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𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 . . .
    𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙾𝙽𝙴. ▏ 𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏

𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨: hints at previous
violence, scars, and mentions
of dark thoughts and action

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| 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮 |

    It's a particularly uninteresting and plain early morning in New York, or so it would seem. In fact, when DAHLIA ST. CLAIRE got out of bed that morning, she had not a single clue or inkling that today a ball would just start rolling out of control, and destroy her whole life. After all, the day was starting just like any other day would.

  The busy streets of Brooklyn are flooded with the typical hustle and business of the early morning rush, while there was a lone figure that was managing to carefully dodge and weave through the crowd with the kind of ease that only a true New Yorker exudes. The dark-haired woman clutches a steaming hot cup of coffee in a metal blue coffee cup with what looks like a faded Starbucks logo and seashells plastered onto it.

  Her messy jet-black hair was pulled back in a tight, yet very messy, ponytail with pieces escaping at the sides of her delicate face. Grumbling annoyedly under her breath about the time and traffic, she quickened her past. She eagerly made her way towards an all too familiar-looking building. The only daughter of Satoria easily spots a place that has come like a refuge to her; it is the Clinton Hill Chantry.

  The building is a little brownstone that was littered with potted plants on the building's front porch and was covered top to bottom in beautiful ivy; something most of the homes in this neck of the borough of New York City had in common. The little brownstone home was located in Clinton Hill, a small neighborhood in north-central Brooklyn, which meant that it was a bit out of the way for her to get there. The dark-haired woman always had to travel from her apartment in Manhattan, an apartment complex that was near the slightly infamous Queensboro Bridge, and make her way to Brooklyn. A feat that could be an hour long some days and a mere half an hour on others.

The little brownstone home was lovely and quaint for what it is. It had a classic brownstone facade, showcasing the warm earthy tones and historical architecture. The little brownstone exterior and metal gates had rather ornate details like intricate ironwork and decorative cornices. It had a few steps leading up to the entrance of the home. A small smile sprawled across her delicate features as she crept up towards the old building.

"Hey, Gwen!" Dahlia St.Claire, an infamous demigod in her own right, called out tiredly at the woman who stood at her family's building front porch.

"Hey, Dahlia, I'm so glad that you were able to make it after all, this morning!"

" Yeah, it's no problem, Gwen. Today's my day off at the library and at the shop, and it's not like I have anything better to do today." She states with a casual shrug. "So, what's up with you exactly? Because your Iris message made it seem like it was something important and urgent? Are you okay and are your kids okay?" She questions the girl before as she makes a small head tilt that looks like a confused puppy. Gwendolyn Harper ignores the question in favor of merely ushering the dark-haired woman into the old building before promptly shutting the door securely behind the both of them.

  Gwendolyn Harper, a daughter of Hecate, was a dark-skinned witch and demigod in her late 30's. The witch vaguely gestured for Dahlia to go further into the main living room of the home. The witch in question had her phone pinged loudly and quickly whipped it out of her pocket to check whatever message she seemingly got. Gwen's overall appearance was that of her usual self; which was to stay that the daughter of Hecate was rocking a newish undercut with the tips of her black curly hair dyed a vibrant purple, lots of jewelry that Dahlia knew were either forged by demigods or had been imbued with magic, and Gwendolyn was dressed in a style that the two friends had joking started calling "wizard-chic". 

Dahlia silently raises an eyebrow at her old friend as she sees the corners of the girl's lips, at the corners, twist into an amused smile as Gwendolyn stares down at her phone. Dahlia, for as long as she know the daughter of Hecate, has always seen her looking very stoic and rather neutral-faced. Gwendolyn hardly showed her emotions and that was for a good reason too. A reason that was just cruel; but what else should Dahlia expect when it comes to the fates of children of the gods? Gwendolyn, however, is quick to school her emotions before sliding her phone back into her pocket.

"Who's the new lucky lady or man?" Dahlia questioned teasingly as she crossed the hardwood floor that had a rich, warm finish. She moved into the main part of the living room before plopping down on a brown leather couch. The home had a warm and inviting atmosphere with a mix of historical charm and practicality. It had limited space that had to be carefully utilized for a comfortable urban lifestyle. It also had exposed brick, wooden elements, and clear historic architectural features. It captured the essence of New York's ancient architectural history, while also providing a cozy, charming, and rather practical living space. The home in question reflected Gwendolyn's pragmatic personality.

  "It's no one, really." The witch waved off the other woman as she began to maneuver through her small living room. Her hand drifted across the spins of various old books and centuries-old grimoires. Gwendolyn's dark hands paused and hesitantly hovered above one of the books. It was a medium size book with what looked like a worn-out seafoam-colored spin that housed the words, a field guide to mere biology,'

"Do you remember the storm we had a few nights ago? The one with the torrential downpour of rain that didn't let up?" Gwendolyn randomly questioned the dark-haired woman before her. The daughter of Hecate let her hands drop away from the bookshelf and let them move back to her sides as she slowly turned back toward the older woman. The daughter of Satoria slowly nodded, albeit hesitantly.

"Yeah, of course, me and Sally thougpartment complex was gonna flood if the rain kept going at the dangerous rate it was going. Why?" Questions Dahlia confused. The older demigod studied the witch before her. "Is this why you called me urgently? To just talk about the rain?" Questioned Dahlia with her eyebrow raised. Gwendolyn just stared at her plainly as her lips went thin. There was an unspoken tension that filled the room. There was a lot that was left unsaid and purposefully ignored. Dahlia swallowed thickly. She knew what this was truly about. Dahlia could tell by the seriousness in Gwendolyn's pale lavender-like eyes. There was something brewing beneath the witch's schooled features, Dahlia just knew there was something more to it. "Well, if you really missed me so much, you can just say so, Gwennie! You don't need to make up terrible excuses."

"Dahlia," Gwendolyn started. Her voice was sharper and to the point. It had anger lanced into it, but it wasn't quite an open threat. "The rain...it wasn't remotely natural. It was made by a god. And it wasn't just any god...it was a god that we both know that you know."

"I have no clue what you're talking about."

"St.Claire, how are you this oblivious?" Gwendolyn grits out in frustration as waves of vibrant blue energy glowed around her hands and electricity sparked up at the side of her eyes.

"I'm not oblivious!"

"Then you're clearly stupid!" Gwendolyn quickly retorted in a low dangerous growl.

"And you're clearly begin a big witch bitch!" Hissed Dahlia annoyedly. Flickers of frost magic began to lick its way up Gwendolyn's neck as the younger woman's stances turned inherently threatening in nature. Dahlia slowly narrowed her brown eyes at her friend.

"St.Claire, I need you to be serious for a fucking minute!" The younger woman hissed out angrily. Her lavender eyes darkened with magic. "This is some serious shit that you must be in! I don't know what you did, and I quite frankly don't want to know, but you did something to upset Poseidon." State Gwendolyn Pointy. The younger woman stares down the older woman that was before her. "We both know what happens to the lovers of gods. Our stories never end pretty, especially when we selves are already children of the gods." Her voice went soft. Too soft. Her anger and frustration still simmering on the surface, but she allowed herself to be soft for a second.

"He's not mad...I was." Admits Dahlia shamefully as she looks away from the intense gaze of the daughter of Hecate. The daughter of Soteria didn't even try to keep up the song and dance they always performed when regarding the god that she had fallen in love with. The daughter of Hecate had never pushed on the matter and had always respected her privacy on the matter. Dahlia, never once, got the suspicion that Gwendolyn knew. Her heart was shaken as she digested the information. If the cursed and forsaken daughter of Hecate knew, then she had no clue who or what else also knew. It made her nervous and unbelievably scared.

Dahlia swallowed thickly and tried to push her own anxiety down. Tears slowly began to fill her big brown eyes as she let out a shaky breath. "I was frustrated and angry about a lot of things. It's stupid, really." She said, laughing weakly so she didn't start to cry. She was so sure she was going to start at any moment, but Dahlia wanted to put off the possibility of crying for as long as she possibly could. The conversation was tense and hard enough as it was. She really didn't need to be sobbing her way through it. She breathed in sharply and held it for a moment, waiting for her lungs to burn before she exhaled harshly. 

"It can't truly be stupid," pointed out Gwendolyn critically as she eyed the dark-haired woman that was before her. "Not with a reaction like this. This is deeper. I know you, St.Claire. You are hard to shake. You're not just some mortal missing a godly lover. This...this is different." The dark-skinned woman let out a sigh. She quickly reined in all of her magic before her curse could begin to truly act out. She took a long breath in as she steeled herself yet again.

"You know what, I really hate how well you know me sometimes." Laughed Dahlia almost hysterically. Gwendolyn moved away from the bookshelf and took a seat next to Dahlia. The daughter of Soteria fell into her friend's embrace with a small cry as she finally let the stream of tears run down her face. "It's Marisol." She finally admits to the silence that had fallen over the tension-filled living room.

"Oh, oh." Was all Gwendolyn could say as a miserable realization washed over all of her facial features. "I'm sorry."

"That day of the storm, I had gotten an Iris message from the satyr that's watching her and he says that she's been acting weird, even by demigod standards. He wanted to know if there was any other kind of nymph or godly blood in our family tree outside of my mother. He just wanted information, so that he could help her better." Dahlia paused as she sighed almost reluctantly. "He's a good kid, but he kept pushing me on who her dad is. Kept saying I was under some kind of moral obligation as her mother and a fellow demigod who knew what they were going through. And like, don't get me wrong, the kid's heart is in the right place and he truly wants to help her, but he doesn't know that what he's asking is gonna get her killed. If any of them knew her true heritage, well, let's just say there's worse fates than death." Dahlia states.

"I guess that might explain this than." Murmured Gwendolyn as she pulled herself back to her feet and walked over to her bookshelf. She then pulled a seafoam-colored book out of the bookshelf and presented it to Dahlia. "The morning after the rain storm, this was on my doorstep. I suppose that Poseidon thought I was the best person to give this to. I mean, the gods have banished me from camp, and my magic is cursed by both my own. mother and Athena. So, he must figure that I'm the last person the gods would be interested in, which I suppose must make me the best person for holding secrets." States Gwendolyn fiercely as she meets Dahlia's gentle brown eyes.

"I suppose so." Dahlia agreed hesitantly as she grabbed the book from Gwendolyn's hands.

"Well, someone needs to look out for your family," Gwendolyn said, in a tone that displayed a playful sort of long-suffering tone. "It might as well be me, I suppose."

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𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝. . . 
𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙾𝙽𝙴. ▏ 𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏

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Dahlia St.Claire had spent almost her entire afternoon pouring over the book that she had gotten from Gwendolyn. She felt an odd sense of relief fill her. All she wanted to do was to know how to take care of her family; to know how to help her daughter. And now...now she did. It may be a little unsteady at first, but it was far more stable footing than where she was yesterday. Although, she supposed it would be simpler if Marisol's other parents were still in the picture. It would be so much easier on Dahlia's own heart and for her daughter if she simply never loved a god and goddess in the first place. But, then again, she wouldn't even have a daughter without said, god and goddess.

There were only so many swirling destructive thoughts and paths untaken that she could torture herself about.

Dahlia felt like she could not, in fact, go a month without seeing them. Yet, she did.

She struggled with the miserable edge that she felt constantly on. Some days, now far and in between, she felt like she was unable to concentrate on anything but the pain of separation to save her life. It was an intense thing. She tried. She tried so hard to be brave and to be so much stronger than the sinking feeling that filled her. She desperately tried to wear a face of happiness, but seeing Percy and Marisol without their other parents killed her heart. It killed her every time her son referred to her as auntie. It made Dahlia feel sick to the stomach and made her heart shatter every time.

But, alas, there was nothing that she could do. If Poseidon, or even Amphitrite who had a little more leeway as the Olympians tended to forget and even dismiss the goddess of the seas, ever stayed for far too long or made visits too often then Zeus and all of the other Olympians would know about their children existence. Which would certainly only lead to her children's deaths. Dahlia would never remotely risk her children's lives, even if she was the most miserable person on the planet. She would rather jump into the deepest depths of Tartarus than ever let harm befall either one of her children.

And don't get her wrong, she absolutely loved Sally Jackson. Loving her and appreciating her would never change whether her godly lovers were there or not. Her ability to love and experience love was not a finite thing.

Additionally, Dahlia St.Claire worshipped the ground that mortal women walked on. But, due to the circumstances of demigod blood and its ability to lure monsters, they couldn't quite have a life together either. It was complicated. The couple was forced to live a life full of half-truths, white lies, and secrets. They held so many secrets.

They had to keep their kids separated by apartment walls and levels. Sally had a roommate, who was just the worst kind of mortal person. Which, rather, unfortunately, made him useful. His horrible presence kept monsters away. And even though he was protecting her son in theory, Dahlia still absolutely hated Gabe Ugliano. She despised just how horribly he treated Percy. She hated how he treated Sally. And gods, every time his eyes linger too long or when he got bold enough to leer at Sally, Dahlia just wanted to gut him like a fish or merely cut off his dick. She wanted some god to smite that man down so badly.

"Mom?" Called a questioning teenage girl's voice. The only daughter of Satoria was leaning against her car and was deep in her thoughts. Blinking in surprise, Dahlia pulled herself out of her thoughts. She stared at the teenage girl that was before her. Marisol St.Claire was dressed in a grey sweater that held the name of one of her old swim teams in a faded blue font. She wore simple blue washed jeans with old worn-out black combat boots. The daughter of Poseidon and Amphitrite had her half-brother on her left side and Chiron on her right side. The teenager instantly rushed towards her mother for comfort.

"Hey, sweetie!" Dahlia greeted softly as she noticed that the strawberry blonde girl had been noticeably crying. Her gut twisted in misery. She knew her daughter and her son were having a bad day. Percy and Marisol both had gotten kicked out from Yancy Academy due to both of the apparently 'bullying and harassing Nancy Blowfits'. The school believed that Marisol and Percy had exchanged insults with Nancy and that Percy had even pushed Nancy into a water fountain while on their school field trip.

Dahlia knew that was not remotely the case. As did Grover Underwood, the satyr assigned to her daughter and son, as did Chiron.

"Why don't you get in the car and we can go home? That sounds good?" Dahlia questioned her daughter gently as she held her close to her chest in a reassuring manner. The daughter of Satoria felt her daughter nod in agreement. Dahlia knew that her daughter had been wanting nothing more than to return home. The strawberry blonde teen had been absolutely hating the academy. She had been feeling so outcasted and feeling like a freak. Dahlia truly felt bad for her daughter, but the academy was a slightly safer place than the apartment.

Marisol pulled herself from her mother and wiped at her sea green eyes; the same eyes that looked exactly like her father's, and the same ones that looked like Percy's as he looked so much like their shared father. Marisol made her way to the opposite side of her mother's car before climbing into the front seat.

"Hi, Aunt Dahlia." Greeted Percy miserably as he walked towards her. She could see a look of pain and guilt shifted and contorted on his innocent features.

"Hi, Percy." She greeted as she moved to hug the blonde boy. The boy looked like something close to a kicked puppy as she hugged him. "Ready to go home?"

"Yeah." His voice sounded eerily small. It didn't sound like the normal carefree and upbeat tone she was used to. He seemed so...tame. Her untamable little sea prince looked so burdened and heavy with stress. It made Dahlia want to cry and scream at whoever upset her son. It also made her want to hug him into oblivion and tell him everything would be okay. It was the moment like these where she wished Poseidon and Amphitrite were here with her. Percy, as well as Marisol, deserved all the love that they had to offer them.

"How mad is my mom?" The boy questioned her quietly. A sick sense of realization filled the daughter of Satoria. Dahlia's heart dropped at the realization as to why the blonde boy was so miserable.

The boy was upset he did something to fail Sally. She knew Percy struggled with himself over things that were outside his control like his dyslexia, ADHD, and all the signs that she knew were him coming into his demigod genetics. 

"She's not mad at all, Perseus." Stated Dahlia reassuringly as she slowly pulled away from the blonde boy. Percy carefully eyed her with disbelief written all over his features. Dahlia sighed a little. She hated how much of a stranger she felt to her son sometimes. Dahlia knew she was more than his godmother, but he didn't. And that hurt so unbelievably much. It hurt more than any monster attack she had ever endured. It hurt far worse than the poisonous attack Dahlia had survived as a teen. "I'm telling the truth. Percy." She insists. Dahlia can easily tell that their son still doesn't believe her, but he does begrudgingly move towards her car. The blonde boy climbs in the car and goes for the seat directly behind Marisol.

Dahlia's brown eyes flicker over to Chiron, who stares back at her with a knowing look. He smiles fondly at her. The centaur always had a soft spot for her, and she knew it was mostly due to her mother and grandfather being his close friends. Another part of it is that she was a rather responsible and reliable demigod.

"It's lovely to see you again, Dahlia."

"You too...Although, I would prefer different circumstances."

"As do I." Chiron agreed. A silence passed between them. A wordless exchange happening between the duo.

They both knew that her time was up.

Dahlia could no longer escape the fact that the godly world was bleeding into her children's life. It was only a matter of time before an unchangeable and dangerous course would be set before them. That scared Dahlia. She steeled herself as best she could as she stared at the man who represented all that she feared. Chiron is a good man by all Dahlia's standards, but he belonged to a system that sought to tear her apart as a teen and she knew it would only go on to do the same exact thing to her children. They would send them on quests and expect them to hold the weight of the world on their shoulders; the shoulders of mere children.

It wasn't fair to Marisol or Percy that this was their fate.

Not in the slightest.

Yet, unfortunately, Dahlia knew it was going to happen. It would happen simply because there were prophecies that existed. Prophecies made by ancient begins. They were made by fate themselves. These heavy prophecies were feared by even the gods themselves as they couldn't escape or prevent them from happening. These prophecies would go on to happen no matter what anyone wanted.

"I'll see you around." She tells him simply as she lacks any meaningful words to express to the man before her. It was weird, in a strange sense. Chiron wanted to help her, but to do so he needed more information about Percy and Marisol's father. As far as he knew, they shared a father and their father was more than likely some minor god of rivers or something of the like. Chiron didn't know the whole truth. Not on Percy. And certainly not on Marisol.

Those secrets were strictly for her and Sally alone.

Dahlia merely nodded respectfully in his direction before she turned towards her car and got into the driver's seat. She was quick to make her way as far away from Yancy Academy as possible. She never liked that academy to begin with.

She stared out of long winding streets as she watched sceneries change and shift as she drove away from the academy.

Dahlia briefly turned her attention out toward the big night sky as a storm began to roll in at a sudden full force. The once open sky was now pouring down rain like there was no tomorrow, lightning was lightening up the whole night sky, and the thunder began to let out huge roars off in the distance. It was the second night in a row that her city was hit with a violent storm. Not that Dahlia particularly really minded.

Yet, the sound of violent rain almost sounded like TV static to Dahlia as she sat silently with her uneasy feelings that filled her stomach. Dahlia can't help but just feel so scared. Intense silences had quickly found their way into her car. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of rain violently hitting the roof and windows of her car.

The rain no longer brought her peace.

Rain only brought reminders of all that was just out of reach and rejected by her.

All that lightning felt like war flashes towards horrors that she knew awaited her and flashes of the past that lingered on her like some kind of ghost.

All that thunder served to be was wicked, viscous laughter. It was like Zeus was somehow, if only indirectly, mocking her. It was like he knew that he was the leading hand behind her misery.

Suddenly, Dahlia is brought out of her thoughts as the street light flickers green again. She turns her full attention back to the road as she drives past the street light.

It isn't a long time going from the main upper part of the bustling city of New York where her apartment as well as Sally's apartment is. 

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𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝. . . 
𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙾𝙽𝙴. ▏ 𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏

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Montauk, a village on Long Island, was somewhere they occasionally vacation at. It was the one place where they could be almost a real family. Sally and Dahlia could use the excuse of needing to split the bill and having another adult there meant that they both could equally get a chance to relax. The kids seemingly never looked far to it as they got to hang around each other. Which, as much as Marisol and Percy acted like they hated each other at the moment, those two were as thick as thieves.

The sibling duo never quite like begin far from each other. Marisol felt a natural urge to protect and care for Percy. And Percy loved getting his sister to laugh and getting her to let loose every now and then.

"I'm so happy to be here." Hummed Marisol as she wrapped a thick blue blanket around her body. Sally and Dahlia swapped looks from their position at the kitchen sink. Their backs were to Marisol, who was currently sprawled out on the couch. Percy was off in one of the bathrooms of the beach house. Dahlia's eyes looked up at the window in front of her to see the faint reflection of the room that was behind her. The same one her daughter sat in.

The beach house's living room was an open-concept living area adorned with nautical-inspired decor. Which include things like striped cushions, seashell accents, and vintage maritime artwork. It had hardwood floors and was painted in a light, beach-inspired hues of blue. The living room had a cozy seating area arranged around a fireplace. The place overall was rather simplistic, but held a very welcoming and relaxed atmosphere; the kind of atmosphere they need with the lives they all lead.

Dahlia turned her attention back to what she had been doing. She poured a bunch of sea salt into a bottle. It was more salt than any mortal would ever tolerate, but the salt water would be close enough to ocean water to be considered tolerable to a mere. She twisted the cap back onto the water bottle before shaking it violently. After making sure the salt was mixed well with the water, she walked it over to Marisol.

"Drink that. It should help with the cough you've been having." Dahlia explains to the girl. The strawberry-blonde teen eyed the water suspiciously. "There's just some victims to help you're amnion system mixed into it," Dahlia says exasperatedly. Marisol rolled her sea-green eyes at her mother and begrudgingly took a sip. The girl's eyes instantly light and she looked rather pleased about drinking salt water. Dahlia just smiled softly at her daughter and made her way back to where Sally was bent over.

"I'm glad we know what's been bothering her, you know," Dahlia says lowly so that only Sally could make out her words.

"I wasn't expecting it to be that if I'm honest."

"Well, she had to take after her mother in some regard, I suppose."

"You know, knowing what we know now, I'm so glad we managed to talk you out of naming her Ariel. Can you imagine the irony?"

"I think it would have been funny and fitting. Also, you have no room to talk. May I remind you of who you named Percy after." Huffed Dahlia playfully. Sally laughed a little. Her face lit up with amusement and fondness. Dahlia placed her hand on top of Sally's.

Sally paused what she was doing and met Dahlia's eyes. The older demigod stealthily leaned over and kissed her when she knew her daughter was far too distracted with something else.

They broke apart when she heard the bathroom door open wide. They scooted a little further apart as Percy made his way out through the living room space and into the kitchen.

"I found the good marshmallows. Ones that don't burn so easy." Sally tells him.

"I don't think it was ever the marshmallows' fault... I wasn't paying attention. Mom...I need to talk to you about something." Percy starts causing Sally to pause what she's doing and turn towards her son. She gave him her full, undivided attention. She nodded understandingly.

"We could have a family meeting?" Suggested Dahlia with a small reassuring smile. Percy seemed to relax a little at that. Family meetings were something they did all the time. It was time they got things out without the fear of judgment and could get constant reassurance and know that their voice was being heard thoroughly.

"I'd like that," Percy says. Dahlia nods before ushering them out to the living room. Marisol sat up on the opposite couch so that her mother could sit with her on one, while Sally and Percy could sit together on the other one just opposite of them.

Percy let everyone get comfortable before laying out all that burden him.

"I'm used to feeling weird. I'm used to the world feeling weird to me. Like a puzzle with half the wrong pieces. I try to pay attention. I really try, but...then I'm daydreaming. I can't help it. But lately..." Percy paused as he considered his words. His face was lit up by the candles Marisol had lit up when they first arrived. Marisol, for reasons that Sally and Dahlia were now chalking up to some mere things and the natural darkness of the sea, hated using the bright florescent lights of the beach house; the teen would much rather use the delicate and soft candlelight to light up the dark beach house,

"It hasn't felt like daydreaming. It's felt...I don't know. More real, maybe? And then we were at the museum and..." Percy continued on, but Sally cut him off a little.

"You saw something."

"Something that felt real to you, but no one else could see?" Dahlia supplied knowing full well what kind of thing Percy was going on about.

"What did she say to you?" Sally questioned in a delicate voice.

"She? How did you know it was a she?" Marisol immediately questioned Sally with wide sea-green eyes. Marisol and Percy swapped looks. Dahlia visibly cringed as she knew what came next in the order of things. Thunder crackled outside and rain pelted against the window.

"Do you know why we come to this cabin every year?" Sally suddenly questioned. She made a face as she questioned their son.

"Because it's near the septic tank, so it's cheap." Percy immediately answered. He blinked after a few seconds as everything began to set in. He turned to stare at his mother. His face was full of concern and confusion. "Mom, how did you know about that thing I saw?"

"We come to this place every year because this is the place I met your father," Sally explained as she sidestepped Percy's question. Sally gave Dahlia a look. It was like they were silently deciding who would rip the bandaid off. After taking a deep breath, Dahlia decided to be the one to ultimately end their little game of chicken.

"It's where I might be your father as well." Dahlia began as she glanced over at her daughter whose mouth hung open in utter surprise. "It's singular man...You both share the same father."

"I'm sorry...what!" Her daughter practically screamed as she jolted to her feet. Her eyes were wide as dinner plates and she was shaking. She looked like she was having some kind of crisis as she absorbed the information. Perc y seemed to steam right past the dropped knowledge.

"My dad? What does my dad have to do with this?" Percy questioned. Sally creased his face gently as tears began to gather. Dahlia had to look away as she knew she would also start crying if she looked. Dahlia's eyes meet her daughter's eyes. Her daughter was surprisingly silent.

"A long time ago, I...met a man, here on the beach. He was wise and brave and kind and... noble. From the moment I first saw him, I knew that... that I had never met a man like him before. And then I realized he was unlike any man I had ever met before...because h... he wasn't a man at all. He was a god."

"You fell in love with God? Like...Like-- like Jesus?" Percy questions as his face contorts in confusion. Dahlia lets out a small snort.

"It better not be." Retorted her daughter quickly.

"I mean...obviously not. Not you're father. But...you're grandfather, on my side, can turn water into wine." Dahlia notes as she looks at her daughter with a shrug that may have been a little too casual for either one of her children's own liking. Marisol stared at her with something close to horror.

"Not helping," Hissed Sally.

"Well, it's true," Dahlia states. Sally rolls her eyes and clears her throat a little as she looks back at both children.

"Not God. A god. Percy... the stories...the stories that we have told you and your sister about Greek gods and heroes and monsters, they are real."

"Mom-"

"In those stories, I have told you about how gods and mortals would sometimes have children together..."

"Mom, please, stop."

"children called demigods..."

"Mom!"

"and sometimes they are known as half-bloods." Dahlia points out, which causes Percy to look away from his mother and stare wide-eyed at the dark-haired woman

"That's what the monster called me." Percy grasped out frightfully before turning to look at Sally again. "Mom, what's happening?"

"You are a half-blood. And half-bloods are not safe in the world. Once they reach a certain age
and begin...to understand what they are, terrible forces are drawn to them, driven to harm them before they can become strong enough to fight back. That is what you have been feeling. It has always been a part of who you are, it was always coming, I just--"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Percy, I know that this is hard to understand, but you have to believe me that this is real."

No, this is crazy. Okay? I am not a god. There is something wrong with my brain. I understand that I'm weird,
believe me, I get it, but I'm afraid something may be really broken now."

"Oh, baby, no-"Sally started as she physically recoiled at Percy saying something was wrong with him.

"Percy, you're mother's telling the truth. I'm a demigod myself. You're not alone in this." Dahlia tried to explain but Percy looked even more upset at her words.

"And-- and now you're telling me stories like it's gonna make it okay? Well, I'm not a baby! I know there's no such thing as monsters, I know there's no such thing as gods,
and I know for certain that there is no such thing as demigods."

"Oh sweetheart, trust me, there is such of thing as gods and demigods and monsters. Trust me, there really is." Stressed Dahlia. Before the older demigod could say anymore, there was a sudden knock on the front door.

"Who's there?" Sally called as she stiffened. Dahlia pulled off her ring, silently waiting to see if she had to change it into its sword form or not.

"Mrs. Jackson? It's Grover."

"Grover?" Percy and Marisol repeated at the same time in utter confusion.

"What in the fresh hell is going on!" Hissed Marisol in terror and confusion. "Are we being pranked?"

"This is a little time-sensitive. Could someone maybe open the door?" Called Grover. His voice sounded anxious and fearful. Sally moved to open the front door for him.

"What is he doing here? I don't wanna see him. Wait, Mom, Mom--"

"I asked to have the night, you said we could all leave in the morning," Sally said in exasperation.

"Sorry, I'm early, but I didn't have any choice. Things have changed, this is all developing a lot faster than we anticipated."

"Early? Oh, for the love of Hades." Grumbled Dahlia annoyedly as she slid her hand down her face.

"You should have asked me before you--Whatever it is you're gonna say, I don't wanna... hear it. Grover?" Percy began to huff angrily but the anger slowly dissipated as he stared down at Grover's hooves.

"Percy." Grover starts before continuing on, "Okay, so something's coming..."

"Grover."

"and I know that sounds really bad..."

"Grover?"

"But the important thing is not to panic."

"I'm not panicking," Sally states as she eyed the clearly very anxious and slightly panicky satyr.

"Yeah, this isn't exactly my first rodeo." Lamented Dahlia as she raised an eyebrow in Grover's direction.

"Grover!"

"Great! I'm also definitely not panicking. I feel very good about how we're doing so far-"

"Grover!" Percy yelled a little louder as he finally got frustrated.

"What?"

"Grover, why is there half a goat in your pants?" Percy questions. Dahlia snickered a little as she watched her children's vivid reaction to seeing a satyr for the first time. Sally shot her a look.

"Oh, it's...Oh! Oh, boy, she didn't tell you about...You didn't tell him about me?"

"We were building up to that," Dahlia states flatly. Sally nodded in agreement.

"You're early." Sally reminded.

"Percy, are you feeling insane because I'm feeling absolutely insane right now?" Question Marisol as she moved towards her brother's side. Grover's smile brightened a little as he saw his other close friend.

"So the important thing is not to panic."

"We'll continue this in the car. Let's go." Sally sighs as she starts ushering them out to the car.

▔▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎
𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝. . . 
𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙾𝙽𝙴. ▏ 𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏

▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎▔︎

The night was almost obscenely quiet, outside the natural sounds of rain and thunder. There were hardly any cars out. Which felt out of place. The road was currently empty of any other cars. It was an open void of pitch black. It was so dark out that the background features were blending all together into one massive black shadow. There was only a singular pair of headlights beaming down the long, twisting, and winding road.

"My job has been to guide you to this moment. It's always an emotional rollercoaster for a young demigod, so providing a support system is really-" Grover began to explain to Percy and Marisol. Grover was currently sandwiched between the two children of Poseidon, while Dahlia sat in the front seat and Sally drove.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Grover. I'm your best friend and-"

"What are you?"

"I'm a satyr. And I'm your and Mari's Protector."

"Our Protector?" Echoed Marisol like it was something so foreign. She frowned at her own words. She clearly did not like the implications of needing a protector.

"If I hadn't gotten you kicked out of school, you'd have never survived the night. And what's chasing us now would have found you there easily." Grover explains, much to Percy and Marisol's dismay. Percy seemed more upset about it than Marisol did. "I'm sorry. Usually, I can sense danger coming a mile away, but this time. Well, none of us saw Dodds coming."

"So you knew. That thing that Dodds turned into, you saw it happen? Why didn't you say anything?" Snapped Percy. His tone was accusing and wounded.

"I saw some of it. The Mist kept her hidden even from us until it was too late."

"Mist? What's a mist?" Questioned Marisol immediately. Her blonde brows pushed together in confusion.

The Mist. It's the veil that hides the magical world from the human world. My legs. Dodds' wings. Even Dodds' absence, isn't supposed to hide things from me. That never happens. Something powerful is at work here. The sooner we get you both to camp, the better off you are...

"You told them about camp, right? Dahlia, you told them, right?" Questioned Grover anxiously.

"Not yet, no." Said Dahlia.

"Again, you were early." Sally hums. Grover let out a little sigh before straightening himself out.

"Camp is a sanctuary for half-bloods. A safe space where you can learn who you are and what the world is like on the other side of the Mist. Uh, it's not far, actually, just a little ways past the bend up there."

"Mom, what else haven't we talked about? What else haven't you told me?" Percy questioned his mother. Sally shared a side glance with Dahlia. They both knew just how much they hadn't had the chance to either of their kids.

"Is that the Minotaur?

"Once the attacks start, they never let up. Okay? Dodds was just the beginning. He is next. He-- he is brutal. He is relentless."

"He is still wearing underpants." Gaped Marisol as her head was wiped behind her seat and stared at the raging beast charging towards them. I the beast let out a monstrous roar.

"The Mythomagic cards were training. Everything has been training for what's still ahead of you."

"What's ahead of me?" Percy questioned panicky. Sally gave a side glance to her wife. The mortal woman had a fierce look in her eyes that told Dahlia exactly what her next planned move was.

"Do it. I can hold a safety spell long enough for us." Dahlia reassured. Sally nodded understandingly.

"Boys," Sally called over her shoulder

"Yeah?"

"Hold on, please."

"I'm actually 24." Yelped Grover as the car tires slide violently across the road. The rain pelted the car more violently as they slid across the road. A large truck was charging their way and Sally served the car at the last minute so that the truck would hit the Minotaur. The car slammed safely into the tree.

"Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," Percy called.

"I'm fine if anyone cares." Yelled Marisol as she dragged herself out of the car. Her legs were shaky like they could barely keep herself upright.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Good gods, I think I hit my head." Complained Dahlia.

"Okay," Sally said as she let out a shaky breath.

"This way!" Hollered Dahlia.

"We're here. That's the boundary. No monsters can cross it. Percy and Marisol will be safe on the other side." Grover told Sally

"Percy will be...But won't all of us be safe?" Questioned Percy.

Grover, I am entrusting you to protect my son and my daughter. They are my only children."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Jackson, Percy and Marisol will be totally safe at camp-"

"Swear it." Hissed Sally.

"What's happening?"

"Swear it, Grover! Keep them safe from anyone or anything that comes for them, that wants to do harm, that looks at them, the wrong way. Do you understand me?" Question Sally protectively.

"I swear!" Promised Grover. The Minotaur let out another imposing monstrous roar. Sally was breathing heavily as rain pelted her body. Thunder rumbled in the distance. She turned towards Percy and Marisol.

"I gotta go now, sweetheart."

"Go? What do you mean to go?" Percy questioned.

"She can't go with us. She's not a half-blood." Dahlia explained miserably. She started to openly cry. The older woman had a terrible sinking feeling in her gut. Something was telling her that Sally wasn't safe. She could do nothing to protect or prevent what was to come next. Not even the daughter of the goddess of safety could protect Sally.

"You're both gonna need to be brave now. Remember what I taught you. Remember the stories I told you? Especially the stories, they will tell you everything..."

"No. No way! Mom, I'm not leaving you!"

"Listen to me, right now. You are not broken. You are singular. You're a miracle. And you are my son." Sally paused and smiled something tragic as she rested a hand on either of her children's checks. Marisol stared at Sally with confusion. "My sweet, sweet, Marisol. You are not my blood, but you are just as much my child. You are my daughter. Our daughter. Our children." Sally states as Dahlia moves to her side.

"Hold fast. Brave the storm...I love you both." Sally says softly as she pulls away before placing gentle kisses on both their foreheads. The brunette slowly turned toward the older demigod before her. They both were now crying. They both were highly aware of the fates that lay before them now. They knew what would happen with the Minotaur.

"Take care of our children."

"I will. You still have my oath...Not to mention our wedding vows." Dahlia states as tears rapidly flow down her cheek.

"Our moms are married! Oh my god!" Exclaimed Marisol, only to be elbowed by Percy.

"She's definitely yours." Murmured Sally as she leaned in and captured Dahlia in one last final kiss. "Now get them to safety."

"I love you." Dahlia says fiercely as she placed her hand over Sally's that now gripped her check delicately.

"I love you too."