Chapter Three - Conversations with Moms

Percy dragged me out of the school building as fast as he could after the incident with Alexia. He told me that we were going to my house to talk to my mom and ignored me when I protested. When we got to the apartment, she was doing the usual, except this time on the sofa.
“Ariadne, why are you home so early?” she asked as we walk in, she looked over and saw Percy. Her expression changed quickly, she looked as if she seen a ghost. “Who's this?"
He sat down on the sofa across from her and motioned for me to sit down. I do, and watch him nervously as he began speaking. “Look Ms. Clark, don’t kick me out or anything because if you don’t hear me out, Aria could die.”
She looked alarmed and I was surprised when she slammed her laptop shut. “Go on.”
He clasps his hands together, nervously. I now find it hilarious that Percy is nervous to talk to adults, but can slice Alexia without the blink of an eye. “Greek gods are real.” he told her, bluntly. “And Aria, here happens to be the daughter of one of those gods.”
I searched my mom’s face for her reaction and it didn’t seem surprised. She looked trapped. “How did you know about that?” she said in a very low tone.
“You knew!” Percy and I shout at the same time, but only I continue. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
She looked embarrassed, again. She red faced and looking down at her hands. “You have to understand that the more you knew, the more danger you would attract.”
I look to Percy as insurance. He nods, “Which is why you can’t tell her who her father is, exactly, Ms. C.”
I felt angry, but didn’t say anything mean because I understood the situation. “Will I ever know?” I simply ask.
“At camp, the gods are supposed to claim you.” he explains, then gives a halfhearted smile. “Recently, there was a pact made, so the odds are high.”
I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion. I was too curious not to ask. “A pact? What do you mean?”
He exhales and I figured that he didn’t like explaining it. “I made the gods promise to claim all their children to prevent another war like last summer’s.” he muttered. “Also, it sucks not knowing who your parents are.”
I could agree with him on that. I wanted to point out that there wasn’t a war last summer, but he seemed too annoyed with the topic. “So, what’s this camp you’re talking about?” my mom inquires and I realize that I’m eager to get the details as well.
He perks up, giving us a smile. “It’s the only place where demigods are safe.” he leveled. “You go there and you train to survive in the real world.”
Now, my mom was confused. “Train for what, exactly?”
“Monsters are just as alive as the gods.” Percy said, grimly. His expression didn’t look happy, either.
My mom suddenly looked sad. “Ariadne needs to leave, then?” she murmurs in a thick voice. I was pretty sure that if she started crying, I was going to be, too.
Percy nods, “When she’s learned enough to stay alive, she can come home.” he told us. “It’s a summer camp, Ms. C. We’re not going to hold her hostage, but the sooner she learns to fight is the sooner she can come back home.”
She nods in understanding, her eyes looked misty. “Could you give us a minute?” she asked, politely. He gets up and waits in the kitchen.
I turn to mom and she’s close to crying. A lump formed in my throat, “You have to go.” she insists.
Mom and I didn’t converse much, but I loved her and the thought of seeing her less often, scared the crap out of me. “I know, I know.” I managed without bursting into tears. “I’ll try to be back before the end of break.”
She grasped my hand, “I’m so happy that we don’t have to argue about this.” she smiled, but still looked a little sad. I nod in agreement.
“I’m going to pack a few things.” I decided and my mom offers to help. We went to my room and I basically shoved clothes into my bag, but my mom took them out and folded them. You know, the motherly thing. When we were done, I hugged her.
I was going to miss her more than Sunday cartoons. “I’m going to miss you.” she said as she hugged me back.
“Me too.” I replied, followed by an ‘I love you’ exchange. I head out to the kitchen with my backpack to find Percy talking to the kitchen sink. It surpassed all crazy things. “Percy, what are you doing?” I snort.
He looks up and is a little red. “Talking to Annabeth.” he tells me and waves me over. I went, eagerly because Percy talked about his girlfriend, but I’ve never met her. Sure enough, in the depths of the sink, over the water was a misty imagine of a blonde girl. She looked alarmed at first, but changed her expression so quickly that I doubt Percy noticed. “Annabeth, this is Aria.” he introduced via sink. “Aria, this is Annabeth.”
I give a smile, despite my shock of the terms of communication. She returns it, “Hurry and get here, so we can officially meet.” she grinned. I nod in return.
“I’ll see you back at camp, I’ve got to IM my mom before I forget.” Percy told her.
She rolled her eyes, “See you, Seaweed Brain.”
“Back at you, Annabeth.”
I held my laughter until the misty image disappeared. “Pet names?” I mocked him. “That’s cute.”
His face was bright red, but he ignored me and held his hand over the water, causing more mist to appear over the surface. He reaches into his pocket and takes out a huge gold coin. “O Iris, goddess of the rainbow, accept my offering.” he then dropped the coin in the sink. I expected a clang, but there was nothing. “Sally Jackson, Manhattan.”
His mom’s face appears in the mist. I smile, she seemed to be cooking because she was wearing an apron and her brown hair was tied out of her face. I really liked Percy’s mom from the moment I first met her. She was always kind to me. “Percy, dear.” she greeted. “Why are you Iris Messaging me from school?”
Percy grimaced. “I’m not at school.” her expression changed to stern. “But that is because an empousa attacked Aria!” he defended. “I need to get her to camp.”
His mom must have realized I was standing next to him and she gives me a smile. “Hello Aria.” Sally turns back to her son. “Please, try to be back before the end of the break.”
“As long as the world doesn’t end.” he promises and said his goodbye, followed by waving his hand in the mist. “Ready to go?” he then asked me with a grin.
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that's it? Um thanks for reading if anyone did, though i doubt it,..next chapter coming soon!