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thesibyllinebooks · 4 years

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The New Yorkers (Part 24)

Leo stood around the large, circular table in the dining room. Calypso sat next to him with a grin so wide it was a miracle her facial muscles were still intact.

“So,” Leo started, “I’m sure you’re all wondering why Calypso and I called you to have this delicious dinner-”

“Because you’re a good friend who knows we can’t cook?” Piper questioned.

Leo shook his head and rolled his eyes. “That’s Jason’s problem, not mine.”

“Tell us!” Hazel said excitedly.

“Well,” Calypso said, looking at all of them. Her stomach was so large she had to scoot her chair back from the table to fit. “Leo and I were having a talk about who the godparents should be...”

“Annabeth and I are flattered,” Percy said, which earned him an elbow to the side from Annabeth. He was just happy that for once they were at Leo’s like the good old days, together and in a relationship, and not with Percy drenching Annabeth in disgusting city sludge.

“We chose all of you,” Leo informed his friends happily, finally sitting down. “It takes a village, right?”

Hazel’s golden eyes gleamed. “Oh, Leo! We’re honored!” she said excitedly.

“For real, man,” Frank echoed.

Leo began to eat. “I mean, you really didn’t think Cal and I would be able to choose which of our coupled friends should take care of our daughters in the event of both our untimely deaths, right?” he asked.

“But if you had to choose, it would have been Piper and me right?” Jason asked.

“I mean to be totally honest, it probably would have been Frank and Hazel. They’re the most responsible,” Leo admitted. Frank and Hazel beamed proudly.

The table fell into comfortable conversation. Percy told his friends about his new job, and Hazel and Piper talked idly about how wedding planning was going. Annabeth and Frank fell into a conversation about something related to their studies. Everything was perfectly normal, the way things had been before.

“So, how’s being back together life?” Leo asked his friends.

Annabeth’s face flushed. She knew she’d have to answer the question at some point or another. “It’s great,” she smiled. “Never been better.”

“Jason caught me up,” Leo explained. “Why would somebody want to take your memories anyway? And our memories too, I guess?”

Frank hung his head, suddenly unable to meet anyone’s eyes. Percy squeezed Annabeth’s hand, urging her that it was high time to tell the truth. Annabeth knew deep down he was right but once she said everything, she wouldn’t be able to take it back.

“It was Athena,” Annabeth admitted stiffly. “Long story short, war is brewing on Olympus. Poseidon wants to overthrow Zeus. She thought I would side with Percy and try to destroy her.”

The table was silent for a long while. Calypso frowned in dismay. “Damn, you’re serious?” he asked.

Annabeth nodded. “She came to me a couple weeks ago and admitted as much. Hazel helped us get our memories back. Athena manipulated all of us.”

Jason frowned. He looked hurt, but like he was trying hard not to be. “So you both knew, but you only told Hazel?” he questioned.

“Hazel can control The Mist,” Percy pointed out, coming to Annabeth’s defense. “And of course we wanted to tell you, but we didn’t know how without you thinking I’m suddenly against you or something.”

Jason shook his head. “I’m not my father. I don’t think that,” he said understandingly. He gestured between Annabeth and Percy. “So, I’m assuming your mom is going to defend Zeus?”

Annabeth nodded. She made a face like her food was turning to dust in her mouth. “Yes, you know how Athena would hate to upset tradition,” she spat.

“What about my dad?” Leo asked. “He hates Zeus. He’s a smart guy.”

“Yeah, he’s on Poseidon’s side,” Percy admitted. “So are Hades and Ares. Aphrodite’s siding with Zeus.”

“This is upsetting,” Calypso said. She was no stranger to the gods’ antics. “Again?”

“Again?” Annabeth repeated. “This has happened before?”

Calypso nodded. Her hand rested idly on her stomach and her face turned into a troubled frown. “Yes, a really long time ago. Maybe... five hundred years? Poseidon tried to unseat Zeus and, clearly, he was defeated. Hundreds of demigods died.” She stood up from the table. Leo didn’t try to stop her.

“Oh, no,” Piper said. “What about the camps? They can’t be safe.” If she was thinking the same thing as Annabeth, she was probably concerned for the safety of all her siblings who would have to fight- and possibly die- in a battle they had no stake in.

“We spoke to Chiron. The gods are already going at it. Zeus poisoned the lake at Camp Half-Blood and put a few campers in the infirmary,” Annabeth said dismally. “When the kids show up for summer, it’ll probably only get worse.”

“No,” Hazel said in dismay. She put a hand on Frank’s arm. “You should get in touch with Camp Jupiter, and see-”

“Of course, I will,” Frank assured everyone. “Is there anything we can do? I get that we’re retired, so the gods aren’t exactly going to allow us to ride into battle...”

Percy and Annabeth’s eyes locked. They had a silent conversation- telepathy, it felt like to Percy at times. He nodded to Annabeth, hoping she understood he was encouraging her to tell the truth, but not the parts that were still too sensitive.

“Percy and I went to Olympus,” Annabeth said. “I spoke to Athena. They’re gearing up for war and they’re not going to budge- no matter who has to die. I know we can’t fight but we can do something better.”

“What’s that?” Jason asked.

“You’re not going to like it,” Percy warned him.

Annabeth grit her teeth. “We have to stop worshiping the gods,” she said. She continued before anyone could stop her. “Not that I hate the gods, or want to overthrow them or anything, but this is the only thing we can do. If the gods fade from existence, they can’t wage this war on each other.”

“That’s a bit...much,” Leo said.

“Do you have a better idea?” Percy snapped defensively.

“Well, it does sound like we’re jumping the gun here,” Jason said. “I mean, that’s a pretty big deal. The gods are well... gods.” Percy loved his friend, but he was sick of Jason always trying to do the right thing. He did’t even know if it could be chalked up to him being Roman, because Frank and Hazel were clearly on board.

“Did you not hear Annabeth? Kids are already getting hurt,” Piper said. “I know it’s your dad, but Zeus has never really been a father to you. Plus, he’s done some pretty messed up stuff to well- everybody.”

Percy was glad Piper said it so he didn’t have to.

“Who said it has to be Zeus?” Jason questioned.

“It only makes sense,” Annabeth reasoned. “And Athena. It’s nothing personal. I’m not saying I think Poseidon’s right. But if the two of them lose power, we could stop this.”

“And then what? Poseidon becomes King of the Gods?” Jason asked.

“Would that be a bad thing?” Percy countered. “I didn’t ask for this any more than you did. And why does it matter who wins, as long as war doesn’t break out?”

Jason shook his head again. “No, that’s not what I meant. I understand where Annabeth’s coming from but it’s a lot- fading a god’s essence is way easier said than done.” He sounded like he was backtracking, but Percy didn’t want to point it out and start an argument with his roommate.

“I know,” Annabeth agreed. “Which is why we have to tell both camps. No more offerings to Zeus or Athena. No more fighting in their honor, praying to them- even facetiously. I’m going to convince Chiron to move my siblings to another cabin-”

“They could have mine,” Percy said. “That’d really burn her.”

“Please, she’d disintegrate the cabin the second they moved in,” Leo reasoned.

“Do you think Chiron would go for that?” Piper asked.

Annabeth shrugged. “It can’t hurt to try. I mean, if this has happened before like Calypso said, maybe he’ll be willing to help.” It was obvious to Annabeth Chiron cared about the campers far more than he did the gods. Annabeth felt a little bad for him, having to deal with temperamental, annoying gods for almost five thousand years.

“You’d have to tell the cohorts to remove their offerings from the temples,” Hazel told Frank. “That’ll take a load of convincing.”

“I know,” Frank agreed. “But if it’s going to stop a war, it’s worth a shot.”

Percy clasped his hands together with an uneasy smile. “Well, that went well,” he said. “Annabeth and I were ready for fights and all out carnage.”

“We understand the mission’s more important than our own feelings,” Jason said. Percy wanted to ask him if he was sure about that.

“That’s the most Roman thing I’ve ever heard you say,” Leo told his friend with a smile. “But for real, whatever happens between the gods, y’all are hands-down my best friends and are totally gonna be the best god parents ever- definitely better than out own.” Hazel cringed at Leo’s dismal joke.

“Good talk,” Piper agreed.

Leo stood up again. “I’m going to find Calypso and then after- board games! Don’t think all this war talk doesn’t mean I’m not still ready to kick your butts!”

#the new yorkers #heroes of olympus #percy jackson #pjo fanfic #annabeth chase #percabeth #hazel levesque #leo valdez #piper mclean #frank zhang #pjo #fanfic

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aj-the-satyr · 5 years

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Si vis Pacem

Ginger allowed herself a grin. No one looked up. In a world where the supernatural existed, Vampires were proven real. No one looked up. Well, almost no one. She and Chance had exchanged a brief glance about 3 blocks back but she wasn’t who Ginger was focused on right now. If she was right about this then the agent she was following was next on the list and the person behind this would be playing for keeps. She frowned as her body called out for something, a drink, a cigarette, a fight, didn’t matter which. She’d been out of this game for far too long.

............

Lance sighed as he exited the bar. “Some much for that good feeling.” He paused briefly to check his phone. Still nothing. Whatever the Director was doing he was keeping Lance out of it. He scrolled through his list of contacts and briefly considered calling True Names Inc for some help. He shook his head and continued walking. “Nah, they’re probably already hip deep in something anyway.” He allowed his feet to just pick a direction at random. I mean it didn’t really matter at this point did it? There was enough magic in the air to chase off even the most hardened of innocent bystander. He paused again and put his phone away.

“Well? Is here good enough for your ambush?”

.................

Nikolai spat a tooth at the woman. “You hit like a girl!”

She was clearly unimpressed. “And you deal with torture like a trained agent.”

He blinked a little. “Er.... thanks.”

“Or at least a beating. Not really torture yet is it? No metal trays lined with tools for you to look at and imagine what they would do. No syringes filled with truth serum. No strange doctors who clearly had their medical licences revoked.”

Nikolai decided to not say anything. Longer this lady wanted to monologue the less he was getting hit.

“But the real question isn’t what you can tell us about the twins is it?”

“It isn’t?”

“No. I’m just testing if you are under a Geas.”

“Geese?” Nikolai smiled a bloody. gap toothed smile. “Gonna bring out a duck for the next round?”

“I mean why wouldn’t you just say that you were under a Geas to avoid all this. Torture cannot break one of those, surely you know this.”

“Under a goose now? I worship Pan, not Zeus. Lady, you’re crazy.”

“Still he jokes. Are you a fan of comics Mr Eros?” She turned away.

“Er..... sure. I mean they get kinda stupid at times but everything has their ups and downs right?”

“You are right Mr Eros.” She turned back around and was holding a scalpel. “I Would say that you are about to experience one of those down moments.”

“Come on. Let’s just talk about comic books some more eh?” Nikolai shifted in the chair a little but the woman had secured it to the ground before she started.

“Ok. Spider-man.”

“Yeah? You like him? That new actor is cute.”

“You’re like Spider-man.” She smiled and took a step closer.

“Me? Nah. I’m a Satyr not a spider. Lady you really got to learn these things.”

“He jokes all the time. He could be in the most dangerous situation he’s ever been in and he’ll make some wise crack at the person who is very much trying to kill him. You know why Mr Eros?”

Nikolai gritted his teeth. He knew where this was headed and offered a silent prayer to anyone who was watching. Anyone. He’d make a deal with a demon right now if it meant getting away from here.

“He’s frightened Mr Eros, terrified. It’s either crack jokes or piss his costume. And that is exactly what you are doing isn’t it? Make some jokes, make them think you’re tougher than they expect. Maybe buy some time. Or maybe you are just this selfless and don’t want anything bad to happen to the Twins. We’ll see.”

His screams echoed around the basement room.

.......................

Lance wiped the blood from his mouth and kicked the downed man again. “I’m on the fucking thing dumbass. Next time bring your friends.”

“Oh but he did my dear Agent. We’ve just been waiting our turn.” Came a voice from behind him.

Lance spun hands up. He was breathing heavily. They’re played him. Sent the big guy first. Oh well. He wasn’t going down without more of a fight. He grimaced and extended energy from his fists. “Then who’s next?”

A tall gentleman stepped forward tossing his suit jacket off to one side and pulling out a knife. “I heard you could cut through steel with that power of yours. I’d like to test that.”

Lance lunged. No talk, just fight. He caught the guy boasting and pierced through his heart. He didn’t even watch the body fall he just stepped back and got ready to defend as more of them came to avenge their fallen.

........................

Ginger nodded at the scene below and jumped off the roof. She grinned as she landed on one of Lance’s attackers with a sickening CRUNCH. She flicked her lit cigarette at the one guy who turned to look at her.

“Hey Lance. Heard you been looking for me.” She said as Lance used that moment of distraction to down the last of the assailants.

“Fuck you Hollywood. You could have helped.”

“Not my type Lance, you know that. And I did.”

“Earlier......” He was breathing heavily. “Would have been nice.”

“Like you said, you’re on the fucking thing. Plus I was enjoying a smoke break.”

“Director said to find you.....”

“He did? Huh. He must think I’ve got this all figured out or something.”

“Well, do you?”

Ginger chuckled. “Not exactly but this isn’t about your list Agent. It’s about the Twins.”

........................................

(And lo doth Malentendu just keep going. Well of course it does I keep writing it. Anyway.....

@yuutfa @sleepy-and-anxious @anntarinsanitymaterialized @wordsaremylife

Is the current taglist. As usual ask to be added/removed or if you just have a question.

As usual remember to have fun with your writing Y’all.)

#Malentendu #Writeblr #My Writing #I think things may be happening #poor Nikolai

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