The Legend of Elodie Grant (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chapter Seventeen

When I opened my eyes, I knew I was dreaming. I was in a large room, surrounding by thrones built for giants. In the middle of the room was a hearth, crackling with warmth. I had never seen the room in my life, but I somehow knew that this was Olympus.

"It's beautiful, is it not?"

I whirled around at the baritone voice, my eyes widening at the figure in front of me. The man watched me with cold, calculating eyes, waiting for my response.

"It is nothing like I have ever seen before." I replied, my voice cracking a little, much to my dismay.

He smiled at me, but it was unfeeling. "I am Zeus, king of Olympus."

I bowed my head slightly to show respect, but I refused to kneel. "I am Elodie, daughter of Demeter."

"Yes, young one, I know exactly who you are." Zeus acknowledged, turning to walk closer to the hearth, his hands clasped behind his back. "I've been watching you for some time now. It's not often we get such a strong half-blood from Demeter, it's quite refreshing."

"Watching me?" I asked, hesitantly. It was hard to believe I was someone worthy of Zeus' attention.

"Oh, yes. You're strong and you have a big spirit. A worthy opponent."

He fell silent again. I awkwardly stood off to the side, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. It was obvious he had wanted to talk to me about something, but he seemed to be thinking his words over.

"My daughter is coming to Camp Half-blood." He finally said, "I made a mistake when I fell for her mother. Thalia should have never been born. She is strong. Stronger than any demigod has right to be."

"Grover..." I murmured to myself, remembering that he couldn't be pulled in because he was with a strong demigod.

"Yes, your friend is with my daughter." He confirmed, staring into the fire.

"What does this have to do with anything." I paused before adding, "Sir."

"Long ago, I made a pact with my brothers that we would not produce any offspring with mortal women, for the children were given unimaginable power. When Thalia was born, I was able to hide her, but Hades learned of her existence." He told me, a great weariness in his voice. "In revenge, he has attacked the only safe place she could have gone to. The attack upon Camp Half-blood will not cease until my daughter is dead."

My mind was reeling with this new information. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but I had no reason to believe the god would lie to me.

"What does that have to do with me?" I finally asked, my voice unusually small.

"You must protect the camp."

"I am."

Zeus laughed at my words, mocking me. I couldn't help but blush from embarrassment and frustration. I said, "I am! I've helped protect the camp for more than a month now!"

"You haven't!" He boomed, his voice echoing throughout the room. I couldn't help but flinch away from him. He watched me carefully, his sharp eyes gleaming in the light of the fire.

"Hades forces are constantly breaking past your defenses; many half-bloods have died, reducing down to spoils of war; and my daughter is leading more monsters directly to you."

"Pardon me, sir." I snapped, "But you and your daughter are the cause of this. I'm just around to clean up the mess."

Thunder boomed, shaking the walls of the building. I flinched away again, fear rising in my throat. Zeus glared down at me, seeming to grow in size. I bowed my head again in apology, deciding my survival was more important than my pride.

There was a tense period of silence. I stood stiffly, looking at the ground with my fists clenched tightly at my sides. Finally, Zeus sighed, seemingly drained of his anger. I dared to look up at him through my eyelashes.

"If you manage to keep the camp standing until my daughter joins you, I will reward you greatly." He finally proposed, turning once more to the fire.

"Reward me?" I asked timidly.

"Are you questioning my methods?" He boomed, causing me to quickly shake my head.

"No, sir."

"Good."

It was silent once more. A thousand questions were running through my mind, but I didn't dare speak any of them.

"I don't dislike you, Elodie. You're strong, brave...you would have made a wonderful daughter of mine." He said, "But if you don't succeed in this mission, I won't be able to change your fate."

I nodded in understanding. It was silent again, and when I looked up, Zeus was gone. I let out a sigh, emotionally worn out from my meeting with the king of Olympus.

"Elodie!"

I whirled around at the new voice, coming face to face with a young woman. She had striking figures, a straight nose, a strong jaw. She was wearing steel toed books, worn jeans, and a flannel, her long hair piled on top of her head. The air seemed to leave my lungs.

"Demeter..." I gasped, my eyes widening. This was my mother.

"Hello, my child."

I stared at her, recognizing some of her features in me. I couldn't believe I was face-to-face with my mother. While I had never imagined meeting her, as I was satisfied with my father alone, I would have never thought it would be this sudden.

"What -- What is going on?" I asked, looking around as if the room were full of distractions.

Demeter laughed, her voice ringing in the room, "I wanted to meet you. My, you have grown into a powerful young woman."

"Dad taught me to take no shit from anyone." I murmured, distracted.

"Yet, you have let yourself become a pawn in Zeus' games."

"I'm pretty sure Dad meant the mean girls in school when he taught me that, not the fucking king of the gods." I said, rolling my eyes.

Demeter watched me in amusement, seemingly unfazed by my attitude. "You get your sass from me, you know. Your dad was never one for confrontation."

"What do you want, mother?" I asked, the word feeling foreign on my tongue as I got straight to the point.

"I'm here to warn you. You cannot fail in this mission. There is no what if scenario here. If you lose, you die." She said, "I am proud of the young woman you have become, but you cannot become arrogant here. You have no idea what the fates have decided for you."

"I know the consequences of my actions." I said, staring her directly in the eye.

She sighed, frustrated, "If that is what you believe, I will not attempt to shift your focus. Just be careful."

I nodded, turning to walk away. I don't know where I would go, but this dream had to end somewhere, right?

"Oh, and Elodie?" Demeter called after me.

I paused, turning to look at her over my shoulder.

"Don't trust the Ares boy, his kind are no good. He will do nothing but drag you down."

I whirled around to defend Arsen, but I was pulled out of the dream as quickly as I was put into it. I snapped awake, anger sizzling in my veins.

I was in the makeshift healing hut the Apollo kids had built. Through the window, I could see the moon high in the sky, illuminating the dark night. I turned my head, finally noticing Arsen next to me on the bed, his arm slung over my waist and his head barely brushing against mine.

I smiled, my anger draining out of my body. I turned towards him more, tucking my head into the crook of his neck. He didn't wake up, but he seemed to pull me closer to him.

Demeter was wrong about him. He was one of the only people I could trust anymore. I wasn't going to let him go, no matter what the gods believe.