i mist her so bad
Percy stared hard at the senior Senate members who were talking continuously. He and Annabeth shared a look.
They were in a meeting and many people were present. Too many than needed if he’d say so. There was Lupa and Chiron (who was present through IM) and many older campers from both camps. Percy sat at the centre with the Praetors while the Senate members and Senior Council sat surrounding him in a circle.
“Can,” he interrupted the old man, “we get back to the topic at hand? Would that be alright with you, sir?” He asked sarcastically. Many people sniggered and the man turned red and sat down.
“Okay,” Hazel cleared her throat then spoke, “as our former Praetor said, we will continue where we had left off without interruptions this time.” She threw a glare at the older men and a few of them huffed angrily.
Percy was glad to be attending New Rome University after everything tragic that had happened (his life, his mind supplied helpfully) but even after doing all that New Rome had held another condition over his head. He had to attend the important Senate meetings, which made sense alright but these old hags labelled any meeting they wanted as important.
A weekly meeting but someone’s grandkid broke their legs? Important. Someone in someone’s life got married? Everyone had to be there to give their well wishes. Someone had a kid? Super important. The older families here did as they pleased. Or tried to do as they pleased, Percy or any senior half-blood usually shut them out.
Annabeth loved seeing him complain about these meetings considering he still skipped over half of them. Broken leg? Neptune wanted to meet Percy. Someone got married? Sorry, but he wouldn’t want to pass on this dangerous life-threatening flu to the newly married couple. Someone had a kid? Ares just gave birth to a baby boy and Percy had to attend as the godfather, sorry. All of them were accepted with only a little grumbling but at least no one called him a liar to his face.
This meeting though, seemed actually important. The Roman old hags couldn’t give a damn about the Greek Senior Council usually but today both of them are present without too much fuss and interruptions (except that particular old man).
“Lou Ellen, please continue what you were going to say.” Frank nodded towards her and Lou stood up, looking so sickeningly pale that Percy sucked in a breath.
“You guys must be aware of Alabaster Torrington, my older brother.” The older Seniors from Camp Half-Blood nodded, the romans looked confused. It was Jason who asked.
“Who?” He looked at Percy.
“Percy’s enemy,” Nico answered helpfully.
“Why?” Frank questioned.
“I don’t know, man. Never met him.” Percy helpfully supplied.
“Well,” Nico continued, “he led some demigods against Percy in the Titan War and was banished later when the Gods won. Last thing I heard about him he very loudly stated that if he ever ran into Percy, he would give him what ‘he deserved’,” Travis gave a ‘aw man’ and a few people giggled. “He was on the run from Lamia then.” He finished. Percy could feel the stares on him from all directions and he once again loathed the idea of sitting at the centre.
“What were you saying, Lou?” Annabeth nodded at her to continue.
Lou seemed even more haggard than a few minutes ago, like just the name of Alabaster sucked the life out of her. “He did kill Lamia a lot of times and she came back each time. He barely defeated Lamia last week again. And some of his enchantments might’ve backfired because,” she took a breath and pursed her lips, “because she didn’t return. Not yet anyway and it’s somehow affecting mothe- the goddess Hecate.”
“Affecting her how?” Someone asked but Percy didn’t care who. His body felt awfully cold and he felt goosebumps all over.
“Affecting the mist?” Percy couldn’t stop himself from saying it. Lou flinched at that and nodded. And the whole room interrupted in chaos but Percy couldn’t stop the blood from rushing to his head. He felt incredibly dizzy.
If the mist disappeared, what would become of his mortal family? Granted, Percy was used to his lineage ruining his life, but what about his mom, Paul and Estelle? What would happen to them? To the other mortals? Would even camp be safe then, considering how they were hidden and safe from mortals because of the mist.
He jolted out of his thoughts. Annabeth and Jason were shaking him by the shoulders as Frank and Hazel screamed commands he couldn’t hear. Have they been attacked already? Where was his mom had Poseidon kept her saf-
“Percy! You’re causing an earthquake!” Jason screamed in his ear and Percy flinched. Finally aware of his surroundings. Too aware, even. He could feel the sweat beading at his temple and something, blood- his mind helpfully supplied, dripping down his nose and he felt sad about ruining another one of his hoodies.
There was suddenly a water bottle in his hand and he immediately opened it and poured the whole thing down his head. He shook his head again to clear his mind and questioned Lou.
“How long?” How long do we have till it disappears completely.
Lou looked at him sympathetically which seemed weirder because she too looked like a ghost. She shook her head, “not long.”
He nodded.
It was finally then that Chiron spoke.
“Don’t worry,” he looked pointedly at Percy, “the gods have been made aware. And it is lady Hestia, as the goddess of Home, who is taking the responsibility of making sure your mortal families remain safe.” That did reassure Percy in contrary to what he expected. “This finally is not a war the demigods can fix. Lamia’s curse was irreversibly tied with her mother’s domain. The gods are prepared to make direct contact with the civilization once again. You,” he nodded towards them, “don’t have to worry.”
“You said we don’t have to worry.”
“I did.”
“Then why are we in this meeting again?” Percy asked tiredly.
The meeting was adjourned after the speech Chiron said and Percy was promptly taken to the infirmary to rest after the earthquake he caused and had fallen asleep till an hour ago when Jason woke him again with a scowl on his brow, telling him there was another meeting in some time.
Chiron looked guilty when he said, “the gods have come to some new decisions.”
“New for us or them?” Lou Ellen muttered but was heard loud and clear throughout the room.
“When mist wasn’t there the gods other than having direct interactions with the humans-”
“Making anyone and anything pregnant and flaying them at the slightest inconvenience?” Annabeth offered; making Percy smile.
Chiron smiled a little but continued, “they had ambassadors of their own to represent their power. Like Heracles, Theseus, Perseus, Aeneas, Helen, Tantalus,” he winced at that name.
“They want us to be ambassadors?” Piper gasped in horror.
“Well. Not exactly you…” Percy felt another earthquake incoming but Hazel held his hand and squeezed lightly.
Chiron felt reluctant to say further but Annabeth pressed on. “Who precisely, Chiron?” And Percy had the urge to laugh and say something stupid like ‘couldn’t be me!’ like he doesn’t know.
“They have decided on Percy,” he wasn’t even surprised, “and Frank, son of Mars. And one other member both camps can agree on.”
“What of our Pontifex Maximus?” A Centurion suggested. To whom Jason gave a tight smile. “Sure, amongst being the bridge for both camps,” a few from Camp Half-Blood raised their eyebrows at that, “and overseeing the creation of temples for every deity I can find, being the ambassador for Jupiter for the whole world to scrutinize seems like a great relaxing time for me.”
“Great. So, it’s settled. We all agree on these three being the ambassadors, right? Vote in te-” “Wait, I decline!” Percy said before Jason can. He felt sorry for the guy but he is retired, like officially. Jason’s plea to be let out of this situation can wait.
The Senate sighed collectively, which was rude, but then an old hag offered: “We shall ask, no- order your professors to give you extra credit on all your courses.” He faltered in his thoughts. He didn’t expect to be given a choice, so he will take what he was given… not so suddenly though. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction of getting through him so easily. But judging by how smug they looked Percy thinks they know they have him by the neck here.
“Let us think about it, at least.” He pursed his lips as Jason sent him a look that said ‘they got you so easily?’ but he didn’t comment. What would a little kid like Jason know about the horrors of college. And that too a college that put you on such a high pedestal as a ‘war hero’ that it felt like you will have to drop out to prove yourself.
“With that being out of the way.” Chiron started again, not commenting on the groans that filled the room. “Lady Hecate had mentioned something briefly to me that I had to look into. As you all are already aware, other magical mythologies and beings are real too, and work in their own area.” An echo of yeses followed that.
“There are magicians too. Not Egyptian ones. But wizards.” No one batted an eye; see the point of having a life like they had means only few things can surprise them. For an example if Chiron suddenly said ‘sike! Got pranked much?’ or ‘unfortunately Zeus is now pregnant and in a really happy mood’ he would get surprised. These things? Not so much. “They are present all over the world, but the ones we have trouble with are in Britain.”
Now Annabeth completely took over the talking. “Britain wizards, okay but what trouble are we talking about?”
“A few demigods were questing near French waters, and the wizards saw them. We don’t know how they were recognized, but it became a problem in Europe wizard communities.” He finished.
“What were those demigods doing?” Ryan, another Centurion whom Percy liked, asked.
“Fighting a cyclops. There was a satyr with them who was playing music to distract it.” ‘That’s how’ Clarisse muttered. “That was when they were seen. We don’t know how much they saw or heard, but this could be an opportunity for us!”
“Opportunity,” Connor and Travis giggled.
“Opportunity how?” Annabeth asked. Very interested in how this would play.
Surprisingly, it was Will who spoke: “We can reveal ourselves to them, and play out how we want to come across as to mortals and interact with other pantheons, considering these wizards come somewhere in between?” Chiron nodded, happy that Will got him so quickly.
“That is right. If they try to dig in further then the gods have decided to send you as ambassadors. Take it, ah, as a practice session? The mist is still working, so if it doesn’t work out how you expected then we can still manipulate them into believing something else and bring you back,” Chiron finishes speaking.
If. Chiron had said as if this journey wasn’t already decided. Hecate has spoken to Chiron, meaning she knows they will go. Gods don’t speculate; or if they do, they don’t let anyone else know in case the speculation is wrong. Why will they embarrass themselves like that?
Annabeth looked very curious about the wizarding world. Percy was less so, but he did wonder what they would have him do.
“The gods did live in Britain a few centuries ago,” he decided to bother everyone with his thoughts and wondered loudly, “but what does that make us to the wizarding community, are they old or a recent…” he gestured with his hands trying to find the correct words, “-development. Did we ever live together, and you said ‘European communities’ so there are American wizards too? If there are then why aren’t we dealing with them?”
“Excellent questions, Perseus!” Chiron smiled warmly at him. And strangely took Percy to the time when he was not Chiron but just the kind Latin teacher Mr. Brunner to him. Percy felt like a little child again as Chiron went on answering his questions.
“When gods lived over Britain, the mist didn’t matter much for wizards. They could see the demigods, the monsters and other creatures. They worshipped our gods too.” His smile dimmed and his voice took on a more sadder tone, “I trained a lot of heroes and saw a lot of wizards grow up.” He paused and everyone waited with bated breath for him to continue.
He inhaled a shaky breath. “Then, the wizards grew scared of the demigods. We don’t know what happened. There were a lot of riots. Wizards were the bridge between mortals and demigods. But there were just so many fights… they tried to kill a few demigods, some even trying to harm the children in their blind fear. They angered the gods so much- Apollo’s arrow were used a lot in those times. By the end of sixteen hundreds, their community might’ve come to some decision and tried their best to isolate themselves although it wouldn’t work unless the gods themselves wanted that; but then at the same time the gods urged Hecate to cover them in the mist too. We then lived our years in peace till finally moving to America after some decades.”
It was chaos when Chiron finally stopped speaking.
“Wow, what a bunch of jerks!” Piper looked at Chiron incredulously as if waiting for him to say ‘kidding!’.
“Straight up asses!” Sherman Yang screamed from where he was sitting beside Clarisse.
Percy felt like he should scream something too but he figured he let his anger show enough in the afternoon with the earthquake so he stayed quiet.
“Percy!” He whipped his head around to see Travis and Connor standing up making their way over to him. When they got close Travis held his face in his hand and Connor massaged his arms, as if he was a boxer getting into a fight.
“What?” Is what he tried to say but it was muffled because Travis was squishing his cheeks so it came out more like a ‘waaab?’
“You have to teach them a lesson when you get there,” Travis whispered to him conspiratorially. Percy swatted his hands away, although Connor kept massaging his shoulder, not stopping once while his older brother squawked away from Percy’s hand.
“What are you talking about?”
“They harmed younger demigods, didn’t they?” Clarisse looked straight into Percy’s eyes. “I am on the Stolls’ side on this, Jackson. You have to punch a few of them at the very least. You have my permission.”
“Okay thanks? What would I even do without your permission?”
“Did you all not hear? Chiron said dad took revenge on them.” Will said before the argument can go on further, but all it did was turn everyone’s attention from Percy to him.
Connor scoffed, and undid the knots on Percy’s neck. “You only paid attention to that because it was your dad. A few arrows mean nothing, we need Percy to gut them like fish.” Percy’s ‘well I like fish’ was ignored in favor of keeping the environment heated.
Connor was about to speak more before he stopped massaging Percy and stared at him wide eyed. “Jackson, what the fuck is this?” He said poking a weird bone in Percy’s upper arm. “Did you use to have another arm here, gift from your dad?”
Percy finally pushed him away too. “No, I broke it as a child and it didn’t heal right. Anyways,” he glared at the Stolls before they talked again, “you didn’t answer my other question.” He told Chiron.
“Ah! Yes, there are wizards in America. But it’s not them whose mist depleted that quickly. It’s strangely just in Europe still now. That’s why we aren’t, as you said, dealing with them. We are only looking at the current problem.”
“The wizarding ministries are well connected. If everything goes well then, we won’t have problems with them in the future. Whether they are American or European.” Lou Ellen stated, looking at a few pages in her hands. She looked much better than in the afternoon. She passed those papers to Annabeth who kept a copy to herself and stretched her hand to give them to Percy, Hazel, Frank and Jason.
“This,” Lou held up the papers, “is a better detailed account of what happened before and after sixteen eighty-nine. Mom has ordered you to go through them before leaving.”
Percy’s distaste of the task must have been visible on his face as Annabeth smiled: “It’s in Greek and Latin. Considering you are fluent in both, it will be an easy read for you, Seaweed Brain.”
Percy read through the first three lines and almost got a headache. He can’t go through this book of bootlicking at all. Maybe he will wing it, it’s not like their histories together will affect how Percy will eventually feel about them. He will just have to wait and see.
The others meanwhile, read the papers they had. Even Chiron and Lupa, who had stayed silent for the whole meeting, bent down and read theirs.
Demigods, Wizards and their History
Written by: Lady Hecate’s servants.
Special thanks to the strongest Titan, Lady Hecate.
This story takes place many, many years ago. Even before Olympus sat on top of half of London, where most of this tale takes place. Our benevolent and kind Lady Hecate had plenty worshippers of her own. The ones she was mostly pleased with, she gave little powers to. For example, closing the windows with a single command and wave of stick. That stick was a wand our lady was most obsessed with using back in the day. So much, that even Athena and Hera started carrying some sticks around with them. Our lady’s beauty shone through brighter than any jewel with them, with Hecuba and Gale on her side she looked as magnificent as Aphrodite did in the days leading to the Judgement of Paris.
Our Sæmní Hecate loved the creatures she blessed (look at Hecuba and Gale!) so it came as a happy surprise to her when she learned they have created their own civilization to honor her. They would do so in the beginning few centuries. Our lady’s magic would grow powerful enough to shroud Greek (and later Roman) half-bloods everywhere they existed, to hide their deeds from truth fearing mortals.
Then the flame of west moved to England, and Olympus was on top of more than half of London. The entry being changed throughout the religious riots. Our lady was devasted each time a death of her worshipper happened, she personally instructed Apollo into writing melodic songs for them and sung them herself as their pyre burnt.
But her number of worshippers increased and spread throughout the world. The community of wizard and witches impressed even Zeus and Poseidon. The latter of whom asked for her help in making his own kingdom flourish just as hers had. Her worshippers were more powerful than any children of big three are nowadays (bar her children, who enjoy more power than all of them but remain humble to the ground, unlike Perseus Jackson who had been falsely labelled as the most powerful demigod in existence. Even her youngest is more powerful than him.)
“Sorry for what mom wrote about you, Percy.” “It’s fine. I just didn’t expect that.”
Lady Hecate was thriving. So, it was all the more tragic when those Wizards and Witches turned their backs on her, completely forgetting their origins. They opened their own magic schools (her ladyship’s life long dream. Perseus Jackson can testify) and didn’t honor her as they had vowed to do. So: from then on, Lady Hecate can only turn her compassionate back on them and wait for their imminent destruction.
“Alright, the actual history starts from page three, turn to that everyone!” Chiron called out kindly.
It eventually started when a Noble wizard made fun of a known son of Apollo through publishing a paper and distributing it, which led to tension. Which was then further blown up by them harassing that poor fellow whenever he so much as walked out of the house. The actual start of this seemingly out of nowhere animosity happened because the son of Apollo had started courting the girl that wizard liked.
That courting was not done forcefully, and only because the girl liked that son of Apollo too. As gushed by Aphrodite in one evening tea session on Olympus. That wizard, enraged led the ones under him to attack that boy.
“Damn, he’s such a creep,” Piper shivered.
Eventually, the whole thing led to the death of both the love birds by violent gutting. For which, Apollo shot that wizard and many of his men from his throne on Olympus. Such incidents kept happening. If a half-blood much more powerful than the wizards was known many foolish wizards would target and harass them, for their spells wouldn’t touch the demigods as they were not Greek. Or if they ever have been, then that legacy was long lost before our immaculate Lady Hecate stopped paying attention to them.
Sometimes after that, half-blood's quests would get interrupted by well meaning wizards if they were engaged in fight. Which usually led to tragic death of the half-blood, wizard or both. And then sometimes those quests would get interrupted by bad wizards, who knew what they were doing and expected some kind of reward on the condition of leaving the demigod and letting them do their job in peace.
“That would be so annoying, I would just try to kill them if they did that in the middle of a fight” muttered Katie.
It all crossed a barrier when a half-blood daughter of Demeter killed a wizard by strangling him with flowers. This gruesome murder was done purposefully, as she did not feel any remorse. This was then the start of many violent incidents among both the groups. A son of Zeus was quoted saying: “Those gents bethink those gents art all so mighty and pow'rful. But those gents art cowards with a wand. Nothing else. Thence hadst been nay deceased half-blood in all the fights we has't hadst, we don't necessity to w'rry. Conferencing adjourned.” In a meeting about the wizards and disturbances.
Translation, courtesy to our kind lady Hecate: “They think they are all so mighty and powerful. But they are cowards with a wand. Nothing else. There had been no dead half-blood in all the fights we have had, we don't need to worry. Meeting adjourned.”
The Wizards were known for their discrimination of anyone they deemed less. And slowly they deemed half-bloods even lesser than they did mortals. They slandered mortals in their newspaper by comparing them to lazy walruses, but half-bloods were called servants, defective and weak rats of all things. Just because magic didn’t work on demigods, they insulted them in more cruel, mortal ways. Some of them being: throwing rotten food at them whenever there was an encounter, unnecessary flirting and name calling, stealing or just making their stuff disappear to cause inconvenience and last but not the least: attacking in mobs.
Usually, demigods refrained from reacting to these things, as our lady kind lady Hecate had advised them not to hurt her former worshippers. Because wherever was magic or enchantments were present, her powers grew tenfold.
“I love how she tries to seem nice and sweet throughout this but then stuff like this pop up and we are reminded of the underlying reasons for all her actions,” Annabeth says, flipping the page.
They resisted from fighting back. After all half-bloods used to be respectful and scared of the gods back in the day, unlike Perseus Jackson.
“Hey, Lou by any chance is your mom angry at me for what happened last Halloween?”
“When you caused the destruction of her house and gave her pets sense of self that caused them to grow so independent that now she misses them? No, why do you ask?”
“It was a sick party though man. Best one I have ever had.”
“Thanks Travis, I feel so much better.”
Until the day some wizards ambushed a half-blood’s home. Who was on a quest all the way across to Germany. And destroyed many of her belongings, also harming her infant child she had left behind with her other mother. When that child of Athena came back, she gathered many powerful demigods and attacked the wizards; destroying many of their buildings. No death occurred out of respect for Hecate. But the message was sent. The demigods had stopped interacting with the wizarding communities altogether in disgust. And the wizarding community completely isolated themselves in some hidden places because of fright. Later the Olympian council decided on removing the full sight lady Hecate has gifted the wizards, considering they were neither our worshipper nor allies.
While mortals can still be clear sighted, it can never be true for wizards. No witch or wizard can have mortal eye sight, such is their curse by lady Hecate.
FINISHED.
I THANK LADY HECATE FOR LETTING MY WRITE THIS. MAY YOUR COMPASSION BE UPON US FOR ETERNITY.
HYMN TO LADY HECATE:
Hekate, ko-
“That would be enough Kayla please sit down. Thank you for reading all of that out loud.” Chiron hastily cut in before Kayla can start singing the hymns, saving all of us from what seemed like ten more pages of praises of Hecate.
“Talk about anti-climax. I thought something much more gruesome happened.” Sherman Yang said and everyone turned their heads towards him.
“People got gutted, Sherman,” Frank scowled.
“Yea, we all heard Kayla, Zhang. I was just saying I thought more people got gutted or flayed with how Chiron said it.”
“It was dark times, my son.” Chiron looked drained after their group reading session. “Anyways, I think that prepares the three of you enough for your trip to Britain. You now know what dangers to expect.”
“Yup. Rotten food, stealing, arson, a little murder,” Percy held up his hand and counted. “Basically, a normal summer at camp then.” He remarked and everyone laughed.
“Well then, I will see you when I have a date for the three of you to leave. Be well, my children. Lady Lupa,” he bowed his head once at Lupa and she returned the gesture. Then Chiron’s IM disappeared.