Reading is Fundamental

V - Piper - Memory Lane

Warnings: Non-graphic depiction of child neglect, crass language

Athena nodded to Poseidon and he took the attention of the room.

"Daughter of Pluto," he said, addressing her formally, "when you first laid eyes upon Annabeth Chase, you asked her how she escaped. What did you mean by that, and where did you assume that she was?"

Hazel looked around her group, clearly uncertain. "What do I say?" she whispered. The five just gaped at each other, answerless

Piper shared a pointed glance with Hazel, weighing her options and her courage. If Athena and Poseidon knew what had really happened, their children might never leave this room. It wasn't that any of them were even slightly okay with Annabeth and Percy falling into Tartarus, but they understood the importance of the event. Back home, they were only slightly beginning to win. They needed someone to open the doors from both sides and Percy and Annabeth were their best bet.

She took a deep breath, laid a hand on Jason's shoulder, and stood. "They were captured by some lastergonians," she claimed. "They had gone to get help from a few nearby river nymphs and fell into a trap. It's probably nothing serious, but we were worried." Charmspeak coated her lie like a sugary glaze. The council believed her before they even heard the words.

Aphrodite looked up curiously and Piper cursed her oversight. Her mother was completely immune to the power. The goddess gave her an appraising glance that felt like it could see to her very soul, judging every atom individually. After a long moment, she glanced at her family. Piper's heart stuttered as she began to speak, but all the goddess said was a mild agreement and a strong supporting wave of charmspeak. She gave her daughter the barest of nods and turned back to her nails.

With her mother's assistance, the council seemed to have little problem accepting the answer. Piper sat back down, feeling dizzy.

"Now," Athena said. Piper had a second moment of panic, thinking the spell hadn't worked. "Annabeth, explain to me why you would associate yourself with a son of Poseidon, much less attempt to form a close relationship with one."

After a wary glance with her boyfriend, Annabeth stood, still holding his hand. "Mother," she said, voice strained, "even in my time, you and I have yet to reach an understanding about this. Can we please wait until a better time to talk?"

Her daughter's words seemed to catch Athena off guard. Piper knew personally that this was a topic Annabeth could argue about for hours; thankfully, Athena seemed to realize the same. She tipped up her chin. "Later."

Annabeth sat back down, letting out a breath of relief.

There was a moment of peace, each waiting for someone else to continue with another question.

When none came, Athena resumed reading.

I was used to the occasional weird experience, but usually they were over quickly.

Percy and Annabeth shared a worried look, like they were headed into battle.

This twenty- four/seven hallucination was more than I could handle. For the rest of the school year, the entire campus seemed to be playing some kind of trick on me. The students acted as if they were completely and totally convinced that Mrs. Kerr-a perky blond woman whom I'd never seen in my life until she got on our bus at the end of the field trip-had been our pre-algebra teacher since Christmas.

Every so often I would spring a Mrs. Dodds reference on somebody, just to see if I could trip them up, but they would stare at me like I was psycho.

It got so I almost believed them-Mrs. Dodds had never existed.

Almost.

But Grover couldn't fool me. When I mentioned the name Dodds to him, he would hesitate, then claim she didn't exist. But I knew he was lying.

"Well," Poseidon chuckled, "I have to give you my thanks, Grover."

Grover just blushed, "Th-thank you, sir." It came out like a question.

Something was going on. Something had happened at the museum.

I didn't have much time to think about it during the days, but at night, visions of Mrs. Dodds with talons and leathery wings would wake me up in a cold sweat.