Son Of The Cup Bearer {Percy Jackson x Ejen Ali}

Dolos Becomes A Nerd

Who knew that that self-centered fool was a daimen all along? Alicia was amongst the most impressed, seeing that she was usually the one to first notice those types of things, but Dolos had done a good job in disguising himself, Alicia had to grudgingly give him appraisal for that. 

The temple had been silent while Dolos announced the decree of the gods. Even the Numeros, the ones subjected to punishment, were gaping with open mouths at their former ally (for about ten seconds, anyway).

Then at last, Alpha broke the silence. "Deka, stop this charade, please."

As Alpha advanced, Dolos took a step back. 

"I'm afraid not, Djin," Dolos said coolly. "If you take another step, I would have no choice but to-"

Alpha took a step forward.

Dolos' eye twitched, then he sighed. "Very well."

Dolos put on the pair of glasses and...became a nerd.

Even Alpha found this amusing, for he smiled like this was some prank. "Deka, stop-"

The next thing that happened was so bizarre Alicia wasn't even sure what had happened. But even so, she lived in a world of gods and monsters and now, Asteri was being wielded by a daimen, so who was to say that what happened didn't occur?

Alpha went soaring through the air like a tossed ragged doll, smashing into an obsidian column and sending it collapsing. Alicia had barely time to watch as Dolos zoomed down the steps of the Temple of Styx like a shadow. Wait, could Dolos shadow travel?

In not a matter of a few seconds, the Numeros (except for the anemoi thuellais, those pussies) were all trapped inside rubber balls, like the ones people used to play with on the water. Alicia nearly giggled at the sight of Epsilon trying to regain her balance and Beta screaming at the top of her lungs, only for a slight fraction of her squeaky voice to be heard. 

"You."

Alicia whipped around and nearly decapitated Dolos with her hunting knife.

"Dolos-" Alicia spluttered. "I-"

"Hm," he hummed. "Yeah, I don't need your apology."

Iman, Khai, Moon and Ali came rushing to them, to which Alicia was grateful for. She didn't knew what she would say in front of the daimon that had been sent by the Olympian Council to pull this trick of a quest only to just capture the Numeros.

"Why?" Iman asked. 

"Yeah, Riz- Dolos," Ali said sadly. "I thought we were...you know....friends."

Dolos quirked an eyebrow. "We're not friends, but you are impressive, Ali."

Ali grunted moodily and did not say another word.

"You still haven't answered Iman's question," Moon pointed out cheerfully.

"Yeah, why make us go through all this trouble when you guys can just snap your fingers and be done with the Numeros business?" Alicia demanded testily.

Dolos stared at her. "You really do sound like your-"

Alicia silenced him before he could say 'mom'. If one more person compares her with that woman again, Alicia will combust.

"Fine," Dolos huffed. "The gods orchestrated this quest so that Asteri could be united."

"And why bother reuniting Asteri if you guys want it gone?" Ali snorted.

Dolos raised both hands in surrender. "Hey, I'm just the person they sent to orchestrate the plan, not the council. If you got any questions, you should ask the big guy."

Iman glanced at the woman with highlighted purple hair, who was now screaming and punching the rubber ball. "Are you sure the big guy would want his daughter-"

"Oh, yeah," Dolos said, like it was no surprise a dad would want to kill her child. "He especially was insistent on it."

Ali gulped, no doubt worried his godly parent might do the same for him. "D-Dolos-"

"Yes, Ali?" he asked irritatingly. "Sorry, but do keep it short - I'm supposed to be delivering these baddies to the council like, now."

Face reddening, Ali went on cautiously, "Do you - by any chance - know who my...godly parent is?"

Dolos must have stared at Ali for about a full twenty seconds before he burst out laughing. Alicia, Iman, Khai and Moon shared a bewildered look while Ali shrunk under the daimen's laughter.

"Oh, Ali!" he chortled, wiping his eyes of tears. "Of course I know who your godly parent is!"

"Really?" Ali said incredulously. "Can you tell-"

"Sorry, pals," Dolos cut through as if Ali hadn't spoken at all. "Time's slipping, and I have some prisoners to deliver, so-"

"Wait!" Khai shouted.

Dolos turned his head slowly to look at him, an inquiring look upon his handsome features. "Yes?"

"Is there any other way for the Numeros to...I don't know...be bailed?" 

"Khai," Iman whispered into his ear. "What do you think you're doing?"

Alicia frowned, however. Khai had seen many of his closest friends dead; it was expected he was naturally against punishment by death.

"I vouch for Khai, Dolos," she announced. 

"Well, something has to be done to these criminals." Dolos waved at the unconscious Alpha and the exhausted Beta and Epsilon. "If not death, what other similarly painful punishment should they receive? And let's not forget: they had tried to kill you on numerous occasions."

"Good pun," Moon muttered. 

Alicia had to admit, it was tempting to subject the Numeros to death after the hardships they had to go through just because of them. And the idea of ending the gods? That was cuckoo crazy. Though, Ali saved her of further consideration of the Numeros' punishment.

"What if instead of death, they can have another chance to prove themselves?" Ali suggested.

Instead of an uproar of protest, everyone frowned in contemplation. 

"Well, they're morons," Iman said.

"Tried to kill us a few times," Moon added.

"But nevertheless," Ali pressed on. "No one deserves death. We can watch over them for some time before really letting them go; make sure they truly changed."

"While ignoring the fact that we're allowing them the opportunity to spy on us and mess things up from the inside, sure," Dolos said. "But honestly, I'm not the one you need to convince."

The four demigods and mortal groaned in unison.

"Why didn't you say earlier?" Moon moaned.

"Thought you guys knew," Dolos scoffed. "Kids these days. I just said I was sent by the Council of the Gods - they're the ones you have to convince."

"Oh, gods." Ali face-palmed.