The Blood of Olympus

Chapter 19: Frank

Yayyyyyy, a quick update! Enjoy :)

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Chapter 19: Frank

Frank had faced plenty terrifying monsters before, from evil sea monsters and gryphons, to kleptomaniac dwarves. But for some reason, seeing Periclymus, the prince of Pylos, standing in front of him, was a hundred times worse. He was a legend, a prince, an Argonaut, the only guy in history to be blessed with the power to shape shift by Poseidon. How was Frank supposed to live up to a legacy like that? What if it turned out that Periclymus just laughed in his face, told him he wasn't good enough to make any kind of difference in the war, that he had dishonoured the Zhang family or something like that? It sure sounded like something his grandmother would say, so why not Periclymus? And then there was the fact that although Frank didn't know anything about people's life spans back in Ancient Greece, he was fairly sure that by all logic, Periclymus should be dead.

Then again, in the world of gods and monsters and demigods, there really was no such thing as logic.

Frank stared at him, his sea green eyes almost exactly like Percy's. But that was pretty much where any similarities between the two ended. Periclymus had flowing black hair that reached his shoulders, a long, sharp nose, and shoulders that were so broad it should have been illegal. Then again, Frank's shoulders weren't exactly small either.

"What's he waiting for?" Leo said in a loud whisper that carried through the shrine - which once, Frank had been able to actually get a good look at it, was basically a rocky cave with a crumbling, half naked statue of Poseidon in the middle. Frank was kind of glad he hadn't noticed it during his 'test' - it would have been more than a little distracting.

Periclymus opened his mouth, and when he spoke, his deep voice echoed eerily.

"To see, Leo Valdez, if any of you had mastered patience. Obviously you have not."

Leo's cheeks went red, and Frank felt a small surge of irritation. This guy, prince or not, had no business telling Leo, who was so ADHD that he basically had the attention span of a chipmunk, to be patient.

But then Periclymus turned his sea green eyes to Frank, who then realized that he just couldn't keep any kind of defiant glare on his face. In his mind, he heard his grandmother's voice, scolding him for forgetting the respect due to his elders. So he did the first thing that came to mind; he bowed deeply.

"Periclymus, Prince of Pylos," he said, in what he hoped was a humble, deferential voice - though his grandmother would probably scold him some more and tell him he sounded weaker than a mouse, "I am honored to be in your presence."

"Frank Zhang," Periclymus said quietly, "for many years, centuries, millenia in fact, I have awaited you. To right an ancient wrong, to bring our family full circle. And you are very nearly there."

Frank wondered if he had heard right, "Right an ancient...what?"

The faintest hint of a smile appeared on Periclymus's face, "Walk with me, Frank Zhang. I will explain many things - and perhaps make some even more confusing. Your friends will wait here."

~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

Frank was extremely glad that unlike most demigods, he didn't have ADHD. Because Periclymus sure knew how to take his time. In fact, by the time he spoke again, he had led Frank out of the shrine, through the hall of shrines to the Olympians, back through the huge entrance hall, and to the park where they sat at a bench. Looking at all the mortals around him, Frank couldn't help wondering if the mortals saw the two thousand year old spirit who looked like he was twenty five, tops, or if they just saw a Canadian teenage guy sitting alone and talking to himself.