Children of the Big Three Book 4: Battle of the Labyrinth

Chapter Eight: Lunch with a Goddess

"No one else finds this the littlest bit off? It's just me?" Percy muttered, as he felt the Goddess was just a little too close for his comfort. The Queen of the Gods had asked, or commanded depending on who you asked, the group to share a picnic lunch with the Goddess. Now here he was, sat next to the Goddess of Childbirth, who was ruffling his hair like he was a little kid in a tv show.

"Yeah no this is pretty weird for me too." Thalia concurred, as she cautiously took the smallest bite out of a hotdog. Annabeth was sat next to Thalia, across from Percy and Hera. Percy himself looked rather uncomfortable to be next to Hera, but Hera had made it quite clear that she didn't want to sit next to Thalia or Annabeth. Since the group enjoyed living, they decided to just roll with it and sit where the Goddess wanted them to sit. Silence overcame the group for a minute or two, The Queen of the Gods rather upset at their disposition and lack of eating. That was, until Annabeth broke the silence with a small chuckle.

"What's funny?

"Oh, it's nothing, Perce."

"Oh, it is most definitely something. No one just chuckles in silence unless they're socially awkward. You thought of something funny! Spill it."

"So now I'm obligated to tell you every joke I think of?"

"It's kinda what we do, yeah." Thalia's tone was less humorous than Percy's, a rather rough edge prominent in her speech.

Annabeth was silent a moment, her eyes dropping as Thalia spoke. When she did decide to speak, her voice came out hushed and strained, as she looked more at Percy than she did ether of the other girls in the conversation. "I was just thinking that since Thalia's eating a hotdog from a Goddess, that could make it a Goddog."

Percy snorted, which turned into a short laugh. However, he just couldn't get into the moment like he usually could. What with a Goddess looming right next to him, and the ever growing tension in the air. He knew he was beating a dead horse whenever he thought about this, but gods they had changed so much since they were twelve. Back in the day, they used to be able to bounce one topic to another, talk about serious topics like it was nothing, the author was pretty shit, and they had Oreos. Dang, now he was hungry for some Oreos. However, Percy was torn out of his Oreo-crazed daze by Hera, who pinched his wittle cheeks before speaking to the group.

"Well, this has been riveting, but-"

"Okay so what is up with you-"

"You'd do well to not interrupt a goddess, Jackson. Now, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted; I suppose it's about time I get to the meat and potatoes of why I'm here. For the most part, as I'm sure all of you know, Gods are not allowed to mingle in the affairs of mortals; especially with Demi-Gods. However, due to my husbands latest escapade, which I had no say in, mind you, he has allowed me one exception. I have chose to use it on you specifically, Perseus Jackson." The woman spoke as if this was a huge favor that the group should feel grateful for, but Percy's hand began to drift towards Riptide instinctually. He had the Goddess' personal attention. Not many who got it survived the experience.

"Why on me?" The Queen raises an eyebrow at the question, as if intrigued that it had even been asked.

"Your very existence intrigues me, Perseus. By all intensive purposes, you should already an enemy. You should hate the Gods. Your father abandoned your family after your birth, leading your mother into the arms of that.. Gabriel. He left you to a life of squalor and fear. Get time and time again you have come to us in our time of need. Why is that?"