as she sat dumbfounded, tears filling her ducts.

"Are you..my mom..?" she asked softly.

The woman nodded, covering her mouth with her hands as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Jay bit her lip. She wanted to leap through the mist and hug the woman, who she guessed was named Sally from what Percy had said.

Together, the three of them talked. Jay felt her heart grow fuller by the minute as they smiled and laughed.
She didn't feel any hate towards her mother, she couldn't. She knew her mother loved her and wanted to see her. She knew.

When goodbyes were given, and the message ended, Jay hugged Percy tightly.

The boy hugged her back, and soothed her as she sobbed. It was a mix of happy and sad tears.

"It's alright..I'll protect you. I promise Jay." Percy whispered. And he meant it.