Percy Jackson: Son of Hades - Prince of the Underworld Chapter 148: Who are you?

[Third Person's PoV]

As they entered the forest to cover their scent, Percy couldn't help but ask, "I'm sorry, but do we really sll that bad? Why haven't I been attacked by monsters before?"

Grover was the first to respond, "Actually, there's a reason for that. It's the sa reason why your mother was with soone like Gabe."

"Who's Gabe?" Clarisse asked, her curiosity piqued.

"My stepdad," Percy muttered. "He's real nasty. I don't understand why my mom even got with him."

"I was just about to explain that," Grover said. "She's with him for you, Percy. Gabe is so disgusting that his odor masks yours, making it difficult for monsters to detect you. Not to ntion, the supernatural really doesn't like his sll either."

Percy stared at Grover in shock, nearly tearing up. 'Just how much has she sacrificed for my sake…' he thought.

"The more I learn about you, Perseus Jackson, the more I realize how much your mother really loves you," Lucian added with a low whistle.

Percy looked at Lucian in confusion. "Why did you just use my full na like that?"

"Because your na itself is a sign of your mother's wishes and love for you," Lucian explained.

Percy and the others looked at Lucian, unsure of what he ant. "What do you an? What does my na have to do with anything?"

"As you know, your na cos from the hero of Ancient Greece who slayed dusa," Lucian began.

"Yeah…?" Percy nodded, still not fully understanding, "Was my mother's hope of slaying her again or sothing?"

"Perseus was the only hero in Greek mythology who had a 'happily ever after' following his adventures, unlike others who t tragic ends—Achilles, Hercules, even Jason. Nas have power, as we've discussed many tis. Your mother probably nad you Perseus in the hopes that you, too, would have a happy ending," Lucian explained, leaving everyone stunned.

"Are you sure you aren't reading too much into this?" Thalia asked, raising an eyebrow.

Before Lucian could respond, they heard a small sniffle. Turning toward the sound, they saw Percy wiping his eyes. "That sounds like sothing my mother would do… She was smart like that," he said, his voice quivering slightly.

Grover sympathetically patted Percy's back.

"Nice going, Lucian. You made him cry," Clarisse teased.

"I'm not crying. It's just the rain that got in my eyes," Percy said defensively.

Everyone glanced up at the shadow umbrella Lucian had created, then turned back to Percy with knowing looks.

Percy started to blush from the attention, but his stomach growled loudly, breaking the tension. "I used too much energy fighting those monsters," Percy said, patting his stomach.

"I always carry snacks with —" Lucian began, but Clarisse interrupted as she spotted sothing in the distance.

"Hey, look, what's that over there?" she asked, pointing to a building with a large red neon sign flashing in the dark.

Percy squinted, trying to read the sign. "Uhhh… What does that say?"

"Here," Lucian said, reaching into his shadow and handing him a pair of glasses.

Percy looked at him with a straight expression. "I'm dyslexic, not blind."

"HAHAHA!" Lucian couldn't help but burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "I made the exact sa joke when my mother gave them to ." He shoved the glasses onto Percy's face.

"Ouch," Percy muttered as the letters on the neon sign rearranged themselves into order. "Where were you my whole life? Do you know how much easier it would have been with you around?" Percy exclaid, holding onto Lucian and reading the sign aloud. "Aunty Em's Garden Gno Emporium… Can I keep these?"

"What part of 'they're from my mother' did you not understand?" Lucian said, taking them back. "But I'll lend them to you when you need them."

Clarisse sniffed the air as the rain stopped and the sun began to rise, illuminating their surroundings. "Does anyone else sll burgers?"

"Perhaps it's a snack bar," Annabeth guessed.

Lucian and Thalia exchanged a look, a smile passing between them.

"Shall we go? We could use the break and the energy," Percy suggested.

"I'm down," Clarisse said, taking the lead with Percy right behind her.

"A quick stop isn't a bad idea," Annabeth agreed as she and Grover followed.

"I hope they have vegetarian options," Grover said, trotting along.

Thalia and Lucian brought up the rear. "It reminds of our trip to Europe," Thalia smiled.

"Heh, I was thinking the sa thing," Lucian replied.

As they entered the Emporium, they were greeted by realistic statues, so depicting mythical creatures, supernatural beings, and even ordinary humans. The detail was incredible, and each statue seed almost alive.

Grover wandered over to one of the statues, sculpted in the likeness of a satyr. "Hey, this one looks like my Uncle Ferdinand! Ba-hahaha, it even has the sa mole he had on his chin by his lips. That's so cool."

Lucian imdiately activated his future sight to check for any danger, but he only gained a perplexed expression. *What the hell?* he thought.

As they ventured deeper into the Emporium, Clarisse cupped her mouth and called out, "Hello? Is anyone there!?"

A voice responded from the garden in the back. "Oh? What's this? I wasn't expecting any visitors…"

They heard footsteps approaching. Thalia leaned over to Lucian and whispered, "So, which old lady are we going to et now?"

"You're going to be surprised, I'll tell you that much," Lucian muttered back, still grappling with his confusion.

A woman erged from the garden, and she was one of the most beautiful won Lucian had ever seen. This only added to his confusion. Lucian wasn't easily impressed—his mother dea was striking, his stepmother was beautiful, he was practically engaged to Artemis by the three fates, who, despite hating n, was undeniably attractive. He had even t Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, Hecate, his teacher, is a definition of dark mystic beauty, and not to ntion he had co face to face with the true appearances of the three Fates.

The woman had long pink hair that cascaded down to her waist, a black dress draped elegantly over her figure, and glasses that frad her striking grey eyes.

(Image)

*Seriously, what the fuck is going on? Who is she!?* Lucian thought to himself, his confusion mirrored by the others, who were almost as captivated and intimidated by her presence.

Lucian, more accustod to beautiful won, was the first to move. "Sorry to have intruded. We slled food and saw the sign and assud this was a snack bar of so sort."

The woman giggled, a sound like beautiful chis. "Ah, that was my breakfast you were slling. But don't worry, I don't mind. In fact, why don't you children join ? It's been so long since I've had visitors, and you all look like you could use the rest."

They exchanged looks, communicating silently about what the best course of action would be. Clarisse shrugged, taking it upon herself to answer, "Sure, we wouldn't mind."

The woman clasped her hands together. "Lovely! Let go set up so more." She skipped off to the side, where the delicious sll continued to waft through the air.

"Okay, who the hell is this goddess!?" Lucian asked, looking at everyone in confusion, still lost as to who this woman could be.

"Hehehehe!"

They heard amused laughter from where the woman had disappeared, prompting them to huddle together and whisper.

"There's no doubt she's part of the supernatural world, right?" Annabeth asked, glancing around.

"Isn't that obvious? She's as beautiful as my mother, and I don't say that lightly," Lucian replied seriously, earning a few looks.

"So, should we just book it?" Percy suggested. "I an, so far, the supernatural has been trying to kill us one way or another. Why would she be any different?"

"Because she's beautiful," Lucian said with a thumbs up and a serious expression.

"Fair point, I'm in," Percy nodded in agreent.

Grover crossed his arms, nodding. "I don't see anything wrong with that statent."

The girls exchanged looks of disgust.

"Well, she hasn't done anything to warrant suspicion, so I say we wing it," Clarisse said. "If she does sothing, we'll be able to react on ti and act accordingly." Thalia and Annabeth nodded in agreent.

**************************************

10 advance Chapters on: patreon/Shadow_D_Monarch3