The Lotus Hotel IV
It didn't take much time walking through the labyrinth disguised as a fancy hotel and casino before his gut feeling told him he had reached his mother. Looking around the room, it didn't take much time to see her either. She was sitting gracefully on a comfortable looking couch and chatting pleasantly with a redheaded satyr who must be Grover.
Annabeth and Percy immediately ran towards the satyr, shouting his name with much excitement and even more relief, confirming his suspicions. Nico and Bianca, likewise, immediately ran towards their mother. The sight painted a small smile on his face.
Charlie cast a sad glance at them. “I remember when Billy and I first met a satyr.” He smiled nostalgically. “Billy ‘accidentally’ set fire to her hat.”
Jack's laughter boomed throughout the room. “Classic Billy. Remember when he ‘accidentally’ set fire to the flag at camp?” He put one of his nearly comically large, calloused hands on Charlie's shoulder. “Good times.”
Charlie snickered, childlike wonder clear in his somehow still solemn voice. “We had to do lava dishes for two entire weeks! Billy didn't even seem to notice the heat and didn't even need to wear special gloves, it was so unfair!”
Rosa seemed to choke over an olive she'd been eating. Tommy slapped her back hard enough for the olive to fly against Jack's face, who immediately fake gagged, making Charlie, Bianca and Nico snicker.
She blinked with disbelief at Charlie. “Just to be certain I heard you well enough, besides harpies, Camp Half-Blood has lava too?! Around children?!” At the confirming silence, she cursed so vulgarly in Italian that Regulus was the one to almost choke this time. Fortunately, he hadn't been eating anything.
“Do the Gods even try to keep their children alive?!” She breathed out slowly, pale face growing nearly as red as her hair with righteous anger.
“Careful with those vulgar words…” Jack grinned at her. “There are little ears here.”
“This was justified!” She hissed.
Jack hummed. “Uhuh, keep telling yourself that, Rosie.”
In response, she threw yet another olive at his face. Jack caught it with his mouth and merely laughed. “Oohh, this rose has thorns!”, he smiled and started to say something else, but was interrupted by the unified horrified screams of Bianca and Nico. With their screams, the room instantly got much darker and colder.
Immediately, Regulus's focus turned to them. There didn't seem to be anything wrong from afar, but his siblings wouldn't scream like that for no reason. Before he knew what he was doing, he slipped in and out of a shadow and stood in front of them.
The satyr's face blanched so much upon seeing what Regulus and his siblings had done; with Bianca and Nico making the room much darker and colder and him slipping in and out of the shadows, their cover was thoroughly blown, but he couldn't find it in himself to care. His siblings needed him.
Grover muttered something that sounded like “Three out of three” and “Di immortales, it's three this time. Why is it always three?!”, “Lord D will smite me…” and “Please let me be wrong.” underneath his breath, but he had no time to think about what that might have meant. It sounded rough, though.
“What's wrong?!” He asked his siblings hurriedly in Italian, looking them carefully and closely over. They seemed to be fine and their energies felt healthy, too. Whatever had terrified them was mental or not as obvious. That somehow only worried him more.
“Mama.” They replied at the same time, looking horrified at their mother, who sat next to Grover and appeared to study them much closer and with much more intent than Regulus was comfortable with. Their mother would never look at them like that if she did not have a good reason to do so.
Her eyes weren't like the absent ones. She looked healthy and her energy felt healthy, too. Extremely healthy, in fact.
“Mama?” He asked diplomatically, not allowing his discomfort to show in any way. He stepped closer to her, though, now standing in front of her. Upon seeing her closely, he noticed slight differences.
Her face was slightly more pinched, her hair was too dark and her skin tone was too light. How had he not noticed that before? The clearest difference was in her eyes, however. One eye was seagreen, exactly the shade of Percy's eyes and the other was the brightest colour of blue he had ever seen. Almost as if it was made out of lightning.
It made the hairs on his back stand up straight.
“Who are you? And what have you done to our mother?!” Regulus demanded, looking coldly at the pretender. “Name yourself.”
The woman chuckled, a careless and even polite sound. As if she were sitting on a bench on a boulevard in the summer, looking at the peaceful sea and nothing could disrupt her good mood. As if she hadn't possibly kidnapped his mother.
“You ask your Lady to name herself?” Her voice had changed with her appearance, seeming more otherworldly. More ethereal. Where it had been elegant before, it now was so fluently, it seemed to flow. There was a slight danger in that calm, peaceful voice.
Regulus nodded just as coldly as he had looked at her before. Was it wise to possibly turn a divine Lady into an enemy? Was he willing to risk it as she most likely kidnapped his mother? Both of those questions had obvious answers. The Morai would undoubtedly get him back for that later, yet he couldn't bring himself to care.
She smiled sharply at him and his siblings to a lesser extent, who seemed to notice her appearance too. “Shall your Lady name you instead?”
“You are no Lady of mine,” Regulus scoffed, eyes narrowed. “You do not know me.”
The Lady's sharp smile turned cruel, vicious. Where she had felt peaceful before, like the flow of a river in the summer, she now felt like a storming sea. Her eyes had become more intensive with it. The sea colored eye had changed into a storm, and out of the lightning colored one, literally flew sparks. Her face was now as pale as a corpse and her hair had changed from merely dark black to the colour of grave soil.
The other Demigods around him and Grover seemed to notice the changes in her appearance, as they all breathed in a collective breath. Regulus didn't want to bring innocents into his family troubles, yet there was nothing he could do to stop that at this point.
“I name you Regulus di Angelo. I name you the oldest living Demigod of my oldest son.” She looked straight into his eyes. This time, her smile truly became cruel. “I name you son of Hades.”
It was a simple sentence, but she might as well have struck him. If the Demigods and satyr around him didn't know his parentage and that of his siblings already, they definitely knew now.
Which became apparent by the collective gasp of everyone but his siblings and the Lady around him.
He looked at his little siblings. They both looked determined to be strong. To stay strong. Yet, he could see the slight tremble in Bianca's hands and the wobble of Nico's lips. Dark eyes were filled with unshed tears and determination.
He put both of them close to his chest for a moment, simply hugging them and whispering meaningless comforts in their ears. The moment was over as soon as it started and the three of them were ready to battle whatever had happened to their mother. To battle their grandmother.
He looked at the satyr, daring him to deny his request. “You are the last person our mother has seen before Lady Rhea did something to her.” He stated coolly, making him gulp. “Explain what happened.”
Somehow, Grover only paled more. His eyes flew between his siblings, him, and Rhea. Regulus was not unfamiliar with ghosts, and the satyr seemed to look like one more and more.
“You-” He stuttered over the word. “You are forbidden children.” He finally breathed out, already knowing the answer. Grover saying it seemed to finalise it for everyone around them, as they once again gasped dramatically.
Annabeth's eyebrows furrowed, as she suddenly seemed very interested in Regulus and his siblings. Especially Regulus, though. It made him uncomfortable, as her look seemed to pull him apart as if he were a puzzle to be solved.
Percy shot a sympathetic look at them. “Ouch. That's rough.” He stated oh-so eloquently. “At least you're not alone.”
Jack stood straighter and assessed Percy. “You're a son of the sky God?” He eventually asked.
Percy made a face at the mere idea of being the son of Zeus. Regulus very much related to that statement. So did the other Demigods around him, which was fair, all things considered. Who would actually want to be Zeus’ child? If not for his charming personality and track record of keeping it in his pants, having Hera as a step-mother seemed like enough reason to not want to be his child.
Jack nodded calmly. "Understandable. I wouldn't want to be his son either.” He assessed Percy again. “The sea God it is."
Rosa looked at Regulus and his siblings. “So you're not the children of Lady Persephone.” She stated just as calmly as Jack. Regulus was glad that they didn't turn this into a big deal.
Nico and Bianca stepped a step forwards, now standing directly next to Regulus again. He once again put comforting hands on their shoulders and instantly could feel them straighten up.
“Yes we are!” Bianca declared passionately.
“She's our mother!” Nico continued with the same amount of passion. “Flower mama is the best! She even raised us!”
Bianca elbowed him, but it was already too late. Everyone once again gasped. Why did they gasp so much? Regulus' hypotheses of Demigods being inherently dramatic seemed to be the truth more and more.
“You were raised by a Goddess?!” Rosa gasped.
“You were raised by your father?!” Annabeth gasped at the same time.
Regulus cleared his throat. “Of course not, that would be against the ancient laws. Lady Persephone merely visited us a few times to see if we were like our… mortal half siblings.” He winded. “We lived during the second World War, you see?”
The daughters of Athena seemed relieved by this. Annabeth, especially. “That makes sense, I suppose.” She said satisfied. “It also explains the flowers in your hair.”
Rhea cleared her throat sharply. Regulus really didn't like her. The way she cleared her throat reminded him of a classmate he had had in his previous life. A classmate he had finally half forgotten and would have liked to keep out of his mind. She always tried to flirt with him, stating she'd be the perfect future Lady Black.
That would have been impossible, too. Not because of her awful personality, or her hideous looks, which surprisingly enough, weren't because of too much incest like the Burke family had done. Yet, that was exactly the reason why she could never have been his future wife.
Dolores Umbridge was a Half-Blood witch, rather than a pureblood one. Not just one from an unimportant family with a squib brother at that, but a Half-Blood who seemed so eager to bow down to the Dark Lord. It was always the Half-Bloods like her he despised most. Snape had been like that, too.
“I do not like being ignored.” Rhea cut through his walk down the memory lane, as to speak. For once, he was glad for it.
Regulus cast his cold glare to her once more. “That makes two of us, grandmother.”
The Lady huffed. “Ah, so ‘Grandmother’ it is, now?” She asked dryly. “I never really liked your father, as he was much too bold for his own good. You are much like him.”
Bianca rolled her eyes at their grandmother. “Aren't you literally referenced as ‘the great mother?’” She asked dryly, before looking at Grover. “Regulus asked you a question. What happened to our mother?”
The satyr gulped and looked like he was finally about to answer, only to be cut off once more by Rhea.
“I took her.” She said. “And yes, I am not just a great mother, but the great mother. It is a title I take much pride in. My darling Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter and Hestia are wonderful Gods and Goddesses.”
She huffed. “Yet, Hades just had to ruin my image. He's so… dark. So bold. So audacious. He keeps his own father, my husband, as a prisoner in his house and does not even allow me to visit him! Can you believe that?! His own mother!”
Percy boldly stepped forward. “You remind me of my step-father.” He commented, looking as if it was the worst insult he could ever say. Regulus didn't know who Percy's step-father was, but he believed him.
Rhea's sneer changed into a peaceful smile when she looked at Percy. “Ah, just like Regulus and Nico, you look just like your father. Bless you.”
Percy winced. “Please don't.”
She chuckled. “You're just as funny as Poseidon too! My husband would simply adore you!” She said, before squeezing his cheeks. “So adorable!”
Percy sighed. “Lady, I don't know what your problem is, but we have a quest to finish!”
Rhea hummed. “I know, sweetie, I know. That's why I came here!”
Annabeth stepped forwards. “You did?”
She nodded. “Oh, yes, daughter of Athena. The reason I am here is because I stumbled upon something quite interesting. A secret, if you will.”
Annabeth leaned slightly forwards. “A secret?”
She smiled grandmotherly down at her and Percy. Even at Grover. “‘You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned.’” She quoted. “Does that sound familiar?”
Percy paled. “How do you know that?!” He demanded. There was an anxious undertone in his voice, though.
She caressed his face softly. “Let's just say that I have my sources, little prince.”
Annabeth hummed. “Can you help us?”
Rhea nodded, at which Annabeth's eyes sharpened. “Will you help us?”
Once again, she nodded. “Of course I can and will help you! I will share my knowledge with you and even guide you! All you need to do is a small favour for me.”
Regulus shook his head at Percy, Grover and Annabeth, but they ignored him, focusing on the Lady instead. Fools.
“What kind of favour?” Rosa cut in sharply. “Because as far as I am concerned, you do not seem to be the most trustworthy source.”
Rhea nodded. “Understandable, truly. I do not like my oldest son, unfortunately. Yet, I have a good reason for that. He is treacherous. So are his children.”
Jack scoffed. “Right.” He commented. “Lord Hades may have made some mistakes. I wouldn't know about that, yet that does not make it fair to judge his children. War always has more sides than one. Mostly always also more sides than two, and the same counts for situations like this.”
Charlie nodded along, before he glared at her. “They're friends! They wouldn't betray us!”
Rhea sat down on the chair she'd been sitting on again. “I know, yet betrayals often come from our closest friends, do they not?” She asked, looking Percy straight in his eyes.
The son of Poseidon seemed to pale even more at that. Regulus needed to have more context than this. He did not like the way this was going. Not at all.
Rhea looked at Rosa, who now stood directly next to Annabeth, like a protective mother owl. “As for your question, the favour would be nothing major. Just a little detour on Percy, Annabeth and Grover's quest. A side quest, if you will.”
Annabeth nodded slightly. “Why should we trust you?” She asked dubiously. Rosa breathed out a soft sigh in relief with it.
“Because the favour would really be in your favour.” She seemed to smile at her own word play. How utterly childish.
Percy nodded. “What would you want us to do?”
She smiled pleasantly. “I want you to ‘find what was stolen and have it safely returned’” She quoted once more. “Or rather, who.”
Percy's eyes flew wide. “You know where she is?!”
Rhea nodded. “Indeed. My treacherous son has her.” She glared at Regulus and his siblings. “Hades has kidnapped your mother, Perseus Jackson.” She sighed. “Just like he has kidnapped the godly weapon of my son. His master bolt.”
Percy frowned. “But why would he do that? Why would he kidnap my mother?!”
Bianca hissed, “He wouldn't! Don't you see that she's lying?! She kidnapped our mother and uses your own apparently kidnapped mother against you!”
Rhea's calm face turned thunderous as she glared at Bianca. “Silence!”
Nico instinctively stepped behind Regulus, who stepped in front of Bianca. Good, they were both behind him.
“Do not talk to her like that.” He warned coldly. With it, the room seemed to darken even more. “You may be able to manipulate these naive children”, he gestured at Annabeth, Percy and Grover.
“You may dislike our father and yes, you clearly have kidnapped our mother and want to use her as leverage against us.” He smiled grimly. “Yet, you seem to underestimate us. You have already given away whatever they needed for their quest without them having sworn an oath to do anything for you.”
He stepped one step more forward, now looking the Titaness in her eyes. “I am fully aware that my siblings and I made a new enemy today, but do not be mistaken, for you have made six.”
He smiled just as sharply as Rhea had before. “And trust me, Persephone and Hades treat their enemies with the respect they deserve to be treated. It is one of the reasons why they like our mother so much.”
Bianca and Nico walked next to him again, looking and radiating so much righteous anger that the room darkened even more. So much, in fact, that the entire room seemed to have turned into a living shadow.
“And we got our parents’ fury.” He finished.
Rhea stood up and hissed at him. “I seem to have underestimated you.” She stated, before smiling. “I used to be the queen of Olympus before my daughter took over. I am the Titaness of motherhood and fertility. Know that your mother and your sister will never bear children because of your insolence. Know that when my husband inevitably rises again and I will be queen of Olympus once more, your bones shall crumble to dust beneath my wrath.”
She started to disappear slowly, rather than disappearing in a bright flash as Gods often did. When only her cruel face was still visible, she spoke once more. “Pray to whatever Gods you hold dear, for they shall not save you from my wrath.”
Where Rhea had been before, was their mother now. Maria di Angelo blinked around her, before turning to the nearest flower pot and throwing up.
“Well, that was fun.” Percy stated. “Ten out of ten grandmother. Would like to meet again in the near future.” He looked at Jack. “I hardly believe it, but even your father's less of an asshole.”
Jack laughed. “Sounds like you have a story to tell.” Percy grinned, before he started to tell the way his quest had been going, especially the part where he met Jack's father. Regulus assumed it was all exaggerated, but it was a fun story nevertheless.
When they finally walked out of the Lotus Hotel, Regulus blinked slowly. Cars bigger and faster than he had ever seen before almost seemed to fly on the street. Yellow cars with the text ‘Taxi’ on them made horrible sounds like some sort of never-ending torturous symphony and people walked annoyedly around them, grumbling about tourists.
“Wow..” Rosa breathed out. Tommy, Nico and Bianca nodded along. “We really did travel through time.”
Maria took a deep breath, before coughing. “Madre Mia, this air is horrible!” She said softly, before looking at Percy.
“I do not know whether the Titaness spoke the truth, but I know my beloved Hades. Should he have taken your mother, he would not have done so without good reason.” She smiled softly at him. “And he definitely would not have hurt her.”
Percy sighed. “Can't you just ask ‘your beloved Hades’ to return my mum?”
Maria shook her head. “Dangerous things happen to those who meddle with a quest that is not theirs, Percy. You, Annabeth and Grover must continue with yours and end it. Should Hades ask for a sign to trust you, please tell them that I sent you. And when he asks for the truth or a sign to trust you, tell him that Andrea's spirit will baptize him, should he not listen to you.”
Bianca and Nico snickered at the threat, which seemed to be enough for Annabeth, Grover and Percy, who nodded at them and walked away.
“Will you be able to find Camp Half-Blood without me?” Grover asked, looking behind at them.
Maria smiled. “We will, don't worry about it.”
When they were away, Jack looked at Maria. “You do know that mortals cannot enter the camp, right?”
She nodded, before smiling mischievously. “I do, but do not worry about it. I am a Half-Blood myself, too.”
Regulus gaped at his mother. “You said you were one in your past life!”
She chuckled. “I was.” She said, stepping into a taxi bus after the children were all in there. “Yet, being possessed by not just a Titaness, but the former queen of Olympus has after effects. Every clear sighted mortal used to be a Demigod in their past life, because there is always a residue. Your father taught me that.”
The taxi diver looked back at them, grinning. “She's right, you know?” His eyes were sky blue and his hair was curly and blond.
“Lord Hermes.” Maria bowed her head respectfully.
“Daughter of Aphrodite.” He smiled.
“But how?” Bianca asked. “How can you be a Half-Blood again after being possessed?”
Hermes' grin turned even wider. “As your mama said, it's the residu in her soul and body that ensured the survival of her soul and body while being possessed. An ordinary mortal would have simply ceased to exist, down to their very soul.” He looked sadly at Regulus. “They would never have entered your father's domain.”
Rosa made a comprehensive sound. “So her appearance is the same, yet being possessed by a divine being leaves even more of a residu. Those residues together ensured that she now is half Goddess again.. Half Aphrodite, like she used to be in her past life.”
Hermes nodded. “Exactly! Of course, it was a fifty-fifty chance as she might very well have ceased to exist, even as a former Demigod, but because Rhea is so powerful, it all worked out just fine. It's a good thing, too, or else every clear sighted mortal would never stop begging us divine beings from possessing them, with how power hungry mortals always are!”
Regulus nodded. “Thank you for the explanation, Lord Hermes.”
He shrugged. “Eh, no problemo, kiddo! It has been a while, even in Godly standards, that a clear sighted mortal became a Demigod again! I just had to see it! ‘Sides, you kids were stuck in the Lotus Hotel! I have a personal grudge against that place, saving any soul from it is a pleasure for me.”
He turned back to the driving wheel. “Now, I'll drive you to Camp and have a word with Chiron, arighty?”