His Father's Glory

Chapter 14

I left the throne room in deep contemplation.

Why would Father take Annabeth? Where did he take her? Did... did he use me to get to her?

The mere thought made my stomach churn.

No, he wouldn't, I reassured myself. This has to be a mistake.

He took her, but why? There has to be a reason.

I was so immersed in the theories swirling in my brain, that I didn't notice Percy walking toward me.

"Cleo, I'm sorry for storming out like that," he said. "My head isn't in a good place right now."

He looked toward the city of Olympus with an odd sense of longing.

"It's okay, Percy. If anything, I think they deserved that." I smirked. "Are you ready to go back now?"

"Not yet," he whispered with a sad smile. He started walking away from the doors, through a marble arch. I followed after a few seconds. A beautiful garden met my eyes as I passed under the archway. Flowers of every shade of blue bloomed from bushes and stems. I saw Percy sitting on the bench and holding his head in his hands. 

"She built this place, you know. Everyone knows she designed it,  but this garden was her pride and joy. Every stone, every flower was placed by her hands. She wouldn't let me see it until it was finished."

We sat in near silence, a running stream the only sound to be heard.

"How could they do this?" He wondered aloud.

"They have lived so long that they've forgotten how to care for anyone other than the other gods in Olympus," I answered. "I pity them."

"What?" His head whirled to face me. "Why?"

"Every time one of them falls in love with a mortal, they have to watch them die," I explained. "Every time they have a demigod child, they watch them die. They can't do anything about it. They are stuck in a cycle. The only constant in their lives is the other Olympians and they are always backstabbing and cheating on each other. They have forgotten how to feel because when they do, their hearts get broken. So, yes. I pity them."

"I... I never thought about it like that."

"It's not an excuse," I added softly. "There will never be an excuse for what they have done to you, but I have found that looking at things from a different perspective helps deal with unfair situations."

We sat in silence for a few minutes, contemplating life and its mysteries.

"Thanks, Cleo. I needed this," Percy whispered with a smile that couldn't quite reach his eyes.

"Don't worry about it," I said. "Are you hungry? I know a place with the best blue-cheese burgers you'll ever have."

"Yeah, I should probably eat something," he conceded.

"It's pretty far but, I think you'll like it," I said. "Close your eyes again. I'll tell you when to open them."

I put my hands on his shoulders and traveled to the pit, then to my favorite restaurant. Our feet touched the ground outside of the building.

"You can open your eyes now," I told him.

"Woah, where are we?" He gasped, looking at the heavily forested area around us.

"A little ways away from Tillamook, Oregon," I said simply.

"Oregon?" Percy mumbled. "I don't think I've ever been to Oregon."

He started walking towards the door but I stopped him before he went too far.

"Percy, before we go inside," I started. "There are some things you need to know. First, you will always be safe with me. Second, this restaurant doesn't exactly cater to mortals. Third, the restaurant has a protective boundary placed on it. It doesn't allow any violent acts to be committed inside the walls."

"What do you mean 'doesn't cater to mortals'?" He asked.

"You'll see," I said with a smirk. "Just stay close to me, ok?"

He nodded and followed me as I walked to the door. The familiar tinkling of a bell graced my ears as I opened the door, my nose assaulted with scents of burgers and bacon.

There were movements everywhere. Cooks in the back, waitresses taking orders, customers laughing with one another.

The only thing that was different from any other diner Percy has ever gone to is that this diner specifically was for monsters, at least the more civilized ones.

Druids, nymphs, cyclops, saytrs, and even some minor deities from time to time. You name it, I've seen them here.

I heard Percy gasp behind me. I looked back at him to see his hand reaching for his pen.

"Keep calm Percy. You'll be fine, alright?" I whispered to him. A small nymph in a uniform came floating over to us. She appeared to be a water nymph.

"Welcome to Out of the Blue, my name is Melody!" the nymph said. "Would you like a booth or to sit at the bar?"

"A booth, please," I replied with a smile. She showed us to our table, luckily out of the way. "Thank you, miss."

I gestured for Percy to sit first and I slid into my side only after he sat down.

"What can I get you boys to drink?" Melody asked, taking out a pen and paper.

"I'll have a Pepsi, what about you, Percy?" Percy didn't reply, only stared at me. "He'll have water."

"Alrighty, then. That'll be right out to you, boys!"

Percy's eyes trailed her as she left.

"Why did you bring me here?" he spoke softly.

"You needed food, and I was craving some of Blue's famous blueberry pie."

"There are monsters everywhere, Cleo!" He whispered.

"I know. They won't bother us if we don't bother them."

"Are you insane?" He hissed. "We are outnumbered. They have the advantage. They will kill us!"

"Have a little faith, Jackson," I said leaning back in the chair. "I wouldn't put you in danger."

We heard a small gasp and were startled to see the waitress had come back with our drinks.

"Jackson? Percy Jackson?" The nymph asked. The diner went silent as all eyes turned to us. Percy tensed and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Who's asking?" He grumbled.

"Oh, well, you wouldn't know me, but you do know my sister. Her name is Mellie. She's a cloud nymph, like me. She told me all about you and the Seven!"

"Mellie, she's married to Coach Hedge right?" Percy asked and the nymph nodded. "How are they doing?"

"They're great! Chuck is almost two now and she's expecting again!"

"I'm happy for her," Percy said with a smile.

The screech of a chair being pushed back caught our attention. A tall cyclops started making his way toward the table. Melody squeaked and dissipated, her order pad clattered to the ground.

"Are you really Percy Jackson?" the cyclops muttered. Percy gave a stiff nod. "I have a favor to ask."

Percy's brow furrowed as he watched the cyclops.

"Will you take a picture with my son?"