The Forgotten Olympian |BOOK 1| PJO X HP | Alexandra Marine

Chapter 61 - Piper - Into The Unknown

Finally we reached the top of a steep slope, where the path ended in a curtain of green goo.

Kekrops faced the demigods. "Beyond this camouflage is the Acropolis. You must remain here. I will check that your way is clear."

"Wait." I turned to address the crowd of gemini. "There is only death above. You will be safer in the tunnels. Hurry back. Forget you saw us. Protect yourselves."

The fear in my voice channelled perfectly with the charmspeak. The snake people, even the guards, turned and slithered into the darkness, leaving only the king.

"Kekrops," I said, "you're planning to betray us as soon as you step through that goo."

"Yes," he agreed. "I will alert the giants. They will destroy you." Then he hissed. "Why did I tell you that?"

"Listen to the heartbeat of Gaia," I urged. "You can sense her rage, can't you?"

Kekrops wavered. The end of his staff glowed dimly. "I can, yes. She is angry."

"She'll destroy everything. She'll reduce the Acropolis to a smoking crater. Athens – your city – will be utterly destroyed, your people along with it. You believe me, don't you?"

"I – I do."

"Whatever hatred you have for humans, for demigods, for Athena, we are the only chance to stop Gaia. So you will not betray us. For your own sake, and your people, you will scout the territory and make sure the way is clear. You will say nothing to the giants. Then you will return."

"That is ... what I'll do." Kekrops disappeared through the membrane of goo.

Annabeth shook her head in amazement. "Piper, that was incredible."

"We'll see if it works." I sat down on the cool stone floor.  The others squatted next to me. Percy handed me a canteen of water.

Until I took a drink, I hadn't realized how dry my throat was. "Thanks."

Percy nodded. "You think the charm will last?"

"I'm not sure," I admitted. "If Kekrops comes back in two minutes with an army of giants, then no."

The heartbeat of Gaia echoed through the floor. Strangely, it made me think of the sea – how the waves boomed along the cliffs of Santa Monica back home.

I wondered what dad was doing right now. It would be the middle of the night in California. Maybe he was asleep, or doing a late-night TV interview. I hoped he was in his favourite spot: the porch off the living room, watching the moon over the Pacific, enjoying some quiet time. 

I thought about my friends in the Aphrodite cabin at Camp Half-Blood. I thought about my cousins in Oklahoma, which was odd, since I'd never spent much time with them. 

"Do you guys ever think about your families?" I asked.

It was a silly question, especially on the cusp of a battle. I should have been focused on the quest, not distracting my friends.

But they didn't chide me.

Percy's gaze became unfocused. His lower lip quivered. "My mom... I – I haven't even seen her since Hera made me disappear. I called her from Alaska. I gave Coach Hedge some letters to deliver to her. I..." His voice broke. "She's all I've got. Her, Alex, and my stepdad, Paul."

"And Tyson," Annabeth reminded him. "And Grover. And –"

"Yeah, of course," Percy said. "Thanks. I feel much better."