Demigod of Prophecy

Sally Jackson got home a little after four thirty that afternoon. She came right to Percy’s room to see Thalia and her cousin. After closing the door, Percy told his mother everything the three of us had figured out so far. Once she was caught up, she agreed to bring us to see my mother at her office.

When we got to my building, I told Sally to just park in the building’s garage. On the way in, I let the attendant know that they were with me and the car was to be tended to and not towed, even though it was not one of the building employees’ cars. They knew how much the V.P. my mom worked for liked and spoiled her, so they wouldn’t question an order from me. Then, we made our way up to the office I hadn’t seen in almost a year.

My mother worked for a hedge fund in midtown not far from where we lived. She was an executive assistant to one of the vice presidents and had her own private office, which had been furnished with a fireplace, just for her. The view of the city from her office was stunning on most days, but I couldn’t enjoy it that day. When we walked into the office, my mother was at the fireplace, as I expected.

“Mom?”

“Selene!” she exclaimed as she ran over to me and hugged me. “I didn’t know if you made it out of there safe. The school said they couldn’t find you after everything calmed down and that there had been proof of fighting and destruction on the field where we left you. I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if you were lost forever.”

“I’m okay, Mom, thanks to some new people I met,” I said pulling away from her and gesturing to Thalia. “Mom, this is Thalia. She is a Hunter of Artemis, her lieutenant. She and the other Hunters showed up at the school with Artemis and helped chase those guys away. And this,” I said gesturing to Percy and Sally, “is Percy and his mom, Sally Jackson. Percy is the son of Poseidon, Mom. And we need to talk to you.”

My mother’s face dropped like she didn’t want this day to have ever come. She motioned for all of us to sit down, then buzzed her assistant to say she would be unreachable until further notice. Once she was sure we wouldn’t be interrupted she sat down with us.

“Ms. Adams, from what the kids have told me, it seems that you and I have something in common. We both fell for a man who could never stay with us. I don’t know if you ever knew the true identity of Selene’s father and this could be confusing to say the least, but I’ve been dealing with all of this with Percy for a long time now.”

“I knew who he was. And I knew that my little girl would be doomed. Ms. Jackson, our children share a father, that much is true, but I am sorry to say there are secrets I cannot divulge,” she said as she looked at me. “I’m sorry, Selene. I didn’t want to tell you. Heroes are rarely appreciated for what they do for the world or even for the gods. The longer you were in the dark about your father, the safer you would be.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Your mom means that a demigod can be sniffed out by the monsters we fight. They can find us before we know our true identities, but it’s easier once we know the truth. Once we know the truth whatever they pick up on becomes stronger and it becomes easier for them to find us. Demigods like us are at risk even before we know because our godly parent makes us so strong the monsters can sniff us out long before we know who we are,” explained Percy.

“Great,” I mumbled.

“The point is that now you are in great danger. That army is after you. I don’t know what they want from you-“ Mom started.

“We think they’re trying to replace Percy as the demigod of prophecy to either save or destroy Olympus,” Thalia said. “If they kill him and convince her to side with him, it can give them the power they need to overthrow the gods when she turns sixteen.”

“But I wouldn’t. They tried to kill me. I don’t help people like that. Besides, in general, I don’t play well with others. Ask my mother, the military school was my thirteenth school since I’ve started kindergarten.”

“Nobody thinks you would do something like that, Honey,” said Sally, “it’s just that this is what we think is happening. We won’t let it happen.”

“Mom, there’s more. Something I should’ve told you in April, about the fire. Yes, I started it. But it was an accident. I didn’t know I could do that. The three girls were going by the last name Stygian. When we got into the library they cornered me in there and tried to attack me,” I said pausing trying to get up the nerve to finish what my mother had been trying to pull out of me for months. “They said they were the Furies sent by Hades to bring me to the Underworld to him for judgment. I didn’t think you’d believe me and you were already so mad.”

“The Furies?” she asked as her face paled.

“Yes.”

My mother got up and hugged me tightly again.

“You are not safe with me. They have found where you are and if I keep you with me, Hades will hunt you until he gets what he wants.”

“Mom? What are you saying?”

“You need to leave, Selene. For your safety you can’t stay with me.”

“But, Mom, I came back for you.”

“I know, but if you stay, Hades will see to your death.”

“Sally, how did you do it with Percy? Maybe you can help my mom?”

Sally had a look of grief and sympathy on her face.

“Selene, I had to send Percy to boarding school after boarding school. I was married to a man who was able to hide the scent of his demigod blood, but it still didn’t work. Ultimately, it was one of the Furies who found him. From there, I had no choice but to let him go. He went to Camp Half-Blood which is a camp for demigods. He learned to take care of himself there and he comes home for the school year, but sometimes he has to go back unexpectedly. He contacts me when he can, but the only thing to do, is to let him live his destiny. The destiny of a half-god is not one we can interfere with. It will only cause more trouble for you.”

I looked at the ground. My mom was kicking me out for my own good. She was the only constant I’d ever had. Now I had to choose between the Huntresses and the camp and I wasn’t sure what to do. My mind couldn’t process what had just taken place.

Notes